Picture of VP logo

VP. VP News Story

0.000.00%
gb flag iconLast trade - 00:00
IndustrialsAdventurousSmall CapContrarian

REG - Vp PLC - Interim Results

For best results when printing this announcement, please click on link below:
http://newsfile.refinitiv.com/getnewsfile/v1/story?guid=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20221129:nRSc8400Ha&default-theme=true

RNS Number : 8400H  Vp PLC  29 November 2022

 Press Release  29 November 2022

 

Vp plc

('Vp' or the 'Group')

 

Interim Results

 

Strong performance reflects resilience of the business

and the Group's leading position in diversified end markets

 

Vp plc, the equipment rental specialist, today announces its Interim Results
for the six months ended 30 September 2022 ('H1 2023' or the 'period').

 

Financial Highlights

                                                                             H1 2023  H1 2022  % change

 Revenues (£m)                                                               186.5    176.1    +6%
 Profit before tax, amortisation and exceptional items (£m)                  21.5     20.2     +6%
 Return on average capital employed                                          14.4%    13.5%    +7%
 Basic EPS pre-amortisation and exceptional items (pence)                    42.5     37.7     +13%
 Proposed interim dividend (pence per share)                                 11.0     10.5     +5%
 EBITDA (£m)                                                                 47.8     44.5     +7%
 Net debt (£m)                                                               148.9    131.7    +13%
 Capital investment in rental fleet (£m)                                     33.8     31.7     +7%
 Statutory profit before taxation (£m)                                       17.9     18.6     -4%
 Profit before tax, amortisation and exceptional items inclusive of IFRS 16
 impact (£m)

                                                                             21.4     20.2     +6%

 

 

Operational Highlights

 

·    Results reflect a period of continued recovery and demonstrate
strength of the business

·    Sustained demand across the Group's business units

·    Improved return on average capital employed demonstrates the Group's
high quality of earnings

·    UK Division delivered a very satisfactory performance driven by
infrastructure and a resilient house building sector

·    International Division revenues increased by 28% and operating
profits doubled

 

Outlook / Current H2 2023 Trading

·    Inflationary pressures continue to be actively managed by increased
pricing and continued focus on efficiencies

·    Fleet emissions reduction targets remain on track

·    Significant financial strength of the Group and its historic track
record underpins the future

·    Remain alert to both inorganic and organic growth opportunities

·    Current trading is in line with the Board's expectations for the full
year

 

Commenting on the Interim Results, Jeremy Pilkington, Chairman of Vp plc,
said: "I am pleased to report a solid set of results that reflect a period of
continuing recovery and which demonstrate the enduring strength of our
business and the maintenance of our industry leading returns.

 

"Our businesses have continued to make good progress in their engagement with
customers and supply chain partners to deliver sustainable and innovative
fleet solutions as we collectively strive to reduce emissions.

 

"The period under review has seen continued inflationary pressure on fleet
capital costs, transport, fuel, wages, utilities and interest costs, but we
have largely mitigated these with agreed price increases combined with a
diligent focus on efficiencies within our business.  We expect these actions
to remain a priority for the foreseeable future.

 

Notwithstanding these challenges, we remain alert to quality growth
opportunities whether organic or via acquisitions and we remain confident of
delivering a full year outcome in line with the Board's expectations."

- Ends -

 

The information contained in this announcement is deemed by the Company to
constitute inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market
Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.

 

For further information:

 

 Vp plc                                      Tel: +44 (0) 1423 533 400
 Jeremy Pilkington, Chairman                 www.vpplc.com (http://www.vpplc.com)
 Neil Stothard, Chief Executive
 Allison Bainbridge, Group Finance Director

 

 Media enquiries:
 Buchanan
 Henry Harrison‐Topham / Jamie Hooper / George Beale    Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
 Vp@buchanan.uk.com (mailto:Vp@buchanan.uk.com)         www.buchanan.uk.com (http://www.buchanan.uk.com)

 

 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

I am very pleased to report interim results which reflect a period of
continuing recovery and demonstrate the enduring strength of the Vp business
and the maintenance of our industry leading returns.

