REG - McColl's Retail Grp - Response to media speculation

Mccoll'S RetailAnnouncement

28/02/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 9459C  McColl's Retail Group plc  28 February 2022

28 February 2022

McColl's Retail Group plc

 

Response to media speculation

 

Further to recent media speculation, McColl's Retail Group ("McColl's" or "the
Group"), the UK's leading community retailer, provides the following update.

 

Update on financing

 

The Group confirms it remains in ongoing discussions with its lending banks,
as previously announced on 29 November 2021, towards a longer-term agreement
in relation to the balance of the facility. The Group has received the
necessary agreement to roll forward its financial covenant test periodically,
and continues to receive credit support from its key commercial partner to
enable these discussions. The Group continues to believe that a financing
solution will be found that involves its existing partners and stakeholders. A
further update will be made as and when these discussions conclude.

 

In September 2021, the Group successfully completed a placing and open offer,
raising net proceeds of £30 million. Two-thirds of these net proceeds were
raised to accelerate and enhance the Morrisons Daily store rollout in FY21 and
FY22, which is on track. As at the end of the financial year, the Group
operated 185 Morrisons Daily stores, and this number has since increased to
over 200 stores in operation. The balance of these funds was to be used to
enhance the Group's working capital headroom. However, the trading shortfall
in the second half of FY21 has absorbed this headroom, driven by the product
availability challenges experienced.

 

Current trading

 

Further to the Group's Trading Update on 8 December 2021, it confirms that,
subject to audit, financial results for the 52-week period ended 28 November
2021 were in line with previous guidance. This includes revenues of £1.11bn
(FY20: £1.25bn), adjusted EBITDA pre IFRS 16 of £20m (FY20: £29.1m) and net
debt pre IFRS 16 of £97.0m (FY20: £89.6m).

 

Since the start of the new financial year, there has been a tangible
improvement of product availability in stores. However, the business saw a
material step-down in footfall due to the surge in COVID-19 cases relating to
Omicron, particularly over the Christmas period, impacting trading. While
demand has since picked up, revenues in the first quarter are behind
expectations.

 

Despite this, the Group delivered two-year like-for-like sales growth of 5.9%
in the 11 weeks to 13 February 2022, in line with the neighbourhood
convenience market. The Group is starting to experience strengthening margin
as impulse product sales recover, and has taken further mitigating actions,
including a full review of pricing and costs.

 

Morrisons Daily stores are delivering like-for-like sales growth that is at
least 20% better than non-converted, comparable stores, and ahead of the total
convenience market. The Morrisons Daily store conversion programme
re-commenced in early February 2022, following a scheduled pause over the
Christmas and New Year period. So far in 2022, the Group has opened 18
Morrisons Daily stores and a further seven will be converted this week with
the full support of Morrisons. The Group remains on track to complete 450
Morrisons Daily store conversions by the end of FY22, fundamentally reshaping
the business into a more profitable and sustainable model in the medium term.

 

As a result of the difficult market conditions in the first quarter, some of
which are expected to continue through the first half, the Board now expects
FY22 adjusted EBITDA to be slightly behind current market expectations, and
net debt in the region of £100m at the end of FY22.

 

Outlook

As previously stated, the Group continues to believe that a financing solution
will be found that involves its existing partners and stakeholders. However,
there are also other options available to it. The Group confirms that it
recently received an approach for the whole business, which has subsequently
been withdrawn and there are no further discussions with that party or any
other party in relation to an offer for the whole business. In addition, the
Group has also received indications of interest for parts of the business. The
Board will consider all options with the aim of maximising value for all
stakeholders.

 

Timing of FY21 full year results

The Group is in the process of finalising its full year results, but now
expects to publish in May 2022 to allow additional time for banking
discussions to conclude.

 

 

Enquiries

 

   Analyst & Investors:       Tej Randhawa, McColl's    +44 (0)1277 372916

   Media:                     Ed Young, Headland        +44 (0)203 805 4822

                              Rob Walker, Headland      mccolls@headlandconsultancy.com

                              Charlie Twigg, Headland

 

About McColl's Retail Group

McColl's is a leading neighbourhood retailer, with an estate of over 1,100
managed convenience stores and newsagents. We operate McColl's and Morrisons
Daily branded convenience stores as well as newsagents branded Martin's across
the UK, except in Scotland where we operate under our heritage brand, RS
McColl.

 

LEI: 213800R1TLR536P8YJ67

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