Company Announcements

27 March 2024

JAMES HALSTEAD PLC

INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE HALF-YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Strong H1 profitability and record interim dividend; solid margins and profit performance continue into H2

Key Figures

James Halstead plc, the AIM listed manufacturer and international distributor of floor coverings, announces its results for the six months ended 31 December 2023:

Financial highlights

The Chief Executive, Mr. Mark Halstead, commented:

"Against difficult markets we have raised profits and are confidently growing our export of UK manufactured goods across the globe. Once again, we have declared a record interim dividend to shareholders to reward their continued investment".

Enquiries:

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Trading for the six months ended 31 December 2023

Sales revenue of £136.5 million (2022: £149.6 million) was 8.8% lower than the prior year, primarily due to recessionary pressures in several major markets and delays in the rebuilding of our UK manufactured flooring export markets.

Profit before tax of £27.4 million (2022: £23.2 million) is 18% ahead of the comparative period, driven partly by  higher rates of interest received on cash deposits and more importantly by increased operating profit which was 13.6% ahead of the prior year.

The turnover shortfalls relative to the comparative period were: Europe -15%, Australasia -13% and the UK -5%. The rest of the world showed 4% growth.  The key growth areas were South America (+36%), the Middle East (+26%) and the Mediterranean (+22%).

Lack of availability of raw materials, lack of timely shipping and labour restrictions hampered export of manufactured goods significantly in calendar year 2021 and 2022. However, it is pleasing to see that the various bottlenecks that affected our exports in prior years are now largely cleared and we have been focused on restoring the project pipeline in order to facilitate sales growth in certain markets.

Margins have improved as manufacturing output increased significantly compared to the comparative period, up 62%. Gross margins in all major markets improved as productivity improvements in manufacturing output were realised and with a product shift to higher added value ranges. Exceptions to this general improvement were New Zealand, Malaysia and India where we were not able to fully recoup the added cost of transport of goods to these markets in late 2022 and early 2023 through price increases. However, the transportation cost fell steadily from March 2023 onwards to near normal levels by December 2023.

Our UK businesses (Polyflor and Riverside) fared well with manufacturing efficiencies through increased output more than offsetting the slightly lower sales in the UK. Exports from the UK to our own subsidiaries were much higher than the comparatives (principally Australia, New Zealand and Canada) and will translate into external sales as the stock arrives locally.

The principal area of sales shortfall against the prior year was in the product group of luxury vinyl tiles which was unsurprising given these ranges cross into the domestic consumer market. In the UK our sales model is to supply product in breadth and depth via the distribution trade whilst maintaining sales communication with the end customer and the flooring contractors. Our distribution customers often also supply domestic flooring of which the largest component is historically carpet, where consumer confidence and spending has suffered in recent years. Notwithstanding these difficulties, there is growth in the distribution trade and we continue to focus on this route to our end customers. The polyvinyl solution for flooring continues to increase its share of the market. The durability, cleanability and recyclability of vinyl combined with the cost, design choice and availability are key to the success of our flooring ranges.  

Our German and Central European businesses are operating in an economic climate characterised by great uncertainty. Despite the difficulty in achieving sales, the underlying profit mix is favourable and profit has held up very well. The retail-shop refurbishment market, which has been a core strength, has suffered as many retail chains are facing challenging consumer demand and consequently renovation and new store opening plans are in many cases on hold. Notwithstanding this, we have delivered  several key projects such as the "New Yorker", "Tom Tailor" and "Smyths Toy" store chains across the DACH region alongside projects such as the Papenburg Meyer shipyard, Marseille Airport duty free area and the new Lidl HQ in France. Despite softening demand in the European market, price increases were implemented in early 2023 and the product mix generally improved with higher value commercial ranges generally selling better than the "semi-commercial" / heavy domestic products. Objectflor were the recipients of the German flooring contractors association' (Netzwerk Boden) flooring project of the year for POHA House in Aachen, a listed building converted to living / work accommodation.

Canada faced a difficult trading climate with delayed construction projects and constrained budgets due to inflationary pressures. Nevertheless, like-for-like sales, in local currency, increased by 9%. Key projects such as the renovation of Rexell Pharmacy's stores and the Terra Hill Medical Centre are just two examples of installations in this market. As with other regions, margins improved and the net profit in Canada was over 50% higher (a record level).

