WALG.L Regulatory News (WALG)

Walcom Group Ltd - Half-year Report

PR Newswire

London, September 18

18 September 2018

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR")

WALCOM GROUP LIMITED(“Walcom” or “the Company”)

Half-yearly results for the six months ended 30 June 2018

Walcom is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2018. These results are also available from the Company’s website at www.walcomgroup.com.

Further enquiries:

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

On behalf of the board of directors (the “Board”), I am pleased to present the Company’s half-yearly results for the six months ended 30 June 2018.

Introduction

During the first six months of the year the economy in China remained slow and the overall performance of the pig farming industry had not improved due to low pig farmgate prices. The Group’s revenue decreased by 2 per cent compared with the same period last year. Due to the provision for a bad debt of HK$7.9 million and the continuing increase in production costs and operating expenses, the Group incurred a loss per share for the period of HK Cents 15.21 compared with a loss per share of HK Cents 5.03 in the same period last year.

Results for the Period

The Group generated revenues of HK$19.2 million during the period (June 2017: HK$19.6 million) and gross profits of HK$10.5 million (June 2017: HK$11.0 million), representing a decrease of 2 per cent and 5 per cent respectively compared with the same period last year. The gross profit margin decreased by approximately 1.8 per cent to 54.6 per cent (June 2017: 56.4 per cent) due to the increase in the production costs which were incurred in Renminbi and the monthly average exchange rate of Renminbi against Hong Kong Dollar which appreciated by 7.6 per cent during the period under review compared with the same period last year. During the period under review, the Group made a provision for bad debt of HK$7.9 million on a trade receivable from its largest customer in China (June 2017: nil). This was the primary contributor to the Group’s net loss increasing by 201 per cent to HK$10.12 million (June 2017: HK$3.36 million), without this, the Group had an improved loss of HK$1.72 million at the EBITDA level, a decrease of 41 per cent over the same period last year (June 2017: HK$2.92 million).

Review of Activities and Market

Compared to the same period last year, the monthly average exchange rate of Renminbi strengthened against the Hong Kong Dollar by 7.6 per cent during the period under review. While reporting in Hong Kong Dollar, this currency advantage in sales was set off by the decrease of 10 per cent in the quantity of sales in China, which resulted in the sales turnover in the PRC decreasing by 6 per cent to HK$10.2 million compared with the same period last year (June 2017: HK$10.8 million). Overseas sales remained relatively stable, increasing slightly by 2 per cent to HK$8.9 million compared with same period last year (June 2017: HK$8.7 million).

The Group’s largest customer in China, which is a sizable listed company, experienced a number of problems which, combined with adverse developments in the capital market during the first half year of 2018, resulted in trading in its shares being suspended on the Chinese stock exchange. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to demand payment of the overdue debt, the Group started legal proceedings against the customer to recover the debt and the Group has made a full provision of the trade receivable (HK$7.9 million) for prudence. Following the commencement of legal proceedings, there has been positive progress with the customer paying a small sum towards the outstanding debt and engaging in negotiations for a payment plan with the Company. The Board is, therefore, hopeful that the trade receivable might be recoverable.

The pig farmgate price in China continued to drop during the first five months of 2018 and, as a result, the pig numbers had not increased to its previous level. This being the case, the demand for feedstuff remained weak. Belatedly, the pig farmgate price has started to rise, although slowly, since June this year. Since August 2018, an epidemic African swine fever on pigs has happened in some provinces in northern China. Emergency measures have been taken which restricted the trafficking of pigs among different provinces in the country. As a result, the pig farmgate price in the unaffected provinces, which are the principal regions where the Group operates, has risen significantly. If the rise in the pig price continues in the remaining months of this year, it is forecasted that the pig numbers in those regions which are not affected by the swine fever will increase during the second half of 2018. This will have a positive impact on the animal feed market which in turn will likely benefit the operating results of the Group.

The Group’s major sales effort remained focused on increasing sales penetration into the Group’s existing larger customers which have low usage and also those integrated meat producing companies whose businesses include feed milling, pig farming, pig slaughtering and pork product production. Initial positive results were achieved in the first half of 2018, although this effort was undermined by the weakening pig farming industry as mentioned above. With the prospect of an improvement in the industry in the second half of the year, the Board is hopeful for an increase in the Group’s sales.

The Group’s overall overseas sales improved by 2 per cent compared with last year. 

Sales in Thailand remained the main contributor, which presented 91 per cent of the Group’s overseas sales (June 2018: HK$8.1 million; June 2017: HK$7.9 million).

The Korean market remained weak during the period under review and sales decreased by 9 per cent to HK$0.70 million (June 2017: HK$0.77 million).

