Final Results

Balfour Beatty PLC 6 March 2002 6 March 2002 BALFOUR BEATTY PLC PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2001 FURTHER GOOD PROGRESS AGAINST KEY OBJECTIVES • Pre-tax profits* up by 20% at £103 million (2000: £86 million) • Additional £13 million net exceptional profit from cables disposals • Earnings per share* up by 32% to 14.4p (2000: 10.9p) • £63 million year-end net cash - strong operating cashflow • Record order book of £4.3 billion • Acquisitions strengthen core businesses and perform to plan • Total dividend up by 11% to 5.0p (2000: 4.5p) Building, Building Management and Services • Operating profits* up 13% to £44 million • Continuing growth in building management, maintenance and security systems Civil and Specialist Engineering and Services • Operating profits* down 8% to £22 million • Growing position in road and utility maintenance systems Rail Engineering and Services • Operating profits* up by £18 million to £24 million • New contract structure in place for UK maintenance • Acquired and UK project businesses perform to plan Investments and Developments • Operating profits* up 12% to £46 million • Three preferred bidder situations expected to reach financial close in 2002 * before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation Outlook 'Once again, we start the year with a record order book, a sound financial position, a clear sense of direction and excellent morale. We have strengthened the business further through carefully targeted acquisitions. 'I believe that our improving combination of first-class engineering, construction and service skills applied to our core markets gives us a strong basis on which to continue to grow shareholder value, this year and in the future.' Viscount Weir, Chairman BALFOUR BEATTY PLC PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2001 Balfour Beatty plc, the international engineering, construction and services group, today announced pre-tax profits before exceptional items and prior to the amortisation of goodwill for the 12 months to 31 December 2001 of £103 million (2000: £86 million). Earnings per share before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation were 14.4p per share (2000: 10.9p per share). An additional net exceptional profit of £13 million arose mainly from the sale of our last remaining cable interests, including our shareholding in the Dubai Cable Company (Ducab). Operating profits before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items were £137 million (2000: £114 million). Year-end net cash stood at £63 million (2000: £104 million) and the order book stood at the record level of £4.3 billion (2000: £3.3 billion). Turnover increased to £3,071 million (2000: £2,603 million). Against this background, the Board recommends an increased final dividend of 2.8p per ordinary share (2000: 2.5p) which, taken with the interim dividend already announced, would give a total distribution for the year of 5.0p (2000: 4.5p) per ordinary share. In his statement to shareholders, Chairman, Viscount Weir, said: 'In 2001, our overall results showed a significant and satisfactory improvement over the previous year. This reflected, at the operating profit level, a strong recovery in Rail and further growth from Building and Investments, offset to a degree by a small decline in Engineering. 'Once again, we start the year with a record order book, a sound financial position, a clear sense of direction and excellent morale. We have strengthened the business further through carefully targeted acquisitions. 'I believe that our improving combination of first-class engineering, construction and service skills applied to our core markets gives us a strong basis on which to continue to grow shareholder value, this year and in the future.' CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW Overview I am pleased to be able to begin my review of 2001 by once again reporting good progress against Balfour Beatty's key objectives. We have achieved a substantial uplift in our earnings, underpinned by strong operating cash flow and further reductions in working capital. Both our current sales and our record forward order book of £4.3 billion contain an increasing proportion of long-term contracts with more predictable margins struck with relationship customers. Our determination to focus on what we do best has found further expression in acquisitions which offer geographical and sectoral expansion but rely on our established core competences. We have funded these acquisitions by the proceeds of divestment and operating cash flow improvements. The majority of our acquisitions over the last two years have been negotiated rather than the subject of price competition. We aim to strengthen our position in markets in which continuing growth can be expected. Our expansion in the UK utility services market through the acquisition of John Kennedy Holdings; our entry into the Italian, Greek and Portuguese railway electrification markets through the purchase of the business previously owned by ABB; into the US rail signalling market; and the extension of our US civil engineering business through buying National Engineering and Contracting in Cleveland, Ohio, all serve this end. We have sustained internal pressure on making our business processes more efficient and have made further progress in supply chain management, risk management, e-commerce and knowledge management. Performance Our financial performance for the year was satisfactory. Overall, before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items, operating profits rose 