RNS No 4793k
FIRSTBUS PLC
17th November 1997

PART 2

Consolidated profit and loss account

                                       Unaudited       Unaudited       Audited
                                     6 months to     6 months to       Year to
                                    30 September    30 September      31 March
                                            1997            1996          1997
                             Notes           # m             # m           # m
Turnover
Continuing operations                      361.7           246.8         551.5
 Acquisitions                                1.7               -             -
                                         _______         _______        _______
                                           363.4           246.8         551.5
                                         _______         _______        _______
Operating costs
- General                                (323.9)         (215.3)       (477.8)
- Restructuring  and  other
  exceptional  costs                       (2.5)           (2.2)        (10.0)
- Employees' profit sharing 
  scheme                                   (1.6)           (1.2)         (2.7)
                                        _______          _______       _______
Total operating costs                    (328.0)         (218.7)       (490.5)
                                        _______          _______       _______
Operating profit:
Continuing operations                      35.1            28.1          61.0
 Acquisitions                               0.3               -             -
                                        _______         _______        _______
                                           35.4            28.1          61.0
Profit on disposal of fixed asset 
 properties - continuing operations           -             1.7           1.7
Share of profits of associated 
 undertakings                               2.1             0.5           1.4
                                        _______         _______        _______
Profit on ordinary activities 
 before interest                           37.5            30.3          64.1
Net   interest  payable  and  
 similar charges                           (7.5)           (6.8)        (13.1)
                                        _______          _______       _______
Profit on ordinary activities 
 before taxation                           30.0            23.5          51.0
Tax on profit on ordinary 
 activities                       3        (7.0)            3.1          (3.9)
                                         _______         _______       _______
Profit on ordinary activities after 
 taxation                                  23.0            26.6          47.1
Equity minority interests                     -            (0.1)         (0.1)
                                         _______         _______       _______
Profit for the financial period            23.0            26.5          47.0
Equity dividends paid and 
 proposed                         4        (6.9)           (5.5)        (16.8)
                                          _______        _______       _______
Retained profit for the financial
 period                          13        16.1            21.0          30.2

Basic earnings per share          5         7.3p            9.4p         16.0p

Adjusted basic earnings per share 5         7.9p            6.1p         14.4p


No  statement of total recognised gains and losses is given as all  gains  and
losses  for  the current and preceding periods passed through the  profit  and
loss account.

Consolidated balance sheet

                                       Unaudited       Unaudited       Audited
                                     6 months to     6 months to       Year to
                                    30 September    30 September      31 March
                                            1997            1996          1997
                               Notes         # m             # m           # m
Assets employed:
Fixed assets
Tangible assets                  6         342.9           270.7         313.4
Investments                                 13.9             7.8          12.6
                                         _______         _______       _______
                                           356.8           278.5         326.0
                                         _______         _______       _______
Current assets
Stocks                                      19.7            20.9          22.1
Debtors                          7          75.7            56.0          73.6
Investments                      8          24.0            43.7          31.2
Cash at bank and in hand                    10.8             6.9          11.3
                                        _______          _______       _______
                                           130.2           127.5         138.2
Creditors: amounts falling
 due within one year             9        (209.3)         (162.7)      (235.3)
                                         _______         _______       _______
Net current (liabilities)/assets
Due within one year                        (99.5)          (56.4)      (117.0)
Amounts due after more than
 one year                       7,8         20.4            21.2          19.9
                                         _______         _______       _______
Net current liabilities                    (79.1)          (35.2)       (97.1)
                                         _______         _______       _______

Total assets less current liabilities      277.7           243.3         228.9

Creditors: amounts falling
 due after more than one year    9        (193.4)         (167.0)       (157.4)

Provisions for liabilities and 
 charges                                   (14.0)          (10.8)       (12.8)
                                         _______         _______       _______
                                            70.3            65.5          58.7

Financed by:
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital          12         15.8            15.2          15.7
Share premium account            13         93.6            93.2          93.3
Revaluation reserve              13          3.7             3.7           3.7
Other reserves                   13       (111.5)          (90.0)       (106.6)
Profit and loss account          13         68.3            43.0          52.2
                                         _______         _______       _______
Equity shareholders' funds                  69.9            65.1          58.3

