REG - James Halstead PLC - Interim Results
31/03/2023 07:00
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RNS Number : 8392U James Halstead PLC 31 March 2023
31 March 2023
JAMES HALSTEAD PLC
INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE HALF-YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Record turnover; confident in long-term progress
James Halstead plc, the AIM listed manufacturer and international distributor
of commercial floor coverings, announces its results for the six months ended
31 December 2022:
Financial highlights
· Revenue at £149.6 million (2021: £136.7 million)
· Operating profit at £23.1 million (2021: £25.5 million)
· Pre-tax profit at £23.2 million (2021: £25.4 million)
· Basic earnings per ordinary share 4.3p (2021: 4.7p)
· Interim dividend declared of 2.25p (2021: 2.25p)
· Cash of £44.3 million (2021: £69.4 million)
The Chief Executive, Mr. Mark Halstead, commented:
"These last three years have seen our businesses challenged by numerous
unexpected factors that have added to costs significantly and to the
complexity of the simple business of designing, manufacturing and selling
commercial flooring. The bottom line results show a small dip in profits at
the half year but this, in the view of the board, is a creditable
performance."
Enquiries:
James Halstead:
Mark Halstead, Chief Executive Telephone: 0161 767 2500
Gordon Oliver, Finance Director
Hudson Sandler:
Nick Lyon Telephone: 020 7796 4133
Nick Moore
Panmure Gordon (NOMAD & Joint Broker):
Dominic Morley Telephone: 020 7886 2500
WH Ireland (Joint Broker):
Ben Thorne Telephone: 0207 220 1666
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Trading for the six months ended 31 December 2022
Sales revenue of £149.6 million (2021: £136.7 million) is a record level of
turnover which, considering the economic backdrop in the many markets, is a
satisfactory achievement. However, the effects of transportation costs, energy
price increases and raw materials costs have meant that profit is lower than
last year. The profit before tax is £23.2 million (2021: £25.4 million), a
drop of 8.6%.
Turnover for the first half is 9.5% ahead of the comparative with UK sales 10%
ahead of 2021, Europe 4% up, Australasia 16% ahead and the rest of the world
up by 26%. The rest of the world turnover was driven mainly by further
increases in sales across the Middle East and North America. Certain markets,
most notably South America, were affected by delayed shipments due to reduced
shipping route availability and consequent significant delays. There is a
plethora of projects that illustrate the breadth and depth of our flooring
sales: Churchill Downs Racecourse in Kentucky, the Toulouse Rugby Stadium in
France, the FIFA Museum in Qatar and the Palace Hotel in Konary (Poland).
Most of our export markets experienced shipping delays as global shipping
routes continued to be in turmoil following the significant changes to demand
patterns resulting from events of the last two years.
Distribution costs, in terms of export shipping, remained at very high levels
throughout the period. Given our shipments of flooring were as diverse as the
St Helene hospital in Mauritius, the student accommodation at Iceland
University, the WKI Lab in East Java, the Biscotti Headquarters in Lviv or the
Penfolds Wine Exhibition at Raffles City in Singapore we thank our logistics
teams.
Within the Australasian markets both Australia and New Zealand reported double
digit sales increases. Our business in Malaysia is growing steadily with
increases in sales volumes over each quarter since its inception in 2020. As
we add more sales staff to the surrounding South Asia countries, we expect
further growth. However, Asia sales as a whole have been impacted by the
Chinese market where the continued Covid restrictions throughout the period
has seen demand and projects at very low levels.
Margins have remained under pressure throughout the period, even though in
many markets we have undertaken price increases, with energy costs increasing
steadily in our manufacturing sites in the UK. To an extent the growth in
stock earlier in the year had a degree of hedge against energy price increases
- but not significantly so. As I noted in the final results for the year ended
30 June 2022 we have, in our manufacturing businesses, adopted a lag between
absorbing costs and increases in sales prices. The lag is partly the holding
of prices quoted on projects in advance, partly to allow stockists to look at
their price lists and in part our reticence to risk the unknown consequences
of price increases on future demand. Given that many industries have passed on
costs with little or no notice to the customer we have, to a degree, taken a
more protective stance towards long term relationships.
