Interim Results - Replacement
Speedy Hire PLC
29 November 2001
The issuer advises that the following replaces the Interim Results
Announcement released today at 07.01am under RNS 8722N. The record date in
the announcement should have read 4 January 2002 and not the 7 January 2002 as
previously stated. All other details remain unchanged; the full amended text
appears below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 November 2001
SPEEDY HIRE PLC
(Hire Services)
(Tool hire, site storage, portable accommodation, surveying and measurement
instrumentation, pneumatic and electrical power generation equipment)
Interim results for six months ended 30 September 2001
Unaudited Unaudited
2001 2000
(26 Weeks) (26 Weeks)
Turnover £106.3m £171.5m
Operating profit before exceptionals £9.7m £6.6m
Pre-tax profit £8.0m £0.5m
Basic earnings per share (pence) 13.5p 0.9p
Hire Services earnings per share (pence) 12.1p 10.3p
Dividends per share (pence) 3.0p 5.6p
Gearing (%) 90.2% 45.1%
Proforma gearing post Ryans disposal 68.6% -
Interest cover (times) before exceptionals 5.7 4.1
Group now a focused tool hire business
Dividend rebased to increase investment
Speedy Hire Services
o All Group hire businesses performing well
o Operating profit up 13.8% at £9.4 million
o Like-for-like tool hire turnover up 13.2%
o 15 new depots in first half
o 30 'greenfield' openings between October 2000 and September 2001
o Operating margins remain strong at 17.1%
o £17.5 million invested in new plant
o Long term agreements in place with national contractors
o Currently 215 depots across the UK
Ryan Utility Services
o Sold to Alfred McAlpine on 27 November 2001
o Enterprise value of £12.9 million.
o Proforma gearing reduces to 68.6%
Outlook
o Immediate future underpinned
- High levels of activity across all geographical areas and
sectors
- Government remains committed to its spending plans.
o Confident of meeting our expectations in current climate
For further information:
John Brown (Chief Executive) Thursday only: 020 7786 9600
Neil O'Brien (Group Finance Director) Friday onwards: 01942 720000
Brian Coleman-Smith / Philip Hewitt-Brown / Jacqui Graves 020 7786 9600
Binns & Co Public Relations
SPEEDY HIRE PLC
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2001
Speedy Hire has achieved its objective of becoming a focused tool hire
services business following the disposal of Building Contracting in June 2001
and Utility Services on 27 November 2001. The trading performance of Building
Contracting to the date of disposal is included in the financial statement as
a discontinued activity. The details of this disposal were contained in the
Annual Report for the year ended 1 April 2001.
Ryan Utility Services was sold to Alfred McAlpine Plc for an aggregate
enterprise value of £12.9 million. The disposal proceeds have been used to
reduce debt. This operation is reported as a discontinued activity in these
results.
Results.
Group profit before tax in the six months to 30 September 2001 was £8.02
million (2000: £0.54 million) on turnover of £106.3million, (2000: £171.5
million). Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) were £18.7 million (2000: £9.3 million) and earnings per share were
13.5 pence (2000: 0.9 pence).
Since 1 April 2001 our balance sheet has strengthened as a result of good
trading, improved operational controls and asset disposals.
Debt control and cashflow management has received even more focus. New
systems of both reporting and collection of debt has resulted in improved
cashflow. Group debt levels at 30 September, consisting of bank borrowings
and hire purchase, stood at £58.4 million. This debt is financing a rental
fleet with a net book value of just under £100m. As most of Speedy Hire's
growth has been organic, less than 2% of these assets consist of goodwill.
Gearing at 30 September was 90% (proforma post the Ryans disposal 69%), and
given that this percentage was calculated against a substantive asset base,
the Board considers this appropriate, at this time, for a company involved in
the equipment rental sector. Interest was covered 5.7 times by operating
profits.
Since the start of the year surplus properties with a value of £4 million have
been disposed of and in addition £5.5 million was received as part of the
deferred consideration from the sale of Housebuilding in August 2000. £5
million remains outstanding to be paid to us in August 2002.
