Braime Ord Regulatory News (BMTO)

Braime Group PLC

("Braime" or the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries the "Group")

Interim Results for the six months ended 30th June 2019

The Company presents its unaudited interims results for the six months ended 30 June 2019:

Performance

Group sales revenue for the first six months of 2019 is down 5.5% to £17.1m compared to £18.1m for the same period in 2018, while profit before tax fell to £1.1m compared to £1.2m for the same period in 2018. Performance for the first half of the year is less than we had hoped for based on our growth in previous years, but it is better than we feared, given the current uncertainties in the global and local economic and political environment. In particular, the USA operation, which is a very significant contributor to Group profitability, has seen a significant softening in the agricultural market, from customers, end users and equipment manufacturers, unprecedented in recent times, caused by the deterioration in US-Sino trade relations.

Dividends

It is the Group's policy to maintain dividend growth, balanced alongside the Group's requirement for investment in capital to support long term growth. The directors have decided to increase the interim dividend to 3.60p per share. This dividend will be paid on 18th October 2019 to the Ordinary and 'A' Ordinary shareholders on the register on the 4th October 2019. The associated ex-dividend date is 3rd October 2019.

Braime Pressings Limited

External sales revenue fell to £1.9m in the first 6 months of 2019, as compared to £2.6m for the same period last year, which had been boosted by an exceptional order, albeit with a low margin. We have continued to improve operating efficiencies and productivity and this has led to a rise in profit for the period to £116,000 from £62,000 for the equivalent period last year. We are continuing to look for further ways to improve efficiencies and we are pleased to report we have recently installed a 190KW solar PV on our property on Hunslet Road, Leeds. This will generate around 25% of our current electricity requirements, and is of course, good for the environment.

4B Division

Our distribution division's external sales revenue fell slightly to £15.2m compared to £15.3m for the same period last year. Intercompany trading rose by 26.8% to £2.9m (£2.3m for the same period in 2018) buoyed up by Brexit preparations. We are pleased to see strong growth in 4B Africa which is 28% above the same period last year. However, the African market is a relatively small proportion of our total market and cannot compensate for the lack of growth experienced elsewhere. Our new subsidiary in China has also been adversely affected by the US-Sino trade wars and will require time before it makes a positive contribution to the Group financially, but we believe it is strategically placed to provide significant long-term growth. Profit for the division for the six-month period was £883,000 as compared to £1.0m for the same period last year. This stems from new costs arising from additional depreciation due to our recent investment our new moulding facilities and the strengthening of some sectors of our management structure, necessary to maintain future growth.

Balance Sheet

Total net assets as at 30th June 2019 amount to £13.9m (30th June 2018 - £11.8m). Inventory has increased by £2.0m when compared to 30th June 2018 and by £1.1m when compared to 31st December 2018, partly due to the Group's contingency planning for Brexit and the slower than expected sales, mentioned above. Trade receivables are in line with the 2018 year end, and reduced compared to 30th June 2018. The increase in long-term borrowings since June 2018 relates primarily to new loans taken up to fund our moulding plant in the USA in the second half of 2018.

Included for the first time in the accounts are a new category of non-current assets called Right of Use (RoU) assets. These arise from the new accounting standard for Leases, IFRS 16, which came into force on 1st January 2019. The standard requires that certain leases, such as property rentals, which were previously accounted for as operating expenses in the profit and loss account, are now capitalised in the balance sheet as RoU assets and then depreciated. However, the changes in the IFRS standard does not have any material impact on the reported operating profit of the Group, because the total cost of operating lease rentals of £103,000 is materially the same as the total depreciation charge on the RoU assets.

Cash flow

Net profit generated after tax was £756,000 compared to £822,000 for the same period last year. However, our Brexit preparations have seen our inventories increase by £1.1m over the six-month period from 31st December 2018, and a corresponding decrease in our trade payables of £381,000. We continue to invest in capital projects, this year adding three new presses in the UK, as well as items of new equipment in our overseas operations. The Group is committed to making further substantial investments and cash flow is expected to remain tight in the second half of the year. The Group continues to operate within its bank facility agreed with HSBC.

As the business continues to expand, the directors remain focused in ensuring that working capital requirements, particularly for stock, are carefully monitored and controlled.

Principal exchange rates

The Group reports its results in sterling, its presentational currency. The Group operates in six other currencies and the average of the principal exchange rates in use during the half year and as at the 30th June 2019 are shown in the table below, along with comparatives.

Key performance indicators

The Group uses the following key performance indicators to assess the performance of the Group as a whole and of the individual businesses:

Notes to KPI's

1. Turnover growth

The Group aims to increase shareholder value by measuring the year on year growth in Group revenue. Revenues are down due to the current global economic climate.

2. Gross margin

Gross profit (revenue less change in inventories and raw materials used) as a percentage of revenue is monitored to maximise profits available for reinvestment and distribution to shareholders. Gross margin is in line with the same period last year.

3. Operating profit

Sustainable growth in operating profit is a strategic priority to enable ongoing investment and increase shareholder value. Despite the fall in revenues, operating profits have improved as a result of the efficient cost control over operating expenses.

