Marshall Motor Holdings PLC Trading Update and 2020 Outlook (9913H)

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RNS Number : 9913H

Marshall Motor Holdings PLC

09 December 2020

9 December 2020

MARSHALL MOTOR HOLDINGS PLC

("MMH" or the "Group")

Trading Update and 2020 Outlook

Marshall Motor Holdings plc, one of the UK's leading automotive retail groups, issues the following update on recent trading and announces that it is now anticipating an underlying profit before tax for the year ending 31 December 2020 ("Year") of not less than GBP19m (previously GBP15m).

On 13 October 2020, the Group announced that as a result of a particularly strong trading performance in the important September plate-change month, it was targeting an underlying profit before tax performance for the Year of GBP15m. It also noted that this guidance had been given in an environment where there were significant ongoing economic and social uncertainties and so the risks to the Board's guidance were much higher than in a normal year.

The Group continued to trade strongly for the remainder of October, benefitting from previously reported sector tailwinds. New retail unit sales were up on a like-for-like basis and significantly outperformed SMMT*-reported new retail market registrations, with like-for-like used car unit volumes also performing strongly.

Whilst trading was negatively impacted by the closure of its showrooms throughout November, the Group was able to continue to operate all of its aftersales businesses, take orders online and by telephone and deliver new and used vehicles through 'click and collect' services. The Group's strong outperformance of the wider new car market continued.

The Group's outperformance of the new retail car market for October and November combined was 9.8% on a like-for-like unit sales basis. During the same period, like-for-like used vehicle unit sales were down 12.7% with like-for-like aftersales revenues down just 3.8% compared to the same period in 2019.

Since the reopening of its showrooms on 2 December, the Group has continued to trade well and as result, the Group is now anticipating underlying profit before tax for the Year of not less than GBP19m.

The Group's adjusted net cash position (excluding IFRS16) at 30 November was GBP29.8m.

The Group remains grateful for the various support measures provided by the Government which have enabled the Group to protect the overwhelming majority of jobs within the Group which might otherwise have been at risk. During this unprecedented period, the Group continued to provide vital aftersales services to support emergency services, commercial vehicle operators and key workers; these services were loss-making during the first national lockdown. In addition, the Group enhanced furloughed colleagues' pay, implemented voluntary reductions in pay and fees by the Board, operational directors and other senior managers and as previously announced, voluntarily repaid all amounts from which it benefitted under the Government's VAT Payment Deferral Scheme (GBP10.9m) 18 months early. It is the Group's current intention not to utilise the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme in 2021.

There continues to remain significant social and economic uncertainties as a result of both COVID-19 and the potential impact of the UK's departure from the European Union on 31 December 2020. Whilst the Board is pleased with the Group's response to the significant challenges presented by COVID-19 in 2020, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the Group's business, it has also benefited from a number of well-documented sector tailwinds in 2020 and therefore remains cautious over the trading environment for 2021.

*Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

ENDS

For further information and enquiries please contact:

 
 Marshall Motor Holdings plc             c/o Hudson Sandler 
 Daksh Gupta, Chief Executive Officer    Tel: [phone] 
                                          4133 
 Richard Blumberger, Chief Financial 
  Officer 
 Investec Bank plc (Financial Adviser,   Tel: [phone] 
  NOMAD & Broker)                         5970 
 Christopher Baird 
 David Flin 
 David Anderson 
 Hudson Sandler                          Tel: [phone] 
                                          4133 
 Nick Lyon 
  Bertie Berger 
 Nick Moore 
 

Notes to Editors

About Marshall Motor Holdings plc ( www.mmhplc.com )

The Group's principal activities are the sale and repair of new and used vehicles. The Group's businesses comprise a total of 113 franchises covering 22 brands, across 28 counties in England. In addition, the Group operates six trade parts specialists, two used car centres, six standalone body shops and one pre delivery inspection centre.

In May 2020 the Group was recognised by the Great Place to Work Institute, being ranked for a sixth year running with a position of the 12th best place to work in the UK (super large company category). This was the eleventh year in succession that the Group has achieved Great Place to Work status. In November 2020 the Group was awarded 'Employer of the Year' by Motor Trader magazine.

Cautionary statement

This announcement contains unaudited information based on management accounts and forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts and undue reliance should not be placed on any such statements because they speak only as at the date of this document and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results, and the Group's plans and objectives, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. MMH undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement contained within this announcement, regardless of whether those statements are affected as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save as required by law and regulations.

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END

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December 09, 2020 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)