Dividend.
As indicated in the Annual Report and Accounts, the financing requirements of
Speedy Hire as a focused growing hire services company are different from that
of the former Allen Group. Accordingly the Board believes that a higher
proportion of profits should be retained for investment within the business in
order to fund growth. The Board therefore intends to pay an interim dividend
of 3.0 pence per share (2000: 5.6 pence) on 31 January 2002 to shareholders on
the register on 4 January 2002. As indicated in the Annual Report we would
expect the full year dividend payment to be covered not less than three times
by earnings per share.
Half Year Review.
Speedy Hire Services.
Operating profit at Speedy Hire Services was £9.38 million, (2000: £8.24
million) an increase of 13.8%. Turnover was £54.8 million (2000: £47.2
million) with like-for-like turnover in tool hire increasing by 13.2%. 15 new
depots opened in the half-year bringing the total to 215. During the period
October 2000 to September 2001 over 30 new 'greenfield' depots opened. As
these inevitably incur pre-opening costs and start up losses which are written
off immediately, the achievement of an operating margin of 17.1% whilst
undertaking a significant development programme, is particularly pleasing.
Speedy Hire Services consists of eight companies focused not only on tool
hire, which makes up around 80% of the business, but also site storage and
portable accommodation, surveying and measurement instrumentation and
pneumatic and electrical power generation equipment. Each of these businesses
has experienced good growth.
It is Speedy Hire's aim to be a full support service provider with a fast,
reliable package solution for our customers supplying everything they need for
a project, with the exception of heavy mechanical plant. Our success in
meeting this aim was recently acknowledged at the Construction Industry awards
when Speedy Hire was recognised as 'Hirer of the Year'.
In the half year, Speedy Hire has made significant investment of £17.5 million
in new equipment to maintain its competitive advantage. The Board has also
considered a number of acquisition opportunities. However, it will continue
to apply stringent financial, strategic and risk management criteria to all
acquisition opportunities and only consider acquisitions where an appropriate
level of value can be created for shareholders.
The sectors in which our customers operate continue to consolidate and they
increasingly seek to deal with suppliers who can provide national coverage.
Speedy is well placed to meet their needs and has secured several long term
agreements with a number of national contractors including Kier Plc, Carillion
Plc, J Mowlem Plc, Interserve Plc, Morgan Sindall Plc and Galliford Try Plc.
Ryan Utility Services.
Ryan Utility Services traded well throughout the period, producing an
operating profit of £0.78 million, on a turnover of £28.1 million. As
described above, Ryan was sold on 27 November 2001. It is pleasing that
despite the additional workload created by the disposal process management
remained focused on running the business well. Mike Rowan and his team are to
be congratulated on maintaining progress during a period of uncertainty and
the Board offers its sincere thanks.
Outlook.
With the outlook for the global economy uncertain, the Board has considered a
number of scenarios, such as a slowdown in the market or a fall in the
utilisation of our assets. If this were the case, we would reduce capital
expenditure on hire assets and review our branch opening plans. This would
immediately result in lower borrowings and reduce the impact on profits of
pre-opening costs and start up losses associated with greenfield sites.
There are no long lead times for the products in which we invest and as a
result we have no significant forward capital commitments In addition
Speedy Hire's customer base is broadly spread across a range of industries,
with 25,000 active accounts, taking in construction, utility contracting,
civil engineering, local authorities and industrial companies. Construction
customers range from the major national contractors, through maintenance
engineers to the local jobbing builder. This diversity means that no single
customer accounts for more than 3% of our business.
We consider that the combination of speed of reaction to changes in the
market, no significant forward capital commitments and an extensive and
diverse customer base to be key strengths of the business. All are monitored
carefully for changes in trend. To date, we have no indication of any such
changes and utilisation rates remain high.
The market remains busy with the majority of our customers enjoying high
levels of activity. This is reflected across all geographical areas and
sectors, including the public sector where the government has recently
re-iterated its commitment to its spending plans. This underpins the
immediate future. While this situation persists, we remain confident of
meeting our expectations.
David W Wallis John E Brown
Chairman Chief Executive
SPEEDY HIRE PLC
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2001
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
26 Weeks to 26 Weeks to Year to
30 September 1 October 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
TURNOVER
Continuing operations 54,930 47,304 100,079
Discontinued operations 51,394 124,196 221,399
_______ _______ _______
106,324 171,500 321,478
----------- ----------- -----------
OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS)
Continuing operations 9,444 8,437 17,553
Discontinued operations 769 (1,355) (17,953)
Unrecovered central overheads (489) (529) (1,040)
Exceptional items - (4,416) (9,385)
---------- ---------- ----------
9,724 2,137 (10,825)
Interest payable (1,700) (1,602) (3,074)
---------- ---------- ----------
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
before taxation 8,024 535 (13,899)
Taxation (2,409) (161) 1,913
---------- ---------- ----------
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after 5,615 374 (11,986)
taxation
Equity minority interests - - (9)
---------- ---------- ----------
Profit/(loss) for the period attributable to 5,615 374 (11,995)
the group
Dividends (1,246) (2,326) (5,773)
---------- ---------- ----------
Profit retained/(loss) for the period 4,369 (1,952) (17,768)
====== ====== ======
Earnings/(loss) per share (pence) 13.52 0.90 (28.88)
---------- ---------- ----------
Dividends per share (pence) 3.00 5.60 13.90
====== ====== ======
SPEEDY HIRE PLC
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2001
Unaudited
Unaudited Restated Audited
As at As at As at
30 September 1 October 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 1,362 654 1,566
Tangible assets 108,987 95,432 106,801
---------- ---------- ----------
110,349 96,086 108,367
---------- ---------- ----------
Current assets
Stocks and work in progress 3,821 4,280 11,785
Debtors 56,602 96,996 88,135
Cash at bank and in hand - 1,021 -
---------- ---------- ----------
60,423 102,297 99,920
Creditors: amounts falling within one year (74,776) (95,804) (118,876)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net current (liabilities)/assets (14,353) 6,493 (18,956)
---------- ---------- ----------
Total assets less current liabilities 95,996 102,579 89,411
Creditors: amounts falling due after
more than one year (22,658) (16,206) (21,249)
Provisions for liabilities and charges (8,587) (10,499) (8,087)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net Assets 64,751 75,874 60,075
====== ====== ======
Capital and reserves
Called-up share capital 2,127 2,077 2,077
Share premium 32,376 30,119 30,119
Merger reserve 3,660 3,660 3,660
Revaluation reserve 390 390 390
Investment property revaluation reserve 665 675 665
Capital redemption reserve 26 26 26
Profit and loss account 25,507 38,927 23,138
---------- ---------- ----------
Equity shareholders' funds 64,751 75,874 60,075
---------- ---------- ----------
SPEEDY HIRE PLC
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2001
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
26 Weeks 26 Weeks to Year to
to 30 September 1 October 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash inflow from operating 16,567 4,121 15,706
activities
---------- ---------- ----------
Returns on investments and
servicing of finance
Interest received - - 14
Interest paid (509) (504) (836)
Interest element of
hire-purchase and
finance lease rental payments (1,191) (1,098) (2,252)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net cash outflow from returns on
Investments and servicing of (1,700) (1,602) (3,074)
finance
---------- ---------- ----------
Taxation (1,448) (1,611) (2,695)
---------- ---------- ----------
Capital expenditure and
financial investment
Purchase of tangible fixed (4,362) (9,537) (11,551)
assets
Sale of tangible fixed assets 7,864 4,270 9,746
---------- ---------- ---------
Net cash inflow/(outflow) for
capital expenditure and
financial investment 3,502 (5,267) (1,805)
---------- ---------- ----------
Acquisitions and disposals
Purchase of businesses - - (5,535)
Disposal of subsidiaries (5,587) 20,728 19,017
Professional fees in connection
with group restructuring - - (2,317)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from
acquisitions and disposals (5,587) 20,728 11,165
---------- ---------- ----------
Equity dividends paid (3,447) (3,447) (5,773)
---------- ---------- ----------
Cash inflow before financing 7,887 12,922 13,524
Financing
Decrease in debt due within one year
- repayments of amounts borrowed - (5,660) (8,057)
Capital element of hire-purchase
and finance lease rental
payments (10,275) (8,717) (19,209)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net cash outflow from financing (10,275) (14,377) (27,266)
---------- ---------- ----------
Decrease in cash in the period (2,388) (1,455) (13,742)
====== ======= =======
NOTES
1. Basis of Accounting
The interim statement has been prepared on the basis of the accounting
policies as set out in the financial statements for the year ended 1 April
2001. The financial information contained in this interim report does not
constitute statutory accounts for the Group for the relevant periods.
