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Port.fd.idr | LSE:PRT | London | Medium Term Loan |
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RNS No 7391x PARTNERS HOLDINGS PLC 14 June 1999 Partners Holdings plc 'Partners' Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 March 1999 Partners Holdings plc, the operator of 105 specialist retail stationery stores, today announces preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 1999. * Sales for the year of #38.9million, up 9.1% (1998: #35.6m). * Loss before tax and exceptional item of #549,000 (1998: Profit #755,000) * Exceptional item of #406,000 * New trading concept showing better returns * New Board structure in place. * Year on Year sales for the current year to the end of May increased by 12% Michael Scorey, Chairman, said: 'We have made progress during the year in putting in place the management team and marketing strategies to regenerate growth, and the current year has started satisfactorily. We will continue to work this year to complete the foundations for future growth and will roll out our new store concept progressively.' Enquiries: Partners Holdings Plc Michael Scorey, Chairman Tel: 01270 505 888 Peter Davey, Chief Executive Tel: 01270 505 888 Alan Goodwin, Finance Director Tel: 01270 505 888 College Hill Tel: 0171 457 2020 Matthew Smallwood Partners Holdings plc Chairman's Statement Results As indicated at the time of our interim and Christmas trading statements our results for the year are disappointing being significantly influenced by weak sales throughout our first half year and over the crucial Christmas trading period. Nevertheless progress has been achieved in re-positioning the business for future growth. Over the past year we have considerably strengthened our management team, we have implemented new marketing strategies and we have re- engineered our store concept. Turnover at #38.9m increased by 9.1%. Pre tax losses before exceptional items were #549,000 compared with profits of #755,000 last year. After exceptional costs of #406,000 incurred in connection with the initiatives noted above pre tax losses were #955,000 giving a loss per share of 4.3 pence. Dividends An interim dividend of 0.5p per share was declared by the Board at the half year. The Board has carefully considered the payment of a final dividend. However, in the light of our results, it has been decided that on this occasion a final dividend would not be appropriate. Board I am delighted to welcome Mike Kilcourse to our Board as Marketing Director. Phillip Birt resigned from the Board in January 1999 and I would like to express my thanks to him for his contribution to the business over many years. Current Developments Renewed sales growth in our core stores is a pre-requisite for future financial success. The key focus of our management team is to achieve this principally through the restructuring of our product range to meet more precisely the needs of our customers and to reflect our specialist position in the market and through the development of our new store concept. Progress has already been made following detailed range reviews and this is evidenced by the progress we have made with our Computer consumables range which now represents a significant element of our product mix. We have also seen encouraging initial results from the four stores refurbished into our new concept format. A cost effective version of this concept is now being rolled out across the chain. Outlook The current year has started satisfactorily with overall sales increasing by 12% to the end of May albeit at lower than planned margins. We expect that this will be a year of continued restructuring as we lay the foundations for future growth. Michael Scorey Chairman Partners Holdings plc Chief Executive's Review Results The year ended March 1999 has been one of great change within the business and it is disappointing to report a pre tax loss, before exceptional items, of #549,000. Sales for the year at #38.9m increased by 9.1%. Pre tax losses for the year after exceptional items were #955,000 and Group net assets were #5.1m. The costs of reorganising our Board and the various reviews of our image and marketing strategies have been charged as exceptional items during the year and amount to #406,000. Pre tax losses before exceptional items were #549,000 compared with a profit last year of #755,000. Our second half trading performance showed an improved position on that reported in our Interim statement. Operating profits in the second half were #673,000 compared with #814,000 last year. Finance Net cash inflow from operating activities was #1.556m compared with #283,000 last year. Of this amount #1.313m has been generated by improved utilisation of our working capital with a net stock investment at the end of the year of #1.2m compared with #2.2m last year. Net borrowings were #2.1m well within the facilities available to us. Capital investment for the year was #1.2m incurred principally in the acquisition of five new stores and the refurbishment of four stores into the new store concept. The Group principally finances itself through an overdraft facility that is secured by a floating charge over all assets. A small element of the Group's products are imported and in order to avoid any commercial risks, foreign currency dealings are dealt with using forward currency contracts which are fixed at the point of product order. Board Changes As previously reported Alan Goodwin and Mark Tompkins joined the Board in April last