Final Results

Chamberlin & Hill PLC 21 May 2003 CHAMBERLIN & HILL PLC PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003 Chairman's Statement This time last year we were looking for an improvement in trading conditions. In the event we were disappointed. Indeed, with slow trading, combined with pressure for lower selling prices and significant upward pressure on costs, we made no overall progress. With both turnover and margins down, operating profit fell to £1,373,000 (2002: £2,545,000) and adjusted earnings per share (before restructuring costs) to 13.3p (2002: 24.0p). The balance sheet remains strong with net cash of £692,000 at the year end. The Directors are recommending a maintained final dividend of 8.00p making a total for the year of 11.85p (2002: 11.85p). In a year when trading is tough it is tempting to avoid difficult decisions in order to protect short term results. Cutting costs, particularly reducing the number of employees, is both unwelcome and expensive as our restructuring charge demonstrates. Continued capital expenditure and vigorous product development also limit short term results but, as we see it, we have no alternative but to maintain an aggressive policy of improvement. We cannot report a significant upturn and the pressure on costs and prices remains. We are winning new business but schedules are not yet sufficiently buoyant. There will come a day when the cycle turns and when it does I am confident that we will break new ground. We have a good team, well led and, with a strong balance sheet to back sound market positions, we have every prospect of resuming progress. John Eccles Chairman Consolidated profit and loss account for the year ended 31 March 2003 2003 2002 £000 £000 Turnover 27,027 30,548 Operating profit 1,373 2,545 Exceptional item - restructuring costs (451) - Operating profit after exceptional item 922 2,545 Interest (payable)/receivable (14) (19) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 908 2,526 Taxation (250) (778) Profit after taxation 658 1,748 Dividend (871) (866) Retained (loss)/profit (213) 882 Earnings per share - basic 9.0p 24.0p - adjusted 13.3p 24.0p - diluted 9.0p 24.0p Dividend per share: proposed final 8.00p 8.00p interim already paid 3.85p 3.85p Statement of total recognised gains and losses for the year ended 31 March 2003 2003 2002 £000 £000 Profit after taxation 658 1,748 Prior year adjustment - adoption of FRS 19 'Deferred Taxation' - (752) Total recognised gain 658 996 Consolidated balance sheet as at 31 March 2003 As at As at 31 March 2003 31 March 2002 £000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 9,045 8,892 Intangible assets 215 9,260 229 9,121 Current assets Stock 3,282 3,362 Debtors 5,623 6,634 Cash at bank and in hand 692 626 9,597 10,622 Creditors - under one year (4,449) (5,124) Net current assets 5,148 5,498 Provisions (762) (790) Net assets 13,646 13,829 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 1,835 1,830 Share premium account 718 693 Reserves 11,093 11,306 Shareholders' funds 13,646 13,829 Reconciliation of movement in shareholders' funds 2003 2002 £000 £000 Profit for the year 658 1,748 Dividends (871) (866) Issue of share capital 30 80 Net movement in the year (183) 962 Opening shareholders' funds 13,829 12,867 Closing shareholders' funds 13,646 13,829 Consolidated cash flow statement for the year ended 31 March 2003 2003 2002 £000 £000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 3,218 3,586 Return on investments and servicing of finance (14) (19) Taxation paid (679) (778) Net capital expenditure and financial investment (1,619) (1,073) Dividends paid (870) (844) Net cash flow before financing 36 872 Financing: redemption of loan notes - (504) issue of shares (including premium) 30 80 Increase in cash and bank balances 66 448 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities 2003 2002 £000 £000 Operating profit 1,373 2,545 Exceptional item - restructuring costs (451) - Depreciation 1,542 1,527 Amortisation of goodwill 14 14 Profit on disposals (76) (95) Government grants credited (5) (10) Decrease/(increase) in stocks 80 (40) Decrease in debtors 1,011 288 (Decrease) in creditors (270) (643) 3,218 3,586 Notes: 1. The results for the year to 31 March 2003 have been extracted from the financial statements for the year which have been audited and will be filed with the Registrar of Companies. The results for the year to 31 March 2002 are an abridged version of the Company's full accounts for that year which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' opinion on those accounts was unqualified and did not include a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act. 2. The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on a profit of £658,000 (2002: £1,748,000) and a weighted average of 7,336,439 shares (2002: 7,274,281) in issue during the period. Adjusted earnings per share is after adding back the effect of the exceptional item which was £316,000 (net of tax). 3. The full published accounts will again include the transitional provisions of FRS17 (Retirement Benefits) and this will consequently not impact on the 2002/2003 figures. If FRS17 had been fully adopted during the year, the Group would have recorded an increased net liability in its balance sheet of £2.97 million, up from £0.8 million last year. 4. A copy of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003 will be posted to shareholders in the week commencing 23 June 2003. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, 25 July 2003. 5. Subject to shareholders' approval at the Annual General Meeting, the dividend will be paid on 25 July 2003 to ordinary shareholders registered at the close of business on Friday, 4 July 2003. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Chamberlin (CMH)
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