Final Results
Milestone Group PLC
08 February 2005
For Immediate Release 8 February 2005
MILESTONE GROUP PLC
RESULTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2004
Milestone Group PLC ('Milestone' or 'the Group'), the cross media group focussed
on local markets, today announces its results for the year ended 30th September
2004.
Highlights during the period
• Turnover on continuing activities up to £5.7m (2003: £5.4m*)
• Operating losses for the year (excluding goodwill amortisation and
impairment) of £1.9 million (2003: loss of £2.7 m*), in line with
expectations
• Successful disposal of non-core radio assets including Time FM and Fusion
FM for £1.25m
• Progress made on Publishing Division, with sales of £3.8m (2003: £3.7m*),
including:
- Continued success of Basingstoke Observer with ABC Verification and
gain in market share
- Courier Group moving from door-to-door to collection distribution.
- Appointment of Tom McGowran as Publishing Director
- Courier/ Journal joint re-branding
• Continued progress on Radio Division, with continuing revenues of £1.8m
up 24% (2003: £1.4m*):
- All stations have increased RAJAR audience ratings, with Passion
107.9 in Oxford doubling its reach year on year and Rugby FM
consolidating its position as the outright market leader, with a 43%
reach in the latest Wave 4, 2004 release.
- Revenue growth on 2003 for all stations
- Passion 107.9 +140 %
- Kestrel FM +15%
- Kick FM +3%
- Rugby FM +18%
• Television Division revenue stable
- Major Regulatory review of digital opportunities for local television
due 2005 - impairment of goodwill £2.8m
- Focus on cost cutting successfully implemented
- Significant potential new long term contracts
• Cross media revenues substantially increased during the year with £0.2m
of revenues identified as coming from the unique cross-media offer
*Comparable figures consist of the audited figures for the group from 1 July
2003 to 30 September 2003 plus the un-audited figures for the nine months from 1
October 2002 to 30 June 2003.
Commenting on the results, Andy Craig, Chief Executive, said:
'We have been able to grow the business as well as prove that the cross media
model for local markets can succeed. We believe that Milestone is now in a much
better position to deliver further growth over the coming year.'
For further information:
Milestone Group Tel: 01235 547 800
Andy Craig - Chief Executive
Arden Partners Limited Tel: 020 7398 1632
Richard Day
Buchanan Communications Tel: 020 7466 5000
Bobby Morse / Suzanne Brocks/ Eleanor Williamson
Attached:
Chairman's Statement
Chief Executive's Review
Consolidated Profit & Loss Account
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Cash flow Statement
Notes to the Accounts
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Milestone has continued to develop its core business, providing a range of
opportunities for clients to advertise on our local media delivery platforms,
with a continued strong emphasis on quality of client service and value.
The year has seen a number of challenges overcome and the board is focussed on
moving into positive cash flows in the 3 operating divisions, publishing, radio
and TV in this current financial year.
In May 2004 we welcomed Tom McGowran as our new Publishing Director. As former
Chief Executive of Tindle Newspapers, Tom has a wealth of experience in the
local publishing sector. In September 2004, we invited Tom to join the main PLC
board and his knowledge and ability is a significant and welcome addition to the
Group.
Since joining us Tom has put in place new structures and disciplines, which have
already started to have an impact on improving sales yields in the publishing
division.
Our radio stations have again increased their audiences as demonstrated by
RAJAR. Locally focussed radio stations are a key part of our cross media
strategy and there are exciting opportunities to add to our portfolio through
new licence applications in the coming year. This will require further
investment in our operations and we are confident that with our commitment to
making radio licences work this is an area of real opportunity.
Local Television is currently under review by Ofcom and DCMS. Whilst the board
sees significant opportunity in this area, it has decided, to write-off the
remaining goodwill, £2.8m within the Group's television division. The board
continues to believe that the Group's investment in local television will
provide a satisfactory return.
Milestone is now much better placed to grow organically and by acquisition
across all platforms of local media.
I would again like to place on record my thanks to our staff without whose
skills, intelligence and enthusiasm we could not deliver the quality products
that we do.
Julian Blackwell
Chairman
CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW
Turnover for the year to September 2004 was up to £5.9m, (£5.8m in 2003).
Turnover without the disposed of London stations was £5.7m (£5.4m 2003).
The operating loss (excluding goodwill write off and impairment) for the 12
months ended 30 September 2004 was £1.9 million, in line with our expectations
at the time of the March interim statement (2003:£2.7 million).
We anticipate that all divisions will become cash flow positive in the course of
the current financial year.
Milestone has continued to produce original content targeted at discrete local
communities through local news and entertainment across our publishing, radio
and television platforms - as part of the cross media strategy supported by paid
for commercial advertising. Cross promotion and cross selling has resulted in a
steady growth in listeners in and new revenues.
We have disposed of non-core assets, and acquired and developed new ones, which
I believe, have great potential for the future. We will continue to explore
opportunities to enhance shareholder value by acquiring (and on occasions
rationalising) assets as appropriate. An active and targeted programme of new
radio licence applications is a large part of this effort.
Publishing Division
Sales £3.8m (2003: £3.7m), Operating loss £0.2m (2003: loss £0.2m)
The revenue in the Publishing division increased by 2%.
Last year we reported the integration of the management and back office
functions of the Basingstoke Observer and Courier Newspapers. This process was
further enhanced in May 2004 by the appointment of Tom McGowran as Group
Publishing Director.
The publishing division consists of the Courier Group, based in Oxfordshire and
focussed on serving the majority of this county, and the Basingstoke Observer,
serving North Hampshire. A range of titles and 'sister' titles are published
specialising in local news, property and motors - all distributed free within
their circulation areas.
Revenue at the Basingstoke Observer has increased 23% helped by the introduction
of the Basingstoke Property weekly. Besides benefiting from its integration with
the Courier Group, the Basingstoke Observer benefits from the cross media
activities with Kestrel FM and some 10% of its revenue derives from this
relationship. The Basingstoke Observer has achieved ABC verification.
ABC holds one of the most renowned brands within the media industry providing
circulation figures for newspapers, magazines, business-to-business
publications, directories, leaflets, exhibitions and websites. The core values
of the ABC brand are independence, transparency and comparability. The
Basingstoke Observer having obtained the ABC certificate for its collection
distribution can now build upon this to attract national advertising.
Revenue at the Courier Group fell back 2.7% as the number of titles were
rationalised and management focussed on improving revenue contribution. A new
monthly arts and culture magazine 'Oxfordshire Living' was launched. The Courier
has also helped develop the 'what's on and what's happening' Passion Magazine in
conjunction with Passion 107.9, our Oxford radio station.
In December 2003 we commenced the introduction of an in-house advertisement
design and production department. This resulted in an increase in the cost of
sales whilst parallel external and internal operations continued during the
set-up stages. The department is now fully operational with all 'pre-press'
requirements being satisfied in house and increased efficiency and cost savings
being delivered.
As mentioned in our interim statement, in addition to the set up costs of the
production department, the short-term nature of sales contracts at the Courier
Group led to fluctuating revenues and an overall negative impact on the
publishing division's profitability to September 2004. A comprehensive programme
of staff training and new sales and production procedures has led to improved
revenue yields and longer-term contracts.
Publishing Division post balance sheet events
Subsequent to the year-end, the Courier and Journal titles have been re-branded
as 'Courier Journal' with a combined new masthead and local versions targeted at
individual conurbations within Oxfordshire. This has led to cost efficiencies in
print.
Commencing in December 2004 the Courier Journal is progressively switching to
collection distribution from dispensers, rather than door-to-door. As the
Basingstoke Observer (which moved to collection distribution two years ago) has
shown, this enables an increase in the number of conurbations served by the
titles whilst reducing distribution costs and enabling an increase in the
advertiser base.
