9th Nov 2010 07:00
THEO FENNELL PLC
("Theo Fennell" or "the Group")
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2010 and trading update
Theo Fennell PLC the international, luxury jeweller announces Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2010.
HIGHLIGHTS:
·; Financial performance for first half in line with Board expectations: - Turnover up 12.5% on a like for like basis at £4.87million (2009: £4.3 million) |
- Reduced loss before taxation of £877,330 (2009: loss £1,075,000) following a heavy investment programme in the business |
·; Successfully raised £1.5 million in April 2010 ·; Full refurbishment of Fulham Road and City stores ·; Investment in online presence with new transactional website launched on 8th November |
·; Successful launch of ALIAS, the diffusion line of silver jewellery - Available in Harrods, and Theo Fennell standalone stores and concessions. - To be introduced into key International wholesale partners this month - To provide more accessible jewellery and open brand up to wider audience
|
Rupert Hambro, Chairman, commented:
"We have implemented some major developments to the business over the past six months, including store refurbishments, a new e-commerce site, and the launch of the new silver jewellery collection, ALIAS, which has been extremely well received by our partners and customers. We are confident that these initiatives will have a positive impact on sales in the second half and that we are well positioned to return to profitability."
9 November 2010
Enquiries: |
|
Theo Fennell Plc Barbara Snoad | Tel: 020 7591 5000 |
Pelham Bell Pottinger James Henderson Lucy Frankland | Tel: 020 7861 3885 |
Seymour Pierce Limited Mark Percy/ Catherine Leftley (Corporate Finance) David Banks/ Katie Ratner (Corporate Broking)
| Tel: 020 7107 8000 |
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Overview
I write this report about your Company's trading results for the six months to 30 September 2010. The Company has performed well over the last six months on all fronts with a number of new and exciting developments.
At the start of the year the Company successfully raised £1.5 million (gross) through a placing of 3,947,368 new ordinary shares at a price of 38 pence each with new and existing shareholders. This has provided the Company with the additional capital to start to implement its strategy and thereby begin to accelerate the development and growth of the business. Our flagship and City stores have both been refurbished to enhance the customer's experience. ALIAS, our new Silver diffusion range, was launched in our stores at the end of October. On the 8 November we launched our upgraded website and new e-commerce store. These developments have placed the Company in a strong position for the second half of the year including the key Christmas trading period.
Financial
Trading in the first six months of the year was encouraging with sales increasing by 12.5% to £4.87million. The Company made a reduced loss before taxation of £877,000 compared to a first half loss for the same period last year of £1,075,000. The loss is as expected and reflects a heavy investment programme in the first half covering the development and launch of ALIAS, store refurbishments and website re-design. We are confident these initiatives will have a positive impact on second half trading.
Operational & Product
The Company under Theo's creative direction has developed new one-off products, and new collections for the key Christmas selling period. The new Bee collection was launched in June 2010 and this has been further expanded with butterfly and dragonfly motifs. In addition the Company has invested significantly in unique one off pieces which will be initially showcased in our refurbished Fulham Road store as well as providing highlight pieces for our wholesale partners.
New Silver diffusion range
On 25 October the Company began the phased launch of ALIAS, a diffusion line of Silver jewellery priced from £75 to over £2,000. ALIAS will be available in all our stores and we are delighted to announce it has also been launched in the Harrods Designer Jewellery Room. From November we will begin to launch ALIAS with our key wholesale partners in the UK and Internationally.
The development of ALIAS is an important step for the Company. While it remains true to the core design values, quality and craftsmanship of Theo Fennell, it enables the business to compete in this growing key jewellery sector providing more accessible jewellery. ALIAS will significantly expand our customer profile and provide product to support our wholesale and internet sales growth.
Website
We have completed a major redevelopment of our website which includes a new online store. The new website and online store were launched on 8 November. We expect our online presence to become an increasingly important part of the business and as an important way of communicating the uniqueness of the business and our products to our clients across all markets. ALIAS will be launched on the site from 15 November.