Our German and Central European businesses have seen flat growth and margin
erosion and have been the least effective of our businesses in achieving price
increases. Overall, the adverse effects noted had an average 3% impact on
margins in the period, and a price increase in most regions and all our major
markets was implemented from the start of January 2023.
Overhead costs in the six months to 31 December 2022 were 4.9% higher than the
prior year with the most significant increase being export shipping costs.
We noted in our full year results for the year to 30 June 2022 that at the
year end our stock holding had significantly increased, partly through higher
costs, but in general as a result of a key decision to hold higher volumes to
defend against the uncertainties in the market (notably the risk of
restrictions in energy and raw material availability). In the main, this was
achieved, and as some of those uncertainties and pressures have eased, we have
looked to reduce our stock levels. At the end of December, although £10
million higher than at the same time last year, stock levels had fallen just
over 16% since June 2022 and have continued to fall after the half year end.
It was obviously helpful to raw material supplies that the European winter was
relatively mild.
Though profit for the first half of our year is lower we, as a board, are
satisfied overall with the outcome relative to the challenges. Most of our
businesses are progressing, though in Germany where we are more exposed to the
retail and domestic markets we saw both lower volumes and lower margins. Cost
control continues to be the focus of our attention.
The UK group has a final salary pension scheme (also known as a defined
benefit scheme) and though this scheme was closed to new entrants in 2002 it
has now been closed to future accrual. Since the number of employees in the
scheme was less than 70 it was inevitable that this would happen at some
point.
Earnings per Share and Dividend
Our cash, which stands at £44.3 million as of 31 December 2022 compared with
£69.4 million at 31 December 2021, continues to be a key strength. Since 31
December 2021 we have distributed £32.3 million in dividends and increased
our stock levels in the six months to 30 June 2022 as a defensive precaution
against energy and raw material shortages.
With regard to our cash and profitability, we have decided to declare an
unchanged interim dividend of 2.25p per share, payable on 9 June 2023 to those
shareholders on the register at 12 May 2023.
Environmental, sustainability, social responsibility and governance
The detailed Sustainability Report that we issue annually is now in its 18(th)
edition and continues to underline the Group's commitment to ESG and
sustainability. Our commitment as a business to these matters is not new. In
addition, we have identified the members of our committee in respect of
addressing the TCFD (Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) and
whilst these disclosures seem in some ways to be a degree pretensive, we will
continue our many sustainability and environmental initiatives undertaken not
only at the company level but also at our industry level alongside our
competitors. In addition, we are participants within European and
international organisations regarding recycling, environmental, sustainability
and product standards. Examples include EPDs (environmental product
declarations which document environmental impact from life cycle analysis) and
ESOS (the energy savings opportunity scheme) which differentiate UK and
European manufacturers from suppliers importing products from often less
environmentally-conscious regions.
As a manufacturer we see this as a key way of communicating our place in, and
contribution to, society, and the many and varied actions that are ongoing
inside the business and relevant to our place in the global community. It is
of advantage that we are manufacturers that can and do actively recycle waste
material, and our UK produced goods have up to 40% recyclate and up to 85%
natural material content by physical weight.
Achieving our environmental and sustainable business targets continues to be a
key focus.
Outlook
The past three years have seen numerous extraordinary factors impact on the
business (Covid-19, raw material shortages and price increases, freight price
increases and availability, the energy crisis) and to come through all of
these, in the view of the board, is a creditable performance. However, the
profits of the business reported in the first six months of the trading year
are lower. Nevertheless, the demand for flooring for refurbishment projects
across healthcare, social housing and education is significant with projects
such as Terminal 1 at the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, the Sema Park urban
regeneration project in Romania and the Kāinga Ora state housing projects in
New Zealand.
