RNS Number : 1530J
  Strategic Retail PLC
  28 November 2008
   

    STRATEGIC RETAIL PLC
    Interim Results
    for the six months ended 30 August 2008


    CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT 

    Strategic Retail plc, the national retailer of soft furnishings, furniture and DIY products from stores located in either high street
locations or retail parks, announces today its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 August 2008 and provides an update on
current trading and prospects.

    With the events in financial markets across the world in recent months, consumer confidence has reduced substantially. As a consequence,
trading conditions have deteriorated significantly in the UK. The board of directors is taking all appropriate measures to deal with the
current challenging economic environment and is maintaining a regular dialogue with the Company's bankers, in common with most other
businesses exposed to the retail sector.

    We have had to look very carefully at our strategy in response to this significant deterioration in trading. Overall our like-for-like
sales performance has deteriorated by some 6% in the 26 weeks to 30 August 2008. The deterioration has been especially acute in the larger
out-of-town Texstyle World stores which are trading some 11% down on a like-for-like basis. This is especially disappointing when you
consider that these stores had been trading 2.5% up in the 53 weeks ended 1 March 2008. The Leveys business has also shown a disappointing
reversal in trends by trading some 7.8% down in the 26 weeks to 30 August 2008 compared to being up some 6.4% in the 53 week period ended 1
March 2008. The Fads stores remained at some 2% down on a like-for-like basis over both periods.  In addition, average gross margins have
declined from 49.2% to 47.4% and distribution costs have increased with the addition of larger stores in out-of-town retail parks
(distribution costs in the 26 weeks ended 30 August 2008 were �4,139,000 versus �3,962,000 in the 26 weeks ended 25 August 2007).

    We opened new stores located in Sheffield and East Kilbride in the early part of the year as we had committed to these openings during
the previous year. Plans for other new store openings have been cancelled. The new store openings were funded in part by reverse premiums
offered as an incentive by landlords.

    Our revised strategy has been to try to reposition the sales offering in the stores towards discount products as demand has diminished
for more expensive products. This transition has been difficult and profit has suffered due to the necessity to generate cash. We are
currently implementing a stock reduction programme which, it is intended, will fund the transition to products that will be perceived as
offering increased value for money.  

    In the current environment the directors continue to review all options and will provide an update when it is deemed appropriate.



    CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT 
    For the six months ended 30 August 2008

                                           Six months ended                Year ended
                                      30 August        25 August 2007         1 March
                                           2008                                  2008
                                           �000                  �000            �000
                                    (Unaudited)          (Unaudited -       (Audited)
                                                            restated)

 REVENUE                                  8,933                 9,886          19,918
 Cost of sales                          (4,695)               (5,023)        (10,150)
                                                                                     
 GROSS PROFIT                             4,238                 4,863           9,768
 Distribution costs                     (4,139)               (3,962)         (7,820)
 Administrative expenses                  (893)                 (878)         (1,791)
                                                                                     
 GROUP OPERATING PROFIT                   (794)                    23             157

 Finance revenue                              -                     1               2
 Finance costs                             (61)                  (50)           (139)
                                                                                     
 (LOSS)/PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION            (855)                  (26)              20
 Taxation                                     -                     -           (165)
                                                                                     

 LOSS FOR THE PERIOD
 ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY
 SHAREHOLDERS                             (855)                  (26)           (145)
                                                                                     

 EARNINGS PER SHARE
  - Basic and diluted                   (3.94)p               (0.12)p         (0.67)p
                                                                                     

      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    At 30 August 2008

                                 30 August 2008          25 August 2007    1 March 2008

                                           �000                    �000            �000
                                    (Unaudited)  (Unaudited - restated)       (Audited)
 ASSETS
 NON-CURRENT ASSETS
 Intangible assets                        3,731                   3,908           3,731
 Property, plant and equipment            1,808                   1,235           1,299
 Deferred tax                                 -                     150               -
                                                                                       
                                          5,539                   5,293           5,030
                                                                                       
 CURRENT ASSETS
 Inventories                              4,035                   4,355           4,182
 Trade and other receivables                378                     483           1,276
                                                                                       
                                          4,413                   4,838           5,458
                                                                                       
 LIABILITIES 
 CURRENT LIABILITIES
 Trade and other payables               (3,233)                 (3,196)         (2,946)
 Financial liability                      (585)                   (432)           (901)
 Provisions for liabilities and           (130)                   (208)           (162)
 charges
 Corporation tax                           (15)                       -            (15)
                                                                                       
                                        (3,963)                 (3,836)         (4,024)
                                                                                       
 NET CURRENT ASSETS                         450                   1,002           1,434
                                                                                       
 NON CURRENT LIABILITIES 
 Convertible loan notes                 (1,395)                 (1,548)         (1,353)
 Provision for liabilities and            (784)                   (821)           (794)
 charges
 Accruals and deferred income           (1,128)                   (270)           (780)
                                                                                       
                                        (3,307)                 (2,639)         (2,927)
                                                                                       
 NET ASSETS                               2,682                   3,656           3,537
                                                                                       
 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Called up share capital                    108                     108             108
 Share premium account                    3,688                   3,688           3,688
 Shares to be issued                         21                      25              21
 Profit and loss account                (1,135)                   (165)           (280)
                                                                                       
 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                     2,682                   3,656           3,537
                                                                                       

      STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    For the six months ended 30 August 2008

                                                       Attributable to equity holders of the parent company
                                     Called up share         Share premium  Shares to be issued  Retained earnings          Equity
                                             capital               account
                                                �000                  �000                 �000               �000            �000

 Balance at 24 February 2007                     108                 3,688                   25              (139)           3,682
 Loss for the financial period                     -                     -                    -               (26)            (26)
                                                                                                                                  
 Balance at 27 August 2007                       108                 3,688                   25              (165)           3,656
 Loss for the financial period                     -                     -                    -              (119)           (119)
 Reserves transfer                                 -                     -                  (4)                  4               -
                                                                                                                                  
 Balance at 1 March 2008                         108                 3,688                   21              (280)           3,537
 Loss for the financial period                     -                     -                    -              (855)           (855)
                                                                                                                                  
 Balance at 30 August 2008                       108                 3,688                   21            (1,135)           2,682
                                                                                                                                  



    CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
    For the six months ended 30 August 2008

                                           Six months ended              Year ended
                                 30 August 2008        25 August 2007    1 March 2008
                                           �000                  �000            �000
                                    (Unaudited)          (Unaudited -       (Audited)
                                                            restated)
 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
 ACTIVITIES
 Operating profit                         (794)                    23             157
 Adjusted for:
   Depreciation                             121                   121             286
   Goodwill impairment                        -                     -             177
   Loss/(profit) on disposal of              20                    16            (44)
 property, plant and
   equipment
                                                                                     
                                          (653)                   160             576
 CHANGES IN WORKING CAPITAL
 Decrease/(increase) in                     147                  (86)              87
 inventories
 Decrease/(increase) in trade               898                   397           (398)
 and other receivables
 Increase/(decrease) in trade               287                 (920)         (1,208)
 and other payables
 Increase/(decrease) in                    (42)                 (143)           (215)
 provisions
 Increase/(decrease) in                     390                   270             780
 accruals and deferred income
                                                                                     
 CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS           1,027                 (322)           (378)
 Finance costs                             (61)                  (50)            (68)
                                                                                     
 NET CASH FROM OPERATING                    966                 (372)           (446)
 ACTIVITIES
                                                                                     
 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
 ACTIVITIES
 Purchase of property, plant              (650)                 (255)           (426)
 and equipment
 Finance revenue                              -                     1               2
                                                                                     
 NET CASH USED IN INVESTING               (650)                 (254)           (424)
 ACTIVITIES
                                                                                     
 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
 ACTIVITIES
 Repayment of convertible debt                -                     -           (225)
                                                                                     
 NET CASH USED IN FINANCING                   -                     -           (225)
 ACTIVITIES
                                                                                     
 NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN
 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND                 316                 (626)         (1,095)
 FINANCIAL LIABILITY
 Cash, cash equivalents and
 bank overdrafts at beginning             (901)                   194             194
 of period
                                                                                     
 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND
 BANK/OVERDRAFTS AT END OF THE            (585)                 (432)           (901)
 PERIOD
                                                                                     

    NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    For the six months ended 30 August 2008

    1. The interim results are unaudited and do not comprise full financial statements within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies
Act 1985. The results for the year ended 1 March 2008 have been extracted from the published financial statements. These were audited and
reported upon without qualification by Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP, did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies
Act 1985 but did contain a statement under Section 235(2)(2A)(b) of the Companies Act 1985 as replicated below.

    EMPHASIS OF MATTER - GOING CONCERN

    In forming our opinion which is not qualified, we have considered the adequacy of the disclosures made on page 21 of the financial
statements concerning the directors confidence in the Company and Group's ability to continue as a going concern. The matters explained on
page 21 indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about this ability. The financial statements do
not include the adjustment which would result if the company was unable to continue as a going concern.  

    2. Earnings per share has been calculated on the 21,696,713 shares in issue.

    3. Copies of the interim report will be sent to shareholders on 28 November 2008 and will also be available from the Company's website
at www.strategicretail.co.uk



    For further information, please contact:

 Ian Currie, Strategic Retail plc    Tel: 0161 831 1512

 David Youngman, WH Ireland Limited  Tel: 0161 832 2174





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