TIDMNICL
RNS Number : 0904V
Nichols PLC
19 July 2018
Date: Embargoed until 0700 Thursday 19 July 2018
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 222 222
Website: www.nicholsplc.co.uk
Alex Brennan/ Hattie O'Reilly Richard Lindley
Hudson Sandler N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser)
Telephone: 020 7796 4133 Telephone: 020 7496 3000
Email: nichols@hudsonsandler.com Website: www.n1singer.com
Nichols plc
2018 INTERIM RESULTS
Nichols plc ('Nichols' or the 'Group'), the soft drinks Group,
announces its Interim Results for the half year ended 30 June 2018
(the 'period').
Nichols plc is an international soft drinks business with sales
in over 85 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, ICEE, Levi Roots and Sunkist.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.
Financial Highlights:
*EBITDA is the statutory Half Year Half Year % movement
profit before tax, interest, ended ended
depreciation and amortisation 30 June 2018 30 June 2017
GBPm GBPm
-------------- -------------- -----------
Group Revenue 65.0 63.5 2.3%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Operating Profit 13.1 12.7 2.7%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Operating Profit margin 20.1% 20.0%
-------------- -------------- -----------
EBITDA* 14.0 13.2 6.2%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Profit Before Tax 13.1 12.7 2.7%
-------------- -------------- -----------
PBT margin 20.1% 20.0%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Earnings Per Share (basic) 28.81p 27.67p 4.1%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Interim dividend 11.3p 10.1p 11.9%
-------------- -------------- -----------
Chairman's Statement
Nichols plc has delivered a solid performance in the first half
of 2018. The Group's revenue, profit before tax and earnings per
share have all increased during the period.
Trading
Total Group revenue increased by 2.3% in the first six months of
2018, driven by a strong performance from the UK business.
UK sales totalled GBP53.8m in the period, an increase of 13.2%
compared to the prior year. Within the UK business, the Vimto
brand, which is 110 years old this year, continued to significantly
outperform the market. Year to date sales of the Vimto brand are up
9.0% compared to the total UK market which increased by 3.7%
(Nielsen YTD to 16 June 2018). Elsewhere in the UK, Out of Home
revenue increased by 13.6%, with the growth coming from both
dispense and frozen product sales. The UK growth was delivered in
both the Still and Carbonate segments.
Total international sales were in line with our expectations at
GBP11.2m, GBP4.8m lower than the same period in 2017. The majority
of the reduction is a result of lower sales to the Middle East as
anticipated in our 2017 Preliminary Results statement (1 March
2018). This is due to the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the timing
of shipments to Saudi Arabia. Elsewhere in our international
business, sales to Africa totalled GBP6.8m. Whilst this is 3.7%
down at the half year point, the Board is confident that full year
sales to this region will deliver year on year growth.
Dividend
Reflecting the Board's continued confidence in the outlook for
the Group, we are pleased to announce an interim dividend of 11.3
pence per share, an increase of 11.9% compared to the prior year
(2017: 10.1 pence). The interim dividend will be paid on 31 August
2018 to shareholders registered on 20 July 2018; the ex-dividend
date is 19 July 2018.
Summary and Outlook
The Board is pleased with the Group's trading performance in the
first half of 2018.
Supported by the new Vimto marketing campaign launched in May,
we expect to maintain the positive UK sales performance into the
second half of the year. Whilst we maintain our original guidance
that full year sales to the Middle East will be lower when compared
to the prior year, the Board anticipate a stronger second half year
in our international business.
As a result, the Board are confident that full year earnings
will be in line with expectations.
John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman, said:
"Nichols plc has delivered a solid performance in the first half
of 2018 with growth in revenue, profit before tax and earnings per
share. The Board is pleased to announce an 11.9% increase in the
dividend reflecting the performance as well as its confidence in
the Group's outlook.
The performance during the first half is testament to the
benefits of Nichols' diversified business model. The strong sales
performance in the UK was driven by the strength of the Vimto
brand, which continues to outperform the wider market, and we
expect this momentum to continue following the launch of an
exciting new marketing campaign in May.
We have been managing the widely reported market challenges in
the Middle East and as a result, the Board is confident of
delivering full year results in line with expectations."
