REG - Churchill China PLC - Interim Results <Origin Href="QuoteRef">CHCH.L</Origin>

Churchill ChinaAnnouncement

31/08/2016 07:06

RNS Number : 4732I
Churchill China PLC
31 August 2016
For immediate release
31 August 2016
CHURCHILL CHINA plc
("Churchill China" or the "Company" or the "Group")
INTERIM RESULTS
For the six months ended 30 June 2016
Churchill China plc (AIM: CHH), the manufacturer and global distributor of performance ceramic and related products to hospitality and retail markets, is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016.
Key Highlights:
 Group revenue up 12% to 24.0m (2015: 21.4m)
- Hospitality total revenue growth 15% 
 Operating profit up 30% to 2.0m (2015: 1.6m)
 Profit before tax up 29% to 2.0m (2015: 1.6m)
 Basic earnings per share up 30% to 14.8p (2015: 11.4p)
 Interim dividend up 12% to 6.3p (2015: 5.6p)
 Capital investment increased to 1.6m (2015: 0.6m)
 Cash and deposit balances of 9.6m (June 2015: 8.7m)
Alan McWalter, Chairman of Churchill China, commented:
"Churchill has delivered a strong performance in the first half of the year and the Board remains confident that our strategies remain appropriate for the future progress of the business. 
"Our Hospitality business has once more reported record revenues.
"We are confident that we will meet our expectations for the full year."
For further information, please contact:
Churchill China plc
Tel: 01782 577566
David O'Connor / David Taylor 
Buchanan
Tel: 020 7466 5000
Mark Court / Sophie Cowles / Jane Glover
N+1 Singer
Tel: 020 7496 3000
Richard Lindley 
Our interim results will be available today on the Company's website: www.churchill1795.com. Copies of the Interim Report will be sent to shareholders in due course.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Introduction
I am pleased that we can again report a strong improvement in our performance over the first six months of the year. We have made good progress against our long term targets and have successfully completed a number of projects which we expect to contribute to the further development of the Company. Our Hospitality business has once more reported record revenues. This progress is attributable to the targeted development of export markets and increased sales of added value products. Whilst we anticipate that the economic environment looking forward is likely to be more uncertain, we believe that our business is well positioned to respond positively to changing conditions within our markets.
Financial Review
Total revenues increased by 12% to 24.0m (2015: 21.4m) or 10% at constant exchange rates with exports increasing by over 30%. Overseas sales now represent over half of our business.
Gross margins improved as a result of increased revenues, an improved mix of products and more favourable exchange rates. The exchange rate benefit to revenue was 0.5m in comparison with 2015, principally from a stronger Euro, although the overall effect on operating profit was lower at 0.1m as currency hedges were revalued following the fall of Sterling towards the end of the first half year. We have retained our traditional operating efficiency and high standards of service. 
Operating profit increased by 30% to 2.0m (2015: 1.6m). Operating margins improved by 1.2% to 8.4% (2015: 7.2%). 
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased by 18% to 2.8m (2015: 2.4m).
Profit before tax rose by 29% to 2.0m (2015: 1.6m), largely attributable to the improved operating performance.
Earnings per share improved by 30% to 14.8p (2015: 11.4p).
Operating cash generation improved against a low comparative in 2015, largely as a result of lower working capital demands. Operating cash generation was 1.6m (2015: 0.4m). As normal in the first half year, we rebuilt inventory levels to support our service promise in the seasonally stronger second half year. At the end of the period, net cash and deposit balances were 9.6m(June 2015: 8.7m).
We have continued to invest in our business to deliver additional capacity for higher value product for our Hospitality business. Capital investment increased to 1.6m (2015: 0.6m). We have successfully completed a 28,000 square feet extension to our factory and commissioned additional manufacturing capacity. Further investment in the UK is planned over the remainder of 2016 and into 2017, building on the progress we have made to date.
Dividend 
We recognise the importance to our shareholders of growing dividends. The Board is declaring a 12.5% increase in the interim dividend to 6.3p per share (2015: 5.6p). This increase reflects our policy of linking dividends growth to increased profitability whilst maintaining appropriate levels of dividend cover. The interim dividend will be paid on 6 October 2016 to shareholders on the register on 9 September 2016. 
Markets
Hospitality
Total sales to Hospitality customers increased by 2.7m (15%) to 20.5m (2015: 17.8m). Contribution to Group operating profits rose by 30% to 3.7m from 2.9m.
