Half-year Report

RNS Number : 1121H
Castings PLC
13 November 2018
 

CASTINGS P.L.C.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT

Six months ended 30 September 2018

 

Sales for the six months ended 30 September 2018 were £68.3 million (2017 - £61.7 million) with profit before tax of £5.77 million (2017 - £5.91 million).

Foundry operations

As previously reported, customer demand during the period remained steady with output of 23,900 tonnes (2017 - 23,500 tonnes) and external sales revenue up 11.2% to £65.0 million. The revenue figure is enhanced by the continued shift to more machined parts resulting in higher average selling prices and, to a lesser extent, the impact of rising steel scrap prices during the period which have been passed on to customers.

The profit from the foundry segment of £6.5 million represents a decrease of 5.7% from the previous period. The result has been negatively impacted by the time lag in passing on raw material and other price increases and a degree of inefficiencies relating to the introduction of new production processes.

Investment of £2.3 million has been made during the period to support automation and other productivity initiatives within the foundry businesses.

Machining operation

CNC Speedwell generated external revenue of £3.3 million during the period, an increase of 0.7% compared to the equivalent period last year ("previous period"), with a reported loss of £0.8 million compared to £1.0 million in the previous period.

Following the finalisation of the new management team structure in March 2018, the initial focus was to increase output to ensure customer schedules were satisfied without the need for excessive transport costs. This was achieved during the period along with returning finished foundry stocks to satisfactory operational levels, resulting in an increase to inventories of £2.2 million. 

A number of new parts have commenced production during the period, many of which require considerable engineering focus to maximise productivity against a back-drop of competitive prices. Whilst this is under way, it will take some time before all the necessary processes have been reviewed and production efficiencies realised. Where gains have been made this has increased available capacity and allowed management to bring back work that had previously been subcontracted, without the need for capital investment.

Whilst the operating loss is disappointing, it reflects the current status of the machining businesses in what is a period of considerable change. The capital investment during the period has reduced from £2.7 million in the previous period to £1.3 million. The investment made has been to support increased demand from core business customers and for specific productivity projects; this remains the strategy for future capital investment appraisal.

Management is now applying a greater focus on maintaining existing equipment to ensure the asset returns are maximised thus removing the need for further investment in capacity. Consequently the management of CNC has reviewed the useful economic lives of the recently acquired items of plant and machinery and has determined that a life of 15 years is more appropriate than the 10 years previously used. This life is within the range recorded in the group accounting policies and the change has resulted in a reduction of the depreciation charge for the period of £0.5 million.

The closure of the Fradley site and consolidation of the machining business at the Brownhills facility is now complete.

Outlook

Demand from our commercial vehicle customer base remains steady and every effort is being made to ensure further productivity gains are achieved within the foundry businesses to enhance the return.

The ongoing changes at the machining operation are undoubtedly going to take time before they generate any significant return. The intention is to begin a programme of automation investment during 2019/20 which will enable the business to achieve additional productivity gains over a number of years. The business continues to provide vital support to the foundries in satisfying the product requirements of the group's core customer base.

Dividend

An interim dividend of 3.38 pence per share has been declared and will be paid on 2 January 2019 to shareholders who are on the register at 23 November 2018.

Principal risks and uncertainties

There are a number of potential risks and uncertainties which could have a material impact on the group's performance over the remaining six months of the financial year and could cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results.

The directors consider that the principal risks and uncertainties remain substantially the same as those stated on pages 7 and 8 of the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2018.

The ongoing Brexit negotiations continue to cause uncertainty regarding the near-term outlook and prospects for the UK economy. It is still too early to quantify or determine with certainty the impact on the group. The Board will continue to monitor developments, consider the impact on the group's businesses and take appropriate action to help mitigate any risks associated with the UK leaving the EU.

Director change

Andrew Eastgate was appointed non-executive director on 1 September 2018.

Cautionary statement

This Interim Management Report ('IMR') has been prepared solely to provide additional information to shareholders to enable them to assess the group's strategies and the potential for those strategies to succeed. The IMR should not be relied on by any other party or for any other purpose. This IMR contains certain forward-looking statements. These are made by the directors in good faith based on the information available to them up to the time of their approval of this report but such statements should be treated with caution due to the inherent uncertainties, including both economic and business risk factors, underlying any such forward-looking information.

