6-K 1 u47528e6vk.htm 6-K e6vk
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FORM 6-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13(a)-16 OR 15(d)-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

May 26, 2004
Commission file number
333-12714

LUCITE INTERNATIONAL
GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

(Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor as Specified in its Charter)

England and Wales
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)

Queens Gate, 15-17 Queens Terrace, Southampton SO14 3BP, United Kingdom
(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F

     
Form 20-F x   Form 40-F o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Yes o   No x

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNTS
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS


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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNTS

                     
        Three months ended
        March 31,   March 31,
        2003   2004
    Notes   £’m
  £’m
Turnover
  3     179       170  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Operating costs before amortisation of goodwill and other intangible assets
  4     (164 )     (155 )
Amortisation of goodwill and other intangible assets
  4     (1 )     (1 )
 
       
 
     
 
 
Total operating costs
  4     (165 )     (156 )
Operating profit
  3, 4     14       14  
Net interest payable and similar charges
  5     (16 )     2  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation
        (2 )     16  
Taxation on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
        (1 )     (3 )
 
       
 
     
 
 
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation
        (3 )     13  
Equity minority interests
        (1 )     (1 )
 
       
 
     
 
 
Profit/(loss) for the financial period
        (4 )     12  
 
       
 
     
 
 

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                     
        December 31, 2003   March 31, 2004
    Notes   £’m
  £’m
Fixed assets
                   
Intangible assets
        83       82  
Negative Goodwill
        (5 )     (5 )
Tangible assets
        332       323  
 
       
 
     
 
 
 
        410       400  
Current assets
                   
Stocks
  7     75       74  
Debtors
        107       117  
Cash at bank and in hand
        30       27  
 
       
 
     
 
 
 
        212       218  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Total assets
        622       618  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Creditors – amounts falling due within one year
        (115 )     (122 )
 
       
 
     
 
 
Net current assets
        97       96  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Total assets less current liabilities
        507       496  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Creditors – amounts falling due after more than one year
        (332 )     (306 )
Provisions for liabilities and charges
        (27 )     (29 )
 
       
 
     
 
 
Net assets
        148       161  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Shareholder’s equity
                   
Called up equity share capital
        175       175  
Profit and loss account
        (42 )     (30 )
 
       
 
     
 
 
Total equity shareholder’s funds
        133       145  
Equity minority interests
        15       16  
 
       
 
     
 
 
Capital employed
        148       161  
 
       
 
     
 
 

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES

                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Profit /(loss) for the financial period
    (4 )     12  
Currency translation differences on foreign currency net investments
           
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total recognised gains & losses relating to the period
    (4 )     12  
 
   
 
     
 
 

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS

                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Operating profit
    14       14  
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
    10       10  
Amortisation of intangible fixed assets
    1       1  
(Increase) / decrease in stocks
    (1 )      
Increase in debtors
    (28 )     (10 )
Increase in creditors
    17       4  
Movement on provisions
    1        
Exceptional cash flows
    (1 )      
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash flow from operating activities
    13       19  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Interest paid
    (4 )     (3 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
    (4 )     (3 )
Taxation paid
          (1 )
Capital expenditure and financial investment
    (4 )     (7 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Issue of debt due within one year
    1        
Issue of debt due after more than one year
    5       4  
Repayment of debt due within one year
           
Repayment of debt due after one year
          (15 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Financing
    6       (11 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Increase/(decrease) in cash
    11       (3 )
 
   
 
     
 
 

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1   Business description
 
    Lucite International Group Holdings Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lucite International Limited. Lucite International Limited does not trade and has no investments other than Lucite International Group Holdings Limited and an interest in the newly formed Lucite International China Holdings Limited with the remaining interest being held by a subsidiary of Lucite International Group Holdings Limited. The principal shareholder and ultimate controlling party of Lucite International Limited is Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP through funds managed by it. Lucite International Group Holdings Limited is a non-trading holding company for the remainder of the subsidiary companies included in the Lucite International Group. Lucite International Group Holdings Limited and its subsidiary companies (together referred to as “Lucite International” or “the Company”) are engaged in the production and distribution of methacrylate monomers, the principal building block of acrylic, and the production and distribution of acrylic-based polymers, resins, sheet and composites. These products are manufactured at facilities located in the Americas, Europe and Asia and are sold throughout the world.
 