4. Stock days

The average value of inventories divided by raw materials and consumables used and changes in inventories of finished goods and work in progress expressed as a number of days is monitored to ensure the right level of stocks are held in order to meet customer demands whilst not carrying excessive amounts which impacts upon working capital requirements. Stock days have increased in part due to contingency planning for Brexit and slower sales take up.

5. Debtor days

The average value of trade receivables divided by revenue expressed as a number of days. This is an important indicator of working capital requirements. Debtor days still average within the standard payment terms of 60 days, and better than the same period last year. Management remain focused on reducing this to improve cash.

Other metrics monitored weekly or monthly include quality measures (such as customer complaints), raw materials buying prices, capital expenditure, line utilisation, reportable accidents and near-misses.

Outlook for the second half of 2019

Last year's very positive economic environment boosted our growth, however this year, indications are that the second half of the year will remain very challenging. This is due to uncertainties surrounding the ongoing trade conflict between the US and China, and the escalating tariff war, which is not only affecting America and China but also reverberating around the global markets, so we do not currently anticipate repeating the strong results seen in the second half of last year.

Closer to home, Brexit remains frustratingly, an unknown quantity. We have prepared as well as any business can under the circumstances, but the actual impact is difficult to ascertain, not just with regards to trading but also to foreign currency fluctuations. As much of our income derives from overseas earnings, a weak sterling will boost reported earnings when retranslated. However, should sterling strengthen significantly, the converse would apply. Depending on the form Brexit finally takes, as a major exporter, the actual event is likely to cause some degree of short-term disruption. However, we consider that as the majority of our sales presence and projected growth is already outside the EU, the long-term effects are unlikely to be significant for the Group.

For further information please contact:

Nicholas Braime/Cielo Cartwright

0113 245 7491

W. H. Ireland Limited

Katy Mitchell

0113 394 6628

Note: The Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at 1st January 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach, comparative information is not restated and the cumulative effect of initially applying IFRS 16 is recognised in retained earnings at the date of initial application. The IFRS does not have any material impact on the reported operating profit of the Group, because the total cost of operating lease rentals of £103,000 is materially the same as the total depreciation charge on the Right of use (RoU) assets.

The foreign currency movements arise on the re-translation of overseas subsidiaries' opening balance sheets at closing rates.

Note: The Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at 1st January 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach, comparative information is not restated and the cumulative effect of initially applying IFRS 16 is recognised in retained earnings at the date of initial application. The impact of IFRS 16 on these accounts is to recognise £311,000 of opening net book value of Right of use (RoU) assets and £334,000 of lease liabilities.

Note: Prior to the adoption of IFRS 16, repayment of lease liabilities were deemed operating as opposed to financing activities.

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The interim financial report has been prepared using accounting policies that are consistent with those used in the preparation of the full financial statements to 31st December 2018 and those which management expects to apply in the Group's full financial statements to 31st December 2019.

This interim financial report is unaudited. The comparative financial information set out in this interim financial report does not constitute the Group's statutory accounts for the period ended 31st December 2018 but is derived from the accounts. Statutory accounts for the period ended 31st December 2018 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors have reported on those accounts. Their audit report was unqualified and did not contain any statements under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

The Group's condensed interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') as adopted for the use in the European Union and in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the accounting policies included in the Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2018, which have been applied consistently throughout the current and preceding periods. The Group has adopted the following new and amended standards as of 1st January 2019.

·; IFRS 16, 'Leases'; effective on or after 1st January 2019.

·; IFRIC Interpretation 23, 'Uncertainty over income tax treatments'; effective on or after 1st January 2019.

·; Amendments to IAS 28, 'Long-term interest in associates and joint ventures'; effective on or after 1st January 2019.

·; IFRS 17, 'Insurance contracts'; effective on or after 1st January 2019.

·; Amendments to IFRS 9, 'Prepayment features with negative compensation'; effective on or after 1st January 2019.

Other than in respect of the application of IFRS 16, the application and interpretations surrounding the other standards has not had a material impact on the Group's reported financial performance or position.

IFRS 16, 'Leases'. This accounting standard became mandatory for financial years commencing on or after 1st January 2019. Under the new standard, an asset (the right to use the leased item, known as Right of use (RoU) asset) and a financial liability to pay rentals are recognised in the balance sheet. The Group currently leases properties, vehicles and software under a series of operating lease contracts which are impacted by the new standard. These types of lease can no longer be recognised as operating leases and have been brought onto the Group's balance sheet from 1st January 2019. The Group has elected to apply permitted 'practical expedients' with respect to the following types of leases: Short-term leases (leases of less than 12 months) and leases with less than 12 months remaining as at 1st January 2019 and leases for which the asset is of low value, have not been included within the scope of the new standard.

The adoption of IFRS 16 affects the reported balance sheet assets and liabilities only. There is no material impact on the reported profit of the Group, as a result of the new standard.

2. Earnings per share and dividends

Both the basic and diluted earnings per share have been calculated using the net results attributable to shareholders of Braime Group PLC as the numerator.

The weighted average number of outstanding shares used for basic earnings per share amounted to 1,440,000 (2018 - 1,440,000). There are no potentially dilutive shares in issue.

3. Cash and cash equivalents

4. Segmental information

In 2019, we revised PLC intercompany charges across the Group to align recharges with the business activity resulting in a larger recharge to 4B division.

For further information please contact: