RNS Number : 5703L
St. Ives PLC
04 October 2016
 

4 October 2016

                                                                        ST IVES plc

Full Year Results for the 52 weeks ended 29 July 2016.

St Ives plc, the international marketing services group, announces preliminary results for the

52 weeks ended 29 July 2016.

Financial Highlights

 

52 weeks to

29 July

2016

52 weeks to

31 July

2015

%age

change

Revenue

£367.5m

£344.6m

+7%

Adjusted* profit before tax

£30.4m

£33.0m

-8%

Adjusted* basic earnings per share

17.61p

20.32p

-13%

Statutory (loss)/profit before tax

£(5.7)m

£8.7m

-

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

(5.93)p

4.35p

-

Full year dividend

7.80p

7.80p

-

Net debt

£80.8m

£62.8m

 

* Adjusted profit before tax and adjusted basic earnings exclude Adjusting Items. Adjusting Items comprise of redundancies, empty property and restructuring costs; impairments, gain or loss on disposal of properties; costs related to the acquisitions or setting up of new subsidiaries; impairment or amortisation charges related to goodwill and intangible assets; contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration; movements in deferred consideration; costs related to the St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme and accelerated bank amortisation fees.

Operational Highlights

·     Further strong revenue growth of 30% in Strategic Marketing segment: 11% organic, 19% acquisitive growth

 

·     3% revenue increase in Books offset by 7% decline in Marketing Activation

 

·     Strategic Marketing now contributing 39% of Group revenue (2015: 32%) and 58% of adjusted operating profit (2015: 46%)          

 

·     Important strategic progress across all three drivers of growth:

·     Enhanced collaboration, with over 150 clients using services of more than one Group business        (2015: 106), including Universal Pictures, Whitbread, Jaguar Land Rover, Adidas and Regatta.

·     Continued international growth, with nine Strategic Marketing businesses serving clients on an international basis; over 37% of Strategic Marketing revenue now generated from international client work (2015: 30%).

·     Two further Strategic Marketing acquisitions completed during the year: Fripp, Sandeman and Partners ("FSP"), a specialist retail property consultancy, acquired in August 2015; and The App Business ("TAB"), a mobile-led digital consultancy, acquired in January 2016; both trading in line with expectations.

 

Matt Armitage, Chief Executive, said:

"We are pleased to confirm that, after some short-term challenges in the final quarter of the Financial Year, trading across our Strategic Marketing segment has stabilised.

"We are excited by the opportunities that the breadth of our marketing services capabilities creates and we are making encouraging progress in bringing in new projects from both existing and new clients.  We see significant opportunities to push ahead with our strategic priorities in the year ahead, particular in further organic growth in our Strategic Marketing segment.

"Whilst we remain alert to the possible impact from Brexit on business confidence, we will continue to invest in the UK, the US and Asia to support our medium term growth plans.  Assuming no marked change to the current market conditions, we are well positioned to make further progress this year."

 

For further information, please contact:

St Ives plc

020 7928 8844

Matt Armitage, Chief Executive

Brad Gray, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

MHP Communications

020 3128 8100

John Olsen, Giles Robinson, Gina Bell

 

 

Notes to Editors

St Ives is an international marketing services group, made up of a number of successful and dynamic businesses serving leading brands internationally, with offices in the UK, North America, China, Singapore and Dubai.

We operate not as a single entity but as a group of market leading businesses, each with its own unique value proposition, offering complementary services and collaborating closely with each other wherever this adds value to clients. We work with a large number of leading, international consumer-facing brands across all major sectors - including retail & FMCG, healthcare & pharma, financial services, media, technology, automotive and charity - helping them determine strategic direction and designing and delivering world-class solutions to match their specific requirements.

Our industry-leading Strategic Marketing businesses have strong capabilities across three specialist high growth areas: Data, Digital and Insight.

Our Marketing Activation businesses, which deliver marketing communications through a combination of print and in-store marketing services, complement our Strategic Marketing offering and collaborate with them where this adds value to clients.

The Group's strategy for further growth for the marketing services businesses is centred around three key priorities:

· organic growth through collaboration and investment in our existing brands;

· internationalisation, often client-led, into large and high growth markets; combined with

· further acquisitions of complementary, ambitious and growing Strategic Marketing businesses that share our common attributes and ethos.

Our separate long-standing Books production business, which is the UK market leader, represents source of profit and cash generation as we pursue our overall growth strategy.

St Ives employs more than 3,000 people in the UK, North America and Asia and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SIV) with a market capitalisation of £195.2m. 

 

Chief Executive's Review

 

Performance Highlights

Group revenue of £367.5 million was 7% higher than the previous year. This growth was driven by our Strategic Marketing segment, which delivered growth of 11% on an organic basis along with acquisitive growth of 19%. Revenue within our Books Segment was 3% ahead of the prior year. These performances were partially offset by a 7% decline in our Marketing Activation segment, due to continued pressure within the grocery retail sector. 

The Group's statutory loss before tax of £5.7 million (2015: profit of £8.7 million) includes Adjusting Items of £36.1 million (2015: £24.2 million), of which £12.7 million relates to a non-cash impairment charge in the Marketing Activation segment.

The Group's adjusted profit before tax declined to £30.4 million (2015: £33.0 million) and adjusted basic earnings per share decreased by 13% to 17.61 pence (2015: 20.32 pence).

This year saw further growth in our Strategic Marketing segment, which contributed 58% (2015: 46%) of the Group's adjusted operating profit, offset by decline within our Marketing Activation and Books segments. Towards the end of the year, as previously announced, we experienced the cancellation and deferral of a number of large contracts within our Strategic Marketing segment, reflecting greater caution within our customer base over the allocation of budgets.  Whilst we can confirm that this was a short-term challenge and that we have made encouraging progress in replacing those revenues, this nonetheless materially impacted the outturn for the year.

The Board is recommending a final dividend of 5.45 pence, making a full year dividend of 7.80 pence (2015: 7.80 pence), reflecting the Board's confidence in the Group's ability to make further strategic and financial progress during the year ahead.

