Interim Results for the period to 30 June 2020
RNS Number : 3667Z
Braime Group PLC
18 September 2020
Braime Group PLC
("Braime" or the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries the "Group")
Interim Results for the six months ended 30th June 2020
The Company presents its unaudited interims results for the six months ended 30 June 2020:
Performance
Group sales revenue for the first six months of 2020 fell 5.6% to £16.1m when compared to £17.1m for the same period in 2019, while profit before tax decreased to £372,000 compared to £1.1m for the same period in 2019. In view of the havoc that the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked on the global economy, the directors are pleased to report that sales volumes have held up better than expected. In the first quarter of the year, as country after country went into lockdown, our subsidiaries resolutely found ways to maintain operations, where necessary at times operating remotely from home. We have thus as a Group remained open throughout the pandemic and continued to serve and supply our customers. However, there is not much scope for reducing our base costs without cutting into our core business, and therefore the reduction in sales has had a direct consequence on our profitability. During this difficult time, we have carefully sought to avoid short-term cost-stripping which we consider would harm future strategic growth, whilst tactically managing our cashflow which has remained positive.
Dividends
In line with the Group's policy to maintain dividend growth, balanced alongside the Group's requirement for investment in capital to support long term growth, the directors have decided to increase the interim dividend to 4.00p per share. This dividend will be paid on 16th October 2020 to the Ordinary and 'A' Ordinary shareholders on the register on the 2nd October 2020. The associated ex-dividend date is 1st October 2020.
Braime Pressings Limited
External sales revenue of £2.0m in the first 6 months of 2020 was slightly up on the same period last year as customers increased orders for replacement parts. Intercompany sales also increased by £268,000. The manufacturing division made a small loss of £34,000 for the period as price competition remains high in the automotive sector. At the beginning of the year the business recruited a new sales manager to develop new markets however his activities were severely curtailed as a result of the lockdown restrictions and prospecting has only just recommenced.
4B Division
Our distribution division's external sales revenue of £14.2m fell by 6.6% when compared to £15.2m for the same period last year. Nonetheless, management consider this to be very positive results, given the economic upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic. Intercompany trading reduced by 17.2% to £2.4m (£2.9m for the same period in 2019). This downturn is partly a result of the impact of Covid-19 but also due to the fact that the prior year sales were boosted by additional trading in the light of Brexit preparations. We are pleased to see strong growth in 4B Australia which is 10% above the same period last year. The freeze in US-Sino relations has continued to affect our subsidiary in China but we believe in its strategic location for future growth. The £1.0m reduction in external sales has directly impacted profit, with profit after tax for the 4B division for the six-month period reduced to £307,000 as compared to £883,000 for the same period last year.
Balance Sheet
Total net assets as at 30th June 2020 amount to £14.9m (30th June 2019 - £13.9m). Capital asset additions of £855,000 during the period relate primarily to the land purchased in Villers Bretonneux together with the warehouse under construction of £548,000 for 4B France, as announced earlier in the year. Other additions relate to the purchase of a 400-ton capacity press in the UK, various quality monitoring systems and tooling. Inventory has increased by £159,000 when compared to 30th June 2019 and by £554,000 when compared to 31st December 2019. Trade receivables of £6.6m is in line with 30th June 2019 but increased by £915,000 when compared to 31st December 2019. The increase in long-term borrowings during the year relates primarily to the take up of new loans; firstly £455,000 in the USA where our subsidiary has successfully applied for funding from the government Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for Covid-19. The PPP aid, granted in the form of a loan on 16th April 2020, carries an interest rate of 1% and matures two years from the date of receipt, however the loan may be forgiven if employees are retained. Secondly £300,000 relates to the partial draw-down of the €1.7m loan facility in 4B France with Credit du Nord and BPI-France which as mentioned in 2019 annual report was obtained to fund the warehouse construction.
