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CEPS Ceps Plc

17.50
0.00 (0.00%)
23 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Ceps Plc LSE:CEPS London Ordinary Share GB00B86TNX04 ORD 10P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 17.50 15.00 20.00 17.50 17.50 17.50 0.00 08:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Fabricated Rubber Pds, Nec 26.45M 460k 0.0219 7.99 3.68M

CEPS PLC Half-year Report (0547B)

29/09/2022 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMCEPS

RNS Number : 0547B

CEPS PLC

29 September 2022

29 September 2022

CEPS PLC

("CEPS", "CEPS Group" "Group" or "Company")

HALF-YEARLY REPORT

The Board is pleased to announce its unaudited half-yearly report for the six months ended 30 June 2022.

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

On Thursday 8 September 2022, our much-admired and loved Queen Elizabeth II died suddenly, only two days after receiving the resignation of her Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and inviting Liz Truss to take over his role. As someone who has lived their entire life under her reign this change, whilst of course inevitable, has led to a period of great reflection by the nation.

As a nation we are in a period of flux and change, including a new Prime Minister and Cabinet. It is to be hoped and expected that positive changes will be made addressing some long-term but unaddressed issues which will, in time, lead to very positive outcomes. More of the same, which has done so little for the past 30 years, needed to change.

Whilst it is too early to comment on our new Prime Minister, after she has had only a few weeks in power, we all need to wish her good luck in her desire to improve our country and would add that I like many of her proposed ideas which she set out in her successful campaign to be chosen as the new Conservative leader and, thus, Prime Minister. Of course, only time will tell what her performance will be in what is probably the most important and difficult job in the United Kingdom.

It is intriguing to note that the recent much discussed tax changes, apart from the change in top rate tax, merely take things back to where they were only a year ago. In respect of the top tax rate of 45%, the Labour Government was also quite happy for all but the last few weeks of their 13-year period in office to have a tax rate of 40%.

The country, both the public and businesses, finally having substantially recovered from the problems caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, have now been thrown into a further period of uncertainty by the problems caused by the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. Whilst the fact that Russia is one of the world's largest oil and gas producers and the major supplier of Europe's energy has enabled it to weaponise this position to bring pressure on all its opponents who are horrified by its actions. It is another lesson to our political class that security of the nation's energy and food supplies, even at a cost, is very, very important. It is to be hoped that greater emphasis will be put on the creation of energy from renewables, and from hydro and wave power, alongside the creation of resilient back up supplies including from nuclear. Energy produced from fusion still being some way off.

In this environment caution is our watch word and, thus, our Group will act accordingly.

Review of the period

We are generally pleased with the ongoing progress being made by the CEPS Group and were hoping for a background of steadily improving macroeconomic conditions for the rest of the year and going into 2023.

However, whilst our companies have continued to make progress the outlook for the future is of course very uncertain.

In common with every other company in the UK, the management teams have been confronted by sharply rising prices of input materials, energy costs, availability of product and a shortage of available labour.

Our management teams are doing a very good job in managing the best they can in the circumstances and will continue to do so.

As readers of my various reports are aware, I have been concerned about the current availability of labour and the likelihood of a significant tightening of the labour supply in the future. As a Board, we are investigating appointing consultants to review all of the business units and to advise on the introduction of technology to reduce labour input into every operational aspect of the Company. We do not expect any single improvement to make a massive difference, but do expect to make a large number of small improvements. We expect this to lead to a reduction in costs, improvement in quality and corporate resilience.

Operational review

Aford Awards

Aford Awards has continued its strong recovery with the acquisitions made last year fully contributing to this result.

On the 12 April 2022, the Company announced the acquisition, by Aford Awards, of the business and assets of Impact Promotional Merchandise Limited for a total price of GBP1,008,000 of which GBP450,000 was deferred over a three-year period. The integration of this business is now complete and is making a healthy contribution.

Friedman's including Milano International

Friedman's has produced a further strong recovery. Milano's recovery is taking longer, but it is felt the sponsorship of British Gymnastics will lead to further growth.

