CHARTER plc
 
 
       INTERIM STATEMENT OF RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2003
 
Summary of               Six            Six       Six    Six months
results
(unaudited)
(£ million)           months         months    months         ended       Year
                       ended          ended     ended                    ended
                     30.6.03        30.6.03   30.6.03       30.6.02   31.12.02
                       -------        -------   -------       -------    -------
                        Before  Exceptional     Total
                 exceptional
                       items          items
                       -------        -------   -------       -------    -------
 
Turnover               420.2              -     420.2         451.8      900.5
                       =======        =======   =======       =======    =======
 
Adjusted                15.4              -      15.4          21.8       36.0
operating
profit1
Amortisation of         (0.6)             -      (0.6)         (0.6)      (1.2)
goodwill
Operating                  -           (5.8)     (5.8)         (7.7)     (25.3)
exceptional            -------        -------   -------       -------    -------
items
Operating               14.8           (5.8)      9.0          13.5        9.5
profit
Non-operating              -            0.1       0.1          11.5       21.8
exceptional            -------        -------   -------       -------    -------
items
Profit/(loss)           14.8           (5.7)      9.1          25.0       31.3
before
interest
Interest                (8.6)             -      (8.6)         (9.9)     (19.3)
Exceptional                -           (5.0)     (5.0)            -          -
refinancing            -------        -------   -------       -------    -------
costs
Profit/(loss)            6.2          (10.7)     (4.5)         15.1       12.0
before tax             =======        =======   =======       =======    =======
 
Net debt                                        194.3         222.8      194.0
                                                =======       =======    =======
 
Earnings/(loss)
per share -
basic
Headline                                         (8.3)p        10.3p       5.1p
                                                =======       =======    =======
Adjusted 1                                        3.8p          6.7p       8.6p
                                                =======       =======    =======
 
 
1 before exceptional items and amortisation of goodwill
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Six months ended 30 June 2003 (unaudited)
 
                                       Six            Six        Six        Six
                                    months         months     months     months        Year
                                     ended          ended      ended      ended       ended
                                   30.6.03        30.6.03    30.6.03    30.6.02    31.12.02
                                    Before    Exceptional
                                 exceptional        items      Total      Total       Total
                                     items
                                        £m             £m         £m         £m          £m
Note
     Turnover
 2   Continuing                      420.2              -      420.2      451.8       900.5
     operations                     ========       ========     ======     ======     =======
 
     Operating
     profit
 2   Continuing   - excluding
     operations   associated
                  undertakings
                  and operating       11.0              -       11.0       18.3        29.5
                  exceptional
                  items
                  - operating            -           (5.4)      (5.4)      (7.7)      (24.6)
                  exceptional       --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
                  items
                  - group             11.0           (5.4)       5.6       10.6         4.9
                  operating
                  profit
                  - associated         3.8           (0.4)       3.4        2.9         4.6
                  undertakings      --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
                  - total             14.8           (5.8)       9.0       13.5         9.5
                  operating
                  profit
 
 3   Non-operating exceptional
     items
                                    --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
     Continuing   - Losses on            -           (0.2)      (0.2)      (1.3)       (2.1)
     operations   termination of
                  operations
                  associated             -              -          -       (2.6)       (3.8)
                  goodwill          --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
                                         -           (0.2)      (0.2)      (3.9)       (5.9)
                  - net profit           -            0.3        0.3        0.2        12.5
                  on fixed asset
                  disposals
     Discontinued - profit on            -              -          -       15.2        15.2
     operations   release of        --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
                  guarantee
                  provision
     Profit on ordinary               14.8           (5.7)       9.1       25.0        31.3
     activities before
     interest
     Net interest - excluding         (8.4)             -       (8.4)      (9.6)      (18.9)
     and similar  associated
     charges      undertakings
                  - associated        (0.2)             -       (0.2)      (0.3)       (0.4)
                  undertakings
                  - exceptional          -           (5.0)      (5.0)         -           -
                  refinancing       --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
                  costs
     Profit/(loss) on ordinary         6.2          (10.7)      (4.5)      15.1        12.0
     activities before
     taxation
 4   Tax on profit/(loss) on          (2.1)             -       (2.1)      (3.4)       (5.1)
     ordinary activities
 4   Exceptional tax (charge)/           -           (0.1)      (0.1)       0.2         1.4
     credit                         --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
     Profit/(loss) on ordinary         4.1          (10.8)      (6.7)      11.9         8.3
     activities after taxation
     Minority     - equity            (1.1)             -       (1.1)      (2.2)       (3.5)
     interests                      --------       --------     ------     ------     -------
     Retained profit/(loss) for        3.0          (10.8)      (7.8)       9.7         4.8
     the financial period           ========       ========     ======     ======     =======
 
     Earnings/(loss) per share -
     basic
     Headline                          3.2p         (11.5)p     (8.3)p     10.3p        5.1p
     Adjusted                          3.8p             -        3.8p       6.7p        8.6p
 