The Basingstoke Observer has also cut its fixed costs through the negotiation of
a new printing contract.
The print contract was moved to an independent contractor who could provide more
colour at a competitive price. This contract will be kept under review as the
need to increase the number of colour pages has already exceeded expectations as
we develop the Property Weekly supplement.
Radio Division
Revenue from continuing activities £1.8m (2003: £1.4m) Operating loss £0.2m
(£2003: £0.5m)
In January 2004, the Group completed the disposal of its two non-core South
London radio stations Time FM and Fusion 107.3 FM. The results for the year
include a £0.3m loss on this disposal at an aggregate consideration of £1.25m.
The period saw improved revenues at each of the four local commercial radio
stations controlled by the Group:
• Passion 107.9 (Central Oxfordshire) - +140%
• Kestrel FM (North Hampshire) - + 15%
• Kick FM (West Berkshire) - +3%
• Rugby FM (Rugby, Warwickshire) - + 18%
Radio division post-balance sheet events
Subsequent to the year-end, the radio division has continued its steady audience
growth. The latest official listening figures from RAJAR (Wave 4, 2004, released
January 2005) show increased market share at all four radio stations compared to
the same period last year. In particular, Passion 107.9, which has benefited
from cross-promotion with Milestone's other media assets in Oxfordshire, has
seen its weekly adult audience reach double year-on-year.
The Group continues to seek appropriate opportunities to expand its radio
interests organically and by acquisition. The Burn FM Limited, the consortium in
which we were a minority shareholder, was not, awarded the new FM Licence for
Blackburn in December 2004. We are currently minority shareholders in a further
consortium that has submitted an application for the FM licence for Cornwall.
Applications for radio licences remain as competitive as ever. The Group has a
policy of submitting well-researched, targeted, applications for such licences
with a high success rate. We intend to continue to pursue this strategy and we
will be submitting an application for the licence for Banbury due in February
2005. We also welcome Ofcom's recent announcement that it will be advertising a
licence in Warwick in summer 2005, an area in which Milestone has been
campaigning for a new licence to be made available.
Television Division
Revenue £0.2m (2003: £0.2m) Operating loss £0.5m (2003: loss £0.6m)
The acquisition of the minority shares of Oxford Broadcasting Limited announced
in September 2003 was completed in October 2003.
In March 2004 The Group was able to acquire the terrestrial Local Television
licences for Southampton and Portsmouth. Whilst the latter was acquired 'off
air' we rapidly took the opportunity to re-brand Southampton Television as 'SIX
TV'.
Independent research projects completed in the summer and autumn of 2004 gave
SIX TV (of available homes that could receive the signal) a daily adult audience
reach of 15% in Oxfordshire and 19% in Southampton.
We have implemented significant cost-savings by operating our two current 'on
air' licences, SIX TV Oxford and SIX TV Southampton with a greatly reduced core
staff. This will improve the operating results.
Local television licences have previously been issued on a four-year basis. The
licence for Six TV Oxford was last renewed in June 2003 and was being amortized
on this basis. In December 2004, Ofcom announced that all local TV licences
would be extended to June 2007. Whilst this has the effect of extending the
licences for Southampton and Portsmouth beyond their renewal dates of April 2005
/October 2006 and February 2005 respectively, it brings into question the future
of local analogue TV licences overall. We are lobbying continually and strongly
with DCMS and Ofcom that there should be an automatic rollover to Digital for
those analogue licences, which are extant. Ofcom and DCMS have indicated that
their review of Digital local television will be undertaken in 2005 and for this
reason the board after careful deliberation and having taken advice from its
advisors have decided that the prudent accounting treatment is to reduce the
goodwill relating to these TV licences to zero.