Hickton Group

This is a year of consolidation after the past 18 months of growth by acquisition. In order to ensure that the company continues to grow in a controlled manner, more operational oversight and, therefore, expense has been put in place. It is felt, by the Board, that this will be highly beneficial in the future. There remains significant corporate activity in what is a very dynamic marketplace.

Vale Brothers

Vale Brothers has been faced with rapidly rising prices on its Far East sourced products and on its component input prices. Whilst it has increased its own prices, by what in recent historical times would be very large increases, they have in hindsight not been enough. Further price rises are now in place and the business is being restructured to better position it.

Financial review

Unsurprisingly, given that the first six months of 2021 were subject to lockdown regulations, sales in each company are up on the previous year at this stage, with total sales of GBP12,988,000 in H1 2022 against GBP8,970,000 in H1 2021, an increase of 44.8%.

Aford Awards generated revenue of GBP1,560,000 for the first six months of 2022 compared to GBP515,000 for the same period in 2021. The segmental result, presented as EBITDA, was GBP410,000 in H1 2022 compared to GBP164,000 in the same period in the previous year.

Revenue from Friedman's and Milano International was GBP3,192,000 in H1 2022 compared to GBP1,857,000 in H1 2021, with a return to more normal trading conditions. EBITDA also improved from GBP82,000 in H1 2021 to GBP227,000 in H1 2022.

Hickton Group's revenue in H1 2022 increased to GBP8,236,000 from GBP6,598,000 in the same period of 2021. As mentioned above, additional costs have been incurred by Hickton Group in 2022. For this reason EBITDA (after exceptional items) has reduced from GBP980,000 in the first six months of 2021 to GBP820,000 in H1 of 2022.

The operating profit for CEPS increased by 15.0% from GBP809,000 in H1 2021 to GBP930,000 in H1 2022. Included within operating profit are CEPS Group costs which have remained constant at GBP167,000 for the six months (2021: GBP164,000). The majority of other operating income of GBP240,000 in H1 2021 was derived from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant and other similar government grants which are no longer available.

The GBP59,000 share of associate loss relates to the performance of Vale Brothers and compares to a GBP25,000 profit in the same period of 2021. Action is being taken to restructure this business.

Net finance costs have reduced slightly period-on-period from GBP357,000 in H1 2021 to GBP344,000 in H1 2022 and the corporation tax charge of GBP67,000 (H1 2021: GBP137,000) is primarily a provisional charge on the profits generated by the Hickton Group and benefits from the ability to use the Company's loss to offset Aford Awards' taxable profits.

Profit for the period was GBP460,000 compared to GBP340,000 for the first six months of 2021. This, together with the increased contribution from Aford Awards, where the CEPS Group holds 75%, has resulted in an improved earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent of 1.07p (H1 2021: 0.73p).

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position includes provisional figures for the acquisition by Aford Awards of Impact Promotional Merchandise Limited. These will be confirmed at the year end, but are not expected to be materially different.

The Group saw an improvement in net cash generated from operating activities between the two periods. This amounted to GBP515,000 in H1 2021 and GBP825,000 in H1 2022. The equity placing, including conversion of a loan from myself to equity, for 4,000,000 new shares at 40p per share in September 2021 explains the increase in called up share capital and share premium when comparing the periods. It also explains the improvement in the gearing ratio from 427% at 30 June 2021 to 158% at 30 June 2022 when net debt has remained at roughly the same level.

Dividend

The Board remains keen to recommence the payment of dividends after a very long time of non-payment. However, a balance sheet reconstruction would be required to allow this to happen and it is the Board's intention for proposals to effect this to be put forward to shareholders next year.

Prospects

Whilst the macro position is uncertain, the CEPS Group of companies have faced difficult times in the past few years and the management teams are showing determination and resilience to ensure that their companies emerge from the current difficulties in a better place in their markets.

David Horner

Chairman

29 September 2022

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).

The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the content of this announcement.

Enquiries

 
 CEPS PLC 
  David Horner, Chairman              +44 1225 483030 
 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP 
  James Caithie / Sandy Jamieson 
  / Ludovico Lazzaretti               +44 20 7213 0880 
 

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement, are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identi ed by their use of terms and phrases such as "believe", "could", "should" "envisage", "estimate", "intend", "may", "plan", "potentially", "expect", "will" or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements re ect the directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the directors .

CEPS PLC

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Six months ended 30 June 2022

 
                                        Note                                 Audited 
                                                 Unaudited     Unaudited   12 months 
                                                  6 months      6 months       to 31 
                                                to 30 June    to 30 June    December 
                                                      2022          2021        2021 
                                                   GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000 
 
 Revenue                                 5          12,988         8,970      20,333 
 Cost of sales                                     (7,652)       (5,255)    (11,946) 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Gross profit                                        5,336         3,715       8,387 
 Other operating income                                 24           240         276 
 Administration expenses                           (4,430)       (3,100)     (7,043) 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Operating profit before 
  exceptional items                                    930           855       1,620 
 Exceptional items                                       -          (46)           - 
 Operating profit                                      930           809       1,620 
 
 Analysis of operating profit 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Trading                                             1,073           779       2,002 
 Exceptional items                       3               -          (46)           - 
 Other operating income                                 24           240           - 
 Group costs                             5           (167)         (164)       (382) 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
                                                       930           809       1,620 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Share of associate (loss)/profit                     (59)            25          66 
 Net finance costs                       5           (344)         (357)       (690) 
 Profit before tax                                     527           477         996 
 Taxation                                5            (67)         (137)       (204) 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Profit for the period                                 460           340         792 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 
 Other comprehensive income 
 Items that will not be reclassified 
  to profit or loss 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Actuarial gain on defined 
  benefit pension plans                                  -             -          73 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Other comprehensive income 
  for the period, net of tax                             -             -          73 
 Total comprehensive income 
  for the period                                       460           340         865 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 
 Income attributable to: 
 Owners of the parent                                  224           124         296 
 Non-controlling interest                              236           216         496 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
                                                       460           340         792 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Total comprehensive income 
  attributable to: 
 Owners of the parent                                  224           124         369 
 Non-controlling interest                              236           216         496 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
                                                       460           340         865 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Earnings per share attributable 
  to owners of the parent during 
  the period 
 basic and diluted                       6           1.07p         0.73p       1.64p 
                                              ------------  ------------  ---------- 
 

CEPS PLC

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at 30 June 2022

 
                                       Note   Unaudited   Unaudited       Audited 
                                                  as at       as at         as at 
                                                30 June     30 June   31 December 
                                                   2022        2021          2021 
                                                           restated 
                                                GBP'000     GBP'000       GBP'000 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant and equipment                      693         651           764 
 Right-of-use assets                    4         1,850         948         1,225 
 Intangible assets                               11,830      10,364        10,729 
 Investment in associate                              7          25            66 
                                                 14,380      11,988        12,784 
                                             ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                                      1,781       1,284         1,612 
 Trade and other receivables                      4,145       3,150         3,036 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  (excluding bank overdrafts)                     1,743       2,114         2,081 
                                                  7,669       6,548         6,729 
                                             ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Total assets                           5        22,049      18,536        19,513 
                                             ==========  ==========  ============ 
 
 Equity 
 Capital and reserves attributable 
  to owners of the parent 
 Called up share capital                9         2,100       1,700         2,100 
 Share premium                                    7,017       5,841         7,017 
 Retained earnings                              (7,816)     (8,299)       (8,040) 
                                             ----------  ----------  ------------ 
                                                  1,301       (758)         1,077 
 Non-controlling interest in equity               2,544       2,199         2,465 
 Total equity                                     3,845       1,441         3,542 
                                             ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Liabilities 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Borrowings                                       8,219       6,948         8,436 
 Lease liabilities                      4         1,652         882         1,096 
 Trade and other payables                           240           -            45 
 Deferred tax liability                             344         150           255 
                                                 10,455       7,980         9,832 
                                             ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 Current liabilities 
 Borrowings                                       2,097       4,119         1,759 
 Lease liabilities                      4           342         191           258 
 Trade and other payables                         4,180       3,357         3,141 
 Current tax liabilities                          1,130       1,448           981 
                                                  7,749       9,115         6,139 
                                             ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Total liabilities                      5      18,204      17,095          15,971 
                                             ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Total equity and liabilities                    22,049      18,536        19,513 
                                             ==========  ==========  ============ 
 

