Interim Results
Treatt PLC
24 May 2004
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
'Treatt USA's first six months were excellent with US Dollar turnover increasing
by 54%'
The Group saw contrasting fortunes for the US and UK businesses for the six
months to 31st March 2004, with Group turnover down by 1% to £15,073,000 (2003:
£15,216,000) and profit before tax falling to £792,000 (2003: £955,000). As
previously reported, depreciation costs for the Group are now significantly
higher, and there was a 3% fall in EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Tax,
Depreciation and Amortisation) to £1,363,000 (2003: £1,409,000). Earnings per
share have consequently decreased to 5.1 pence per share (2003: 6.5 pence per
share). The Board has declared an unchanged interim dividend of 2.7 pence per
share (2003: 2.7 pence per share) which is payable on 4th October 2004 to all
shareholders on the register at close of business on 3rd September 2004.
Treatt USA's first six months were excellent with turnover increasing by 54% in
US Dollar terms and profit before tax increased by $744,000, with a widely
spread customer base. There was significant growth in our specialty
Treattarome(TM) 'From the Named Food' range of products with Treatt USA being
particularly well placed to benefit from the high demand for low carbohydrate
products. The first half year saw continued investment in Treatt USA with
further expenditure on plant and equipment in order to facilitate increased
specialty production. It is therefore pleasing to see such a substantial
improvement in turnover and profitability only 18 months after moving to the new
facilities in Lakeland, Florida.
R C Treatt, the Group's UK operating subsidiary, experienced a 9% fall in sales
and profits and margins were lower. This was because of the combined impact of
the lower US Dollar and weakening orange oil prices which reduced profit before
tax by about £500,000, although there was a 15% increase in the volume of orange
oil sales. Bearing these factors in mind, the Board believe the performance of
R C Treatt was satisfactory, especially in view of the successful implementation
of its new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) computer system which went live on
1st January this year. The introduction of ERP did result in a great deal of
extra work for our employees, and initially there was an impact on our customer
service levels, but the company is already seeing significant benefits from the
system in terms of improving efficiency and better management information.
As we predicted, orange oil prices have fallen over the last six months and are
expected to continue to do so following the new Brazilian orange crop beginning
in June 2004. Orange oil, however, represents just 22% of the Group's
activity.
Cash flow for the first half year was strong with Group borrowings falling by
£1.5m which was principally due to a reduction in inventory. Net debt was £3.1m
and gearing was 18% (2003: 31%), with short term gearing reducing to just 4%.
Based upon our current projections the cash flow in the second half should
further reduce the overall debt position.
Prospects
The Board believe that Treatt USA will continue to perform well above original
expectations in the second half of the year, and that there will be an
improvement in the profitability of R C Treatt. The Group will continue to be
affected by volatile orange oil prices. It is, however, too early to confirm
confidently that the Group will meet its original forecast for the full
financial year.
Edward Dawnay
Chairman
24th May 2004
TREATT PLC
INTERIM STATEMENT
For the six months ended 31 March 2004
GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
31 March 31 March 30 September
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
Notes £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 1 15,073 15,216 31,683
Cost of Sales (11,382) (11,101) (23,035)
______ ______ ______
Gross profit 3,691 4,115 8,648
Net operating costs
Exceptional items - - (139)
Other Operating costs (2,791) (3,033) (6,352)
______ ______ ______
Operating profit 900 1,082 2,157
Net interest payable and similar charges (108) (127) (208)
______ ______ ______
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 792 955 1,949
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 2 (270) (287) (545)
______ ______ ______
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 522 668 1,404
Dividends (278) (278) (865)
______ ______ ______
Transfer to reserves 244 390 539
______ ______ ______
Dividends per share 2.7p 2.7p 8.4p
Earnings per share
- Basic
-after exceptional items 3 5.1p 6.5p 13.6p
-before exceptional items 3 5.1p 6.5p 14.6p
- Diluted 3 5.1p 6.5p 13.6p
The financial information set out in this document does not constitute statutory accounts within the
meaning of the Companies Act 1985. The figures for the year ended 30 September 2003 are an
abridged version of the Group's audited financial statements which have been delivered to the
Registrar of Companies. These statements received an unqualified audit opinion. The figures for the
six months ended 31 March 2004 and 2003 are unaudited. This interim report was approved by the
Board on 21 May 2004.