The group undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The IMR has been prepared for the group as a whole and therefore gives greater emphasis to those matters which are significant to Castings P.L.C. and its subsidiary undertakings when viewed as a whole.

By order of the board

BRIAN J. COOKE

Chairman

13 November 2018

 

Castings p.l.c.        

Lichfield Road          

Brownhills                 

West Midlands          

WS8 6JZ                    

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For six months ended 30 September 2018

 

Unaudited

Half year to

30 September

2018

£'000

Unaudited

Half year to

30 September

2017

£'000

Audited

Year to

31 March

2018

£'000

Revenue

68,284

61,728

133,276

Cost of sales

(54,710)

(47,720)

(103,674)

Gross profit

13,574

14,008

29,602

Distribution costs

(1,429)

(1,289)

(3,818)

Administrative expenses

 

 

 

Excluding exceptional

(6,444)

(6,851)

(13,949)

Exceptional

-

-

109

Total administrative expenses

(6,444)

(6,851)

(13,840)

Profit from operations

5,701

5,868

11,944

Finance income

70

43

133

Profit before income tax

5,771

5,911

12,077

Income tax expense

(1,094)

(1,121)

(2,279)

Profit for the period attributable to the equity holders of the parent company

4,677

4,790

9,798

Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the period:

 

 

 

Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss:

 

 

 

Movement in unrecognised surplus on defined benefit pension schemes net of actuarial gains and losses

-

-

352

 

-

-

352

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:

 

 

 

Change in fair value of available for sale financial assets

32

(42)

(72)

Tax effect of items that may be reclassified

(5)

8

15

 

27

(34)

(57)

Total other comprehensive income/(losses) for the period (net of tax)

27

(34)

295

Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to the equity holders of the parent company

4,704

4,756

10,093

Earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the parent company

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

10.72p

10.98p

22.46p

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

30 September 2018

 

Unaudited

30 September

2018

£'000

Unaudited

30 September

2017

£'000

Audited

31 March

2018

£'000

ASSETS

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

75,253

75,070

75,448

Financial assets

369

366

336

Other receivables

1,135

2,269

1,135

 

76,757

77,705

76,919

Current assets

 

 

 

Inventories

18,503

14,574

16,284

Trade and other receivables

40,670

35,685

38,090

Other current interest-bearing deposits

4,900

5,000

4,900

Cash and cash equivalents

14,692

19,514

19,174

 

78,765

74,773

78,448

Total assets

155,522

152,478

155,367

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

22,787

23,001

22,242

Current tax liabilities

1,075

1,090

1,380

 

23,862

24,091

23,622

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

3,666

4,105

3,603

Total liabilities

27,528

28,196

27,225

Net assets

127,994

124,282

128,142

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company

 

 

 

Share capital

4,363

4,363

4,363

Share premium account

874

874

874

Other reserve

13

13

13

Retained earnings

122,744

119,032

122,892

Total equity

127,994

124,282

128,142

 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For six months ended 30 September 2018

 

Unaudited

Half year to

30 September

2018

£'000

Unaudited

Half year to

30 September

2017

£'000

Audited

Year to

31 March

2018

£'000

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

Profit before income tax

5,771

5,911

12,077

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

Depreciation

3,870

3,677

8,525

Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment

-

-

9

Finance income

(70)

(43)

(133)

Pension administrative costs

-

-

352

Increase in inventories

(2,219)

(511)

(2,221)

Increase in receivables

(1,841)

(535)

(3,568)

Increase in payables

545

3,134

2,376

Cash generated from operating activities

6,056

11,633

17,417

Tax paid

(1,341)

(1,826)

(3,190)

Interest received

57

30

111

Net cash generated from operating activities

4,772

9,837

14,338

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

Dividends received from listed investments

13

13

22

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(3,187)

(6,719)

(11,223)

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

-

-

3

Transfer from other current interest-bearing deposits

-

-

100

Repayments from pension schemes

-

-

3,122

Advances to pension schemes

(1,228)

