ADVFN Logo ADVFN

We could not find any results for:
Make sure your spelling is correct or try broadening your search.

Trending Now

Toplists

It looks like you aren't logged in.
Click the button below to log in and view your recent history.

Hot Features

Registration Strip Icon for alerts Register for real-time alerts, custom portfolio, and market movers

SIV Sivota Plc

32.50
0.00 (0.00%)
18 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Sivota Plc LSE:SIV London Ordinary Share GB00BMH30492 ORD GBP0.01
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 32.50 30.00 35.00 32.50 32.50 32.50 0.00 01:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Investors, Nec 5.92M -3.2M -0.2542 -1.28 4.09M

St. Ives PLC Final Results (5703L)

04/10/2016 7:00am

UK Regulatory


Sivota (LSE:SIV)
Historical Stock Chart


From Apr 2019 to Apr 2024

Click Here for more Sivota Charts.

TIDMSIV

RNS Number : 5703L

St. Ives PLC

04 October 2016

4 October 2016

ST IVES plc

Full Year Results for the 52 weeks ended 29 July 2016.

St Ives plc, the international marketing services group, announces preliminary results for the

52 weeks ended 29 July 2016.

Financial Highlights

 
                                      52 weeks   52 weeks 
                                            to         to 
                                       29 July    31 July     %age 
                                          2016       2015   change 
-----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
Revenue                              GBP367.5m  GBP344.6m      +7% 
Adjusted* profit before tax           GBP30.4m   GBP33.0m      -8% 
Adjusted* basic earnings per share      17.61p     20.32p     -13% 
Statutory (loss)/profit before 
 tax                                 GBP(5.7)m    GBP8.7m        - 
Basic (loss)/earnings per share        (5.93)p      4.35p        - 
Full year dividend                       7.80p      7.80p        - 
Net debt                              GBP80.8m   GBP62.8m 
-----------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
 

* Adjusted profit before tax and adjusted basic earnings exclude Adjusting Items. Adjusting Items comprise of redundancies, empty property and restructuring costs; impairments, gain or loss on disposal of properties; costs related to the acquisitions or setting up of new subsidiaries; impairment or amortisation charges related to goodwill and intangible assets; contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration; movements in deferred consideration; costs related to the St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme and accelerated bank amortisation fees.

Operational Highlights

-- Further strong revenue growth of 30% in Strategic Marketing segment: 11% organic, 19% acquisitive growth

   --     3% revenue increase in Books offset by 7% decline in Marketing Activation 

-- Strategic Marketing now contributing 39% of Group revenue (2015: 32%) and 58% of adjusted operating profit (2015: 46%)

   --     Important strategic progress across all three drivers of growth: 
   --     Enhanced collaboration, with over 150 clients using services of more than one Group business (2015: 106), including Universal Pictures, Whitbread, Jaguar Land Rover, Adidas and Regatta. 

-- Continued international growth, with nine Strategic Marketing businesses serving clients on an international basis; over 37% of Strategic Marketing revenue now generated from international client work (2015: 30%).

-- Two further Strategic Marketing acquisitions completed during the year: Fripp, Sandeman and Partners ("FSP"), a specialist retail property consultancy, acquired in August 2015; and The App Business ("TAB"), a mobile-led digital consultancy, acquired in January 2016; both trading in line with expectations.

Matt Armitage, Chief Executive, said:

"We are pleased to confirm that, after some short-term challenges in the final quarter of the Financial Year, trading across our Strategic Marketing segment has stabilised.

"We are excited by the opportunities that the breadth of our marketing services capabilities creates and we are making encouraging progress in bringing in new projects from both existing and new clients. We see significant opportunities to push ahead with our strategic priorities in the year ahead, particular in further organic growth in our Strategic Marketing segment.

"Whilst we remain alert to the possible impact from Brexit on business confidence, we will continue to invest in the UK, the US and Asia to support our medium term growth plans. Assuming no marked change to the current market conditions, we are well positioned to make further progress this year."

For further information, please contact:

 
St Ives plc                      020 7928 8844 
Matt Armitage, Chief Executive 
 Brad Gray, Chief Financial 
 Officer 
MHP Communications               020 3128 8100 
John Olsen, Giles Robinson, 
 Gina Bell 
 

Notes to Editors

St Ives is an international marketing services group, made up of a number of successful and dynamic businesses serving leading brands internationally, with offices in the UK, North America, China, Singapore and Dubai.

We operate not as a single entity but as a group of market leading businesses, each with its own unique value proposition, offering complementary services and collaborating closely with each other wherever this adds value to clients. We work with a large number of leading, international consumer-facing brands across all major sectors - including retail & FMCG, healthcare & pharma, financial services, media, technology, automotive and charity - helping them determine strategic direction and designing and delivering world-class solutions to match their specific requirements.

Our industry-leading Strategic Marketing businesses have strong capabilities across three specialist high growth areas: Data, Digital and Insight.

Our Marketing Activation businesses, which deliver marketing communications through a combination of print and in-store marketing services, complement our Strategic Marketing offering and collaborate with them where this adds value to clients.

The Group's strategy for further growth for the marketing services businesses is centred around three key priorities:

-- organic growth through collaboration and investment in our existing brands;

-- internationalisation, often client-led, into large and high growth markets; combined with

-- further acquisitions of complementary, ambitious and growing Strategic Marketing businesses that share our common attributes and ethos.

Our separate long-standing Books production business, which is the UK market leader, represents source of profit and cash generation as we pursue our overall growth strategy.

St Ives employs more than 3,000 people in the UK, North America and Asia and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SIV) with a market capitalisation of GBP195.2m.

Chief Executive's Review

Performance Highlights

Group revenue of GBP367.5 million was 7% higher than the previous year. This growth was driven by our Strategic Marketing segment, which delivered growth of 11% on an organic basis along with acquisitive growth of 19%. Revenue within our Books Segment was 3% ahead of the prior year. These performances were partially offset by a 7% decline in our Marketing Activation segment, due to continued pressure within the grocery retail sector.

The Group's statutory loss before tax of GBP5.7 million (2015: profit of GBP8.7 million) includes Adjusting Items of GBP36.1 million (2015: GBP24.2 million), of which GBP12.7 million relates to a non-cash impairment charge in the Marketing Activation segment.

The Group's adjusted profit before tax declined to GBP30.4 million (2015: GBP33.0 million) and adjusted basic earnings per share decreased by 13% to 17.61 pence (2015: 20.32 pence).

This year saw further growth in our Strategic Marketing segment, which contributed 58% (2015: 46%) of the Group's adjusted operating profit, offset by decline within our Marketing Activation and Books segments. Towards the end of the year, as previously announced, we experienced the cancellation and deferral of a number of large contracts within our Strategic Marketing segment, reflecting greater caution within our customer base over the allocation of budgets. Whilst we can confirm that this was a short-term challenge and that we have made encouraging progress in replacing those revenues, this nonetheless materially impacted the outturn for the year.

The Board is recommending a final dividend of 5.45 pence, making a full year dividend of 7.80 pence (2015: 7.80 pence), reflecting the Board's confidence in the Group's ability to make further strategic and financial progress during the year ahead.