CEPS PLC

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Six months ended 30 June 2022

 
                                                    Unaudited   Unaudited       Audited 
                                                     6 months    6 months     12 months 
                                                           to          to            to 
                                                      30 June     30 June   31 December 
                                                         2022        2021          2021 
                                                      GBP'000     GBP'000       GBP'000 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Profit for the financial period                          460         340           792 
 Adjustments for: 
 Depreciation and amortisation                            360         253           564 
 Loss on disposal of fixed assets                           -           1             6 
 Pension contributions less than administrative 
  charge                                                    -           -            84 
 Share of associate loss/(profit)                          59        (25)          (66) 
 Net finance costs                                        344         357           690 
 Taxation charge                                           67         137           204 
 Changes in working capital 
   Movement in inventories                              (161)         157         (171) 
   Movement in trade and other receivables            (1,109)       (341)         (261) 
   Movement in trade and other payables                   881       (305)         (469) 
                                                   ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 Cash generated from operations                           901         574         1,373 
 Corporation tax paid                                    (76)        (59)         (187) 
 Net cash generated from operating 
  activities                                              825         515         1,186 
                                                   ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Interest received                                          6           6            13 
 Acquisition of subsidiaries and businesses, 
  net of cash acquired                                  (575)       (740)       (1,220) 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment               (32)        (41)         (309) 
 Proceeds from sale of assets                               -          35            35 
 Purchase of intangible fixed assets                     (74)         (3)          (73) 
 Net cash used in investing activities                  (675)       (743)       (1,554) 
                                                   ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Issue of share capital                                     -           -         1,018 
 Proceeds from borrowings                                 437       2,978         3,330 
 Repayment of borrowings                                (332)     (2,485)       (3,108) 
 Dividends paid to minority shareholders                (157)           -             - 
  in a subsidiary 
 Proceeds from subsidiary share issue                       -           5             4 
 Interest paid                                          (268)       (315)         (791) 
 Lease liability payments                               (168)       (173)         (336) 
 Net cash flow (used in)/generated 
  from financing activities                             (488)          10           117 
                                                   ----------  ----------  ------------ 
 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents              (338)       (218)         (251) 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the 
  beginning of the period                               2,081       2,332         2,332 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the 
  end of the period                                     1,743       2,114         2,081 
                                                   ==========  ==========  ============ 
 
   Cash and cash equivalents 
 Cash at bank and in hand                               1,743       2,114         2,081 
                                                   ==========  ==========  ============ 
 

CEPS PLC

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Six months ended 30 June 2022

 
                                      Share      Share    Retained   Attributable   Non-controlling     Total 
                                    capital    premium    earnings      to owners          interest    equity 
                                                                           of the 
                                                                           parent 
                                    GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000        GBP'000           GBP'000   GBP'000 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
  At 1 January 2021                   1,700      5,841     (8,402)          (861)             1,954     1,093 
   (audited) 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Profit and total comprehensive 
  income for the period                   -          -         124            124               216       340 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Changes in ownership 
  interest in a subsidiary                -          -        (21)           (21)                29         8 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 At 30 June 2021 (unaudited)          1,700      5,841     (8,299)          (758)             2,199     1,441 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Actuarial gain                           -          -          73             73                 -        73 
 Profit for the period                    -          -         172            172               280       452 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Total comprehensive 
  income for the financial 
  period                                  -          -         245            245               280       525 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Shares issued in the 
  period                                400      1,176           -          1,576                 -     1,576 
 Changes in ownership 
  interest 
  in subsidiaries                         -          -          14             14              (14)         - 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Total contributions 
  and distributions 
  recognised directly 
  in equity                             400      1,176         (7)          1,569                15     1,584 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 At 31 December 2021 
  (audited)                           2,100      7,017     (8,040)          1,077             2,465     3,542 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Profit and total comprehensive 
  income for the financial 
  period                                  -          -         224            224               236       460 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 Dividends paid to 
  minority shareholders 
  in a subsidiary                         -          -           -              -             (157)     (157) 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 At 30 June 2022 (unaudited)          2,100      7,017     (7,816)          1,301             2,544     3,845 
                                  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ----------------  -------- 
 

Notes to the financial information

   1.    General information 

The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 11 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL and the registered number of the company is 00507461.

The Company is quoted on AIM.

This condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information was approved by the directors for issue on 29 September 2022.

This condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 were approved by the Board of directors on 9 May 2022 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

This condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information has not been reviewed or audited.

There is no specific seasonality in relation to the condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information, although the impact of COVID-19 had some effect on H1 2021.

Basis of preparation

This condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information for the six months ended 30 June 2022 has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting'. The condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021, which have been prepared in accordance with international accounting standards as adopted by the UK.

Accounting policies

The accounting policies applied are consistent with those of the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 and with those to be applied for the year ending 31 December 2022, as described in the 2021 annual financial statements. There are no new standards or interpretations expected to be adopted in 2022 that would have a significant impact on the financial statements.

   2.    Acquisitions in the current period 

Aford Awards Limited, one of the Company's subsidiaries, acquired the trade and certain assets of the Impact Promotional Merchandise business on 12 April 2022 from Impact Promotional Merchandise Limited. The business supplies trophies, awards and medals together with customised promotional merchandise including mugs and clothing.

The acquisition had the following provisional effect on the Group's assets and liabilities:

 
                                           GBP'000 
 Customer relationship assets                  230 
 Website                                       190 
 Inventories                                     8 
 Deferred tax                                (101) 
                                          -------- 
 Fair value of net identifiable assets 
  and liabilities acquired                     327 
 Goodwill                                      681 
                                          -------- 
                                             1,008 
                                          -------- 
 
 Cash consideration transferred                558 
 Deferred consideration                        450 
                                             1,008 
                                          -------- 
 

The cash outflow at the date of acquisition was GBP558,000 with deferred consideration of GBP210,000 payable on 14 March 2023; GBP60,000 on 30 September 2023; GBP60,000 on 31 March 2024; GBP60,000 on 30 September 2024 and GBP60,000 on 31 March 2025.

   3.    Exceptional items 

There have been no material exceptional items in the period ended 30 June 2022 (GBP46,000 of acquisition expenses in the six months ended 30 June 2021).

   4.    Right of use assets 

GBP750,000 of the increase in right of use assets and lease liabilities in the period ended 30 June 2022 results from new 10-year property leases entered into by Aford Awards Limited in respect of its existing premises and a degree of new adjoining space required by the growing business which commenced on 1 January 2022.

   5.    Segmental analysis 

The chief operating decision maker of the Group is its Board. Each operating segment regularly reports its performance to the Board which, based on those reports, allocates resources to and assesses the performance of those operating segments.

Operating segments and their principal activities are as follows:

   -     Aford Awards, a sports trophy and engraving company. 

- Friedman's, a convertor and distributor of specialist lycra, including Milano International (trading as Milano Pro-Sport), a designer and manufacturer of leotards.

- Hickton Group, comprising Hickton Quality Control, BRCS, Cook Brown Building Control, Cook Brown Energy, Morgan Lambert and Qualitas Compliance, providers of services in the construction industry.

The United Kingdom is the main country of operation from which the Group derives its revenue and operating profit and is the principal location of the assets of the Group. The Group information provided below, therefore, also represents the geographical segmental analysis. Of the GBP12,988,000

(2021: GBP8,970,000) of revenue, GBP12,115,000 (2021: GBP8,463,000) is derived from UK customers.

The Board assesses the performance of each operating segment by a measure of adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and Group costs. Other information provided to the Board is measured in a manner consistent with that in the financial statements.

   i)     Results by segment 

Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2022

 
 
                                       Aford                  Hickton     Total 
                                      Awards   Friedman's       Group     Group 
                                     GBP'000      GBP'000     GBP'000   GBP'000 
 Revenue                               1,560        3,192       8,236    12,988 
                                    --------  -----------  ----------  -------- 
 Segmental result (EBITDA)               410          227         820     1,457 
 Right-of-use depreciation charge       (38)         (70)        (53)     (161) 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  charge                                (45)         (96)        (58)     (199) 
                                    --------  -----------  ---------- 
 Group costs                                                              (167) 
 Share of associate loss                                                   (59) 
 Net finance costs                                                        (344) 
 Profit before taxation                                                     527 
 Taxation                                                                  (67) 
                                                                       -------- 
 Profit for the period                                                      460 
                                                                       ======== 
 

Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2021

 
 
                                       Aford                  Hickton     Total 
                                      Awards   Friedman's       Group     Group 
                                     GBP'000      GBP'000     GBP'000   GBP'000 
 Revenue                                 515        1,857       6,598     8,970 
                                    --------  -----------  ----------  -------- 
 Segmental result (EBITDA) before 
  exceptional items                      164           82       1,026     1,272 
 Exceptional item                          -            -        (46)      (46) 
                                    --------  -----------  ----------  -------- 
 Segmental result (EBITDA) after 
  exceptional items                      164           82         980     1,226 
                                    --------  -----------  ---------- 
 Right-of-use depreciation charge       (22)         (70)        (40)     (132) 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  charge                                 (3)         (82)        (36)     (121) 
                                    --------  -----------  ---------- 
 Group costs                                                              (164) 
 Share of associate profit                                                   25 
 Net finance costs                                                        (357) 
 Profit before taxation                                                     477 
 Taxation                                                                 (137) 
                                                                       -------- 
 Profit for the period                                                      340 
                                                                       ======== 
 

Audited 12 months to 31 December 2021

 
 
                                    Aford                  Hickton     Total 
                                   Awards   Friedman's       Group     Group 
                                  GBP'000      GBP'000     GBP'000   GBP'000 
 Revenue                            1,385        4,762      14,186    20,333 
                                 --------  -----------  ----------  -------- 
 Segmental result (EBITDA)            235          809       1,521     2,565 
 Right-of-use depreciation 
  charge                             (45)        (168)        (93)     (306) 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  charge                             (22)        (135)       (100)     (257) 
                                 --------  -----------  ---------- 
 Group costs                                                           (382) 
 Share of associate profit                                                66 
 Net finance costs                                                     (690) 
 Profit before taxation                                                  996 
 Taxation                                                              (204) 
                                                                    -------- 
 Profit for the year                                                     792 
                                                                    ======== 
 
   ii)     Assets and liabilities by segment 
 
 Unaudited as at            Segment assets      Segment liabilities     Segment net assets/(liabilities) 
  30 June 
                              2022      2021        2022        2021               2022               2021 
                           GBP'000   GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000            GBP'000            GBP'000 
 Continuing operations: 
 CEPS Group                    167       119     (5,322)     (6,246)            (5,155)            (6,127) 
 Aford Awards                4,039     1,599     (2,152)       (511)              1,887              1,088 
 Friedman's                  7,538     7,141     (2,390)     (2,114)              5,148              5,027 
 Hickton Group              10,305     9,677     (8,340)     (8,224)              1,965              1,453 
 Total - Group              22,049    18,536    (18,204)    (17,095)              3,845              1,441 
                          ========  ========  ==========  ==========  =================  ================= 
 
 Audited as at 31             Segment assets     Segment liabilities      Segment net assets/(liabilities) 
  December 2021 
                                     GBP'000                 GBP'000                               GBP'000 
 Continuing operations: 
 CEPS Group                              543                 (5,251)                               (4,708) 
 Aford Awards                          1,974                   (789)                                 1,185 
 Friedman's                            7,620                 (2,146)                                 5,474 
 Hickton Group                         9,376                 (7,785)                                 1,591 
 Total - Group                        19,513                (15,971)                                 3,542 
                          ==================  ======================  ==================================== 
 
   6.    Earnings per share 

Basic earnings per share is calculated on the profit after taxation for the period attributable to owners of the Company of GBP224,000 (2021: GBP124,000) and on 21,000,000 (2021: 17,000,000) ordinary shares, being the weighted number in issue during the period.