Equity minority interests                    0.4             0.4           0.4
                                         _______         _______       _______
                                            70.3            65.5          58.7


Consolidated cash flow statement

                                       Unaudited       Unaudited       Audited
                                     6 months to     6 months to       Year to
                                    30 September    30 September      31 March
                                            1997            1996          1997
                               Notes         # m             # m           # m

Cash flow from operating 
 activities                     10(a)       32.3            39.1          92.2

Returns on investments and
 servicing of finance           10(b)       (6.9)           (6.6)        (12.9)

Taxation
Corporation tax paid                        (1.6)           (3.0)        (10.1)

Capital expenditure and
 financial investment           10(c)      (31.1)           (5.9)         (9.4)

Acquisitions and disposals      10(d)       (6.5)          (59.5)        (80.5)

Equity dividends paid                      (11.3)           (6.9)        (12.4)
                                          _______         _______       _______

Cash outflow before financing              (25.1)          (42.8)        (33.1)

Financing                       10(e)       20.8            38.9          35.6
                                          _______         _______       _______
(Decrease)/increase in cash in period       (4.3)           (3.9)          2.5


Reconciliation of net cash flows to movements in net debt

                                        Unaudited       Unaudited      Audited
                                      6 months to     6 months to      Year to
                                     30 September    30 September     31 March
                                             1997            1996         1997
                                Notes         # m             # m          # m

(Decrease)/increase in cash in
 period                                      (4.3)           (3.9)         2.5

Cash (inflow)/outflow from
 (increase)/decrease in debt and
 finance lease and hire purchase
 contract financing                         (25.9)           54.3         58.0

Debt issued on acquisition of
 subsidiary undertakings                        -           (42.5)       (42.5)

Debt and finance leases and
 hire purchase contracts acquired
 with subsidiary undertakings
 and businesses net of current
 asset investments                           (2.9)          (36.0)       (22.2)

Inception of finance leases and hire
 purchase contracts                             -           (17.8)       (37.0)
                                           _______         _______      _______
Movement in net debt in period              (33.1)          (45.9)       (41.2)

Net debt at beginning of period     11     (168.1)         (126.9)      (126.9)
                                           _______         _______     _______
Net debt at end of period           11     (201.2)         (172.8)      (168.1)



Reconciliation of movements in consolidated shareholders' funds

                                        Unaudited        Unaudited     Audited
                                      6 months to      6 months to     Year to
                                     30 September     30 September    31 March
                                             1997             1996        1997
                                              # m              # m         # m

Profit for the financial period              23.0             26.5        47.0

Dividends                                    (6.9)            (5.5)      (16.8)
                                          _______          _______     _______
                                             16.1             21.0        30.2
Shares issued:
 - in respect of subsidiaries acquired        3.2             55.7        74.7
 - in respect of 2 for 7 Rights Issue           -             93.0        93.0
 - in respect of exercise of savings 
   related and executive share options        0.3              0.2         0.4

Goodwill  arising  on  acquisitions
 written  off                                (8.0)          (149.0)      (184.2)
                                           _______         _______      _______
Net additions to shareholders' funds         11.6             20.9         14.1

Shareholders' funds at beginning of period   58.3             44.2         44.2
                                          _______          _______      _______
Shareholders' funds at end of period         69.9             65.1         58.3



No  note  of  historical  cost profits and losses is given  as  there  are  no
material differences between the results as set out in the consolidated profit
and loss account and their historical cost equivalents.



Notes to the accounts

1    Basis of preparation

     This  interim  report does not constitute statutory accounts  within  the
     meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.

     The  figures for the six months to 30 September 1997 includes the results
     of  the  bus businesses for the 26 weeks ended 27 September 1997 and  the
     results of the rail businesses for the 24 weeks ended 13 September  1997.
     These  results are unaudited but have been reviewed by the auditors whose
     review report is given herein
.

     The  comparative  figures for the six months to  30  September  1996  are
     unaudited  and  are derived from the interim report for  the  six  months
     ended 30 September 1996 which was reviewed by the auditors.

     The  comparative  figures  for the year to 31  March  1997  are  not  the
     company's  statutory  accounts for that financial year.   Those  accounts
     have  been  reported on by the company's auditors and  delivered  to  the
     Registrar  of Companies.  The report of the auditors was unqualified  and
     did  not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies
     Act 1985.

     This  interim  report will be sent to all shareholders by early  December
     1997 and will be available to the public at the Corporate Headquarters of
     the Group, 32a Weymouth Street, London, W1N 3FA.

     This  interim  report  was  approved by the board  of  directors  on  14
     November 1997.

2    Principal accounting policies

     The  results  for the six months to 30 September 1997 have been  prepared
     using the same accounting policies as were used in the preparation of the
     interim  report for the six months ended 30 September 1996 and the annual
     report  for  the  year  ended 31 March 1997.  Details  of  the  principal
     accounting policies are set out in the annual report.

 3   Tax on profit on ordinary activities

                                         6 months to    6 months to    Year to
                                        30 September   30 September   31 March
                                                1997           1996       1997
                                                 # m            # m        # m

     UK corporation tax at 31%
     (prior periods: 33%)                        5.5            5.5       10.1
     Transfer to deferred tax                    0.8            1.0        2.9
     Release of deferred tax provision             -           (9.6)      (9.6)
     Associated undertakings                     0.7              -        0.5
                                             _______        _______    _______
                                                 7.0           (3.1)       3.9

4    Dividends

     The  interim dividend of 2.2p per ordinary share of 5p each will be  paid
     on  18  February 1998 to shareholders on the register of members  at  the
     close of business on 9 January 1998.

5    Earnings per share

     Basic  earnings  per  share is based on the weighted  average  number  of
     ordinary shares of 314.4 m (six months to 30 September 1996: 282.1 m  and
     year to 31 March 1997: 293.7 m) in issue or committed to be issued and on
     earnings of #23.0 m (six months to 30 September 1996: #26.5 m and year to
     31  March  1997:  #47.0 m).  The weighted average number  of  shares  for
     comparative  periods includes an adjustment to reflect the bonus  element
     of the Rights Issue in June 1996.

     Adjusted  basic earnings per share are intended to demonstrate  recurring
     elements  of the results of the Group.  A reconciliation of the  earnings
     used in the two bases is set out below:

                                                               6 months to
                                                         30 September 1997
                                                              Earnings per
                                                         # m       share p

     Profit for basic earnings per share calculation    23.0           7.3
     Restructuring and other exceptional costs           2.5           0.8
     Taxation effects of adjustments                    (0.8)         (0.2)
                                                     _______       _______
     Profit for adjusted basic earnings per share
     calculation                                        24.7           7.9


                                                               6 months to
                                                         30 September 1996
                                                              Earnings per
                                                         # m       share p

     Profit for basic earnings per share calculation    26.5           9.4
     Restructuring and other exceptional costs           2.2           0.8
     Profit on disposal of fixed asset properties       (1.7)         (0.6)
     Taxation effects of these adjustments              (0.3)         (0.1)
     Effect of release of deferred tax provision        (9.6)         (3.4)
                                                      _______       _______
     Profit for adjusted basic earnings per share
      calculation                                       17.1           6.1


5    Earnings per share (continued)

                                                                   Year to
                                                             31 March 1997
                                                              Earnings per
                                                         # m       share p

     Profit for basic earnings per share calculation    47.0          16.0
     Restructuring and other exceptional costs          10.0           3.4
     Profit on disposal of fixed asset properties       (1.7)         (0.6)
     Taxation effects of these adjustments              (3.3)         (1.1)
     Effect of release of deferred tax provision        (9.6)         (3.3)
                                                      _______      _______
     Profit for adjusted basic earnings per share
     calculation                                         42.4          14.4


     The  impact  of  fully  diluted earnings  per  share  is  not  material.
     Comparative figures have been restated to reflect the bonus element of   
      the Rights Issue in June 1996.

6    Tangible fixed assets
                                     30 September     30 September    31 March
                                             1997             1996        1997
                                              # m              # m         # m
     Net book value
     Land and buildings                      77.2             65.2        72.4
     Passenger carrying vehicle fleet       253.6            196.5       229.8
     Other plant and equipment               12.1              9.0        11.2
                                          _______          _______     _______
                                            342.9            270.7       313.4


7    Debtors

                                     30 September     30 September    31 March
                                             1997             1996        1997
                                              # m              # m         # m
     Amounts due within one year
     Trade debtors                           28.0             17.4        26.4
     Other debtors                           12.3             10.7        12.7
     Pension funds' prepayments               2.6              2.0         2.2
     Other prepayments and accrued income    12.4              5.9         9.4
     Advance corporate tax recoverable          -                -         3.0
                                          _______          _______     _______
                                             55.3             36.0        53.7
                                          _______          _______     _______
Notes to the accounts (continued)

7    Debtors (continued)

                                     30 September     30 September    31 March
                                             1997             1996        1997
                                              # m              # m         # m
     Amounts due after more than one year
     Other debtors                            0.1              0.2         0.2
     Pension funds' prepayments              16.7             16.8        16.7
     Other prepayments and accrued income     2.2              0.7         2.6
     Advance corporation tax recoverable      1.4              2.3         0.4
                                           _______         _______     _______
                                             20.4             20.0        19.9
                                           _______         _______     _______
                                             75.7             56.0        73.6


8    Current asset investments

                                     30 September     30 September    31 March
                                             1997             1996        1997
                                              # m              # m         # m

     Bank deposits                           24.0             42.5        29.2
     Prepayment of revolving and term
      credit facility costs                     -                -         0.8
     Cost of own shares held by trustees
      not yet vested unconditionally            -              1.2         1.2
                                          _______          _______     _______
                                             24.0             43.7        31.2



     The  bank  deposits at 30 September 1997 and 31 March  1997  support  the
     Group's  commitments (which are guaranteed by one of the Group's bankers)
     under  Great Eastern Railway Limited's season ticket bond to the Director
     of  Passenger Rail Franchising.  The bank deposits, which are charged  to
     the  bank,  can  not be reduced to below the amount of the season  ticket
     bond.


9    Creditors
                                     30 September      30 September   31 March
                                             1997              1996       1997
                                              # m               # m        # m
     Amounts falling due within one year
     Bank overdrafts                          3.8               2.0          -
     Obligations under finance leases
      and hire purchase contracts (3)        31.7              28.9       34.0
     Floating rate loan notes (2)             7.1              24.3       18.0
     Trade creditors                         35.1              19.2       40.9
     Corporation tax                         12.0               9.9        9.4
     Other tax and social security            8.0               8.3        9.6
     Other creditors                          6.5               6.2        6.2
     Pension funds' creditors                 4.5               3.6        4.3
     Accruals and deferred income            68.1              54.8       71.8
     Season ticket deferred income           25.6                 -       29.8
     Proposed dividends                       6.9               5.5       11.3
                                          _______          _______     _______
                                            209.3             162.7      235.3


                                     30 September      30 September   31 March
                                             1997              1996       1997
                                              # m               # m        # m
     Amounts falling due after more
      than one year
     Bank loans (1)
       Due between two and five years        68.4              21.1          -
     Obligations under finance leases and
      hire purchase contracts (3)
       Due between one and two years         31.4              28.9       33.5
       Due between two and five years        53.8              61.1       74.6
       Due after five years                   5.3              13.9        9.2
     Floating rate loan notes (2)
       Due between one and two years         34.5              42.0       40.1
                                          _______           _______    _______
                                            193.4             167.0      157.4


     (1)  Bank  loans  are unsecured and bear interest at 0.45%  above  LIBOR.
          They  are drawn under revolving and term credit facilities totalling
          #175  m  under  which the company has committed facilities  until  7
          October  2001.   Whilst the majority of these loans  were  repayable
          within  two  months  of  the  balance sheet  date,  they  have  been
          classified  by  reference  to  the  maturity  date  of  the  longest
          refinancing permitted under these facilities.
     
          Bank loans at 30 September 1997 and 30 September 1996 are stated net
          of fees and other costs incurred in arranging these facilities.  The
          gross amount payable on the debt as at 30 September 1997 was #69.0 m
          (30 September 1996: #21.5 m).
          

9    Creditors (continued)
     
     (2)  Loan notes bear interest at between 0.75% below and 1% above various
          LIBOR term or bank base rates with #8.8 m at a minimum of 11%.
     
          #0.2  m  of  the loan notes may not be redeemed before 12   November
          1997  (three  months'  notice).  #40.7 m (one  year  and  one  day's
          notice) and #0.7 m (one month's notice) may now be redeemed.
          
          Notice for redemption has been received on loan notes totalling #6.2
          m for payment during the period 31 October 1997 to 31 July 1998.
          
          The  latest  dates for redemption are 1  January 1999 (#0.7  m),  31
          December  2007 (#20.6 m), 1 September 2009 (#0.2 m), 12  April  2020
          (#8.8 m) and 1  March 2024 (#11.3 m).
          
          Guarantees are provided for all but #0.2 m of loan notes: #34.8 m by
          the bank facilities and #6.6 m by FirstBus plc.
     
     (3)  Finance lease and hire purchase contract liabilities are secured  on
          the  assets  to  which  they relate. The contracts  vary  in  length
          between  four  and ten years and are on normal commercial  terms  at
          negotiated rates.

10   Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement

                                     6 months to        6 months to    Year to
                                    30 September       30 September   31 March
                                            1997               1996       1997
                                             # m                # m        # m

     (a)  Reconciliation of operating
           profit to net cash inflow
           from operating activities

     Operating profit                       35.4               28.1       61.0
     Depreciation charges                   17.1               13.1       28.0
     Profit on sale of non property fixed
      assets                                (0.2)              (1.8)      (0.5)
     (Increase)/decrease in stocks          (0.6)               1.8        0.2
     (Increase)/decrease in debtors         (3.2)               0.2       (0.1)
     (Decrease)/increase in creditors
      and provisions                       (16.2)              (2.3)       3.6
                                          _______            _______   _______
     Net cash inflow from operating
      activities                            32.3               39.1       92.2



10   Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement (continued)

                                      6 months to       6 months to    Year to
                                     30 September      30 September   31 March
                                             1997              1996       1997
                                              # m               # m        # m

     (b)  Returns on investments and
           servicing of finance

     Interest received                        1.6               0.6        2.7
     Interest paid                           (3.0)             (2.5)      (5.4)
     Interest element of finance lease
      and hire purchase contract payments    (5.6)             (4.7)      (9.8)
     Dividends received from associated
      undertakings                            0.1                 -          -
     Fees on issue of bank loans                -                 -       (0.4)
                                           _______            _______   _______
     Net cash outflow from returns on
      investments and servicing of finance   (6.9)             (6.6)     (12.9)


     (c)  Capital expenditure and financial
           investment

     Purchase of tangible fixed assets      (41.6)             (5.8)     (16.0)
     Sale of tangible fixed assets            3.8               1.1        7.6
     Purchase of current asset investments      -              (1.2)      (1.2)
     Sale of current asset investments        1.5                 -          -
     Cash withdrawn from current asset
      investments                             5.2                 -        0.2
                                          _______            _______   _______
     Net cash outflow from capital
      expenditure and financial investment  (31.1)             (5.9)      (9.4)


     (d)  Acquisitions and disposals

     Purchase of subsidiary undertakings     (4.0)            (56.3)     (55.9)
     Net bank overdrafts acquired with
      subsidiary undertakings                (2.5)             (3.1)     (19.2)
     Purchase of businesses                     -                 -       (1.9)
     Loan to associate undertaking              -                 -       (3.5)
     Purchase of minority interest in
      subsidiary undertakings                   -              (0.1)         -
                                          _______           _______    _______
     Net cash outflow from acquisitions
      and disposals                          (6.5)            (59.5)     (80.5)


10   Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement (continued)

                                      6 months to       6 months to    Year to
                                     30 September      30 September   31 March
                                             1997              1996       1997
                                              # m               # m        # m

     (e)  Financing

     Issue of share capital                   0.3              93.2       93.4

     New bank loans                          69.0              10.0          -
     Repayment of amounts borrowed
     - bank loans                            (0.3)             (8.3)     (19.8)
     - other  loans                         (16.5)             (0.2)      (8.4)
     Capital element of finance lease and
      hire purchase contract payments       (31.7)            (13.3)     (29.6)
     Cash placed on current asset
      investments                               -             (42.5)         -
                                           _______            _______   _______
     Net cash inflow from financing          20.8              38.9       35.6


11   Analysis of net debt

                                     At                  Other
                              beginning    Cash     Acqui-  non-cash    At end
                              of period    flow    sitions   changes of period
                                     #m      #m         #m        #m        #m

     Current asset investments     30.0    (5.2)         -      (0.8)     24.0
                                  ______ ________  _______    _______   _______
     Cash at bank and in hand      11.3    (0.5)         -         -      10.8
     Bank overdrafts                  -    (3.8)         -         -      (3.8)
                               ________   ______   _______     ______   _______
                                   11.3    (4.3)         -         -       7.0
                               _______   _______    ______    ________  _______

     Bank loans                       -   (68.7)      (0.3)      0.6     (68.4)
     Obligations under finance
      leases and hire purchase
      contracts                  (151.3)   31.7       (2.6)        -    (122.2)
     Floating rate loan notes     (58.1)   16.5          -         -     (41.6)
                                 ______  ________  ________     ______ _______
                                 (209.4)  (20.5)      (2.9)      0.6    (232.2)
                               ________   ______   _________    _____  _______
                                 (168.1)  (30.0)      (2.9)     (0.2)   (201.2)


12   Called up share capital
                                    30 September     30 September     31 March
                                            1997             1996         1997
                                             # m              # m          # m

     Authorised
     Ordinary shares of 5p each             21.3             17.5         17.5

     Allotted, called up and fully paid
     Ordinary shares of 5p each             15.8             15.2         15.7


     The  number  of  ordinary shares of 5p each in issue at the  end  of  the
     period  was 315.7 m (30 September 1996: 304.9 m and 31 March 1997: 313.3m).

     The  changes in the number and amount of issued share capital during  the
     period are set out below:

                                                           Number
                                                               (m)         # m

     At beginning of period                                 313.3         15.7
     Shares issued in relation to acquisitions                1.7          0.1
     Exercise of savings related and executive share options  0.7            -
                                                          _______      _______
     At end of period                                       315.7         15.8


13   Reserves

                                      Share      Revalu-      Other     Profit
                                    premium        ation   reserves   and loss
                                    account      reserve               account
                                        # m          # m        # m        # m

     At beginning of period            93.3          3.7     (106.6)      52.2
        Shares issued in relation to
         acquisitions                     -            -        3.1          -
     Exercise of savings related and
      executive share options           0.3            -          -          -
     Goodwill arising on acquisitions
      written off                         -            -       (8.0)         -
     Retained profit for the period       -            -          -       16.1
                                     _______        ______   ________  _______
     At end of period                  93.6          3.7     (111.5)      68.3


Review report by KPMG Audit Plc to FirstBus plc


We  have  reviewed the interim financial information, excluding the Chairman's
statement  and  Financial review, for the six months ended 30  September  1997
which is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors.   Our
responsibility is to report on the results of our review.

Our  review  was carried out having regard to the Bulletin, Review of  Interim
Financial  Information, issued by the Auditing Practices Board.   This  review
consisted  principally  of applying analytical procedures  to  the  underlying
financial  data, assessing whether accounting policies have been  consistently
applied,  and  making enquiries of Group management responsible for  financial
and  accounting matters.  The review was substantially less in scope  than  an
audit  performed in accordance with Auditing Standards and accordingly  we  do
not express an audit opinion on the interim financial information.

On the basis of our review:

-      in our opinion the interim financial information has been prepared
       using accounting policies consistent with those adopted by FirstBus plc
       in its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 1997; and

-      we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to  
       the interim financial information as presented.



KPMG Audit Plc                                 15 Pembroke Road
Chartered Accountants                                   Bristol
                                                        BS8 3BG
14 November 1997

END



IR GRBBBDDBCCRR


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