 

In the six months to 30 September 2022, profit before tax, amortisation and
exceptional items rose 6% to £21.5 million (H1 2022: £20.2 million) on
revenues 6% ahead at £186.5 million (H1 2022: £176.1 million).  Statutory
profit before taxation was £17.9 million (H1 2022: £18.6 million).
Earnings per share pre-amortisation and exceptional items rose 13% to 42.5
pence per share (H1 2022: 37.7 pence per share).  EBITDA increased to £47.8
million (H1 2022: £44.5 million).  Return on average capital employed
improved to 14.4% (H1 2022: 13.5%), again demonstrating the sustained high
quality of Group earnings.

 

Capital investment in equipment was £33.8 million (H1 2022:  £31.7 million)
with a continuing emphasis towards providing a newer fleet of substitutional
products to facilitate our customer's journey towards lower emission
solutions.

 

Sustained demand across our business units, combined with supply constraints
and inflationary cost measures, has required us to increase pricing on many
product lines.  Our active management response has largely mitigated these
pressures.  Borrowings at the period end increased to £148.9 million (H1
2022: £131.7 million), primarily due to increases in working capital,
reflecting growth in the business, but maintaining significant investment
headroom of £41.6 million against total facilities.

 

Reflecting these results and our view of the future prospects of the Group,
the Board is declaring an interim dividend of 11.0 pence per share (H1 2022:
10.5 pence per share) an increase of 5% payable on 11 January 2023 to
shareholders registered at 9 December 2022.

 

UK Division

 

The UK Division delivered what, under all the circumstances, we consider a
very satisfactory performance.  Improved revenues of £166.9 million (H1
2022: £160.8 million) lifted operating profits to £22.5 million (H1 2022:
£21.8 million).  Statutory operating profit was £23.8 million (H1 2022:
£23.3 million).

 

The infrastructure sector has been a key platform of the Group's success over
many years and remains an important element of our business mix.  I am
therefore pleased to say that the key sectors of water (AMP7) and rail (CP6)
programmes are now coming on stream more strongly and in line with our
expectations of this point in the cycle, although recent strike actions have
disrupted some rail workstreams.  Transmission demand has been good but HS2
work has been quieter than anticipated as we transition to phase 2.

 

New non-residential construction has remained soft, however commercial
re-purposing of property has emerged as a buoyant alternative.
 Housebuilding, despite popular commentaries, remains a resilient and
important market for us with good long-term prospects.

 

International Division

 

Operating profits before amortisation and exceptional items more than doubled
to £1.5 million (H1 2022: £0.7 million) on revenues 28% ahead at £19.6
million (H1 2022: £15.3 million).  Statutory operating profit was £1.6
million (H1 2022: £ 0.7 million), well ahead of the prior period.

 

For the TR business in Australia, although lockdown measures were relaxed
later than in Europe, the Group has enjoyed recovery throughout its markets
and is now trading at pre covid levels.

 

Airpac Rentals has benefitted from the increased demand for oil and gas
resources whilst continuing its diversification into more downstream
activities.  We expect a continuing improvement in demand from these sectors
as well as new applications such as geothermal drilling.

 

Outlook

 

We have emerged in good shape from a period of great disruption and our
continued recovery once again demonstrates the resilience of our business
model, and the benefits derived from occupying leadership positions in
diversified end markets.

 

Our businesses have continued to make good progress in their engagement with
customers and supply chain partners to deliver sustainable and innovative
fleet solutions as we collectively strive to reduce emissions with further
investment in battery and solar powered equipment and in lower emission
commercial vehicles.

 

The period under review has seen inflationary pressure on fleet capital costs,
transport, fuel, wages, utilities and interest costs, but we have largely
mitigated these with agreed price increases combined with a diligent focus on
efficiencies within our business.  We expect these actions to remain a
priority for the foreseeable future.

 

Notwithstanding these challenges, we remain alert to quality growth
opportunities whether organic or via acquisitions.

 

We remain confident of delivering a full year outcome in line with the Board's
expectations.

