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Half Year Results

21st May 2012 07:00

RNS Number : 6949D
Treatt PLC
21 May 2012
 



TREATT PLC

HALF YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2012

 

Treatt PLC, the manufacturer and supplier of conventional, organic and fair trade ingredients for the flavour, fragrance and cosmetic industries announces today its half year results for the six months ended 31 March 2012.

 

SUMMARY

·; Group revenue increased by 1% to £36.0 million (2011: £35.8 million)

·; EBITDA stands at £2.4m (2011: £4.5m)

·; Profit before tax for the period was £1.6m (2011: £3.7m)

·; Half year PBT in line with 2009 (£1.4m) and 2010 (£1.5m)

·; Interim dividend raised by 6% to 5.1p (2011 interim dividend: 4.8p)

 

Enquiries:

Treatt plc Tel: 01284 714820

Hugo Bovill Managing Director

Richard Hope Finance Director

 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

"Group half year turnover up 1%, profits down but remain higher than in either 2009 or 2010"

 

The first six months of the year saw Group revenue increasing by 1% to £36.0m (2011: £35.8m). In the absence of the prior year windfall orange oil stock profits, profit before tax was £1.6m (2011: £3.7m). This compares with half year profit before tax in 2009 and 2010 of £1.4m and £1.5m respectively. EBITDA stands at £2.4m (2011: £4.5m) and earnings per share 10.1 pence per share (2011: 25.7 pence per share).

 

 

Following a strong performance in 2011, Treatt USA continues to perform well across its entire product portfolio. Earthoil, the Group's natural cosmetics ingredient division specialising in organic and fair trade, has had a solid first six months and continues to grow at a steady pace, albeit from a small base. As previously reported, the Group's UK operating business, R.C. Treatt, was less busy in the first quarter of the financial year with some customers de-stocking on an even bigger scale than that which occurred in 2009; however, as anticipated, business began to recover in Q2 and has much improved.

 

During the half year, the prices of many products fell. For instance, orange oil, the Group's largest raw material, peaked in early 2011 at over $10/kg, and remained at historically very high levels for most of 2011 although volumes were considerably reduced. During the first six months of this financial year, the price of orange oil began to fall sharply and is now below $4/kg. The Group takes a long term, managed risk approach, to managing such falls, balancing inventory to ensure the needs of existing customers can be serviced and that stock losses are minimised.

 

The Board has consequently declared an increase in the interim dividend of 6% to 5.1 pence per share (2011: 4.8 pence per share) which will be payable on 19 October 2012 to all shareholders on the register at close of business on 14 September 2012.

 

Final Salary Pension Scheme

The UK final salary pension scheme, which was closed to new entrants in 2001 and with final salaries having been capped at 2003 levels in real terms, had an accounting deficit at the start of the financial year of £0.6m, net of deferred tax, which had increased to £1.5m at the balance sheet date. Following consultation with members of the final salary scheme, all members have agreed that the scheme will not be subject to any further accruals after 31 December 2012 and instead the members are being offered membership of the Company's defined contribution pension plan with effect from 1 January 2013. The effect of this change has not been taken into account as at the balance sheet date as the consultation with members had not been concluded at that time.

 

Risks and uncertainties

 

Group risk is regularly reviewed at Board level to ensure that risk management is being implemented and monitored effectively, details of which can be found in note 8.

 

Going concern

In determining whether the Group's half year condensed consolidated financial statements can be prepared on a going concern basis, the Directors considered the Group's business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position. The review also included the financial position of the Group, its cash flows, and borrowing facilities. The key factors considered by the Directors were:

·; the implications of the challenging economic environment and future uncertainties on the Group's revenues and profits by undertaking forecasts and projections on a regular basis;

·; the impact of the competitive environment within which the Group's businesses operate;

·; the potential actions that could be taken in the event that revenues are worse than expected, to ensure that operating profit and cash flows are protected;

·; the Group's access to overdraft facilities and committed bank facilities to meet day-to-day working capital requirements. Since the period end all the Group's banking facilities have been renewed, with £3.25m of existing facilities being transferred from a one year committed to a three year revolving credit facility.

 

As at the date of this report, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in business for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the half year results have been prepared on the going concern basis.

 

Prospects

The improvement in the Group's performance has continued into Q3 with order book levels increasing across the Group. The Board, therefore, now believes that results in the second half of the year will result in its expectations for the full financial year ended 30 September 2012 being exceeded, particularly now that raw material ingredient market prices have begun to stabilise.

 

 

 

Tim Jones

Chairman

18 May 2012

 

TREATT PLC

 

UNAUDITED HALF YEAR RESULTS

 

For the six months ended 31 March 2012

 

 

CONDENSED GROUP INCOME STATEMENT

 

 

Six months ended

Year ended

 

31 March

31 March

30 September

 

2012

2011

2011

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Notes

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

 

Revenue

3

36,026

35,799

74,518

 

Cost of sales

(28,835)

(26,630)

(56,700)

 

______

______

______

 

Gross profit

7,191

9,169

17,818

 

Administrative expenses

(5,536)

(5,282)

(10,694)

 

______

______

______

 

Operating profit before foreign exchange gain/(loss)

1,655

3,887

7,124

 

Foreign exchange gain/(loss)

171

44

(260)

 

______

______

______

 

Operating profit after foreign exchange gain/(loss)

1,826

3,931

6,864

 

Finance revenue

60

43

88

 

Finance costs

(330)

(254)

(580)

 

______

______

______

 

Profit before taxation

1,556

3,720

6,372

 

Taxation

4

(523)

(1,088)

(2,017)

 

______

______

______

 

Profit for the period

1,033

2,632

4,355

 

______

______

______

 

Attributable to:

 

Owners of the Parent Company

1,033

2,625

4,348

 

Non-controlling interests

-

7

7

 

______

______

______

 

1,033

2,632

4,355

 

______

______

______

 

Earnings per share

 

- Basic

5

10.1p

25.7p

42.5p

 

- Diluted

5

10.1p

25.6p

42.3p

 

 

All amounts relate to continuing operations

 

 

 

CONDENSED GROUP STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

Six months ended

Year ended

 

31 March

31 March

30 September

 

2012

2011

2011

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

 

Profit for the period

1,033

2,632

4,355

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(expense):

 

Currency translation differences on foreign currency net investments

(187)

(154)

94

 

Current taxation on foreign currency translation differences

3

(3)

(4)

 

Deferred taxation on foreign currency translation differences

(7)

3

7

 

Fair value movement on cash flow hedge

81

-

(864)

 

Deferred taxation on fair value movement

(27)

-

207

 

Actuarial (loss)/gain on defined benefit pension scheme

(1,260)

1,090

599

 

Deferred tax on actuarial gain or loss

290

(251)

(144)

 

______

______

______

 

Other comprehensive income for the period

(1,107)

685

(105)

 

______

______

______

 

 

Total comprehensive income for the period

(74)

3,317

4,250

 

______

______

______

 

 

Attributable to:

 

Owners of the Parent Company

(74)

3,310

4,243

 

Non-controlling interests

-

7

7

 

______

______

______

 

(74)

3,317

4,250

 

______

______

______

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONDENSED GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

 

Share capital

Share

premium

Own shares in share trust

Hedging

reserve

Foreign

exchange

reserve

Retained earnings

 

Total

 

Non-controlling

interests

Total equity

 

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

1 October 2010

1,048

2,757

(602)

-

880

18,435

22,518

-

22,518

 

Net profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

2,625

2,625

7

2,632

 

Other comprehensive income/(expense):

 

Exchange differences net of tax

-

-

-

-

(154)

-

(154)

-

(154)

 

Actuarial gain on defined benefit

pension scheme net of tax

-

-

-

-

-

839

839

-

839

 

Total comprehensive

income/(expense)

-

-

-

-

(154)

3,464

3,310

7

3,317

 

Transactions with owners:

 

Dividends

-

-

-

-

-

(1,330)

(1,330)

-

(1,330)

 

Share-based payments

-

-

-

-

-

10

10

-

10

 

Movement in own shares in

share trust

-

-

20

-

-

-

20

-

20

 

Purchase of shares from non-

controlling interest

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(7)

(7)

 

1 April 2011

1,048

2,757

(582)

-

726

20,579

24,528

-

24,528

 

Net profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

1,723

1,723

-

1,723

 

Other comprehensive income/(expense):

 

Exchange differences net of tax

-

-

-

-

248

3

251

-

251

 

Fair value movement on cash

flow hedge

-

-

-

(864)

-

207

(657)

-

(657)

 

Actuarial loss on defined benefit

pension scheme net of tax

-

-

-

-

-

(384)

(384)

-

(384)

 

Total comprehensive

(expense)/income

-

-

-

(864)

248

1,549

933

-

933

 

Transactions with owners:

 

Share-based payments

-

-

-

-

-

10

10

-

10

 

Movement in own shares in

share trust

-

-

97

-

-

-

97

-

97

 

Loss on release of shares in

share trust

-

-

-

-

-

(17)

(17)

-

(17)

 

1 October 2011

1,048

2,757

(485)

(864)

974

22,121

25,551

-

25,551

 

Net profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

1,033

1,033

-

1,033

 

Other comprehensive income/(expense):

 

Exchange differences net of tax

-

-

-

-

(187)

(4)

(191)

-

(191)

 

Fair value movement on cash

flow hedge

-

-

-

81

-

(27)

54

-

54

 

Actuarial loss on defined benefit

pension scheme net of tax

-

-

-

-

-

(970)

(970)

-

(970)

 

Total comprehensive

income/(expense)

-

-

-

81

(187)

32

(74)

-

(74)

 

Transactions with owners:

 

Dividends

-

-

-

-

-

(1,490)

(1,490)

-

(1,490)

 

Share-based payments

-

-

-

-

-

12

12

-

12

 

Movement in own shares in

share trust

-

-

(385)

-

-

-

(385)

-

(385)

 

Gain on release of shares

in share trust

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

1

 

31 March 2012

1,048

2,757

(870)

(783)

787

20,676

23,615

-

23,615

 

CONDENSED GROUP BALANCE SHEET

 

As at

31 March 2012

As at

31 March 2011

As at

30 September 2011

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

ASSETS

 

Non-current assets

 

Goodwill

1,192

1,057

1,192

 

Other intangible assets

765

338

742

 

Property, plant and equipment

11,213

10,091

10,120

 

Deferred tax assets

447

101

271

 

Trade and other receivables

586

586

586

 

______

______

______

 

14,203

12,173

12,911

 

______

______

______

 

Current assets

 

Inventories

19,961

20,569

20,338

 

Trade and other receivables

14,246

15,207

11,854

 

Current tax assets

8

-

121

 

Cash and cash equivalents

3,572

951

3,534

 

______

______

______

 

37,787

36,727

35,847

 

______

______

______

 

 

Total assets

51,990

48,900

48,758

 

______

______

______

 

LIABILITIES

 

Current liabilities

 

Borrowings

(6,601)

(5,513)

(3,922)

 

Provisions

-

(30)

(79)

 

Trade and other payables

(9,374)

(9,552)

(8,363)

 

Current tax liabilities

(110)

(540)

(228)

 

______

______

______

 

(16,085)

(15,635)

(12,592)

 

______

______

______

 

 

Net current assets

21,702

21,092

23,255

 

______

______

______

 

Non-current liabilities

 

Deferred tax liabilities

(520)

(430)

(532)

 

Borrowings

(8,272)

(7,224)

(7,606)

 

Trade and other payables

(135)

-

(135)

 

Post-employment benefits

(1,905)

(408)

(803)

 

Derivative financial instruments

(783)

-

(864)

 

Redeemable loan notes payable

(675)

(675)

(675)

 

______

______

______

 

(12,290)

(8,737)

(10,615)

 

______

______

______

 

Total liabilities

(28,375)

(24,372)

(23,207)

 

