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EAH Eco Animal Health Group Plc

94.00
0.00 (0.00%)
23 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Eco Animal Health Group Plc LSE:EAH London Ordinary Share GB0032036807 ORD 5P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 94.00 93.00 95.00 94.00 94.00 94.00 32,008 08:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Chem,fertlizer Minrl Mng,nec 85.31M 1.01M 0.0149 63.09 63.68M

ECO Animal Health Final Results

19/06/2019 7:00am

UK Regulatory


Eco Animal Health (LSE:EAH)
Historical Stock Chart


From Apr 2019 to Apr 2024

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TIDMEAH 
 
 

ECO Animal Health Group plc ("ECO")

 

(AIM: EAH)

 

Results for the year ended 31 March 2019

 

ECO REPORTS ANOTHER STRONG PERFORMANCE

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Financials

 
 
    -- Sales 11% higher at GBP74.6m (2018: GBP67.2m) 
 
    -- Adjusted EBITDA higher at GBP20.1m (2018: GBP19.6m) 
 
    -- Profit before taxation 10% higher at GBP15.2m (2018: GBP13.9m) 
 
    -- Profit after taxation 16% higher at GBP13.6m (2018: GBP11.6m) 
 
    -- Earnings per share 24% higher at 17.60p (2018: 14.19p) 
 
    -- Dividend 20% higher at 11.04p (2018: 9.2p) 
 
    -- Special dividend of 3.5p paid in January 2019 
 
    -- Strong cash generation from operations of GBP13.3m (2018: GBP15.8m) 
 
    -- Net cash lower at GBP18.1m (2018: GBP21.3m) 
 

Operations

 
 
    -- Demand for Aivlosin® continued to grow strongly, with new 

marketing authorisations gained in Europe, Vietnam and India.

 
    -- Revenue in China flat despite challenging market conditions triggered 

by the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

 
    -- Strong sales growth in the other strategically important markets; 

North America, Latin America, Thailand and India.

 
    -- Five new vaccine and product development licensing agreements signed 

for pigs and poultry.

 
    -- Accelerated investment in vaccine development programme and people to 

drive future growth.

 

Marc Loomes, CEO of ECO Animal Health Group plc, commented: "These are credible results for a year that was adversely depressed by both ASF and a trade war between the USA and China, our two largest markets. We are confident that our accelerated development programmes in vaccines and other products will add long term growth. For the year ahead we expect to report continued growth and to perform in line with the Board's expectations."

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Group to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR").Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

Contacts:

 
ECO Animal Health Group plc 
Richard Wood                                    023 8084 1818 
Marc Loomes                                     020 8447 6906 
IFC Advisory 
Graham Herring 
Miles Nolan                                     0203 934 6630 
N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker)   020 7496 3000 
Mark Taylor 
James White 
Brough Ransom 
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)                    020 7418 8900 
James Steel 
Dr Christopher Golden 
 
 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 

I am delighted to have joined the Board in March 2019 as Chairman and look forward to leading the Board in the next exciting phase of the Group's development. Although not involved with the business last year, I am pleased to be able to report that ECO had another successful year and the business is in good heart.

 

Sales were 11 per cent higher than in 2017/8. Profit after taxation rose by 16 per cent to GBP13.6m, and earnings per share increased by 24 per cent to 17.6p. Dividends paid in the year totalled 12.7p per share including the 'one off' distribution in January 2019. The Group cash balance remained strong at the year end at GBP18.1m.

 

Our strategy of concentrating on growth opportunities in the important and growing markets of the USA, Latin America, China and the Far East paid off but the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China curtailed sales in China in the second half of the year. This constraint is likely to continue in 2019 and until the disease has been contained, at which point we would expect to see further market growth, as the herd is rebuilt. In the meantime, Chinese food shortages will probably be bridged by imports particularly from Latin America and the USA if trade restrictions are lifted, so opportunities in those markets should improve in tandem.

 

Mid-year, when the Board was reviewing the potential of the Company's R & D investment, the science team brought forward a compelling list of opportunities that convinced the Board that R&D expenditure should be increased to drive both medium term growth and business diversity. From the opportunities presented, the Board selected a mix of medium and long-term projects that comprise an affordable balance of risk and opportunity.

 

For 2019/20, development expenditure will rise above GBP9 million (2019: GBP5.3 million) to accelerate the development of our new vaccine range. However, it should be noted that even with this new investment, the development and regulatory timelines are such that we do not expect to see sales before 2022/23.

 

Last year, the Board decided to recommend to shareholders that it should use some of the accumulated cash balances to pay a one-off exceptional dividend of 3.5 pence per share and that was paid to shareholders on 9 January 2019.

 

There is no intention to repeat last year's special distribution. The Board is now proposing a dividend for the year of 11.04 pence per share, which subject to shareholder approval will be paid on 16 October 2019 to shareholders on the register on 27 September 2019. The ex-dividend date will be 26 September 2019. This dividend represents an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year after finalisation, in line with our progressive dividend policy.

 

We have completed the transfer of our Aivlosin® API manufacturing process to a new facility in China which has greater capacity and the latest environmental controls. The purpose-built plant was validated and approved by the EU & US regulators.

 

After many years as a successful Chairman and continued substantial shareholder in the Company, Peter Lawrence, the founder of ECO, decided to retire during the final quarter of the year. The Board and the staff of the Company would like to thank him for his excellent stewardship during his tenure.

 

Looking forward, I will be reviewing, with the Board, the three-year corporate strategy over the next six months and will report more to shareholders with the interim results.

 

In my short time with the Company, I can report that the documenting of our corporate governance processes is well in hand and further work will continue during the current year.

 

In this regard, we have already made some changes to our annual reporting and shareholders will see these changes in this report. Reporting will evolve further during 2019.

 

In closing, I would like to say how much I am looking forward to helping guide ECO through its next stage of business development and growth.

 

Outlook

 

The beginning of the year will remain challenging because of the continued impact of African Swine Fever in China but we believe that there will be some compensating buoyancy elsewhere as other nations move to fill the food shortages in China.

 

We are excited by our accelerated development programmes in vaccines and other products which are expected to result in long term growth.

 

For the full year ahead, we expect to report continued growth and to perform in line with the Board's expectations.

 

Richard Wood

 

Chairman

 

18 June 2019

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 

Global revenue grew by 11 per cent to GBP74.6 million in a year dominated by an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China and an ongoing trade war between the USA and China, our two principal markets. This year's result, once again, demonstrated both the value of our global footprint, with sales generated in more than seventy countries, and the commoditised nature of pork and poultry production.

 

Sales of Aivlosin®, our patented molecule for the treatment of economically important diseases in pigs and poultry, increased by 14 per cent, accounting for 78 per cent of total revenue. Sales of the smaller Ecomectin® anti-parasitic range, which were adversely affected by European manufacturing issues and altered distribution purchasing patterns, declined by 7 per cent. Sales of all other products rose by 6 per cent, principally driven by increased sales in Mexico.

 

The Chinese subsidiary's revenue was held at last year's level, despite the ASF outbreak which exploded in August 2018 and spread rapidly throughout China. The severe movement restrictions, imposed by both the authorities and producers whose herds had remained free of disease, curtailed on farm selling but our team found new and innovative ways to reach customers. Margins did soften and credit terms were adjusted to retain business, during this period, resulting in Group debtors increasing by over GBP12 million during the year under review.

 

Recent analysis by Rabobank indicates that China has lost up to 200 million pigs (30 per cent of Chinese swine production). This figure exceeds the total USA production of about 120 million pigs per year. The 30 per cent loss of the breeding herd equates to double the total number of sows in the USA.

 

To combat this downturn and continued uncertainty in the short term, our focus for Aivlosin® in China has now shifted from being almost exclusively directed at the pig sector, to include poultry. In this new area, we are making good progress and look forward to reporting on developments.

 

North American revenue increased by 20 per cent. In the USA, revenue was 17 per cent higher, driven by Aivlosin for use in Swine Respiratory Disease. Margins softened as market pig prices were low and swine producers were making trading losses, in what was a difficult year for farmers. However, by March 2019, the $20 loss per market pig being experienced at the end of 2018 had reversed to a $30 per pig profit, because of a combination of cheapening feed prices and global supply shortages brought about by ASF in China. Canadian revenue rose 27 per cent, buoyed by the introduction of new veterinary prescription regulations for in-feed medication and adjusted commercial terms.

 

In South and Southeast Asia, revenue was 4 per cent higher. Highlights from the region included strong growth in India, Thailand and Pakistan. The improvement in India was a consequence of the establishment of ECO India and an adjustment to our route to market. For Thailand the improvement was as a result of implementing key account management strategies for both pig and poultry producers with our local third-party distributor. In Pakistan a number of accounts were switched to Aivlosin® from a competing product. These results were tempered by challenging conditions in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. In Indonesia a ban on all in-feed antimicrobial medication in early 2018 suspended trading for 8 months until Aivlosin® was successfully re-registered. Weak pork prices and the shutting of exports to China from Vietnam reduced potential in that territory.

 

Latin America revenue rose strongly by 62 per cent, with buoyant trade through the subsidiaries in Mexico and in Brazil, up 34 per cent and 47 per cent respectively. In both cases the benefits of following key account management strategies were increasingly evident. New business was written in Chile, tenders were won in Cuba and Colombia also performed particularly strongly.

 

European revenue declined by 4 per cent. Although sales in the United Kingdom, which represent just under 2 per cent of global revenue, rose 24 per cent, across all products. Aivlosin® sales were strong in key markets such as Denmark, Poland and Germany but were offset by a change in stock holding policy by a regional distributor for a number of other key markets such as Spain and Italy. This reduced sales potential from ECO but not on sales in the market. The total value of product supplied to European distributors before the end of March to mitigate any potential Brexit related supply interruption risks, was negated by production issues. These resulted in some sales being postponed into the new financial year. Delays to the inspection of manufacturing facilities and laboratories, and delays in receiving licences in Russia, also impacted negatively on revenue. These issues are expected to be fully resolved within the coming year.

 

Sales in the Rest of the World rose 14 per cent, principally through increased sales of Aivlosin ® for use in the poultry sector in Egypt and Aivlosin ® sales for pigs in South Africa.

 

Revenue in Japan rose by 14 per cent, driven by growth in the swine business to large producers.

 

Product Pipeline

 

The Board made a strategic decision to increase annual investment in product research and development to ensure that the new product pipeline has a mix of well-established concepts as well as novel, potentially highly competitive technologies and approaches. Rather than carry the significant cost of an in-house R&D function, the Company's early stage R&D activities are outsourced to leading research institutions. However, all on-farm development work is managed in-house. External development expenditure in the year rose by 43 per cent to GBP5.3 million (2018: GBP3.7 million) and will be increased by more than 70 per cent to over GBP9 million in 2019/20. This will ensure that we have several mid and late stage projects able to deliver revenues from 2022/23. The pipeline is focused on pigs and poultry, targeting both viral and bacterial diseases of economic importance in both species. However, there will be a shift in emphasis towards developing a range of vaccines and new products to complement our existing antimicrobial business.

 

During the year, two new international Aivlosin® marketing authorisations were secured, notably Aivlosin® 625 mg/g Water Soluble Granules (WSG) for chickens laying eggs for human consumption with a zero-day drug withdrawal period in India, and in Vietnam for the treatment of pigs and poultry. A further licence was obtained from the European Medicines Agency for the use of Aivlosin® WSG in breeding chickens just after the year end and this approval will now be rolled out beyond the EU into the multi-million dollar international poultry markets.

 

ECO established a joint venture called ECO-Pharm Limited, in the Republic of Ireland, with Pharmgate LLC of Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. The JV company will progress the registration and commercialisation of several swine vaccine products already licensed in the USA and Canada for use in the United Kingdom, the EU, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Brazil and Japan.

 

A further four licensing deals have been signed (including University of Georgia in the USA and the University of Ghent, for poultry vaccine development, and with Agrinnovation and Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for a swine antimicrobial). All of these opportunities are currently being taken through rigorous proof-of-concept evaluations in well-designed studies before any commitment to further development funding is made.

 

Competition

 

The veterinary market is consolidating rapidly at all levels. The top 10 veterinary pharmaceutical companies accounted for 88 per cent of the global market and had an average growth rate of 7 per cent in 2018.

 

We believe that ECO's key competition comes from the branded antimicrobial products for pig and poultry supplied by the major multinationals.

 

During 2018/9, we believe that the Aivlosin® global market share rose by 2 per cent to 10 per cent. This gain arose from displacing older branded products in this sector.

 

Brexit

 

ECO has successfully transferred all EU marketing authorisations to a new European subsidiary, ECO Animal Health Europe Limited with registered address in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. All contingency planning is in place and the financial and operational impact of Brexit is expected to be minimal.

 

People

 

ECO's achievements are a direct result of the hard work, dedication and professionalism of our staff, now numbering more than 200 globally. We would like to thank all our employees for their individual and team contributions to ECO's continued success.

 

Marc Loomes

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

FINANCE DIRECTOR'S REPORT

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 

ECO has traded well in tough market conditions with revenues increasing 11 per cent to GBP74.6 million. Whilst some markets performed well, the trading challenges of ASF and the US trade war highlighted in the CEO's report resulted in pressure on margins which fell 2.5 per cent to 45.4 per cent.

 

Management's early intervention to control overheads minimised the impact on operating profit which rose by 4 per cent to GBP14.7 million (2018 GBP14.1 million). ASF reduced the Chinese subsidiary's reported operating profit by over GBP1 million, to GBP5.2 million, (2018: GBP6.4 million). The Group's global footprint enabled us to compensate for this as operating profit in the rest of the Group increased.

 

Adjusted EBITDA (the profits before tax adjusted for share based payments, foreign exchange, net finance income, depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges) increased by 3 per cent to GBP20.1 million (2018: GBP19.6 million). Excluding the Chinese subsidiary's adjusted EBITDA decrease of GBP1.0 million, the remainder of the Group contributed GBP1.5 million to the increase in adjusted EBITDA. An explanation of how adjusted EBITDA is calculated, and the rationale for each adjustment can be found in the accounts.

 

Profit before taxation rose by 10 per cent to GBP15.2 million (2018: GBP13.9 million) supported by currency gains arising from the reversal of non-cash currency losses, particularly the US Dollar, from the previous year. As we purchase most of our raw materials in US Dollars, it is necessary to hold significant operational balances in that currency. These act as an economic hedge against movements in the exchange rate of Sterling against the Dollar.

 

The taxation charge for the year of GBP1.7 million was 24 per cent lower than in 2018. The UK trading company makes significant use of enhanced tax allowances for R&D expenditure and, more recently, has used the Patent Box regulations on profits deriving from Aivlosin®, with the result that it currently has over GBP10 million of accumulated tax losses in the UK. The lower margins in China that arose from the challenging market conditions have also contributed in a lower tax charge when compared to last year.

 

Profit after taxation rose 16 per cent to GBP13.6 million. The share of profit attributable to non-controlling interests (minorities) was GBP0.5 million lower so that profit attributable to the Group rose by the equivalent amount.

 

Retained profit rose to GBP11.8 million compared to GBP9.3 million for 2018, an increase of over 26 per cent. Basic earnings per share rose by 24 per cent due to a lower minority charge.

 

The Group invested just over GBP5 million in clinical trials for both existing and new projects. As we approach the end of the Aivlosin® development programme expenditure has started to shift away from Aivlosin® to other projects such as vaccines and other new products. As a result, amortisation will increase in future years, but this is necessary for the continued development and diversification of the business.

 

The Group adopted IFRS16 for the first time in the year. This brings most leased assets onto the balance sheet along with the corresponding lease liabilities. More details can be found in the notes to the financial statements. The effect on the Group's reported profits and on net assets has not been significant.

 

Group capital expenditure was GBP0.5 million (2018: GBP0.3 million), spent on IT systems and barcoding equipment to meet new Chinese product regulations.

 

Inventory fell from GBP17.7 million at the end of financial year 2018 to GBP16.1 million as at 31 March 2019. As a Group, to act as a strategic buffer, we normally hold around 6 months' sales of Aivlosin® in inventory but since March's sales in the USA and in China were ahead of the levels achieved in March 2018, inventory levels at the year-end were reduced to under 5 months' sales. Inventory has been restored to normal levels subsequent to the year end.

 

Trade receivables increased from GBP15.8 million to GBP27.8 million predominately due to extended credit terms in China. The high USA sales before year end also contributed to the increase. The yearend figure represented less than 3 months' sales in respect of both 2018 and 2019.

 

The Group's cash balance was held at above GBP18 million, net of the special dividend of GBP2.4 million paid in January. In addition, the normal dividends were 20 per cent higher than 2018, in line with the Group's stated progressive dividend policy. Together with dividend payments to the joint owners of the Chinese subsidiary and an GBP8 million investment in product development, the cash balance demonstrates the strong cash generating capability of the Group.

 

Having substantial cash reserves, the Group does not have any bank borrowing facilities. The Group's Treasury Management Function (TMF) therefore seeks to ensure that funds necessary for the implementation of approved activities are always available. It also aims to increase the net worth of the Company by managing funds in the most appropriate manner.

 

The main processes used for achieving this are:

 

1. Updating 12 months cash flow forecasts every 3 months so that potential shortages are addressed in a timely manner.

 

2. Working (with the sales function) to ensure that all amounts due to the Group are received in a timely manner.

 

3. Ensuring as far as possible that all funds are held centrally, thus minimising the amounts held by subsidiaries, while not impeding their operations.

 

4. Ensuring that all funds received are deposited with appropriate and financially stable institutions, while at the same time maximising returns on those deposits.

 

5. Ensuring that funds are held only in currencies to the extent that it is anticipated those currencies will be required for use in the future, thus minimising foreign exchange risk.

 

6. Ensuring that suppliers are paid promptly for goods and services rendered, which in turn ensures continuity of supply of those goods and services.

 

The board keeps these procedures under review but is satisfied that the TMF worked effectively in the year.

 

Post balance sheet event

 

The Company paid a dividend of GBP2,697,725 on 12 April 2019 to its shareholders.

 

Kevin Stockdale

 

Finance Director

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 
                                            2019        2018 
                                     Notes  GBP000's      GBP000's 
Revenue                              3      74,578      67,201 
Cost of sales                               (40,725)    (34,986) 
Gross profit                                33,853      32,215 
Other income                                35          436 
Administrative expenses                     (19,217)    (18,539) 
Profit from operating activities     4      14,671      14,112 
Finance income                              631         138 
Finance costs                               (69)        (385) 
Net finance (cost)/income                   562         (247) 
Share of profit of associate                14          7 
                                            14          7 
Profit before income tax                    15,247      13,872 
Income tax (charge)                  6      (1,680)     (2,225) 
Profit for the year                         13,567      11,647 
Profit attributable to: 
Owners of the parent Company                11,755      9,315 
Non-controlling interest                    1,812       2,332 
Profit for the year                         13,567      11,647 
Earnings per share (pence)           7      17.60       14.19 
Diluted earnings per share (pence)   7      17.35       14.06 
Earnings before Interest, Tax,       4      20,087      19,571 
Depreciation, Amortisation, 
Share  Based Payments and Foreign 
Exchange Differences 
 
 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 
                                                   2019    2018 
                                            Notes  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Profit for the year                                13,567  11,647 
Other comprehensive (losses) (net 
of related tax effects): 
Items that will or may be reclassified 
to profit/(loss) in future  periods: 
Foreign currency translation differences           (8)     (372) 
Items that will not be reclassified: 
Defined benefit plan actuarial (losses)            (36)    (15) 
Other comprehensive (losses) for the year          (44)    (387) 
Total comprehensive income for the year            13,523  11,260 
Attributable to: 
Owners of the parent Company                       11,694  9,028 
Non-controlling interest                           1,829   2,232 
                                                   13,523  11,260 
 
 

All items listed in other comprehensive income have gone through reserves and are shown in the consolidated statement of changes in equity.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 
CONSOLIDATED               Attributable to the owners of the Parent 
                           Share    Share    Revaluation                 Other     Retained  Total    Non-controlling  Total 
                           Capital  Premium  Reserve                     Reserves  Earnings           Interest         Equity 
                                    Account 
                           GBP000's   GBP000's   GBP000's                      GBP000's    GBP000's    GBP000's   GBP000's           GBP000's 
Balance as at 31           3,271    58,154   664                         2,449     29,293    93,831   4,342            98,173 
March 2017 
Profit for the year 
Other comprehensive        -        -        -                           -         9,315     9,315    2,332            11,647 
income: 
Foreign currency           -        -        -                           -         (272)     (272)    (100)            (372) 
differences 
Actuarial (losses)         -        -        -                           -         (15)      (15)     -                (15) 
on pension 
scheme assets 
Total comprehensive        -        -        -                           -         9,028     9,028    2,232            11,260 
income 
for the year 
Transactions with 
owners recorded 
directly in equity 
Contributions by and 
distributions 
to owners 
Issue of shares            20       693      -                           -         -         713      -                713 
in the year 
Share-based payments       -        -        -                           778       -         778      -                778 
Transfers on expiry        -        -        -                           (404)     404       -        -                - 
of options 
Dividends relating         -        -        -                           -         (4,660)   (4,660)  (1,389)          (6,049) 
to 2018 
Transactions with owners   20       693      -                           374       (4,256)   (3,169)  (1,389)          (4,558) 
Balance as at 31           3,291    58,847   664                         2,823     34,065    99,690   5,185            104,875 
March 2018 
Adjustment                 -        -        -                           -         (17)      (17)     1                (16) 
on implementation 
of IFRS16 
IFRS16 adjusted balance    3,291    58,847   664                         2,823     34,048    99,673   5,186            104,859 
as at 1 April 2018 
Profit for the year        -        -        -                           -         11,755    11,755   1,812            13,567 
Other comprehensive 
income: 
Foreign currency           -        -        -                           -         (17)      (17)     9                (8) 
differences 
Actuarial (losses)         -        -        -                           -         (36)      (36)     -                (36) 
on pension 
scheme assets 
Total comprehensive        -        -        -                           -         11,702    11,702   1,821            13,523 
income 
for the year 
Transactions with 
owners recorded 
directly in equity 
Contributions by and 
distributions 
to owners 
Issue of shares            81       3,803    -                           -         -         3,884    -                3,884 
in the year 
Share-based payments       -        -        -                           631       -         631      -                631 
Transfers on expiry        -        -        -                           (112)     112       -        -                - 
of options 
Dividends relating         -        -        -                           -         (8,485)   (8,485)  (1,643)          (10,128) 
to 2019 
Transactions with owners   81       3,803    -                           519       (8,373)   (3,970)  (1,643)          (5,613) 
Balance as at 31           3,372    62,650   664                         3,342     37,377    107,405  5,364            112,769 
March 2019 
 
 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 
COMPANY 
                Share    Share    Revaluation  Other     Retained  Total 
                Capital  Premium  Reserve      Reserves  Earnings 
                         Account 
                GBP000's   GBP000's   GBP000's       GBP000's    GBP000's    GBP000's 
Balance as      3,271    58,154   395          2,449     11,384    75,653 
at 31 
March 2017 
Profit for      -        -        -            -         76        76 
the year 
Other 
comprehensive 
income: 
Actuarial       -        -        -            -         (15)      (15) 
(losses) 
on pension 
scheme assets 
Total           -        -        -            -         61        61 
comprehensive 
income 
for the year 
Transactions 
with 
owners 
recorded 
directly in 
equity 
Contributions 
by and 
distributions 
to owners 
Issue of        20       693      -            -         -         713 
shares 
in the year 
Share-based     -        -        -            778       -         778 
payments 
Transfers on    -        -        -            (404)     404       - 
expiry 
of options 
Dividends       -        -        -            -         (4,660)   (4,660) 
relating 
to 2018 
Transactions    20       693      -            374       (4,256)   (3,169) 
with owners 
Balance as      3,291    58,847   395          2,823     7,189     72,545 
at 31 
March 2018 
Profit for      -        -        -            -         15,041    15,041 
the year 
Other 
comprehensive 
income: 
Actuarial       -        -        -            -         (36)      (36) 
(losses) 
on pension 
scheme assets 
Total           -        -        -            -         15,005    15,005 
comprehensive 
income 
for the year 
Transactions 
with 
owners 
recorded 
directly in 
equity 
Contributions 
by and 
distributions 
to owners 
Issue of        81       3,803    -            -         -         3,884 
shares 
in the year 
Share-based     -        -        -            631       -         631 
payments 
Transfers on    -        -        -            (112)     112       - 
expiry 
of options 
Dividends       -        -        -            -         (8,485)   (8,485) 
relating 
to 2019 
Transactions    81       3,803    -            519       (8,373)   (3,970) 
with owners 
Balance as      3,372    62,650   395          3,342     13,821    83,580 
at 31 
March 2019 
 
 

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

AS AT 31 MARCH 2019

 
                                   Group               Company 
                                   2019      2018      2019    2018 
                            Notes  GBP000's    GBP000's    GBP000's  GBP000's 
Non-current assets 
Intangible assets           8      62,734    57,631    -       - 
Property, plant                    2,144     1,866     769     716 
and equipment 
Investment property                200       200       200     200 
Right of use assets                1,930     -         30      - 
Investments                        116       98        20,077  20,077 
Amounts due from                   -         -         58,510  46,326 
subsidiary 
Company 
                                   67,124    59,795    79,586  67,319 
Current assets 
Inventories                 9      16,107    17,663    -       - 
Trade and other             10     29,537    17,193    46      213 
receivables 
Income tax recoverable             466       113       -       - 
Other taxes and social             462       1,160     145     518 
security 
Cash and cash equivalents          18,068    21,261    4,236   4,959 
Total current assets               64,640    57,390    4,427   5,690 
Liabilities 
Trade and other payables    11     (13,809)  (10,715)  (181)   (234) 
Income tax                         (1,000)   (152)     -       - 
Other taxes and social             (533)     (108)     (90)    (98) 
security 
Amounts due under leases           (415)     -         (16)    - 
Dividends                          (49)      (42)      (49)    (42) 
Current liabilities                (15,806)  (11,017)  (336)   (374) 
Net current assets                 48,834    46,373    4,091   5,316 
Total assets less current          115,958   106,168   83,677  72,635 
liabilities 
Non current liabilities 
Provisions 
Deferred tax                       (1,616)   (1,293)   (85)    (90) 
Amounts due under leases           (1,573)   -         (12)    - 
TOTAL ASSETS LESS TOTAL            112,769   104,875   83,580  72,545 
LIABILITIES 
EQUITY 
Issued share capital        12     3,372     3,291     3,372   3,291 
Share premium account              62,650    58,847    62,650  58,847 
Revaluation reserve                664       664       395     395 
Other reserves                     3,342     2,823     3,342   2,823 
Retained earnings                  37,377    34,065    13,821  7,189 
Shareholders' funds                107,405   99,690    83,580  72,545 
Non-controlling interests          5,364     5,185     -       - 
                                   112,769   104,875   83,580  72,545 
 
 

STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 
                                  Group     Group    Company   Company 
                                  2019      2018     2019      2018 
                           Notes  GBP000's    GBP000's   GBP000's    GBP000's 
Cashflows from operating 
activities 
Profit before income tax          15,247    13,872   15,050    89 
Adjustment for: 
Net                               (562)     247      (937)     (911) 
finance cost/(income) 
Depreciation                      720       297      19        17 
Revaluation of freehold           (55)      -        (55)      - 
property 
Revaluation of                    -         (15)     -         (15) 
investment 
property 
Amortisation of            8      3,982     3,428    -         - 
intangible 
assets 
Pension payments                  (59)      (39)     (59)      (39) 
Share of associate's              (14)      (7)      -         - 
results 
Impairment of                     -         -        -         5 
investments 
Share based payments              631       778      631       778 
Operating cash flows              19,890    18,561   14,649    (76) 
before movements 
in working capital 
Change in inventories             1,556     2,012    -         - 
Change in receivables             (11,646)  (1,298)  (11,644)  (231) 
Change in payables                3,540     (3,432)  (39)      (373) 
Cash generated                    13,340    15,843   2,966     (680) 
from/(absorbed 
by) operations 
Finance costs                     (69)      (14)     (2)       (3) 
Income tax                        (862)     (1,763)  (13)      (11) 
Net cash from/(absorbed           12,409    14,066   2,951     (694) 
by) 
operating activities 
Cash flows from 
investing 
activities 
Acquisition of property,          (566)     (324)    (2)       (2) 
plant and equipment 
Disposal of property,             5         1        -         - 
plant and equipment 
Purchase of intangibles    8      (9,085)   (7,176)  -         - 
Finance income                    127       138      938       914 
Net cash (used in)/from           (9,519)   (7,361)  936       912 
investing activities 
Cash flows from 
financing 
activities 
Proceeds from issue               3,884     713      3,884     713 
of share capital 
Finance lease borrowings          67        -        1         - 
Finance lease repayments          (406)     -        (17)      - 
Dividends paid                    (10,121)  (6,046)  (8,478)   (4,656) 
Net cash (used                    (6,576)   (5,333)  (4,610)   (3,943) 
in) financing 
activities 
Net(decrease)/increase            (3,686)   1,372    (723)     (3,725) 
in cash 
and cash equivalents 
Foreign exchange                  493       (713)    -         - 
movements 
Balance at 1 April 2018           21,261    20,602   4,959     8,684 
Balance at 31 March 2019          18,068    21,261   4,236     4,959 
 
 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

 

1. General information

 

ECO Animal Health Group plc ("the Company") and its subsidiaries (together "the Group") manufacture and supply animal health products globally.

 

The Company is traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 78 Coombe Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4QS.

 

The financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the Group's statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2019 or 31 March 2018. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include references to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain statements under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2019 have not yet been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2018 were delivered to the Registrar of Companies on 17 August 2018.

 

2. Adoption of new IFRS

 

The following new standard has been implemented in the current period:

 

IFRS 16 - Leases

 

Further details on the implementation of this standard and its effect on the reported results for the period can be found in note 2.15.

 

The following new standards, amendments and interpretations for existing standards have been published that are mandatory for accounting periods beginning after 1 January 2019 (unless otherwise stated) and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements.

 

IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments (amendments)

 

IFRS 17 - Insurance contracts (effective 1 January 2021)

 

IAS19 - Employee benefits

 

IAS 28 - Investments in associates and joint ventures

 

IFRIC 23 - Uncertainty over income tax

 

IFRS 3, IFRS 11, IAS 12 and IAS 23- Amendments under 2015-2017 Cycle of Annual Improvements

 

The directors do not expect that the adoption of the Standards and Interpretations listed above will have a material impact on the financial statements of the Group in future periods.

 

Beyond the information above, it is not practicable to provide a reasonable estimate of the effect of these standards until a detailed review has been completed.

 

3.Segment information

 

Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board that are used to make strategic decisions. The Board considers the business from a geographical perspective. Geographically, management considers the performance in the Corporate/UK and China and Japan, North America, South and South East Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Rest of the World.

 

Management considers Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation ("EBITDA"), adjusted for share-based payments.

 
                Corporate/  China & Japan  North America  S & SE Asia  Latin America  Europe  Rest of World  Total 
                U.K. 
                GBP000's      GBP000's         GBP000's         GBP000's       GBP000's         GBP000's  GBP000's         GBP000's 
Year 
ended 
31 
March 
2019 
Total           1,422       35,861         31,230         11,038       14,287         7,594   1,747          103,179 
segment 
revenue 
Inter-segment   -           (7,613)        (17,796)       -            (3,192)        -       -              (28,601) 
revenue 
Revenue         1,422       28,248         13,434         11,038       11,095         7,594   1,747          74,578 
from 
external 
customers 
Sale of         1,422       28,248         13,434         11,038       11,095         7,594   1,591          74,422 
goods 
Royalties       -           -              -              -            -              -       156            156 
                1,422       28,248         13,434         11,038       11,095         7,594   1,747          74,578 
Adjusted        (2,818)     9,298          3,589          4,278        2,152          2,750   700            19,949 
EBITDA 
Total           22,272      33,621         18,197         18,910       19,550         14,907  4,307          131,764 
Assets 
Year 
ended 
31 
March 
2018 
Total           1,147       36,798         26,203         10,623       10,924         8,246   1,536          95,477 
segment 
revenue 
Inter-segment   -           (9,198)        (14,990)       -            (4,088)        -       -              (28,276) 
revenue 
Revenue         1,147       27,600         11,213         10,623       6,836          8,246   1,536          67,201 
from 
external 
customers 
Sale of         1,147       27,600         11,213         10,623       6,836          8,246   1,329          66,994 
goods 
Royalties       -           -              -              -            -              -       207            207 
                1,147       27,600         11,213         10,623       6,836          8,246   1,536          67,201 
Adjusted        (2,614)     9,908          4,118          3,942        791            1,880   576            18,601 
EBITDA 
Total           24,429      29,466         12,179         17,209       15,609         14,499  3,794          117,185 
Assets 
 
 

Goodwill and other intangible assets are initially allocated to the geographical segments on the basis of the proportion of sales achieved by each segment.

 

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA for reportable segments to profit before tax is provided as follows:

 
                                             2019     2018 
                                             GBP000's   GBP000's 
Adjusted EBITDA for reportable segments      19,949   18,601 
Depreciation                                 (720)    (298) 
Revaluation of freehold property             55       - 
Revaluation of investment property           -        15 
Amortisation                                 (3,982)  (3,428) 
Share-based payment charges                  (631)    (778) 
Finance income/(costs)                       562      (247) 
Share of associate's results                 14       7 
Profit before tax on continuing activities   15,247   13,872 
 
 

4.Result from operating activities

 
                                                      2019    2018 
                                                      GBP000's  GBP000's 
Result from operating activities is 
stated after charging/(crediting) 
Cost of inventories recognised as an expense          40,614  34,887 
Employee benefits expenses                            8,829   8,567 
Amortisation of intangible assets (note 11)           3,982   3,428 
Depreciation (notes 12 & 14)                          720     298 
Revaluation of freehold property (note 12)            (55)    - 
Revaluation of investment property (note 13)          -       (15) 
Loss on foreign exchange transactions                 138     970 
Research and development                              49      81 
Operating lease rentals expensed                      -       495 
Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit   18      17 
of the parent  Company and Group annual accounts 
For the audit of the Company's subsidiaries           52      42 
Fees payable for audit of the Company's               14      14 
subsidiaries pursuant to  legislation 
                                                      2019    2018 
                                                      GBP000's  GBP000's 
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, 
amortisation and  impairment, 
share-based payments and foreign exchange 
differences  (adjusted EBITDA) 
Profit from operating activities                      14,671  14,112 
Depreciation                                          720     298 
Revaluation of freehold property                      (55)    - 
Revaluation of investment property                    -       (15) 
Amortisation                                          3,982   3,428 
Share-based payments                                  631     778 
                                                      19,949  18,601 
Foreign exchange differences                          138     970 
                                                      20,087  19,571 
 
 

Management believe that adjusted EBITDA is the most appropriate measure of the Group's performance as it is the initial source for all re-investment and for all returns to shareholders. Investors, bankers and analysts all focus on this important measure of cashflow because it enables them to make judgements about the Group's ability to generate sufficient cash to meet all the re-investment needs of the business while still providing adequate returns to shareholders. Therefore, adjusted EBITDA has a direct relationship with the value of the Group and is seen by our investors as a Key Performance Indicator for management.

 

The following items are adjusted for in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA as defined by the Group.

 
Item                                 Rationale for Adjustment 
Depreciation and Amortisation        These items are a result 
                                     of past investments and 
                                     therefore, although  they 
                                     are correctly recorded 
                                     as a cost of the business, 
                                     they do not  reflect 
                                     current or future cash outflows. 
                                     Additionally, Depreciation and 
                                     Amortisation calculations 
                                     are  subject to judgement 
                                     regarding useful lives 
                                     and residual values of  particular 
                                     assets and the 
                                     adjustment removes the 
                                     element of  judgement. 
Revaluation of Investment Property   These are subject to judgement 
                                     and do not reflect cashflows. 
Gains and losses on Disposal         These items are viewed 
of Fixed Assets                      as adjustments to 
and Impairment of  Intangibles       depreciation and  amortisation and 
                                     therefore the rationale 
                                     for depreciation 
                                     and  amortisation applies. 
Share Based Payments                 This item is subject to judgement 
                                     and will never 
                                     be reflected in the 
                                     Group's cashflows. 
Foreign Exchange differences         Since the key driver of this 
                                     figure is the revaluation 
                                     of monetary  assets denominated 
                                     in foreign currency at 
                                     the period end, which  often 
                                     reverse later, taking this 
                                     figure out of the EBITDA figure 
                                     removes volatility 
                                     from the performance measure. 
                                     Foreign exchange  movements 
                                     are largely outside of the 
                                     Group's control, so 
                                     this gives  a better measure 
                                     of the Group's progress 
                                     than statutory profit  measures 
                                     which include them. 
 
 

5.Earnings per share

 

The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on the post-tax profit for the year divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year.

 
                            2019                                                           2018 
                            Earnings  Weighted average number of shares  Per share amount  Earnings  Weighted average number of shares  Per share amount 
                            GBP000's    000's                              (pence)           GBP000's    000's                              (pence) 
Earnings attributable to    11,755    66,794                             17.60             9,315     65,646                             14.19 
ordinary shareholders 
on continuing  operations 
after tax 
Dilutive effect of          -         943                                (0.25)            -         605                                (0.13) 
share options 
Fully diluted earnings      11,755    67,737                             17.35             9,315     66,251                             14.06 
per share 
 
 

Diluted earnings per share takes into account the dilutive effect of share options.

 

6. Taxation

 
                                                    2019    2018 
Current tax year                                    GBP000's  GBP000's 
Foreign corporation tax on profits for the year     1,655   1,852 
Withholding tax on intercompany dividend            92      78 
Research and development tax                        (285)   (40) 
credits claimed in the year 
Research and development tax credits                (104)   69 
- adjustment for prior year 
Deferred tax 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences   411     266 
Due to change in effective rate                     (89)    - 
Income tax charge                                   1,680   2,225 
                                                    2019    2018 
                                                    GBP000's  GBP000's 
Factors affecting the tax charge for the year 
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation       15,247  13,872 
Profit on ordinary activities before                2,897   2,636 
taxation multiplied by the 
applicable rate of UK corporation 
tax of 19% (2018: 19%) 
Effects of: 
Non deductible expenses                             470     305 
Non chargeable credits                              (984)   (397) 
Withholding tax on inter-company dividends          92      78 
Enhanced allowance on research                      (928)   (736) 
and development expenditure 
Different tax rate for foreign subsidiaries         348     451 
Reduced effective deferred tax rate                 (89)    - 
Unused tax losses carried forward                   141     90 
Patent box claim                                    (267)   (202) 
Income tax charge                                   1,680   2,225 
                                                    2019    2018 
                                                    %       % 
Applicable tax rate per UK legislation              19.00   19.00 
Effects of: 
Non deductible expenses                             3.08    2.20 
Non chargeable credits                              (6.45)  (2.86) 
Withholding tax on inter-company dividends          0.60    0.56 
Enhanced allowance on research                      (6.09)  (5.31) 
and development expenditure 
Different tax rate for foreign subsidiaries         2.28    3.25 
Reduced effective deferred tax rate                 (0.58)  - 
Unused tax losses carried forward                   0.93    0.65 
Patent box claim                                    (1.75)  (1.45) 
Effective tax rate                                  11.02   16.04 
 
 

6.Taxation

 

Future tax changes

 

Changes to the UK corporation tax rates were substantively enacted as part of the Finance Bill 2016 (on 6 September 2016). These include reductions to the main rate to reduce the rate to 17% from 1 April 2020. Deferred taxes at the balance sheet date have been measured at this rate (2018: hybrid tax rate of 18%).

 

7.Dividends

 
                                               2019    2018 
                                               GBP000's  GBP000's 
Non-recurring dividend for the year ended 31   2,350   - 
March 2019 of 3.5p per  ordinary share 
Dividend for the year ended 31 March           6,135   - 
2018 of 9.2p per ordinary share 
Dividend for the period ended 31 March         -       4,660 
2017 of 7.1p per ordinary  share 
                                               8,485   4,660 
 
 

The Board is proposing a dividend of 7.04p per ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 March 2019, which, when taken with the 4.0p per ordinary share paid in April 2019 will total 11.04p per ordinary share, not including the "one-off" dividend (of 3.5p per ordinary share) paid in January 2019.

