25th Aug 2010 07:00
25 August 2010
Strong financial performance; well placed to support customers around the world
Serco Group plc - 2010 Half Year Results
6 months to 30 June 2010 2009 % change Revenue £2,140.3m £1,949.8m up 9.8% Adjusted operating profit £124.4m £110.0m up 13.1% Operating profit £115.6m £101.1m up 14.3% Profit before tax £101.4m £83.4m up 21.6% Adjusted earnings per share 16.53p 14.02p up 17.9% Earnings per share 15.13p 12.62p up 19.9% Dividend per share 2.20p 1.85p up 18.9% Group free cash flow £93.0m £50.7m up 83.4% Strong financial performance
Revenue growth of 9.8% (8.5% excluding currency)
Adjusted operating profit margin increase of 17bps to 5.8% (16bps increase excluding currency)
Group free cash flow increase of 83.4% to £93.0m; reflects a strong performance and a greater first half weighting of cash generation than in previous years
Strong balance sheet and cash flow support planned £60m contribution to Group pension scheme
Substantial UK and international activity, winning and delivering quality, essential front line services
Signed contracts in first half of £2.2bn, across a wide portfolio of geographies and markets
Operational excellence supports continued high win rates of one in two new bids and 90% of rebids
Order book of £16.7bn at 30 June 2010 (£17.1bn at 31 Dec 2009)
Supporting customers around the world in achieving savings and transforming services
Continue to deliver strong growth, even as some markets change, through agile and innovative responses to our customers' needs
Discussions ongoing with the UK Cabinet Office's Efficiency and Reform Group on cost savings
Enhanced capabilities and breadth of portfolio in international businesses, which now account for nearly 40% of our revenues, showing substantial growth potential
Well placed to benefit from developing opportunities given our strong customer relationships, our critical mass in UK and international markets, and track record of transforming services
Guidance supported by visibility and scale of opportunities
Visibility of 98% of planned revenue for 2010, 84% for 2011 and 71% for 2012
Substantial £28bn pipeline of specific, identified opportunities; shaping significant potential further opportunities across our international markets and in the UK
In 2010, continue to expect strong organic revenue growth and further progress towards our 2012 margin guidance
Continue to expect an increase in revenue to approximately £5bn and in Adjusted operating profit margin to approximately 6.3% by the end of 2012*
* excluding material acquisitions, disposals and currency effects, based on 2008 exchange rates
Christopher Hyman, Chief Executive of Serco Group plc, said: "Through thededicated efforts of our people, we have continued to deliver high quality,efficient, front line services all round the world. Many of our government andcommercial customers are seeking to reduce costs. We have the necessary skillsto help them, given our broad portfolio of markets and capabilities, and ourclose customer relationships, as existing markets continue to develop and newmarkets open up."Note: Adjusted operating profit and Adjusted earnings per share shown above arebefore amortisation of acquired intangibles as shown on the face of the Group'sconsolidated income statement and the accompanying notes. Group free cash flowis free cash flow from subsidiaries and dividends received from joint venturesand is reconciled in Section 3 of the Finance Review.
For further information please contact Serco:
Charles King, Head of Investor Relations T +44 (0) 208 334
4122
Dominic Cheetham, Director of Corporate Communications T +44 (0) 208 334 4334
Marcus De Ville, Head of Media Relations T +44 (0) 208 334 4388PresentationA presentation for investors and analysts will be held at J.P. Morgan Cazenove,20 Moorgate, London EC2R 6DA at 9.45 am today. The presentation will be webcastlive on www.serco.com and will be subsequently available on demand.
Performance excluding currency
Where performance has been stated as "excluding currency", the currency effecthas been calculated by translating non-Sterling revenue and earnings for thehalf year to 30 June 2010 into Sterling at the average foreign exchange ratesfor the same period in 2009.About Serco
Serco is a FTSE 100 international service company, which combines commercial know-how with a deep public service ethos.
Around the world, we improve essential services by managing people, processes, technology and assets more effectively. We advise policy makers, design innovative solutions, integrate systems and - most of all - deliver to the public.
Serco supports governments, agencies and companies who seek a trusted partnerwith a solid track record of providing assured service excellence. Our peopleoffer operational, management and consulting expertise in the aviation, BPO,defence, education, environmental services, facilities management, health, homeaffairs, information and communications technology, knowledge services, localgovernment, science and nuclear, transport, welfare to work and the commercialsectors.
More information can be found at www.serco.com
Overview
Strong financial performance and well placed to support our customers around the world
We have continued to see a substantial level of activity across the Group inthe first half of 2010, delivering high quality essential services in existingcontracts, winning new business and starting new contracts across a wide rangeof geographies and markets. Our strong operational track record supported ourcontinued high win rates for new business and rebids, and we signed contractsvalued in total at £2.2bn in the first half of the year.We delivered a strong financial performance. Revenue grew by 9.8% to £2,140.3m(8.5% growth excluding currency effects). Organic revenue growth, excludingcurrency, was also 8.5%. Adjusted operating profit rose by 13.1% to £124.4m,and our margins increased, with Adjusted operating profit margin rising 17basis points to 5.81% (16 basis points excluding currency effects). Group freecash flow increased by 83.4% to £93.0m, reflecting a strong performance and agreater first half weighting of cash generation than in previous years.Our policy is to increase the total dividend each year broadly in line with theincrease in our underlying earnings. Accordingly, the Board has declared aninterim dividend of 2.20p per share, representing an increase on the 2009interim dividend of 18.9%. The interim dividend will be paid on 15 October 2010to shareholders on the register on 3 September 2010.We are actively supporting government and commercial customers around the worldas they address unprecedented fiscal deficits and the ongoing challenges ofdelivering high quality services. We are continuing to deliver strong growth,even as some markets change, through our agile and innovative responses tothese needs.In the UK, we are identifying opportunities to help our government customersreduce their costs in the short-term as they seek to reduce the fiscal deficitas part our continuing discussions with UK Cabinet Office's Efficiency andReform Group. We are also continuing to support the UK government inidentifying how public services can be transformed by expanding competition andenhancing the role of the private and voluntary sectors.
In our international businesses, which now account for nearly 40% of our revenues, we see significant growth potential. This is being driven by the ongoing development of these markets, the strengthening of the capabilities we have in these businesses, and their broadening of their market portfolios.
Looking forward, we have a substantial pipeline of specific, identifiedopportunities, which stands at £28bn. We are actively shaping significantpotential further opportunities across our international markets and in the UK.With our strong customer relationships, and track record of high qualitydelivery and transforming the efficiency and productivity of essentialservices, we are well placed to support our customers around the world as ourmarkets continue to develop.
£2.2bn contracts signed across a wide range of geographies and markets; strong order book and substantial opportunities
In the first half of the year we signed contracts valued at £2.2bn across awide range of geographies and markets. As at 30 June 2010, our order book was asubstantial £16.7bn. This reflected our contract signings in the first half ofthe year, and the ending of our UK Flexible New Deal contracts in June 2011.The Flexible New Deal programme is expected to be replaced with the larger WorkProgramme in 2011 and to be bid in that year (for further detail please seepage 10).Smaller and medium-sized wins continue to play an important part in our growth,and, in addition, we made continued good progress in renewing, extending, andexpanding the scope of existing contracts. We were also pleased to sign anumber of contracts in new markets where we see good opportunities for growth.Details of some of these contract awards are set out in the Operating Review,starting on page 8.We signed two significant contracts in the UK, which will make importantcontributions to our growth and the visibility of our revenues. We furtherconsolidated our leading position in the UK Home Affairs market through thecontract to provide and operate a new local prison at Belmarsh West, London,which has a value to us of approximately £415m over 26½ years, and we extendedthe term of one of our largest contracts, to operate Northern Rail, which willnow run for an additional two years until September 2013, securingapproximately a further £530m of revenue to Serco over those two years.We secured a number of expansions and extensions to contracts in the firsthalf, both in the UK, and our overseas businesses. Contract expansionsincluded: growth in the scale of our immigration services contract inAustralia, the renewal and expansion of our air traffic control contract withthe US Federal Aviation Administration, and the expansion of our previous UKcontract to support RAF Halton to include RAF High Wycombe (the home of UKHeadquarters Air Command). We also renewed and expanded our UK contract withEnfield Borough Council to provide ICT services and secured extensions to ourScottish Electronic Monitoring contract, and our contract to operate London'sWoolwich Ferry.In new markets, we were pleased to sign two contracts which further contributeto our strategic position in supporting a new generation of low carbon emissionenergy production. Westinghouse, a leading nuclear power technology company,selected us to support their UK nuclear reactor development programme, and theUK Ministry of Defence selected us and Lockheed Martin to introduce a new radartechnology which will enable greater use of offshore renewable wind energy.
We also saw progress in developing our global transport businesses, through contract wins in the Middle East and in Asia. These included a contract to deliver consultancy services on the new Makkah Metro in Saudi Arabia, and, since the half year end, new contracts signed to operate and maintain the Palm Monorail in Dubai and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in Hong Kong.
Since the half year end, we have been appointed by Sandwell MetropolitanBorough Council as preferred bidder for its new 25-year Waste Improvement Plancontract, which is valued at around £650m. Under the contract, we will providerefuse collection, recycling, and street cleaning services, and deliver wasteprocessing and disposal, including the construction of a new waste transferstation.