Discontinued Operations
The group's disposal of its building division was completed on 8 June 2001.
Turnover and operating profit in respect of that division are included in the
results for the period under discontinued operations.
On 27 November 2001 the Board completed its disposal of Ryan Utility Services
Limited. As the Disposal was completed within 3 months of the end of the
accounting period, the results for the period have been shown as discontinued
in accordance with FRS 3.
Comparative information in respect of the 26 weeks ended 1 October 2000 and
the year ended 1 April 2001 have been restated to comply with the current
period presentation.
Long Term Incentive Plan
During the period, the company issued 1,003,000 shares to the Long Term
Incentive Plan at a price of £2.30 per share. In accordance with Urgent
Issues Task Force Abstracts 13 and 17, the cost of the shares is shown as a
reserve movement. A charge has been made in the profit and loss account for
the period in accordance with UITF 17. A corresponding credit is shown within
reserves in respect of the current year charge.
Deferred Taxation
The group adopted FRS 19 'Deferred Taxation' in it 2001 Annual Report and
Accounts. In accordance with FRS 19 a prior year adjustment was made to
restate the amounts included in the consolidated balance sheets of previous
years for deferred taxation.
2. Turnover and Operating Profit
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
26 Weeks 26 Weeks Year to
to 30 September to 1 October 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover - Continuing Operations
Hire Services 54,818 47,235 100,009
Other 112 69 70
---------- ---------- ----------
54,930 47,304 100,079
Turnover - Discontinued Operations
Hire Services - 623 623
Utility Services 28,119 32,724 61,080
Housebuilding - 10,878 10,878
Building 23,275 79,971 148,818
---------- --------- ----------
51,394 124,196 221,399
---------- ---------- ----------
Total 106,324 171,500 321,478
====== ====== ======
Operating Profit - Continuing Operations
Hire Services 9,375 8,237 17,153
Other 69 200 400
---------- --------- ----------
9,444 8,437 17,553
Operating Profit - Discontinued Operations
Hire Services - 80 80
Utility Services 777 (410) (5,249)
Housebuilding - 300 300
Building (8) (1,325) (13,084)
---------- --------- ----------
769 (1,355) (17,953)
---------- --------- ----------
Total 10,213 7,082 (400)
Unrecovered central overhead (489) (529) (1,040)
---------- ---------- ----------
9,724 6,553 (1,440)
---------- --------- ----------
Exceptional items - (4,416) (9,385)
---------- --------- ----------
9,724 2,137 (10,825)
---------- --------- ----------
3. Movement in shareholders' funds
Unaudited Unaudited
26 Weeks 26 Weeks Audited
to 30 to 1 Year to
September October 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Profit/(Loss) for the period attributable 5,615 374 (11,995)
to the group
Dividends (1,246) (2,326) (5,773)
---------- ---------- ----------
4,369 (1,952) (17,768)
Credit in respect of long term incentive
plan charge 307 - -
Unrealised surplus on revaluation of
properties - - 17
---------- ----------- ----------
Net increase/(decrease) in shareholders'
funds 4,676 (1,952) (17,751)
Opening shareholders' funds 60,075 77,826 77,826
---------- ---------- ---------
Closing shareholders' funds 64,751 75,874 60,075
====== ====== ======
4. Exceptional Items
Unaudited Unaudited
26 Weeks 26 Weeks Audited
to 30 to 1 Year to
September October 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Loss on disposal of discontinued operation - (197) (5,623)
Provision against loss on disposal or
termination of discontinued operations - (4,416) (2,962)