Cash flow
Cash at the end of the period was £822,000. Cash generated from operations before working capital movements was £1.4m during the period. An increase in trade receivables of £915,000 and an increase in inventories of £554,000 saw working capital reduce by £682,000 since the year end. These are a consequence of the reduced sales volume during the period. Investment in capital projects mentioned above gave rise to capital outflows of £855,000 and new loans of £755,000 in the USA and France mentioned above provided proceeds from borrowings. Overall, net cash increased by £159,000 during the six months to 30th June 2020. Management remains focused in ensuring that working capital requirements, particularly for stock, are carefully monitored and controlled.
Principal exchange rates
The Group reports its results in sterling, its presentational currency. The Group operates in six other currencies and the average of the principal exchange rates in use during the half year and as at the 30th June 2020 are shown in the table below, along with comparatives. Since a significant proportion of the Group revenues are in the USA, the Group has benefitted from the weakening of sterling against the US dollar since 31st December 2019. However, at the time of writing, the sterling has rallied strongly, and we expect to see the gains in the first half of the year reversing in the second half.
| Currency | Symbol | Avg rate HY 2020 | Avg rate HY 2019 | Avg rate FY 2019 | Closing rate 30th Jun 2020 | Closing rate 30th Jun 2019 | Closing rate 31st Dec 2019 |
| Australian Dollar | AUD | 1.922 | 1.832 | 1.840 | 1.795 | 1.814 | 1.883 |
| Chinese Renminbi (Yuan) | CNY | 8.857 | 8.770 | 8.810 | 8.714 | 8.711 | 9.150 |
| Euro | EUR | 1.140 | 1.148 | 1.144 | 1.100 | 1.118 | 1.177 |
| South African Rand | ZAR | 21.334 | 18.319 | 18.453 | 21.468 | 17.950 | 18.548 |
| Thai Baht | THB | 39.993 | 40.808 | 39.578 | 38.152 | 39.069 | 39.346 |
| United States Dollar | USD | 1.259 | 1.297 | 1.281 | 1.236 | 1.273 | 1.321 |
| Key performance indicator | Note | Half year 2020 | Half year 2019 | Full year 2019 |
| Turnover growth | 1 | (5.6%) | (5.5%) | (6.4%) |
| Gross margin | 2 | 47.4% | 48.9% | 49.1% |
| Operating profit | 3 | £0.45m | £1.29m | £2.21m |
| Stock days | 4 | 191 days | 165 days | 176 days |
| Debtor days | 5 | 63 days | 60 days | 57 days |
| Braime Group PLC Consolidated income statement for the six months ended 30th June 2020 | Note | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2020 | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2019 | Audited year to 31st December 2019 |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | ||
| Revenue | 16,114 | 17,077 | 33,433 | |
| Changes in inventories of finished goods and work in progress | 492 | 1,174 | 959 | |
| Raw materials and consumables used | (8,954) | (9,901) | (17,986) | |
| Employee benefits costs | (4,406) | (4,090) | (8,530) | |
| Depreciation expense | (646) | (536) | (1,236) | |
| Other expenses | (2,146) | (2,438) | (4,737) | |
| Other operating income | - | - | 318 | |
| Profit from operations | 454 | 1,286 | 2,221 | |
| Finance costs | (82) | (218) | (477) | |
| Finance income | - | 1 | 2 | |
| Profit before tax | 372 | 1,069 | 1,746 | |
| Tax expense | (114) | (315) | (397) | |
| Profit for the period | 258 | 754 | 1,349 | |
| Profit attributable to: | ||||
| Owners of the parent | 242 | 749 | 1,360 | |
| Non-controlling interests | 16 | 5 | (11) | |
| 258 | 754 | 1,349 | ||
| Basic and diluted earnings per share | 2 | 16.81p | 52.00p | 94.44p |
| Braime Group PLC Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the six months ended 30th June 2020 | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2020 | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2019 | Audited year to 31st December 2019 |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Profit for the period | 258 | 754 | 1,349 |
| Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss | |||
| Net pension remeasurement gain on post-employment benefits | - | - | 178 |
| Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss | |||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) on re-translation of overseas operations | 404 | (13) | (323) |
| Other comprehensive income for the period | 404 | (13) | (145) |
| Total comprehensive income for the period | 662 | 741 | 1,204 |
| Total comprehensive income attributable to: | |||
| Owners of the parent | 656 | 754 | 1,231 |
| Non-controlling interests | 6 | (13) | (27) |
| 662 | 741 | 1,204 |
| Braime Group PLC Consolidated balance sheet at 30th June 2020 | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2020 | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2019 | Audited year to 31st December 2019 |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Non-current assets | |||
| Property, plant and equipment | 7,246 | 6,485 | 6,824 |
| Intangible assets | 44 | 56 | 48 |
| Right of use assets | 190 | 213 | 278 |
| Total non-current assets | 7,480 | 6,754 | 7,150 |
| Current assets | |||
| Inventories | 9,127 | 8,968 | 8,573 |
| Trade and other receivables | 6,554 | 6,605 | 5,697 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,558 | 935 | 1,679 |
| Total current assets | 17,239 | 16,508 | 15,949 |
| Total assets | 24,719 | 23,262 | 23,099 |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Bank overdraft | 736 | 508 | 1,016 |
| Trade and other payables | 4,586 | 4,881 | 3,808 |
| Other financial liabilities | 2,042 | 2,219 | 2,163 |
| Corporation tax liability | 47 | 1 | 19 |
| Total current liabilities | 7,411 | 7,609 | 7,006 |
| Non-current liabilities | |||
| Financial liabilities | 2,031 | 1,449 | 1,384 |
| Deferred income tax liability | 382 | 266 | 360 |
| Total non-current liabilities | 2,413 | 1,715 | 1,744 |
| Total liabilities | 9,824 | 9,324 | 8,750 |
| Total net assets | 14,895 | 13,938 | 14,349 |
| Capital and reserves | |||
| Share capital | 360 | 360 | 360 |
| Capital reserve | 257 | 257 | 257 |
| Foreign exchange reserve | 408 | 306 | (6) |
| Retained earnings | 14,211 | 13,347 | 14,084 |
| Total equity attributable to the shareholders of the parent company | 15,236 | 14,270 | 14,695 |
| Non-controlling interests | (341) | (332) | (346) |
| Total equity | 14,895 | 13,938 | 14,349 |
| Braime Group PLC Consolidated cash flow statement for the six months ended 30th June 2020 | Note | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2020 | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2019 | Audited year to 31st December 2019 |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | ||
| Operating activities | ||||
| Net profit | 258 | 754 | 1,349 | |
| Adjustments for: | ||||
| Depreciation | 646 | 536 | 1,236 | |
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | 299 | (17) | (255) | |
| Finance income | - | (1) | (2) | |
| Finance expense | 82 | 218 | 477 | |
| Gain on sale of plant, machinery and motor vehicles | - | - | (12) | |
| Adjustment in respect of defined benefit scheme | - | - | 93 | |
| Income tax expense | 114 | 315 | 397 | |
| Income taxes paid | (8) | (243) | (451) | |
| Operating profit before changes in working capital and provisions | 1,391 | 1,562 | 2,832 | |
| (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables | (915) | (107) | 1,044 | |
| Increase in inventories | (554) | (1,096) | (701) | |
| Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables | 787 | (381) | (1,499) | |
| (682) | (1,584) | (1,156) | ||
| Cash generated from operations | 709 | (22) | 1,676 | |
| Investing activities | ||||
| Purchases of property, plant, machinery and motor vehicles | (855) | (679) | (1,660) | |
| Sale of plant, machinery and motor vehicles | 8 | - | 27 | |