   7.    Net debt and gearing 

Gearing ratios at 30 June 2022, 30 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 are as follows:

 
                                            Group           Group   Group audited 
                                        unaudited       unaudited     31 December 
                                     30 June 2022    30 June 2021            2021 
                                          GBP'000         GBP'000         GBP'000 
 
 Total borrowings                           7,818           8,272           7,633 
 Less: cash and cash equivalents          (1,743)         (2,114)         (2,081) 
                                   --------------  --------------  -------------- 
 Net debt                                   6,075           6,158           5,552 
                                   --------------  --------------  -------------- 
 Total equity                               3,845           1,441           3,542 
                                   --------------  --------------  -------------- 
 Gearing ratio                               158%            427%            157% 
 

In order to provide a more meaningful gearing ratio, total borrowings are the sum of bank borrowings and third-party debt, excluding loan notes used to finance the Group's acquisitions.

   8.       Pension scheme 

Further to the announcement on 13 December 2021 that the Trustees of the Company's defined benefit scheme (the Dinkie Heel plc Retirement Benefits Scheme (the "Scheme")) had entered into a buy-in contract with Aviva, the Scheme is now being formally wound-up with effect from 1 June 2022.

It is expected that the Scheme will have surplus funds once the final balancing premium is paid to Aviva conditional on the Scheme completing a process to verify the detailed amounts payable to members and dependants. This process should be complete within the next 12 months. The amount the Trustees expect may be left over is in the order of GBP700,000 (the "Surplus") although it may be more or less than that. In accordance with the formal rules of the Scheme, it is the intention of the Trustees to pay the Surplus to CEPS PLC, as the employer for the Scheme, after deducting the required amount of tax, currently expected to be 35% and the net amount receivable would then be GBP455,000.

Historically, the actuarial surplus on the Scheme has not been recognised in the Company's accounts as the Company does not have an unconditional right to refunds of surpluses arising in the Scheme. The contingent asset will not be recognised until there is certainty over the final amount and receipt and any payment of the Surplus to CEPS PLC will have a positive impact on the Company's and Group's balance sheet when it is received.

   9.       Share capital and premium 
 
                                      Number      Share      Share 
                                   of shares    capital    premium      Total 
                                                GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 At 1 January 2022 and 30 June 
  2022                            21,000,000      2,100      7,017      9,117 
                                 -----------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
   10.     Related-party transactions 

During the period the Company entered into the following transactions with its subsidiary groups:

 
                                     Aford Awards 
                                   Group Holdings 
                                          Limited           Signature           Hickton 
                                          GBP'000     Fabrics Limited     Group Limited 
                                                              GBP'000           GBP'000 
 Loan note interest receivable 
 - 6 months to 30 June 
  2022                                         32                  30                95 
 - 6 months to 30 June 
  2021                                         24                  30                89 
 - For the year to 31 
  December 2021 (audited)                      49                  60               185 
 Management charge income 
  receivable 
 - 6 months to 30 June 
  2022                                         10                  18                 6 
 - 6 months to 30 June 
  2021                                         10                  18                 6 
 - For the year to 31 
  December 2021 (audited)                      20                  35                13 
 Amount owed to the Company 
 - 30 June 2022                             1,235               1,164             2,382 
 - 30 June 2021                               685               1,105             2,416 
 - For the year to 31 
  December 2021 (audited)                     798               1,135             2,382 
 

The Company is under the control of its shareholders and not any one individual party.

Statement of directors' responsibility

The directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, these condensed consolidated half-yearly financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the United Kingdom. The interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R and DTR 4.2.8R, namely:

-- an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements; and

-- material related-party transactions in the first six months of the financial year and any material changes in the related-party transactions described in the last Annual Report.

A list of current directors is maintained on the CEPS PLC website: www.cepsplc.com

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