Interim Results

Dart Group PLC 15 November 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15 November 2001 DART GROUP PLC Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 30 September 2001 Dart Group PLC, the distribution and aviation services group, announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2001. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to report on the Group's trading for the six months ended 30 September 2001. Profit before tax, and before the amortisation of goodwill, has risen to £5.2m (2000: £4.9m) on turnover of £99.2m (2000: £94.4m). Earnings per share, before the amortisation of goodwill, were 10.38p (2000: 9.91p). Net borrowings have increased to £22.8m (31 March 2001: £2.3m). This increase has primarily arisen as a result of new loans taken out to finance the purchase of two Boeing 737-300QC aircraft. Gearing at 30 September 2001 was 70% (31 March 2001: 8%) The Board has declared an increased interim dividend of 1.85p per share (2000: 1.8p). The dividend will be paid on 4 January 2002 to shareholders on the register as at 23 November 2001. Whilst not directly affected by the events of 11 September, Group companies are experiencing tighter trading conditions and our cargo airline, Channel Express (Air Services), higher insurance costs. The second half of the financial year will, therefore, be challenging but we remain optimistic that the Group will continue to successfully develop its Distribution and Aviation Services' activities. Distribution The Dart Distribution companies, Coolchain, Fowler Welch and Channel Express (CI) provide specialist road distribution services to fresh produce, horticulture and chilled and frozen food suppliers that serve the UK's leading supermarkets and wholesale markets throughout the country. The companies also provide a range of value-adding services such as sorting, grading, pre-packing and storage of fresh produce and horticultural products. They operate through a network of regional consolidation and distribution centres strategically sited in the country's main producing and importing areas. Dutch subsidiary, Fowler Welch BV, based close to the ports of Rotterdam and the Hook of Holland, principally serves the dynamic Dutch horticultural industry that supplies leading UK retailers. There is no doubt that the wet winter, the less buoyant economy and the national foot and mouth epidemic brought immense problems to the countryside in general. This affected both the supply of and, through the downturn in the number of visitors to this country, the demand for fresh produce. Consequently, the volumes distributed by our business resulted in lower growth than expected in the first half, however, operating costs have been carefully managed to mitigate this situation as far as possible. Predictably, the division's retail customers continue to seek efficiencies and economies in their supply chains and so, our management co-operates closely with them to continually develop cost-effective services and seek new business opportunities. As a result, in Kent, Coolchain recently won additional pre-packing work on behalf of a major fresh produce supplier, and in Lincolnshire, Fowler Welch is commissioning a new national distribution initiative for horticultural products on behalf of a major supermarket. New business is also being won in the chilled and frozen sectors. The Dart Distribution companies are particularly focusing their attention on network efficiencies that will result from the integration of the individual companies' transport operations. Significantly, the first phase of the division's new single operating IT system was successfully implemented on time when Coolchain's Portsmouth and Southampton operations went live. The roll-out programme continues throughout the division's consolidation centres and full implementation is on target for June 2002. Traffic managers will then, for the first time, have on-line visibility across the division's entire vehicle fleet which will lead to the greatly improved co-ordination and utilisation of operating resources. Dart Distribution is the country's leading distributor of fresh produce and horticultural products and is well-positioned to take advantage of both the continued growth and consequent commercial opportunities in the sector. The Group's policy remains to grow the division both organically and through carefully selected acquisitions. Aviation Services The companies within this division are Channel Express (Air Services), which operates a fleet of 15 freighter aircraft on behalf of express parcel companies, postal authorities, freight forwarders and other airlines, and Benair Freight International, which manages international freight movements on behalf of a wide customer base. In June and August of this year, Channel Express (Air Services) commenced operating two Boeing 737-300 'Quick Change' aircraft replacing two of the company's Lockheed Electras which have been retired. The two Boeing 737-300s, based at Stansted and Edinburgh airports, operate night mail flights on behalf of Consignia plc and day-time passenger charters for a varied customer base, which includes orchestras, football teams and their supporters, incentive groups and conferences. The Quick Change concept allows the interior of the aircraft to be changed between freighter and passenger roles in less than 45 minutes and significantly widens the company's potential customer base. The company's Airbus A300 'Eurofreighters' and Fokker F27s are fully contracted to the delivery of overnight express parcels, newspapers and mail and supplement their income with additional charters, often to meet the just-in-time delivery needs of vehicle and other manufacturers. In the present economic climate, our customers' careful control of costs is limiting the amount of additional charter revenue, whilst at the same time the company has incurred increased insurance costs post 11 September. However, we remain optimistic that the air cargo market will maintain its traditional year-on-year growth as global economic confidence resumes. Therefore, although naturally cautious in the current economic and political climate, the Group intends to increase the Boeing 737-300 fleet as its business for the type develops. Channel Express Parts Trading, the company's aircraft parts business, has had a successful half year. The company has dismantled a further two A300 aircraft for their parts and continues to support both the Group's own aircraft and those of its many other customers. Parts Trading is also developing its capability to market and deal in parts for the Boeing 737 series in line with the Group's acquisition of that