| Interest received | - | 1 | 2 | |
| (847) | (678) | (1,631) | ||
| Financing activities | ||||
| Proceeds from long term borrowings | 900 | - | 728 | |
| Proceeds from new hire purchase borrowings | - | 421 | - | |
| Repayment of lease liabilities | (172) | (101) | (210) | |
| Repayment of borrowings | (116) | (199) | (459) | |
| Repayment of hire purchase creditors | (118) | (142) | (281) | |
| Interest paid | (63) | (204) | (426) | |
| Lease interest paid | (19) | (14) | (48) | |
| Dividends paid | (115) | (115) | (167) | |
| 297 | (354) | (863) | ||
| Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 159 | (1,054) | (818) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 663 | 1,481 | 1,481 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents (including overdrafts), end of period | 3 | 822 | 427 | 663 |
| Braime Group PLC Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 30th June 2020 | Share Capital | Capital Reserve | Foreign Exchange Reserve | Retained Earnings | Total | Minority Interests | Total Equity |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Balance at 31st December 2019 | 360 | 257 | (6) | 14,084 | 14,695 | (346) | 14,349 |
| Comprehensive income | |||||||
| Profit | - | - | - | 242 | 242 | 16 | 258 |
| Other comprehensive income | |||||||
| Foreign exchange gain/(loss) on re-translation of overseas operations | - | - | 414 | - | 414 | (11) | 403 |
| Total other comprehensive income | - | - | 414 | - | 414 | (11) | 403 |
| Total comprehensive income | - | - | 414 | 242 | 656 | 5 | 661 |
| Transactions with owners | |||||||
| Dividends | - | - | - | (115) | (115) | - | (115) |
| Total transactions with owners | - | - | - | (115) | (115) | - | (115) |
| Balance at 30th June 2020 | 360 | 257 | 408 | 14,211 | 15,236 | (341) | 14,895 |
| Braime Group PLC Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 30th June 2019 | Share Capital | Capital Reserve | Foreign Exchange Reserve | Retained Earnings | Total | Minority Interests | Total Equity |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Balance at 31st December 2018 | 360 | 257 | 301 | 12,734 | 13,652 | (319) | 13,333 |
| Impact of change in accounting standard - IFRS 16 | - | - | - | (21) | (21) | - | (21) |
| Restated total equity at 1st January 2019 | 360 | 257 | 301 | 12,713 | 13,631 | (319) | 13,312 |
| Comprehensive income | |||||||
| Profit | - | - | - | 749 | 749 | 5 | 754 |
| Other comprehensive income | |||||||
| Foreign exchange gain/(loss) on re-translation of overseas operations | - | - | 5 | - | 5 | (18) | (13) |
| Total other comprehensive income | - | - | 5 | - | 5 | (18) | (13) |
| Total comprehensive income | - | - | 5 | 749 | 754 | (13) | 741 |
| Transactions with owners | |||||||
| Dividends | - | - | - | (115) | (115) | - | (115) |
| Total transactions with owners | - | - | - | (115) | (115) | - | (115) |
| Balance at 30th June 2019 | 360 | 257 | 306 | 13,347 | 14,270 | (332) | 13,938 |
| Braime Group PLC Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31st December 2019 | Share Capital | Capital Reserve | Foreign Exchange Reserve | Retained Earnings | Total | Minority Interests | Total Equity |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Balance at 1st January 2019 | 360 | 257 | 301 | 12,734 | 13,652 | (319) | 13,333 |
| Impact of change in accounting standard - IFRS16 | - | - | - | (21) | (21) | - | (21) |
| Restated total equity at 1st January 2019 | 360 | 257 | 301 | 12,713 | 13,631 | (319) | 13,312 |
| Comprehensive income | |||||||
| Profit | - | - | - | 1,360 | 1,360 | (11) | 1,349 |
| Other comprehensive income | |||||||
| Net pension remeasurement gain recognised directly in equity | - | - | - | 178 | 178 | - | 178 |
| Foreign exchange gains on re-translation of overseas operations | - | - | (307) | - | (307) | (16) | (323) |
