Final Results
Marshalls PLC
8 March 2002
8 March 2002
MARSHALLS PLC
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2001
Marshalls plc, the specialist Landscape, Clay and Stone Products Group, today
announces results for the year to 31 December 2001.
Year to Year to 31 Increase
31 December December
2001 2000
(£'000) (£'000) %
Turnover 328,036 298,179 10.0
Operating profit before exceptional
costs and goodwill amortisation 48,865 43,782 11.6
Profit before tax 42,711 41,856 2.0
Adjusted basic earnings per share 19.55p 17.86p 9.5
Dividend per share 9.50p 9.00p 5.6
* Record profits achieved in 2001
* Strong second half performance in all Divisions
* Landscape products operating profit pre-exceptionals up 14.1%
* Cash inflow from operating activities of £70.7m up 46.5%
* Balance sheet strong with gearing of 6.3% after £43.4m of capital and
acquisition investment
* Dividends up 5.6% to 9.5p per share
* Confident outlook for 2002
Commenting on these results, Christopher Burnett, Chairman said:
'Strong trading conditions throughout the second half of the year, notably in
the Landscape Products Division, enabled full year operating profit to be
well ahead of last year despite a slightly lower first half performance.
The strong demand in the domestic part of our business has continued into
2002 and this, combined with an increase in commercial and public sector
enquiries, gives us confidence in the prospects for 2002.'
Enquiries:
Christopher Chairman Marshalls plc 020 7404 5959 on 8 March 2002
Burnett 01422 306400 thereafter
Ian Burrell Finance Director Marshalls plc 01422 306400
Jon Coles Brunswick Group 020 7404 5959
William Cullum Brunswick Group 020 7404 5959
Chairman's Statement
We experienced strong trading conditions throughout the second half, and, as
a result ended the year with sales of £328.0 million, 10 per cent ahead of
2000. All three Divisions, Landscape Products, Clay Products and Emerging
Businesses, achieved sales growth substantially ahead of that reported at the
half year.
At the time of our Interim results we indicated that the anticipated
improvement in operating profit for the year would be concentrated in the
second half. While Group operating profit before exceptional costs and
goodwill amortisation in the first six months was marginally lower than the
comparable period in 2000, the full year figure was well ahead of last year,
at £48.9 million, an increase of 11.6 per cent.
In 2000, we reported a large exceptional profit of £2.7 million from the sale
of surplus land. In 2001 exceptional profits from property disposals, which
do vary from year to year, amounted to only £0.3 million. This, together with
exceptional reorganisation costs, goodwill amortisation, and the write-off of
pre-paid insurance premiums and irrecoverable insurance claims of nearly £1
million following the collapse of Independent Insurance PLC, (reported to
shareholders in our Interim Report), reduced the amount of the increase in
the profit on ordinary activities before interest. Nevertheless, the profit
of £45.7 million was 2.3 per cent above 2000.
Landscape Products Division
This Division, which represents 75 per cent of Group turnover, achieved sales
of £247.6 million for the year, 9.3 per cent ahead of 2000. The pent up
demand that spilled over from the first half, especially in the domestic
sector, came through strongly right up to the year end. After reporting
interim operating profits similar to the first half of 2000, the improvement
in the second half enabled us to meet our target for the full year.
Clay Products Division
The Division also experienced stronger sales growth in the second half and
ended the year with sales of £29.4 million, 4.7 per cent ahead of 2000,
whereas Industry brick volumes declined again this year by about 2.3 per
cent. Despite the pricing pressure caused by this decline, operating profit
was ahead of 2000 due to further benefits from our profit improvement
programme.
Emerging Businesses Division
The Division had the benefit of a second half contribution from Stancliffe
Stone, acquired in June 2001, and therefore ended the year with sales of
£51.1 million, an increase of 16.9 per cent over 2000.
We announced in our Interim Report that the operating profit before
exceptional costs and goodwill amortisation had fallen by nearly 15.0 per
cent compared with last year, due to a decline in our Natural Stone and
Drainage businesses. While the situation improved somewhat in the second six
months it was not possible to make up the shortfall in first half profits.
