Final Results

Expro International Group PLC 04 June 2003 For Immediate Release 4 June 2003 EXPRO INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC ("Expro" or "the Group") Preliminary results for the twelve months ending 31 March 2003 Expro International Group PLC, the oil field services company, today announces preliminary results for the twelve months ending 31 March 2003. Year Year ending ending 31 March 2003 31 March 2002 Change Turnover* £209.2m £219.2m (5%) Operating Profit* £22.4m £27.5m (19%) Profit before Tax £34.4m £20.2m 70% Profit before Tax, Goodwill & Exceptional items(1) £20.0m £24.6m (19%) Basic EPS 37.8p 20.0p 89% Basic EPS before Goodwill & Exceptional items 22.1p 26.8p (18%) Dividend per share 10.9p 10.8p 1% * (includes share of joint-ventures) The above numbers can be found by reference to the Group Consolidated Profit and Loss Account, and note 5. (1)Operating Profit plus goodwill amortisation of £2,388,000 (2002: £2,468,000) less finance charges of £4,794,000 (2002: £5,415,000) (2)See note 2 • Profit before Tax for 2003 includes an exceptional gain of £16.5m • The business produced a strong EBITDA (Earnings before Exceptional Items, Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) of £43.4m(2), only 6% below prior year £46.3m(2)(includes share of joint-ventures) • A challenging year for the Group - difficult trading conditions, particularly in H2 • Results in line with guidance given in trading update in March • Strengthened financial position - net debt reduced to £42.4m (2001/2: £88.2m) • Continued investment in technology set to yield benefits in the future Commenting on these results, John Dawson, Chief Executive, said: "In the near term the market outlook for oil and gas demand is linked to the pace of global economic recovery and in the coming year is expected to be modest. Projects postponed from the second half of last year are commencing as expected. At present the overall market continues to lack momentum, although recent indicators suggest a progressive improvement in activity levels during the course of the coming year. "The long-term fundamentals for oil and gas are very positive, a recent International Energy Agency study for oil and gas production, forecast an increase of 25% in demand by the end of the decade. This requires massive investment by the operators in order to add to capacity, whilst at the same time overcoming the declining productivity from existing sources of production. Against this backdrop we believe Expro is well positioned to continue to show long term through cycle growth." - Ends - For further information please contact: Expro International Group PLC On 6 June: 020 7067 0700 John Dawson, Chief Executive Thereafter: 01189 591 341 Eric Woolley, Group Finance Director Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700 Tim Jackaman, Kirsty Hall, Rachel Taylor Chairman's & Chief Executive's Statement Results Summary After two years of very strong growth, market conditions during the year ended March 2003 and more particularly during the second half, have proved difficult for Expro. Against a background of high commodity prices there has been reluctance by our clients to expand their Exploration and Production programmes, preferring to maximise cash flow from existing operations. Prices have been driven by security of supply issues rather than demand, which has remained static through a period of uncertainty surrounding the global economic and political outlook. Despite this challenging environment, turnover for the year held up relatively well, falling a modest 5% to £209m for the Group and share of joint ventures. Pre-tax profits, excluding goodwill amortisation and exceptional items, at £20.0m was 19% below prior year, with EPS on the same basis at 22.1p, down 18%, with EBITDA before exceptional items only 6% below the previous year's level at £43.4m Our financial condition continued to improve, as we repaid debt, reducing gearing in the period from 106% to 43%, with net debt at the year-end of £42.4m. The improvement to the Group's net debt position through strong operational cash flow was further significantly enhanced by the receipt from Baker Hughes Inc. of $30m, on the creation of the QuantX joint venture. QuantX has been formed to become the leading provider of permanent in-well data acquisition systems, utilising Expro's established reputation in this market combined with Baker Hughes mechanical intelligent well completions technology and enhanced sales and distribution capability. A number of factors contributed to the shortfall in meeting our expectations of improving our performance over the previous year. Sharp declines in oilfield activity in the Gulf of Mexico were partially offset by strong performances in Africa, the Former Soviet Union and Middle East. In Asia Pacific, activity slowed following completion of the Malampaya project in the early part of the year, whilst in Europe business was maintained at last year's levels despite the reduction in client capital spending in this area. Delays and deferrals to client projects from the second half into the following year also contributed to the general weakness. Dividend The Board is recommending a final dividend of 7.1p per ordinary share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 10.9p vs 10.8p last year. Overview During the year, Expro continued to evolve its core strategies focused on service provision in the development and production phase of an oilfield's life. This is being achieved through a combination of exploiting our global footprint, specialist technologies and know-how in our three closely related businesses. Cased Hole Services, specialises in well maintenance and production optimisation. Cased Hole spending is determined by client operating expenditure, maintaining and enhancing production and counteracting the effect of the naturally occurring fall in productivity of existing wells. In the US market, where much of our work relates to short life gas wells our services are more geared to client development capital spending creating new wells. We are looking to increased levels of business in the UK and our overseas markets, including some modest recovery in the Gulf of Mexico, as the shelf water activity begins to recover on the back of increased land activity in response to higher gas prices in the US. Increasing penetration in overseas markets is anticipated as additional cased hole portfolio services are introduced into these locations. New product development is being increased; a recent innovation jointly developed with Marathon, BJ Services and Expro is the new EXcapeTM perforating technology which is finding increasing acceptance in North America as a means of reducing costs and enhancing reservoir performance. Our Subsurface Systems business spans three critical areas: subsea safety systems; Tronic seabed power and instrumentation connectors; and permanently installed data monitoring systems. The primary driver in the subsurface area is client capital spending on subsea field developments, in the deepwater. Subsurface spending in Europe, particularly that in the UK has, as anticipated, been in rapid decline in the last twelve months as operators have increasingly focused their capital spending in the deep and ultra deepwater markets of Africa, Gulf of Mexico and Brazil. In addressing this progressive geographic re-alignment Expro has made a number of strategic initiatives. The injection of Expro's permanent monitoring business into the QuantX joint venture will enable it to become a leader in advancing permanent in-well monitoring technology. Integrating Expro's capabilities to measure real-time reservoir performance with Baker Hughes intelligent well completions and other technologies will enable us to enhance client project economics, particularly in the deepwater. Tronic continues to hold a market leading position that will be reinforced by our build up of capability in the highly influential domestic US market. We will also be introducing our fibre-optic connector and high voltage seabed power connectors in the coming year to address the market needs to operate in deeper waters with long step outs from host facilities. During the year we have added to our subsea safety system capabilities to operate in ultra deepwater. Working with Statoil, Aker Kvaerner and bp we are developing an enhanced open water assembly for high pressure and high temperature applications for delivery to the field later this year. Drawing on our capabilities in Cased Hole Services, together with our subsea systems know-how, is allowing Expro to progress a new concept for deepwater well maintenance with major clients. This initial move is positioning Expro at the forefront of an emerging market, allowing step-change performance in subsea field economics. Our Surface and Environmental Systems business is positioned to provide the upstream industry with safe, fast and cost effective surface based hydrocarbon processing systems. Expro provides engineered facilities capable of processing, measuring and, as necessary, disposing of all produced well effluent, including gas, oil, water and associated contaminates. This has to be done to the most exacting standards of safety and environmental performance. We have developed a strategic niche allowing us to provide clients with temporary, semi-permanent and life of field process solutions, spanning all phases of the oil field cycle, primarily focused on development and production expenditures. Throughout the year we have continued to establish our reputation as an international provider, particularly in the deepwater and in relation to small field developments. Of significance, this year has seen a full year's operation of the Soroosh field production facility in the Persian Gulf for Shell and next year will see the commencement of operations for Tuscan on the Ardmore field in the North Sea. Board Changes We welcome to the Board Terry Lazenby, who was appointed non-executive director on 3rd June 2003. Terry brings to the Board a wealth of expertise following a distinguished career with bp. Sir John Chisholm will be standing down from the Board at the AGM after nearly nine years of service as non-executive director and we thank Sir John for his valuable contribution to the Company and the part he has played in the development of the business. Outlook The key to Expro's future success is the continued evolution of its technology and utilisation of its international footprint, delivered both organically and through acquisitions, focused on development and production phase activities, closely associated with our three related business streams. In the near term the market outlook for oil and gas demand is linked to the pace of global economic recovery and in the coming year is expected to be modest. Projects postponed from the second half of last year are commencing as expected. At present the overall market continues to lack momentum, although recent indicators suggest a progressive improvement in activity levels during the course of the coming year. The long-term fundamentals for oil and gas are very positive, a recent International Energy Agency study for oil and gas production, forecast an increase of 25% in demand by the end of the decade. This requires massive investment by the operators in order to add to capacity, whilst at the same time overcoming the declining productivity from existing sources of production. Against this backdrop we believe Expro is well positioned to continue to show long term through cycle growth. Dr Chris Fay, CBE John Dawson Chairman Chief Executive Officer 3 June 2003 - Ends - Consolidated Profit and Loss Account For the year ended 31 March 2003 2003 2002 _________________________________ __________________________________ Continuing Discontinued Total Continuing Discontinued Total operations operations operations operations Note £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover: Group and share of joint ventures 2 209,232 - 209,232 219,042 199 219,241 Less: share of joint ventures 2 (5,743) - (5,743) (6,203) - (6,203) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Group turnover 2 203,489 - 203,489 212,839 199 213,038 Cost of sales (170,066) - (170,066) (169,038) (349) (169,387) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Gross profit / (loss) 33,423 - 33,423 43,801 (150) 43,651 ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Other operating expenses (net) Goodwill amortisation (2,388) - (2,388) (2,474) 6 (2,468) Other expenses (9,375) - (9,375) (15,043) (303) (15,346) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Total other operating expenses (11,763) - (11,763) (17,517) (297) (17,814) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Operating profit / (loss): Group 21,660 - 21,660 26,284 (447) 25,837 Share of operating profit in joint ventures 722 - 722 1,695 - 1,695 ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Group and share of joint ventures 22,382 - 22,382 27,979 (447) 27,532 Exceptional gain on partial sale of interest in business on formation of joint venture 3 16,550 - 16,550 - - - Exceptional loss on termination of discontinued operations 3 - (489) (489) - (1,964) (1,964) Less: prior year provision 3 - 735 735 - - - ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Profit / (loss) on ordinary activities before finance charges 38,932 246 39,178 27,979 (2,411) 25,568 Finance charges (net) (4,794) - (4,794) (5,415) - (5,415) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ Profit / (loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 34,138 246 34,384 22,564 (2,411) 20,153 Tax on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities 4 (9,390) - (9,390) (6,967) - (6,967) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Profit / (loss) on ordinary activities after taxation 24,748 246 24,994 15,597 (2,411) 13,186 Minority equity interests (20) - (20) (15) - (15) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Profit / (loss) for the financial year 24,728 246 24,974 15,582 (2,411) 13,171 Dividends paid and proposed 5 (7,210) - (7,210) (7,119) - (7,119) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Retained profit / (loss) for the year 17,518 246 17,764 8,463 (2,411) 6,052 ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ Earnings per ordinary share 6 Basic 37.4p 37.8p 23.7p 20.0p Diluted 37.4p 37.7p 23.5p 19.8p Basic before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items 22.1p 22.1p 27.5p 26.8p Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses For the year ended 31 March 2003 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Profit for the financial year 24,974 13,171 (Loss)/gain on foreign currency translation (7,347) 1,960 Gain/(loss) on overseas borrowings 4,563 (1,421) _______ _______ 22,190 13,710 _______ _______ Consolidated Balance Sheet 31 March 2003 31 March 31 March 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Patents and licences 1,055 906 Goodwill 38,059 43,364 _______ _______ Intangible assets 39,114 44,270 Tangible assets 71,835 76,868 Investments 7 10 Investments in joint ventures: - share of gross assets 12,474 13,986 - share of gross liabilities (8,392) (11,520) - goodwill 932 1,092 _______ _______ 5,014 3,558 _______ _______ 115,970 124,706 _______ _______ Current assets Stocks and work-in-progress 10,392 12,073 Debtors - due within one year 61,402 75,639 - due after one year 8,775 8,775 Cash at bank and in hand 28,104 5,848 _______ _______ 108,673 102,335 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (52,314) (58,709) _______ _______ Net current assets 56,359 43,626 _______ _______ Total assets less current liabilities 172,329 168,332 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year (70,844) (82,607) Provisions for liabilities and charges (3,039) (2,635) _______ _______ Net assets 98,446 83,090 _______ _______ Capital and reserves Note Called-up share capital 6,615 6,605 Share premium account 7 61,650 61,304 Capital reserve 7 24 24 Profit and loss account 7 30,134 15,154 _______ _______ Shareholders' funds, being equity interests 98,423 83,087 Minority equity interests 23 3 _______ _______ Total capital and reserves 98,446 83,090 _______ _______ Consolidated Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31 March 2003 31 March 31 March 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Note Net cash inflow from operating activities 8 53,129 28,850 _______ _______ Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 109 338 Interest paid (5,461) (5,457) _______ _______ Net cash outflow for returns on investments and servicing of finance (5,352) (5,119) _______ _______ Taxation (6,993) (7,010) _______ _______ Net cash outflow for capital expenditure and financial investment (12,874) (22,312) _______ _______ Acquisitions and disposals 18,979 - Equity dividends paid (7,197) (6,636) _______ _______ Cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 39,692 (12,227) _______ _______ Financing Issue of ordinary share capital 356 247 (Decrease)/increase in debt (5,676) 31,686 _______ _______ (5,320) 31,933 _______ _______ Increase in cash in the year 34,372 19,706 _______ _______ Notes to the preliminary results 31 March 2003 1. The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2002 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statements under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The auditors' report for the year ended 31 March 2003 is unqualified and does not contain any statements under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. These accounts have been prepared using the same accounting policies as in the 31 March 2002 statutory accounts. These accounts will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Annual General Meeting on 9 July 2003. 2. Segmental information Business Stream __________________________________________ Surface & Cased Hole Subsurface Environmental Services Systems Systems Total 2003 2002 2003 2002 2003 2002 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Geographical area ----------------- Europe 27,825 28,194 27,576 27,058 24,471 23,648 79,872 78,900 Africa/FSU/ME(a) 13,306 13,095 11,949 8,772 33,598 31,506 58,853 53,373 Asia Pacific 9,408 8,408 4,743 5,176 11,824 15,454 25,975 29,038 Americas 27,075 34,520 12,518 13,105 4,939 10,305 44,532 57,930 _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Total turnover 77,614 84,217 56,786 54,111 74,832 80,913 209,232 219,241 Share of joint ventures - - - - (5,743) (6,203) (5,743) (6,203) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Group turnover 77,614 84,217 56,786 54,111 69,089 74,710 203,489 213,038 _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ EBITDA before central costs and exceptional items(b) 16,634 20,937 19,003 18,071 16,388 20,529 52,025 59,537 _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Central costs (8,669) (13,220) _______ _______ EBITDA before exceptional items(b) 43,356 46,317 _______ _______ Profit before tax, exceptional items, finance and central costs 10,684 13,965 13,217 13,473 7,891 14,285 31,792 41,723 Exceptional items 246 (1,964) - - 16,550 - 16,796 (1,964) Finance and central costs - - - - - - (14,204) (19,606) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Profit before tax 10,930 12,001 13,217 13,473 24,441 14,285 34,384 20,153 _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ (a) Africa, Former Soviet Union and Middle East. (b) EBITDA - Group operating profit of £21,660,000 (2002 - £25,837,000) plus depreciation of £17,384,000 (2002 - £15,938,000), amortisation of £2,549,000 (2002 - £2,558,000) and share of joint ventures EBITDA of £1,763,000 (2002 - £1,984,000). An analysis of profit on ordinary activities by geographical area and net assets by geographical area and business stream has been omitted. 3. Exceptional items (a) Exceptional gain on partial sale of interest in business on formation of joint venture On 31 March 2003 the group transferred its Permanent Monitoring business into a newly formed joint venture enterprise, QuantX Wellbore Instrumentation. In this transaction, the Expro group's Permanent Monitoring business was transferred, by a combination of asset and share sales, from three wholly owned subsidiary companies, Expro North Sea Limited, Expro Gulf Limited and Expro Americas Inc. into three newly formed joint venture companies, QuantX Wellbore Instrumentation Limited, QuantX Wellbore Instrumentation (International) Limited and QuantX Wellbore Instrumentation LLC. In consideration for a 50% holding in the joint venture companies, Baker Hughes Inc. paid the Expro group £18,979,000 cash. As a result of this transaction, the Expro group and Baker Hughes Inc. each hold 50% in each of these joint venture companies. The total net book value of Expro's Permanent Monitoring business assets was £3,038,000. The group recorded a realised exceptional gain before taxation of £16,550,000 being the cash consideration less the net book value of the net assets transferred to the joint ventures by the Expro group of £1,519,000 and costs associated with the transaction of £910,000. Tax on the exceptional gain is £4,036,000. At any time after 31 March 2004, the Expro group has the option to sell to Baker Hughes Inc., and Baker Hughes Inc. has the option to purchase from the Expro group, all of the Expro group's remaining equity interests in the joint venture companies at a price based on the adjusted earnings for the year immediately prior to the exercise of the option. (b) Exceptional (profit)/loss on termination of discontinued operations Discontinued operations relate to the closure of the group's Cased Hole Services business in Venezuela in the prior year. The closure of the operation is complete with the final charges and associated provisions recorded in the current year resulting in an exceptional profit from the release of excess provisions. The current year exceptional profit and prior year charge had no effect on the group tax charge or minority interest. 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Loss on termination of discontinued operations 489 1,576 Less prior year provision (735) - Goodwill previously eliminated against reserves - 506 Negative goodwill - (261) Loss on disposal of fixed assets - 143 _______ _______ Exceptional (profit)/loss (246) 1,964 _______ _______ 4. Tax on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities The taxation charge comprises: 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Current tax UK corporation tax charge 4,300 2,240 Double tax relief (1,347) (1,046) ______ ______ 2,953 1,194 Foreign tax 8,384 5,946 ______ ______ 11,337 7,140 Adjustments to UK corporation tax in respect of prior years - 51 ______ ______ Total current tax 11,337 7,191 Deferred tax: Origination and reversal of timing differences (1,947) (224) ______ ______ Total tax on profit on ordinary activities 9,390 6,967 ______ ______ 5. Dividends paid and proposed 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Dividend paid on 31 January 2003 of 3.8p (2002 - 3.7p) per ordinary share 2,510 2,434 Proposed final dividend of 7.1p (2002 - 7.1p) per ordinary share* 4,700 4,685 ______ ______ 7,210 7,119 ______ ______ * The Board is recommending a final dividend of 7.1p per ordinary share, subject to shareholder's approval at the Annual General Meeting on 9 July 2003. The dividend will be paid on 31 July 2003, to shareholders on the register at 4 July 2003. 6. Earnings per ordinary share The calculations of earnings per share are based on the following profits and numbers of shares. Continuing operations Total _____________________ _______________ 2003 2002 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Profit for the financial year for Basic and Diluted earnings per share 24,728 15,582 24,974 13,171 Goodwill amortisation 2,388 2,474 2,388 2,468 Exceptional gain after tax on partial sale of interest in business on formation of joint venture (12,514) - (12,514) - Exceptional (gain)/loss on discontinued operations - - (246) 1,964 _______ _______ _______ _______ Earnings before goodwill and exceptional items 14,602 18,056 14,602 17,603 _______ _______ _______ _______ Number of shares __________________ 2003 2002 Weighted average number of shares ranking for dividend used for Basic earnings per share 66,034,624 65,755,130 Exercise of share options - Executive share scheme 88,222 298,009 - Employee share scheme 41,254 300,515 __________ __________ Weighted average number of shares used for Diluted earnings per share 66,164,100 66,353,654 __________ __________ The directors believe that the presentation of basic earnings per share before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items assists with understanding the underlying performance of the group. 7. Reserves Share Profit premium Capital and loss account reserve account £'000 £'000 £'000 Group Beginning of year 61,304 24 15,154 Share issues 346 - - Currency translation difference on foreign currency net investments - - (7,347) Currency translation difference on related borrowings - - 4,563 Retained profit for the year - - 17,764 _______ _______ _______ End of year 61,650 24 30,134 _______ _______ _______ Cumulative goodwill written off against reserves was £47,186,000 (2002 - £47,186,000). 8. Cash flow information Reconciliation of operating profit to net operating cash inflow 2003 2002 __________________________________ _____________________________________ Continuing Discontinued Total Continuing Discontinued Total operations operations operations operations £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating profit/ (loss) 21,660 - 21,660 26,284 (447) 25,837 Depreciation and amortisation 19,933 - 19,933 18,252 244 18,496 Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets 133 - 133 20 - 20 Increase in stocks and work-in-progress (437) - (437) (185) (129) (314) Decrease/ (increase) in debtors 15,809 - 15,809 (12,062) 1,029 (11,033) Decrease in creditors and provisions (4,058) - (4,058) (3,425) (372) (3,797) Exceptional cash inflow/(outflow) related to termination of discontinued operation (note 3b) - 89 89 - (359) (359) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities 53,040 89 53,129 28,884 (34) 28,850 _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Increase in cash in the year 34,372 19,706 Cash flow from decrease/(increase) in debt finance 5,676 (31,686) _______ _______ Decrease/(increase) in net debt resulting from cash flows 40,048 (11,980) Translation difference 5,701 753 _______ _______ Movement in net debt in the year 45,749 (11,227) Net debt at beginning of year (88,173) (76,946) _______ _______ Net debt at end of year (42,424) (88,173) _______ _______ Analysis of net debt Other Beginning Cash non cash End of of year flow changes year £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Cash at bank and in hand 5,848 22,256 - 28,104 Bank overdrafts (12,116) 12,116 - - Debt due after 1 year (81,905) 5,676 5,701 (70,528) _______ _______ _______ _______ (88,173) 40,048 5,701 (42,424) _______ _______ _______ _______ This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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