Final Results
Savills PLC
4 July 2000
SAVILLS PROFITS RISE BY 31%
SAVILLS plc GROUP RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
30 APRIL 2000
- Group pre-tax profit was up 31% at £20.2m (1999 -
£15.4m).
- Group turnover increased by 39% to £141.9m (1999 -
£102.4m).
- Earnings per share were up 38% at 27.8p (1999 -
20.1p).
- Proposed year-end dividend of 4.5p (net) per share
making a total for the year of 7.5p (1999 - 5.75p),
a 30% increase.
Richard Jewson, Chairman of Savills plc, comments:
'This has been a notable year in the life of your Company.
Our exceptional staff have again taken full advantage of
conditions in the market.
'We have taken two significant strategic steps forward in the
development of FPDSavills as an international property
services group with the acquisition of First Pacific Davies
Limited and our strategic alliance with Trammell Crow
Company, one of the leading US commercial real estate
companies.
'The current financial year has started positively across
the board including contributions from Europe and Asia
Pacific. With 89 offices and associates in 19 countries and
our alliance with Trammell Crow Company we can offer a broad
international service and perspective to clients. Although
markets are now quieter than they have been recently, we
believe that the conditions exist to allow the many
initiatives we have taken to bear fruit and we expect to
make further progress this year.'
Chairman's Statement, Operating and Financial Reviews &
Preliminary Announcement of Results follow
For further information please contact:
Aubrey Adams, Group Chief Executive, Savills plc
020 7409 9923
Andy Yeo, Buchanan Communications
Morning 020 7409 9923
Afternoon 020 7466 5000
Savills plc. Registered in England No. 2122174. Registered
Office 20 Grosvenor Hill, Berkeley Square, London W1K 3HQ
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
RESULTS
This has been a notable year in the life of your Company. I
am delighted to announce a 31% increase in pre-tax profit to
£20.2m (1999 - £15.4m) for the year ended 30 April 2000,
during which we have also made considerable progress in our
international development. Earnings per share are up 38% at
27.8p (1999 - 20.1p) and over the last 10 years we have
achieved earnings per share growth of 16.6% compound.
Turnover increased by 39% to £141.9m
(1999 - £102.4m), and we are pleased that operating profit
margins in the UK property services business have increased
slightly. Shareholders' funds have increased from £45.3m to
£69.6m, including cash balances of £29.1m. Our exceptional
staff have again taken full advantage of conditions in the
market.
DIVIDEND
The Board is recommending a final dividend of 4.5p (net) per
share making a total for the year of 7.5p (1999 - 5.75p), a
30% increase. The dividend is covered 3.4 times.
HIGHLIGHTS
We have taken two significant strategic steps forward in the
development of FPDSavills as an international property
services group.
- On 7 April 2000 we completed the acquisition of
Hong Kong based First Pacific Davies Limited (now called
FPDSavills Asia Pacific Limited) from First Pacific
Company; the company contributed £406,000 profit before
interest and tax to the Group for the period to 30 April
2000; and
- since the year-end, we have formed a strategic
alliance with Trammell Crow Company, one of the leading
diversified commercial real estate companies in the US,
the world's largest real estate market.
The acquisition of First Pacific Davies marked the
culmination of an association which started in 1997, with
the establishment of a joint international network and a
common branding, and which provides the Group with extensive
coverage throughout Asia Pacific and Australia. The
consideration for the transaction was HK$225m (£18.1m) in
cash and 7.8m (£14.4m) new shares in Savills.
Under the US alliance, Trammell Crow Company purchased 10%
of the Company's shares from First Pacific Company and we
have entered into an option agreement, which allows Trammell
Crow Company to increase their holding up to 20%. As part
of the transaction, we have formed a corporate real estate
joint venture in Europe, which includes both Trigon Limited,
our existing facilities management company, and our
Corporate Services business. The new company, branded
Trammell Crow Savills, is owned 51% by Trammell Crow Company
and 49% by Savills and will utilise Trammell Crow's
expertise and US client base. We plan to extend this joint
venture concept into Asia Pacific in due course.
This continued expansion of the Group outside its
traditional UK market enables us to meet the increasingly
international requirements of clients and will facilitate
the development of further international opportunities in
the future. Our existing offices in Europe are being
strengthened and have made a contribution to profit.
In the UK, FPDSavills Limited raised profits by 78% on the
back of a strong residential property market, particularly
in London. Since the year-end we have committed to offices
in Wimbledon and Windsor. FPDSavills Commercial Limited
again performed extremely well, with both the agency and
professional teams taking market share from competitors.
Investment agency was particularly strong. We have had a
good response to the launch of the Charities Property Fund
by Savills Fund Management.
Savills Finance Holdings plc has made significant progress.
Grosvenor Hill Ventures Limited sustained profitability with
further sales and the acquisition of Yorkshire Mill Village,
a retail outlet complex, in Batley. Savills Private Finance
Limited is now trading profitably and has launched
NetMortgage, an on-line mortgage search and select facility.
The Schroder's Residential Property Unit Trust, which we
manage, has made its first purchases since the year-end.
BOARD AND STAFF
David Davies, who founded First Pacific Davies and joined
our board in 1997, sadly died in June after a brave struggle
against cancer. His vision and enthusiasm were important
ingredients in bringing our businesses together; a key step
in making Savills a truly international property adviser.
He made a significant contribution to our deliberations and
we extend sympathy to his wife and family.
The number of Non-Executive Directors has increased to six
with the appointments of Michael Healy and David Eastlake
with effect from 7 April 2000 as representatives of First
Pacific Company; and of William J Concannon and H Pryor
Blackwell with effect from 30 June 2000 as representatives
of Trammell Crow Company. We are delighted to welcome these
new colleagues who bring with them a great breadth of
experience and expertise. Godfrey Blott resigned as a Non-
Executive Director during the year and we are grateful to
him for his contribution to the international development of
the Group.
We were also pleased to announce the Executive appointments
of David Wong, Chief Executive Officer of FPDSavills Asia
Pacific Limited, on 7 April 2000 and of Robert McKellar as
Finance Director on 1 June 2000 and to confirm that Aubrey
Adams, previously Managing Director, now has the title of
Group Chief Executive. Geoffrey van Cutsem will resign as
a Director at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting but
will continue as chairman of FPDSavills Limited. We are
most grateful to Geoffrey van Cutsem for the tremendous
contribution that he has made to the Board over the past 13
years and look forward to continuing to work with him in the
future.
I willingly pay tribute again to our staff throughout the
Group. We have a great many talented people fully committed
to adding value to our clients. Our reward system is an
important mechanism in providing a balance between the
interests of staff and shareholders.
OUTLOOK
The current financial year has started positively across the
board including contributions from Europe and Asia Pacific.
With 89 offices and associates in 19 countries and our
alliance with Trammell Crow Company we can offer a broad
international service and perspective to clients. Although
markets are quieter than they have been recently, we believe
that the conditions exist to allow the many initiatives we
have taken to bear fruit and we expect to make further
progress this year.
Richard Jewson, Chairman
OPERATING REVIEW
SUMMARY
Group turnover increased by 39% to £141.9m (1999 - £102.4m).
Group turnover excluding property sales increased by 43%
from £89.4m to £127.4m. Group pre-tax profit for the year
was £20.2m (1999 - £15.4m), an increase of 31%. It is
proposed to increase the total dividend for the year by 30%
to 7.5p (net) per share (1999 - 5.75p).
The performance of our main operating segments was as
follows:
- FPDSavills had an outstanding year, with profits up 78%
to £9.3m (1999 - £5.2m) on turnover of £68.7m (1999 -
£48.0m).
- The Commercial businesses (including FPDSavills
Commercial Limited, FPDSavills Asia Pacific Limited,
Trigon Limited and the European subsidiaries) continued
to perform well, increasing turnover by 40% to £54.9m
(1999 - £39.1m) and pre-tax profit by 29% to £9.4m
(1999 - £7.3m).
- The property companies (including the Grosvenor Hill
Ventures Group and co-investment companies) generated a
profit of £2.1m on turnover of £14.5m.
- Average staff numbers increased from 1,238 to 2,311
and, as at the year-end, the total staff number had
increased to 11,508 (1999 - 1,456) largely as a result
of the acquisition of First Pacific Davies. Incentive
payments totalled £29.6m compared with £18.6m last
year, reflecting the outstanding performance in the
property services businesses.