However, taking into account the contribution from Stancliffe Stone,
operating profit at this level ended the year at £7.1 million, 2.7 per cent
ahead of last year.
Balance Sheet
The Group balance sheet remains exceptionally strong. Cash inflow from
operating activities amounted to £70.7million an increase of 46.5 per cent.
During the year we acquired Stancliffe Stone for a cash consideration of
£10.4 million. In addition the Group investment in capital expenditure was
£31.3 million. Extra working capital was also needed to fund the growth in
the business and our acquisitions. Despite this we ended the year with net
borrowings of £12.9 million (2000: £8.8 million) which represents gearing of
6.3 per cent. This was achieved because of our very good financial controls
throughout the Group, and the cash generative nature of the business.
Dividend
The Board has decided to recommend a final dividend of 6.35p (2000: 6.00p)
per ordinary share making a total of 9.50p (2000: 9.00p) for the year, an
increase of 5.6 per cent compared with 2000. The dividend will be paid on 1
July 2002 to shareholders on the register on 31 May 2002. The ex-dividend
date will be 29 May 2002.
Group Outlook
The level of demand for our products remains strong, and in recent months
there has been a noticeable increase in the number of commercial and public
sector enquiries. We are seeing the first signs of an improvement in
construction industry activity arising from Government spending plans. The
strong demand in the domestic part of the business has continued into 2002
with trading in the first two months of this financial year significantly
ahead of the same period last year.
The Landscape Products Division has had supply agreements with the three
major builders merchant groups for the past three years. These agreements
were due for renewal and were therefore the subject of renegotiation towards
the end of the year. New agreements have been concluded, subject to formal
Board ratification on both sides.
We remain confident of the prospects for 2002 and, as a financially prudent
business, take comfort in the added security that our low level of gearing
provides.
Landscape Products Division
Sales reached £247.6 million (2000: £226.4 million) for the year, an increase
of 9.3 per cent. Operating profit before exceptional costs and goodwill
amortisation was a record £36.8 million (2000: £32.2 million), an improvement
of 14.1 per cent.
A sluggish first half, due entirely to the widespread flooding across the UK,
meant that results for the first six months were just ahead of 2000. We told
shareholders at the time of the interim announcement that the full year
improvement in profits would be biased towards the second half. Sales in the
second half were £117.7 million (2000: £103.1 million), an increase of 14.1
per cent, and operating profit before exceptional costs and goodwill
amortisation was £15.5 million (2000: £11.2 million), an improvement of 38.4
per cent.
Besides the boost to the second half from pent up consumer demand, three
other factors contributed to this very pleasing result: greater investment in
marketing; improved service to customers via our Service Centres; and further
gains in efficiency resulting from capital investment and better working
practices.
We have increased our direct communication with the consumer through more
advertising, an enhanced Marshalls web site and a new aspirational product
catalogue. The Marshalls Register of approved driveway and patio installers
also continued to expand, helped by a scheme introduced to train more
installers. The ten year guarantee of product and workmanship we offer
consumers is growing in popularity, and we are delighted with the positive
feedback they are providing.
Eleven Service Centres are now in operation, capable of supplying builders
merchant customers nationally, with a comprehensive range of Marshalls
products in mixed loads. Another Service Centre will open in the second
quarter of 2002, and in 2003 we will begin the development of a major new
site in Central Southern England. The importance of the Service Centre
concept is demonstrated by the fact that the established Service Centres in
total, produced growth 3.5 per cent higher than our other sites. The
strongest performance came from the three Service Centres that have been open
for more than one year.
Capital investment in the Division reached £23.9 million this year. Some of
this was for additional capacity to meet the growing demand for our products,
but we continue to also invest in projects to improve the efficiency of our
existing plant and equipment.
Outlook
There is no doubt that consumer demand for driveway, garden and patio
products continues to grow. The 2002 catalogue 'At home with Marshalls' has
just been published and its circulation will be backed by radio and press
advertising. Our Installers tell us that going into the new year they had a
backlog of work. The outlook for the domestic side of the business is
therefore very encouraging.