2   Basis of preparation
 
    The accounting policies used to prepare these financial statements are consistent with those adopted in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003 as reported in our annual report on Form 20-F filed on April 1, 2004.
 
    The financial statements and notes included within this form 6-K should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F, where additional footnotes can be found.
 
    In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Lucite International Group Holdings Limited and subsidiaries (the Company) contain all adjustments, including usual recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 and the consolidated results of operations, net profit and cash flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F. The results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

3   Segmental reporting

                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Turnover
               
Upstream
    132       125  
Downstream
    69       69  
Inter-class elimination
    (22 )     (24 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    179       170  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Operating profit
               
Upstream
    8       9  
Downstream
    6       5  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Operating profit
    14       14  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Depreciation
               
Upstream
    7       7  
Downstream
    3       3  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    10       10  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Amortisation
               
Upstream
    1       1  
Downstream
           
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    1       1  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4   Cost of sales, gross profit, distribution and administrative expenses

                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Turnover
    179       170  
Cost of sales
    (140 )     (132 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Gross profit
    39       38  
Distribution costs
    (12 )     (11 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Administrative expenses before amortisation and research and development costs
    (10 )     (10 )
Amortisation of goodwill and other intangible fixed assets
    (1 )     (1 )
Research and development costs
    (2 )     (2 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total administrative expenses
    (13 )     (13 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total operating expenses
    (25 )     (24 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Operating profit
    14       14  
 
   
 
     
 
 

5   Net interest payable and similar charges

                 
    Three months ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Interest payable on senior credit facilities
    3       2  
Interest payable on senior notes
    4       5  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net interest payable
    7       7  
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss on external debt
    9       (9 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net interest payable and similar charges
    16       (2 )
 
   
 
     
 
 

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

6   EBITDA
 
    EBITDA is presented not as an alternative measure of operating results or cash flows from operations as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but because it is an accepted financial indicator of the ability to incur and service debt. EBITDA is not necessarily comparable with similarly titled measures presented by other companies. As a performance measurement, EBITDA closely represents operating profit and can be reconciled to it in the following way:

                 
    Three months ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Operating profit
    14       14  
Depreciation and amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets
    11       11  
 
   
 
     
 
 
EBITDA
    25       25  
 
   
 
     
 
 

7   Stocks

                 
    December 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Raw material and consumables
    29       26  
Finished goods and goods for resale
    46       48  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    75       74  
 
   
 
     
 
 

8   Bank and other borrowings

                 
    December 31,   March 31,
    2003   2004
    £’m
  £’m
Senior credit facilities:
               
Term loan A
    37       35  
Term loan B
    69       67  
Term loan C
    45       43  
Revolving Credit Facility
    19       4  
Senior notes
    176       167  
Finance leases
    4       4  
Unamortised senior notes premium
    2       1  
Unamortised issue costs
    (8 )     (7 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total debt excluding China bank loans
    344       314  
China bank loans
          4  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total debt
    344       318  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

9   Other information
 
    On 25 March 2003, the Company received notification that the European Commission would investigate Lucite International Limited and Lucite International UK Limited with regard to possible participation in anti-competitive practices contrary to Article 81 of the Treaty of Rome. Such investigation is a preliminary step and does not imply that the Company has engaged in any unlawful activities relating to anti-competitive practices. There is no strict deadline to complete anti-competitive inquiries and their duration is determined by the complexity of each case, the exercise of the rights of defence and by the Commission’s procedures. Lucite International Limited is co-operating fully with the European Commission on these matters. It is not possible at this stage to estimate what the outcome of this investigation will be.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

10   Summary of significant differences between UK and US accounting principles
 
    The financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with UK GAAP, which differs in certain significant respects from US GAAP. The following is a summary of the effect on net income and shareholder’s equity of the differences between UK GAAP and US GAAP.
 
