25 July 2016

Michelmersh Brick Holdings Plc

("MBH", the "Company", or the "Group")

Half Year Results for the six months ended 30 June 2016

Michelmersh Brick Holdings Plc (AIM:MBH), the specialist brick manufacturer, is pleased to report its half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS

Financial Highlights:

§ PBT increased to £2.6 million (H1 2015: £2.5 million)

§ Operating profit of £2.6 million (H1 2015: £2.7 million)

§ 4% Increase in EPS 2.57 pence (H1 2015: 2.47 pence)

§ Turnover steady at £15.3 million (H1 2015: £15.3 million)

§ Net cash balance £2.7 million against a net debt of £0.8 million at June 2015

Operational Highlights:

§ Good performance in a flat market

§ Average selling prices increase 2% over H1 2015

§ Landfill License completes consultation period which will lead to economic realisation of Dunton site

§ Commenced kiln replacement project at Michelmersh - expected completion in autumn 2016

§ The Group ended the period well ahead of intake target with a forward order commitment over 47 million bricks

§ Well positioned for a stronger H2 2016 operational and financial performance

Commenting on the results, Eric Gadsden, Chairman of Michelmersh Brick Holdings Plc, said:

"The Company performed well in the first half despite the expected weaker market, and is on track to deliver its targets for the full year. We continue to invest in our plants to increase efficiency, which over the medium term will enable us to outperform the market with on-going creative development of products, investment in process and encouragement of the efforts of its employees. The business is profitable, cash generative and supported by a strong and long-term asset base"

EU Referendum Outcome

Whilst it is too early to know the full long-term impacts of the UK's exit from the EU, the Board feels that the Company is well positioned to manage any effects within the brick manufacturing and housing industry. The Board do not believe the outcome of the referendum in itself results in any material change in the outlook for the Group's near term financial results or future growth prospects. 

Enquiries:

About Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC:

Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC is a business with five market leading brands: Blockleys, Charnwood, Freshfield Lane, Michelmersh and Hathern Terra Cotta. These divisions operate within a fully integrated business combining the manufacture of clay bricks, tiles and pavers. The Group also includes a landfill operator, New Acres Limited, and seeks to develop future landfill and development opportunities on ancillary land assets.

Established in 1997 the Company has grown through acquisition and organic growth into a profitable and asset rich business, producing approximately 72 million clay bricks, tiles and pavers per annum. MBH currently owns most of the UK's premium manufacturing brands and is a leading specification brick and clay paving manufacturer.

Michelmersh strives to be a well invested, long term, sustainable, environmentally  responsible business. Opportunity, training and security for all employees, whilst meeting the needs of stakeholders are at the forefront of everything we do. We aim to lead the way in producing some of Britain's premium clay products and enhancing our built environment by adding value to the architectural landscape for generations to come.

We are Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC: we are "Britain's Brick Specialist".

Please visit the Group's websites at: www.mbhplc.co.uk and www.bimbricks.com

Chairman's Statement

I am pleased to present the Group's results for the six months ended 30 June 2016 in which the Group has maintained its position within its marketplace. The Group generated a profit before tax of £2.6 million (2015: £2.5 million). Turnover for the first six months of 2016 was level with the equivalent period in 2015 despite a small volume decrease offset by a 2% increase in average selling price. Gross margin fell back slightly from 38.6% to 37.3% as a result of some short-term production problems at one of our sites. Administration costs have fallen slightly despite increased expenditure on IT systems. The interest burden of recent years has been replaced by modest interest income as we maintained a cash positive position throughout the 6 months.

Dividend

The final dividend of 1.0 (2014: 0.5) pence per share for 2015 was paid on 30 June 2016. It is not the Board's current policy to pay an interim dividend but it does intend to propose a full year dividend out of 2016 earnings payable in June 2017. The Board recognises the need to provide a meaningful yield to shareholders and has therefore adopted a progressive dividend policy for future years. 

Assets 

Final consultation on the landfill license at the Dunton site has been completed and we await issue of the final license by the Environment Agency. We expect conclusion of this process within weeks and are actively considering options to activate the site in 2016.

Operational Review

Volumes of bricks sold fell slightly in the first half to 35.1 million (H1 2015: 35.7 million) in what is a very competitive market. The Group did however achieve low single digit average selling price increases of 2% that allowed us to maintain turnover at lower volume. With a full period of the expanded capacity at Freshfield Lane, production in the period increased from 34.8 to 35.2 million allowing stock levels to return to circa 10 weeks sales, a level at which we can provide a timely and reliable service to our customers.

Increased production at our two biggest plants, Freshfield Lane and Blockleys, was offset by shortfall in output from the Michelmersh site in Romsey as yields were affected by clay geological issues in the existing quarry as delays in working through ecological and archaeological issues restricted expansion into the new available reserves. These issues have now been resolved and the effect on the remainder of the year is expected to be minimal and our £1m investment in a new kiln will be operational in the second half.

Cost of production has been affected by the Michelmersh performance and the Group's gross profit has fallen by 1.3% to 37.3%.  

As also reported in the equivalent 2015 period, the energy costs have fallen in the period despite the increase in output. The Group has continued to hedge forward into winter 2017 to lock into the benign energy market and secure ongoing production costs. Recent rises in energy cost indicators will have limited effect on future costs for the Group.

The first six months of 2016 have seen a robust level of order intake across the Group, particularly at our southern plants. The Group ended the period well ahead of intake target with a forward order commitment over 47 million bricks. Again, the emphasis is to ensure a good well balanced mix of forward orders. This strategy was reflected in our product and delivery mix across the various market sectors. The Group aims to continue this theme during 2016.

Strong deliveries in the key repair, maintenance and improvement market ("RMI") via key national and regional builders merchants have been complemented with deliveries to quality housing and regeneration projects. Commercial specification work made up the balance, enhanced by BIM and a number of high end bespoke blends from both our i-Line and Synthesis ranges.

A number of recently supplied notable projects have been the RIBA London Award winning Banham Group, Thornsett Road, Wandsworth, the Riverside building for Waveney District Council and Millgate's spectacular Englemere, Ascot development. Ongoing future developments include Crest Nicholson's Longcross, Chertsey and the inspiring, sustainable Citu Little Kelham project in Sheffield.

The Group has seen a significant level of traffic and data downloads through it's BIMBricks.com branded website. It has been very positive to see the impact of BIM on project management and order intake.

Hathern Terracotta continues to improve its contribution to the Group and has exceeded the exceptional performance in H1 2015. Current orders and prospects suggest that operational performance will proceed ahead of historic levels.

Outlook

We appraise a wide range of economic, construction survey and brick industry statistics against which we measure and plan our business. This information is filtered through our experience and real-time feedback from our markets. Over the past few months there are number of conflicting trends that have been further confused by pre and post Brexit market movements. 

Industry statistics suggest that brick manufacturing is largely steady and delivery volumes slightly, but not significantly, up and this is reflected in flat pricing. Imports seem to be falling from recent increased levels with currency and local economy factors indicating that this reduction will continue. Most commentators recognise the release of pressure from imports and the long term increasing demand for housing and this leads to a steady and growing demand for bricks. Whilst this may not be apparent in markets yet, the direction of travel is established.

The Company performed well in the first half, despite the expected weaker market, and is on track to deliver its targets for the full year. We continue to invest in our plants to increase efficiency which over the medium term will enable us to outperform the market with on-going creative development of products, investment in process and encouragement of the efforts of its employees. The business is profitable and cash generative and supported by a strong and long-term asset base.

Eric Gadsden

Chairman

25 July 2016

Consolidated Income Statement