TIDMSMS
RNS Number : 4334Q
Smart Metering Systems PLC
12 September 2017
Smart Metering Systems plc
("SMS" or "the Company")
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2017
Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: SMS.L) is pleased to announce
its interim results, which show continued growth in the six months
to 30 June 2017.
Financial highlights
-- Revenue increased by 14% to GBP36.8m (H1 2016: GBP32.3m)
-- EBITDA increased by 17% to GBP18.1m (H1 2016: GBP15.5m)
-- PBT increased by 2% to GBP9.3m (H1 2016: GBP9.1m)
-- Total annualised recurring income* increased by 29% to GBP48.4m (H1 2016: GBP37.4m)
-- Underlying EBITDA** increased by 10% to GBP16.2m (H1 2016: GBP14.7m)
-- Underlying EBITDA** margin at 44% (H1 2016: 45%)
-- Underlying PBT*** decreased by 9% to GBP8.4m (H1 2016: GBP9.2m)
-- Underlying earnings per share **** decreased by 10% to 7.68p (H1 2016: 8.55p)
-- Interim dividend of 1.74p per ordinary share, an increase of 27%
* Annualised recurring income refers to the revenue being
generated at a point in time. Recurring revenue refers to revenue
generated by meter rental and data contracts.
** Underlying EBITDA is before exceptional items and other operating income.
*** Underlying PBT is before exceptional items, other operating
income and intangible amortisation.
**** Underlying earnings per share is profit after taxation but
before exceptional items, other operating income and intangible
amortisation, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary
shares in issue.
30 June 2017 31 Dec 2016 Percentage
units units Increase
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ----------
Total gas and electricity metering and data assets 1,678,000 1,251,000 34%
Gas meter portfolio 1,064,000 881,000 21%
Gas data portfolio 118,000 108,000 9%
Electricity meter portfolio 166,000 77,000 116%
Electricity data portfolio 330,000 186,000 77%
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ----------
99,000 ADM(TM) installations which is SMS' patented remote meter
reading product
Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The first half of 2017 realised the start of the domestic smart
meter role out for SMS. Domestic smart metering is a clear focus of
SMS whilst we continue to deliver our order book in the industrial
and commercial metering space.
"Key to delivery is full control of the installation workforce
and the end to end ownership of the software required to deliver
the smart metering programme. The acquisitions of our installation
and software businesses in 2016 are now fully integrated and
managing a month on month increasing run rate of meter
installations for our energy supply customers.
"I am delighted with the progress over the last 6 months and
look forward to continued progress."
For further information:
Smart Metering Systems plc
Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer
David Thompson, Chief Financial Officer 0141 249 3850
Cenkos Securities
Neil McDonald
Nick Tulloch 0131 220 6939 / 0207 397 8900
Kreab
Matthew Jervois
Daniel Holgersson 020 7074 1800
Notes to editors
About Smart Metering Systems Plc
Established in 1995, Smart Metering Systems plc, headquartered
in Glasgow, connects, owns and operates gas and electricity meters
on behalf of major energy companies. The Company's full end to end
energy management services and consultancy business support large
blue chip companies in the UK, through a network of offices in
Cardiff, Cambridge, Bolton, Doncaster, Rugby, and Normanton.
The Company's services also include infrastructure design,
installation, consultancy and project management services for new
gas, electricity, water and telecoms connections for licenced
energy and telecoms suppliers, end consumers and the UK's licenced
electricity Distribution Network Owners (DNO's).
The Company was admitted to the AIM market in July 2011 and is
now part of the FTSE AIM 50 index. For more information on SMS
please visit the Company's website: www.sms-plc.com.
Chairman's statement
I am delighted to report another period of strong trading
activity, maintaining a continued pattern of growth across the
business.
Our business and review of the first half of 2017
Throughout the first half of 2017, we have seen strong growth
across both our customer base and our meter portfolio. SMS now
manages over 1.68 million metering and data assets on behalf of an
expanding customer base of energy suppliers in the industrial and
commercial (I&C) and domestic markets from 1.25 million at the
end of 2016, an increase of 34%, which includes the domestic smart
meter portfolio.
We continue to make good progress with the installation of
domestic smart meters, which is part of the nationwide rollout that
mandates UK energy suppliers to fit approximately 53 million new
smart meters in more than 30 million premises by the end of 2020.