We are confident in our strategy for further growth, which remains centred around three key priorities:

· organic growth through collaboration and investment in our existing marketing services businesses;

· internationalisation, primarily client-led, into large and high growth markets; combined with

· further acquisitions of complementary, ambitious and growing Strategic Marketing businesses, which share our common attributes and ethos.

Once again, we have made strategic progress in all three areas.

Collaboration

Our approach is based on cross-thinking as opposed to cross-selling, where collaboration is facilitated and supported rather than forced. Over 150 of our clients currently work with more than one business across the Group (2015: 106), collaborating on projects for clients including Universal Pictures, Whitbread, Jaguar Land Rover, Adidas and Regatta.

In addition, we are seeing further evidence of our businesses working together on joint propositions.  Synergies between Solstice, the Chicago-based mobile and emerging technology business bought in 2015 and the recently acquired TAB have resulted in both businesses sharing resources, working practices, growth frameworks and data. They are collaborating on existing clients and exciting new business opportunities.

This has been an important driver of the organic revenue growth achieved in our Strategic Marketing segment.

Internationalisation

Many of our businesses deliver international solutions for clients and where we can identify client-led opportunities, we plan to open additional overseas offices. These opportunities must be in large markets or in markets with the potential for significant and sustainable growth.

During the year we continued to increase our headcount in both the US and Asia to meet client demand, expanding our presence in New York and opening further offices in San Francisco and Dubai.

Now over 37% of our Strategic Marketing revenue comes from clients based outside of the UK (2015: 30%), Nine of our Strategic Marketing businesses, Incite, Pragma, FSP, Hive, Amaze, Realise, Branded3, TAB and Solstice, service clients on an international basis.

Acquisitions

We have made two further acquisitions during the year; Fripp, Sandeman and Partners Limited ("FSP"), a specialist retail property consultancy, which is working closely with our Pragma Consulting business to secure new business wins and TAB, a mobile-led consultancy which has provided the Group with additional scale and deeper strategy and development capabilities within the fast growing mobile technology sector. Both acquisitions have integrated well into the Group.

The acquisition of further complementary marketing services businesses, which add value to our existing portfolio and operate in our chosen growth areas of data, digital and insight services, will continue to be an important element of our overall growth strategy. 

Given the challenges experienced in the latter months of the financial year however, in the year ahead we will be prioritising organic growth, through increased collaboration and leveraging the investments we have made in existing propositions and in new offices.

While the Group's strategic focus is on expanding our Strategic Marketing offering, we also recognise the importance of continued investment and innovation in our complementary Marketing Activation segment and separate, long-standing and market leading Books business. These separate segments represent an additional source of profit and cash generation as we pursue our overall growth strategy.

Segment Overview

Strategic Marketing

Our Strategic Marketing operations, which represent 39% of Group revenue (2015: 32%), are organised around three high-growth sectors: Data, Digital and Insight.

 

2016
£'m

2015
£'m

Data Marketing

36.2

33.2

Digital Marketing

71.2

45.5

Insight

36.7

32.0

Strategic Marketing revenue

144.1

110.7

Strategic Marketing adjusted operating profit

19.4

16.3

Despite the cancellation and deferral of a number of large projects during the second half of the financial year (as reported in our 25 April trading statement), trading across our Strategic Marketing segment has continued to be positive and ahead of the prior year.

We are encouraged with the progress that is being made to replace the projects which were cancelled.

Data Marketing

Our Data businesses represented 25% of Strategic Marketing revenue at £36.2 million (2015: £33.2 million).

Over the course of the year, the Data businesses have continued to diversify their propositions to take advantage of new revenue streams, whilst increasing their collaboration with other businesses within the Group.

New propositions have included the introduction of a specialist marketing technology offering, myBench and the continued development of the CRM business, Amaze One.  Both offerings have benefitted from significant client wins throughout the year including being appointed by Ryanair to implement a new marketing platform and the delivery of a CRM solution for Morrisons.

In addition, collaboration between our Data and Digital businesses has resulted in a number of new client wins including Vue Cinemas and Universal Pictures.

Digital Marketing

The Digital businesses represented 49% of Strategic Marketing revenue at £71.2 million (2015: £45.5 million).

Our Digital businesses offer services across the entire digital spectrum including the high growth areas of customer experience, eCommerce, mobile and digital technology innovation, including The Internet of Things and is therefore benefitting from the trend of continued investment in digital services internationally.

This has resulted in a number of significant new business wins. Most notably, we have recently been appointed as one of two long term digital partners to the English Football League (EFL). This is an important and valuable long term partnership, involving designing and developing EFL's new digital platforms, including new websites for over 60 EFL clubs and providing integrated solutions across what is the world's largest sporting digital network.

During the year, we were also appointed as global digital partner for Emirates Airline, which has resulted in us building a presence in Dubai. In addition, the division has won projects with Electrolux, the BBC, McDonalds, the Met Office, Walmart and confused.com.

As stated above, in January 2016 we acquired TAB, a mobile-led consultancy specialising in strategy, product development and business transformation. The acquisition further strengthens our digital capabilities particularly in the high growth area of mobile sector.

Insight

Our Insight businesses represented 26% of Strategic Marketing revenue at £36.7 million (2015: £32.0 million).

We have continued to expand our international reach within our Insight division, with the opening of an office in San Francisco and expansion of headcount in New York, Singapore and Shanghai to meet increased client demand.

Our airports and commercial spaces proposition continues to be a high-growth area for the division. One of this year's most high profile projects has been advising on the commercial strategy for La Guardia International Airport in the US.

In addition, we are continuing to see our retail consultancy business Pragma and the newly acquired specialist retail property consultancy, FSP, working closely together. Their combined services are gaining traction with both existing and new clients.

Marketing Activation

Our Marketing Activation segment represented 42% of Group revenue for the year (2015: 48%).

 

2016
£'m

2015
£'m

Marketing Activation revenue

154.8

167.0

Marketing Activation adjusted operating profit

8.1

10.9

Trading conditions within this segment have continued to be challenged, due in large part to the ongoing pressures within the grocery retail market.

Whilst our expertise in grocery retail remains an important strength, diversification of the client base beyond this sector remains a priority.

We were recently appointed as print and fulfilment partner for Whitbread on a long term contract to support all of their brands. Whilst we incurred some transition costs in the final quarter, this contract, along with additional services now being provided under our contract with HSBC, will help to reduce our dependency on the grocery retail sector in the long term.

In addition to the above, the segment has had a number of new wins and project extensions throughout the year for clients including Royal Mail, The Conservative Party, Adidas, Footlocker, Revlon, Informa and Duracell. We continue to target other contracts of this nature although we recognise that it will take time and investment to win and transition such work.

Moving forward our focus is on strategic growth opportunities in markets that value service and innovation and further reduce the over-reliance on grocery retail.  This will include delivering a wider portfolio of goods and services that cover the whole of the marketing operations sphere of brands and retailers.  We will also continue to focus on protecting margins through driving efficiency improvements and cost reductions and by differentiating our competitive offering through targeted investment in new service lines and further cross sales initiatives.

Books

Our market-leading Books business, represented 19% (2015: 20%) of Group revenue for the year.

 

2016
£'m

2015
£'m

Books revenue

68.6

66.9

Books adjusted operating profit

5.8

8.1

Revenue was some 3% higher than the prior year at £68.6million (2015: £66.9 million).

During the year, the business has worked on a number of exciting projects, most recently the new J.K. Rowling title, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. Books were distributed to over 50 retail destinations in the week ahead of publication to support what was the biggest single book launch in the UK and the US for ten years. Since publication over 1,200,000 copies have been sold in the UK, making it the largest selling book of 2016.

Clay's has also benefitted from a number of new business wins and from growth in self-publishing.

Although incremental volume was secured through the Penguin Random House contract, this was offset by publishers' destocking, as previously reported. This appears to have now run its course but, coupled with costs associated with the transitioning of the Penguin Random House contract, it adversely affected the segment's adjusted operating profit.

We continue to adapt to suit the evolving needs of clients, with further investment in digital print technology to provide a broader product range and greater capacity to support fast lead-times and lower stock-holding and with continued focus on extending supply-chain solutions to reduce the overall cost of the books supply-chain.

Outlook

Trading in the new financial year has started in line with our expectations.

Following the short-term challenges during the final quarter of last year, trading across our Strategic Marketing segment has stabilised. We are pleased by the progress being made in bringing in new projects from existing and new clients and are excited by the opportunities that the breadth of our capabilities create.

Trading conditions within our Marketing Activation segment continue to be challenging, due in large part to the ongoing pressures within the grocery retail market, but we are focused on diversifying into other higher growth sectors and expect to build on the success we have seen in this regard in recent months. 

Within our Books business, having finalised the transition of the additional work won from Penguin Random House, we will focus on volume growth and targeting additional work from new and existing clients. 

We see considerable opportunities to progress our strategic priorities in the year ahead, particularly through further collaboration between businesses within the Group and through ongoing internationalisation that matches client demand.  Our particular focus will be on organic growth within our Strategic Marketing segment.  Whilst remaining alert to the possible impact from Brexit on business confidence, we will continue to invest in the UK and in the US and Asia, to support our plans for growth over the medium term. 

We remain clear on our long-term growth priorities and have the financial strength to support our strategic ambitions.  Our balance sheet is sound and we have the necessary cashflow capabilities both to support our dividends and to reduce debt. Assuming no marked change to current market conditions, we are confident of making further strategic and financial progress during the current year.

 

Matt Armitage

Chief Executive

4 October 2016

 

Financial Overview

 

Overview

Although the Group delivered strong revenue growth largely within the Strategic Marketing segment the Group's operating profit declined due to revenue decline within Marketing Activation and margin pressures within both Marketing Activation and Books.

The Group's statutory results are set out in the table below:

 

52 weeks to

29 July

2016

52 weeks to

31 July

2015

Revenue

£367.5m

£344.6m

Statutory (loss)/profit before interest and tax

£(1.8)m

£11.7m

Statutory (loss)/profit before tax

£(5.7)m

£8.7m

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

(5.93)p

4.35p

The Group prepares adjusted results, which, in management's view reflect how the business is managed and show the performance in a manner consistent with the previous year. Adjusted results exclude items such as costs related to restructuring activities, acquisitions made in current and prior periods, disposal of sites and St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme charges. The analysis of adjusting items is set out below:

 

52 weeks to

29 July

2016

£'m

52 weeks to

31 July

2015

£'m

Statutory (loss)/profit from operations*

(1.8)

11.7

Adjusting Items:

 

 

Expenses related to restructuring items

2.6

3.2

Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

1.7

(0.5)

Amortisation of acquired intangibles

9.2

7.8

Impairment of available for sale asset

-

1.5

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets

12.7

1.5

Costs associated with the acquisition and setup of subsidiaries

0.8

0.7

Contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration

8.2

6.2

(Decrease)/increase in deferred consideration

(0.8)

2.5

Administrative expenses related to St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme

0.7

0.8

Adjusted profit from operations*

33.3

35.4

*Profit from operations is stated as operating profit plus share of results of joint ventures and other operating income/(expense)

 

A non-cash impairment charge of £12.7 million was recorded in the Marketing Activation segment against goodwill and acquired intangibles. An impairment charge of £10.2m has been made against the goodwill allocated to SP Group Limited. This reflects the reduction in operating profits and expected future growth rates resulting from lower promotional activity levels within grocery retail and the wider retail sector. An impairment charge of £2.5m has been made against the goodwill and customer relationship asset of Tactical Solutions UK Limited due to the loss of a customer and a decline in operating profit.

Other non-cash adjusting items include contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration of £8.2m, amortisation of acquired intangibles of £9.2m, offset by a decrease in deferred consideration of £0.8m.

Revenue

Revenue increased by £23.0 million (7%) to £367.5 million. Acquisitive growth was 6% with organic growth of 1%. Strong organic growth in Strategic Marketing and Books was largely offset by a decline in Marketing Activation.

Revenue generated from overseas business increased from £35 million to £53 million and represented 15% of revenue (2015: 10%).

Revenue from our Strategic Marketing segment increased from £110.7 million to £144.2 million as a result of recent acquisitions and organic growth. The growth of 30% was split between strong organic growth of 11% and acquisition growth of 19%.

Revenue from the Marketing Activation segment decreased from £167.0 million to £154.8 million. The segment suffered from continued pressures within the retail grocery market where our clients reduced spend on promotional activity.

