Final Results - Replacement
NWF Group PLC
13 August 2001
The following replaces the final results announcement released today at 7.00
am under RNS Number 3259I:-
The record date should have read 24 August 2001 and not 17 August 2001. All
other details remain the same.
FOR RELEASE 7.00 AM 13 AUGUST 2001
NWF Group plc
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2001
Financial Highlights for 2001:
* another profit record - £3.4m pre-tax (£3.1m)
* sales growth in all four businesses
* total Group sales up 26% to £147m
* earnings per share of 29.3p (27.0p)
* dividend per share increased to 11.1p (10.2p)
For further information contact:
Graham Scott (Chief Executive) 01829 260260
Alan Fulker (Finance Director)
NWF Group plc
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2001
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
I am pleased to report another excellent performance from the Group. Pre-tax
profits were up 10% to £3,404,000 from last year's record £3,088,000 and we
propose to declare an increased dividend. Once again, our strategy of
developing diversity has proved its worth by producing improved Group results
despite difficulties in some of our markets.
Trading results
We had best-ever performances in Agriculture, from further increased market
share, and in Fuels, which demonstrated a turnaround from last year.
Distribution was affected by commissioning costs for its large new warehouse,
now fully in use, and Retail was set back by the poor weather which applied to
the entire garden centre industry for much of the year.
Cash flows and funding
The businesses generated £4.4m cash (£4.2m) from their operating activities
and net cash outflow for the Group after all sources and uses of funds was
£1.6m (£1.5m). Investment in the Group's future growth through net capital
expenditure of £4.4m and acquisition payments of £1.1m were the main
applications of funds. Higher commodity values, particularly of oil and
feedstuffs, also demanded extra working capital. Interest cover for the year
was as planned at 5.9 times (7.6 times), a level well within the Board's view
of prudence.
Acquisitions and investments
The profit base of the Group was enlarged during the year by the acquisition
of a fuel distribution business in South Wales, by the building of a major new
distribution warehouse, by improvements to our capacity for manufacturing
animal feeds and blends and by enlarging the plant production and display
facilities at Rivendell Garden Centre.
Dividend
At the Annual General Meeting, we shall continue our progressive dividend
policy by proposing a final dividend of 7.9p (7.1p) per share, bringing the
total for the year to 11.1p (10.2p) per share. This level of dividend would be
covered 2.6 times (2.7 times) by post-tax profits. Subject to shareholder
approval, the final dividend will be paid on 1 November to shareholders on the
register at 24 August 2001.
Outlook for the current year
We expect to make further progress again in the new year. We have to contend,
as our farmer customers have had to contend, with the effects of Foot & Mouth
Disease in the Agriculture sector but we plan to continue our historical
success of winning more individual accounts. The Distribution business will
have its first year of the new warehouse in full operation. Fuels faces high
oil prices but has shown its ability to compete well under adverse
circumstances. In Retail, given a more normal year for weather, we expect our
investments in gardening to flourish. As I have emphasised in previous
statements, the Group's seasonality is biased towards the second half so our
performance in the first half will be only a partial indicator of full year
expectations.
Employees, customers and shareholders
The Group's size increased again with average employee numbers up to 587
(497), mainly arising from our Fuels acquisition, our Distribution investment
and further sales growth in Retail. Once again, my thanks and those of the
Board go to all of our operational colleagues for taking the Group forward and
for laying the basis for future years.
I would like to thank all of our customers, large and small, for entrusting us
with their business during the year and I renew our pledge to serve them well
in times to come.
Finally, I would like to welcome all new shareholders who invested in NWF this
year and to thank those loyal supporters who continue to hold our shares. We
may now see a return to popularity of 'old economy' companies who pay real
dividends to their shareholders and I welcome the recently announced
improvements to the Capital Gains Tax regime which should benefit NWF
investors.
J Roy Willis
Chairman
NWF Group plc
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2001
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
TURNOVER 147,187 117,128
Cost of sales (134,459) (106,639)
GROSS PROFIT 12,728 10,489
Trading costs (8,631) (6,933)
OPERATING PROFIT 4,097 3,556
Interest payable (693) (468)
PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION 3,404 3,088
Taxation (1,090) (952)
PROFIT AFTER TAXATION 2,314 2,136
Equity dividends (877) (806)
RETAINED PROFIT TRANSFERRED TO RESERVES 1,437 1,330
==== ====
Earnings per share
Basic 29.3p 27.0p
Diluted 29.3p 27.0p
There were no recognised gains or losses other than the profit for both years.