Outlook

While the structural transformation of the Chinese economy continues, which has resulted in slower growth over the past few years, the recent China-US trade war has added further uncertainty to the Chinese economy. Although the Chinese economy has recently shown some recovery in sectors like the service industry, the expected interest rate hike in the United States and the recent devaluation of Renminbi are expected to have an adverse impact on its growth. This will affect the domestic consumer market and the negative impact could be passed on to the Group’s sales in the PRC market.

Frankie Y. L. Wong

Chairman

18 September 2018

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT 30 JUNE 2018

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

(1) BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting policies consistent with International Financial Reporting Standards and in accordance with International Accounting Standard (IAS) 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation are followed in these unaudited consolidated financial statements as were applied in the preparation of the group’s financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017 except for those that relate to new standards and interpretations effective for the first time for periods beginning on (or after) 1 January 2018, and will be adopted in the 2018 annual financial statements.

The following new standards and interpretations became effective on 1 January 2018 and have been adopted by the group:

On 1 January 2018, the Group has performed an assessment on the impact of the adoption of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 respectively and concluded that no material financial impact exists, and therefore no adjustment to the opening balance of equity at 1 January 2018 was recognised.

For the six months ended 30 June 2018, impairment based on the expected credit loss model on the group’s trade receivables of HK$7,899,419 have been made.

(2) SEGMENT REPORTING

(a) Primary reporting format - Geographical Segment

The group’s operations are mainly located in Hong Kong, PRC, Thailand. The group’s sales revenue by geographical location of customers are analysed as follows:

(b) Secondary reporting format - Business Segment

The Group is principally engaged in the manufacture, distribution and sale of chemical feed and additive products. All of the group’s products are of a similar nature and subject to similar risk and returns. Accordingly, the group’s activities are attributable to a single business segment and no business segment analysis is presented.

(c) Segment assets by geographical location of assets

(3) REVENUE

Revenue represents the sales value of goods supplied to the customers less returns, discounts, value added tax and sales taxes.

(4) OTHER INCOME

(5) OPERATING (LOSS) / PROFIT

Operating (loss) / profit is stated after charging the following items:-

(6) NET FINANCE (EXPENSES)/ INCOME

(7) INCOME TAX EXPENSE

No provision for Hong Kong Profits Tax has been made (June 2017: HK$nil; 2017: HK$nil) as the group’s assessable profit subject to Hong Kong profits tax for the period is fully set-off by tax loss brought forward from last year.

Taxation on overseas profits has been calculated on the estimated assessable profit for the period/year at the rate of taxation prevailing in the countries in which the group companies operate. The overseas income tax provided for the six months ended 30 June 2018 is HK$205,131 (June 2017: HK$112,609; 2017: HK$92,639).

(8) LOSS PER SHARE

The calculation of the basic loss per share for the six months ended 30 June 2018, is based on the loss attributable to ordinary equity shareholders of the company of HK$10,469,044 (June 2017: HK$3,458,992; 2017: HK$4,341,039) during the period and the weighted average number of 68,834,388 ordinary shares (June 2017: 68,834,388; 2017: 68,834,388) in issue during the period/year. No diluted loss per share is to be reported for the period/year.

(9) DIVIDENDS

No payment of dividend was recommended for the first six months of 2018 (June 2017: HK$ nil; 2017: HK$nil).

(10) TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

(a) All trade and other receivables are expected to be recovered within one year.

(b) Impairment of trade receivables

The movement in the provision of impairment for doubtful debts during the period/year, including both specific and collective loss components, is as follows:

At 30 June 2018, the Group’s trade receivables of HK$7,899,419 (June 2017: HK$508,758, 2017: HK$508,758) have been outstanding for a certain period of time. The management assessed that only a portion of the receivables is expected to be recoverable. Consequently, specific allowance for doubtful debts was recognised for the individually impaired receivables. 

The Group does not hold any collateral over these balances.

(11) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

(12) SHARE CAPITAL

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. All ordinary shares rank equally with regard to the Company’s residual assets.

(13) TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

All of the trade and other payables are expected to be settled within one year.

(14) BANK BORROWINGS

(15) RECONCILIATION OF LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX TO EBITDA

EBITDA is defined herein as earnings before depreciation, amortization, interest and tax, plus specific charges which are considered non-recurring in nature. Specific charges include impairment loss in value and gain/loss in disposal of non-current assets, and amortization of fair value of share-based compensation. EBITDA is not a recognised term under generally accepted accounting principles and does not purport to be an alternative to net income as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

(16) COPIES OF THE HALF YEARLY REPORT

Copies of the half-yearly report will be available shortly from the Company’s website www.walcomgroup.com .