Interim Results

RNS Number : 7979E
Nichols PLC
21 July 2016
 

 

Date:

Embargoed until 0700 Thursday 21 July 2016

 

Contacts:

John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman

Marnie Millard, Group Chief Executive Officer

Tim Croston, Group Chief Finance Officer

Andrew Milne, Group Commercial Director

 

Nichols plc

Telephone: 01925 222222

Website: www.nicholsplc.co.uk

 

 

Alex Brennan/ Nick Lyon

Richard Lindley

Hudson Sandler

N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser)

Telephone: 020 7796 4133

Telephone: 0207 496 3000

Email: nichols@hspr.com

 

 

INTERIM RESULTS

 

Nichols plc ('Nichols' or the 'Group'), the soft drinks Group, announces its Interim results for the period ended 30 June 2016 (the 'period').

 

Nichols is an international soft drinks business with sales in over 70 countries, selling products in both the Still and Carbonate categories. The Group is home to the iconic Vimto brand which is popular in the UK and around the world, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. Other brands in its portfolio include Feel Good, Starslush, Levi Roots and Sunkist. 

 

Financial Highlights:

All references below are pre-exceptional items

Half Year ended

30 June 2016

Half Year ended

30 June 2015

% movement

 

£m

£m

 

 

 

 

 

Group Revenue

56.5

54.7

+3.3%

 

 

 

 

Operating Profit

11.9

10.7

+10.8%

Operating Profit margin 

21%

20%

 

Profit Before Tax

11.9

10.9

+9.2%

PBT margin

21%

20%

 

 

 

 

 

EPS (basic)

25.77p

23.66p

+8.9%

Interim dividend

9.0p

8.0p

+12.5%

 

John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman, said:

 

"The Board is pleased with the Group's strong performance in the first half of the year, with UK sales growth continuing to outperform the market. Group revenue increased by 3.3% and Group profit increased by 9%, which reflects the strengths of the Group's business model. As a result of this performance and our confidence in the outlook for Nichols, we are pleased to recommend an interim dividend of 9.0 pence per share which represents a 12.5% increase compared to the prior year."

 

 

 

Chairman's Statement

 

Nichols has produced another strong performance in the first half of 2016. Group sales have increased by 3.3%, profit growth (before exceptional credits) was 9.2% and the interim dividend has increased by 12.5% compared to the prior year.

 

 

Trading

 

Total revenues for the Group increased by 3.3% to £56.5m in the first half of 2016 (2015: £54.7m). This revenue growth was driven by our UK sales, which is particularly pleasing in the context of the continued challenges in the UK soft drinks market. Group operating profit increased by 10.8% to £11.9m (2015: £10.7m) delivering an increase in margin to 21% (2015: 20%) as a result of the sales growth and our continued strategy to focus on value over volume.

 

Our UK sales increased by 4.7% to £44.5m (2015: £42.6m).  During the same period, revenues in the overall UK soft drinks market declined by 0.5% (Source: Nielsen 6 months to 18 June 2016). This outperformance of the market was driven by the strong growth of our Still Ready To Drink range, the launch of Vimto Remix into both the Still and Carbonate categories, and most notably the incremental sales from the acquisition of The Noisy Drinks Co. Limited.

 

Total international sales in the period were in line with our expectations at £12.0m (2015: £12.1m).  As anticipated, the majority of our sales to the Middle-East will occur in the second half of the year due to the phasing of in-country production. In the Africa region, we have seen an excellent performance driven by our current markets and the opening of new territories.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

  

Exceptional Profit

 

Having initially taken a 49% stake in The Noisy Drinks Co. Limited (Noisy) in March 2015, the Group acquired the remaining shares on 8 January 2016. Under International Financial Reporting Standards, the latter transaction triggers a deemed disposal of the initial 49% of the shares in Noisy and a subsequent acquisition of 100% of the shares. As a consequence, a profit on disposal amounting to £1.1m arose due to the increase in value of the 49% between March 2015 and January 2016. This profit is disclosed as an exceptional credit.   

 

 

Dividend

 

As a result of the strong Group performance in the first half of 2016 and the Board's continued confidence in the outlook, I am pleased to recommend an interim dividend of 9.0 pence per share, which represents a 12.5% increase compared to the prior year (2015: 8.0 pence).

The interim dividend will be paid on 26 August 2016 to shareholders registered on 29 July 2016. The ex-dividend date is 28 July 2016. 

 

Outlook

In our UK markets we expect performance in the second half of 2016 to continue the trend seen in the first six months of the year. In addition, we will re-launch the Feel Good brand in the autumn ahead of the important Christmas trading period into both the Still and Carbonate categories. As explained above, we expect a stronger second half of the year in our Middle East markets and as a result, our total international sales are anticipated to deliver growth for the full year.

 

In summary, the Board is pleased with the strong performance in the first half of 2016 and is confident that full year results will be in line with market expectations. 

 

 

 

John Nichols

Non-Executive Chairman

21 July 2016 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

           

 

 


Half year ended

Half year ended

Full year ended

 

30-Jun-16

30-Jun-15

31-Dec-15

 

 

 

Unaudited before exceptional items

Unaudited exceptional items

Unaudited after exceptional items

 

Audited 

 

 

 

Unaudited

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

56,520

-

56,520

54,716

109,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit (pre-exceptional items)

11,869

-

11,869

10,709

27,834

 

Exceptional items

-

1,087

1,087

-

-

 

Finance income

118

-

118

119

213

 

Finance expense

(67)

-

(67)

(60)

(201)

 

Share of income from associate

-

-

-

147

190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before taxation

11,920

1,087

13,007

10,915

28,036

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxation

(2,423)

(217)

(2,640)

(2,197)

(5,803)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial period

9,497

870

10,367

8,718

22,233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share (basic)

25.77p

 

28.13p

23.66p

60.33p

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share (diluted) - all activities

25.74p

 

28.10p

23.63p

60.25p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid per share

 

 

17.60p

15.30p

23.30p

 



 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

 

Unaudited

 

Unaudited

 

Audited

 

Half year

ended

30-Jun-2016

 

Half year

ended

30-Jun-2015

 

Full year

ended

31-Dec-2015

 

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial period

10,367

 

8,718

 

22,233

 

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

 

Re-measurement of net defined benefit liability

-

 

-

 

1,632

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred taxation on pension obligations and employee benefits

-

 

-

 

(274)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income for the period

-

 

-

 

1,358

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income for the period

10,367

 

8,718

 

23,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 

 

Unaudited

 

Unaudited

 

Audited

 

30-Jun-2016

 

30-Jun-2015

 

31-Dec-2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£'000

 

£'000

 

£'000

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

8,019

 

5,235

 

6,061

Goodwill

22,593

 

16,447

 

19,108

Investment in equity-accounted associate

-

 

2,927

 

2,970

Intangibles

6,163

 

-

 

1,316

Deferred tax assets

1,098

 

1,699

 

1,098

Total non-current assets

37,873

 

26,308

 

30,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

6,731

 

4,696

 

3,945

Trade and other receivables

33,045

 

28,332

 

27,860

Cash and cash equivalents

32,778

 

31,814

 

35,438

Total current assets

72,554

 

64,842

 

67,243

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

110,427

 

91,150

 

97,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

27,521

 

22,419

 

18,127

Current tax liabilities

2,315

 

2,196

 

2,679

Total current liabilities

29,836

 

24,615

 

20,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Pension obligations

3,012

 

5,309

 

3,893

Deferred tax liabilities

1,104

 

70

 

86

Total non-current liabilities

4,116

 

5,379

 

3,979

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

33,952

 

29,994

 

24,785

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets

76,475

 

61,156

 

73,011

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital

3,697

 

3,697

 

3,697

Share premium reserve

3,255

 

3,255

 

3,255

Capital redemption reserve

1,209

 

1,209

 

1,209

Other reserves

(573)

 

(560)

 

(547)

Retained earnings

68,887

 

53,555

 

65,397

Total equity

76,475

 

61,156

 

73,011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

Unaudited

Half year ended

30-Jun-2016

Unaudited

Half year ended

30-Jun-2015

Audited

Full year ended

31-Dec-2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial period

 

10,367

 

8,718

 

22,233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

453

 

239

 

502

 

Amortisation

78

 

-

 

-

 

Exceptional credit

1,087

 

-

 

-

 

Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment

3

 

1

 

16

 

Finance income

(118)

 

(119)

 

(213)

 

Finance expense

67

 

60

 

-

 

Share of result in associate

-

 

(147)

 

-

 

Tax expense recognised in the income statement

2,640

 

2,197

 

5,803

 

Change in inventories

(2,395)

 

17

 

767

 

Change in trade and other receivables

(6,661)

 

(4,824)

 

(4,335)

 

Change in trade and other payables

7,429

 

2,873

 

(1,359)

 

Change in pension obligations

(881)

 

(881)

 

(665)

 

 

 

1,702

 

(584)

 

516

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash generated from operating activities

 

12,069

 

8,134

 

22,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax paid

 

(3,040)

 

(1,860)

 

(4,639)

Net cash generated from operating activities

 

9,029

 

6,274

 

18,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance income

118

 

136

 

213

 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

-

 

1

 

5

 

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

(1,237)

 

(660)

 

(1,768)

 

Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired

(4,056)

 

-

 

(157)

 

Acquisition of business trade and assets

-

 

-

 

(3,820)

 

Acquisition of associate investment

-

 

(2,780)

 

(2,970)

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(5,175)

 

(3,303)

 

(8,497)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share options exercised

(26)

 

-

 

(69)

 

Dividends paid

(6,488)

 

(5,640)

 

(8,589)

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(6,514)

 

(5,640)

 

(8,658)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease)/ increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(2,660)

 

(2,669)

 

955

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

35,438

 

34,483

 

34,483

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

32,778

 

31,814

 

35,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES

           

 

1.         Basis of Preparation

The financial information set out in this Interim Report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The Group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015, prepared under IFRS, have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

            The interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and on the same basis and using the same accounting policies as used in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015. The Interim Report has not been audited or reviewed in accordance with the International Standard on Review Engagement 2410 issued by the Auditing Practices Board.

 

2.         Dividends

The interim dividend of 9.0p (2015: 8.0p) will be paid on 26 August 2016 to shareholders registered on 29 July 2016. The ex dividend date is 28 July 2016.

 

3.         Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares in issue in the six months to 30 June 2016 of 36,849,942 (six months to 30 June 2015 of 36,849,257 and 12 months to 31 December 2015 of 36,849,638).

 

 

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

 

 

Interim Report

 

The interim report will be available on the Company's website (www.nicholsplc.co.uk) on or around 21 July 2016.

 

 

Cautionary Statement

 

This Interim Report has been prepared solely to provide additional information to shareholders to assess the group's strategies and the potential for those strategies to succeed. The Interim Report should not be relied on by any other party or for any other purpose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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