 

Over the longer term, we believe the exceptional quality of our business
teams, our market leadership positions and the financial strength of the
Group, will continue an exemplary record of accomplishment of delivering
outstanding returns for all stakeholders.

 

 

Jeremy Pilkington

Chairman

 

29 November 2022

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

For the period ended 30 September 2022

 

                                                                    Six months to      Six months to      Full year to

                                                                    30 Sept 2022       30 Sept 2021       31 Mar 2022

                                                             Note   £000               £000               £000

 Revenue                                                     3      186,487            176,103            350,915

 Cost of sales                                                      (141,269)          (133,354)          (263,950)

 Gross profit                                                       45,218             42,749             86,965
 Administrative expenses                                            (23,378)           (20,409)           (43,968)

 Operating profit before amortisation and exceptional items

                                                             5      25,377             23,988             46,299

 Amortisation and impairment                                        (1,669)            (1,648)            (3,302)
 Exceptional items                                           4      (1,868)            -                  -

 Operating profit                                            3      21,840             22,340             42,997
 Net financial expense                                       5      (3,982)            (3,786)            (7,353)

 Profit before taxation, amortisation and exceptional items

                                                             5      21,395             20,202             38,946

 Amortisation and impairment                                        (1,669)            (1,648)            (3,302)
 Exceptional items                                           4      (1,868)            -                  -
 Profit before taxation                                      5      17,858             18,554             35,644
 Taxation                                                    6      (4,281)            (4,992)            (10,109)

 Profit attributable to owners of the parent                        13,577             13,562             25,535

                                                                    Pence              Pence              Pence
 Basic earnings per share                                    8      34.24              34.26              64.49
 Diluted earnings per share                                  8      33.86              33.90              63.83
 Dividend per share                                          9      11.00              10.50              25.00

 

IFRS 16 was adopted on 1 April 2019 for statutory reporting.  As a result,
the primary statements are shown on an IFRS 16 basis.  Note 5 provides the
impact on the consolidated income statement for the periods ended 30 September
2022, including the £1.4 million positive impact on operating profit before
amortisation and exceptional items (£24.0 million pre-IFRS 16) and £1.5
million adverse impact on net financial expense (£2.5 million pre-IFRS 16).

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the period ended 30 September 2022

 

                                                                 Six months to    Six months to    Full year to
                                                                 30 Sept 2022     30 Sept 2021     31 Mar 2022
                                                                 £000             £000             £000

 Profit for the period                                           13,577           13,562           25,535

 Other comprehensive income/(expense):
 Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

 Remeasurements of defined benefit pension scheme                -                -                693
 Tax on items taken to other comprehensive income                -                -                (183)
 Impact of tax rate change                                       -                -                110

 Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

 Foreign exchange translation difference                         1,602            (58)             361

 Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

                                                                 -                221              221

 Other comprehensive income                                      1,602            163              1,202

 Total comprehensive income for the period                       15,179           13,725           26,737

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the period ended 30 September 2022

 

                                                             Note  Six months to    Six months to    Full year to
                                                                   30 Sept 2022     30 Sept 2021     31 Mar 2022
                                                                   £000             £000             £000

 Total comprehensive income for the period

                                                                   15,179           13,725           26,737

 Tax movements to equity                                           (133)            535              90

 Impact of tax rate change                                         -                -                (11)

 Share option charge in the period                                 675              899              1,249

 Net movement relating to shares held by Vp Employee Trust

                                                                   (535)            (721)            (516)

 Movement in minority interest                                     -                -                (27)

 Dividends to shareholders                                   9     (10,112)         (9,897)          (14,054)
 Change in equity during the period                                5,074            4,541              13,468

 Equity at the start of the period                                 166,585          153,117          153,117

 Equity at the end of the period                                   171,659          157,658          166,585

 

 

 

There were no movements in issued share capital, the capital redemption
reserve or share premium in the reported periods.