| Total other comprehensive income | - | - | (307) | 178 | (129) | (16) | (145) |
| Total comprehensive income | - | - | (307) | 1,538 | 1,231 | (27) | 1,204 |
| Transactions with owners | |||||||
| Dividends | - | - | - | (167) | (167) | - | (167) |
| Total transactions with owners | - | - | - | (167) | (167) | - | (167) |
| Balance at 31st December 2019 | 360 | 257 | (6) | 14,084 | 14,695 | (346) | 14,349 |
| 6 months to 30th June 2020 | |
| £'000 | |
| Dividends paid on equity shares | |
| Ordinary shares | |
| Interim of 8.00p per share paid on 5th June 2020 | 38 |
| 'A' Ordinary shares | |
| Interim of 8.00p per share paid on 5th June 2020 | 77 |
| Total dividends paid | 115 |
| Year to 31st December 2019 | |
| £'000 | |
| Dividends paid on equity shares | |
| Ordinary shares | |
| Interim of 8.00p per share paid on 17th May 2019 | 38 |
| Interim of 3.60p per share paid on 18th October 2019 | 17 |
| 55 | |
| 'A' Ordinary shares | |
| Interim of 8.00p per share paid on 17th May 2019 | 77 |
| Interim of 3.60p per share paid on 18th October 2019 | 35 |
| 112 | |
| Total dividends paid | 167 |
| Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2020 | Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2019 | Audited year to 31st December 2019 | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 1,558 | 935 | 1,679 |
| Bank overdrafts | (736) | (508) | (1,016) |
| 822 | 427 | 663 |
| Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2020 | ||||
| Central | Manufacturing | Distribution | Total | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Revenue | ||||
| External | - | 1,953 | 14,161 | 16,114 |
| Inter company | 1,016 | 1,695 | 2,381 | 5,092 |
| Total | 1,016 | 3,648 | 16,542 | 21,206 |
| Profit | ||||
| EBITDA | 352 | (18) | 767 | 1,101 |
| Finance costs | (53) | (15) | (14) | (82) |
| Finance income | - | - | - | - |
| Depreciation | (300) | (11) | (335) | (646) |
| Tax expense | (14) | 10 | (111) | (115) |
| (Loss)/profit for the period | (15) | (34) | 307 | 258 |
| Assets | ||||
| Total assets | 5,449 | 4,551 | 14,719 | 24,719 |
| Additions to non-current assets | 242 | 2 | 634 | 878 |
| Liabilities | ||||
| Total liabilities | 926 | 2,384 | 6,514 | 9,824 |
| Unaudited 6 months to 30th June 2019 | ||||
| Central | Manufacturing | Distribution | Total | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Revenue | ||||
| External | - | 1,913 | 15,164 | 17,077 |
| Inter company | 997 | 1,427 | 2,877 | 5,301 |
| Total | 997 | 3,340 | 18,041 | 22,378 |
| Profit | ||||
| EBITDA | 115 | 133 | 1,574 | 1,822 |
| Finance costs | (110) | (11) | (97) | (218) |
| Finance income | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Depreciation | (248) | (8) | (280) | (536) |
| Tax expense | - | - | (315) | (315) |
| (Loss)/profit for the period | (243) | 114 | 883 | 754 |
| Assets | ||||
| Total assets | 5,668 | 1,994 | 15,600 | 23,262 |
| Additions to non-current assets | 560 | - | 119 | 679 |
| Liabilities | ||||
| Total liabilities | 1,332 | 2,916 | 5,076 | 9,324 |
| Audited year to 31st December 2019 | ||||
| Central | Manufacturing | Distribution | Total | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| Revenue | ||||
| External | - | 3,416 | 30,017 | 33,433 |
| Inter company | 2,104 | 3,440 | 6,224 | 11,768 |
| Total | 2,104 | 6,856 | 36,241 | 45,201 |
| Profit | ||||
| EBITDA | 851 | (244) | 2,850 | 3,457 |
| Finance costs | (305) | (27) | (145) | (477) |
| Finance income | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Depreciation | (607) | (18) | (611) | (1,236) |
| Tax expense | (114) | 39 | (322) | (397) |
| (Loss)/profit for the period | (175) | (250) | 1,774 | 1,349 |
| Assets | ||||
| Total assets | 5,529 | 3,657 | 13,913 | 23,099 |
| Additions to non-current assets | 1,138 | 76 | 607 | 1,821 |
| Liabilities | ||||
| Total liabilities | 852 | 1,768 | 6,130 | 8,750 |