Interim Management Statement

RNS Number : 6897K

Severn Trent PLC

20 July 2011

 

20 July 2011

Severn Trent Plc Interim Management Statement

for the period 1 April to 19 July 2011

The Board of Severn Trent Plc confirms that trading across the group has been in line with its expectations and prior guidance. No new material trading events or transactions have occurred during the period 1 April to 19 July 2011.

Customer prices in Severn Trent Water increased by 4.7% (including inflation) from 1 April 2011. Consumption across our measured income base has declined year on year in the period, although at a lower rate than expected.

We continue to target a bad debt level of 2.2% of turnover for the full year, although we continue to monitor future developments closely, especially unemployment levels.

Operating expenditure continues to be in line with the Board's expectations for the year. Operating costs are expected to rise year on year, due to the impact of inflation, rising input costs and quasi taxes, offset by efficiency savings.

Expectations for net capital expenditure (UK GAAP after deducting grants and contributions) remain in the range £450 million to £470 million. The level of net infrastructure renewals expenditure included in this figure is anticipated to be £120 million to £130 million.

For the full year, Severn Trent Services is expected to deliver increased revenue growth, although revenues are expected to be lower period on period in the first 6 months. Due to planned investment in growth opportunities in Operating Services and new water purification products (BalPure and MicroDynamics) which will offset growth in the underlying business, PBIT is still expected to be lower year on year.

Based on current RPI expectations, group interest charge is expected to be broadly flat year on year, before adjustments related to pension accounting.

The expected effective current tax rate for the group for 2011/12 remains at 26% to 27%.

Severn Trent Plc will announce its interim results for the period ending 30 September 2011 on 24 November 2011.

Enquiries:

Tony Wray	Severn Trent Plc	0207 353 4200 (on the day)
Chief Executive		02477 715000
Mike McKeon	Severn Trent Plc	0207 353 4200 (on the day)
Finance Director		02477 715000
Rob Salmon	Severn Trent Plc	0207 353 4200 (on the day)
Head of Communications		02477 715000
John Crosse	Severn Trent Plc	0207 353 4200 (on the day)
Head of Investor Relations		02477 715000
Mal Patel / Martha Kelly	Tulchan Communications	0207 353 4200

Forward-Looking Statements:

This document contains certain 'forward looking statements' with respect to Severn Trent's financial condition, results of operations and business and certain of Severn Trent's plans and objectives with respect to these items.

Forward looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as 'anticipates', 'aims', 'due', 'could', 'may', 'should', 'expects', 'believes', 'intends', 'plans', 'potential', 'reasonably possible', 'targets', 'goal' or 'estimates'. By their very nature forward-looking statements are inherently unpredictable, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future.

There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the economies and markets in which the group operates; changes in the regulatory and competition frameworks in which the group operates; the impact of legal or other proceedings against or which affect the group; and changes in interest and exchange rates.

All written or verbal forward looking statements, made in this document or made subsequently, which are attributable to Severn Trent or any other member of the group or persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. Severn Trent does not intend to update these forward looking statements.

Nothing in this document should be regarded as a profits forecast.

This document is not an offer to sell, exchange or transfer any securities of Severn Trent Plc or any of its subsidiaries and is not soliciting an offer to purchase, exchange or transfer such securities in any jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered, sold or transferred in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended).

 

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