ANNUAL RESULTS 2021
Strong growth delivers results ahead of market expectations.
Financial Highlights |
2021 £000 |
Restated1
2020 £000 |
Increase % |
Continuing operations | |||
Revenue | 264,465 | 210,227 | 26% |
Operating profit before amortisation2 | 23,366 | 16,179 | 44% |
Operating profit | 20,055 | 13,659 | 47% |
Profit before tax | 18,665 | 12,433 | 50% |
Continuing and discontinued1 operations | |||
Profit for the year | 12,598 | 10,171 | 24% |
Proposed full year dividend | 3.20p | 2.55p | 25% |
Basic earnings per share | 7.98p | 6.45p | 24% |
I am pleased to report that Macfarlane Group has performed strongly in the year ended 31 December 2021. Our results are well ahead of the previous year and better than market expectations.
In the face of challenging market conditions our team has shown great commitment and dedication in servicing our customers and the Board wishes to place on record its thanks for their outstanding performance in helping the Group to continue its positive progress.
The key highlights of 2021 are set out below:
Trading
Macfarlane Group achieved good sales growth from continuing operations in 2021, benefiting from the ongoing structural shift to e-commerce retail, the recovery in certain industrial sectors which had been affected by Covid-19 in 2020 and the acquisitions of GWP and Carters Packaging. Despite ongoing difficult operating conditions due to Covid-19, significant inflationary pressure on input costs and supply shortages of some materials, the business has produced a strong profit performance.
Packaging Distribution has grown sales through strong demand from existing customers in the e-commerce retail and medical sectors and recovery in a number of industrial sectors. However, demand from the aerospace, high street retail and hospitality sectors has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels. New business activity has increased significantly compared with 2020 and Carters Packaging has traded well since its acquisition in March 2021.
Manufacturing Operations has benefited from the acquisition of GWP, which is performing ahead of expectations, and a strong recovery in the Packaging Design and Manufacture business which returned to profit following the restructuring actions that we took in H2 2020. The development of the partnership with our Packaging Distribution business has played a key part in the recovery of the Manufacturing Operations in 2021.
The Group sold its Labels business on 31 December 2021 to The Reflex Group Limited, a well-established, privately owned UK company focused on the manufacture of labels and flexible packaging. We believe the sale gives the best opportunity for the Labels business to develop and allows the Group to focus its resources on accelerating the growth of our protective packaging distribution and manufacturing businesses.
Our effective management of operating cash in 2021 has enabled the business to finance two good quality acquisitions through our existing bank facility. The sale of Labels provides the Group with additional cash resources to invest in the further development of the protective packaging businesses.
The pension scheme was in surplus at 31 December 2021 of £8.3m (2020: deficit £1.5m).
Covid-19 Response
Throughout 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic has continued to impact the Group and has presented significant challenges to the operations of the businesses. However, in supporting our customers we have continually adapted to the changing government guidance to ensure we provide a safe workplace for our teams with particular focus on their health and well-being.
Environment, Social and Governance (“ESG”)
The Board has always recognised the importance of ensuring ESG is prioritised within the business and ESG is now a standing item on the Board agenda. A comprehensive ESG action plan has been approved by the Board which will clearly demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, effective customer, employee, supplier and community engagement and governance.
In September 2021 Andrea Dunstan, the Chair of the Remuneration Committee, retired from the Board and after an extensive search process we welcomed Aleen Gulvanessian as a new non-Executive director to the Board in October 2021. Aleen, who is the new Chair of the Remuneration Committee, has a strong governance background and brings extensive commercial and legal experience to the business.
In 2022 I will enter my 10th year of service on the Macfarlane Group Board and as such cease to be seen as independent under the Corporate Governance code. I have therefore given the Board notice of my intention to stand down this year once a new Chair has been identified and a smooth transition ensured. Plans for my succession are well advanced.
Proposed Dividend
The Board is proposing a final dividend of 2.33 pence per share, amounting to a full year dividend of 3.20 pence per share, compared to the prior year dividend of 2.55 pence per share. Subject to the approval of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 10 May 2022, the final dividend will be paid on Thursday 2 June 2022 to those shareholders on the register at Friday 13 May 2022.
Outlook
We anticipate that 2022 will see ongoing inflationary pressure on input prices, continuing supply constraints on most raw materials and operating costs increasing due to staffing pressures. However, despite these challenges, trading in the early months has been encouraging and the Board is confident that, given the effectiveness of our strategy, the resilience of our business model and the experience and commitment of our people, Macfarlane Group will continue to deliver further growth in 2022.
Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of our founder Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden in November last year. Lord Macfarlane was the driving force in building the Macfarlane Group between 1949 and 1999 when, as Chairman, he retired from the Board. Since then, he was a constant supportive presence and he is greatly missed.
Further enquiries: | Macfarlane Group | Tel: 0141 333 9666 |
Stuart Paterson Chairman | ||
Peter Atkinson Chief Executive | ||
Ivor Gray Finance Director | ||
Spreng Thomson | Tel: 0141 548 5191 | |
Callum Spreng | Mob: 07803 970103 |
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