Interim Results
Topps Tiles PLC
26 May 2004
TOPPS TILES PLC
the UK's leading tile and wood flooring specialist
INTERIM RESULTS FOR the 27 weeks ended Saturday 3rd April 2004
Financial Highlights
•Group turnover increased by 38.6% to £77.115m
•Group like for like turnover increased by 22.7%
•Gross Margin increased to 59.4% (2003: 57.0%)
•Profit before tax and exceptional items increased by 95.4% to £15.324m
•Net Margin, excluding joint venture and exceptional items, increased to
19.9% (2003: 14.1%)
•Earnings per share rose 108.3% to 5.00 pence (2003: 2.40 pence), post
share split
•Interim net dividend declared of 2.00 pence (2003: 0.60 pence), post
share split
•Net Cash Position of £16.14m
•Sales growth continues to be strong with overall sales increasing by
26.7% and like for like sales up 19.2 % for the first 6 weeks of the second
half.
•Share split of 5:1 completed on 6th May 2004.
Operational Highlights
•New warehouse fully operational
•Net 10 new stores opened in the period
•7 major store refits
•On target to open net 24 new stores this financial period
•Continued investment in national advertising
Commenting on the results Nick Ounstead, Chief Executive said:
'Today's figures demonstrate the success that Topps is now achieving as a
growing UK brand. Sales have grown by more than 38% and, as ever, we remain
committed to bringing ideas, inspiration and value to our customers as well as
creating value for shareholders.'
For further information:
Nick Ounstead, CEO 07768 876321
Barry Bester, Co-Chairman 07802 273334
Ann-marie Wilkinson/Sarah Landgrebe, Bell Pottinger 020 7861 3232
Executive Board Statement
We are delighted to report another set of strong financial results for the first
27 weeks of 2003/04 continuing our track record of delivering increased
shareholder value.
Financial Results
27 weeks to 26 weeks to Change
3 April 2004 29 March 2003 %
£'000 £'000
---------- ----------- ---------
Group Turnover 77,115 55,637 + 38.6%
Gross Margin % 59.4% 57.0%
Profit before Tax and
exceptional items 15,324 7,842 + 95.4%
Net margin %, excluding
joint venture and
Exceptional items 19.9% 14.1%
Earnings per share (pence) 5.00p 2.40p + 108.3%
Interim Dividend (pence) 2.00p 0.60p + 233.3%
Net Cash Position 16,140 9,023
Results
Profit and Loss Account
Trading has continued to be buoyant. Growth in like-for-like sales for the
period was 22.7%, with overall sales growth in the same period at 38.6%. Gross
margins have improved to 59.4% compared to 57.0% in the same period last year,
with operating costs excluding exceptionals in the period equivalent to 40.0% of
sales compared to 43.2% in the same period last year.
Profit before tax and exceptional items for the 27 weeks ended 3rd April 2004
amounted to £15.324 million an increase of 95.4 % over the same period last year
even though the current year also has a Long- Term Incentive Plan (L-TIP)
provision of £928k. Earnings per share rose by 108.3% from 2.40 pence to 5.00
pence (post share split).
The exceptional items relate to the cost of writing down fixture and fittings of
£344k and the profit on disposal of fixed assets of £542k, following the sale
and lease back of three freehold properties.
Net margin, excluding joint venture and exceptional items, has increased to
19.9% from 14.1% in the same period last year.
Balance Sheet
The Group currently owns 8 freehold sites, two development sites and the new
warehouse facility with a total net book value of £10.0 million. Within the
period one freehold site was acquired at a cost of £0.4 million and expenditure
on the development sites totalled £0.3m. The new warehouse expenditure in the
period totalled £4.8m (building £3.7m and fixtures and fittings £1.1m) bringing
the total expenditure on the warehouse to £8.0m which now completes the project.
In the period the Group completed 3 property sale and leaseback transactions
generating proceeds of £3.0 million.
Capital expenditure, excluding freehold property and the new warehouse, amounted
to £1.8 million. This reflects a total of 12 new stores opened in the period
with two being closed and relocated and 3 Tile Clearing House stores rebranded
to Topps. There were 7 major store refits and other minor refits along with
further development and upgrading of the Group's I.T. infrastructure.
