Smiths News PLC Trading Statement (9222Q)
March 03 2021 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMSNWS
RNS Number : 9222Q
Smiths News PLC
03 March 2021
This announcement contains inside information
3 March 2021
Smiths News plc
("the Company")
Trading Update
Robust performance in line with expectations
Smiths News is pleased to report a robust operational and
financial performance for the 26-week period to 27 February 2021,
with profit and cash generation in line with market
expectations.
The flexibility and resilience of the Company's business model
in its core newspaper and magazine wholesaling operations has
helped to ensure the business traded to plan throughout the period.
A full service was maintained over both the second lockdown in
England (November 2020) and the current UK wide restrictions (6
January 2021 to date), with our markets not experiencing the large
reductions and fluctuations that occurred during the first months
of the pandemic.
The Company expects Adjusted EBITDA (excluding IFRS16 -
leases)(1) to be GBP20.5m for H1 2021 and our Bank Net Debt(2) to
be GBP71m at 27 February 2021, which would result in a Bank Net
Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.9x.
Given the stable performance of the business in H1 2021, the
Board continues to expect that full year financial performance will
be in line with market expectations.
Following the Company's successful refinancing in November 2020
and in light of continued delivery of its operating and financial
plans, the Board intends to provide an update on its capital
allocation policy and the timing of the reinstatement of dividends
at its Interim Financial Results in May 2021.
Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"Our performance in the period says much for the resilience of
our markets, the strength and flexibility of our business model,
and the dedication of our colleagues. I'm grateful for the
unwavering support of all our stakeholders throughout these
challenging months, including our supply chain partners. Working
together to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and associated
lockdowns, we have delivered a strong performance that is founded
on supporting the long term sustainability of our markets and
supply chain. I very much look forward to providing a further
update on our financial performance and wider progress in our
Interim Results in May 2021"
Enquiries:
Smiths News plc
Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer
Tony Grace, Chief Financial Officer
Investor.relations@smithsnews.co.uk
www.corporate.smithsnews.co.uk
Buchanan (Financial PR)
Richard Oldworth / Jamie Hooper
smithsnews@buchanan.uk.com
www.buchanan.uk.com
Person responsible for arranging release of this
announcement:
Stuart Marriner, General Counsel & Company Secretary
Smiths News plc
Rowan House
Cherry Orchard North
Kembrey Park
Swindon
SN2 8UH
email: cosec@smithsnews.co.uk
LEI: 2138004O33ONVOOQXB02
About the Company
Smiths News is the UK's largest newspaper and magazine
wholesaling business with an approximate 55
percentage market share. It distributes newspapers and magazines
on behalf of the major national and regional publishers, delivering
to approximately 25,000 customers across England and Wales on a
daily basis. The speed of turnaround in the UK and density of
Smiths News' coverage is critical to one of the world's fastest
physical supply chains.
Definitions
Notes
The Company uses certain performance measures for internal
reporting purposes and employee incentive arrangements. The terms
'Bank Net Debt' and 'Adjusted EBITDA' are not defined terms under
IFRS and may not be comparable with similar measures disclosed by
other companies.
(1) Adjusted EBITDA (excluding IFRS16) is calculated as Adjusted
operating profit before depreciation and amortisation and excludes
the impact of IFRS16 lease accounting in H1 2021 to aid
comparability to H1 2020.
(2) Bank Net Debt - is calculated as total debt less cash and
cash equivalents. Total debt includes loans and borrowings,
overdrafts and obligations under finance leases (excluding the
adoption of IFRS16 lease accounting standards), as bank covenants
are tested under 'frozen GAAP'. Net debt is calculated as total
debt less cash and cash equivalents. Total debt includes loans and
borrowings, overdrafts and obligations under leases.
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END
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