We have delivered an exceptional performance in our export markets in first half of the year. Overall export revenue growth was over 30% or 2.6m in absolute terms. We made good progress in all our geographic market sectors. Whilst this increase was achieved with support from more favourable exchange rates, the majority of the growth reflects the progressive investment we have made in both market and product development over several years.
Performance in the UK was more restrained as market growth, particularly in larger accounts, moderated. We continue to make progress and remain satisfied with the returns delivered from the market and the leading position we hold.
Much of our success this year can be attributed to a strong programme of new product development. Our Stonecast range has continued to perform well and the initial response to further new introductions in 2016 has been good.
Retail
Although revenues declined, our Retail business has performed well in the first half. In accordance with our strategy, sales of licensed ranges reduced and were largely replaced by sales of UK manufactured Churchill products. 
Revenue declined by 0.1m to 3.5m. The effect on profitability of this reduction was offset by an improvement in margins and control of overheads. As a consequence, contribution to Group profit rose slightly to 0.3m (2015: 0.2m). 
Operations
Manufacturing and logistics operations have continued to deliver well against high expectations. We have made further investments in both people and productive capacity. Our strategy places heavy demands on our operations to deliver new products, to meet high service requirements and maintain operational efficiency. Our products meet the highest standards for performance and design. 
Capital expenditure increased during the first half year, with much of the investment associated with the construction of new buildings. We expect that capital expenditure on machinery will continue over the next 18 months. We have reached the half year well positioned to meet the expected seasonal increase in demand in the second half year. 
People
Our market expansion and the increased flexibility and capacity in our operations is being underpinned by increased focus on the development of our workforce at all levels. The skills and capabilities of our staff are the cornerstone of our current and future success.
We have a programme of continuous improvement and have supplemented the training and development of existing employees with targeted recruitment to acquire specific skills and experience. 
At Board level we are pleased to welcome Angela Bromfield as a non executive Director and we believe that she will provide additional support and guidance to the long term growth of the Company.
Prospects
Churchill has delivered a strong performance in the first half of the year and the Board remains confident that our strategies remain appropriate for the future progress of the business. 
We believe that the increased scale of our Export business and our record of successful market and product development will provide further growth opportunities in line with our established strategy. We anticipate that the UK may continue to be affected by increased levels of uncertainty following the result of the EU referendum, but believe we hold a strong position in an attractive market.
Our central aim is to develop our business steadily for the long term, meeting customer requirements across diverse markets and maintaining a robust financial position to allow progressive investment across business cycles. 
We are confident that we will meet our expectations for the full year.
Alan McWalter
Chairman
30 August 2016
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Income Statement
for the six months ended 30 June 2016
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2016
30 June 2015
31 December 2015
000
000
000
Note
Revenue
23,980
21,449
46,829
Operating profit
1
2,011
1,549
4,959
Share of results of associate company
62
75
135
Finance income
2
46
41
82
Finance costs
2
(75)
(84)
(162)
Profit before income tax
2,044
1,581
5,014
Income tax expense
3
(417)
(341)
(928)
Profit for the period
1,627
1,240
4,086
Pence per
Pence per
Pence per
share
share
share
Basic earnings per ordinary share
4
14.8
11.4
37.3
Diluted basic earnings per ordinary share
4
14.7
11.2
36.9
All the above figures relate to continuing operations
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
for the six months ended 30 June 2016
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2016
30 June 2015
31 December 2015
000
000
000
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss:
