TIDMSDG

RNS Number : 4086C

Sanderson Design Group PLC

11 October 2022

 
 11 October 2022 
 

SANDERSON DESIGN GROUP PLC

("Sanderson Design Group", the "Company" or the "Group")

Interim Results for the six months ended 31 July 2022

Profit growth driven by licensing income, US sales and the Morris & Co. brand

Full year trading remains in line with Board expectations

Sanderson Design Group PLC (AIM: SDG), the luxury interior design and furnishings group, announces its unaudited financial results for the six months ended 31 July 2022.

Financial highlights

 
                                                Six months        % Change   Year ended 31 January 
                                               ended 31 July 
                                             2022       2021                         2022 
                                          ---------              ---------  ---------------------- 
 Revenue                                   GBP57.9m   GBP57.5m      0.7%           GBP112.2m 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 Adjusted underlying profit before tax*    GBP6.3m    GBP5.6m**    12.5%           GBP12.5m 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 Adjusted underlying EPS*                   6.90p      6.11p**     12.9%            13.75p 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 Statutory profit before tax               GBP5.5m     GBP4.9m     12.2%           GBP10.4m 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 Statutory profit after tax                GBP4.2m     GBP3.8m     10.5%            GBP7.8m 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 Basic EPS                                  5.89p       5.31p      10.9%            10.93p 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 Net cash***                               GBP15.0m   GBP15.4m     (2.6%)          GBP19.1m 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 Dividend per share                         0.75p       0.75p        -               3.50p 
                                          ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------------------- 
 

*excluding share-based incentives, defined benefit pension charge and non-underlying items as summarised in note 5

** refer to note 5(b) for details on the prior year reclassification

*** Net cash is defined as cash and cash equivalents less borrowings. For the purpose of this definition, borrowings do not include lease liabilities

-- Revenue up 0.7% at GBP57.9m (H1 FY22: GBP57.5m ), representing a resilient sales performance in a challenging market

-- Strong performance from licensing with revenue up 90.0% at GBP3.8m (H1 FY22: GBP2.0m) in reported currency

-- Brand product sales down 2.5% in reported and constant currency at GBP42.2m (H1 FY22: GBP43.3m), impacted by cessation of trade in Russia and Brexit customs benefit in prior period

o Strong growth from the Morris & Co. brand, with sales up 20.8% in the UK and up 53.7% in North America in reported currency (up 42.3% in constant currency)

o North America continues to deliver a strong performance, particularly with the Morris & Co., Sanderson and Clarke & Clarke brands

-- Third party manufacturing performed robustly against a strong comparator with sales down 2.5% in reported currency at GBP11.9m (H1 FY22: GBP12.2m)

-- Adjusted underlying profit before tax of GBP6.3m up 12.5% (H1 FY22: GBP5.6m) , reflecting management actions and the significant contribution from higher margin licensing activities. Statutory profit before tax of GBP5.5m is up 12.2% (H1 FY22: GBP4.9m)

-- Strong balance sheet with net cash of GBP15.0m at 31 July 2022 (31 January 2022: GBP19.1m), following a strategic investment in core stock lines

   --    Interim dividend of 0.75p per share (H1 FY22: 0.75p) 

Operational highlights

-- Significant licence renewals in the year-to-date including Bedeck, NEXT and Williams Sonoma along with strong generation of new collaborations and a resilient performance from core bedding and Japanese partnerships

-- Growth in Morris & Co. brand product sales led by continued increase in demand for classic designs and sales of Simply Morris, launched last year

-- Harlequin exclusive edit with Brewers/wallpaperdirect created in H1 FY22 and launched to market in September 2022

   --    US distribution of Harlequin with Perigold and McGee & Co online has attracted a new customer 

Dianne Thompson, Sanderson Design Group's Chairman, said:

"Thanks to the Group's strong and rich portfolio of valuable brands, and the creative design talent and agility of our teams, we have managed to navigate the trading challenges of the first half, taking opportunities where possible to support the strategic progress of the Group.

"I am delighted to see positive developments in North America, where we have been under-distributed in the past and where management continues to focus. The UK performance of our top customers is encouraging, whilst challenges abound in the wider economy.

"Our current year performance to date is testament to the diversity of our model, and we continue to anticipate meeting Board expectations for the full year. Given the uncertainties in the current macro-economic and consumer environment, we look forward with caution and continue to actively manage the headwinds. We have a high-quality brand portfolio, growing US presence and strong cash balances to support ongoing investment. Alongside continued management action to reduce costs and increase efficiency, we remain confident in the strategy for the business."

Analyst meeting and webcast

A meeting for analysts and institutional investors will be held at 10.00 a.m. today, 11 October 2022, at the offices of Buchanan, 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN. For details, please contact Buchanan at SDG@buchanan.uk.com .

A live webcast of the meeting will be available via the following link:

https://webcasting.buchanan.uk.com/broadcast/630e0ad7da906b287e9a13ac

A replay of the webcast will be made available following the meeting at the Company's investor website, www.sandersondesign.group .

For further information:

 
 Sanderson Design Group PLC               c/o Buchanan +44 (0) 
                                                  20 7466 5000 
 Lisa Montague, Chief Executive Officer 
 Mike Woodcock, Chief Financial Officer 
 Caroline Geary, Company Secretary 
 
 
 Investec Bank plc (Nominated Adviser 
  and Joint Broker)                         +44 (0) 20 7597 5970 
 David Anderson / Alex Wright / Ben 
  Farrow 
 
 Singer Capital Markets (Joint Broker)      +44 (0) 20 7496 3000 
 Tom Salvesen / Jen Boorer / Alex Emslie 
 
 Buchanan                                   +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 
 Mark Court / Toto Berger / Abigail 
  Gilchrist 
 SDG@buchanan.uk.com 
 

Notes for editors:

About Sanderson Design Group

Sanderson Design Group PLC is a luxury interior furnishings company that designs, manufactures and markets wallpapers, fabrics and paints. In addition, the Company derives licensing income from the use of its designs on a wide range of products such as bed and bath collections, rugs, blinds and tableware.

Sanderson Design Group's brands include Zoffany, Sanderson, Morris & Co., Harlequin, Scion, Clarke & Clarke and Archive by Sanderson Design.

The Company has a strong UK manufacturing base comprising Anstey wallpaper factory in Loughborough and Standfast & Barracks, a fabric printing factory, in Lancaster. Both sites manufacture for the Company and for other wallpaper and fabric brands.

Sanderson Design Group employs approximately 600 people, and its products are sold worldwide. It has showrooms in London, New York, Chicago, Amsterdam and Dubai.

Sanderson Design Group trades on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SDG.

For further information please visit: www.sandersondesigngroup.com .

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations or beliefs as well as assumptions about future events. These are subject to risk factors associated with, amongst other things, the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries and sectors in which Sanderson Design Group operates. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable but they may be affected by a wide range of variables which could cause actual results, and Sanderson Design Group's plans and objectives, to differ materially from those currently anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any such statements. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S STRATEGY AND OPERATIONAL REVIEW

INTRODUCTION

We are pleased to report a resilient performance during the six months to 31 July 2022. Most notably, it was a period of improved profitability and margin progression, driven by operational efficiencies, licensing income, improved US sales and continued strong growth from the Morris & Co. brand. Whilst the macro-economic and consumer environments remain difficult to predict, we have mitigated reduced volumes in brand sales and protected our gross margin through price increases in February and August 2022. We have continued to make significant strategic and operational progress, particularly on new licensing collaborations and on initiatives focused on driving the brands' future growth.

Of our three key geographic segments - the UK, Northern Europe and North America, brand product sales showed resilience. In the UK, they were almost unchanged at GBP22.1m (H1 FY22: GBP22.3m) whilst in North America they benefited from strong currency markets and were up 12.8% in reported currency (3.3% in constant currency). As previously reported, the decision to cease trade in Russia, which contributed GBP0.8m of sales in H1 FY22, impacted brand product sales in Northern Europe in the first half, down 20.3% in reported currency and down 16.8% in constant currency.

Overall, third-party manufacturing performed robustly in the first six months of the year, given the strong comparator at the same time last year as customers began restocking following the Covid pandemic. We are continuing to invest in our manufacturing operations to build further on our competitiveness post-Brexit for both UK and overseas customers and capitalise on future opportunities.

In support of our focused strategy, our higher margin licensing revenue performed particularly strongly during the first half, with sales up 90.0% in reported currency to GBP3.8m (H1 FY22: GBP2.0m). This growth was driven by accelerated income under IFRS 15 of GBP1.9m (H1 FY22: GBP0.5m), reflecting new and extended licensing agreements, along with a robust performance by core licensees.

Notable licensing agreements signed in the first half include a three-year renewal with Bedeck, one of our core licensees which has rights in multiple geographies to a wide range of bedlinen and towelling for the Morris & Co., Sanderson, Harlequin and Scion brands, and a renewal with NEXT for up to two years for Morris & Co. womenswear.

The momentum in licensing has continued into the current half with the announcement in August 2022 of a Sanderson collaboration with Disney. In addition, the Morris & Co. kitchenware partnership with major US retailer Williams Sonoma, initially signed in August 2021, has been extended by two years to 2025. The initial products from the partnership will be fully launched across the Williams Sonoma retail network on 17 October 2022.

The Morris & Co. brand grew strongly in the first half, with the brand's product sales up 53.7% in North America in reported currency (up 42.3% in constant currency) and up 20.8% in the UK.

Overall, brand product sales growth was focused on North America, a key growth market for us, where, in addition to the strong performance from Morris & Co., the Clarke & Clarke brand was up 9.2% in reported currency (up 0.9% in constant currency) and Sanderson was up 6.6% in reported currency (down 1.6% in constant currency).

The Group's net cash balances remained strong at the half year end at GBP15.0m (31 January 2022: GBP19.1m), with the decrease from the end of the last financial year in part reflecting a strategic investment in inventory to ensure that our best-selling lines of wallpaper and fabric are always in stock. In line with our typical buying cycle, inventory peaked at the half year end and the subsequent focus has been the turn of stock and efficiency to optimise cover on a reduced portfolio of collections (SKUs) in the current trading environment.

The strength of our balance sheet protects our business in a time of macro-economic uncertainty and enables investment in future growth opportunities and initiatives, including achieving our ZeroBy30 pledge.

Live Beautiful

Our Live Beautiful sustainability strategy, launched in April 2021, has a broad range of initiatives including two major commitments: for the Company to be net carbon zero by 2030 and to be the employer of choice in the interior design and furnishings industry.

Initiatives in the current financial year have included the planned installation of solar panels at our Standfast & Barracks fabric printing factor in Lancaster. These panels will cover 3,000 sq. m and, in addition to contributing electricity to the factory, will result in a carbon reduction of 141.72 tonnes of carbon per annum according to an independent forecast.

LED lighting is being installed across all our locations and the shift towards digital printing from traditional methods is also reducing our energy consumption.

Last month, Scion launched a capsule collection of wallpapers and fabrics created in collaboration with Designs in Mind, a social enterprise that uses art and design to support people with mental health challenges. The collection, which was created through workshops hosted by the Scion design team and is available via the Scion online shop, demonstrates our commitment to the positive power of design.

People

Sanderson Design Group is a people business that remains committed to the Real Living Wage. I would like to thank all colleagues for their energy, talent and commitment during the year to date. I would also like to welcome Shailini Revel to the Group Leadership Team as Group Marketing and Digital Director, replacing Nigel Hunt, who left the Company last month after three years of valued contribution to the business.

OPERATIONAL REVIEW

The table below shows the Group's sales performance in the six months ended 31 July 2022 ('H1 FY23'), compared with H1 FY22.

 
                                 Six months to July         Change (%) 
                                   31 of financial 
                                     year (GBPm) 
                                   2022       2021     Reported   Constant 
                                                                   currency 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Brand product 
 UK                                22.1       22.3      (0.9%)     (0.9%) 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Northern Europe                   5.5         6.9     (20.3%)     (16.8%) 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 North America                     9.7         8.6      12.8%       3.3% 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Rest of the World                 4.9         5.5     (10.9%)     (9.6%) 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Total Brand product revenue       42.2       43.3      (2.5%)     (3.5%) 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Total Licensing revenue             3.8       2.0      90.0%       89.3% 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Total Brand revenue               46.0       45.3       1.5%       2.5% 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Manufacturing* 
 External                          11.9       12.2      (2.5%)        - 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Internal                          9.8         8.8      11.4%         - 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Total Manufacturing revenue       21.7       21.0       3.3%         - 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 Intercompany eliminations*       (9.8)       (8.8)     11.4%         - 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 TOTAL REVENUE*                    57.9       57.5       0.7%         - 
                               -----------  --------  ---------  ---------- 
 

*does not report in constant exchange rate

The Brands

The brands segment comprises Morris & Co, Sanderson, Clarke & Clarke, Harlequin, Zoffany, Scion, and Archive by Sanderson Design. It also includes licensing income as well as global trading from the brands, including our overseas operations in the US, Dubai, Netherlands and Germany.

Morris & Co.

Morris & Co. sales in the first half were GBP9.5m in reported currency, an increase of 15.5% on the first half last year. Sales in the UK were up 20.8%, in Northern Europe were down 13.2% and in North America were up 53.7% in reported currency (in constant currency, Northern Europe sales were down 9.1% and North America sales were up 42.3%).

Morris & Co. continues to be the Group's fastest growing brand and the focus of exciting licensing collaborations. Brand product sales in the first half have been driven by the launch of a second collection by Ben Pentreath, the influential architect and designer, and also by sales of the Simply Morris collection, which was launched last year.

Licence income during the first half has been driven both by accelerated income from new and extended licensing agreements and by income from existing licensees, with apparel collections from NEXT performing particularly well. In July 2022, NEXT extended its licensing agreement for Morris & Co. womenswear for up to two years, starting from April 2023.

Morris & Co. paints were relaunched in February 2022, after being unavailable since 2008 owing to a change in manufacturing regulations. The new range of paints, based on historic William Morris colour recipes and documents, have been well received and are now available through national retailers.

Exciting collaborations signed in the first half include a sponsorship agreement with the Emery Walker Trust, a charity that preserves the London home of Emery Walker, a typographer, engraver and dear friend of William Morris. The Morris & Co. brand will next year launch a collection of fabrics, wallpapers, bedding and homewares based on inspirational items and stories from the house.

One of the Company's incubator initiatives to test direct-to-consumer sales is a Morris & Co. concession in Harrods at its flagship location in Knightsbridge. The Morris & Co. Home Emporium at Harrods opened in April this year and will be launched online at Harrods.com ahead of the peak trading season.

Sanderson

Sanderson sales in the first half were GBP7.2m in reported currency, a decrease of 4.4% on the first half last year. Sales in the UK were down 0.8%, in Northern Europe were down 29.4% and in North America were up 6.6% in reported currency (in constant currency, Northern Europe sales were down 27.8% and North America sales were down 1.6%).

Sanderson also attracts licensing income, and in August 2022, the Company announced an exciting licensing agreement with Disney. The Sanderson archive includes a unique collection of original wallpapers and fabrics, dating back to the 1930s, based on classic Disney characters. Products created under this licensing agreement will be distributed internationally from next year.

In October 2022, we announced another exciting development for the Sanderson brand in a collaboration with Giles Deacon, the renowned, London-based couture designer and illustrator, who will create a capsule collection of fabrics, wallpapers and apparel. The collection will be based on an innovative reworking of original Sanderson designs and launch in Spring 2024, bringing fashion to the Sanderson brand to create future nostalgia from classic creations.

Zoffany

Zoffany sales in the first half were GBP4.2m in reported currency, a decrease of 5.3% on the first half last year. Sales in the UK were down 3.6%, in Northern Europe were down 15.8% and in North America were down 2.6% (in constant currency, Northern Europe sales were down 13.9% and North America sales were down 10.0%).

Designer Ruth Blanke's addition to the Palladio collection of wallpapers, Avalonis, was launched in February 2022. Ruth won last year's Royal College of Art award to create a new wallpaper for the Palladio wallpaper collection, an award for new designers offered annually by the Company.

Clarke & Clarke

Clarke & Clarke sales in the first half were GBP11.8m in reported currency, a decrease of 6.0% on the first half last year. Sales in the UK were down 8.2%, in Northern Europe were down 9.1% and in North America were up 9.2% (in constant currency, Northern Europe sales were down 7.1% and North America sales were up 0.9%).

Sales in North America, where the brand is distributed by Kravet Inc, were resilient against a strong comparator. The brand's exciting partnership with heritage tableware company Wedgwood resulted in the launch of Wedgwood homewares in March this year, including fabrics and wallpapers for international distribution through both brands' networks.

Harlequin

Harlequin sales in the first half were GBP8.3m in reported currency, a decrease of 9.0% on the first half last year. Sales in the UK were down 1.6%, in Northern Europe were down 34.6% and in North America were down 3.0% (in constant currency, Northern Europe sales were down 33.0% and North America sales were down 10.4%).

The brand has performed well at John Lewis Partnership. In September 2022, Brewers/wallpaperdirect launched exclusively a special edit of designs backed by a stock commitment.

The focus for the Harlequin brand has been to drive renewed impetus through colour science, expressed in the Own the Room campaign and colour quiz, which seek to empower consumers to choose the best designs and colours for their individual emotional and physical well-being. Harlequin collections are presented as colour stories to suit each of four profiles: Rewild, Reflect, Retreat and Renew.

The collaboration with Sophie Robinson, known as the "Queen of Colour" announced in June 2022, is a further step in inspiring people to put colours together to suit individual styles. Working with Harlequin, Sophie will create a capsule collection of wallpapers and fabrics using her signature bright colours and exuberant styling for launch in Autumn 2023.

Scion

Scion sales in the first half were GBP1.0m in reported currency, a decrease of 17.2% on the first half last year. Sales in the UK were down 9.3%, in Northern Europe were down 39.5% and in North America were down 11.6% (in constant currency, Northern Europe sales were down 38.1% in North America sales were down 18.7%).

As part of advancing the Group's digital strategy, Scion products are also sold direct-to-consumer via www.scionliving.com , an online shop created by the leading internet retailer Jane Clayton and Company. Scion designs are also highly suited to out-licensing across a wide range of homewares.

Archive by Sanderson Design

Archive by Sanderson Design is a new, direct-to-consumer brand launched in September 2021 to test the route to market. This maximalist offer targets digitally native consumers, new customers for the Group, and is an important part of our strategy to test with new routes to market. The first-year performance of this heritage-powered brand indicates that there is a broader direct-to-consumer opportunity to be further explored with online wholesale partners ahead of further investment in the digital platform to support this venture.

Manufacturing

Our manufacturing operations performed robustly in the first half, with third-party orders down 2.5% in reported currency compared with the first half last year reflecting a strong comparator characterised by restocking post-Covid.

Our fabric printers, Standfast, continue to benefit from import duties imposed post Brexit which encourages UK customers to source domestically. Standfast also has a high proportion of customers in a relatively buoyant US market which has helped boost revenues in the first half. Conversely our wallpaper manufacturer, Anstey has traditionally been more focussed on the European market where current trading conditions are significantly tougher.

We are committed to continued investment in digital capacity in both our manufacturing plants. Investment in the current financial year is expected to focus on Anstey, where, in line with our capital expenditure plan, two digital printers with different capabilities are planned for installation this year at a cost of approximately GBP1.5m. One of the printers allows white backgrounds to be printed digitally at Anstey for the first time and the other offers very rapid print speeds. Both are more environmentally friendly than traditional techniques and are expected to enable the factory to compete for additional business. The introduction of a new ERP system at Standfast & Barracks which will capture data far more effectively than our legacy system and allow us to generate further efficiencies is expected to complete in H1 FY24.

CURRENT TRADING AND OUTLOOK

The Board remains confident in the strategy for the business and accepts that, in challenging markets, we need to look ahead with caution. Uncertainties abound in the current macro-economic and consumer environment so we remain focused on mitigating the potential impact of these issues on our business where we can.

We have focused on building a diversified model backed by our world class brand portfolio and strong balance sheet to enable self-funded growth. To that end, our performance in the first half of the financial year was resilient, with a profit performance driven by licensing income and margin improvement, as a result of operational efficiencies, growing US sales and the Morris & Co. brand. August 2022 was a softer summer month than last year but September and the first week of October 2022 have shown growth. Our key Autumn selling weeks in October 2022 and November 2022 have just started and, whilst we are vigilant in respect of ongoing external factors, we continue to anticipate meeting Board expectations for the full year.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER'S REVIEW

Key Financial Indicators

We measure and monitor key performance and financial indicators across the Group. We set out below a summary of the Group's key financial indicators.

Six months ended 31 July

 
                                        2022    2021 
 -----------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 Revenue (GBPm)                         57.9    57.5 
 Profit before tax (GBPm)                5.5     4.9 
 Profit before tax (%)                  9.5%    8.5% 
 Basic earnings per share (pence)      5.89p   5.31p 
 Adjusted underlying profit before 
 tax* (GBPm)                             6.3     5.6 
 Adjusted underlying profit before 
 tax* (%)                              10.9%    9.7% 
 Adjusted earnings per share* 
  (pence)                              6.90p   6.11p 
 Net cash (GBPm)                        15.0    15.4 
 Inventory (GBPm)                       26.7    18.7 
 Capital expenditure (GBPm)              1.5     1.2 
------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 

*excluding share-based incentives, defined benefit pension charge and non-underlying items as summarised in note 5

Revenue

Group sales in the six-month period of GBP57.9m (comprising Brand product and external Manufacturing sales along with licensing revenue) were up 0.7% compared with the same period last year (H1 FY22: GBP57.5m), unchanged on a constant currency basis .

 
                                      Six months ended 31 July 
                               2022        2021         Change 
 Revenue                       GBPm        GBPm            % 
--------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
 Brands                        42.2        43.2         (2.5%) 
 Licensing                      3.8         2.0          90.0% 
--------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
 Total Brands                  46.0        45.3          1.5% 
 Manufacturing - External      11.9        12.2         (2.5%) 
--------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
 Group                         57.9        57.5         (0.7%) 
--------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------- 
 

Brand product

Brand product revenue was driven by a strong performance in the targeted growth market of the US, along with continued strong growth from the Morris & Co. brand.

Brand product revenue at GBP42.2m was down 2.5% against H1 FY22 at reported rates, unchanged on a constant currency basis. Revenue in the prior year benefited from approximately GBP0.6m of predominantly European dispatches delayed from the financial year ended 31 January 2021, due to customs delays following Brexit. Additionally, Brand product sales in Northern Europe were impacted by the previously announced decision to cease trade in Russia, resulting in the loss of GBP0.8m of sales compared with H1 FY22. Excluding these two factors, Brand product revenue was up 0.9% against H1 FY22 at reported rates, unchanged on a constant currency basis.

Manufacturing

Overall, third-party manufacturing has performed robustly in the first six months of the year, with third-party orders down 2.5% in reported currency compared with the first half last year reflecting a strong comparator as customers emerged from the Covid pandemic and commenced restocking.

Licensing

Total licensing revenue was up 90.0% at GBP3.8m (H1 FY22: GBP2.0m), driven by GBP1.9m (H1 FY22: GBP0.5m) of accelerated income.

The progress within licensing continues with the recently announced NEXT contract extension, extending its partnership with Morris & Co to 2025. In addition, the Williams Sonoma kitchenware partnership with Morris & Co, initially signed in August 2021, has been extended by two years to 2025, displaying the major US retailer's confidence in the brand and products, which are due to launch in October 2022.

Gross profit

Gross profit for the period was GBP38.1m, compared with GBP35.9m in H1 FY22, whilst the gross profit margin at 65.8% represents an increase of 340 basis points over H1 FY22.

Excluding the impact of licence income, which generates 100% gross profit, margins improved to 63.4% in the current period versus 61.1% for H1 FY22. This improvement continues to be driven by changes in sales mix towards higher margin brands, and increased levels of digital production in our two manufacturing locations.

Cognisant of the inflationary environment during the period, price increases were put through in February and August 2022.

 
                                                                                       Six months ended 31 July 
                                                                                     2022                2021 
---------  ----------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------  ------------------ 
 Product    Revenue (GBPm)                                                           54.1                55.5 
  Gross profit (GBPm)                                                                34.3                33.9 
  %                                                                                 63.4%                61.1% 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------  ------------------ 
 Licence    Revenue (GBPm)                                                           3.8                  2.0 
  Gross profit (GBPm)                                                                3.8                  2.0 
  %                                                                                  100%                100% 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------  ------------------ 
 Total      Revenue (GBPm)                                                           57.9                57.5 
  Gross profit (GBPm)                                                                38.1                35.9 
  %                                                                                 65.8%                62.4% 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------  ------------------ 
 

We benefit from a fixed price Gas contract that was signed in June 2021 and is not due for renewal until October 2023. Our fixed term electricity agreement was due for renewal on 1 October this year and we are now paying at the government capped rate which represents a GBP700,000 per annum increase on previous levels. Without this support our electricity bills would increase by a further GBP2m per annum (an increase we would seek to mitigate through a variety of measures including energy reduction strategies coupled with ongoing price reviews).

Profit before tax

Profit before tax for the period was GBP5.5m, up from GBP4.9m for H1 FY22.

 
                                                                                            Six months ended 31 July 
                                                                                            (GBPm) 
                                                                                       2022               2021 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Revenue                                                                               57.9               57.5 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Gross profit                                                                          38.1               35.9 
 Distribution and selling expenses                                                    (12.7)             (12.0) 
 Administration expenses                                                              (22.4)             (21.0) 
 Other operating income                                                                2.3                2.0 
 Net finance income                                                                    0.1                 - 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Profit before tax                                                                     5.5                4.9 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 

In the prior year costs, particularly in H1 FY22, continued to be impacted by cuts to discretionary expenditure and a hiring freeze that had been put in place in response to Covid. In H2 FY22, many of these activities recommenced and the full year-impact can be seen in the results to 31 July 2022.

Distribution and selling expenses of GBP12.7m represented 21.9% of revenue in the period compared with 20.8% in H1 FY22 and 22.3% for the full year ended 31 January 2022.

Administration expenses grew to GBP22.4m in the current period from GBP21.0m for H1 FY22. Marketing spend has returned to pre-pandemic levels and the full year impact of recruitment in H2 FY22 also impacted this area.

Despite the inflationary pressures in the wider economy, the benefits of our restructuring and ongoing cost efficiency can be seen in that administration expenses remain GBP0.5m below (the pre-Covid) H1 FY20 levels.

Other operating income of GBP2.3m (H1 FY22: GBP2.0m) comprises consideration received from marketing materials.

Adjusted underlying profit before tax

Adjusted underlying profit before tax was GBP6.3m, up from GBP5.6m in H1 FY22.

 
                                                                                                   Six months ended 31 
                                                                                                   July (GBPm) 
                                                                                                    2022        2021 
Profit before tax                                                                                    5.5         4.9 
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                                                           0.5         0.5 
Forgiveness of loan under the Paycheck Protection 
 Programme                                                                                             -       (0.4) 
Underlying profit before tax                                                                         6.0         5.0 
LTIP accounting charge                                                                                 -         0.4 
Net defined benefit pension charge                                                                   0.3         0.2 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------- 
Adjusted underlying profit before tax                                                                6.3         5.6 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------  ---------- 
 

Non-underlying items comprise:

- Amortisation of intangible assets: GBP0.5m in respect of the acquisition of Clarke & Clarke in October 2016.

- Forgiveness of loan: In April 2021 the Group successfully applied for the forgiveness of a GBP0.4m loan awarded under the US Paycheck Protection Programme.

Taxation

Tax for the period is charged on profit before tax based on the forecast effective tax rate for the full year. The estimated effective tax rate (before adjusting items) for the period is 23.4% (H1 FY22: 21.4%). This is driven by permanent differences (non-qualifying depreciation and the super deduction), and the differential between the current and deferred tax rate. Tax charge for the period was, therefore, GBP1.3m (H1 FY22: GBP1.2m).

Earnings per share

Representative of the improved financial performance for the period, basic reported EPS for the period was 5.89p (H1 FY22: 5.31p). The Group also reports an adjusted underlying EPS which adjusts for the impact of the LTIP accounting charge, net defined benefit pension charge and non-underlying items. The adjusted underlying basic EPS for the period was 6.90p (H1 FY22: 6.11p). The diluted EPS for the period was 5.83p (H1 FY22: 5.19p).

Working capital

 
 (all figures in GBPm)    31 July 2022   31 July 2021   31 January 
                                                              2022 
-----------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Inventories                  26.7           18.7          22.7 
 Trade debtors                12.6           14.0          13.5 
 Trade creditors             (9.9)          (9.2)         (11.7) 
-----------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

Inventories

Inventory levels have increased as we have made strategic investments in products with long lead times to ensure we are never out of stock on our best-selling collections and can fully support new product launches. Inventory levels peaked at 31 July 2022 and the subsequent focus has been the turn of stock to more normalised levels .

Trade receivables

The Group continues to experience limited bad debts across our customer base. However, in the current economic environment we maintain a strong focus on our credit management procedures to improve controls and to mitigate potential credit risk.

Capital expenditure

Capital expenditure in the period totalled GBP1.5m (H1 FY22: GBP1.2m). We continue to focus investment in enhancing our digital printing capability in our manufacturing locations and projects that support our "Live Beautiful" target of being net carbon ZeroBy30.

Cash position and banking facilities

Cash at the half year was GBP15.0m compared with GBP19.1m at 31 January 2022 and GBP15.4m at 31 July 2021.The cash outflow for the period was driven mainly strategic inventory investments of GBP4.0m in best-selling collections and a reduction of trade creditors of GBP1.8m, and partially offset by improvements in trade debtors of GBP0.9m.

The Group has banking facilities provided by Barclays Bank plc. The Group has a GBP12.5m multi-currency revolving committed credit facility which is due for renewal in October 2024, further details of which can be found in the Group's Annual Report and Accounts 2022. The agreement also includes a GBP5m uncommitted accordion facility option to further increase available credit which provides substantial headroom for future growth. Our covenants under the facility are EBITDA and interest cover measures.

Defined benefit pension

The Group operates two defined benefit pension schemes in the UK both of which are closed to new members and to future service accrual. In the six months ended 31 July 2022, the Group made contributions of GBP1.2 m (H1 FY22: GBP1.1 m ) to these schemes. The schemes recorded a surplus of GBP2.6m at 31 July 2022 (H1 FY22: deficit of GBP4.7m; 31 January 2022: surplus of GBP2.6m).

Dividend

A final dividend of 2.75p in respect of the year ended 31 January 2022 was paid on 12 August 2022 to the shareholders on the Company's register on 15 July 2022.

The Board is announcing a maintained interim dividend of 0.75p for the six months ended 31 July 2022 (H1 FY22: 0.75p), payable on 25 November 2022 to shareholders on the register on 28 October 2022. The ex-dividend date is 27 October 2022. This dividend reflects the progress made by the business in the first half and the strength of the Group's balance sheet whilst also acknowledging the uncertainties in the current macro-economic and consumer environment.

Unaudited Consolidated Income Statement

For the six months ended 31 July 2022

 
                                                     6 months      6 months 
                                                   to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                                         2022          2021 
                                           Note        GBP000        GBP000 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Revenue                                    2          57,922        57,515 
 Cost of sales                                       (19,788)      (21,574) 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Gross profit                                          38,134        35,941 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Net operating expenses: 
 Distribution and selling expenses                   (12,652)      (12,014) 
 Administration expenses                             (22,371)      (21,037) 
 Other operating income                     3           2,272         2,034 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit from operations                                 5,383         4,924 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Finance income                                           166            88 
 Finance costs                                           (83)          (84) 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Net finance income                                        83             4 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Profit before tax                                      5,466         4,928 
 Tax expense                                4         (1,282)       (1,161) 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit for the period attributable to 
  owners of the parent                                  4,184         3,767 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Earnings per share - Basic                 5           5.89p         5.31p 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Earnings per share - Diluted               5           5.83p         5.19p 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Adjusted earnings per share - Basic*       5           6.90p         6.11p 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Adjusted earnings per share - Diluted*     5           6.82p         5.97p 
----------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 

*the prior year comparatives have been amended to align treatment with the Annual Report 2022 - see Note 5(b) for details.

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the six months ended 31 July 2022

 
                                                    6 months      6 months 
                                                  to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                                        2022          2021 
                                                      GBP000        GBP000 
---------------------------------------------   ------------  ------------ 
 Profit for the period                                 4,184         3,767 
 Other comprehensive income / (expense): 
 Items that will not be reclassified to 
  profit or loss 
 Remeasurement of defined benefit pension              (856)             - 
  schemes 
 Reduction of deferred tax asset relating                214             - 
  to pension scheme liability 
---------------------------------------------   ------------  ------------ 
 Total items that will not be reclassified             (642)             - 
  to profit or loss 
---------------------------------------------   ------------  ------------ 
 
 Items that may be reclassified subsequently 
  to profit or loss 
 Currency translation losses                            (84)         (115) 
----------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Other comprehensive expense for the period, 
  net of tax                                           (726)         (115) 
 
 Total comprehensive income for the period 
  attributable to the owners of the parent             3,458         3,652 
----------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet

As at 31 July 2022

 
                                              As at         As at 
                                            31 July    31 January 
                                               2022          2022 
                                    Note     GBP000        GBP000 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 Non-current assets 
 Intangible assets                           26,321        26,979 
 Property, plant and equipment               11,947        11,258 
 Right-of-use assets                          4,712         3,923 
 Retirement benefit surplus                   2,593         2,577 
 Minimum guaranteed licensing 
  receivables                                 2,728         1,619 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
                                             48,301        46,356 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                                 26,749        22,652 
 Trade and other receivables                 15,586        16,792 
 Minimum guaranteed licensing 
  receivables                                 1,327           879 
 Cash and cash equivalents           6       15,018        19,050 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
                                             58,680        59,373 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 Total assets                               106,981       105,729 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                  (16,062)      (20,115) 
 Lease liabilities                          (2,259)       (1,983) 
                                           (18,321)      (22,098) 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 Net current assets                          40,359        37,275 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Lease liabilities                          (3,208)       (1,920) 
 Deferred income tax liabilities            (2,301)       (1,998) 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
                                            (5,509)       (3,918) 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 Total liabilities                         (23,830)      (26,016) 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 Net assets                                  83,151        79,713 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 
 Equity 
 Share capital                                  710           710 
 Share premium account                       18,682        18,682 
 Foreign currency translation 
  reserve                                     (880)         (796) 
 Retained earnings                           24,132        20,610 
 Other reserves                              40,507        40,507 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 Total equity                                83,151        79,713 
---------------------------------  -----  ---------  ------------ 
 

Unaudited Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the six months ended 31 July 2022

 
                                                           6 months      6 months 
                                                         to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                                               2022          2021 
                                                 Note        GBP000        GBP000 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Profit before tax                                            5,466         4,928 
 Depreciation and impairment of property, 
  plant and equipment and right-of-use assets                 2,486         2,588 
 Amortisation                                                   846           872 
 Share-based payment charge                                      28           353 
 Net finance income                                            (83)           (4) 
 Forgiveness of a loan into a grant              5(b)             -         (412) 
 Defined benefit pension charge                                 310           233 
 Defined benefit pension cash contributions                 (1,182)       (1,130) 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash generated from operating activities                     7,871         7,428 
 (Increase)/decrease in inventories                         (4,097)           967 
 Increase in trade, other receivables and 
  minimum guaranteed licensing receivables                    (579)       (5,036) 
 (Decrease)/increase in trade and other 
  payables                                                  (4,393)         1,241 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash (used in)/generated from operations                   (1,198)         4,600 
 Corporation tax paid                                         (133)       (2,123) 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Net cash (used in)/generated from operating 
  activities                                                (1,331)         2,477 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Interest received                                               10            11 
 Purchase of intangible assets                                (188)         (174) 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                  (1,301)       (1,016) 
 Net cash used in investing activities                      (1,479)       (1,179) 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Payment of lease liabilities                               (1,175)       (1,263) 
 Interest paid                                                 (83)          (72) 
 Net cash used in financing activities                      (1,258)       (1,335) 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                  (4,068)          (37) 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning 
  of period                                                  19,050        15,549 
 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on 
  cash held                                                      36          (72) 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period       6          15,018        15,440 
----------------------------------------------  -----  ------------  ------------ 
 
 

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the six months ended 31 July 2022

 
                                             Attributable to owners of the parent company 
                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                Other reserves 
                                                             -------------------- 
                                                                                         Foreign 
                                          Share                                         currency 
                               Share    premium    Retained    Capital     Merger    translation     Total 
                             capital    account    earnings    reserve    reserve        reserve    equity 
                              GBP000     GBP000      GBP000     GBP000     GBP000         GBP000    GBP000 
-------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------- 
 Balance at 1 February 
  2022                           710     18,682      20,610     43,457    (2,950)          (796)    79,713 
 Profit for the 
  period                                              4,184                                          4,184 
 Other comprehensive 
  income / (expense): 
 Remeasurements 
  of defined benefit 
  pension schemes                  -                  (856)          -          -              -     (856) 
 Deferred tax relating 
  to pension scheme 
  liability                        -                    214          -          -              -       214 
 Currency translation 
  differences                      -                      -          -          -           (84)      (84) 
 Total comprehensive 
  income / (expense)               -          -       3,542          -          -           (84)     3,458 
 Transactions with 
  owners, recognised 
  directly in equity: 
 Long-term incentive 
  plan charge                      -          -          89          -          -              -        89 
 Related tax movements 
  on long-term incentive 
  plan                             -          -       (109)          -          -              -     (109) 
-------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------- 
 Balance at 31 
  July 2022                      710     18,682      24,132     43,457    (2,950)          (880)    83,151 
-------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  -------- 
 

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (cont'd)

For the six months ended 31 July 2022

 
                                              Attributable to owners of the parent company 
                         ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                 Other reserves 
                                                             --------------------- 
                                                                                            Foreign 
                                          Share                                            currency 
                               Share    premium    Retained    Capital      Merger      translation      Total 
                             capital    account    earnings    reserve     reserve          reserve     equity 
                              GBP000     GBP000      GBP000     GBP000      GBP000           GBP000     GBP000 
-----------------------  -----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------------  --------- 
 
   Balance at 1 
   February 
   2021                          710     18,682       7,729     43,457     (2,950)            (866)     66,762 
 Profit for the 
  period                           -          -       3,767          -           -                -      3,767 
 Other comprehensive 
  expense: 
 Currency translation 
  differences                      -          -           -          -           -            (115)      (115) 
 Total comprehensive 
  expense                          -          -       3,767          -           -            (115)      3,652 
 Transactions with 
  owners, recognised 
  directly in equity: 
 Long-term incentive 
  plan charge                      -          -         217          -           -                -        217 
 Related tax movements 
  on long-term 
  incentive 
  plan                             -          -         158          -           -                -        158 
 
   Balance at 1 August 
   2021                          710     18,682      11,871     43,457     (2,950)            (981)     70,789 
 Profit for the 
  period                           -          -       3,460          -           -                       3,460 
 Remeasurements 
  of defined benefit 
  pension schemes                  -                  6,492          -           -                -      6,492 
 Deferred tax relating 
  to pension scheme 
  liability                        -                (1,233)          -           -                -    (1,233) 
 Currency translation 
  differences                      -          -           -          -           -              185        185 
 Total comprehensive 
  expense                          -          -       8,719          -           -              185      8,904 
 Transactions with 
  owners, recognised 
  directly in equity:              -          -          36          -           -                -         36 
 Long-term incentive 
  plan credit                      -          -        (16)          -           -                -       (16) 
 Balance at 31 January 
  2022                           710     18,682      20,610     43,457     (2,950)            (796)     79,713 
-----------------------  -----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------------  --------- 
 
 

Notes to the unaudited interim financial statements

   1.    Basis of preparation of unaudited interim financial statements 

The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies that the Group expects to apply in its annual financial statements for the year ending 31 January 2023.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies reporting under those standards. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as described in the accounting policies. The accounting policies set out below have been consistently applied to all periods presented unless otherwise indicated.

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these interim financial statements to 31 July 2022 are consistent with the accounting policies applied by the Group in its Annual Report and Accounts on, and for the year ended, 31 January 2022.

These interim financial statements for the six months ended 31 July 2022 have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting', as adopted by the UK. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended

31 January 2022 prepared in accordance with IFRS. All comparative information is for the six-month period ended 31 July 2021, except for the Balance Sheet information which is at 31 January 2022.

The Group has not early adopted any standard, interpretation or amendment that has been issued but is not yet effective.

The interim financial statements do not represent statutory accounts for the purposes of section 434 'Requirements in connection with publication of statutory accounts' of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the year ended 31 January 2022 is based on the statutory accounts for the financial year ended 31 January 2022, on which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion and did not contain a statement under section 498 'Duties of auditor' of the Companies Act 2006 and have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The interim financial statements for the six-month period ended 31 July 2022 have not been audited.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

The preparation of interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates. In preparing these interim financial statements, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2022 - going concern which is explained in further details below, retirement benefit pension obligations, impairment of non-financial assets including inventories, revenue recognition including licensing income and deferred tax recognition, except for changes in estimates that are required in determining the provision for income taxes.

Going concern

A key accounting judgement for these interim financial statements for the six months ended 31 July 2022 is the adoption of the going concern basis of preparation.

The Board of Sanderson Design Group PLC has undertaken an assessment of the ability of the Group and Company to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period of its assessment. In doing so, the Board considered events throughout the period of their assessment, including the availability and maturity profile of the Group's financing facilities and covenant compliance. These interim financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis which the directors consider appropriate for the reasons set out below.

The Group funds its operations through cash generated by the Group and has access to a GBP12.5m Revolving Credit Facility ("RCF") which is linked to two covenants. These covenants are tested quarterly on 30 April, 31 July, 31 October and 31 January each year until the debt matures in October 2024. Throughout the period and up to the date of this report the Company has met all required covenant tests. The total headroom of the Group on 31 July 2022 was GBP27.5m (31 January 2022: GBP31.6m), including cash and cash equivalents of GBP15.0m (31 January 2022: GBP19.1m) and the committed facility of GBP12.5m (31 January 2022: GBP12.5m). The Group has also access to an uncommitted accordion facility of GBP5.0m with Barclays Bank plc.

In assessing going concern, management has taken account of the potential further uncertainties caused by Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, inflationary pressures, rises in interest rates and the depreciation of pound sterling. A Management Base Case ('MBC') model has been prepared, together with alternative stress tested scenarios. These scenarios indicate that the Group retains adequate headroom against its borrowing facilities and bank covenants for the foreseeable future.

The actual results which will be reported will undoubtedly be different from the MBC and other scenarios modelled by the Group. If there are significant negative variations from the MBC, management would act decisively, as they have done in the last year, to protect the business, particularly its cash position. Having considered all the comments above the Directors consider that the Group has adequate resources to continue trading for the foreseeable future and will be able to continue operating as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Principal risks

The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk), credit risk, liquidity risk and capital risk. The interim financial statements do not include all risk management information and disclosures required in the annual report and accounts; they should be read in conjunction with the Group's Annual Report and Accounts on 31 January 2022. Information on the principal risks can be found on page 44 to 46 of the Group's 2022 Annual Report and Accounts on 31 January 2022 which comprise of trading environment, competition, foreign exchange, recruitment and retention of key employees, reputation risk, environmental risk, health and safety risk, major incident or disaster such as a fire or flood, IT and supply chain pressure. There have been no changes in either the principal risks or risk management policies since the year end. The Board approved the interim financial statements on 11 October 2022.

   2.    Segmental analysis 

The Group is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of luxury interior furnishings, fabrics and wallpaper. The reportable segments of the Group are aggregated as follows:

- Brands - comprising the design, marketing, sales and distribution, and licensing activities of Morris & Co., Sanderson, Zoffany, Clarke & Clarke, Harlequin, Scion and Archive by Sanderson Design brands operated from the UK and its foreign subsidiaries in the US, France, Netherlands and Germany.

- Manufacturing - comprising the wallcovering and printed fabric manufacturing businesses operated by Anstey and Standfast & Barracks respectively.

This is the basis on which the Group presents its operating results to the Board of Directors, which is considered to be the CODM for the purposes of IFRS 8. Other Group-wide activities and expenses, predominantly related to corporate head office costs, defined benefit pension costs, long-term incentive plan expenses, taxation and eliminations of inter-segment items, are presented within 'intercompany eliminations and unallocated'.

   a)     Principal measures of profit and loss - Income Statement segmental information 
 
 6 months to 31 July                                    Inter-company 
  2022                                                   eliminations 
                            Brands   Manufacturing    and unallocated     Total 
                            GBP000          GBP000             GBP000    GBP000 
------------------------  --------  --------------  -----------------  -------- 
 UK revenue                 22,039           7,827                  -    29,866 
 International revenue      20,131           4,090                  -    24,221 
 Licence revenue             3,835               -                  -     3,835 
------------------------  --------  --------------  -----------------  -------- 
 Revenue - external         46,005          11,917                  -    57,922 
 Revenue - internal              -           9,773            (9,773)         - 
------------------------  --------  --------------  -----------------  -------- 
 Total revenue              46,005          21,690            (9,773)    57,922 
------------------------  --------  --------------  -----------------  -------- 
 
 Profit / (Loss) from 
  operations                 3,023           3,193              (833)     5,383 
 Net finance income              -               -                 83        83 
------------------------  --------  --------------  -----------------  -------- 
 Profit / (Loss) before 
  tax                        3,023           3,193              (750)     5,466 
 Tax expense                     -               -            (1,282)   (1,282) 
------------------------  --------  --------------  -----------------  -------- 
 Profit / (Loss) for 
  the period                 3,023           3,193            (2,032)     4,184 
------------------------  --------  --------------  -----------------  -------- 
 
 
 6 months to 31 July                                 Inter-company 
  2021                                                eliminations 
                                                               and 
                            Brands   Manufacturing     unallocated     Total 
                            GBP000          GBP000          GBP000    GBP000 
------------------------  --------  --------------  --------------  -------- 
 UK revenue                 22,263           7,253               -    29,516 
 International revenue      20,976           4,987               -    25,963 
 Licence revenue             2,036               -               -     2,036 
------------------------  --------  --------------  --------------  -------- 
 Revenue - external         45,275          12,240               -    57,515 
 Revenue - internal              -           8,807         (8,807)         - 
------------------------  --------  --------------  --------------  -------- 
 Total revenue              45,275          21,047         (8,807)    57,515 
------------------------  --------  --------------  --------------  -------- 
 
 Profit / (Loss) from 
  operations                 2,876           2,834           (786)     4,924 
 Net finance income              -               -               4         4 
------------------------  --------  --------------  --------------  -------- 
 Profit / (Loss) before 
  tax                        2,876           2,834           (782)     4,928 
 Tax credit                      -               -         (1,161)   (1,161) 
------------------------  --------  --------------  --------------  -------- 
 Profit / (Loss) for 
  the period                 2,876           2,834         (1,943)     3,767 
------------------------  --------  --------------  --------------  -------- 
 

The segmental Income Statement disclosures are measured in accordance with the Group's accounting policies as set out in note 1. The Group has revised its segmental methodology for the year ended 31 January 2022 by reviewing the allocation of central costs to the Brands unit and restated the prior period's comparatives to improve the usefulness of the segmentation. Inter-segment revenue earned by Manufacturing from sales to Brands is determined on normal commercial trading terms as if Brands were any other third - party customer.

   b)    Additional segmental revenue information 

The segmental revenues of the Group are reported to the CODM in more detail. One of the analyses presented is revenue by export market for Brands.

 
 Brands international revenue by export        6 months      6 months 
  market                                     to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                                   2022          2021 
                                                 GBP000        GBP000 
----------------------------------------   ------------  ------------ 
 North America                                    9,681         8,643 
 Northern Europe                                  5,521         6,847 
 Rest of the World                                4,929         5,486 
-----------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                                 20,131        20,976 
 ----------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Revenue of the Brands reportable segment - revenue from operations in all territories where the sale is sourced from the Brands operations, together with contract and licence revenue:

 
 Brands revenue analysis*        6 months      6 months 
                               to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                     2022          2021 
                                   GBP000        GBP000 
--------------------------   ------------  ------------ 
 Clarke & Clarke                   11,828        12,582 
 Morris & Co.                       9,462         8,192 
 Harlequin                          8,277         9,098 
 Sanderson                          7,174         7,504 
 Zoffany                            4,247         4,485 
 Scion                                997         1,204 
 Other brands                         185           174 
 Licensing                          3,835         2,036 
---------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                   46,005        45,275 
 --------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

*The Brands reportable segments for the six months ended 31 July 2021 have been redefined to provide additional focus on each Brand. Revenue of the Manufacturing reportable segment - including revenues from internal sales to the Group's Brands:

 
 Manufacturing revenue analysis        6 months      6 months 
                                     to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                           2022          2021 
                                         GBP000        GBP000 
 Standfast                               11,265        10,124 
 Anstey                                  10,425        10,923 
---------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                         21,690        21,047 
 --------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
   3.    Other operating income 

Other operating income comprises consideration received from the sale of marketing materials and additional services of GBP2,272,000 (H1 FY22: GBP2,034,000).

   4.    Tax expense 
 
                                           6 months      6 months 
                                         to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                               2022          2021 
                                             GBP000        GBP000 
 Current tax: 
  - UK, current tax                           (759)         (848) 
  - overseas, current tax                      (61)             - 
  - overseas, adjustment in respect            (54)             - 
   of prior year 
 Corporation tax                              (874)         (848) 
-------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Deferred tax: 
  - current period                            (408)         (313) 
 Deferred tax                                 (408)         (313) 
-------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Total tax expense for the period           (1,282)       (1,161) 
-------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
   5.    Earnings per share 
   a)    Earnings per share 

Basic earnings per share ('EPS') is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period, excluding those held in the Employee Benefit Trust ('EBT') and those held in treasury, which are treated as cancelled. The adjusted basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the adjusted earnings by the weighted average number of shares.

 
                           6 months to 31 July                6 months to 31 July 
                                    2022                              2021* 
                                   Weighted                          Weighted 
                                    average       Per                 average 
                                     number     share                  number   Per share 
                      Earnings    of shares    amount   Earnings    of shares      amount 
                        GBP000       (000s)     Pence     GBP000       (000s)       Pence 
 
    Basic earnings 
     per share           4,184       70,983      5.89      3,767       70,935        5.31 
   ----------------  ---------  -----------  --------  ---------  -----------  ---------- 
    Effect of 
    dilutive 
    securities: 
    Shares under 
     LTIP                               838                             1,652 
   ----------------  ---------  -----------  --------  ---------  -----------  ---------- 
    Diluted 
     earnings 
     per share           4,184       71,821      5.83      3,767       72,587        5.19 
   ----------------  ---------  -----------  --------  ---------  -----------  ---------- 
 
    Adjusted 
    underlying 
    basic and 
    diluted 
    earnings per 
    share: 
    Add back: LTIP 
     accounting 
     charge                 28                               353 
    Add back: Net 
     defined 
     benefit 
     pension 
     charge                310                               233 
    Non-underlying 
     items 
     (see below)           508                                96 
    Tax effects of 
     non-underlying 
     items with 
     other 
     add backs           (134)                             (115) 
   ----------------  ---------  -----------  --------  ---------  -----------  ---------- 
    Adjusted 
     underlying 
     basic earnings 
     per share           4,896       70,983      6.90      4,334       70,935        6.11 
   ----------------  ---------  -----------  --------  ---------  -----------  ---------- 
 
    Adjusted 
     underlying 
     diluted 
     earnings 
     per share           4,896       71,821      6.82      4,334       72,587        5.97 
   ----------------  ---------  -----------  --------  ---------  -----------  ---------- 
 

* the prior year comparatives have been amended to align with the treatment of a forgiveness of loan in the Annual Report 2022 - see Note 5(b) for details.

The Group issued ordinary share capital with voting rights consists of 70,983,505 (H1 FY22: 70,983,505) ordinary shares of which nil (2021: nil) ordinary shares are held in treasury and 220 (H1 FY22: nil) ordinary shares are held by the Walker Greenbank PLC EBT. Shares held in treasury or by the EBT are treated as cancelled when calculating EPS.

   b)    Adjusted underlying profit before tax 

The Group uses an Alternative Performance Measure "adjusted underlying profit before tax". This is defined as statutory profit before tax adjusted for the exclusion of share-based incentives, defined benefit pension charge and non-underlying items. This is recognised by the investment community as an appropriate measure of performance for the Group and is used by the Board of Directors as a key performance measure. The table below reconciles statutory profit before tax to adjusted underlying profit before tax.

Adjusted underlying profit before tax:

 
                                               6 months      6 months 
                                             to 31 July    to 31 July 
                                                   2022          2021 
                                                 GBP000        GBP000 
----------------------------------------   ------------  ------------ 
 Statutory profit before tax                      5,466         4,928 
-----------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Amortisation of acquired intangible 
  assets (a)                                        508           508 
 Forgiveness of loan under the Paycheck 
  Protection Programme (b)                            -         (412) 
 Net non-underlying charge included 
  in 
  statutory profit before tax                       508            96 
-----------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 
 Underlying profit before tax                     5,974         5,024 
 LTIP accounting charge                              28           353 
 Net defined benefit pension charge                 310           233 
 Adjusted underlying profit before 
  tax                                             6,312         5,610 
-----------------------------------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

In calculating the adjusted underlying profit before tax, the Group adjusts for non-underlying items which are material non-recurring items or items considered to be non-operational in nature. The nature of these adjustments is outlined as follows:

-Amortisation of acquired intangible assets GBP508,000 (H1 FY22: GBP508,000).

-In May 2020, the Group entered a loan contract with Wells Fargo for US$565,818 under the US Paycheck Protection Programme scheme. In June 2021, this loan was forgiven, and the Group treated the forgiveness as a grant for GBP412,000. For the period ended 31 July 2021 this grant was included within the underlying profit before tax. In the audited annual report and accounts for the period ended 31 January 2022, the Group reclassified this grant as a non-underlying income. The comparative for the period ended 31 July 2021 is therefore adjusted to treat this grant as a non-underlying income to aid comparability.

   6.    Analysis of net funds 
 
                                                           Other 
                              1 February                non-cash   31 July 
                                    2022   Cash flow     changes      2022 
                                  GBP000      GBP000      GBP000    GBP000 
---------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents        19,050     (4,068)          36    15,018 
---------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Total funds                      19,050     (4,068)          36    15,018 
 
 Lease liabilities               (3,903)       1,175     (2,739)   (5,467) 
---------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Total debt                      (3,903)       1,175     (2,739)   (5,467) 
---------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 
 
 Net funds/(debts)    15,147   (2,893)   (2,703)   9,551 
-------------------  -------  --------  --------  ------ 
 

Other non-cash changes are exchange gains/(losses) from the retranslation of bank balances held in non-sterling bank accounts and new additions to right-of-use assets.

   7.    Dividends 

During the period to 31 July 2021, the Group has not paid any dividends.

For dividends related to the financial year ended 31 January 2022, the Company paid:

   -     an interim dividend of 0.75p (GBP532,000) on 26 November 2021. 
   -     a final dividend of 2.75p (GBP1,951,000) on 12 August 2022. 

The Board has proposed an interim dividend of 0.75p per share to be paid on 25 November 2022 to the shareholders on the Company's register on 28 October 2022. The ex-dividend date is 27 October 2022.

These interim financial statements have not been audited or reviewed by auditors pursuant to the Financial Reporting Council guidance on Review of Interim Financial Information.

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END

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October 11, 2022 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

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