     The information shown in respect of the year ended 31 December 2002 is extracted from
     the statutory accounts of Charter plc for the year then ended which have been audited
     and filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts
     was unqualified and contained the following fundamental uncertainty regarding going
     concern: 'In forming our opinion we have considered the adequacy of the disclosures made
     in note 1(a) concerning the fundamental uncertainty in respect of going concern. In view
     of the significance of this uncertainty we consider that it should be brought to your
     attention, but our opinion is not qualified in this respect.'. These interim accounts
     are prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in those statutory
     accounts.
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
30 June 2003 (unaudited)
                                    30.6.03    30.6.03    31.12.02    31.12.02
                                         £m         £m          £m          £m
Fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets -                         17.9                    18.5
goodwill
Tangible fixed assets                            127.9                   133.1
Fixed asset investments -                         26.3                    24.2
associated undertakings                           ------                 -------
                                                 172.1                   175.8
Current assets
Stocks                                116.8                  112.4
Debtors                               227.1                  225.7
Cash at bank and in hand               35.4                   32.2
                                       ------                -------
                                      379.3                  370.3
                                       ------                -------
 
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
Creditors                            (190.9)                (182.6)
Short term borrowings                (145.6)                 (94.6)
                                       ------                -------
                                     (336.5)                (277.2)
                                       ------                -------
 
Net current assets                                42.8                    93.1
                                                  ------                 -------
Total assets less current                        214.9                   268.9
liabilities
 
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year
Other long term creditors                         (1.0)                   (1.0)
Long term borrowings                             (84.1)                 (131.6)
Provisions for liabilities and                  (121.0)                 (123.3)
charges                                           ------                 -------
                                                   8.8                    13.0
                                                  ======                 =======
 
Shareholders' funds - equity                     (10.5)                   (5.5)
interests
Minority interests - equity                       19.3                    18.5
interests                                         ------                 -------
                                                   8.8                    13.0
                                                  ======                 =======
By order of the board
A R Yapp, Secretary
4 September 2003
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Six months ended 30 June 2003 (unaudited)
                                                    Six        Six
                                                 months     months        Year
                                                  ended      ended       ended
                                                30.6.03    30.6.02    31.12.02
                                                     £m         £m          £m
Note
 5   Cash flow from operating activities           21.1        9.2        32.2
 
     Dividends received from associated             2.2        2.7         3.3
     undertakings
 
     Returns on investments and servicing of      (12.7)     (11.5)      (21.9)
     finance
 
     Taxation paid                                 (3.7)      (2.6)       (8.0)
 
     Capital expenditure and financial             (4.4)      (6.6)        9.2
     investment
 
     Acquisitions and disposals
     Sale of subsidiary undertakings - net         (0.1)       1.7         1.9
     proceeds
     Purchase of subsidiary undertakings              -       (0.5)       (0.6)
 
     Equity dividends paid                            -          -           -
                                                   ------     ------     -------
 
     Cash inflow/(outflow) before management
     of
     liquid resources and financing                 2.4       (7.6)       16.1
 
     Management of liquid resources                   -       (0.8)       15.9
 
     Financing
 
     Decrease in short term borrowings other          -       (0.3)       (3.3)
     than those repayable on demand
     Decrease in long term borrowings                 -       (6.0)          -
     Capital element of finance lease rental       (0.6)      (1.0)       (1.9)
     payments
                                                   ------     ------     -------
     Increase/(decrease) in cash in the             1.8      (15.7)       26.8
     financial period                              ======     ======     =======
 
     (Increase)/decrease in net debt in the        (0.3)      (8.7)       20.1
     financial period                              ======     ======     =======
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
Six months ended 30 June 2003 (unaudited)
                                                    Six        Six
                                                 months     months        Year
                                                  ended      ended       ended
                                                30.6.03    30.6.02    31.12.02
                                                     £m         £m          £m
(Loss)/profit for the financial period
- excluding associated undertakings               (10.2)       7.8         1.6
- associated undertakings                           2.4        1.9         3.2
                                                   ------     ------     -------
                                                   (7.8)       9.7         4.8
Net effect of translation of currencies             2.8       (2.1)       (4.4)
Net effect of translation of currencies -             -          -        (1.4)
taxation                                           ------     ------     -------
Total recognised gains and losses                  (5.0)       7.6        (1.0)
                                                   ======     ======     =======
 
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
Six months ended 30 June 2003 (unaudited)
 
                                                    Six        Six
                                                 months     months        Year
                                                  ended      ended       ended
                                                30.6.03    30.6.02    31.12.02
                                                     £m         £m          £m
 
(Loss)/profit for the financial period             (7.8)       9.7         4.8
Dividends                                             -          -           -
                                                   ------     ------     -------
                                                   (7.8)       9.7         4.8
Other recognised gains and losses                   2.8       (2.1)       (5.8)
Goodwill associated with the sale and                 -        2.6         3.8
termination of operations                          ------     ------     -------
Net (reduction in)/addition to shareholders'       (5.0)      10.2         2.8
funds
Opening shareholders' funds                        (5.5)      (8.3)       (8.3)
                                                   ------     ------     -------
Closing shareholders' funds                       (10.5)       1.9        (5.5)
                                                   ======     ======     =======