TIDMHSM

RNS Number : 0455U

Heath(Samuel) & Sons PLC

21 November 2023

Samuel Heath & Sons plc

("Samuel Heath" or "the Company")

UNAUDITED INTERIM REPORT

Half year ended 30 September 2023

CHAIR'S STATEMENT

The weakness in sales experienced at the beginning of the first half was offset by some recovery at the end of the half, so that the six months sales of GBP7.78m represented a 3% increase over the six months to 30 September 2022. However, this was only made possible by an improvement in production efficiency restoring output to the previous year's levels and so 'catching up' the historical order book. The order book is now unfortunately much weaker than the prior year, as mentioned later in this statement.

Operating profit was GBP441k compared to GBP610k in the six months to 30 September 2022, a reduction of GBP169k. The main cost increases driving this reduction were a 37% increase in energy and utility costs, additional spending on tooling, and payroll growth (rate increases and recruiting to fill vacant skilled labour vacancies).

Cash and cash equivalents at 30 September 2023 reduced to GBP1.473m, GBP1.244m lower than at 31 March 2023. As indicated in previous statements, necessary investment in production equipment is partly responsible for the net cash outflows, but there was also an increase in trade receivables and inventories. Cash outflows also included GBP300k interim contribution to the pension fund and GBP192k in payment of dividends.

The balance sheet nevertheless remains strong with net assets of GBP11.4m (March 2023: GBP11.2m). The retirement benefit scheme deficit has reduced to GBP195k from GBP537k at 31 March 2023, calculated under IAS 19 rules. As reported in the previous financial statements, the scheme actuarial valuation at 31 March 2023 recorded a deficit of GBP1.030m.

Addressing the second half, I have to report that trading conditions have worsened materially and since June the order book has been running consistently below management budget. The current level of the order book reduces flexibility to plan efficient production. We have taken soundings from our UK and EU marketplace and there is no expectation that things will improve during this calendar year. Orders and projects remain out there but, in some cases, have been put on hold in the current uncertain economic environment. The only area of continuing confidence appears to be the USA, but there is no guarantee that this will continue.

These reductions in the order book will have a disproportionately adverse effect on sales, margins and profits. Therefore, action has now been taken to reduce costs and improve efficiency, including 10 redundancies (7% of workforce).

Customer enthusiasm for our new 'Forme' range remains strong, but delays in receiving regulatory approval in overseas markets are proving frustrating, both for us and our customers. In any event, it is probable that the second half will record a loss after redundancy costs, unless there is some improvement in sales and the markets. The directors are hopeful of remaining in the black for the year as a whole and that sales will recover early in the new calendar year.

Anthony Buttanshaw

Chair

20 November 2023

Dividend

As a result of the deteriorating trading conditions, the directors recommend a reduction in the interim dividend to 4.5p per share (2022: 5.5p). The interim dividend will be paid on 22 March 2024 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 23 February 2024. The ex-dividend date for this payment is 22 February 2024.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the release of this announcement.

For further information, please contact:

Samuel Heath & Sons Plc

   Simon Latham, Company Secretary                                  0121 766 4200 

Cairn Financial Advisers LLP

   James Caithie / Jo Turner                                                   020 7213 0880 
 
 Unaudited Interim Financial Report 
  For the Half Year ended 30 September 
  2023 
 
  CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT 
                                             Half year          Half year               Year 
                                                 ended           ended 30           ended 31 
                                                    30 
                                             September          September              March 
                                                  2023               2022               2023 
                                             Unaudited          Unaudited            Audited 
                                               GBP'000            GBP'000            GBP'000 
 
 Revenue                                         7,784             7,560             14,717 
 
 Cost of sales                                 (4,298)            (3,938)            (7,950) 
 
 Gross profit                                    3,486             3,622               6,767 
 
 Selling and distribution costs                (1,956)            (1,981)            (3,556) 
 Administrative expenses                       (1,089)            (1,031)            (2,097) 
 Other operating income - grants (note 
  5)                                                 -                  -                 53 
 
 Operating profit                                  441                610              1,167 
 
 Finance income                                      -                  -                 34 
 Finance cost                                      (8)               (89)              (133) 
 
 
 Profit/(loss) before taxation                     433                521              1,068 
 
 Taxation                                         (22)               (33)              (137) 
 
 
   Profit for the period                           411                488                931 
 
 
 Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary 
  share (note 4)                                 16.2p              19.3p              36.7p 
                                           ===========  =================  ================= 
 
 
   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 
 
                                             Half year          Half year         Year ended 
                                              ended 30           ended 30           31 March 
                                             September          September 
                                                  2023               2022               2023 
                                             Unaudited          Unaudited            Audited 
                                               GBP'000            GBP'000            GBP'000 
 