Revenue from the Books segment increased by 3% from £66.9 million to £68.6 million with the transition of the final tranche of the Penguin Random House contract in January 2016.

Adjusted gross profit margin and underlying profitability

The Group's gross profit margin decreased marginally from 33% to 32%. Margin was adversely impacted by differing factors within each segment and is more fully explained below.

Adjusted profit from operations has decreased from £35.4 million (10% of revenue) to £33.3 million (9% of revenue).

Adjusted profit from operations in the Strategic Marketing segment has increased from £16.3 million to £19.4 million with an operating margin of 13% (2015: 15%). This includes a full year contribution from Solstice LLC, Fripp Sandeman and Partners Limited ("FSP" - acquired in August 2015) and six months from The App Business Limited ("TAB"). In the final quarter of the year the segment saw the cancellation and deferral of a number of projects and therefore a reduction in forecast revenue for the year. In order to mitigate the impact of the revenue decline a number of tactical cost reductions were made, although the skilled workforce was broadly maintained and this detrimentally affected the margin in the final quarter.

Adjusted profit from operations in the Marketing Activation segment has decreased from £10.9 million to £8.1 million with an operating margin of 5% (2015: 7%). The action taken in early 2015 of consolidating production sites, with the closure of operations at Burnley, has offset some of the impact on margins of reduced promotional activity from the grocery retailers. In the latter part of the financial year the segment has been successful in partially diversifying its client base with the provision of goods and services to Whitbread plc, although in the short term the segment has incurred additional transition cost.

Adjusted profit from operations in the Books segment decreased from £8.1 million to £5.8 million with an operating margin of 9% (2015: 12%).The margin was adversely impacted by transition costs relating to the Penguin Random House contract and also a change in the mix of client work. This led to a number of personnel positons becoming redundant with an associated redundancy cost of £521,000 recorded as an Adjusting Item.

Acquisitions

On 13 August 2015 the Group acquired FSP a UK-based retail consultancy. The consideration of £2.2 million was payable in the form of cash and St Ives plc shares.

On 29 January 2016 the Group acquired 82.16% of TAB with the remaining 17.84% acquired on 8 February 2016. TAB is a UK based mobile led consultancy specialising in strategy product development and business transformation. The initial consideration of £22.3 million and the consideration of £4.9 million to acquire the remaining equity was payable in the form of cash and St Ives plc shares.

Deferred consideration paid in relation to prior year acquisitions totalled £9.4 million (2015: £15.6 million).

The Group raised £13.4 million, after expenses, through the issue of 6.4 million shares in February 2016.

Tax

The statutory effective tax rate was 33.3% (2015: 36.4%). This rate is impacted by Adjusting Items that were not deductible for taxation purposes. The total tax charge was £2.4 million (2015: £3.2 million).

The Group's tax rate on the adjusted profit before tax was 20.8% (2015: 21.3%) compared to the standard rate of tax of 22.67% (2015: 19.86%) for the Group. The adjusted tax charge was £6.3 million (2015: £7.0 million).

Income tax of £4.3 million (2015: £6.6 million) was paid in the United Kingdom.

Dividend

The Board is recommending a final dividend of 5.45p per ordinary share (2015: 5.55p) giving a total dividend of 7.80p (2015: 7.80p). The dividend, on an adjusted basis, is covered 2.3 times by adjusted earnings and will be paid on 19 December 2016 to shareholders on the register at 25 November 2016, with an ex-dividend date on 24 November 2016.

Pensions

The Group closed its Defined Benefits Pension Scheme (the "Scheme") to new members in 2002 and ceased future accrual within the Scheme in 2008. The Group accounts for post-retirement benefits in accordance with IAS19 Employee Benefits. The Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects the net deficit on the Scheme at 29 July 2016 based on the market value of the assets at that date and the valuation of liabilities using AA non-gilt bond yields.

On an IAS19 basis the net deficit on the Scheme reduced to £26.4 million (2015: £27.6 million) before the related deferred tax asset. The value of the plan assets increased to £344.1 million (2015: £311.0 million). Approximately 65% of the plan assets are invested in return seeking assets providing a higher level of return over the longer period. Plan liabilities increased to £370.5 million (2015: £338.6 million) primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate offset by a fall in the inflation rate and net re-measurement gains of £21.1 million (2015: £1.5 million losses).

The Scheme's actuarial valuation reviews determine any cash deficit payments by the Group. The Scheme's triennial valuation was as at April 2016 and discussions are underway with the Scheme Trustee for future funding levels. The Group currently makes deficit funding contributions of £2.0 million per annum and a contribution of £0.4 million per annum (2015: £0.4 million) towards the costs of administration.

The Group is continuing the process of automatically enrolling eligible UK employees into a qualifying pension scheme. The charge for the year for the Group's defined contribution schemes was £3.9 million (2015: £3.8 million).

Cash Flow

Cash generated from operations was £23.7 million (2015: £35.5 million). The decrease in cash generated from operations is primarily due to an increased working capital requirement of £7.4 million resulting from the growth in Strategic Marketing and an increase in consideration treated as remuneration of £2.6 million.

Total capital expenditure was as follows:

 

2016

£'m

2015

£'m

Strategic Marketing

3.1

1.5

Marketing Activation

1.5

1.1

Books

3.0

3.5

Total

7.6

6.1

The expenditure of £3.1 million in Strategic Marketing included the fit-out of new offices for Incite and Solstice and the refurbishment of offices for Amaze. The expenditure of £4.5 million in Marketing Activation and Books related to maintenance capital and the final expenditure relating to the Penguin Random House contract.

Debt

During the year, the Group increased its revolving credit facility, which expires on 23 March 2019 from £115.0 million to £125.0 million. Subsequent to the year end the Group has reduced its revolving credit facility to £95.0m, supplemented by a term loan of £30.0m and increased its maximum leverage covenant condition (net debt to Adjusted EBITDA) for the remaining duration of the facility.

 

Net debt increased during the year from £62.8 million to £80.8 million. At 29 July 2016, St Ives had drawn £92.6 million on its bank credit facility, leaving an unutilised commitment of £32.4 million. The Group had cash in hand of £11.8 million.

At 29 July 2016, the ratio of net debt to EBITDA before Adjusting Items was 1.96 times (2015: 1.45 times) as shown below:

 

 

 

 

 

2016

2015

 

 

 

 

 

£'m

£'m

Adjusted profit from operations

 

 

 

 

33.3

35.4

Depreciation and Amortisation

 

 

 

 

7.9

7.9

EBITDA before Adjusting Items

 

 

 

 

41.2

43.3

Net Debt

 

 

 

 

80.8

 62.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to EBITDA before Adjusting Items

 

 

 

      1.96 

1.45

 

 

Brad Gray

 

Chief Financial Officer

4 October 2016

 

 

Consolidated Income Statement

 

52 weeks to 29 July 2016

 52 weeks to 31 July 2015

 

 

Note

Adjusted Results

£'000

Adjusting items

(note 3)

£'000

Statutory Results

£'000

Adjusted Results

£'000

Adjusting items

(note 3)

£'000

Statutory Results

£'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

2

367,546

-

367,546

344,553

-

344,553

Cost of sales

 

(249,730)

-

(249,730)

(229,654)

-

(229,654)

Gross profit

 

117,816

-

117,816

114,899

-

114,899

Selling costs

 

(25,011)

-

(25,011)

(23,569)

(210)

(23,779)

Administrative expenses

 

(59,570)

(33,472)

(93,042)

(56,047)

(23,993)

(80,040)

Share of results of joint arrangements

 

(122)

-

(122)

(88)

-

(88)

Other operating income/(expense)

 

167

(1,651)

(1,484)

180

541

721

Profit/(loss) from operations

 

33,280

(35,123)

(1,843)

35,375

(23,662)

11,713

Pension finance charge

 

-

(972)

(972)

-

(373)

(373)

Other finance costs

 

(2,899)

-

(2,899)

(2,398)

(213)

(2,611)

Profit/(loss) before tax

2

30,381

(36,095)

(5,714)

32,977

(24,248)

8,729

Income tax (charge)/credit

4

(6,322)

3,931

(2,391)

(7,014)

3,841

(3,173)

Net profit/(loss) for the period

 

24,059

(32,164)

(8,105)

25,963

(20,407)

5,556

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders of the parent company

 

24,059

(32,164)

(8,105)

25,963

(20,407)

5,556

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings/(loss) per share
(p)

6

17.61

(23.54)

(5.93)

      20.32

(15.97)

4.35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share (p)

6

17.49

(23.38)

(5.89)

19.82

(15.58)

4.24

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 

52 weeks to
29 July
2016
 £'000

52 weeks to
31 July
2015
 £'000

(Loss)/profit for the period

(8,105)

5,556

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

 

 

Actuarial profit/(loss) on defined benefits pension scheme

83

(19,691)

Tax (charge)/credit on items taken directly to equity

(545)

3,925

 

(462)

(15,766)

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

 

 

Transfer of losses on available for sale financial asset - items reclassified to Consolidated Income Statement

-

1,540

Transfers of losses on cash flow hedges to hedged items

127

60

Losses on cash flow hedges

(302)

(127)

Profit on foreign exchange

409

-

 

234

1,473

Other comprehensive expense for the period

(228)

(14,293)

Total comprehensive expense for the period

(8,333)

(8,737)

 

 

 

Attributable to shareholders of the parent company

(8,333)

(8,737)

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 

Share capital

£'000

Additional paid-in capital**

£'000

ESOP reserve

£'000

Treasury shares

£'000

Share option reserve

 £'000

Hedging and translation reserve

£'000

Other reserves

£'000

Retained earnings

£'000

Total

£'000

Balance at

1 August 2014

12,517

53,234

(11)

(163)

7,199

(34)

60,225

71,575

144,317

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5,556

5,556

Other comprehensive expense

-

-

-

-

-

(67)

(67)

(14,226)

(14,293)

Comprehensive expense

-

-

-

-

-

(67)

(67)

(8,670)

(8,737)

Dividends

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(9,455)

(9,455)

Acquisitions

213

1,731

-

845

-

-

2,576

(917)

1,872

Transfer of share-based contingent consideration deemed as remuneration

144

249

-

956

(4,437)

-

(3,232)

3,810

722

Exchange differences

-

-

-

-

-

528

528

-

528

Purchase of own shares

160

-

(382)

(2,458)

-

-

(2,840)

-

(2,680)

Recognition of share-based payments

55

307

393

-

4,467

-

5,167

1,204

6,426

Tax on share-based payments

-

-

-

-

(456)

-

(456)

345

(111)

Balance at

31 July 2015

13,089

55,521

-

(820)

6,773

427

61,901

57,892

132,882

Loss for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(8,105)

(8,105)

Other comprehensive expense

-

-

-

-

-

234

234

(462)

(228)

Comprehensive expense

-

-

-

-

-

234

234

(8,567)

(8,333)

Dividends

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(10,934)

(10,934)

Issue of shares

775

12,716

(135)

-

-

-

12,581

-

13,356

Acquisitions

365

1,334

-

657

-

-

1,991

(528)

1,828

Recognition of share-based contingent consideration deemed as remuneration

-

-

-

-

5,143

-

5,143

-

5,143

Transfer of share-based contingent consideration deemed as remuneration

-

97

-

-

(3,295)

-

(3,198)

3,382

184

Purchase of own shares

-

-

(395)

-

-

-

(395)

-

(395)

Recognition of share-based payments

-

-

-

-

(236)

-

(236)

-

(236)

Settlement of share-based payments

15

127

530

-

(1,431)

-

(774)

868

109

Tax on share-based payments

-

-

-

-

(231)

-

(231)

255

24

Balance at

29 July 2016

14,244

69,795

-

(163)

6,723

661

77,016

42,368

133,628

                         

** Additional paid-in capital represents share premium, merger reserve and capital redemption reserve. 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

Note

29 July
2016
£'000

31 July
2015
£'000

Assets

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

35,559

48,242

Investment property

 

6,203

-

Goodwill

 

135,633

137,488

Other intangible assets

 

53,234

45,652

Available for sale

 

3

3

Investment in joint arrangement

 

94

109

Deferred tax assets

 

232

139

Other non-current assets

 

374

1,086

 