International
We have focused our International development in high growth International markets including the Far East and Middle East as we exploit demand for Theo Fennell's unique design led jewellery. We continue to have positive discussions with potential parties, specifically in the Middle East and Far East and hope to announce further openings before the end of our financial year. Our focus on design continues to distinguish Theo Fennell from other global luxury jewellery brands, giving us a distinctive positioning in the global luxury Jewellery market.
The Company opened this year in the South of France for the key summer period and will open in Kiev in the Ukraine this month. The Company has continued to strengthen its position in Barbados.
As reported above we expect ALIAS to appeal to a broader profile of customer which will allow the business to significantly accelerate the expansion of the number of wholesale accounts operated both in the UK and International markets.
Outlook
The implementation of our strategy for the business is proceeding to plan with a number of key steps successfully completed in the first 6 months of the year which we believe will have a positive impact on the business. The phased launch of the new ALIAS silver diffusion line is the start of a very important development for the Company and to date has been very well received by our partners and customers. Although we are encouraged by the continued growth in sales and the developments achieved by the Company we remain cautious given the ongoing challenging economic environment as we enter the key Christmas period. We continue to believe in the significant potential of the future growth of the sales and profitability of the Company.
Rupert Hambro
Chairman
9 November 2010
Profit and Loss Account (Unaudited)for the six months ended 30 September 2010
Six months ended 30 September 2010£ | Six months ended 30 September 2009£ | Yearended 31 March2010£ | ||||
Turnover | 4,873,673 | 4,324,761 |
12,558,409 | |||
Cost of sales | (4,793,564 | ) | (4,581,463 | ) | (11,037,831 | ) |
Gross profit / (loss) | 80,109 | (256,702 | ) | 1,520,578 | ||
Administrative expenses Exceptional administrative expenses | (944,915 - | )
| (719,888 (55,000 | ) ) | (1,687,137 (105,166 | ) ) |
Total administrative expenses | (944,915 | ) | (774,888 | ) | (1,792,303 | ) |
Operating loss | (864,806 | ) | (1,031,590 | ) | (271,725 | ) |
Net interest payable | (12,524 | ) | (43,454 | ) | (78,040 | ) |
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation | (877,330 | ) | (1,075,044 | ) | (349,765 | ) |
Tax on loss on ordinary activities | - | - | - | |||
Retained loss for the financial period | (877,330 | ) | (1,075,044) | (349,765 | ) | |
Basic loss per share | (4.22)p | (5.72)p | (1.86)p | |||
Diluted loss per share | (4.15)p | (5.39)p | (1.86)p | |||
Basic loss per share from continuing operations | (4.22)p | (5.72)p | (1.86)p | |||
Diluted loss per share from continuing operations | (4.15)p | (5.39)p | (1.86)p |
All transactions arise from continuing operations.