As we move into the second half of the year, energy costs appear to be holding
stable, with the mild winter in Europe helping the wholesale gas prices fall
from their peak in August 2022. Whilst energy costs are still in excess of
prior comparatives there are positives. Availability and cost of shipping to
our global markets is vastly improved. Raw material availability and the costs
of those materials are more favourable. Production from our UK factories is
higher, and with that we should see improved productivity. Most importantly,
sales in recent weeks in the UK and many export markets have been very
encouraging with our core commercial vinyl ranges experiencing especially
robust demand.
I, and the board, are confident of our progress.
Anthony Wild
Chairman
31 March 2023
Consolidated Income Statement
for the half-year ended 31 December 2022
Half-year Half-year Year
ended ended ended
31.12.22 31.12.21 30.06.22
£'000 £'000 £'000
Revenue 149,638 136,654 291,860
Operating profit 23,085 25,507 52,258
Finance income 230 18 42
Finance cost (95) (120) (237)
Profit before income tax 23,220 25,405 52,063
Income tax expense (5,176) (5,692) (11,735)
Profit for the period 18,044 19,713 40,328
Earnings per ordinary share of 5p:
-basic 4.3p 4.7p 9.7p
-diluted 4.3p 4.7p 9.7p
All amounts relate to continuing operations.
Details of dividends paid and declared/proposed are given in note 4.
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the half-year ended 31 December 2022
Half-year Half-year Year
ended ended ended
31.12.22 31.12.21 30.06.22
£'000 £'000 £'000
Profit for the period 18,044 19,713 40,328
Other comprehensive income net of tax:
Remeasurement of the net defined benefit liability (4,948) 1,963
7,090
Foreign currency translation differences 63 (310) 926
Fair value movements on hedging instruments (1,297) (218) (111)
Other comprehensive income for the period net of tax 7,905
(6,182) 1,435
Total comprehensive income for the period 11,862 21,148 48,233
Attributable to equity holders of the parent 11,862 21,148 48,233
Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 31 December 2022
Half-year Half-year Year
ended ended ended
31.12.22 31.12.21 30.06.22
£'000 £'000 £'000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 36,265 36,599 36,671
Right of use assets 8,914 5,565 5,634
Intangible assets 3,232 3,232 3,232
Retirement benefit obligations 499 - 6,144
Deferred tax assets 236 356 234
49,146 45,752 51,915
Current assets
Inventories 93,863 83,191 112,279
Trade and other receivables 39,053 37,539 51,171
Derivative financial instruments 286 1,700 2,166
Cash and cash equivalents 44,325 69,381 52,144
177,527 191,811 217,760
Total assets 226,673 237,563 269,675
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 49,788 72,705 84,507
Derivative financial instruments 1,406 71 517
Current income tax liabilities 2,198 865 2,097
Lease liabilities 2,906 2,846 2,166
56,298 76,487 89,287
Non-current liabilities
Retirement benefit obligations - 1,390 -
Other payables 432 448 453
Deferred tax liabilities 1,425 648 2,929
Lease liabilities 6,093 2,843 3,548
Preference shares 200 200 200
8,150 5,529 7,130
Total liabilities 64,448 82,016 96,417
Net assets 162,225 155,547 173,258
Equity
Equity share capital 20,838 10,419 20,837
Equity share capital (B shares) 160 160 160
20,998 10,579 20,997
Share premium account 13 4,934 -
Capital redemption reserve - 1,174 -
Currency translation reserve 5,975 4,676 5,912
Hedging reserve (356) 834 941
Retained earnings 135,595 133,350 145,408
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the parent 162,225 155,547 173,258
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the half-year ended 31 December 2022
Half-year Half-year Year
ended ended ended
31.12.22 31.12.21 30.06.22
£'000 £'000 £'000
Profit for the period 18,044 19,713 40,328
Income tax expense 5,176 5,692 11,735
Profit before income tax 23,220 25,405 52,063
Finance cost 95 120 237
Finance income (230) (18) (42)
Operating profit 23,085 25,507 52,258
Depreciation of property, plant & equipment 1,712 1,879 3,794
Depreciation of right of use assets 1,578 1,590 3,139
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment (26) (73) (198)