PROPERTY SERVICES
The property services subsidiaries, trading under the
FPDSavills brand, had an excellent year with record profits
within the two main operating companies. The international
side of the business has also made great strides with the
acquisition in April of First Pacific Davies Limited (now
called FPDSavills Asia Pacific Limited), the holding company
for the Asia Pacific business. The strategic alliance with
Trammell Crow Company in the US completed after the year-
end, on 30 June 2000. FPDSavills' leading position in the
UK market was recognised by topping the Estates Gazette
League Table of chartered surveying businesses; the rapid
expansion of our international coverage places us amongst
the handful of companies that can offer genuine integrated
services on a world-wide basis.
Summaries of the main practice areas for our European
businesses are set out below and further commentary on the
other international operations is given under a separate
heading.
Agency
Commercial Agency
With a strong focus on the areas of the country where demand
has been highest and consequently where activity and growth
in rents has moved ahead fastest, our business space team in
particular had a most successful year, with West End and
regional offices also showing significant increases in
profitability. Highlights included:
Acquisition of the former Paddington Goods Yard site on
behalf of Development Securities Plc, Norwich Union and
Equitable Life for £77m. The scheme has planning permission
for approximately 1.9m sq ft of offices, 70,000 sq ft of
retail and 200,000 sq ft of residential. Speculative
development of the site will commence in October 2000.
Acquisitions by the National Industrial team, which has been
extremely active on new developments and occupier work
across the UK, of: 80,000 sq ft pre-let acquisition in
Uxbridge for new Head Quarters and Distribution Centre for
Pizza Express; 80,000 sq ft on a new industrial scheme at
Heathrow for Alpha Catering; and a 106,000 sq ft warehouse
sale in Leicester for Mattel.
Acquisition of 50% interest in Central Park, Rugby (120
acres); acquisition of 120,000 sq ft JIT facility for
Johnson Controls in Redditch; letting of speculative
distribution development (205,000 sq ft) at Hams Hall,
Birmingham; portfolio valuation of University of Warwick
Science Park; and development consultancy and agency on
Newcastle Great Park (2.5m sq ft).
Hotels
Our expanding Hotels team had another good year, completing
and formally valuing hotels and serviced apartments valued
at more than £1,100m. The department gave agency and
valuations advice on properties with an overall value of
£1,800m.
Healthcare
Since the year-end a specialist team has been recruited to
advise on valuation, acquisition and disposal of nursing and
residential homes and other specialist areas.
Retail Warehousing
The Retail Warehouse team performed strongly this year. The
planning regime continues to restrict the supply of new
developments thereby increasing the value of existing out of
town locations. The team provided letting advice to
Grantchester PLC on 11 retail parks throughout the UK.
Advice was provided to Pillar Property PLC on two of the
country's leading shopping parks at Fosse Park, Leicester
(415,000 sq ft) and Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh (580,000 sq
ft). At Fosse Park, pre-lettings were completed with New
Look and Sports Soccer at £80 per sq ft and £81 per sq ft,
recording the highest rental levels achieved to date within
the sector.
Development
Notable residential developments in which we have been
involved included the Prudential's Knightsbridge Green
Estate in London, part of which was sold at what is believed
to be a record price per acre for a residential site in
London; and being appointed as sole agents for Gleeson
Homes' Netherne-on-the-Hill new village development in
Surrey, comprising over 400 units.
Residential
Extremely strong market conditions throughout the year led
to a doubling of profits in all regions and an increase in
market share. The market was particularly buoyant for the
very best properties, where prices often exceeded
expectations.
In total £1.6bn of property was sold, an increase of 50%
over the previous year. Notable transactions included
Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire (guide price £15m), Mentmore
Towers (guide price £3m - 5m) and the Piccadilly Estate
(formerly known as the In and Out Club). Central London
values have risen by about 30% and in the country by about
19% during the year.
After hectic activity at the start of the year, the market
is well balanced between supply and demand with prospects
for another good year ahead.
Agricultural Agency
The recession in all sectors of the agricultural industry
continued during the year. However, despite falling farm
incomes, the amount of land being offered for sale publicly
in 1999 was 25% less than the average for the preceeding
four years and values held up remarkably well.
A three tier market developed with strongest demand being
for farms with a quality house, reflecting the strength of
the residential market, whereas values for more commercial
farms in areas with lower amenity softened by between 10% to
20%. Hardest to sell have been off-lying blocks of
commercial land where there is no interest from neighbouring
farmers.
FPDSavills continued to dominate the agency market; our in-
house agricultural research department estimating that the
company has handled an annual average of one acre in every
five advertised in the Farmers Weekly and Country Life over
the last five years.
The most notable transaction with which FPDSavills was
involved during 1999 was the Duchy of Cornwall's acquisition
of the Prudential's 28,000 acre rural property portfolio.
Investment
Commercial Investment
The commercial investment market has continued its strong
run against a background of historically stable interest
rates and steady economic growth, providing prospects for
sustainable rental growth on high quality properties.
The investment team had an exceptional year with turnover
some 50% up on last year. Notable transactions included:
- Acting on behalf of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in
the acquisition of a Sainsbury foodstores portfolio in
the sum of £325m, comprising an innovative bond issue.
- The sale on behalf of Grantchester plc of a retail
warehouse portfolio in the sum of £80.3m to RREEF.
- The sale of Kensington Village Phase I, Avonmore
Row, London for MWB to Schroder Exempt Property Unit
Trust, whilst on behalf of Standard Life Investments we
sold Port Road Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff to
Legal and General Property Limited for £22.5m.
Fund Management
Savills Fund Management enjoyed another strong year.
Discretionary pension fund clients outperformed their
benchmarks by a wide margin in 1999. This performance was
recognised when the team won the Investment Property
Databank/Investment Property Forum (IPD/IPF) Award for the
Best Performing Pension Fund over £100m for the three years
to December 1999.
In April 2000 Savills Fund Management announced the creation
of the Charities Property Fund. This is the first property
based common investment fund enabling charities to invest in
commercial property on a pooled basis. The Fund is wholly
tax efficient with investors benefiting from the valuable
exemption from Stamp Duty. It is intended that this Fund
will grow to over £100m within 12 months.
Residential Investment
The emerging residential investment market provides
FPDSavills with a unique opportunity to capitalise on the
full range of services that we offer in this sector. The
acquisition of an Oxford based residential corporate
management business in October 1999 from Bradford & Bingley
Estate Agencies Limited enables us to provide a
comprehensive one stop shop to investors. We intend to
consolidate all our residential portfolio management
business and client accounting in one centre of excellence.
Professional
Commercial Valuation
The Commercial Valuation department continues to raise its
profile in the loan security market being voted 'Top of the
Class' by the Association of Property Bankers. It is also
developing its securitisation advisory business, which is a
major growth area. The department was appointed as the
valuer for the recent Sainsbury's food superstore
securitisation and for Canary Wharf's second securitisation,
as well as the latter's earlier flotation. Our turnover and
profit have increased by 33% per annum compound over the
last five years.
Building Consultancy
Our Building Consultancy department has extended its
geographic coverage with a principal office in London and
regional teams in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Glasgow,
Manchester, Norwich and Wimborne. Each team offers a full
range of services with core competencies covering design,
building surveying, project management, acquisition and
stock condition surveys. Notable projects have included the
refurbishment of INVESCO Europe Limited's City offices. The
department is generally recognised to be the market leader
in undertaking stock condition surveys on the housing sector
and is currently advising housing authorities on issues
where expenditure is in excess of £1bn.
Landlord and Tenant
The year was the most successful ever for the Landlord and
Tenant department. The key factor in this success has been
the concentration on the retail warehousing sector where a
large proportion of rent reviews took place during the year
and where we have acted for nine of the ten top owners.
Market share in the office and industrial sectors has also
been increasing where we anticipate dramatic increases in
activity in the short-term as rising rental levels reduce
the percentage of over renting in the market; market
conditions for the rent review business are now the best
that they have been for the last ten years.
Planning and Development
A unified national planning structure has been established
to capitalise upon the acquisition of Shaw Cramond Limited
last year and our existing spread of planning expertise.
The London based planning team has received a number of
significant new instructions and continues to extend its
client base. The teams in Wimborne, Cambridge, Oxford and
Bath have all enjoyed a successful year handling a wide
range of projects including brownfield and residential
expansion schemes throughout the UK.
Our development departments have been involved in various
regeneration schemes with organisations such as Peabody
Trust (Canalside Development project in Kensington) and the
Borough of Hackney (Trowbridge Estate).
Property Management
The property management businesses have shown steady growth.
We are in the process of integrating our various regional
teams into a single national business and intend to expand
this business considerably over the next few years.