20% to £137 million, pre-tax profits 20% to £103 million and earnings per share 32% to 14.4p. Profits in the Building, Building Management and Services sector advanced at a rate more sustainable in the long term following the benefits of restructuring which have contributed to the rapid progress of the last two years. It was disappointing that profits fell in Civil and Specialist Engineering and Services, but in Rail Engineering and Services the strong, predicted recovery was delivered and income from Investments and Developments progressed well. During the last two years, we have made eight acquisitions and these have contributed some £377 million of sales to the Group in 2001. It is pleasing to be able to report that these sales delivered operating profits, before goodwill amortisation, of £23 million at a margin of over 6%, which is in line with our forecasts at the time of acquisition. Cash In 2001, Balfour Beatty's operating cash and net cash inflow improved further. Acquisitions were made at a net cost of £93 million. We ended the year with net cash of £63 million (2000: £104 million). The £25 million proceeds from the Ducab disposal were offset by the conversion of a £24 million cash balance held in our captive insurance company to other forms of investment. Disposals, Acquisitions and Investments The sale of our interest in Ducab to its other existing shareholders, together with some other small transactions, realised an exceptional net profit of £13 million. Rail In February, we acquired the Rail Systems Division of ABC NACO in the USA for an initial consideration of $21 million. This business, which we have renamed Balfour Beatty Rail Systems Inc, provides signalling, control and communication services to US rail utilities. The acquisition has broadened the range of rail development opportunities available to the Group in that market. In late December, we acquired the rail electrification project business of ABB for an initial sum of €42 million. This further strengthened Balfour Beatty's leading worldwide position in rail electrification and power systems by adding a major presence in the Italian, Greek and Portuguese markets to the existing strong position created by the acquisition in 2000 of the electrification and power supply business previously owned by Adtranz. Following these acquisitions, our annual worldwide rail sales are expected to be approaching £800 million in 2002. The worldwide market for rail engineering and services is growing under the influence of rapid traffic growth, the development of mass transit systems, rail industry restructuring and increased investment from the private sector. US Civil Engineering In August, we bought National Engineering and Contracting, a US regional civil and specialist engineering contracting company, for an initial sum of $17 million and the assumption of debt. Based in Ohio, this business adds to the overall strength and geographic market coverage of the Group's existing US civil and specialist engineering business. Balfour Beatty is now one of the leading contractors in the US transport sector and has recently secured a number of major new projects in this market, in which growth is underpinned by the federal TEA funding programme. Utility Services In October, we acquired John Kennedy Holdings, a major UK gas and water utility services business, for £37 million. This provides the Group with a strong position in a growing market and augments the support service business portfolio which forms an increasing component of the Group's activities. Following gas and water utility privatisation, the outsourcing of asset management, renewals and other services has continued to grow. Safety considerations are also driving investment plans for asset renewal, particularly in the gas sector. Public Private Partnerships In May, Metronet, the grouping in which Balfour Beatty has a 20% stake, was appointed preferred bidder, under the Public Private Partnership for the London Underground, for the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Line concession. In September, Metronet was also named preferred bidder for the Sub-Surface Line concession. These very substantial bids, when successfully converted to contracts, will significantly increase the amount we will have committed to privately financed projects. It will also produce long-term downstream workflow for the rail and engineering businesses. We continue to develop proposals for work in several sectors of the private finance market. Sector Performance Profits rose by 13% to £44 million in the Building, Building Management and Services sector. The highest growth rates were achieved in building management and maintenance and in security management systems as we continued to grow our businesses in these expanding markets. Performance in Andover Controls was affected by the immediate impact of the events of September 11th, but has subsequently recovered. A key feature of the year was the successful on-time, on-budget delivery of large-scale, multidisciplinary projects under the Public Private Partnership regime, most particularly North Durham Hospital. The first phase of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary also came on stream in January 2002. In these two instances, the majority of our operating companies collaborated around the core leadership of Balfour Beatty Construction. Despite some tightening in our UK and US markets, order intake in all our businesses has remained strong. This reflects the success of our policies in alliancing, our strong involvement in public sector and PPP markets and