Actuarial gain on retirement benefit obligations
-
-
104
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit
and loss
Impact of change in UK tax rate on deferred tax on
-
-
24
 revaluation reserve
Exchange differences
35
(3)
16
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
35
(3)
144
Profit for the period
1,627
1,240
4,086
Total comprehensive income for the period
1,662
1,237
4,230
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company
1,662
1,237
4,230
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Balance Sheets 
as at 30 June 2016
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
30 June
30 June
31 December
2016
2015
2015
000
000
000
Assets
Non Current assets
Property, plant and equipment
15,106
14,026
14,046
Intangible assets
57
53
59
Investment in associates
1,293
1,171
1,231
Deferred income tax assets
791
1,002
848
17,247
16,252
16,184
Current assets
Inventories
8,980
8,942
8,360
Trade and other receivables
8,466
8,457
8,648
Other financial assets
3,000
2,250
2,500
Cash and cash equivalents
6,631
6,421
9,307
27,077
26,070
28,815
Total assets
44,324
42,322
44,999
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
(8,170)
(7,516)
(8,721)
Current income tax liabilities
(578)
(490)
(580)
Total current liabilities
(8,748)
(8,006)
(9,301)
Non current liabilities
Retirement benefit obligations
(3,912)
(4,715)
(3,837)
Deferred income tax liabilities
(948)
(1,070)
(936)
Total non current liabilities
(4,860)
(5,785)
(4,773)
Total liabilities
(13,608)
(13,791)
(14,074)
Net assets
30,716
28,531
30,925
Shareholders' equity
Issued share capital
1,103
1,101
1,101
Share premium account
2,348
2,348
2,348
Treasury shares
(575)
(10)
(144)
Retained earnings
26,409
23,740
26,181
Other reserves
1,431
1,352
1,439
30,716
28,531
30,925
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
as at 30 June 2016
Retained
Share
Share
Treasury
Other
earnings
capital
premium
shares
reserves
Total
000
000
000
000
000
000
Balance at 1 January 2015
23,654
1,096
2,348
(224)
1,532
28,406
Comprehensive income
Profit for the period
1,240
-
-
-
-
1,240
Other comprehensive income
Depreciation transfer - gross
6
-
-
-
(6)
-
Depreciation transfer - tax
(1)
-
-
-
1
-
Currency translation
-
-
-
-
(3)
(3)
Total comprehensive income
1,245
-
-
-
(8)
1,237
Transactions with owners
Dividends
(1,200)
-
-
-
-
(1,200)
Proceeds of share issue
-
5
-
-
-
5
Share based payment
250
-
-
-
(172)
78
Treasury shares
(209)
-
-
214
-
5
Total transactions with owners
(1,159)
5
-
214
(172)
(1,112)
Balance at 30 June 2015
23,740
1,101
2,348
(10)
1,352
28,531
Comprehensive income
Profit for the period
2,846
-
-
-
-
2,846
Other comprehensive income
Depreciation transfer - gross
6
-
-
-
(6)
-
Depreciation transfer - tax
(1)
-
-
-
1
-
Deferred tax - change in rate
-
-
-
-
24
24
Remeasurements of post employment
benefit obligation - net
104
-
-
-
-
104
Currency translation
-
-
-
-
19
19
Total comprehensive income
2,955
-
-
-
38
2,993
Transactions with owners
Dividends
(616)
-
-
-
-
(616)
Proceeds of share issue
-
-
-
5
-
5
Share based payment
-
-
-
-
49
49
Deferred tax - Share based payment
102
-
-
-
-
102
Treasury shares
-
-
-
(139)
-
(139)
Total transactions with owners
(514)
-
-
(134)
49
(599)
Balance at 31 December 2015
26,181
1,101
2,348
(144)
1,439
30,925
Comprehensive income
Profit for the period
1,627
-
-
-
-
1,627
Other comprehensive income
Depreciation transfer - gross
6
-
-
-
(6)
-
Depreciation transfer - tax
(1)
-
-
-
1
-
Currency translation
-
-
-
-
35
35
Total comprehensive income
1,632
-
-
-
30
1,662
Transactions with owners
Dividends
(1,395)
-
-
-
-
(1,395)
Proceeds of share issue
-
2
2
4
Share based payment
117
-
-
-
(38)
79
Deferred tax - Share based payment
16
-
-
-
-
16
Treasury shares
(142)
-
-
(433)
-
(575)
Total transactions with owners
(1,404)
2
-
(431)
(38)
(1,871)
Balance at 30 June 2016
26,409
1,103
2,348
(575)
1,431
30,716
Churchill China plc
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the six months ended 30 June 2016
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2016
30 June 2015
31 December 2015
000
000
000
Cash flow from operating activities
Cash generated from operations (note 5)
1,634
355
5,319
Interest received
46
41
82
Interest paid
-
-
(1)
Income tax paid
(332)
(434)
(922)
Net cash generated from / (used by) operating activities
1,348
(38)
4,478
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(1,541)
(584)
(1,214)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment
33
28
49
Purchases of intangible assets
(51)
(5)
(27)
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,559)
(561)
(1,192)
Financing activities
Issue of ordinary shares
4
10
10
Purchase of treasury shares
(575)
