Interim Results
John Lewis Of Hungerford PLC
02 May 2006
JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD PLC
HIGHLIGHTS
. Revenues decrease 22% to £1,431,000 (2005 - £1,849,000).
. Losses before and after taxation £289,000 (2005 - £229,000 loss).
. Net cash inflows from operating activities £138,000 (2005 - £211,000
inflows).
. New Managing Director appointed January 2006.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Review of Operations
We indicated in our annual report for the year to 31 August 2005 that trading
was exceptionally difficult in the first quarter of the current financial year.
Order input improved significantly in the second quarter but was too late to be
reflected in sales revenues for the six months to 28 February 2006.
As a result of the above sales declined and losses increased compared to the
same period in the prior year.
During the period your Board has made a number of significant management changes
to improve the performance of the Company. As previously announced, Malcolm
Hepworth joined the Board as Managing Director in January 2006 and in November
2005 Roy Hawthorne joined the Company as Production Manager.
Your Board is now looking at ways to enhance sales growth within the Company's
present cost base.
Summary of Financial Results
Turnover for the period was £1,431,000 against £1,849,000 for the comparable
period last year.
Gross profit margins improved considerably to 63.0% against 52.6% same period
prior year. This improvement reflects reduced sales discounts, efficiency
improvements in manufacturing and selling price increases. However against this
Administration Costs (a significant part of which represents selling expenses)
increased to 70.8% of sales against 51.6% for the prior period. Total selling
expenses increased in absolute terms by 5.7% to 31.8% of sales (2005 - 23.3%)
mainly as a result of payroll and occupancy cost increases.
Distribution expenses fell to 11.7% of sales (2005 - 13.0 %) due in the main to
reductions in advertising and store rental commissions.
Losses before and after taxation were £289,000 (2005 - £229,000 loss). As in the
prior year due to uncertainties as to the outcome of the current year, no tax
credit has been booked in these interim statements against current period
losses.
Capital expenditures in the period were £31,000 (2005 - £125,000) representing
expenditures to upgrade production facilities.
Cash inflows from operating activities were £138,000 (2005 - £211,000)
As at 28 February 2006 the Company had cash balances of £472,000 (2005 -
£443,000) and unused overdraft facilities amounting to £250,000.
Outlook for the Future
Although order input at the end of the second quarter was very strong, business
remains highly challenging. We remain cautious as to the outcome for the full
year.
John Lewis
Chairman
2 May 2006
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2006
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months 12 months
ended ended ended
28 February 28 February 31 August
2006 2005 2005
£000 £000 £000
Turnover 1,431 1,849 4,351
Cost of sales (529) (876) (1,854)
-------- -------- --------
Gross profit 902 973 2,497
Distribution costs (167) (240) (727)
Administration costs (1,014) (954) (1,773)
-------- -------- --------
Operating (loss) (279) (221) (3)
Interest receivable 0 2 2
Interest payable (10) (10) (24)
-------- -------- --------
(Loss) on ordinary activities before
taxation (289) (229) (25)
Taxation - - 7
-------- -------- --------
(Loss) on ordinary activities after
taxation (289) (229) (18)
Dividends - - -
-------- -------- --------
Retained (loss) (289) (229) (18)
===== ===== =====
(Loss) per share (0.19)p (0.15)p (0.01)p
===== ===== =====
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2006
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
28 Feb 2006 29 Feb 2005 31 Aug 2005
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 27 32 30
Tangible assets 1,833 1,964 1,908
----- ----- -----
1,860 1,996 1,938
Current assets
Stocks 512 451 356
Debtors 100 135 74
Cash at bank and in hand 472 443 390
----- ----- -----
1,084 1,029 820
Creditors: amounts falling
due within one year (1,237) (1,209) (751)
----- ----- -----
Net current
(liabilities)/assets (153) (180) 69
----- ----- -----
Total assets less current
Liabilities 1,707 1,816 2,007
Creditors: amounts falling
due after more than one
year (316) (334) (327)
Provisions for liabilities
and charges (58) (71) (58)
----- ----- -----
Total net assets 1,333 1,411 1,622
===== ===== =====
Capital and Reserves
Called up share capital 149 149 149
Other reserves 1 1 1
Share premium account 825 825 825
Profit and Loss account 358 436 647
----- ----- -----
Shareholders funds
- all equity 1,333 1,411 1,622
interests
===== ===== =====
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2006
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months 12 months
ended ended ended
28 February 29 February 31 August
2006 2005 2005
£000 £000 £000
Operating (loss) (279) (221) (3)
Depreciation 108 104 232
(Increase)/decrease in Stock (156) 40 135
(Increase) in Debtors (25) (49) (1)
Increase/(decrease) in Creditors 490 337 (127)
-------- -------- ---------
Net cash inflow from
operating activities 138 211 236
Returns on investment and servicing
of finance (10) (8) (22)
Corporation tax paid (5) - 14
Capital expenditure (31) (125) (195)
Equity dividends paid - - -
Financing (10) (9) (17)
-------- --------- ---------
Increase in cash 82 69 16
===== ===== =====
NOTES:
1. The interim accounts, which are unaudited, have been prepared under the
historical cost convention using the accounting policies set out in the accounts
for the year ended 31 August 2005.
2. The loss per share is calculated on the loss after taxation of £289,000 and
on the basis of 148,745,519 shares in issue. The loss per share for the 6 months
ended 28 February 2005 is calculated on the loss after taxation of £229,000 and
on the basis of 148,745,519 shares in issue. The loss per share for the year
ended 31 August 2005 is calculated on the loss after taxation of £18,000 and on
the basis of 148,745,519 shares in issue.
3. Copies of the 2006 interim accounts will be available to shareholders on the
Company's website www.john-lewis.co.uk,
4. Copies of the announcement will be available from the Nominated Adviser,
Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited, 25 Moorgate, London, EC2R 6AY for
one month from the date of this announcement.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange