This document contains inside information
Smiths News plc
("the Company")
Update on McColl's Retail Group's Administration
The Company is issuing this announcement as an update following the administration of McColl's Retail Group ("McColl's") (see the Company's RNS No. 6621K issued on 6 May 2022) and the subsequent confirmation from the administrators that unsecured creditors of Martin McColl Limited can expect to receive estimated distribution prospects of between 20% and 40%.
Immediately following McColl's administration, the Company took steps to mitigate McColl's bad debt risk and has reduced the debt to £5.6m, a claim of which is being filed with the administrator. In light of the administrator's latest guidance, the Company expects the overall bad debt risk to further reduce and to be in the region of £3.4m to £4.5m, which will impact statutory profit after tax for the full year. The Company continues to supply McColl's under its new ownership on improved payment terms, which provides partial mitigation to the impact on cash flow.
The Board confirms its intention to maintain payment of the planned interim dividend of 1.4p per share, as announced as part of the Company's interim financial results on 4 May 2022. Beyond the impact of the McColl's administration, underlying trading continues to be in line with expectations and, given the Company's on-going cash generation and strong net debt reduction, the Board continues to expect to be in a position to recommend a final dividend for FY2022 up to the full distribution permissible under the Company's current banking facilities (£10m per financial year), for payment in February 2023.
Enquiries:
| Smiths News PLC Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer Paul Baker, Chief Financial Officer |
Via Buchanan |
| www.smithsnews.co.uk
| |
| Buchanan Richard Oldworth / Jamie Hooper / Toto Berger |
020 7466 5000 |
About Smiths News PLC
Smiths News PLC and its core business, Smiths News, is the UK's largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler, with an approximate 55 per cent. market share. It distributes newspapers and magazines on behalf of the major national and regional publishers, delivering to approximately 24,000 customers across England and Wales on a daily basis. The speed of turnaround and the density of Smiths News' coverage is critical to one of the world's fastest physical supply chains.
Ancillary businesses include: Dawson Media Direct (DMD) which supplies airlines and travel points in the UK; and Instore, which offers field marketing services to retailers and suppliers across the UK.
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
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