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

At 30 September 2022

 

                                        Note  30 Sept 2022    31 Mar 2022    30 Sept 2021
                                              £000            £000           £000
 Non-current assets

 Property, plant and equipment          7     254,984         247,526        240,783
 Goodwill                                     44,997          44,945         43,740
 Intangible assets                            15,834          17,477         18,848
 Right of use assets                          52,822          54,151         51,823
 Employee benefits                            2,670           2,738          2,127
 Total non-current assets                     371,307         366,837        357,321

 Current assets

 Inventories                                  8,657           7,956          6,794
 Trade and other receivables                  86,903          76,057         79,041
 Cash and cash equivalents              10    9,428           13,617         10,471
 Total current assets                         104,988         97,630         96,306

 Total assets                                 476,295         464,467        453,627

 Current liabilities
 Lease liabilities                            (14,172)        (14,147)       (14,606)
 Trade and other payables                     (74,380)        (80,676)       (87,517)
 Income tax payable                           (854)           (152)          (100)
 Total current liabilities                    (89,406)        (94,975)       (102,223)

 Non-current liabilities
 Interest bearing loans and borrowings  10    (158,370)       (144,221)      (142,107)
 Lease liabilities                            (42,053)        (43,496)       (40,609)
 Provisions                                   (895)           (1,512)        -
 Deferred tax liabilities                     (13,912)        (13,678)       (11,030)
 Total non-current liabilities                (215,230)       (202,907)      (193,746)

 Total liabilities                            (304,636)       (297,882)      (295,969)

 Net assets                                   171,659         166,585        157,658

 Equity

Issued share capital

                                              2,008           2,008          2,008
 Capital redemption reserve                   301             301            301
 Share premium                                16,192          16,192         16,192
 Foreign currency translation reserve         577             (1,020)        (1,444)
 Hedging reserve                              -               -              -
 Retained earnings                            152,581         149,104        140,574
 Total equity attributable to equity          171,659         166,585        157,631

 holders of parent

 Non-controlling interest                     -               -              27
 Total equity                                 171,659         166,585        157,658

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the period ended 30 September 2022

 

 

                                                                       Note  Six months to    Six months to    Full year to
                                                                             30 Sept 2022     30 Sept 2021     31 Mar 2022
                                                                             £000             £000             £000
 Cash flows from operating activities

 

 Profit before taxation

                                                                             17,858           18,554           35,644
 Adjustment for:
 Share based payment charges                                                 675              899              1,249
 Depreciation                                                          7     23,831           22,036           45,532
 Depreciation of right of use assets                                         8,098            8,497            16,561
 Amortisation and impairment of intangibles                                  1,669            1,648            3,302
 Net financial expense                                                       3,982            3,786            7,353
 Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment                             (5,041)          (3,368)          (7,045)
 Release/(payment) of arrangement fees                                       149              (591)            314
 Operating cash flow before changes in working capital and provisions        51,221           51,461           102,910
 (Increase)/decrease in inventories                                          (701)            548              (614)
 Increase in trade and other receivables                                     (10,846)         (12,495)         (9,133)
 (Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables                             (8,034)          2,778            (2,781)
 Cash generated from operations                                              31,640           42,292           90,382
 Interest paid                                                               (2,462)          (2,317)          (4,456)
 Interest element of lease liability payments                                (1,482)          (1,493)          (2,940)
 Interest received                                                           4                1                2
 Income tax paid                                                             (3,465)          (2,895)          (6,282)
 Net cash flows from operating activities                                    24,235           35,588           76,706

Cash flows from investing activities
 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

                                                                             12,202           8,241            17,819
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                                   (36,013)         (34,918)         (68,679)
 Acquisition of businesses and subsidiaries (net of cash acquired)           -                -                (2,693)
 Net cash flows used in investing activities                                 (23,811)         (26,677)         (53,553)

Cash flows from financing activities
 Purchase of own shares by Employee Trust                                    (535)            (721)            (516)
 Repayment of loans                                                          (10,000)         (42,044)         (95,044)
 New loans                                                                   24,000           47,044           102,044
 Arrangement fees                                                            -                -                (773)
 Capital element of lease liability payments                                 (8,188)          (8,808)          (17,149)
 Dividends paid                                                        9     (10,112)         (9,897)          (14,054)
 Net cash flows used in financing activities                                 (4,835)          (14,426)         (25,492)

 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                                   (4,411)          (5,515)          (2,339)
 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held                           222              69               39
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                            13,617           15,917           15,917
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                            10    9,428            10,471           13,617

 

 

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements

 

1.            Basis of Preparation

Vp plc (the "Company") is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom.
The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements of the Company for the
half year ended 30 September 2022 consolidate the financial information of the
Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group").

 

The condensed interim financial statements have been prepared using accounting
policies set out in the Annual Report and Accounts 2022. They are unaudited
and have not been reviewed by the Company's auditor. They are in accordance
with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. The results for the year ended 31
March 2022 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet as at that date are abridged
from the Group's Annual Report and Accounts 2022 which have been delivered to
the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those accounts was
unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis and did
not contain statements under sections 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act
2006.

 

The condensed interim financial statements do not constitute statutory
accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

The interim announcement was approved by the Board of Directors on 29 November
2022.

 

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make
judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of
accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income
and expense.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.  In preparing
these condensed consolidated interim financial statements, the significant
judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and
key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to
the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.

 

The Group continues to be in a healthy financial position with total banking
facilities at the period end of £190.5 million, including an overdraft
facility.  Since the year end net debt has increased by £18.3 million to
£148.9 million, which is £17.2 million higher than 30 September 2021.  The
Board has evaluated the banking facilities and the associated covenants on the
basis of current forecasts, taking into account the current economic
climate.  These forecasts have been subjected to sensitivity analysis,
involving the flexing of key assumptions reflecting severe but plausible
scenarios, including a downturn in economic activity.  Based on this
assessment, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group will be
able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due.
Having reassessed the principal risks the Directors consider it appropriate to
adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the interim financial
information.

 

2.            Risks and Uncertainties

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group and the ways in which
they are mitigated are described on page 32 and 33 of the 31 March 2022 Annual
Report and Accounts.  The principal risks and uncertainties are market,
competition, investment / product management, people, safety, financial,
contractual and legal and regulatory requirements, which remain the same for
this interim financial report.

 

3.            Summarised Segmental Analysis

                          Revenue                                           Operating Profit Before Amortisation and Exceptional Items
          Sept                         Sept               Mar               Sept                  Sept                  Mar

          2022                         2021               2022              2022                  2021                  2022
                   £000                £000               £000              £000                  £000                  £000

 UK                166,932             160,761            320,203           23,820                23,256                44,704
 International     19,555              15,342             30,712            1,557                 732                   1,595

          186,487                      176,103            350,915           25,377                23,988                46,299

 Amortisation and impairment                                                (1,669)               (1,648)               (3,302)
 Exceptional items                                                          (1,868)               -                      -
 Operating Profit                                                           21,840                22,340                42,997

 

                Assets                                  Liabilities
                Sept 2022      Mar 2022      Sept       Sept 2022       Mar 2022       Sept 2021

                                              2021
                £000           £000          £000       £000            £000           £000

 UK             433,870        425,382       414,744    292,261         286,524        285,425
 International  42,425         39,085        38,883     12,375          11,358         10,544

                476,295        464,467       453,627    304,636         297,882        295,969

 

                    Net Assets
                    Sept 2022       Mar 2022       Sept 2021
                    £000            £000           £000

 UK                 141,609         138,858        129,319
 International      30,050          27,727         28,339

                    171,659         166,585        157,658

 

 

Below summarises the disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers
from the total revenue disclosed in the Condensed Consolidated Income
Statement:

 

                 Sept 2022  Sept 2021  Mar 2022
                 £000       £000       £000
 Equipment hire  140,889    134,607    266,795
 Services        31,234     29,712     58,711
 Sales of goods  14,364     11,784     25,409
 Total revenue   186,487    176,103    350,915

 

4.            Exceptional Items

 

During the half year to 30 September 2022, the Group incurred £1.9 million of
exceptional costs in relation to formal sale process costs and restructuring
costs.

