IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1 February 2018

 

 

THE ALUMASC GROUP PLC - INTERIM RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Alumasc (ALU.L), the premium building products, systems and solutions group, announces interim results for the half year ended 31 December 2017.

 

Financial summary
Half year to 31 December	2017	2016	% change
Headline revenue (£m)	47.8	50.7	-5.9%
Like-for-like revenue (£m)*	47.5	48.4	-1.9%
Underlying operating profit (£m)**	3.6	4.1	-12.7%
Underlying operating margin (%)**	7.6	8.2
Underlying profit before tax (£m)**	3.5	4.1	-13.5%
Statutory profit before tax (£m)	3.0	3.6	-15.7%
Net cash at 31 December (£m)	2.4	5.2
Underlying earnings per share (pence)**	7.9	9.1	-13.2%
Basic earnings per share (pence)	6.9	8.2	-15.9%
Dividends per share (pence)	2.95	2.85	+3.5%

 

^* Like-for-like revenue excludes Scaffold and Construction Products ("SCP"), the business sold by Alumasc on 31 July 2017

^** Underlying profits exclude brand amortisation of £0.1m in both half years, IAS 19 pension costs of £0.3m in both half years; and, in 2017, a gain on disposal of available-for-sale assets of £0.4m (2016: nil), the loss on disposal of SCP of £0.2m (2016: nil) and one-off costs relating to the relocation of Timloc of £0.3m (2016: nil).

 

A full reconciliation of underlying to statutory profit is provided in note 4 to the interim financial statements.

 

Key points

 

·      Satisfactory performance against the background of a flat UK construction market and ongoing input cost inflation. ·      Good growth in Solar shading & architectural screening and Housebuilding & ancillary products, offset by weaker first halves in Roofing & walling and Water management caused in part by contractor delays. ·      As previously guided, group results expected to be more strongly weighted to the second half as a result of large project phasing, particularly in export markets. ·      Management action (selling price increases, purchasing and manufacturing efficiencies) already taken to mitigate impact of cost inflation on H2 margins. ·      Encouraging order books and pipeline with Levolux in particular experiencing strong demand in North America/UK balconies and balustrades. ·      The £8m acquisition of Wade International significantly strengthens Alumasc's position in the water management solutions market and is expected to enhance earnings in the first full year post completion.

 

·      Solar shading & architectural screening increased revenue by 2% to £11.3m, after a slow start to the year, with underlying operating profit (£0.7m) and underlying operating margin (6.5%) ahead of last year.  The value of quotations for new work almost trebled to £25.8m in North America where investment in people is being accelerated to drive faster growth.  

·      Roofing & walling revenue was down 7% to £15.7m with lower underlying operating profit (£0.8m). Underlying operating margins reduced to 5.3% (2016: 8.2%). Alumasc Roofing, where revenues were similar to last year, experienced project delays in part caused by building contractor caution prior to committing to new work.  A delayed large green roof project is expected to complete in H2 and the business is well placed to supply additional roofing refurbishment work in the education sector.  Revenue and profits were significantly lower at Alumasc Facades, reflecting reduced government spending on refurbishment projects and uncertainty following the Grenfell Tower disaster.  H2 performance is expected to improve with sales in England & Wales focused on specification work and continuing government support in Scotland.

·      Water management revenue was down 3% to £15.5m with a consequential reduction in underlying operating profit to £1.5m. Underlying operating margins were to 9.7% (2016: 11.6%). UK revenues at AWMS outperformed UK construction market growth rates. At Gatic, UK revenues were impacted by project delays and H1 was unusually quiet for overseas work.  Operating margins reflect lower Gatic sales and commodity and other input cost pressures across the division. Divisional profitability is expected to improve in H2 as the result of selling price increases, cost savings and internal efficiencies to recover higher costs.  

·      Housebuilding & ancillary products increased revenue by 14% to £5.0m and operating profit by 26% to £0.9m, reflecting Timloc's continued success based on excellent customer service and new products, including its "Above the Roofline" range.  This was achieved during a period when Timloc relocated its two sites to a single, new 85,000 sq ft purpose-built factory in Howden, East Yorkshire, two months ahead of schedule.

 

Paul Hooper, Chief Executive, commented:

"Group order books at 31 January 2018 remain healthy at £25.0 million (31 January 2017: £27.6 million). Enquiries and specifications in the pre-order pipeline remain buoyant across the group and continue to grow strongly at Levolux in particular.

 

"When taken together, the factors set out in this statement suggest an overall outcome for the full year in line with previous expectations.

