20 June 2008
St Ives plc - Interim Management Statement
St Ives is today publishing its Interim Management Statement covering the
period since its half yearly statement to 1 February 2008 issued on 31 March
2008.
Total sales for the 43 week period from 4 August 2007 to 30 May 2008, on a
continuing business basis, were 4.6% greater than the equivalent period for the
previous year. Sales from Service Graphics, acquired in November 2006,
accounted for 9.5% of the total sales (prior year the sales for the 30 week
period from acquisition were 7% of the total sales). Underlying sales, after
adjusting for currency movements, showed growth of 1.6%.
Overall market conditions have been more challenging than we had expected when
we issued our half yearly statement but we continue to seek ways of reducing
cost and increasing revenues to mitigate the effect.
Since 1 February 2008, demand for books has remained steady. Although we
continue to win new magazine titles, paginations have been unpredictable, and
generally below the corresponding period last year, making effective
utilisation a challenge. Demand for music and multimedia products has reduced.
Demand for point of sale products increased in the spring, but visibility
remains short. Volume increases in exhibitions and outdoor media have been
modest and the market is increasingly price sensitive. As expected, direct
response and commercial continues to face extremely tough market conditions
with overcapacity causing price and margin pressure.
Similar conditions exist in our US business and although year to date volume is
some 20% lower than the same period last year, the returns have improved
following the consolidation of our Florida plants at the end of our last
financial year.
The transition of work under the Royal Mail contract (announced in October
2007) will be completed by the beginning of July 2008. As expected, the
contribution from this work will not be significant until the transition has
been completed.
There has been no significant change in the company's financial position since
1 February 2008 and cash flow remains robust.
The economic outlook remains uncertain and pressure on margins continues, the
effect of which is being partially offset by incremental volume, albeit at
lower prices. However, our strategy of selling the whole range of the Group's
services to both new and existing customers and our continued focus on costs is
helping to mitigate the effect of volume fluctuations and price pressure.
Enquiries:
St Ives plc 020 7928 8844
Brian Edwards, Chief Executive
Matt Armitage, Finance Director
Smithfield 020 7360 4900
John Antcliffe
Rupert Trefgarne
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