REG - James Halstead PLC - Preliminary Results <Origin Href="QuoteRef">JHD.L</Origin>

James HalsteadAnnouncement

29/10/2014 07:05

RNS Number : 0834T
James Halstead PLC
01 October 2014
 
1 October 2014
JAMES HALSTEAD PLC
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUDITED RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2014
"Record flooring revenue, record profit and record dividends"
Key Figures
 
Revenue at 223.5 million (2013: 217.1 million) - up 3%
 
Profit before tax 41.8 million (2013: 40.5 million) - up 3.1%
 
Earnings per 5p ordinary share of 15.2p (2013: 14.5p) - up 4.8%
 
Final dividend per ordinary share proposed of 7.0p (2013: 6.0p) - up 16.7%
 
Nil net gearing
Mr Mark Halstead, Chief Executive, commenting on the results, said:
"We remain on track to continue growth, and following a decade which has seen a financial crisis and a global construction contraction and in which we have doubled turnover, tripled our profit after tax and quadrupled the dividend, I can only say not bad at all."
Enquiries:
James Halstead:

Mark Halstead, Chief Executive

Gordon Oliver, Finance Director
Telephone: 0161 767 2500


Hudson Sandler:

Nick Lyon 
Telephone: 020 7796 4133


Altium (Nominated Advisor):

Ben Thorne
Paul Chamberlain
Telephone: 020 7484 4040


Arden Partners (Brokers):