Television Division post-balance sheet events
Subsequent to the year-end we have further reduced costs by introducing a
commission-only sales force. We have also gained our first significant contract
to provide programming to the education sector. Operating losses will continue
to be reduced pending clarification of Ofcom's review
Dividend Policy
The Board's intention is for the Company to re-invest any net earnings to
finance the growth and expansion of its business and accordingly they do not
intend that the Company shall pay dividends in the foreseeable future. The Board
will continue to review the appropriateness of its dividend policy as the
business of the Group develops.
Outlook
Through increased efficiencies and further growth in turnover the Group is
moving its current trading activities towards a position of positive cash-flow
on our existing operations in the current year. Trading in the first quarter of
the new period gives the confidence that this will be achieved. We look forward
to further capitalising on our cross media strategy.
Milestone Group PLC
Consolidated profit and loss account for the year ended 30 September 2004
Unaudited Audited
Year ended 1 July 2003
30 to 30
September September
2004 2003
Note £ £
Turnover 5,852,803 1,191,089
Cost of sales 3,351,014 672,751
Gross Profit 2,501,789 518,338
Distribution costs 123,875 28,868
Administrative expenses:
Impairment of goodwill 2,884,549 2,189,490
Other administrative expenses 5,891,833 1,924,720
8,776,382 4,114,210
(6,398,468) (3,624,740)
Other operating income 68,806 40,130
Group operating loss 2 (6,329,662) (3,584,610)
Share of operating loss in associated 229,750 77,930
undertakings
Loss on disposal of group operations 305,927 -
Loss on ordinary activities before interest (6,865,339) (3,662,540)
Interest receivable - group 36,766 19,834
- associated undertakings 604 -
Interest payable - group (11,735) (13,760)
- associated undertakings (21,341) -
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (6,861,045) (3,656,466)
Taxation on loss from ordinary activities 3 (29,211) 5,523
Loss on ordinary activities after taxation (6,831,834) (3,661,989)
Minority interest 25,671 26,051
Loss for the financial year (6,806,163) (3,635,938)
Basic and diluted loss per share 4 (31.11) p (39.08) p
All amounts relate to continuing activities
All recognised gains and losses are included in the profit and loss account
Consolidated balance sheet at 30 September 2004
Unaudited Audited
Note 2004 2004 2003 2003
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 8,686,209 14,075,558
Tangible assets 1,011,068 1,098,148
Fixed asset investments 1,074,075 1,237,787
10,771,352 16,411,493
Current assets
Debtors 1,392,062 1,431,334
Cash at bank and in hand 299,786 894,770
1,691,848 2,326,104
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year 1,909,633 1,874,771
Net current (liabilities)/ (217,785) 451,333
assets
Total assets less current 10,553,567 16,862,826
liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year 142,095 152,163
Provisions for liabilities and - 15,523
charges
10,411,472 16,695,140
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 2,210,510 2,159,998
Share premium account 7,222,235 6,997,235
Merger reserve 11,119,585 10,889,978
Profit and loss account (10,234,857) (3,428,694)
Equity shareholders' funds 5 10,317,473 16,618,517
Minority interests (equity) 93,999 76,623
10,411,472 16,695,140
Consolidated cash flow statement for the year ended 30 September 2004
Unaudited Audited
Note 2004 2004 2003 2003
Net cash outflow from
operating
activities 6 (1,776,239) (1,036,278)
Returns on investments and
servicing of finance
Interest received 36,766 19,834
Interest paid (11,735) (13,760)
Net cash inflow from returns
on
investments and servicing of 25,031 6,074
finance
Taxation
UK corporation tax - -
Capital expenditure
Payments to acquire tangible fixed (86,170) (5,917)
assets
Receipts from sale of tangible 20,354 -
fixed assets
Net cash outflow from capital
expenditure (65,816) (5,917)
Acquisitions and disposals
Purchase of subsidiary - (4,500,000)
undertakings
Overdraft acquired with
subsidiary
undertakings - (314,557)
Sale of business operations 1,250,000 -
Bank overdraft disposed of
with
business operations 12,027 -
Costs of disposal of business (151,479) -
operations
Investment in associated (73,087) -
undertaking
Net cash inflow/(outflow)
from
acquisitions 1,037,461 (4,814,557)
Cash outflow before financing (779,563) (5,850,678)
Financing
Issue of share capital - 8,130,000
Cost of issuing share capital - (657,765)
Loan repayments (2,298) (978,000)
Capital element of finance leases (44,039) -
repaid
Cash (outflow)/inflow from
financing (46,337) 6,494,235
(Decrease)/increase in cash
in the year 7,8 (825,900) 643,557
Milestone Group PLC
1. Accounting policies
The preliminary announcement has been prepared under the historical cost
convention, and is in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
The following principal accounting policies have been applied:
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of Milestone Group
PLC and all of its subsidiary undertakings as at 30 September 2004 using the
acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, the results of
subsidiary undertakings are included from the date of acquisition.