    Effect on the loss for the financial period of differences between UK GAAP and US GAAP

                         
            Three months ended
            March 31,   March 31,
            2003   2004
            £’m
  £’m
Profit/(loss) for the financial period under UK GAAP
            (4 )     12  
Adjustments to conform with US GAAP :
                       
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
            1       1  
Amortisation of goodwill
    (i )     1       1  
Amortisation of other intangibles
    (i )     (3 )     (3 )
Pensions
                   
Capitalisation of interest less amortisation
                   
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) on debt
            (4 )     3  
Fair value of derivative financial instruments
            3        
Deferred taxation:
                       
Arising on UK GAAP results
                  (2 )
Arising on other US GAAP adjustments
            (1 )     1  
 
           
 
     
 
 
Net Profit/(loss) under US GAAP
            (7 )     13  
 
           
 
     
 
 

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

    Effect on consolidated shareholder’s funds of differences between UK GAAP and US GAAP

                         
            December 31, 2003   March 31, 2004
            £’m
  £’m
Consolidated shareholder’s funds under UK GAAP
            133       145  
Adjustments to conform with US GAAP :
                       
Business combinations
            (21 )     (22 )
Exchange translation on goodwill and intangible assets
            (9 )     (11 )
Pensions
            (6 )     (6 )
Capitalisation of interest less amortisation
            9       9  
Fair value of derivative financial instruments
  (ii)     1       1  
Deferred taxation
            30       29  
 
           
 
     
 
 
Consolidated shareholder’s funds under US GAAP
            137       145  
 
           
 
     
 
 

    For an explanation of the significant differences between UK GAAP and US GAAP please refer to the annual Form 20-F.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

    (i) Goodwill and intangible assets
 
    The annual review of impairment required under FAS 142 was carried out as at June 30, 2003 and the results indicated that no impairment was deemed to exist. The next impairment review will be carried out as at June 30, 2004.
 
    The following table sets out intangible asset carrying values and accumulated amortisation in total and by each major class of finite lived intangible asset:

                         
            Accumulated   Weighted
    Gross carrying   amortisation as   average
    value as at March   at March 31,   amortisation
    31, 2004   2004   period
             
    £’m
  £’m
  Years
Amortised intangible assets
                       
Core and patented technology
    48       22       10  
Trade names
    7       1       20  
Customer relationships
    19       4       20  
Non-compete agreements
    22       20       5  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total amortised intangible assets
    96       47          
Goodwill
    45                
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total goodwill and other intangible assets under US GAAP
    141       47          
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

    The following table sets out amortisation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and estimated aggregate amortisation expense for each of the five succeeding years:

         
    £’m
Aggregate amortisation expense:
       
For the three months ended March 31, 2004
    3  
Estimated aggregate amortisation expense:
       
For the year ended December 31, 2004
    11  
For the year ended December 31, 2005
    7  
For the year ended December 31, 2006
    7  
For the year ended December 31, 2007
    7  
For the year ended December 31, 2008
    7  

    There were no changes to the carrying value of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2004.
 
    (ii) Derivative financial instruments
 
    During the three months ended March 31, 2004 we entered into contractual arrangements to hedge a portion of our raw material prices against spikes in natural gas prices. The contracts entered into are in the form of swaps, puts and calls, with settlement possible either way depending upon the floating price of natural gas. The fair value of the arrangement as at March 31, 2004 equates to an asset of £0.7m compared to the strike price of the puts/calls and the fixed price of the swaps; this gain made on the contracts would be taken to operating profit under US GAAP. At March 31, 2004 a volume of 4,800 mm-Btu was covered by the arrangement covering the period to October 2004.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

    New US Financial Accounting Standards and pronouncements not yet effective
 
    In January 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 106-1, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Act”). This FSP addresses the accounting implications of the newly issued Act to an entity that sponsors a postretirement health care plan that provides prescription drug benefits. This Act, signed into law in December 2003 in the United States, introduces a prescription drug benefit under Medicare as well as a federal subsidy to sponsors of certain retiree health care benefit plans. The FSP includes an election to defer accounting for the implications of this new law until specific authoritative guidance to address the accounting treatment has been issued. As such, as a result of the absence of such guidance, any measures included in these financial statements of the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation (APBO) or net periodic post-retirement benefit cost in the financial statements or accompanying notes do not reflect the effects of the Act on the plan. Authoritative guidance, when issued, could require a change in previously reported information.
 
    Recent UK accounting pronouncements
 
    In November 2000 the ASB issued Financial Reporting Standard No. 17, “Retirement Benefits” (“FRS 17”). FRS 17 requires pension scheme assets to be measured at market value and pension scheme liabilities to be measured using specified actuarial methods using a corporate bond rate. The resulting surplus or deficit should be immediately recognised in the balance sheet. In the annual financial statements additional analysis was provided in accordance with FRS 17 for which disclosure requirements have been implemented progressively during the previous and current financial years in accordance with the provisions of that standard. Full implementation of the standard has been postponed until 2005.
 
    International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)
 
    The European Parliament and Council of the European Union issued a regulation in 2002 that will require all EU listed companies to prepare their consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS rather than the existing national GAAP. The regulation takes effect for the accounting periods beginning after January 1, 2005 and consequently the accounting framework under which the Company reports will change. The Company will produce its consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS for the year ended December 31, 2005.
 
    We are currently evaluating the areas that will be most affected by the adoption of IFRS, including assessing the impact on our underlying systems and financial statements and our US GAAP reconciliations.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

    Cautionary statement concerning forward-looking statements
 
    The Company is including the following cautionary statement in this Form 6-K to make applicable and take advantage of the safe harbour provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. From time to time, the Company may publish or otherwise make available forward-looking statements of this nature. All such subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are also expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements and accordingly involve risk and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. The Company’s expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed by the Company to have a reasonable basis, including, without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company’s records and other data available from third parties. There can, however, be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished.
 
    Critical accounting policies and use of accounting estimates
 
    The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable in the United Kingdom but require some degree of judgement regarding the estimates and assumptions used to apply them. The application of these assumptions and judgements affects the reported amounts of profit during the year and the assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date. Actual results may differ from the estimates calculated using these assumptions and judgements. Management believes that accounting policies are critical policies where the assumptions and judgements would have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. These critical accounting policies are discussed in the annual financial statements as reported on Form 20-F and there have been no changes to them in the three months ended March 31, 2004.
 
    General
 
    Unless the context requires otherwise, the information provided in this Form 6-K and the terms “Lucite International”, “we”, “our” and the “Company” refer to Lucite International Group Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries and predecessor businesses as a combined entity. Lucite International Finance plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lucite International Group Holdings Limited and was formed for the purpose of issuing and selling securities and making the proceeds of those issues available to the Company.
 
    The business is defined into two distinct segments, the upstream business and the downstream business. The principle products of our upstream business are methyl methacrylates, or MMA, and speciality methacrylates, or SpMAs. We also produce a limited range of high-value SpMAs, which impart specific high performance properties to their end products, such as gloss and adhesion. We also sell liquid sodium cyanide mainly in the United Kingdom, which is used to produce detergents and as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Our downstream business uses the MMA we manufacture to produce and sell methacrylate-based polymers, resins, sheet and composites in thousands of variations.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS (continued)

    Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003
 
    Turnover

                                         
    Three                           Three
    months                           months
    ended March                           ended March
    31, 2003   Exchange   Volume/Mix   Price   31, 2004
                     
