LEEDS GROUP PLC
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 November 2013
STATEMENT BY THE GROUP CHAIRMAN, KATHRYN DAVENPORT
I am pleased to present the interim report of Leeds Group plc ("the Group") for the six months ended 30 November 2013.
The Group made a profit after tax of £650,000 in the period, compared with a loss of £166,000 in the corresponding period of 2012 which was severely influenced by the write off the Group's investment in Dawson International PLC that was carried in the balance sheet at 31 May 2012 at £745,000.
Earnings per share in the period were 2.3 pence (2012: loss 0.6 pence).
Sales were 14% higher than in the first half of last year. Growth of 8% was achieved by the subsidiaries in terms of their local currencies, and 6% was attributable to the translation effect as the average rate used to translate those sales to sterling was lower than in November 2012. Paradoxically, the value of sterling at 30 November 2013 was greater than at last year-end, giving rise to the negative translation difference on opening net assets of £383,000 disclosed in other comprehensive income.
Revenue at Hemmers Europe, the Group's German based operating subsidiary, increased by 12% to £16,441,000 (2012: £14,615,000), with half of the improvement coming from the translation impact. Trading conditions were much as in the previous year and sales volumes of 6.4 million metres represented growth of 3.8%. Revenue growth, in terms of Euro, was 6% and was, to a large extent, attributable to a new and successful relationship with a multinational customer that now offers under its own label a collection of fabrics supplied by Hemmers. Overheads were once again well controlled and profit before tax for Hemmers Europe was £840,000 (2012: £697,000).
External sales volumes and revenues in local currency at ChinohTex, the Chinese subsidiary of Hemmers, grew by 48% and 22% respectively over the corresponding period last year. The sales growth owed much to a successful entry into the Mexican market to which went a quarter of all sales in the period, albeit at relatively low margins. Overhead growth to support additional staff restricted pre-tax profit in the period to £188,000 (2012: £189,000). As well as this significant contribution to Group profits, ChinohTex also performs invaluable work to assist the European operation through its purchasing strengths, product inspection and consolidation of freight shipments.
Net asset value per share (excluding shares held in treasury) at 30 November 2013 was 50.0 pence (2012: 45.2 pence) inclusive of goodwill. There was further reduction in Group net debt which stood at £112,000 at 30 November 2013 (30 November 2012: £1,004,000, 31 May 2013 £390,000).
The Directors intend to increase the value of the Group by making investments in businesses where they have relevant expertise but may not necessarily be operating in the textile industry and, in order to maximise funds available for this purpose, do not propose an interim dividend.
Despite the improved performance in the first half of the current financial year, the economic environment in many of the markets in which the Group operates remains fragile. Sales in the seasonally quiet month of December were broadly in line with the expectations of the Board and as we approach the traditionally busy first quarter of the New Year our order books are much as they were at this time last year. Nevertheless the seasonal nature of our businesses has led in recent years to first half profits running somewhat ahead of those of the second half.
As ever, thanks are due to staff throughout the Group for their unstinting efforts in the period.
Kathryn Davenport
Chairman
16 January 2014
Enquiries: |
|
Leeds Group plc |
Cairn Financial Advisers plc |
Kathryn Davenport, Chairman Tel: 01132859020 |
Tony Rawlinson Tel: 020 7148 7900 |
Malcolm Wilson, Company Secretary Tel: 07801224618 |
Tel: 020 7148 7900 |
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 £000 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 £000 |
Year to 31 May 2013 £000 |
Revenue |
18,461 |
16,201 |
31,140 |
Cost of sales |
(14,339) |
(12,631) |
(24,350) |
Gross profit |
4,122 |
3,570 |
6,790 |
Distribution costs |
(1,206) |
(1,052) |
(2,043) |
Administrative expenses |
(1,901) |
(1,613) |
(3,224) |
Impairment of available-for-sale investment |
- |
(745) |
(745) |
Profit from operations |
1,015 |
160 |
778 |
Finance expense |
(46) |
(52) |
(95) |
Finance income |
6 |
6 |
12 |
Profit before tax |
975 |
114 |
695 |
Tax expense |
(325) |
(280) |
(412) |
Profit/(loss) for the period attributable to the equity holders of the Company |
650 |
(166) |
283 |
Other comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
Translation differences on foreign operations |
(383) |
107 |
698 |
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to the equity holders of the Company |
267 |
(59) |
981 |
The results shown in the income statement derive wholly from continuing operations.
