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HSP Hargreaves Services Plc

562.00
0.00 (0.00%)
Last Updated: 09:45:58
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Hargreaves Services Plc LSE:HSP London Ordinary Share GB00B0MTC970 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% 562.00 560.00 578.00 16,949 09:45:58
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Sanitary Services, Nec 211.46M 27.92M 0.8510 6.60 184.35M

Hargreaves Services PLC Preliminary Results (4313W)

01/08/2018 7:01am

UK Regulatory


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RNS Number : 4313W

Hargreaves Services PLC

01 August 2018

 
 For immediate release   1 August 2018 
 

HARGREAVES SERVICES PLC

(the "Group" or "Hargreaves")

Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 May 2018

Hargreaves Services plc (AIM: HSP), a diversified group delivering key services to the industrial and property sectors, announces its preliminary results for the year ended 31 May 2018.

KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS

 
 Year ended 31 May                             2018        2017 
 Revenue                                  GBP297.1m   GBP342.7m 
 Operating (Loss)/Profit                  GBP(1.4)m     GBP1.4m 
 Underlying Operating Profit*               GBP9.4m    GBP11.0m 
 Profit Before Tax                          GBP0.5m     GBP4.7m 
 Basic EPS from continuing operations          3.8p       17.8p 
 Underlying basic EPS from continuing 
  operations                                  14.9p       19.8p 
 Final Dividend                                4.5p        4.5p 
 Net Debt                                  GBP30.8m    GBP15.7m 
 Net Assets                               GBP136.1m   GBP137.9m 
 Net Assets per Share                          424p        432p 
 
 

* Underlying Operating Profit is stated prior to exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets and including the Group's share of operating profit in associates and joint ventures.

HIGHLIGHTS

   --    Underlying trading satisfactory and in line with management expectations 
   --    Distribution & Services Underlying Operating Profit margin up to 4.6% (2017: 4.3%) 

-- Independent property valuation confirms GBP20m market value uplift and a further GBP28m development value uplift

   --    Total property valuation uplift equates to 129p per share 
   --    Good progress continues to be made on the development of the Blindwells project 

-- GBP29m Legacy assets to realise, down from GBP66m two years ago, with the majority to be realised by 31 May 2019

   --    Disposal of Brockwell Energy, treated as a Discontinued Operation, well advanced 
   --    Roger McDowell becomes Chairman, 1 August 2018 
   --    Final dividend maintained at 4.5p; full year dividend of 7.2p (2017: 7.2p) 

Commenting on the preliminary results, retiring Chairman David Morgan said: "The Group is delivering against its strategic objectives. As revenues from traditional markets decline, operational focus is on risk management and margin improvement. Value realisation from the Group's Property and Energy assets is continuing with exclusivity granted to a purchaser for the Energy portfolio and sale completion expected in the next few months. Independent property valuations confirm the latent value in the Group's property portfolio. Legacy asset realisation should be substantially completed by 31 May 2019. The Board looks forward to an improvement in cash generation and underlying operating profits."

Analyst meeting

A meeting for analysts will be held at 10.00am this morning, 1 August 2018, at the offices of Buchanan,

107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN. Please contact Buchanan on 020 7466 5000 for further information.

Enquiries:

 
 
   Hargreaves Services plc 
   Gordon Banham, Chief Executive Officer 
   John Samuel, Group Finance Director         0191 373 4485 
 Buchanan (Financial PR) 
  Mark Court / Sophie Wills / Henry 
  Wilson                                     020 7466 5000 
 N+1 Singer (NOMAD and Joint Corporate 
  Broker) 
  Sandy Fraser / Rachel Hayes                020 7496 3000 
 Investec (Joint Corporate Broker) 
  Sara Hale / Helene Comitis                 020 7597 4000 
 

Chairman's Statement

David Morgan, Group Chairman

Introduction

I am pleased to report on the progress of Hargreaves in the year ended 31 May 2018. It was a year during which the Board continued to deliver its strategy of simplification of the Group, with the on-going disposal of Legacy and non-core assets and a focus on core activities in Distribution & Services and Property. Hargreaves is well positioned to deliver value from its chosen markets where appropriate margins and returns on capital can be achieved. Underlying trading for the year has been satisfactory and in line with management expectations.

Results

Revenue from continuing operations was GBP297.1m (2017: GBP342.7m). GBP40.9m of this reduction, which was in line with expectations, arises within the Distribution & Services business. Additionally, there was a reduction of GBP12.5m in revenue from the sale of Legacy assets during the year.

Underlying Operating Profit from continuing operations for the year was lower than the comparative period at GBP9.4m (2017: GBP11.0m). The reduction is attributable to Distribution & Services which recorded Underlying Operating Profit of GBP12.9m (2017: GBP13.7m). Underlying Operating Profit is defined by the Board as Operating Profit prior to exceptional items, amortisation and impairment of intangible assets and includes the Group's share of the operating profit of its German associate. The Board uses this measure as a Key Indicator in assessing the financial performance of the Group throughout the year and believes that its disclosure benefits readers of these financial statements. Further information on the trading performance of the businesses is given in the Chief Executive Officer's Business Review.

Operating profit prior to exceptional items improved by 17% to GBP2.1m (2017: GBP1.8m). After accounting for GBP3.5m (2017: GBP0.5m) of exceptional items, principally attributable to the legacy contracts in Specialist Earthworks and associated restructuring costs, operating loss under IFRS was GBP1.4m (2017: profit of GBP1.4m). After net financial expenses of GBP1.3m (2017: GBP2.1m) and accounting for the share of post-tax profits of the German associate of GBP3.2m (2017: GBP5.5m), the consolidated profit before tax was GBP0.5m (2017: GBP4.7m). Basic underlying earnings per share from continuing operations were 14.9p (2017: 19.8p) and 3.8p (2017: 17.8p) on a reported basis.

Brockwell Energy Limited

As previously announced, the Board has entered into exclusive negotiations with one party to acquire Brockwell Energy Limited, the holding company for the Group's Energy business. Completion of the disposal is expected to occur within the next few months. The decision to dispose of the whole of the Group's investment in Brockwell was reached as the Board considered that a minority position would not provide the Group with sufficient influence over the development of the business. Consequently, Brockwell Energy Limited is reported as a Discontinued Operation within these results.

