1 May 2014 11:00
AGA RANGEMASTER GROUP PLC - Interim Management StatementAGA RANGEMASTER GROUP PLC - Interim Management Statement
PR Newswire
London, May 1
1st May 2014 AGA RANGEMASTER GROUP PLC AGM AND INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT ORDER INTAKE MOMENTUM CONTINUES AGA Rangemaster Group plc is holding its Annual General Meeting at 11am todayat which the following statement covering the period 1st January to 30th April2014 will be made by the Chairman, John Coleman. "2013 was a year in which the tide turned in our core markets. There wasincreased activity in the UK housing market where mortgage approvals rosesharply in the second half. This started to feed through slowly into increasedUK household expenditure on cookers although the increase was still just 1%. Wewere therefore pleased that revenues rose by over 4% in the second half and by2.4% in the year as a whole. Operating profits in the year rose to £8.2 millionfrom £6.5 million in 2012. Our new product introductions combined with thecontinued rationalisation programmes drove the profit improvement. At the start of 2014 we have seen revenues rise faster than in the second halfof last year and that momentum continues in the order intake. We have seen theencouraging trend lines for AGA continue with orders for the new generation ofTotal Control and Dual Control AGA representing over 60% of AGA cooker orders.For Rangemaster we have seen volumes and prices start to rise after being flatin 2013. Fired Earth's performance at the start of 2014 has been good. AGAMarvel in North America is also growing but trading in Ireland and France forall our brands has started slowly. The lack of demand during the long market downturn meant we had to cut back andfocus resources on products with well differentiated positions. The strongproduct mix we now have and the better trading environment will ensure wedeliver good progress this year." Enquiries: William McGrath / Shaun Smith, AGA Rangemaster Group plc - 01926 455 731Simon Sporborg / Laura Jack-Hayes, Brunswick - 0207 404 5959