Valuation of investments
Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost (being the par value of shares
issued where merger relief applies) less impairment. Other investments held as
fixed assets are stated at cost less any provision for impairment in value.
Goodwill
Goodwill arising on an acquisition of a subsidiary or associated undertaking is
the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and the fair
value of the assets and liabilities acquired.
Positive goodwill is capitalised and amortised through the profit and loss
account over the directors' estimate of its useful economic life. This has been
estimated as follows:
Publishing Division - 20 years
Radio Division - over the licence period
Television Division - over the licence period
Impairment tests on the carrying value of goodwill are undertaken:
• at the end of the first full financial year following acquisition;
• in other periods if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying value may not be recoverable.
Associates
An entity is treated as an associated undertaking where the group has a
participating interest and exercises significant influence over its operating
and financial policy decisions.
In the group financial statements, interests in associated undertakings are
accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The consolidated profit and
loss account includes the group's share of the operating results, interest,
pre-tax results and attributable taxation of such undertakings based on audited
financial statements. In the consolidated balance sheet, the interests in
associated undertakings are shown as the group's share of the identifiable net
assets including any unamortised premium paid on acquisition. The premium on
acquisition is dealt with under the goodwill policy.
Turnover
Turnover represents sales to external customers at invoiced amount less value
added tax.
Turnover represents advertising income, from the group's radio, television and
publishing divisions. Airtime is recognised on the date of broadcast and
advertising revenues from publishing are recognised on publication of the
related advert.
Income relating to invoices raised in advance of the airing or publication of an
advert are treated as deferred income and are carried forward on the balance
sheet.
Depreciation
Depreciation is provided to write off the cost, less estimated residual values,
of all tangible fixed assets, evenly over their expected useful lives. It is
calculated at the following rates:
Leasehold improvements - 10-20% per annum, or over the period of the lease
or licence
Fixtures, fittings and
computer
and office equipment - 12.5%-33% per annum, or over the period of the
licence
Plant and machinery - 10-50% per annum
Production and studio - 20% per annum
equipment
Motor vehicles - 25-33% per annum
Finance costs
Finance costs are charged to profit over the term of the debt so that the amount
charged is at a constant rate on the carrying amount. Finance costs include
issue costs which are initially recognised as a reduction in the proceeds of the
associated capital instrument.
Financial instruments
•short term debtors and creditors are not treated as financial assets or
financial liabilities;
•the group does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for
trading purposes.
Deferred taxation
Deferred tax balances are recognised in respect of all timing differences that
have originated but not reversed by the balance sheet date except that the
recognition of deferred tax assets is limited to the extent that the company
anticipates it will make sufficient taxable profits in the future to absorb the
reversal of the underlying timing differences.
Deferred tax balances are not discounted.