 

231,332

232,719

Current assets

 

 

 

Inventories

 

7,482

6,579

Trade and other receivables

 

90,761

75,945

Derivative financial instruments

 

-

165

Income tax receivable

 

1,246

-

Asset held for sale

 

1,481

412

Cash and cash equivalents

 

11,835

16,392

 

 

112,805

99,493

Total assets

 

344,137

332,212

Liabilities

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

76,486

71,070

Derivative financial instruments

 

535

4

Income tax payable

 

-

355

Deferred consideration payable

 

1,772

4,879

Deferred income

 

6,206

6,976

Provisions

 

31

408

 

 

85,030

83,692

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

Loans

 

92,595

79,225

Retirement benefits obligations

7

26,394

27,597

Deferred consideration payable

 

-

3,487

Other non-current liabilities

 

814

698

Provisions

 

2,185

1,732

Deferred income

 

-

81

Deferred tax liabilities

 

3,491

2,818

 

 

125,479

115,638

Total liabilities

 

210,509

199,330

Net assets

 

133,628

132,882

Equity

 

 

 

Capital and reserves

 

 

 

Share capital

 

14,244

13,089

Other reserves

 

77,016

61,901

Retained earnings

 

42,368

57,892

Total equity

 

133,628

132,882

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 4 October 2016.   

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

 

Note

52 weeks to
29 July
2016
 £'000

52 weeks to
31 July
2015
 £'000

Operating activities

 

 

 

Cash generated from operations

9

23,650

35,510

Interest paid

 

(2,899)

(2,398)

Income taxes paid

 

(6,286)

(6,595)

Net cash generated from operating activities

 

14,465

26,517

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

(7,124)

(5,542)

Purchase of other intangibles

 

(488)

(533)

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

3,315

4,751

Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

8

(20,937)

(19,854)

Deferred consideration paid for acquisitions made in prior periods

 

(5,790)

(14,626)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(31,024)

(35,804)

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

Proceeds on issue of shares

 

13,356

-

Dividends paid

5

(10,934)

(9,455)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

(395)

(2,680)

Decrease in finance lease obligations

 

-

(28)

Increase in bank loans

 

10,000

24,225

Net cash generated from financing activities

 

12,027

12,062

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(4,532)

2,775

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

 

16,392

12,336

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

 

(25)

1,281

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

9

11,835

16,392

 

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of preparation

The preliminary results have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in the Group's Annual Report and Accounts 2016. The financial information set out in the preliminary results does not comprise statutory accounts for the purpose of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of the period ended 29 July 2016 and 31 July 2015.

The financial information for the period ended 29 July 2016 has been extracted from the Group's 2016 statutory accounts for that period which have been prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by European Union ('IFRS') and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The 2016 statutory accounts will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's 2016 Annual General Meeting. The financial information for the period ended 31 July 2015 has been extracted from the Group's statutory accounts for that period which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Auditor's report on both the Group's 2016 and 2015 statutory accounts were unqualified and did not contain statements under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of the 2016 and 2015 statutory accounts.

2. Segment reporting

The Group manages its business on a market segment basis, based on the Group's internal reporting to the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"). The CODM has been determined to be the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as they are primarily responsible for the allocation of resources to the segments and the assessment of performance of the segments.

The Strategic Marketing segment comprises of the Group's Data, Digital and Insight businesses. The Marketing Activation segment includes businesses, which deliver marketing communications through a combination of print and in-store marketing services. The Books segment comprises of Clays.

Corporate costs are allocated to revenue-generating segments as this presentation better reflects their profitability.

Business segments

 

 

52 weeks to 29 July 2016

 

 

Strategic Marketing
£'000

Marketing Activation
£'000

Books
£'000

Total
£'000

Adjusting items

(18,140)

(15,752)

(1,231)

(35,123)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52 weeks to 31 July 2015

 

 

Strategic Marketing
£'000

Marketing Activation
£'000

Books
£'000

Total
£'000

Revenue

 

 

 

 

External sales

107,084

170,494

66,975

344,553

Group sales

4,639

9,822

28

14,489

Intercompany eliminations

(1,033)

(13,346)

(110)

(14,489)

Total revenue

110,690

166,970

66,893

344,553

 

 

 

 

 

Operating profit before adjusting items

16,340

10,947

8,088

35,375

Adjusting items

(16,983)

(4,719)

(1,960)

(23,662)

Statutory (loss)/profit from operations

(643)

6,228

6,128

11,713

Pension finance charge

 

 

 

(373)

Other finance costs

 

 

 

(2,611)

Statutory profit before tax

 

 

 

8,729

Income tax charge

 

 

 

(3,173)

Statutory net profit for the period

 

 

 

5,556

 

Geographical segments

The Strategic Marketing, Marketing Activation and Books segments operate primarily in the UK, deriving more than 85% of the total revenue from customers located in the UK and 10% of the total revenue from customers located in the US.

The largest customer of the Group accounted for £25.9 million (2015: £30.9 million) of revenue in the current period.

 

3. Adjusting items

Adjusting items disclosed on the face of the Consolidated Income Statement are as follows:

Expense/(income)

2016
£'000

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

2015
£'000

Restructuring items

 

 

 

 

Redundancies and other charges

1,612

 

2,408

 

Costs associated with empty properties

976

 

671

 

 

 

2,588

 

3,079

St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme costs

 

 

 

 

Administrative costs

582

 

562

 

Curtailment credit

(198)

 

-

 

Other

327

 

268

 

 

 

711

 

830

Costs related to acquisitions made in current and prior periods

 

 

 

 

Amortisation of acquired intangibles

9,237

 

7,827

 

Impairment of available for sale asset

-

 

1,540

 

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets

12,712

 

1,470

 

Costs associated with the acquisition and setup of subsidiaries

785

 

686

 

Contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration

8,220

 

6,233

 

(Decrease)/increase in deferred consideration

(781)

 

2,538

 

 

 

30,173

 

20,294

Adjusting items in administrative expenses

 

33,472

 

24,203

Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

1,651

 

(541)

Adjusting items before interest and tax

 

35,123

 

23,662

Net pension finance charge in respect of defined benefits pension scheme

972

 

373

 

Accelerated amortisation of bank arrangement fees

-

 

213

 

 

 

972

 

586

Adjusting items before tax

 

36,095

 

24,248

Income tax credit

 

(3,931)

 

(3,841)

 

 

32,164

 

20,407

The restructuring items in the current period include redundancy costs of £521,000 relating to the Books segment, £574,000 relating to the restructure of the former Print Service segment to Marketing Activation segment and £31,000 of costs related to subsidiaries disposed of in prior periods. During the period, redundancy costs of £486,000 were recorded in the Strategic Marketing segment.

