Interim Results

Lok'n Store Group PLC 18 April 2002 LOK'NSTORE GROUP PLC INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 31 JANUARY 2002 Highlights • Turnover increased by 24% to £2.37 million (2001: £1.91 million) • Annualised revenues now running at £5.1 million • Loss before tax of £445,079 (2001: profit £127,457) reflecting the normal start up losses arising from the opening of four new sites at the end of the last financial year and the new site this year. • Expansion and consolidation programme progressing well: • Existing stores are trading in line with expectations • Ashford store opened in November 2001 • Conversion of leasehold site at Reading to freehold completed in November 2001 • Successful placing of Access' 29% stake across a number of prominent institutional investors • WestLB Panmure appointed as corporate broker and adviser. Andrew Jacobs, chairman, commented, ' I am pleased to report that we continue to make excellent progress in driving the Group's organic growth. Demand for storage space remained buoyant during the period and trading in all our sites was strong. 'I am also delighted to report that in November 2001, we successfully placed the 29% stake, that was owned by Access Storage Solutions, across a number of prominent institutional investors. 'With revenues growing and one of the strongest management teams in our marketplace, we believe that we are well positioned to continue the successful development of the Lok'nStore brand in the second half of the year and beyond.' Press enquiries: Lok'nStore Group plc Andrew Jacobs, chairman Tel: 020 7448 1000 Simon Thomas, chief executive Christopher Stevens, finance director Biddicks Katie Tzouliadis Tel: 020 7448 1000 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to report that we continue to make excellent progress in driving the Group's organic growth. Our focus remains on building our network of storage centres in the South & South-east of England, all in high profile locations. Demand for storage space remained buoyant during the period and trading in all our sites was strong. With revenues growing and one of the strongest management teams in our marketplace, we believe that we are well positioned to continue the successful development of the Lok'nStore brand. Results Turnover for the six months to 31 January 2002 increased by 24% to £2.37 million (2001: £1.91 million) and on an annualised basis, is currently in excess of £5.1 million. Loss before tax for the period was £445,079 compared to a profit of £127,457 last year, reflecting the expected losses that arose from the five stores we opened at the end of the last financial year and at the start of this year. In their initial 'start-up' phase, these immature sites are naturally loss making. Our stated policy continues to be the reinvestment of cash generated by the more mature stores in our portfolio into the development of new storage centres and we remain rigorous in managing our assets to ensure optimum performance and thereby ensure steady, balanced and sustained growth. We believe this approach offers shareholders the best return on their investment. Cash flow from operating activities decreased during the period to an outflow of £36,441 for the six months to 31 January 2002 as compared to an inflow of £503,783 for the six months to 31 January 2001. As highlighted above, this reflects the costs associated with the five new sites we have opened. We have a proven track record of opening new sites very quickly after acquisition, which minimizes the time in which our new sites reach maturity. We believe that our five new sites will collectively become cash generative during the next 12 months. In addition, in the period we incurred further central costs arising from our investment in new, key appointments to the management team. As we have stated, it is our intention during a period of growth to retain the cash generated in order to fund the expansion of Lok'nStore. The board therefore does not recommend the payment of an interim dividend. It is our intention to commence the payment of dividends when it is commercially prudent to do so and subject to the availability of distributable reserves. Expansion During the period, Lok'nStore opened a new storage centre in Ashford, Kent. The site, offering 42,600 sq ft of space, was acquired in June 2000 and, following vacant possession and the completion of the initial phase of refurbishment, we opened it for business in November 2001. We have been pleased with the 'fill-up' rate and occupancy levels now exceed our initial estimates at the time of opening. The Ashford site extends our eastern boundary and takes our brand into an undersupplied but densely populated area. In November 2001, we completed the final stage of the conversion of our Reading leasehold site to freehold. Having proved the success of our self-storage site in Reading, it was an obvious next step in our consolidation of the business to buy the freehold. The split between our freehold and leasehold sites across our portfolio is now balanced. We have continued to invest in our existing sites during the period with further phased fit-outs of our semi-mature sites. Most notably we have accelerated the next phase on our new Sunbury site due to increased demand. With the current industrial economic downturn providing a number of property acquisition opportunities, we are constantly reviewing potential site acquisitions within the confines of our rigorous investment criteria. Placing In November 1999, we welcomed Access Storage Solutions as a significant investor in Lok'nStore when they took a 29% stake in the Group. Following a recent change of strategy at Access' parent company, Security Capital, a decision was taken to realise the investment in Lok'nStore. As a consequence, in November 2001 we successfully completed the placing of this stake across a broad range of institutional investors. The placing has enabled us to diversify our shareholder base and strengthen institutional representation. I would like to thank Access for its invaluable contribution to the Group during its period of investment and welcome our new investors to Lok'nStore. On completion of this successful placing, we appointed WestLB Panmure as corporate broker and nominated adviser to the Group. Prospects