 
   Profit for the period                           411                488                931 
 
 
 
 Items that will not be reclassified 
  to profit or loss: 
 Actuarial profit on defined benefit 
  pension scheme                                    45              4,210              3,588 
 Deferred tax on actuarial profit                 (11)            (1,052)              (891) 
 Revaluation of property, plant and 
  equipment                                          -                  -                293 
 Deferred tax on revaluation                         -                  -               (73) 
 
                                                    34              3,158              2,917 
 
 Total comprehensive income for the 
  period                                           445              3,646              3,848 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
                                             At 30                   At 30                  At 31 
                                         September               September                  March 
                                              2023                    2022                   2023 
                                         Unaudited               Unaudited                Audited 
                                           GBP'000                 GBP'000                GBP'000 
 Non-current assets 
 Intangible assets                             723                     505                    691 
 Property, plant and equipment               4,951                   3,891                  4,754 
 Deferred tax assets                             -                       -                      - 
 
                                             5,674                   4,396                  5,445 
 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                                 4,690                   4,188                  4,387 
 Trade and other receivables                 2,448                   2,115                  1,629 
 Current tax receivable                          -                       -                     37 
 Cash and cash equivalents                   1,473                   3,479                  2,717 
                                       -----------       -----------------      ----------------- 
 
                                             8,611                   9,782                  8,770 
                                       -----------       -----------------      ----------------- 
 
 Total assets                               14,285                  14,178                 14,215 
                                       -----------       -----------------      ----------------- 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                  (1,718)                 (2,017)                (1,644) 
 Right of use lease liabilities               (62)                    (60)                   (62) 
 Borrowings (note 6)                             -                       -                      - 
 Current tax payable                          (22)                    (79)                      - 
                                           (1,802)                 (2,156)                (1,706) 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Right of use liabilities                     (24)                    (87)                   (56) 
 Deferred tax liability                      (818)                   (806)                  (723) 
 Retirement benefit scheme (note 6)          (195)                       -                  (537) 
                                           (1,037)                   (893)                (1,316) 
                                       -----------       -----------------      ----------------- 
 
 Total liabilities                         (2,839)                 (3,049)                (3,022) 
                                       -----------       -----------------      ----------------- 
 Net assets                                 11,446                  11,129                 11,193 
                                       ===========       =================      ================= 
 
 Equity 
 Called up share capital                       254                     254                    254 
 Capital redemption reserve                    109                     109                    109 
 Revaluation reserve                         1,183                   1,145                  1,220 
  Retained earnings                          9,900                   9,621                  9,610 
 
 Equity shareholders' funds                 11,446                  11,129                 11,193 
                                       ===========       =================      ================= 
 
 
 
 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Attributable to owners of the Parent Company

 
                                         Share       Capital   Revaluation         Retained            Total 
                                       capital    redemption       reserve         earnings           equity 
                                                     reserve 
                                        GBP000        GBP000        GBP000           GBP000           GBP000 
 
 Balance at 31 March 2022                  254           109         1,186            6,127            7,676 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
   Total transactions with 
   owners 
 Equity dividends paid                       -             -             -            (193)            (193) 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
 Profit for the period                       -             -             -              488              488 
 Other comprehensive income 
  for the period                             -             -             -            3,158            3,158 
  Reclassification of depreciation 
  on revaluation                             -             -          (41)               41                - 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 Total comprehensive income 
  for the period                             -             -          (41)            3,687            3,646 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
 Balance at 30 September 
  2022                                     254           109         1,145            9,621           11,129 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
   Total transactions with 
   owners 
 Equity dividends paid                       -             -             -            (138)            (1438 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
 Profit for the period                       -             -             -              443              443 
 Other comprehensive income 
  for the period                             -             -           115            (356)            (241) 
  Reclassification of depreciation 
  on revaluation                             -             -          (40)               40                - 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 Total comprehensive income 
  for the period                             -             -            75              127              202 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
 Balance at 31 March 2023                  254           109         1,220            9,610           11,193 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
 Total transactions with 
  owners 
  Equity dividends paid                      -             -             -            (192)            (192) 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 
 Profit for the period                       -             -             -              411              411 
 Other comprehensive income 
  for the period                             -             -             -               34               34 
  Reclassification of depreciation 
  on revaluation                             -             -          (37)               37                - 
                                     ---------  ------------  ------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 Total comprehensive income 
  for the period                             -             -          (37)              482        445 
 
 
 Balance at 30 September 
  2023                                     254           109         1,183            9,900           11,446 
 

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

 
                                                      Half year           Half year         Year ended 
                                                       ended 30            ended 30           31 March 
                                                      September           September 
                                                           2023                2022               2023 
                                                      Unaudited           Unaudited            Audited 
                                                        GBP'000             GBP'000            GBP'000 
 Cash flow from operating activities 
 
