Interim Results

Bellway PLC 10 April 2003 NATIONAL HOUSEBUILDER BELLWAY p.l.c. TODAY (THURSDAY 10 APRIL) ANNOUNCE THEIR INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2003. The Chairman, Howard Dawe, said 'I am delighted to report another excellent performance for the six months ended 31 January 2003 resulting in record pre-tax profits of £57.1m'. He added, 'With these record results the Group has, yet again, added to its enviable long term record of growth'. He concluded 'The Board continues to remain confident about the long term prospects for your Group'. HIGHLIGHTS Half Year Ended 31 January 31 January Increase 2003 2002 • Turnover £362.2m £287.7m 26% • Homes sold 2,470 2,306 7% • Operating profit £59.7m £42.5m 40% • Operating margin 16.5% 14.8% 11% • Profit before tax £57.1m £39.1m 46% • Dividend per ordinary share 6.2p 4.55p 36% • Ordinary dividend cover 5.7 x 5.3 x • Basic earnings per ordinary share 35.6p 24.2p 47% • Net borrowings £125.4m £150.4m • Shareholders' funds £492.8m £413.0m 19% • Net asset value per ordinary share 429p 357p 20% FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN WATSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR ALISTAIR LEITCH, FINANCE DIRECTOR THURSDAY 10 APRIL AT HSBC, 10 LOWER THAMES STREET, LONDON EC3R 6AE TEL: 020 7260 8000 OR 07855 337007 (J WATSON - MOBILE) & 07855 337001 (A LEITCH - MOBILE) FRIDAY 11 APRIL 07855 337007 & 07855 337001 THEREAFTER 0191 217 0717 BELLWAY p.l.c CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Interim Results I am delighted to report another excellent performance for the six months ended 31 January 2003 resulting in record pre-tax profits of £57.1m compared with £39.1m last year, an increase of 46%. In the period we completed the sale of a record 2,470 homes, an increase of 7% with turnover advancing to a new high of £362.2m compared with £287.7m last year. The average selling price of our homes leapt from £113,600 to £144,500 largely as a result of the planned changes in our product mix coming to fruition. Operating profit was lifted by some 40% to £59.7m from £42.5m, which resulted in the operating margin increasing from 14.8% to 16.5%. Earnings per ordinary share grew to a new high of 35.6p from 24.2p. Net borrowings stood at £125.4m producing gearing of 25.4% and interest is covered more than 23 times. Dividend We have decided to realign the interim dividend to effect a more even distribution to shareholders between the first and second halves. The Board is therefore delighted to announce an exceptional increase in the interim dividend of 36% to 6.2p compared with 4.55p last year to reflect the realignment and these excellent results. The dividend will be paid on Tuesday 1 July 2003 to all ordinary shareholders who are on the Company's register of members at the close of business on Friday 6 June 2003. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday 4 June 2003. Trading & Outlook During the whole of 2002 the market for new homes was very strong and we have already reserved, contracted or legally completed 92% of this year's target. We currently have a record order book in excess of £500m. Despite concerns over the economy and the war in Iraq our wide geographical spread and diverse product range gives us confidence that we can continue our growth in sales. Following our planned move away from the higher priced London investor market two and a half years ago, our divisions now primarily operate in the middle market with an average selling price of less than £150,000. During the period under review our land bank with planning permission has grown to 17,800 plots compared to 17,400 at 31 July 2002. In addition, we own or control more than 13,600 plots where planning permission is likely to be received in the near future. Furthermore we continue to progress through the planning system substantial holdings of strategic long term land. Expansion Following the successful opening of our new division at Milton Keynes in August 2000, we intend to further underpin our planned growth by opening a new division based in the South West to