REG - Churchill China PLC - Interim Results
For immediate release
29 August 2019
CHURCHILL CHINA plc
("Churchill" or the "Company" or the "Group")
INTERIM RESULTS
For the six months ended 30 June 2019
Strong first half performance continues long term growth trend
Churchill China plc (AIM: CHH), the manufacturer of innovative performance ceramic products serving hospitality markets worldwide, is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2019.
Key Highlights:
Financial
· Operating profit before exceptional items up 30% to £4.2m (2018 H1: £3.3m)
o including contribution of £0.2m from acquisition of Furlong Mills
· Profit before exceptional items and tax up 27% to £4.2m (2018 H1: £3.3m)
· Reported profit before tax after exceptional items £4.3m (2018 H1: £3.3m)
· Adjusted earnings per share up 24% to 30.4p (2018 H1: 24.4p)
· Basic earnings per share 31.3p (2018 H1: 24.4p)
· Interim dividend up 18% to 10.3p (2018 H1: 8.7p)
· Cash generated from operations £2.4m (2018 H1: £1.7m)
Business
· Total revenues up 17% at £31.9m (2018 H1: £27.2m)
o including £2.0m from acquisition of Furlong Mills
· Ceramics (like for like) revenue growth 10% (2018 H1: 6%)
· Export revenues up 13%
· Increased sales of Hospitality added value product
· Higher levels of investment in capital expenditure, acquisition of controlling interest in Furlong Mills and purchase of products and brand from Dudson
· Performance continues long term growth trend
Alan McWalter, Chairman of Churchill China, commented:
"Churchill has been substantially re-positioned as a business over the past five years. We have emphasised the development of differentiated high margin products in Hospitality and exited from markets where we did not have a competitive advantage. We believe we offer a technical performance product to attractive markets worldwide with a high level of service. We have a well invested business supported by a strong balance sheet."
For further information, please contact:
Churchill China plc
Tel: 01782 577566
David O'Connor / David Taylor
Buchanan
Tel: 020 7466 5000
Mark Court / Sophie Wills
Investec
Tel: 020 7597 5970
David Flin / David Anderson / Alex Wright
This announcement contains information which, prior to its disclosure, was considered inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR)
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Introduction
I am pleased to report another strong performance in the first half of 2019, continuing the progress made over the last five years in re-positioning the business as a supplier of added value performance ceramics to the Hospitality industry. Our organic growth has remained strong with further development of our export markets and increase in the proportion of differentiated, added value product.
Alongside delivering an improvement in short term performance, we have accelerated investment in the future of our business with commitment to the expansion of our UK manufacturing facilities. The purchase of product and brand assets from Dudson provides a clear opportunity to further develop our business, bringing new product ranges and widening our global distribution. Finally, our acquisition of additional equity in Furlong Mills secures a major part of our material supply base in the short term and in the longer term brings further development options.
Financial Review
Total revenues increased by 17% to £31.9m (2018 H1: £27.2m) with further strong growth in Hospitality ceramics export revenues and the inclusion of revenues from Furlong Mills of £2.0m for four months of the period.
Ceramic revenue growth, excluding the effects of the acquisition of Furlong Mills, was 10% (2018 H1: 6%) with sales rising to £29.9m (2018 H1: £27.2m). UK revenues increased by 4% to £10.6m (2018 H1: £10.2m). Export revenues were £2.3m higher (+13%) at £19.3m (2018 H1: £17.0m).
There was little direct impact on revenues from the Dudson asset purchase in the first half year. We have made good progress in re-launching the acquired products and expect this to contribute to both revenue and profit more materially in the second half of 2019.
Gross margins improved as we continued to grow sales of added value product.
Operating profit before exceptional items increased by 30% to £4.2m (2018 H1: £3.3m) with Furlong Mills contributing £0.2m (5%) of this increase. On a like-for-like basis operating profit increased by 25%, with margins increasing to 13.6% (2018 H1: 11.9%). Operating profit benefited from increased revenues and the continued move towards added value products. We have further invested in the extension of our export market distribution, in product development and in improved customer service.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased by 29% to £5.4m (2018 H1: £4.2m).
Profit before exceptional items and income tax rose by 27% to £4.2m (2018 H1: £3.3m), largely as a result of our strong operating performance. The acquisition of a controlling interest in Furlong Mills contributed a net £0.1m. This strong performance continues our long term track record of profit growth. In the five years to the end of 2018 we increased profit before income tax at a compound rate of 22% per annum.