Net Debt

As previously indicated, net debt of GBP30.8m (2017: GBP15.7m) was approximately GBP7m higher than expected due to the timing of a legacy land asset disposal, in respect of which contracts were exchanged after the year end. The underlying increase of approximately GBP8m was primarily due to an increased investment of GBP4.3m in Brockwell Energy Limited and GBP3.5m of exceptional items. Although net debt may increase further in the first half of this financial year primarily due to planned increases in working capital including at Blindwells, a substantial reduction is forecast by the year end as Legacy assets are expected to be realised in the second half.

The Group has recently renegotiated its banking facilities and has put a two-year agreement in place with its bankers which provides appropriate operational headroom without committing the Group to excess unnecessary facilities and associated non-utilisation costs.

Dividend

The Board is recommending an unchanged final dividend of 4.5p (2017: 4.5p) per ordinary share thus maintaining the full year dividend at 7.2p (2017: 7.2p). This will be paid on 2 November 2018 to all shareholders on the register at the close of business on 21 September 2018. The shares will become ex-dividend on 20 September 2018.

People

The Board would like to thank each of our employees for their efforts which are the foundation of the Group's ability to deliver returns for our shareholders. The Group employs over 2,000 people and each of them plays their part in its achievements.

Board Changes

On 2 January 2018, Iain Cockburn stepped down as Group Finance Director to take up the role of Chief Financial Officer of Brockwell Energy Limited on a full-time basis. Iain was succeeded on that date by John Samuel, formerly Group Finance Director at Renew Holdings plc. Additionally, Kevin Dougan retired from the Board on 1 December 2017. We also recently announced the recruitment of David Anderson who will join the Board no later than 1 December 2018 as Group Property Director.

Additionally, Peter Jones has informed the Board of his intention not to seek re-election at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 30 October 2018. The Board will commence a process to appoint a further non-executive Director shortly.

As previously announced, I will be resigning from the Board immediately following these results and will be succeeded by Roger McDowell, who joined the Board on 11 May 2018. In the short period I have been working with Roger, it is clear to me that his experience will prove to be of great benefit to the Board in developing the Group's strategy and delivering shareholder value.

Strategy

In April 2016, the Board announced three key strategic objectives. First, to report an Underlying Operating Profit from the Distribution & Services business in excess of GBP10m by the year ending 31 May 2018. This has been achieved in each of the years ended 31 May 2017 and 2018.

Secondly, to create more than GBP35m of value from the Property & Energy portfolio by 2021. As at 31 May 2018, whilst only GBP8.5m has been realised in cash from the Property portfolio to date, this does not reflect the progress that has been made and the work to realise further value continues. A key element of the value realisation from the Property & Energy portfolio is the disposal of Brockwell Energy Limited on which I have commented above.

Finally, to generate GBP60m of cash from the realisation of Legacy assets. To date, GBP31.4m of Legacy asset sales has been recorded and the net book value of the remaining legacy assets is GBP28.6m, compared with GBP39.6m one year ago. Further substantial Legacy asset realisations are expected in the second half of this financial year.

Following a review of the prospects for each of the Group's activities, the Board has determined that the strategy to deliver sustainable and growing profits from its core trading businesses in Distribution & Services whilst optimising investment to grow its Property business remains valid. This strategy sits alongside converting the value of those assets which have limited growth potential for the Group into cash in a controlled manner. The Board will continue to consider the best ways of deploying that cash for optimal shareholder return as the financial year progresses.

Within Distribution & Services, the Board believes that medium term revenue growth and near-term margin improvement can be forthcoming in both the Industrial Services and Specialist Earthworks business units whilst the UK Production & Distribution business is stable and cash generative. The Industrial Services business does not require substantial capital investment and the Specialist Earthworks business, whilst capital asset intensive, only requires committing to that investment with respect to secured contractual positions. The investment by the Group's German associate, Hargreaves Raw Materials Services GmbH ("HRMS") in a Carbon Pulverisation Plant will provide both improved resilience for the existing European trading business and additional growth opportunities.

The Board regards the Property business, known as Hargreaves Land, as an important area for future growth and aims to strengthen its resources to generate greater medium and longer-term value. We are excited by the recent recruitment of David Anderson as Group Property Director and we look forward to David joining the Board and furthering the momentum in Hargreaves Land. The successful development of the Blindwells site will be a key example that the Group can realise the substantial latent value within the existing land portfolio as well as demonstrating that the Group has the skills to bring substantial development opportunities to market successfully.

Outlook

The Group enters the 2018/19 financial year in a healthy financial position with further surplus asset realisation plans well advanced. The Group has impetus and ambition to grow its businesses in those sectors where it has a strong market position. The Board looks forward to an improving financial performance from the Group both in terms of cash generation and underlying operating profits and margins.

David Morgan

Chairman

31 July 2018

Group Business Review

Gordon Banham, Group Chief Executive Officer

Distribution & Services

The Distribution & Services business recorded revenue of GBP280.7m (2017: GBP321.6m).The reduction in revenue was due to lower levels of activity in Production & Distribution (GBP16.2m) and in Specialist Earthworks (GBP29.8m), partially offset by increased revenue in Industrial Services of GBP4.6m. GBP5.5m (2017: GBP15.1m) of Specialist Earthworks revenue was attributable to legacy contracts which are recorded as exceptional.

Underlying Operating Profit was GBP12.9m (2017: GBP13.7m). When eliminating revenue arising from exceptional contracts, margins at this level improved to 4.7% from 4.5%. The slight fall in Underlying Operating Profit was due to a GBP1.9m reduction in the contribution from Specialist Earthworks and a GBP2.3m reduction in that from HRMS. It should be noted that the contribution from HRMS in the 2017 financial year was particularly high. These reductions were offset by strong results from UK Production & Distribution, up GBP2.8m, and Industrial Services, up GBP0.6m. On an IFRS basis, this business segment recorded an Operating Profit of GBP6.9m (2017: GBP10.0m), with the reduction being due to the GBP3.5m charge for exceptional items.

Further information on the performance of each business within this segment is given below.

Production & Distribution

During the second half of the year, the Logistics and Coal Production & Distribution businesses were brought under a unified management structure realising an initial GBP0.3m of annualised overhead savings.