We are confident in our strategy for further growth, which remains centred around three key priorities:

-- organic growth through collaboration and investment in our existing marketing services businesses;

-- internationalisation, primarily client-led, into large and high growth markets; combined with

-- further acquisitions of complementary, ambitious and growing Strategic Marketing businesses, which share our common attributes and ethos.

Once again, we have made strategic progress in all three areas.

Collaboration

Our approach is based on cross-thinking as opposed to cross-selling, where collaboration is facilitated and supported rather than forced. Over 150 of our clients currently work with more than one business across the Group (2015: 106), collaborating on projects for clients including Universal Pictures, Whitbread, Jaguar Land Rover, Adidas and Regatta.

In addition, we are seeing further evidence of our businesses working together on joint propositions. Synergies between Solstice, the Chicago-based mobile and emerging technology business bought in 2015 and the recently acquired TAB have resulted in both businesses sharing resources, working practices, growth frameworks and data. They are collaborating on existing clients and exciting new business opportunities.

This has been an important driver of the organic revenue growth achieved in our Strategic Marketing segment.

Internationalisation

Many of our businesses deliver international solutions for clients and where we can identify client-led opportunities, we plan to open additional overseas offices. These opportunities must be in large markets or in markets with the potential for significant and sustainable growth.

During the year we continued to increase our headcount in both the US and Asia to meet client demand, expanding our presence in New York and opening further offices in San Francisco and Dubai.

Now over 37% of our Strategic Marketing revenue comes from clients based outside of the UK (2015: 30%), Nine of our Strategic Marketing businesses, Incite, Pragma, FSP, Hive, Amaze, Realise, Branded3, TAB and Solstice, service clients on an international basis.

Acquisitions

We have made two further acquisitions during the year; Fripp, Sandeman and Partners Limited ("FSP"), a specialist retail property consultancy, which is working closely with our Pragma Consulting business to secure new business wins and TAB, a mobile-led consultancy which has provided the Group with additional scale and deeper strategy and development capabilities within the fast growing mobile technology sector. Both acquisitions have integrated well into the Group.

The acquisition of further complementary marketing services businesses, which add value to our existing portfolio and operate in our chosen growth areas of data, digital and insight services, will continue to be an important element of our overall growth strategy.

Given the challenges experienced in the latter months of the financial year however, in the year ahead we will be prioritising organic growth, through increased collaboration and leveraging the investments we have made in existing propositions and in new offices.

While the Group's strategic focus is on expanding our Strategic Marketing offering, we also recognise the importance of continued investment and innovation in our complementary Marketing Activation segment and separate, long-standing and market leading Books business. These separate segments represent an additional source of profit and cash generation as we pursue our overall growth strategy.

Segment Overview

Strategic Marketing

Our Strategic Marketing operations, which represent 39% of Group revenue (2015: 32%), are organised around three high-growth sectors: Data, Digital and Insight.

 
                                                  2016    2015 
                                                 GBP'm   GBP'm 
==============================================  ======  ====== 
Data Marketing                                    36.2    33.2 
Digital Marketing                                 71.2    45.5 
Insight                                           36.7    32.0 
Strategic Marketing revenue                      144.1   110.7 
Strategic Marketing adjusted operating profit     19.4    16.3 
----------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 

Despite the cancellation and deferral of a number of large projects during the second half of the financial year (as reported in our 25 April trading statement), trading across our Strategic Marketing segment has continued to be positive and ahead of the prior year.

We are encouraged with the progress that is being made to replace the projects which were cancelled.

Data Marketing

Our Data businesses represented 25% of Strategic Marketing revenue at GBP36.2 million (2015: GBP33.2 million).

Over the course of the year, the Data businesses have continued to diversify their propositions to take advantage of new revenue streams, whilst increasing their collaboration with other businesses within the Group.

New propositions have included the introduction of a specialist marketing technology offering, myBench and the continued development of the CRM business, Amaze One. Both offerings have benefitted from significant client wins throughout the year including being appointed by Ryanair to implement a new marketing platform and the delivery of a CRM solution for Morrisons.

In addition, collaboration between our Data and Digital businesses has resulted in a number of new client wins including Vue Cinemas and Universal Pictures.

Digital Marketing

The Digital businesses represented 49% of Strategic Marketing revenue at GBP71.2 million (2015: GBP45.5 million).

Our Digital businesses offer services across the entire digital spectrum including the high growth areas of customer experience, eCommerce, mobile and digital technology innovation, including The Internet of Things and is therefore benefitting from the trend of continued investment in digital services internationally.

This has resulted in a number of significant new business wins. Most notably, we have recently been appointed as one of two long term digital partners to the English Football League (EFL). This is an important and valuable long term partnership, involving designing and developing EFL's new digital platforms, including new websites for over 60 EFL clubs and providing integrated solutions across what is the world's largest sporting digital network.

During the year, we were also appointed as global digital partner for Emirates Airline, which has resulted in us building a presence in Dubai. In addition, the division has won projects with Electrolux, the BBC, McDonalds, the Met Office, Walmart and confused.com.

As stated above, in January 2016 we acquired TAB, a mobile-led consultancy specialising in strategy, product development and business transformation. The acquisition further strengthens our digital capabilities particularly in the high growth area of mobile sector.

Insight

Our Insight businesses represented 26% of Strategic Marketing revenue at GBP36.7 million (2015: GBP32.0 million).

We have continued to expand our international reach within our Insight division, with the opening of an office in San Francisco and expansion of headcount in New York, Singapore and Shanghai to meet increased client demand.

Our airports and commercial spaces proposition continues to be a high-growth area for the division. One of this year's most high profile projects has been advising on the commercial strategy for La Guardia International Airport in the US.

In addition, we are continuing to see our retail consultancy business Pragma and the newly acquired specialist retail property consultancy, FSP, working closely together. Their combined services are gaining traction with both existing and new clients.

Marketing Activation

Our Marketing Activation segment represented 42% of Group revenue for the year (2015: 48%).

 
                                                   2016    2015 
                                                  GBP'm   GBP'm 
===============================================  ======  ====== 
Marketing Activation revenue                      154.8   167.0 
Marketing Activation adjusted operating profit      8.1    10.9 
-----------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 

Trading conditions within this segment have continued to be challenged, due in large part to the ongoing pressures within the grocery retail market.

Whilst our expertise in grocery retail remains an important strength, diversification of the client base beyond this sector remains a priority.

We were recently appointed as print and fulfilment partner for Whitbread on a long term contract to support all of their brands. Whilst we incurred some transition costs in the final quarter, this contract, along with additional services now being provided under our contract with HSBC, will help to reduce our dependency on the grocery retail sector in the long term.

In addition to the above, the segment has had a number of new wins and project extensions throughout the year for clients including Royal Mail, The Conservative Party, Adidas, Footlocker, Revlon, Informa and Duracell. We continue to target other contracts of this nature although we recognise that it will take time and investment to win and transition such work.

Moving forward our focus is on strategic growth opportunities in markets that value service and innovation and further reduce the over-reliance on grocery retail. This will include delivering a wider portfolio of goods and services that cover the whole of the marketing operations sphere of brands and retailers. We will also continue to focus on protecting margins through driving efficiency improvements and cost reductions and by differentiating our competitive offering through targeted investment in new service lines and further cross sales initiatives.

Books

Our market-leading Books business, represented 19% (2015: 20%) of Group revenue for the year.