At the period end cash balances for the Group were £22.650 million (2003: £9.023
million) and there were long-term bank loans of £6.510 million (2003: nil
million). The Group therefore has a net cash position of £16.140 million (2003:
£9.023 million).
We continue to buy back shares when employees exercise their share options under
the Group approved and unapproved executive share option schemes. As at 3 April
2004 the Group had purchased 2,333,140 shares, post share split, which it holds
as Treasury Shares.
At the period end the Group had £21.447 million of stock which represents 135
days stock cover (2003: 158 days). The reduction in days stock cover is a
combination of reduced core range initiatives and enhanced I.T. systems along
with preparation for moving to the new warehouse.
Share Split
On 6th May 2004 we completed a share subdivision whereby each ordinary share of
12.5 pence was subdivided into 5 ordinary shares of 2.5 pence each. The Board
believes the share split will increase the marketability and liquidity of the
shares by accommodating investors who could be deterred by the pre-share split
price level. The Board considered this particularly important, since the Company
had recently become a FTSE 250 quoted company.
Dividend
We are continuing with our progressive dividend policy and announcing an interim
dividend of 2.00 pence per share, post share split. This will be paid on 30 June
2004 to shareholders on the register as at 4 June 2004.
Operational Review
New stores
We continue with our programme of national store roll-outs opening 12 Topps
Tiles stores and Tile Clearing House outlets in the period giving us a total of
206 stores in the UK. We have closed and relocated 2 stores and completely
refurbished 7 stores and rebranded 3 Tile Clearing House stores to Topps stores.
Our most significant activity in the period was the move to a new purpose built
warehouse which was successfully and seamlessly completed over the Easter
Weekend. The new facility totals 105,000 sq feet and gives us increased cubic
capacity of 3.5 times over our previous site. The additional space will see us
through to complete our expansion target of 350 stores in the UK and has the
capacity to support additional stores should we increase that number further. It
will also mean that we will be able to distribute more product through our own
warehouse rather than using third parties. The warehouse will be officially
opened on 28th May 2004 and we are delighted that the Right Honorable Patricia
Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, will be conducting the
opening ceremony.
We are pleased with the progress of our joint venture in Holland. We are
currently trading from 8 stores which sell both ceramic tiles and wood and
laminate flooring. We plan to open a further 3 stores this financial period.
The UK consumer's appetite for DIY and home improvement continues and to
capitalise on this we have continued to invest in national and television
advertising. We are currently running campaigns with GMTV, Sky's UK Living
channel and Carlton TV weather.
We now employ over 1300 staff across the business and we endeavour to train and
support all staff as well as employing a strong culture of rewarding
performance.
In March Topps was voted Company of the Year at PriceWaterhouseCoopers PLC
Awards. Having won Best Annual Report in 1998 we were delighted to be awarded
the top prize this year.
Current Trading and Future Prospects
In the first 6 weeks of the current period sales growth has continued to be very
positive with overall sales increasing by 26.7 % and like for like sales up
19.2%
The fundamentals of our business are strong, we continue to increase our market
share and brand awareness and our finances are robust. As ever, we remain
committed to bringing ideas, inspiration and value to our customers as well as
continuing to create value for shareholders.