 

"Alumasc's track record over recent years has been to deliver growth ahead of the UK construction market and the Board has confidence in the future growth prospects for the group, in view of:

 

·      the strategic positioning of our businesses in specialist growth markets;

 

·      the consistent investment over a number of years in growth resources and additional capacity;

 

·      Levolux and Alumasc Water Management's potential to further develop export markets; and

 

·      the acquisition of Wade, a high quality business with development and synergy potential.

 

 

Enquiries:

The Alumasc Group plc	01536 383844
Paul Hooper (Chief Executive) Andrew Magson (Finance Director)
Glenmill Partners Limited	07771 758517

Simon Bloomfield

 

 

REVIEW OF INTERIM RESULTS

 

 

Performance Overview

 

Alumasc's first half performance was satisfactory against a background of flat UK construction market demand and ongoing input cost inflation as well as the anticipated greater second half weighting to the group's financial performance in the current year as a result of large project phasing.

 

On a like-for-like basis, group revenues were 1.9% lower at £47.5 million, with UK revenues ahead by 1% and export revenues down by 18%, largely reflecting the timing of larger projects. Headline group revenues of £47.8 million were 5.9% below the prior first half year, in part reflecting the disposal of the Scaffold and Construction Products ("SCP") business in July 2017.

 

Underlying group operating margins were 7.6% compared with 8.2% in the previous first half year, attributable mainly to the timing of larger export projects at Levolux and Gatic where the marginal profit contribution to overheads generated from this work can be significant. The group has experienced some further input cost inflation which has impacted first half margins, particularly in the group's Roofing & Walling and Water Management divisions. As was the case last year, there is a time lag in the recovery of this cost inflation through a combination of selling price increases, purchasing and manufacturing efficiencies, and management action has already been taken to mitigate the effect in the second half year.

 

As a consequence, underlying operating profit of £3.6 million, underlying profit before tax of £3.5 million and statutory profit before tax of £3.0 million were each around £0.6 million below prior first half year levels.

 

 

Acquisition of Wade International

 

Alumasc is pleased to announce today the acquisition of Wade International, a leading manufacturer and supplier of high quality metal drainage products and access covers with a well-established, premium brand. Wade is a business Alumasc has admired for a number of years and its acquisition represents an excellent strategic fit for the group, extending our Water Management division's ability to offer a wide range of "rain to drain" solutions for the built environment. Wade also extends the export sales capability and potential for this division, particularly to markets in the Middle East.

 

The acquisition consideration was £8.0 million on a net cash/debt free basis, all paid at completion and funded from Alumasc's existing banking facilities. The consideration payable comprises a gross consideration of £14 million, subject to any completion accounts adjustments, and Alumasc will benefit from net cash held at Wade of approximately £6 million. In its last full financial year to 30 June 2017, Wade generated revenues of £5.7 million and reported profit before tax of £1.4 million from capital invested of £3.2 million. The gross assets of the business at 30 June 2017 were £12.4 million. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in the first full year post-completion.

 

Wade owns and occupies a circa 52,000 sq ft freehold property in Halstead, Essex, with space for expansion. This additional capacity will be valuable in the broader planning for the relocation of Alumasc Water Management Solutions over the next 2-3 years in the Kettering Area. Wade employs 56 managers and staff who will remain with the business post-acquisition. Prior to acquisition by Alumasc the business was privately owned by Mr. Ralph Thomas.

 

Whilst detailed business plans are still evolving at this stage, the Board believes that the medium term synergistic benefits of developing the Wade business as part of Alumasc's broader Water Management division will be significant.

 

 

Strategic development and future growth potential

 

The majority of Alumasc businesses have consistently outperformed their underlying markets in recent years and have the potential to continue to do so. This reflects their strong strategic positioning, where over 80% of revenues relate to products, systems and solutions required by building regulations and/or specified by architects or engineers because of the performance attributes provided. In addition, Levolux, Gatic, the Harmer drainage brand within Alumasc Water Management Solutions ("AWMS") and now Wade have further growth potential through export sales development.

 

Further, over 90% of group sales relate to one or more of the group's long term strategic growth drivers:

 

1.     Energy management in buildings:

Levolux, Alumasc Facades

 

2.     Water management in the built environment:

Alumasc Roofing, AWMS, Wade, Gatic, Timloc

 

3.     The provision of bespoke architectural solutions:

Levolux, Alumasc Roofing, Alumasc Facades, AWMS, Wade, Gatic

 

4.     Process efficiency in building and construction:

Levolux, Alumasc Facades, Timloc

 

In the first half of this financial year Alumasc Water Management Solutions and Timloc continued to outperform UK construction market growth and we anticipate that, with the benefit of projects in the order book and pipeline, Levolux, Alumasc Roofing and Gatic will recover their track record of doing so.

 

The Board has increasing confidence in the revenue and operating margin growth potential for Levolux, particularly the progress being achieved in its relatively new business streams in North America and for bespoke balconies and balustrading solutions in the UK, where enquiry and specification levels are advancing rapidly in both areas. We estimate that the size of the potential market that Levolux serves now exceeds £250 million, over four times the size of Levolux's original solar shading market in the UK. Consequently, we have decided to expand Levolux's sales representation in North America by 50% in the coming months, thereby accelerating investment in this area by a year compared with previous plans.

 

The acquisition of Wade, which has a strong presence in surface drainage both inside and outside buildings, will dovetail well with the roof drainage and through the building drainage strengths of AWMS, and with Gatic's civil drainage business which is targeted more at external, higher capacity applications including car parks, landscaped areas, ports and airports. With a strong presence in stainless steel drainage and a strong bespoking capability, Wade also extends Alumasc's reach into a wider range of end use markets including the food/catering and pharmaceuticals sectors and into export markets, particularly the Middle East.

 

Acquiring high quality businesses which complement and enhance the group's existing portfolio and which offer the opportunity to drive value enhancing synergies is a key element of Alumasc's strategy and Wade is an excellent example of this. The group will continue to explore opportunities and has the financial strength to pursue acquisitions where the rationale is compelling.

 

 

Operational review

 

Solar shading & architectural screening

Revenue: £11.3 million; (2016/17: £11.1 million)

Underlying operating profit: £0.7 million; (2016/17: £0.6 million)

Underlying operating margin: 6.5%; (2016/17: 5.7%)

 

After a slow start to the financial year, Levolux's trading momentum grew strongly in the second quarter resulting in a first half year result where revenues, profits and margins were all ahead of a year ago.

 

The business is benefiting from recent investments in UK and international sales resources, project and operations management capability and information technology to grow revenues, improve project execution efficiency and operating margins.

 

Levolux is now well placed to benefit increasingly from recent and expected order book growth in both the North American and Balconies and Balustrading businesses. This is anticipated to have a positive effect on margin development, including from currency translation benefits and further operational gearing. As described above, we are accelerating investment in people to seek to drive faster growth in North America. In the first-half of the current financial year, the value of quotations for new work in North America amounted to £25.8 million, compared with £9.1 million in the prior first half year.

 

Roofing & walling

Revenue: £15.7 million; (2016/17: £16.9 million)

Underlying operating profit: £0.8 million; (2016/17: £1.4 million)

Underlying operating margin: 5.3%; (2016/17: 8.2%)

 

After a strong start to the year, Alumasc Roofing's revenues for the half year were similar to the prior first half year, with a number of project delays experienced through the Autumn, including a large green roof project now expected to complete in the second half year. Building contractors are being cautious in pricing and committing to new work in view of industry wide installation labour constraints and cost inflation risks, leading to a number of delays, despite the underlying levels of demand evidenced by enquiry and specification levels remaining robust. The combination of project delays and cost inflation pressures impacted first half margins, and this is being addressed through a combination of selling price increases, purchasing and other cost savings. The business is well placed to supply a higher number of projects for roofing refurbishment work in the education sector than was the case a year ago, and this work is currently expected to commence in the final quarter of the financial year.

 

Revenues and profits at Alumasc Facades were significantly below prior half year levels, reflecting further reduced government funding for refurbishment projects and uncertainties across the wider industry following the Grenfell tower disaster. The business was restructured in July, saving £0.3 million p.a. in overhead costs. The sales team has been re-organised, particularly in England & Wales, to focus on driving specification sales working in conjunction with the technical sales team in our roofing business, in seeking to offset the lower level of government funding for refurbishment projects. Government funding support remains available in Scotland, however the phasing of the latest tranche of work is more second half biased this financial year. Therefore, we anticipate an uplift in the second half performance of this business. 

 

Water management

Revenue: £15.5 million; (2016/17: £15.9 million)

Underlying operating profit: £1.5 million; (2016/17: £1.9 million)

Underlying operating margin: 9.7%; (2016/17: 11.6%)

 

UK revenues in AWMS grew ahead of UK construction market growth rates, benefiting from increased specification sales and system selling across the "rain to drain" range. The principal route to market for this business is via building distribution, where demand patterns have been more even and predictable than has been the case in other parts of the group where sales are made direct to building contractors.