year. I am also pleased to welcome Mike Kilcourse to our team as Marketing Director. Mike joined us in November last year and brings extensive retail marketing expertise gained with Dixons plc. and Boots plc. At subsidiary board level Karen Griffiths resigned from her position as Personnel Director with her responsibilities being taken up by Bruce Pearson, Operations Director. I would like to express my thanks to Karen for her contribution to the business over many years. Operations During the year we opened 5 new stores and closed 3 under- performing stores to leave 105 stores trading at the year end. In addition 4 stores were fully refitted into our new trading concept and 4 stores refitted to a lower cost version which offers us better returns on capital invested without compromising the main objectives of the refits. Like for like sales increased by 4.6% over the year with improved performances being shown during the second half year largely as a result of the aggressive promotional activity being undertaken during this period. The action taken last year to improve our recruitment processes and retain our existing management has proved successful and this has enabled us to stabilise our store management team. Marketing Following the market research undertaken earlier in the year the last six months have seen a period of radical change as the business has repositioned itself in the market. The research has allowed us to better understand our customer base and their requirements. As a consequence we have begun to restructure our product ranges to reflect the market and market trends much more rapidly than previously was the case. This new focus has delivered some encouraging performances in our core product ranges. Of particular note has been our success in sales of computer consumables which after being introduced in mid 1998 have grown to become a useful element of our product mix. At the same time we have worked with leading design consultants to develop a new retail store concept from which to market the business. The first four stores were fully converted by November of last year and the performance achieved gave us the confidence to begin a roll out, of a lower cost version of the format throughout the chain. In addition to the four stores initially converted a further 8 have been refitted by the end of May and we aim to upgrade virtually the whole chain over the next two years. We will continue to aggressively promote the business, increasing our focus on category leading stationery ranges and developing our merchandising techniques and our gross margins. To achieve this we have been active in developing our team both internally and through high quality external recruitment. Supply Chain Following a review of our supply chain we have changed responsibilities and strengthened our supply chain management team. The team are now actively engaged in reducing overall inventory levels whilst improving supply of products to our stores. Utilising the information generated by our EPOS systems we have implemented automatic allocation of stock from the warehouse to all stores and across all core product lines. In logistics we have seen the benefits from our recent investment in the new distribution centre and we anticipate further efficiency improvements and greater stock picking accuracy as a result of the impending introduction of advanced warehousing IT systems including the use of radio frequency terminals. Within our warehouse excess capacity has been sublet for external use and the income generated contributes towards our overhead costs. These sublets are of a short term nature and allow us to increase the amount of space available for our own future requirements at short notice. People I would like to once again acknowledge the exceptional efforts of all our management and staff for their hard work and commitment during a year of great change within the business. Outlook We now have in place both the management team and marketing strategies to regenerate growth in our core stores and there is evidence of progress. The current year has started well with, at the end of May, a satisfactory 12% growth in sales being achieved, although at lower margins than planned. However, much remains to be done, and the current year will be a year of further transition as we seek to create a solid platform for future growth. Peter Davey Chief Executive Partners Holdings plc Group Profit And Loss Account for the year ended 31 March 1999 Before Excep- Excep- Totals Totals tional tional 1999 1998 Notes Items Items #'000 #'000 1999 1999 #'000 #'000 Note 4 Turnover 38,880 38,880 35,641 Cost of sales (36,194) (104) (36,298) (32,352) Gross Profit 2,686 (104) 2,582 3,289 Distribution costs (479) (479) (369) Administration expenses (2,664) (302) (2,966) (2,232) (457) (406) (863) 688 Other net operating income 38 - 38 40 Operating (Loss) / Profit (419) (406) (825) 728 Interest receivable 5 - 5 49 Interest payable (135) - (135) (22) (Loss) / Profit On Ordinary Activities Before Taxation (549) (406) (955) 755 Tax on (loss)/profit on ordinary activities 1. 