Delivering high-quality, efficient, essential services
We are focused on achieving high quality and efficiency in the essential services we deliver. The commitment of our people and the increasing scope of our capabilities mean that we continue to make productivity and efficiency gains for our customers, while improving the quality of the services we provide.
The quality of our operations was reflected in a number of areas: our high newcontract and rebid win rates; the industry-leading performance benchmarks weare achieving; and the awards for operational best practice we received. Wealso continued to deliver strong performance in our rail operations in the UKand Dubai, details of which are given later in this operational review.Of numerous awards received so far this year, UK highlights include a BritishSafety Council Five Star Health and Safety Audit Award for HMP Dovegate,recognition in the Healthcare 100 awards for our work at Yarl's WoodImmigration Removal Centre, and 23 awards and commendations in the annual RoSPAnational safety awards.In the US, we were pleased to receive the 2010 Defense Enterprise ArchitectureAchievement Award for support of the Air Force Space Command's Joint SpaceOperations Center Mission System programme, the Bravo Zulu Award forexceptional work on behalf of the Navy Expeditionary Medical Support Commandfor relief efforts in Haiti, and the "None in a Million" Federal AviationAdministration award for achieving a second milestone of one million error-freeoperations at Phoenix air traffic control.
In Australia, we were presented with the Operator and Service Provider Excellence Award at Infrastructure Partnerships, Australia's prestigious National Infrastructure Awards, for our work at Acacia Prison, and Great Southern Rail was awarded "Best Luxury Rail Journey" in the Luxury Travel Magazine's Gold List Awards.
Well placed to support our customers around the world by transforming productivity and efficiency
Given our breadth of capabilities and strong track record of delivery, we arewell placed to support our customers around the world in their requirement totransform the productivity and efficiency of essential services, and to tackletheir key challenges such as economic stability and development, congestion,security, health, and climate change.In the UK, the new coalition government is addressing these challenges byseeking greater efficiency from existing services and reforming the role ofgovernment in delivering and procuring services in the future. We have a longtrack record of working in partnership with our UK government customers to helpthem achieve savings and improvements in existing services.The UK coalition government has also stated its intention to significantlychange the role of government. It aims to move from being an operator anddeliverer of services to become an effective procurer of services, as well aspromoting choice and competition, increasing accountability and transparencyand devolving powers away from the centre.We anticipate these reforms will result in competition being introduced intonew areas of service, the increased use of the private and voluntary sectorsand new models of delivery. Competition in the delivery of public services hasbeen shown to deliver cost reductions of up to 30% and to enable moreinnovative delivery that better meets the needs of users.In our international businesses, which now account for nearly 40% of ourrevenues, we are benefiting from the capabilities we have developed, and thebroadening of their market portfolios. This is positioning us well for growthas these markets develop.In the US, we are well positioned to grow our share of the substantial Federalservices market, which is valued at over US$300bn per annum, and are seeing ahigh level of bidding activity, with over US$3bn of bid proposals submitted.While the US government is seeking to reduce expenditure in certain areas, suchas large weapons programmes, and to increase efficiency and productivity, weexpect to see a redistribution of spend towards emerging priority areas such ascybersecurity, federal health, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance(ISR), human capital management, where we have strong capabilities. We alsoexpect to benefit from our existing strengths in supporting soldiers andveterans through logistics, command and control, and personnel supportservices. Additionally, we anticipate opportunities arising from continuedspend on mission critical requirements, alongside a trend towards largercontract vehicles where we now have the capabilities to succeed.In Asia Pacific, we have an active bid pipeline, driven by public, private andthird sector organisations being called upon to develop innovative solutionsfor government to provide better infrastructure and services for citizens, in afiscally conservative environment. While Australia's economy has continued tooutperform most other developed economies, governments are aiming to returntheir budgets to surplus and this is helping to build a solid pipeline ofopportunities in the region, particularly in areas of health, justice anddefence.
In other markets, such as the Middle East and India, we continue to expect further opportunities to arise from demand for new services, including public transport systems, education and health services, and national security.
Outlook and guidance
We continue to identify significant potential for growth across our global portfolio of contracts and markets.
We continue to support our customers around the world as they address theirfinancial and operational challenges. In the UK, discussions are ongoing withthe Cabinet Office's Efficiency and Reform Group regarding potential costsavings for the government. We have a strong track record in the delivery offront-line essential services, long-term relationships with our customers, andhave broad capabilities and skills across a number of markets.Through these, we are helping to develop markets further and open up new areasof opportunity in the UK and overseas, and are seeing a broad range ofopportunities to help our customers improve the efficiency and quality ofservices. In addition, the enhanced capabilities and the broader contractportfolios we have developed in our international businesses are now showingsubstantial potential for growth.Our guidance is supported by this potential for further growth in opportunitiesaround the world, together with our substantial pipeline of existingopportunities, and the high revenue visibility which comes from our existingorder book.We continue to expect, in 2010, strong organic revenue growth and furtherprogress towards our 2012 margin guidance, and, by the end of 2012, an increasein revenue to approximately £5bn and in Adjusted operating profit margin toapproximately 6.3%, excluding material acquisitions, disposals and currencyeffects, based on 2008 exchange rates.
Operating Review
At the start of 2010, we created five new divisions focused on our principalmarkets, to maximise our focus on growth and opportunities, and to ensure thatwe maintain a flexible and devolved organisation which is responsive to ourcustomers' needs. This Operating Review is presented according to these fivenew divisions which are: Civil Government; Defence, Science and Nuclear; LocalGovernment and Commercial; Americas; AMEAA (Africa, Middle East, Asia, andAustralasia).
Civil Government
Our Civil Government segment includes our operations in the UK and Europe inhome affairs (including custodial, immigration and field services, and bordersecurity and control), transport (including rail, metro and roads) welfare towork and healthcare.Civil Government revenue grew by 13.6% to £574m, representing 27% of Grouprevenue (1H 2009: 26%). Civil Government growth benefited from contracts won in2009, including our Flexible New Deal contracts in the Welfare to Work market,and Barclays Cycle Hire for Transport for London.
Home Affairs
In Home Affairs, we were pleased to sign a contract with the Ministry ofJustice to provide and operate a new local prison at Belmarsh West, London.This is a Design, Construct, Manage and Finance contract, which has a value toSerco of approximately £415m, and will run for 26½ years. We had announced ourselection in June 2009 as the preferred bidder. Belmarsh West will be built toCategory B standards by our construction partner Skanska, will accommodate 900adult male prisoners and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2012.Equity and debt finance has been secured from third parties.Belmarsh West is the first prison contract to be awarded in the UK to analliance of the private and voluntary sectors. The prison is designed to behighly efficient and, as a local prison with a high remand population, ourfocus will be to minimise the dislocation that short-term imprisonment cancause. Building on our innovative and successful alliance with leadingvoluntary sector partners, Turning Point and Catch22, we will focus on costeffective care and successful rehabilitation to create an environment that mosteffectively and efficiently prepares those in our care for release. Inconjunction with other providers, we will also support the effective deliveryof prison healthcare and other services, to ensure a safe, secure and decentenvironment for those in our care.Elsewhere in Home Affairs, we were awarded extensions to a number of ourcontracts. These included a three-year extension to April 2013 to our contractto manage Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre valued at around £32m, and atwo-year extension to March 2013 to our Electronic Monitoring contract for thewhole of Scotland, valued at around £10m.In border security and control, since the half year end, the Home Office hasannounced the termination of its e-Borders contract with Raytheon, the primesupplier of this advanced border control and security programme to the UKBorder Agency. As a subcontractor on the programme, we are continuing to fulfilour obligations to operate key parts of the existing service, and remain fullycommitted to the e-Borders programme.
Transport - Rail and Metro
In Transport, Northern Rail, our joint venture with Abellio, signed a two-yearextension to its train operating franchise on the same terms as its existingcontract. The extension, to September 2013, is valued at approximately £530mand follows the sustained performance improvements that Northern Rail hasachieved since the franchise began in December 2004.Northern Rail and Merseyrail, our other joint venture with Abellio, bothcontinued to deliver excellent operating performance in the period. Merseyrailcontinues to be one of the best performing train operating companies,maintaining its record of achieving over 96% of trains on time in a 12-monthperiod (to 24 July 2010) and achieving a 93% satisfaction rate in the Spring2010 National Passenger survey, the highest score of any franchised traincompany in the UK. Northern Rail achieved 91.5% punctuality in the 12 months toJune 2010, continuing the significant improvement from the 83% achieved priorto our taking over the franchise in 2004.Northern Rail, in conjunction with its partners, also received a number ofawards in the period including the `Transport Team/Partnership of the Year'award at the National Transport Awards for the response to the Cumbrian floodslast autumn, and first prize in the `Rail Station of the Year' category.Northern also received two top national awards and four commendations in theRailway Industry Innovation Awards and the top transport title at the RoSPA(Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Occupational Health and SafetyAwards for the second year running.On the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), passengers are now seeing furtherbenefits after the roll out of a full three-carriage service, increasingcapacity on the service by 50%. Customer satisfaction with the servicecurrently stands at 95% for overall service and over 96% for safety andsecurity. We have seen increased service reliability on the DLR network, withthe most recent figures showing 98% of trains running to schedule. Passengernumbers have continued to grow, having increased by over 2% in the past sixmonths to reach 69 million journeys per annum.We were awarded an 18-month contract valued at £5m by Scheidt & Bachman todeliver the enabling works for the replacement of the automatic fare collectionsystems at Tyne & Wear Metro stations. We are responsible for structuralalterations, the upgrade of the existing CCTV systems and the installation of anew fibre network. We were also awarded three rail sector contracts with acombined value of around £1.5m for infrastructure and technology for FirstCapital Connect, Virgin Trains, and Network Rail.
Transport - other
In other transport, we launched Barclays Cycle Hire for Transport for London toregistered members. 4,200 bicycles and 315 docking sites were available atlaunch, which has now increased to 331, with capacity planned to increase to6,000 bicycles and 400 docking sites. While the scheme has experienced someoperational issues, it is proving popular, with nearly 45,000 members currentlyregistered and 100,000 journeys made in the first 14 days of operation.We also secured a 15-month contract extension to our existing 18-month contractto operate London's Woolwich Ferry. The extension is valued at approximately £9m.In road transport services, we were awarded a five-year contract with a valueof approximately £10m by Transport Scotland to renew communications technologyon the Scottish roads network. The contract is to provide technology servicesincluding a new communications network, and emergency roadside telephones, andwe will also provide design services, programme management, and installationand commissioning services.Welfare to WorkWe have made a successful start in the Welfare to Work market, providingoutsourced support to unemployed people under contract to the Department forWork and Pensions. Under our existing Flexible New Deal (FND) contracts, asprime contractor, we support people who have been unemployed for more than 12months to find sustainable work. We achieve this through our unique model ofsubcontracting to local networks of successful, established providers,including private, public and voluntary sector organisations. Following thestart of these contracts in October 2009, we have now enabled over 7,500 peopleto move back into sustainable employment, in line with our expectations. Weexpect to have in excess of 50,000 jobseekers signed up with our network by theend of this year.The Welfare market represents a significant opportunity for Serco. We have nowbeen informed by the Department for Work and Pensions that these existing FNDcontracts will now end in June 2011 and be replaced by the significantly largerWork Programme. These Work Programme contracts will be tendered for in 2011 andlet through Framework Agreements to allow for faster and more flexibleprocurement. These contracts are likely to be substantially larger, longer andhave greater scope, given that they will be extended to encompass people on allbenefits, including those on incapacity benefits.This year, our Welfare to Work team has also implemented Serco's Job Deal undercontract to the National Offender Management Service. This is a new initiativedesigned to provide welfare-to-work support to ex-offenders, tackling theirbarriers to employment in order to enable access to sustainable work. Sercobegan delivering services in two of the nine English regions, the East ofEngland and South East of England, in January 2010. Our two contracts are eachvalued at approximately £3m over a period of two years.
Healthcare
We continue to build our business providing a range of healthcare services supporting the NHS. Our offering already incorporates the delivery of primary care services and of clinical and non-clinical support services, including pathology, occupational health and custodial health services.
We are continuing to develop our business providing health services in secureaccommodation, delivering healthcare in 15 secure custodial centres and havenow been appointed to the country's largest integrated custodial healthservices contract, with NHS Norfolk, to provide integrated health services tothree local prisons. The contract has a value to Serco of £22m over a period ofthree years. Working with us on the contract will be Norfolk Community Healthand Care, the local NHS community service provider, Turning Point, a leadingsocial care organisation, and Partnerships in Care, a leading provider ofmedium secure mental health hospitals. We have also been successful inretaining and growing the healthcare service we provide at HMP Leicester andhave added £8m to the contract value over a period of five years.In Occupational Health, we have extended two key contracts with Ford MotoringGroup and PricewaterhouseCoopers to supply occupational health services toemployees until June 2011 and September 2011 respectively. The extensions havea combined value of over £3m.
Defence, Science and Nuclear
Our Defence, Science and Nuclear (DSN) segment brings together our businessesproviding operational support services in the UK and European defence markets,science-based businesses such as our contracts at the Atomic WeaponsEstablishment, the National Physical Laboratory, the National NuclearLaboratory, our energy market operations, and our nuclear safety and assurancebusiness.DSN revenue grew by 3.5% to £461m, representing 22% of Group revenue (1H 2009:23%), principally reflecting organic growth across our contract portfolio inthis segment.We continued to renew and expand our support to the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF)in the period. We signed a Multi-Activity Contract, for which we had previouslybeen appointed preferred bidder, to provide services at RAF Halton, which wehave served since 1997, and which now includes RAF High Wycombe, the home ofHeadquarters Air Command. The contract is valued at £100m over ten years. Thecombination of services at both sites provides us with the ability to deliversynergies across both stations through an innovative and flexible solution.We also signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliveressential support services at RAF Brize Norton, worth around £36m for a periodof up to six years. RAF Brize Norton is one of the MoD's most important basesinvolved in current military operations, and is the main gateway for Britishmilitary personnel deploying to and returning from overseas operations. We havesupported the RAF mission at Brize Norton since 1997, and this new contractreinforces our existing role in delivering operational support services,ranging from aircraft engineering to managing air movements and providing thestation's security.Earlier in the year we secured a contract worth more than £55m over 15 years tomanage and operate the Emergency Planning College (EPC) on behalf of theCabinet Office, placing Serco at the heart of UK civil resilience. Ascommercial partner to the Cabinet Office, we are managing all services at theEPC, including training delivery and support, sales and marketing, finance,estate management, ICT and security.During the first half, we signed a new contract with the UK MoD, valued ataround £20m to Serco over two years, which will help the UK tackle climatechange through enabling greater use of off-shore renewable wind energy. In thecapacity of prime contractor, we are working with Lockheed Martin of the US tointroduce the Lockheed Martin TPS-77 radar technology, which is resistant tointerference from wind farms, into the UK Air Defence System on the northNorfolk coast. This will remove a significant obstacle to the roll out of offshore wind power in the UK.During the period, we also successfully secured a three-year contract toprovide air traffic control and air traffic engineering at Coventry Airport,valued at around £1m per annum. Serco's role underpins the airport's strategyto resume full normal operations, including attracting business jet traffic,freight and potentially future airline operations.
We continue to see strong performance at our joint venture with Lockheed Martin and Jacobs Engineering which manages and operates the UK's Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). We are achieving excellent delivery against the key milestones and, with our UK MoD customer, an internal AWE transformation programme to reduce costs while maintaining performance is delivering significant benefits. We are also delighted that a team from AWE has been awarded a Commendation by the MoD's Chief Scientific Advisor for work on collaborative arms verification with Norway.
In civil nuclear, we were appointed by Westinghouse as its lead nuclear safetyadviser in the UK in support of the AP1000 nuclear reactor currently underassessment for the UK's civil nuclear programme. Our role is to lead a team ofexperts to assist Westinghouse in completing Step 4 of Generic DesignAssessment (GDA) for the AP1000, a critical stage in the reactor designapproval process being conducted by the UK Nuclear Regulators which is due forcompletion in 2011. The contract is of strategic importance, coming as it doesat the beginning of a new era of nuclear energy in the UK.The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has continued to expand its non-corework partially offset by a reduction in its core funding from the UK Departmentfor Business, Innovation and Skills' National Measurement Office. During thehalf-year NPL secured £13m of new orders, including nearly 1,000 measurementservices contracts with a total value of £5m, and other orders totalling £8m,the largest being a £1.5m knowledge transfer contract with the TechnologyStrategy Board. NPL has also continued to promote the establishment of a Centrefor Carbon Measurement with the purpose of supporting national andinternational efforts to understand and mitigate climate change throughaccelerating the development of the low-carbon technology sector.
Local Government and Commercial
Our Local Government and Commercial (LG&C) segment comprises our UK and European IT and BPO, integrated services, environmental and leisure services, education, consulting and commercial businesses.
LG&C revenue grew by 9.8% to £433m, representing 20% of Group revenue (1H 2009:20%), principally as a result of a number of new contract starts in 2009 andexpansion of our European agencies business.
IT & BPO
In IT & BPO in the UK, we signed a new information communication technology(ICT) support services contract with the London Borough of Enfield Council. Thenew contract, known as "EnfieldIT", will deliver guaranteed cost savings of 20%for the council, improve services for Council employees and improve thecommunications and interactions with the residents of Enfield. The initialfive-year contract, valued at £24m and with an option to extend for a furtherfour years, is the result of our successful rebid for the Council's ICTservices, delivered since 1999, and a key factor for the selection was theimprovement to service practices and more efficient ways of operating, whichguarantee efficiency savings for the Council over the life of the contract.In our Business Link contracts, the replacement of Regional DevelopmentAgencies (RDAs) with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and the relatedfunding cuts announced in the UK government's Emergency Budget in June areexpected to affect our regional Business Link contracts, as the RDAs are wounddown. Although there may be new opportunities with LEPs, it is not yet clearwhen these will start to emerge.During the half year, we acquired RB Solutions, a successful provider in theRevenues and Benefits market, for £2m. Since acquisition we have made excellentprogress on the transition of the business into the Local Government &Commercial division, and have recently won two new contracts valued inaggregate at £2m with Dacorum Borough Council and Dudley Metropolitan BoroughCouncil to provide benefits processing services.We secured two contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA) worth Euro35mover the first three years. This win strengthens our position as a leadingprovider of services to Europe's space and technology agencies. In the firstcontract we are leading a consortium - which includes Logica and Infoterra - toprovide operations and maintenance capabilities to ESA's Earth Observationprogramme. This is the first time that ESA has procured these services througha single contractor. The second contract is an expansion of our existingmanpower services contract to cover engineering and management support for theESA Earth Observation payload data ground segment.We were awarded a four-year contract by the European Medicines Agency (EMA),valued at Euro7m, to provide information and communications technology supportto up to1,000 staff at their London headquarters, as well as a largerstakeholder community at various locations through-out Europe.
Integrated and Environmental Services
In integrated services, we were successful in renewing and winning a range of contracts for essential services.
Since the half year end, we have been appointed by Sandwell MetropolitanBorough Council as preferred bidder for its new 25 year Waste Improvement Plancontract, which is valued at around £650m. Under the contract, we will providerefuse collection, recycling, and street cleaning services, and deliver wasteprocessing and disposal, including the construction of a new waste transferstation. Our innovative approach to this contract has resulted in thedevelopment of an operational solution which responds to the needs andaspirations of Sandwell and its residents. Under the contract, we will increaserecycling rates, and significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfillthrough the development of an integrated waste processing and disposal solutionusing best-in-class local partners. This will help the council to meetGovernment recycling targets and reduce costs such as landfill taxes.In the health services arena we extended our Norfolk and Norwich UniversityHospital contract for a further five years until 2016. The extension, underwhich we will continue to provide a full range of integrated non- clinicalsupport services, is valued at £75m. We were also selected by theMiddlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland Primary Care Trust to provide integratedfacilities management to their healthcare estate. The contract is valued ataround £8m over five years, and will involve us delivering a range of servicesincluding building maintenance, catering facilities, cleaning and wardhousekeeping to community hospitals and GP facilities throughout the region.In the airports and aviation arena, we won a new contract with British Airwaysto provide a range of integrated facilities management services to theirGatwick estate, including support to the executive lounges and non essentialaircraft maintenance. The contract will run for two years, nine months and
isvalued at £5.2m.Education
Our Serco-led Together for Disabled Children partnership has been awarded aone-year contract extension with effect from April 2010. The partnershipsupports the UK government's Aiming High for Disabled Children programme,specifically around short breaks and parent participation. In addition, a pilotto improve disabled children's access to childcare (DCATCH) across ten localauthorities will now be rolled out nationally as part of this contractextension. The total value of the extension, including DCATCH, is £5m.
Consulting
Our consulting business continues to experience difficult market conditions,but has been active in developing and deploying targeted offerings that providecreative and practical ways of making cost savings that directly address ourclients' needs. While the public sector consulting market contains a highdegree of uncertainty going forward, we are well equipped to meet governmentefficiency needs and to enter new markets. Our consulting business alsocontinues to benefit from its position on a number of government frameworks andprogrammes, and we are leveraging its expertise in parts of Serco, making asignificant contribution to winning contracts and assuring their successfuldelivery.
Americas
Our Americas segment provides information technology (IT), professional, andmanagement services primarily to the U.S. federal government, including everybranch of the military, key federal civilian government such as the Departmentof Homeland Security, and the intelligence community.
Americas revenue grew by 1.7% to £455m (2.6% growth excluding currency effects), representing 21% of Group revenue (1H 2009: 23%), reflecting organic growth in our portfolio and a lower number of new contract starts in the period.
In the Americas, we continued to see demand for programme management servicesfor the intelligence community, command and control (C4I) solutions for the AirForce, and logistics sustainment activities for the Army supporting theconflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are seeing a high level of biddingactivity, with over US$3bn of bid proposals submitted.A key focus for our Americas business in the first half was to identifyopportunities for collaboration across our business units, and to ensure anintegrated approach that leverages the full range of our capabilities andexpertise across our entire customer base. Examples include expanding the useof our Command, Control, Communications and Computer skills, which we currentlyprovide to the Air Force Space Command and the US Navy, across all branches ofthe military, to the Department of Homeland Security, and to the intelligencecommunity. We are also using our enterprise architecture capabilities developedwith the Air Force Space Command to support other Department of Defenseagencies and commands, and exploring opportunities to use our economic costanalysis expertise with the US Air Force and in the intelligence community, andto expand our logistics support to additional military bases.More government agencies are using indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity(IDIQ) contract vehicles, where we are one of a number of companies with theopportunity to bid for task orders. So that we can fully leverage our positionon these programmes, we have created a team to identify and quickly respond tokey opportunities arising under these existing contract vehicles, which includeAlliant, HRsolutions, Seaport-e, GSA schedules and intelligence contracts. Wehave also refocused our business development team, reflecting our greaterconcentration on IDIQ contract vehicles and larger prime contracts, and ourpositioning in key growth areas, including cybersecurity, human capitalmanagement, federal health and base realignment and closure (BRAC) programmes.In the first half, our US business continued to strengthen its position onmajor US government programmes through the award by the US Army of an IDIQcontract to compete for task orders under the HRsolutions Program Office forthe Studies and Analysis contract. The contract will support the AssistantSecretary of the Army (ASA) Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA). Under thiscontract, we will have the opportunity to compete for work in areas such asbusiness planning, and research and evaluation, including processre-engineering, policy analysis, manpower planning, training and development,policy development, proof of concept studies, programme analysis, predictivemodeling and risk management and mitigation. We are among 12 awardees on thisUS$1.3bn IDIQ contract which has a five-year term, comprising a one-year baseperiod and four one-year option periods.Contract awards included the renewal of our IDIQ contract with the US Navy'sCommander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers to provide support for theprocurement, management, issuance and disposal of HAZMAT products andchemicals. The contract has a six-month base period with three one-year optionperiods and is valued at approximately US$84m, inclusive of the options.For the Air Force Materiel Command, we were awarded a task order under theConsolidated Acquisition of Professional Services (CAPS) contract to supportthe depot maintenance management oversight programme. This task order renewsand expands our current contract, more than doubling the number of jobpositions, and is valued at US$14m over two years.
Also for the Air Force, we signed a Logistics, Maintenance, Supply and Support contract, valued at US$15m over three years, supporting the acquisition and delivery of Special Operations Forces weapon systems.
For the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned, we renewed and expanded ourcontract to provide personnel to assist in gathering operations and exerciseinformation. The contract is valued at US$15m over three years, a 25% increaseover the current level.In transport, we renewed our contract, valued at US$22.5m over five years, withDayton Power and Light for fleet and maintenance support services, and expandedour existing contract with the City of San Francisco supporting their parkingmeter programme.As previously reported, we were also awarded contracts to support the FederalAviation Administration (FAA) Contract Tower Program valued at approximatelyUS$170m over five years to provide air traffic control services at 65 sites inthe United States and Pacific region, and with the Georgia Department ofTransportation (GDOT) to provide comprehensive management, installation, andmaintenance of the department's intelligent transportation system valued ataround US$50m over five years.
AMEAA
Our AMEAA segment consists of our operations in Australasia, Middle East, Asia(including Hong Kong and India) and Africa, in which we provide a range ofservices including transport, aviation, justice, immigration, health, defence,BPO and local government.AMEAA revenue grew by 37.4% to £218m (22.0% growth excluding currency effects),representing 10% of Group revenue (1H 2009: 8%). The strong growth in theperiod reflected significant contributions from new contract starts in both ourhome affairs business in Australia and our transport operations in the MiddleEast.In home affairs in Australia, we are continuing to work with our customer, theDepartment of Immigration and Citizenship, to transform its immigrationservices across the country while expanding capacity to support the increasingnumber of people in our care. Serco has been recognised by members of theparliament and prominent Australian leaders for the transformation that isoccurring in the centres, our humane approach, the constructive mood in thecentres, and the positive relationship that exists between our employees andthe people in our care.We were also delighted to win the Operator and Service Provider ExcellenceAward at the prestigious National Infrastructure Awards. The award recognisesthe high standard of service we are providing at Acacia prison, WesternAustralia's only privately-operated prison, where we have expanded and investedin numerous education, training, rehabilitation and resettlement programmes,with a particular focus on restorative justice and community and socialresponsibility, while at the same time successfully integrating an additional200 prisoners into the prison.In transport in Australia, Great Southern Rail has shown good signs of recoveryin the first half of 2010, with a particularly strong second quarter. However,we expect general weakness in consumer demand in the Australian economy to slowthe pace of recovery in the second half of 2010. For 2011, Great Southern Railhas developed a new product called The Southern Spirit, a summer season servicetouring Australia's Great Dividing Range and Eastern seaboard. Initial marketresponse has been strong, with 50% of total capacity sold in the first month.In the Middle East, following the launch of the Dubai Metro in September lastyear, we have continued to achieve very high levels of availability andpunctuality, which in the first half were 98% and 96% respectively. A further10 stations opened in the first half of this year, bringing the total to 21,and the number of passengers is now around 120,000 per day, with around 40million expected to use the service in 2010.Elsewhere in the Middle East, we won a contract, valued at £10.5m to Serco overone year, to deliver operations and maintenance consultancy services to the AlMashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Southern Line (Makkah Metro) in Makkah, Kingdomof Saudi Arabia. Working in partnership with China Railway ConstructionCorporation (CRCC) and Beijing Railway Administration (BRA), we will deliverthe consultancy services and support the launch of the Metro for the 2010 Hajj(Pilgrimage). The Metro will link Makkah with the holy sites at Mina, Arafat,and Muzdalifah.
In Abu Dhabi, we were awarded a contract, valued at US$2.7m, to provide a schedule management system for the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport to manage timetable and vehicle scheduling, duty rosters, and personnel and vehicle deployment in its bus operations.
In Dubai, we were delighted to play our part in the opening of Dubai's secondairport, Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International where we provide airtraffic control and airside engineering services. This is an extension, valuedat around £3.5m per annum, to the existing contract with Dubai Airports Companywhich dates back to the 1960s.Since the half year end, we have further expanded our presence in Dubai througha contract to operate and maintain the 5.4km Palm Jumeirah Monorail which runsfrom Gateway Station at the trunk of the iconic Palm Jumeriah to the landmarkAtlantis Hotel and Aquaventure Water Park. The five-year contract is worthapproximately £15m.During the half year, we took the decision to exit our remaining business inthe non-core South African market, a joint venture providing aviation groundhandling services, following the non-renewal of its license. The joint ventureis to be put into liquidation, resulting in a non-cash goodwill impairmentcharge of £4.2m.In India, while our business performance continues to reflect the ongoingdifficult conditions in the global financial services market, we are activelyexploring potential opportunities for developing our presence in the businessprocess outsourcing market and in shaping a market for the delivery of publicservices.In Asia, since the half year end, we were awarded a new six-year contractvalued at AUS$55m to manage, operate and maintain the Cross-Harbour Tunnel inHong Kong. Geographically and strategically placed on Hong Kong Route 1, theCross-Harbour Tunnel is the busiest tunnel in Hong Kong with over 120,000vehicles travelling through the tunnel daily, generating around HK$700m inannual toll revenue for the Hong Kong government. The addition of this contractto our existing operations on the Aberdeen, Lion Rock and Kai Tak tunnels makesus the largest tunnel operator in Hong Kong.
Market opportunities
Our markets offer a broad range of opportunities for Serco, as governments address substantial budget deficits and as pressure from citizens to improve public services continues.
The reduction of these deficits will require the realisation of ongoingefficiencies in the delivery of essential front-line services. Governmentsaround the world are increasingly recognising the benefits of opening up tocompetition new areas in the delivery of public services, and of achieving theinnovation in the procurement and delivery of these services that comes fromcompetition.The breadth of our capabilities, our strong track record of delivery, and ourproven ability to create new business models mean that we are well placed tohelp our customers address their challenges and to select the bestopportunities, wherever they may arise.In the UK, while individual opportunities are subject to change as a result ofthe new coalition government's spending review, we remain confident that thereis significant further potential for an overall expansion of opportunitiesacross our UK markets. As well as seeking efficiencies, the new coalitiongovernment is also reforming the role of government from being a deliverer ofservices to become a procurer of services. Its reform ambitions includepromoting choice and competition, increasing accountability and transparencyand devolving powers away from the centre.We anticipate these reforms will result in new opportunities as competition isintroduced into new areas of service and the private and voluntary sectors areincreasingly used. Competition in the delivery of public services has beenshown to deliver cost reductions of up to 30% and enabled more innovativedelivery that better meets the needs of users.In UK Home Affairs, we expect further substantial opportunities to arise fromincreasing efficiency and productivity. We expect the first three existingpublic sector operated prisons, Birmingham, Wellingborough and Buckley Hall, tobe market tested in the next 12 months. We also see potential for furtheropportunities arising from the drive to manage the existing prison estate moreeffectively, reduce reoffending and improve the efficiency of probation andimmigration services.In health, which incorporates approximately 20% of UK government spend, at over£100bn per annum, the government's focus is on driving structural changes aimedat greater efficiency and improved outcomes. This will include the introductionof GP commissioning, the expectation that all NHS Trusts will achieveFoundation Trust status, and a greater use of choice through the `any willingprovider' model. All of these changes are likely to foster competition andoffer opportunities for Serco to work with the NHS to achieve improvedefficiency and service. Opportunities will include the potential to expand ourpathology joint venture with Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, theprovision of facilities management and support services to healthcareestablishments, as well as the potential to offer services into GPcommissioners. We will also be looking at further opportunities to manage NHShospitals following the innovative current competition to run HinchingbrookeHospital, which is expected to complete later this year and where we are nowone of two shortlisted bidders. There will also be opportunities to furtherdevelop our business in areas such as offender health management and facilitiesmanagement for healthcare establishments.Another area of significant UK government expenditure is welfare. The existingFlexible New Deal programme, which addresses the approximately 750,000 peoplewho have been out of work for more than 12 months, will come to an end in 2011,and will be replaced with the Work Programme, which will seek to help allpeople on benefit. These include 1.5 million Jobseeker's Allowance claimantsand 2.5 million people claiming Incapacity Benefit, which means that the WorkProgramme is likely to be substantially larger than the Flexible New Dealprogramme. It will be let through Framework Agreements to allow for faster andmore flexible procurement, and will adopt nationally the model we havesuccessfully pioneered of subcontracting front-line delivery to networks ofproviders. The contracts are also anticipated to have a larger geographicalcoverage and a longer duration of seven years.In Defence, the UK government's Strategic Defence and Security Review, whichwill define the national security capabilities the UK needs and can afford, iscurrently under way, and is due to report ahead of the Comprehensive SpendingReview in October. As part of that review, we are in advanced discussions withour defence customers to determine ways in which we can help them significantlyimprove efficiency while minimising any effect on operational capability. Ourdiscussions are grounded in our long track record of reducing operating costswhile enhancing support across the defence establishment, and of usingcommercial and technological innovation to improve efficiency. In the broaderarea of national security, given our existing contracts and the recent additionof the Emergency Planning College contract, we are well positioned to pursuefurther opportunities.In UK defence, there are three major opportunities in defence-relatedprogrammes valued at over £1bn. We have been downselected as one of the finaltwo consortia of companies bidding for the Recruiting Partnering Project forthe British Army, due for contract award in 2011, and continue to promote avalue for money solution on the Future Outsourced Activities Programme toprovide basic training for Royal Navy recruits. In addition, we have announcedthat we have formed a joint venture to provide a low risk and cost effectivesolution for the Ministry of Defence's Joint Military Air Traffic Services(JMATS) programme.The UK's science-based establishments have a critical role in addressing thecountry's greatest challenges, such as sustaining economic recovery, tacklingclimate change and improving national and energy security. Given our experiencein applying our scientific capabilities to those same challenges, through ourmanagement of the National Physical Laboratory, the National NuclearLaboratory, AWE, and our nuclear assurance business, we are well placed to helpthe UK government maximise the strategic, economic, social and environmentalbenefit derived from its science establishments. To that end, we are bringingthat experience to bear with customers across government as they make decisionson how and where to prioritise science spending.In the energy market, the UK government faces significant challenges insecuring the country's long-term energy needs, while at the same time tacklingclimate change. We are helping to address these challenges in a number of ways.In addition to our key role in the nuclear new build programme, we are alsoenabling the development of offshore wind farms through introducing new radartechnology, and exploring how we can apply our capabilities in criticalnational infrastructure to the renewable energy market. In addition, ourscientists are developing the means to underpin the global carbon tradingsystem through the establishment of a Centre for Carbon Metrology.In UK local government, we are seeing opportunities arising from localauthorities' need to improve the quality and efficiency of local services,while at the same time addressing increasing budgetary constraints. Theseinclude improving technology infrastructure and ICT services and transformingways of operating to reduce costs. In addition, we have a healthy pipeline ofopportunities in environmental services, and are seeing increasing sharedservices opportunities in the present economic climate, as our customers lookfor cost efficiencies and added value. In education, we see potential forfurther opportunities given the need for our customers to consider the newtrading models that will result from the increasing autonomy of schools. In the US, we are well positioned to grow our share of the substantial Federalservices market, which is valued at over US$300bn per annum. While the USgovernment is seeking to reduce expenditure in certain areas, such as largeweapons programmes, we expect to see substantial opportunities in emergingpriority areas such as cybersecurity, federal health, intelligence surveillanceand reconnaissance (ISR), human capital management, and to benefit from ourexisting strengths in supporting soldiers and veterans through logistics,command and control, and personnel support services. Despite a move to insourcesome services, we anticipate opportunities arising from continued spend onmission critical requirements, alongside a trend towards larger contractvehicles where we now have the capabilities to succeed.Asia Pacific's substantial pipeline of opportunities continues to grow asgovernments look to the private sector for innovative models to deliver betterservices at a saving to the tax-payer. In Australia and New Zealand, there isan increasing range of opportunities in the justice sector, with the extensionof Acacia prison, and a number of new-build and existing publicly run prisonsbeing put to the market.
We also continue to pursue our growth goals in the emerging market of health in both Australia and Hong Kong, where there is a growing pipeline of health opportunities as governments encourage the private and third sectors to challenge traditional service delivery models for the build, finance and operation of hospitals.
Our defence strategy in Australia continues to develop with several strategicopportunities identified and being shaped for bidding later in 2010. Thegovernment's Strategic Reform Programme will support the creation of some ofthese opportunities, through reviews of warehousing, distribution and equipmentmaintenance requirements.
As Serco is now the largest tunnel operator in Hong Kong, building on the provision of other services in the transport sector that we are already providing, we are well placed to contest the healthy pipeline of transport opportunities in tunnel operation and maintenance, and transport technology.
In India, we continue to make progress on potential opportunities for developing our presence in the business process outsourcing market and in shaping a market for the delivery of public services.
We also continue to identify opportunities to leverage our expertise across abroad range of modes of mass transport including rail, road and trafficmanagement, marine, and aviation, through our Global Transport function, andare pursuing a number of opportunities to develop safe and cost-effectivesolutions to the challenges of congestion and urban and international masstransport in existing geographies and in new regions of operation.
Risk Management
The directors have considered the principal risks and uncertainties affectingthe Group and its performance in 2010, which were discussed in full on pages54-57 of the Group's published accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009.We have robust systems and processes to identify and manage the key risksfacing each of our businesses and the Group as a whole, and all parts of thebusiness have appropriate risk and crisis management plans that meet our policystandards.Risk management is fundamental to how we manage our business. Our riskmanagement policies, systems and processes are therefore defined and embeddedwithin the Serco Management System. The Board regularly reviews these, whichconform to the Combined Code's requirements. Such policies, systems andprocesses, however, can only be designed to mitigate, rather than eliminate,the risk of failure to achieve business objectives, and can only providereasonable, and not absolute assurance, against misstatement or loss.The Group risk register identifies the principal risks facing the business,including those that we manage at a Group level. The process identifies thebusiness objectives and the interests of shareholders and other stakeholdersthat are likely, directly or indirectly, to influence the business'sperformance and its value. The way that we operate as a responsible companyrecognises the interests of the community in areas such as social,environmental and ethical impact. The most significant risks relate to ourreputation, and to operational and financial performance. A number of our risksalso reflect social, environmental and ethical issues. We have refreshed ouroversight of risk management with the establishment of the Group RiskManagement Committee, which is a formal committee of the Company. ThisCommittee reviews the risk register quarterly and considers updates andchanges. These are subsequently discussed at quarterly Board meetings.
The following summarises the key risks we have identified that could have a material impact on our reputation, our operations, or our financial performance:
Key Internal risks
Major accident or incident involving failure of duty of care or compliance with regulation, deaths or serious injuries to public or staff, or substantial damage to the environment
Failure to manage our people effectively, including attracting and retaining key talent and maintaining good industrial relations
Failure to deliver commitments, potentially resulting in a significant goodwill impairment
Major information security breach resulting in loss or compromise of sensitive company, personal or customer information
Major IT failure or prolonged loss of critical IT systems, including enterprise applications
Increase in people costs, including pension-related costs
Key External risks
Significant change in government policy that impacts market opportunities or results in changes to existing or new contracts
Significant changes in rates of inflation directly impacting revenue generation and/or costs
Failure to have sufficient funding to meet current and future business requirements
Significant changes in energy and carbon costs and reporting requirements under the Carbon Reduction Commitment.
We also have material investments in a number of joint ventures, where we have joint control over management practices. Our representatives within these companies ensure that their processes and procedures for identifying and managing risk are appropriate and that internal controls exist and are regularly monitored.
We keep reputational and emerging risks under review. Emerging risks coverlonger term risks that could represent a threat to our activities but which arenot yet sufficiently defined to be included as active risks. Examples of theserisks include climate change and changes in key markets.
Finance Review
Overview
Our business delivered a strong financial performance in the first half, withrevenue growing 9.8% and Adjusted operating profit increasing by 13.1%.Excluding currency, revenue growth was 8.5% and Adjusted operating profitgrowth was 11.6%. Our Adjusted operating margin increased by 17 basis points(16 basis points excluding currency), profit before tax grew by 21.6% and freecash flow increased by 83.4% to £93.0m, partially reflecting a likely greaterfirst half weighting of cash generation in 2010 than in previous years.
1. Income statement
Serco's income statement for the year is summarised in Figure 1 below. Thisincludes the results of joint ventures which are proportionately consolidated.Figure 1: Income statementSix months ended 30 June 2010 2009 Increase £m £m Revenue 2,140.3 1,949.8 9.8% Gross profit 316.1 285.7 10.6% Administrative expenses (191.7) (175.7) 9.1% Adjusted operating profit 124.4 110.0 13.1%
Investment revenue and finance costs (14.2) (17.7) Adjusted profit before tax 110.2 92.3 19.4% Amortisation of acquired intangibles (8.8) (8.9)
Profit before tax 101.4 83.4 21.6% Tax (27.0) (22.0) 22.7% Profit for the period 74.4 61.4 21.2% Effective tax rate 26.6% 26.4% Adjusted earnings per share 16.53p 14.02p 17.9% Earnings per share 15.13p 12.62p 19.9% Dividend per share 2.20p 1.85p 18.9% 1.1 RevenueRevenue grew by 9.8% to £2,140.3m (8.5% excluding currency effects). Organicrevenue growth, excluding currency effects, was also 8.5% and reflects thegrowth of existing contracts and the contribution of new contracts started
in2009 and 2010.1.2 Gross margin
Gross margin was 14.8% (2009: 14.7%), a small increase on the first half of 2009.
1.3 Adjusted operating profit
Adjusted operating profit increased by 13.1% to £124.4m representing an Adjusted operating profit margin of 5.8%. Adjusted operating profit margin increased by 17 basis points (16 basis points excluding currency effects).
1.4 Investment revenue and finance costs
Investment revenue and finance costs totalled a net cost of £14.2m, a decreaseof £3.5m. The decrease was principally as a result of lower interest rates andthe reduction in the Group's total net debt.
1.5 Adjusted profit before tax
Adjusted profit before tax was £110.2m, an increase of 19.4%.
1.6 Tax
The tax charge of £27.0m (2009: £22.0m) represents an effective rate of 26.6%,compared with 26.4% in the first half of 2009. The small increase principallyreflects changes in the mix of taxable profits.
1.7 Earnings per share (EPS)
Adjusted EPS rose by 17.9% to 16.53p. EPS grew by 19.9% to 15.13p. EPS and Adjusted EPS are calculated on an average share base of 491.1m during the period (2009: 486.6m). The increase in the average share base principally resulted from a full weighting of shares issued during 2009.
2. Dividend
Serco's policy is to increase the total dividend each year broadly in line withthe increase in underlying earnings. The Board has declared an interim dividendof 2.20p per share, representing an increase on the 2009 interim dividend of18.9%. The interim dividend will be paid on 15 October 2010 to shareholders onthe register as at 3 September 2010.
3. Cash flow
The Group generated a free cash inflow of £93.0m (2009: £50.7m), an increase of 83.4%.
Figure 3 analyses the cash flow. As in previous years, we have designed theanalysis to show the underlying cash performance of the Group - the cash flowsgenerated by subsidiaries plus the dividends received from joint ventures. Ittherefore differs from the consolidated cash flow on page 41, whichproportionately consolidates the cash flows of joint ventures. The adjustmentline in Figure 3 reconciles the movement in Group cash to the consolidated
cashflow.Figure 3: Cash flowSix months ended 30 June 2010 2009 £m £m
Operating profit excluding joint ventures 87.9 73.0
Non cash items 40.3 38.5 Group EBITDA 128.2 111.5 Working capital movement (21.8) (31.3) Group operating cash flow 106.4 80.2 Interest (12.5) (18.0) Tax (14.7) (8.4)
Net expenditure on tangible and intangible (12.2) (22.5) assets
Dividends from joint ventures 26.0 19.4 Group free cash flow 93.0 50.7 Acquisition of subsidiaries (1.4) (15.4) Financing (111.1) (32.9) Dividends paid (21.6) (16.9) Group net decrease in cash and cash (41.1) (14.5) equivalents
Adjustment to include joint venture cash 32.8 14.1 impacts
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (8.3) (0.4)
Note: Group EBITDA is earnings from subsidiaries (excluding joint ventures) before interest, tax, depreciation, intangible amortisation and
other non cash items.
3.1 Group operating cash flow
Group operating cash flow of £106.4m (2009: £80.2m) represents a very strongconversion of Group EBITDA into cash of 83.0% (2009: 71.9%). The workingcapital movement of £21.8m was smaller than in the first half of 2009, a goodperformance given the strong growth in our business.
3.2 Interest
Net interest paid decreased by £5.5m to £12.5m, reflecting the reduction inGroup recourse net debt since the first half of 2009, lower interest rates andchanges to the timing of interest payments.
3.3 Tax
Tax paid increased to £14.7m (2009: £8.4m), reflecting the continued trendtowards a cash tax rate which is closer to our effective rate. Cash tax isbelow the equivalent charge in the income statement as a result of acceleratedcapital allowances and other timing differences.
3.4 Net expenditure on tangible and intangible assets
Net expenditure on tangible and intangible assets was £12.2m (2009: £22.5m).This comprised gross expenditure of £19.4m, representing 1.1% of Group revenueexcluding joint ventures (2009: 1.4%) and the disposal described below.On 30 June 2010, as part of forming a strategic partnership with Patni ComputerSystems Ltd. (Patni), a leading global provider of Information Technologyservices and business solutions, to provide services in education ande-learning in the UK and Irish markets, we disposed of a non-core Learningsoftware product to Patni. Cash realised from the sale was £7.0m and profit ondisposal of this asset was £1.4m.
3.5 Dividends from joint ventures
Dividends received from joint ventures totalled £26.0m (2009: £19.4m), reflecting a high conversion rate of joint ventures' profit after tax and minority interest into dividends.
During the period, the Group took the decision to exit its remaining businessin the non-core South African market, a joint venture providing aviation groundhandling services, resulting in a non-cash goodwill impairment charge tooperating profit of £4.2m.Dividends from joint ventures represented a good conversion rate of 102% (2009:81%) of joint ventures' profit after tax and minority interest excluding thisgoodwill impairment charge and costs allocated by Group.
3.6 Financing
The movement in financing resulted primarily from repayments on our committed facility and non recourse debt.
4. Net debt
Figure 4 analyses Serco's net debt.
Figure 4: Net debtAt 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 £m £m Group - cash and cash equivalents 215.1 253.7 Group - loans (571.1) (619.1) Group - obligations under finance (24.9) (22.3) leases Group recourse net debt (380.9) (387.7) Joint venture recourse net cash 91.4 58.2 Total recourse net debt (289.5) (329.5) Group non recourse debt (27.3) (29.0) Total net debt (316.8) (358.5) 4.1 Group recourse net debtGroup recourse net debt decreased by £6.8m to £380.9m. The decrease reflectsour strong cash generation, less dividend payments of £21.6m and a £16.6m netcash outflow on purchase and issue of share capital, which includes a purchaseof Serco shares by our Employee Share Ownership Trust to be used to satisfy theexercise of awards under our employee share schemes. In addition, changes incurrency exchange rates increased Group recourse net debt by £34.7m.
Cash and cash equivalents includes encumbered cash of £15.1m (31 December 2009: £11.2m). This is cash securing credit obligations and customer advance payments.
4.2 Group non recourse debt
The Group's debt is non recourse if no Group company other than the relevantborrower has an obligation to repay the debt under a guarantee or otherarrangement. The debt is excluded from all of our credit agreements and othercovenant calculations, and therefore has no impact on the Group's ability toborrow.Group non recourse debt reduced by £1.7m to £27.3m, as a result of £3.5mpayments made in line with the debt repayment schedule on debt relating to ourDriver Examination Services contract in Canada, offset by £1.9m increase innon-recourse debt due to exchange movements.
Pensions
The Group operates and is a member of a number of defined benefit schemes and defined contribution schemes.
At 30 June 2010, the net retirement benefit liability included in the balancesheet arising from our defined benefit pension scheme obligations was £319.6m(31 December 2009: £294.2m), on a pension scheme asset base of £1.4bn.
Figure 5: Defined benefit pension schemes
At 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 £m £m Group schemes - non contract (124.5) (120.0) specific Contract specific schemes: - reimbursable (165.3) (144.3)
- not certain to be reimbursable (29.8) (29.9)
Net retirement benefit liabilities (319.6) (294.2)
Intangible assets arising from 10.1 11.4 rights to operate franchises and contracts Reimbursable rights debtor 165.3 144.3 Deferred tax assets 26.9 24.9
Net balance sheet liabilities (117.3) (113.6)
Serco has three main types of scheme which are accounted for as defined benefitpension schemes. Each type has its own accounting treatment under InternationalFinancial Reporting Standards. These are:
Non contract specific - schemes which do not relate to specific contracts or franchises. For these schemes, we charge the actuarial gain or loss for the year to the consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (the SOCI);
Reimbursable - schemes where we have a right of full cost reimbursement and therefore include both the pension scheme deficit and offsetting reimbursable rights debtor in the balance sheet; and
Not certain to be reimbursable - schemes relating to specific contracts orfranchises, where the deficit will pass back to the customer or on to the nextcontractor at the end of the contract. For these schemes, we charge theactuarial gain or loss on our share of the deficit for the year to the SOCI,recognise a recoverable intangible asset on the balance sheet at the start ofthe contract or franchise and amortise the intangible asset to the incomestatement over the contract or franchise life.Serco has limited commercial risk in relation to the contract specific schemes,due to either the right of cost reimbursement or because the deficit will, ingeneral, pass back to the customer or on to the next contractor at the end ofthe contract. Among our non contract specific schemes, the largest is the SercoPension and Life Assurance Scheme (SPLAS). At 30 June 2010, SPLAS had a deficitincluded in our balance sheet of £57.5m (31 December 2009: £54.7m). Thisdeficit, which is calculated under IAS 19 using market rates at the period end,reflects the effect of the market conditions on investment returns in the yearand the net impact of a decrease in inflation assumptions offset by a decreasein the applicable discount rate.We have now completed the regular triennial review of SPLAS. The actuarialdeficit of SPLAS used in the review and calculated using prudent long-termvaluation assumptions, was £141m at 6 April 2009. Following this review, theGroup has agreed with the Trustees to make a cash contribution of £60m to thescheme, with £20m to be paid in December 2010 and £40m in January 2011. Wecontinue to review the level of benefits and contributions under the scheme inthe light of our business needs and changes to pension legislation.
Figure 6 shows the sensitivity of the liabilities of our pension schemes to changes in discount rates and to adjustments in the actuarial assumptions for the rate of inflation, members' salary increases and life expectancies.
Figure 6: Pension assumption sensitivities
Assumption Change in Change in assumption liability Discount rate 5.4% +0.5% (9)% (0.5)% +9% Price inflation 3.0% +0.5% +8% (0.5)% (7)% Salary 3.4% +0.5% +2% (0.5)% (2)% Longevity 20.8-25.0* Increase by one year +3%
*Post retirement mortality range for male and female, current and future pensioners.
6. Treasury
The Group's principal debt finance comprises a £400m bank revolving creditfacility which matures in September 2013 together with an amortising term loanand bilateral facility totalling US Dollar 550m to fund the acquisition of SI.The term loan and bilateral facility are repayable between September 2010 andSeptember 2013. There is a scheduled repayment of US Dollar 92m due inSeptember 2010; thereafter the next repayment on these facilities is due inSeptember 2011. The facilities, which are syndicated with a group of 13 banks,are unsecured. As at 30 June 2010, £422m had been drawn down on these combinedfacilities (31 December 2009: £458m). Excluding the effects of currency on theUS Dollar denominated debt, the equivalent draw down would have been £390m.
Serco has loan notes in issue under a private placement of £117m, which will be repaid evenly from 2011 to 2015.
7. Going concern
The directors have considered the principal risks and uncertainties affectingthe Group and its performance in 2010, which were discussed in full on pages54-57 of the Group's published accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009.Whilst the current economic environment remains uncertain, the broad base ofour contract portfolio and with over 90% of our customers being governmentbodies, the Group is well placed to manage its business risks (as discussed inthe section `Principal Risks and Uncertainties' included in the Annual Reportand Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009) successfully and has adequateresources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.The Group's revenues are largely derived from long-term contracts withgovernments which, historically, have been largely unaffected by changes in thegeneral economy. The contract portfolio is spread across a number of markets,sectors and geographies such that a downturn in any one segment is highlyunlikely to affect the Group as a whole. In addition, with an order book of £16.7bn and high visibility of future revenue streams (98% in 2010; 84% in 2011and 71% in 2012), the Group is well placed to manage its business risks despitethe current uncertain economic climate.In September 2008, the Group secured its principal financing by entering into afive-year revolving credit facility and amortising term facility. Includingsome bilateral facilities and US private placements, the Group has in excess of£880m of committed credit facilities. As at 30 June 2010, the headroom on thefacilities was approximately £350m. The first scheduled repayment on thesefacilities falls due in September 2010 for an amount of US Dollar 92m. TheGroup fully expects to meet this repayment through internally generated cashflows. Based on the information set out above, the Directors believe that it isappropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis
Responsibility statement
We confirm to the best of our knowledge:
the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 `Interim Financial Reporting';
the interim management report includes a fair review of the informationrequired by DTR 4.2.7R (indication of the important events during the first sixmonths and description of principal risks and uncertainties for the remainingsix months of the year); and
the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R (disclosure of related parties' transactions and changes therein).
By order of the Board,Chris Hyman Andrew JennerChief Executive Finance Director24 August 2010
INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO SERCO GROUP PLC
We have been engaged by the company to review the condensed set of financialstatements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June2010 which comprises the condensed consolidated income statement, the condensedconsolidated statement of comprehensive income, the condensed consolidatedstatement of changes in equity, the condensed consolidated balance sheet, thecondensed consolidated cash flow statement and related notes 1 to 13. We haveread the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report andconsidered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or materialinconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financialstatements.This report is made solely to the company in accordance with InternationalStandard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 `Review of InterimInformation Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity' issued by theAuditing Practices Board. Our work has been undertaken so that we might stateto the company those matters we are required to state to them in an independentreview report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law,we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company, forour review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.
Directors' responsibilities
The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority.
As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the Group areprepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs)as adopted by the European Union. The condensed set of financial statementsincluded in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordancewith International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting', asadopted by the European Union.
Our responsibility
Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the condensedset of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on ourreview.Scope of Review
We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on ReviewEngagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 "Review of Interim Financial InformationPerformed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the AuditingPractices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financialinformation consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible forfinancial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other reviewprocedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted inaccordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) andconsequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become awareof all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly,we do not express an audit opinion.
