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ROL Rotala Plc

63.00
0.00 (0.00%)
26 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Rotala Plc LSE:ROL London Ordinary Share GB00B1Z2MP60 ORD 25P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 63.00 0.00 01:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
0 0 N/A 0

Rotala PLC Half-year Report (2609X)

09/08/2018 7:00am

UK Regulatory


Rotala (LSE:ROL)
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TIDMROL

RNS Number : 2609X

Rotala PLC

09 August 2018

9 August 2018

Rotala Plc

("Rotala" or "the Company" or "the Group")

Unaudited Interim Results

Rotala plc (AIM:ROL), a provider of transport solutions across the UK, announces its unaudited interim results for the six months to 31 May 2018.

Highlights

   --      Revenue up 14% vs. H1 2017 to GBP32.7 million 
   --      Profit from operations up 18% to GBP2.3 million* 
   --      Profit before taxation up 17% to GBP1.57 million* 
   --      Basic adjusted earnings per share up 3.5% to 2.67p* 
   --      Interim dividend increased by 8% to 0.92p per share (2017: 0.85p) 
   --      Rotala continues to pursue attractive acquisition targets 
   --      Current trading in line with market expectations 

*before exceptional items

For further information please contact:

 
 Rotala Plc                                    0121 322 2222 
 John Gunn, Chairman 
 Simon Dunn, Chief Executive 
 Kim Taylor, Group Finance Director 
 
 Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker: 
  Cenkos Securities plc                          020 7397 8900 
 Stephen Keys/Callum Davidson (Corporate 
  Finance) 
  Michael Johnson/Julian Morse (Corporate 
  Broking) 
 Joint Broker: Dowgate Capital Stockbrokers 
  Ltd                                          0203 903 7715 
 David Poutney/James Serjeant (Corporate 
  Broking) 
 

Chairman's Statement

I am pleased to present this interim report to shareholders in respect of the six months ended 31 May 2018. The Company has continued to make good progress in the first half of 2018, building on the benefits derived from the three acquisitions made in 2017 and the Central Buses acquisition made in the current accounting period.

Results

Revenues for the Group as a whole during the period were GBP32.7 million. This represents an increase of 14% compared to the same period in the previous year. Operating margins fell slightly to 17.9% (2017: 18.9%) but this is attributable to seasonality effects to which I will return below. Pre- tax profits before exceptional items rose by 17% to GBP1.57 million (2017: GBP1.34 million).

Contracted Services

Revenues in the Contracted Services division rose overall by 13.5%, when compared to the first half of 2017, to GBP11.8 million (2017: GBP10.4 million). Revenues in this division have increased by almost 50% over the last four years. This level of growth reflects the investment we have made in this division over this period, not only in the form of acquisition but also in a determination to become a key player in the contracted markets in which we are now represented.

Thus we entered the Manchester market through an acquisition in 2015 and in the intervening period we have successfully expanded the contracted base of the business by winning an increasing number of contracts from Transport for Greater Manchester. This progress was bolstered in 2017 by the acquisition of the Goodwins business. Similarly in the West Midlands, the Hansons acquisition in 2017, followed by that of Central Buses in 2018, has significantly improved our market share in the Transport for the West Midlands contracted market. We have also benefited from smaller, but locally important, gains in local authority contracts in Lancashire and Surrey, compared to the corresponding period in 2017.

In contrast to earlier years, therefore, income from local authority bus contracts has become the larger component of the Contracted Services division and now forms about 19% of group revenues. Revenues from corporate contracts, leaving aside a dwindling share of this market in the South West, were steady period on period.

Commercial Services

Revenues in the Commercial Services division, compared to the first half of 2017, rose by 19% to GBP20.1 million (2017: GBP16.9 million). Revenue gains were enjoyed in all geographical areas except for the South West where we have been deliberately reducing the number of our commercial services. In the West Midlands the acquisition of Hansons in 2017 and Central Buses in 2018 has undoubtedly improved our market share considerably. The Goodwins acquisition in Manchester, allied to the registration of some new routes, has also made a very positive contribution to revenue in this area of the business. The bulk of the increase in revenues in this division has been provided by the Hotel Hoppa acquisition which was made late in 2017. This business is however seasonal, since it is reliant on the tourist traffic coming into and out of Heathrow airport, which significantly increases in the Summer months. This explains the dip in margins of the first half of this year to which I referred at the beginning of my statement. The busiest months of the Hotel Hoppa business lie in the second half of our accounting year and will have a beneficial impact on margins in that accounting period. In the remaining part of this division revenues in Preston were consistent with the previous year.

Overall therefore this division has increased in size by about 20% since 2015, reflecting in particular the acquisitions made for this division of the Group in 2017.

Charter Services

Revenues in the Charter Services division fell by 41% compared to the previous year to GBP748,000 (2017: GBP1.28 million). This fall can be ascribed to two factors: first the amount of rail replacement work which we were able to obtain was much down on the previous year. Secondly the generally poor winter weather, being both unusually cold and wet for extended periods, had a markedly detrimental effect on activity in the private hire coach market in the first half of the year. It is noticeable that in the recent good weather the private hire market has shown renewed vigour.

Dividend

The Company will pay an interim dividend of 0.92 pence per share (2017: 0.85 pence) on 7 December 2018 to all shareholders on the register on 16 November 2018. The board is conscious of the importance of dividend flows to shareholders; the board has set a target for dividend cover of 2.5 times earnings in the longer term.

Acquisition and Investment

At the end of February 2018 the Group acquired from CEN Group Limited, trading as Central Buses ("Central"), its entire bus business, bus brand and 30-strong vehicle fleet for a cash consideration of GBP1,950,000. The Central business had annual revenues of approximately GBP2.8 million and its vehicle fleet had a fair value at acquisition of approximately GBP1.5 million. No other assets or liabilities of any materiality were assumed on acquisition. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing from acquisition.

Central Buses was a well-established operator of commercial and contracted bus services in the northern part of the West Midlands area. This business, with its staff, was immediately integrated into the existing depot infrastructure which Rotala already possesses in the West Midlands and so no additional overhead was required as part of the acquisition. The acquisition extends the Group's network of bus services in the northern part of Birmingham, particularly in the Perry Barr area.

In order to integrate the acquisition with the rest of the Group we re-equipped the business with the standard Ticketer ticket machines which we use in the West Midlands region. In the first half of 2018 we also moved the whole Manchester business onto these machines and began to process of converting the Preston business as well. This investment in new ticket machines forms the bulk of the addition to plant and machinery of GBP530,000 in the period.

Also in the first half of the year in Manchester we purchased for GBP220,000 the freehold site next door to the one which we acquired with the Goodwins acquisition in 2017. We have cleared this new site of its unwanted buildings and thereby doubled the size of the freehold depot we possess in the Eccles area of Manchester. The depot is now comparable in size to our Atherton depot and gives us ample room for expansion in accordance with our plans for the area.

Debt

At the beginning of this accounting period the Group changed its principal bankers to HSBC Bank Plc. Besides the attraction of enlarged facilities to support the Group's greater scale of operation, another key aspect of the HSBC offering is that it is tailored to the business characteristics of a bus company. In order to operate we must invest heavily in property and vehicles. HSBC regard all secured lending, in the form of property mortgages and hire-purchase finance attached to vehicles, as forming no part of the leverage covenant that they wish to monitor. Their focus therefore is only on unsecured lending, which at 31 May 2018 stood at GBP11.4 million. At the same point, against a net book value in the vehicle fleet of GBP27.4 million, borrowings on hire purchase finance totalled GBP13.5 million and mortgage borrowing was GBP5.5 million compared to the net book value of freehold property of GBP7.5 million at that date.

Financial review

The following comments on the Condensed Income Statement address the results before any exceptional items. Revenues increased by 14% when compared with the same period in 2017, as explained above. Cost of Sales rose by 16%; consequently Gross Profits increased by 8% to GBP5.85 million (2017: GBP5.4 million). Administrative Expenses however increased by only 3%. Profit from Operations was therefore up by 18% and reached GBP2.32 million for the period (2017: GBP1.96 million). Net finance expense rose to reflect the increased size of the business, the larger vehicle fleet and the bank finance drawn down for acquisitions. Profit before Taxation increased by 17% to GBP1.57 million (2017: GBP1.34 million). Note 3 to this statement analyses the exceptional item column in the income statement.

The new shares issued in 2017 have increased the weighted average number of shares in issue, but the second half seasonality of the largest acquisition made with the funds raised (the Hotel Hoppa business) means that adjusted basic earnings per share, based on profits after tax and before exceptional items, were only some 3.5% up at 2.67 pence per share (2017: 2.58 pence). Basic earnings per share, including all exceptional items, were 2.62 pence per share in the period (2017: 1.79 pence), reflecting principally the large swing in the mark to market provision for the fuel derivative.

The gross assets of the Group were GBP75.1 million at 31 May 2018, compared to GBP65.3 million at the same time in the previous year. This change reflects the acquisitions made over the past twelve months, and investment in ticket machines and the vehicle fleet. An analysis of the Group's holdings of property, plant and equipment is set out in Note 5 to this statement. The working capital assets of the group have also increased for the same reasons.

These factors have had their effect on total liabilities, which have risen to GBP41.2 million at 31 May 2018 (2017: GBP37.0 million). The net loans and borrowings of the Group, including its obligations under hire purchase contracts, stood at GBP32.7 million at 31 May 2018 (31 May 2017: GBP25.7 million), as a result both of the acquisitions made and the investment in ticket machines and vehicles. An analysis of these borrowings is set out in Notes 6 and 7 to this statement. Net assets were GBP33.2 million at the period end (31 May 2017: GBP28.2 million). The large positive movement in the mark to market provision on the fuel derivative, combined with the 2017 share issue and retained profits, account for this change.

Cash flows from operating activities were 40% up on the same period in the previous year but these flows were entirely absorbed by the demands made on working capital by the increased size of the Group. Hire purchase interest increased to reflect the larger borrowings via this type of financing arrangement. Plant and equipment purchases were, as in 2017, largely offset by vehicles sold.

Cash flows from financing activities in the period principally reflect the large flows associated with the change in the Group's bankers at the start of the accounting year in December 2017, combined with some hire purchase refinancing activity. The capital element of payments on HP agreements fell slightly period on period. There was the usual decrease in cash and cash equivalents in the first half of the year, though a little lower at GBP0.7m than the GBP0.8 million of the previous year. The profitability, and resultant cash flows, of the Group are customarily weighted towards the second half of the year and this pattern can be expected to be repeated in the second half of 2018.

Outlook

The progress achieved by the Group during the first half of the year has been very encouraging. Bearing in mind that the Group's profitability has an increased bias to the second half of the year as a consequence of the Hotel Hoppa acquisition, the results we have achieved in the first half of the year make the Board confident that we remain well on course to meet market expectations for the financial year as a whole.

Rotala has a proven track record of steady organic growth supplemented by sensibly priced acquisitions. The recent acquisition of Central Buses conforms to this strategy. We continue to be actively engaged in hunting out potential acquisitions and, with the backing of our new bankers, possess considerable firepower which can be used to attain these targets.

In our assessment there will continue to be much divestment and acquisition activity in the bus market in the next few years. We undoubtedly have the management skills and the resources to capitalise on these opportunities. This makes us confident about the prospects of the Group in 2018 and beyond.

John Gunn

Non-Executive Chairman

9 August 2018

 
 
 
 Condensed               Note    Unaudited      Unaudited    Unaudited    Unaudited      Unaudited    Unaudited 
  consolidated                    6 months       6 months     6 months     6 months       6 months     6 months 
  income statement                ended 31       ended 31     ended 31     ended 31        ended       ended 31 
                                  May 2018       May 2018     May 2018     May 2017        31 May      May 2017 
                                                                                            2017 
 
                                     Results   Exceptional     Results        Results   Exceptional     Results 
                                      before         items     for the         before         items     for the 
                                 exceptional                    period    exceptional                    period 
                                       items                                    items 
                                     GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000        GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000 
 
 Revenue                  2           32,713             -      32,713         28,627             -      28,627 
 
 Cost of sales                      (26,864)             -    (26,864)       (23,227)             -    (23,227) 
 
 Gross profit                          5,849             -       5,849          5,400             -       5,400 
 
 Administrative 
  expenses                           (3,534)            36     (3,498)        (3,439)         (408)     (3,847) 
 
 Profit from 
  operations                           2,315            36       2,351          1,961         (408)       1,553 
 
   Finance expense                     (748)             -       (748)          (621)             -       (621) 
 
 
   Profit before 
   taxation                3           1,567            36       1,603          1,340         (408)         932 
 
 Tax expense                           (283)          (61)       (344)          (253)            78       (175) 
 
 Profit for 
  the period 
  attributable 
  to the equity 
  holders of 
  the parent                           1,284          (25)       1,259          1,087         (330)         757 
 
 Earnings per 
  share for 
  profit attributable 
  to the equity 
 holders of 
  the parent 
  during the 
  period: 
 Basic (pence)            4             2.67                      2.62           2.58                      1.79 
 Diluted (pence)          4             2.67                      2.62           2.57                      1.79 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Condensed consolidated                                                                                           Note    Audited year   Audited year        Audited 
  income statement                                                                                                            ended 30       ended 30     year ended 
                                                                                                                              November       November    30 November 
                                                                                                                                  2017           2017           2017 
 
                                                                                                                               Results   Exceptional           Results 
                                                                                                                                before       items             for the 
                                                                                                                           exceptional                            year 
                                                                                                                                 items 
                                                                                                                               GBP'000        GBP'000          GBP'000 
 
 Revenue                                                                                                            2           57,906              -           57,906 
 
 Cost of sales                                                                                                                (46,828)              -         (46,828) 
 
 Gross profit                                                                                                                   11,078              -           11,078 
 
 Administrative 
  expenses                                                                                                                     (6,599)          (796)          (7,395) 
 
 
   Profit from operations                                                                                                        4,479          (796)            3,683 
 
   Finance expense                                                                                                             (1,264)              -          (1,264) 
 
 
   Profit before 
   taxation                                                                                                          3           3,215          (796)            2,419 
 
 Tax expense                                                                                                                     (595)            257            (338) 
 
 Profit for the 
  year attributable 
  to the equity 
  holders of the 
  parent                                                                                                                         2,620          (539)            2,081 
 
 Earnings per 
  share for profit 
  attributable 
  to the equity 
 holders of the 
  parent during 
  the year: 
 Basic (pence)                                                                                                      4             5.95                            4.73 
 Diluted (pence)                                                                                                    4             5.94                            4.72 
 
 
 
 
 
 Condensed consolidated            Unaudited 6    Unaudited   Audited year 
  statement of comprehensive       months ended    6 months       ended 30 
  income                           31 May 2018     ended 31       November 
                                                   May 2017           2017 
                                     GBP'000       GBP'000         GBP'000 
 
 Profit for the period                1,259          757             2,081 
                                 --------------  ----------  ------------- 
 
   Other comprehensive income: 
 Actuarial profit on defined 
  benefit pension scheme                -             -                 58 
 
 Deferred tax on actuarial 
  profit on defined benefit 
  pension scheme                        -             -               (11) 
                                 -------------- 
 
 Other comprehensive income 
  for the period (net of 
  tax)                                  -             -                 47 
 
 Total comprehensive income 
  for the period attributable 
  to the equity holders of 
  the parent                          1,259          757             2,128 
                                 ==============  ==========  ============= 
 
 
 Condensed consolidated    Called      Share      Merger     Shares         Retained        Total 
  Statement of Changes      up share    premium    reserve    in treasury    earnings 
  in Equity                 capital     account 
                           GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000        GBP'000         GBP'000 
 
 At 1 December 2016         10,762      9,875      2,567        (817)         5,424       27,811 
                          ----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Profit for the period         -          -          -            -            757          757 
 Other comprehensive           -          -          -            -             -            - 
  income 
 Total comprehensive 
  income                       -          -          -            -            757          757 
 Transactions with 
  owners: 
 Share based payment           -          -          -            -            10           10 
 Dividends paid                -          -          -            -           (338)        (338) 
 Transactions with 
  owners                       -          -          -            -           (328)        (328) 
 
 At 31 May 2017             10,762      9,875      2,567        (817)         5,853       28,240 
                          ----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Profit for the period         -          -          -            -           1,324        1,324 
 Other comprehensive 
  income                       -          -          -            -            47           47 
 Total comprehensive 
  income                       -          -          -            -           1,371        1,371 
 Transactions with 
  owners: 
 Shares issued               1,458      1,904        -            -             -          3,362 
 Share based payment           -          -          -            -            10           10 
 Dividends paid                -          -          -            -           (632)        (632) 
 Transactions with 
  owners                     1,458      1,904        -            -           (622)        2,740 
 
 At 30 November 2017        12,220      11,779     2,567        (817)         6,602       32,351 
                          ----------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
 
 Profit for the period         -          -          -            -           1,259        1,259 
 Other comprehensive           -          -          -            -             -            - 
  income 
 Total comprehensive 
  income                       -          -          -            -           1,259        1,259 
 Transactions with 
  owners: 
 Share based payment           -          -          -            -             2            2 
 Dividends paid                -          -          -            -           (408)        (408) 
 Transactions with 
  owners                       -          -          -            -           (406)        (406) 
 
 At 31 May 2018             12,220      11,779     2,567        (817)         7,455       33,204 
 
 
 
 Condensed consolidated           Notes   Unaudited   Unaudited   Audited as at 
  statement of financial                   as at 31    as at 31    30 November 2017 
  position                                 May 2018    May 2017 
                                          GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant and 
  equipment                       5       39,353      35,491      36,925 
 Goodwill and other intangible 
  assets                                  15,110      12,033      14,759 
                                          _____       _____       _____ 
 Total non-current assets                 54,463      47,524      51,684 
 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                              2,743       3,086       2,526 
 Trade and other receivables              16,628      13,635      13,646 
 Derivative financial 
  instruments                             752         63          450 
 Cash and cash equivalents                514         947         627 
                                          _____       _____       _____ 
 Total current assets                     20,637      17,731      17,249 
                                          _____       _____       _____ 
 Total assets                             75,100      65,255      68,933 
 
 Liabilities 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                 (6,723)     (7,407)     (6,477) 
 Loans and borrowings             6       (14,571)    (15,272)    (16,278) 
 Obligations under hire 
  purchase agreements             7       (3,682)     (2,871)     (3,158) 
 Derivative financial                     -           (211)       - 
  instruments 
                                          ______      ______      _____ 
 Total current liabilities                (24,976)    (25,761)    (25,913) 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Loans and borrowings             6       (5,204)     -           - 
 Obligations under hire 
  purchase agreements             7       (9,840)     (8,503)     (8,357) 
 Provision for liabilities                (586)       (1,477)     (1,203) 
 Defined benefit pension 
  obligation                              (265)       (644)       (427) 
 Deferred taxation                        (1,025)     (630)       (682) 
                                          ______      ______      ______ 
 Total non-current liabilities            (16,920)    (11,254)    (10,669) 
                                          ______      ______      ______ 
 Total liabilities                        (41,896)    (37,015)    (36,582) 
                                          _____       _____       _____ 
 Net assets                               33,204      28,240      32,351 
                                          ======      ======      ===== 
 
 
 Condensed consolidated      Unaudited   Unaudited   Audited as at 
  statement of financial      as at 31    as at 31    30 November 2017 
  position                    May 2018    May 2017 
                             GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000 
 
 
 Equity attributable 
  to equity holders 
  of parent 
 Called up share capital     12,220      10,762      12,220 
 Share premium reserve       11,779      9,875       11,779 
 Merger reserve              2,567       2,567       2,567 
 Shares in treasury          (817)       (817)       (817) 
 Retained earnings           7,455       5,853       6,602 
                             ______      ______      _____ 
 Total equity                33,204      28,240      32,351 
                             =====       =====       ==== 
 
 
 Condensed consolidated               Unaudited         Unaudited         Audited year 
  cash flow statement               6 months ended    6 months ended    ended 30 November 
                                     31 May 2018       31 May 2017            2017 
                                       GBP'000           GBP'000            GBP'000 
 Cash flows from operating 
  activities 
 Profit for the period 
  before tax                            1,603              932               2,419 
 Finance expense (net)                   748               621               1,264 
 Depreciation                           1,725             1,597              3,274 
 Gain on sale of property, 
  plant and equipment                   (241)             (242)              (446) 
 Acquisition expenses                    49                 -                  47 
 Contribution to defined 
  benefit pension scheme                (162)             (156)              (337) 
 Amortisation of intangibles             153                -                  19 
 Notional expense of defined 
  benefit pension scheme                  -                 -                  22 
 Equity-settled share 
  based payment expense                   2                10                  20 
                                        ____              ____                ____ 
 Cash flows from operating 
  activities before changes 
  in working capital and 
  provisions                            3,877             2,762              6,282 
 
 Increase in trade and 
  other receivables                    (2,980)           (2,497)            (2,056) 
 Increase in trade and 
  other payables                         281              2,302               396 
 (Increase)/decrease in 
  inventories                           (217)             (231)                80 
 Movement on provisions                 (617)             (176)              (450) 
 Movement on derivative 
  financial instruments                 (302)              191               (408) 
                                        ____              ____                ____ 
                                       (3,835)            (411)             (2,438) 
                                        ____              ____                ____ 
 Cash generated from operations          42               2,351              3,844 
 
 Interest paid on hire 
  purchase obligations                  (299)             (244)              (501) 
                                        ____              ____                ____ 
 Net cash flows from operating 
  activities                            (257)             2,107              3,343 
 
 
 Condensed consolidated              Unaudited         Unaudited         Audited year 
  cash flow statement              6 months ended    6 months ended    ended 30 November 
                                    31 May 2018       31 May 2017            2017 
                                      GBP'000           GBP'000            GBP'000 
 Cash flows from investing 
  activities 
 Acquisitions of businesses           (2,007)              -               (3,329) 
 Purchases of property, 
  plant and equipment                  (752)             (616)             (1,799) 
 Sale of property, plant 
  and equipment                         512               445               1,002 
                                       _____             _____              _____ 
 Net cash flows used in 
  investing activities                (2,247)            (171)             (4,126) 
 
 Cash flow from financing 
  activities 
 Shares issued                           -                 -                3,362 
 Dividends paid                        (408)             (338)              (970) 
 Proceeds of mortgage 
  and other bank loans                17,879               -                1,105 
 Repayment of bank loans             (14,970)            (350)              (722) 
 Bank loan interest paid               (460)             (373)              (740) 
 Hire purchase refinancing 
  receipts                             1,681              140                717 
 Capital settlement payments 
  on vehicles sold                     (137)               -                (240) 
 Capital element of lease 
  payments                            (1,784)           (1,853)            (3,086) 
                                       _____             _____               ____ 
 Net cash generated from/(used 
  in) financing activities             1,801            (2,774)             (574) 
 
 Net decrease in cash 
  and cash equivalents                 (703)             (838)             (1,357) 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at start of period                  (1,699)            (342)              (342) 
                                       _____             _____              _____ 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at end of period                    (2,402)           (1,180)            (1,699) 
                                      ======             =====               ==== 
 

Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the six months ended 31 May 2018

   1.     Basis of preparation: 

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared using the accounting policies set out in the group's 2017 statutory financial statements.

The financial statements of the group for the full year are prepared in accordance with IFRS's as adopted by the European Union and these interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting".

   2.     Turnover: 

Revenue represents sales to external customers excluding value added tax. All of the activities of the group are conducted in the United Kingdom within the operating segment of provision of bus services. Management monitors revenue across the following business streams: contracted services, commercial services and charter services.

 
 
               Six months   Six months    Year ended 
                ended 31     ended 31     30 November 
                May 2018     May 2017        2017 
 
                GBP'000      GBP'000       GBP'000 
 Contracted      11,825       10,420        21,415 
 Commercial      20,140       16,932        33,702 
 Charter          748         1,275         2,789 
 Total           32,713       28,627        57,906 
              ===========  ===========  ============= 
 
   3.     Profit before taxation: 

Profit before taxation includes the following:

 
                                 Unaudited   Unaudited        Audited 
                                  6 months    6 months     year ended 
                                  ended 31    ended 31    30 November 
                                       May         May           2017 
                                      2018        2017 
                                   GBP'000     GBP'000        GBP'000 
 
 Amortisation of intangible 
  assets                             (153)           -           (19) 
 Abortive transaction costs           (94)           -              - 
 Costs of change of principal 
  bankers                             (31)           -           (58) 
 Revenue debtor written 
  off                                    -           -          (477) 
 Costs of acquisition and 
  integration                        (271)        (94)          (384) 
 Share based payment expense           (2)        (10)           (20) 
 Mark to market provision 
  on fuel derivatives                  587       (304)            162 
 
 Profit/(loss) within profit 
  before taxation                       36       (408)          (796) 
 
   4.     Earnings per share: 

Basic earnings per share have been calculated on the basis of profit after taxation and the weighted average number of shares in issue for the period of 48,026,580 (May 2017: 42,193,246; November 2017: 44,001,465). Diluted earnings per share have been calculated on the basis of profit after taxation and the weighted average number of shares in issue (including such potential issues as are dilutive) for the period of 48,095,501 (May 2017: 42,253,839; November 2017: 44,112,629).

Basic adjusted and diluted adjusted earnings per share before exceptional items have been calculated using the same weighted average numbers of shares in issue, but on the basis of profits after tax and before any exceptional items. This is done in order to aid comparability between the accounting periods.

   5.     Property, plant and equipment 
 
                      Freehold     Long and                    Public 
                      land and        short         Plant     service 
                     buildings    leasehold           and    vehicles     Total 
                                   property     machinery 
                       GBP'000      GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000   GBP'000 
 Cost: 
 At 1 December 
  2016                   7,351        1,084         3,672      42,837    54,944 
 Acquisitions              585            -            45       1,192     1,822 
 Additions                  14            4         1,266       3,302     4,586 
 Disposals               (270)            -          (95)     (1,678)   (2,043) 
 
 
 At 30 November 
  2017                   7,680        1,088         4,888      45,653    59,309 
 
 
 Acquisition                 -            -            20       1,462     1,482 
 Additions                 280            -           530       2,132     2,942 
 Transfers                 (5)            -             5           -         - 
 Disposals                   -            -         (286)       (779)   (1,065) 
 
 
 At 31 May 2018          7,955        1,088         5,157      48,468    62,668 
 
 
 Depreciation: 
 At 1 December 
  2016                     364          201         1,360      18,143    20,068 
 Charge for the 
  year                      62           29           303       2,880     3,274 
 Acquisitions               35            -            45         450       530 
 Disposals                (35)            -          (95)     (1,358)   (1,488) 
 
 
 At 30 November 
  2017                     426          230         1,613      20,115    22,384 
 
 
 Charge for the 
  period                    30           14           182       1,499     1,725 
 Disposals                   -            -         (225)       (569)     (794) 
 
 
 At 31 May 2018            456          244         1,570      21,045    23,315 
 
 Net book value: 
 At 31 May 2018          7,499          844         3,587      27,423    39,353 
 
 
 At 30 November 
  2017                   7,254          858         3,275      25,538    36,925 
 
 
   6.     Loans and borrowings: 
 
                               At 31 May   At 31 May   At 30 November 
                                  2018        2017          2017 
                                GBP'000     GBP'000       GBP'000 
 Current: 
 Overdrafts                      2,916       2,127         2,326 
 Bank loans (secured)             278        5,250         4,952 
 Bank loans (unsecured)         11,377       7,895         9,000 
 
                                14,571      15,272         16,278 
 
 
 Non- current: 
 Bank loans (secured)            5,204         -             - 
 
 Total loans and borrowings     19,775      15,272         16,278 
 
 
 

Secured bank loans are mortgage-type loans secured by reference to the group's freehold property.

   7.     Obligations under hire purchase agreements: 

All finance leases are secured by the lessors' rights over the respective leased assets which consist principally of passenger service vehicles.

 
                           At 31 May   At 31 May   At 30 November 
                              2018        2017          2017 
                            GBP'000     GBP'000       GBP'000 
 Present value: 
 Not later than one 
  year                       3,682       2,871         3,158 
 More than one but less 
  than two years             3,211       2,741         2,962 
 More than two but less 
  than five years            5,672       4,828         4,792 
 Later than five years        957         934           603 
                          ----------  ----------  --------------- 
                            13,522      11,374         11,515 
 
 
 
   8.     Acquisition of Central Buses: 

As set out in the Chairman's Statement, in February 2018 the Group acquired the bus business of CEN Group Limited, trading under the name of Central Buses. The Chairman's Statement describes the details of and the reasons for the acquisition and should be consulted for a detailed description of all the relevant factors. The consideration for this acquisition was GBP1.95 million in cash. The book values of the assets acquired are set out below.

 
                             Book value     Fair value        Fair value 
                                           adjustments    on acquisition 
                                GBP'000        GBP'000           GBP'000 
 Fixed assets 
 Plant and machinery                 20              -                20 
 Vehicles                         1,462              -             1,462 
 Customer contracts                   -            432               432 
 Total fixed assets               1,482            432             1,914 
                            -----------  -------------  ---------------- 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Other payables and 
  accruals                            -              -              (27) 
                                      -              -              (27) 
                            -----------  -------------  ---------------- 
 
 Net assets                                                        1,887 
 Goodwill                                                             71 
 Acquisition costs                                                    49 
                                                        ---------------- 
                                                                   2,007 
 Total cash consideration 
  paid 
                                                        ================ 
 
 

Pre-acquisition book values were determined based on applicable IFRS, immediately prior to the acquisition. The values of assets recognised on acquisition are their estimated fair values. The directors engaged Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP ("CCW") to make an assessment of the values of the intangible assets acquired with the business. Principally this involved an assessment of the value of the intangible asset attributable to the contracts inherited with the business. The value estimated by CCW is reflected in the above table.

The directors do not consider that the brand name has any separable value. No licenses were acquired with the business. The sales and purchase agreement included standard non-compete clauses; however, the seller had no intention of re-entering the respective market at the acquisition date and so there could be no value attributable to these clauses. The goodwill generated by the acquisition arose from the benefit of synergies with the existing businesses of the group in their respective locations. As stated above the business acquired included a vehicle fleet and these vehicles were immediately subsumed into existing operations following acquisition.

   9.     Dividends: 

On 8 December 2017 the company paid an interim dividend of 0.85 pence per share in respect of the year ended 30 November 2017; a final dividend in respect of the year was paid on 29 June 2018 at a rate of 1.65 pence per share. All dividends are payable in cash only.

10. Additional information:

The unaudited Consolidated Interim Report was approved by the Board of Directors on 8 August 2018. The consolidated interim financial information for the six months ended 31 May 2018 and for the six months ended 31 May 2017 is unaudited. The financial information in this interim announcement does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts of Rotala Plc for the year ended 30 November 2017 have been reported on by the company's auditors and have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on these accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter and did not include a statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

 
 
 

11. Copies of this statement are available from the registered office of the company at Rotala Group Headquarters, Cross Quays Business Park, Hallbridge Way, Tividale, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 3HW or the Company's website www.rotalaplc.com.

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

END

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