Whilst the press have reported concerns around the programme
completion timescales, energy suppliers have continued to place
contracts to accelerate their rollout. SMS is currently partnering
with suppliers to deliver for their customers through our
end-to-end meter asset management and installation capability.
SMS's business model has consistently demonstrated year-on-year
growth with an established and growing market position in the UK
smart metering market. The Group has delivered double-digit growth,
increasing revenue by 14% and continuing growth in recurring
revenue in our gas and electricity business.
Our strategy is to install and own meters with our existing
customers and to continue to grow the meter asset portfolio beyond
the 1.68 million assets currently under management. The domestic
smart metering opportunity is our key target market.
In 2017 the Group's strategic priorities continue to be:
1. Continue to invest in our installation and own utility
metering infrastructure and secure recurring rental and data income
from SMS's contracted energy suppliers.
2. Build on our investment, strategic acquisitions and
operational delivery model established in 2016 to take advantage of
the significant domestic smart meter market opportunity in the UK
based on SMS's proven end-to-end delivery capability, increased
capacity and long-established market position.
3. Maintain a focus on customer delivery and innovation across
all aspects of our business and in particular in our Energy
Management division where opportunities exist to assist our
partners in reducing their carbon emissions.
Health and safety
The health and safety of our employees and the public is the
Group's key priority and our health and safety policies reflect
this. The Group promotes a positive in-house health and safety
culture through regular internal safety audits and extensive
employee training, which leads to continuous improvement. The
number of training hours delivered to our engineers for the first
six months of 2017 has already doubled compared to the training
hours completed throughout 2016, illustrating our commitment to
health and safety.
People
Last year we significantly expanded our installation field force
with the acquisition of CH4 and Trojan, which enhanced our
capability to provide full end-to-end services across connections,
asset management and energy services across the UK. This year we
have continued to invest in the business, growing our installation
field engineers and increasing our installation capacity,
particularly for the domestic smart meter rollout. SMS now employs
over 750 staff across the UK and each of these individuals has a
key role to play in the successful operation of our business. We
have a dedicated and talented management team which will continue
to steer the business through a period of growth.
During the six months to 30 June 2017, Glen Murray stepped down
from his position as Chief Financial Officer of SMS, and from the
Board, in order to concentrate on his other business interests. We
thank Glen for all the work he has done for SMS. In March 2017
David Harris was appointed as CFO; however, for health reasons
David had to step down from the Board in August 2017. Following his
departure, we were delighted to appoint David Thompson as Chief
Financial Officer. David has extensive experience of the SMS
business and also the wider metering and utility markets.
Dividend
SMS is pleased to announce a proposed interim cash dividend to
shareholders of 1.74p per ordinary share for the half year ended 30
June 2017, a 27% increase. The interim dividend will be paid on 24
November 2017 to those shareholders on the register (record date)
on 19 October 2017 with an ex-dividend date of 20 October 2017.
Outlook
The first half of 2017 has seen us continue the significant
progress across the business further investing in our delivery
capacity and, with the business reporting another period of strong
trading activity and maintaining a continued pattern of growth
across the asset portfolio. We remain confident in our ability to
continue to grow the business for the remainder of 2017.
Chief Executive Officer's statement
The first half of 2017 saw the start of the domestic smart meter
rollout for SMS, built upon the successful systems integration and
trial installations conducted in Q4 2016 with our energy supplier
customers. SMS now owns 186,000 smart meters, to increase our
overall portfolio of meters and data assets to c.1.68 million,
generating annualised recurring rentals of c. GBP48.4m to 30 June
2017.
One external constraint on SMS in the smart meter rollout has
been the availability of smart meters from the manufacturers.
However, in June meters became more freely available and resulted
in an increased run rate now taking the smart meter portfolio to
257,000, the overall portfolio of meters and data assets to 1.82
million and total annualised recurring rental income to c. GBP51.3m
by 31 August 2017 with our existing long-term index-linked rental
contracts.
Domestic smart metering is a clear focus for the business whilst
it continues to deliver its order book, converting industrial and
commercial meters to remotely read meters and benefiting from the
associated data contracts/assets. The industry, as a whole, has
made major strides in delivering the smart rollout, with 7.7
million smart meters installed thus far, i.e. c.14% of the market.
The government continues to reinforce the programme's expected
completion date of 2020, and this, coupled with increased
availability of meters and progress of the central Data
Communications Company (DCC), means we are seeing increasing demand
for installations from our energy supplier customers and the
consequent increase in installation run rates and contract
wins.
Smart meters serve end consumers with the best opportunity to
reduce their energy consumption, with further savings expected with
"time of use" tariffs which may become the norm. In time, this will
allow, for example, people to charge vehicles outside of peak times
and make other behavioural changes to reduce the peak consumption
during the day, hence reducing the power and network investment
needed to support the electrification of heat and transport and
delivering additional savings.
Meter operational delivery
SMS has been installing meters since 1995, changing its business
model to meter asset ownership with associated long-term recurring
rental income in 2004. The strategic acquisitions in early 2016 of
CH4 and Trojan to provide installation, and Qton to provide the IT,
have enabled the Group to provide a full end-to-end solution for
the rollout of domestic smart meters.
SMS has focused the first six months of 2017 on increasing our
smart installation capacity, having nearly doubled our installation
workforce capability since June 2016 with a proportionate increase
in our meter asset ownership capability/capacity. Continued growth
is expected over the second half of 2017 and beyond, with the
objective of SMS to have one of the largest independent
installation capabilities in the UK.
Safety with all parties with whom we interact with is a key
priority for the business. SMS has invested heavily in our internal
training centre and will continue to do so in the coming years. The
internal training centre provides us with the controls required to
ensure safe and quality working practices are adopted by our
engineers, whilst providing the ability to increase our own direct
workforce and allowing us to meet and exceed the service delivery
needs of our clients.
Our training centres continue to seek out new sources for
engineers, and as a result we have established new relationships
with third parties such as the Armed Forces. Having control over
our in-house training centre means we are able to provide
resettlement training programmes specifically for our servicemen
and women.
Alongside our training centre recruits, we continue to recruit
via traditional methods to ensure SMS has the capability and
capacity to deliver to its energy supplier customers. This direct
control over the engineering resource and the quality it produces
was a key strategic consideration in the acquisitions we made last
year.
The business is focused on controlled growth and operational
delivery, and consequently direct control over training,
compliance, standards, supervision and health and safety places SMS
at the forefront of domestic smart metering. We have the ability to
increase our capacity to meet our clients' needs, which allows SMS
to cater for a variety of service provision.
The industry-leading software solutions we own underpins this
and supported by our in-house software developers and cyber
security teams, we are able to produce a bespoke software service
to each customer which provides us with a significant competitive
advantage.
SMS is also able to provide the comfort and assurance sought by
our customers because of specialised and dedicated compliance
departments and dedicated health, safety, environmental and quality
teams. These departments monitor and ensure delivery of our
end-to-end processes, ultimately providing confidence to our energy
supplier customers and to their customers.
SMS is now on course to become one of the largest independent
domestic smart meter installation workforces in the UK and the
partner of choice to the energy suppliers, as they embark on their
domestic smart programmes and future requirements.
Energy management services
The Energy Management division continues to provide energy cost,
carbon and consumption reduction services, identifying and
delivering measures which manage and reduce our customer costs
through our strategic engagement. In the first half of 2017, it has
processed and analysed 308,924 billing points and performed over 91
energy audits and compliance surveys, identifying potential energy
savings for customers and generating ongoing service requirements.
We have been pleased by the excellent response from our customers
to the launch of our new energy monitoring and analytics software
platform which, combined with our data collection services,
provides a unique proposition to the market and significant
opportunity for growth.
Business summary
SMS continues to deliver operational and financial growth and,
along with the significant opportunities in the domestic smart
metering market, we remain confident in the outlook for the
business and market development for the second half of 2017 and
beyond.
Chief Financial Officer's review
Results for the period
The Group has seen continued growth in the period in revenue,
EBITDA and PBT with progressive performance across each of the
divisions.
For the period ended 30 June 2017, at a Group level, SMS
increased revenue by 14% to GBP36.8m (H1 2016: GBP32.3m). The key
driver was the continued growth in our recurring revenue from our
installed asset base, which is our primary focus. At a divisional
level, Asset Management revenue grew 24.9% to GBP22.1m (H1 2016:
GBP17.7m), while Asset Installation revenue increased 2% to
GBP13.1m (H1 2016: GBP12.8m). Energy Management revenue fell by 11%
to GBP1.6m (H1 2016: GBP1.8m) due to a one-off capital project in
the prior period.
Annualised recurring income as at 30 June 2017 grew by 29% to
GBP48.4m, compared with GBP37.4m at 30 June 2016. In gas, meter
recurring income increased by 13% to GBP33.7m and data recurring
income increased by 17% to GBP2.8m, while in electricity, meter
recurring income increased by 281% to GBP6.1m and data recurring
income increased by 57% to GBP5.8m. The rise in electricity meter
recurring income is driven by the installation of our smart
portfolio; historically the business has had a gas-based portfolio.
The smart meter rollout provides us with access to the dual fuel
domestic market.
As expected, our termination income has increased to GBP2.5m (H1
2016: GBP1.2m) as we see more of the traditional meter portfolio
switch to smart meters.
Profit margins within all divisions have seen a slight decrease
against the prior year reflecting the investment we are making in
the business in control systems and future capacity. Overall, Group
profit margins have decreased by 6% to 51% (H1 2016: 57%) and the
margin of profit before tax has decreased by 3% to 25% (H1 2016:
28%). At a divisional level, asset management has seen a margin
reduction from the increased depreciation charge on our growing
installed portfolio of smart meters. We took a decision to show
depreciation within cost of sales in the Asset Management division
during the previous financial year and accordingly we now restate
the H1 2016 comparatives. We also revised the useful life of our
traditional meter portfolio to reflect the smart meter exchange
programme. Asset installation has seen the largest area of
investment in capacity and the margin is accordingly affected by
these costs. Energy Management has seen the effects of a one-off
project in the prior year return to a normalised level.
The current reported period has the full costs of the
installation business compared with prior half year period which
only contained the post-acquisition results. In addition, we have
seen our cost base increase due to a continued investment in our
operational capacity to deliver the rollout plans of our customers.
We have invested significantly in quality people across the
business, from our engineering workforce to the operational support
departments, and across all our important central functions.
We have trained around 100 engineers in the first half of 2017
to the required dual fuel smart meter standard. Whilst we
capitalise certain internal costs relating to meters that we both
fit and subsequently own, training costs are not capitalised. This
is a clear investment in capacity that we will continue to see over
the next twelve months as we mobilise our workforce to a size that
delivers our customers' rollout requirements.
We have further invested in our infrastructure with the opening
of a new Installation HQ in Doncaster to house our customer service
teams, and have taken additional warehouse storage capacity for our
growing meter inventory. We have also transferred certain
operational costs from the Trojan business to CH4 and, as a result,
have incurred some exceptional costs. The continued investment in
our infrastructure and delivery capability outlined above, combined
with the slower than anticipated mobilisation due to the
constraints seen in the smart meter supply chain at the start of
the year is expected to impact PBT growth in the current year.
Accordingly, we currently expect underlying PBT for the full year
to remain in line with, or marginally below, the level reported for
the 12 months to 31 December 2016.
Our inventory has grown to GBP12.9m at 30 June 2017 (H1 2016:
GBP2.7m; YE 2016: GBP6.1m). This level of investment in inventory
is required to ensure the installation workforce is served by
sufficient capacity in the supply chain to ensure a steady
availability of meters to drive an efficient rollout plan. To
ensure greater control over our inventory we have moved from a
completely consignment-based approach to a mixed ownership
approach.
EBITDA on an underlying basis has increased by 10% to GBP16.2m
(H1 2016: GBP14.7m). The 10% increase (compared to 17% on a
statutory basis) reflects the underlying additional investment in
people and infrastructure without having the benefit of termination
income included in the result.
Exceptional costs have been incurred in both the current and
prior year. In the prior year, exceptional costs of GBP0.4m were
largely costs associated with acquisitions during 2016. Exceptional
costs in the current year predominantly relate to costs associated
with reorganisation within the installation business as we
transferred the operational oversight and control of the domestic
smart function from Trojan to CH4 to gain cost synergies moving
forwards.
Cash and borrowings
We were delighted to announce in March 2017 a new GBP280m
revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks: Barclays Bank
plc, Santander UK Plc, HSBC UK, Clydesdale Bank plc and Bank of
Scotland plc. This facility will fund the purchase of meter assets
as part of a phased installation programme in line with recent
substantial contract wins, and under this facility we can fund 100%
of the value of meter assets purchased. We continue to maintain
good relationships with all our banking partners who have expressed
a keen interest to work with us and provide sufficient funds to
facilitate our growth plans.
As at 30 June 2017, the Company had net debt of GBP122.0m (H1
2016: GBP80.5m) with a net debt to annualised underlying EBITDA
ratio of 3.76 times. The Company's available cash and unutilised
debt facility stood at GBP158m at 30 June 2017.
Capital investment in meter assets and ADM(TM) installations was
GBP48.9m compared to GBP14.8m in the first half of 2016. We have
seen an increase in our interest cost to GBP1.8m (H1 2016: GBP1.2m)
as a result of this additional capital expenditure and subsequent
increase in our borrowings.
Six months Six months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2017 2016
Unaudited Unaudited Percentage
GBPm GBPm increase
----------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
Revenue 36.8 32.3 14%
Annualised recurring income(1) 48.4 37.4 29%
Statutory profit from operations 11.1 10.3
Amortisation of intangibles 1.0 0.9
Depreciation 6.0 4.3
Statutory EBITDA 18.1 15.5 17%
Other operating income (2.5) (1.2)
Exceptional items 0.6 0.4
Underlying EBITDA 16.2 14.7 10%
Net interest (1.8) (1.2)
Depreciation (6.0) (4.3)
Underlying profit before taxation 8.4 9.2 (9)%
Exceptional items (0.6) (0.4)
Other operating income 2.5 1.2
Amortisation of intangibles (1.0) (0.9)
Statutory profit before taxation 9.3 9.1 2%
---------------------------------- ----- ---------- ----------
1 Annualised recurring income refers to the revenue being
generated at a point in time. Recurring revenue refers to revenue
generated by meter rental and data contracts.
Consolidated interim statement of comprehensive income
For the period ended 30 June 2017
Six months
Six months ended Year
ended 30 June ended
30 June 2016 31 December
2017 Unaudited 2016
Unaudited restated Audited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------
Revenue 36,842 32,312 67,188
Cost of sales (17,869) (13,895) (30,257)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Gross profit 18,973 18,417 36,931
Administrative expenses (10,371) (9,268) (17,438)
Other operating income 2,473 1,155 1,075
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Profit from operations 11,075 10,304 20,568
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Operating profit before exceptional items, other operating income and amortisation
of intangibles 10,206 10,414 21,939
Amortisation of intangibles (1,048) (896) (1,991)
Other operating income 2,473 1,155 1,075
Exceptional items and fair value adjustments (556) (369) (455)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Finance costs (1,805) (1,182) (2,327)
Finance income - - 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Profit before taxation 9,270 9,122 18,243
Taxation (1,603) (1,793) (2,998)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Profit for the period attributable to equity holders 7,667 7,329 15,245
Other comprehensive income - - -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Total comprehensive income 7,667 7,329 15,245
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
The profit from operations arises from the Group's continuing
operations.
Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent during
the period:
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2017 2016 2016
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
----------------------------------------- ---------- ------------
Basic earnings per share (pence) 8.59 8.45 17.33
Diluted earnings per share (pence) 8.56 8.29 17.02
----------------------------------- ---- ---------- ------------
Consolidated interim statement of financial position
As at 30 June 2017
30 June 30 June 31 December
2017 2016 2016
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Assets
Non-current assets
Intangible assets 13,999 14,956 14,611
Property, plant and equipment 199,808 137,818 157,977
Investments 118 118 118
Trade and other receivables 734 764 628
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
214,659 153,656 173,334
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Current assets
Inventories 12,895 2,705 6,121
Trade and other receivables 20,451 14,909 15,736
Income tax recoverable 224 - 58
Cash and cash equivalents 7,816 9,280 7,999
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
41,386 26,894 29,914
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total assets 256,045 180,550 203,248
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 42,656 23,114 26,017
Income tax payable - 635 725
Bank loans and overdrafts 17,012 12,439 14,530
Commitments under hire purchase agreements 6 537 28
Other current financial liabilities - 18 -
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
59,674 36,743 41,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Non-current liabilities
Bank loans 112,807 77,382 87,646
Commitments under hire purchase agreements - 337 1
Deferred tax liabilities 9,466 7,999 7,885
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
122,273 85,718 95,532
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
Total liabilities 181,947 122,461 136,832
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Net assets 74,098 58,089 66,416
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Equity
Share capital 900 887 892
Share premium 12,023 10,564 10,861
Other reserves 9,562 8,447 8,447
Treasury shares (518) (191) (327)
Retained earnings 52,131 38,382 46,543
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company 74,098 58,089 66,416
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Consolidated interim statement of changes in shareholders'
equity
For the period ended 30 June 2017
Share Share Other Treasury Retained
capital premium reserve shares earnings Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
----------------------------------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
As at 1 January 2016 861 9,650 4,258 (231) 32,847 47,385
Total comprehensive income for the period - - - - 7,329 7,329
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Dividends (note 4) - - - - (1,919) (1,919)
Shares issued 26 914 4,189 - - 5,129
Shares held by Share Incentive Plan (SIP) - - - 40 - 40
Share options - - - - 163 163
Income tax effect of share options - - - - (38) (38)
------------------------------------------------------ --- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
As at 30 June 2016 887 10,564 8,447 (191) 38,382 58,089
Total comprehensive income for the period - - - - 7,916 7,916
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Dividends - - - - (1,226) (1,226)
Shares issued 5 297 - - - 302
Shares held by Share Incentive Plan (SIP) - - - (136) - (136)
Share options - - - - 281 281
Income tax effect of share options - - - - 1,190 1,190
------------------------------------------------------ --- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
As at 31 December 2016 892 10,861 8,447 (327) 46,543 66,416
Total comprehensive income for the period - - - - 7,667 7,667
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Dividends (note 4) - - - - (2,452) (2,452)
Shares issued 8 1,162 1,115 - - 2,285
Shares held by SIP - - - (191) - (191)
Share options - - - - 352 352
Income tax effect of share options - - - - 21 21
------------------------------------------------------ --- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
As at 30 June 2017 900 12,023 9,562 (518) 52,131 74,098
------------------------------------------------------ --- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Consolidated interim statement of cash flows
For the period ended 30 June 2017
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2017 2016 2016
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------
Operating activities
Profit before taxation 9,270 9,122 18,243
Finance costs 1,805 1,182 2,327
Finance income - - (2)
Fair value movements on derivatives - (28) (46)
Depreciation 6,015 4,266 9,977
Amortisation 1,048 896 1,991
Share-based payment expense 161 202 348
Increase in inventories (6,774) (1,357) (4,773)
Increase in trade and other receivables (4,659) (2,065) (2,646)
Increase in trade and other payables 16,154 3,406 6,330
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Cash generated from operations 23,020 15,624 31,749
Taxation (891) (287) (401)
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Net cash generated from operations 22,129 15,337 31,348
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Investing activities
Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment (48,968) (14,811) (42,904)
Disposal of property, plant and equipment 1,700 290 2,499
Payment to acquire intangible assets - (392) (1,084)
Acquisition of subsidiary - - (35)
Cash acquired with subsidiaries - 452 452
Finance income - - 2
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Net cash used in investing activities (47,268) (14,461) (41,070)
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Financing activities
New borrowings 36,111 11,417 30,442
Borrowings repaid (8,127) (6,374) (12,845)
Hire purchase repayments (22) (218) (1,028)
Finance costs (1,724) (1,141) (2,646)
Net proceeds from share issue 1,170 928 1,232
Dividends paid (2,452) (1,919) (3,145)
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Net cash generated from financing activities 24,956 2,693 12,010
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (183) 3,569 2,288
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 7,999 5,711 5,711
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 7,816 9,280 7,999
--------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- ------------
Notes to the interim report
For the period ended 30 June 2017
1 Basis of preparation and accounting policies
The Group's half-yearly financial report consolidates the
results of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings made up to
30 June 2017. The Company is a limited liability company
incorporated and domiciled in Scotland whose shares are quoted on
AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.
The financial information contained in this half-yearly
financial report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined
in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. It does not therefore
include all the information and disclosures required in the annual
financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the
Group's annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2016.
The financial information for the six months ended 30 June 2017
is also unaudited.
The comparative information for the year ended 31 December 2016
has been extracted from the Group's published financial statements
for that year, which were prepared in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as endorsed by the European
Union and have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The
report of the auditor on these accounts was unqualified and did not
contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies
Act 2006.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis, which the Directors believe is appropriate for the following
reason:
The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts which show the
Group expects to meet its liabilities as they fall due for a period
in excess of twelve months from the date of these financial
statements. Our forecasts show continued capital investment which
is funded from retained profits and external finance, with strong
support from our banking group, together with the ability to raise
additional capital from the equity market. At 30 June 2017, the
Group had cash of GBP7.8m and available facilities of GBP150.2m and
continued to be cash generative through trading operations.
Significant accounting policies
As required in AIM Rule 18, the interim financial information
for the six months ended 30 June 2017 is presented and prepared in
a form consistent with that which will be adopted in the annual
statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017
and having regard to the IFRS applicable to such annual
accounts.
2 Segmental reporting
For management purposes, the Group is organised into three core
divisions, Asset Management, Asset Installation and Energy
Management, which form the basis of the Group's reportable
operating segments, and operating segments within those divisions
are combined on the basis of their similar long-term economic
characteristics and the similar nature of their products and
services, as follows:
Asset Management comprises regulated management of gas and
electricity meters and ADM(TM) units within the UK.
Asset Installation comprises the installation of domestic and
I&C gas and electricity meters throughout the UK.
Energy Management comprises the provision of advice on energy
usage and control.
Management monitors the operating results of its divisions
separately for the purpose of making decisions about resource
allocation and performance assessment. The operating segments
disclosed in the financial statements are the same as those
reported to the Board. Segment performance is evaluated based on
revenue generation and gross profit.
At the most granular level of information presented to the Chief
Operating Decision Maker (CODM), Asset Management aggregates four
operating segments (gas meter rental, electricity meter rental, gas
data and electricity data) principally on the basis that they
derive from the same asset using similar processes for consistent
customers and are often provided together. Asset Installation
aggregates two operating segments (gas transactional and
electricity transactional) due to the consistent nature of the
services, customers and delivery processes.
The following segment information is presented in respect of the
Group's reportable segments together with additional balance sheet
information.
Asset Asset Energy Total
Management Installation Management Unallocated operations
30 June 2017 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Segment/Group revenue 22,132 13,083 1,627 - 36,842
Cost of sales (8,442) (8,431) (996) - (17,869)
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Segment profit - Group gross profit 13,690 4,652 631 - 18,973
Items not reported by segment:
Other operating costs - - - (5,962) (5,962)
Depreciation - - - (332) (332)
Amortisation (1,048) - - - (1,048)
Exceptional items and fair value adjustments - - - (556) (556)
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Profit from operations 12,642 4,652 631 (6,850) 11,075
Net finance costs (1,805) - - - (1,805)
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Profit before tax 10,837 4,652 631 (6,850) 9,270
Tax expense (1,603)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
Profit for the period 7,667
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
Asset
Management Asset Energy Unallocated Total
restated Installation Management restated operations
30 June 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Segment/Group revenue 17,699 12,791 1,822 - 32,312
Cost of sales (6,321) (6,529) (1,045) - (13,895)
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Segment profit - Group gross profit 11,378 6,262 777 - 18,417
Items not reported by segment:
Other operating costs - - - (6,516) (6,516)
Depreciation - - - (332) (332)
Amortisation (896) - - - (896)
Exceptional items and fair value adjustments - - - (369) (369)
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Profit from operations 10,482 6,262 777 (7,217) 10,304
Net finance costs (1,182) - - - (1,182)
--------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Profit before tax 9,300 6,262 777 (7,217) 9,122
Tax expense (1,793)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
Profit for the period 7,329
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
June 2016 has been restated to show depreciation of GBP3.9m
associated with meter assets within cost of sales as the meter
assets directly drive revenue.
Asset Asset Energy Total
Management Installation Management Unallocated operations
31 December 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Segment/Group revenue 37,359 26,115 3,714 - 67,188
Cost of sales (14,441) (13,735) (2,081) - (30,257)
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Segment profit - Group gross profit 22,918 12,380 1,633 - 36,931
Items not reported by segment:
Other operating costs - - - (13,174) (13,174)
Depreciation - (22) - (721) (743)
Amortisation (1,991) - - - (1,991)
Exceptional items - - - (455) (455)
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Profit/(loss) from operations 20,927 12,358 1,633 (14,350) 20,568
Net finance costs (2,325) - - - (2,325)
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Profit/(loss) before tax 18,602 12,358 1,633 (14,350) 18,243
Tax expense (2,998)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
Profit for the year 15,245
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
All revenues and operations are based and generated in the
UK.
Those assets and liabilities that are managed and reported on a
segmental basis are detailed below.
Asset Asset Energy Unallocated Total
Management Installation Management operations
30 June 2017 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Assets by segment
Intangible assets 10,502 3,497 - - 13,999
Property, plant and equipment 196,879 115 - 2,914 199,908
Inventories 12,399 376 120 - 12,895
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
219,780 3,988 120 2,914 226,802
Assets not by segment 29,243
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Total assets 256,045
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Liabilities by segment
Bank loans 129,819 - - - 129,819
Commitments under hire purchase agreements - 6 - - 6
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
129,819 6 - - 129,825
Liabilities not by segment 52,122
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Total liabilities 181,947
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Asset Energy
Management Asset Management Total
restated Installation restated Unallocated operations
30 June 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- -----------
Assets by segment
Intangible assets 11,459 3,497 - - 14,956
Property, plant and equipment 129,690 67 - 4,238 133,995
Inventories 2,597 - 108 - 2,705
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- -----------
143,746 3,564 108 4,238 151,656
Assets not by segment 28,894
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- -----------
Total assets 180,550
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- -----------
Liabilities by segment
Bank loans 89,821 - - - 89,821
Commitments under hire purchase agreements 871 - 4 - 875
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- -----------
90,692 - 4 - 90,696
Liabilities not by segment 31,765
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- -----------
Total liabilities 122,461
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- -----------
The prior year assets by segment have been restated to show a
reallocation of GBP5.5m of property, plant and equipment from
Energy Management to Asset Management as these assets are
attributable to the operations of Asset Management.
Asset Asset Energy Total
Management Installation Management Unallocated operations
31 December 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Assets reported by segment
Intangible assets 11,114 3,497 - - 14,611
Property, plant and equipment 155,131 66 - 2,780 157,977
Inventories 5,569 446 106 - 6,121
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
171,814 4,009 106 2,780 178,709
Assets not by segment 24,539
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
Total assets 203,248
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
Liabilities by segment
Bank loans 102,176 - - - 102,176
Commitments under hire purchase agreements - 29 - - 29
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
102,176 29 - - 102,205
Liabilities not by segment 34,627
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
Total liabilities 136,832
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
3 Earnings per share
The calculation of earnings per share (EPS) is based on the
following data and number of shares:
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2017 2016 2016
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------
Profit for the period used for calculation of basic EPS 7,667 7,329 15,245
Amortisation of intangible assets 1,048 896 1,991
Other operating income (2,473) (1,155) (1,075)
Exceptional costs 556 369 455
Tax effect of adjustments 51 (22) 274
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Earnings for the purpose of underlying EPS 6,849 7,417 16,890
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Number of shares:
Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of calculating basic EPS 89,209,169 86,721,630 87,955,744
Effect of potentially dilutive ordinary shares:
Share options 389,907 1,717,399 1,604,623
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted EPS 89,599,076 88,439,029 89,560,367
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Earnings per share:
Basic (pence) 8.59 8.45 17.33
Diluted (pence) 8.56 8.29 17.02
Underlying earnings per share:
Basic (pence) 7.68 8.55 19.20
Diluted (pence) 7.64 8.39 18.86
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------
The Directors consider that the underlying earnings per share
calculation gives a better understanding of the Group's earnings
per share. Underlying earnings per share removes the effects of
exceptional items, other operating income and amortisation of
intangibles (being items of both income and expense which are
sufficiently large, volatile or one-off in nature) to assist the
reader of the financial statements to get a better understanding of
the underlying performance of the Group.
4 Dividend
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2017 2016 2016
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------- ---------- ------------
Dividend on equity shares 2,452 1,919 3,145
-------------------------- ----- ---------- ------------
After 30 June the Directors have approved an interim dividend of
1.74p per share for 2017, which has not been accrued as a liability
as at 30 June 2017 in accordance with IAS 8. The dividend will be
paid on 24 November 2017 with an ex-dividend date of 19 October
2017 and a record date of 20 October 2017.
5 The half-yearly financial report was approved by the Board of Directors on 29 August 2017.
6 A copy of this half-yearly financial report is available from
the Company's registered office or by visiting our website at
www.sms-plc.com.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
IR KMGMLGMMGNZZ
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 12, 2017 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)
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