(1,227)

(3,321)

Net cash used in investing activities

(4,402)

(7,933)

(11,297)

Cash flow from financing activities

 

 

 

Dividends paid to shareholders

(4,852)

(4,618)

(6,095)

Net cash used in financing activities

(4,852)

(4,618)

(6,095)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(4,482)

(2,714)

(3,054)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

19,174

22,228

22,228

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

14,692

19,514

19,174

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

Short-term deposits

11,931

16,608

16,846

Cash available on demand

2,761

2,906

2,328

 

14,692

19,514

19,174

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Unaudited

Share

capital

£'000

Share

premium

£'000

Other reserve

£'000

Retained

earnings

£'000

Total

equity

£'000

At 1 April 2018

4,363

874

13

122,892

128,142

Profit for the period

-

-

-

4,677

4,677

Other comprehensive income/(losses):

 

 

 

 

 

Change in fair value of available for sale assets

-

-

-

32

32

Tax effect of items taken directly to reserves

-

-

-

(5)

(5)

Total comprehensive income for the period ended 30 September 2018

-

-

-

4,704

4,704

Dividends

-

-

-

(4,852)

(4,852)

At 30 September 2018

4,363

874

13

122,744

127,994

 

Unaudited

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 1 April 2017

4,363

874

13

118,894

124,144

Profit for the period

-

-

-

4,790

4,790

Other comprehensive income/(losses):

 

 

 

 

 

Change in fair value of available for sale assets

-

-

-

(42)

(42)

Tax effect of items taken directly to reserves

-

-

-

8

8

Total comprehensive income for the period ended 30 September 2017

-

-

-

4,756

4,756

Dividends

-

-

-

(4,618)

(4,618)

At 30 September 2017

4,363

874

13

119,032

124,282

 

Audited

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 1 April 2017

4,363

874

13

118,894

124,144

Profit for the year

-

-

-

9,798

9,798

Other comprehensive income/(losses):

 

 

 

 

 

Movement in unrecognised surplus on defined benefit pension schemes net of actuarial loss

-

-

-

352

352

Change in fair value of available for sale assets

-

-

-

(72)

(72)

Tax effect of items taken directly to reserves

-

-

-

15

15

Total comprehensive income for the year ended 31 March 2018

-

-

-

10,093

10,093

Dividends

-

-

-

(6,095)

6,095)

At 31 March 2018

4,363

874

13

122,892

128,142

 

 

Notes

1. General information

Castings P.L.C. (the 'company') is a company domiciled in England. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the company for the six months ended 30 September 2018 comprise the company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the 'group').

The principal activities of the group are the manufacture of iron castings and machining operations.

The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2018 does not constitute the full statutory accounts for that period. The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2018 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Independent Auditors' Report on the Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2018 was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis, and did not contain a statement under 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

This report has not been audited and has not been reviewed by independent auditors pursuant to the Auditing Practices Board guidance on Review of Interim Financial Information.

2. Accounting policies

The annual financial statements of Castings P.L.C. are prepared using the recognition and measurement principles of IFRSs as endorsed by the European Union. The condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the European Union.

Basis of preparation

After making enquiries, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company and the group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the half-yearly condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation are followed in the condensed consolidated interim financial statements as applied in the group's latest annual audited financial statements. Following a review of the useful economic lives of the recently acquired items of plant and machinery within the machining business, the directors have determined that a life of 15 years is more appropriate than the 10 years previously used. This revision is within the range set out in the group accounting policies and the change has resulted in a reduction of the depreciation charge for the period of £0.5 million.

3. Seasonality of operations

The directors do not consider there to be any significant seasonality or cyclicality to the results of the group.

4. Segment information

For internal decision making purposes, the group is organised into three operating companies which are considered to represent two operating segments of the group. Castings P.L.C. and William Lee Limited are aggregated into Foundry Operations and CNC Speedwell Limited is the Machining Operation.

Inter-segment transactions are entered into under the normal commercial terms and conditions that would be available to third parties.

The following shows the revenues, results and total assets by reportable segment for the half year to 30 September 2018.