John Nichols
Non-Executive Chairman
18 July 2018
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
Half year Half year Full year
ended ended ended
30-Jun-2018 30-Jun-2017 31-Dec-2017
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Revenue 64,989 63,504 132,789
Operating profit 13,058 12,717 28,742
Finance income 75 74 134
Finance expense (60) (60) (154)
Profit before taxation 13,073 12,731 28,722
------------ ------------ ------------
Taxation (2,436) (2,534) (5,548)
Profit for the financial
period 10,637 10,197 23,174
------------ ------------ ------------
Attributable to:
Owners of the Parent 10,617 10,197 23,174
Non-controlling interest 20 - -
Earnings per share (basic) 28.81p 27.67p 62.88p
Earnings per share (diluted)
- all activities 28.79p 27.65p 62.81p
Dividends paid per share 23.40p 20.30p 30.40p
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
Half year Half year Full year
ended ended ended
30-Jun-2018 30-Jun-2017 31-Dec-2017
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Profit for the financial period 10,637 10,197 23,174
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Re-measurement of net defined
benefit liability - - 1,140
Deferred taxation on pension obligations and employee benefits - - (113)
Other comprehensive income for the period - - 1,027
Total comprehensive income for the period 10,637 10,197 24,201
Attributable to:
Owners of the Parent 10,617 10,197 24,201
Non-controlling interest 20 - -
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30-Jun-2018 30-Jun-2017 31-Dec-2017
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 14,391 9,924 12,059
Goodwill 33,726 29,415 30,666
Intangibles 7,767 6,006 7,993
Deferred tax assets 1,065 1,436 1,065
Total non-current assets 56,949 46,781 51,783
----------- ----------- -----------
Current assets
Inventories 6,212 6,036 4,815
Trade and other receivables 34,120 36,957 34,740
Cash and cash equivalents 37,148 29,276 36,058
Total current assets 77,480 72,269 75,613
----------- ----------- -----------
Total assets 134,429 119,050 127,396
----------- ----------- -----------
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 26,296 20,624 21,031
Current tax liabilities 2,479 2,607 2,536
Total current liabilities 28,775 23,231 23,567
----------- ----------- -----------
Non-current liabilities
Pension obligations 2,521 5,954 2,921
Deferred tax liabilities 1,602 1,101 1,586
----------- ----------- -----------
Total non-current liabilities 4,123 7,055 4,507
----------- ----------- -----------
Total liabilities 32,898 30,286 28,074
----------- ----------- -----------
Net assets 101,531 88,764 99,322
----------- ----------- -----------
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 157 (268) 134
Retained earnings 93,193 80,871 91,027
Non-controlling interest 20 - -
----------- ----------- -----------
Total equity 101,531 88,764 99,322
----------- ----------- -----------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
Half year ended Half year ended Full year ended
30-Jun-2018 30-Jun-2017 31-Dec-2017
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Profit for the financial period 10,637 10,197 23,174
Cash flows from operating activities
Adjustments for:
Depreciation 708 362 1,018
Amortisation 226 78 157
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment 32 15 40
Finance income (75) (74) (134)
Finance expense 60 60 154
Tax expense recognised in the income statement 2,436 2,534 5,548
Change in inventories (1,321) 536 1,878
Change in trade and other receivables 684 (5,448) (4,675)
Change in trade and other payables 3,079 (859) (1,810)
Change in pension obligations (400) (441) (2,334)
-------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
5,429 (3,237) (158)
Cash generated from operating activities 16,066 6,960 23,016
Tax paid (2,555) (2,314) (5,274)
-------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Net cash generated from operating activities 13,511 4,646 17,742
Cash flows from investing activities
Finance income 75 74 134
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and
equipment - 3 4
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2,314) (1,758) (3,795)
Acquisition of subsidiary (1,549) (6,040) (6,568)
Net cash used in investing activities (3,788) (7,721) (10,225)
Cash flows from financing activities
Funds from ESOT - 84 -
Dividends paid (8,633) (7,487) (11,213)
-------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Net cash used in financing activities (8,633) (7,403) (11,213)
Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 1,090 (10,478) (3,696)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 36,058 39,754 39,754
-------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 37,148 29,276 36,058
-------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
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 2017, 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 2017, aside
from the fact that this is the first set of the Group's financial
statements where IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 have been applied, the impact
of which is detailed in section 2 below. 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. New Accounting Standards
IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
IFRS 15 supersedes IAS 18, Revenue and related interpretations
and it applies to all revenue arising from contracts with
customers, unless those contracts are in the scope of other
standards. The standard establishes a new model to account for
revenue arising from contracts with customers. Under IFRS 15,
revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration
to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for
transferring goods or services to a customer. The standard is
effective for accounting periods beginning or after 1 January 2018;
the Group has applied the standard from this date without using the
practical expedient for completed contracts retrospectively.
The standard requires entities to exercise judgement, taking
into consideration all of the relevant facts and circumstances when
applying each step of the model to contracts with their customers.
The standard also specifies the accounting for the incremental
costs of obtaining a contract and the costs directly related to
fulfilling a contract.