 

Gatic's UK revenues fell below expectations due to project delays which, as with Alumasc Roofing, appears to have been at least in part attributable to the pace at which installing contractors were prepared to take on new work. After record export sales in the prior year, Gatic had an unusually quiet first half year for overseas work. Export specification levels remain buoyant and we are focused on converting these into further orders and sales in the second half year. However, any further significant project slippage in this area would present a risk to the group's full year performance expectations.

 

Divisional operating margins were impacted by a combination of the lower sales at Gatic and commodity and other input cost pressures across the division. The latter included the annualised effect of previously reported galvanised steel price rises in the prior year impacting Gatic that could not be recovered; the EU customs duty imposed effective August 2017 on certain of Gatic's imported cast iron products; higher aluminium costs; and currency-led inflation on imported materials.

 

Together with purchasing initiatives and internal efficiencies, AWMS should benefit from an increase in list prices effective 1 January 2018 and Gatic has also increased project pricing to recover the higher input costs. As was the case last year, we expect divisional profitability to improve in the second half year as a result.

 

Housebuilding & ancillary products

Revenue: £5.0 million; (2016/17: £4.4 million)

Underlying operating profit: £0.9 million; (2016/17: £0.7 million)

Underlying operating margin: 17.4%; (2016/17: 15.8%)

 

Timloc continues to outperform the growing UK new housebuilding market and again grew revenues and profits to new records, benefiting from continued excellent customer service levels and new products including the "Above the Roofline" range launched last year. Like AWMS, Timloc also sells principally via both national and independent builders merchants.

 

The excellent customer service record was maintained during a period where Timloc relocated from its two previous sites to a single, new build 85,000 sq ft leased factory in Howden in East Yorkshire, a couple of months ahead of schedule. This relocation will enable the business to further expand and will provide additional manufacturing capacity and flexibility.

 

 

Financial review

 

The group incurred a net cash outflow of £3.7 million in the six months to 31 December 2017 (£3.4 million outflow in the prior first half year), largely reflecting the usual seasonality of working capital movements, including a £0.6 million investment in inventory to mitigate cost inflationary pressures, and the £1.0 million year to date cash investment in the new Timloc factory.

 

As a result, the group's net cash resources at 31 December 2017 were £2.4 million (31 December 2016: £5.2 million, 30 June 2017: £6.1 million) and the rolling annual average ratio of trade working capital as a percentage of sales revenues increased to 12.3% compared with 10.4% a year ago. We expect this ratio to at least partly recover in the second half year in view of the anticipated phasing of group results and as the recent investment in inventories begins to unwind.

 

The group's post-tax pension liability remained unchanged at £17.1 million compared with 30 June 2017, with company cash contributions and income from investments offset by an actuarial loss of £1.4 million arising from a further reduction in AA corporate bond yields used to discount liabilities for future pension payments to present values. Shareholders' funds were £20.2 million at 31 December 2017 (30 June 2017: £20.4 million) with retained profits in the period more than offset by the pension scheme actuarial loss.

 

After the acquisition of Wade, Alumasc retains a strong balance sheet with headroom against its committed banking facilities.

 

 

Outlook and dividend

 

Group order books at 31 January 2018 remain healthy at £25.0 million (31 January 2017: £27.6 million).

 

Enquiries and specifications in the pre-order pipeline are buoyant across the group and continue to grow strongly at Levolux in particular.

 

When taken together, the factors set out in this statement suggest an overall outcome for the full year in line with previous expectations.

 

Alumasc's track record over recent years has been to deliver growth ahead of the UK construction market and the Board has confidence in the future growth prospects for the group, in view of:

 

·      the strategic positioning of our businesses in specialist growth markets;

 

·      the consistent investment over a number of years in growth resources and additional capacity;

 

·      Levolux and Alumasc Water Management's potential to further develop export markets; and

 

·      the acquisition of Wade, a high quality business with development and synergy potential.

 

 

Accordingly, the Board has decided to increase the interim dividend by 3.5% from 2.85 pence per share to 2.95 pence per share. This dividend will be paid on 6 April 2018 to shareholders on the register on 2 March 2018.