Revenue was GBP137.4m (2017: GBP153.6m), primarily due to lower volumes of low margin thermal coal being traded. Underlying Operating Profit increased by 5.3% to GBP10.0m (2017: GBP9.5m). The UK operations contributed GBP3.5m of this (2017: GBP0.7m), a marked improvement over the prior year. Our UK coal production and processing sites in Scotland continue to yield a high proportion of speciality coals, pricing of which has been strong. Favourable trading conditions in the speciality coal market are continuing into the new financial year. The Maxibrite domestic briquette business has now completed its conversion to a cold cure process which is already delivering lower production costs. Additionally, the Logistics business returned to profitability albeit on lower revenue as the business focused on contract selectivity.

HRMS contributed GBP6.5m (2017: GBP8.8m) to Underlying Operating Profit as it continued to trade well. As a speciality commodity trading business, the results of HRMS are subject to fluctuations depending upon market conditions. As previously reported, HRMS is constructing a Carbon Pulverisation Plant in Duisburg, Germany, to add resilience and greater predictability to future trading prospects. Construction work is well underway, and the plant is expected to become operational by the end of the first half of calendar year 2019.

Industrial Services

Revenue increased by 7.0% to GBP70.0m (2017: GBP65.4m) with Underlying Operating Profit up by 33.3% at GBP2.4m (2017: GBP1.8m). Margins improved to 3.4% (2017: 2.8%). Whilst modest revenue growth was achieved in the UK, our international operations, which are primarily based in Hong Kong, grew by 19% and recorded an Underlying Operating Profit of GBP0.7m (2017: GBP0.3m loss). The Hong Kong business has quadrupled in size since 2015 and continues to broaden the range of services it can provide to its clients. The South African business broke even after suffering a GBP0.9m loss in 2017. The UK business is focused on margin improvement as it transitions gradually from mainly supporting coal fired power stations and broadens its customer base. The forward order book and term contract positions held by the Industrial Services business mean that its budget revenue for the next financial year is almost fully secured.

Specialist Earthworks

The Specialist Earthworks business recorded revenue of GBP78.8m (2017: GBP108.6m) and an Underlying Operating Profit of GBP0.5m (2017: GBP2.4m). Activity levels have decreased as a result of greater contract selectivity and risk mitigation, together with lower revenue arising from the three legacy civils contracts. The business is engaged on completing its general civil engineering contractual commitments, including those relating to legacy contracts, and on agreeing associated final accounts. These contracts have been either loss making or at low margins and appropriate provisions have been made against their expected outcomes.

The C. A. Blackwell business has two principal current contracts which support the forward outlook, being the A14 bulk earthworks project and the contract mining activity at the Hemerden tungsten mine in Devon. Future business opportunities with similar operational and contractual characteristics to the A14 are being pursued and I am pleased to report that C. A. Blackwell has been selected as a strategic partner to one of the major contractor consortia for two sections of earthworks on the HS2 rail project. Over the next several months the parties will collaborate to determine the value and programming of the work. Regarding the contract at the Hemerdon tungsten mine, which is operated by Wolf Minerals Limited ("Wolf"), the Board notes Wolf's statement issued to the London Stock Exchange on 30 July 2018. It sets out Wolf's financing arrangements which are expected to be sufficient to support Wolf's short-term working capital requirements until 28 October 2018, during which time Wolf will undertake a strategic review of its funding arrangements.

The Specialist Earthworks business has continued to manage to completion three legacy civils contracts inherited from the acquisition of C. A. Blackwell. These contracts reported GBP5.5m (2017: GBP15.1m) of revenue and incurred operating losses of GBP3.4m in the year (2017: GBP3.4m), which are recorded as exceptional. All of these contracts are now completed on site with only small demobilisation or defects corrections activities remaining. Full provision has been made for all expected losses. An additional exceptional charge of GBP0.5m has been recorded which relates to restructuring costs within C. A. Blackwell.

As reported in November 2017, the Group is pursuing a claim against the vendors of C. A. Blackwell for breach of warranty. The matter is being progressed through an ongoing legal process.

Hargreaves Land

Hargreaves Land, the Group's Property business, contributed GBP11.7m (2017: GBP3.4m) of revenue and an Operating Profit of GBP2.1m (2017: GBP1.8m). Property revenue was principally derived from the sale of land where the time and cost of investment to realise the longer term potential development value is not warranted.

At the major Blindwells site near Edinburgh, we are well advanced in discussions with a number of residential developers and will shortly commence the construction of key infrastructure for the site. GBP1.6m was invested in the site during the year, which is included in Inventory in the Group balance sheet. As a result of those discussions, the Company is continuing to consider the best site remediation and development plan to realise maximum value over the medium and long term. It is expected that the first block of land, which will accommodate around fifty houses, will become available for a developer to take ownership around the end of this calendar year.

The Company plans to release two or three blocks of land per annum as they become ready for developers. The site development plan for phase one will take between ten and fifteen years and provides an ongoing stream of revenue and profit which will underpin the Property business, including the sale of land for approximately 1,600 homes. The second phase, known as Greater Blindwells, now has approval in principle to be allocated through the local development plan to be adopted formally later this year. This phase would result in an additional 900 homes to be built on land owned by the Group.

In August 2017, we reported that the independent Red Book valuation of our property assets had been completed providing a market value of GBP49m and a development value of GBP83m compared with a book value at 31 May 2017 of GBP31m. The following table includes the results of an updated independent valuation carried out at this financial year end which shows that the valuations remain valid.

Approximately GBP12m of properties (by book value) have been identified as non-strategic and the Group continues to pursue their disposal in an orderly fashion. Of these non-strategic properties, contracts for sale were exchanged after the year end for GBP7.7m at book value. The balance of properties to be retained either generate an income for the Group through rental, are used in Group operations or are being held for development. No properties have been added to the portfolio during the year. It should be noted that properties included at GBP2.8m in the opening market value of GBP49.4m actually realised GBP6.4m in sales achieved during the year, GBP1m more than the estimated development value.

 
                                                             Market   Development 
                                  Acreage   Book Value        Value         Value 
 Category                                         GBPm         GBPm          GBPm 
 
 31 May 2017: 
 Residential                          446       GBP6.3      GBP19.3       GBP37.4 
 Commercial/Industrial              3,351      GBP11.4      GBP13.5       GBP25.4 
 Operational/Agricultural/Low 
  Grade                            10,471      GBP10.7      GBP10.8       GBP12.8 
 Energy                             4,282       GBP2.4       GBP5.8        GBP7.3 
 Total                             18,550      GBP30.8      GBP49.4       GBP82.9 
                                 --------  -----------  ----------- 
 
 Movements in the year ended 31 
  May 2018: 
 Properties disposed in 
  the year                          (884)     (GBP3.6)     (GBP2.8)      (GBP5.4) 
 Capitalised spend and 
  revaluations                          -       GBP2.9       GBP3.4        GBP0.5 
 
 31 May 2018: 
 Residential                          589       GBP8.4      GBP21.9       GBP37.7 
 Commercial/Industrial              3,297       GBP9.0      GBP12.0       GBP21.2 
 Operational/Agricultural/Low 
  Grade                            10,346      GBP10.5      GBP12.3       GBP14.5 
 Energy                             3,434       GBP2.2       GBP3.8        GBP4.6 
 Total                             17,666      GBP30.1      GBP50.0       GBP78.0 
                                 --------  -----------  ----------- 
 
 
 

The definitions of the valuation methodologies used are set out below:

Development Value

Development value has been calculated by independent valuers using the residual method of valuation. This involves estimating the gross development value of the property using market derived yield and future income stream parameters, deducting gross development costs and applying an appropriate level of risk premium to reflect uncertainties such as market and planning outcomes.

Market Value

Market value has been calculated by independent valuers in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Valuation - Professional Standards and represents the estimated amount for which a property should exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's length transaction after proper marketing.

The Board considers that market value is a better indication than book value of the amount of the Group's capital that is tied up in each specific asset. The difference between the market value and the development value represents the risk-adjusted value creation opportunity on each property. The Board assesses and monitors the likely time and cost required to realise the development value and evaluates the return that is available from holding and developing each property. If the return is not appropriate, then the property is disposed of as quickly as is practical.

The uplift to market value represents 62p per share and to development value a further 87p per share, which in total would add 149p to the share price were these valuations reflected.

.

Legacy Asset Realisations

During the period, sales of Legacy Assets amounted to GBP4.7m (2017: GBP17.2m) with no Operating Profit being recorded (2017: GBP0.1m).

At 31 May 2016, GBP65.8m of legacy assets were identified and at 31 May 2017 GBP39.6m of those remained to be disposed. During the year, GBP6m has been realised and a further GBP5m, which is a land asset, has been reclassified into inventory leaving a residual GBP28.6m. This comprises loans due from the Tower Joint Venture of GBP17.2m and GBP11.4m of surplus plant and machinery. The Tower Joint Venture surface mine site restoration is expected to be completed by the end of the 2018 calendar year. This will enable the sale of the plant used in this major earthworks operation, which is managed by C.A. Blackwell, creating the funds to repay the majority of the loan due from the joint venture company in the second half of the 2018/19 financial year. Other surplus plant realisations are ongoing and by the year end, the Board expects there to be a material reduction in the value of legacy assets left to realise.

Group

The process for simplifying the Group's structure and reducing both operational and overhead costs is ongoing at both Group level and within the business units. During the last financial year, over 70 employees left the Group providing over GBP4.2m of annualised overhead salary savings and further reductions in the cost base will be implemented during the current financial year. It is important to deliver these cost reductions alongside implementing improved business processes to ensure that the Group delivers its services in the most effective and efficient manner. These processes are also aimed at positioning the business units to deliver growth in sectors and markets where the Group has a strong set of skills and experience and where appropriate margins and returns on capital can be achieved.

Brockwell Energy Limited

During the year the total capitalised expenditure on development projects in Brockwell Energy Limited amounted to GBP4.3m (2017: GBP4.2m). The carrying value of Brockwell is GBP7.7m (2017: GBP3.5m) which has been reclassified as an Asset Held for Sale in the Group Balance Sheet. A loss of GBP1.0m (2017: GBP0.5m) has been shown as the loss from a Discontinued Operation in the Statement of Profit and Loss. There was no revenue recorded in Brockwell (2017: GBP0.2m). The Group is committed to funding the costs of Brockwell until completion of the sale process.

David Morgan

On behalf of myself and all of his Board colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to record my thanks to David Morgan who has acted as a Director of the Company since 2012 and as Chairman since October 2015. David's advice and wisdom has served the Company very well throughout his tenure in times which have raised very material challenges. We will miss his contribution at the Board and wish David very well in the future.

Summary

Each of the Group's businesses within Distribution & Services has been repositioning itself to deliver greater shareholder value and the new financial year will see that process continue. All of the businesses are profitable, and each has robust processes for the management of risk and return. Each has differing market opportunities which the Board reviews regularly, managing the allocation of capital accordingly.

Gordon Banham

Group Chief Executive Officer

31 July 2018

Consolidated Statement of Profit and Loss

and Other Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 May 2018

 
                                                                      Represented* 
                                                                2018          2017 
Continuing operations                                         GBP000        GBP000 
--------------------------------------------------------   ---------  ------------ 
Revenue                                                      297,119       342,706 
Cost of sales                                              (266,746)     (309,826) 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
Gross profit                                                  30,373        32,880 
Other operating (expense)/income                               (185)         4,803 
Administrative expenses                                     (31,564)      (36,332) 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
Operating (loss)/profit                                      (1,376)         1,351 
 
 Analysed as: 
 Operating profit (before exceptional items)                   2,108         1,821 
 
 Exceptional items - Cost of sales                           (3,025)       (3,566) 
 Exceptional items - Administrative expenses                   (459)         3,096 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 Exceptional items                                           (3,484)         (470) 
 
 Operating profit (after exceptional items)                  (1,376)         1,351 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
Financial income                                                 626           922 
Financial expenses                                           (1,937)       (3,014) 
 
Share of profit in associates and joint ventures 
 (net of tax)                                                  3,175         5,487 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
  Profit before tax                                              488         4,746 
Taxation                                                         693           569 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
  Profit for the year from continuing operations               1,181         5,315 
 
  Discontinued operations 
Loss for the year from discontinued operations               (1,000)         (533) 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
  Profit for the year                                            181         4,782 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
  Other comprehensive income 
Items that will not be reclassified to profit 
 or loss 
Remeasurements of defined benefit pension schemes              (857)         (544) 
Tax recognised on items that will not be reclassified 
 to profit or loss                                               120            36 
Items that are or may be reclassified subsequently 
 to profit or loss 
Foreign exchange translation differences                        (22)         2,594 
Effective portion of changes in fair value of 
 cash flow hedges                                              1,123           349 
Tax recognised on items that are or may be reclassified 
 subsequently to profit or loss                                (192)          (63) 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
  Other comprehensive income for the year, net 
  of tax                                                         172         2,372 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
  Total comprehensive income for the year                        353         7,154 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ------------ 
 
 
 
                                                            2018      2017 
                                                          GBP000    GBP000 
------------------------------------------------------   -------  -------- 
Profit attributable to: 
Equity holders of the Company                                229     5,138 
Non-controlling interest                                    (48)     (356) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
 
Profit for the year                                          181     4,782 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
 
Total comprehensive income/(expense) attributable 
 to: 
Equity holders of the Company                                401     7,510 
Non-controlling interest                                    (48)     (356) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
 
Total comprehensive income for the year                      353     7,154 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
 
Basic earnings per share (pence)                            0.72     16.14 
Diluted earnings per share (pence)                          0.71     15.93 
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations 
 (pence)                                                    3.84     17.81 
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations 
 (pence)                                                    3.82     17.58 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
 
Non GAAP Measures 
Basic underlying earnings per share from continuing 
 operations (pence)                                        14.90     19.79 
Diluted underlying earnings per from share continuing 
 operations (pence)                                        14.79     19.53 
-------------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
 

* Comparative figures have been represented to reflect the discontinued operation under IFRS 5, as explained in Note 1.

Balance Sheet

at 31 May 2018

 
                                                           Group 
                                                    -------------------- 
                                                         2018       2017 
                                                       GBP000     GBP000 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment                          53,777     63,664 
Investment property                                    11,909     12,124 
Intangible assets                                      11,121     12,389 
Investments in associates and joint ventures           10,116      6,917 
Other financial assets                                      -          7 
Deferred tax assets                                     3,814      2,844 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
                                                       90,737     97,945 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
 
Current assets 
Assets held for sale                                   16,660      5,040 
Inventories                                            34,652     29,147 
Other financial assets                                  1,044        139 
Trade and other receivables                           122,215    121,657 
Cash and cash equivalents                              16,110     27,817 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
                                                      190,681    183,800 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
Total assets                                          281,418    281,745 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
 
Non-current liabilities 
Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings           (4,434)   (38,587) 
Retirement benefit obligations                        (4,395)    (5,103) 
Provisions                                            (2,682)    (5,344) 
Other financial liabilities                              (30)       (12) 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
                                                     (11,541)   (49,046) 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
 
Current liabilities 
Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings          (42,460)    (4,965) 
Trade and other payables                             (89,800)   (88,958) 
Provisions                                            (1,523)      (600) 
Other financial liabilities                               (7)      (249) 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
                                                    (133,790)   (94,772) 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
 
Total liabilities                                   (145,331)  (143,818) 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
 
Net assets                                            136,087    137,927 
----------------------------------------------      ---------  --------- 
 
                                                           Group 
                                                    -------------------- 
                                                         2018       2017 
                                                       GBP000     GBP000 
---------------------------------------------  ---  ---------  --------- 
Equity attributable to equity 
 holders of the parent 
Share capital                                           3,314      3,314 
Share premium                                          73,955     73,955 
Other reserves                                            211        211 
Translation reserve                                   (1,010)      (988) 
Merger reserve                                          1,022      1,022 
Hedging reserve                                         1,155        224 
Capital redemption reserve                              1,530      1,530 
Share based payment reserve                             1,043        936 
Retained earnings                                      54,886     57,694 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                      136,106    137,898 
 
Non-controlling interest                                 (19)         29 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
 
Total equity                                          136,087    137,927 
--------------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
 
 

Statements of Changes in Equity

for year ended 31 May 2018

 
                                                                                             Share 
                                                                         Capital             based              Total 
                      Share    Share  Translation  Hedging     Other  redemption   Merger  payment  Retained   parent  Non-controlling    Total 
                    capital  premium      reserve  reserve  reserves     reserve  reserve  reserve  earnings   equity         interest   equity 
Group                GBP000   GBP000       GBP000   GBP000    GBP000      GBP000   GBP000   GBP000    GBP000   GBP000           GBP000   GBP000 
-----------------  --------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
At 1 June 2016        3,314   73,955      (3,582)     (62)       211       1,530    1,022      465    54,117  130,970              385  131,355 
Total 
comprehensive 
income 
for the year 
Profit/(loss) 
 for the year             -        -            -        -         -           -        -        -     5,138    5,138            (356)    4,782 
Other 
comprehensive 
income/(expense) 
Foreign exchange 
 translation 
 differences              -        -        2,594        -         -           -        -        -         -    2,594                -    2,594 
Effective portion 
 of changes in 
 fair 
 value of cash 
 flow hedges              -        -            -      349         -           -        -        -         -      349                -      349 
Remeasurements 
 of defined 
 benefit 
 pension schemes          -        -            -        -         -           -        -        -     (544)    (544)                -    (544) 
Tax recognised 
 on other 
 comprehensive 
 income                   -        -            -     (63)         -           -        -        -        36     (27)                -     (27) 
-----------------  --------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
Total other 
 comprehensive 
 income/(expense)         -        -        2,594      286         -           -        -        -     (508)    2,372                -    2,372 
-----------------  --------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income/(expense) 
 for the year             -        -        2,594      286         -           -        -        -     4,630    7,510            (356)    7,154 
-----------------  --------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
Transactions 
with owners 
recorded directly 
in equity 
Equity settled 
 share-based 
 payment 
 transactions             -        -            -        -         -           -        -      471         -      471                -      471 
Dividends paid            -        -            -        -         -           -        -        -   (1,053)  (1,053)                -  (1,053) 
Total 
 contributions 
 by and 
 distributions 
 to owners                -        -            -        -         -           -        -      471   (1,053)    (582)                -    (582) 
 
At 31 May 2017        3,314   73,955        (988)      224       211       1,530    1,022      936    57,694  137,898               29  137,927 
-----------------  --------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
 
                                                                                            Share 
                                                                        Capital             based              Total 
                     Share    Share  Translation  Hedging     Other  redemption   Merger  payment  Retained   parent  Non-controlling    Total 
                   capital  premium      reserve  reserve  reserves     reserve  reserve  reserve  earnings   equity         interest   equity 
Group               GBP000   GBP000       GBP000   GBP000    GBP000      GBP000   GBP000   GBP000    GBP000   GBP000           GBP000   GBP000 
-----------------  -------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
At 1 June 2017       3,314   73,955        (988)      224       211       1,530    1,022      936    57,694  137,898               29  137,927 
Total 
comprehensive 
income 
for the year 
Profit/(loss) 
 for the year            -        -            -        -         -           -        -        -       229      229             (48)      181 
Other 
comprehensive 
income/(expense) 
Foreign exchange 
 translation 
 differences             -        -         (22)        -         -           -        -        -         -     (22)                -     (22) 
Effective portion 
 of changes 
 in 
 fair value 
 of cash flow 
 hedges                  -        -            -    1,123         -           -        -        -         -    1,123                -    1,123 
Remeasurements 
 of defined 
 benefit pension 
 schemes                 -        -            -        -         -           -        -        -     (857)    (857)                -    (857) 
Tax recognised 
 on other 
 comprehensive 
 income                  -        -            -    (192)         -           -        -        -       120     (72)                -     (72) 
-----------------  -------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
Total other 
 comprehensive 
 income/(expense)        -        -         (22)      931         -           -        -        -     (737)      172                -      172 
-----------------  -------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income/(expense) 
 for the year            -        -         (22)      931         -           -        -        -     (508)      401             (48)      353 
-----------------  -------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
Transactions 
with owners 
recorded directly 
in equity 
Equity settled 
 share-based 
 payment 
 transactions            -        -            -        -         -           -        -      107         -      107                -      107 
Dividends paid           -        -            -        -         -           -        -        -   (2,300)  (2,300)                -  (2,300) 
-----------------  -------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
Total 
 contributions 
 by and 
 distributions 
 to owners               -        -            -        -         -           -        -      107   (2,300)  (2,193)                -  (2,193) 
-----------------  -------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 
At 31 May 2018       3,314   73,955      (1,010)    1,155       211       1,530    1,022    1,043    54,886  136,106             (19)  136,087 
-----------------  -------  -------  -----------  -------  --------  ----------  -------  -------  --------  -------  ---------------  ------- 
 

Cash Flow Statements

for year ended 31 May 2018

 
                                                                        Group 
                                                              -------------------------- 
                                                                  2018  Represented*2017 
                                                                GBP000            GBP000 
-----------------------------------------------------------   --------  ---------------- 
Cash flows from operating activities 
Profit for the year from continuing operations                   1,181             5,315 
Adjustments for: 
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and 
 equipment                                                      12,936            14,850 
Impairment of investment properties                                621                 - 
Amortisation and impairment of goodwill and intangible 
 assets                                                            880               315 
Net finance expense                                              1,311             2,092 
Share of profit in associates and joint ventures (net 
 of tax)                                                       (3,175)           (5,487) 
Loss/(profit) on sale of property, plant and equipment             185           (1,716) 
Equity settled share-based payment expenses                        107               471 
Income tax credit                                                (693)             (569) 
Contributions to defined benefit pension schemes               (1,829)           (1,516) 
Translation of non-controlling interest and investments           (24)             (373) 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
                                                                11,500            13,382 
Change in inventories                                           10,976            17,828 
Change in trade and other receivables                          (2,984)             2,271 
Change in trade and other payables                               (387)             6,608 
Change in provisions and employee benefits                     (1,475)             1,478 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
                                                                17,630            41,567 
Net interest paid                                                (905)           (1,306) 
Income tax received/(paid)                                       1,127           (6,994) 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
Net cash inflow from continuing operating activities            17,852            33,267 
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities 
 in discontinued operations                                    (1,017)               217 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
Net cash inflow from operating activities                       16,835            33,484 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
 
Cash flows from investing activities 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment              1,001             5,282 
Acquisition of subsidiaries (net of cash acquired)                   -             (248) 
Acquisition of investment property                               (469)                 - 
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment                  (20,758)          (15,782) 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
Net cash outflow from investing activities in continuing 
 operations                                                   (20,226)          (10,748) 
Net cash outflow from investing activities in discontinued 
 operations                                                    (4,309)           (4,189) 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
Net cash outflow from investing activities                    (24,535)          (14,937) 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
 
Cash flows from financing activities 
Payment of finance lease liabilities                           (5,461)           (8,612) 
Dividends paid                                                 (2,300)           (1,053) 
Proceeds from/(repayment of) Group banking facilities            3,800           (2,500) 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
Net cash outflow from financing activities                     (3,961)          (12,165) 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents          (11,661)             6,382 
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 June                             27,817            21,161 
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held                 (46)               274 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 May                             16,110            27,817 
------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------------- 
 

* Comparative figures have been represented to reflect the discontinued operation under IFRS 5, as explained in Note 1.

1. Basis of preparation and status of financial information

The financial information set out above has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (Adopted IFRSs).

The financial information set out above does not constitute the Group's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 May 2018 or 31 May 2017. Statutory accounts for 2017 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, and those for 2018 will be delivered in due course. The auditor has reported on those accounts; their reports were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by was of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The accounting policies set out in the Group's statutory accounts, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods presented. The Board has determined that the Energy business is to be disposed and so in accordance with IFRS 5, the disposal group has been treated as an Asset Held for Sale and the comparative figures have been represented in the Income Statement. The impact of this change in accounting treatment is set out in Note 5.

These results were approved by the Board of Directors on 31 July 2018.

2. Segmental Information

The following analysis by industry segment is presented in accordance with IFRS 8 on the basis of those segments whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the Board of Directors (the Chief Operating Decision Maker as defined by IFRS 8) to assess performance and make strategic decisions about allocation of resources.

The sectors distinguished as operating segments are Distribution & Services, Property, Legacy and Corporate. The segments have been changed during this year, following the reclassification of Energy as a discontinued business. The comparative period has been restated accordingly.

-- Distribution & Services: Provides coal distribution, including mining operations, materials handling and contracting services and logistics to a range of industrial, wholesale and public sector customers. The business unit also provides earth moving and infrastructure services across the UK and trades in plant and machinery.

-- Property: The development and realisation of value from the land portfolio including rental income from investment properties.

-- Legacy: The realisation of surplus assets which are not associated with the continuing operations into cash in a timely manner, whilst obtaining full value.

-- Corporate: The corporate overhead contains the central functions that are not devolved to the individual business units.

These segments are combinations of subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates. They have separate management teams and provide different products and services. The four operating segments are also reportable segments.

Underlying Operating Profit is defined by the Board as Operating Profit prior to exceptional items, amortisation and impairment of intangible assets and includes the Group's share of the operating profit of its German associate.

The segment results, as reported to the Board of Directors, are calculated under the principles of IFRS. Performance is measured on the basis of underlying operating profit/(loss), which is reconciled to profit/(loss) before tax in the tables below:

 
                                             Distribution 
                                               & Services  Property   Legacy  Corporate      Total 
                                                     2018      2018     2018       2018       2018 
Continuing operations                              GBP000    GBP000   GBP000     GBP000     GBP000 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Revenue 
Total revenue                                     286,188    11,730    4,706          -    302,624 
Intra-segment revenue                             (5,505)         -        -          -    (5,505) 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Revenue from external customers                   280,683    11,730    4,706          -    297,119 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
 
Underlying operating profit/(loss)                 12,872     2,085       46    (5,554)      9,449 
Amortisation and impairment of intangibles          (880)         -        -          -      (880) 
Taxation on associates and joint ventures         (1,632)         -        -          -    (1,632) 
Exceptional items                                 (3,484)         -        -          -    (3,484) 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Operating profit/(loss) including share 
 of associate                                       6,876     2,085       46    (5,554)      3,453 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Interest on associates and joint ventures                                                  (1,654) 
Net financing costs                                                                        (1,311) 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Profit before taxation                                                                         488 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Depreciation charge                              (12,019)     (467)        -      (450)   (12,936) 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Capital expenditure                              (23,421)   (5,545)        -      (295)   (29,261) 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Net assets/(liabilities) 
Segment assets                                    203,256    34,115   28,547      5,384    271,302 
Segment liabilities                              (93,634)   (6,492)        -   (45,205)  (145,331) 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Segment net assets/(liabilities)                  109,622    27,623   28,547   (39,821)    125,971 
Associates and joint ventures                                                               10,116 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Total net assets                                                                           136,087 
-------------------------------------------  ------------  --------  -------  ---------  --------- 
 

Corporate net assets include the Group banking facilities liability (GBP39.3m), cash and cash equivalents (GBP0.6m liability), derivative financial instruments (GBP1.0m asset), corporation and deferred tax assets (GBP3.9m), retirement benefit obligations (GBP4.4m) and other corporate items (GBP0.4m liability).

 
                                                          Represented*Property 
                                            Distribution                     & 
                                              & Services                Energy    Legacy  Corporate  Represented*Total 
                                                    2017                  2017      2017       2017               2017 
Continuing operations                             GBP000                GBP000    GBP000     GBP000             GBP000 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Revenue 
Total revenue                                    327,601                 3,356    17,214        554            348,725 
Intra-segment revenue                            (6,019)                     -         -          -            (6,019) 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Revenue from external customers                  321,582                 3,356    17,214        554            342,706 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
 
Underlying operating profit/(loss)                13,695                 1,845       101    (4,613)             11,028 
Amortisation of intangibles                        (315)                     -         -          -              (315) 
Taxation on associates and joint ventures        (2,873)                     -         -          -            (2,873) 
Exceptional items                                  (470)                     -         -          -              (470) 
Operating profit/(loss) including share 
 of associate                                     10,037                 1,845       101    (4,613)              7,370 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Interest on associates and joint ventures                                                                        (532) 
Net financing costs                                                                                            (2,092) 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Profit before taxation                                                                                           4,746 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Depreciation charge                             (11,128)                 (644)         -      (423)           (12,195) 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Capital expenditure                             (14,756)               (5,319)         -      (378)           (20,453) 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Net assets/(liabilities) 
Segment assets                                   202,924                28,791    40,090      3,023            274,828 
Segment liabilities                             (98,464)               (7,099)   (5,560)   (32,695)          (143,818) 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Segment net assets/(liabilities)                 104,460                21,692    34,530   (29,672)            131,010 
Associates and joint ventures                                                                                    6,917 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
Total net assets                                                                                               137,927 
------------------------------------------  ------------  --------------------  --------  ---------  ----------------- 
 

*Comparative figures have been represented as explained in note 1.

Corporate net assets include Group banking facilities liability (GBP32.3m), cash and cash equivalents (GBP0.7m liability), derivative financial instruments (GBP0.1m liability), deferred and corporation tax balances (GBP4.3m asset) and other corporate items (GBP0.9m liability).

   3   Exceptional items 

The Group incurred a number of exceptional items in the year relating to the C. A. Blackwell subsidiary, additionally the Group has written back an element of the mining cost impairment taken in the prior year due to favourable changes in market conditions:

 
                                                                   2018     2017 
                                                                 GBP000   GBP000 
--------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Reversal of impairment loss on receivables due from Tower 
 Colliery Ltd                                                         -    2,000 
Credit/(cost) associated with early closure of certain mining 
 operations                                                         410  (1,874) 
Net losses on legacy contracts in C. A. Blackwell               (3,435)  (3,380) 
Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment                           -  (2,277) 
Cash recovery from discontinued operation                             -    1,096 
Historic plant rebate                                                 -    3,280 
Liquidator dividend                                                   -      796 
Other restructuring costs relating to C. A. Blackwell             (459)    (111) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Total                                                           (3,484)    (470) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
   4   Taxation 

Recognised in the Income Statement

 
                                                               2018  Represented*2017 
                                                             GBP000            GBP000 
----------------------------------------------------------  -------  ---------------- 
Current tax 
Current year                                                    469               325 
Adjustments for prior years                                   (173)           (1,230) 
----------------------------------------------------------  -------  ---------------- 
Current tax expense/(credit)                                    296             (905) 
----------------------------------------------------------  -------  ---------------- 
 
Deferred tax 
 
 Origination and reversal of temporary timing differences     (712)               191 
Adjustments for prior years                                   (277)                67 
Reduction in tax rate                                             -                78 
----------------------------------------------------------  -------  ---------------- 
Deferred tax (credit)/charge                                  (989)               336 
 
Tax credit in income statement (excluding share of tax of 
 equity accounted investees)                                  (693)             (569) 
Share of tax of equity accounted investees                    1,632             2,873 
----------------------------------------------------------  -------  ---------------- 
 
Total tax expense from continuing operations                    939             2,304 
----------------------------------------------------------  -------  ---------------- 
 

*Comparative figures have been represented as explained in note 1.

Recognised in Other Comprehensive Income

 
                                                             2018     2017 
                                                           GBP000   GBP000 
--------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Deferred tax (expense)/income 
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow 
 hedges                                                     (192)     (63) 
Remeasurements of defined benefit pension schemes             120       36 
--------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
                                                             (72)     (27) 
--------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

Reconciliation of Effective Tax Rate

 
                                                                    2018     2017 
                                                                  GBP000   GBP000 
---------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Profit for the year from continuing operations                     1,181    5,315 
Total tax expense (including share of tax of equity accounted 
 investees)                                                          939    2,304 
---------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Profit excluding taxation from continuing operations               2,120    7,619 
---------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Tax using the UK corporation tax rate of 19.00% (2017: 19.83%)       403    1,511 
 
Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions                         741    1,276 
Unrecognised tax losses                                            (508)        - 
Non-deductible expenses                                              753      598 
Reduction in tax rate on deferred tax balances                         -       78 
Adjustment in respect of previous periods                          (450)  (1,159) 
---------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
Effective tax rate and total tax expense                             939    2,304 
---------------------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

The current tax adjustment in respect of prior years relates to the refund of taxes received from HMRC following the carry back of losses.

The UK corporation tax rate reduced to 19% on 1 April 2017, giving an effective base rate of 19.00% (2017: 19.83%).

Factors That May Affect Future Current and Total Tax Charges

The UK corporation tax rate reduced from 20% to 19% (effective from 1 April 2017) and remained at 19% for the tax year beginning 1 April 2018. On 16 March 2016 it was announced that the main rate of UK Corporation Tax would reduce further to 17% on 1 April 2020. This change was substantively enacted on 6 September 2016. This will reduce the Group's current tax charge accordingly. The deferred tax balances at 31 May 2018 have been calculated based on the rate of 17%, the rate substantively enacted at the Balance Sheet date.

   5      Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale 

All discontinued operation results are attributable to equity holders.

The Group is in advanced discussion to dispose of its investment in Brockwell Energy Limited as announced on 8 June 2018, meaning that the Group will no longer continue with Energy as a business stream. As such, this business unit has been classified as discontinued, and the associated assets have been classified as held for sale, with the results for the comparative period represented accordingly. The Group's discontinued operations made a loss of GBP1,000,000 (2017: GBP533,000) after tax during the year.

 
                                                    2018     2017 
                                                  GBP000   GBP000 
-----------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Revenue                                                -      163 
-----------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Gross profit                                           -      163 
Other operating income                                 -       67 
Administrative expenses                          (1,144)    (888) 
-----------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Loss before tax of discontinued operations       (1,144)    (658) 
 
Current tax credit                                    91      125 
Deferred tax credit                                   53        - 
-----------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
                                                     144      125 
-----------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Loss for the year from discontinued operations   (1,000)    (533) 
-----------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

The assets and liabilities of the Brockwell Energy group have been reclassified as held for sale. In addition to the assets associated with the disposal group, there is property, plant and equipment relating to the closure of Maltby Colliery which was classified as held for sale in a previous year. Additionally, certain items of Freehold Land and Buildings have been transferred into Assets Held for Sale as discussions regarding their sale were ongoing as at the year end.

 
                                                        2018     2017 
Assets Held for Sale                                  GBP000   GBP000 
---------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Property, plant and equipment - Land and Buildings     8,433        - 
Property, plant and equipment - Other                  9,016    5,040 
Goodwill                                                 383        - 
Other current assets                                     138        - 
Other current liabilities                            (1,310)        - 
---------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Total assets held for sale                            16,660    5,040 
---------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
   6      Earnings per Share 

The calculation of earnings per share is based on the profit for the year attributable to equity holders and on the weighted average number of shares in issue and ranking for dividend in the year.

 
                                                                              Represented* 
                                                     2018                         2017 
                                        Earnings       EPS      DEPS   Earnings      EPS     DEPS 
                                          GBP000     Pence     Pence     GBP000    Pence    Pence 
 
 Underlying earnings per share from 
  continuing operations                    4,764     14.90     14.79      6,301    19.79    19.53 
 Exceptional items and amortisation 
  (net of tax)                           (3,535)   (11.06)   (10.97)      (630)   (1.98)   (1.95) 
-------------------------------------  ---------  --------  --------  ---------  -------  ------- 
 Continuing basic earnings per share       1,229      3.84      3.82      5,671    17.81    17.58 
 
 Discontinued operations                 (1,000)    (3.12)    (3.11)      (533)   (1.67)   (1.65) 
-------------------------------------  ---------  --------  --------  ---------  -------  ------- 
 Basic earnings per share                    229      0.72      0.71      5,138    16.14    15.93 
 
 Weighted average number of shares                  31,981    32,214              31,842   32,267 
 

*Comparative figures have been represented as explained in note 1.

The calculation of weighted average number of shares includes the effect of own shares held of 1,069,904 (2017: 1,228,072). The calculation of diluted earnings per share is based on the profit for the year and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue in the year adjusted for the dilutive effect of the share options outstanding (effect on weighted average number of shares is 232,834 (2017: 424,804); effect on basic earnings per ordinary share is 0.01p (2017: 0.21p). Effect on continuing basic earnings per ordinary share is 0.02p (2017: 0.23p).

 
Underlying EPS    Profit attributable to the equity holders of the parent 
 from continuing   before net exceptional items and the amortisation and 
 operations        impairment of intangible assets after tax divided by 
                   the weighted average number of ordinary shares during 
                   the financial year adjusted for the effects of any potentially 
                   dilutive options. 
----------------  --------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
   7   Posting of Report & Accounts 

The Group confirms that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 May 2018 will be posted to shareholders as soon as practicable and a copy will be made available on the Group's website:

www.hsgplc.co.uk

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

END

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