Interim Results
Expro International Group PLC
5 December 2001
EXPRO INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC
Interim results for the six months ending 30 September 2001
'Expro reports strong first half results'
Expro International Group PLC, the oil field services company,
today announces interim results for the six months ending 30
September 2001.
Six months Six months
ending 30 ending 30
September September Change
2001 2000
Turnover £103.6m* £77.0m 37%*
Operating profit £13.2m* £7.6m 61%*
Profit before tax £10.5m* £5.4m 74%*
Basic EPS 9.5p 6.8p 40%
Dividend per share 3.7p 3.4p 9%
*Results exclude discontinued operations
- Operating profits on continuing operations up 61% to
£13.2m
- Earnings per share up 40% to 9.5p
- Client capital spending robust and increasing, especially
in deep water
- Strong growth achieved across all three business streams
- US development and deep water key drivers of future
growth
- Order book up 20% to £190m
Commenting on these results, John Dawson, Chief Executive,
said: 'We are pleased to report a good set of results for the
first six months, sustaining the strong progress made in the
second half of last year. Our order book is now some 20%
higher than six months ago, and stands at about £190m. This
backlog includes a string of recent orders for Africa
totalling over £30m, from clients such as bp, BHP, BG, CNRI
(previously Ranger) and Soekor, in countries as diverse as
Algeria, Angola, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Egypt. These
contracts are for services and products across the entire
portfolio, all linked to new field development programmes.
These awards confirm the long term objectives of our clients
to increase their production base and address the very real
issue of declining reservoir productivity.'
For further information please contact:
Expro International Group PLC On 5 December: 020 7601 1000
John Dawson, Chief Executive Thereafter: 01189 591 341
Eric Woolley, Group Finance Director
Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7601 1000
Tim Jackaman, Kirsty Hall, Rachel Taylor
EXPRO INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC
Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2001
Chairman's & Chief Executive's Statement
Results Summary
We are pleased to report continuing good progress, with first
half earnings substantially ahead of those for the same period
last year.
Strong growth has been delivered by all three business
streams, building on the momentum established in the second
half of last year.
The resurgence in client capital spending on new deepwater
field developments has been a key driver, leading to an
increase in demand for our subsurface products and services.
The results for the six months to 30 September 2001 compared
with the same period last year:
- Turnover increased 37% to £103.6m*
- Operating Profit increased 61% to £13.2m*
- Profit before Tax increased 74% to £10.5m*
- Earnings per Share increased 40% to 9.5p
- Interim dividend of 3.7p up 9%
* Results exclude discontinued operations
Dividend
The Board is increasing the interim dividend by 9% to 3.7p per
share. This will be payable on 31 January 2002 to
shareholders on the register at 31 December 2001.
Overview
Cased Hole Services, which focus on production optimisation
solutions, saw turnover increase 28% to £42.0m compared with
this period last year. North America was a key driver of
growth through the expanding activities of Tripoint,
Production Wireline and Kinley. We have discontinued our
operations in Venezuela as we have been unable to sustain
acceptable rates of return. Our business in North Africa and
Kazakhstan continues to build on contracts established towards
the end of last year including those with BHP, bp and Baker
Hughes.
Supply of new equipment for the major well services contract
with Santos in Australia is now complete, with full deployment
taking place during the second half of the year. Utilisation
rates are high in the North Sea and there are increasing
opportunities to use our new specialist tooling to secure
superior margins in this competitive market place.
Subsurface Systems, our deepwater field development business
increased turnover by 41% to £25.6m relative to the first half
of last year.
Strong growth was achieved in all four of our geographic
markets. Significant projects included Shell's Malampaya
deepwater gas to power project in the Philippines; Kerr
McGee's North Sea Leadon development; Kerr McGee's Boomvang
and Mariner's King Kong field developments in the Gulf of
Mexico and Chevron's Kuito development along with that of
Total Fina Elf's Girassol project in Angola.
The increasing population of ageing deepwater wells is leading
to an increase in the number of interventions required for
maintenance purposes, very often associated with the use of
our cased hole and surface and environmental services.
Demand continues at a healthy level for our Permanent
Monitoring systems and Tronic's new range of connectors, both
linked to introduction of new deepwater wells.
The Surface and Environmental business, which provides
products and services for the production of marginal fields,
well clean-up and reservoir characterisation, increased
turnover 39% to £36.2m, compared with the same period last
year.
Significant progress has been made in Asia Pacific driven by
our activities in China, the Philippines and Indonesia, the
latter resulting from the PTI acquisition made last year. We
commissioned two major early production systems during the
latter part of the first half, one for Coparex, offshore
Tunisia, and the other for Shell, offshore Iran. We are also
mobilising equipment to perform an extended test on the oil
rim for Shell's Malampaya project. In Europe, the North Sea
remains relatively static but elsewhere business is more
buoyant, the highlight being ENI's Gaggiano project in Italy,
where we are providing production and environmental services,
to assist in continuing the programme of reservoir assessment.