Leased assets
Where assets are financed by leasing agreements that give rights approximating
to ownership (finance leases), the assets are treated as if they had been
purchased outright. The amount capitalised is the present value of the minimum
lease payments payable over the term of the lease. The corresponding leasing
commitments are shown as amounts payable to the lessor. Depreciation on the
relevant assets is charged to the profit and loss account.
Lease payments are analysed between capital and interest components. The
interest element of the payment is charged to the profit and loss account over
the period of the lease and is calculated so that it represents a constant
proportion of the balances of capital repayments outstanding. The capital
element reduces the amounts payable to the lessor.
All other leases are treated as operating leases. Their annual rentals are
charged to the profit and loss account on a straight line basis over the term of
the lease.
Pension costs
Contributions to the group's defined contribution pension scheme and the
directors' personal pension scheme are charged to the profit and loss account in
the year in which they become payable.
Share based employee remuneration
When shares and share options are awarded to employees a charge is made to the
profit and loss account based on the difference between the market value of the
company's shares at the date of grant and the option exercise price in
accordance with UITF Abstract 17 (Revised 2003) 'Employee Share Schemes'. The
credit entry for this charge is taken to the profit and loss reserve and
reported in the reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds.
National Insurance on Share Options
To the extent that the share price at the balance sheet date is greater than the
exercise price on options granted under unapproved schemes after 19 May 2000,
provision for any National Insurance contribution has been made based on the
prevailing rate of National Insurance. The provision is accrued over the
performance period attaching to the award.
Impairment of fixed assets and goodwill
The need for any fixed asset impairment write down is assessed by comparison the
carrying value of the asset against the higher of its realisable value and value
in use.
Liquid resources
For the purposes of the cash flow statement, liquid resources are defined as
current asset investments and short term deposits.
1. Operating loss
Unaudited Audited
Year ended 1 July 2003
30 September to 30 September
2004 2003
£ £
This is arrived at after charging:
Depreciation 242,376 88,774
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 14,719 -
Amortisation of goodwill arising on 1,580,121 343,588
consolidation
Market research 49,426 27,605
Hire of plant and machinery - operating leases 17,138 18,756
Hire of other assets - operating leases 85,233 57,258
Hire of land and buildings - operating leases 139,500 5,500
Auditors' remuneration - audit services 127,000 118,178
- non-audit services 65,095 12,850
Impairment of goodwill 2,884,549 2,189,490
In addition non-audit fees of £nil (2003 - £235,027) have been charged to the
share premium account.
The directors have considered the carrying value of goodwill in accordance with
FRS 11 'Impairment of Fixed Assets and Goodwill'. Based on their review they
have concluded that the goodwill is impaired and have therefore written it down
to the lower of the carrying value and the net recoverable amount.
2. Taxation on loss from ordinary activities
Unaudited Audited
Year ended 1 July 2003
30 September to 30 September
2004 2003
£ £
UK corporation tax
Current tax on losses of the year - -
Deferred tax
Origination and reversal of timing (15,523) 5,523
differences
Other tax
Share of associated undertaking's tax (13,688) -
credit
Taxation on loss on ordinary activities (29,211) 5,523
The tax assessed for the year is different than the standard rate of corporation
tax in the UK. The differences are explained below:
Unaudited Audited
Year ended 1 July 2003
30 September to 30 September
2004 2003
£ £
Loss on ordinary activities before tax (6,861,045) (3,656,466)
Loss on ordinary activities at the
standard rate
of corporation tax in the UK of 19% (1,303,599) (1,096,940)
(2003 - 30%)
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax 663,676 859,494
purposes
Capital allowances for year in excess 11,839 72,011
of depreciation
Unutilised tax losses 846,110 158,605
Income not taxable for tax purposes (195,625) (2,200)
Utilisation of tax losses (19,517) -
Other items (2,884) 9,030
Current tax charge for the year - -
Factors that may affect future tax charges
Deferred tax assets of approximately £2.5 million (2003 - £3 million) have not
been recognised in the financial statements as there is currently insufficient
evidence that any deferred tax assets would be recoverable.
