Interim Results

BGR PLC 27 July 1999 Interim Results for the six months ended 30 April 1999 BGR plc, the London based operator of the 'Bank' and 'Fish!' restaurant concepts and a specialist food preparation division, which supplies premium quality fish, poultry and meat to the London hotel and restaurant market, today announces half year results for the six months ended 30 April 1999. * Group turnover up 31% to £9.4m (1998: £7.2m), including initial contributions from Fish! * Profit before tax increased by 15% to £1.1m (1998: £984,000) * Basic earnings per share of 5.4p (1998: 4.3p) * Food Preparation Division trading well with turnover up 34% to £6.04m (1998: £4.5m) * Fish! at Borough Market has exceeded expectations. Four further locations secured and several further sites currently under evaluation * Two further 'Bank'-style operations due to open in Birmingham (end 1999) and Westminster (Spring 2000) * Proposed Placing of 2.37m new shares to raise £5.7m (gross) to fund Group's future expansion - (see separate announcement) Tony Allan, Chairman & Chief Executive, commented: 'I am pleased to report an excellent start to the year and a continuing strong performance across all of the Group's divisions. We are extremely encouraged for the future potential of Fish!, in particular, and our planned expansion of the restaurant division is now underway. 'The Directors are confident that this will be a year of significant growth for the Group and I look forward to reporting on our continued success at the year end'. ENQUIRIES: BGR plc Today: 0171 457 2020 Tony Allan, Chairman & Chief Executive Thereafter: 0171 358 1617 Jeremy Ormerod, Finance Director College Hill Tel: 0171 457 2020 Justine Warren CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT This is the second interim statement issued by your Company since its admission to AIM on 5 March 1998 and I am pleased to report that the Group is trading in line with expectations and has made considerable progress during this financial year. The immediate success of our first Fish! restaurant, which opened in February 1999, has demonstrated that this concept has been well received by our customers. The strengthening of our Food Preparation Division along with the impending addition of two 'Bank'-style operations leaves us well placed to enjoy continued expansion into the new millennium. Financial Performance Our share price over the last 12 months initially reflected the general uncertainty in the restaurant sector and the UK economy as a whole. I am pleased that the expected downturn has not materialised for your Company. Group turnover grew by 31% to £9.4m (1998: 1998: £7.2m). Profit before tax for the six months to 30 April 1999 was £1,128,000, an increase of 15% on last year (1998: £984,000). Earnings per share were 5.4p (1998: 4.3p), an increase of 26%. The Restaurant Division The Restaurant Division has benefited from the additional operations of Fish! in Southwark, London (opened in February 1999) and Lawn in Blackheath, London which was acquired in October 1998. Turnover grew by 21% to £3.5m (1998: £2.9m) and profit before tax grew by 49% to £896,000 (1998: £602,000). 'Bank' restaurant in Aldwych continues to trade well and benefits from its established reputation. I consider that 'Bank' demonstrates your Company's ability to maintain its quality of operation having gained high, stable performance in a short period of time. The additional 'Bank'-style restaurants in Westminster in London and Brindley Place in Birmingham continue to progress with the openings remaining as early 2000 and end 1999 respectively. I am extremely pleased to report that Fish! in Southwark opened to an immediate demand that exceeded our expectations. This popularity has continued into the year with the added benefit of an open air terrace. The attached prepared fish retail shop has also proved to be very popular and has achieved profitability in its first month of operation. The home delivery service has recently commenced and is developing well. The Directors are confident that the success at Southwark can be replicated at a number of additional sites and are currently negotiating further appropriate leases in the London area. Lawn in Blackheath, London represents 'Bank'-style in the London suburbs. Since its acquisition, it has performed in line with expectations. However, with the success of Fish!, the Group's attention will continue to focus on this area of opportunity along with the larger 'Bank'-style operations. The Specialist Food Preparation Division The Specialist Food Preparation Division continues to provide stability of supply to the Group's restaurant operations with additional strong external sales. Turnover grew by 34% to £6.04m (1998: £4.5m) and operating profits grew by 20% to £511,000 (1998: £426,000). The growth is due to the accumulated effect of the acquisition of West Coast Shellfish and C.C. Wholesale, the Group's start up venture at Billingsgate, in addition to organic growth. The division has received significant management attention during the six months to establish its ability to support the future growth of the Restaurant Division. This will enable the restaurant growth to continue to benefit from the control of produce cost and the major additional benefit of enabling restaurant staff numbers to remain low due to the advanced preparation work undertaken at the Food Preparation Division. We continue to focus on the relationships with our buying sources in order to maintain the quality of our products, thereby continuing the high standard of produce that we supply to over 250 restaurants and hotels in the London area. IT Division Your Company acquired Crestport Limited, trading as Bank Solutions, in February 1999. This company forms our internal IT Division with its software and hardware sold to both the Group's restaurants and to external customers. The division has traded at a small profit since its acquisition and, more significantly, has completed new software versions of its restaurant EPOS system. It is now well placed to take advantage of this superior EPOS and reservation system