 
                                    2016    2015 
                                   GBP'm   GBP'm 
================================  ======  ====== 
Books revenue                       68.6    66.9 
Books adjusted operating profit      5.8     8.1 
--------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 

Revenue was some 3% higher than the prior year at GBP68.6million (2015: GBP66.9 million).

During the year, the business has worked on a number of exciting projects, most recently the new J.K. Rowling title, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. Books were distributed to over 50 retail destinations in the week ahead of publication to support what was the biggest single book launch in the UK and the US for ten years. Since publication over 1,200,000 copies have been sold in the UK, making it the largest selling book of 2016.

Clay's has also benefitted from a number of new business wins and from growth in self-publishing.

Although incremental volume was secured through the Penguin Random House contract, this was offset by publishers' destocking, as previously reported. This appears to have now run its course but, coupled with costs associated with the transitioning of the Penguin Random House contract, it adversely affected the segment's adjusted operating profit.

We continue to adapt to suit the evolving needs of clients, with further investment in digital print technology to provide a broader product range and greater capacity to support fast lead-times and lower stock-holding and with continued focus on extending supply-chain solutions to reduce the overall cost of the books supply-chain.

Outlook

Trading in the new financial year has started in line with our expectations.

Following the short-term challenges during the final quarter of last year, trading across our Strategic Marketing segment has stabilised. We are pleased by the progress being made in bringing in new projects from existing and new clients and are excited by the opportunities that the breadth of our capabilities create.

Trading conditions within our Marketing Activation segment continue to be challenging, due in large part to the ongoing pressures within the grocery retail market, but we are focused on diversifying into other higher growth sectors and expect to build on the success we have seen in this regard in recent months.

Within our Books business, having finalised the transition of the additional work won from Penguin Random House, we will focus on volume growth and targeting additional work from new and existing clients.

We see considerable opportunities to progress our strategic priorities in the year ahead, particularly through further collaboration between businesses within the Group and through ongoing internationalisation that matches client demand. Our particular focus will be on organic growth within our Strategic Marketing segment. Whilst remaining alert to the possible impact from Brexit on business confidence, we will continue to invest in the UK and in the US and Asia, to support our plans for growth over the medium term.

We remain clear on our long-term growth priorities and have the financial strength to support our strategic ambitions. Our balance sheet is sound and we have the necessary cashflow capabilities both to support our dividends and to reduce debt. Assuming no marked change to current market conditions, we are confident of making further strategic and financial progress during the current year.

Matt Armitage

Chief Executive

4 October 2016

Financial Overview

Overview

Although the Group delivered strong revenue growth largely within the Strategic Marketing segment the Group's operating profit declined due to revenue decline within Marketing Activation and margin pressures within both Marketing Activation and Books.

The Group's statutory results are set out in the table below:

 
                                                   52 weeks   52 weeks 
                                                         to         to 
                                                    29 July    31 July 
                                                       2016       2015 
------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
Revenue                                           GBP367.5m  GBP344.6m 
Statutory (loss)/profit before interest and tax   GBP(1.8)m   GBP11.7m 
Statutory (loss)/profit before tax                GBP(5.7)m    GBP8.7m 
Basic (loss)/earnings per share                     (5.93)p      4.35p 
------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
 

The Group prepares adjusted results, which, in management's view reflect how the business is managed and show the performance in a manner consistent with the previous year. Adjusted results exclude items such as costs related to restructuring activities, acquisitions made in current and prior periods, disposal of sites and St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme charges. The analysis of adjusting items is set out below:

 
                                                                  52 weeks  52 weeks 
                                                                        to        to 
                                                                   29 July   31 July 
                                                                      2016      2015 
                                                                     GBP'm     GBP'm 
----------------------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Statutory (loss)/profit from operations*                             (1.8)      11.7 
Adjusting Items: 
Expenses related to restructuring items                                2.6       3.2 
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment             1.7     (0.5) 
Amortisation of acquired intangibles                                   9.2       7.8 
Impairment of available for sale asset                                   -       1.5 
Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets                 12.7       1.5 
Costs associated with the acquisition and setup of subsidiaries        0.8       0.7 
Contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration        8.2       6.2 
(Decrease)/increase in deferred consideration                        (0.8)       2.5 
Administrative expenses related to St Ives Defined Benefits 
 Pension Scheme                                                        0.7       0.8 
----------------------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Adjusted profit from operations*                                      33.3      35.4 
----------------------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

*Profit from operations is stated as operating profit plus share of results of joint ventures and other operating income/(expense)

A non-cash impairment charge of GBP12.7 million was recorded in the Marketing Activation segment against goodwill and acquired intangibles. An impairment charge of GBP10.2m has been made against the goodwill allocated to SP Group Limited. This reflects the reduction in operating profits and expected future growth rates resulting from lower promotional activity levels within grocery retail and the wider retail sector. An impairment charge of GBP2.5m has been made against the goodwill and customer relationship asset of Tactical Solutions UK Limited due to the loss of a customer and a decline in operating profit.

Other non-cash adjusting items include contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration of GBP8.2m, amortisation of acquired intangibles of GBP9.2m, offset by a decrease in deferred consideration of GBP0.8m.

Revenue

Revenue increased by GBP23.0 million (7%) to GBP367.5 million. Acquisitive growth was 6% with organic growth of 1%. Strong organic growth in Strategic Marketing and Books was largely offset by a decline in Marketing Activation.

Revenue generated from overseas business increased from GBP35 million to GBP53 million and represented 15% of revenue (2015: 10%).

Revenue from our Strategic Marketing segment increased from GBP110.7 million to GBP144.2 million as a result of recent acquisitions and organic growth. The growth of 30% was split between strong organic growth of 11% and acquisition growth of 19%.

Revenue from the Marketing Activation segment decreased from GBP167.0 million to GBP154.8 million. The segment suffered from continued pressures within the retail grocery market where our clients reduced spend on promotional activity.

Revenue from the Books segment increased by 3% from GBP66.9 million to GBP68.6 million with the transition of the final tranche of the Penguin Random House contract in January 2016.

Adjusted gross profit margin and underlying profitability

The Group's gross profit margin decreased marginally from 33% to 32%. Margin was adversely impacted by differing factors within each segment and is more fully explained below.

Adjusted profit from operations has decreased from GBP35.4 million (10% of revenue) to GBP33.3 million (9% of revenue).

Adjusted profit from operations in the Strategic Marketing segment has increased from GBP16.3 million to GBP19.4 million with an operating margin of 13% (2015: 15%). This includes a full year contribution from Solstice LLC, Fripp Sandeman and Partners Limited ("FSP" - acquired in August 2015) and six months from The App Business Limited ("TAB"). In the final quarter of the year the segment saw the cancellation and deferral of a number of projects and therefore a reduction in forecast revenue for the year. In order to mitigate the impact of the revenue decline a number of tactical cost reductions were made, although the skilled workforce was broadly maintained and this detrimentally affected the margin in the final quarter.

Adjusted profit from operations in the Marketing Activation segment has decreased from GBP10.9 million to GBP8.1 million with an operating margin of 5% (2015: 7%). The action taken in early 2015 of consolidating production sites, with the closure of operations at Burnley, has offset some of the impact on margins of reduced promotional activity from the grocery retailers. In the latter part of the financial year the segment has been successful in partially diversifying its client base with the provision of goods and services to Whitbread plc, although in the short term the segment has incurred additional transition cost.

Adjusted profit from operations in the Books segment decreased from GBP8.1 million to GBP5.8 million with an operating margin of 9% (2015: 12%).The margin was adversely impacted by transition costs relating to the Penguin Random House contract and also a change in the mix of client work. This led to a number of personnel positons becoming redundant with an associated redundancy cost of GBP521,000 recorded as an Adjusting Item.

Acquisitions

On 13 August 2015 the Group acquired FSP a UK-based retail consultancy. The consideration of GBP2.2 million was payable in the form of cash and St Ives plc shares.

On 29 January 2016 the Group acquired 82.16% of TAB with the remaining 17.84% acquired on 8 February 2016. TAB is a UK based mobile led consultancy specialising in strategy product development and business transformation. The initial consideration of GBP22.3 million and the consideration of GBP4.9 million to acquire the remaining equity was payable in the form of cash and St Ives plc shares.

Deferred consideration paid in relation to prior year acquisitions totalled GBP9.4 million (2015: GBP15.6 million).

The Group raised GBP13.4 million, after expenses, through the issue of 6.4 million shares in February 2016.

Tax

The statutory effective tax rate was 33.3% (2015: 36.4%). This rate is impacted by Adjusting Items that were not deductible for taxation purposes. The total tax charge was GBP2.4 million (2015: GBP3.2 million).

The Group's tax rate on the adjusted profit before tax was 20.8% (2015: 21.3%) compared to the standard rate of tax of 22.67% (2015: 19.86%) for the Group. The adjusted tax charge was GBP6.3 million (2015: GBP7.0 million).

Income tax of GBP4.3 million (2015: GBP6.6 million) was paid in the United Kingdom.

Dividend

The Board is recommending a final dividend of 5.45p per ordinary share (2015: 5.55p) giving a total dividend of 7.80p (2015: 7.80p). The dividend, on an adjusted basis, is covered 2.3 times by adjusted earnings and will be paid on 19 December 2016 to shareholders on the register at 25 November 2016, with an ex-dividend date on 24 November 2016.

Pensions

The Group closed its Defined Benefits Pension Scheme (the "Scheme") to new members in 2002 and ceased future accrual within the Scheme in 2008. The Group accounts for post-retirement benefits in accordance with IAS19 Employee Benefits. The Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects the net deficit on the Scheme at 29 July 2016 based on the market value of the assets at that date and the valuation of liabilities using AA non-gilt bond yields.

On an IAS19 basis the net deficit on the Scheme reduced to GBP26.4 million (2015: GBP27.6 million) before the related deferred tax asset. The value of the plan assets increased to GBP344.1 million (2015: GBP311.0 million). Approximately 65% of the plan assets are invested in return seeking assets providing a higher level of return over the longer period. Plan liabilities increased to GBP370.5 million (2015: GBP338.6 million) primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate offset by a fall in the inflation rate and net re-measurement gains of GBP21.1 million (2015: GBP1.5 million losses).

The Scheme's actuarial valuation reviews determine any cash deficit payments by the Group. The Scheme's triennial valuation was as at April 2016 and discussions are underway with the Scheme Trustee for future funding levels. The Group currently makes deficit funding contributions of GBP2.0 million per annum and a contribution of GBP0.4 million per annum (2015: GBP0.4 million) towards the costs of administration.

The Group is continuing the process of automatically enrolling eligible UK employees into a qualifying pension scheme. The charge for the year for the Group's defined contribution schemes was GBP3.9 million (2015: GBP3.8 million).

Cash Flow

Cash generated from operations was GBP23.7 million (2015: GBP35.5 million). The decrease in cash generated from operations is primarily due to an increased working capital requirement of GBP7.4 million resulting from the growth in Strategic Marketing and an increase in consideration treated as remuneration of GBP2.6 million.

Total capital expenditure was as follows:

 
                         2016    2015 
                        GBP'm   GBP'm 
---------------------  ------  ------ 
Strategic Marketing       3.1     1.5 
Marketing Activation      1.5     1.1 
Books                     3.0     3.5 
---------------------  ------  ------ 
Total                     7.6     6.1 
---------------------  ------  ------ 
 

The expenditure of GBP3.1 million in Strategic Marketing included the fit-out of new offices for Incite and Solstice and the refurbishment of offices for Amaze. The expenditure of GBP4.5 million in Marketing Activation and Books related to maintenance capital and the final expenditure relating to the Penguin Random House contract.

Debt

During the year, the Group increased its revolving credit facility, which expires on 23 March 2019 from GBP115.0 million to GBP125.0 million. Subsequent to the year end the Group has reduced its revolving credit facility to GBP95.0m, supplemented by a term loan of GBP30.0m and increased its maximum leverage covenant condition (net debt to Adjusted EBITDA) for the remaining duration of the facility.

Net debt increased during the year from GBP62.8 million to GBP80.8 million. At 29 July 2016, St Ives had drawn GBP92.6 million on its bank credit facility, leaving an unutilised commitment of GBP32.4 million. The Group had cash in hand of GBP11.8 million.

At 29 July 2016, the ratio of net debt to EBITDA before Adjusting Items was 1.96 times (2015: 1.45 times) as shown below:

 
                                     2016   2015 
                                    GBP'm  GBP'm 
--------------------------      ---------  ----- 
Adjusted profit 
 from operations                     33.3   35.4 
Depreciation and 
 Amortisation                         7.9    7.9 
------------------------------  ---------  ----- 
EBITDA before Adjusting 
 Items                               41.2   43.3 
------------------------------  ---------  ----- 
Net Debt                             80.8   62.8 
------------------------------  ---------  ----- 
 
Net debt to EBITDA before 
 Adjusting Items                     1.96   1.45 
---------------------------     ---------  ----- 
 

Brad Gray

Chief Financial Officer

4 October 2016

Consolidated Income Statement

 
                             52 weeks to 31 
  52 weeks to 29 July 2016        July 2015 
 
 
                                                    Adjusting                         Adjusting 
                                                        items                             items 
                                          Adjusted      (note  Statutory    Adjusted      (note  Statutory 
                                           Results         3)    Results     Results         3)    Results 
                                   Note    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
 
Revenue                             2      367,546          -    367,546     344,553          -    344,553 
Cost of sales                            (249,730)          -  (249,730)   (229,654)          -  (229,654) 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
Gross profit                               117,816          -    117,816     114,899          -    114,899 
Selling costs                             (25,011)          -   (25,011)    (23,569)      (210)   (23,779) 
Administrative expenses                   (59,570)   (33,472)   (93,042)    (56,047)   (23,993)   (80,040) 
Share of results of 
 joint arrangements                          (122)          -      (122)        (88)          -       (88) 
Other operating income/(expense)               167    (1,651)    (1,484)         180        541        721 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
Profit/(loss) from 
 operations                                 33,280   (35,123)    (1,843)      35,375   (23,662)     11,713 
Pension finance charge                           -      (972)      (972)           -      (373)      (373) 
Other finance costs                        (2,899)          -    (2,899)     (2,398)      (213)    (2,611) 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
Profit/(loss) before 
 tax                                2       30,381   (36,095)    (5,714)      32,977   (24,248)      8,729 
Income tax (charge)/credit          4      (6,322)      3,931    (2,391)     (7,014)      3,841    (3,173) 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
Net profit/(loss) 
 for the period                             24,059   (32,164)    (8,105)      25,963   (20,407)      5,556 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
 
Attributable to: 
Shareholders of the 
 parent company                             24,059   (32,164)    (8,105)      25,963   (20,407)      5,556 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
 
Basic earnings/(loss) 
 per share 
 (p)                                6        17.61    (23.54)     (5.93)       20.32    (15.97)       4.35 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
 
Diluted earnings/(loss) 
 per share (p)                      6        17.49    (23.38)     (5.89)       19.82    (15.58)       4.24 
---------------------------------  ----  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  --------- 
 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 
                                                           52 weeks 
                                              52 weeks to        to 
                                                  29 July   31 July 
                                                     2016      2015 
                                                  GBP'000   GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  -------- 
(Loss)/profit for the period                      (8,105)     5,556 
Items that will not be reclassified 
 subsequently to profit or loss: 
Actuarial profit/(loss) on defined 
 benefits pension scheme                               83  (19,691) 
Tax (charge)/credit on items taken 
 directly to equity                                 (545)     3,925 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  -------- 
                                                    (462)  (15,766) 
Items that may be reclassified subsequently 
 to profit or loss: 
Transfer of losses on available for 
 sale financial asset - items reclassified 
 to Consolidated Income Statement                       -     1,540 
Transfers of losses on cash flow hedges 
 to hedged items                                      127        60 
Losses on cash flow hedges                          (302)     (127) 
Profit on foreign exchange                            409         - 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  -------- 
                                                      234     1,473 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  -------- 
Other comprehensive expense for the 
 period                                             (228)  (14,293) 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  -------- 
Total comprehensive expense for the 
 period                                           (8,333)   (8,737) 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  -------- 
 
Attributable to shareholders of the 
 parent company                                   (8,333)   (8,737) 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  -------- 
 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 
                                                                         Hedging 
                          Additional                         Share           and 
                   Share     paid-in      ESOP  Treasury    option   translation      Other   Retained 
                 capital   capital**   reserve    shares   reserve       reserve   reserves   earnings     Total 
                 GBP'000     GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000       GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000   GBP'000 
==============  ========  ==========  ========  ========  ========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Balance at 
 1 August 2014    12,517      53,234      (11)     (163)     7,199          (34)     60,225     71,575   144,317 
Profit for the 
 period                -           -         -         -         -             -          -      5,556     5,556 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 expense               -           -         -         -         -          (67)       (67)   (14,226)  (14,293) 
==============  ========  ==========  ========  ========  ========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Comprehensive 
 expense               -           -         -         -         -          (67)       (67)    (8,670)   (8,737) 
Dividends              -           -         -         -         -             -          -    (9,455)   (9,455) 
Acquisitions         213       1,731         -       845         -             -      2,576      (917)     1,872 
Transfer of 
 share-based 
 contingent 
 consideration 
 deemed as 
 remuneration        144         249         -       956   (4,437)             -    (3,232)      3,810       722 
Exchange 
 differences           -           -         -         -         -           528        528          -       528 
Purchase of 
 own 
 shares              160           -     (382)   (2,458)         -             -    (2,840)          -   (2,680) 
Recognition of 
 share-based 
 payments             55         307       393         -     4,467             -      5,167      1,204     6,426 
Tax on 
 share-based 
 payments              -           -         -         -     (456)             -      (456)        345     (111) 
==============  ========  ==========  ========  ========  ========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Balance at 
 31 July 2015     13,089      55,521         -     (820)     6,773           427     61,901     57,892   132,882 
Loss for the 
 period                -           -         -         -         -             -          -    (8,105)   (8,105) 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 expense               -           -         -         -         -           234        234      (462)     (228) 
==============  ========  ==========  ========  ========  ========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Comprehensive 
 expense               -           -         -         -         -           234        234    (8,567)   (8,333) 
Dividends              -           -         -         -         -             -          -   (10,934)  (10,934) 
Issue of 
 shares              775      12,716     (135)         -         -             -     12,581          -    13,356 
Acquisitions         365       1,334         -       657         -             -      1,991      (528)     1,828 
Recognition of 
 share-based 
 contingent 
 consideration 
 deemed as 
 remuneration          -           -         -         -     5,143             -      5,143          -     5,143 
Transfer of 
 share-based 
 contingent 
 consideration 
 deemed as 
 remuneration          -          97         -         -   (3,295)             -    (3,198)      3,382       184 
Purchase of 
 own 
 shares                -           -     (395)         -         -             -      (395)          -     (395) 
Recognition of 
 share-based 
 payments              -           -         -         -     (236)             -      (236)          -     (236) 
Settlement of 
 share-based 
 payments             15         127       530         -   (1,431)             -      (774)        868       109 
Tax on 
 share-based 
 payments              -           -         -         -     (231)             -      (231)        255        24 
==============  ========  ==========  ========  ========  ========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
Balance at 
 29 July 2016     14,244      69,795         -     (163)     6,723           661     77,016     42,368   133,628 
==============  ========  ==========  ========  ========  ========  ============  =========  =========  ======== 
 
 

** Additional paid-in capital represents share premium, merger reserve and capital redemption reserve.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

 
                                          29 July   31 July 
                                             2016      2015 
                                   Note   GBP'000   GBP'000 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Assets 
Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment              35,559    48,242 
Investment property                         6,203         - 
Goodwill                                  135,633   137,488 
Other intangible assets                    53,234    45,652 
Available for sale                              3         3 
Investment in joint arrangement                94       109 
Deferred tax assets                           232       139 
Other non-current assets                      374     1,086 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
                                          231,332   232,719 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Current assets 
Inventories                                 7,482     6,579 
Trade and other receivables                90,761    75,945 
Derivative financial instruments                -       165 
Income tax receivable                       1,246         - 
Asset held for sale                         1,481       412 
Cash and cash equivalents                  11,835    16,392 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
                                          112,805    99,493 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Total assets                              344,137   332,212 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Liabilities 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables                   76,486    71,070 
Derivative financial instruments              535         4 
Income tax payable                              -       355 
Deferred consideration payable              1,772     4,879 
Deferred income                             6,206     6,976 
Provisions                                     31       408 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
                                           85,030    83,692 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Non-current liabilities 
Loans                                      92,595    79,225 
Retirement benefits obligations     7      26,394    27,597 
Deferred consideration payable                  -     3,487 
Other non-current liabilities                 814       698 
Provisions                                  2,185     1,732 
Deferred income                                 -        81 
Deferred tax liabilities                    3,491     2,818 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
                                          125,479   115,638 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Total liabilities                         210,509   199,330 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Net assets                                133,628   132,882 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Equity 
Capital and reserves 
Share capital                              14,244    13,089 
Other reserves                             77,016    61,901 
Retained earnings                          42,368    57,892 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Total equity                              133,628   132,882 
---------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 4 October 2016.

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

 
                                                     52 weeks  52 weeks 
                                                           to        to 
                                                      29 July   31 July 
                                                         2016      2015 
                                               Note   GBP'000   GBP'000 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Operating activities 
Cash generated from operations                  9      23,650    35,510 
Interest paid                                         (2,899)   (2,398) 
Income taxes paid                                     (6,286)   (6,595) 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Net cash generated from operating activities           14,465    26,517 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 
Investing activities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment             (7,124)   (5,542) 
Purchase of other intangibles                           (488)     (533) 
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant 
 and equipment                                          3,315     4,751 
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of 
 cash acquired                                  8    (20,937)  (19,854) 
Deferred consideration paid for acquisitions 
 made in prior periods                                (5,790)  (14,626) 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Net cash used in investing activities                (31,024)  (35,804) 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 
Financing activities 
Proceeds on issue of shares                            13,356         - 
Dividends paid                                  5    (10,934)   (9,455) 
Purchase of treasury shares                             (395)   (2,680) 
Decrease in finance lease obligations                       -      (28) 
Increase in bank loans                                 10,000    24,225 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Net cash generated from financing activities           12,027    12,062 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and 
 cash equivalents                                     (4,532)     2,775 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
 of the period                                         16,392    12,336 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes                  (25)     1,281 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of 
 the period                                     9      11,835    16,392 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of preparation

The preliminary results have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies as set out in the Group's Annual Report and Accounts 2016. The financial information set out in the preliminary results does not comprise statutory accounts for the purpose of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of the period ended 29 July 2016 and 31 July 2015.

The financial information for the period ended 29 July 2016 has been extracted from the Group's 2016 statutory accounts for that period which have been prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by European Union ('IFRS') and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The 2016 statutory accounts will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's 2016 Annual General Meeting. The financial information for the period ended 31 July 2015 has been extracted from the Group's statutory accounts for that period which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Auditor's report on both the Group's 2016 and 2015 statutory accounts were unqualified and did not contain statements under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of the 2016 and 2015 statutory accounts.

2. Segment reporting

The Group manages its business on a market segment basis, based on the Group's internal reporting to the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"). The CODM has been determined to be the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as they are primarily responsible for the allocation of resources to the segments and the assessment of performance of the segments.

The Strategic Marketing segment comprises of the Group's Data, Digital and Insight businesses. The Marketing Activation segment includes businesses, which deliver marketing communications through a combination of print and in-store marketing services. The Books segment comprises of Clays.

Corporate costs are allocated to revenue-generating segments as this presentation better reflects their profitability.

Business segments

 
  52 weeks to 29 July 2016 
 
 
                                     Strategic    Marketing 
                                     Marketing   Activation     Books     Total 
                                       GBP'000      GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Revenue 
External sales                         138,745      159,694    69,107   367,546 
Group sales                              6,987       10,411        17    17,415 
Intercompany eliminations              (1,577)     (15,298)     (540)  (17,415) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Total revenue                          144,155      154,807    68,584   367,546 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
 
Operating profit before adjusting 
 items                                  19,354        8,084     5,842    33,280 
Adjusting items                       (18,140)     (15,752)   (1,231)  (35,123) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Statutory profit/(loss) from 
 operations                              1,214      (7,668)     4,611   (1,843) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  -------- 
Pension finance charge                                                    (972) 
Other finance costs                                                     (2,899) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Statutory loss before tax                                               (5,714) 
Income tax charge                                                       (2,391) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Statutory net loss for the 
 period                                                                 (8,105) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
 
 
  52 weeks to 31 July 2015 
 
 
                                     Strategic    Marketing 
                                     Marketing   Activation     Books     Total 
                                       GBP'000      GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Revenue 
External sales                         107,084      170,494    66,975   344,553 
Group sales                              4,639        9,822        28    14,489 
Intercompany eliminations              (1,033)     (13,346)     (110)  (14,489) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Total revenue                          110,690      166,970    66,893   344,553 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
 
Operating profit before adjusting 
 items                                  16,340       10,947     8,088    35,375 
Adjusting items                       (16,983)      (4,719)   (1,960)  (23,662) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Statutory (loss)/profit from 
 operations                              (643)        6,228     6,128    11,713 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  -------- 
Pension finance charge                                                    (373) 
Other finance costs                                                     (2,611) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Statutory profit before tax                                               8,729 
Income tax charge                                                       (3,173) 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
Statutory net profit for 
 the period                                                               5,556 
----------------------------------  ----------  -----------  --------  -------- 
 

Geographical segments

The Strategic Marketing, Marketing Activation and Books segments operate primarily in the UK, deriving more than 85% of the total revenue from customers located in the UK and 10% of the total revenue from customers located in the US.

The largest customer of the Group accounted for GBP25.9 million (2015: GBP30.9 million) of revenue in the current period.

3. Adjusting items

Adjusting items disclosed on the face of the Consolidated Income Statement are as follows:

 
                                            2016      2016      2015      2015 
Expense/(income)                         GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000 
======================================  ========  ========  ========  ======== 
Restructuring items 
Redundancies and other charges             1,612               2,408 
Costs associated with empty 
 properties                                  976                 671 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
                                                     2,588               3,079 
St Ives Defined Benefits Pension 
 Scheme costs 
Administrative costs                         582                 562 
Curtailment credit                         (198)                   - 
Other                                        327                 268 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
                                                       711                 830 
Costs related to acquisitions 
 made in current and prior periods 
Amortisation of acquired intangibles       9,237               7,827 
Impairment of available for 
 sale asset                                    -               1,540 
Impairment of goodwill and 
 acquired intangible assets               12,712               1,470 
Costs associated with the acquisition 
 and setup of subsidiaries                   785                 686 
Contingent consideration required 
 to be treated as remuneration             8,220               6,233 
(Decrease)/increase in deferred 
 consideration                             (781)               2,538 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
                                                    30,173              20,294 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
Adjusting items in administrative 
 expenses                                           33,472              24,203 
Loss/(profit) on disposal of 
 property, plant and equipment                       1,651               (541) 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
Adjusting items before interest 
 and tax                                            35,123              23,662 
Net pension finance charge 
 in respect of defined benefits 
 pension scheme                              972                 373 
Accelerated amortisation of 
 bank arrangement fees                         -                 213 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
                                                       972                 586 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
Adjusting items before tax                          36,095              24,248 
Income tax credit                                  (3,931)             (3,841) 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
                                                    32,164              20,407 
--------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -------- 
 

The restructuring items in the current period include redundancy costs of GBP521,000 relating to the Books segment, GBP574,000 relating to the restructure of the former Print Service segment to Marketing Activation segment and GBP31,000 of costs related to subsidiaries disposed of in prior periods. During the period, redundancy costs of GBP486,000 were recorded in the Strategic Marketing segment.

Costs relating to empty properties of GBP976,000 relate to business that the Group disposed or closed in prior periods and are recorded in the Marketing Activation segment.

The loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment of GBP1,651,000 relates to the sale of the Group's properties at Bradford and Birmingham. These items are recorded in the Marketing Activation segment.

Charges relating to the amortisation of acquired customer relationships, proprietary techniques and software intangibles of GBP9,031,000 and GBP206,000 are recorded in the Strategic Marketing and Marketing Activation segments respectively. Contingent consideration of GBP8,220,000 in respect of acquisitions required to be treated as remuneration rather than consideration and a credit of GBP781,000 related to the decrease in consideration in respect of past acquisitions are recorded within the Strategic Marketing segment.

The impairment charge of GBP12,712,000 includes an impairment to SP Group's goodwill of GBP10,192,000; Tactical Solutions' goodwill of GBP2,155,000; and to the customer relationship assets of GBP365,000. This is due to the decline in revenue from the grocery retail sector and the loss of a customer, resulting in a decline in operating profit. These items are recorded in the Marketing Activation segment.

The Group incurred costs related to the acquisitions of FSP and TAB of GBP135,000 and GBP496,000 respectively, together with costs of GBP60,000 related to acquisitions made in the period. Setup costs of GBP94,000 relate to new subsidiaries in Shanghai and Dubai. These items are recorded in the Strategic Marketing Segment.

The St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme charges include service costs of GBP582,000, net pension finance charge of GBP972,000 and other costs of GBP327,000 related to the St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme, partially offset by a curtailment credit of GBP198,000. These items are recorded in the Books segment.

In the current period, the tax credit of GBP3,931,000 (2015: GBP3,841,000) relates to the items discussed above.

4. Income tax charge

Income tax charge as shown in the Consolidated Income Statement is as follows:

 
                                               2016      2015 
                                            GBP'000   GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total current tax charge: 
Current period                                5,468     6,114 
Adjustments in respect of prior periods          27      (19) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total current tax charge                      5,495     6,095 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Deferred tax on origination and reversal 
 of temporary differences: 
Deferred tax credit                         (3,181)   (2,411) 
Adjustments in respect of prior periods          77     (511) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total deferred tax credit                   (3,104)   (2,922) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total income tax charge                       2,391     3,173 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

The income tax charge on the (loss)/profit before and after adjusting items is as follows:

 
                                               2016      2015 
                                            GBP'000   GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Tax charge on adjusted profit before tax      6,322     7,014 
Tax credit on adjusting items               (3,931)   (3,841) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total income tax charge                       2,391     3,173 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

The charge can be reconciled to the (loss)/profit before tax per the Consolidated Income Statement as follows:

 
                                                    2016      2015 
                                                 GBP'000   GBP'000 
----------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
(Loss)/profit before tax                         (5,714)     8,729 
Tax calculated at a rate of 22.66% (2015: 
 19.86%)                                         (1,295)     1,734 
Non-deductible charges on impairment of 
 assets                                            2,469       664 
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes           2,675     2,564 
Effect of tax deductible goodwill                  (423)         - 
Non-taxable income                                     -     (363) 
Effect of change in UK corporate tax rate          (538)        80 
Credit on research and development activities      (214)         - 
Other foreign taxes                                  150         - 
Movement in deferred tax on industrial 
 buildings                                         (430)     (976) 
Utilisation of tax losses not previously 
 recognised                                        (107)         - 
Adjustments in respect of prior periods              104     (530) 
----------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total income tax charge                            2,391     3,173 
----------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Income tax credit as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income is as follows:

 
                                               2016      2015 
                                            GBP'000   GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
United Kingdom corporation tax credit 
 at 20% (2015: 20.67%)                        (415)     (479) 
Deferred tax on origination and reversal 
 of temporary differences                       960   (3,446) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total income tax credit                         545   (3,925) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Income tax credit/(charge) as shown in the Statement of Changes in Equity is as follows:

 
                                               2016      2015 
                                            GBP'000   GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
United Kingdom corporation tax credit 
 at 20% (2015: 20.67%)                          255       345 
Deferred tax on origination and reversal 
 of temporary differences                     (231)     (456) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Total income tax credit/(charge)                 24     (111) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

5. Dividends

 
                                                  2016      2015 
                                   per share   GBP'000   GBP'000 
---------------------------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
Final dividend paid for the 52 
 weeks ended 1 August 2014             5.00p         -     6,590 
Interim dividend paid for the 
 26 weeks ended 30 January 2015        2.25p         -     2,865 
Final dividend paid for the 52 
 weeks ended 31 July 2015              5.55p     7,515         - 
Interim dividend paid for the 
 26 weeks ended 29 January 2016        2.35p     3,419         - 
---------------------------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
Dividends paid during the period                10,934     9,455 
---------------------------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
Proposed final dividend at the 
 period end of 5.45p per share 
 (2015: 5.55p per share)               5.45p     7,758         - 
---------------------------------  ---------  --------  -------- 
 

6. Earnings per share

The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following:

Number of shares

 
                                                2016     2015 
                                                '000     '000 
-------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares 
 for the purposes of basic earnings per 
 share                                       136,633  127,784 
Effect of dilutive potential ordinary 
 shares: 
Share options                                    930    3,232 
-------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares 
 for the purposes of diluted earnings per 
 share                                       137,563  131,016 
-------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

Basic and diluted earnings per share

 
    52 Weeks to    52 Weeks to 
   29 July 2016   31 July 2015 
  -------------  ------------- 
 
 
                                                 Earnings              Earnings 
                                     Earnings   per share  Earnings   per share 
                                      GBP'000       pence   GBP'000       pence 
-----------------------------------  --------  ----------  --------  ---------- 
Earnings and basic earnings 
 per share 
Adjusted earnings and Adjusted 
 basic earnings per share              24,059       17.61    25,963       20.32 
Adjusting items                      (32,164)     (23.54)  (20,407)     (15.97) 
-----------------------------------  --------  ----------  --------  ---------- 
(Loss)/earnings and basic earnings 
 per share                            (8,105)      (5.93)     5,556        4.35 
-----------------------------------  --------  ----------  --------  ---------- 
 
Earnings and diluted earnings 
 per share 
Adjusted earnings and Adjusted 
 diluted earnings per share            24,059       17.49    25,963       19.82 
Adjusting items                      (32,164)     (23.38)  (20,407)     (15.58) 
-----------------------------------  --------  ----------  --------  ---------- 
(Loss)/earnings and diluted 
 earnings per share                   (8,105)      (5.89)     5,556        4.24 
-----------------------------------  --------  ----------  --------  ---------- 
 

Adjusted earnings is calculated by adding back adjusting items, as adjusted for tax, to the profit/(loss) for the period.

7. Retirement benefits

The net obligation in respect of the St Ives Defined Benefits Pension Scheme of GBP26,394,000 at 29 July 2016 has decreased compared to 31 July 2015 (GBP27,597,000) primarily due to an increase in plan assets partially offset by a decrease in the discount rate.

8. Acquisition

Fripp, Sandeman and Partners Limited

On 13 August 2015, the Group acquired the entire share capital of Fripp, Sandeman and Partners Limited ('FSP'), a UK-based retail consultancy. The consideration was satisfied in cash and St Ives plc shares.

