Interim Results

Speedy Hire PLC 22 November 2006 22 November 2006 Speedy Hire Plc Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2006 Speedy Hire is the number one provider of tool and equipment hire services in the UK Financial Highlights Unaudited Unaudited % 2006 2005 Change Revenue £154.4m £120.0m +28.7% Profit Before Taxation £15.5m £13.0m +19.3% Profit Before Amortisation and Taxation £17.2m £13.8m +24.8% Basic Earnings Per Share 24.94p 22.18p +12.4% Basic Earnings Per Share Before Amortisation 27.55p 23.62p +16.6% Dividend Per Share 5.5p 4.9p +12.2% Return on Capital (before amortisation) 15.9% 17.4% Gearing 111.6% 64.8% • Tools like for like turnover growth of 8% • Improved utilisation in Equipment Division • LCH acquisition performing well, and integration going to plan • New business start ups in Pumps and Ireland • Market outlook remains buoyant Outlook 'The key drivers of our business remain positive. Construction output forecasts for the next few years are highly encouraging with PFI projects increasing once again. Our key customers continue to be optimistic in the assessment of their prospects and report full order books for some years ahead. With our strong financial position we are very well placed to take advantage of the many opportunities available to us.' David Wallis - Chairman For further information: Speedy Hire Plc Hudson Sandler Steve Corcoran (Chief Executive) Nick Lyon / Kate Hough Neil O'Brien (Group Finance Director) Tel: 020 7796 4133 Wednesday only: 020 7796 4133 Thursday onwards: 01942 720000 There will be a meeting for analysts at 9.30am on Wednesday 22 November at the offices of Hudson Sandler, 29 Cloth Fair, London EC1A 7NN High resolution photographs will be available to media from 11.00am at www.vismedia.co.uk Speedy Hire Plc Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2006 We are pleased to report another successful six months for your company. Our financial performance has remained strong. In addition, we have made good progress in building the support infrastructure necessary to achieve our long term growth objectives, albeit a significant amount of further work remains to be done. Financial Performance Revenue for the six months to 30 September 2006 was £154.4 million (2005: £120.0 million) an increase of 28.7%. Operating profit before amortisation was £21.5 million (2005: £17.3 million). Operating margins before amortisation were 13.9% (2005: 14.4%). Profit before tax increased by 19.3% to £15.5 million (2005: £13.0 million). Basic earnings per share increased by 12.4% to 24.94 pence (2005: 22.18 pence), and underlying earnings per share increased to 27.55 pence, a 16.6% improvement over the same period last year. Underlying operating margins remain stable, despite the impact of challenging cost conditions and the dilutive effect of the launch of our new Pumps business and our expansion into Ireland. These businesses, whilst performing to plan, are loss making in the short term. The Board intends to pay an interim dividend of 5.5 pence per share (2005: 4.9 pps), an increase of 12.2%. The interim dividend will be paid on 26 January 2007 to those shareholders on the register as at 5 January 2007. Speedy Hire is committed to maintaining and operating the most modern fleet in the industry. Capital expenditure in the six months amounted to £47.5 million: £25.5 million replaced equipment which had reached the end of its economic life and £17.8 million was invested in new equipment to support further growth. In addition, we completed the acquisition of LCH generators, at a cost of £59.0 million. Having received 20 weeks contribution from the acquisition of LCH, together with the impact of start up costs in our new businesses, return on capital in the half year was 15.9% (2005: 17.4%), still significantly ahead of our cost of capital. The LCH acquisition coupled with the underlying growth in the business have, as expected, increased gearing to 111.6% (2005: 64.8%). Interest is covered 4.6 times by operating profit (2005: 4.8 times). We are comfortable with net debt of £171.9 million (2005: £84.3 million), which is underpinned by strong cash flow, with the group generating an EBITDA of £44.7 million over the six months (2005: £35.7 million) representing 29.0% of revenue. The strength of our balance sheet and cash flow continue to provide us with headroom for further growth. Business Review Tools Hire revenues were £80.8 million (2005: £71.4 million) a 13.2% increase over the same period last year. Operating profit amounted to £11.7 million (2005: £10.4 million) and operating margins were 14.4% (2005: 14.6%). The increase in like for like turnover was 8%, well ahead of market growth of