02 September 2010
We are pleased to report a solid set of results for the Group, ahead of our expectations reported in June 2010.
Highlights
- Passenger revenue growth in all our bus and rail operating companies
- Over one billion annual passenger journeys for the first time in our history
- Operating profit* of £102.0m
- Continued strong cash management and robust balance sheet
- Total dividend for the year maintained at 81.0 pence per share
- Significant progress in delivering our strategy:
- Successful launch of the new Southern rail franchise
- Introduction of the UK's first domestic high speed rail service
- Investment of over £35m in five UK bus acquisitions
- Establishment of our North American yellow school bus joint venture
- Disposal of the majority of our aviation services division
Financial highlights |
2010 £'m |
2009** £'m |
Increase / (decrease) £'m |
Increase / (decrease) % |
Revenue |
2,201.6 |
2,187.2 |
14.4 |
0.7 |
Operating profit* |
102.0 |
128.8 |
(26.8) |
(20.8) |
Profit before tax* |
88.7 |
117.3 |
(28.6) |
(24.4) |
Profit attributable to members |
17.2 |
6.3 |
10.9 |
173.0 |
Basic earnings per share (p) |
40.1 |
14.7 |
25.4 |
172.8 |
Adjusted earnings per share (p)* |
128.3 |
161.6 |
(33.3) |
(20.6) |
Dividend paid and proposed (p)# |
81.0 |
81.0 |
0 |
0.0 |
Cashflow generated from operations |
160.6 |
233.4 |
(72.8) |
(31.2) |
Net debt |
88.3 |
91.0 |
(2.7) |
(3.0) |
Commenting on Go-Ahead's results, Chairman, Sir Patrick Brown, said:
"We are pleased with the progress we have made this year in challenging economic conditions. All of our bus and rail operations have increased passenger revenue, highlighting the quality and value for money of our services.
"We have sold most of our aviation services division and started our yellow school bus joint venture in North America. We have also acquisitively grown our bus operations in the UK, leading to more than one billion annual passenger journeys on our bus and rail operations for the first time in our history. We are working closely with the new Government and welcome its review of future rail franchising announced in July 2010. In summary, we are in good financial shape and continue to believe in the fundamental strengths of public transport.
"However, we continue to be cautious on the near term prospects for the UK economy and the outlook for the next financial year remains difficult to predict, including any impact from the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review expected to be announced in October 2010.
"At this stage, we have not changed our outlook for the next financial year since our trading update in June 2010, and are assuming that the broad operating trends experienced in the second half of the financial year ended 3 July 2010 continue throughout the next financial year. In bus, we therefore expect lower fuel costs and a small additional contribution from acquisitions to be partly offset by the full year effect of lower operating profit* margins in London. In rail, we expect a small reduction in operating profit* margin next year compared to the financial year just ended. We will continue to take management action accordingly, focusing on service quality, cost control and financial discipline.
"Our cashflow, balance sheet and financing are strong and the maintenance of the dividend per share will remain a priority. We have started the new financial year well and trading has been in line with the Board's expectations."
Full Year results 2010 (PDF)
For further information, please contact:
The Go-Ahead Group Keith Ludeman, Group Chief Executive Nick Swift, Group Finance Director Catherine Garland, Group Communications & Investor Relations Manager |
020 7821 3920 020 7821 3922 020 7821 3929
|
Citigate Dewe Rogerson Michael Berkeley Chris Barrie Angharad Couch |
020 7638 9571 |
Keith Ludeman, Group Chief Executive and Nick Swift, Group Finance Director will be hosting a presentation for analysts at 9.00am today (2 September 2010) at Investec, 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7597 5970
A live audio webcast will be available for analysts to listen to the presentation from Go-Ahead's website – www.go-ahead.com. The presentation slides will be added to Go-Ahead's website (www.go-ahead.com) at around 7:30am today and a pdf copy of the Group's Annual Report for the year ended 3 July 2010 will also be available to download from the website today.
Notes to Editors
Go-Ahead
Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator, providing high quality services in the bus and rail sectors. Employing around 22,500 people across the country, over one billion passenger journeys are undertaken on our services each year. We are committed to operating our companies in a safe, socially and environmentally responsible way and are proud to have been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change. In addition to the travelling public, our customers include the Department for Transport, Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities.
BUS
Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. With a fleet of around 3,800 buses, we carry, on average, around 1.7 million passengers every day. Our operations are focused on high density commuter markets. We have a strong presence in London, with around 21% market share, where we provide regulated services for TfL. We operate deregulated services in the Oxford, the South East, Southern and North East England. We also have a yellow school bus joint venture in North America.
RAIL
The rail operation, Govia, is 65% owned by Go-Ahead and 35% by Keolis. It is the busiest rail operation in the UK, responsible for nearly 30% of all UK passenger rail journeys through its three rail franchises: Southern (which includes the Gatwick Express), Southeastern and London Midland. In December 2009, Southeastern began operating the UK's first high speed domestic rail service between Kent and London, significantly reducing journey times.
Legal disclaimer
Certain statements included in this press release contain forward-looking information concerning the Group's strategy, operations, financial performance or condition, outlook, growth opportunities or circumstances in the sectors or markets in which the Group operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve uncertainty because they depend of future circumstances, and relate to events, not all of which are within the Company's control or can be produced by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward–looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual results could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be construed as a profit forecast and no part of these results constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in The Go-Ahead Group plc or any other entity, and must not be relied upon in anyway in connection with any investment decision. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.