Outlook
The long-term outlook for the services sector remains
positive, as clients strive to reach their production growth
targets of 3-5% per annum. With existing assets in inexorable
decline this will require both production enhancements and new
fields to be brought into production. In the short-term however,
with volatile commodity prices and economic slowdown, clients
are reviewing their activity levels.
In the US, Expro's focus is on the high-value deepwater
projects in the Gulf of Mexico which are unaffected by short-
term swings in commodity prices. Shallow water and onshore gas
activity has been affected by lower gas prices but a strong
recovery is expected in the second half of next year as lower
drilling activity and steep decline rates create a supply
response. Expro's positioning and growth in the important US
market has provided increased profitability and reinforces our
involvement as a global player in important niche markets,
particularly in the deepwater area. Outside of North America,
there continues to be steady increases in demand for services,
supported by a significant project backlog.
During the second half, we expect the rate of growth in the US
to decline, which may reduce the extent of bias in activity
towards the second half, which has been a feature of the
Group's performance in prior years. However, the Group is in
an excellent position to respond strongly when economic
recovery returns.
With a product and service portfolio focussed on the more
stable development and production phase activities, a bias
towards the key deepwater growth markets and wide geographic
coverage, Expro has resilience to short term commodity price
weakness. This is evidenced by our order book, which remains
high relative to the start of the year.
In view of the Group's strength and diversity, the directors
continue to look to the future with confidence.
Dr Chris Fay, CBE John Dawson
Chairman Chief Executive Officer 5 December 2001
For further information please contact:
Expro International Group PLC On 5 December: 020 7601 1000
John Dawson, Chief Executive Thereafter: 01189 591 341
Eric Woolley, Group Finance Director
Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7601 1000
Tim Jackaman, Kirsty Hall, Rachel Taylor
EXPRO INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC
UNAUDITED GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
for the six months ended 30 September 2001
Six months Year
ended 30 ended 31
September March
Six months ended 30 September 2001 2000 2001
Continuing Discontinuing Total
operations operations (restated (restated
note note
2) 2)
Note £000's £000's £000's £000's £000's
Turnover:
Group and share
of joint ventures 103,619 199 103,818 77,025 174,256
Less; share of joint
ventures (3,740) - (3,740) - (2,559)
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Group turnover 3 99,879 199 100,078 77,025 171,697
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit/(loss):
Group 12,037 (447) 11,590 7,557 20,510
Share of joint ventures 1,144 - 1,144 - 356
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 13,181 (447) 12,734 7,557 20,866
Loss on termination of
discontinued
operations 7 - (1,964) (1,964) - -
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Profit/(loss) on
ordinary activities
before finance charges 13,181 (2,411) 10,770 7,557 20,866
Finance charges (net) (2,694) - (2,694) (2,193) (4,932)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit/(loss) on ordinary
activities before tax 10,487 (2,411) 8,076 5,364 15,934
Tax on profit on
ordinary activities 4 (3,169) - (3,169) (1,770) (5,013)
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Profit / (loss) on
ordinary activities
after tax 7,318 (2,411) 4,907 3,594 10,921
Minority equity interests (6) - (6) (10) (1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit / (loss) for
the period 7,312 (2,411) 4,901 3,584 10,920
Dividends paid and
proposed 5 (2,434) - (2,434) (2,192) (6,394)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained profit/(loss)
for the period 4,878 (2,411) 2,467 1,392 4,526
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per ordinary
share:
Basic 6 11.4p 7.6p 5.6p 17.0p
Diluted 6 11.3p 7.5p 5.5p 16.9p
Basic before goodwill
amortisation 6 13.3p 9.5p 6.8p 19.7p
Total recognised gains and losses for the six months ended 30 September
2001 comprise the profit for the period of £4,901,000 and a net gain
of £562,000 on foreign currency translation and overseas borrowings
(six months ended 30 September 2000 - gain of £143,000; year ended
31 March 2001 loss of £1,455,000) .
EXPRO INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC
UNAUDITED GROUP BALANCE SHEET
at 30 September 2001
30 September 30 September 31 March
2001 2000 2001
£000's £000's £000's
Intangible fixed assets and goodwill 44,492 33,034 46,541
Tangible fixed assets and investments 74,141 66,369 72,393
Investments in joint ventures 2,149 - 1,164
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Fixed assets 120,782 99,403 120,098
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks and work-in-progress 13,309 10,937 11,759
Debtors 82,062 62,659 73,457
Cash at bank and in hand 9,342 8,889 6,272
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current assets 104,713 82,485 91,488
Creditors due within one year (104,703) (65,611) (93,320)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net current assets/(liabilities) 10 16,874 (1,832)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets less current liabilities 120,792 116,277 118,266
Creditors due after more than one year (39,270) (45,789) (40,270)
Provisions for liabilities and charges (2,910) (3,182) (2,911)
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Net assets 78,612 67,306 75,085
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Called-up share capital 6,579 6,447 6,575
Share premium account and capital
reserve 60,447 54,341 60,465
Profit and loss account 11,592 6,521 8,057
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' funds being equity
interests 78,618 67,309 75,097
Minority interest (6) (3) (12)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total capital and reserves 78,612 67,306 75,085
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNAUDITED GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the six months ended 30 September 2001
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2001 2000 2001
Note £000's £000's £000's
Cash inflow from operating
activities 8 4,423 6,611 25,479
Finance charges (net) (2,122) (1,565) (4,785)
Taxation (4,121) (976) (4,603)
Capital expenditure and
financial investment (11,071) (4,914) (25,272)
Acquisitions and disposals 2,979 (5,793) (8,780)
Equity dividends paid (4,203) (4,105) (6,297)
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Net cash outflow before financing (14,115) (10,742) (24,258)
Financing (5,281) 9,875 5,771
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Decrease in cash in period (19,396) (867) (18,487)
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NOTES TO THE INTERIM RESULTS
1.The results for the six months to 30 September 2001 and
the comparative results for the six months to 30 September 2000
are unaudited and have been prepared on a basis consistent with
the accounting policies set out in the statutory accounts for
the year ended 31 March 2001 with the exception of Financial
Reporting Standard 19 'Deferred Tax' which was implemented in
the period without material effect. The comparative figures for
the year ended 31 March 2001 do not constitute statutory
accounts for the purpose of section 240 of the Companies Act
1985 and have been extracted from the Company's published
accounts, a copy of which has been delivered to the Registrar
of Companies and on which an unqualified audit report has been
made by the auditors under Section 235 of the Companies Act
1985.
2.Restatement of prior period results
Prior period comparative figures have been restated to
separately disclose the results of operations discontinued
in the current period as follows;
Six months ended Year ended
30 September 31 March
2000 2001
£000's £000's
Turnover
Continuing operations 75,848 169,305
Discontinued operations 1,177 2,392
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group turnover 77,025 171,697
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss)
Continuing operations 8,216 22,098
Discontinued operations (659) (1,232)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 7,557 20,866
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3.Analysis of Turnover
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2001 2000 2001
£000's £000's £000's
Cased Hole Services 41,998 32,779 71,220
Subsurface Systems 25,603 18,124 39,856
Surface & Environmental Systems 32,477 26,122 60,621
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group turnover 100,078 77,025 171,697
Surface & Environmental
Systems Joint Ventures 3,740 - 2,559
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total turnover 103,818 77,025 174,256
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4.Taxation
Tax on profits on ordinary activities has been calculated
based on an estimated weighted average tax rate for the year
ended 31 March 2002 and includes overseas tax of £3,539,000
(six months ended 30 September 2000 £1,981,000; year ended
31 March 2001 £5,806,000). The weighted average tax charge
for the period on profit on ordinary activities is 39.2% and
on profit on ordinary activities before exceptional item
(see note 7) is 31.5%. This is compared to the standard rate
of UK and overseas tax of 30.2% with the difference largely
attributable to expenses not deductible for tax purposes.
5.Dividends
An interim dividend of 3.7 pence per ordinary share is
declared for payment on 31 January 2002 (six months ended 30
September 2000, 3.4p; year ended 31 March 2001, 9.8p).
6.Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share are based on the Group's profit on
ordinary activities after taxation. For the six months to 30
September 2001 the earnings per share are calculated on a
weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during
the period of 64,397,756 shares. The earnings per share for
the six months to 30 September 2000 and for the year ended
31 March 2001 are based on 64,146,434 and 64,384,050 shares
respectively.
Diluted earnings per share are calculated in accordance with
FRS14. The basic earnings per share before goodwill
amortisation is calculated by adjusting earnings for
£1,238,000 goodwill amortisation in the period (six months
ended 30 September 2000 goodwill amortisation of £749,000;
year ended 31 March 2001 goodwill amortisation of
£1,733,000).
7. Exceptional item
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2001 2000 2001
£000's £000's £000's
Loss on termination of operations 1,581 - -
Goodwill previously eliminated
against reserves 506 - -
Capitalised goodwill (266) - -
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 143 - -
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1,964 - -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The exceptional item represents the costs associated with the closure of the
Group's Venezuelan operation.
8.Cash flow information
Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating
activities
Six months ended Six months ended Year ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2001 2000 2001
£000's £000's £000's
Operating profit 11,590 7,557 20,510
Depreciation and amortisation 8,888 7,765 16,003
Profit on sale of tangible
fixed assets - (5) (5)
Increase in stocks and
work-in-progress (1,550) (2,660) (1,261)
Increase in debtors (8,682) (12,511) (12,616)
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
and provisions (5,823) 6,465 2,848
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow from
operating activities 4,423 6,611 25,479
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis of net debt
1 April Other non-
2001 Cash flow cash changes 2001
£000's £000's £000's £000's
Cash at bank and in hand 6,272 3,070 - 9,342
Bank overdrafts (32,246) (22,466) - (54,712)
Debt due within one year (12,866) 5,267 228 (7,371)
Debt due after one year (38,106) - 877 (37,229)
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(76,946) (14,129) 1,105 (89,970)
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