Artisan (UK) PLC
20 July 2007
20 July 2007
Artisan (UK) plc
Post Year End Trading Update
Artisan (UK) plc ('Artisan' or 'the Group'), the residential house builder and
commercial business park developer, announces a post year end trading update for
the 15 months to 30 June 2007, and expects to announce results that will be in
line with the recently increased market expectations.
Artisan (UK) Developments, the commercial division of the Group, has performed
strongly delivering substantially greater sales and good margins for the period
just completed. It has also commenced the new accounting period with strong
forward sales. As regards investment property activity, the Group is continuing
to assess further opportunities to add to the Watts Industries investment
previously announced.
Rippon Homes Limited has found its East Midlands market challenging throughout
the year and this has been reflected in lower margins than previously reported.
However an improved site portfolio has allowed for sales of 160 units for the
fifteen months, a strong increase compared with the previous year (12 months to
31 March 2006: 107 units).
This successful sales performance has added impetus to the continued quest to
refresh the Group's land bank so as to replace existing sites and to provide
land for additional outlets. The commercial division has recently secured a
business park site in Kings Lynn and is in advanced negotiations for two further
business park sites. Rippon Homes has recently completed on sites at Bilsthorpe
in Nottinghamshire, Overseal in Derbyshire, Pontefract in Yorkshire, and also in
Mansfield. Other sites are also in advanced negotiation.
The Group is strongly supported by debt facilities which have been increasingly
utilised as it invests in further land. The balance sheet for June 2007 will
show increased gearing over what the Board regards as the low level of 34% as at
31 March 2006.
The final results in respect of the 15 months to 30 June 2007 will be announced
at the end of September 2007. These results will reflect the period end change,
change of revenue recognition basis and adoption of International Financial
Reporting Standards as previously advised. The Board believe the change in year
end and revenue recognition will allow for consistency with its peer Group in
the industry.
The current trading outlook is somewhat clouded by the pressures being exerted
by monetary policy. The recent series of interest rate rises had already
dampened the housing market in the East Midlands and this remains the case
following the last interest rate rise. The commercial customers continue to
come forward on a site by site basis and, though irregular in timing, are
sufficient at present to maintain the impetus of this division.
As separately announced today, the Board is delighted to welcome Michael Eyres
to the Board of Artisan (UK) plc as the executive director responsible for the
Group's commercial development activities, Michael is currently the Managing
Director of Artisan (UK) Developments Limited who with his team has been
responsible for the recent good performance of the Group's commercial
development activities.
Artisan (UK) plc
Chris Musselle Chief Executive 01480 436666
email@artisan-plc.co.uk
Brewin Dolphin Securities Limited Nominated advisers 0121 236 7000
Ifor Williams
Bankside Consultants Financial PR advisers 020 7367 8888
Simon Rothschild 07703 167065
Louise Mason
Company website: www.artisan-plc.co.uk
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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