in the external market place. Staffing Whilst the Restaurant Division continues to benefit from a high profile which proved attractive to potential employees, we are now able to enjoy the positive effects of internal promotion which increases our ability to retain staff. It is the Directors' opinion that the Group's wage policy and payment structure do not breach the minimum wage requirements. Dividends In view of the cash required for the expansion programme, the rate of the return on capital expected from the new restaurants and the Company's continued intention to maximise its growth, the Board currently intends to recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ending 31 October 1999 after a further six months trading. Year 2000 The Group has assessed the impact of the Year 2000 on its business and operations. It has been concluded that the Group will not be adversely affected in any material area of its operations by the Year 2000 issue and no significant costs will be incurred in achieving a state of readiness for Year 2000. Future Prospects Your Company has had an encouraging start to this year. The Group has continued to grow and is now well positioned to obtain maximum benefit from the Restaurant Division's expansion with the underpinning of the Food Preparation and IT Divisions. This, together with the contribution from the further restaurant operations planned to open in the next 12 months, and the ability to take advantage of our strong balance sheet, gives us every confidence that this year will be one of significant growth for the Group. Your Directors will continue to follow a focused strategy for the expansion of the Group based on the existing Specialist Food Preparation Division and the existing and future operations within the Restaurant Division. I look forward to reporting our continued success to you at the year end. Tony Allan Chairman & Chief Executive Group Profit and Loss Account Unaudited Unaudited Audited Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 30 April 30 April 31 October 1999 1998 1998 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 9,441 7,172 15,351 Cost of sales (4,788) (3,730) (7,918) Gross profit 4,653 3,442 7,433 Administrative expenses (3,440) (2,407) (5,282) 1,213 1,035 2,151 Interest receivable 15 32 93 Interest payable (100) (83) (170) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 1,128 984 2,074 Tax on profit on ordinary activities before taxation (282) (305) (634) Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 846 679 1,440 Dividends - - (360) Retained profit for period 846 679 1,080 Basic earnings per share 5.4p 4.3p 9.2p Diluted earnings per share 5.1p 4.2p 8.9p Group Balance Sheet Unaudited Unaudited Audited As at As at As at 30 April 30 April 31 October 1999 1998 1998 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible 656 - 350 Tangible 6,732 3,380 4,751 7,388 3,380 5,101 Current assets Stock 903 169 844 Debtors 3,132 1,998 3,128 Cash at bank 397 1,793 1,452 4,432 3,960 5,424 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (3,829) (2,866) (4,062) Net current assets 603 1,094 1,362 Total assets less current liabilities 7,991 4,474 6,463 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than year (2,145) (30) (1,715) Net assets 5,846 4,444 4,748 Capital and reserves Share capital 1,582 1,563 1,563 Share premium account 2,436 2,295 2,203 Merger reserve (1,375) (1,375) (1,375) Profit and loss account 3,203 1,961 2,357 Equity Shareholders' funds 5,846 4,444 4,748 Interim Results for the six months ended 30 April 1999 Notes Basis of preparation The results for BGR plc for the six months ended 30 April 1999 and the comparative figures for the six months ended 30 April 1998 are unaudited. They have been prepared on accounting bases and policies that are consistent with those used in the preparation of the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 October 1998. The results for the year ended 31 October 1998 are extracted from the latest audited accounts approved by the Members at the Annual General Meeting. These accounts, which received an unqualified report, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The unaudited Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet for the current and prior interim periods do not amount to statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985 and have not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Basis of consolidation The consolidated unaudited accounts for BGR plc incorporate the accounts of Cutty Catering Specialists Limited and Marchthistle Limited using the merger accounting method, and those of Crestport Limited using the acquisition accounting method. Cutty Catering Specialists Limited accounted for the acquisition of its subsidiary using the acquisition accounting method. Goodwill Goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiary undertakings by the Group companies was previously eliminated against reserves on consolidation in the year in which it arose. Goodwill so eliminated will be charged in the profit and loss account in the event of any subsequent disposal of the business to which it relates. In accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 10 provisional goodwill arising on the acquisition of Crestport Limited will be capitalised as an intangible fixed asset and amortised over a period of 20 years. Any impairment will be charged directly to the profit and loss account. Earnings per share Basic earnings per share for the six months ended 30 April 1999 has been calculated based on the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of 15,761,986 and earnings for the period of £846,000. Diluted earnings per share has been calculated based on the weighted average number of shares of 16,733,492 which includes the dilutive potential of share under option. Copies available Copies of the interim report will be sent to all shareholders and are available to the public from the Company's registered office at 15-19 Kingsway, London WC2B 6UA for a period of fourteen days from Tuesday, 27 July 1999.

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