Interim Results

Caffyns PLC 26 November 2004 Interim Results ________________________________________________________________________________ for the half-year ended 30 September 2004 Summary 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 Operating profit before exceptional items 1,983 1,716 Exceptional credit - VAT refund and interest 3,389 - Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 5,216 1,478 p p Basic earnings per share 150.6 41.9 Interim dividend 8.0 7.5 Enquiries: Simon Caffyn Chief Executive Mark Harrison Finance Director Telephone: 01323 730201 Chairman's Statement ________________________________________________________________________________ In the six months to 30 September 2004, turnover has increased from £76 million to £80 million. The operating profit before exceptional items is up at £1,983,000 against £1,716,000 last year, an improvement of 15%. The six month period has seen much activity with the amalgamation into the Group of our business acquisitions coupled with the ongoing refurbishment programme affecting many sites. The Vauxhall dealership in Tunbridge Wells, acquired in February this year, is undergoing major refurbishment. We will later this year open a satellite Vauxhall site in Tonbridge, enabling us to cover this market area more effectively and to provide MG Rover vehicles from a shared facility in Tunbridge Wells. In June we acquired the Volkswagen dealership covering Brighton and Hove and, although it has not made a contribution to profits due to the major reorganisation required, the opportunity for the long term development of the business is substantial. In November we acquired the Skoda dealership in Tunbridge Wells, giving us an even stronger representation in the town as well as complementing our successful Skoda operation in Ashford. In the same period we have closed our loss-making business in Burgess Hill. The Burgess Hill property will be sold and the proceeds from this and the sale of the two sites closed last year will be used to continue the development of our key franchise businesses. In Eastbourne work is progressing well on a new Audi Centre development which is on schedule to be completed in the spring of next year. In September HM Customs & Excise agreed our initial claim in respect of VAT overpaid on demonstrator vehicles in the period 1973 to 1996. The amount agreed was £1.489 million and interest of £1.9 million and these monies will be used to reduce borrowings. In common with other motor retailers, an additional claim has been made to Customs but agreement is withheld pending resolution of a point of law governing the reclaim of input VAT. The Financial Services Authority has issued regulations which will affect the sale and administration of insurance based products from January 2005. We are taking the necessary steps to comply with the new regulations and the FSA have indicated that they are minded to approve our application. The post exceptional pre-tax profit of £5,216,000 will give rise to a tax charge which may, by the year end, utilise all our surplus ACT therefore in future years we would not have this tax benefit. I would like to pay tribute to Ian Watt who retires from the Board at the end of this month. Since joining the Company in January 1993 Ian has made an outstanding contribution and I am very grateful to him for his advice over the years. Considering the potential disruption of all of the above activities, it is very pleasing to report an increase in profit before tax and exceptional VAT refunds to £1.827 million ahead of £1.478 million in 2003. The economy has slowed in the last quarter but we remain well placed to continue to build on our success. Your Directors have agreed to an increased interim dividend of 8.00p per ordinary share amounting to £230,000. This will be paid on 12 January 2005 to shareholders on the register at 5.00pm on 10 December 2004. Brian A Carte Chairman 26 November 2004 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ for the half-year ended 30 September 2004 Note Before VAT Half-year to Half-year to Year to exceptional exceptional 30 September 30 September 31 March VAT 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Turnover Continuing operations 77,962 - 77,962 76,004 146,017 Acquisitions 2,155 - 2,155 - 7,087 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 80,117 - 80,117 76,004 153,104 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Operating profit Continuing operations 2,057 1,489 3,546 1,670 3,697 Acquisitions (74) - (74) 46 192 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Total operating profit 1,983 1,489 3,472 1,716 3,889 Exceptional items 2 322 - 322 - (209) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2,305 1,489 3,794 1,716 3680 Net interest (478) 1,900 1,422 (238) (571) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 1,827 3,389 5,216 1,478 3,109 Taxation 3 (291) (538) (829) (222) (471) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 1,536 2,851 4,387 1,256 2,638 Dividends (equity and non-equity) 4 (281) - (281) (267) (750) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Retained profit 1,255 2,851 4,106 989 1,888 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Earnings per ordinary share 5 P p p Basic 150.6 41.9 88.1 Adjusted 42.1 42.7 95.5 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dividend per ordinary share 8.0 7.5 22.5 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Note of historical cost profits and losses £'000 £'000 £'000 Reported profit on ordinary activities before taxation 5,216 1,478 3,109 The difference between the historical cost depreciation and depreciation based on revalued amounts 22 - 45 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Historical cost profit on ordinary activities before taxation 5,238 1,478 3,154 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Historical cost profit for the period retained after taxation and dividends 4,128 989 1,933 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Consolidated Balance Sheet ________________________________________________________________________________ at 30 September 2004 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 ________________________________________________________________________________ Fixed assets Intangible assets 363 103 161 Tangible assets 29,528 25,628 29,229 ________________________________________________________________________________ 29,891 25,731 29,390 ________________________________________________________________________________ Current assets Stocks 16,696 15,297 16,192 Consignment stocks 8,720 5,451 5,819 Debtors 13,159 8,155 9,860 Bank balances and cash 54 63 62 ________________________________________________________________________________ 38,629 28,966 31,933 ________________________________________________________________________________ Creditors : amounts falling due within one year Short term borrowings 8,252 2,341 8,444 Obligations relating to consignment stock 8,720 5,451 5,819 Other 14,333 14,942 14,238 ________________________________________________________________________________ 31,305 22,734 28,501 ________________________________________________________________________________ Net current assets 7,324 6,232 3,432 ________________________________________________________________________________ Total assets less current liabilities 37,215 31,963 32,822 ________________________________________________________________________________ Creditors : amounts falling due after one year Long term borrowings (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) Other (115) (54) (13) ________________________________________________________________________________ (3,115) (3,054) (3,013) ________________________________________________________________________________ Provisions for liabilities and charges (588) (401) (403) ________________________________________________________________________________ Net assets 33,512 28,508 29,406 ________________________________________________________________________________ Capital and reserves Called up share capital 2,676 2,676 2,676 