 Profit for the period before taxation                      433                521               1,068 
 
 Adjustments for: 
 Depreciation                                               238                 168                401 
 Amortisation                                                63                  48                107 
 Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, 
  plant and equipment                                         -                 (1)                 41 
 Net finance costs/(income)                                (57)                   -               (34) 
 Defined benefit pension scheme expenses                     83                  83                166 
 Contributions to defined benefit pension 
  scheme                                                  (300)               (533)              (877) 
 
 Operating cash flow before movements 
  in working capital                                        460                 286                872 
 
 Changes in working capital: 
 (Increase)/decrease in inventories                       (303)               (272)              (471) 
 (Increase)/decrease in trade and other 
  receivables                                             (819)               (279)                170 
 Increase/(decrease) in trade and other 
  payables                                                   83                  57              (338) 
 
 Cash (used in) / generated from operations             (1,039)               (208)                233 
 
 Taxation paid                                                -                   -                  - 
 
 Net cash (used in) / from operating 
  activities                                            (1,039)               (208)                233 
 
 
 Cash flow from investing activities 
 Payments to acquire property, plant 
  and equipment                                           (402)               (390)            (1,167) 
 Proceeds from the sale of property, 
  plant and equipment                                         -                   1                 41 
 Payments to acquire intangible assets                     (95)               (110)              (357) 
 Net finance income/(costs)                                  57                   -                 34 
 
 Net cash outflow from investing activities               (440)               (499)            (1,449) 
 
 
 
 Cash flow from financing activities 
 Payment for right of use assets                           (33)                (31)               (58) 
 Dividends paid                                           (192)               (193)              (331) 
 
 Net cash outflow from financing activities               (225)               (224)              (389) 
 
 
 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents              (1,244)               (931)            (1,605) 
 Effect of exchange rate differences 
  on cash or cash equivalents                                 -                   -               (88) 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
  of period                                               2,717               4,410              4,410 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of 
  period                                                  1,473               3,479              2,717 
 
 
 
 

NOTES TO THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT

   1.            BASIS OF PREPARATION OF INTERIM REPORT 

As permitted, IAS34 'Interim Financial Reporting' has not been applied in this interim report. The information for the period ended 30 September 2023 is not audited and does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 were given an unqualified audit report and did not contain statements under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. A copy of the statutory accounts for that year has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The interim accounts for the half year ended 30 September 2022 were also unaudited.

   2.            ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

Basis of accounting

The report has been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance UK-adopted International Accounting Standards.

The group has not availed itself of early adoption options in standards and interpretations.

The principal accounting policies adopted are as set out in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2023. The valuation of inventories is considered to be the main area in terms of significant accounting estimates and judgements.

The retirement benefit scheme liability recognised in these interim accounts reflects the estimated change in the deficit at 30 September 2023 from the movements in discount rates and inflation during the six months.

   3.            DIVIDENDS 

A final dividend for the financial year 2023 of 7.5625p per share (2022: 7.5625p) was paid during the period.

An Interim dividend for the financial year 2024 of 4.5p per share is proposed (2023: 5.5p), payable on 22 March 2024.

   4.            EARNINGS PER SHARE 

The basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing the relevant profit after taxation of GBP411,000 (2022: profit GBP488,000) by the average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period being 2,534,322 (2022: 2,534,322). The number of shares used in the calculation is the same for both basic and diluted earnings.

   5.           OTHER OPERATING INCOME 

Income was received for the financial year 2023 by recognition of the fair value in foreign currency contracts held at 31 March 2023, but to be exercised during financial year ended 31 March 2024. There are no contracts currently held which would be exercised post 31 March 2024.

 
                                                       Half year        Half year    Year ended 
                                                        ended 30         ended 30      31 March 
                                                       September        September 
                                                            2023             2022          2023 
                                                       Unaudited        Unaudited       Audited 
                                                         GBP'000          GBP'000       GBP'000 
 
 
 
              Fair value gain on foreign currency               -                 -           53 
 
              Total other operating income                      -                 -           53 
 
 

Income has been accounted for under the accruals method.

NOTES TO THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT

   6.             RETIREMENT BENEFIT SCHEME 

The retirement benefit scheme is valued in part using yield rates, as indicated by government bonds. Towards the end of September 2022, the rate of these bonds increased significantly, causing the valuation of the scheme to move from a liability to become an asset. Yields have dropped since, returning the scheme to a deficit position.

The improvement in a reduced deficit at 30 September 2023 (GBP195,000) compared to 31 March 2023 (GBP537,000) is largely a result of reduced forward inflation estimates.

Note:

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry; its beliefs; and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions security holders and prospective security holders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.

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November 21, 2023 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)

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