87 64 151 (286) (Loss) / Profit For The Financial Year (462) (342) (804) 469 Dividends on equity shares (93) (280) Retained (Loss) / Profit For The Year (897) 189 (Loss) / Earnings per share - basic and diluted 2. (4.30p) 2.55p There are no recognised gains or losses other than the results for each year shown above. Partners Holdings plc Group Balance Sheet as at 31 March 1999 1999 1998 #'000 #'000 Fixed Assets Tangible assets 6,848 7,157 Current Assets Stock 5,788 4,763 Debtors 2,170 1,958 Cash at bank and in hand 58 57 8,016 6,778 Creditors: amounts falling due within (9,119) (6,895) one year Net Current Liabilities (1,103) (117) Total Assets Less Current Liabilities 5,745 7,040 Provisions For Liabilities And Charges Deferred Taxation (179) (253) Accruals And Deferred Income Deferred income (516) (840) (695) (1,093) 5,050 5,947 Capital And Reserves Called up share capital 187 187 Share premium account 5,691 5,691 Capital redemption reserve 9 9 Profit and loss account (837) 60 Shareholders' funds Equity 5,050 5,947 Partners Holdings plc Group Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 1999 1999 1998 #'000 #'000 Net Cash Inflow From Operating Activities 1,556 283 Returns On Investments And Servicing Of Finance Interest paid (135) (22) Interest received 5 49 Net Cash (Outflow) / Inflow From Returns On Investments and Servicing Of Finance (130) 27 Taxation Corporation tax paid (including ACT) (240) (574) Capital Expenditure And Financial Investments Purchase of tangible fixed assets (1,228) (4,505) Sale of tangible fixed assets - 882 Net Cash Outflow From Investing (1,228) (3,623) Activities Equity Dividends Paid (280) (93) Financing Issue of Ordinary Shares - 5,500 Share issue costs - (521) Deferred ordinary share issue costs - (35) Redemption of Deferred Ordinary shares - (1,967) Repayments of capital element of finance lease rentalsand hire purchase contract payments (26) (39) Repayment of loans - (320) Net Cash (Outflow)/Inflow From Financing (26) 2,618 Decrease In Cash (348) (1,362) Notes for the year ended 31 March 1999 1. Taxation 1999 1998 #'000 #'000 Based on the result for the year: UK corporation tax (160) 210 Deferred tax 9 114 (151) 324 Adjustments relating to prior years: Corporation tax over - (38) provided in earlier periods (151) 286 2. Earnings per share 1999 1998 #'000 #'000 The calculation of earnings per ordinary share is based upon the following: (Loss) / Profit for the year before ordinary dividends (549) 469 Weighted average number of shares adjusted for the bonus issue of shares in April 1997 (shares 000's) 18,667 18,385 (Loss) / Earnings per share - basic and diluted (4.30p) 2.55p 3. Dividends An interim dividend of 0.5p per ordinary share was paid on 31st December 1998. The Directors are not recommending a final dividend. Total dividends for the year are 0.5p. 4. Exceptional items Costs relating to the restructuring of the business have been treated as exceptional costs before arriving at operating profit. 1999 1998 #'000 #'000 Restructuring of product range 104 - Store concept development and 302 - board restructuring costs 406 - 5. Reconciliation of operating (loss) / profit to net cash inflow from operating activities: 1999 1998 #'000 #'000 Operating (loss) / profit (825) 728 Depreciation 1,537 1,284 Amortisation of deferred income (469) 31 Profit on disposal of tangible fixed assets - (4) Increase in debtors (114) (450) Increase in stocks (1,025) (1,193) Increase/(decrease)in creditors 2,452 (113) Net cash inflow from continuing operating activities 1,556 283 6. NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt 1999 1998 #'000 #'000 Decrease in cash in the year to 31 March (348) (1,362) New finance leases - (65) Cash used to repay finance leases 26 39 Cash used to repay loans - 320 Change in net debt Net debt at 1 April (322) (1,068) (1,770) (702) Net Debt at 31 March (2,092) (1,770) Analysis of changes in net debt At 1 April Cash At 31 March 1998 flows 1999 #'000 #'000 #'000 Cash in hand 57 1 58 Overdrafts (1,774) (349) (2,123) (1,774) (348) (2,065) Debt due within one year (53) 26 (27) Total (1,770) (322) (2,092) 7. Changes in Accounting Policy The Group has adopted FRS10 'Goodwill and Intangible Assets', FRS11 'Impairment of Fixed Assets and Goodwill', FRS12 'Provisions and Contingencies', FRS13 'Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments' and FRS 14 'Earnings per Share'. Consistent accounting policies have been applied with the exception of FRS10. In order to adopt FRS 10 the Group has changed its accounting policy for its treatment of Goodwill. Goodwill written off to reserves under the Group's previous policy, has been eliminated against the profit and loss account as a prior year adjustment. There is no effect on the Group's reported results from this change in accounting policy on the results for 1998 and 1999. For acquisitions made on or after 1 April 1998 goodwill is capitalised as an intangible fixed asset and amortised through the profit and loss account over its useful economic life to a maximum of 20 years. 8. Annual Report 1999 The financial information set out above does not constitute full accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 for the years ended 31 March 1999 or 31 March 1998. Statutory accounts for 1998 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies: those for 1999 will be delivered following the Company's Annual General Meeting. The auditors have reported on these accounts: their reports were unqualified and did not contain statements under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The annual report for the year ended 31 March 1999 will be posted to shareholders on 24 June 1999 prior to the Annual General Meeting. Copies of the annual report will be available to members of the public from 25 June 1999 from the Company Secretary, Partners Holdings plc, Savoy House, Savoy Road, Cheshire CW1 6NA. END FR FBMPBLLMBBJL
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