Share premium account 272 272 272 Capital redemption reserve 282 282 282 Revaluation reserve 4,239 4,545 4,500 Profit and loss account 26,043 20,733 21,676 ________________________________________________________________________________ Total shareholder's funds 33,512 28,508 29,406 ________________________________________________________________________________ Consolidated Cash Flow Statement ________________________________________________________________________________ for the half-year ended 30 September 2004 Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 ________________________________________________________________________________ Cash inflow from operating actitivies Operating profit 3,472 1,716 3,889 Depreciation 518 535 995 Amortisation of goodwill 49 17 34 Exceptional VAT (1,489) - - Increase in stocks (3,219) (542) (1,119) Decrease/(increase) in debtors 90 (197) (1,937) Increase/(decrease) in creditors 2,685 (43) (663) Decrease in provisions (82) (101) (170) ________________________________________________________________________________ Net cash inflow from operating activities 2,024 1,385 1,029 ________________________________________________________________________________ Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest paid (478) (238) (571) Preference dividends paid (51) (51) (102) ________________________________________________________________________________ (529) (289) (673) ________________________________________________________________________________ Taxation Corporation tax paid (net) (96) (200) (400) ________________________________________________________________________________ Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (1,000) (2,026) (3,814) Sale of property in current assets - - 951 Sale of tangible fixed assets 807 1,059 167 ________________________________________________________________________________ (193) (967) (2696) ________________________________________________________________________________ (Acquisitions)/disposals (703) (1,361) (4,579) ________________________________________________________________________________ Equity dividends paid (432) (403) (619) ________________________________________________________________________________ Cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 71 (1,835) (7,938) ________________________________________________________________________________ Financing Issue of ordinary shares - 2 1 Capital element of finance lease 113 (37) (37) ________________________________________________________________________________ Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 113 (35) (36) ________________________________________________________________________________ Increase/(decrease) in cash (see note 6) 184 (1,870) (7,974) ________________________________________________________________________________ Notes to the Interim Results ________________________________________________________________________________ for the half-year ended 30 September 2004 1. Basis of preparation The directors approved this interim statement on 26 November 2004. The interim accounts for the half-year ended 30 September 2004 and the comparative figures for the half-year ended 30 September 2003 are unaudited, and have been prepared on the same basis as the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2004. The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2004 has been abridged from the statutory accounts which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies and on which the auditors have given an unqualified audit opinion. The interim financial statements have been reviewed by the company's auditors. A copy of the auditor's review report is set out at the end of this statement. 2. Exceptional items Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net profit on disposal of tangible fixed assets 499 - 22 Closure and disposal costs (177) - (231) _______________________________________________ 322 - (209) _______________________________________________ 3. Taxation Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Current UK corporation tax at 30% Charge for the period 1,363 321 820 Advance corporation tax recovered (801) (114) (367) Over-provision in respect of prior years - - (53) _______________________________________________ Total corporation tax 562 207 400 Deferred tax at 30% Origination and reversal of timing differences 267 15 71 _______________________________________________ 829 222 471 _______________________________________________ 4. Dividends Ordinary shares of 50p each The interim dividend proposed at the rate of 8.0p per share (2003 : 7.5p) is payable on 12 January 2005 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 10 December 2004. The shares will be marked ex-dividend on 8 December 2004. Preference shares Preference dividends have been paid in October 2004. The next preference dividends are payable in April 2005. 5. Earnings per share Basic Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Profit before tax 5,216 1,478 3,109 Taxation (829) (222) (471) Preference dividends (51) (51) (102) _______________________________________________ Earnings 4,336 1,205 2,536 _______________________________________________ Basic earnings per share 150.6p 41.9p 88.1p _______________________________________________ Adjusted Profit before tax 5,216 1,478 3,109 Adjustments: Goodwill amortisation 49 23 34 Exceptional items (note 2) (322) - 209 Exceptional item - VAT (3,389) - - _______________________________________________ Adjusted profit before tax 1,554 1,501 3,352 Taxation (291) (222) (501) Preference dividends (51) (51) (102) _______________________________________________ Earnings 1,212 1,228 2,749 _______________________________________________ Adjusted earnings per share 42.1p 42.7p 95.5p _______________________________________________ The weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during each period was 2,879,298. 6. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Half-year to Half-year to Year to 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period 184 (1,870) (7,974) Net cash (inflow)/outflow from finance leases (113) 37 37 _______________________________________________ Movement in net debt in the period 71 (1,833) (7,937) Net debt at beginning of period (11,382) (3,445) (3,445) _______________________________________________ Net debt at end of period (11,311) (5,278) (11,382) _______________________________________________ Independent Review Report ________________________________________________________________________________ to Caffyns plc Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information for the six months ended 30 September 2004 which comprise the consolidated profit and loss account, the note of historical cost profits and losses, the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated cash flow statement and notes 1 to 6. We have read the other information contained in the interim report which comprises only the Chairman's Statement and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information. This report is made solely to the company, in accordance with guidance contained in APB Bulletin 1999/4 'Review of Interim Financial Information'. Our review work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company those matters we are required to state to it in a review report and for no other purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company, for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusion we have formed. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Service Authority which require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review consists principally of making enquiries of management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and, based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with United Kingdom Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months ended 30 September 2004. Grant Thornton UK LLP Chartered Accountants London 26 November 2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Caffyns (CFYN)
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