Balance Sheet (Unaudited)as at 30 September 2010
As at 30 September 2010£ | As at 30 September 2009£ | As at 31 March2010£ | ||||
Fixed AssetsTangible assets Investments | 560,228 182,000 | 484,843 - | 429,537 - |
| ||
742,228 | 484,843 | 429,537 | ||||
Current assetsStocksDebtorsCash at bank and in hand | 8,754,075 1,313,177 (1,810,722 | ) | 7,643,646 833,421 916,381 | 7,168,270 1,119,136 1,021,812 | ||
8,256,530 | 9,393,448 | 9,309,218 | ||||
Creditors: amounts fallingdue within one year | (1,868,691 | ) | (2,154,214 | ) | (3,087,922 | ) |
Net current assets | 6,387,839 | 7,239,234 | 6,221,296 | |||
Total assets less current liabilities | 7,130,067 | 7,724,077 | 6,650,833 | |||
Creditors: amounts fallingdue after one year Convertible loan note Other |
- - |
| (300,000 (1,500,000 | ) ) |
- - |
|
Net assets | 7,130,067 | 5,924,077 | 6,650,833 | |||
Capital and reservesCalled up share capitalShare premium accountProfit and loss account Share Options Reserve | 1,137,901 5,698,187 224,711 69,268 | 940,533 4,572,857 376,763 33,924 | 940,533 4,572,857 1,102,041 35,402 |
| ||
Shareholders' funds | 7,130,067 | 5,924,077 | 6,650,833 |
Cash Flow Statement (Unaudited)for the six months ended 30 September 2010
Six months ended 30 September 2010£ | Six months ended 30 September 2009£ | Yearended 31 March2010£ | ||||
Net cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities | (2,153,501 | ) | (362,193 | ) | 216,315 | |
Returns on investment and servicing of finance Net interest paid | (12,524 | ) | (43,454 | ) | (78,040 | ) |
Taxation Corporation tax paid/repayment | - | - | - | |||
Capital expenditure & financial investment Purchase of fixed assets Purchase of fixed asset investment |
(243,289 (182,000 | ) ) | (34,584 - |
)
| (111,090 - |
)
|
Net cash (outflow) / inflow before financing | (2,591,314 | ) | (440,231 | ) | 27,185 | |
Financing Issue of shares Expenses of share issue Convertible loan note Capital element of hirepurchase agreements Bank loan repayments | 1,500,000 (177,302 -
- (1,563,918 |
)
) | - - -
(2,405 (59,313 |
) ) |
- - (300,000
(2,818 (120,885 | )
) ) |
Decrease in cash | (2,832,534 | ) | (501,949 | ) | (396,518 | ) |
Notes
1. The financial information for the period under review have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditors, Grant Thornton UK LLP. The company is not required to adopt IFRS and the Board considers there would be no advantage to do so voluntarily, so will continue to prepare the financial statements under UK GAAP.
2. The financial information set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. The Company's statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2010, prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP), have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified. The report did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
3. Loss per share and diluted loss per share. Average market price for the six months ended 30 September 2010 was 44.0p (31 March 2010: 37.0p)
| Six months ended 30 September 2010£ | Six months ended 30 September 2009£ | Yearended 31 March2010£ | ||
Loss for the financial year | (877,330) | (1,075,044) | (349,765) | ||
Effect of convertible loan note | - | 7,560 | - | ||
Adjusted loss for dilutive loss per share | (877,330) | (1,067,484) | (349,765) | ||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares | 20,784,345 | 18,810,661 | 18,810,661 | ||
Effect of dilutive share options | 344,795 | - | - | ||
Effect of convertible loan note | - | 1,000,000 | - | ||
Adjusted weighted average number of ordinary shares | 21,129,140 | 19,810,661 | 18,810,661 | ||
Loss per share - basic | (4.22p) | (5.72p) | (1.86p) | ||
Loss per share - diluted | (4.15p) | (5.39p) | (1.86p) |
4. Cash flow from operating activities:
Six months ended 30 September 2010£ | Six months ended 30 September 2009£ | Yearended 31 March2010£ | ||||
Operating (loss) Depreciation charges (Increase) / Decrease in stocks (Increase) / Decrease in debtors Increase / (Decrease) in creditors | (864,806) 112,598 (1,585,804) (194,041) 378,552 |
| (1,031,590) 144,570 862,447 462,224 (799,844) |
| (271,725) 276,382 1,337,823 176,509 (1,302,674) |
|
Net cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities | (2,153,501) | (362,193) | 216,315 |
5. A copy of the interim statement will be posted to shareholders and made available to the public at the Company's Registered Office, 2b Pond Place, London SW3 6TF for one month from the date thereof.
6. No interim dividend is declared on the ordinary shares.
7. The Company purchased a minority interest (20%) in the Original Design Partnership on 23 June. This is treated as a fixed asset investment as the Company does not exert significant influence over ODP.
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