Sales in the APAC region were mixed with New Zealand showing a modest growth (4%) in same currency, Malaysia was on a par with the comparative, Australia saw a 9% reduction and China down around 10%. Market conditions in New Zealand were difficult with the housing market facing an almost 40% decline in new builds. Despite this, our business was successful in driving sales into social housing initiatives. Range consolidation to ensure greater stocks in narrower colour/design options is helping to focus the commercial sales team on projects. Australia also faced challenges, most notably in the effects of interest rate rises on consumer confidence and a much decreased level of retail footfall, the latter having an effect on the rate of retail store refurbishment and expansion. In addition, there were delays / deferment of government social housing initiatives. Stock shortages in the early part of the period were also an issue due to the shipping delays of the prior year. Nevertheless Australia and New Zealand continued to supply projects such as the Footscray Hospital in Victoria and the Takanaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth.

We continue to make progress in Malaysia and South Asia. Fresh stock from Polyflor in the UK is starting to bolster margins and orders have been secured from projects not only in Malaysia but also Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

North Asia, notably China, Hong Kong and South Korea continue to fall short of pre pandemic levels of sales as these markets suffered the worst of the supply chain issues from UK manufacturing sites throughout 2021-2022. Our North Asian team are rebuilding customer confidence with several key projects targeted.

Projects such as Nhan Le Kindergarten Hospital and the National Childrens Hospital (both in Vietnam), Sunway Hospital in Selangor, Malaysia and Skol4kds Childcare Centres in Singapore all continue our long association with the region. This can only deepen as The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) free trade agreement progresses to full ratification during 2024. UK manufactured products have always been welcomed in these markets and any trade agreement can only accentuate ongoing trade.

In the rest of the world, we delivered a myriad of projects from the Vox Cinemas in Kuwait to Coomeva Medicina Prepagada in Colombia.

Earnings per share and dividend

Since the start of the financial year we have distributed £24.0 million in dividends and paid corporation taxes of £8.2 million. In addition, capital expenditure over the same period was £2.1 million. The cash inflow from operations at £33.6 million significantly exceeds last year (2022: £22.7 million). Our cash, which stands at £62.4 million as of 31 December 2023 compared with £44.3 million at 31 December 2022, continues to be a key strength.

Having regard to our cash and profitability, we have decided to declare an interim dividend of 2.50p per share (2022: 2.25p), an increase of 11.1%. This dividend will be payable on 14 June 2024 to those shareholders on the register as at 17 May 2024.

Current trading and outlook

The breadth and depth of our projects across the globe continue to drive a diverse sales mix, from the renovation of the Novopecherska Primary school, in Kyiv, Hospital El Salvador, the major hospital in Chile, the UN Offices in Nairobi, Kenya to the Unimed Hospitals in Brazil. The recent disruption to shipping in the Red Sea has, to a degree, lengthened delivery times and increased costs which is complicating exports to our APAC markets and frustrating (to a small degree) the return to pre-pandemic norms for freight in respect of availability and cost.

The shortfall in sales against the comparative in the first six months to 31 December 2023 was largely attributed to lower consumer confidence in major markets and delays in rebuilding supply to export markets. In January and February, sales of manufactured goods are in line with last year's record comparatives and overall, UK activity is showing improved confidence against the last six months. In Europe there is a similar zeitgeist of positive sentiment. Similarly, export markets continue to show positive prospects for growth as our sales teams continue quoting on projects, with our highly regarded ranges of flooring, for timely delivery, around the world.

Margins remain solid and overheads are contained within inflationary parameters. Consequently, the improved first half profitability continues into the early months of the second half of the year. I, and the board, remain confident of making further progress.

Anthony Wild

Chairman

27 March 2024

Consolidated Income Statement

for the half-year ended 31 December 2023

All amounts relate to continuing operations.

Details of dividends paid and declared/proposed are given in note 4.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the half-year ended 31 December 2023

Consolidated Balance Sheet

as at 31 December 2023

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

for the half-year ended 31 December 2023

Notes to the Interim Results

for the half-year ended 31 December 2023

          Equity dividends per share, paid and declared/proposed are as follows: