Interim Results

Bellway PLC 10 April 2002 NATIONAL HOUSEBUILDER BELLWAY p.l.c. TODAY (WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2002) ANNOUNCE THEIR INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2002 THE CHAIRMAN SAID 'THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR OF REPORTING INTERIM RESULTS AND ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ANNOUNCE A RECORD PERFORMANCE. I AM DELIGHTED TO SAY THAT THIS TIME IS NO EXCEPTION'. HE ALSO SAID 'BELLWAY HAS DEMONSTRATED YET AGAIN WITH THESE RESULTS THAT IT IS ONE OF THE PRE-EMINENT COMPANIES IN THE HOUSEBUILDING SECTOR'. HE CONCLUDED 'I AM EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE GROUP'S LONG TERM PROSPECTS'. HIGHLIGHTS Half Year Half Year Ended 31 January Ended 31 January 2002 2001 Turnover £287.7m £277.8m +4% Homes sold 2,306 2,269 +2% Operating profit £42.5m £37.5m +13% Operating margin 14.8% 13.5% +10% Profit before tax £39.1m £35.1m +11% Dividend per ordinary share 4.55p 4.1p +11% Ordinary dividend cover 5.3 times 5.3 times Basic earnings per ordinary share 24.2p 21.8p +11% Net borrowings £150.4m £86.1m Shareholders' funds £413.0m £355.7m +16% Net asset value per ordinary share 357p 307p +16% BELLWAY p.l.c. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Interim Results & Dividend This is my fifth year of reporting interim results and on each occasion I have been able to announce a record performance. I am delighted to say that this time is no exception. In 1997 the earnings per ordinary share for the first half of that financial year was 10.9p. The interim earnings per ordinary share for the comparable period today is 24.2p. This represents an average compound increase of 17% per annum. In the six months to 31 January 2002 Bellway sold 2,306 homes, a new high, with the Group's turnover improving by £10m to £288m. The operating profit jumped by £5m to £42.5m and the operating margin increased to 14.8% from 13.5%. Thus the profit before tax for the half-year rose to a record £39.1m from £35.1m, an increase of over 11%. Earnings per ordinary share grew to a new high of 24.2p from 21.8p in the comparable period last year and the Board is delighted to declare an interim dividend of 4.55p per ordinary share, an increase of 11% over last year. The dividend will be paid on Monday 1 July 2002 to all ordinary shareholders who are on the Company's Register of Members at the close of business on Friday 7 June 2002. Trading and Outlook Our current sales position is extremely encouraging. Reservations relating to the financial year ending 31 July 2002 are well ahead compared with this time last year and they have been achieved at higher selling prices. We are therefore looking forward to a strong second half performance with results ahead of our previous expectations. Furthermore we have already sold a record number of homes for the following financial year 2002/3, a much improved position on any previous year. Bellway's success is derived from our 'local, national housebuilder' philosophy. This, coupled with good affordability levels, has resulted in an increasing demand for our homes which has enabled us to maintain our long term growth plans. Throughout the period under review, we have continued to increase our investment in land. Our focus on brownfield development capitalises on our mixed use capabilities resulting in improved margins. As previously reported, we took a strategic decision to reduce the level of our exposure to the higher priced Central London investor market and increase the purchase of 'middle market' development land in London and the Home Counties, notably at Croydon, Ilford, Lewisham, Reading and Wembley. Elsewhere in the UK we have continued our substantial land investment in our other areas of operation and particularly in the Midlands where we have expanded our position with, for example, major land acquisitions in Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester. Your Board is confident that these developments have been acquired at advantageous prices and the quality of the land bank suggests a further improvement in our operating margin. The Group's balance sheet remains strong with substantial scope for further expenditure on land to continue our plans for growth. At 31 January 2002 our land bank with planning permission stood at 17,500 plots compared with 16,700 at the last financial year end. In addition, we own or control some 11,000 plots where planning permission is being actively pursued and is likely to be received shortly. There are also further substantial strategic land interests, owned or controlled, which are being progressed in the long term through the planning process. Employees As ever, the Board would like to express their gratitude to our loyal and dedicated employees without whose efforts the Group's success would not be possible. Board Changes As previously reported, Mr Alan G Robson, the Finance Director, will be retiring from the Board at the end of the current financial year. The Board would like to