Interim Results
7 August 2024
LEI:
2138003QHTNX34CN9V93
Ibstock
Plc
Interim results for the six
months ended 30 June 2024
Continued strategic
progress; well-placed for the market recovery
Ibstock Plc ("Ibstock" or the
"Group"), a leading UK manufacturer of a diverse range of building
products and solutions, announces results for the six months ended
30 June 2024.
Statutory
Results
|
Six months ended 30 June
|
2024
|
2023
|
∆
1Y
|
%
change
|
Revenue
|
£178m
|
£223m
|
(£45)m
|
(20)%
|
Profit before taxation
|
£12m
|
£30m
|
(£18)m
|
(60)%
|
EPS
|
2.2p
|
5.7p
|
(3.5)p
|
(61)%
|
Interim dividend per
share
|
1.5p
|
3.4p
|
1.9p
|
(56)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted
Results1
|
Six months ended 30 June
|
2024
|
2023
|
∆
1Y
|
%
change
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
£38m
|
£63m
|
(£25)m
|
(40)%
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin
|
21.2%
|
28.2%
|
(700)bps
|
(25)%
|
Adjusted EPS
|
3.5p
|
9.0p
|
(5.5)p
|
(61)%
|
Adjusted free cashflow
|
(£15)m
|
£(22)m
|
+£7m
|
+28%
|
ROCE
|
8.0%
|
19.6%
|
(11.6)ppts
|
(59)%
|
Net debt
|
£138m
|
£89m
|
£49m
higher
|
(55)%
|
Solid financial performance
•
|
Solid first half performance
against the backdrop of continued challenging market conditions,
with adjusted EBITDA1
for the period in line with our
expectations
|
•
|
Revenues reduced by 20% to £178
million (2023: £223 million) principally resulting from lower sales
volumes across the core business. Sales volumes reflected lower
market demand and our disciplined approach to pricing, compounded
by exceptionally wet weather in the early part of the
period
|
•
|
Statutory profit before tax of £12
million (2023: £30 million) principally reflected lower operating
profit compared to the comparative period
|
•
|
Adjusted
EBITDA1 was £38 million (2023: £63 million) reflecting lower sales
volumes and the impact of the additional fixed cost carried during
the period to preserve productive capacity. The prior period saw a
£10 million benefit from the absorption of fixed costs into
finished goods inventories
|
•
|
Major capital investment projects
now close to completion, with capacity in place for the market
recovery
|
|
•
|
Maintained focus on cash
management, with tight control of capital expenditure, costs and
working capital. Net debt1 at 30 June 2024 was £138
million (June 2023: £89 million), representing leverage of 2.0x
(2023: 0.7x)
|
|
•
|
Interim dividend of 1.5p per share
(2023: 3.4p)
|
|
Continued strong cost focus, while preserving
capability
•
|
In light of weaker market demand,
the Group continued to manage costs effectively in the period to
protect in-year performance, achieving a run-rate fixed cost
reduction benefit during the first half in excess of the £20
million per annum target announced in March 2024
|
•
|
These incremental actions will not
compromise our ability to build back capacity quickly as markets
recover
|
•
|
Having managed the balance sheet
effectively through this period of market weakness, the strong cash
generation profile of the business will provide additional scope
for investment in opportunities to accelerate performance as
conditions improve
|
Further strategic progress as we continue to invest in our
future growth
•
|
The fundamental drivers
underpinning medium-term demand in our markets remain firmly in
place, and we are building new capabilities in both conventional
and diversified markets
|
•
|
Recent investments at Aldridge and
Parkhouse brick factories now delivering efficient, sustainable
capacity
|
•
|
Commissioning of new Atlas brick
factory well advanced. Once operating at full capacity, our
upgraded clay factory network will be capable of operating at
roughly double the levels of brick output produced over the last 12
months
|
•
|
Continued development of Ibstock
Futures, with first phase of brick slip investment at Nostell, West
Yorkshire now largely complete
|
Current trading and outlook
•
|
The new government's focus on
accelerating the delivery of new housing and infrastructure is
expected to form a more positive backdrop for housing industry
supply chains and effective demand over the medium term
|
•
|
We are encouraged by signs of an
improving trend in sector lead indicators. Whilst we remain
cautious about the extent to which this will translate into
improvements in market demand during the latter part of the year,
we expect adjusted EBITDA for the second half of the 2024 year to
be broadly in line with the comparative period in
20232
|
•
|
The Group remains focused on
taking action to respond to prevailing market conditions and we
will continue to manage our cost position carefully, balancing
stock levels with further investments in cost and capacity to match
market demand
|
•
|
We expect second half cash flow to
be positive, with reported leverage reducing from 2.0x at 30 June
2024 towards the top end of our target range (of 0.5 times to 1.5
times) by year end. Given the inherently cash generative nature of
our business, we would expect reported leverage to revert to within
our target range thereafter.
|
•
|
The Group continues to build a
strong position in diversified construction markets through Ibstock
Futures, and will bring to market the first brick slips from our
Nostell factory during the second half of this year, with the
larger automated slip systems factory on track to commission by the
end of 2025
|
•
|
With lower cost, efficient and
more sustainable capacity in place in the core business, and with
inventory levels rebuilt, the Group is well positioned to serve
customers and respond to an increase in activity as market
conditions improve.
|
Joe Hudson, Chief Executive Officer,
commented:
"Market conditions remained
challenging in the first half, as expected, with sales volumes
below those reported in the comparative period. We delivered a
solid profit performance for the period which reflected our ongoing
focus on the active management of cost and margin.
"Lead indicators point to an
improving sector picture, and although we are taking a cautious
view of the extent to which this will translate into a demand
improvement in the balance of the year, we expect adjusted EBITDA
for the second half of the 2024 year to be broadly in line with the
comparative period in 2023.
"The new
government's commitment to increasing the supply of new homes
creates a more positive backdrop for medium term demand, and the
Group remains well-positioned for market recovery.
Our investments over the last few years have
added high quality, lower cost, efficient and more sustainable
capacity to our network and developed new capabilities for the
group in diversified construction markets, while also creating a
leaner, more customer-focused business. We believe this will be a
powerful combination as market conditions improve.
"The fundamental drivers
underpinning demand in our markets are firmly in place and our
prospects remain strong, underpinned by our robust balance
sheet."
Results presentation
Ibstock is holding a presentation
at 10.30 BST today at UBS, 5 Broadgate, London EC2M 2QS.
Please contact
ibstock@citigatedewerogerson.com
to register your in-person attendance.
A live webcast of the presentation
and Q&A is also available. Please register
here
for the live webcast.
The presentation can also be heard
via a conference call, where there will be the opportunity to ask
questions.
Conference Call Dial-In
Details:
|
UK-Wide: +44 (0) 33 0551
0200
UK Toll Free: 0808 109
0700
US +1 786 697 3501
|
Confirmation code:
|
please quote Ibstock Half Year
when prompted
|
An archived version of today's
webcast analyst presentation will be available on
www.ibstock.co.uk
later today.
Ibstock Plc
|
01530 261
999
|
Joe Hudson, CEO
|
|
Chris McLeish, CFO
|
|
|
|
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
|
020 7638
9571
|
Kevin Smith
|
|
Jos Bieneman
|
|
About Ibstock Plc
Ibstock Plc is a leading UK
manufacturer of a diverse range of building products and solutions.
The Group concentrates on eight core product categories, each
backed up by design and technical services capabilities:
-
|
Bricks and Masonry, Façade
Systems, Roofing, Flooring and Lintels, Staircase and Lift Shafts,
Fencing and Landscaping, Retaining Walls and Rail and
Infrastructure.
|
The Group comprises two core
business divisions, Ibstock Clay and Ibstock Concrete. The Ibstock
Futures business was established in 2021 to accelerate growth in
new, fast developing segments of the UK construction market and,
while it remains in its initial growth phase, forms part of the
Clay division.
Ibstock Clay: The leading
manufacturer by volume of clay bricks sold in the United Kingdom.
With 14 manufacturing sites, Ibstock Clay has the largest brick
production capacity in the UK. It operates a network of 14 active
quarries located close to its manufacturing plants. Ibstock
Kevington provides masonry and prefabricated component building
solutions, operating from 4 sites.
Ibstock Concrete: A leading
manufacturer of concrete roofing, walling, flooring and fencing
products, along with lintels and rail & infrastructure
products. The concrete division operates from 13 manufacturing
sites across the UK.
Ibstock Futures: Complements the
core business divisions by accelerating diversified growth
opportunities which address key construction trends, including
sustainability and the shift towards Modern Methods of Construction
(MMC). Operating from an innovation hub in the West Midlands, and
the Nostell redevelopment in West Yorkshire.
Ibstock is headquartered in the
village of Ibstock, Leicestershire, with 33 active manufacturing
sites across the UK.
As a leading building products
manufacturer, the Group is committed to the highest levels of
corporate responsibility. The Group's ESG 2030 Strategy sets out a
clear path to address climate change, improve lives and manufacture
materials for life, with an ambitious commitment to reduce carbon
emissions by 40% by 2030 and become a net zero operation by
2040.
Further information can be found
at www.ibstock.co.uk
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains
"forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements
include all matters that are not historical facts and include
statements regarding the intentions, beliefs or current
expectations of the directors. By their nature, forward-looking
statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to
future events and circumstances that are difficult to predict and
outside of the Group's ability to control. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and the actual
results of the Group's operations. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by
applicable law, the Group undertakes no obligation to update or
revise publicly any forward-looking statements.
1Alternative performance measures are described in Note 3 to
the interim financial statements.
2The Group reported Adjusted EBITDA of £44 million for the 6
months ended 31 December 2023
Chief Executive's
Review
Introduction
The Group delivered a solid
adjusted EBITDA1 performance for the first
half, in what remained a challenging market. In the face of a more
competitive environment in some areas of the market, the Group
retained a disciplined approach to pricing in the service of
protecting margins. We continue to believe that, as market
conditions normalise, this approach will allow the Group to achieve
targeted levels of market volumes, whilst supporting our margin and
returns targets.
Despite these difficult market
conditions, adjusted EBITDA1 was in line with our
expectations, reflecting continued active
management of costs and strong commercial execution.
The Group's restructuring
programme undertaken during latter part of the 2023 year resulted
in the permanent closure of two clay brick factories at Ravenhead
and South Holmwood. The programme also identified temporary
actions, whereby certain other brick factories were expected to be
inactive for a meaningful proportion of the 2024 year.
With overall market demand during
the first half of 2024 having been around 10% below the prior year
period, we now anticipate a modest reduction in full year 2024
market volumes compared to the prior year. In light of the weaker volume backdrop, the Group has taken
additional temporary action to flex down the output at other
factories, delivering further cost savings relative to the levels
anticipated at the beginning of the 2024 year.
While taking these measures to
protect in-year performance, we have been focused on preserving key
skills and knowledge to ensure that the Group retains the ability
to build back quickly when markets recover.
As we continued to manage costs
tightly, taking action where necessary to respond to market
conditions, we also continued to make good progress with the
investment projects that will underpin our future growth. Our
investments in new low cost, efficient and more sustainable brick
manufacturing capacity at our Atlas facility, and the first phase
of a significant capacity expansion in the fast-growing brick slips
market at our Nostell site, are both now substantially complete.
Production at both factories will ramp up over the course of the
second half, with volumes managed according to prevailing market
conditions. This new capacity will support our medium-term
growth objectives as markets recover.
I am also pleased to report that
we maintained momentum with the strategic initiatives that will
create a leaner, more customer-focused and sustainable business for
the future. Notable progress in the period included the integration
of a centralised commercial and innovation
team, further steps towards our ambitious 2030 ESG targets and our
continuing cultural transformation.
The Group retains a robust balance
sheet, providing both resilience and optionality in respect of
future growth investments.
The Board has recommended an
interim dividend of 1.5p per share (2023: 3.4p). The interim
dividend has been set with reference to our capital allocation
policy, which targets full year cover of approximately two times
through the cycle.
Financial Performance
Revenue was 20% lower at £178
million (2023: £223 million) (or 22% lower on a LFL basis,
adjusting for the acquisition of Coltman in late 2023), principally
reflecting lower sales volumes across the core business. Sales
volumes reflected lower market demand and our disciplined approach
to pricing, compounded by the impact of exceptionally wet weather
in the first quarter.
A modest reduction in selling
prices in the period was offset by reduced variable manufacturing
costs, both from procurement savings and a reduction in unit energy
costs.
In light of weaker market demand,
the Group also continued to manage fixed costs proactively in the
period to protect in-year performance, achieving a run-rate fixed
cost reduction benefit during the first half in excess of the £20
million per annum target announced in March 2024. These incremental
actions (which included flexing production, hiring freezes and
further discretionary cost reductions/deferrals) will not
compromise our ability to build back quickly as markets recover,
with the Group continuing to carry an element of fixed cost at
inactive sites during the period to preserve productive capacity
for the recovery.
Adjusted
EBITDA1 was £38 million (2023: £63 million) reflecting the lower
sales volumes and the impact of additional fixed cost carried
during the period at inactive sites to preserve productive capacity
for the market recovery. The prior year period saw a £10 million
benefit from the absorption of fixed costs into finished goods
inventories.
