RE: Worth investing in again!20 Sep 2022 10:31
Stories in the press about running out of cash.
Not immediately obvious from the results, but way down is this section.
The Sensitised scenario assumes the following additional key assumption:
· A delayed recovery that assumes that retail sales remain subdued throughout the majority of the forecast period as a result of consumer confidence returning more slowly post COVID-19, coupled with the potential impact on customers' disposable income due to the current heightened global economic uncertainty.
The Board's confidence in the Group's Base Case forecast, which indicates the Group will operate within the terms of its revised borrowing facilities, which now includes more appropriate covenants following the cessation of the Russian operation and the Group's proven cash management capability, supports our preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis.
However, if trading conditions were to deteriorate beyond the level of risks applied in the Sensitised forecast, or the Group was unable to mitigate the material uncertainties assumed in the Base Case Forecast and the Group were not able to execute further cost or cash management programmes, the Group would at certain points of the working capital cycle have insufficient cash. If this scenario were to crystallise the Group would need to renegotiate with its lender in order to secure waivers to potential covenant breaches and consequential cash remedies or secure additional funding. Therefore, we have concluded that, in this situation, there is a material uncertainty that casts significant doubt that the Group will be able to operate as a going concern without such waivers or new financing facilities.