Misco UK suffers fall in sales and wider losses in FY15

Parent Systemax aiming to restore UK arm to profitability, calling it the 'cornerstone' of its European business

Misco's UK arm endured widening losses and falling sales in its last financial year, according to accounts filed recently on Companies House.

Revenues for the e-tailer's full year ending 2 January 2016 fell by 23 per cent to £219.4m, while operating losses widened to £8.5m, compared with £5.6m a year earlier.

Average employee numbers also dropped from 466 to 416 as the final stages of moving back-office functions to a European shared services centre in Hungary were concluded.

Since year end, Misco has launched a new sales office in Watford, which it claimed is now well established. It has also sold its German business, a move it said would enable it to increase the focus on its UK turnaround, and its European boss, Simon Taylor, recently declared there was "no upper limit" to its UK recruitment push.

Such sentiments were echoed in the 2015 accounts, which labelled Misco UK the "cornerstone' of US parent Systemax's European business and laid out its intent to restore it to profitability.

"Systemax Inc believes that the UK business is the cornerstone of Systemax Inc's business in Europe and considers that the success of its European operation is dependent on a successful UK operation," the accounts stated.

"The company's business had been successful from an operating profit level up to 2012 and the aim is that the company can return to similar levels assisted by the commitment of Systemax Inc's management."

Misco UK has performed a review of its management of working capital as part of an internal reorganisation, the accounts added.

"Specific plans have also been implemented to reduce aged inventory, improve credit control and ensure that the company is cash generating and able to meet all of its liabilities as they fall due," Misco stated.

"The company continues to focus on cost-reduction activity."

Misco blamed the 2015 UK turnover decline on the "highly competitive market in which it operates".

It stated: "The market for computer products and electronics is subject to intense price competition and characterised by narrow gross profit margins. There are few barriers to entry..."

The losses were driven by the reduced turnover and a decrease in product margins, Misco added.