Adjusted earnings per share improved by 24% to 30.4p (2018 H1: 24.4p).
During the first half we purchased an additional 9.5% of the equity of Furlong Mills Limited at a cost of £0.5m, taking our holding from 46.1% to 55.6%, a controlling interest. As a result of this we now consolidate Furlong Mills as a subsidiary of Churchill. As we acquired a higher value of assets than the overall consideration paid, negative goodwill of £0.1m was generated. In accordance with accounting standards, this has been credited to the Income Statement as an exceptional item.
Reported profit before tax rose to £4.3m from £3.3m in H1 2018.
Basic earnings per share, including the above exceptional items, improved by 28% to 31.3p (2018 H1: 24.4p)
We have continued to generate good operating cash flows. Operating cash generation was £2.4m (2018 H1: £1.7m). Working capital requirements in the first half year were higher than last year at £2.4m (2018 H1: £1.9m) largely reflecting an increased level of inventory attributable to the establishment of a stock holding in our new European warehouse and a higher level of sales.
Capital expenditure has risen to support the increased level of activity within our business. In addition to the £2.1m spent on the purchase from Dudson, we have invested a further £1.5m (2018 H1: £0.9m) on a number of new projects including additional manufacturing space and kiln capacity which we expect to complete in 2020.
We retain a strong balance sheet with net assets of £41.4m, including net cash and deposits of £13.1m (H1 2018: £13.7m).
Dividend
The Board is pleased to announce an 18% increase in the interim dividend to 10.3p per share (2018 H1: 8.7p) maintaining our record of improvement in cash returns to shareholders. We are pleased that the further growth in profitability and cash generation allows us to raise the dividend. The interim dividend will be paid on 4 October 2019 to shareholders on the register on 13 September 2019, with the ex-dividend date being 12 September 2019.
Business
Ceramics
Within our Ceramics business, we have continued to make good progress, with all this growth coming from Hospitality markets.
Export revenues increased by 13% and now represent 65% of Ceramics revenues (2018 H1: 63%).Our progress in overseas markets has been maintained, with the highest short term growth again being achieved in Europe where we have strong momentum and increasing market penetration in key markets. We have continued to increase our sales in North America and the Rest of the World which are at an earlier stage of development. This export growth has been achieved as a result of many years of investment in new product development and building appropriate distribution channels.
We are pleased that, after a period of consolidation, we have returned to growth in the UK following implementation of a number of actions to improve our focus in this market. We benefit from wide distribution across a range of sectors and continue to enjoy a consistent level of replacement sales. Revenue from added value sales has increased.
Following the acquisition of product and brand intellectual property from Dudson in April 2019 we have re-engineered and replicated the products and the first phase of re-launches took place in June 2019. Further products will reach the market later this year. Total sales under the Dudson brand in the first half were £0.1m and are expected to increase substantially in the second half of 2019. The acquisition of this long established brand has given us a significant opportunity to establish new and separate distribution in a number of export markets. We have made good initial progress in securing this distribution in our target markets.
We continue to enjoy success in the movement of standard to higher margin added value product. Sales of added value products now represent over 47% of our Hospitality sales. This increase reflects continued innovation, product and market research and new product development. Stonecast continues to grow strongly and our Studio Prints range has made further progress. The purchase of intellectual property in the Dudson Evo and Harvest products, which use distinctive glaze technology, will provide additional opportunities to continue to grow added value product revenues.
Churchill's core values are innovation, technical performance and service. The strength of our established relationships with end users, distributors and agents in the UK and worldwide continues to be of great value to the business.
Materials
The acquisition of a majority holding in Furlong Mills in February 2019 has had the short term effect of securing an important part of our supply chain. Furlong is a ceramic materials manufacturer based in Stoke on Trent and provides processed clay body and glaze to Churchill and other major manufacturers. Longer term we wish to maintain our position of producing a high quality technical performance ceramic and continuing to innovate and differentiate our product and we believe our increased investment in Furlong and its leading position in applied material science will support this.
Furlong Mills has traded in line with our expectations in the first half year, total revenues were £3.1m, of which £1.1m was sold to Churchill.
Operations
The first half of 2019 has seen substantial progress within our manufacturing and logistics operations both on a day-to-day basis and at a strategic level.