the increasing impact of business process improvements. In Civil and Specialist Engineering and Services, profits of £22 million were 8% down on 2000. This arose partly from the impact of foot-and-mouth disease on our Power Networks business in the UK, to which reference was made at the interim results. Results in our major civil engineering projects businesses were similar to 2000 overall. Balfour Beatty Major Projects improved its profits, as settlements on conservatively accounted, completed projects were finalised and current performance improved. Results were, however, significantly impacted in Balfour Beatty Construction Inc as, in line with our normal accounting approach, certain projects were written down without taking account of any potential future settlements. UK markets were generally unexciting, pending the impact of the anticipated upturn in infrastructure investment. A number of new projects were secured in the USA. In Rail Engineering and Services, profits recovered strongly from £6 million in 2000 to £24 million in 2001, though in the first quarter of 2001, we continued to lose money in maintenance as the five-year contracts let in 1996 drew to a close. The new-form IMC maintenance contracts, which began in April 2002, are already profitable and their operation is developing well. The businesses which were acquired in the USA in trackwork and in continental Europe in electrification performed up to expectations and delivered their first full year's profit contribution. Our order book for rail has been substantially improved by new project wins and the acquisition of the rail electrification project business from ABB. The administration regime in Railtrack has had no short-term impact on our business. Early clarification of Railtrack's future would offer greater certainty in respect of the industry's long-term development. In Investments and Developments, profits rose by 12% to £46 million as underlying concession income continued to grow and new concessions produced income for the first time. Barking Power's profits moved forward strongly after 2000's planned maintenance outages. Bidding costs were around the level of previous years as we continued to pursue roads, hospitals, schools and other schemes, most significantly the Public Private Partnership for the London Underground. Pensions Our 2001 annual report and accounts will include the first disclosures required under FRS 17. It is our current intention to adopt FRS 17 in full from 2003. Based on 31 December 2001 market values, we have small surpluses in both of our main Pension Schemes. As a result, net of existing SSAP 24 assets and deferred tax, adoption of this standard in the current year would have increased net assets by around £25 million. Business Process Improvements The construction sector continues to offer great scope for the creation of competitive advantage through the effective management of costs and the introduction of improved business processes. The programmes which we have initiated in this regard progressed further during the year. Supplier numbers were further reduced and the proportion of our goods and services procured through preferred supplier and subcontractor relationships grew. We have now completed the first full year of operation of our enhanced risk management system, which covers commercial, safety, environmental and reputational risk issues. We have selected a partner for the development of e-commerce and a growing number of our projects now use their market-leading system. We have also designed and are in the process of introducing a knowledge management system to better utilise the vast reservoir of expertise which exists amongst our staff and within our businesses, worldwide. Safety and the Environment Early this year, Balfour Beatty appointed Sally Brearley as director of Safety and the Environment. Our performance in safety is already well ahead of sector norms and we are now developing key performance indicators for our environmental impacts. These and other relevant items will be covered in more detail in our Environmental and Social Report. We aim to achieve continuous improvement and, where possible, step changes in performance in future years, particularly in respect of safety. Outlook In UK infrastructure, spending plans are ambitious and we believe that the market will strengthen. Rail expenditure is on an upward trend in many of the national markets in which we have established positions. Building markets have tightened in the UK and USA, although currently our order intake remains strong. The growth in outsourcing in the building, road, rail and utility markets seems set to continue. We have succeeded in creating profit growth momentum in Building, Building Management and Services. Our business mix in this sector is undoubtedly unique. If we stick to our disciplines, I believe that we are well placed to exploit the increasing demand for efficient construction, outsourcing and service integration. We aim for continuing steady growth in this sector. In Civil and Specialist Engineering and Services, we have an essentially stable long-term business. Inevitably, given the average project size and duration, profits come in less predictable patterns than in other sectors, but we believe that in 2002 we should make progress. Rail Engineering and Services is a growth industry and we have established Balfour Beatty as a leading player to participate in this growth. The portfolio of PFI/PPP concessions which we have built in Investments and Developments will generate stable and growing profits and cash flows over a long period, even were we to never win another concession. We are, however, building further on the existing base. We believe that PFI/PPP has been, and will continue to be, a successful way to procure public infrastructure. I believe that we will be able to make further overall progress in 2002. ENDS Enquiries to:- Mike Welton, Chief Executive Ian Tyler, Finance Director Tim Sharp, Head of Corporate Communications Tel: 020 7216 6800 www.balfourbeatty.com * * * * * * * * High resolution photographs are available to the media free of charge at www.newscast.co.uk (+44 (0)20 7608 1000). BALFOUR BEATTY PLC GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the year ended 31 December 2001 Notes 2001 2000 £m £m TURNOVER INCLUDING SHARE OF JOINT VENTURES AND ASSOCIATES 2 3,071 2,603 Share of turnover of joint ventures (130) (83) Share of turnover of associates (207) (178) GROUP TURNOVER 2,734 2,342 Continuing operations 2,671 2,300 Acquisitions 60 - Discontinued operations 3 42 GROUP OPERATING PROFIT 62 57 Share of operating profit of joint 40 30 ventures Share of operating profit of associates 23 24 OPERATING PROFIT INCLUDING SHARE OF JOINT VENTURES AND ASSOCIATES 2 125 111 Operating profit before goodwill 137 114 amortisation Goodwill amortisation (12) (3) Continuing operations 124 107 Acquisitions - - Discontinued operations 1 4 Net profit on sale of operations 3 13 11 PROFIT BEFORE INTEREST 138 122 Net interest payable and similar charges: Group (1) 2 Share of joint ventures' interest (25) (20) Share of associates' interest (8) (10) PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION 104 94 Taxation 4 (27) (23) PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 77 71 Dividends: Preference 8 (16) (17) Ordinary 8 (21) (19) TRANSFER TO RESERVES 40 35 p p ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE 14.4 10.9 Goodwill amortisation (2.9) (0.6) Exceptional items after attributable taxation 3 3.0 2.5 BASIC EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE 5 14.5 12.8 DILUTED EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE 5 14.3 12.8 DIVIDENDS PER ORDINARY SHARE 8 5.0 4.5 GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES For the year ended 31 December 2001 2001 2000 £m £m Profit for the financial year: Group 58 54 Share of joint ventures and associates 19 17 Exchange adjustments (3) 1 TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES FOR THE YEAR 74 72 GROUP BALANCE SHEET 2001 2000 At 31 December 2001 £m £m FIXED ASSETS Intangible assets - goodwill 250 168 Tangible assets 138 124 Investments 26 - Investments in joint ventures: Share of gross assets 560 503 Share of gross liabilities (502) (444) 58 59 Investments in associates 28 39 500 390 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 86 81 Debtors - due within one year 663 554 - due after one year 79 85 Cash and deposits 177 192 1,005 912 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Borrowings (20) (71) Other (1,073) (927) NET CURRENT LIABILITIES (88) (86) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 412 304 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR Borrowings (94) (17) Other (31) (48) PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES (99) (82) 188 157 SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 188 156 MINORITY EQUITY INTERESTS - 1 188 157 Shareholders' funds include non-equity shareholders' funds of £166m (2000: £170m) GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2001 2000 For the year ended 31 December 2001 Notes £m £m Net cash inflow from operating activities 7 117 105 Dividends from joint ventures and associates 14 14 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (12) (17) Taxation (9) (5) Capital expenditure and financial investment (55) (38) Acquisitions and disposals of businesses (64) (11) Ordinary dividends paid (19) (17) Net cash (outflow)/inflow before use of liquid resources and financing (28) 31 Management of liquid resources 12 (7) Financing - buy-back of ordinary and preference shares (5) (15) - repayment of minority interests (1) - - new loans 84 46 - repayment of loans (67) (23) (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (5) 32 NOTES 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified for the revaluation of certain land and buildings, and comply with all applicable accounting standards and the Companies Act 1985. There have been no changes in accounting policies since the previous year. 2. SEGMENT ANALYSIS Operating profit before Turnover exceptional items Capital employed 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 £m £m £m £m £m £m TOTAL GROUP, INCLUDING SHARE OF JOINT VENTURES AND ASSOCIATES Building, building management and 1,074 1,013 44 39 (93) (141) services Civil and specialist engineering and 1,150 986 22 24 (52) (16) services Rail engineering and services 698 439 24 6 6 (6) Investments and developments 135 99 46 41 56 70 3,057 2,537 136 110 (83) (93) Discontinued operations 14 66 1 4 - 8 3,071 2,603 137 114 (83) (85) Goodwill amortisation (12) (3) Operating profit 125 111 Net interest payable (34) (28) Profit before tax and exceptional items 91 83 Net cash 63 104 Goodwill (including share of joint ventures and associates) 255 175 Tax and dividends (47) (37) 188 157 The Group's interest in Dubai Cable Company (Pte) Ltd sold in July 2001 and Emform Ltd sold in November 2001 and the Brand-Rex cable businesses sold in March 2000 have been classified as discontinued. Goodwill amortisation arises in Building, building management and services £ 1.5m (2000: £ 0.7m), Civil and specialist engineering and services £ 3.3m (2000: £ 0.3m) and Rail engineering and services £ 7.4m (2000: £ 1.8m). Goodwill arises in Building, building management and services £ 28m (2000: £29m), Civil and specialist engineering and services £ 66m (2000: £7m), Rail engineering and services £ 160m (2000: £ 138m) and Investments and developments £ 1m (2000: £ 1m). 3. EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS In 2001, the net profit on sale of operations of £15m arose on the disposal of the Group's remaining interests in the cable businesses, including the Dubai Cable Company (Pte) Ltd, and related costs. Additionally, a £2m loss was recorded on the sale of the trade and assets of Emform Ltd. In 2000, the net profit on sale of operations arose on the disposal of the Brand-Rex cable businesses (£20m after charging goodwill of £53m, previously written off to reserves) less further losses arising from the disposal in 1999 of the Energy Cable businesses and related costs (£9m). Exceptional items had no effect on the Group's tax charge in 2001 and 2000. 4. TAXATION 2001 2000 £m £m UK current tax Corporation tax on profits of the period at 30% (2000: 30%) 14 9 Double tax relief (1) (1) Adjustments in respect of previous periods 1 - 14 8 Share of joint ventures' taxation 4 1 Share of associates' taxation 6 4 24 13 Foreign current tax Foreign tax on profits of the period 1 2 Adjustments in respect of previous periods 2 - 3 2 Share of joint ventures' taxation 1 2 4 4 Total current tax 28 17 Deferred tax UK 2 12 Foreign - 1 Adjustments in respect of previous periods (3) (7) Total deferred tax (1) 6 Taxation charge 27 23 5. EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE The calculation of earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit for the financial year, after charging preference dividends, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year of 414.2m (2000: 419.3m). The calculation of diluted earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit for the financial year, after charging preference dividends, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue, adjusted for the conversion of share options by 5m (2000: 1m). As in 2000, no adjustment has been made in respect of the conversion of the cumulative convertible redeemable preference shares, which were antidilutive throughout the year. Adjusted earnings per ordinary share before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items have been disclosed to give a clearer understanding of the Group's underlying trading performance. 6. RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 2001 2000 £m £m Profit for the financial year 77 71 Dividends (37) (36) 40 35 Other recognised gains and losses (net) (3) 1 Goodwill - on businesses sold - 53 Buy-back of ordinary and preference shares (5) (15) 32 74 Opening shareholders' funds 156 82 Closing shareholders' funds 188 156 7. NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2001 2000 £m £m (a) Net cash inflow from operating activities comprises: Group operating profit before exceptional items 62 57 Depreciation 35 32 Goodwill amortisation 10 3 Profit on disposal of fixed assets (1) (5) Provision against own shares held 1 - Exceptional items - cash expenditure (4) (20) Working capital decrease 14 38 Net cash inflow from operating activities 117 105 Cash and Borrowings deposits (including and Term finance Tota1 Total overdrafts deposits leases) 2001 2000 £m £m £m £m £m (b) Analysis of movement in net cash Opening net cash 149 38 (83) 104 84 Cash flow (5) (12) (17) (34) 16 Acquisitions of business - debt at date of - - (4) (4) - acquisition Disposals of businesses - debt at date of - - - - 6 disposal Exchange adjustments (5) - 2 (3) (2) 139 26 (102) 63 104 2001 2000 £m £m (c) Reconciliation of cash flow movement to movement in net cash (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (5) 32 Cash inflow from increase in borrowings (17) (23) Cash (inflow)/outflow from decrease/increase in term deposits (12) 7 Change in net cash resulting from cash flows (34) 16 Acquisitions of business - debt at date of acquisition (4) - Disposals of businesses - debt at date of disposal - 6 Exchange adjustments (3) (2) Movement in net cash (41) 20 8. DIVIDENDS Per share Amount Per share Amount 2001 2001 2000 2000 pence £m pence £m On preference shares: Paid 4.8375 8 4.8375 9 Payable 4.8375 8 4.8375 8 9.6750 16 9.6750 17 On ordinary shares: Interim payable 2.20 9 2.00 8 Final proposed 2.80 12 2.50 11 5.00 21 4.50 19 An interim dividend of 2.20p (2000:2.00p) per ordinary share was paid on 2 January 2002. Subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2002, the final dividend of 2.8p (2000: 2.5p) per ordinary share will be paid on 1 July 2002 to ordinary shareholders on the register on 3 May 2002 by direct credit or, where no mandate, by warrants posted on 28 June 2002. A preference dividend of 5.375p gross (4.8375p net) per preference share will be paid in respect of the six months ending 30 June 2002 on 1 July 2002 to preference shareholders on the register on 31 May 2002 by direct credit or, where no mandate, by warrants posted on 28 June 2002. ************************************* The financial information set out above (which was approved by the Board on 5 March 2002) does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2001 (from which this financial information has been extracted) will be filed with the Registrar of Companies following the Annual General Meeting. The auditors' report on these accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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