Artisan (UK) PLC
23 April 2002
Artisan (UK) plc
Trading Statement and Board Changes
Artisan (UK) plc, the house builder and commercial property developer, issues
the following trading statement in advance of its preliminary results for the
year ended 31 March 2002, which are scheduled for announcement on 21 July 2002.
As expected, Rippon Homes finished the year well, selling 30 homes in March
alone. Following the disposal of its three contracting companies during the
year, including Speymill Contracts at the financial year end, the Company is now
highly focused on residential and commercial development. The Board is committed
to a policy for the intended disposal of the Company's other major non core
investment in the US company, Stratus Services Group, within the coming few
months.
The profit before interest and taxation for the year ended 31 March 2002 will be
not less than £7.5 million, with profit after tax in excess of £6.2 million,
giving earnings per share fully diluted of not less than 2p. The above figures
are before goodwill and any extraordinary charge arising from a review of
Goodwill.
The Company has agreed the sale of its remaining property investment business
(as announced on 2 April 2002), with completion contracted for 15 May 2002, and
has restructured some 13 of its dormant subsidiaries which has enabled the
business to be run through three primary subsidiaries.
With the re-organisation completed and the problems of Living Heritage behind us
Stephen Dean has proposed to the Board that he becomes Non-Executive Chairman
and will pass the day to day running of the business to a new Chief Executive,
Mr Martyn Freeman. Martyn has been with the Company for two years and is
currently its Group Operations Director. These appointments will be effective
from 1st May 2002.
Chris Musselle will continue as Group Finance Director and John Jones as
Operational Director for house building, with Norman Saunders continuing to
serve as a Non-Executive Director. Martyn Freeman has notified the Board of an
intention to increase his shareholding to 204,000 shares through the purchase of
175,000 shares.
The Company expects to have substantial cash inflows from trading activities
over the next 6 to 9 months and after re-investment in the core development
business the Directors will continue to assess suitable acquisition
opportunities which may arise.
The Company plans to continue its share buyback programme and Stephen Dean
intends to make available up to 50% of his shareholding for buy back under the
programme.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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