TREATT PLC
INTERIM STATEMENT
For the six months ended 31 March 2004
GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
Six months Six months Year ended
ended ended
31 March 31 March 30 September
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Profit for the period before dividends 522 668 1,404
Currency translation differences on foreign
currency net investments (479) (16) (246)
______ ______ ______
Total recognised gains and losses 43 652 1,158
______ ______ ______
TREATT PLC
INTERIM STATEMENT
For the six months ended 31 March 2004
GROUP BALANCE SHEET
As at As at As at
31 March 31 March 30
September
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Tangible fixed assets 9,797 10,098 9,911
Current assets
Stocks 9,278 11,144 10,987
Debtors 5,606 6,432 5,439
Cash at bank - restricted 70 227 -
- unrestricted 578 219 304
648 446 304
______ ______ ______
15,532 18,022 16,730
Creditors: amounts falling due in one year
Loan (139) - (150)
Bank overdrafts (1,221) (2,838) (2,061)
Other creditors (4,244) (4,697) (4,209)
______ ______ ______
(5,604) (7,535) (6,420)
______ ______ ______
Net current assets 9,928 10,487 10,310
Total assets less current 19,725 20,585 20,221
liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more (2,375) (3,084) (2,631)
than one year
Deferred taxation (357) (193) (362)
______ ______ ______
Net assets 16,993 17,308 17,228
______ ______ ______
Share capital 1,029 1,029 1,029
Share premium account 2,143 2,142 2,143
Profit and loss account 13,821 14,137 14,056
______ ______ ______
Shareholders' funds 16,993 17,308 17,228
______ ______ ______
TREATT PLC
INTERIM STATEMENT
For the six months ended 31 March 2004
GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Six months Six months Year ended
ended ended
31 March 31 March 30 September
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash inflow from operating activities 2,039 74 2,263
Returns on investments and servicing of finance (108) (127) (208)
Taxation (99) (82) (355)
Capital expenditure and financial investment (394) (592) (819)
Equity dividends paid (282) (277) (860)
______ ______ ______
Cash inflow/outflow before financing 1,156 (1,004) 21
Financing - Decrease in debt - - (162)
- Issue of ordinary share capital - 3 4
______ ______ ______
Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period 1,156 (1,001) (137)
______ ______ ______
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT
Increase/(decrease) in cash in the 1,156 (1,001) (137)
period
Cash outflow from change in net debt - (331) (383)
Exchange and other non-cash movements 295 14 141
______ ______ ______
Increase/(decrease) in net funds in the period 1,451 (1,318) (379)
Net debt at 1 October 2003 (4,538) (4,159) (4,159)
______ ______ ______
Net debt at 31 March 2004 (3,087) (5,477) (4,538)
______ ______ ______
TREATT PLC
INTERIM STATEMENT
For the six months ended 31 March 2004
NOTES TO THE INTERIM STATEMENT
Six months Six months Year ended
ended ended
31 March 31 March 30 September
2004 2003 2003
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
(1) Turnover by destination
United Kingdom 3,410 3,313 6,918
Rest of Europe 4,042 4,626 9,441
The Americas 4,298 3,477 7,649
Rest of the World 3,323 3,800 7,675
______ ______ ______
15,073 15,216 31,683
______ ______ ______
(2) Taxation has been provided at 34.09 per cent (2003: 30.05 per cent) which is the
effective group
rate currently anticipated for the financial year ending 30 September 2004.
(3) (a) Basic earnings per share for the six months ended 31 March 2004 are based on the
weighted average number of shares in issue in the period of 10,292,089 (2003:
10,289,970)
and earnings of £522,000 (2003: £668,000) being the profit on ordinary activities after
taxation.
(b) Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended 31 March 2004 are based on
the weighted average number of shares in issue in the period, adjusted for the effects
of all dilutive
potential ordinary shares of 10,292,665 (2003: 10,289,970) and the same earnings as
above.
(4) The interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting
policies set out in the
Group's 30 September 2003 annual report
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