As a manufacturer and distributor, the Group earns its revenues
from the sale of goods rather than services. The Group sells those
goods to specific orders. The Group recognises revenue at a point
in time, typically on despatch of the goods to customer's premises
for UK sales or, for international sales, upon loading the goods
onto the relevant carrier. The adoption of IFRS 15 has not affected
the revenue recognition policy currently applied by the Group, with
revenue recognised at a point in time, depending on when the
specifics of a particular contract result in control of the goods
being passed to the customer.
Although the majority of the Group's contracts with customers
are not complex, with revenue being fixed for a specific quantity
of goods, the Group has identified a number of contracts in which
customers are given volume rebates and/ or other promotional
rebates based on quantities purchased over a contractually agreed
period of time.
Under the Group's previous policy under IAS 18, management made
its best estimate of any rebates it had to give based on available
information. Under IFRS 15, management have assumed that products
sold by the balance sheet date attract a full rebate except to the
extent that it was highly probable the full rebate had not been
earned. Based on the timing of the agreements entered into with
customers, the level of estimation in the accrual at each reporting
date was insignificant, and as such, there has been no material
impact on deductions to revenue under IFRS 15 as a result of rebate
arrangements.
The Group does not incur material costs to obtain contracts with
customers.
IFRS 9, Financial Instruments
IFRS 9, Financial Instruments replaces IAS 39, Financial
Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for annual periods
beginning on or after 1 January 2018, bringing together all three
aspects of the accounting for financial instruments: classification
and measurement; impairment; and hedge accounting. The Group has
adopted IFRS 9 from 1 January 2018 and in accordance with the
transitional provisions in IFRS 9 (7.2.15) and (7.2.26),
comparative figures have not been restated.
IFRS 9 largely retains the previous requirements in IAS 39 for
the classification and measurement of financial liabilities and the
accounting for the Group's financial liabilities remains largely
the same as it was under IAS 39. Similar to the requirements of IAS
39, IFRS 9 requires contingent consideration liabilities to be
treated as financial instruments measured at fair value, with the
changes in fair value recognised in the statement of profit or
loss.
However, IFRS 9 eliminates the previous IAS 39 categories for
financial assets of held to maturity, loans and receivables and
available for sale, which has resulted in a change to the Group's
accounting for impairment losses for financial assets by replacing
IAS 39's incurred loss approach with a forward-looking expected
credit loss (ECL) approach. IFRS 9 requires the Group to record an
allowance for ECL's for all loans and other debt financial assets
not held at FVPL. The Group's financial assets that are subject to
IFRS 9's new expected credit loss model comprise trade receivables
for sales of inventory.
ECL's are based on the difference between the contractual cash
flows due in accordance with the contract and all the cash flows
that the Group expects to receive. The shortfall is then discounted
at an approximation to the asset's original effective interest
rate. For contract assets and trade and other receivables, the
Group has applied the standard's simplified approach and has
calculated ECL's based on lifetime expected credit losses. The
Group has established a provision matrix that is based on the
Group's historical credit loss experience, adjusted for
forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and the economic
environment. The Group has concluded that the expected loss
allowance for trade receivables is not materially different from
that previously recognised under IAS 39.
While cash and cash equivalents are also subject to the
impairment requirements of IFRS 9, the identified impairment loss
was again immaterial.
IFRS 16, Leases
IFRS 16 was issued in January 2016. It will result in almost all
leases being recognised on the balance sheet, as the distinction
between operating and finance leases is removed. Under the new
standard, an asset (the right to use the leased item) and a
financial liability to pay rentals are recognised. The only
exceptions are short-term and low-value leases.
As at the reporting date, the Group has non-cancellable
operating lease commitments of GBP3.8m, the vast majority of which
relate to property leases for operational sites. The Group has not
yet determined to what extent these commitments will result in the
recognition of an asset and a liability for future payments and how
this will affect the Group's profit and classification of cash
flows. Some of the commitments may be covered by the exception for
short-term and low-value leases and some commitments may relate to
arrangements that will not qualify as leases under IFRS 16.
IFRS 16 becomes effective for accounting periods beginning on or
after 1 January 2019. The Group does not intend to adopt the
standard before its effective date.
3. Dividends
The interim dividend of 11.3 pence (2017: 10.1 pence) will be
paid on 31 August 2018 to shareholders registered on 20 July 2018;
the ex-dividend date is 19 July 2018.
4. 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 2018 of
36,857,624 (six months to 30 June 2017 of 36,853,794 and 12 months
to 31 December 2017 of 36,857,660).
Interim Report
The interim report will be available on the Group's website
(www.nicholsplc.co.uk) on or around 19 July 2018.
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.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
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of this information may apply. For further information, please
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END
IR UWABRWBABAAR
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