around 3-4%, thus further increasing our market share. As well as organic growth, we opened eight greenfield depots to establish the Speedy brand in those areas where we were under-represented. The Equipment division, consisting of Speedy Hire's Power, Lifting, Space, Survey and newly formed Pumps business, produced turnover of £76.3 million (2005: £51.0 million) an increase of 50%. Operating profit amounted to £14.1 million (2005: £9.6 million) and operating margins were 18.5% (2005: 18.8%). Overall utilisation for the Division was 67.7% (2005: 66.4%). Speedy Hire acquired LCH Generators, the UK's leading independent hirer of temporary power systems in May 2006. Since acquisition it has produced turnover of £9.5 million and £2.1 million operating profit. The integration plan is on track to deliver the increase in revenue and profit anticipated. Since the half year end we have announced the £13.5 million acquisition of Lifting Gear Hire, a long established provider of Lifting equipment for hire, along with associated services in testing, servicing, maintenance and repair. The acquisition, which will be slightly earnings dilutive in the short term, will be integrated into Speedy Hire's Lifting business over the next 18 months by when margins and returns are expected to be comparable to those of the existing business. The existing Speedy team of some 3,400 people has grown by a further 400 through growth and acquisitions. Their efforts, for which we extend the thanks of the board and shareholders, are clearly visible within our financial performance, but in addition, a considerable amount of work has been progressing behind the scenes. The board is committed to supporting the needs of the business for the long term and will therefore continue to invest in the infrastructure of the organisation to ensure that it has the foundations to support its future growth potential. Major projects are underway in Information Systems, Training and Development, property evaluation studies and in improving the business's knowledge and understanding of our customers and their needs. All these projects have the customer at their centre, to enable Speedy to continually provide them with better service accompanied with a determination to improve the efficiency of the business. Outlook The key drivers of our business remain positive. Construction output forecasts for the next few years are highly encouraging with PFI projects increasing once again. Our key customers continue to be optimistic in the assessment of their prospects and report full order books for some years ahead. Legislation continues to increase demand for an improved working environment driven by safer working practices. Speedy Hire has actively supported the Health and Safety agenda for many years, such as our approach to providing solutions to and awareness of the Work at Height and Hand Arm Vibration directives. Recent legislation will demand improvements in the management and use of machinery and equipment with regard to noise and dust emissions. Our determination to provide our customers with the most modern, up to date and compliant equipment available augurs well for Speedy Hire. We are winning business in new markets opened up to us through the Equipment division. In addition, we are extending the group's ability to cross sell services to our client base. We are continually identifying opportunities to expand our product offering and to establish ourselves as a service and solutions provider to our customers. Speedy Hire has a strong financial position which enables us to pursue opportunities for growing the business both organically and through suitable acquisitions. We remain of the view that further consolidation is necessary and desirable within the hire industry and intend to play a full part in that process. With favourable market conditions in our sector, we are confident, subject to any significant change in the economic outlook, of reporting further progress. David Wallis Chairman Steve Corcoran Chief Executive 22 November 2006 Speedy Hire Plc Consolidated income statement for the six months ended 30 September 2006 Note Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2006 2005 2006 £m £m £m Revenue 2 154.4 120.0 254.3 Cost of sales (51.5) (39.7) (81.8) _______ _______ _______ Gross profit 102.9 80.3 172.5 Other operating income - - 0.1 Distribution expenses (17.1) (14.7) (23.5) Administrative expenses (66.0) (49.1) (112.5) Analysis of operating profit Operating profit before amortisation 21.5 17.3 38.1 Intangible amortisation (1.7) (0.8) (1.5) Operating profit 2 19.8 16.5 36.6 Financial income 0.1 - 0.2 Financial expenses (4.4) (3.5) (6.1) _______ _______ _______ Profit before tax 15.5 13.0 30.7 Taxation 3 (4.3) (3.6) (8.4) _______ _______ _______ Profit for the period 11.2 9.4 22.3 _______ _______ _______ Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 11.2 9.4 22.1 Minority Interests - - 0.2 _______ _______ _______ 11.2 9.4 22.3 _______ _______ _______ Earnings per share (pence) Basic 4 24.94 22.18 50.44 _______ _______ _______ Diluted 4 24.67 22.05 50.03 _______ _______ _______ Speedy Hire Plc Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 30 September 2006 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2006 2005 2006 £m £m £m Profit for the period 11.2 9.4 22.3 Gains from cash flow hedges taken to reserves 0.2 - - _______ _______ _______ Total recognised income and expense for the period 11.4 9.4 22.3 Dividends paid (4.2) (3.4) (5.6) Issue of ordinary shares 4.4 14.8 14.8 Movement relating to share-based payments 0.8 0.6 0.9 Deferred tax on share-based payments taken to reserves 0.4 0.3 0.4 _______ _______ _______ Total changes in equity in the period attributable to equity holders of the parent 12.8 21.7 32.8 _______ _______ _______ Equity at the start of the period attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 141.1 108.5 108.5 Minority interests 0.2 - - _______ _______ _______ 141.3 108.5 108.5 _______ _______ _______ Equity at the end of the period attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 153.9 130.2 141.1 Minority interests 0.2 - 0.2 _______ _______ _______ 154.1 130.2 141.3 _______ _______ _______ Speedy Hire Plc Consolidated balance sheet at 30 September 2006 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March Note 2006 2005 2006 £m £m £m Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 283.5 213.3 241.4 Intangible assets 60.4 14.7 22.7 _______ _______ _______ 343.9 228.0 264.1 _______ _______ _______ Current assets Inventories 9.3 5.1 6.9 Trade and other receivables 90.9 75.1 72.6 Cash and cash equivalents 4.2 1.1 6.4 _______ _______ _______ 104.4 81.3 85.9 _______ _______ _______ Total assets 448.3 309.3 350.0 _______ _______ _______ Current liabilities Interest-bearing loans and borrowings - (0.1) - Trade and other payables (80.8) (68.1) (69.5) Tax payable (8.4) (7.5) (6.7) _______ _______ _______ (89.2) (75.7) (76.2) _______ _______ _______ Non-current liabilities Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 6 (176.1) (85.3) (109.4) Deferred tax liabilities (28.9) (18.1) (23.1) _______ _______ _______ (205.0) (103.4) (132.5) _______ _______ _______ Total liabilities (294.2) (179.1) (208.7) _______ _______ _______ Net assets 2 154.1 130.2 141.3 _______ _______ _______ Equity Share capital 2.3 2.2 2.3 Share premium 55.4 47.4 51.0 Merger reserve 3.7 3.7 3.7 Retained earnings 92.5 76.9 84.1 _______ _______ _______ Total equity attributable to equity holders of the 153.9 130.2 141.1 Parent Minority interests 0.2 - 0.2 _______ _______ _______ 154.1 130.2 141.3 _______ _______ _______ Speedy Hire Plc Consolidated cash flow statement for the six months ended 30 September 2006 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March Note 2006 2005 2006 £m £m £m Cash flows from operating activities Profit before tax 15.5 13.0 30.7 Adjustments for: Net financial expense 4.3 3.5 5.9 Depreciation 23.2 18.5 38.9 Amortisation of intangibles 1.7 0.8 1.5 Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment (2.9) (2.1) (5.8) Equity settled share-based payment expense 0.8 0.6 0.9 _______ _______ _______ Operating profit before changes in working capital and provisions 42.6 34.3 72.1 Increase in inventories (0.4) (0.3) (2.1) Increase in trade and other receivables (12.0) (19.3) (15.8) Increase in trade and other payables 6.0 20.4 22.4 _______ _______ _______ Cash generated from the operations 36.2 35.1 76.6 Interest received 0.1 - 0.2 Interest paid (4.3) (2.9) (5.6) Corporation tax (paid) / received (1.6) 0.3 (1.4) _______ _______ _______ Net cash from operating activities 30.4 32.5 69.8 _______ _______ _______ Cash flows from investing activities Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 7.9 7.3 15.2 Acquisition of businesses (55.5) (14.6) (35.2) Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (47.5) (37.5) (78.5) _______ _______ _______ Net cash from investing activities (95.1) (44.8) (98.5) _______ _______ _______ Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from the issue of share capital - 14.8 14.8 Proceeds from new loans 66.7 - 20.3 Repayment of borrowings - (3.8) Payment of finance lease liabilities - (0.2) (0.3) Dividends paid (4.2) (3.3) (5.6) _______ _______ _______ Net cash from financing activities 62.5 7.5 29.2 _______ _______ _______ Net (decrease)/ increase in cash and cash equivalents (2.2) (4.8) 0.5 