 

                          Sept 2022  Sept 2021  Mar 2022
                          £000       £000       £000
 Formal sales process     1,837      -          -
 Restructuring costs      31         -          -
 Total Exceptional Items  1,868      -          -

 

 

5.            Income Statement Reporting

Impact on reporting of IFRS 16

IFRS 16 Leases was adopted from 1 April 2019.  For comparative purposes with
previous years, key reporting measures are also calculated using the previous
accounting methodology of IAS 17.

 

Basic earnings per share before the amortisation of intangibles and
exceptional items decreased by 0.03 pence for the period to 30 September 2022
as a result of IFRS 16, compared to the previous accounting methodology of IAS
17. The financial impact of the transition on the Group's Consolidated Income
Statement and EBITDA is set out below:

                                          Sept 2022           Sept 2022        Sept 2022

                                          Excluding IFRS 16   IFRS 16 Impact

                                                                               Reported
                                          £000                £000             £000
 Operating profit before amortisation     23,960              1,417            25,377
 Operating profit                         20,423              1,417            21,840
 EBITDA                                   47,791              9,515            57,306
 Net financial expense                    (2,503)             (1,479)          (3,982)
 Profit before taxation and amortisation  21,457              (62)             21,395
 Profit before taxation                   17,920              (62)             17,858

 

Operating profit before amortisation, segment assets and segment liabilities
all increased as a result of the change in accounting policy.  The IFRS 16
adjustments that have been posted to each segment for the half year ending 30
September 2022 are as follows:

 

Operating Profit before Amortisation and Exceptional Items

                      Pre       IFRS 16 Adjustment  Per

                      IFRS 16                       Note 3
                      £000      £000                £000
 UK                   22,457    1,363               23,820
 International        1,503     54                  1,557
                      23,960    1,417               25,377

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Assets                                                Liabilities
                Pre           IFRS 16 Adjustment      Per Note 3      Pre            IFRS 16 Adjustment       Per Note 3

                IFRS 16                                               IFRS 16
                £000          £000                    £000            £000           £000                     £000
 UK             384,645       49,225                  433,870         240,650        51,611                   292,261
 International  39,645        2,780                   42,425          9,589          2,786                    12,375

                424,290       52,005                  476,295         250,239        54,397                   304,636

 

 

6.            Income Tax

The effective tax rate is 24.0% in the period to 30 September 2022 (H1 2022:
26.9%).  The effective rate for the period reflects the current standard tax
rate of 19% (H1 2022: 19%), as adjusted for estimated permanent differences
for tax purposes offset by gains covered by exemptions.  The rate includes
the effect of higher statutory tax rates levied in Australia and Germany.  In
addition, exceptional costs have increased the effective tax rate by
approximately 2.2%.

 

7.            Property, Plant and Equipment

                                        Sept 2022  Mar 2022  Sept 2021
                                        £000       £000      £000
 Opening carrying amount                247,526    233,912   233,912
 Additions                              37,151     68,034    33,866
 Acquisitions                           -          1,647     -
 Depreciation                           (23,831)   (45,532)  (22,036)
 Disposals                              (7,158)    (10,774)  (4,959)
 Effect of movements in exchange rates  1,296      239       -
 Closing carrying amount                254,984    247,526   240,783

 

The value of capital commitments at 30 September 2022 was £20,833,000 (31
March 2022 £14,523,000).

 

 

8.            Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share have been calculated on 39,651,301 shares (H1 2022:
39,581,223 shares) being the weighted average number of shares in issue during
the period.  Diluted earnings per share have been calculated on 40,099,143
shares (H1 2022: 40,004,585 shares) adjusted to reflect conversion of all
potentially dilutive ordinary shares. The calculation of diluted earnings per
share does not assume conversion, exercise, or other issue of potential
ordinary shares that would have an antidilutive effect on earnings per share.

 

Basic earnings per share before the amortisation of intangibles and
exceptional items was 42.34 pence (H1 2022: 37.64 pence) and was based on an
after tax add back of £3,213,000 (H1 2022: £1,335,000) in respect of the
amortisation of intangibles and exceptional items.  Diluted earnings per
share before amortisation of intangibles and exceptional items was 41.87 pence
(H1 2022: 37.24 pence).