    £’m
  £’m
  £’m
  £’m
  £’m
Total turnover
    179       (15 )           6       170  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
            (8 %)           3 %     (5 %)
Upstream turnover (i)
    132       (11 )     (2 )     6       125  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
            (8 %)     (2 %)     5 %     (5 %)
Downstream turnover (i)
    69       (5 )     3       2       69  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
            (7 %)     4 %     3 %     - %

    (i) upstream and downstream turnover includes intra-company sales
 
    Turnover for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was affected by the translation impact of the weaker dollar during the period. The average rate for the three months ended March 31, 2003 was $1.84 to £1.00 compared to average rate for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of $1.60 to £1.00. Approximately half of our sales are generated from US operations with another approximately 20% generated within Asia where exchange rates are strongly linked to the dollar.
 
    Demand for methacrylate products remained strong during the three months ended March 31, 2004, led by strong consumer demand in Asia in particular. Upstream volumes during the three months ended March 31, 2004 were 3% lower than during the three months ended March 31, 2003 resulting in an adverse effect on turnover of 2% when combined with favourable mix effects. Downstream volumes were 5% higher during the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to March 31, 2003 resulting in a favourable effect on turnover of 4% when combined with adverse mix effects.
 
    Raw material prices increased further to unprecedented levels during the three months ended March 31, 2004. The higher raw material prices are passed through to the MMA price subject to the contract lags of between three and six months. This has resulted in higher upstream prices for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2003.
 
    Downstream prices have also increased during the three months ended March 31, 2004 reflecting the higher feedstock prices. The ability to pass on these higher feedstock prices into downstream products is a function of the relative competitiveness of each downstream market and time.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS (continued)

    Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 (continued)
 
    Cost of Sales

                                         
                            Raw    
                            material    
                            prices net    
    Three                   of   Three
    months                   production   months
    ended March                   cost   ended March
    31, 2003   Exchange   Volume/Mix   savings   31, 2004
                     
    £’m
  £’m
  £’m
  £’m
  £’m
Total cost of sales
    140       (12 )     (1 )     5       132  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
            (9 %)           3 %     (6 %)
Upstream cost of sales
    109       (9 )     (2 )     4       102  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
            (8 %)     (2 %)     4 %     (6 %)
Downstream cost of sales
    54       (4 )     1       4       55  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
            (7 %)     2 %     7 %     2 %

    Cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was affected by the translation impact of the weaker dollar during the period. The average rate for the three months ended March 31, 2003 was $1.84 to £1.00 compared to average rate for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of $1.60 to £1.00. Approximately half of our production is generated from US operations with another approximately 20% generated within Asia where exchange rates are strongly linked to the dollar.
 
    Raw material costs increased during the three months ended March 31, 2004, leading to a large price variance within cost of sales for the upstream business.
 
    As MMA represents approximately 75% to 85% of the raw material cost for our downstream business the increased MMA prices during the three months ended March 31, 2004 have increased the cost of sales of the downstream business.
 
    A 3% reduction in upstream volume during the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2003 has resulted in a favourable cost of sales variance of 2% when combined with the adverse impact of the mix of products produced.
 
    A 5% volume increase of downstream products during the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2004 has resulted in an adverse cost of sales variance of 2% when combined with the favourable impact of the mix of products produced.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS (continued)

    Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 (continued)
 
    Net Operating Expenses

                                 
    Three                   Three
    months                   months
    ended March           Cost   ended March
    31, 2003   Exchange   savings/other   31, 2004
                 
    £’m
  £’m
  £’m
  £’m
Total operating expenses
    25       (1 )           24  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
            (4 %)           (4 %)
Upstream operating expenses
    15             (1 )     14  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
                  (7 %)     (7 %)
Downstream operating expenses
    9                   9  
Percentage increase/(decrease)
                         

    Net operating expenses were favourably affected by the translation impact of the weaker dollar during the three months ended March 31, 2004.
 