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 6.4 5.9 5.9 _______ _______ _______ Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 7 4.2 1.1 6.4 _______ _______ _______ Speedy Hire Plc Notes (forming part of the interim financial statements) 1 Basis of preparation The consolidated interim financial statements ('financial statements') of the Group for the six months ended 30 September 2006 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the 'Group'). This interim financial information has been prepared applying the accounting policies and presentation that were applied in the preparation of the company's published consolidated accounts for the year ended 31 March 2006. The comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2006 are not the statutory accounts for that financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the auditors and delivered to the registrar of companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain statements under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The results for the six months to 30 September 2006 and 2005 are un-audited, but have been reviewed by the Group's auditors, whose report is set out below. The financial statements were authorised for issuance on 22 November 2006. 2 Segmental information Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2006 2005 2006 £m £m £m Revenue Tools 80.8 71.4 151.0 Equipment 76.3 51.0 107.8 _______ _______ _______ 157.1 122.4 258.8 Intra-group revenue (2.7) (2.4) (4.5) _______ _______ _______ 154.4 120.0 254.3 _______ _______ _______ Operating profit Tools - pre-amortisation 11.7 10.4 24.2 - amortisation (0.3) (0.3) (0.6) _______ _______ _______ 11.4 10.1 23.6 _______ _______ _______ Equipment - pre-amortisation 14.1 9.6 20.7 - amortisation (1.4) (0.5) (0.9) _______ _______ _______ 12.7 9.1 19.8 _______ _______ _______ Operating profit before corporate costs 24.1 19.2 43.4 Corporate costs (4.3) (2.7) (6.8) _______ _______ _______ 19.8 16.5 36.6 _______ _______ _______ Net assets Tools 122.9 113.1 123.5 Equipment 200.6 98.0 111.2 _______ _______ _______ 323.5 211.1 234.7 Unallocated net assets 2.5 3.4 9.6 Net debt (171.9) (84.3) (103.0) _______ _______ _______ 154.1 130.2 141.3 _______ _______ _______ Capital expenditure Tools 20.7 18.6 41.1 Equipment 45.7 26.5 52.8 Intangible assets 35.1 4.7 13.5 Unallocated capital expenditure 4.8 6.0 7.6 _______ _______ _______ 106.3 55.8 115.0 _______ _______ _______ 3 Taxation The tax charge for the six months ended 30 September 2006 is based on an effective rate of taxation of 27.5% (2005: 27.5%), which has been calculated by reference to the projected charge for the full year. 4 Earnings per share The calculation of basic earnings per share for the six months ended 30 September 2006 was based on the profit attributable to equity holders of the parent of £11.2m (six months ended 30 September 2005: £9.4m) and a weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the six months ended 30 September 2006 of 45.1m (six months ended 30 September 2005: 42.6m), calculated as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2006 2005 2006 Weighted average number of shares in issue (millions) At the beginning of the period 43.7 42.5 42.5 Issue of ordinary shares 1.4 0.1 1.2 _______ _______ _______ At the end of the period - basic 45.1 42.6 43.7 Diluting effect of long term incentive plan share 0.3 0.2 0.2 options Diluting effect of Save As You Earn share options 0.2 0.1 0.1 _______ _______ _______ At the end of the period - diluted 45.6 42.9 44.0 _______ _______ _______ Profit for the period (£m) Profit for the period 11.2 9.4 22.1 Intangible amortisation charge 1.2 0.7 1.2 _______ _______ _______ Profit for the period before amortisation 12.4 10.1 23.3 _______ _______ _______ Basic earnings per share (pence) 24.94 22.18 50.44 Intangible amortisation 2.61 1.44 2.42 _______ _______ _______ Basic - adjusted for amortisation 27.55 23.62 52.86 _______ _______ _______ Diluted 24.67 22.05 50.03 _______ _______ _______ 5 Acquisitions During the period, the Group acquired the entire share capital of LCH Generators Limited for a total consideration (including repayment of debt) of £59.0m comprising cash of £54.5m and £4.5m shares. Tangible assets acquired (on a debt-free basis) have been estimated at £18.2m, based on an initial assessment of fair values. Intangible assets in respect of the customer list and brand amounting to £14.4m have been identified based on an independent valuation. Goodwill arising on the acquisition is estimated to be £26.4m. The acquisition generated £9.5m of turnover and £2.1m operating profit (before amortisation) during the period. The group also acquired the trade and assets of Freeman Hire for a consideration of £0.3m. 6 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings The Group increased its revolving credit facility in May 2006 to £210m (31 March 2006: £150m) following the acquisition of LCH Generators Limited. The maturing date of the facility is August 2010. The Group also has a £5m overdraft facility. The group undertakes a number of interest rate hedging arrangements in order to manage the risk of significant interest rate fluctuations. As at 30 September 2006, £94.5m of the Group's borrowings were covered by such arrangements. The profile of the borrowings is as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2006 2005 2006 Fixed rate Amount (£m) 50.0 20.0 35.0 Weighted average interest rate (%) 5.484 5.528 5.463 Weighted average period (months) 21 14 17 Capped rate Amount (£m) 20.0 5.0 10.0 Maximum interest rate (%) 5.700 5.500 5.510 Weighted average period (months) 20 27 26 Collared rate Amount (£m) 24.5 39.5 39.5 Interest rate range (%) 4.320 to 7.000 4.320 to 7.000 4.230 to 7.000 Weighted average period (months) 12 23 19 Floating rate Amount (£m) 82.2 21.2 25.3 _______ _______ _______ 176.7 85.7 109.8 Issue costs (0.6) (0.4) (0.4) _______ _______ _______ Total borrowings 176.1 85.3 109.4 _______ _______ _______ The floating rate borrowings comprise bank loans bearing interest rates fixed for a period of one month by reference to LIBOR. 7 Analysis of net debt Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2006 2005 2006 £m £m £m Cash at bank and in hand 4.2 1.1 6.4 Current borrowings - finance lease liabilities - (0.1) - Non-current borrowings - Bank loans (176.1) (85.3) (109.4) _______ _______ _______ Net debt at the end of the period (171.9) (84.3) (103.0) _______ _______ _______ 8 Dividends Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2006 2005 2006 Total dividend (£m) 4.2 3.4 5.6 _______ _______ _______ Dividend per share (pence) 9.4 8.0 12.9 _______ _______ _______ The dividend for the period represents the final dividend on 9.4 pence per share in respect of the year ended 31 March 2006. The Board has declared an interim dividend of 5.5 pence per share to be paid on 26 January 2007 to shareholders on the register on 5 January 2007. 9 Post balance sheet events On 27 October 2006, the Group acquired the entire share capital of Lifting Gear Hire Limited, a specialist provider for the hire of lifting equipment and associated services. Total consideration, subject to completion accounts, was £13.5 million. The consideration comprised £7.6 million in cash, the assumption of estimated debt of £3.4 million on completion and £2.5 million satisfied by the issue of 242,954 shares in Speedy Hire Plc. For the 10 months ended 30 April 2006 Lifting Gear Hire reported turnover of £16.2 million with net assets as at 30 April 2006 of £2.3million. 10 Shareholder information The interim report will be posted to all shareholders on or about 4 December 2006 and copies of this and the last published Annual Report & Accounts are available from The Company Secretary, Speedy Hire Plc, Chase House, 16 The Parks, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 0JQ. Independent review report by KPMG Audit Plc to Speedy Hire Plc Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information for the six months ended 30 September 2006 which comprises the Consolidated Income Statement, Consolidated Statement of changes in equity, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the related notes. We have read the other information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. This report is made solely to the company in accordance with the terms of our engagement to assist the company in meeting the requirements of the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority. Our review has been undertaken so that we might state to the company those matters we are required to state to it in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have reached. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority which require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/ 4, review of interim financial information, issued by the Auditing Practices Board for the use in the UK. A review consists principally of making enquiries of group management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and, based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with International Standards of Auditing (UK and Ireland) and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months ended 30 September 2006. KPMG Audit Plc Chartered accountants Manchester 22 November 2006 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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