Biffa plc Acquisition (1612K)

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RNS Number : 1612K

Biffa plc

05 July 2017

5 July 2017

This announcement contains inside information.

Biffa plc

Biffa Acquires O'Brien Waste Recycling Solutions Holdings Limited

Biffa plc ('Biffa', 'the Group' or 'the Company'), a leading UK integrated waste management company, announces that it has completed the acquisition of O'Brien Waste Recycling Solutions Holdings Limited ('O'Brien WRS'), a leading provider of waste and recycling solutions in the North East of England.

O'Brien WRS has been acquired for a cash consideration of GBP35.2 million, funded from Biffa's existing cash and debt facilities, with a further contingent consideration of up to GBP0.9 million payable subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions[i]. The acquisition is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing for the Group.

As at 30 April 2017, O'Brien WRS generated annual revenues of cGBP34.4 million, EBITDA of cGBP6.6 million, operating profit of cGBP5.3 million and had gross assets of cGBP15.3 million[ii], and has c190 employees.

O'Brien WRS is highly complementary to Biffa's existing business. Its collection business, which serves c3,600 customers and generates revenues of cGBP20.7 million, will be incorporated into Biffa's existing Industrial & Commercial ('I&C') collection business, enabling the combined business to operate more efficiently and enhance its customer service offering.

In addition the acquisition brings a substantial recycling and waste treatment operation across 3 locations which serves both commercial and local authority customers and which will significantly strengthen Biffa's infrastructure in the region. These facilities will be incorporated into Biffa's Resource Recovery and Treatment (RR&T) divisions.

Ian Wakelin, Chief Executive of Biffa, said:

"The acquisition of O'Brien WRS is further evidence of our ongoing strategy of combining organic growth with value-creating acquisitions which enhance our network, capabilities and service offering.

"As one of the UK's largest waste management companies, Biffa is a natural consolidator, with the scale, reputation and expertise to grow and build upon our market leading positions.

"This acquisition significantly strengthens our market presence in the North East of England. We welcome the employees of O'Brien WRS to Biffa and we look forward to working together to provide a great service to our customers."

Nathan O'Brien, Managing Director of O'Brien Waste Recycling Solutions, commented:

"O'Brien WRS' wide range of recycling solutions serve both commercial and local authority customers and have driven continuous, successful growth.

"The opportunity to join Biffa was a natural choice for our business due to Biffa's scale, UK-wide network and complementary capabilities. Being part of a bigger group creates many exciting opportunities for the combined businesses."

ENQUIRIES:

Ian Wakelin, Chief Executive Officer

Michael Topham, Chief Financial Officer

[e-mail]

   Instinctif Partners           [phone] 
   Mark Garraway              [phone] 
   Helen Tarbet                  [phone] 
   James Gray                   [phone] 

[e-mail]

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements and unaudited financial information that are subject to the usual risk factors and uncertainties associated with the Company's business. Whilst the Company believes the expectations reflected herein to be reasonable in light of the information available to them at this time, the actual outcome may be materially different owing to factors beyond the Company's control or within the Company's control where, for example, the Company decides on a change of plan or strategy. Accordingly, no reliance may be placed on the figures contained in such forward-looking statements or unaudited financial information.

Inside information

The information contained in this announcement is inside information. If you have any queries on this, then please contact Rachael Hambrook, Company Secretary (responsible for arranging the release of this announcement) at Biffa plc Coronation Road, Cressex, High Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3TZ on [phone]

[i] Contingent consideration is dependent on the award of an identified new contract and recoveries from historical bad debt

[ii] The figures for revenues, EBITDA, operating profit and gross assets of O'Brien for the year to 30 April 2017 are unaudited but have been subjected to due diligence. The latest available audited financial statements of the O'Brien WRS business are those of O'Brien Waste Recycling Solutions Limited in respect of the period to 30 April 2016, incorporating the trading results of the O'Brien WRS business from 7 May 2015, and show revenues of GBP27.3 million, EBITDA of GBP3.5 million, operating profit of GBP2.6m and gross assets of GBP11.4 million.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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July 05, 2017 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)