The provisional allocation of the purchase price payable for FSP is as follows:

 
                                                                Fair value 
                                      Historical    Fair value      of net 
                                      net assets   adjustments      assets 
                                         GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
Proprietary techniques                         -           893         893 
Property, plant and equipment                 44             -          44 
Software                                     125             -         125 
Trade and other receivables                  466             -         466 
Bank balances and cash                       943             -         943 
Trade and other payables                   (477)             -       (477) 
Provision for repairs on leasehold 
 premises                                      -          (21)        (21) 
Deferred tax liabilities                     (3)         (179)       (182) 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
Net assets acquired                        1,098           693       1,791 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------ 
Goodwill arising on acquisition                                        668 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
Total consideration                                                  2,459 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
 

The fair value of the components of the total consideration payable are as follows:

 
                                                      GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------    ------- 
Cash consideration paid in the current period           1,521 
Working capital paid in the current period                779 
----------------------------------------------------  ------- 
Total cash paid in the period                           2,300 
Fair value of 362,095 St Ives plc ordinary 
 shares allocated from treasury shares as 
 at 13 August 2015                                        652 
Less consideration treated as deemed remuneration       (493) 
----------------------------------------------------  ------- 
Total consideration                                     2,459 
----------------------------------------------------  ------- 
 

Goodwill of GBP668,000 arising on acquisition reflects future growth opportunities. Goodwill related to FSP is not deductible for tax purposes.

The acquisition had the following impact on investing cash outflows in the current period:

 
                       GBP'000 
-------------------    ------- 
Cash paid                2,300 
Less cash acquired       (943) 
=====================  ======= 
Net cash outflow         1,357 
---------------------  ------- 
 

At the acquisition date, it was estimated that all the trade and other receivables were collectible

The post-acquisition impact of FSP on the Group's revenue and operating profit are as follows:

 
                       2016 
                    GBP'000 
-----------------  -------- 
Revenue               2,173 
Operating profit        402 
-----------------  -------- 
 

The App Business Limited

The Group acquired 82.16% of total share capital of The App Business Limited ('TAB') on 29 January 2016 and the remaining 17.84% of the total share capital on 8 February 2016. TAB is a UK-based mobile consultancy business.

The provisional allocation of the purchase price payable for TAB is as follows:

 
                                                                Fair value 
                                      Historical    Fair value      of net 
                                      net assets   adjustments      assets 
                                         GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
Proprietary techniques                         -        12,294      12,294 
Customer contracts                             -         1,192       1,192 
Trademark                                      -         1,073       1,073 
Property, plant and equipment                324             -         324 
Trade and other receivables                2,494             -       2,494 
Bank balances and cash                     3,665             -       3,665 
Trade and other payables                 (1,614)           623       (991) 
Provision for repairs on leasehold 
 premises                                      -         (195)       (195) 
Deferred tax liabilities                    (62)       (2,440)     (2,502) 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
Net assets acquired                        4,807        12,547      17,354 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------ 
Goodwill arising on acquisition                                      8,378 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
Total consideration                                                 25,732 
-----------------------------------  -----------  ------------  ---------- 
 

At the acquisition date, it was estimated that all the trade and other receivables were collectible.

Goodwill of GBP8,378,000 arising on acquisition reflects future growth opportunities. Goodwill related to TAB is not deductible for tax purposes.

The fair value of the components of the total consideration payable are as follows:

 
                                                 GBP'000 
---------------------------------------------    ------- 
Cash consideration paid in the current 
 period                                             20,402 
Working capital paid in the current period           2,843 
-----------------------------------------------  --------- 
Total cash paid in the period                       23,245 
Fair value of 3,167,493 St Ives plc ordinary 
 shares issued as at 8 February 2016                 6,801 
Working capital payment payable                        873 
Less consideration treated as deemed 
 remuneration                                      (5,187) 
-----------------------------------------------  --------- 
Total consideration                                 25,732 
-----------------------------------------------  --------- 
 

Estimated deferred consideration is payable in three tranches and is dependent upon the level of EBITDA achieved by TAB for the years ending 30 April 2016, 30 April 2017 and 30 April 2018. The total consideration payable is capped at GBP55,000,000 excluding a working capital adjustment of GBP3,717,000.

The acquisition had the following impact on investing cash outflows in the current period:

 
                       GBP'000 
-------------------    ------- 
Cash paid               23,245 
Less cash acquired     (3,665) 
---------------------  ------- 
Net cash outflow        19,580 
---------------------  ------- 
 

At the acquisition date, it was estimated that all the trade and other receivables were collectible.

The post-acquisition impact of TAB on the Group's revenue and operating profit are as follows:

 
                       2016 
                    GBP'000 
-----------------  -------- 
Revenue               6,532 
Operating profit      1,495 
-----------------  -------- 
 

Had TAB been acquired at the beginning of the current period, it would have had the following incremental impact on the Group's revenue and operating profit in the current period:

 
                       2016 
                    GBP'000 
-----------------  -------- 
Revenue               6,317 
Operating profit      1,688 
-----------------  -------- 
 

9. Notes to the condensed consolidated cash flow statement

Reconciliation of cash generated from operations

 
                                               2016      2015 
                                            GBP'000   GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
(Loss)/profit from continuing operations    (1,843)    11,713 
 
Adjustments for: 
Depreciation of property, plant and 
 equipment                                    7,201     7,201 
Share of losses from joint arrangement          122        88 
Impairment losses                            12,712     3,009 
Amortisation of intangible assets            10,016     8,690 
(Loss)/profit on disposal of property, 
 plant and equipment                          1,484     (721) 
Share-based payment (credit)/charge           (238)       908 
Settlement of share based payments              108       541 
Net increase in derivative liabilities        (175)      (67) 
Decrease in defined benefits pension 
 scheme obligations                         (2,278)   (2,325) 
Re-measurement of deferred consideration      (781)     2,538 
Charge for contingent consideration 
 required to be treated as remuneration       8,220     6,233 
Increase/(decrease) in provisions                55     (409) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Operating cash inflows before movements 
 in working capital                          34,603    37,399 
Increase in inventories                       (880)     (833) 
(Increase)/decrease in receivables          (9,579)     6,864 
Increase/(decrease) in payables               3,992   (8,077) 
(Decrease)/increase in deferred income        (906)     1,132 
Net decrease in provision for deemed 
 remuneration                               (3,580)     (975) 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Cash generated from operations               23,650    35,510 
-----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Analysis of net debt

 
                                                  Foreign 
                             31 July      Cash   exchange   29 July 
                                2015      flow     losses      2016 
                             GBP'000   GBP'000    GBP'000   GBP'000 
--------------------------  --------  --------  ---------  -------- 
Cash and cash equivalents     16,392   (4,533)       (24)    11,835 
Bank loans                  (79,225)  (10,000)    (3,370)  (92,595) 
--------------------------  --------  --------  ---------  -------- 
                            (62,833)  (14,533)    (3,394)  (80,760) 
--------------------------  --------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 

Cash and cash equivalents (which are presented as a single class of assets on the face of the balance sheet) comprise cash at bank and other short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less.

The effective interest rates on cash and cash equivalents are based on current market rates.

10. Related parties

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed in this note. No material related party transactions have been entered into during the year, which might reasonably affect the decisions made by the users of these financial statements.

No other executive officers of the Company or their associates had material transactions with the Group during the year.

11. Post balance sheet events

On 28 September 2016, the Company sold the freehold land and building of its Burnley site which, at the balance sheet date, was recorded as an asset held for sale.

The foregoing contains forward looking statements made by the directors in good faith based on information available to them up to 4 October 2016. Such statements need to be read with caution due to inherent uncertainties, including economic and business risk factors underlying such statement.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

FR FXLLBQBFFFBK

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 04, 2016 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

1 Year Sivota Chart

1 Year Sivota Chart

1 Month Sivota Chart

1 Month Sivota Chart

Your Recent History

Delayed Upgrade Clock