There is no tax effect relating to other comprehensive income.
to the equity holders of the Company
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 |
Year to 31 May 2013 |
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted (pence) |
2.3p |
(0.6)p |
1.0p |
|
As at 30 November 2013 £000 |
As at 30 November 2012 £000 |
As at 31 May 2013 £000 |
Assets |
|
|
|
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment |
1,937 |
1,854 |
2,004 |
Intangible assets |
927 |
906 |
955 |
|
|
|
|
Total non-current assets |
2,864 |
2,760 |
2,959 |
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
Inventories |
7,104 |
6,168 |
6,551 |
Trade and other receivables |
7,008 |
7,176 |
6,920 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
1,648 |
2,042 |
2,334 |
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
15,760 |
15,386 |
15,805 |
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
18,624 |
18,146 |
18,764 |
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
Loans and borrowings |
(1,715) |
(1,795) |
(1,829) |
Deferred tax |
(217) |
(179) |
(219) |
|
|
|
|
Total non-current liabilities |
(1,932) |
(1,974) |
(2,048) |
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
(2,323) |
(2,114) |
(1,979) |
Loans and borrowings |
(45) |
(1,251) |
(895) |
Corporation tax liability |
(440) |
(200) |
(262) |
Derivative financial liabilities |
(37) |
(47) |
- |
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
(2,845) |
(3,612) |
(3,136) |
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
(4,777) |
(5,586) |
(5,184) |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL NET ASSETS |
13,847 |
12,560 |
13,580 |
Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the company |
|
|
|
Share capital |
3,792 |
3,792 |
3,792 |
Capital redemption reserve |
600 |
600 |
600 |
Treasury share reserve |
(681) |
(661) |
(681) |
Foreign exchange reserve |
1,412 |
1,204 |
1,795 |
Retained earnings |
8,724 |
7,625 |
8,074 |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL EQUITY |
13,847 |
12,560 |
13,580 |
Unaudited Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 £000 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 £000 |
Year to 31 May 2013 £000 |
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) for the period |
650 |
(166) |
283 |
Adjustments for: |
|
|
|
Depreciation |
122 |
122 |
215 |
Impairment of available-for-sale investment |
- |
745 |
745 |
Movement in derivative financial assets and liabilities |
38 |
46 |
- |
Finance expense |
46 |
52 |
95 |
Finance income |
(6) |
(6) |
(12) |
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment |
(3) |
- |
(1) |
Income tax expense |
325 |
280 |
412 |
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital and provisions |
1,172 |
1,073 |
1,737 |
|
|
|
|
(Increase)/decrease in inventories |
(764) |
309 |
268 |
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables |
(322) |
(426) |
190 |
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables |
441 |
(236) |
(511) |
|
|
|
|
Cash generated by operating activities |
527 |
720 |
1,684 |
Income taxes paid |
(129) |
(279) |
(334) |
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows from operating activities |
398 |
441 |
1,350 |
|
|
|
|
Investing activities |
|
|
|
Purchase of property, plant and equipment |
(113) |
(67) |
(209) |
Sale of property, plant and equipment |
3 |
- |
2 |
Bank interest received |
6 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
(104) |
(61) |
(195) |
|
|
|
|
Financing activities |
|
|
|
Purchase of treasury shares |
- |
(3) |
(23) |
Repayment of bank borrowings |
(907) |
(252) |
(724) |
Bank interest paid |
(46) |
(52) |
(95) |
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in financing activities |
(953) |
(307) |
(842) |
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(659) |
73 |
313 |
|
|
|
|
Translation (loss)/gain on cash and cash equivalents |
(27) |
2 |
54 |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period |
2,334 |
1,967 |
1,967 |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
1,648 |
2,042 |
2,334 |
Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
|
Share capital
£000 |
Capital redemption reserve £000 |
Treasury share reserve £000 |
Foreign exchange reserve £000 |
Retained earnings
£000 |
Total equity
£000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 June 2013 |
3,792 |
600 |
(681) |
1,795 |
8,074 |
13,580 |
Profit for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
650 |
650 |
Other comprehensive income* |
- |
- |
- |
(383) |
- |
(383) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 November 2013 |
3,792 |
600 |
(681) |
1,412 |
8,724 |
13,847 |
|
Share capital
£000 |
Capital redemption reserve £000 |
Treasury share reserve £000 |
Foreign exchange reserve £000 |
Retained earnings
£000 |
Total equity
£000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 June 2012 |
3,792 |
600 |
(658) |
1,097 |
7,791 |
12,622 |
Loss for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(166) |
(166) |
Other comprehensive income* |
- |
- |
- |
107 |
- |
107 |
Purchase of treasury shares |
- |
- |
(3) |
- |
- |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 November 2012 |
3,792 |
600 |
(661) |
1,204 |
7,625 |
12,560 |
|
Share capital
£000 |
Capital redemption reserve £000 |
Treasury share reserve £000 |
Foreign exchange reserve £000 |
Retained earnings
£000 |
Total equity
£000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 June 2012 |
3,792 |
600 |
(658) |
1,097 |
7,791 |
12,622 |
Profit for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
283 |
283 |
Other comprehensive income* |
- |
- |
- |
698 |
- |
698 |
Purchase of treasury shares |
- |
- |
(23) |
- |
- |
(23) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 May 2013 |
3,792 |
600 |
(681) |
1,795 |
8,074 |
13,580 |
* The components of other comprehensive income are disclosed as part of the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within equity:
Reserve |
Description and purpose |
|
|
Capital redemption reserve |
Amounts transferred from share capital on redemption of issued shares |
Treasury share reserve |
Cost of own shares held in treasury |
Foreign exchange reserve |
Gains/(losses) arising on retranslation of the net assets of overseas operations into sterling |
Retained earnings |
Cumulative net gains/(losses) recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income after deducting the cost of cancelled treasury shares |
|
|
for the 6 months ended 30 November 2013
Notes to the accounts
1. The financial information in this report does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.
The interim results for the six months ended 30 November 2013 and 30 November 2012 comply with IAS 34 and are unaudited.
The financial information for the year ended 31 May 2013 does not constitute the full statutory accounts for that period. The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 May 2013 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Independent Auditor's Report on the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 May 2013 was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis, and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.
2. Ordinary shares of 12 pence each used in the calculation of earnings per share:
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 |
Year to 31 May 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
27,674,342 |
27,779,403 |
27,775,274 |
3. Reconciliation of movements in net bank debt
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 £000 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 £000 |
Year to 31 May 2013 £000 |
|
|
|
|
(Decrease)/increase in cash & cash equivalents |
(659) |
73 |
313 |
Translation (loss)/gain on cash and cash equivalents |
(27) |
2 |
54 |
Repayment of bank borrowings |
907 |
252 |
724 |
Translation gain/(loss) on loans |
57 |
(31) |
(181) |
|
|
|
|
Decrease in net debt |
278 |
296 |
910 |
Net bank debt at beginning of period |
(390) |
(1,300) |
(1,300) |
|
|
|
|
Net bank debt at end of period |
(112) |
(1,004) |
(390) |
4. Analysis of net bank debt
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 £000 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 £000 |
Year to 31 May 2013 £000 |
|
|
|
|
Cash |
1,648 |
2,042 |
2,334 |
Loans repayable in less than one year |
(45) |
(1,251) |
(895) |
Loans repayable in more than one year |
(1,715) |
(1,795) |
(1,829) |
|
|
|
|
Net bank debt at end of period |
(112) |
(1,004) |
(390) |
for the 6 months ended 30 November 2013
Notes to the accounts (continued)
5. Segmental information
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 £000 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 £000 |
Year to 31 May 2013 £000 |
External revenue |
|
|
|
Hemmers Europe |
16,441 |
14,615 |
28,209 |
Hemmers China |
2,020 |
1,586 |
2,931 |
|
|
|
|
Total Group external revenue |
18,461 |
16,201 |
31,140 |
|
6 months to 30 November 2013 £000 |
6 months to 30 November 2012 £000 |
Year to 31 May 2013 £000 |
Profit before tax |
|
|
|
Hemmers Europe (local GAAP) |
819 |
689 |
1,056 |
IFRS adjustment - financial derivatives |
(38) |
(46) |
- |
IFRS adjustment - goodwill amortisation |
59 |
54 |
109 |
|
|
|
|
Hemmers Europe (IFRS) |
840 |
697 |
1,165 |
Hemmers China |
188 |
189 |
261 |
Unrealised profit in stock |
(9) |
- |
2 |
Impairment of available-for-sale investment |
- |
(745) |
(745) |
Holding companies |
(44) |
(27) |
12 |
|
|
|
|
Group profit before tax |
975 |
114 |
695 |
|
As at 30 November 2013 £000 |
As at 30 November 2012 £000 |
As at 31 May 2013 £000 |
Net assets |
|
|
|
Hemmers Europe (local GAAP) |
9,443 |
8,432 |
9,165 |
IFRS adjustment - financial derivatives |
(27) |
(34) |
- |
IFRS adjustment - goodwill amortisation |
580 |
489 |
554 |
|
|
|
|
Hemmers Europe (IFRS) |
9,996 |
8,887 |
9,719 |
Hemmers China |
595 |
410 |
491 |
Unrealised profit in stock |
(36) |
(28) |
(27) |
Holding companies |
3,292 |
3,291 |
3,397 |
|
|
|
|
Group net assets |
13,847 |
12,560 |
13,580 |