All of the Group's turnover is derived from continuing operations.
NWF Group plc
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2001
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
2001 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets 705 152
Tangible assets 17,324 14,522
18,029 14,674
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks 4,943 4,736
Debtors 19,281 15,207
Cash and bank balances 21 18
24,245 19,961
CREDITORS - Amounts falling due within one year (24,050) (19,387)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 195 574
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 18,224 15,248
CREDITORS - Amounts falling due after more than (4,180) (2,684)
one year
PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES
Pension provision (133) (151)
Deferred Taxation (625) (564)
NET ASSETS 13,286 11,849
==== ====
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
EQUITY SHARE CAPITAL 1,975 1,975
RESERVES
Share premium 520 520
Revaluation reserve 1,651 1,677
Capital reserve 213 213
Profit and loss account 8,927 7,464
TOTAL EQUITY
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 13,286 11,849
==== ====
NWF Group plc
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2001
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
2001 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
NET CASH INFLOW FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES 4,368 4,170
RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS
AND SERVICING OF FINANCE
Interest paid (670) (457)
TAXATION
Corporation tax paid (1,068) (1,153)
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (4,759) (1,651)
Sale of tangible fixed assets 361 307
NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM CAPITAL EXPENDITURE (4,398) (1,344)
ACQUISITONS AND DISPOSALS
Acquisition of businesses (421) (498)
Deferred payment for businesses acquired in prior (650) (950)
year
NET CASH OUTFLOW FOR ACQUISITIONS (1,071) (1,448)
EQUITY DIVIDENDS PAID (814) (766)
NET CASH OUTFLOW BEFORE FINANCING (3,653) (998)
FINANCING
Medium term loan received 2,500 -
Medium term loan repayment (466) (500)
DECREASE IN CASH IN THE YEAR (1,619) (1,498)
==== ===
NWF Group plc
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2001
NOTES
TAXATION
2001 2000
£'000 £'000
UK Corporation tax at 30% (2000 - 30%) 1,053 949
Deferred tax 54 23
1,107 972
Prior year - current tax (24) (22)
- deferred tax 7 2
1,090 952
=== ===
SEGMENTAL INFORMATION
Business Turnover Operating profit Net operating assets
2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Agriculture 38,816 29,767 1,270 1,100 8,735 7,044
Distribution 8,990 8,968 1,125 1,342 9,670 6,765
Fuels 86,158 66,843 1,106 421 3,314 3,055
Retail 13,223 11,550 596 693 4,508 5,291
147,187 117,128 4,097 3,556 26,227 22,155
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
EARNINGS PER SHARE
The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on profit after tax for
the financial year divided by 7,900,941 ordinary shares being the number of
ordinary shares in issue (2000 - 7,900,941).
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT TO NET
CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
2001 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Operating profit 4,097 3,556
Goodwill amortisation 24 5
Depreciation charge 1,808 1,661
Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets (115) (141)
Increase in stocks (168) (760)
Increase in debtors (4,074) (2,023)
Increase in creditors 2,814 1,889
Decrease in pension provision (18) (17)
(1,446) (911)
Net cash inflow from operating activities 4,368 4,170
==== ====
ANALYSIS OF NET DEBT
Other
At 31 May non-cash At 31 May
2000 Cash Flow changes 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Cash and bank balances 18 3 - 21
Bank overdraft (4,791) (1,622) - (6,413)
(4,773) (1,619) - (6,392)
Debt due within one year (466) 466 (454) (454)
Debt due after one year (2,034) (2,500) 454 (4,080)
Total (7,273) (3,653) - (10,926)
==== ==== ==== ====
Annual Report to be published 3 September 2001
Annual General Meeting 27 September 2001
Dividend:
- to be paid 1 November 2001
- record date for shareholders 24 August 2001
Annual Report: This preliminary announcement does not form the Group's
statutory accounts. The figures shown in this release have been extracted from
the Group's full financial statements which, for the year ended 31 May 2000,
have been delivered, and for the year ended 31 May 2001 will be delivered to
the Registrar of Companies. Both carry an unqualified audit report.
The financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2001 have been prepared in
accordance with applicable accounting standards, using the same accounting
policies as set out in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 May 2000.
After 3 September, copies of the Annual Report can be obtained from the
Company's registered office at Wardle, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6BP or viewed
on the Company's Website: http://www.nwf.co.uk