Interim report

RNS Number : 8939R

Airea PLC

27 September 2017

 

AIREA PLC

Interim report for the twelve months ended 30 June 2017

The principal activity of the group is the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of floor coverings.

Chairman's Statement

It is pleasing to report improved earnings for the twelve months ending 30th June 2017 and continuing strengthening of our competitive position despite challenging trading conditions.

-    Profit before tax up 8.3%

-    Basic earnings per share up 14.3%

-    Interim dividend introduced

As indicated in the six month review in February, we were seeing signs of increases in commodity prices.  The second six months of the current accounting period has seen further margin pressure in both the contract and residential flooring market, and we are working hard to manage margins.

New product launches were well received in the UK contract sector, however market conditions worsened through the period as a combination of further public sector cut backs and ongoing economic and political uncertainty weighed on demand.       

Recent product launches and new routes to market led to sales growth in the residential sector.

Exports continued to grow steadily in the period as the improved exchange rate restored competitiveness and new markets came on stream.

The site consolidation is now fully complete and delivering both significant cost savings as well as improved service levels and reduced waste. We remain in negotiations over our remaining leasehold property. 

Group Results

Revenue for the period was £23.9m (2016: £24.6m).  The operating profit was £2,121,000 (2016: £2,042,000).   After charging pension related finance costs of £614,000 (2016: £651,000) and incorporating the appropriate tax charge the net profit for the period was £1,423,000 (2016 £1,277,000). Basic earnings per share were 3.44p (2016 3.01p)

Operating cash flows before exceptional items and movements in working capital were £2.8m (2016: £2.8m).  Working capital increased in the period by £2.0m as a result of stock build for successful product launches. Contributions to the defined benefit pension scheme were £400,000 (2016: £400,000) in line with the agreement reached with the scheme trustees following the last triennial valuation as at 1^st July 2014.  Capital expenditure of £1,280,000 (2016: £704,000) was made in renewing and enhancing manufacturing plant and equipment. 

The increase in the pension deficit of £277,000 resulted from a deterioration in corporate bond yields.  It is an accounting standards requirement that the reported pension valuation is based on corporate bond yields even though this does not reflect the investment strategy of the plan.  In reality the plan is now largely hedged against interest rate movements and inflation, which, combined with a diversified growth asset base, continues to produce an improved underlying position.   

Outlook

We are encouraged by the reaction to our new products from both domestic and overseas customers, continue to benefit from our reduced cost base and remain committed to bringing competitively priced products with high design content to market. This will hold us in good stead as we anticipate ongoing uncertainty of demand in all the markets that we serve. 

As previously announced we are in an eighteen month accounting period and this second interim report is unusual in covering a twelve month period.  We stated in our last announcement that we would look to introduce an interim dividend, which is particularly relevant in the transition to our new accounting period end. Given the ongoing improvement in the financial performance of the group and a robust cash flow we are able to declare an interim dividend of 1.75p to be paid on the 23rd of November 2017 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 13th October 2017.  The ex dividend date is 12th October 2017.

Martin Toogood

Chairman

26th September 2017  

Enquiries:

Neil Rylance                                                                                                                  01924 266561

Chief Executive Officer

Roger Salt                                                                                                                     01924 266561

Group Finance Director

Richard Lindley                                                                                                              0113 388 4789

N+1 Singer

	Consolidated Income Statement
	12 months ended 30th June 2017
				Unaudited	Audited
				12 months ended	year ended
				30th June	30th June
				2017	2016
				£000	£000
	Revenue			23,894	24,577
	Operating costs			(21,773)	(22,535)
	Operating profit before exceptional items			2,121	2,013
	Exceptional items:
	Exceptional costs			-	(1,271)
	Pension credit			-	1,300
	Operating profit			2,121	2,042
	Finance income			-	-
	Finance costs			(614)	(651)
	Profit before taxation			1,507	1,391
	Taxation			(84)	(114)
	Profit attributable to shareholders of the group			1,423	1,277
	Earnings per share (basic and diluted)			3.44p	3.01p
	All amounts relate to continuing operations
	Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
	12 months ended 30th June 2017
				Unaudited	Audited
				12 months ended	year ended
				30th June	30th June
				2017	2016
				£000	£000
	Profit attributable to shareholders of the group			1,423	1,277
	Actuarial loss recognised in the pension scheme			(79)	(291)
	Related deferred taxation			16	(83)
				(63)	(374)
	Unrealised valuation gain			-	3,009
	Related deferred taxation			-	(240)
				-	2,769
	Total comprehensive income attributable to shareholders of the group			1,360	3,672
	Consolidated Balance Sheet
	as at 30th June 2017			Unaudited	Audited
				30th June	30th June
				2017	2016
				£000	£000
	Non-current assets
	Property, plant and equipment			6,101	5,489
	Investment property			2,701	2,701
	Deferred tax asset			1,281	1,264
				10,083	9,454
	Current assets
	Inventories			11,146	9,338
	Trade and other receivables			4,704	4,601
	Cash and cash equivalents			2,302	3,114
				18,152	17,053
	Total assets			28,235	26,507
	Current liabilities
	Trade and other payables			(5,574)	(5,505)
	Provisions			-	(125)
				(5,574)	(5,630)
	Non-current liabilities
	Obligation under finance leases			(767)	-
	Pension deficit			(6,962)	(6,685)
	Deferred tax			(241)	(241)
				(7,970)	(6,926)
	Total liabilities			(13,544)	(12,556)
				14,691	13,951
	Equity
	Called up share capital			10,339	10,339
	Share premium account			504	504
	Capital redemption reserve			3,617	3,617
	Revaluation reserve			3,009	3,009
	Retained earnings			(2,778)	(3,518)
				14,691	13,951
	Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
	12 months ended 30th June 2017			Unaudited	Audited
				12 months ended	year ended
				30th June	30th June
				2017	2016
				£000	£000
	Cash flow from operating activities
	Profit attributable to shareholders of the group			1,423	1,277
	Tax charged			84	114
	Finance costs			614	651
	Depreciation			668	837
	Profit on disposal of property plant and equipment			-	(6)
	Pension credit			-	(1,300)
	Inventory impairment			-	468
	Operating cash flows before exceptional items & movements in working capital			2,789	2,041
	(Increase) / Decrease in inventories			(1,808)	841
	Increase in trade and other receivables			(103)	(189)
	(Decrease) / increase in trade and other payables			(68)	232
	(Decrease) / Increase in provisions for liabilities and charges			(125)	125
	Cash generated from operations			685	3,050
	Income tax received			52	61
	Contributions to defined benefit pension scheme			(400)	(400)
	Net cash generated from operations			337	2,711
	Investing activities
	Purchase of property, plant and equipment			(1,280)	(704)
	Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment			-	25
				(1,280)	(679)
	Financing activities
	Interest			(16)	-
	Obligations under finance leases			767	-
	Share repurchase			-	(410)
	Equity dividends paid			(620)	(391)
				131	(801)
	Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents			(812)	1,231
	Cash and cash equivalents at start of period			3,114	1,883
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period			2,302	3,114
	Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
	12 months ended 30th June 2017
			Share capital		Share premium account	Capital redemption reserve	Revaluation reserve			Profit and loss account		Total equity
			£000		£000	£000	£000			£000		£000
	At 1st July 2015		10,851		504	3,105	-			(3,380)		11,080
	Comprehensive income for the period
	Profit for the period		-		-	-	-			1,277		1,277
	Other comprehensive income for the period		-		-	-	3,009			(614)		2,395
			-		-	-	3,009			663		3,672
	Contributions by and distributions to owners
	Share repurchase		(512)			512	-			-		-
	Consideration paid on share purchase		-		-	-	-			(410)		(410)
	Dividend Paid		-		-	-	-			(391)		(391)
	At 30th June and 1st July 2016		10,339		504	3,617	3,009			(3,518)		13,951
	Comprehensive income for the period
	Profit for the year		-		-	-	-			1,423		1,423
	Other comprehensive income for the year		-		-	-	-			(63)		(63)
			-		-	-	-			1,360		1,360
	Contributions by and distributions to owners
	Dividend Paid		-		-	-	-			(620)		(620)
	At 30th June 2017		10,339		504	3,617	3,009			(2,778)		14,691
	Note
	BASIS OF PREPARATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	The financial information for the  twelve month periods ended 30th June 2017 has not been audited and does not constitute full financial statements within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.   The financial information relating to the year ended 30th June 2016 does not constitute full financial statements within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. This information is based on the group's statutory accounts for that period. The statutory accounts were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ("IFRS") and received an unqualified audit report and did not contain statements under Section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. These financial statements have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. These interim financial statements have been prepared using the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ("IFRS").  The accounting policies used are the same as those used in preparing the financial statements for the year ended 30th June 2016.  These policies are set out in the annual report and accounts for the year ended 30th June 2016 which is available on the company's website www.aireaplc.co.uk. Further copies of this report are available from the Company Secretary at the registered office at Victoria Mills, The Green, Ossett, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF5 0AN and are also available, along with this announcement, on the company's website at www.aireaplc.co.uk

 

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