Interim Results
Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC
22 August 2006
22 August 2006
Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc
('Michelmersh', the 'Company', or the 'Group')
Interim results for the six months to 30 June 2006
Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc (AIM: MBH), the UK's largest producer of handmade
specification bricks and clay paviors, today announces interim results for the
six months to 30 June 2006. Highlights of the results are as follows:
• Group turnover increased by 10.3% to £10.1 million (2005: £9.2 million)
• sales volume maintained at 33.2 million units (2005: 33.6 million) and
average selling price increased 10%
• operating profit of £161,000 (2005: £628,000) as a result of higher
energy costs and temporary plant closures
• net assets grew 38% to £43.5 million (2005: £31.5 million) after an
option agreement was signed with Persimmon on 60 acres of land at the Telford
site, NAV per share is now 114.4p (2005: 82.2p)
• cash inflow from operating activities improved to £885,000 (2005
outflow: £(912,000))
• enhanced products introduced at the end of 2004 lead to 17% increase
in sales at Michelmersh plant
• export sales have contributed well, with 1.5 million facing bricks
exported to Japan for the construction of a new university
• options to expand the business are under review and a number of
potential acquisition opportunities are being considered.
Commenting on the results, Eric Gadsden, chairman, said: 'The first half of the
year has been somewhat turbulent for the brick industry, which has seen a
combination of further increases in energy costs and a reduction in demand.
Therefore, we are extremely pleased to have increased the Group's turnover
during the period with a relatively modest impact on operating margin. To
neutralise, as far as possible, the effects of rises in energy costs, we made
the decision to reduce output over the winter months, when prices peak. This has
flowed through to impact on the Group's profit for the period, but has allowed
us to improve cash flow.
'I do remain confident about the Group's long term outlook. I believe
Michelmersh's efficient modern production and distribution operations, highly
regarded sales team and strong balance sheet put us in a good position to use
the current market conditions to our advantage. We are therefore considering a
number of potential investment opportunities.'
For further information:
Martin Warner, Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc: 01442 870 227
Richard Sunderland/Rachel Drysdale, Tavistock Communications: 020 7920 3150
Russell Cook/Mark Taylor, Charles Stanley Securities: 020 7149 6000
Chairman's Statement
I am pleased to report on the progress of the Group for the six months ending 30
June 2006. During the period, the Company managed to increase revenues, despite
challenging trading conditions. The industry has seen a substantial reduction in
demand and has faced the impact of rising energy costs, which increased
threefold during the 2005/2006 winter months, when compared to the price at the
time of our IPO. Throughout the period we have enlarged our range of products,
continued to expand our overseas markets and progressed the preparation of our
land at Telford for residential development.
We have examined ways to neutralise, as far as possible, the pressures facing
all brick manufacturers. As a result, the decision was made to reduce production
during the peak-cost winter period. This has inevitably impacted on
profitability, but has allowed us to achieve our objective of managing cash
during the period.
Financial Results
Group turnover increased by 10.3% to £10.1 million (2005: £9.2 million). The
significant increase in cost of sales for the period relate to higher energy
costs and the consequential impact of a high fixed cost plant operating on
reduced output. Whilst this has resulted in a reduced operating profit of
£161,000 (2005: £628,000), cash inflow from operating activities improved to
£885,000 (2005 outflow: £(912,000)) and end of period debt increased only
marginally to £16.4 million, from £16.2 million at the year end.
The 38% growth in our net assets at £43.5 million (2005: £31.5 million) was
primarily as a result of the uplift in the land value following the option
agreement signed with Persimmon on 60 acres of land at our Telford site at the
end of the last financial year. Net assets per share increased to 114.4p
compared to 82.8p at 30 June 2005. I refer below to the further progress that we
are making on the project at Telford.
We have also taken the opportunity of securing a new £14 million long term bank
facility to replace £9 million of overdraft facility. This provides a more
appropriate funding structure for the Company and on more attractive terms.
In line with our established dividend policy, the Board is not recommending an
interim dividend, but again expects to recommend the payment of a final dividend
at the year end, to underline our continued confidence in the Company's long
term prospects.
Operational Review
Against an industry-wide backdrop of a 10% reduction in brick sales in 2005 and
a further 20% in the first six months of this year, the Company maintained its
sales volume at 33.2 million units (2005: 33.6 million) and achieved an average
increase in selling price of 10%. After the planned reduction in output at the
start of the year, 35.1 million units were produced (2005: 38.7 million).
As a result of the previous investment at each of the works, we have been able
to develop new products at Blockleys, Charnwood and Michelmersh. These
initiatives, together with our focus on customer service, have enabled us to
maintain our sales despite market conditions.
Of particular note is the performance of our Michelmersh plant, where sales
increased by some 17%, resulting from enhanced products introduced to the market
at the end of 2004. These include new textures and plain colours, as well as an
additional tile range. As new products from other works become established in
the market place we expect to be able to continue to maintain our market
position and sell our output.
We have continued to experience strong demand for our high value products,
particularly in one-off housing and matching work. Export sales have contributed
well, in particular, 1.5 million facing bricks were exported to Japan for the
construction of a new university at Kobe.
Good progress is being made with the planning application for residential
development on our land at Telford and we will be able to give a detailed update
when we announce our annual results. The restoration of the initial phase of
land continues apace and we anticipate that this will result in significant
income in 2008 and 2009.
Outlook
In the light of market conditions the Board has reviewed strategy for the
business moving forward. Even last week we saw Baggeridge Brick plc, our only
independent quoted competitor, in receipt of an offer from the Austrian company,
Wienerberger AG. The continuing restructuring of the UK construction supply
industry, including this latest development, represents ever greater
opportunities for Michelmersh.
Our strengths continue to be our unique product offering, customer service and
strong asset base. It is key to the ongoing profitability of the business that
we maximise output and reap the rewards of the investment efficiencies made over
the past five years. Whilst production cost pressures are expected to persist,
especially over this coming winter, we anticipate that energy prices could
stabilise thereafter.
Therefore, we are reviewing options to expand our business, particularly where
the current market conditions might work in favour of a business with efficient
modern production and distribution operations, a nationwide sales team and a
strong balance sheet. A number of potential opportunities have been identified,
which are currently being evaluated.
We expect the rest of this year to remain challenging and profitability for the
full year will be lower than that achieved in 2005, the precautionary steps that
I have outlined above will help us ensure that we continue to strengthen our
position in our market and I remain positive about the longer term outlook for
the Company. In the meantime, until we see demand in the industry pick up and a
flattening or reduction in energy costs, we will continue to prioritise cash
management.
Eric Gadsden
Chairman
21 August 2006
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Half Year Half Year 13 Months
to to to
30.06.06 31.05.05 31.12.05
£'000 £'000 £'000
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
(restated)
TURNOVER 10,112 9,166 21,094
Cost of sales (7,714) (6,325) (15,042)
---------------------------------------
GROSS PROFIT 2,398 2,841 6,052
Administrative expenses (2,263) (2,232) (5,032)
Other operating income 26 19 491
---------------------------------------
OPERATING PROFIT 161 628 1,511
Interest payable and similar
charges (507) (420) (993)
---------------------------------------
(LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY
ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (346) 208 518
Tax on profit on ordinary
activities - - (135)
---------------------------------------
(LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY
ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION (346) 208 383
=======================================
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic (0.9p) 0.5p 1.0p
Diluted (0.9p) 0.5p 1.0p
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
As at As at As at
30.06.06 31.05.05 31.12.05
£'000 £'000 £'000
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
(restated)
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets -
positive goodwill - 22 -
Intangible assets - other 326 - 69
Tangible assets 53,881 40,441 53,985
--------------------------------------------
54,207 40,463 54,054
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock 7,475 6,288 7,269
Debtors 4,577 4,091 4,226
Cash at bank and in hand 811 16 42
--------------------------------------------
12,863 10,395 11,537
CREDITORS: Amounts falling
due within one year (6,224) (13,875) (13,155)
--------------------------------------------
NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 6,639 (3,480) (1,618)
--------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES 60,846 36,983 52,436
CREDITORS : Amounts falling
due after more than one year (15,540) (3,800) (6,366)
PROVISIONS FOR
LIABILITIES AND
CHARGES
Deferred taxation (1,824) (1,689) (1,824)
--------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS 43,482 31,494 44,246
============================================
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called-up share capital 7,604 7,604 7,604
Share premium account 3,432 3,432 3,432
Revaluation reserve 27,776 15,199 27,776
Profit and loss account 4,670 5,259 5,434
--------------------------------------------
EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 43,482 31,494 44,246
============================================
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Half Year to Half Year to 13 Months to
30.06.06 31.05.05 31.12.05
£'000 £'000 £'000
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from
operating activities 885 (912) 591
Returns on investments and
servicing of finance
Interest paid (591) (420) (751)
Hire purchase interest paid (1) - (138)
--------------------------------------------
Net cash outflow from returns on
investments and servicing of finance (592) (420) (889)
Taxation
Corporation tax received /(paid) - - -
--------------------------------------------
Taxation paid - - -
Capital expenditure
Purchase of intangible fixed assets - (1,427) (70)
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (515) - (3,096)
Sale of tangible fixed assets - - 1
--------------------------------------------
Net cash outflow from capital
expenditure (515) (1,427) (3,165)
Equity dividends paid - (418) (418)
Net cash outflow before financing (222) (3,177) (3,881)
Financing
Issue of new bridging loan - - 3,250
Capital element of hire
purchase payments (24) (216) (686)
Repayment of other loans 8,718 (195) (430)
--------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow/(outflow)from
financing 8,694 (411) 2,134
--------------------------------------------
Increase / (decrease) in cash
in the period 8,472 (3,588) (1,747)
============================================
Notes:
1.The figures for the half year ended 30 June 2006 and 31 May 2005 are
unaudited and do not constitute statutory accounts.
2.The figures for the thirteen months ended 31 December 2005 are abridged
from audited accounts, which are filed at Companies House and on which the
Company's auditors gave an unqualified opinion.
3.Earnings per share of (0.9p) have been calculated based on the profit
after tax for the six months ended 30 June 2006 and 38,017,855 shares in
issue for the six months ended 30 June 2006.
4.Taxation is based on the unaudited results at the expected rate
applicable for the full year.
5.The directors are not proposing a dividend.
6.The adoption of FRS 21 'Events after the balance sheet date' has resulted
in a change in accounting policy in respect of proposed equity dividends. If
the company declares dividends to the holders of equity instruments after
the balance sheet date, the company does not recognise those dividends as a
liability at the balance sheet date. The aggregate amount of equity
dividends proposed before approval of the financial statements, which have
not been shown as liabilities at the balance sheet date, will be disclosed
in the notes to the financial statements. Previously, proposed equity
dividends were recorded as liabilities at the balance sheet date.
The adoption of FRS 25 'Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation'
has resulted in a change in accounting policy in respect of the treatment of
dividends paid. Distributions to holders of equity share capital are debited
directly to reserves, and not shown on the face of the profit and loss
account for the year.
These changes in accounting policy have resulted in a prior year adjustment
for the company. Shareholders' funds at 31 December 2005 have been increased
by £418,000. The balance sheet at 31 December 2005 has been restated to
reflect the de-recognition of a liability for proposed equity dividends of
£418,000.
7.Copies of this statement are being sent to shareholders. Further copies
are available on request from:
The Company Secretary
Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc
121 High Street
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire HP4 2PJ
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