Costs relating to empty properties of £976,000 relate to business that the Group disposed or closed in prior periods and are recorded in the Marketing Activation segment.

The loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment of £1,651,000 relates to the sale of the Group's properties at Bradford and Birmingham. These items are recorded in the Marketing Activation segment.

Charges relating to the amortisation of acquired customer relationships, proprietary techniques and software intangibles of £9,031,000 and £206,000 are recorded in the Strategic Marketing and Marketing Activation segments respectively. Contingent consideration of £8,220,000 in respect of acquisitions required to be treated as remuneration rather than consideration and a credit of £781,000 related to the decrease in consideration in respect of past acquisitions are recorded within the Strategic Marketing segment.

The impairment charge of £12,712,000 includes an impairment to SP Group's goodwill of £10,192,000; Tactical Solutions' goodwill of £2,155,000; and to the customer relationship assets of £365,000. This is due to the decline in revenue from the grocery retail sector and the loss of a customer, resulting in a decline in operating profit. These items are recorded in the Marketing Activation segment.

The Group incurred costs related to the acquisitions of FSP and TAB of £135,000 and £496,000 respectively, together with costs of £60,000 related to acquisitions made in the period. Setup costs of £94,000 relate to new subsidiaries in Shanghai and Dubai. These items are recorded in the Strategic Marketing Segment.

The St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme charges include service costs of £582,000, net pension finance charge of £972,000 and other costs of £327,000 related to the St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme, partially offset by a curtailment credit of £198,000. These items are recorded in the Books segment.

In the current period, the tax credit of £3,931,000 (2015: £3,841,000) relates to the items discussed above.

4. Income tax charge

Income tax charge as shown in the Consolidated Income Statement is as follows:

 

 

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

Total current tax charge:

 

 

Current period

5,468

6,114

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

27

(19)

Total current tax charge

5,495

6,095

Deferred tax on origination and reversal of temporary differences:

 

 

Deferred tax credit

(3,181)

(2,411)

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

77

(511)

Total deferred tax credit

(3,104)

(2,922)

Total income tax charge

2,391

3,173

 

The income tax charge on the (loss)/profit before and after adjusting items is as follows:

 

 

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

Tax charge on adjusted profit before tax

6,322

7,014

Tax credit on adjusting items

(3,931)

(3,841)

Total income tax charge

2,391

3,173

 

 

The charge can be reconciled to the (loss)/profit before tax per the Consolidated Income Statement as follows:

 

 

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

(Loss)/profit before tax

(5,714)

8,729

Tax calculated at a rate of 22.66% (2015: 19.86%)

(1,295)

1,734

Non-deductible charges on impairment of assets

2,469

664

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

2,675

2,564

Effect of tax deductible goodwill

(423)

-

Non-taxable income

-

(363)

Effect of change in UK corporate tax rate

(538)

80

Credit on research and development activities

(214)

-

Other foreign taxes

150

-

Movement in deferred tax on industrial buildings

(430)

(976)

Utilisation of tax losses not previously recognised

(107)

-

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

104

(530)

Total income tax charge

2,391

3,173

 

Income tax credit as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income is as follows:

 

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

United Kingdom corporation tax credit at 20% (2015: 20.67%)

(415)

(479)

Deferred tax on origination and reversal of temporary differences

960

(3,446)

Total income tax credit

545

(3,925)

 

Income tax credit/(charge) as shown in the Statement of Changes in Equity is as follows:

 

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

United Kingdom corporation tax credit at 20% (2015: 20.67%)

255

345

Deferred tax on origination and reversal of temporary differences

(231)

(456)

Total income tax credit/(charge)

24

(111)

 

5. Dividends

 

per share

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

Final dividend paid for the 52 weeks ended 1 August 2014

5.00p

6,590

Interim dividend paid for the 26 weeks ended 30 January 2015

2.25p

2,865

Final dividend paid for the 52 weeks ended 31 July 2015

5.55p

7,515

Interim dividend paid for the 26 weeks ended 29 January 2016

2.35p

3,419

Dividends paid during the period

 

10,934

9,455

Proposed final dividend at the period end of 5.45p per share (2015: 5.55p per share)

5.45p

7,758

 

6. Earnings per share

The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following:

Number of shares

 

 

2016
'000

2015
'000

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share

136,633

127,784

Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares:

 

 

Share options

930

3,232

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share

137,563

131,016

Basic and diluted earnings per share

 

52 Weeks to 29 July 2016

52 Weeks to 31 July 2015

 

 

 

Earnings
£'000

Earnings
per share
pence

Earnings
£'000

Earnings
per share
pence

Earnings and basic earnings per share

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/earnings and basic earnings per share

(8,105)

(5.93)

5,556

4.35

(Loss)/earnings and diluted earnings per share

(8,105)

(5.89)

5,556

4.24

 

Adjusted earnings is calculated by adding back adjusting items, as adjusted for tax, to the profit/(loss) for the period.

7. Retirement benefits

The net obligation in respect of the St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme of £26,394,000 at 29 July 2016 has decreased compared to 31 July 2015 (£27,597,000) primarily due to an increase in plan assets partially offset by a decrease in the discount rate.

8. Acquisition

Fripp, Sandeman and Partners Limited

On 13 August 2015, the Group acquired the entire share capital of Fripp, Sandeman and Partners Limited ('FSP'), a UK-based retail consultancy. The consideration was satisfied in cash and St Ives plc shares.