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
For the 27 weeks ended 3 April 2004
27 weeks 26 weeks 10 Months 12 months 16 months
Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
3 April 29 March 29 March 27 September 27 September
2004 2003 2003 2003 2003
Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover, group and
share of joint
venture 78,015 56,203 89,762 120,032 154,297
Less: share of joint
venture turnover (900) (566) (812) (1,135) (2,087)
Group Turnover 77,115 55,637 88,950 118,897 152,210
Cost of Sales (31,325) (23,904) (38,054) (50,587) (64,737)
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Gross Profit 45,790 31,733 50,896 68,310 87,473
Operating Expenses
- employee profit
sharing (4,074) (2,117) (3,296) (4,271) (5,450)
- other operating
expenses (27,152) (21,926) (35,274) (45,534) (58,881)
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
(31,226) (24,043) (38,570) (49,805) (64,331)
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Group operating
profit
Group operating profit
before exceptional
operating expenses 14,908 - - - -
Exceptional operating
expenses (344) - - - -
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
14,564 7,690 12,326 18,505 23,142
Share of operating
profit in joint
venture 19 (1) (1) 64 64
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Group and joint
venture share of
operating profit 14,583 7,689 12,325 18,569 23,206
Exceptional profit on
disposal of fixed
assets 542 - - - -
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Profit on ordinary
activities before
finance income 15,125 7,689 12,325 18,569 23,206
Net finance income 397 153 182 319 348
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Profit on ordinary
activities before
taxation
Before
exceptional
items 15,324 - - - -
Net
exceptional
items Note 2 198 - - - -
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Note 1 15,522 7,842 12,507 18,888 23,554
Tax on
profit on
ordinary
activities (4,139) (2,440) (3,839) (5,769) (7,168)
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Profit on ordinary
activities after
taxation 11,383 5,403 8,668 13,119 16,386
Dividends (4,557) (2,860) (2,860) (8,192) (9,832)
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Retained profit
transferred to
reserves 6,826 2,543 5,808 4,927 6,554
-------- -------- -------- --------- ---------
Earnings per
ordinary
share
- Basic Note 3 5.00p 2.40p 3.85p 5.82p 7.28p
- Diluted Note 3 4.95p 2.39p 3.83p 5.76p 7.20p
Note 1
Topps Tiles has no recognised gains or losses in the period other than those
reflected in the profit and loss account and accordingly a statement of Total
Recognised Gains and Losses has not been prepared. All activity arose from
continuing operations.
Note 2
Comprises exceptional profit on disposal of fixed assets less exceptional
operating expenses.
Note 3
Adjusted for subdivision of Share Capital (6th May 2004).
CONSOLIDATED GROUP BALANCE SHEET
as at 3 April 2004
3 April 29 March 27 September
2004 2003 2003
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Goodwill 568 603 586
Tangible assets 27,024 18,123 23,252
Joint venture undertaking
- Share of assets 990 759 946
- Share of liabilities (809) (635) (773)
-------- -------- -----------
181 124 173
-------- -------- -----------
27,773 18,850 24,011
Current assets
Stocks 21,447 19,591 19,713
Debtors 5,371 4,294 4,712
Cash in bank and in hand 22,650 9,023 18,580
-------- -------- -----------
49,468 32,908 43,005
Creditors : Amounts falling
due within one year (33,281) (21,001) (31,920)
-------- -------- -----------
Net current assets 16,187 11,907 11,085
-------- -------- -----------
Total assets less current
liabilities 43,960 30,757 35,096
Creditors : Amounts falling
due after more than one year (6,000) - (2,925)
Provisions for liabilities and
charges (1,504) (1,033) (1,349)
-------- -------- -----------
Net assets 36,456 29,724 30,822
-------- -------- -----------
Capital and reserves
Called - up share capital 5,732 5,630 5,659
Share premium 3,231 1,392 1,715
Merger reserve (399) (399) (399)
Treasury Shares (2,781) - -
Profit and Loss
- broughtforward 23,847 17,293 23,847
- 4 months to 28/09/02 - 3,265 -
- current period - 6 months to
29/03/03 6,826 2,543 -
-------- -------- -----------
Equity shareholders' funds 36,456 29,724 30,822
-------- -------- -----------
CONSOLIDATED GROUP CASHFLOW STATEMENT
as at 3 April 2004
27 weeks to 26 weeks to 10 months to 16 months to
3 April 29 March 29 March 27 September
2004 2003 2003 2003
Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash
inflow from
Group
operating
activities 15,150 11,972 17,391 33,723
Returns on
investment and
servicing of
finance 397 174 182 312