The group has unutilised tax losses of approximately £8 million (2003 - £10
million) available for relief against future profits, subject to agreement by
the Inland Revenue.
3. Loss per share
Basic loss per share has been calculated in accordance with FRS 14. Basic loss
per share has been calculated by dividing the loss on ordinary activities before
taxation by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the
year. The weighted average number of equity shares in issue was 21,877,541 (2003
- 9,303,269) and the loss was £6,806,163 (2003 - £3,635,938). The effect of all
potential ordinary shares is antidilutive.
4. Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds
Unaudited Audited
Group Group
2004 2003
£ £
Loss for the year (6,806,163) (3,635,938)
Capital contribution - 207,244
Flotation costs - (1,552,765)
Shares issued in the year 50,512 2,159,998
Merger reserve 229,607 10,889,978
Premium on shares issued in the year 225,000 8,550,000
Net (reduction in)/addition to (6,301,044) 16,618,517
shareholders' funds
Opening shareholders' funds 16,618,517 -
Closing shareholders' funds 10,317,473 16,618,517
Capital contribution
The capital contribution represented capital provided to the group which is not
represented by issued shares. The group has no obligations to transfer economic
benefits to the providers of these capital contributions, as defined by
Financial Reporting Standard 4 'Capital Instruments'.
6. Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash outflow from operating
activities
Unaudited Audited
Year ended 1 July 2003
30 September to 30 September
2004 2003
£ £
Operating loss (6,329,662) (3,584,610)
Amortisation and impairment of intangible 4,464,670 2,533,078
fixed assets
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 14,719 -
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 242,376 88,774
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (132,131) 42,772
Decrease in creditors (36,211) (116,292)
Net cash outflow from operating (1,776,239) (1,036,278)
activities
7. Reconciliation of net cash outflow to movement in net debt
Unaudited Audited
Year ended 1 July 2003
30 September to 30 September
2004 2003
£ £
(Decrease)/increase in cash (825,900) 643,557
Cashflow from changes in debt and lease 46,337 (31,186)
financing
Movement in net debt resulting from (779,563) 612,371
cashflows
Inception of finance leases (39,665) -
Movement in net debt (819,228) 612,371
Opening net debt 612,371 -
Closing net debt (206,857) 612,371
8. Analysis of net debt
Unaudited
At Other At
30 September Cash non-cash 30 September
2003 flow items 2004
£ £ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 894,770 (594,984) - 299,786
Bank overdrafts (251,213) (230,916) - (482,129)
643,557 (825,900) - (182,343)
Debt due within one year - 2,298 (2,298) -
Debt due after one year (10,199) - 2,298 (7,901)
Finance leases (20,987) 44,039 (39,665) (16,613)
Total 612,371 (779,563) (39,665) (206,857)
9. Major non-cash transactions
During the year the group entered into finance lease arrangements for assets
with a total capital value at the inception of the leases of £39,665.
On 3 November 2003, 255,119 ordinary shares of 10p each were issued and credited
as fully paid as consideration for the purchase by the company of the remaining
issued share capital of Oxford Broadcasting Limited not already held by
Milestone Group PLC.
On 28 June 2004, 250,000 ordinary shares of 10p each were issued and credited as
fully paid as consideration for the purchase of transmission equipment and other
assets.
10. Preliminary results
The financial information set out above does not constitute the company's
statutory accounts as set out in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 for the
year ended 30 September 2004. The financial information for the year ended 30
September 2003 is an extract from the latest group accounts and have been
delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The financial statements for the year
ended 30 September 2004 will be delivered following the company's annual general
meeting. The auditors have not reported on the accounts for the year ended 30
September 2004, although it is anticipated that their report will be unqualified
and will not contain statements under the Companies Act 1985, s 237(2) or (3).
END
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange