TIDMNBI
RNS Number : 6483K
Northbridge Industrial Services PLC
12 April 2018
12 April 2018
Northbridge Industrial Services Plc
("Northbridge" or the "Group" or the "Company")
Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2017
Northbridge Industrial Services plc, the industrial services and
rental company, today announces its preliminary results for the
year ended 31 December 2017, which are in line with market
expectations.
Key points:
-- Group revenue up 7.9% to GBP25.7 million (2016: GBP23.8
million)
-- Cash generated from operations up 48.5% to GBP2.6 million
(2016: GBP1.8 million)
-- EBITDA of GBP3.2 million (2016: pre-exceptional EBITDA of
GBP3.4 million)
-- Loss before tax reduced to GBP4.4 million (2016: GBP5.5
million)
-- No exceptional charges in 2017 (2016: GBP1.4 million)
-- Net debt reduced by GBP0.8 million to GBP8.7 million (2016:
GBP9.5 million)
-- Tangible net assets of GBP22.9 million (2016: GBP27.7
million)
-- Since the year end, a successful re-organisation of Group
debt facilities until 2021, this includes the issuance of GBP4.0
million of loan notes supported by a substantial existing
shareholder
-- Management are now focused on a market recovery for 2018 and
beyond.
Eric Hook, Chief Executive Officer, commenting on the results
said:
"After an unprecedented three very difficult years in the oil
and gas industry, which have adversely affected both parts of our
business, we now believe that a recovery is in sight. During 2017
we saw a stabilisation in our oil tool revenues albeit at a very
low level, as actions taken by the producer nations have largely
eliminated crude oil surpluses. The additional cash flow enjoyed by
the industry due to higher oil prices; is now enabling a return to
investment in exploration and production, which will benefit both
Tasman Oil Tools and Crestchic Loadbanks. The work we have
undertaken to re-organise the Group and reduce costs over the last
three challenging years will also help us return to profits in the
future.
Since the year end we have also re-organised and simplified our
debt structure by issuing GBP4.0 million of loan notes. The issue
of the loan notes diversifies our funding sources and has enabled
us to consolidate our future bank funding solely with RBS our
existing UK lead bank whilst allowing the Group to fully repay KBC
Bank who were previously party to the joint banking facility. The
overall level of debt is not impacted by the new facilities and
will continue to amortise. However, this new facility with RBS
extends the Group's facility to June 2021 and capital repayments
have been reduced accordingly. Together with the absence of capital
repayments in respect of the loan notes, this will increase our
free cash resources and provide flexibility to invest for growth as
the recovery gathers pace. Having kept our core activities in
readiness we are now firmly focussed on the future".
Outlook
The sustained recovery in the oil market since the late summer
of 2017 has seen the crude oil price stabilise at its highest level
in three years. This has given the industry some confidence for
2018 and beyond. The additional cash flow as a result of higher
crude prices has enabled the oil majors and national oil companies
to start initiating a return to capital expenditure. This impact is
likely to be felt in the sectors we supply in both Crestchic and
Tasman; however, the timing may be different in each industry.
We have seen some improvement in the important rental revenue in
Tasman Oil Tools, albeit from a very low base. We expect this to
continue in 2018 and beyond. Pricing is still at a low point, but,
as volumes increase and demand improves, we expect pricing to
stabilise at higher levels, but it probably will not return to
pre-2014 levels for some years. Some drilling has recommenced in
the geothermal fields of New Zealand and 2018 is likely to be the
most active year since 2015.
A nascent recovery in exploration and production ("E&P")
throughout the Asia-Pacific region will benefit Tasman, as this is
where that business is most active; this will also be supplemented
by our new JV in Malaysia. The market recovery will probably be
slow and is unlikely to be linear, as the wave of M&A activity
in the sector works through and the investment plans for E&P
capital expenditure begin to crystallise.
For Crestchic, our electrical testing business, a return to
activity in the oil market will be felt primarily in the marine
sector. The high levels of scrappage in the oil and gas rig market,
with substantial amounts of older equipment retired, will lead to
further investment in new rigs, tankers and LNG carriers. This is a
key market for our products and we should see some improvements
over the next few years. Our services are generally engaged during
the last element of power commissioning projects before the vessels
are launched. The other part of Crestchic's business, which has
been unaffected by the oil and gas downturn, is involved in power
commissioning and reliability testing in western economies. This
has continued to see consistent demand.
The traditional use of loadbanks, to test "real-time" power
output from standby power generators, has now been supplemented by
their increasing use in data centres, distributed generation, and
frequency management. These are all growing parts of the industry
we serve and are likely to continue to grow for years to come
establishing significant markets in their own right.
We have recently added further equipment and personnel to
Crestchic's operation in North America which is potentially one of
the largest markets in the world for our services. Early
indications have been encouraging and we are confident in its
long-term profitable future.
Northbridge is very well placed to benefit from the current
recovery. Whilst remaining cash generative, we have completed our
restructuring and now have a much lower cost base throughout the
Group. Having retained all our operating bases during the downturn,
and maintained relationships with all our customers, we expect to
be able to exploit the high operational gearing inherent in our
business model, and the expected additional revenue will support
bottom-line growth.
For further information
Northbridge Industrial Services plc 01283 531645
Eric Hook, Chief Executive Officer
Iwan Phillips, Finance Director
Stockdale Securities Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
020 7601 6100
Robert Finlay / Antonio Bossi / Henry Willcocks
Buchanan 020 7466 5000
Charles Ryland / Stephanie Watson / Catriona Flint
About Northbridge:
Northbridge Industrial Services plc hires and sells specialist
industrial equipment. With offices or agents in the UK, USA, The
Middle East, Belgium, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, China, Brazil and South Korea, Northbridge has a global
customer base. This includes utility companies, the oil and gas
sector, shipping, banking, mining, construction and the public
sector. The product range includes loadbanks, transformers, and oil
tools. Northbridge was admitted to AIM in 2006 since when it has
grown by providing a high level of service, responsiveness and
flexibility to customers. It has grown by the acquisition of
companies in the UK, Dubai, Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and
Singapore and through investing further in those acquired companies
to make them more successful. Northbridge continues to seek
suitable businesses for acquisition across the world.
CHAIRMAN'S AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW
We are pleased to present our review of the Group's trading
performance for 2017.
BUSINESS REVIEW
The sustained recovery in the price of oil since the summer of
2017, as a result of successful actions by OPEC and other producer
nations to restrict production and reduce the supply overhang, has
improved sentiment in the market.
This confidence and the additional cashflow driven directly by
higher crude prices, has enabled the oil companies to begin some
embryonic exploration and production capital expenditure. Though
this came too late to have a material impact on our revenue from
this sector for the year as a whole, we were pleased to see more
positive trading in the last quarter.
The reduction in investment by the oil and gas majors over the
last three years has particularly impacted drilling activities for
both exploration and production. In addition, it also had a
disruptive effect on marine engineering relating to the oil
industry and a materially adverse effect on our business. Outside
of Western Europe, much of our business is conducted with customers
involved in some way with the oil, gas and extractive industries,
usually marine or other power-intensive industries, as well as oil
tools. Northbridge is fortunate to have other income streams,
mostly operating from western economies, which have been less
impacted by the downturn in the oil and gas industry, as they are
more focused towards power reliability and utilities.
Our reorganisation, which was carried out during 2015 and 2016,
has been completed. This included freezing all expansion capital
and other non-essential fleet replacements, exiting all non-core
businesses and converting the assets into cash and closing
non-performing locations. Further streamlining has focused on
reducing debt and overhead costs throughout the Group. Support from
shareholders through an equity raise in 2016 made a significant
reduction in the Group's debt.
Substantial savings have been made in the core business since
the market downturn and the significant reduction of costs in our
overseas locations has given us the confidence to maintain our
presence and operating readiness of these locations. By taking
these actions throughout the Group, we were able to manage cash and
management resources without any further exceptional costs in
2017.
We have made a conscious effort to maintain good relations with
our customer base and have continued to improve our quality
assurance regime and the availability of our hire fleet during this
difficult period. Modest, targeted capital expenditure has enabled
us to focus loadbank investment on growing markets in North America
and China and opportunities emerging from the growth in renewable
energy generation.
The Group is streamlined into two distinct core business
activities, Crestchic Loadbanks and Tasman Oil Tools.
Crestchic Loadbanks, which manufactures in the UK, sells and
rents electrical equipment throughout the world with depots in the
UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Dubai and Singapore. It has satellite
operations and agents/distributors in China, the USA, Australia and
Brazil. It has a particularly strong position in Western European
rental which is more focused towards power reliability. Outside the
western economies, business is generated from offshore activities
in the oil and gas and shipping industrial and remote locations
using large amounts of power.
The downturn in the industries closely connected to oil and gas
adversely affected this part of Crestchic's rental business.
However, the growing demand from data centres and for power
reliability and our start-up rental operation in North America,
which continues to perform well, help compensate for this and the
future looks promising. Towards the end of 2017 we took the
opportunity to relocate some underutilised equipment from the
Asia-Pacific region to North America and this will help to
consolidate our success in that region to date. To fully exploit
this market, which operates with different frequencies and voltages
to most of the rest of the world, we will invest further targeted
capital expenditure.
Our operation in China continued to generate revenue from a low
cost base, and we now have a local presence with some permanently
imported hire fleet. The nature of the contracts for this type of
marine construction tend to migrate to the most efficient yards and
we had little option but to follow.
On the sales side, our two biggest traditional markets, the USA
and South Korea, continued to show very little demand and volumes
were poor. However, new markets in the UK, which are involved in
the National Grid's balancing reserve and in renewables, have begun
to open up to us and we see a good future in this additional
sector, not just in the UK but across the developed world.
Tasman Oil Tools began to experience some improvements in its
market and increases in rental revenue have become more noticeable.
Though these movements are not currently significant in the context
of the Group, they are in the right direction and we have more
confidence that they will continue into 2018 and beyond.
The market seems to have bottomed out and sentiment is beginning
to improve, with some evidence that the huge cutbacks in
exploration and field development over the last three years has
impacted on future reserves, which are at a 70-year low. Recent
increases in the price of crude oil and the multiple years of cost
cutting amongst the oil majors have improved their cash flow to the
extent that we are now seeing a modest return to exploration and
production drilling. This should gain momentum in the coming years,
though rates still remain depressed and are unlikely to recover
fully in the short term.
In the three-year downturn, Tasman concentrated on cutting
costs, maintaining quality systems and the readiness and
availability of the hire fleet. As well as keeping customer
relationships in good order, we have been developing partnerships
and trading relationships to open up new markets for our existing
equipment and expand our services where we already operate. In
September 2017 we announced the formation of our joint venture in
Malaysia with our local partner, Olio Resources SDN BHD. The new
company, called Olio Tasman Oil Tools SDN BHD ("OTOT"), is 51%
owned by Olio Resources and 49% owned by Northbridge and will
service the oil tool rental market in Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei,
Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Singapore.
The JV commenced trading on 1 October 2017 from two newly
established locations in Labuan Island and the Kemaman Supply Base
in Malaysia. Both JV partners will provide equipment for the rental
fleet and OTOT will also have access to the substantial hire fleet
of the Tasman Group. Olio Resources, a wholly owned Malaysian group
which was established in 1994, has a strong position as an
integrated solution provider in Southeast Asia and already holds
key contracts for the provision of oil tools to the oil majors in
Malaysia. The trading levels of OTOT in the last quarter were not
significant to the Group's results as a whole, however, 2018 will
benefit from a full year's trading of the JV and revenues are
expected to build into the future.
Financial performance
Total Group revenue increased by 7.9% to GBP25.7 million (2016:
GBP23.8 million); this is the first increase since 2014 and was
driven almost entirely by an increase in the sale of new loadbanks
following a relatively poor 2016. Total rental revenue was
unchanged at GBP15.8 million (2016: GBP15.8 million), with Tasman
rental up at GBP4.6 million (2016: GBP3.3 million, including GBP0.2
million in revenue from the JV in Malaysia) and Cretchic rentals
reducing to GBP11.2 million (2016: GBP12.5 million).
Margins on total Group sales of equipment rose to 39.1% (2016:
38.5%), though overall gross margin was down at 36.4% (2016: 38.4%)
due to the change in revenue mix between hire and sales. For Tasman
Oil Tools, where a full depreciation charge is made on the entire
hire fleet irrespective of utilisation, overall margins were
slightly down at 8.2% (2016: 10.2%); however, rental margins have
now moved into positive territory at 0.6% (2016: -1.4%) as rental
revenue improved.
Operating expenses for the full year, including the costs of our
new operations in the USA (Crestchic) and Malaysia (Tasman), were
GBP12.9 million (2016: GBP12.7 million).
There were no exceptional costs charged during 2017 as we now
believe our rationalisation and restructuring efforts have been
largely completed (2016: GBP1.4 million). Total exceptional costs
since the end of 2014 amounted to GBP8.6 million and included an
impairment charge to intangible assets of GBP4.9 million in 2015.
Having taken early and decisive action to restructure the business
when the downturn first began to impact trading, we are now in a
good position to benefit from any sustained recovery.
Losses for the year were GBP4.4 million (pre-exceptional losses
for 2016: GBP4.1 million, post-exceptional: GBP5.5 million).
The Directors have reviewed the carrying value of both tangible
and intangible assets and have concluded that no further impairment
charge is necessary. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation
and amortisation ("EBITDA") was GBP3.2 million (2016: GBP3.4
million pre-exceptional, GBP2.0 million post-exceptional).
Crestchic Loadbanks and Northbridge Transformers (Crestchic)
Crestchic designs, manufactures, sells and hires loadbank
equipment, which is primarily used for the commissioning and
maintenance of independent power sources such as diesel generators
and gas turbines. The need to test and maintain standby and
independent power systems, together with the associated switchgear
and controls, is an increasingly important element within the power
critical technology used by the banking, medical, marine and
defence industries. This has resulted in continued strong demand
for Crestchic's range of equipment and services throughout the
world.
Additionally, Crestchic continues to benefit from a background
of an increasingly unreliable global power infrastructure and an
increase in the size and remoteness of certain projects. All our
loadbank activities are now branded as "Crestchic" and we are able
to promote that service in an integrated way throughout the
world.
Northbridge Transformers ("NT"), which is based in Belgium,
offers specialist transformers for rental throughout the world; it
is also able to use Crestchic's depots in the Middle East and in
Singapore as a conduit for its activities. Substantial investment
in this activity over the last few years has meant that we have
been able to grow this business from its original base in Belgium
to a worldwide audience.
The oil and gas downturn has continued to impact Crestchic's
sales of manufactured units, but this has been partly offset by
success in new markets in the power reliability and renewable
sector during 2017; sales were up by 32.1% to GBP9.0 million
compared with 2016: GBP6.8 million. The two main sales markets of
South Korea and the USA continued with their market-driven
weakness; however, we do believe they will recover in the medium
term. In the meantime, our new rental operation in North America
continues to gain traction, and further equipment which has been
relocated from the Far Eastern markets will help the momentum
continue into the future.
Our rental activities in the power reliability market in western
economies enjoyed another record year and turnover was up 10.7% to
GBP6.2 million (2016: GBP5.6 million). Overall rental revenue was
down to GBP11.2 million (2016: GBP12.5 million) due to the
continued downturn in the oil and gas markets in the Middle and Far
East.
Overall gross margins were 44.2% (2016: 45.5%). The improvement
in sales revenue compared with higher rental revenue was the main
cause of the change in mix and led to a slight downward movement of
gross margins. Within the sales of manufactured units, gross
margins improved to 37.0% (2016: 35.6%).
Tasman Oil Tools (Tasman)
Tasman now operates from a single corporate platform, with an
integrated website and unified quality, health, safety and
environmental ("QHSE") systems, with depots in Australia, Dubai,
New Zealand and now Malaysia. It offers a full range of downhole
oil tools to the oil, gas and geothermal industries throughout the
Middle East, the Far East and Australasia. This is predominantly a
rental business, and revenue has suffered significantly as a result
of the downturn in drilling activities in the last three years.
However, we now believe that there are signs of a recovery in the
exploration and production markets that we serve and total revenue
during 2017 was GBP5.6 million, an increase of 25.0% on the same
period last year (2016: GBP4.5 million). The impact of the joint
venture with Olio Resources SDN BHD was not material for the last
quarter and the revenue was GBP0.2 million.
Gross margin fell to 8.2% (2016: 10.2%), caused by lower sales
and service revenue; however rental margins broke into positive
territory at 0.6% compared with a gross margin loss in 2016 of
1.4%. This was due to modest improvements in revenue and despite a
full depreciation charge against the fleet is taken irrespective of
the hire status. Lower rental volumes also lead to lower service
charges to the customer, which also impacts both turnover and gross
profits. Operating losses of GBP3.4 million were an improvement
compared to the pre-exceptional loss of GBP3.6 million in 2016.
There were no exceptional charges.
There are now some positive signs that the prolonged downturn in
the oil and gas industry is coming to a close, but it is still
early in the cycle. We do not expect an upturn in our fortunes to
be linear as current contracts that come to a close will still be
difficult to replace quickly and rates are still at a low
level.
We have seen significant consolidation in our market in recent
months, both in terms of M&A activity and with changes in
exploration acreages and licences. Expectations in the market are
that this is a precursor to new capital expenditure rather than
purely a defensive mechanism.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Revenue and profit before tax
The Group's revenues are derived principally from the rental of
its hire fleet and also from the sale of manufactured and new
equipment. The split of the total revenue between its two
reportable segments as well as a split of total revenue between
hire and sales is shown in note 2.
As many of the Group's costs are largely of a fixed nature in
the short to medium term (with significant movements in the cost
base being attributable to acquisitions and divestments) any
revenue movement, however small, will be highlighted at the
operating profit level.
This impact is often referred to as operational gearing. Gross
profit for the year increased to GBP9.3 million (2016: GBP9.1
million) following the improvement of overall revenue.
Operating losses were reduced by 23% to GBP3.8 million (2016:
GBP4.9 million). Excluding exceptional costs, operating losses rose
from GBP3.6 million in 2016 to GBP3.8 million.
Net finance costs were unchanged in the year at GBP0.6 million
and the Group incurred no exceptional costs during 2017, following
the major reorganisation that took place during 2015 and 2016.
Losses before tax amounted to GBP4.4 million (2016: GBP5.5
million). Pre-exceptional losses before tax in 2016 totalled GBP4.1
million.
Earnings per share
The basic Loss Per Share ("LPS") of 17.9 pence (2016: 26.2
pence) and diluted LPS of 17.9 pence (2016: 26.2 pence) have been
arrived at in accordance with the calculations contained in note
5.
Balance sheet and debt
Total net assets at 31 December 2017 were GBP35.7 million
compared to GBP41.8 million in 2016. The decrease in net assets
during the year is due to the loss for the year of GBP4.6 million
and the negative movements in the foreign exchange reserve of
GBP1.5 million.
Net assets per share at the year end are 138 pence (2016: 160
pence).
Hire fleet additions have been cut back to GBP0.5 million (2016:
GBP0.8 million) during the year and have been concentrated on
growth areas. Property, plant and equipment has decreased from
GBP35.6 million to GBP29.3 million during the year due to net
additions of GBP0.6 million being offset by a depreciation charge
of GBP6.2 million and a negative movement of GBP0.8 million from
the translation of assets held in foreign currency.
Inventory levels have been consistent at GBP3.4 million (2016:
GBP3.5 million) and trade receivables have increased slightly to
GBP7.3 million (2016: GBP7.1 million), impacted by the increase in
revenue during the final quarter of 2017.
Notwithstanding the trading losses seen during the year, the
continued benefit from the restructuring and the continuing
repayment of debt led to net debt decreasing to GBP8.7 million
(2016: GBP9.5 million). GBP2.9 million of scheduled bank and
finance lease repayments were made in the year with GBP0.8 million
of working capital related borrowings drawn. Total outstanding
finance lease balances decreased from GBP1.2 million to GBP0.6
million during the year.
Net gearing, calculated as net debt divided by total equity,
increased to 24.5% (2016: 22.7%). A further reduction in net debt
is targeted for 2018.
Cash flow
The Group continued to generate cash from operating activities
totalling GBP2.6 million during the year (2016: GBP1.8 million).
From this GBP0.5 million (2016: GBP0.8 million) was used to
purchase new hire fleet equipment, while GBP0.4 million (2016:
GBP0.8 million) was generated from the sale of surplus assets.
The Group closely monitors cash management and prioritises the
repatriation of cash to the UK from its overseas subsidiaries.
The net cash outflow from financing activities of GBP2.1 million
(2016: GBP0.1 million inflow) included repayments of bank
borrowings and finance lease repayments of GBP2.9 million (2016:
GBP5.1 million).
Income tax expense
The overall income tax charge for the year totalled GBP0.2
million (2016: GBP0.8 million).
If 2017 unutilised tax losses of GBP0.3 million had been
recognised as a deferred tax asset the overall tax charge would
have been a credit of GBP0.1 million (2016: GBP0.8 million). These
losses relate to the Group's Australian entities and a deferred tax
asset has prudently not been recognised at this balance sheet date,
but the losses are available to be utilised against future profits.
Any future recognition of a deferred tax asset will be dependent on
these future profits by jurisdiction becoming more certain.
The Group manages taxes such that it pays the correct amount of
tax in each country that it operates in, utilising available
reliefs and engaging with local tax authorities and advisors as
appropriate.
STRATEGY
The Northbridge strategy is to consolidate and build its
specialist industrial equipment businesses by:
-- driving growth organically through investing in the hire
fleet and improving quality systems and customer service; and
-- using partnerships to increase geographical exposure.
When considering further acquisitions, the main criteria will
be:
-- involvement in specialist electrical services or in drilling tools;
-- active in the oil and gas or power related industry; and
-- capable of supplying a worldwide customer base.
In achieving this strategy, we will be able to capitalise on the
market opportunity to become a significant industrial services
business serving an international market. The Board reviews this
strategy periodically and believes it is still the correct one for
the Group.
OUTLOOK
The sustained recovery in the oil market since the late summer
of 2017 has seen the crude oil price stabilise at its highest level
in three years. This has given the industry some confidence for
2018 and beyond. The additional cash flow as a result of higher
crude prices has enabled the oil majors and national oil companies
to start initiating a return to capital expenditure. This impact is
likely to be felt in the sectors we supply in both Crestchic and
Tasman; however, the timing may be different in each industry.
We have seen some improvement in the important rental revenue in
Tasman Oil Tools, albeit from a very low base. We expect this to
continue in 2018 and beyond. Pricing is still at a low point, but,
as volumes increase and demand improves, we expect pricing to
stabilise at higher levels, but it probably will not return to
pre-2014 levels for some years. Some drilling has recommenced in
the geothermal fields of New Zealand and 2018 is likely to be the
most active year since 2015.
A nascent recovery in exploration and production ("E&P")
throughout the Asia-Pacific region will benefit Tasman, as this is
where that business is most active; this will also be supplemented
by our new JV in Malaysia. The market recovery will probably be
slow and is unlikely to be linear, as the wave of M&A activity
in the sector works through and the investment plans for E&P
capital expenditure begin to crystallise.
For Crestchic, our electrical testing business, a return to
activity in the oil market will be felt primarily in the marine
sector. The high levels of scrappage in the oil and gas rig market,
with substantial amounts of older equipment retired, will lead to
further investment in new rigs, tankers and LNG carriers. This is a
key market for our products and we should see some improvements
over the next few years. Our services are generally engaged during
the last element of power commissioning projects before the vessels
are launched. The other part of Crestchic's business, which has
been unaffected by the oil and gas downturn, is involved in power
commissioning and reliability testing in western economies. This
has continued to see consistent demand.
The traditional use of loadbanks, to test "real-time" power
output from standby power generators, has now been supplemented by
their increasing use in data centres, distributed generation, and
frequency management. These are all growing parts of the industry
we serve and are likely to continue to grow for years to come
establishing significant markets in their own right.
We have recently added further equipment and personnel to
Crestchic's operation in North America which is potentially one of
the largest markets in the world for our services. Early
indications have been encouraging and we are confident in its
long-term profitable future.
Northbridge is very well placed to benefit from the current
recovery. Whilst remaining cash generative, we have completed our
restructuring and now have a much lower cost base throughout the
Group. Having retained all our operating bases during the downturn,
and maintained relationships with all our customers, we expect to
be able to exploit the high operational gearing inherent in our
business model, and the expected additional revenue will support
bottom-line growth.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the year ended 31 December 2017
2017 2016
Note GBP'000 GBP'000
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Revenue 2 25,669 23,786
Cost of sales (16,331) (14,653)
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Gross profit 9,338 9,133
Operating costs
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Excluding exceptional items (12,934) (12,688)
Exceptional items 3 - (1,358)
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Total operating costs (12,934) (14,046)
Share of post-tax result of joint (188) -
ventures
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Loss from operations (3,784) (4,913)
Finance costs (597) (591)
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Loss before income tax excluding
exceptional items (4,381) (4,146)
Exceptional items 3 - (1,358)
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Loss before income tax (4,381) (5,504)
Income tax expense 4 (245) (794)
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Loss for the year attributable
to the equity holders of the parent (4,626) (6,298)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income
Exchange differences on translating
foreign operations (1,519) 6,846
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Other comprehensive (loss)/income
for the year, net of tax (1,519) 6,846
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Total comprehensive (loss)/income
for the year attributable to equity
holders of the parent (6,145) 548
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Loss per share
- basic (pence) 5 (17.9) (26.2)
- diluted (pence) 5 (17.9) (26.2)
-------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
All amounts relate to continuing operations.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
As at 31 December 2017
2017 2016
------------------ ------------------
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Intangible assets 12,833 14,094
Property, plant and equipment 29,281 35,623
Investments accounted for - -
using the equity method
----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
42,114 49,717
----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Current assets
Inventories 3,429 3,515
Trade and other receivables 9,322 9,008
Cash and cash equivalents 1,903 3,704
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
14,654 16,227
----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total assets 56,768 65,944
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 5,383 5,571
Financial liabilities 3,617 4,367
Other financial liabilities 1,053 1,123
Current tax liabilities 1,015 673
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
11,068 11,734
----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Non-current liabilities
Financial liabilities 7,013 8,804
Deferred tax liabilities 3,002 3,621
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
10,015 12,425
----------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total liabilities 21,083 24,159
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
Total net assets 35,685 41,785
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
Capital and reserves attributable
to equity holders of the
Company
Share capital 2,611 2,611
Share premium 27,779 27,779
Merger reserve 2,810 2,810
Foreign exchange reserve 3,010 4,529
Treasury share reserve (451) (451)
Retained earnings (74) 4,507
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
Total equity 35,685 41,785
------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the year ended 31 December 2017
Foreign Treasury
Share Share Merger exchange share Retained
capital premium reserve reserve reserve earnings Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Changes in equity
Balance at 1
January 2017 2,611 27,779 2,810 4,529 (451) 4,507 41,785
Loss for the
year - - - - - (4,626) (4,626)
Other comprehensive
income - - - (1,519) - - (1,519)
--------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total comprehensive
income for the
year - - - (1,519) - (4,626) (6,145)
Share option
expense - - - - - 45 45
Balance at 31
December 2017 2,611 27,779 2,810 3,010 (451) (74) 35,685
--------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
For the year ended 31 December 2016
Foreign Treasury
Share Share Merger exchange share Retained
capital premium reserve reserve reserve earnings Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------- --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Changes in equity
Balance at 1
January 2016 1,864 23,266 2,810 (2,317) (451) 10,709 35,881
Loss for the
year - - - - - (6,298) (6,298)
Other comprehensive
income - - - 6,846 - - 6,846
--------------------- --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total comprehensive
income for the
year - - - 6,846 - (6,298) 548
Issue of share
capital 747 4,513 - - - - 5,260
Share option
expense - - - - - 96 96
Balance at 31
December 2016 2,611 27,779 2,810 4,529 (451) 4,507 41,785
--------------------- --------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the year ended 31 December 2017
2017 2016
GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss from ordinary activities
before taxation (4,381) (5,504)
Adjustments for:
- amortisation of intangible assets 750 749
- amortisation of capitalised debt
fee 229 117
- depreciation of tangible fixed
assets 6,227 6,201
- profit on disposal of property,
plant and equipment (255) (242)
- share of post-tax results of joint 188 -
ventures
- finance costs 597 591
- share option expense 45 96
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
3,400 2,008
Decrease in inventories 42 135
(Increase)/ decrease in receivables (620) 1,903
Decrease in payables (204) (2,283)
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Cash generated from operations 2,618 1,763
Finance costs (597) (591)
Taxation (309) (351)
Hire fleet expenditure (542) (826)
Sale of assets within hire fleet 350 784
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Net cash from operating activities 1,520 779
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in joint ventures (183) -
Increase in receivables from joint (123) -
ventures
Payment of deferred consideration - (1,252)
Purchase of property, plant and
equipment (123) (163)
Sale of property, plant and equipment 70 86
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities (359) (1,329)
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from share capital issued - 5,260
Proceeds from bank and other borrowings 820 -
Repayment of bank borrowings (2,154) (4,078)
Repayment of finance lease creditors (780) (1,053)
Net cash (used in)/from financing
activities (2,114) 129
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (953) (421)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of period 2,146 2,175
Exchange losses on cash and cash
equivalents (20) 392
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end
of period 1,173 2,146
-------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
During the period the Group acquired property, plant and hire
equipment with an aggregate cost of GBP811,000 (2016: GBP989,000)
of which GBP146,000 (2016: GBPnil) was acquired by means of finance
leases. This includes GBP542,000 (2016: GBP826,000) of hire fleet
additions of which GBPnil (2016: GBPnil) was acquired by means of
finance lease.
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and cash equivalents as
disclosed in current assets on the balance sheet and overdraft
balances of GBP730,000 (2016: GBP1,558,000) held within financial
liabilities.
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
While the financial information included in the annual financial
results announcement has been prepared in accordance with the
recognition and measurement principles of International Financial
Reporting Standards as endorsed for use in the European Union
(IFRSs), this announcement does not contain sufficient information
to comply with IFRSs.
The financial information set out above does not constitute the
company's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 December 2017
or 2016, but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for
the year ended 31 December 2016 have been delivered to the
Registrar of Companies and those for the year ended 31 December
2017 will be delivered following the company's annual general
meeting.
The auditors have reported on those accounts; their reports were
unqualified, did not include references to any matters to which the
auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their
reports.
Their reports for the year end 31 December 2017 and 31 December
2016 did not contain statements under s498 (2) or (3) of the
Companies Act 2006.
1.2 BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
Where the company has control over an investee, it is classified
as a subsidiary. The company controls an investee if all three of
the following elements are present: power over the investee,
exposure to variable returns from the investee, and the ability of
the investor to use its power to affect those variable returns.
Control is reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate
that there may be a change in any of these elements of control.
De-facto control exists in situations where the company has the
practical ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee
without holding the majority of the voting rights. In determining
whether de-facto control exists the company considers all relevant
facts and circumstances, including:
- The size of the company's voting rights relative to both the
size and dispersion of other parties who hold voting rights
substantive potential voting rights held by the company and by
other parties.
- Other contractual arrangements
- Historic patterns in voting attendance
The consolidated financial statements present the results of the
company and its subsidiaries ("the Group") as if they formed a
single entity. Intercompany transactions and balances between group
companies are therefore eliminated in full.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of
business combinations using the acquisition method. In the
statement of financial position, the acquiree's identifiable
assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are initially
recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date. The
results of acquired operations are included in the consolidated
statement of comprehensive income from the date on which control is
obtained. They are deconsolidated from the date on which control
ceases.
2. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Group currently has two main reportable segments:
-- Crestchic loadbanks and transformers - this segment is
involved in the manufacture, hire and sale of loadbanks and
transformers. It is the largest proportion of the Group's business
and generated 78% (2016: 81%) of the Group's revenue. This includes
the Crestchic, NTX, Crestchic France, NME, CME, CAP, USA and China
businesses; and
-- Tasman oil tools- this segment is involved in the hire and
sale of oil tools and loadcells and contributes 22% (2016: 19%) of
the Group's revenue. This includes the TOTAU, TOTNZ, TOTAE, TOTSEA
and the Group's 49% share of OTOT.
Factors that management used to identify the Group's reportable
segments
The Group's reportable segments are strategic business units
that offer different products and services.
Measurement of operating segment profit or loss, assets and
liabilities
The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same
as those described in the summary of significant accounting
policies.
The Group evaluates performance on the basis of profit or loss
before tax.
Segment assets and liabilities include an aggregation of all
assets and liabilities relating to businesses included within each
segment. Other adjustments relate to the non-reportable head office
along with consolidation adjustments which include goodwill and
intangible assets. All inter-segment transactions are at arm's
length.
Other
Crestchic Other including
loadbanks Tasman trading consolidation 2017
and transformers oil tools Total entities adjustments Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- -------- --------- -------------- --------
Revenue from external
customers 20,244 5,587 25,831 - (162) 25,669
Finance expense (106) (4) (110) - (487) (597)
Depreciation (3,811) (2,122) (5,933) - (294) (6,227)
Amortisation - (59) (59) - (691) (750)
Profit/(loss) before
tax 1,695 (3,446) (1,751) - (2,630) (4,381)
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- -------- --------- -------------- --------
Group Amortisation
of Goodwill (691)
Head office costs (1,138)
Group finance costs (487)
Group Depreciation
costs (294)
Other (20)
Group Loss before
tax (4,381)
Balance sheet
Non-current asset
additions
Tangible asset additions 668 203 871 - (60) 811
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- -------- --------- -------------- --------
Reportable segment
assets 55,480 21,618 77,098
Elimination of intercompany
balances (31,633)
Elimination of investments
in subsidiaries (1,503)
Non-segment goodwill 12,345
Non-segment fixed
assets 727
Other (266)
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- --------
Total group assets 56,768
Reportable segment
liabilities (30,606) (15,830) (46,436)
Elimination of intercompany
balances 36,290
Deferred consideration (1,053)
Non segmental borrowings (9,103)
Non segmental deferred
tax (1,095)
Other 314
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- --------
Total Group liabilities (21,083)
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- --------
Other
Crestchic Other including
loadbanks Tasman trading consolidation 2016
and transformers oil tools Total entities adjustments Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- -------- --------- -------------- --------
Revenue from external
customers 19,317 4,469 23,786 - - 23,786
Finance expense (131) (15) (146) - (445) (591)
Depreciation (3,766) (2,161) (5,927) - (274) (6,201)
Amortisation - (57) (57) - (692) (749)
Profit/(loss) before
tax before exceptional
items 1,552 (3,648) (2,096) 2 (2,052) (4,146)
Exceptional items (236) (833) (1,069) (83) (206) (1,358)
Profit/(loss) before
tax 1,316 (4,481) (3,165) (81) (2,258) (5,504)
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- -------- --------- -------------- --------
Group Amortisation
of Goodwill (692)
Head office costs (1,024)
Group finance costs (445)
Group Depreciation
costs (274)
Other 96
Group Loss before
tax (5,504)
Balance sheet
Non-current asset
additions
Tangible asset additions 863 126 989 - - 989
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- -------- --------- -------------- --------
Reportable segment
assets 68,521 19,839 88,360
Assets of other
trading entities 4,206
Elimination of intercompany
balances (32,711)
Elimination of investments
in subsidiaries (8,890)
Non-segment goodwill 10,985
Non-segment fixed
assets 1,070
Other 7
Non-segment cash
balances 2,917
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- --------
Total group assets 65,944
Reportable segment
liabilities (31,551) (13,350) (44,901)
Elimination of intercompany
balances 39,128
Liabilities of other
trading entities (3,997)
Deferred consideration (1,123)
Non segmental borrowings (11,318)
Non segmental current
and deferred tax (1,686)
Other (262)
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- --------
Total Group liabilities (24,159)
---------------------------- ----------------- ---------- --------
External revenue Non-current
by location assets
of sale origination by location
---------------------- ------------------
2017 2016 2017 2016
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
UK 12,816 10,330 11,041 11,819
Australia 1,802 1,203 4,053 5,022
United Arab Emirates 4,046 4,963 7,678 11,679
Singapore 2,334 3,944 4,306 5,272
New Zealand 1,369 702 8,987 10,139
Belgium 1,236 1,408 3,073 4,094
France 892 355 4 7
USA 767 370 - -
China 389 511 1,658 1,685
Malaysia 18 - 1,314 -
--------------------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
25,669 23,786 42,114 49,717
--------------------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
External revenue External revenue
by type by type
------------------ ------------------
2016 2016 2016 2016
GBP'000 GBP'000 % %
------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
Hire of equipment 15,811 15,827 61.6 66.5
Sale of product 9,858 7,959 38.4 33.5
------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
25,669 23,786 100.0 100.0
------------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
3. EXCEPTIONAL COSTS
Exceptional costs incurred during the year were as follows:
2017 2016
GBP'000 GBP'000
Acquisition costs(1) - 103
Reorganisation costs(2) - 654
Redundancy costs(3) - 497
Banking costs(4) - 104
Exceptional costs - 1,358
------------------------- --------- --------
(1) The exceptional cost in 2016 relates to value added tax on
acquisition costs that have been reclaimed by Her Majesty's Revenue
and Customs. The costs on which the VAT was reclaimed were reported
as exceptional in the years that they arose.
(2) During the prior year, the Group continued to reorganise the
Group. The Singapore branch of its Loadcell operations were closed
and a property in Australia had been vacated which created an
onerous lease. The costs associated with the closure of these
operations were disclosed as exceptional.
(3) During the prior year the Group suffered redundancy costs
relating to ongoing subsidiaries that were deemed to be
exceptional.
(4) Costs associated with resetting bank covenants in the prior
year were deemed to be exceptional.
4. INCOME TAX EXPENSE
2017 2016
GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------------- -------- --------
Current tax expense 780 518
Prior year under provision of tax 15 48
------------------------------------------------- -------- --------
795 566
Deferred tax (credit)/charge resulting
from the origination and reversal of temporary
differences (550) 228
------------------------------------------------- -------- --------
Tax on loss on ordinary activities 245 794
------------------------------------------------- -------- --------
Factors affecting tax charge for the year
The tax assessed for the year is different to the standard rate
of corporation tax in the UK. The differences are explained
below:
2017 2016
GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------- -------- --------
Loss on ordinary activities before tax (4,381) (5,504)
------------------------------------------- -------- --------
Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by
standard rate of corporation tax in the
UK of 19.25% (2016: 20.00%) (843) (1,101)
Effects of:
- income not subject to tax (325) (215)
- expenses not allowable for tax purposes 733 505
- difference in tax rates 352 (84)
- losses not recognised as a deferred tax
asset 313 1,641
- prior year under provision of tax and
deferred tax 15 48
------------------------------------------- -------- --------
Total tax charge for the year 245 794
------------------------------------------- -------- --------
The standard rate of corporation tax in the UK is 19% since 1
April 2017. The rate will decrease to 17% from 1 April 2020.
5. EARNINGS PER SHARE
2017 2016
GBP'000 GBP'000
----------------------------------- ------- -------
Numerator
Loss used in basic and diluted EPS (4,626) (6,298)
----------------------------------- ------- -------
2017 2016
Number Number
------------------------------------------ ---------- ----------
Denominator
Weighted average number of shares used in
basic EPS 25,899,602 24,004,258
Effects of share options - -
------------------------------------------ ---------- ----------
Weighted average number of shares used in
diluted EPS 25,899,602 24,004,258
------------------------------------------ ---------- ----------
At the end of the year, the Company had in issue 1,594,451
(2016: 1,391,601) share options which have not been included in the
calculation of diluted EPS because their effects are anti-dilutive.
These share options could be dilutive in the future.
6. ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
The annual report and accounts will be posted to
shareholders shortly and will be available for members
of the public at the Company's registered office
Second Avenue, Centrum 100, Burton on Trent, DE14
2WF, and on the company's website www.northbridgegroup.co.uk.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Company's Annual General Meeting is to be held
at the offices of Buchanan Communications, 107 Cheapside,
London, EC2V 6DN on 31 May 2018, commencing at 12.00
noon.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
FR EAELFFDKPEAF
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 12, 2018 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)
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