    Net Interest Payable and Similar Charges

         
    £’m
Interest charged for the three months ended March 31, 2003
    16  
Exchange movement
    (18 )
 
   
 
 
Interest charged for the three months ended March 31, 2004
    (2 )
 
   
 
 

    There was a favourable exchange movement of £9 million relating to external debt not hedged by foreign currency assets for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to a £9 million adverse movement for the three months ended March 31, 2003.
 
    Taxation on Loss on Ordinary Activities
 
    The tax charge was £3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to £1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003.
 
    Equity Minority Interests
 
    Equity minority interests were £1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to £1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS (continued)

    Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 (continued)
 
    Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
    The cash generated from operating activities was an inflow of £19 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to an inflow of £13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. This £6 million improvement in operating cash arose from a lower working capital outflow during the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2003. Working capital balances resulted in an outflow of £6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to an outflow of £12 million for the same period last year. Management believes that the working capital position as at March 31, 2004 is adequate to fund operations.
 
    Interest payments of £3 million were made in the three months ended March 31, 2004 (£4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2003) in line with loan agreements pertaining to the financial structure of the group. This consisted of £3 million of senior debt interest, including the revolving debt facility (£4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003).
 
    Capital Expenditures
 
    In the three months ended March 31, 2004 we made capital expenditures of £7 million as follows:

         
    £’m
Safety, health and environmental
    1  
Maintaining asset capacity
    2  
Growth projects
    4  
 
   
 
 
Total capital expenditure
    7  
 
   
 
 

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS (continued)

    Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 (continued)
 
    Financing
 
    There was a £15 million repayment on the revolving credit facility during the three months ended March 31, 2004 as a result of strong cash generation during the period. The effects of the cash movement on the debt financing of the company are put into context in the following table:

                                         
    December 31,                           March 31,
    2003   Cash   Exchange   Other   2004
    £’m
  £’m
  £’m
  £’m
  £’m
Term loan A
    37             (2 )           35  
Term loan B
    69             (2 )           67  
Term loan C
    45             (2 )           43  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total senior debt
    151             (6 )           145  
Revolving credit facility
    19       (15 )                 4  
Senior notes
    176             (9 )           167  
Finance lease and other short term borrowing
    4                         4  
Unamortised senior notes premium
    2                   (1 )     1  
Unamortised issue costs
    (8 )                 1       (7 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total debt excluding China bank loans
    344       (15 )     (15 )           314  
China bank loans
          4                   4  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total debt
    344       (11 )     (15 )           318  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

    Key financial data excluding the costs of building the new MMA facility in China
 
    During the latter part of 2003 Lucite International (China) Chemical Industry Company Limited was formed as a wholly owned foreign entity for the purpose of constructing and operating an MMA facility within China (the China project). The results of Lucite International (China) Chemical Industry Company Limited have been fully consolidated into the results of Lucite International Group Holdings Limited for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
 
    In order to compare data on an historical basis the following is a summary of key items excluding the costs of the China project:
 
    Three months ended March 31, 2004

                         
    Including new   New China   Excluding new
    facility in China   facility   facility in China
    £’m
  £’m
  £’m
Revenue
    170             170  
Operating profit
    14             14  
Fixed Assets
    400       9       391  
Cash
    27       2       25  
Total Debt
    (318 )     (4 )     (314 )
Capital expenditure (cash flow)
    (7 )     (4 )     (3 )

    As debt is incurred in Lucite International (China) Chemical Company Limited it is ring-fenced from the remainder of the group and secured solely on the assets of Lucite International (China) Chemical Company Limited. During the three months ended March 31, 2004 £4 million of debt has been incurred with a leading Chinese bank in order to fund the ongoing construction costs of our new MMA facility in China. There has been no further equity injection by Lucite International Group Holdings Limited during the three months ended March 31, 2004.

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LUCITE INTERNATIONAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.

    Lucite International Group Holdings Limited
Registrant Guarantor

    //SIGNED// ANNIE VEERMAN

    By:  Annie Veerman
        Director

    Dated May 26, 2004

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