 

9.            Dividends

 

The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 11.00 pence per share (H1
2022: 10.5 pence) payable on 11 January 2023 to shareholders on the register
at 9 December 2022.  The dividend declared will absorb an estimated £4.363
million (H1 2022: £4.157 million).

 

The cost of dividends in the Statement of Changes in Equity is after
adjustments for the interim and final dividends waived by the Vp Employee
Trust in relation to the shares it holds for the Group's share option schemes.

 

10.          Analysis of Net Debt

                                       As at           Cash        Non-cash       As at
                                       1 Apr 2022      Flow        Movements      30 Sep 2022
                                       £000            £000        £000           £000
 Cash and cash equivalents             13,617          (4,189)     -              9,428
 Secured loans                         (145,000)       (14,000)    -              (159,000)
 Arrangement Fees                      779             -           (149)          630
 Net debt excluding lease liabilities  (130,604)       (18,189)    (149)          (148,942)
 Lease liabilities                     (57,643)        8,188       (6,770)        (56,225)
 Net debt including lease liabilities  (188,247)       (10,001)    (6,919)        (205,167)

 

The Group has two private placements, maturing in January 2027, with PGIM Inc.
for £65 million (drawn down in January 2020) and £28 million (drawn down in
April 2021).  The Group also has committed revolving credit facilities of
£90 million which was refinanced in June 2021 and matures in June 2024. The
Group also has overdraft facilities of £7.5 million, leading to total
available facilities of £190.5 million.

 

11.          Related Party Transactions

Transactions between Group Companies, which are related parties, have been
eliminated on consolidation and therefore do not require disclosure.  The
Group has not entered into any other related party transactions in the period
which require disclosure in this interim statement.

 

 

12.          Contingent Liabilities

In an international group a variety of claims arise from time to time in the
normal course of business. Such claims may arise due to actions being taken
against group companies as a result of investigations by fiscal authorities or
under regulatory requirements. Provision has been made in these consolidated
financial statements against any claims which the directors consider are
likely to result in significant liabilities.

 

13.          Forward Looking Statements

The Chairman's Statement includes statements that are forward looking in
nature.  Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
assumptions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the Group to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward looking statements.  Statements in respect of the Group's
performance in the year to date are based upon unaudited management accounts
for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022. Nothing in this announcement
should be construed as a profit forecast.

 

Except as required by the Listing Rules and applicable law, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update, review or change any forward looking
statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this
report.

 

14.          Alternative Performance Measures

(i)            All performance measures stated as before
amortisation are also before impairment of intangibles and exceptional items.

(ii)           Basic earnings per share pre amortisation and
exceptional items is reconciled to basic earnings per share in note 8.

(iii)          Profit before tax, amortisation and exceptional items
is reconciled to profit before tax in the Consolidated Income Statement.

(iv)         Return on average capital employed is based on profit
before tax, interest, amortisation and exceptional items divided by average
capital employed on a monthly basis using the management accounts. Profit
before tax, interest, amortisation and exceptional items is reconciled to
profit before interest and tax in the Consolidated Income Statement.

 

Responsibility statement of the directors in respect of the half-yearly
financial report

 

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

·    the condensed consolidated set of interim financial statements has
been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted
by the EU;

·    the interim management report includes a fair review of the
information required by:

 

(a) DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being an indication
of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the
financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements;
and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining
six months of the year; and

 

(b) DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being related party
transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current
financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or
performance of the entity during that period; and any changes in the related
party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.

 

By order of the Board

29 November 2022

 

The Board

The Directors who served during the six months to 30 September 2022 were:

 

Jeremy Pilkington (Chairman)

Neil Stothard (Chief Executive)

Allison Bainbridge (Group Finance Director)

Steven Rogers (Non-Executive Director)

Phil White (Non-Executive Director)

 

- Ends -

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact
rns@lseg.com (mailto:rns@lseg.com)
 or visit
www.rns.com (http://www.rns.com/)
.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our
Privacy Policy (https://www.lseg.com/privacy-and-cookie-policy)
.   END  IR UWSBRUOUAUAA

Recent news on VP

See all news