The Adjusted EBITDA
margin1 reduced to 21.2% (2023: 28.2%). Adjusted earnings per share of 3.5 pence (2023: 9.0 pence)
reflected lower operating profit and a modest increase in the
underlying effective tax rate, which was in line with the guidance
on taxation given at the start of the year.
Profit before tax of £12 million
(2023: £30 million), reflected a lower trading performance and an
exceptional cost1
of £3 million (2023: cost of £11 million)
relating to site closure activities.
The Group's balance sheet remains
robust, with closing net debt1 of £138 million at 30 June
2024 (2023: £89 million) representing leverage of 2.0x adjusted
EBITDA1 (2023: 0.7x). The period end position was in line with our
expectations, and reflected a strong focus on cash management, with tight control of capital expenditure,
costs and working capital across the
period. The increase in net debt during the period reflected the
anticipated seasonal working capital build along with the Group's
continued investment in organic growth projects, which are now
nearing completion.
Second half cash flow is expected
to be positive, with reported leverage reducing by year end towards
the top end of our target range (0.5 to 1.5 times). Given the
inherently cash generative nature of our business, we would expect
leverage to revert to within our target range
thereafter.
Divisional Review
Ibstock Clay
The Clay Division delivered a
solid performance, despite a material reduction in sales volumes,
as it benefited from strong cost management and robust commercial
discipline, as well as agile operational performance.
Revenues in the Clay Division
reduced by 26% to £119 million (2023: £162
million) driven principally by a reduction in volumes, as the
Group took a disciplined approach to pricing in the service of
protecting adjusted EBITDA margins1. Overall, average selling prices reduced modestly compared to
the comparative period, partly reflecting changes in channel and
product mix.
Overall, we believe the UK brick
market reduced by around 10% during the first half of the 2024 year
compared to the comparative period in 2023. Volumes of clay bricks
imported into the UK market were down by around 15% compared to the
comparative period, as they continued to reduce at a faster rate
than domestic shipments.
Adjusted
EBITDA1 reduced by 40% to £34 million (2023: £57 million), reflecting
the significant reduction in sales volumes, partly mitigated
through unit variable cost reductions and continued decisive action
to reduce fixed costs.
Adjusted EBITDA
margin1 in the clay segment remained robust at 28.6% (2023: 35.5%)
despite the material reduction in sales volumes and a benefit of £8
million in the prior year period from the absorption of fixed costs
into inventory.
Ibstock Futures
We continued to make solid
progress in building our Ibstock Futures business, although
activity across the key product lines was below the prior year,
reflecting the trend observed more broadly across construction
markets. We continued to build a strong platform for future growth,
with our organic investments in brick slip capacity at Nostell,
West Yorkshire, progressing to plan.
Futures delivered a profit
performance modestly below the comparative period, with revenues,
which are reported in the Clay segment, totalling £4 million (2023:
£6 million), and an overall net cost (including research and
development expenditure) of £3 million (2023: £2
million).
During the period we appointed a
new Managing Director of Futures, who brings experience of the
sector and strong MMC market knowledge into the
business.
We continue to see a strong
pipeline of opportunities to grow Futures, both organically and by
acquisition, as we expand and diversify our product offering over
the medium term to support the growth of MMC in the UK.
Ibstock Concrete
While the breadth of the Concrete
Division's end-market exposure helped to mitigate the impact of the
subdued trading conditions, its results for the period reflected
weaker residential and rail market volumes. Revenue reduced by 4%
year-on-year to £59 million (2023: £61 million), or 12% on a LFL
basis, excluding the impact of Coltman Precast which was acquired
during the final quarter of 2023.
The division experienced a
reduction in residential new build sales volumes in line with the
wider market, although RMI performance was stronger, supported by
firmer fencing volumes. Infrastructure sales volumes were
materially lower, with rail activity subdued as Network Rail
transitioned to Control Period 7, the next five year period of its
network delivery plan, during the first half of 2024.
The integration of Coltman, the
precast flooring business, has progressed well, and in line with
our expectations. Coltman contributed revenues of £5 million in the
first half, with an adjusted EBITDA margin1 of around 5%, after certain
one-off integration costs which are not expected to recur in
2025.
Adjusted
EBITDA1 for the Concrete Division was £8 million, down 31% year on
year (2023: £11 million).
Overall, the division achieved
adjusted EBITDA margins1
of 12.7% (2023: 17.9%) as more resilient RMI
volumes and strong cost management were more than offset by the
impact of lower new build residential and rail volumes. The
division also benefited from the absorption of around £2 million of
fixed costs into inventory in the comparative period.
Major projects
The fundamental drivers
underpinning medium-term demand in our markets remain firmly in
place. In 2021 the Group commenced two major growth investment
projects to capitalise on the attractive fundamentals,
across both its core and new, diversified
markets. These capital investments are now close to completion,
with high quality, lower-cost capacity in place which will allow
the Group to benefit from market recovery.
Core clay investments in
capacity at Atlas and Aldridge
Commissioning of our new Atlas
factory in the West Midlands is now well advanced. Atlas will
produce the UK's first externally verified carbon neutral brick
and, when operating at full capacity, will increase annual network
capacity by over 100 million bricks to support the Group's
long-term growth objectives. The market launch of the UK's first
carbon-neutral brick is an exciting development for the Clay
Division and we look forward to shipping the first volumes of this
innovative new product during the second half of the 2024
year.
Work to upgrade the dryers and
packaging equipment in the adjacent Aldridge factory was completed
during the second half of 2023 and we are already seeing
significant improvements in efficiency and reductions in energy use
at the site.
Production at both factories will
ramp up over the course of the second half, with volumes managed
according to prevailing market conditions.
Diversified growth
investments in brick slip capacity at Nostell,
Yorkshire
Commissioning of the new automated
brick slips cutting line at Nostell, West Yorkshire is now almost
complete and customer deliveries will commence shortly. The new
line provides a significant domestic
supply of brick slips to the UK market for the first time and will
deliver up to 17 million slips per annum when operating at full
capacity. Customer reaction to this new
high-quality source of domestic supply has been very positive, and
this investment represents our first step towards building a scale
leadership position in this fast-growing product
category.
Phase two of the Nostell
redevelopment, the construction of a larger brick slip systems
factory with an initial capacity of a further 30 million slips per
annum, is progressing in line with our expectations. This project
is on track to commission by the end of the 2025 year.
Strategic update
Our operational strategy is
centred on three strategic pillars of Sustain, Innovate and Grow,
with our ambitious ESG commitments embedded across all three. An
update on progress is set out below.
Sustain
As a scale industrial business,
sustainable high performance is at the heart of what we do, with
activity focused on three priority areas: health, safety and
wellbeing; operational excellence; and environmental
performance.
Health, safety and
wellbeing
The Group remains committed to
driving a step change in health, safety and wellbeing for all
colleagues, with a significant improvement in performance being
driven by a refreshed "leadership in action" programme and annual
total incident frequency rate (TIFR) targets. For 2024, we are
targeting a 20% reduction in TIFR and our performance in the year
to date is on track to meet this objective, following the
introduction of a programme of daily risk reduction measures across
the Group's operations.
Operational
excellence
We have invested significant
capital over the last five years in enhancing the reliability and
performance of our factory networks. Despite a reduction in
production volumes during the period, the optimised factory
footprint continued to benefit from this asset enhancement
programme which has delivered both operational efficiencies and an
improved environmental performance. Specific factory improvement
projects such as the major kiln rebuild at the Parkhouse brick
factory and the automation of our walling stone factory at Anstone,
near Sheffield, have strengthened our ability to build back
capacity quickly as demand recovers.
Environmental
performance
Having established our high level
carbon transition plan to 2030, including the impact of key
investment projects and a continued operational enhancement
programme across the factory estate, we remain on track to deliver
our 2030 target. A five year Carbon Transition Plan is under
development through detailed planning at factory level, which will
be fully costed and integrated into operational plans in the months
ahead.
Following successful trials on
alternative fuel usage (synthetic gas & hydrogen), we continued
to complete further research and progress conversations with
potential commercial partners during the period.
Innovate
Product
Innovation
As market leader in clay and
concrete products, we have the broadest range of building products
and solutions available in the UK, and we continue to invest to
enhance our customer offer. In 2023 the Group created a single
centralised Product, Innovation and Quality function to strengthen
and accelerate its innovation, research and new product development
pipeline. We began to see some early benefits from this new
approach during the first half, with strong progress made on the
development of new thin brick products, and lower carbon rail and
fencing products.
With the commissioning of our new
Atlas factory, during the second half of the year we are also
launching an exciting range of new bricks, including the UK's first
carbon neutral bricks.
Customer
Experience
The unified "One Ibstock" brand
identity and new commercial team structure launched in 2023
continued to embed across the Group during the first half,
resulting in a broader range of products being offered to customers
and an increase in solution selling opportunities. We firmly
believe the unrivalled diversity of our building products offering
will increasingly provide us with a source of competitive advantage
as we actively focus on a deeper understanding of customer needs to
build long term strategic partnerships.
Digital Transformation
The digitisation of our business
is a key strategic enabler as we begin to drive an increasing
proportion of our sales activities through digital channels. During
the period we initiated an investment in an enhanced data platform,
to improve the speed and quality of performance and market
insights. We expect to deliver this enhanced platform over the next
12 months.
Grow
Grow the core
business
With work to upgrade production
equipment at our Aldridge factory completed towards the end of
2023, there has been both improvement in
production yield and reduction in carbon emissions at the site
during the first half.
Our redeveloped Atlas 'pathfinder'
factory is at advanced commissioning stage and on track to ramp up
production during the second half. Atlas will produce our lowest
embodied carbon bricks, with around 50% lower carbon than the
previous factory. The factory will also produce our first ever
Carbon Neutral® certified bricks as part of its
range and we are excited about making our first deliveries of this
innovative new product later this year, as we support our customers
on their own emission reduction journeys.
Grow through
diversification
Ibstock Futures made good
operational and strategic progress during the year as it continued
to build its capabilities in new, fast-growth areas of the UK
construction market.
Phase one of the Nostell brick
slips factory investment is nearing completion, with commissioning
of the new automated brick slips cutting line now almost complete.
The new line uses some first of its kind technology in the UK to
drive automation and enable the supply of domestically manufactured
brick slips at pace and scale. This represents a first significant
step towards building a significant leadership position in this
fast-growing product category. Phase two of the project - the
construction of a larger brick slip systems factory - is
progressing to plan, as discussed above.
Discussions with potential
partners on the commercialisation of our owned clay reserves for
the manufacture of calcined clay continued to progress
well.
Culture and
capability
We are passionate about
establishing culture as a key point of difference across our
organisation and, notwithstanding the current challenging market
conditions and the imperative of strong cost management, the Group
continued to focus on developing its culture and preserving
productive capability during the period. Notable achievements in
the period included the continued growth of our early careers and
skills agenda, which drove big increases in the breadth of our
apprentice roles and the diversity of hires, along with the second
phase of a successful talent development programme.
Conviction in the Group's medium-term
prospects
The Group's confidence in its
medium-term prospects is underpinned by an expectation of a return
to normalised conditions within its core markets combined with the
incremental returns generated from our significant capital
investment programme.
Total UK brick market volumes for
the 12 months to June 2024 totalled 1.6 billion, down by over 35%
from the level of 2.5 billion achieved in the 2022 calendar year.
Against this backdrop, we have taken decisive action to manage
capacity and cost, to ensure that performance is protected, and
factory output managed according to market demand. However, given
the structural undersupply of new build housing, and the stated
political intention to substantially increase levels of residential
construction, we have a strong conviction in the full recovery of
our markets over the years ahead.
Having made significant investment
over recent years, we now have a lower cost, efficient and more
sustainable network available to serve the market as conditions
improve. Once at full capacity, our upgraded clay factory network
will be capable of operating at roughly double the levels of brick
output produced over the last 12 months.
Whilst we are taking a cautious
view around the extent of market recovery in the balance of the
2024 year, given the strength and scale of our business, and our
conviction in the fundamentals of our markets, we remain confident
in achieving our stated medium-term financial targets.
Outlook for 2024
Whilst we are encouraged by signs
of an improving trend in sector lead indicators, we remain cautious
about the extent to which this will translate to improvements in
market demand during the latter part of the year.
With overall market demand during
the first half of 2024 having been around 10% below the prior year
period, we now anticipate a modest reduction in full year 2024
market volumes compared to the prior year and expect adjusted
EBITDA for the second half of the 2024 year to be broadly in line
with the comparative period in 2023.
The Group remains focused on
taking action to respond to prevailing market conditions and we
will continue to manage our cost position carefully, balancing
stock levels with further investments in cost and capacity to match
market demand.
The new government's focus on
accelerating the delivery of new housing and infrastructure is
expected to form a more positive backdrop for housing industry
supply chains and effective demand over the medium term.
The Group continues to build a
significant position in diversified construction markets through
Ibstock Futures and will bring to market the first brick slips from
our Nostell factory during the second half of this year, with the
larger automated slip systems factory scheduled to commission by
the end of 2025.
Ibstock's prospects remain strong,
underpinned by our robust balance sheet and well invested
manufacturing network. With low cost, efficient and more
sustainable capacity in place in the core business, and with
inventory levels rebuilt, the Group is well positioned to serve
customers and respond to an increase in activity as market
conditions improve.