Land and Farm Management
The acquisition of the lowland consultancy and estate
management business of Clegg Kennedy Drew in January
endorsed our commitment to the rural property business and
brought land under our management in the UK to 1.8m acres.
In times of low agricultural return we will concentrate on
bringing sound business principles to the management of
rural portfolios and to the development of their ancillary
businesses and assets. We remain committed to the further
expansion of our interests in this sector and our subsidiary
Aubourn Farming.
Facilities Management
Trigon has continued to consolidate its position as a
leading independent provider of facilities management
services to major corporates. New contracts secured during
the year included a call centre for British Airways. With
effect from 30 June 2000, this business forms part of the
joint venture with Trammell Crow Company (see below).
Corporate Services
The Corporate Services team continues to build its business
and the major development since the year-end (as with
Facilities Management) is the transfer of this part of our
business into the new joint venture with Trammell Crow
Company (see below).
Asia Pacific
The acquisition of First Pacific Davies Limited (now called
FPDSavills Asia Pacific Limited) completed on 7 April 2000
and provided a satisfactory contribution for the month.
Prospects for the business are good as the Asian economies
come out of a recent downturn and look to experience
significant growth. As reported in the circular sent to the
shareholders on 17 March 2000, the Directors believe that
the expanded and diversified services and client base from
the acquisition provides high quality and consistent
earnings particularly from the high proportion of facility
and property management business. The results of the
business so far confirm our belief that there are good
opportunities to expand the business further throughout Asia
Pacific and Australia.
International
The acquisition of First Pacific Davies during the year
represented a major development for our international
business which has been further advanced since the year-end
with the completion of the strategic alliance with Trammell
Crow Company. In the space of three years, the Savills
Group has moved from an almost exclusively UK based business
to one of the leading international players with, in the
future, close to half our property services turnover
generated from international businesses.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND CO-INVESTMENT
The Savills Finance Holdings group made a lower contribution
to profits this year compared with last year, when there
were particular large sales both in Grosvenor Hill Ventures
and also of the shareholding in State Securities PLC.
Savills Finance
The Schroders Residential Property Unit Trust (ResPUT) has
made its first portfolio acquisitions and we believe that,
although it has taken longer than expected to establish, it
will now rapidly move to a position where it is the leading
residential unit trust in the market. With institutional
investors increasingly looking at indirect means of
investing in the property market there is considerable scope
to expand the activities not only of the ResPUT, but also of
other similar investment vehicles.
Savills Private Finance
In only its second full year of operation Savills Private
Finance has grown significantly. Its primary focus has been
the development of its mortgage broking business, now fully
established as the UK's leading broker of larger loans.
During the year the company arranged loans of over £500m.
Both the commercial debt broking and financial planning arms
have been strengthened and a personal insurance broking arm
has been launched. The business now operates from five UK
locations including a major new initiative in Manchester
since the year-end. Further growth is planned for the
coming period, with an emphasis on expanding the financial
services operation. Of most significance is the launch of
NetMortgage, which is already receiving industry plaudits as
the best UK on-line mortgage aggregator.
Grosvenor Hill Ventures
Grosvenor Hill Ventures Limited, which co-invests as a
principal, had another active year and completed a total of
£14.5m of sales. Particularly notable transactions included
the sale of its property in George Street, Edinburgh and
Lord Street, Liverpool. The major acquisition during the
year was of the Skopos Mills factory outlet shopping complex
in Batley, Yorkshire, which is now under major refurbishment
and is due to be relaunched in the Autumn as Yorkshire Mill
Village.
Venture Capital
The 15% interest in Killik has provided excellent returns
this year. JSSPinnacle Group Limited, having been
reorganised, is now positioning itself as the leading
provider of social housing management in the UK and a steady
increase in profitability is expected.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
ACQUISITIONS
During the year we completed a number of acquisitions of
businesses or interests in ventures, both in the UK and
overseas.
On 1 May 1999 we exercised our option to acquire the
remaining interest in the James Harris Partnership, an
estate agency practice based in Hampshire.
On 1 June 1999, the Group acquired the remaining 50%
interest in Trigon Limited for £2.67m (including acquisition
costs). Also on 1 June 1999 the Group increased its
interest in the share capital of Adventis Group PLC from 63%
to 71.9% on a pre-emptive basis.
