Nichols plc Regulatory News (NICL)

6 Aug 2008 07:00



Nichols plc

INTERIM RESULTS

"2008 is Vimto's Centenary Year"

Nichols plc, the soft drinks group, announces its Interim results for the six months to 30 June 2008.

The group is a highly focused soft drinks and dispensed cold drinks business, comprising two operations: 

1. Soft Drinks (sales and marketing of the Vimto brand throughout the world, where it is now available in over 65 countries and of the Panda & Sunkist brands in the UK).

2. Dispense Systems (namely the Cabana, Beacon & Cariel cold soft drinks on draught 'dispense' businesses)

Highlights:

Group profit before tax up 15.5%

Group sales up 5.0%

EPS (basic) up 16.4%

Interim dividend up 7.1% to 3.75 pence per share (2007: 3.50 pence)

Core brand - Vimto - grew its market share again, particularly in carbonates and ready to drink

International sales of Vimto continued to grow strongly

Dispense Operation: revenues up 4% and profitability approaching acceptable levels

New Group Finance Director - Taylor Purkis - joined in July 2008

Further solid progress expected for the full year

Commenting John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman, said:

"The economic uncertainty is obviously set to continue and at this stage we can see no real signs of improvement, however, we remain optimistic but cautious that we are doing the right things in a very tough market. We believe our core brand of Vimto will continue to perform well and grow, both organically and in new international markets. In addition, we expect our Dispense Systems Operation to continue to strengthen and improve its market share and profitability. In overall terms we therefore expect to show further, solid progress in the full year".

Chairman's Statement

I am extremely pleased to report, once again, we have made further progress in the first half of 2008. This progress is despite the ongoing highly competitive nature of the UK soft drinks market and the general consumer and economic uncertainty experienced so far this year.

Results

Sales at £29.2 million are 5.0% up on last year (2007: £27.8 million), with profit before tax up 15.5% at £3.20 million (2007: £2.77 million).

The group also increased its cash position to £6.24 million at the end of June 2008 (2007: £5.82 million).

Earnings per share (basic) increased by 16.4% to 6.32 pence (2007: 5.43 pence). 

Soft Drinks Operation

The weather over recent months has been changeable and general market conditions remained very challenging, with heavy promotional activity again being a key feature of the first half. Despite this, I am pleased to report that our core Vimto brand has continued to grow its market share, particularly in the carbonate and ready to drink sectors.

The Panda brand has not performed well in the first half of 2008, primarily driven by the decline in the 'Kids Carbonate' market and a number of multiple retailers moving away from single bottles into multi-packs. This move has resulted in less space being allocated to the Panda brand. We are reviewing our multi-pack options for the second half, but this is unlikely to mitigate the volume decline in the current year.

Along with the rest of the soft drinks industry, we have also experienced input cost inflation on a number of raw materials and packaging items, however, our focus on value along with tight control of marketing expenditure, has enabled us to maintain our overall margin.

Internationally, the Vimto brand has once again performed well, particularly in the Middle East, where sales of concentrate were ahead in the first half due to the earlier timing of Ramadan. 

In overall terms, we are currently on track to deliver further growth in the full year from our Soft Drinks Operation.

Dispense Systems Operation

Our Dispense Systems business is now firmly positioned as the third largest player in this sector and with its turnaround complete, we have seen some of the planned financial benefits in the first half. 

In revenue terms we are 4% ahead year on year, despite the higher proportion of distributor sales made under the new 'external distributor model'. Overheads are also lower and profitability is now approaching acceptable levels. 

Dividend

This is our sixth consecutive year of improved Interim profits which, combined with our strong cash position and our confidence in the future, means the Board has approved a 7.1% increase in the Interim dividend to 3.75 pence per share (2007: 3.50 pence). 

The Interim dividend will be paid on the 3 September 2008 to shareholders registered on the 15 August 2008. 

Board Change

In our AGM Statement made on 14 May 2008 we announced the appointment of Taylor Purkis as Group Finance Director. Taylor (40), who joined us in July, is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and was previously the Finance Director of the European operations of Energizer Inc., a global branded consumer goods company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. On behalf of the Board, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Taylor and wish him well in his new position.

Outlook

The uncertainty around the general economic and consumer environment has obviously continued into the second half of 2008. At this stage we can see no real signs of improvement and therefore we remain optimistic but cautious that we are fundamentally doing the right things in a challenging market.

We believe our core brand of Vimto will continue to perform well despite difficult market conditions and we anticipate both organic and new market growth internationally. Meanwhile, our Dispense Systems Operation continues to strengthen and improve its market share and profitability.

In overall terms we therefore expect the group to show further, solid progress in the full year.

John Nichols

Non-Executive Chairman

6 August 2008

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSE

NOTES

1. Basis of Preparation

The financial information set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2007, prepared under IFRS, have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.

The interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and on the same basis and using the same accounting policies as used in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2007. The interim financial statements have not been audited or reviewed in accordance with the International Standard on Review Engagement 2410 issued by the Auditing Practices Board.

2. Dividends

The interim dividend of 3.75p (2007: 3.50p) will be paid on 3 September 2008 to shareholders registered on 15 August 2008.

3. Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares in issue in the six months to 30 June 2008 of 36,844,393 (six months to 30 June 2007 of 36,905,548 and 12 months to 31 December 2007 of 36,602,810).

Cautionary Statement

This interim management report has been prepared solely to provide additional information to shareholders to assess the group's strategies and the potential for those strategies to succeed. The interim management report should not be relied on by any other party or for any other purpose.

- ENDS -