 

8.Intangible fixed assets

 
Group              Goodwill  Distribution  Drug registrations,  Total 
                             rights        patents 
                                           and license costs 
                   GBP000's    GBP000's        GBP000's               GBP000's 
Cost 
At 1 April 2017    17,930    1,442         67,643               87,015 
Additions -        -         -             7,176                7,176 
internally 
generated 
At 1 April 2018    17,930    1,442         74,819               94,191 
Additions -        -         -             9,085                9,085 
internally 
generated 
At 31 March 2019   17,930    1,442         83,904               103,276 
Amortisation 
At 1 April 2017    -         759           32,373               33,132 
Charge for         -         72            3,356                3,428 
the year 
At 1 April 2018    -         831           35,729               36,560 
Charge for         -         72            3,910                3,982 
the year 
At 31 March 2019   -         903           39,639               40,542 
Net Book Value 
At 31 March 2019   17,930    539           44,265               62,734 
At 31 March 2018   17,930    611           39,090               57,631 
At 31 March 2017   17,930    683           35,270               53,883 
 
 

The amortisation and impairment charges are included within administrative expenses on the income statement.

 

Distribution rights are amortised over their estimated useful life of 20 years and reviewed for impairment when any indication of potential impairment exists. The remaining amortisation period at the date of the financial statements ranged from 5 to 15 years.

 

The carrying value of goodwill is attributable to the following cash generating units:

 
Entity                        Date of acquisition  GBP000's 
ECO Animal Health Limited     1 October 2004       17,359 
Zhejiang Eco Biok Animal      1 April 2007         94 
Health Products Limited 
ECO Animal Health Japan Inc   24 December 2009     477 
                                                   17,930 
                                                   ==================== 
 
 

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated at acquisition to the cash generating units (CGU's) that are expected to benefit from the business combination.

 

The recoverable amounts of the CGU's are determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding discount rates, growth rates and the estimated remaining useful life of the asset which is maintained at 30 years through ongoing investment in the cash generating unit.

 

The Group prepares cashflow forecasts derived from the most recent financial budgets and projections that are approved by management for the year ahead and then extrapolates them assuming a 3% annual growth rate which is well below the current performance of the existing business. The directors believe that the long-term growth rate assumed does not exceed the average long-term growth rate for the relevant markets.

 

Management estimates discount rates using the pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the CGU's. In the current year management estimated the applicable rate to be 11%. Management considers that there is adequate headroom when comparing the net present value of the cashflows to the carrying value of goodwill to conclude that no impairment is necessary this year. On current assumptions the excess of recoverable amount over carrying value is over GBP136 million (2018: GBP106 million).

 

Management believes that the most significant assumption in the calculation of value in use is the estimated growth rate. However, even if the growth rate were to be zero, the recoverable amount would still be over GBP98 million more than the carrying value and no impairment would be necessary.

 

The net book value of Drug registrations and licenses can be broken down as follows:

 
            GBP000's 
Aivlosin    39,082 
Ecomectin   2,743 
Others      2,440 
            44,265 
 
 

Aivlosin is a highly effective antibiotic that treats a range of specific enteric (gut) and respiratory diseases in pigs and poultry, ensuring a rapid return to health. In addition to the welfare benefits, healthy animals gain weight faster, digest food more efficiently and get to market earlier which all bring economic benefit to the farmer. Substantial ongoing product development covering more formulations, species and diseases is expected to substantially further increase its revenue generating potential. The remaining useful life is from 4 to 20 years.

 

Ecomectin is an endectocide that controls worms, ticks, lice and mange in grazing stock and pigs. The remaining useful life is 0 to 10 years.

 

Drug registrations and licences are amortised over their estimated useful lives of 10 to 20 years, which is the directors' estimate of the time it would take to develop a new product allowing for the Group's patent protection and the exclusivity period which comes with certain registrations. The directors have conducted an impairment review in the current year by preparing cashflow projections for the year ahead and extrapolating the results for the remaining life of the registrations assuming zero growth and an 11% discount rate to establish value in use. On the current assumptions, (which assume a remaining life of only 5 years) the excess of the value in use over carrying value is almost GBP32 million (2018: GBP23 million).

 

Fair value calculated as 10 times the annual current cash generated by the registrations gives an even higher value of GBP195 million and this higher figure determines the recoverable amount, so management has again concluded that no impairment is necessary.

 

9. Inventories

 
                                      Group           Company 
                                      2019    2018    2019    2018 
                                      GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Raw materials and consumables         10,422  12,975  -       - 
Finished goods and goods for resale   5,561   4,380   -       - 
Work in progress                      124     308     -       - 
                                      16,107  17,663  -       - 
 
 

The cost of inventories recognised as an expense and included in cost of sales in the period amounted to GBP40,614,000 (2018: GBP34,887,000).

 

10.Trade and other receivables

 
                                     Group           Company 
Non-current                          2019    2018    2019    2018 
                                     GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Amounts owed by Group undertakings   -       -       58,510  46,236 
 
 
                                   Group           Company 
Current                            2019    2018    2019    2018 
                                   GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Trade receivables                  27,841  15,777  -       - 
Amounts owed by joint operations   888     361     -       - 
Other receivables                  339     488     35      186 
Prepayments and accrued income     469     567     11      27 
                                   29,537  17,193  46      213 
 
 

The provisions of IFRS9 "Financial Instruments" have been adopted during the year, using the Expected Credit Loss Model. This has had no material impact on the results.

 

As at 31 March 2019, trade receivables of GBP2,592,000 (2018: GBP4,020,000) due to the Group and GBPnil (2018: GBPnil) due to the Company were past due but not impaired. These relate to long standing distributors with whom we have agreed settlement terms and with whom there is no history of default. The ageing analysis of these trade receivables is as follows:

 
                          Group           Company 
                          2019    2018    2019    2018 
                          GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Up to 3 months past due   1,547   3,469   -       - 
3 to 6 months past due    515     345     -       - 
Over 6 months past due    530     206     -       - 
                          2,592   4,020   -       - 
 
 

As at 31 March 2019, trade receivables of GBP280,000 (2018: GBP470,000) were impaired and provided for. The impaired receivables mainly relate to historic debt for which recovery is still being sought. The Group mitigates its exposure to credit risk by extensive use of commercial credit reference agencies, close management of its customers' trading against terms offered and use of retention of title clauses wherever possible. The ageing analysis of the impaired balances is as follows:

 
                          Group           Company 
                          2019    2018    2019    2018 
                          GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Current debt              1       86      -       - 
Up to 3 months past due   -       19      -       - 
3 to 6 months past due    68      19      -       - 
Over 6 months past due    211     346     -       - 
                          280     470     -       - 
 
 

Movement on the Group provision for impairment of trade receivables is as follows:

 
Group                     2019   2018 
                          GBP      GBP 
Balance at 1 April        470    501 
(Recovered) in the year   (33)   (5) 
Written off in the year   (157)  (26) 
Balance at 31 March       280    470 
 
 

The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

 
                   Group           Company 
                   2019    2018    2019    2018 
                   GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Pounds Sterling    1,146   805     46      213 
Euros              4,423   3,420   -       - 
U S Dollars        10,940  7,314   -       - 
Chinese RMB        8,923   3,210   -       - 
Brazilian Real     965     363     -       - 
Japanese Yen       696     153     -       - 
Canadian dollars   817     346     -       - 
Mexican Pesos      1,505   1,457   -       - 
Other currencies   122     125     -       - 
                   29,537  17,193  46      213 
 
 

The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables are not significantly different to their fair values.