On 3 August 1999 the Group increased its shareholding in
JSSPinnacle Group Limited from 23.9% to 24.14% on a pre-
emptive basis.
On 29 October 1999 the Group acquired the Oxford based
corporate lettings and management business of Bradford &
Bingley Estate Agencies Limited for £150,000 including
acquisition costs.
On 4 November 1999 the Group acquired part of Property
Vision Limited's letting and management business for
£277,000 including acquisition costs.
On 1 January 2000 the Group acquired the consulting and
estate management business of Clegg Kennedy Drew for
£383,000 including acquisition costs.
On 31 March 2000 the Group acquired 64% of D & T Property
Consultants s.p.r.l., a Brussels based real estate agency
and property adviser which had been a member of FPDSavills'
international network since 1995, for a consideration of
£149,000 including acquisition costs. Also on 31 March
2000, the Group increased its investment in FPDSavills
Nederland B.V. from 20% to 25% on a pre-emptive basis for
£40,000 including acquisition costs.
On 6 April 2000 the Group acquired Foster Bowden Limited, a
firm of general practice surveyors, for a consideration of
£312,000 including acquisition costs.
The acquisition of First Pacific Davies Limited (now re-
named FPDSavills Asia Pacific Limited) from First Pacific
Company was completed on 7 April 2000. The cash
consideration comprised HK$225m (£18.1m) and the allotment
to First Pacific Company's nominee of 7.8m shares in the
Company (valued at £14.4m).
TREASURY ACTIVITIES AND POLICIES
The Group's treasury operations are co-ordinated and managed
in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the
Board. They are designed to reduce the financial risks
faced by the Group, which primarily relate to funding and
liquidity, interest rate exposure and currency rate
exposures.
The Group's financial instruments comprise borrowings, some
cash and liquid resources and various other items such as
trade debtors and trade creditors that arise directly from
its operations. The Group does not engage in trades of a
speculative nature.
Further details of financial instruments are provided in
Note 17 to the Accounts. The Board reviews and agrees
policies for managing each of the above-mentioned risks.
These have remained unchanged during the period under review
and are summarised below.
Interest Rate Risk
The Group finances its operations through a mixture of
retained profits and bank borrowings, at both fixed and
floating interest rates. It then uses interest rate caps to
manage its exposure to interest rate fluctuations. At the
year-end, 48% of the Group's borrowings were at floating
rates. The Group has no set policy with regard to the
proportion of debt it maintains at fixed rates of interest.
Liquidity Risk
The Group prepares an annual funding plan approved by the
Board which sets out the Group's expected financing
requirements for the next 12 months. Short-term flexibility
is achieved through overdraft facilities. At the year-end,
1% of the Group's borrowings were due to mature in more than
five years' time.
Foreign Currency Risk
Approximately 4.4% of the Group's turnover was derived from
Europe and 4.8% from Asia Pacific in the year. Our policy
is for each business to borrow in local currencies where
possible. The Group does not actively seek to hedge risks
arising from foreign currency transactions due to their non-
cash nature and the high costs associated with such hedging.
BORROWING
The Group retains substantial short-term money market
facilities with its bankers which are currently not
utilised. The purpose of these facilities is to provide
working capital for the core Group businesses. In addition,
loan facilities are used within Grosvenor Hill Ventures
Limited to finance specific property projects. These loans
are project specific and without recourse to the parent
company.
NET INTEREST RECEIVABLE
Net interest receivable increased to £714,000 (1999 -
£366,000).
TAXATION
The taxation charge was reduced to 30.6% of the profit
before tax compared with 35.6% last year, largely due to the
establishment of a Qualifying Employee Share Trust.
EARNINGS AND DIVIDEND
Earnings per share amounted to 27.8p, a 38% increase on last
year's 20.1p. This calculation excludes the shares held by
the Employee Benefit Trust and the Qualifying Employee Share
Trust.
The Board is recommending a final dividend of 4.5p (net),
making 7.5p for the full year, a 30% increase on last year's
5.75p. The dividend will be paid on 11 September 2000 to
shareholders on the register at 4 August 2000.
SHARE CAPITAL
During the year, 7.8m ordinary shares were issued to Selly
Oak Holdings Limited in connection with the acquisition of
First Pacific Davies Limited. In addition, 95,340 ordinary
shares were issued to participants in the Savills plc United
Kingdom Executive Share Option Scheme and 5,058 to
participants in the Savills Sharesave Scheme. A further
853,187 shares were issued to the Qualifying Employee Share
Trust, bringing the total number of ordinary shares in issue
at 30 April 2000 to 62.5m (1999 - 53.8m).
CASH FLOW AND LIQUIDITY
Net cash inflow from operating activities totalled £20.1m
which, after allowing for cash flows including taxation,
dividends, investments and capital expenditure (see below),
produced a net decrease in cash of £0.5m. At 30 April 2000,
prior to the payment of year-end bonuses, the Group's cash
at bank and in hand amounted to £29.1m. This was deposited
with banks and financial institutions with top credit
ratings for periods not exceeding six months, to match known
outgoings.
The Group continues to operate a centralised treasury
function, which is not a separate profit centre but purely
provides a service to the operating companies.
INVESTMENTS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Cash outflow from Group investments and capital expenditure
amounted to £34m (before taking account of cash within
acquired subsidiaries of £12.9m) made up as follows:
£'000 £'000
Investments
FPDSavills Asia Pacific 20,474
Limited
Trigon Limited 2,670
Healthcare Development 1,154
Services Limited
Foster Bowden Limited 187
Clegg Kennedy Drew (lowland 283
consulting)
Adventis Group PLC 245
Property Vision Limited 277
Bradford & Bingley Estate 150
Agencies Limited
FPDSavills Belgium s.a. 149
Managed Office Solutions 76
(GHV) Limited
Grosvenor Hill (Southampton) 30
Limited
FPDSavills Nederland B.V. 40
JSSPinnacle Group Limited 181
Other 15
25,931
Capital
Expenditure
Equipment & cars 3,118
Property 128
Assets in the course of 6,938
construction
10,184
Less: amounts payable at year (1,971)
end
34,144
BALANCE SHEET VALUE
No value is attributed in the Group balance sheet to
internally generated intangibles such as brand name or
intellectual property rights.
CHANGE OF YEAR-END
At the time of the announcement of the acquisition of First
Pacific Davies Limited, the Group indicated that the
financial year-end would be changed to 31 December. It is
impractical to retain a 30 April year-end whilst Group
businesses outside the UK operate to a 31 December year-end.
We have therefore decided to adopt a Group-wide accounting
year-end of 31 December. Accordingly, we will prepare
accounts for the eight month period from 1 May 2000 to
31 December 2000. An Interim Report will be prepared for
the six months from 1 May 2000 to 31 October 2000.
SAVILLS plc
PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
year ended 30 April 2000
Year to Year to
30.04.00 30.04.99
£'000 £'000
Turnover continuing operations
Existing operations 133,926 93,059
Acquisitions 8,661 9,888
Less: Share of joint ventures (651) (587)
Total Group turnover 141,936 102,360
Operating profit
Group existing operations 18,792 13,840
acquisitions 76 154
Operating profit of parent & 18,868 13,994
subsidiary undertakings
Share of operating profit of
joint ventures 4 38
Share of operating
profit of associated 568 170
undertakings
Operating profit 19,440 14,202
including share of joint ventures
& associates
Loss on disposal of - (59)
property
Profit on disposal of interests 22 -
in subsidiary undertakings
Profit on disposal of interests
in associated undertakings - 908
Profit before interest 19,462 15,051
Net interest
Group 709 417
Joint ventures 6 1
Associates (1) (52)
Total net interest 714 366
Profit on ordinary activities 20,176 15,417
before taxation
Taxation on profit on ordinary (6,166) (5,494)
activities
Profit on ordinary activities 14,010 9,923
after taxation
Minority interests (344) (155)
Profit for the financial year 13,666 9,768
Dividends paid & proposed (4,008) (2,770)
Profit for the year transferred 9,658 6,998
to reserves
Earnings per share 27.8p 20.1p
Diluted earnings per share 25.4p 18.9p
Dividend per share 7.5p 5.75p
SAVILLS plc
SUMMARY GROUP BALANCE SHEET
at 30 April 2000
30.04.00 30.04.99
£'000 £'000
Intangible 33,202 5,987
assets
Tangible assets 21,352 8,881
Investments
Investments in joint
ventures
Share of gross 2,420 1,022
assets
Share of gross (846) (903)
liabilities
1,574 119
Investments in 1,529 44
associates
Other investments 4,021 3,855
Total 7,124 4,018
investments
Fixed assets 61,671 18,886
Working capital 306 3,308
Cash 29,058 26,515
Net current assets 29,364 29,823
Long-term creditors & (20,996) (3,385)
provisions
Net assets 70,039 45,324
Called up equity share 3,127 2,689
capital
Reserves - Share premium 40,845 25,060
account
- Profit & loss account 25,636 17,501
Shareholders' funds 69,608 45,250
Minority interests 431 74
70,039 45,324
Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses
30.04.00 30.04.99
£'000 £'000
Profit for the financial year 13,666 6,663
Currency translation differences on foreign 203 -
currency net investments
Total gains and losses recognised since last 13,869 6,663
annual report
SAVILLS plc
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Year ended 30 April 2000
Year to Year to
30.04.00 30.04.99
£'000 £'000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 20,167 14,771
Dividends received from joint ventures & 445 310
associates
Net cash inflow from returns on investments
& servicing of finance 806 205
Tax paid (6,006) (3,516)
Net cash outflow from capital expenditure
& financial investment (10,878) (6,296)
Net cash outflow from acquisitions
& disposals (9,715) (1,716)
Equity dividends paid (3,401) (2,546)
Cash (outflow)/inflow before use of liquid
resources & financing (8,582) 1,212
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from management of liquid
resources 216 (4,399)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 7,894 (1,850)
Decrease in cash for the year (472) (5,037)
NOTES
1. The financial information above does not amount to full
accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies
Act 1985.
2. Segmental
analysis Commercial Resedential Financial
Year to Services
30.04.00
Turnover
(Group & joint 55,537 68,698 3,849
ventures)
Less share of (638) - -
joint ventures
54,899 68,698 3,849
Operating 8,985 9,006 (286)
profit/(loss)
Share of joint 4 - -
ventures
Share of
associated 8 - 560
undertaking
operating profit
Profit on
disposal - - -
interest in
subsidiary
undertaking
Profit/(loss) 9,997 9,006 274
before
interest &
taxation
Net interest 438 254 (56)
Profit/(loss) 8,435 9,260 218
before
taxation
Net assets 23,044 12,389 1,441
Year to
30.04.99 7,329 5,188 920
Profit/(loss) before
taxation
Turnover
(Group & joint 14,503 - 142,587
ventures)
Less share of (13) - (651)
joint ventures
14,490 - 141,936
Operating 2,744 (1,581) 18,868
profit/(loss)
Share of joint - - 4
ventures
Share of
associated - - 568
undertaking
Profit on
disposal 22 - 22
interest in
subsidiary
undertaking
Profit/(loss) 2,766 (1,581) 19,462
before
interest &
taxation
Net interest (678) 756 714
Profit/(loss) 2,088 (825) 20,176
before
taxation
Net assets 10,988 22,177 70,039
Year to
30.04.99 2,127 (147) 15,417
Profit before
taxation
3. In the above segmental analysis, the turnover for
Commercial includes that for the European offices, Trigon
Limited and the Asian operations.
4. An interim dividend of 3.0p (net) per share was paid.
A final dividend of 4.5p (net) per share is recommended
and, assuming approval at the Annual General Meeting,
will be paid on 11 September 2000 to shareholders on
the register as at 4 August 2000.
5. The earnings per share have been calculated using the
weighted average number of shares in issue of
49,139,000 (1999 - 48,580,000) and excludes the shares
held by The Savills plc 1992 Employee Benefit Trust
(EBT) and the Qualifying Employee Share Trust (QUEST). The
calculation of fully diluted earnings per share is
based on a weighted average number of shares in issue
of 53,731,000 (1999 - 51,777,000).
6. Information relating to the year to 30 April 1999 is an
abridged version of the full Group accounts for that
year which have been filed with the Registrar of
Companies and upon which the Auditors, KPMG Audit Plc,
gave an unqualified opinion.
7. Copies of this statement are being sent to shareholders
and are available from the registered office at:
Savills plc, 20 Grosvenor Hill, Berkeley Square, London
W1K 3HQ
Telephone: 020 7409 9920 Fax: 020 7409 1800
Contact: Lizzie Jackson
The information is also available on the Company's
website on: www.fpdsavills.co.uk
8. The Annual General Meeting will be held at:
25 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7EE on 7 September 2000
at 12 noon.