The commercial and public sector side of our business has also noticeably
increased in the past few months. The significant growth in spending
announced by the Government in all parts of the public sector through to 2004
will bring additional opportunities for Marshalls.
The capital investment we made in 2001 will start to come on stream this year
to provide the increased capacity we need to meet these growth prospects. The
Division also has ambitious further investment plans in 2002. For all these
reasons we expect to make further progress and deliver improved results in
2002.
Clay Products Division
The 4.7 per cent increase in sales to £29.4 million (2000: £28.1 million),
and 7.4 per cent increase in operating profit before exceptional costs
represents a very creditable performance against the background of declining
Industry volumes again this year, rising costs associated with higher gas
prices, and the introduction of the Climate Change Levy.
These results are in stark contrast to most of our main competitors who have
reported lower profits in 2001 and lower return on sales. That we were able
to deliver this improvement in performance is due in the main to the
continuing drive to lower the cost base of the business and find more
operating efficiencies. A further reduction of 9.6 per cent in the numbers
employed in the Division was achieved in 2001.
In last year's Annual Report we told shareholders of our plans to make
available to customers a number of brick products via the Landscape Products
Division's Service Centres. This would enable builders merchants to purchase
smaller quantities of standard bricks for immediate delivery when ordering
other landscape products. The customers welcomed this additional service, and
the contribution to sales from this new activity, unique to Marshalls, is
growing well.
There were a number of Industry developments during the year, and into the
early part of 2002, that should bring better trading conditions. These
include capacity reduction and the merging of two brick manufacturers of
similar size to Marshalls. There has also been an acceptance by customers
that the increase in production costs for reasons outside our control
requires prices to rise, thereby allowing these costs to be passed through to
the market.
Outlook
The expectation is that the brick market will remain challenging in the
coming year. Some of the increase in Government spending, on public housing
and other similar projects, should benefit the brick sector. It would be
wrong to assume though that the decline in Industry volumes that have
occurred almost annually since 1973 is going to be easily reversed. Industry
brick stocks have, however, fallen, and this has to be helpful in trying to
ensure that the prices we obtain reflect our true costs.
Emerging Businesses Division
This Division comprises smaller but important Group businesses.
Sales in the year amounted to £51.1 million (2000: £43.7 million) a rise of
16.9 per cent compared with 2000. However, this increase included a full year
contribution from a new business activity in Street Furniture and a
contribution from a new Natural Stone business which was not part of the
Group last year. On a like for like basis sales increased by 4.0 per cent.
Operating profit before exceptional costs and goodwill amortisation at £7.1
million (2000: £6.9 million) was 2.7 per cent ahead. Again, if the
contribution from the two new businesses are excluded operating profit is 9.4
per cent lower.
At the half year we informed shareholders that the reason for the decline in
profit from the Division was due to Natural Stone being unable to match the
volume of business achieved in millennium year, and Drainage Products being
held back by lack of activity in the Government's road programme. While the
situation improved somewhat in the second half it was not possible to make up
fully the 15.0 per cent shortfall at the half year.
Natural Stone
The Natural Stone business includes many types of stone products for the
domestic, commercial and public sector markets, including granite and our
traditional Yorkstone. In June 2001 we acquired Stancliffe Stone another
natural stone, walling and paving business for a total consideration of £10.4
million.
Sales were 22.3 per cent ahead of last year, but excluding the acquisition,
down by 3.6 per cent. The decline in the core business is only temporary, and
we fully expect to reverse the position in the new financial year. We have
also been investing in new plant to improve efficiency, and will obtain the
benefit in 2002.
Flooring
The business that manufactures precast flooring systems mostly for new houses
also provides all the other precast components a builder might need such as
stairs, landings, balconies and other specially designed items. Sales grew by
7.5 per cent in the year despite the total number of new houses built in the
UK being very similar to 2000.
Drainage Products
The Drainage Products business supplies linear drainage for use in road
building as well as for commercial and domestic landscaping schemes. At the
half year sales were behind last year due to lack of activity in the road
building programme. However, business picked up in the second half and we
ended the year with sales 15.0 per cent ahead of 2000.
Street Furniture
The Street Furniture business consists of our own manufactured concrete
products supplemented by a wide range of factored products. It had the full
year benefit of an acquisition we made in October 2000 that sells mainly
telescopic bollards used for security purposes in both the domestic and
commercial markets. As a result street furniture sales increased by 57.1 per
cent in the year.
Classical Flagstones
The aspirational range of high quality flagstones produced by this business
are sold mainly to the domestic market for internal flooring in hallways and
kitchens. The business achieved sales growth of 4.8 per cent this year. We
are, however, looking for more substantial growth to take advantage of the
capacity of the new manufacturing plant we installed in 2000.
Outlook
The objective of this Division is to grow the individual businesses
organically and through acquisition to the point where they can become a
Division in their own right. Natural Stone has reached that point while
others still have some way to go. In order to meet our objectives much work
is ongoing to refine the strategies of each business and to improve their
efficiency and management. All of this will have the effect of increasing
their value to shareholders. The prospects for the Division in 2002 are
encouraging in terms of achieving further growth.
MARSHALLS PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
AUDITED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2001
Notes 2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Turnover 1 328,036 298,179
Operating costs (282,703) (256,271)
========= =========
Operating profit
Before exceptional reorganisation and
insurance costs and goodwill amortisation 1 48,865 43,782
Exceptional reorganisation costs 1 (1,564) (1,106)
Exceptional insurance costs 1 (944) -
Goodwill amortisation (1,024) (768)
_________ _________
45,333 41,908
Gain on disposals of property 1 321 2,720
_________ _________
Profit on ordinary activities before interest 45,654 44,628
Interest (net) (2,943) (2,772)
_________ _________
Profit on ordinary activities before
taxation 1 42,711 41,856
Taxation on profit on ordinary activities 2 (12,500) (11,700)
_________ _________
Profit for the financial year 30,211 30,156
Preference dividends: Non equity shares 3 (174) (2,359)
_________ _________
Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders 30,037 27,797
Ordinary dividends: Equity shares 4 (15,846) (13,964)
_________ _________
Retained profit for the financial year 14,191 13,833
========= =========
Earnings per share:
Basic 5 18.01p 19.67p
========= =========
Diluted 5 18.00p 19.65p
========= =========
Adjusted Basic 5 19.55p 17.86p
========= =========
MARSHALLS PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
AUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2001
Notes 2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Intangible 21,316 15,126
Tangible 169,902 149,785
_________ _________
191,218 164,911
_________ _________
Current assets
Stocks 54,387 57,342
Debtors: due within one year 31,517 31,976
Debtors: due after more than one year - 2,171
Cash at bank and in hand 14,655 12,529
_________ _________
100,559 104,018
_________ _________
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (66,215) (56,764)
_________ _________
Net current assets 34,344 47,254
_________ _________
Total assets less current liabilities 225,562 212,165
_________ _________
Creditors: amounts falling due after more
than one year (20,007) (21,344)
_________ _________
Net assets 1 205,555 190,821
========= =========
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 43,006 42,911
Share premium account 18,910 18,453
Revaluation reserve 5,166 5,166
Other reserves 14,352 10,274
Profit and loss account 124,121 114,017
_________ _________
Shareholders' funds 205,555 190,821
========= =========
Analysis of shareholders' funds
Equity 203,432 188,698
Non Equity 2,123 2,123
_________ _________
205,555 190,821
========= =========
MARSHALLS PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
AUDITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2001
Notes 2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Cash inflow from operating
activities 6 70,677 48,254
Returns on investments and
servicing of finance (4,118) (5,836)
Taxation (13,172) (12,773)
Capital expenditure (30,607) (20,325)
Acquisitions and disposals (5,696) (680)
Equity dividends paid (15,239) (11,070)
__________ _________
Cash inflow / (outflow)
before use of liquid
resources and financing 1,845 (2,430)
Management of liquid - 2,650
resources
Financing 281 1,061
__________ _________
Increase in cash in the
year 2,126 1,281
========== =========
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt
Increase in cash in the year 2,126 1,281
Cash outflow from decrease in
debt and lease financing 262 596
Cash inflow from decrease in
liquid resources - (2,650)
__________ _________
Change in net debt resulting
from cash flows 2,388 (773)
New finance leases and loans
on acquisition of businesses - (279)
Loans issued on acquisition of
businesses (6,408) (1,327)
Translation differences - (12)
__________ _________
Movement in net debt in the
year (4,020) (2,391)
Net debt at beginning of year (8,842) (6,451)
__________ _________
Net debt at end of year (12,862) (8,842)
========== =========
MARSHALLS PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
AUDITED CONSOLIDATED PRIMARY STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2001
Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Profit for the financial year 30,211 30,156
Exchange differences on foreign currency loan - (12)
__________ _________
Total recognised gains and losses relating to the
financial year 30,211 30,144
========== =========
Reconciliation of Movements in Consolidated Shareholders' Funds
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Profit for the financial year 30,211 30,156
Dividends (16,020) (16,323)
__________ _________
Retained profit for the financial year 14,191 13,833
Other recognised gains and losses - (12)
New share capital issued 552 2,853
Write off on issue of shares to QUEST (9) (1,186)
Share issue costs - (10)
__________ _________
Net additions to shareholders' funds 14,734 15,478
Shareholders' funds at beginning of year 190,821 175,343
__________ _________
Shareholders' funds at end of year 205,555 190,821
========== =========
Consolidated Historical Cost Profits and Losses
There is no material difference between historical cost profits and those
reported in the profit and loss account.
MARSHALLS PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
AUDITED CONSOLIDATED NOTES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2001
1 Segmental analysis
Turnover Operating profit Operating profit
before exceptional
reorganisation and
insurance costs
and goodwill
amortisation
2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Landscape 247,585 226,431 36,768 32,219 34,441 31,442
Clay 29,401 28,093 5,024 4,679 4,482 4,153
Emerging
Businesses 51,050 43,655 7,073 6,884 6,410 6,313
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
328,036 298,179 48,865 43,782 45,333 41,908
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Gain on disposals
of property 321 2,720
Interest (net) (2,943) (2,772)
_______ _______
Profit on ordinary
activities before
taxation 42,711 41,856
======= =======
Emerging businesses includes turnover of £3.4m and an operating profit of
£0.6m before amortisation of goodwill of £0.2m, relating to the business of
Stancliffe Stone Co. Limited which was purchased on 15 June 2001. The post
acquisition results of Stancliffe Stone Co. Limited are not considered to be
material and no further disclosure has been provided on the face of the
Profit and Loss Account.
Operating exceptional reorganisation costs incurred primarily related to
redundancy costs of £1.3m (2000: £1.1m) and costs arising on acquisitions of
£0.3m (2000: Nil). Operating exceptional insurance costs of £0.9m (2000: Nil)
relate to pre-paid insurance premiums, unpaid insurance claims receivable and
associated costs arising from the collapse of Independent Insurance plc.
Net Assets
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Landscape 142,248 138,491
Clay 43,910 45,102
Emerging Businesses 40,177 27,063
_______ _______
226,335 210,656
Unallocated net liabilities (20,780) (19,835)
_______ _______
205,555 190,821
======= =======
Unallocated net liabilities comprise non-operating assets and liabilities of
a financing nature, principally net borrowings, corporation tax, dividends
payable.
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Geographical destination of sales:
United Kingdom 322,846 292,892
Rest of the world 5,190 5,287
_______ _______
328,036 298,179
======= =======
All turnover is derived from United Kingdom continuing operations and there is
no material inter-segmental turnover.