Chris Hardie
Telephone: 020 7614 5900
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Results
It is pleasing to report growth in turnover of 3% to 223.5 million (2013: 217.1 million) and a growth in profit before tax of 3.1% to 41.8 million (2013: 40.5 million). This is a record profit before tax for the group. Our geographic reach continues to such locations as the Tesco's stores in Poland and the new Japanese School in India. Our core involvement in hospitals continues whether locally, such as the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital or overseas, as with the new Oncology Hospital in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Strategy
Our companies operate in different economic environments but our strategy is to ensure our products, manufactured by us or sourced in bulk, are stocked by distributors and sold on to contractors for either refurbishment or new build. Our sales forces are multi-focused to not only ensure the sale in volume to stockists, but also to promote sales directly to end-users whether they are contractors, architects or specifiers. Hand in hand with the sales process, we advise on the suitability of product, glues and accessories, and offer technical back-up during and post installation as part of our customer service. Our businesses are totally flooring focused and our strategy is designed to enhance our brand identity, to proliferate goodwill and customer satisfaction with the aim of continued repeat business and the expansion of revenue which will then create wealth for our shareholders in the form of dividend as reward for their investment in our company; and secure the employment of our employees and partners. 
Dividend
Our profit and earnings per share have increased and our cash reserves remain robust. It is pleasing to report that the Board proposes, once again, an increased final dividend. The final dividend will be 7.0p (2013: 6.0p) representing a 16.7% increase which combined with the interim dividend, paid in June 2013, of 3.0p (2013: 2.75p) makes a total of 10.0p (2013: 8.75p) for the year, an increase of 14.3%.
Acknowledgements
Given our achievements against a backdrop of difficult market conditions I wish to extend our appreciation to our staff and customers for their continued support. It was gratifying to be awarded the "Manufacturer of the Year" by the Contract Flooring Journal and our thanks to the UK flooring contractors for their votes.
Outlook
Our performance in the latter months of the financial year was improved with a much welcome tailwind following 18 months of doldrums. Emerging markets continue to demand fashion retail outlets and this is a fast growing sector. Examples of our recent successes are "Tom-Tailor" clothing stores in Russia and Vodafone retail outlets in Turkey. The new financial year has continued with positive growth. Next year will be our centenary and I look forward to celebrating continued success at that anniversary. 
Geoffrey Halstead
Chairman
CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW
Our progress in the second half has brought about record flooring turnover and record profit but it has been a difficult year. Growth has been hard won and the end result is a satisfying one.
Our UK position as market leader continues and the UK growth of 7% has been the bedrock of the year's results. Europe continues to represent a sizeable portion of our business (some 43%) and it is pleasing to note that this has grown by 3% in markets that, overall, are still largely showing no growth. There were continued, and anticipated, difficulties in the Australasian market but going forward the outlook looks to be more positive.
Gross margins are on a par with last year, which, given the pressure of competition in our markets is encouraging. Manufacturing efficiencies and stable raw material prices have helped to protect margins, as indeed has the ever increasing use of reclaimed material. On this latter point I would note that five years ago we, together with one of our competitors, founded Recofloor to collect vinyl wastage - both off-cuts/remnants and uplifted floors. Without Government grants, this self-funded business is recognised across Europe as a great success and a model recycling initiative. Today there are nearly 600 collection points in the UK. The waste that would otherwise go to landfill is returned to our manufacturing processes. 
We have our own warehousing in many parts of the world but our exports continue to reach a myriad of locations. I am pleased to be able to report upturn in specifications and installations such as the Baghdad Medical Hospital and the General Hospital of Samawa, of Iraq, being good examples. We have also shipped significant volumes of flooring to fit out temporary accommodation to house the workforce that is undertaking a very substantial amount of new build in Qatar, no doubt for the future World Cup. Our nascent presence in India continues its early promise having delivered our flooring to the Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, in Jaipur
Reviewing the businesses in more detail:
Polyflor Nordic comprising Polyflor Norway based in Oslo and Falck Design based in Sweden
Turnover was broadly on a par with previous years.Our businesses in Scandinavia have had a stable year with sales at a similar level to that of the prior year. The businesses continue to operate a wide portfolio of products both manufactured by the group and sourced from outside. There has been good progress in the sale of manufactured product and, in particular, with the introduction of product manufactured at our Teesside facility.
In the year we have installed the most northerly Polyflor in the world in Longyearbyen (a city shared between Norway and Russia well inside the Arctic Circle) including "Sjskrenten studenthybler" (seaside students' apartments). 
Objectflor/Karndean and James Halstead France, our European organisations
