3rd Dec 2014 09:56
3 December 2014
All Leisure Group plc
("All Leisure", the "Company" or the "Group")
Trading Update for the year ended 31 October 2014
Financial Update
The Group is in the process of preparing accounts for the year to 31 October 2014, which are subject to audit and therefore not final. Underlying Operating Profit before separately disclosed items is expected to be approximately £0.9m (2013: £0.8m).
As previously notified in our half-year announcement of 11 July 2014, the unfortunate events of 2014 in Crimea and Ukraine have had a significant impact on the business. Two Black Sea cruises and a connected cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean were subject to substantial cancellations and subsequent discounting to fill capacity, with profit contribution down £1.9m versus budget as a consequence. In view of the on-going difficulties in the region the Group has reduced the number of cruises to the Crimean region in the current financial year from three to one.
A full year pre-tax loss for the Group of approximately £7.4m is anticipated (2013: £13.6m loss), after charging £7.4m for the disposal of the MV Discovery and a further £0.6m charge for other reorganization costs that will be separately disclosed in the financial statements.
The Group closed the year with cash of £11.6m (2013: £10.7m) plus further restricted cash balances of £3.5m (2013: £3.6m).
Total passenger numbers were as follows; Cruise passengers were 17.9k versus 16.5k last year (+8%). Tour passengers were 40k versus 44k last year, due to a reduction in capacity of 1,600 pax combined with reduced business to Egypt due to political uncertainty.
Operational Highlights
The last two years have been spent consolidating the former "All Leisure Group" and "Page & Moy" businesses into one, single-site business. Operational synergies of approximately £2m (full year basis) have been achieved.
The management team has been strengthened, and has focused on improving customer service and satisfaction measures. The MV Voyager has been established as the flagship of the "Voyages of Discovery" brand, which will be re-launched for Winter 15/16 with an improved product offering. The disposal of the MV Discovery in October 2014 represents a significant de-risking of the Cruise portfolio. The Hebridean Princess maintains its premium, 5-star positioning, and benefits from continuous capital investment to maintain its high standards.
The "Travelsphere" and "Just You" Tours brands have also both been re-launched based on customer research and feedback, incorporating quality improvements and new destinations. The Tours businesses offer 85 new tours in 2015 to stimulate consumer interest. Much work has been done to merge multiple legacy customer databases into a single customer database. The Company's in-house tele-sales team has been multi-skilled to drive efficiency.
Appointment of Nigel Arthur as Group Finance Director
All Leisure is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Nigel Arthur as its Group Finance Director, effective immediately.
Nigel was formerly UK Finance Director of Thomas Cook plc, leaving this position in May 2014. Prior to this Nigel spent 10 years at Diageo plc where he held positions as VP Finance EMEA for Burger King Corp., Diageo International Finance Director, and Finance Director for Diageo Global Supply Chain. Nigel started his career at Price Waterhouse in London, before moving into industry at Guinness plc. Nigel is a Chartered Accountant and graduate in Economics from the University of Southampton.
The Company wishes to thank Mr Kevan Witts, who has acted as Interim Finance Director for the last three months. Kevan will remain as a consultant to the business to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. The list of all companies and partnerships of which Nigel Arthur has been a director in the previous five years can be found in the Appendix.
Outlook
The board is encouraged to note that 95% of Winter 2014/15 cruise revenue is already booked (2013: 88%). 84% of Winter tours revenue is already booked (2013: 88%). 2015 Revenue from Tour bookings to USA and Italy, the most popular destinations, are both trading up, whilst Tour bookings to certain Asian destinations (China, India, Vietnam etc) have declined in line with the overall market.
Enquiries:
All Leisure group PLC | |
Roger Allard (Executive Chairman) | Tel: +44 7836 382767 |
Ian Smith (Group Chief Executive Officer) | Tel: +44 1858 588396 |
Nigel Arthur (Group Finance Director) | Tel: +44 1858 588052 |
NOMAD: Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited | |
Andrew Godber / Charles Leigh-Pemberton | Tel: + 44 207 886 2500 |
Financial PR: Citigate Dewe Rogerson | |
Tehsin Nayani | Tel: +44 207 282 1080 |
Appendix: List of companies of which Nigel John Arthur (aged 53) has been a director in the previous five years
Current Directorships / Partnerships | Former Directorships / Partnerships (past 5 years) |
Close Number 29 Limited* | A. A. H. (1997) Limited* |
Ennay Services Limited | A.T. Mays Group (Holdings) Limited* |
A.T. Mays Investments Limited* | |
A.T. Mays The Travel Agents Limited* | |
Adrian Hayes Management Limited* | |
Airline Network Plc | |
Airtours Holidays Transport Limited | |
Airtours Insurance Services Limited | |
Airtrack Services Limited | |
Amsterdam Travel Service Limited* | |
BCT Transport Brokers Limited* | |
Belgian Travel Service Limited* | |
Blue Sea Overseas Investments Limited | |
Bridge Tours Limited* | |
Bridge Travel Service Limited* | |
Buzzard Leisure Limited | |
Carousel Holidays Limited | |
Carousel Resorts International Limited | |
Close Number 1 Limited | |
Close Number 2 Limited* | |
Close Number 3 Limited | |
Close Number 4 Limited* | |
Close Number 5 Limited* | |
Close Number 6 Limited | |
Close Number 7 Limited | |
Close Number 8 Limited | |
Close Number 9 plc | |
Close Number 10 Limited* | |
Close Number 11 Limited* | |
Close Number 12 Limited* | |
Close Number 13 Limited* | |
Close Number 14 Limited* | |
Close Number 15 plc* | |
Close Number 16 Limited | |
Close Number 17 plc* | |
Close Number 18 Limited* | |
Close Number 19 Limited | |
Close Number 20 Limited* | |
Close Number 21 Limited* | |
Close Number 22 Limited* | |
Close Number 23 Limited* | |
Close Number 24 Limited* | |
Close Number 25 Limited | |
Close Number 26 Limited* | |
Close Number 27 Limited* | |
Close Number 28 Limited* | |
Compass Travel Limited | |
Co-op Group Travel 1 Limited | |
Cresta Holidays Limited | |
Direct Aviation Limited* | |
Elvington Limited* | |
Essential Extras Limited | |
FlexTravel Limited* | |
Flights4u.com Limited* | |
Flying Colours Holidays Limited* | |
Flying Colours Leisure Group Limited* | |
Flying Colours Trustees Limited* | |
Future Travel Limited | |
Gold Medal International Limited | |
Gold Medal Travel Group Plc | |
Goldcrest Aviation Limited* | |
Goldcrest International Charters Limited* | |
Highlight Travel Limited* | |
Holiday Matchmakers Limited* | |
Holidayline Limited* | |
Hotels4u.com Limited | |
HRLT* | |
I.T. Travel Limited* | |
In Touch (IT) Business Centres Limited* | |
Inhoco 3434 Limited | |
Inspirations Air Limited* | |
Inspirations East Limited* | |
Inspirations Group Pension Trustees Limited | |
Inspirations Limited | |
International Airways Limited* | |
JMC Travel Limited* | |
JMCH Services Limited | |
Jupiter Leasing Limited* | |
Kestrel Leisure Limited | |
Late Escapes Limited* | |
MTG (UK) Limited | |
MyTravel Group Limited | |
MyTravel North America Limited | |
MyTravel Pioneer Limited | |
MyTravel Tour Operations Limited | |
Neilson Active Holidays Ltd | |
Omicron Leasing (Orange) 1 Limited* | |
Online Essentials Limited* | |
Orchid Travel Limited* | |
Panorama Holiday Group Limited* | |
Panorama Seat Broking Limited* | |
Paris Travel Service Limited* | |
Parkway (UK) Investment Management Limited* | |
Parkway 2005 plc* | |
Parkway Hellas Holdings Limited | |
Parkway IPR Limited | |
Peregrine Leisure Limited | |
Pluto Leasing Limited* | |
Rankin Kuhn Travel Limited* | |
Retail Travel Limited | |
Sandbrook UK Investments Limited | |
Secpark Limited* | |
Shipping and Aviation Industries Limited | |
Ski America Limited* | |
Style Aviation Limited* | |
Style Holidays Limited | |
Sun International (UK) Limited | |
Sunset Developments Limited* | |
Swiss Travel Service Limited* | |
TCCT Holdings UK Limited | |
TCCT Retail Limited | |
TCIM Limited | |
The BTN Finance Company* | |
The Freedom Travel Group Limited | |
The French Selection Limited* | |
The Travelworld Group Limited | |
Thomas Cook (Jersey) Limited | |
Thomas Cook Broking Limited | |
Thomas Cook Continental Holdings Limited | |
Thomas Cook Destination Services Inc | |
Thomas Cook Finance plc | |
Thomas Cook Group Management Services Limited | |
Thomas Cook Group UK Limited | |
Thomas Cook Investments (1) Limited | |
Thomas Cook Investments (2) Limited | |
Thomas Cook Overseas Limited | |
Thomas Cook Retail Limited | |
Thomas Cook Scheduled Tour Operations Limited | |
Thomas Cook Services Limited | |
Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited | |
Thomas Cook UK Limited | |
Thomas Cook UK Travel Limited | |
Thomas Cook Wholesale Limited | |
Time Off Limited* | |
Tourmajor Limited | |
Tradewinds Worldwide Holidays Limited* | |
Transfers4u.com Limited* | |
Travel Choice Overseas Limited | |
Trust Accommodation.com Limited* | |
Up Trips Limited* | |
US Travel Service Limited* | |
Vayago Limited* | |
Winston Rees (World Travel) Limited* | |
Worldsure Limited* | |
Zoom Flights Limited* |
Note: those companies marked with a * above were in liquidation at the time of Nigel Arthur's directorship, or are currently in liquidation.
There are no further matters in connection with the Company's appointment of Nigel Arthur to be disclosed under Rule 17 or Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules.
Related Shares:
ALLG.L