______

______

______

 

Net assets

23,615

24,528

25,551

 

______

______

______

 

 

CONDENSED GROUP BALANCE SHEET (continued)

As at

31 March 2012

As at

31 March 2011

As at

30 September 2011

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

£'000

£'000

£'000

EQUITY

Share capital

1,048

1,048

1,048

Share premium account

2,757

2,757

2,757

Own shares in share trust

(870)

(582)

(485)

Hedging reserve

(783)

-

(864)

Foreign exchange reserve

787

726

974

Retained earnings

20,676

20,579

22,121

______

______

______

Total equity attributable to owners of the Parent Company

23,615

24,528

25,551

______

______

______

 

 

 

 

CONDENSED GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Six months ended

Year ended

31 March

31 March

30 September

2012

2011

2011

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

£'000

£'000

£'000

Cash flow from operating activities

Profit before taxation

1,556

3,720

6,372

Adjusted for:

Foreign exchange (loss)/gain

(150)

(89)

111

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

515

490

1,043

Amortisation of intangible assets

76

52

125

(Profit)/Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

(1)

2

8

Net interest payable

292

227

527

Share-based payments

12

10

20

Decrease in post-employment benefit obligation

(159)

(97)

(194)

______

______

______

2,141

4,315

8,012

Changes in working capital:

Decrease/(increase) in inventories

377

(394)

(164)

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(2,392)

(2,704)

649

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

931

954

(185)

______

______

______

Cash flow from operations

1,057

2,171

8,312

Taxation paid

(457)

(885)

(1,998)

______

______

______

Net cash from operating activities

600

1,286

6,314

______

______

______

Cash flow from investing activities

 Disposal or acquisition of investments in subsidiaries

(1)

(13)

(14)

 Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(1,686)

(410)

(1,265)

 Purchase of intangible assets

(99)

(140)

(275)

 Interest received

38

27

53

______

______

______

(1,748)

(536)

(1,501)

______

______

______

 

CONDENSED GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

Six months ended

Year ended

31 March

31 March

30 September

2012

2011

2011

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

£'000

£'000

£'000

Cash flow from financing activities

Increase/(repayment) of bank loans

921

(93)

285

Interest payable

(330)

(254)

(580)

Dividends paid

(1,485)

(1,330)

(1,330)

Net (purchase)/sale of own shares by share trust

(384)

20

100

______

______

______

(1,278)

(1,657)

(1,525)

______

______

______

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(2,426)

(907)

3,288

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

(178)

(3,471)

(3,471)

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

(1)

(25)

5

______

______

______

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

(2,605)

(4,403)

(178)

______

______

______

 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise:

 

Cash and cash equivalents

3,572

951

3,534

 

Bank borrowings

(6,177)

(5,354)

(3,712)

 

______

______

______

 

(2,605)

(4,403)

(178)

 

______

______

______

 

 

 

 

Responsibility statement

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

 

(a) the half year results announcement for the six months ended 31 March 2012 'the announcement' has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34

(b) the announcement includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R (indication of important events during the first six months and description of principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year)

(c) the announcement includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.8R (disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein).

 

By order of the Board

 

 

 

Financial Director

R.A. Hope

18 May 2012

 

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED HALF YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Basis of preparation

The Group is required to prepare its half year results in accordance with accounting standards adopted for use in the European Union (International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)). The Group has adopted the reporting requirements of IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting'.

The consolidated half year results are prepared on the basis of all International Accounting Standards (IAS) and IFRS published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) that are currently in issue. New interpretations may be issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) on existing standards and best practice continues to evolve. It is therefore possible that the accounting policies set out below may be updated by the time the Group prepares its full set of financial statements under IFRS for the year ending 30 September 2012.

The information relating to the six months ended 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2011 is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 2011 have been reported on by the company's auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and did not contain a statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006. These half year results for the six months ended 31 March 2012 have neither been audited nor reviewed by the Group's auditors.

 

2. Accounting policies

These half year results have been prepared on the basis of the same accounting policies and presentation set out in the Group's 30 September 2011annual report.

 

 

NOTES TO THE HALF YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT (continued)

3. Segmental information

(a) Business segments

IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal financial information reported to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). The Group's CODM is deemed to be the Managing Director who is primarily responsible for the allocation of resources to the segments and for assessing their performance. The disclosure in the Group accounts of segmental information is consistent with the information used by the CODM in order to assess profit performance from the Group's operations.

 

The Group has identified two operating segments as follows:

 

Segment Major product category

Manufacturing Distilled, extracted, and other manufactured essential and vegetable oils; natural

distillates.

Aromatic chemicals & other products Aroma and specialty chemicals, standardised essential oils, concretes, absolutes,

oleoresins & isolates.

 

These reportable segments were identified as they are managed separately as the products supplied, and the processes used in order to produce the products, differ.

 

A significant proportion of the Group's resources, assets and liabilities are shared by both business segments and therefore, necessarily, the segment net income, assets and liabilities shown below include apportionments in relation to each segment's contribution to Group profits. This is considered the most reasonable basis upon which to present business segmental information.

 

 

Six months ended 31 March 2012

Manufacturing

Aroma chemicals & other

Un-allocated

Total

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

18,686

17,340

-

36,026

Segment profit

1,384

442

-

1,826

Net finance costs

-

-

(270)

(270)

Profit before taxation

1,384

442

(270)

1,556

Taxation

-

-

(523)

(523)

Profit after taxation

1,384

442

(793)

1,033

Segment assets

29,865

22,125

-

51,990

Segment liabilities

(12,957)

(13,513)

(1,905)

(28,375)

Net segment assets

16,908

8,612

(1,905)

23,615

Segment capital expenditure

1,522

263

-

1,785

Segment depreciation and amortisation

339

252

-

591

 

 

NOTES TO THE HALF YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT (continued)

 

3. Segmental information - (a) business segments (continued)

 

Six months ended 31 March 2011

Manufacturing

Aroma chemicals & other

Un-allocated

Total

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

18,181

17,618

-

35,799

Segment profit

2,744

1,187

-

3,931

Net finance costs

-

-

(211)

(211)

Profit before taxation

2,744

1,187

(211)

3,720

Taxation

-

-

(1,088)

(1,088)

Profit after taxation

2,744

1,187

(1,299)

2,632

Segment assets

28,651

20,249

-

48,900

Segment liabilities

(11,943)

(12,021)

(408)

(24,372)

Net segment assets

16,708

8,228

(408)

24,528

Segment capital expenditure

347

210

-

557

Segment depreciation and amortisation

341

201

-

542

 

Year ended 30 September 2011

Manufacturing

Aroma chemicals & other

Un-allocated

Total

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

39,623

34,895

-

74,518

Segment profit

5,051

1,813

-

6,864

Net finance costs

-

-

(492)

(492)

Profit before taxation

5,051

1,813

(492)

6,372

Taxation

-

-

(2,017)

(2,017)

Net segment income

5,051

1,813

(2,509)

4,355

Segment assets

29,511

19,247

-

48,758

Segment liabilities

(11,275)

(11,129)

(803)

(23,207)

Net segment assets

18,236

8,118

(803)

25,551

Segment capital expenditure

1,105

440

-

1,545

Segment depreciation and amortisation

737

431

-

1,168

 

 

NOTES TO THE HALF YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT (continued)

 

3. Segmental information (continued)

 

(b) Geographical segments

The following table provides an analysis of the Group's revenue by geographical market, irrespective of the origin of the goods or services:

Six months ended

Year ended

31 March

31 March

30 September

2012

2011

2011

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

£'000

£'000

£'000

United Kingdom

4,599

4,354

8,755

Rest of Europe

9,075

10,172

20,949

The Americas

13,578

12,822

27,909

Rest of the World

8,774

8,451

16,905

______

______

______

36,026

35,799

74,518

______

______

______

 

4. Taxation

Taxation has been provided at 33.6% (six months ended 31 March 2011: 29.2%) which is the effective group rate currently anticipated for the financial year ending 30 September 2012.