Objectflor has shown positive growth with sales 3.7% ahead of the prior year. European businesses are under pressure and the flooring sector is suffering: there are lower numbers of contractors and distributors with dozens of flooring manufacturers and importers. All are chasing a slightly lower market. Gross margin has been slightly eroded but our sales prices have been maintained with price increases to new ranges. Considering the economic environment we extended the practice of retrospective rebates (against agreed targets) to preserve market share and increased the quality and quantity of point of sale materials (to promote our products to end users). With turnover secured and sales progress it is disappointing to report that there was a 5% decline in net profit but in the current climate it was a solid performance.
In France, James Halstead France SAS continues to develop with turnover circa 9% ahead of the prior year. The variety of day to day installations is impressive such as the refurbishment of the Louis Vuitton HQ in Paris and the Monaco Government offices. It is clear that since general conditions in the French flooring market are negative our growth is due to increased market share. Our presence in France is smaller and more focussed than our much larger competitors and continued growth is to be expected.
Objectflor celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and it has grown hugely since its small beginnings. In January, at the DOMOTEX exhibition in Hannover, the company re-launched its Expona Domestic luxury vinyl tile collection and reinforced our market leading position. The readers of EuroDecor (the leading trade journal for interior designers) voted Objectflor's range the "Best Quality Product" and the collection has sold very well.
Given the profile of our business and the skills shortages that Germany faces our management organised the creation of the "BundesBodenleger Trophy". Under the lead of Objectflor, and supported by various adhesive and accessory suppliers, a competition was held to find the best floor layer in Germany. This promoted our products in the press and wasn't just of benefit to the winners because high-quality training was provided before each of the five qualifying rounds and before the final to all attendees. 
Polyflor Pacific - encompassing Australia, New Zealand and Asia
The three main businesses in this region are located in Hong Kong/China, Australia and New Zealand. Projects for new build have been buoyant in the Chinese market but remain a scarcity in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Australian turnover was on a par with last year but there has been a decline in the gross margin as lines were cleared to allow stock to be refreshed with new designs. Net profits declined quite significantly as a result, but ultimately this was a commercial necessity. In the latter part of the year margins have recovered following this purge. In Australia, the last indigenous (though foreign owned) manufacturer of vinyl flooring closed their local plant during the year and this has opened further sales opportunities, one example being the rebuild of the Mount Stromlo Observatory that was destroyed a few years ago in the Canberra bushfires.
New Zealand turnover declined 6% and the shortfall was on commercial sheet vinyl which is a reflection of the dearth of school and hospital projects. Margins were consequently better as the sheet vinyl/project sector is lower margin. Overheads remain tight and, as last year, the company made a profit, albeit modest. Our company is consistently the market leader in New Zealand and has again been awarded the accolade of "Supplier of the Year" by the distribution chain "Flooring Xtra". One of the few large vinyl flooring projects in the year was Housing NZ (the crown agent for social housing). Our company has been awarded this contract (once again) for a three year term. Our business remains robust.
Polyflor & Riverside Flooring, based in UK
It has been a solid year for our UK operations in Greater Manchester and Teesside with UK turnover increasing by 4%.
In terms of major investment we have updated our IT systems which were, for a time, a distraction from day to day business but are already helping to streamline many of our administrative procedures. We have translated many of our SKUs into BIM (Business Information Modelling) objects, which for UK government contracts will be increasingly important and this has been very well received by architects. Earlier in the year we launched "Polyflor App" to allow our customers to have direct access to high quality sample scans and technical information which complements our digital presence. Although we are a classic business manufacturing in bulk and shipping to stockists the internet is an important part of 21st century trading and we have grasped this facet of modern business with vigour.
Polyflor Canada, based in Toronto
We have traded in Canada for many years and two years ago opened a warehouse and incorporated the business, to enhance growth. The new company is going well. Our Expona Control is being rolled out in the Royal Bank of Canada's retail outlets as indeed in the Rogers retail chain and the GoodLife Fitness gyms. Dealing with the premier bank, the leading mobile phone retailer and the number one gym chain is good progress. On a larger scale we supplied the flooring for the new "megahospital" in Montreal - the McGill University Health Centre.
Outlook
In many of our markets confidence in growth has returned. Towards the end of the financial year we launched Polysafe Verona, as an addition to the Polysafe range slip resistant floor covering. Polysafe is the industry benchmark and Verona's decorative appeal will raise its prominence.
Much has been written about the strength of Sterling and the possible negative effect on exporters but there are large offsetting factors not least the effect of cheaper input prices of raw materials and we remain positive. Our portfolio and our commercial reputation hold us in good stead and I am positive about the future.
In short, we are focused on increasing our market share in established markets and expanding our direct sales teams in the next target group of territories. 
Mark Halstead
Chief Executive
Audited Consolidated Income Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2014

