WS Atkins plc reported financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Key highlights included organic revenue growth of 4.6%, underlying operating profit growth of 15.2%, and an improved operating margin of 7.6%. The company saw strong performance in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Energy sectors. The outlook for 2015/16 is for continued underlying growth and performance in line with expectations as the company focuses on its three pillar strategy of operational excellence, portfolio optimization, and sector/regional focus.
3. Delivering the strategy
Financial highlights
• Organic, constant currency revenue up 4.6%
• Underlying operating profit up 15.2%, improved margin of 7.6%
• Underlying diluted EPS up 13.3%, full year dividend up 8.1%
• Strong operating cash flow up 40.2% to £133.9m and year end net funds
of £179.3m
Operational highlights
• Strong performance in Middle East, Asia Pacific and Energy
• North American performance improving, UK and Europe mixed
• Additional skills, clients and geographic exposure added with the
acquisitions of Houston Offshore Engineering, Nuclear Safety Associates
and Terramar
“Margin progression has continued towards our 8% goal
and the outlook remains positive.”
3
Progressing towards the 8% margin goal
Note: underlying numbers include the Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) benefit
5. Financial summary
5
2015 2014
Revenue £1,757 m £1,750 m 0.4 %
Operating profit £118.5 m £113.7 m 4.2 %
Operating margin 6.7 % 6.5 % 20 bp
Underlying operating profit £134.1 m £116.4 m 15.2 %
Underlying operating margin 7.6 % 6.7 % 90 bp
Underlying profit before tax £121.9 m £106.4 m 14.6 %
Underlying diluted EPS 97.1 p 85.7 p 13.3 %
Dividend per share 36.5 p 33.75 p 8.1 %
Work in hand 51 % 51 %
Average staff numbers 17,898 17,565 1.9 %
Closing staff numbers 18,462 17,489 5.6 %
Net funds £179.3m £188.3m
Note: underlying numbers include RDEC benefit
7. • Revenue growth of 2.7% excluding effects of highways services disposal and joint venture
accounting change
• Aerospace market downturn, rail contract negotiations and water and environment
rightsizing impacted first half performance
• Early adoption of Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) has increased our
segmental profit by around £5m
• Reorganisation of the UK to streamline businesses, expected to deliver year on
year margin progress in a stable market.
UK and Europe
Improved second half performance
7
2015 2014
Revenue (£m) 903.8 998.3 (9.5) %
Operating profit (£m) 60.7 62.6 (3.0) %
Operating margin 6.7 % 6.3 % 40 bp
Average staff numbers 9,405 9,751 (3.5) %
Staff numbers 9,642 9,544 1.0 %
8. North America
Consultancy margins improving
8
2015 2014
Revenue (£m) 341.4 380.9 (10.4) %
Operating profit (£m) 20.0 19.1 4.7 %
Operating margin 5.9 % 5.0 % 90 bp
Average staff numbers 2,794 2,970 (5.9) %
Staff numbers 2,735 2,836 (3.6) %
• Revenue down 3.8% excluding effects of currency headwinds, Peter Brown disposal (in
August 2013) and joint venture accounting change
• New organisational model around the Technical Professional Organisation (TPO) driving
improved resource management and utilisation
• Consultancy margin improved to 6.6%, with further progress expected next year.
9. Middle East
Strong performance
9
2015 2014
Revenue (£m) 216.7 168.4 28.7 %
Operating profit (£m) 22.5 14.4 56.3 %
Operating margin 10.4 % 8.6 % 180 bp
Average staff numbers 2,421 1,985 22.0 %
Staff numbers 2,668 2,071 28.8 %
• Strong revenue and profit growth driven by performance on major projects
• Excellent cash performance, primarily due to metro project payment profile
• Good pipeline of work across our focus areas of rail, infrastructure
and property.
10. Asia Pacific
Continued progress
10
2015 2014
Revenue (£m) 109.7 100.5 9.2 %
Operating profit (£m) 9.8 8.0 22.5 %
Operating margin 8.9 % 8.0 % 90bp
Average staff numbers 1,561 1,357 15.0 %
Staff numbers 1,523 1,498 1.7 %
• Good revenue and profit growth boosted by a full year of Confluence
• Mainland China slowdown in the second half likely to impact in current year
• Positive revenue outlook driven by good performance in Hong Kong,
some early wins in SE Asia and engagement with Chinese contractors
• Further investment for growth planned across the region.
11. Energy
Strong performance and two acquisitions
11
2015 2014
Revenue (£m) 182.0 169.6 7.3 %
Operating profit (£m) 20.4 15.1 35.1 %
Operating margin 11.2 % 8.9 % 230bp
Average staff numbers 1,633 1,424 14.7 %
Staff numbers 1,813 1,461 24.1 %
• Organic revenue growth of 5.4%, excluding acquisitions and joint venture accounting change
• Houston Offshore Engineering and Nuclear Safety Associates acquisitions
adding to our skillbase and expanding geographic coverage
• Nuclear growth more than offset second half downturn in certain oil and gas markets
• Good pipeline of work across nuclear and renewables, balancing ongoing staff reductions in
oil and gas.
12. Cash flow
12
(£m) 2015 2014
Underlying operating profit 134.1 116.4
Depreciation/amortisation 22.4 19.5
Working capital 11.3 (9.6)
Net capital expenditure (25.2) (16.9)
Provisions/other 11.5 1.2
Underlying operating free cash flow 154.1 110.6
Cash conversion 115% 95%
• Excellent working capital performance, helped by resolution of UK rail contract
negotiations and positive payment profile in the Middle East
• Increased capital expenditure to support growing business
• Provisions/other includes share based payment charge and foreign exchange contracts
• Closing net funds of £179.3m (March 2014: £188.3m).
Strong performance
13. Pension
• £238m IAS 19 deficit net of
deferred tax at 31 March 2015
(March 2014: £258m)
• Strong asset performance and
liability hedging offsetting impact
of falling interest/discount rates
• Deficit repayment of £32m in
2014/15, thereafter escalating at
2.5% per annum.
13
Asset performance mitigates discount rate fall
342
249
206
187
242
217
263 258
235 238
Sep
2010
Mar
2011
Sep
2011
Mar
2012
Sep
2012*
Mar
2013*
Sep
2013*
Mar
2014
Sep
2014
Mar
2015
IAS19 deficit net of deferred tax (£m)
* Restated for IAS19 revision
14. Summary
• Good results, improved margin and a strong cash
performance
• Focus on three pillar strategy continues
• Outlook for 2015/16 is for continued underlying
growth and performance in line with expectations.
14
Delivering the strategy
18. • Full year dividend
up 8.1%
• HOE
• NSA
• Terramar
• SE Asia
• Technology
• Partnerships
• Client
engagement
Progressive
dividend
policy
Capital allocation
18
Key priorities
Reinvest
for organic
growth
Acquisitions
in line with
our strategy
19. Acquisition strategy
19
Disciplined approach
• Organic growth remains our priority, augmented by appropriate M&A
• Focused on additional skills, clients and/or geographic presence
• Cultural fit and strategic alignment are critical considerations
• Strong financial discipline with focus on shareholder value.
21. UK and Europe
• Ongoing Government support for UK infrastructure spend. National
Infrastructure Plan 2014 supported by an investment pipeline of £460bn
• Well funded markets in rail, roads, water, airports and education
• Competitive landscape
21
Market drivers
Our priorities
• Embed new operating structure
and cross sell our expertise
• Enhance our offering through
technology eg Building
Information Modelling (BIM) on
HS2
• Work collaboratively both
internally and with our clients.
Heathrow Airport
Terminals 2 and 5
Delivery of IT outsourcing
consultancy, programme
and project management,
systems development,
mechanical + engineering
services and telecoms
consultancy across a range
of projects.
22. North America
• Economic recovery creating demand for infrastructure
• Ageing legacy assets – investment growth expected after prolonged
period of underfunding
• Long term Federal funding uncertainty
22
Market drivers
Our priorities
• Focused revenue targeting
• Client centric selling effort
• Compete for larger design and
build projects (rail and metro in
particular)
• Continue to drive productivity
and reduce sub contracting
through use of TPO.
Houston light rail
Atkins provides project
management oversight for
federally funded mass transit
projects nationwide.
23. Middle East
• Energy-rich Governments pushing for economic diversification
• Growing populations and social expectations requiring transport
infrastructure and creation of world-class cities
23
Market drivers
Our priorities
• Deliver on major programmes
in growth markets
• Client advisory services
• Continual drive for operational
excellence
• Remaining adaptive to external
market influences, oil price and
budgetary impacts.
CPO
Qatar
Atkins’ role is to co-ordinate
current and planned road,
rail, metro and other major
transport and infrastructure
projects, as part of Qatar’s
2030 vision.
24. Asia Pacific
• Acceleration and scale of urbanisation drives unprecedented infrastructure
spend
• Significant lack of infrastructure in SE Asia and limited funding resources
demand cost effective solutions
• Outbound investment by Chinese contractors and state-owned enterprises
24
Market drivers
Our priorities
• Grow organically and
through acquisition in region
• Build on our programme
management capability
• Further develop relationships
with the Chinese contractors
• Leverage our global design
centres in Bangalore and Delhi.
Aerospace City
Malaysia
Atkins has completed the
concept design and
masterplan for the Asia
Aerospace City (AAC) in
Subang, Malaysia.
25. Energy
• Population and income growth for both developing and developed
nations
• Strengthening consensus on the need to address climate change
via nuclear, renewables and prioritising gas over oil development
25
Market drivers
Our priorities
• Short term resource
management in oil and gas
• Grow in the Middle East
• Enhance our offering with skills
acquired through NSA and HOE
• Increase our involvement in new
build activity via a strengthened
design capability
• Partnerships.
Renewable energy
We provide engineering
design services to DONG
Energy, the world’s leading
offshore wind developer, for
three offshore substations at
its proposed Hornsea
Project One offshore wind
farm.
27. Our people
27
• Diverse Board
• Women account for 30% of promotions in the UK
• UK and Europe improved gender diversity to over 25%
• Over 40% of vacancies in Asia Pacific were filled by women
• Women account for over 50% of graduate engineers in the global design
centre (GDC)
• Energy increased the number of new female recruits in the UK from
18% to 24%
• Founder member of the 5% club (currently at 8.9% in the UK).
28. Summary
• Our strategy is delivering through:
• operational excellence
• portfolio optimisation
• sector/regional focus
• Objective to deliver profitable growth by addressing
strategic priorities in our selected markets
• Margin progression has continued towards our 8%
goal and the outlook remains positive.
28
Delivering the strategy
30. Profit bridge
30
Underlying profit before tax
114.2
106.4
121.9
106.7
10.5
2.7
5.0
12.7
2.2 0.4
6.9
1.5
4.4
2.8
2013/14
Reported
Profit on
disposal
Amortisation
of intangibles
2013/14
Underlying
RDEC Business
performance
Other 2014/15
Underlying
Profit on
disposal
Amortisation
of intangibles
Deferred
acquisition
payments
Transaction
costs
Nedtech
impairment
2014/15
Reported
31. Segmental summary
31
£m Revenue
Operating
profit/(loss)
Operating margin
UK and Europe 904 60.7 6.7 %
North America 341 20.0 5.9 %
Middle East 217 22.5 10.4 %
Asia Pacific 110 9.8 8.9 %
Energy 182 20.4 11.2 %
Total for segments 1,754 133.4 7.6 %
Joint ventures included above - (0.1)
Total before unallocated items 1,754 133.3 7.6 %
Unallocated central items 3 (14.8)
Total for Group 1,757 118.5 6.7 %
32. UK and Europe
32
UK 2015 2014
Revenue (£m) 835.6 922.0 (9.4) %
Operating profit (£m) 59.4 58.1 2.2 %
Operating margin 7.1 % 6.3 % 80 bp
Average staff numbers 8,675 9,017 (3.8) %
Staff numbers 8,885 8,810 0.9 %
Europe 2015 2014
Revenue (£m) 68.2 76.3 (10.6) %
Operating profit (£m) 1.3 4.5 (71.1) %
Operating margin 1.9 % 5.9 % (400) bp
Average staff numbers 730 734 (0.5) %
Staff numbers 757 734 3.1 %
33. Working capital movement
33
Regional lock-up
£m 2015 2014 Inc/(Dec)
Lock-up
UK and Europe 72.4 87.1 (14.7)
North America 86.3 69.4 16.9
Middle East 56.6 67.3 (10.7)
Other (net) 23.1 2.9 20.2
Total 238.4 226.7 11.7
34. Disclaimer
The information in this presentation pack, which does not purport to be
comprehensive, has been provided by Atkins and has not been independently
verified. While this information has been prepared in good faith, no representation
or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made and no responsibility or liability
is or will be accepted by Atkins as to or in relation to the accuracy or
completeness of this presentation pack or any other written or oral information
made available as part of the presentation and any such liability is expressly
disclaimed. Further, whilst Atkins may subsequently update the information made
available in this presentation, we expressly disclaim any obligation to do so
The presentation contains indications of likely future developments and other
forward-looking statements that are subject to risk factors associated with, among
other things, the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to
time in the countries, sectors and business segments in which the Group
operates. These and other factors could adversely affect the Group’s results,
strategy and prospects. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties
and assumptions. They relate to events and/or depend on circumstances in the
future which could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from
those currently expected. No obligation is assumed to update any forward-
looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
34