INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT for
the quarter ended 1st April 2011
The Weir Group PLC will today
advise shareholders that the strong performance during the first
quarter has increased its confidence in achieving further good
progress in 2011.
First quarter performance was
strong with the Group benefiting from a record opening orderbook, a
positive contribution from the 2010 acquisitions and significant
input growth, including record quarterly orders for the Minerals
and Oil & Gas divisions. Based on this performance, the Board
now anticipate full year profit before tax and intangibles
amortisation will be around £20m ahead of our previous expectations
after taking account of year to date adverse foreign currency
translation effects.
Order input2 was up 39%
against the prior year period on a reported basis and up 30% on a
like for like3 basis. Original equipment orders were up
49% (up 39% like for like) and aftermarket orders up 31% (up 22%
like for like).
Strong revenue growth was achieved
in the quarter driven by both organic growth and an encouraging
first contribution from the acquisitions made in 2010. Operating
profits are up on the prior year period and operating margins are
in line with our expectations.
MINERALS
On a
reported basis, order input was up 13% against the prior year
period. Original equipment orders were down 3% versus a prior
period comparative that included the award of a C$50m contract to
our Canadian business. Aftermarket input was up 28% benefiting from
a first contribution from Linatex.
Order input, excluding the Linatex
acquisition and also excluding the impact of the Canadian contract,
was up 18%. Original equipment orders on the same basis were up 24%
benefiting from increasing activity levels in mining across South
America, Africa and Australasia. Aftermarket orders excluding the
Linatex acquisition were up 15% although this was largely due to
strong growth in the provision of ancillary products and services,
with aftermarket spares volumes only slightly ahead of
expectations. As a consequence, whilst we would now anticipate a
modest increase in full year revenues and operating profits against
our previous expectations, our guidance for divisional operating
margins remains unchanged.
OIL &
GAS
Order input for the 13 weeks was up 129% with
upstream input up 187%. There have been no acquisitions within the
division and therefore this is on a like for like basis. During the
first quarter, there was a further increase in the North American
horizontal drilling rig count focused on oil and liquids rich shale
formations. This, together with lengthening original equipment lead
times and continued market share gains, has resulted in stronger
than expected first quarter input levels which were slightly ahead
of the final quarter in 2010. Consequently we now expect full year
upstream input to be broadly around 2010 levels assuming a more
normalised volume of original equipment orders over the second
half.
To meet customer needs, we have
accelerated execution of the $40m capital investment plan at Forth
Worth, which we announced previously, to add further manufacturing
and service capacity and will also extend the use of the Group's
North American manufacturing base. We expect this to positively
impact revenues in 2011. The downstream and Service operations
continue to trade in line with expectations. Divisional revenues,
operating profits and margins will reflect our increased
expectations for 2011.
POWER &
INDUSTRIAL
Order input for the 13 weeks increased 27%
on a reported basis and 2% on a like for like basis. The
integrations of the YES, American Hydro and BDK acquisitions are
progressing well with a number of good growth opportunities
identified. Quotation activity remains strong and we have seen no
immediate impact from the Japan earthquake on our Nuclear business.
As previously guided, we expect to see divisional input, revenue
and operating profit progression over the full year.
NET
DEBT
There has been no material change in net debt at
1 April 2011 as compared to 1 January 2011. We have further
invested in working capital to support business growth.
NON-EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
We announce the appointment of Melanie Gee
to the Board as a non-executive director, with effect from the
conclusion of the annual general meeting which is being held today.
Ms Gee is a Managing Director in Lazard's UK Investment Banking
business and was previously a Managing Director at UBS.
Notes:
- Financial information is given for the 13 week quarter ended
April 1 2011
- Order input is reported on a constant currency basis
- Where growth is provided on a like for like basis, like for
like is defined as comparison of current year results to the
equivalent prior year period for those businesses that have been
part of the Group throughout the current and prior year reporting
period, on a constant currency basis.
A conference call for analysts
and investors will be held at 8 a.m. (UK time) on Wednesday 4 May
to discuss this statement.
For dial-in details please
contact Maitland on +44 (0) 207 379 5151
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Contact
details:
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The Weir Group
PLC
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Vicky Ferrier, Head of IR &
Communications
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Tel. 0141 308 3782 (Mobile:
07787 105515)
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Maitland
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Tel. 020 7379
5151
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Suzanne Bartch
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Rowan Brown
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This information includes
'forward-looking statements'. All statements other than statements
of historical fact included in this release, including, without
limitation, those regarding the Weir Group's financial position,
business strategy, plans (including development plans and
objectives relating to the Company's products and services) and
objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking
statements. These statements contain the words 'anticipate',
'believe', 'intend', 'estimate', 'expect' and words of similar
meaning. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to
be materially different from future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous
assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business
strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in
the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the
date of this document. The Company expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions
to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any
change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statement is based. Past business and financial performance cannot
be relied on as an indication of future performance.