Defined benefit pension scheme service cost 154 253 500
Defined benefit pension scheme employer contributions paid
(975) (991) (1,970)
Change in fair value of financial instruments (564) (14) 703
Share based payments 12 3 6
Decrease/(increase) in inventories 19,008 (23,198) (50,272)
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables
11,975 5,165 (7,451)
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables (33,225) 6,986 15,905
Cash inflow from operations 22,734 17,107 16,414
Taxation paid (4,957) (5,730) (9,879)
Cash inflow from operating activities 17,777 11,377 6,535
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (1,143) (1,466) (3,248)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment 47 129 280
Cash outflow from investing activities (1,096) (1,337) (2,968)
Interest received 99 18 42
Interest paid (7) (7) (20)
Lease interest paid (88) (73) (143)
Lease capital paid (1,573) (1,634) (3,233)
Equity dividends paid (22,921) (22,921) (32,298)
Shares issued 14 823 823
Cash outflow from financing activities (24,476) (23,794) (34,829)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (7,795) (13,754) (31,262)
Effect of exchange differences (24) (126) 145
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period 52,144 83,261 83,261
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 44,325 69,381 52,144
Notes to the Interim Results
for the half-year ended 31 December 2022
1. Basis of preparation
The interim financial statements are unaudited and do not constitute statutory
accounts as defined within the Companies Act 2006.
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the
consolidated interim statements are those set out in the annual report and
accounts for the year ended 30 June 2022.
The figures for the year ended 30 June 2022 are an abridged statement of the
group audited accounts for that year. The financial statements for the year
ended 30 June 2022 were audited and have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies.
As is permitted by the AIM rules, the directors have not adopted the
requirements of IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' in preparing the interim
financial statements. Accordingly the interim financial statements are not in
full compliance with IFRS.
2. Taxation
Income tax has been provided at the rate of 22.3% (2021: 22.4%).
3. Earnings per share
Half-year Half-year Year
ended ended ended
31.12.22 31.12.21 30.06.22
£'000 £'000 £'000
Profit for the period 18,044 19,713 40,328
Weighted average number of shares in issue 416,751,498 416,431,865 416,586,675
Dilution effect of outstanding share options 23,830 276,142 201,425
Diluted weighted average number shares 416,775,328 416,708,007 416,788,100
Basic earnings per 5p ordinary share 4.3p 4.7p 9.7p
Diluted earnings per 5p ordinary share 4.3p 4.7p 9.7p
4. Dividends
Half-year Half-year Year
ended ended ended
31.12.22 31.12.21 30.06.22
£'000 £'000 £'000
Equity dividends paid:
Final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2021 - 22,921 22,921
Interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2022 - - 9,377
Final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2022 22,921 - -
22,921 22,921 32,298
Equity dividends declared/proposed after the end of the period
Interim dividend 9,377 9,377 -
Final dividend - - 22,921
Equity dividends per share, paid and declared/proposed are as
follows:
11.00p final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2021, paid on 17 December
2021
2.25p interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2022, paid on 10 June 2022
5.50p final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2022, paid on 16 December 2022
2.25p interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2023, payable on 9 June
2023, to those shareholders on the register at the close of business at 12 May
2023.
6. Copies of the interim results
Copies of the interim results have been sent to shareholders who requested
them. Further copies can be obtained from the Company's registered office,
Beechfield, Hollinhurst Road, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 1JN and on the
Company's website at www.jameshalstead.com.
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