The provisional allocation of the purchase price payable for FSP is as follows:

 

Fair value adjustments
£'000

Fair value of net assets
£'000

Proprietary techniques

-

893

893

Property, plant and equipment

44

-

44

Software

125

-

125

Trade and other receivables

466

-

466

Bank balances and cash

943

-

943

Trade and other payables

(477)

-

(477)

Provision for repairs on leasehold premises

-

(21)

(21)

Deferred tax liabilities

(3)

(179)

(182)

Net assets acquired

1,098

693

1,791

Goodwill arising on acquisition

 

 

668

Total consideration

 

 

2,459

The fair value of the components of the total consideration payable are as follows:

 

 

 

£'000

Cash consideration paid in the current period

 

 

1,521

Working capital paid in the current period

 

 

779

Total cash paid in the period

 

 

2,300

Fair value of 362,095 St Ives plc ordinary shares allocated from treasury shares as at 13 August 2015

 

 

652

Less consideration treated as deemed remuneration

 

 

(493)

Total consideration

 

 

2,459

Goodwill of £668,000 arising on acquisition reflects future growth opportunities. Goodwill related to FSP is not deductible for tax purposes.

The acquisition had the following impact on investing cash outflows in the current period:

 

 

 

 

£'000

Cash paid

 

 

2,300

Less cash acquired

 

 

(943)

Net cash outflow

 

 

1,357

At the acquisition date, it was estimated that all the trade and other receivables were collectible

The post-acquisition impact of FSP on the Group's revenue and operating profit are as follows:

 

 

2016
£'000

Revenue

2,173

Operating profit

402

 

 

The App Business Limited

The Group acquired 82.16% of total share capital of The App Business Limited ('TAB') on 29 January 2016 and the remaining 17.84% of the total share capital on 8 February 2016. TAB is a UK-based mobile consultancy business.

The provisional allocation of the purchase price payable for TAB is as follows:

 

Historical net assets
£'000

Fair value adjustments
£'000

Fair value of net assets
£'000

Proprietary techniques

-

12,294

12,294

Customer contracts

-

1,192

1,192

Trademark

-

1,073

1,073

Property, plant and equipment

324

-

324

Trade and other receivables

2,494

-

2,494

Bank balances and cash

3,665

-

3,665

Trade and other payables

(1,614)

623

(991)

Provision for repairs on leasehold premises

-

(195)

(195)

Deferred tax liabilities

(62)

(2,440)

(2,502)

Net assets acquired

4,807

12,547

17,354

Goodwill arising on acquisition

 

 

8,378

Total consideration

 

 

25,732

 

At the acquisition date, it was estimated that all the trade and other receivables were collectible.

Goodwill of £8,378,000 arising on acquisition reflects future growth opportunities. Goodwill related to TAB is not deductible for tax purposes.

The fair value of the components of the total consideration payable are as follows:

 

 

 

£'000

 

Cash consideration paid in the current period

 

 

20,402

Working capital paid in the current period

 

 

2,843

Total cash paid in the period

 

 

23,245

Fair value of 3,167,493 St Ives plc ordinary shares issued as at 8 February 2016

 

 

6,801

Working capital payment payable

 

 

873

Less consideration treated as deemed remuneration

 

 

(5,187)

Total consideration

 

 

25,732

Estimated deferred consideration is payable in three tranches and is dependent upon the level of EBITDA achieved by TAB for the years ending 30 April 2016, 30 April 2017 and 30 April 2018. The total consideration payable is capped at £55,000,000 excluding a working capital adjustment of £3,717,000.

The acquisition had the following impact on investing cash outflows in the current period:

 

 

 

£'000

Cash paid

 

 

23,245

Less cash acquired

 

 

(3,665)

Net cash outflow

 

 

19,580

At the acquisition date, it was estimated that all the trade and other receivables were collectible.

The post-acquisition impact of TAB on the Group's revenue and operating profit are as follows:

 

2016
£'000

Revenue

6,532

Operating profit

1,495

 

Had TAB been acquired at the beginning of the current period, it would have had the following incremental impact on the Group's revenue and operating profit in the current period:

 

2016
£'000

Revenue

6,317

Operating profit

1,688

 

9. Notes to the condensed consolidated cash flow statement

Reconciliation of cash generated from operations

 

 

2016
£'000

2015
£'000

(Loss)/profit from continuing operations

(1,843)

11,713

 

 

 

Adjustments for:

 

 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

7,201

7,201

Share of losses from joint arrangement

122

88

Impairment losses

12,712

3,009

Amortisation of intangible assets

10,016

8,690

(Loss)/profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment

1,484

(721)

Share-based payment (credit)/charge

(238)

908

Settlement of share based payments

108

541

Net increase in derivative liabilities

(175)

(67)

Decrease in defined benefits pension scheme obligations

(2,278)

(2,325)

Re-measurement of  deferred consideration

(781)

2,538

Charge for contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration

8,220

6,233

Increase/(decrease) in provisions

55

(409)

Operating cash inflows before movements in working capital

34,603

37,399

Increase in inventories

(880)

(833)

(Increase)/decrease in receivables

(9,579)

6,864

Increase/(decrease) in payables

3,992

(8,077)

(Decrease)/increase in deferred income

(906)

1,132

Net decrease in provision for deemed remuneration

(3,580)

(975)

Cash generated from operations

23,650

35,510

Analysis of net debt

 

 

31 July
2015
£'000

Cash flow
£'000

Foreign exchange losses
£'000

29 July
2016
£'000

Cash and cash equivalents

16,392

(4,533)

(24)

11,835

Bank loans

(79,225)

(10,000)

(3,370)

(92,595)

 

(62,833)

(14,533)

(3,394)

(80,760)

 

Cash and cash equivalents (which are presented as a single class of assets on the face of the balance sheet) comprise cash at bank and other short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less.

The effective interest rates on cash and cash equivalents are based on current market rates.

10. Related parties

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed in this note. No material related party transactions have been entered into during the year, which might reasonably affect the decisions made by the users of these financial statements.

No other executive officers of the Company or their associates had material transactions with the Group during the year.

11. Post balance sheet events

On 28 September 2016, the Company sold the freehold land and building of its Burnley site which, at the balance sheet date, was recorded as an asset held for sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The foregoing contains forward looking statements made by the directors in good faith based on information available to them up to 4 October 2016. Such statements need to be read with caution due to inherent uncertainties, including economic and business risk factors underlying such statement.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
FR FXLLBQBFFFBK