Release of provision against losses on a
terminated activity - 197 -
Unrecovered central overheads - - (800)
---------- --------- ---------
- (4,416) (9,385)
====== ====== =====
5. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating
activities
Unaudited
26 Weeks Unaudited Audited
to 30 26 Weeks Year to
September to 1 October 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Operating profit/(loss) 9,724 6,553 (2,240)
Exceptional items - (1,791) -
Depreciation 8,960 7,155 16,255
Amortisation 20 42 96
Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets (1,939) (1,354) (3,674)
Increase in stocks (1,021) (887) (8,424)
Decrease/(Increase) in debtors 4,834 (5,248) (3)
(Decrease)/increase in creditors (4,011) (349) 13,696
---------- ---------- ----------
16,567 4,121 15,706
====== ====== ======
6. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt
Unaudited Unaudited
26 Weeks 26 Weeks Audited
to 30 to 1 Year
September October To 1 April
2001 2000 2001
£'000 £'000 £'000
Decrease in cash in the period (2,388) (1,455) (13,742)
Cash outflow from decrease in debt and
hire-purchase and lease financing 10,275 14,377 27,266
---------- ---------- ----------
Change in net debt resulting from cash flows 7,887 12,922 13,524
On disposal of subsidiary undertakings (1,587) 12 -
New hire-purchase and finance lease contracts (14,137) (9,232) (26,151)
---------- ---------- ----------
Movement in net debt in the period (7,837) 3,702 (12,627)
Net debt at the start of the period (50,541) (37,914) (37,914)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net debt at the end of the period (58,378) (34,212) (50,541)
====== ====== ======
7. The charge for taxation for the period is based on the estimated
effective rate for the year of 30% (2000: 30%).
8. The calculation of earnings per share is based upon earnings of £
5,615,000 (2000: £374,000) and the time weighted average number of
shares in issue during the period and ranking for dividends of
41,535,835 (2000: 41,535,835).
The table below reconciles earnings per share, earnings per share
(pre-exceptionals) and earnings per share (continuing operations).
Unaudited Unaudited
26 Weeks 26 Weeks
to 30 September to 1 October
2001 2000
Pence Pence
Earnings per share (continuing 12.72 10.17
operations)
Profit on ordinary activities on
discontinued and to be discontinued
operations per share 1.16 (2.61)
Tax on loss on discontinued and to be
discontinued operations per share (0.36) 0.79
Minority interest on discontinued and to
be discontinued operations per share - -
---------- ---------
Earnings per share (pre-exceptionals) 13.52 8.35
Post tax exceptional items per share - (7.45)
--------- --------
Earnings per share 13.52 0.90
====== ======
9. The Board has declared an interim dividend of 3.0 pence per share
to be paid on (31 January 2002) to shareholders on the register on
4 January 2002.
10. Included in debtors are amounts falling due after more than one
year of £ Nil (2000: £5,000,000)
11. The results for the year ended 1 April 2001 are extracts from the
Annual Report and Accounts as filed with the Registrar of Companies.
These were audited and reported upon without qualification by KPMG
Audit Plc and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3)
of the Companies Act 1985.
12. The interim report will be posted to all shareholders on or about 14
December 2001 and copies of this and the last published Annual Report
and Accounts are available from the Secretary, Speedy Hire Plc,
Newmarket House, 20 The Parks, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 0JQ
13. Approval
The interim statement for the six months ended 30 September 2001 was approved
by the Board of Directors on 28 November 2001.