-
(134)
Dividends paid
(1,395)
(1,200)
(1,816)
Sale of other financial assets
2,000
1,500
1,500
Purchase of other financial assets
(2,500)
(2,250)
(2,500)
Net cash used in financing activities
(2,466)
(1,940)
(2,940)
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents
(2,677)
(2,539)
346
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
9,307
8,961
8,961
Exchange losses on cash and cash equivalents
1
(1)
-
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
6,631
6,421
9,307
1. Segmental analysis
 for the six months ended 30 June 2016
Hospitality
Retail
Unallocated
Group
000
000
000
000
Six months to 30 June 2016
Revenue
20,527
3,453
-
23,980
Contribution to group overheads excluding depreciation
4,267
341
(1,842)
2,766
Depreciation
(592)
(47)
(116)
(755)
Operating profit
3,675
294
(1,958)
2,011
Share of results of associate company
62
Finance income
46
Finance costs
(75)
Profit before income tax
2,044
Income tax expense
(417)
Profit for the period
1,627
Six months to 30 June 2015
Revenue
17,849
3,600
-
21,449
Contribution to group overheads excluding depreciation
3,383
325
(1,360)
2,348
Depreciation
(563)
(116)
(120)
(799)
Operating profit
2,820
209
(1,480)
1,549
Share of results of associate company
75
Finance income
41
Finance costs
(84)
Profit before income tax
1,581
Income tax expense
(341)
Profit for the period
1,240
Twelve months to 31 December 2015
Revenue
38,859
7,970
-
46,829
Contribution to group overheads excluding depreciation
8,182
1,121
(2,849)
6,454
Depreciation
(1,033)
(225)
(237)
(1,495)
Operating profit
7,149
896
(3,086)
4,959
Share of results of associate company
135
Finance income
82
Finance costs
(162)
Profit before income tax
5,014
Income tax expense
(928)
Profit for the period
4,086
2. Finance income and costs
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2016
30 June 2015
31 December 2015
000
000
000
Finance income
Other interest receivable
46
41
82
Finance income
46
41
82
Finance cost
Interest on pension scheme
(75)
(84)
(161)
Other interest
-
-
(1)
Finance costs
(75)
(84)
(162)
The interest cost arising from pension schemes is a non cash item.
3. Income tax expense
Unaudited
Unaudited
Audited
Six months to
Six months to
Twelve months to
30 June 2016
30 June 2015
31 December 2015
000
000
000
Current taxation
332
226
803
Deferred taxation
85
115
125
Income tax expense
417
341
928
4. Earnings per ordinary share  
Basic earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit after taxation of 1,627,000 (June 2015: 1,240,000, December 2015: 4,086,000) and on 10,982,793 (June 2015: 10,914,230, December 2015: 10,956,828) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.
Diluted basic earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit after taxation of 1,627,000 (June 2015: 1,240,000, December 2015: 4,086,000) and on 11,077,581 (June 2015: 11,021,343, December 2015: 11,064,046) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year of 10,982,793 (June 2015: 10,914,230, December 2015: 10,956,828) increased by 94,788 (June 2015: 107,113, December 2015: 107,218) 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.
Adjusted earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit on ordinary activities after taxation and adjusted to take into account the exceptional profit on disposal of fixed assets.
5. 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 2016
30 June 2015
31 December 2015
000
000
000
Cash flow from operating activities
Operating profit
2,011
1,549
4,959
Adjustments for
Depreciation
755
799
1,495
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
3
5
4
Charge for share based payment
79
78
128
Decrease in retirement benefit obligations
-
(43)
(758)
Changes in working capital
Inventory
(620)
(669)
(86)
Trade and other receivables
228
(205)
(371)
Trade and other payables
(822)
(1,159)
(52)
Cash inflow from operations
1,634
355
5,319
6. Basis of preparation and accounting policies  
The interim financial information for the period to 30 June 2016 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 2015, 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.
The figures included in the statements in respect of Retirement Benefit Obligations are those calculated under IAS 19 (Revised) as at 31 December 2015 as adjusted for notional interest charges derived at that date and cash payments in the period to 30 June 2016. Asset and liability figures have not been recalculated to reflect changes in market conditions since 31 December 2015. The next full IAS 19 Revised calculation will be undertaken at 31 December 2016. 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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