type. Benair Freight International has had an encouraging six months trading. The company's offices in London, Manchester, East Midlands and Newcastle, together with the wholly-owned Singapore business are each generating increased levels of business and the specialist ornamental fish business continues to grow. Outlook Finally, I am pleased to report that trading during the second half of the year continues satisfactorily. Philip Meeson, Chairman 15 November 2001 For further information on Dart Group PLC and its subsidiary companies please visit our website, www.dartgroup.co.uk UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED RESULTS for the half year to 30 September 2001 Half year Half year to to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Note £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover - continuing operations 1 99,225 94,407 190,912 Net operating expenses, excluding amortisation of goodwill (93,323) (89,212) (180,630) Amortisation of goodwill (248) (248) (497) Net operating expenses (93,571) (89,460) (181,127) Operating profit - continuing operations 5,654 4,947 9,785 (Loss)/Profit on disposal of fixed (13) 42 18 assets Net interest payable (680) (292) (592) Profit on ordinary activities before 4,961 4,697 9,211 taxation Taxation (1,657) (1,564) (3,085) Profit on ordinary activities after 3,304 3,133 6,126 taxation Dividends (633) (614) (2,040) Retained profit for the period 2,671 2,519 4,086 Earnings per share - basic 9.65p 9.19p 17.94p - basic, excluding the amortisation of 10.38p 9.91p 19.40p goodwill - diluted 9.55p 9.10p 17.77p Dividend per share 1.85p 1.80p 5.96p STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES Half year Half year to to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Profit on ordinary activities after 3,304 3,133 6,126 taxation Foreign exchange gain on foreign equity investments 6 21 33 Total gains and losses recognised in the 3,310 3,154 6,159 period CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET at 30 September 2001 30 September 31 March 2001 2001 (unaudited) (audited) Note £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible assets 9,023 9,271 Tangible assets 51,637 41,534 Investments 59 59 60,719 50,864 Current assets Stock 2,943 1,756 Debtors 31,463 29,965 Cash at bank and in hand 3,178 7,061 37,584 38,782 Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (39,313) (49,301) Net current liabilities (1,729) (10,519) Total assets less current liabilities 58,990 40,345 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (20,930) (6,790) Provision for liabilities and charges (5,335) (3,569) (26,265) (10,359) 32,725 29,986 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 1,713 1,710 Share premium account 7,610 7,551 Profit and loss account 2 23,402 20,725 Shareholders' funds - equity interests 32,725 29,986 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the half year to 30 September 2001 Half year Half year to to 30 30 Year to September September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Note £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating 3 10,640 13,355 24,909 activities Returns on investment and servicing of finance Interest paid: bank and other loans (697) (472) (832) Interest element of finance lease rental (13) (20) (44) payments Interest received: bank 30 200 284 (680) (292) (592) Taxation Corporation tax paid (1,016) (252) (2,089) Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (28,456) (7,462) (13,620) Disposal of tangible fixed assets 397 528 743 (28,059) (6,934) (12,877) Equity dividends paid (1,422) (1,179) (1,798) Cash (outflow)/ inflow before financing (20,537) 4,698 7,553 Financing Share capital issued 62 68 120 Other loans repaid (1,698) (3,374) (7,583) Bank loans repaid (174) (173) (346) Other loans advanced 18,595 - - Finance lease capital (131) (176) (338) 16,654 (3,655) (8,147) (Decrease)/Increase in cash in the (3,883) 1,043 (594) period NOTES TO THE INTERIM RESULTS at 30 September 2001 1. Turnover Half year to Half year to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Distribution 61,676 57,815 116,065 Aviation Services 37,549 36,592 74,847 99,225 94,407 190,912 Turnover arising within: The United Kingdom and the Channel 96,238 91,841 185,931 Islands Mainland Europe 2,236 1,836 3,300 The Far East 751 730 1,681 99,225 94,407 190,912 Analyses of profit before taxation and net assets between the different segments of the Group are not given as, in the opinion of the directors, such analyses would be seriously prejudicial to the commercial interests of the Group. 2. Profit and loss account Half year to Year to 30 September 31 March 2001 2001 (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 Balance at the beginning of the period 20,725 16,606 Retained profit for the period 2,671 4,086 Currency translation differences 6 33 23,402 20,725 3. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities Half year to Half year to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating profit 5,654 4,947 9,785 Depreciation 6,658 7,548 14,690 Amortisation of goodwill 248 248 497 (Increase)/decrease in stock (1,187) (243) 17 Increase in debtors (1,497) (4,712) (4,776) Increase in creditors 758 5,546 4,663 Exchange differences 6 21 33 10,640 13,355 24,909 NOTES TO THE INTERIM RESULTS at 30 September 2001 4. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Half year Half year to to 30 30 Year to September September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (3,883) 1,043 (594) Cash (inflow)/outflow from (increase)/ decrease in net debt in the period (16,592) 3,723 8,267 Change in net debt in the period (20,475) 4,766 7,673 Net debt at 1 April (2,326) (9,999) (9,999) Net debt at end of period (22,801) (5,233) (2,326) 5. Other matters The financial information for the year to 31 March 2001 does not constitute statutory accounts, as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985, but is based on the statutory accounts for the year then ended. Those accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The accounts to 30 September 2001 have been prepared using accounting policies consistent with those adopted for the year to 31 March 2001. Basic earnings per share has been calculated by reference to earnings of £3,304,000 (2000 : £3,133,000) and a weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue of 34,221,983 (2000:34,111,600). This report is being sent to all shareholders and copies are available from the Company Secretary at the registered office of the Company, Building 470, Bournemouth International Airport, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6SE.

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