thank Mr Robson for his significant contribution to the Group's performance over the past 18 years. His replacement on the Board from 1 August 2002 will be Mr Alistair M Leitch, a chartered accountant who joined Bellway in 1981. He has held a number of senior financial positions within the Group including, latterly, that of Group Chief Accountant. Conclusion Bellway has demonstrated yet again with these results that it is one of the pre-eminent companies in the housebuilding sector. The Group's 'local, national housebuilder' ethos, wide geographical spread and quality land bank combined with increasing volumes and an improved operating margin makes your Board very confident of another record set of results for this year. I am extremely optimistic about the Group's long term prospects. H C Dawe Chairman 9 April 2002 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN WATSON, GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR ALAN ROBSON, GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL AT ING BARINGS, 60 LONDON WALL, LONDON EC2M 5TQ - TEL: 020 7767 1000 OR 07831 331191 (J WATSON - MOBILE) & 07736 779663 (A ROBSON - MOBILE) THURSDAY 11 APRIL 07831 331191 & 07736 779663 THEREAFTER 0191 217 0717 BELLWAY p.l.c. GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Half year to Half year to Year ended 31 January 31 January 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £m £m £m Turnover 287.7 277.8 695.7 ==== ==== ==== Operating profit 42.5 37.5 107.4 Net interest payable (including associated 3.4 2.4 5.9 undertakings) _____ _____ _____ Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 39.1 35.1 101.5 Taxation 11.7 10.5 30.8 _____ _____ _____ Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 27.4 24.6 70.7 Dividends on equity and non-equity shares 6.0 5.5 17.5 _____ _____ _____ Retained profit 21.4 19.1 53.2 ==== ==== ==== Dividend per preference share 4.75p 4.75p 9.5p Dividend per ordinary share 4.55p 4.1p 14.2p Earnings per ordinary share - basic 24.2p 21.8p 63.2p Earnings per ordinary share - diluted 24.0p 21.7p 62.7p BELLWAY p.l.c. GROUP BALANCE SHEET At At At 31 January 31 January 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £m £m £m £m £m £m Fixed assets Tangible assets 19.4 13.9 19.3 Investments 1.7 2.1 2.1 _____ _____ _____ 21.1 16.0 21.4 Current assets Stocks 757.2 599.4 644.4 Debtors 22.8 18.8 21.5 Cash at bank and in hand 0.7 - 4.1 _____ _____ _____ 780.7 618.2 670.0 _____ _____ _____ Creditors due within one year Bank borrowings 1.1 31.1 9.0 Other creditors 231.5 179.8 221.2 _____ _____ _____ Net current assets 548.1 407.3 439.8 _____ _____ _____ Total assets less current 569.2 423.3 461.2 liabilities Creditors due after more than one year Bank borrowings 150.0 55.0 55.0 Other creditors 6.2 12.6 15.3 _____ _____ _____ 156.2 67.6 70.3 _____ _____ _____ NET ASSETS 413.0 355.7 390.9 ==== ==== ==== Capital and reserves Called up share capital 33.8 33.7 33.7 Reserves and share premium 379.2 322.0 357.2 _____ _____ _____ SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 413.0 355.7 390.9 ==== ==== ==== The interim accounts were approved by the Board of Directors on 9 April 2002. The interim accounts have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies adopted for the year ended 31 July 2001 in all material respects. These policies are detailed in the company's Annual Report and Accounts for that year. The taxation charge is calculated by applying the directors' best estimate of the annual effective tax rate to the profit for the period. The financial information for the two half year periods is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of the Companies Act 1985. The figures relating to the year ended 31 July 2001 are an extract from statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the auditors gave an unqualified audit report. BELLWAY p.l.c. GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT Half Year Half Year Ended 31 January Ended 31 January Year Ended 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £m £m £m £m £m £m Cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities (60.5) (46.2) 16.9 Net cash (outflow) / inflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest paid (2.9) (2.7) (7.2) Interest received 0.3 0.7 0.9 Dividends paid - non-equity (0.9) (0.9) (1.9) (3.5) (2.9) (8.2) Taxation (14.2) (9.9) (30.5) Net cash (outflow) / inflow from capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (3.0) (1.0) (9.1) Purchase of investments 0.0 0.0 (0.2) Sale of tangible fixed assets 1.2 0.2 0.9 ______ _______ _______ (1.8) (0.8) (8.4) Equity dividends paid (11.1) (9.4) (14.1) ______ _______ _______ Net cash outflow before financing (91.1) (69.2) (44.3) Net cash inflow from financing Issue of ordinary share capital on exercise of share options 0.6 0.6 1.9 ______ _______ _______ Decrease in cash in period (90.5) (68.6) (42.4) ===== ===== ===== This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange ND IR BUGDSRSGGGDC

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