I continue to have considerable confidence in the self-storage market as a whole and believe that the self-storage sector and Lok'nStore remain resilient to prevailing macro-economic conditions. Our healthy levels of trading during the last six months only reinforces our belief in the defensive nature of the sector and the ongoing investment opportunities that a structurally under-supplied market offers. Lok'nStore continues to grow and expand in a balanced and focused manner and I look forward to reporting on our progress at the year end. CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the period ended 31 January 2002 Notes Unaudited Audited 31 January 31 January 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £ £ £ TURNOVER Continuing operations 2,369,605 1,906,900 3,958,573 Operating expenses (2,623,213) (1,641,506) (3,640,915) OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT (253,608) 265,394 317,658 Interest receivable 40,162 664 122,688 Interest payable (231,633) (138,601) (411,724) (LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (445,079) 127,457 28,622 Taxation 2 - - - (LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION (445,079) 127,457 28,622 EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic 3 (2.07)p 0.59p 0.13p Fully diluted 3 (1.91)p 0.56p 0.12p CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET 31 January 2002 Unaudited Audited 31 January 31 January 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £ £ £ FIXED ASSETS Intangible assets 443,960 468,214 456,087 Tangible assets 12,937,303 9,474,366 10,659,523 Investments 172,917 172,917 172,917 13,554,180 10,115,497 11,288,527 CURRENT ASSETS Stock 40,934 37,063 41,248 Debtors 807,287 1,116,710 1,003,469 Cash at bank and in hand 483,123 1,767,316 995,139 1,331,344 2,921,089 2,039,856 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year (2,671,457) (1,312,603) (2,740,802) NET CURRENT (LIABILITIES)/ASSETS (1,340,113) 1,608,486 (700,946) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 12,214,067 11,723,983 10,587,581 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after more than one year (6,587,132) (5,553,134) (4,515,567) 5,626,935 6,170,849 6,072,014 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 214,563 214,563 214,563 Merger reserve 6,295,295 6,295,295 6,295,295 Profit and loss account (882,923) (339,009) (437,844) SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 5,626,935 6,170,849 6,072,014 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT For the period ended 31 January 2002 Notes Unaudited Audited 31 January 31 January 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £ £ £ Cash flow from operating activities 4 (36,441) 503,783 1,060,468 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (191,470) (137,937) (289,036) Taxation - - - Capital expenditure and financial investment (2,488,159) (2,485,289) (3,825,542) Acquisitions and disposals - - - CASH OUTFLOW BEFORE FINANCING (2,716,070) (2,119,443) (3,054,110) Financing 2,204,054 1,519,106 1,681,596 DECREASE IN CASH IN THE PERIOD (512,016) (600,337) (1,372,514) RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN DEBT 31 January 31 January 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £ £ £ Decrease in cash in the period (512,016) (600,337) (1,372,514) Change in net debt resulting from cash flows (2,217,433) (1,479,256) (1,720,571) Net finance leases 13,379 - 39,197 MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT IN PERIOD (2,716,070) (2,079,593) (3,053,888) NET DEBT BROUGHT FORWARD (4,451,769) (1,397,881) (1,397,881) NET DEBT CARRIED FORWARD (7,167,839) (3,477,474) (4,451,769) NOTES TO THE INTERIM ACCOUNTS 1. BASIS OF PREPARATION The interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in the statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2001. The interim financial statements, which were approved by the Directors on 17 April 2002, are unaudited but have been reviewed in accordance with Audit Practices Board bulletin 'Review of Interim Financial Information' by the auditors. Comparative figures for the year ended 31 July 2001 are an abridged version of the Group's full accounts which carry an unqualified audit report and have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 2. TAXATION There is no charge to corporation tax for the group due to the availability of brought forward trading losses. 3. EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE The calculation of earnings per ordinary share is based on the loss for the period of £445,079 (year to 31 July 2001 - profit of £28,622, period to 31 January 2001 - profit of £127,457) and on the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of 21,456,303 shares (31 July 2001- 21,456,303 shares; 31 January 2001- 21,456,303). Fully diluted earnings per share includes shares held under the directors' option scheme and is based on a loss for the period of £445,079 (year to 31 July 2001 - profit of £28,622; period to 31 January 2001 - profit of £127,457) and on a weighted average number of shares during the period of 23,268,373 shares (31 July 2001 - 23,279,777 shares; 31 January 2001 - 22,928,987 shares). 4. CASH FLOWS Unaudited Audited 31 January 31 January 31 July 2002 2001 2001 £ £ £ Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities Operating (loss)/ profit (253,608) 265,394 317,658 Depreciation 210,494 207,376 362,472 Amortisation 12,127 6,064 18,191 Profit on disposal of fixed assets (115) - - Decrease/(increase) in stocks 314 (15,299) (19,484) Decrease/(increase) in debtors 196,182 (359,550) (246,309) (Decrease)/increase in creditors (201,835) 399,798 627,940 Net cash flow from operating activities (36,441) 503,783 1,060,468 INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO LOK'N STORE GROUP PLC Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information set out on pages 4 to 7 and we have read the other information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. A review consists principally of making enquiries of group management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months ended 31 January 2002. BAKER TILLY Chartered Accountants 2 Bloomsbury Street London WC1B 3ST 17 April 2002 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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