Activity levels within our operations have been high during the first half of the year, with consequent demands on both production and logistics. At the same time we have continued to develop and introduce new product at a significant rate. These have required an acceleration of our capital investment programme, notably the extension of our first stage kiln firing capacity and a further manufacturing extension, both to support the production of higher value products. We expect these projects to progress quickly in the second half of the year and to complete in 2020.
In addition to the operational challenge posed by organic growth, the Dudson purchase has created demands in relation to the introduction of new manufacturing technology and processes. This project is progressing well and we are pleased with the quality and efficiency improvements achieved to date.
We have accelerated our investment in logistics to support our European customer base and to mitigate the potential impact of Brexit on our delivery security. Our growth in Europe was expected to create the need for a local despatch operation in two to three years' time, but the need to maintain our service promise given potential disruption has again accelerated our investment. In February 2019 we began to supply orders to Europe from inventory established in a third party run warehouse in Rotterdam. We now hold over £0.5m of inventory in Europe and plan to increase this in the second half of 2019.
Brexit
We have reviewed our exposure to various Brexit scenarios. A major part of our revenue is earned outside the UK and our manufacturing process, in part, relies upon materials and equipment sourced from overseas.
Our detailed Brexit risk planning was completed earlier this year, but continues to be reviewed as the political and economic environment changes. We believe we have identified and developed sensible plans to mitigate the effect of disruption on our business where possible. Our plans are founded on our core principles which are the provision of value to our customers and maintenance of a high level of service.
People
I have previously commented on the investment we have made in our workforce in terms of training and development and the alignment and engagement of our employees with our business plans. Our continuous improvement programme remains the main focus of our efforts, but is supported by many other initiatives.
It is unlikely that the progress we have made in the first half of this year would have been possible without the past work carried out in relation to training and development and certainly not without the support and engagement of our staff. We have placed significant demands on our employees over the recent past and they have risen admirably to the challenge. Once again I thank them for their effort and commitment.
Outlook
We have reported a strong performance in first half year and once again this has been achieved as a result of long term investment in line with our strategic targets. We have continued to benefit from growth in export revenues and have increased our margins as a result of the sale of further added value products. Our market position remains strong and we believe we have further opportunity, both organically and from our recent acquisitions, to continue to make further progress.
Churchill has been substantially re-positioned as a business over the past five years. We have emphasised the development of differentiated high margin products in Hospitality and exited from markets where we did not have a competitive advantage. We believe we offer a technical performance product to attractive markets worldwide with a high level of service. We have a well invested business supported by a strong balance sheet.
Current trading remains in line with our expectations and we believe that we can, subject to external conditions, make further progress. We remain focused on the long term and on the delivery of value and return on a sustainable basis.
Alan McWalter
Chairman
29 August 2019
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Income Statement
for the six months ended 30 June 2019
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 December 2018
£000
£000
£000
Note
Revenue
1
31,934
27,247
57,479
===========
===========
===========
Operating profit before exceptional item
1
4,237
3,254
9,237
Exceptional item
2
117
-
(541)
Operating Profit
1
4,354
3,254
8,696
Share of results of associate company
(22)
92
185
Finance income
3
69
46
110
Finance costs
3
(100)
(90)
(144)
------------------
------------------
------------------
Profit before exceptional item and income tax
4,184
3,302
9,388
Exceptional item
2
117
-
(541)
Profit before income tax
4,301
3,302
8,847
Income tax expense
4
(815)
(626)
(1,649)
------------------
------------------
------------------
Profit for the period
3,486
2,676
7,198
===========
===========
===========
Profit for the period is attributable to:
Owners of the Company
3,425
2,676
7,198
Non-controlling interests
61
-
-
------------------
------------------
------------------
3,486
2,676
7,198
===========
===========
===========
Pence per
Pence per
Pence per
Share
share
share
Adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share
5
30.4
24.4
69.6
Diluted adjusted earnings per ordinary share
5
30.1
24.2
69.0
Basic earnings per ordinary share
5
31.3
24.4
65.6
Diluted earnings per ordinary share
5
31.0
24.2
65.0
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the six months ended 30 June 2019
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 December 2018
£000
£000
£000
Other comprehensive income / (expense)
Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss:
Actuarial loss on retirement benefit obligations
-
-
(175)
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit
and loss
Exchange differences
2
(11)
23
---------------
--------------
---------------
Other comprehensive income / (expense)
2
(11)
(152)
Profit for the period
3,486
2,676
7,198
---------------
---------------
----------------
Total comprehensive income for the period
3,488
2,665
7,046
==========
==========
==========
Attributable to:
Owners of the Company
3,427
2,665
7,046
Non-controlling interest
61
-
-
---------------
---------------
----------------
3,488
2,665
7,046
==========
==========
==========
All above figures relate to continuing operations
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Balance Sheets
as at 30 June 2019
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
30 June
30 June
31 December
2019
2018
2018
£000
£000
£000
Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
18,964
14,520
14,847
Intangible assets
1,620
93
91
Investment in associate
-
1,639
1,732
Deferred income tax assets
998
1,066
1,107
21,582
17,318
17,777
Current assets
Inventories
11,747
9,706
9,911
Trade and other receivables
12,013
9,220
9,719
Other financial assets
6,511
4,506
3,001
Cash and cash equivalents
6,971
9,230
14,380
37,242
32,662
37,011
Total assets
58,824
49,980
54,788
==========
==========
=============
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
(10,572)
(8,617)
(9,561)
Current income tax liabilities
(836)
(716)
(1,063)
-----------------
----------------
---------------------
Total current liabilities
(11,408)
(9,333)
(10,624)
-----------------
----------------
---------------------
Non-current liabilities
Trade and other payables
(274)
-
-
Deferred income tax liabilities
(972)
(765)
(754)
Retirement benefit obligations
(4,809)
(5,282)
(5,443)
-----------------
----------------
---------------------
Total non-current liabilities
(6,055)
(6,047)
(6,197)
-----------------
----------------
---------------------
Total liabilities
(17,463)
(15,380)
(16,821)
==========
==========
=============
Net assets
41,361
34,600
37,967
==========
==========
=============
Equity
Issued share capital
1,103
1,103
1,103
Share premium account
2,348
2,348
2,348
Treasury shares
(445)
(530)
(729)
Other reserves
1,653
1,534
1,703
Retained earnings
34,739
30,145
33,542
-----------------
----------------
---------------------
Capital and reserves attributable to owners of the Company
39,398
34,600
37,967
Non-controlling interest
1,963
-
-
Total equity
41,361
34,600
37,967
===========
==========
=============
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
as at 30 June 2019
Issued
Non-
Retained
share
Share
Treasury
Other
controlling
Total
earnings
capital
premium
shares
reserves
Total
Interest
equity
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Balance at 1 January 2018
29,456
1,103
2,348
(579)
1,565
33,893
-
33,893
Comprehensive income
Profit for the period
2,676
-
-
-
-
2,676
-
2,676
Other comprehensive income
Depreciation transfer - gross
5
-
-
-
(5)
-
-
-
Depreciation transfer - tax
(1)
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
Currency translation
-
-
-
-
(11)
(11)
-
(11)
Total comprehensive income
2,680
-
-
-
(15)
2,665
-
2,665
Transactions with owners
Dividends
(1,886)
-
-
-
-
(1,886)
-
(1,886)
Proceeds of share issue
-
-
-
3
-
3
-
3
Share based payment
137
-
-
-
(16)
121
-
121
Deferred tax - share based payment
(8)
-
-
-
-
(8)
-
(8)
Treasury shares
(234)
-
-
46
-
(188)
-
(188)
Total transactions with owners
(1,991)
-
-
49
(16)
(1,958)
-
(1,958)
Balance at 30 June 2018
30,145
1,103
2,348
(530)
1,534
34,600
-
34,600
Comprehensive income
Profit for the period
4,522
-
-
-
-
4,522
-
4,522
Other comprehensive income
Depreciation transfer - gross
7
-
-
-
(7)
-
-
-
Depreciation transfer - tax
(1)
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
Re-measurements o f post employment
benefit obligations - net of tax
(175)
(175)
-
(175)
Currency translation
-
-
-
-
34
34
-
34
Total comprehensive income
4,353
-
-
-
28
4,381
-
4,381
Transactions with owners
Dividends
(954)
-
-
-
-
(954)
-
(954)
Share based payment
-
-
-
-
141
141
-
141
Deferred tax - share based payment
(1)
-
-
-
-
(1)
-
Treasury shares
(1)
-
-
(199)
-
(200)
-
(200)
Total transactions with owners
(956)
-
-
(199)
141
(1,014)
-
(1,014)
Balance at 31 December 2018
33,542
1,103
2,348
(729)
1,703
37,967
-
37,967
Comprehensive income
Profit for the period
3,425
-
-
-
-
3,425
61
3,486
Other comprehensive income
Depreciation transfer - gross
5
-
-
-
(5)
-
-
-
Depreciation transfer - tax
(1)
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
Currency translation
-
-
-
-
2
2
-
2
Total comprehensive income
3,429
-
-
-
(2)
3,427
61
3,488
Transactions with owners