 

5. Earnings per share

(a) Basic earnings per share for the six months ended 31 March 2012 are based on the weighted average number of shares in issue and ranking for dividend in the period of 10,269,779 (2011: 10,232,546) and earnings of £1,033,000 (six months ended 31 March 2011: £2,632,00) being the profit after taxation.

(b) Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended 31 March 2012 are based on the weighted average number of shares in issue in the period, adjusted for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares of 10,309,287 (2011: 10,281,841) and the same earnings as above.

 

 

NOTES TO THE HALF YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT (continued)

6. Dividends

Six months ended

Year ended

31 March

31 March

30 September

2012

2011

2011

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

£'000

£'000

£'000

Equity dividends on ordinary shares:

Interim dividend for year ended 30 September 2010 - 4.1p

-

419

419

Final dividend for year ended 30 September 2010 - 8.9p

-

911

911

Interim dividend for year ended 30 September 2011 - 4.8p

493

-

-

Final dividend for year ended 30 September 2011 - 9.7p

997

-

-

______

______

______

1,490

1,330

1,330

______

______

______

The declared interim dividend for the year ended 30 September 2012 of 5.1p was approved by the Board on 18 May 2012 and in accordance with IFRS has not been included as a deduction from equity at 31 March 2012. The dividend will be paid on 19 October 2012 to those shareholders on the register at 14 September 2012 and will, therefore, be accounted for in the results for the year ended 30 September 2013.

 

7. Related party transactions

 

Treatt Plc, the Parent Company, entered into the following material transactions with related parties:

31 March

31 March

30 September

2012

2011

2011

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Interest received on loan notes from:

Earthoil Plantations Limited

24

7

64

Earthoil Kenya PTY EPZ Limited

3

3

6

Dividends received from:

R.C.Treatt & Co Limited

(1,491)

1,331

1,331

Treatt USA Inc

(641)

-

-

Redeemable loan notes receivable:

Earthoil Plantations Limited

950

950

950

Earthoil Kenya PTY EPZ Limited

400

400

400

Amounts owed to/(by) parent undertaking:

Earthoil Plantations Limited

15

122

192

R.C.Treatt & Co Limited

986

1,237

(176)

 

NOTES TO THE HALF YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT (continued)

 

7. Related party transactions (continued)

 

The redeemable loan notes are redeemable in full on 31 December 2015 or from 31 March 2009 on request from the issuer. Interest is receivable at 1% above UK base rate. Amounts owed to the Parent Company are unsecured and will be settled in cash.

 

 

8. Risks and uncertainties

 

 

The operation of a public company involves a series of risks and uncertainties across a range of strategic, commercial, operational and financial areas. The principal risks and uncertainties that could have a material impact on the Group's performance over the remaining six months of this financial year (for example, causing actual results to differ materially from expected results or from those experienced previously) are detailed below:

 

·; foreign exchange risk, particularly with regard to the US Dollar, as the Group trades with approximately one hundred countries around the globe. This is controlled through the implementation of a foreign exchange hedging policy;

·; credit risk in ensuring payments from customers are received in full and on a timely basis. Appropriate payment terms are agreed with customers including, where necessary, payment in advance or by securing payment through bank letters of credit;

·; legislative and regulatory risk as new requirements are being imposed on business and the industries with which the Group is involved, for example the European REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals) legislation. The Group takes a pro-active and leading role in ensuring that its systems and procedures are adapted to ensure compliance with new or changing legislative or regulatory requirements; and

·; movements in commodity and essential oil prices often caused by unpredictable weather patterns or other sudden changes in supply or demand, for example the impact of the 2004 Florida hurricanes on grapefruit oil prices, the 2008 movement in lemon oil prices, and the sharp rise in orange oil prices in late 2010. This is managed by ensuring that Group purchases of raw materials are based upon a well-researched understanding of the risks involved and ensuring that appropriate inventory balances are held in order to meet future demand, whilst not holding excessive levels which may expose the Group to unnecessary risk.

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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