Macfarlane Group announces its AGM statement (2020)
At the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) held in Glasgow today, Stuart Paterson, Chairman of Macfarlane Group PLC (“Macfarlane” or the “Company”) made the following statement.
Trading
As previously reported in our COVID-19 update on 30 March 2020, the first quarter of 2020 delivered a strong trading performance with Group sales growth of 2% and profitability well ahead of the same period in 2019. The acquisitions made in 2019 both performed to expectations in this period.
As a result of Government actions to address the COVID-19 crisis, we expect demand levels in the second quarter to reduce to between 75% and 80% of those seen in the second quarter of 2019. We are managing our cost base in line with the reduced levels of activity and we would expect the second quarter to be a profitable period of trading albeit well below that achieved in the first quarter.
Customers
Following the introduction of “lockdown” by the Government, our customers in the hygiene, household essentials, medical and food sectors continue to demonstrate strong demand. These customers play a vital role in helping to meet the challenges of COVID-19 and we continue to support them. All our sites remain operational, we are fully engaged with customers and offering an increasingly flexible service in response to their fast-changing needs. Some sectors we serve, such as automotive, aerospace and certain retail segments, have been materially impacted by the lockdown and their business has reduced significantly as a result.
People
The Board is committed to following the Government’s guidance for COVID-19. Our intention during this challenging period is to ensure that we protect the health and wellbeing of our people. We have implemented home working programmes, workplace distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols. In line with the UK Government’s aim to preserve employment we have furloughed approximately 30% of staff through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
The Board wishes to express its gratitude to all Macfarlane staff for their commitment, support and flexibility in these challenging times.
Liquidity
The Company has a strong balance sheet and liquidity headroom. Net bank debt, which at 31 December 2019 was £12.7 million, has now reduced below £6.0 million, albeit with the benefit of taxation deferrals, board salary reductions and bonus deferrals which in total amount to £4.0m. Following the actions taken, there remains significant headroom on the Group’s principal bank facility of up to £30.0 million with Lloyds Banking Group, which is available until June 2022. The Company is in compliance with the covenants for the facility.
As a key measure to conserve cash, the Board took the decision not to propose the 2019 final dividend at today’s AGM, which will reduce cash outflows by £2.8 million in the second quarter of 2020. The Company has been a regular dividend payer for a number of years and the Board remains committed to providing dividend income to shareholders. Once trading has recovered in line with more normal levels and we have more clarity about the longer-term outlook, the Board’s intention is to recommence dividend payments either by augmenting regular dividends or by declaring a special dividend.
Summary
Given the current uncertainty and concerns around the pace of the potential recovery, it is not possible for the Company to provide meaningful guidance on trading for the financial year ending 31 December 2020. However, based on actions taken to date and current levels of trading, we expect the business to remain profitable in 2020 and to operate within the current borrowing facility. Further announcements will be made on the anticipated 2020 performance when the Board has more clarity.
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