Dividends
(2,224)
-
-
-
-
(2,224)
-
(2,224)
Proceeds of share issue
-
-
-
3
-
3
-
3
Share based payment
200
-
-
-
(48)
152
-
152
Deferred tax - share based payment
73
-
-
-
-
73
-
73
Treasury shares
(281)
-
-
281
-
-
-
-
Non-controlling interest on acquisition
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,902
1,902
Total transactions with owners
(2,232)
-
-
284
(48)
(1,996)
1,902
(94)
Balance at 30 June 2019
34,739
1,103
2,348
(445)
1,653
39,398
1,963
41,361
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the six months ended 30 June 2019
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 Dec 2018
£000
£000
£000
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations (note 6)
2,434
1,686
8,260
Interest received
69
46
110
Interest paid
(19)
-
(1)
Income tax paid
(922)
(628)
(1.321)
-----------------
-----------------
------------------
Net cash generated from operating activities
1,562
1,104
7,048
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(2,010)
(867)
(2,042)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment
49
47
80
Purchases of intangible assets
(1,619)
(53)
(58)
Payments for acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired
370
-
-
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
Net cash used in investing activities
(3,210)
(873)
(2,020)
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
Financing activities
Issue of ordinary shares
3
3
3
Purchase of treasury shares
-
(188)
(388)
New finance leases
21
-
-
Principal element of finance lease payments
(52)
-
-
Dividends paid
(2,224)
(1,886)
(2,840)
Net purchase of other financial assets
(3,509)
(1,506)
(1)
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
Net cash used in financing activities
(5,761)
(3,577)
(3,226)
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents
(7,409)
(3,346)
1,802
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
14,380
12,577
12,577
Exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents
-
(1)
1
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
6,971
9,230
14,380
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
1. Segmental analysis
for the six months ended 30 June 2019
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 December 2018
£000
£000
£000
Revenue by class of business
Ceramics
29,927
27,247
57,479
Materials
3,090
-
-
Inter segment
(1,083)
-
-
--------------------------
-------------------------
-----------------------------------
31,934
27,247
57,479
--------------------------
--------------------------
-----------------------------------
Revenue by destination
United Kingdom
12,587
10,173
23,008
Rest of Europe
13,109
10,958
21,306
USA
2,934
2,704
6,054
Rest of the World
3,304
3,412
7,111
--------------------------
-------------------------
-----------------------------------
31,934
27,247
57,479
--------------------------
--------------------------
-----------------------------------
1. Segmental analysis (continued)
for the six months ended 30 June 2019
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 December 2018
£000
£000
£000
Operating profit before exceptional items
Ceramics
4,067
3,254
9,237
Materials
170
-
-
--------------------------
-------------------------
-----------------------------------
4,237
3,254
9,237
---------------------------
--------------------------
------------------------------------
Exceptional items
Ceramics
-
-
(541)
Materials
117
-
-
--------------------------
-------------------------
-----------------------------------
117
-
541
---------------------------
--------------------------
------------------------------------
Operating profit after exceptional items
Ceramics
4,067
3,254
8,696
Materials
287
-
-
--------------------------
-------------------------
-----------------------------------
4,354
3,254
8,696
Unallocated items
Share of results of associate company
(22)
92
185
Finance income
69
46
110
Finance costs
(100)
(90)
(144)
---------------------------
--------------------------
------------------------------------
Profit before income tax
4,301
3,302
8,847
---------------------------
--------------------------
------------------------------------
2. Exceptional items
2019: In accordance with IFRS, the negative goodwill of £117,000 generated on the acquisition of a controlling interest in Furlong Mills Limited has been credited to the Income Statement as an exceptional item. A related deferred tax charge of £20,000 has been provided for.
2018: Following changes to the law relating to the equalisation of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions, a one-off sum of £611,000 was provided to reflect the cumulative effect of these changes. A related deferred tax credit of £104,000 was also provided for. Additionally provisions for costs of £70,000 for in relation to the disposal of property were released and credited to profit.
3. Finance income and costs
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 December 2018
£000
£000
£000
Finance income
Other interest receivable
69
46
110
Finance income
69
46
110
Finance costs
Interest paid
(19)
-
(1)
Interest on pension scheme
(81)
(90)
(143)
Finance costs
(100)
(90)
(144)
The interest cost arising from pension schemes is a non cash item.
4. Income tax expense
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 December 2018
£000
£000
£000
Current taxation
621
513
1,552
Deferred taxation
194
113
97
Income tax expense
815
626
1,649
5. Earnings per ordinary share
Basic earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit after taxation attributable to owners of the Company of £3,425,000 (June 2018: £2,676,000; December 2018: £7,198,000) and on 10,961,584 (June 2018: 10,964,570; December 2018: 10,966,966) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period. Adjusted earnings per ordinary share is calculated after adjusting for the post tax effect of the exceptional items (see note 2).
Diluted basic earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit after taxation attributable to owners of the Company of £3,425,000 (June 2018: £2,676,000; December 2018: £7,198,000) and on 11,064,534 (June 2018: 11,066,621; December 2018: 11,069,061) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period of 10,961,584 (June 2018: 10,964,570; December 2018: 10,966,966) increased by 102,950 (June 2018: 102,051; December 2018: 102,065) shares, being the weighted average number of ordinary shares which would have been issued if the outstanding options to acquire shares in the Group had been exercised at the average price during the period. Diluted adjusted earnings per ordinary share is calculated after adjusting for the post tax effect of the exceptional items (see note 2).
6. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from continuing activities
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2019
30 June 2018
31 December 2018
£000
£000
£000
Cash flow from operations
Operating profit
4,354
3,254
8,696
Adjustments for
Depreciation and amortisation - before exceptional item
1,187
913
1,725
Amortisation - exceptional item
(117)
-
-
Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment
(22)
(4)
(91)
Charge for share based payment
152
121
262
Decrease in retirement benefit obligations
(715)
(715)
(1,430)
Pension current serve charge - non cash exceptional
-
-
611
Changes in working capital
Inventory
(1,006)
110
(95)
Trade and other receivables
(402)
(585)
(1,039)
Trade and other payables
(997)
(1,408)
(379)
Cash inflow from operations
2,434
1,686
8,260
7. Acquisition of subsidiary
On 25 February 2019 Churchill acquired a further 9.5% of the issued ordinary share capital of Furlong Mills Limited for a total consideration of £454,000. Churchill's shareholding in Furlong Mills prior to the purchase was 46.1% and it had previously been accounted for as an associate company. As the February purchase increased Churchill's overall holding to 55.6% of the issued ordinary share capital, a controlling interest, it has been accounted for as a subsidiary from that date.
Furlong Mills is a ceramic materials manufacturer based in Stoke on Trent, providing processed clay body and glazes to Churchill and to other ceramic manufacturers.
The amounts recognised at fair value in respect of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are as follows:
£000
Plant, property and equipment
3,176
Inventory
830
Debtors
1,891
Cash and cash equivalents
824
Trade and other payables
(2,258)
Current income tax liabilities
(75)
Deferred income tax liabilities
(205)
Total identifiable assets
4,183
Goodwill
(117)
Non-controlling interest at acquisition
(1,902)
Total consideration
2,164
Satisfied by:
Cash and cash equivalents
454
Investment in associate at acquisition
1,710
2,164
Net cash inflow arising on acquisition
Cash consideration
(454)
Less: Cash and cash equivalents acquired
824
Net cash inflow
370
8. Basis of preparation and accounting policies
The interim financial information for the period to 30 June 2019 has not been audited or reviewed and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. The Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2018, prepared in accordance with accounting standards adopted for use in the European Union (International Financial Reporting Standards - IFRS), have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies; the report of the auditors on these accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union, IFRIC interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS, under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of land and buildings, available for sale financial assets, and financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value through the profit and loss account. The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation are followed in the interim financial statements as were applied in the Group's last audited financial statements, except in relation to the adoption of IFRS 16 'Leases', effective from 1 January 2019.
The asset and corresponding liability on implementation on 1 January 2019 amounted to £234,000. In the six months to 30 June 2019, IFRS 16 resulted in a £6,000 increase to operating profit and an £11,000 increase in interest payable.
9. Share buybacks
The Company did not buy back any ordinary shares during the first six months of the year, but may consider making further ad hoc share buybacks going forward at the discretion of the Board and subject to the shareholder authorities approved at the 2019 Annual General Meeting.
The half-yearly report and this announcement will be available shortly on the Company's website: www.churchill1795.com
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.ENDIR LLFFDTDITFIA
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