 
Year
ended
30.06.14
'000

Restated
Year
Ended
30.06.13
'000




Revenue
223,488

217,082
Cost of sales
 (131,765) 

 (126,799) 
Gross profit
91,723

90,283




Selling and distribution costs
(40,559)

(39,877)
Administration expenses
(8,928)

(9,715)




Operating profit
42,236

40,691




Finance income
203

394
Finance cost
(686)

(590)




Profit before income tax
41,753

40,495




Income tax expense
(10,301)

(10,446)




Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders
31,452

30,049








Earnings per ordinary share of 5p:



-basic
15.2p

14.5p
-diluted
15.1p

14.5p




The prior period has been restated as explained in note 5
Audited Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2014


As at
30.06.14
'000
As at
30.06.13
'000
Non-current assets



Property, plant and equipment

31,358
33,391
Intangible assets

3,232
3,232
Deferred tax assets

4,755
5,545


39,345
42,168
Current assets



Inventories

57,423
56,761
Trade and other receivables

36,621
33,158
Derivative financial instruments

342
827
Cash and cash equivalents

38,677
34,866


133,063
125,612
Current liabilities



Trade and other payables

53,334
55,903
Derivative financial instruments

211
63
Current income tax liabilities

3,350
5,647


56,895
61,613




Net current assets

76,168
63,999




Non-current liabilities



Retirement benefit obligations

15,554
13,902
Deferred tax liabilities

744
815
Borrowings

200
200
Other payables

428
454


16,926
15,371




Net assets

98,587
90,796




Equity



Equity share capital

10,353
10,335
Equity share capital (B shares)

160
160


10,513
10,495
Share premium account

2,740
2,101
Capital redemption reserve

1,174
1,167
Currency translation reserve

3,086
5,346
Hedging reserve

104
710
Retained earnings

80,970
70,977
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the parent

98,587
90,796
Audited Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2014


Year
ended
30.06.14
'000
Year
ended
30.06.13
'000




Cash inflow from operations

35,034
42,147
Interest received

203
394
Interest paid

(47)
(67)
Taxation paid

(11,500)
(11,353)
Cash inflow from operating activities

23,690
31,121




Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(2,941)
(3,731)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

1,719
242
Cash outflow from investing activities

(1,222)
(3,489)




Equity dividends paid

(18,638)
(31,518)
Shares issued

664
131
Purchase of own shares

(433) 
- 
Cash outflow from financing activities

(18,407)
(31,387)








Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

4,061
(3,755)
Effect of exchange differences 

(250)
(83)
Cash and cash equivalents at start of year

34,866
38,704
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

38,677
34,866
Audited Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Year
ended
30.06.14
'000
Restated
Year
ended
30.06.13
'000

Profit for the year
31,452
30,049

Other comprehensive income net of tax
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to the income statement :



Actuarial loss on the defined benefit pension scheme 
Deferred taxation - change of rate 
(2,459)
71 
(2,913)
35


(2,388)
(2,878)

Items that could be reclassified subsequently to the income statement:



Foreign currency translation differences
(2,260)
(93)

Fair value movements on hedging instruments 
(606)
767


(2,866)
674





Other comprehensive income for the year
(5,254)
(2,204)





Total comprehensive income for the year
26,198
27,845





Attributable to equity holders of the 



Company
26,198
27,845

The prior period has been restated as explained in note 5
NOTES
1.
The final dividend of 7p per ordinary share will be paid on 5 December 2014 to shareholders on the register as at 7 November 2014. The full report and accounts will be posted to shareholders on 24 October 2014.
2.
The financial information in this statement does not represent the statutory accounts of the Group. Statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 2013 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, carrying an unqualified audit report and no statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
3.
Statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 2014 have not yet been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. They will carry an unqualified audit report and no statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
4.
Earnings per ordinary share 

2014

2013

'000

'000




Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders
31,452

30,049




Weighted average number of shares in issue
206,955,099

206,643,767




Dilution effect of outstanding share options
669,102

954,657




Diluted weighted average number of shares
207,624,201

207,598,424








Basic earnings per ordinary share 
15.2p

14.5p




Diluted earnings per ordinary share
15.1p

14.5p
The prior period has been restated as explained in note 5
5.
Prior period restatement
IAS19 "employee benefits" was amended in June 2011 and this has been implemented in these financial statements and the prior period has been restated. The effects of this prior period restatement are as follows:


2013
'000



Profit for the year, as previously reported

30,599
Increase in net pension interest cost

(714)
Deferred tax credit

164
Profit for the year - restated

30,049



Other comprehensive income, as previously reported

(2,754)
Adjustment to actuarial loss on pension scheme

714
Deferred tax on adjustment

(164)



Total comprehensive income as restated

(2,204)
The consolidated balance sheet and the cash flow statement are unchanged.

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