 

Foundry operations

£'000

Machining

£'000

Elimination

£'000

Total

£'000

Revenue from external customers

64,988

3,296

-

68,284

Inter-segmental revenue

9,433

9,646

-

19,079

Segmental result

6,476

(775)

-

5,701

Unallocated income:

Finance income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70

Profit before income tax

 

 

 

5,771

Total assets

138,487

35,261

(18,226)

155,522

Non-current asset additions

2,336

1,339

-

3,675

Depreciation

1,972

1,898

-

3,870

Total liabilities

(28,132)

(11,359)

11,963

(27,528)

 

The following shows the revenues, results and total assets by reportable segment for the half year to 30 September 2017.

 

Foundry operations

£'000

 

Machining

£'000

 

Elimination

£'000

 

Total

£'000

Revenue from external customers

58,454

3,274

-

61,728

Inter-segmental revenue

8,893

8,600

-

17,493

Segmental result

6,867

(999)

-

5,868

Unallocated income:

Finance income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43

Profit before income tax

 

 

 

5,911

Total assets

130,718

37,497

(15,737)

152,478

Non-current asset additions

3,258

2,727

-

5,985

Depreciation

1,751

1,926

-

3,677

Total liabilities

(26,951)

(10,560)

9,315

(28,196)

 

The following shows the revenues, results and total assets by reportable segment for the year ended 31 March 2018.

 

Foundry operations

£'000

Machining

£'000

Elimination

£'000

Total

£'000

Revenue from external customers

127,007

6,269

-

133,276

Inter-segmental revenue

19,024

18,571

-

37,595

Segmental result

16,051

(3,950)

86

12,187

Unallocated income/(costs):

 

 

 

 

Exceptional credit for recovery of Icelandic bank deposits previously written off

 

 

 

109

Defined benefit pension costs

 

 

 

(352)

Finance income

 

 

 

133

Profit before income tax

 

 

 

12,077

Total assets

135,669

36,258

(16,560)

155,367

Non-current asset additions

4,134

7,089

-

11,223

Depreciation

3,921

4,604

-

8,525

Total liabilities

(27,008)

(11,581)

11,364

(27,225)

 

 

5. Dividends

Amounts recognised as distributions to shareholders in the period:

 

Half year to

30 September

2018

£'000

Half year to

30 September

2017

£'000

Final dividend of 11.12p per share for the year ended 31 March 2018 (2017 - 10.59p per share)

4,852

4,618

 

4,852

4,618

The directors have declared an interim dividend in respect of the financial year ending 31 March 2019 of 3.38p per share (2018 - 3.38p), which will be paid on 2 January 2019.

 

6. Earnings per share and diluted earnings per share

Earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. There are no share options or other potentially issuable shares; hence the diluted earnings per share is the same calculation.

 

Unaudited

Half year to

30 September

2018

Unaudited

Half year to

30 September

2017

Audited

 Year to

 31 March

2017

Profit after tax (£'000)

4,677

4,790

9,798

Weighted average number of shares

43,632,068

43,632,068

43,632,068

Earnings per share - basic and diluted

10.72p

10.98p

22.46p

 

 

7. Pension schemes

The group operates two defined benefit pension schemes which are closed to new entrants and closed to future accruals on 6 April 2009. The assets of the schemes are independent of the finances of the group and are administered by trustees.

The pension schemes are related parties of the group and during the period £1,228,000 (2017 - £1,227,000) was paid by the group on behalf of the schemes in respect of pension payments and administration costs. At 30 September 2018, of the outstanding balance of £6,818,000 (2017 - £6,618,000), £1,135,000 (2017 - £2,269,000) is classified as a non-current other receivable and is repayable on 30 November 2019. Payments made by the company on behalf of the schemes in the current period are repayable on 30 November 2020.

 

8. Interim report

Copies of this interim management report will be available on the company's website, www.castings.plc.uk, and from the registered office.

 

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The directors confirm that the condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the European Union and that the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R and DTR 4.2.8R.

By order of the board

S. J. Mant FCA
Group Finance Director
13 November 2018

 


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