1Alternative performance measures are described in Note 3 to
the interim financial statements.
Chief Financial Officer's report
Introduction
The Group delivered a solid
financial performance in the first half of 2024, against a market
backdrop which continued to be challenging. The effective
management of plant capacity, combined with active management of
cost and strong commercial execution, ensured that adjusted
EBITDA1 was in line with our expectations.
With continued strong progress
against our strategic investment plans, we
deployed around £24 million of capital investment (2023: £33
million) to drive future growth in both core and diversified
construction markets. Having managed our balance sheet effectively
through the recent market weakness, the cash generation profile of
the business is expected to provide additional scope for investment
in opportunities to accelerate performance as conditions
improve.
Climate Change & TCFD
As a long-term business, a
commitment to environmental sustainability and social progress is
central to our purpose. We have invested significant capital over
the last decade, with investment projects across the Group's plant
network contributing to a material reduction in the carbon
intensity of our manufacturing processes. Our ESG strategy and targets announced in 2021 provide a
pathway to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, from a 2019
baseline, and be net zero carbon by 2040. We continue to actively
monitor the transitional and physical risks and opportunities of
climate change through our risk management process and ESG
governance framework.
Alternative performance measures
This results statement contains
alternative performance measures ("APMs") to aid comparability and
further understanding of the financial performance of the Group
between periods. A description of each APM is included in Note 3 to
the financial statements. The APMs represent measures used by
management and the Board to monitor performance against budget, and
certain APMs are used in the remuneration of management and
Executive Directors. It is not believed that APMs are a substitute
for, or superior to, statutory measures.
Group results
The table below sets out segmental
revenue, profit/(loss) before tax and adjusted
EBITDA1 for the period
|
|
Clay2
|
Concrete
|
Central
costs
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
£'m
|
£'m
|
£'m
|
£'m
|
Six-month period ended 30 June
2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenue
|
|
119.4
|
58.8
|
-
|
178.2
|
Adjusted EBITDA1
|
|
34.2
|
7.5
|
(4.0)
|
37.7
|
Margin
|
|
28.6%
|
12.7%
|
|
21.2%
|
Profit/(loss) before tax
|
|
15.9
|
1.9
|
(6.0)
|
11.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six-month period ended 30 June
2023
|
|
|
|
Total revenue
|
|
161.7
|
61.1
|
-
|
222.7
|
Adjusted EBITDA1
|
|
57.4
|
10.9
|
(5.5)
|
62.9
|
Margin
|
|
35.5%
|
17.9%
|
|
28.2%
|
Profit/(loss) before tax
|
|
31.5
|
5.5
|
(7.2)
|
29.9
|
1 Alternative Performance Measures are described in Note 3 to
the results announcement
2 Clay segment incorporates Futures business performance, and
excludes exceptional cost1 of £3.1 million (2023: £10.7
million)
Due to rounding, numbers presented
may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may
not precisely align to the reported figures
Revenue
Group revenue for the six months
ended 30 June 2024 decreased by 20% to £178.2 million (2023: £222.7
million) driven by a significant reduction in market demand and our
disciplined approach to pricing, compounded by exceptionally wet
weather early in the period. In the face of a more competitive
pricing environment in certain parts of the market, we retained a
disciplined approach to pricing, in the service of protecting
margins.
In our Clay division, revenues of
£119.4 million represented a decrease of 26% on the prior year
period (2023: £161.7 million), resulting from materially lower
market demand and our disciplined approach to pricing. Average
prices in the clay division reduced modestly, in part reflecting
the impact of changes in channel and product mix. Our Futures
business contributed around £3.9 million of revenue (2023: £5.8
million).
In our Concrete division, reported
revenue decreased by 4% year-on-year to £58.8 million (2023: £61.1
million), or 12% on a like for like basis, with our new
acquisition, Coltman Precast, contributing £5.1 million of revenue
in the period (2023: £nil). On a like-for-like basis, the reduction
in revenue reflected reduced market demand in our new build
residential product categories and lower rail volumes. These
impacts were partly mitigated by stronger RMI landscaping volumes,
particularly within fencing.
Adjusted EBITDA1
Management measures the Group's
operating performance using adjusted EBITDA1. Adjusted
EBITDA1 decreased by 40% year on year to £37.7 million in 2023 (2023:
£62.9 million). Performance reflected the
impact of lower sales volumes and additional fixed cost carried
during the period at inactive sites to preserve productive capacity
for the market recovery. The prior year period saw a £10 million
benefit from the absorption of fixed costs into finished goods
inventories.
In light of weaker market demand,
the Group continued to manage costs effectively, achieving a run
rate cost reduction benefit during the first half in excess of the
£20 million per annum announced in March 2024.
Within the Clay division, adjusted
EBITDA1 totalled £34.2 million (2023: £57.4 million), representing an
adjusted EBITDA margin1
of 28.6% (2022: 35.5%). In the core clay
business, a reduction in average selling prices was offset by lower
unit variable costs, meaning that the contribution margin
percentage remained in line with the comparative period. Good fixed
cost management also enabled the division to exceed its targeted
savings following the Group's restructuring programme undertaken in
the second half of the 2023 year.
The clay division recognised a net
cost of £3.3 million (2023: cost of £2.0 million) in respect of
Ibstock Futures, reflecting the trend observed more broadly across
construction markets. This cost continued to include a significant
level of expenditure in research and development as we invest ahead
of revenue in green energy solutions, calcined clay and other
diversified growth opportunities.
Within our Concrete division,
adjusted EBITDA1
decreased to £7.5 million (2023: £10.9 million),
as the division was impacted by materially lower sales volumes in
our new build residential and rail product categories.
The division benefited from the absorption of
around £2 million of fixed costs into inventory in the comparative
period. The adjusted EBITDA
margin1 of 12.7% in concrete was below the 2023 level of 17.9%,
as strong cost management partly mitigated
the impact of lower volumes and the effect of weaker mix (as rail
and infrastructure volumes reduced as a percentage of total
divisional activity).
Central costs decreased to £4.0
million (2023: £5.5 million) principally reflecting reduced
employment and variable remuneration costs.
Looking forwards, the Group
remains focused on tightly managing cost to mitigate the impact of
the current softer market backdrop.
Adjusted EBIT1
In order to focus on a more
comprehensive measure of operating performance, and in line with a
key remuneration measure for senior management, the Group has also
started to measure and report the Group's performance using
adjusted EBIT1. Adjusted
EBIT1 is defined as adjusted EBITDA1 less underlying depreciation
and amortisation.
For the six months to 30 June
2024, adjusted EBIT1
reduced to £23.1 million (2023: £48.9 million)
reflecting reduced trading profits and a modest increase in
underlying depreciation and amortisation to £14.6 million (2023:
£14.0 million) as the Group started to depreciate its Aldridge and
Parkhouse investments and recognised a full period of the Futures
innovation hub lease cost.
Exceptional items1
Based on the application of our
accounting policy for exceptional items1, certain income and expense
items have been excluded in arriving at adjusted
EBITDA1 to aid shareholders' understanding of the Group's underlying
financial performance.
The amounts classified as
exceptional1
in the period totalled a net cost of £3.2 million
(2023: £10.7 million cost), associated with the Group's
restructuring programme announced in the prior year. The charge in
the current period related to decommissioning activities and other
costs associated with closed sites. The Group continues to expect
to recognise exceptional costs of around £5 million in this regard
in the 2024 year as a whole.
Further details of exceptional
items1 are set out in Note 5 of the financial statements.
Finance costs
Net finance costs of £2.7 million
were above the level of the prior year (2023: £2.2 million). This
reflected an increased interest cost on our bank borrowings as the
average borrowing on our £125 million Revolving Credit Facility
(RCF) increased over the comparative period.
Profit before taxation
Group statutory profit before
taxation was £11.8 million (2023: £29.9 million), reflecting the
lower trading performance, as well as an exceptional
cost1 of £3.2 million (2023: cost of £10.7 million) relating to
site closure and decommissioning activities, as detailed
above.
Taxation
The Group recorded a taxation
charge of £3.2 million (2022: £7.5 million) on Group pre-tax
profits of £11.8 million (2023: £29.9 million), resulting in an effective tax rate ("ETR") of 27.1% (2023:
25.0%) compared with the standard rate of UK corporation tax of
25.0% (2023: 23.5%).
The adjusted
ETR1 (excluding the impact of the deferred tax rate change and
exceptional items) was 26.2% (2023: 24.3%).
The increase in ETR and adjusted
ETR1 from the prior year was due primarily to the full year impact
of the change in the standard rate of UK corporation tax to 25%
enacted in the 2023/24 tax year.
We continue to expect the adjusted
ETR1 for the 2024 year to be around 26%, in line with the rate
reported in the first half.
Earnings per share
Group statutory basic earnings per
share (EPS) decreased to 2.2 pence in the six months to 30 June
2023 (2023: 5.7 pence) primarily as a result of reduced trading
performance in the period and an increase in the effective tax
rate.
Group adjusted basic
EPS1 of 3.5 pence per share decreased from 9.0 pence last year,
reflecting reduced adjusted EBIT1 and an increase in the
adjusted effective tax rate following an increase in the headline
UK tax rate. In line with prior years, our adjusted
EPS1 metric removes the impact of exceptional
items1, the fair value uplifts resulting from our acquisition
accounting and non-cash interest impacts, net of the related
taxation charges/credits. Adjusted EPS1 has been included to provide
a clearer guide as to the underlying earnings performance of the
Group. A full reconciliation of our adjusted
EPS1 measure is included in Note 7.
Table 1: Earnings per
share
|
2024
pence
|
2023
pence
|
Statutory basic EPS - Continuing
operations
|
2.2
|
5.7
|
Adjusted basic
EPS1 -
Continuing operations
|
3.5
|
9.0
|
Cash flow and net debt1
Adjusted operating cash flow
decreased by £2 million to £9.0 million (2023: £11.0 million),
reflecting a decrease in adjusted EBITDA1, mitigated by a lower
working capital increase of £19.4 million (2023: increase of £39.5
million).
The working capital increase in
the period reflected the typical seasonal build in the level of
trade receivables. Inventories reduced modestly during the period
as we tightly managed operational activity across the factory
network, driving a significant favourable variance to the
comparative period, as we built significant levels of finished
goods inventories during the first six months of 2023.
Adjusted net interest paid in the
six months to 30 June 2024 increased to £4.2 million (2023: £2.4
million), in line with our expectations. The increase compared to
the comparative period reflected both an increase in average
borrowings and a modest increase in interest rates on our floating
rate debt.
Tax payments totalled £0.5 million
(2023: £3.4 million) as we continued to benefit from the
accelerated write down on qualifying capital
expenditure.
Other cash outflows of £4.4
million (2023: £6.2 million outflow) principally comprised lease
payments. The Group purchased no carbon emission credits in the
period (2023: £1.3 million).
With Adjusted Operating Cash
Flows1 in the period decreasing marginally from the prior period,
the cash conversion1
percentage increased to 24% (from 18% in 2023),
reflecting a reduced investment in working capital versus the prior
period.
Adjusted free cash
flow1 in the period totalled an outflow of £15.5 million (2023:
£21.6 million outflow). Capital expenditure of £24.4 million
decreased by £8.3 million compared to the comparative period (2023:
£32.7 million), as major project expenditure reduced, as
anticipated, and sustaining capital continued to be tightly
managed.
Capital expenditure comprised
around £10 million of sustaining expenditure, £3 million on the
Atlas and Aldridge redevelopments, £1 million at Anstone Concrete
and around £10 million on the Slips programme.
For the full year, we continue to
expect total capital expenditure of around £50 million with
sustaining capital expenditure of around £20 million, and growth
capital expenditure of £30 million.
Table 2: Cash flow
(non-statutory)
|
2024
|
2023
|
Change
|
£'m
|
£'m
|
£'m
|
Adjusted
EBITDA1
|
37.7
|
62.9
|
(25.2)
|
Adjusted change in working
capital1
|
(19.4)
|
(39.5)
|
20.1
|
Net interest
|
(4.2)
|
(2.4)
|
(1.8)
|
Tax
|
(0.5)
|
(3.4)
|
2.9
|
Post-employment
benefits
|
-
|
(0.3)
|
0.3
|
Other2
|
(4.6)
|
(6.2)
|
1.6
|
Adjusted operating cash
flow1
|
9.0
|
11.0
|
(2.0)
|
Cash
conversion1
|
24%
|
18%
|
6ppts
|
Total capex
|
(24.4)
|
(32.7)
|
8.3
|
Adjusted free cash
flow1
|
(15.5)
|
(21.6)
|
6.1
|
1 Alternative Performance Measures are described in Note 3 to
the consolidated financial statements.
2 Other includes operating lease payments and emission
allowance purchases in all years.
The table above excludes cash
outflows relating to exceptional items1 of £7.7 million in 2024
(2023: £ nil million) relating to the settlement of severance and
certain decommissioning activities arising from our 2023
restructuring programme.
Net debt1 (borrowings less cash) at 30
June 2024 totalled £137.8 million (31 December 2023: £100.6
million; 30 June 2023: £89.1 million). The movement during the
period reflected the seasonal increase in working capital combined
with £24.4 million of capital expenditure as the Group continued to
invest in its growth projects.
We expect cash flows in the second
half to be positive, with leverage on a reported basis (i.e.
excluding the impact of IFRS 16) reducing by year end from 2.0
times closer to the top end of the target range (being 0.5 times to
1.5 times).
The Group's borrowings contain
leverage covenants of no greater than 3.0x. Based on the covenant
definition, leverage at 30 June 2024 totalled 1.7 times,
comfortably below the covenant limit. At the balance sheet date,
the Group had £80 million of undrawn committed
facilities.
Adjusted return on capital employed1
Adjusted return on capital
employed1 (adjusted ROCE) decreased to 8.0% (2023: 19.6%) driven by
reduced adjusted EBIT1
on a higher level of capital employed. The
increase in capital employed compared to the comparative period
principally reflected the incremental investment in organic growth
projects.
Capital allocation
The Group's capital allocation
framework remains consistent with that laid out in 2020, with the
Group committed to allocating capital in a disciplined and dynamic
way.
Our capital allocation framework
is set out below:
•
|
Firstly, we will invest to
maintain and enhance our existing asset base and
operations;
|
•
|
Having done this, we will look to
pay an ordinary dividend. We are committed to paying dividends
which are sustainable and progressive, with targeted cover of
approximately 2 times underlying earnings through the
cycle;
|
•
|
Thereafter, we will deploy capital
for growth, both inorganically and organically, in accordance with
our strategic and financial investment criteria;
|
•
|
And, finally, we will return
surplus capital to shareholders.
|
Our framework remains underpinned by our commitment to
maintaining a strong balance sheet, and we will look to maintain
leverage at between 0.5 and 1.5 times net
debt1 to adjusted EBITDA1 excluding the impact of IFRS
16, through the cycle.
Dividend
The Group has declared an interim
dividend of 1.5p per share (2022: 3.4p), for payment on 13 September 2024 to shareholders on the
register on 23 August 2024. The interim
dividend has been set with reference to our capital allocation
policy, which targets full year cover of approximately two times
underlying earnings through the cycle.
Pensions
At 30 June 2024,
the defined benefit pension scheme ("the
scheme") was in an actuarial accounting
surplus position of £8.8 million (31 December 2023: surplus of £9.8
million; 30 June 2023: surplus of £10.5 million). Applying the
valuation principles set out in IAS19, at the half year end the
scheme had asset levels of £341.4 million (31 December 2023: £373.7
million; 30 June 2023: £348.2 million) against scheme liabilities
of £332.6 million (31 December 2023: £363.9 million; 30 June 2023:
£337.7 million).
On 20 December 2022, the Scheme
completed a full buy-in transaction with a specialist third-party
provider. Together with the partial buy-in transaction completed
with the same counterparty in 2020, this transaction insured the
significant majority of the Group's defined benefit
liabilities.
Related party transactions
Related party transactions are
disclosed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.
During the current and prior year, there have been no material
related party transactions.
Subsequent events
Except for the proposed interim
ordinary dividend, no further subsequent events requiring either
disclosure or adjustment to these financial statements have arisen
since the balance sheet date.
Going concern
The Directors are required to
assess whether it is reasonable to adopt the going concern basis in
preparing the financial statements.
In arriving at their conclusion,
the Directors have given due consideration to whether the funding
and liquidity resources are sufficient to accommodate the principal
risks and uncertainties faced by the Group.
Having considered the outputs from
this work, the Directors have concluded that it is reasonable to
adopt a going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
This is based on an expectation that the Company and the Group will
have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at
least twelve months from the date of signing these
accounts.
Further information is provided in
note 2 of the financial statements.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
This section should be read in
conjunction with the rest of this Half Year Statement as this
provides further information concerning those important events that
have occurred during the first six months of the financial
year.
The Group's activities mean it is
exposed to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could, either
separately or in combination, have a material impact on the Group's
performance and shareholder returns. These risks and uncertainties
relate to: business continuity, regulatory and compliance, people
and talent management, cyber and information security, health,
safety and environment (HSE), economic conditions, financial risk
management, maintaining customer relationships and market
reputation, climate change, anticipating product demand and
innovation and major project delivery.
The Board assesses and monitors
the key risks impacting the business and an explanation of the
Group's approach to risk management is set out in Ibstock Plc's
Annual Report 2023, a copy of which is available on the Group's
corporate website, www.ibstock.co.uk.
The Group continues to be exposed
to unfavourable macro-economic conditions and a prolonged slow-down
in UK residential construction markets. These areas impact a number
of the Group's principal risks including economic conditions,
anticipating product demand and innovation, maintaining customer
relationships, people and talent management and financial risk
management.
Having undertaken a comprehensive
review during the first half of the 2024 year, the Board has
concluded that the Group's existing principal risks and
uncertainties remain unchanged from those set out in its 2023
Annual Report, and that there continue to be clear actions in place
to appropriately mitigate these risks.
A full report on the Group's
principal risks will be included with the FY 2024 annual report and
accounts. The Board will continue to monitor the Group's principal
risks during the remaining six months of the year, with a focus on
economic conditions, anticipating product demand and innovation,
maintaining customer relationships, people and talent management
and financial risk management, alongside cyber security, major
project delivery and HSE.
1Alternative performance measures are described in Note 3 to
the interim financial statements.
Statement of directors' responsibilities in relation to the
half-yearly financial report
The directors confirm that to the
best of their knowledge:
•
|
The condensed set of financial
statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim
Financial reporting as contained in UK-adopted IFRS;
|
•
|
The interim management report
includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.4R,
DTR 4.2.7R and DTR 4.2.8R, namely:
|
|
a)
|
the condensed set of financial
statements gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities,
financial position, cash flows and profit or loss of the issuer, or
undertakings included in the consolidation;
|
|
b)
|
an indication of important events
that have occurred during the first six months and their impact on
the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the
principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of
the financial year; and
|
|
c)
|
material related party
transactions in the first six months and any material changes in
the related party transactions described in the last annual
report.
|
By order of the Board:
Joe Hudson
|
Chris McLeish
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
6 August 2024
|
6 August 2024
|
Condensed consolidated income statement
|
|
|
|
|
for the six months ended 30 June
2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Notes
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
Year
ended 31/12/2023
|
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Revenue
|
4
|
178,189
|
222,732
|
405,839
|
Cost of sales
|
|
(126,833)
|
(150,920)
|
(290,883)
|
Gross profit
|
|
51,356
|
71,812
|
114,956
|
Distribution costs
|
|
(17,112)
|
(19,734)
|
(36,797)
|
Administrative expenses
|
|
(20,765)
|
(23,278)
|
(47,623)
|
Total profit on disposal of
property, plant and equipment
|
|
11
|
1,393
|
1,957
|
Other income
|
|
1,157
|
2,207
|
3,312
|
Other expenses
|
|
(195)
|
(345)
|
(774)
|
Operating profit
|
|
14,452
|
32,055
|
35,031
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance costs
|
|
(3,982)
|
(3,007)
|
(5,932)
|
Finance income
|
|
1,312
|
827
|
968
|
Net finance cost
|
|
(2,670)
|
(2,180)
|
(4,964)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit before taxation
|
|
11,782
|
29,875
|
30,067
|
Taxation
|
6
|
(3,193)
|
(7,479)
|
(9,007)
|
Profit for the financial period
|
|
8,589
|
22,396
|
21,060
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit attributable to:
|
|
|
|
|
Owners of the parent
|
|
8,589
|
22,397
|
21,060
|
Non-controlling
interest
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
|
pence per
share
|
pence
per share
|
pence
per share
|
Earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
7
|
2.2
|
5.7
|
5.4
|
Diluted
|
7
|
2.2
|
5.7
|
5.3
|
Non-GAAP measure
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation of adjusted EBIT
and adjusted EBITDA to Operating profit for the financial
period:
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Notes
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
Year
ended 31/12/2023
|
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Operating profit
|
|
14,452
|
32,055
|
35,031
|
Add back exceptional costs
impacting operating profit
|
5
|
3,226
|
10,728
|
30,762
|
Add back incremental depreciation
and amortisation following fair value uplift
|
4
|
5,390
|
6,091
|
12,126
|
Adjusted EBIT*
|
|
23,068
|
48,874
|
77,919
|
Add back depreciation and
amortisation pre fair value uplift
|
4
|
14,636
|
13,991
|
29,438
|
Adjusted EBITDA*
|
|
37,704
|
62,865
|
107,357
|
*Alternative performance measures are described in Note 3 to
the interim financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Notes
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
Year
ended 31/12/2023
|
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit for the financial period
|
|
8,589
|
22,396
|
21,060
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive expense:
|
|
|
|
|
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or
loss
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value of cash flow
hedges
|
11
|
-
|
(666)
|
(591)
|
Related tax movements
|
|
-
|
166
|
148
|
|
|
-
|
(500)
|
(443)
|
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or
loss
|
|
|
|
|
Remeasurement of post employment
benefit assets and obligations
|
12
|
(756)
|
(4,917)
|
(5,283)
|
Related tax movements
|
|
189
|
1,113
|
1,320
|
|
|
(567)
|
(3,804)
|
(3,963)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive expense for the period net of
tax
|
|
(567)
|
(4,304)
|
(4,406)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income for the period, net of
tax
|
|
8,022
|
18,092
|
16,654
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income attributable to:
|
|
|
|
|
Owners of the parent
|
|
8,022
|
18,093
|
16,654
|
Non-controlling
interest
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Notes
|
30/06/2024
|
30/06/2023
|
31/12/2023
|
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets
|
|
76,284
|
84,762
|
82,017
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
|
453,348
|
424,035
|
440,400
|
Right-of-use assets
|
|
36,817
|
39,475
|
39,831
|
Post-employment benefit
asset
|
12
|
8,771
|
10,488
|
9,832
|
|
|
575,220
|
558,760
|
572,080
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories
|
|
116,753
|
112,144
|
119,189
|
Current tax receivable
|
|
2,996
|
869
|
1,171
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
|
58,632
|
76,341
|
37,919
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
6,595
|
24,096
|
23,872
|
|
|
184,976
|
213,450
|
182,151
|
Assets held for sale
|
|
-
|
200
|
-
|
Total assets
|
|
760,196
|
772,410
|
754,231
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
payables
|
|
(77,372)
|
(107,875)
|
(80,526)
|
Derivative financial
instruments
|
11
|
(24)
|
(99)
|
(24)
|
Borrowings
|
8
|
(45,425)
|
(13,422)
|
(25,496)
|
Lease liabilities
|
|
(8,984)
|
(7,884)
|
(9,292)
|
Provisions
|
13
|
(3,285)
|
(2,535)
|
(6,002)
|
|
|
(135,090)
|
(131,815)
|
(121,340)
|
Net current assets
|
|
49,886
|
81,835
|
60,811
|
Total assets less current liabilities
|
|
625,106
|
640,595
|
632,891
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings
|
8
|
(99,008)
|
(99,784)
|
(98,992)
|
Lease liabilities
|
|
(31,618)
|
(33,330)
|
(34,541)
|
Deferred tax
liabilities
|
|
(93,272)
|
(85,495)
|
(89,929)
|
Provisions
|
13
|
(6,799)
|
(7,732)
|
(9,562)
|
|
|
(230,697)
|
(226,341)
|
(233,024)
|
Total liabilities
|
|
(365,787)
|
(358,156)
|
(354,364)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets
|
|
394,409
|
414,254
|
399,867
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
|
4,096
|
4,096
|
4,096
|
Share premium
|
|
4,458
|
4,458
|
4,458
|
Retained earnings
|
|
784,851
|
806,141
|
790,971
|
Other reserves
|
14
|
(398,996)
|
(400,491)
|
(399,658)
|
Equity attributable to owners of the
company
|
|
394,409
|
414,204
|
399,867
|
Non-controlling interest
|
|
-
|
50
|
-
|
Total equity
|
|
394,409
|
414,254
|
399,867
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
capital
|
Share
premium
|
Retained
earnings
|
Other reserves (see Note
14)
|
Total equity attributable to
owners
|
Non-controlling
interest
|
Total
Equity
|
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Balance at 1 January 2024
|
|
4,096
|
4,458
|
790,971
|
(399,658)
|
399,867
|
-
|
399,867
|
Profit for the period
|
|
-
|
-
|
8,589
|
-
|
8,589
|
-
|
8,589
|
Other comprehensive
expense
|
|
-
|
-
|
(567)
|
-
|
(567)
|
-
|
(567)
|
Total comprehensive income for the period
|
|
-
|
-
|
8,022
|
-
|
8,022
|
-
|
8,022
|
Transactions with owners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share based payments
|
|
-
|
-
|
874
|
-
|
874
|
-
|
874
|
Current tax on share based
payments
|
|
-
|
-
|
(219)
|
-
|
(219)
|
-
|
(219)
|
Equity dividends paid
|
|
-
|
-
|
(14,135)
|
-
|
(14,135)
|
-
|
(14,135)
|
Issue of own shares held on
exercise of share options
|
|
-
|
-
|
(662)
|
662
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
|
4,096
|
4,458
|
784,851
|
(398,996)
|
394,409
|
-
|
394,409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at 1 January
2023
|
|
4,096
|
4,458
|
807,894
|
(400,290)
|
416,158
|
51
|
416,209
|
Profit for the period
|
|
-
|
-
|
22,397
|
0
|
22,397
|
(1)
|
22,396
|
Other comprehensive
expense
|
|
-
|
-
|
(3,804)
|
(500)
|
(4,304)
|
-
|
(4,304)
|
Total comprehensive
income/(expenses) for the period
|
|
-
|
-
|
18,593
|
(500)
|
18,093
|
(1)
|
18,092
|
Transactions with
owners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share based payments
|
|
-
|
-
|
1,432
|
-
|
1,432
|
-
|
1,432
|
Deferred tax on share based
payments
|
|
-
|
-
|
87
|
-
|
87
|
-
|
87
|
Equity dividends paid
|
|
-
|
-
|
(21,566)
|
-
|
(21,566)
|
-
|
(21,566)
|
Issue of own shares held on
exercise of share options
|
|
-
|
-
|
(299)
|
299
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
At 30 June 2023
(unaudited)
|
|
4,096
|
4,458
|
806,141
|
(400,491)
|
414,204
|
50
|
414,254
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at 1 July 2023
|
|
4,096
|
4,458
|
806,141
|
(400,491)
|
414,204
|
50
|
414,254
|
(Loss)/profit for the
period
|
|
-
|
-
|
(1,337)
|
-
|
(1,337)
|
1
|
(1,336)
|
Other comprehensive
(expenses)/income
|
|
-
|
-
|
(159)
|
57
|
(102)
|
-
|
(102)
|
Total
comprehensive(expenses)/income for the period
|
|
-
|
-
|
(1,496)
|
57
|
(1,439)
|
1
|
(1,438)
|
Transactions with
owners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share based payments
|
|
-
|
-
|
876
|
-
|
876
|
-
|
876
|
Deferred tax on share based
payments
|
|
-
|
-
|
(234)
|
-
|
(234)
|
-
|
(234)
|
Equity dividends paid
|
|
-
|
-
|
(13,341)
|
-
|
(13,341)
|
-
|
(13,341)
|
Issue of own shares held on
exercise of share options
|
|
-
|
-
|
(776)
|
776
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Acquisition on subsidiary
non-controlling interest
|
|
-
|
-
|
(199)
|
-
|
(199)
|
(51)
|
(250)
|
At 31 December 2023
(audited)
|
|
4,096
|
4,458
|
790,971
|
(399,658)
|
399,867
|
-
|
399,867
|
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
Year
ended 31/12/2023
|
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Cash flow from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations
(Note 10)
|
|
10,758
|
22,178
|
63,656
|
Interest paid
|
|
(3,023)
|
(1,675)
|
(3,667)
|
Other interest paid - lease
liabilities
|
|
(1,261)
|
(884)
|
(2,368)
|
Tax paid
|
|
(501)
|
(3,369)
|
630
|
Net cash inflow from operating activities
|
|
5,973
|
16,250
|
58,251
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property, plant and
equipment
|
|
(24,422)
|
(32,667)
|
(65,653)
|
Proceeds from sale of property,
plant and equipment
|
|
3
|
342
|
2,070
|
Purchase of intangible
assets
|
|
-
|
(1,908)
|
(2,423)
|
Settlement of deferred
consideration
|
|
-
|
-
|
(112)
|
Purchase price adjustment on
completion of acquisition
|
|
171
|
-
|
-
|
Payment for acquisition of
subsidiary, net of cash acquired
|
|
-
|
-
|
(2,642)
|
Interest receivable
|
|
47
|
151
|
257
|
Net cash outflow from investing activities
|
|
(24,201)
|
(34,082)
|
(68,503)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends paid
|
|
(14,135)
|
(21,566)
|
(34,907)
|
Drawdown of borrowings
|
|
58,000
|
13,000
|
30,000
|
Repayment of borrowings
|
|
(38,000)
|
-
|
(5,000)
|
Repayment of lease
liabilities
|
|
(4,915)
|
(3,790)
|
(9,986)
|
Acquisition of Non Controlling
Interest
|
|
-
|
-
|
(250)
|
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing
activities
|
|
950
|
(12,356)
|
(20,143)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(17,277)
|
(30,188)
|
(30,395)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of the year
|
|
23,872
|
54,283
|
54,283
|
Exchange gains/(losses) on cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
-
|
1
|
(16)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the
period
|
|
6,595
|
24,096
|
23,872
|
1. AUTHORISATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Ibstock Plc ("Ibstock" or "the
Group") is a manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete products with
operations in the United Kingdom. Ibstock Plc is a public company
limited by shares, which is incorporated and registered in England.
The registered office is Leicester Road, Ibstock, Leicestershire,
LE67 6HS and the company registration number is
09760850.
The interim condensed consolidated
financial statements of Ibstock Plc for the six months ended 30
June 2024 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution
of the Directors on 6 August 2024. All disclosed documents relating
to these results are available on the Group's website at
www.ibstock.co.uk.
Publication of non-statutory accounts
The financial information
contained in the interim statement does not constitute the Group's
statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act
2006. The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31
December 2023, which have been extracted from the statutory
accounts for that year, are not the Company's statutory accounts
for that financial year. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31
December 2023 were approved by the Board of Directors on 5 March
2024. Those accounts have been reported on by the Company's auditor
and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the
auditor was (i) not qualified, (ii) did not include a reference to
any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis
of matter without qualifying their report, and (iii) did not
contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies
Act 2006.
2. BASIS OF PREPARATION
The interim condensed consolidated
financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2024 have
been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International
Accounting Standard 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as contained
in UK-adopted IFRS.
They do not include all of the
information and disclosures required in the annual financial
statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Group's
Annual Report and Accounts as at 31 December 2023, which have been
prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting
Standards (IAS).
The condensed consolidated
financial statements are presented in Sterling and all values are
rounded to the nearest thousand, except where otherwise
indicated.
All accounting policies applied by
the Group within the interim condensed consolidated financial
statements are consistent with those applied by the Group in its
consolidated financial statements for the year ended
31 December 2023, except in respect of taxation, which is
based on the expected effective tax rate that would be applicable
to expected annual earnings.
The following new and amended
standards and interpretations have been adopted in the preparation
of the condensed consolidated financial statements:
•
|
Supplier Finance Arrangements
(Amendments to IAS 7 & IFRS 7);
|
•
|
Lease Liability in a Sale and
Leaseback (Amendments to IFRS 16);
|
•
|
Classification of Liabilities as
Current or Non-Current (Amendments to IAS 1); and
|
•
|
Non-current Liabilities with
Covenants (Amendments to IAS 1)
|
The adoption of the standards and
interpretations listed above has not led to any changes to the
Group's accounting policies or had any other material impact on the
financial position or performance of the Group.
In preparing the interim condensed
consolidated financial statements the Group has assessed the
critical accounting estimates and judgements applied in the
preparation of the consolidated financial statements for the year
ended 31 December 2023. The areas of critical judgement relating to
exceptional items (see Note 5), significant source of estimation
uncertainty regarding the Group's pension scheme liability
valuation assumptions surrounding future changes in discount rates,
inflation, the rate of increase in pensions in payment and life
expectancy (see Note 12) and the Group's future cash flows expected
to arise from Cash Generating Units (CGUs) assumptions related to
long-term industry demand (see Note 9) are still considered
critical to the preparation of the interim financial statements for
the period ended 30 June 2024.
Going concern
Despite the macroeconomic
downturn, there are initial positive external market indicators
with inflation continuing to fall, mortgage rates stabilising, and
proposed housing and planning policy changes which could increase
consumer confidence looking forward. The Group does not believe
that the going concern basis of preparation represents a
significant judgement.
The Group's financial planning and
forecasting process consists of a budget for the next year followed
by a medium-term projection. The Directors have reviewed and
robustly challenged the assumptions about future trading
performance, operational and capital expenditure and debt
requirements within these forecasts including the Group's liquidity
and covenant forecasts, and stress testing within their going
concern assessment.
In arriving at their conclusion on
going concern, the Directors have given due consideration to
whether the funding and liquidity resources above are sufficient to
accommodate the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the
Group, particularly those relating to economic conditions and
operational disruption. The strategic report sets out in more
detail the Group's approach and risk management
framework.
Group forecasts have been prepared
which reflect both actual conditions and estimates of the future
reflecting macroeconomic and industry-wide projections, as well as
matters specific to the Group.
The Group has financing
arrangements comprising: £100 million of private placement notes
issued in November 2021 with maturities of between 7 and 12 years
and a £125 million Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) for an initial
four year tender, with an enacted one year extension option
arranged in 2022. At 30 June 2024, £45 million under RCF had been
drawn.
Covenants under the Group's RCF
and private placement notes require leverage of no more than 3
times net debt to adjusted EBITDA1, and interest cover of no
less than 4 times, tested bi-annually at each reporting date with
reference to the previous 12 months. At 30 June 2024 covenant
requirements were met with significant headroom.
The key uncertainty faced by the
Group is the industry demand for its products in light of
macroeconomic factors. Accordingly, the Group has modelled
financial scenarios which see reduction in the industry demands for
its products thereby stress testing the Group's resilience. For
each scenario, cash flow and covenant compliance forecasts have
been prepared. In the most severe but plausible scenario industry
demand for Clay products is modelled to be around 40% lower than
20221 in the 2024 year, which is materially worse than the sales
reduction seen in 2023, recovering to around 35% lower than 2022 in
2025. Concrete products are modelled to be
around 35% lower than 2022 in the 2024 year, recovering to around
30% lower than 2022 in 2025
In the severe but plausible
scenario, the Group has sufficient liquidity and headroom against
its covenants, with covenant headroom expressed as a percentage of
annual adjusted EBITDA1
being in excess of 30% in relation to the period
under review.
In addition, the Group has
prepared a reverse stress test to evaluate the industry demand
reduction at which it would be likely to breach the debt covenants,
before any further mitigating actions are taken. This test
indicates that, at a reduction of 49% in sales volumes versus 2022
in both H2 2024, and 2025, the Group would be at risk of breaching
its covenants.
The Directors consider this to be
a highly unlikely scenario, and in the event of an anticipated
covenant breach, the Group would seek to take further steps to
mitigate, including the disposal of valuable land and building
assets and additional restructuring steps to reduce the fixed cost
base of the Group.
Having taken account of the
various scenarios modelled, and in light of the mitigations
available to the Group, the Directors are satisfied that the Group
has sufficient resources to continue in operation for a period of
not less than 12 months from the date of this report. Accordingly,
the consolidated financial information has been prepared on a going
concern basis.
1. Representing normalised
levels of industry demand
3. ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Alternative Performance Measures
("APMs") are used within the management report where management
believes it is necessary to do so in order to provide further
understanding of the financial performance of the Group. Management
uses APMs in its own assessment of the Group's performance and in
order to plan the allocation of capital and other resources.
Certain APMs are also used in the remuneration of management and
Executive Directors.
APMs serve as supplementary
information for users of the financial statements and it is not
intended that they are a substitute for, or superior to, statutory
measures. None of the APMs are outlined within IFRS and they may
not be comparable with similarly titled APMs used by other
companies.
Exceptional items
The Group presents as exceptional
at the foot of the Group's Condensed consolidated income statement
those items of income and expense which, because of their
materiality, nature and/or expected infrequency of the events
giving rise to them, merit separate presentation to allow users of
the financial statements to understand further elements of
financial performance in the year. This facilitates comparison with
future periods and the assessment of trends in financial
performance over time.
Details of all exceptional items
are disclosed in Note 5.
Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
margin
In the current year, the Directors
have introduced Adjusted EBIT as a new APM, in light of the Group's
move to focus investors on this performance measure and its use as
a key remuneration measure for senior management. It represents
earnings before interest, taxation and adjusted for exceptional
items and incremental depreciation and amortisation following fair
value uplift.
Adjusted EBITDA is the earnings
before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation adjusted
for exceptional items. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA
expressed as a proportion of revenue.
The Directors regularly use
Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as key
performance measures in assessing the Group's profitability. The
measures are considered useful to users of the financial statements
as they represent common APMs used by investors in assessing a
company's operating performance, when comparing its performance
across periods as well as being used in the determination of
Directors' variable remuneration.
A full reconciliation of Adjusted
EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA are included at the foot of the Group's
Condensed consolidated income statement within the consolidated
financial statements. Adjusted EBITDA margin is included within
Note 4.
Adjusted EPS
Adjusted EPS is the basic earnings
per share adjusted for exceptional items, fair value adjustments
being the amortisation and depreciation on fair value uplifted
assets and non-cash interest, net of associated taxation on the
adjusting items.
The Directors have presented
Adjusted EPS as they believe the APM represents useful information
to the user of the financial statements in assessing the
performance of the Group, when comparing its performance across
periods, as well as being used in the determination of Directors'
variable remuneration. Additionally, the APM is considered by
management when determining the proposed level of ordinary
dividend. A full reconciliation is provided in Note 7.
Net debt and Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ("leverage")
ratio
Net debt is defined as the sum of
cash and cash equivalents less total borrowings at the balance
sheet date. This does not include lease liabilities arising upon
application of IFRS 16.
The Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA
ratio definition removes the operating lease expense benefit
generated from IFRS16 compared to IAS 17 within Adjusted
EBITDA.
The Directors disclose these APMs
to provide information as a useful measure for assessing the
Group's overall level of financial indebtedness and when comparing
its performance and position across periods.
A full reconciliation of the net
debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (also referred to as 'leverage') is
set out below:
|
Unaudited
12 month period ended
|
Unaudited
12 month period ended
|
Audited
year ended
|
|
30/06/2024
|
30/06/2023
|
31/12/2023
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Net debt
|
(137,838)
|
(89,110)
|
(100,616)
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
82,196
|
131,789
|
107,357
|
Impact of IFRS 16
|
(13,772)
|
(8,946)
|
(12,134)
|
Adjusted EBITDA prior to IFRS
16
|
68,424
|
122,843
|
95,223
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net debt to adjusted
EBITDA
|
2.0x
|
0.7x
|
1.1x
|
Adjusted Return on Capital Employed (Adjusted
ROCE)
Adjusted Return on Capital
Employed ("Adjusted ROCE") is defined as Adjusted earnings before
interest and taxation as a proportion of the average capital
employed (defined as net debt plus equity excluding the pension
surplus). The average is calculated using the period end balance
and corresponding preceding reported period end balance (year end
or interim).
The Directors disclose the
Adjusted ROCE APM in order to provide users of the financial
statements with an indication of the relative efficiency of capital
use by the Group over the period, assessing performance between
periods as well as being used within the determination of
executives' variable remuneration.
The calculation of Adjusted ROCE
is set out below:
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
12 month period
ended
|
12 month
period ended
|
Year
ended
|
|
30/06/2024
|
30/06/2023
|
31/12/2023
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
82,196
|
131,789
|
107,357
|
Less depreciation
|
(34,570)
|
(32,779)
|
(34,626)
|
Less amortisation
|
(6,938)
|
(6,939)
|
(6,938)
|
Adjusted earnings before interest and
taxation
|
40,688
|
92,071
|
65,793
|
|
|
|
|
Average net debt
|
119,227
|
67,516
|
94,863
|
Average equity
|
397,138
|
415,232
|
407,061
|
Average pension
|
(9,302)
|
(12,841)
|
(10,160)
|
Average capital employed
|
507,063
|
469,907
|
491,764
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted ROCE
|
8.0%
|
19.6%
|
13.4%
|
Average capital employed figures
are derived using the following closing balance sheet
values:
|
30 June
2024
|
31
December 2023
|
30 June
2023
|
31
December 2022
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Net debt
|
137,838
|
100,616
|
89,110
|
45,922
|
Equity
|
394,409
|
399,867
|
414,254
|
416,209
|
Less: Pension assets
|
(8,771)
|
(9,832)
|
(10,488)
|
(15,194)
|
Capital employed
|
523,476
|
490,651
|
492,876
|
446,937
|
Adjusted effective tax rate
The Group presents an adjusted
effective tax rate ("Adjusted ETR") within its Financial Review.
This is disclosed in order to provide users of the financial
statements with a view of the rate of taxation borne by the Group
adjusted for exceptional items (defined above), fair value
adjustments being the amortisation and depreciation on fair value
uplifted assets, non-cash interest and changes in taxation rate on
deferred taxation.
A reconciliation of the adjusted
ETR to the statutory rate of taxation in the UK is set out
below.
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
31
December
2023
|
Statutory rate of taxation in the
UK
|
25.00%
|
23.50%
|
23.50%
|
Less impact of permanent
differences*
|
1.30%
|
0.80%
|
0.84%
|
Less impact of changes in
estimates re. prior periods
|
(0.14%)
|
-
|
0.27%
|
Adjusted ETR
|
26.16%
|
24.30%
|
24.61%
|
Effect of higher rate applied to
deferred tax
|
0.24%
|
0.70%
|
2.87%
|
Adjusting items tax
impact
|
0.70%
|
|
2.47%
|
Reported ETR
|
27.10%
|
25.0%
|
29.95%
|
* The impact of permanent
differences primarily comprises expenses not deductible, offset by
the benefit from the UK super deduction on qualifying capital
expenditure
|
Cash flow related APMs
The Group presents an adjusted
cash flow statement within its Financial Review. This is disclosed
in order to provide users of the financial statements with a view
of the Group's operating cash generation before the impact of cash
flows associated with exceptional items (as set out in Note 5) and
with the inclusion of interest, lease payment and non-exceptional
property disposal related cash flows.
The Directors use this APM table
to allow shareholders to further understand the Group's cash flow
performance in the period, to facilitate comparison with future
years and to assess trends in financial performance. This table
contains a number of APMs, as described below and reconciled in the
following table:
Adjusted change in working
capital
Adjusted change in working capital
represents the statutory change in working capital less cash flows
associated with exceptional items arising in the period of £4.2
million (30 June 2023: less cash flows of £1.5 million; 31 December
2023: less cash flows of £5.4 million).
Adjusted operating cash
flow
Adjusted operating cash flows are
the cash flows arising from operating activities adjusted to
exclude cash flows relating to exceptional items of £7.7 million
(30 June 2023: £nil; 31 December 2023: £4.6 million) and inclusion
of cash flows associated with interest income, proceeds from the
sale of property, plant and equipment, purchase of intangibles and
lease payments reclassified from investing or financing activities
of £4.7 million (30 June 2023: £5.2 million; 31 December 2023:
£12.8 million).
Cash conversion
Cash conversion is the ratio of
Adjusted operating cash flow (defined above) to Adjusted EBITDA
(defined above). The Directors believe this APM provides a useful
measure of the Group's efficiency of cash management during the
period.
Adjusted free cash flow
Adjusted free cash flow represents
Adjusted operating cash flow (defined above) less total capital
expenditure. The Directors use the measure of Adjusted free cash
flow as a measure of the funds available to the Group for the
payment of distributions to shareholders, for use within mergers
and acquisitions (M&A) activity and other investing and
financing activities.
Reconciliation of statutory cash flow statement to adjusted
cash flow statement
|
|
|
|
Six months ended 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
Statutory
|
Exceptional
|
Reclassification
|
Adjusted
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
34,478
|
3,226
|
-
|
37,704
|
Change in working capital
|
(23,618)
|
4,231
|
-
|
(19,387)
|
Net interest
|
(4,284)
|
-
|
47
|
(4,237)
|
Tax
|
(501)
|
-
|
-
|
(501)
|
Post-employment benefits
|
520
|
-
|
(520)
|
-
|
Other
|
(620)
|
223
|
(4,222)
|
(4,619)
|
Adjusted operating cash flow
|
5,975
|
7,680
|
(4,695)
|
8,960
|
Cash conversion
|
|
|
|
24%
|
Total capex
|
(24,422)
|
|
|
(24,422)
|
Adjusted free cash flow
|
(18,447)
|
7,680
|
(4,695)
|
(15,462)
|
Six months ended 30 June 2023
(unaudited)
|
Statutory
|
Exceptional
|
Reclassification
|
Adjusted
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
52,137
|
10,728
|
-
|
62,865
|
Change in working
capital
|
(38,004)
|
(1,529)
|
-
|
(39,533)
|
Impairment charges
|
9,199
|
(9,199)
|
-
|
-
|
Net interest
|
(2,559)
|
-
|
151
|
(2,408)
|
Tax
|
(3,369)
|
-
|
-
|
(3,369)
|
Post-employment
benefits
|
149
|
-
|
(440)
|
(291)
|
Other
|
(1,303)
|
-
|
(4,916)
|
(6,219)
|
Adjusted operating cash
flow
|
16,250
|
-
|
(5,205)
|
11,045
|
Cash conversion
|
|
|
|
18%
|
Total capex
|
(32,667)
|
-
|
-
|
(32,667)
|
Adjusted free cash flow
|
(16,417)
|
-
|
(5,205)
|
(21,622)
|
Year ended 31 December 2023
(audited)
|
Statutory
|
Exceptional
|
Reclassification
|
Adjusted
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
76,595
|
30,762
|
-
|
107,357
|
Change in working
capital
|
(31,636)
|
(5,355)
|
-
|
(36,991)
|
Impairment charges
|
20,599
|
(20,599)
|
-
|
-
|
Net interest
|
(6,035)
|
-
|
257
|
(5,778)
|
Tax
|
630
|
-
|
-
|
630
|
Post-employment benefits
|
790
|
-
|
(1,081)
|
(291)
|
Other
|
(2,692)
|
(177)
|
(12,012)
|
(14,881)
|
Adjusted operating cash
flow
|
58,251
|
4,631
|
(12,836)
|
50,046
|
Cash conversion
|
|
|
|
47%
|
Total capex
|
(65,653)
|
-
|
-
|
(65,653)
|
Adjusted free cash flow
|
(7,402)
|
4,631
|
(12,836)
|
(15,607)
|
4. SEGMENT REPORTING
The Directors consider the Group's
reportable segments to be the Clay and Concrete
divisions.
The key Group performance measure
is adjusted EBITDA, as detailed below, which is defined in Note 3.
The tables, below, present revenue and adjusted EBITDA and
profit/(loss) before taxation for the Group's operating
segments.
Included within the unallocated
and elimination columns in the tables below are costs including
share based payments and Group employment costs. Unallocated assets
and liabilities are pensions, taxation and certain centrally held
provisions. Eliminations represent the removal of inter-company
balances. Transactions between segments are carried out at arm's
length. There is no material inter-segmental revenue and no
aggregation of segments has been applied.
For all the periods presented, the
activities of Ibstock Futures were managed and reported as part of
the Clay division. Consequently, the position and performance of
Ibstock Futures for all periods has been classified within the Clay
reportable segment.
|
Six months ended 30 June
2024
|
|
Clay
|
Concrete
|
Unallocated
|
Total
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bricks and masonry
|
115,508
|
7,664
|
-
|
123,172
|
Roofing
|
-
|
8,859
|
-
|
8,859
|
Fencing and landscaping
|
-
|
13,525
|
-
|
13,525
|
Flooring and lintels
|
623
|
21,634
|
-
|
22,257
|
Facades
|
3,281
|
-
|
-
|
3,281
|
Rail and infrastructure
|
-
|
5,993
|
-
|
5,993
|
Other
|
-
|
1,102
|
-
|
1,102
|
Total revenue
|
119,412
|
58,777
|
-
|
178,189
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
34,192
|
7,486
|
(3,974)
|
37,704
|
Adjusted EBITDA
margin
|
28.6%
|
12.7%
|
|
21.2%
|
Exceptional items impacting
operating profit (see Note 5)
|
(3,080)
|
(146)
|
-
|
(3,226)
|
Depreciation and amortisation pre
fair value uplift
|
(11,802)
|
(2,734)
|
(100)
|
(14,636)
|
Incremental depreciation and
amortisation following fair value uplift
|
(2,963)
|
(2,427)
|
-
|
(5,390)
|
Net finance costs
|
(460)
|
(252)
|
(1,958)
|
(2,670)
|
Profit/(loss) before tax
|
15,887
|
1,927
|
(6,032)
|
11,782
|
Taxation
|
|
|
|
(3,193)
|
Profit for the period
|
|
|
|
8,589
|
There were no bill and hold sales
included within revenue during the six months ended 30 June 2024.
At 30 June 2024, £0.7 million of inventory remained on the Clay
division's premises and £0.1 million on Concrete division's
premises related to prior period bill and hold sales. During the
current period, one customer accounted for greater than 10% of
Group revenues with £27.2 million of sales across the Clay and
Concrete divisions.
|
Six
months ended 30 June 2023
|
|
Clay
|
Concrete
|
Unallocated & elimination
|
Total
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenue
|
161,660
|
61,072
|
-
|
222,732
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
57,432
|
10,903
|
(5,470)
|
62,865
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin
|
35.5%
|
17.9%
|
|
28.2%
|
Exceptional items impacting
operating profit (see Note 5)
|
(10,728)
|
-
|
-
|
(10,728)
|
Depreciation and amortisation pre
fair value uplift
|
(11,376)
|
(2,534)
|
(81)
|
(13,991)
|
Incremental depreciation and
amortisation following fair value uplift
|
(3,510)
|
(2,581)
|
-
|
(6,091)
|
Net finance costs
|
(305)
|
(239)
|
(1,636)
|
(2,180)
|
Profit/(loss) before
tax
|
31,513
|
5,549
|
(7,187)
|
29,875
|
Taxation
|
|
|
|
(7,479)
|
Profit for the period
|
|
|
|
22,396
|
Included within revenue for the
six months period ended 30 June 2023 were £1.1 million of bill and
hold transactions in the Clay division. At 30 June 2023, £1.1
million of inventory relating to these bill and hold transactions
remained on the Clay division's premises as well as £0.2 million of
prior bill and hold sales on the Concrete division's premises.
There were one customer accounted for greater than 10% of Group
revenues with £39.4 million of sales across the Clay and Concrete
divisions.
|
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Clay
|
Concrete
|
Unallocated & elimination
|
Total
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenue
|
292,220
|
113,619
|
-
|
405,839
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
98,847
|
18,623
|
(10,113)
|
107,357
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin
|
33.8%
|
16.4%
|
|
26.5%
|
Exceptional items impacting
operating profit (see Note 5)
|
(28,170)
|
(2,404)
|
(188)
|
(30,762)
|
Depreciation and amortisation pre
fair value uplift
|
(23,406)
|
(5,733)
|
(175)
|
(29,314)
|
Incremental depreciation and
amortisation following fair value uplift
|
(7,374)
|
(4,876)
|
-
|
(12,250)
|
Net finance costs
|
(2,015)
|
(569)
|
(2,380)
|
(4,964)
|
Profit/(loss) before tax
|
37,882
|
5,041
|
(12,856)
|
30,067
|
Taxation
|
|
|
|
(9,007)
|
Profit for the year
|
|
|
|
21,060
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clay
|
Concrete
|
Unallocated
|
Total
|
Total segment assets
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
At 30 June 2024
|
615,448
|
132,635
|
12,113
|
760,196
|
At 31 December 2023
|
610,867
|
133,502
|
9,862
|
754,231
|
At 30 June 2023
|
619,731
|
138,307
|
14,372
|
772,410
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clay
|
Concrete
|
Unallocated
|
Total
|
Total segment liabilities
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
At 30 June 2024
|
(164,725)
|
(47,785)
|
(153,277)
|
(365,787)
|
At 31 December 2023
|
(174,062)
|
(46,127)
|
(134,175)
|
(354,364)
|
At 30 June 2023
|
(186,081)
|
(47,470)
|
(124,605)
|
(358,156)
|
5. EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Half year
ended
|
Half year
ended
|
Year
ended
|
|
30/06/2024
|
30/06/2023
|
31/12/2023
|
Exceptional cost of
sales
|
|
|
|
Impairment charge - Property,
plant and equipment
|
-
|
(7,530)
|
(15,397)
|
Impairment reversal - Right-of-use
assets
|
-
|
-
|
(1,181)
|
Impairment charge - working
capital
|
-
|
(1,668)
|
(4,022)
|
Total impairment
charges
|
-
|
(9,198)
|
(20,600)
|
Redundancy Costs
|
(135)
|
-
|
(7,470)
|
Other costs associated with
restructuring programme
|
(2,884)
|
(1,530)
|
(1,196)
|
Total exceptional cost of sales
|
(3,019)
|
(10,728)
|
(29,266)
|
|
|
|
|
Exceptional administrative
expenses:
|
|
|
|
Redundancy costs
|
(207)
|
-
|
(1,496)
|
Total exceptional administrative expenses
|
(207)
|
-
|
(1,496)
|
Exceptional items impacting operating
profit
|
(3,226)
|
(10,728)
|
(30,762)
|
|
|
|
|
Total exceptional items
|
(3,226)
|
(10,728)
|
(30,762)
|
Included within the current period
were the following exceptional items:
Exceptional cost of
sales
Other costs associated with
restructuring programme represent costs incurred as a result of the
Group's restructuring programme announced during 2023. These costs
include site security, insurance, rates, costs associated with
decommissioning activities and other standing charges in connection
with closed sites. These costs have been categorised as exceptional
due to the materiality of programme costs and non-recurring nature
of the event giving rise to them.
Redundancy costs relate to the
severance for employees engaged in production activities following
the Group's announced restructuring. These costs have been
categorised as exceptional due to the materiality of programme
costs, and the unusual and non-recurring nature of the events
giving rise to them.
Exceptional Administrative
expenses
Exceptional redundancy costs
arising in the current period relate to costs of redundancy of
employees within the Group's selling, general and administrative
("SG&A") functions following the Group's restructuring
programme announced in 2023. The costs have been treated as
exceptional due to the materiality of programme costs and the
non-recurring nature of the event giving rise to them.
Tax on exceptional
items
In the current period, the
redundancy costs are treated as tax deductible. The total tax
credit on exceptional items was £0.8 million.
Six-month period ended 30 June
2023 and year ended 31 December 2023
Details of exceptional items
included within the prior interim and full year periods are
disclosed within Note 5 of the Group's 2023 interim results and
2023 Annual Report and Accounts, respectively.
6. TAXATION
The taxation charge for the
interim period represents an estimate based on the expected full
year effective tax rate.
7. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The basic earnings per share
figures are calculated by dividing profit for the year attributable
to the parent shareholders by the weighted average number of
Ordinary Shares in issue during the year. The diluted earnings per
share figures allow for the dilutive effect of the conversion into
Ordinary Shares of the weighted average number of options
outstanding during the year. Where the average share price for the
year is lower than the option price the options become
anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation. The number of
shares used for the earnings per share calculation are as
follows:
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
Year
ended 31/12/2023
|
|
(000s)
|
(000s)
|
(000s)
|
Basic weighted average number of
Ordinary Shares
|
392,627
|
392,063
|
392,217
|
Effect of share incentive awards
and options
|
4,683
|
3,152
|
3,437
|
Diluted weighted average number of
Ordinary Shares
|
397,310
|
395,215
|
395,654
|
The calculation of adjusted
earnings per share is a key measurement used by management that is
not defined by IFRS. The adjusted earnings per share measures
should not be viewed in isolation, but rather treated as
supplementary information.
Adjusted earnings per share
figures are calculated as the Basic earnings per share adjusted for
exceptional items, fair value adjustments being the amortisation
and depreciation on fair value uplifted assets and non-cash
interest expenses. Adjustments are made net of the associated
taxation impact at the adjusted effective tax rate. A
reconciliation of the statutory profit to that used in the adjusted
earnings per share calculations is as follows:
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
Year
ended 31/12/2023
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Profit for the period attributable to the parent
shareholders
|
8,589
|
22,397
|
21,060
|
Add back exceptional costs (Note
5)
|
3,226
|
10,728
|
30,762
|
Less tax credit on exceptional
items
|
(807)
|
(2,605)
|
(6,952)
|
Add Incremental depreciation and
amortisation following fair value uplift (Note 4)
|
5,390
|
6,091
|
12,250
|
Less tax credit on fair value
adjustments
|
(1,347)
|
(1,480)
|
(2,878)
|
Less net non-cash interest
income
|
(1,566)
|
(225)
|
(826)
|
Add back tax charge on non-cash
interest credit
|
392
|
55
|
194
|
Add back impact of deferred
taxation rate change
|
28
|
223
|
844
|
Adjusted profit for the period attributable to the parent
shareholders
|
13,905
|
35,184
|
54,454
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Half year ended
30/06/2024
|
Half
year ended 30/06/2023
|
Year
ended 31/12/2023
|
|
pence
|
pence
|
pence
|
Basic EPS on profit for the period
|
2.2
|
5.7
|
5.4
|
Diluted EPS on profit for the period
|
2.2
|
5.7
|
5.3
|
Adjusted basic EPS on profit for the period
|
3.5
|
9.0
|
13.9
|
Adjusted diluted EPS on profit for the
period
|
3.5
|
8.9
|
13.8
|
8.
BORROWINGS
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
30 June
2024
|
30 June
2023
|
31
December 2023
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
6,595
|
24,096
|
23,872
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
Private placement
|
(330)
|
(324)
|
(333)
|
Revolving Credit
Facility
|
(45,095)
|
(13,098)
|
(25,163)
|
|
(45,425)
|
(13,422)
|
(25,496)
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current
|
|
|
|
Private placement
|
(99,008)
|
(99,784)
|
(98,992)
|
|
|
|
|
Net debt
|
(137,838)
|
(89,110)
|
(100,616)
|
At the current and prior period
ends, the Group held £100 million of private placement notes from
Pricoa Private Capital, with maturities of between 2028 and 2033
and an average total cost of funds of 2.19% (range 2.04% - 2.27%).
The agreement with Pricoa also contains an additional uncommitted
shelf facility of up to $88.1 million (or equivalent in available
currencies). The agreement contains debt covenant requirements of
leverage (pre IFRS16 net debt to adjusted EBITDA) and interest
cover (adjusted EBITDA to net finance charges) of no more than 3
times and at least 4 times, respectively, tested semi-annually on
30 June and 31 December in respect of the preceding 12-month
period.
Additionally, a £125 million RCF is
held with a syndicate of five banks for an initial four year period
ending in November 2025, which was extended to November 2026 in
2022. Interest is charged at a margin (depending upon the ratio of
net debt to Adjusted EBITDA) of between 160bps and 260bps above
SONIA, SOFR or EURIBOR according to the currency of the borrowing.
The facility also includes an additional £50 million uncommitted
accordion facility. Based on current leverage, the Group will pay
interest under the RCF at a margin of 235bps.
This RCF contains debt covenant
requirements that align with those of the private placement with
the same testing frequency. As at 30 June 2024 the RCF was drawn
down by £45.0 million (31 December 2023: £25.0 million, 30 June
2023: £13.0 million). As at the date of approval of these financial
statements, the drawn down amount remained at £45.0
million.
The carrying value of financial
liabilities have been assessed as materially in line with their
fair values, with the exception of £100 million of private
placement notes. The fair value of these borrowings has been
assessed as £85.6 million (31 December 2023: £88.3 million, 30 June
2023: £83.0 million).
No security is provided over the
Group's borrowings.
9. IMPAIRMENT
For the year ended 31 December
2023, management completed a detailed impairment review for the
sites that had been announced to be closed, which resulted in an
asset impairment of £20.6 million.
Management also completed detailed
testing of value-in-use ("VIU") for the Group's remaining operating
CGUs at 31 December 2023, with no further impairment charges
recognised.
The key assumption used within the
VIU calculations are noted below:
1.
|
Management used the latest Board
approved budget and strategic planning forecasts in its estimated
future cash flows, covering the period 2024 to 2028, which included
assumptions regarding industry demand for the Group's products.
These forecasts assumed a return to normalised levels of industry
demand for the Group's products (defined as a level of demand in
line with the 2022 year) over the medium term.
|
Management was of the view that a
downside sensitivity, evaluated as an unforeseen material reduction
of greater than 10% in the long-term industry demand for the
Group's products (against a level of demand in line with the 2022
year) could lead to a risk of impairment of the Group's non-current
assets of between £15 million and £25 million.
At 30 June 2024, management
reviewed the internal and external sources of information and
concluded that the key assumption remained appropriate, and
accordingly, no new impairment indicators since 31 December 2023
have been identified. Therefore, no detailed impairment review was
performed as at 30 June 2024.
However, management took the
decision to test those CGUs which demonstrated the lowest levels of
headroom when performing its detailed testing of impairment as at
31 December 2023.
The other assumptions used within
the VIU calculation are noted below:
1.
|
A pre-tax weighted average cost of
capital ("WACC") of 11%-14% was used within the VIU calculation
based on an externally derived rate and benchmarked against
industry peer group companies.
|
2.
|
Terminal growth rates of 2% were
used reflecting long term inflationary expectations and
management's past experience and expectations.
|
Management is of the view that no
reasonable movement in the other assumptions of the WACC or
terminal growth rate outlined would result in impairment of the
Group's non-current assets.
No further impairment charges were
recognised as at 30 June 2024.
10. NOTES TO THE GROUP CASHFLOW STATEMENT
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Half year
ended
|
Half
year ended
|
Year
ended
|
|
30/06/2024
|
30/06/2023
|
31/12/2023
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Profit before taxation
|
11,782
|
29,875
|
30,067
|
Adjustments for:
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
16,557
|
16,613
|
34,626
|
Impairment of property plant and
equipment
|
-
|
7,529
|
15,397
|
Impairment of right-of-use
assets
|
-
|
-
|
1,181
|
Impairment of working
capital
|
-
|
1,670
|
4,022
|
Amortisation of intangible
assets
|
3,469
|
3,469
|
6,938
|
Finance costs
|
2,670
|
2,180
|
4,964
|
gain on disposal of property,
plant and equipment
|
(11)
|
(1,393)
|
(1,957)
|
Research and development
expenditure credit
|
(1,230)
|
(750)
|
(2,427)
|
Share based payments
|
874
|
1,432
|
2,308
|
Post-employment
benefits
|
520
|
149
|
790
|
Other
|
(254)
|
(592)
|
(617)
|
|
34,377
|
60,182
|
95,292
|
Decrease/(increase) in
inventory
|
2,559
|
(19,539)
|
(28,495)
|
(Increase)/decrease in trade and
other receivables
|
(20,807)
|
(10,676)
|
28,298
|
Increase in trade and other
creditors
|
(850)
|
(9,193)
|
(36,865)
|
(Decrease)/increase in
provisions
|
(4,521)
|
1,404
|
5,426
|
Cash generated from operations
|
10,758
|
22,178
|
63,656
|
11.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
IFRS 13 'Financial Instruments:
Disclosures' requires fair value measurements to be recognised
using a fair value hierarchy that reflects the significance of the
inputs used in the measurements, according to the following
levels:
Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices
in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted
prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or
liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that
is, derived from prices).
Level 3 - Inputs for the asset or
liability that are not based on observable market data (that is,
unobservable inputs).
At 30 June 2024, 31 December 2023
and 30 June 2023, the Group's fair value measurements were
categorised as Level 2, except for (i) quoted investments within
the Group's pension schemes, which were valued as Level 1 and (ii)
the insured pensioner and deferred pensioner asset, which was
categorised as a Level 3 valuation and uses assumptions set out in
Note 12 to align its valuation to the related liability.
The Group entered into forward
currency contracts as cash flow hedges to manage its exposure to
foreign currency fluctuations associated with future purchases of
plant and equipment required for the construction of major capital
expenditure projects. These instruments are measured at fair value
using Level 2 valuation techniques subsequent to initial
recognition.
At 30 June 2024, a liability
valued at £0.1 million (31 December 2023: a liability of £0.1
million; 30 June 2023: a liability of £0.1 million) was recognised
for these derivative financial instruments.
At 30 June 2024, 31 December 2023
and 30 June 2023, the Group held no other significant derivative
financial instruments. There were no transfers between levels
during any period disclosed.
The carrying value of the Group's
short-term receivables and payables is a reasonable approximation
of their fair values. The fair value of all other financial
instruments carried within the Group's financial statements is not
materially different from their carrying amount, with the exception
of £100 million of private placement notes. The fair value of these
borrowings has been assessed as £85.6 million (31 December 2023:
£88.3 million, 30 June 2023: £83.0 million).
12. POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
The Group participates in the
Ibstock Pension Scheme (the 'Scheme'), a defined benefit pension
scheme in the UK. During the six-month period ended 30 June 2024,
the opening Scheme surplus of £9.8 million decreased to a closing
surplus of £8.8 million. Analysis of the movements during the
six-month period ended 30 June 2024 was as follows:
|
£'000
|
Scheme surplus at 1 January 2024
(audited)
|
9,832
|
Administration expenses
|
(520)
|
Interest income
|
215
|
Remeasurement due to:
|
|
- Change in financial
assumptions
|
20,344
|
- Change in demographic
assumptions
|
1,621
|
- Experience gain
|
7,653
|
- Return on plan assets
|
(30,374)
|
Scheme surplus at 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
8,771
|
On 20 December 2022, the Scheme
completed a full buy-in transaction with a specialist third-party
provider, which represented a significant step in the Group's
continuing strategy of de-risking its pensions exposure. This
transaction, together with the partial buy-in transaction in 2020
insured the significant majority of the Group's defined benefit
liabilities. As a result, the insured asset and the corresponding
liabilities of the Scheme are assumed to be broadly matched without
exposure to interest rate, inflation risk or longevity risk.
However, there is a residual risk that the insurance premium may be
increased following a data cleanse to reflect a more accurate
liability position. If the surplus Scheme assets are insufficient
to meet any additional premium, then the company may need to pay an
additional contribution into the Scheme.
The financial assumptions used by
the actuary have been derived using a methodology consistent with
the approach used to prepare the accounting disclosures at 31
December 2023. The assumptions have been updated based on market
conditions at 30 June 2024:
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
30 June
2024
|
30 June
2023
|
31 December
2023
|
|
Per annum
|
Per annum
|
Per annum
|
Discount rate
|
5.15%
|
5.25%
|
4.55%
|
RPI inflation
|
3.25%
|
3.25%
|
3.10%
|
CPI inflation
|
2.75%
|
2.65%
|
2.50%
|
Rate of increase in pensions in
payment
|
3.65%
|
3.65%
|
3.60%
|
Mortality assumptions: life
expectation at age 65
|
|
|
|
For male currently aged
65
|
21.4 years
|
21.4
years
|
21.4
years
|
For female currently aged
65
|
24.2 years
|
24.1
years
|
24.1
years
|
For male currently aged
40
|
23.1 years
|
23.1
years
|
23.1
years
|
For female currently aged
40
|
26.0 years
|
25.9
years
|
25.9
years
|
In light of the fact that the
pension scheme was in a net surplus position after the full buy-in,
the Trustees and the Group have agreed that the Group would suspend
paying contributions with effect from 1 March 2023.
In June 2023, the High Court ruled
that a failure to obtain a "Section 37 certificate" alongside an
amendment where there is a statutory requirement to do so would
render the amendment void. If effected, this issue could affect
scheme liabilities if it is not possible to locate Section 37
certificates where required. This ruling was under appeal as at 30
June 2024 but the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal on 24 July
2024. The Scheme's legal advisers are not yet undertaking an
analysis of the Scheme's historic documentation and no allowance
has been made for the ruling within the IAS19 disclosures at 30
June 2024. This position will be revisited in future sets of
disclosures.
13. PROVISIONS
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
30 June
2024
|
30 June
2023
|
31
December 2023
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Restoration (i)
|
4,985
|
4,231
|
5,489
|
Dilapidations (ii)
|
3,983
|
4,138
|
4,620
|
Restructuring (iii)
|
978
|
1,530
|
5,037
|
Other (iv)
|
138
|
368
|
418
|
|
10,084
|
10,267
|
15,564
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
3,285
|
2,535
|
6,002
|
Non-current
|
6,799
|
7,732
|
9,562
|
|
10,084
|
10,267
|
15,564
|
|
Restoration
(i)
|
Dilapidations
(ii)
|
Restructuring
(iii)
|
Other (iv)
|
Total
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
At 1 January 2024
|
5,489
|
4,620
|
5,037
|
418
|
15,564
|
Charged to the income
statement
|
67
|
-
|
15
|
-
|
82
|
Utilised
|
(51)
|
-
|
(4,074)
|
(49)
|
(4,174)
|
Unwind of discount/change in
rate
|
(520)
|
(566)
|
-
|
-
|
(1,086)
|
Reversed unused
|
-
|
(71)
|
-
|
(231)
|
(302)
|
At 30 June 2024
|
4,985
|
3,983
|
978
|
138
|
10,084
|
(i)The restoration provision
comprises obligations governing site remediation and improvement
costs to be incurred in compliance with applicable environmental
regulations together with constructive obligations stemming from
established practice once the sites have been fully utilised.
Provisions are based upon management's best estimate of the
ultimate cash outflows. The key estimates associated with
calculating the provision relate to the cost per acre to perform
the necessary remediation work as at the reporting date together
with determining the expected year of retirement. Climate change is
specifically considered at the planning stage of developments when
restoration provisions are initially estimated. This includes
projection of costs associated with future water management
requirements and the form of the ultimate expected restoration
activity. Other changes to legislation, including in relation to
climate change, are factored into the provisions when legislation
becomes enacted. Estimates are reviewed and updated annually based
on the total estimated available reserves and the expected mineral
extraction rates. Whilst an element of the total provision will
reverse in the medium-term (one to ten years), the majority of the
legal and constructive obligations applicable to mineral-bearing
land will unwind within a twenty-year timeframe. In discounting the
related obligations, expected future cash outflows have been
determined with due regard to extraction status and anticipated
remaining life. Discount rates used are based upon UK Government
bond rates with similar maturities.
(ii) Provisions for dilapidations
arose as contingent liabilities recognised upon the business
combination in the period ended 31 December 2015. They are
recognised on a lease by lease basis and are based on the Group's
best estimate of the likely contractual cash outflows, which are
estimated to occur over the lease term. Third party valuation
experts are used periodically in the determination of the best
estimate of the contractual obligation, with expected cash flows
discounted based upon UK Government bond rates with similar
maturities.
(iii)The restructuring provision
comprised obligations arising from the completion of the Group's
review of operations during the second half of 2023, which involved
sites closures and associated redundancy costs. The key estimates
associated with the provision relate to redundancy costs per
impacted employee. All of the cost is expected to be incurred
within one year of the balance sheet date.
(iv)Other provisions include
provisions for legal and warranty claim costs, which are expected
to be incurred within one year of the balance sheet
date.
14. OTHER RESERVES
|
Cash flow hedging
reserve
|
Merger
reserve
|
Own shares
held
|
Treasury
shares
|
Total other
reserves
|
Balance at 1 January
2024
|
(25)
|
(369,119)
|
(514)
|
(30,000)
|
(399,658)
|
Issue of own shares held on
exercise of share options
|
-
|
-
|
514
|
148
|
662
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
(25)
|
(369,119)
|
-
|
(29,852)
|
(398,996)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at 1 January 2023
(audited)
|
418
|
(369,119)
|
(1,589)
|
(30,000)
|
(400,290)
|
Other comprehensive
expense
|
(500)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(500)
|
Issue of own shares held on
exercise of share options
|
-
|
-
|
299
|
-
|
299
|
At 30 June 2023
(unaudited)
|
(82)
|
(369,119)
|
(1,290)
|
(30,000)
|
(400,491)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at 1 July 2023
(unaudited)
|
(82)
|
(369,119)
|
(1,290)
|
(30,000)
|
(400,491)
|
Other comprehensive
income
|
57
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
57
|
Issue of own shares held on
exercise of share options
|
-
|
-
|
776
|
-
|
776
|
At 31 December 2023
(audited)
|
(25)
|
(369,119)
|
(514)
|
(30,000)
|
(399,658)
|
Cash flow hedging reserve
The cash flow hedging reserve
records movements for effective cash flow hedges measured at fair
value. The accumulated balance in the cash flow hedging reserve
will be reclassified to the cost of the designated hedged item in a
future period.
Merger reserve
The merger reserve of £369.1
million arose on the acquisition of Figgs Topco Limited by Ibstock
plc in the period ended 31 December 2015 and is the difference
between the share capital and share premium of Figgs Topco Limited
and the nominal value of the investment and preference shares in
Figgs Topco Limited acquired by the Company.
Own shares held
The Group's holding in its own
equity instruments is shown as a deduction from shareholders'
equity at cost. These shares represented shares held in the
Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) to meet the future requirements of the
employee share-based payment plans. Consideration, if any, received
for the sale of such shares is also recognised in equity with any
difference between the proceeds from sale and the original cost
being taken to the profit and loss reserve. No gain or loss is
recognised in the income statement on the purchase, sale, issue or
cancellation of equity shares. All remaining shares held in EBT
were issued to meet share option requirements in the current
period.
Treasury share reserve
The Group holds the treasury
shares to meet the future requirements of employee share based
payment plans. Consideration, if any, received for the sale of such
shares is also recognised in equity with any difference between the
proceeds from sale and the original cost being taken to the profit
and loss reserve. No gain or loss is recognised in the income
statement on the purchase, sale, issue or cancellation of equity
shares.
At 30 June 2024, the treasury
shares are shown as a deduction from shareholders' equity at cost
totalling £29.9 million at 30 June 2024 (30 June 2023: £30.0
million, 31 December 2023: £30.0 million).
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Balances and transactions between
Ibstock Plc (the ultimate Parent) and its subsidiaries, which are
related parties, are eliminated on consolidation and are not
disclosed in this note. There were no further material related
party transactions, nor any related party balances in either the
2024 or 2023 financial periods other than remuneration for the
Directors and key management personnel.
16. DIVIDENDS PAID AND PROPOSED
A final dividend for 2023 of 3.6
pence per ordinary share (2022: 5.5 pence) was paid on 31 May 2024.
The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 1.5 pence per
ordinary share in respect of 2024 (2023: 3.4 pence), amounting to a
dividend cost of £5.9 million (2023: £13.3 million). The
interim dividend will be paid on 13 September 2024 to all
shareholders on the register at close of business on
23 August 2024.
These condensed consolidated
financial statements do not reflect the 2024 interim dividend
payable.
17. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS
Except for the proposed interim
ordinary dividend (see Note 16), no further subsequent events
requiring either disclosure or adjustment to these financial
statements have arisen since the balance sheet date.
INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO IBSTOCK PLC
Conclusion
We have been engaged by the
company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the
half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2024
which comprises the condensed consolidated income statement, the
condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the
condensed consolidated balance sheet, the condensed consolidated
statement of changes in equity, the condensed consolidated cash
flow statement and related notes 1 to 17.
Based on our review, nothing has
come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed
set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for
the six months ended 30 June 2024 is not prepared, in all material
respects, in accordance with United Kingdom adopted International
Accounting Standard 34 and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency
Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct
Authority.
Basis for Conclusion
We conducted our review in
accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK)
2410 "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the
Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Financial
Reporting Council for use in the United Kingdom (ISRE (UK) 2410). A
review of interim financial information consists of making
inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and
accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review
procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit
conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing
(UK) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that
we would become aware of all significant matters that might be
identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit
opinion.
As disclosed in note 2, the annual
financial statements of Ibstock Plc (the "Group") are prepared in
accordance with United Kingdom adopted international accounting
standards. The condensed set of financial statements included in
this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance
with United Kingdom adopted International Accounting Standard 34,
"Interim Financial Reporting".
Conclusion Relating to Going Concern
Based on our review procedures,
which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as
described in the Basis for Conclusion section of this report,
nothing has come to our attention to suggest that the directors
have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting
or that the directors have identified material uncertainties
relating to going concern that are not appropriately
disclosed.
This Conclusion is based on the
review procedures performed in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410;
however future events or conditions may cause the entity to cease
to continue as a going concern.
Responsibilities of the directors
The directors are responsible for
preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's
Financial Conduct Authority.
In preparing the half-yearly
financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the
group's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing as
applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going
concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to
liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic
alternative but to do so.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the review of the financial
information
In reviewing the half-yearly
financial report, we are responsible for expressing to the company
a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the
half-yearly financial report. Our Conclusion, including our
Conclusion Relating to Going Concern, are based on procedures that
are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the Basis
for Conclusion paragraph of this report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the
company in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410. Our work has been
undertaken so that we might state to the company those matters we
are required to state to it in an independent review report and for
no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not
accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company,
for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we
have formed.
Deloitte LLP
Statutory Auditor
Birmingham, United
Kingdom
6 August 2024