 

Paul Hooper, Chief Executive

1 February 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the half year to 31 December 2017

 

 

			Half year to 31 December 2017				Half year to 31 December 2016		Year to 30 June 2017
				(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)		(Audited)
	Notes			£'000			£'000		£'000
Revenue	5			47,773			50,743		104,761
Cost of sales				(33,070)			(34,898)		(72,022)
Gross profit				14,703			15,845		32,739
Net operating expenses				(11,330)			(11,837)		(23,864)
Operating profit	5			3,373			4,008		8,875
Finance expenses	6			(334)			(403)		(752)
Profit before taxation				3,039			3,605		8,123
Tax expense	7			(588)			(704)		(1,583)
Profit for the period				2,451			2,901		6,540
Other comprehensive income:
Items that will not be recycled to profit or loss:
Actuarial loss on defined benefit pensions, net of tax				(1,158)			(1,613)		(792)
Items that are or may be recycled subsequently to profit or loss:
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax				54			(16)		170
Exchange differences on retranslation of foreign operations				(11)			41		34
				43			25		204
Other comprehensive loss for the period, net of tax				(1,115)			(1,588)		(588)
Total comprehensive profit for the period, net of tax				1,336			1,313		5,952
Earnings per share:				Pence			Pence		Pence
Basic earnings per share	10			6.9			8.2		18.3
Diluted earnings per share	10			6.7			8.0		18.0

 

Reconciliations of underlying to statutory profits and earnings per share are provided in notes 4 and 10 respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

at 31 December 2017

 

	31 December	31 December	30 June
	2017 (Unaudited)	2016 (Unaudited)	2017 (Audited)
	£'000	£'000	£'000
Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment	6,743	5,202	5,315
Goodwill	16,488	16,488	16,488
Other intangible assets	2,286	2,459	2,364
Available-for-sale assets	-	17	17
Deferred tax assets	3,509	3,915	3,501
	29,026	28,081	27,685
Current assets
Inventories	10,749	10,613	10,508
Trade and other receivables	18,870	20,803	22,459
Cash and cash equivalents	5,344	6,109	9,014
Derivative financial assets	4	-	-
	34,967	37,525	41,981
Total assets	63,993	65,606	69,666
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Interest bearing loans and borrowings	(2,953)	(923)	(2,938)
Employee benefits payable	(20,639)	(23,031)	(20,596)
Provisions	(861)	(898)	(890)
Deferred tax liabilities	(529)	(446)	(595)
	(24,982)	(25,298)	(25,019)
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables	(18,057)	(22,326)	(23,497)
Provisions	(166)	(514)	(157)
Corporation tax payable	(539)	(534)	(494)
Derivative financial liabilities	-	(289)	(62)
	(18,762)	(23,663)	(24,210)
Total liabilities	(43,744)	(48,961)	(49,229)
Net assets	20,249	16,645	20,437
Equity
Called up share capital	4,517	4,517	4,517
Share premium	445	445	445
Capital reserve - own shares	(526)	(640)	(541)
Hedging reserve	3	(237)	(51)
Foreign currency reserve	73	91	84
Profit and loss account reserve	15,737	12,469	15,983
Total equity	20,249	16,645	20,437

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

for the half year to 31 December 2017

 

		Half year to	Half year to	Year to
		31 December	31 December	30 June
		2017 (Unaudited)	2016 (Unaudited)	2017 (Audited)
	Notes	£'000	£'000	£'000
Operating activities
Operating profit		3,373	4,008	8,875
Adjustments for:
Depreciation		504	474	958
Amortisation		186	206	425
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		(6)	-	(2)
Loss on disposal of business		218	-	-
Gain on disposal of available-for-sale assets		(426)	-	-
Increase in inventories		(650)	(375)	(270)
Decrease/(increase) in receivables		2,778	(1,044)	(2,700)
Decrease in trade and other payables		(5,262)	(3,098)	(1,994)
Movement in provisions		(20)	(130)	(585)
Cash contributions to retirement benefit schemes		(1,601)	(1,542)	(3,200)
Share based payments		-	50	157
Cash (absorbed)/generated by operating activities		(906)	(1,451)	1,664
Tax paid		(392)	(201)	(800)
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities		(1,298)	(1,652)	864
Investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(1,784)	(476)	(909)
Payments to acquire intangible fixed assets		(108)	(11)	(147)
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment		6	-	4
Net proceeds from sale of business activity		677	-	-
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale assets		443	-	-
Net cash outflow from investing activities		(766)	(487)	(1,052)
Financing activities
Interest paid		(69)	(35)	(120)
Equity dividends paid		(1,538)	(1,349)	(2,368)
Draw down of amounts borrowed		-	-	1,000
Repayment of amounts borrowed		-	(1,000)	-
Exercise of share based incentives		12	51	116
Net cash outflow from financing activities		(1,595)	(2,333)	(1,372)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(3,659)	(4,472)	(1,560)
Net cash and cash equivalents brought forward		9,014	10,540	10,540
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(3,659)	(4,472)	(1,560)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes		(11)	41	34
Net cash and cash equivalents carried forward	11	5,344	6,109	9,014