Taxation (1,974) (3,410) (4,164) (7,104)
Capital
expenditure
and Financial
Investment (4,410) (2,898) (4,275) (10,653)
Acquisitions
and
disposals - - (480) (486)
Equity
dividends (6,989) (4,119) (4,119) (5,469)
-------- --------- -------- ---------
2,174 1,719 4,535 10,323
Financing 1,896 92 (654) 3,115
-------- --------- -------- ---------
Increase in
cash 4,070 1,811 3,881 13,438
-------- --------- -------- ---------
Reconciliation
of Group
operating
profit to
net cash
inflow from
Group
operating
activities
Group
operating
profit 14,564 7,690 12,326 23,184
Depreciation
charges 1,329 1,174 1,851 3,045
(Profit) /
Loss on
disposal of
fixed assets 72 145 162 217
Goodwill
amortisation 18 33 37 54
Increase in
stocks (1,734) (883) (572) (694)
(Increase) /
decrease in
debtors (659) 818 (1,310) (1,728)
Increase in
creditors 1,560 2,995 4,897 9,645
-------- --------- -------- ---------
15,150 11,972 17,391 33,723
-------- --------- -------- ---------
Return on
investments
and servicing
of finance
Interest
received 456 190 209 363
Interest
paid (59) (16) (27) (51)
Interest
capitalised - - - -
-------- --------- -------- ---------
397 174 182 312
-------- --------- -------- ---------
Capital
expenditure
Payments to
acquire
tangible fixed
assets (7,441) (2,978) (5,093) (11,655)
Receipts from
sales of
tangible fixed
assets 3,031 80 818 1,002
-------- --------- -------- ---------
(4,410) (2,898) (4,275) (10,653)
-------- --------- -------- ---------
Financing
Proceeds from
issue of
ordinary share
capital 1,589 92 92 444
New loans 3,088 - - 3,422
Treasury
Shares (2,781) - - -
Repayment of
loans - - (746) (746)
Capital
element of
hire purchase
rentals - - - (5)
-------- --------- -------- ---------
1,896 92 (654) 3,115
-------- --------- -------- ---------
Summary
Opening cash
position 18,580 7,212 5,142 5,142
Movement 4,070 1,811 3,881 13,438
-------- --------- -------- ---------
Closing cash
position 22,650 9,023 9,023 18,580
-------- --------- -------- ---------
NOTES TO THE INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION
for the 27 weeks ended 3 April 2004
1 Basis of preparation
(a) The interim report was approved by the board on 25 May 2004. The financial
information for the 27 weeks ended 3 April 2004 and similarly the financial
information for the 26 weeks ended 29 March 2003, 10 month period ended 29 March
2003 and 52 weeks ended 27 September 2003 have not been audited. The financial
information for the 16 month period ended 27 September 2003 has been extracted
from the audited financial statements for that period.
(b) The financial information contained in the interim report does not
constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act
1985. Statutory accounts for the 16 month period ended 27 September 2003
incorporating an unqualified audit report, which did not contain statements
under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985, have been filed with the
Registrar of Companies.
(c) The financial information contained in this interim report has been prepared
on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Group's statutory
accounts for the16 month period ended 27 September 2003.
2 Taxation
Corporation Tax for the 27 weeks ended 3 April 2004 has been provided for at the
estimated effective rate of 30%.
Effective rate (30%) 4,657k
Share options symmetry savings (518k)
---------
£4,139k
---------
3 Interim dividend
An interim net dividend of 2.00 pence per Ordinary Share has been declared
payable on 30 June 2004 to shareholders on the register on 4 June 2004.
4 Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share for the 27 weeks ended 3 April 2004 have been
calculated on earnings (after the deduction of taxation) of £11,383,000 (2003:
£5,403,000) and on Ordinary Shares of 227,741,821 (2003: 225,061,150), being the
weighted average of Ordinary Shares in issue during the period.
Diluted earnings per share for the 27 weeks ended 3 April 2004 have been
calculated on earnings (after the deduction of taxation) of £11,383,000 (2003:
5,403,000) and on Ordinary Shares of 229,785,930 (2003: 226,170,125) being the
weighted average of Ordinary Shares and Share Options in issue during the
period.
A share subdivision of 5 shares for 1 took place on 6 May 2004 and the above
calculations incorporate this change.
5 Copies of the interim results
Copies of the interim results have been sent to shareholders, and further copies
can be obtained from the Company's Registered Office at Topps Tiles Plc.,
Rushworth House,Wilmslow Road, Handforth, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 3HJ.
Details are also available on our Website:
www.ToppsTiles.co.uk
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