2 Taxation on profit on ordinary activities
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
United Kingdom corporation tax at 30.00% (2000: 30.00%)
based on the profit for the year 12,500 11,700
======= =======
The charge for corporation tax has been
increased/(reduced) due to:
Surplus of capital allowances over depreciation (689) (829)
Disallowed amortisation of goodwill 307 230
======= =======
3 Preference dividends: Non equity shares
2001 2000
per share £'000 per share £'000
Cumulative redeemable
preference shares of 20p each 6.50p 73 6.50p 2,258
_______ _______
10% cumulative preference
shares of £1 each 101 101
_______ _______
174 2,359
======= =======
4 Ordinary dividends: Equity shares
2001 2000
per share £'000 per share £'000
Interim: Paid 3 December 2001 3.15p 5,246 3.00p 3,987
Final: Proposed 6.35p 10,600 6.00p 9,983
_______ _______
15,846 13,970
Dividend adjustment - (6)
_______ _______ _______ _______
9.50p 15,846 9.00p 13,964
======= ======= ======= =======
5 Earnings per share
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Profit for the financial year attributable to
ordinary shareholders 30,037 27,797
=========== ===========
Profit for the financial year attributable to
ordinary shares and potentially ordinary
dilutive shares 30,037 27,797
=========== ===========
Adjusted basic earnings per share
reconciliation:
Profit for the financial year 30,037 27,797
Exceptional reorganisation costs 1,564 1,106
Exceptional insurance costs 944 -
Goodwill amortisation 1,024 768
Gain on disposals of property (321) (2,720)
Taxation (640) 451
Cumulative redeemable preference dividend - 2,185
___________ ___________
32,608 29,587
=========== ===========
Weighted average number of shares 166,804,445 141,334,404
=========== ===========
Weighted average number of shares 166,804,445 141,334,404
Dilutive shares 45,244 171,396
___________ ___________
166,849,689 141,505,800
=========== ===========
Weighted average number of shares 166,804,445 141,334,404
Conversion of cumulative redeemable
preference shares - 24,345,026
___________ ___________
166,804,445 165,679,430
=========== ===========
Basic earnings per share 18.01p 19.67p
=========== ===========
Diluted earnings per share 18.00p 19.65p
=========== ===========
Adjusted basic earnings per share 19.55p 17.86p
=========== ===========
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to
ordinary shareholders of £30,037,000 (2000: £27,797,000) by the weighted
average number of shares in issue during the year of 166,804,445 (2000:
141,334,404).
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing profit attributable to
ordinary shares and potentially ordinary dilutive shares of £30,037,000
(2000: £27,797,000) by the weighted average number of shares in issue during
the year of 166,804,445 (2000: 141,334,404), plus dilutive shares of 45,244
(2000: 171,396) which totals 166,849,689 (2000: 141,505,800).
An adjusted basic earnings per share has been prepared in order to show the
underlying performance of the business. The adjusted basic earnings per share
is adjusted for exceptional reorganisation and insurance costs, goodwill
amortisation, gain on disposals of property and the associated taxation. It
is also adjusted for the conversion of cumulative redeemable preference
shares of 20p each on 1 October 2000 and the associated preference dividend
as though converted on the first day of the period.
6 Reconciliation of operating profit to cash flow from operating
activities
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
Operating profit 45,333 41,908
Amortisation charges 1,024 768
Depreciation charges 14,616 12,825
Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets 301 36
Decrease/(increase) in stocks 3,663 (12,896)
Decrease in debtors 4,276 6,899
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 1,464 (1,286)
________ ________
70,677 48,254
======== ========
7 Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held at Birkby Grange, Birkby Hall Road at
2.30p.m. on 22 May 2002. The Annual Report will be posted on 17 April 2002.
8 Other
The audited consolidated figures have been prepared on the basis of the
accounting policies set out in the 2000 financial statements. The above
financial information does not constitute statutory accounts for the year
ended 31 December 2001 or for the year ended 31 December 2000 but is derived
from those financial statements. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31
December 2000 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors
have reported on the year ended 31 December 2000 financial statements and
their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section
237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year
ended 31 December 2001 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies
following the Company's Annual General Meeting.
This information is provided by RNS
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