 

11. Trade and other payables

 
                               Group           Company 
                               2019    2018    2019    2018 
                               GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's  GBP000's 
Trade payables                 12,012  8,860   17      33 
Other payables                 1,303   1,374   132     178 
Accruals and deferred income   494     481     32      23 
                               13,809  10,715  181     234 
 
 

12.Share capital

 

During the year 1,618,310 shares were issued at a premium of GBP3,803,000 as a result of the exercise of options by employees. (2018: 402,110 shares at a premium of GBP693,000).

 

13.Employees

 

Number of employees

 

The average number of employees (including directors) during the year was:

 
                                                   2019    2018 
                                                   Number  Number 
Directors                                          7       7 
Production and development                         70      73 
Administration                                     47      45 
Sales                                              93      82 
                                                   217     207 
Employment costs (including amounts capitalised) 
                                                   2019    2018 
                                                   GBP000's  GBP000's 
Wages and salaries                                 10,254  9,971 
Share-based payments                               631     778 
Social security costs                              963     786 
Other pension costs                                353     286 
                                                   12,201  11,821 
 
 

Financial instruments

 

The Group uses financial instruments comprising borrowings, cash and liquid resources and various items, such as trade receivables, trade payables etc. that arise directly from its operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to raise finance for the Group's operations. The directors are responsible for the overall risk management.

 

The main risks arising from the Group's use of financial instruments are capital and liquidity risk, credit risk and foreign currency risks and they are summarised below. The policies have remained unchanged throughout the year.

 

Capital and liquidity risk

 

The Group manages its capital to ensure continuity as a going concern whilst maximising returns through the optimisation of debt and equity. As part of this, the Board considers the cost and risk associated with each class of capital. The capital structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents in note 19 and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the Group's statement of changes in equity.

 

Liquidity risk is managed by maintaining adequate reserves and banking facilities with continuous monitoring of the latest developments by management.

 

At 31 March 2019 the Group was contractually obliged to make repayments as detailed below:

 
                               2019    2018 
Within one year or on demand   GBP000's  GBP000's 
Trade payables                 12,012  8,860 
                               12,012  8,860 
 
 

Credit risk is that of financial loss as a result of default by a counterparty on its contractual obligations. The Group's exposure to credit risk arises principally in relation to trade receivables from customers and on short term bank deposits. Customers' creditworthiness is wherever possible checked against independent rating databases and filing authorities or otherwise assessed on the basis of trade knowledge and experience. Exposure and customer credit limits are continually monitored both on specific debts and overall.

 

The credit risk in relation to short term bank deposits and derivatives is limited because the counterparties are banks with good credit ratings.

 

The Group operates in certain geographical areas which are from time to time subject to restrictions in the free movement of funds. The Board seeks to minimise the Group's exposure to these markets but the nature of our business makes it impossible to eliminate this exposure completely.

 

Currency risk

 

The Group operates in overseas markets particularly through its subsidiaries in China, Brazil, Mexico, the USA and Japan and its joint operation in Canada and is subject to currency exposure on transactions undertaken during the year. The Group does some simple economic hedging of receivables when the Board feels it is appropriate to do so and foreign exchange differences on retranslation of foreign monetary items are taken to the income statement.

 

The table below shows the extent to which the Group companies have monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than in Sterling:

 
Foreign 
currency 
of 
Group 
operations 
2019         US Dollar  Euros  Rand  Chinese  Japanese  Brazilian  Canadian  Mexican  Other 
                                     RMB      Yen       Real       Dollar    Peso 
Sterling     8,296      4,611  112   8,669    741       1,452      1,631     1,755    27 
equivalent 
(GBP000's) 
2018 
Sterling     8,025      4,163  178   7,659    448       723        1,506     1,531    (15) 
equivalent 
(GBP000's) 
 
 

At 31 March 2019 the Group was mainly exposed to the Dollar, Euro, the Chinese RMB, the Japanese Yen, the Brazilian Real, the Canadian Dollar and the Mexican Peso. The following table details the effect of a 10% movement in the exchange rate of these currencies against sterling when applied to outstanding monetary items denominated in foreign currency as at 31 March 2019. A positive number indicates the decrease in profit which would arise from a 10% weakening of the foreign currency concerned.

 
                  2019    2018 
                  GBP000's  GBP000's 
US Dollar         754     730 
Euro              419     378 
Chinese RMB       788     696 
Japanese Yen      67      41 
Brazilian Real    132     66 
Canadian Dollar   148     137 
Mexican Peso      160     139 
 
 

Analysis of financial instruments by category

 

Group

 
                    Loans and receivables  Financial liabilities  Total 
2019                GBP000's                 GBP000's                 GBP000's 
Trade and other     29,068                 -                      29,068 
receivables 
(excluding 
prepayments) 
Cash and cash       18,068                 -                      18,068 
equivalents 
Amounts due under   -                      (1,988)                (1,988) 
leases 
2018                Loans and receivables  Financial liabilities  Total 
                    GBP000's                 GBP000's                 GBP000's 
Trade and other     16,626                 -                      16,626 
receivables 
(excluding 
prepayments) 
Cash and cash       21,261                 -                      21,261 
equivalents 
 
 

Company

 
                    Loans and receivables  Financial liabilities  Total 
2019                GBP000's                 GBP000's                 GBP000's 
Trade and other     35                     -                      35 
receivables 
(excluding 
prepayments) 
Cash and cash       4,236                  -                      4,236 
equivalents 
Amounts due under   -                      (29)                   (29) 
leases 
2018                Loans and receivables  Financial liabilities  Total 
                    GBP000's                 GBP000's                 GBP000's 
Trade and other     186                    -                      186 
receivables 
(excluding 
prepayments) 
Cash and cash       4,959                  -                      4,959 
equivalents 
 
 

All financial liabilities in the Group's and Company's statements of financial position are classified as held at amortised cost for both the current and previous year.

 

"A copy of this preliminary statement will be available to download on the Group's website www.ecoanimalhealthgroupplc.com.Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts, together with the notice convening the Annual General Meeting, will be posted to shareholders in due course at which time the Annual Report and Accounts will be made available to download on the Group's website https://www.ecoanimalhealthgroupplc.com, in accordance with AIM Rule 26.

 
 
 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190618005825/en/

 
This information is provided by Business Wire 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 19, 2019 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

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