Exhibit 1
ANNOUNCEMENT TO BONDHOLDERS & ANALYSTS
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2002
LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC announces its intention of filing the company's condensed
unaudited financial statements for the nine months ended 30 September 2002 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on 7th November 2002. The results are
summarised as follows:
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SUMMARY RESULTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
Three Three Nine Nine Full
months to months to months to months to year to
30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 31 Dec
2002 2001 2002 2001 2001
(pound)M (pound)M (pound)M (pound)M (pound)M
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Third party turnover:
Continuing operations 53.2 56.2 173.7 178.9 230.4
Discontinued operations 0.2 0.4 0.5 10.0 10.1
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
TURNOVER 53.4 56.6 174.2 188.9 240.5
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
Operating profit before goodwill &
exceptional items:
Continuing operations 3.7 1.4 11.7 12.5 13.9
Discontinued operations - - - - (3.3)
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
3.7 1.4 11.7 12.5 10.6
Goodwill amortisation (0.4) (0.5) (1.3) (1.3) (1.8)
Exceptional items (0.3) - (0.3) (1.8) (4.7)
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
OPERATING PROFIT 3.0 0.9 10.1 9.4 4.1
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
Profit on sale of operations - - - 1.8 1.8
Disposal of fixed assets - - - - (0.6)
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
Profit before interest & tax 3.0 0.9 10.1 11.2 5.3
Net interest (3.4) (3.8) (10.2) (11.6) (14.7)
Taxation (0.4) (0.4) (1.4) (1.7) (0.1)
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
Loss after taxation (0.8) (3.3) (1.5) (2.1) (9.5)
- ----------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
EBITDA - Total Group (1) 6.3 3.7 19.3 19.7 20.2
EBITDA - Continuing Ops. (1) 6.3 3.7 19.3 19.5 23.3
Operating cash flow 21.2 2.3 21.2 2.3 11.8
Cash at bank and in hand 18.7 11.0 18.7 11.0 13.3
Net assets 9.6 19.6 9.6 19.6 11.1
Net debt (net of cash) (110.5) (118.1) (110.5) (118.1) (118.8)
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(1) EBITDA before exceptional items consists of operating profit before
exceptional items, and the non-cash items of depreciation and goodwill
amortisation.
GROUP RESULTS
Group turnover from continuing operations for the third quarter, at (pound)53.2
million, was down on the previous two quarters of 2002. The third quarter
traditionally has a lower level of activity due to plant shut downs in the
summer months at our own operations and also at some of our customers. Revenues
were (pound)173.7 million for the first nine months of 2002 compared to
(pound)179.8 million for the same period in 2001. Of the (pound)6.1 million
difference, (pound)2.3 million is a translation difference arising primarily
from the reduced sterling value of US dollar revenues as a result of the
currency weakening in value.
The Group's profitability, before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items
was (pound)11.7 million for the first nine months of 2002 compared to
(pound)12.5 million for 2001. However, the rolling twelve-month EBITDA increased
13% to (pound)23.1 million for the twelve months to 30 September 2002 from the
(pound)20.5 million as at the half year in 2002. This highlights the improving
trend in profits over recent quarters driven largely by the cost reduction
measures taken in late 2001 and early 2002.
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TURNOVER BY DIVISION
Three Three Nine Nine Full
months to months to months to months to year to
30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 31 Dec
2002 2001 2002 2001 2001
(pound)M (pound)M (pound)M (pound)M (pound)M
- ------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
Gas Cylinders 27.1 29.7 90.4 87.0 114.3
Elektron 22.7 22.0 71.8 77.2 97.7
Speciality Aluminium 3.4 4.5 11.5 15.6 19.3
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Continuing operations 53.2 56.2 173.7 179.8 231.3
Discontinued operations 0.2 0.4 0.5 10.6 10.7
Inter-segment sales - - - (1.5) (1.5)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
TURNOVER 53.4 56.6 174.2 188.9 240.5
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Turnover from continuing operations for the third quarter, at (pound)53.2
million, was down (pound)3.0 million (or 5%) compared with the prior year. The
movement in the US dollar to sterling exchange rate accounted for (pound)1.9
million of this fall, through lower translated revenues.
The Gas Cylinder sales levels, at (pound)27.1 million, for the quarter were
(pound)2.6 million lower than in 2001 due to a fall in aluminium cylinder
volumes over the past year, combined with a (pound)1.2 million translation
impact on US sales. In this quarter aluminium cylinder volumes were 17% lower
than a year ago. This fall was partly offset by the continued increase in 2002
of composite cylinder volumes, which were up 18% in the third quarter of 2002
compared to the same quarter in 2001.
Elektron divisional sales at (pound)22.7 million, were slightly ahead of the
(pound)22.0 million for the third quarter in 2001. Zirconium revenues were down
8%, partly through the translation effect of the weaker dollar on US sales,
partly through a weaker business mix, and partly through price pressures in
several market sectors. Magnesium sales revenues for the third quarter were 12%
ahead of the same quarter in the prior year and accounted for the net increase
in the divisional sales when compared to 2001. This increase reflects the
recovery in some of the magnesium markets, with automotive die-casting revenues
up 25% and magnesium reprocessing up 20%.
Speciality Aluminium sales levels, at (pound)3.4 million, compared to (pound)4.5
million for the prior third quarter, continued to be well behind prior year
levels. Demand remains subdued in the UK and Europe, with some new sales
initiatives taking time to realise a higher sales volume.
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OPERATING PROFIT BEFORE GOODWILL AMORTISATION AND EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS
Three Three Nine Nine Full
months to months to months to months to year to
30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 30 Sept 31 Dec
2002 2001 2002 2001 2001
(pound)M (pound)M (pound)M (pound)M (pound)M
- -------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------
Operating profit by division:
Gas Cylinders 2.5 1.0 7.8 5.0 6.3
Elektron 1.7 0.9 5.4 8.0 8.6
Speciality Aluminium (0.5) (0.5) (1.5) (0.5) (1.0)
- -------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------
Continuing operations 3.7 1.4 11.7 12.5 13.9
Discontinued operations - - - - (3.3)
- -------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------
Operating profit before
goodwill & exceptional items 3.7 1.4 11.7 12.5 10.6
Goodwill amortisation (0.4) (0.5) (1.3) (1.3) (1.8)
Exceptional items (0.3) - (0.3) (1.8) (4.7)
- -------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------
OPERATING PROFIT 3.0 0.9 10.1 9.4 4.1
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A profit of (pound)3.7 million was made before charges of (pound)0.4 million for
goodwill and (pound)0.3 million of exceptional items. The profit was
significantly higher than the (pound)1.4 million made in the third quarter of
2001, despite a lower level of sales. This improvement reflects the benefits of
the rationalisation measures undertaken over the last year.
Gas Cylinders profitability, at (pound)2.5 million, was (pound)1.5 million ahead
of the same quarter in 2001. The division has benefited from an improvement in
sales mix with a higher volume of value-added composite cylinders, as well as
from the closure of one of our UK plants in 2001, and the integration of SM
Gerzat.
Elektron has also shown benefits from the rationalisation process with profits
of (pound)1.7 million being nearly double the (pound)0.9 million achieved a year
earlier on similar levels of sales. The Speciality Aluminium division had made
some cost savings, but these have been offset by the loss of sales volumes,
resulting in a loss of (pound)0.5 million in the quarter.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash flow
Operating cash flows remained strong in the quarter, with (pound)8.9 million of
net cash inflows being generated, taking operating cash flow to (pound)21.2
million for the first nine months of the year. This compares favourably to a
(pound)1.0 million outflow in the third quarter of 2001, the cumulative
operating cash inflow of (pound)2.3 million for the first nine months of 2001,
and the (pound)11.8 million for the full year to 31 December 2001.
Net debt
With cash balances at 30 September 2002 of (pound)18.6 million, net debt stood
at (pound)110.5 million, compared to net debt of (pound)118.1 million at the
same point in 2001. The Group's (pound)20 million short term borrowing lines
remained undrawn during the quarter. At the end of the third quarter, rolling
EBITDA for continuing operations was (pound)23.1 million and the net debt to
EBITDA ratio fell to 4.8x, from the 5.6x reported at the half year.
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Copies of the condensed unaudited financial statements are available from: Janet
McCook, LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC, Victoria Building, Harbour City, Salford Quays,
Manchester, M50 3SP.
Telephone :+44 (0)161 911 8826 Fax :+44 (0)161 911 8893
E-mail :janet.mccook@luxfer.com
The company also advises bondholders that there will be a telephone conference
at 3.00 pm GMT on 8th November 2002, to discuss the Group's financial results
for the nine months ended 30th September 2002. Further details of this are also
available from Janet McCook.
Other queries regarding this press release should initially be directed to Andy
Beaden, telephone number +44 (0) 161 911 8829 or email: andy.beaden@luxfer.com.