service the growing market for new homes in that region. Employees These excellent results could not have been achieved without the hard work of our loyal and dedicated employees and the Board would like to take this opportunity to thank them all. Conclusion With these record results the Group has, yet again, added to its enviable long term record of growth. Notwithstanding any external factors that may affect the housing market, the Board is confident of posting another record performance for the year ending 31 July 2003, exceeding current market expectations. The Board continues to remain confident about the long term prospects for your Group. H C Dawe Chairman 9 April 2003 BELLWAY p.l.c. GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Half year ended Half year ended Year ended 31 January 31 January 31 July 2003 2002 2002 £m £m £m Turnover 362.2 287.7 773.0 ==== ==== ==== Operating profit 59.7 42.5 133.0 Net interest payable (including associated (2.6) (3.4) (7.7) undertakings) ______ ______ ______ Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 57.1 39.1 125.3 Taxation (17.1) (11.7) (37.4) ______ ______ ______ Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 40.0 27.4 87.9 Dividends on equity and non-equity shares (7.8) (6.0) (19.3) ______ ______ ______ Retained profit 32.2 21.4 68.6 ==== ==== ==== Dividend per preference share 4.75p 4.75p 9.5p Dividend per ordinary share 6.2p 4.55p 15.75p Earnings per ordinary share - basic 35.6p 24.2p 78.6p Earnings per ordinary share - diluted 35.2p 24.0p 77.8p BELLWAY p.l.c. GROUP BALANCE SHEET At At At 31 January 31 January 31 July 2003 £m 2002 £m 2002 £m £m £m £m Fixed assets Tangible assets 16.3 19.4 21.7 Investments 1.6 1.7 1.8 ______ ______ ______ 17.9 21.1 23.5 Current assets Stocks 809.0 757.2 737.2 Debtors 21.3 22.8 21.5 Cash at bank and in hand 32.9 0.7 73.4 ______ ______ ______ 863.2 780.7 832.1 ______ ______ ______ Creditors due within one year Bank borrowings (73.3) (1.1) (30.0) Other creditors (216.5) (231.5) (267.6) ______ _____ ______ Net current assets 573.4 548.1 534.5 ______ ______ ______ Total assets less current liabilities 591.3 569.2 558.0 Creditors due after more than one year Bank borrowings (85.0) (150.0) (85.0) Other creditors (13.5) (6.2) (12.7) ______ ______ ______ (98.5) (156.2) (97.7) ______ ______ ______ NET ASSETS 492.8 413.0 460.3 ==== ==== ==== Capital and reserves Called up share capital 33.8 33.8 33.8 Reserves and share premium 459.0 379.2 426.5 ______ ______ ______ SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 492.8 413.0 460.3 ==== ==== ==== The interim accounts were approved by the Board of Directors on 9 April 2003. The interim accounts have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies adopted for the year ended 31 July 2002 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 2002 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 ended Half year ended Year ended 31 January 31 January 31July 2003 2002 2002 £m £m £m £m £m £m Cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities (51.4) (60.5) 85.2 Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest paid (3.3) (2.9) (8.6) Interest received 0.7 0.3 0.7 Dividends paid - non-equity (0.9) (0.9) (1.9) ______ _______ ______ (3.5) (3.5) (9.8) Taxation (20.2) (14.2) (35.6) Net cash inflow / (outflow) from capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (2.0) (3.0) (7.6) Purchase of investments - - (0.4) Sale of tangible fixed assets 5.4 1.2 1.8 ______ _______ ______ 3.4 (1.8) (6.2) Equity dividends paid (12.4) (11.1) (16.1) _______ _______ _______ Net cash (outflow) / inflow before financing (84.1) (91.1) 17.5 Net cash inflow from financing Issue of ordinary share capital on exercise of share options 0.2 0.6 0.8 Increase in bank loans due within one year - - 30.0 Increase in bank loans due after more than one year - 95.0 30.0 _______ _______ ______ 0.2 95.6 60.8 ______ ______ ______ (Decrease) / Increase in cash in period (83.9) 4.5 78.3 ==== ==== ==== This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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