Conclusion
Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us tobelieve that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearlyfinancial report for the six months ended 30 June 2010 is not prepared, in allmaterial respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 asadopted by the European Union and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of theUnited Kingdom's Financial Services Authority.Deloitte LLPChartered Accountants and Statutory AuditorsLondon, United Kingdom24 August 2010
Condensed consolidated income statement
For the six months ended 30 June 2010
Note 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Continuing operations Revenue 3 2,140.3 1,949.8 3,970.0 Cost of sales (1,824.2) (1,664.1) (3,383.2) Gross profit 316.1 285.7 586.8 Administrative expenses (191.7) (175.7) (357.1)
Other expenses - amortisation of (8.8) (8.9) (17.6) intangibles arising on
acquisition
Total administrative expenses (200.5) (184.6) (374.7)
Operating profit 3 115.6 101.1 212.1 Investment revenue 2 1.6 1.3 2.7 Finance costs 2 (15.8) (19.0) (37.7) Profit before tax 101.4 83.4 177.1 Tax (27.0) (22.0) (46.9) Profit for the period 74.4 61.4 130.2 Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent 74.3 61.4 130.2
Minority interest 0.1 - - Earnings per share (EPS) Basic EPS 5 15.13p 12.62p 26.76p Diluted EPS 5 14.83p 12.46p 26.45p
Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the six months ended 30 June 2010
Note 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Profit for the period 74.4 61.4 130.2
Other comprehensive income for the
period:
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit 13 (58.5) (148.6) (259.0)
pension schemes1
Actuarial gain on reimbursable rights1 13 43.5 60.8 117.1
Net exchange gain/(loss) on 3.2 (28.5) (9.9)
translation of foreign operations2 Fair value gain/(loss) on cash flow 1.7 (5.9) (6.3)
hedges during the period2
Tax credit on items taken directly to 4.4 23.2 45.2
equity3
Recycling of cumulative net hedging 0.2 0.1 0.2
reserve2
Total comprehensive income/(expense) 68.9 (37.5) 17.5
for the period Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 68.8 (37.5) 17.5 Minority interest 0.1 - -
Taken to Retirement benefit obligations reserve in condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity.
Taken to Hedging and translation reserve in condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity.
Of the tax credit, £1.9m (30 June 2009: £22.6m, 31 December 2009: £39.6m) wastaken to the Retirement benefit obligations reserve; a debit of £0.5m (30 June2009: credit of £1.6m, 31 December 2009: credit of £1.4m) was taken to theHedging and translation reserve; £3.0m (30 June 2009: debit of £1.0m, 31December 2009: credit of £4.2m) was taken to the Share based payment reserve.
Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the six months ended 30 June 2010
Share Share Capital Retained Retirement Share-based
Own Hedging and Total Minority
capital premium redemption earnings benefit payment
shares translation equity interest
account reserve obligations reserve reserve reserve reserve £m £m £m £m £m £m £m £m £m £m At 1 January 9.7 301.1 0.1 339.8 (47.7) 40.0 (19.7) 61.9 685.2 0.1 2009 (audited) Total - - - 61.4 (65.2) (1.0) - (32.7) (37.5) - comprehensive expense for the period Shares - 0.6 - - - (0.6) 2.4 - 2.4 - transferred to option holders on exercise of share options Dividends - - - (16.9) - - - - (16.9) - paid Expense in - - - - - 4.0 - - 4.0 - relation to share-based payment At 1 July 9.7 301.7 0.1 384.3 (112.9) 42.4 (17.3) 29.2 637.2 0.1 2009 (unaudited) Total - - - 68.8 (37.1) 5.2 - 18.1 55.0 - comprehensive income for the period Shares 0.1 2.4 - - - (1.2) 6.7 - 8.0 - transferred to option holders on exercise of share options Dividends - - - (9.0) - - - - (9.0) - paid Expense in - - - - - 3.2 - - 3.2 - relation to share-based payment Purchase of - - - - - - (2.4) - (2.4) - own shares for employee benefit trust (ESOP) At 1 January 9.8 304.1 0.1 444.1 (150.0) 49.6 (13.0) 47.3 692.0 0.1 2010 (audited) Total - - - 74.3 (13.1) 3.0 - 4.6 68.8 0.1 comprehensive income for the period Shares - 1.4 - - - (2.7) 7.7 - 6.4 - transferred to option holders on exercise of share options Dividends - - - (21.6) - - - - (21.6) (0.1) paid Expense in - - - - - 4.5 - - 4.5 - relation to share-based payment Purchase of - - - - - - (23.0) - (23.0) - own shares for employee benefit trust (ESOP) At 30 June 9.8 305.5 0.1 496.8 (163.1) 54.4 (28.3) 51.9 727.1 0.1 2010 (unaudited)
Condensed consolidated balance sheet
At 30 June 2010 Note At 30 June Restated At 31 2010 at 30 June December 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Non-current assets Goodwill 925.7 900.3 898.4 Other intangible assets 146.4 171.9 164.4
Property, plant and equipment 129.9 117.5 129.2
Trade and other receivables 206.5 141.1 181.4 Deferred tax assets 50.2 42.7 48.0
Derivative financial instruments 3.6 3.9 2.5
1,462.3 1,377.4 1,423.9 Current assets Inventories 62.7 54.4 65.9 Trade and other receivables 804.3 714.2 720.9 Cash and cash equivalents 313.8 237.2 319.4
Derivative financial instruments 4.1 0.8 1.4
1,184.9 1,006.6 1,107.6 Total assets 2,647.2 2,384.0 2,531.5 Current liabilities Trade and other payables (871.0) (746.8) (771.6) Current tax liabilities (19.0) (20.7) (14.1)
Obligations under finance leases (7.3) (5.1) (6.0)
Loans (105.9) (42.2) (110.7)
Derivative financial instruments (5.6) (8.6) (5.5)
(1,008.8) (823.4) (907.9) Non-current liabilities Trade and other payables (21.8) (26.2) (23.1)
Obligations under finance leases (19.1) (17.1) (18.0)
Loans (498.3) (605.8) (543.2)
Derivative financial instruments (2.8) (2.4) (1.7) Retirement benefit obligations 13 (319.6) (210.0) (294.2) Provisions 9 (41.0) (40.5) (42.3) Deferred tax liabilities (8.6) (21.3) (9.0) (911.2) (923.3) (931.5) Total liabilities (1,920.0) (1,746.7) (1,839.4) Net assets 727.2 637.3 692.1 Equity Share capital 9.8 9.7 9.8 Share premium account 305.5 301.7 304.1 Capital redemption reserve 0.1 0.1 0.1 Retained earnings 496.8 384.3 444.1 Retirement benefit obligations reserve (163.1) (112.9) (150.0) Share-based payment reserve 54.4 42.4 49.6 Own shares reserve (28.3) (17.3) (13.0)
Hedging and translation reserve 51.9 29.2 47.3 Equity attributable to equity holders 727.1 637.2 692.0
of the parent Minority interest 0.1 0.1 0.1 Total equity 727.2 637.3 692.1
Condensed consolidated cash flow statement
For the six months ended 30 June 2010
Note 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m
Net cash inflow from operating 7 150.8 104.2 235.1
activities Investing activities Interest received 1.1 1.2 2.1
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiary - - 0.6
and business undertakings
Proceeds from disposal of property, 1.7 3.4 3.7
plant and equipment
Proceeds on disposal of intangible 7.2 - -
assets
Acquisition of subsidiaries and 6 (1.4) (14.7) (14.7) business undertakings, net of cash
acquired
Purchase of other intangible assets (7.3) (8.1) (17.3) Purchase of property, plant and (14.9) (17.4) (38.9)
equipment
Net cash outflow from investing (13.6) (35.6) (64.5)
activities Financing activities Interest paid (13.4) (19.1) (33.6) Dividends paid (21.6) (16.9) (25.9) Repayment of loans (91.5) (59.5) (66.8)
Repayment of non recourse loans (3.5) (3.6) (6.5)
New loan advances 6.3 30.8 33.8
Purchase of own shares for employee (23.0) - (2.4)
benefit (ESOP)
Capital element of finance lease (5.2) (3.1) (5.7)
repayments
Proceeds from issue of share capital 6.4 2.4 10.4 Net cash outflow from financing (145.5) (69.0) (96.7)
activities
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and (8.3) (0.4) 73.9
cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 319.4 250.8 250.8
of period Net exchange gain/(loss) 2.7 (13.2) (5.3)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of 313.8 237.2 319.4
period
Notes to the Condensed set of financial statements
For the six months ended 30 June 2010
General information, going concern and accounting policies
The information for the year ended 31 December 2009 does not constitutestatutory accounts as defined in section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. A copyof the statutory accounts for that year has been delivered to the Registrar ofCompanies. The auditors' report on those accounts was not qualified and did notcontain statements made under s498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.The annual financial statements of Serco Group plc are prepared in accordancewith IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The condensed set of financialstatements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared inaccordance with International Accounting Standard 34 `Interim FinancialReporting', as adopted by the European Union.The Group's business activities, together with the factors likely to affect itsfuture development, performance and position are set out in the OperatingReview on pages 8 to 26. The Finance Review includes a summary of the Group'sfinancial position, its cash flows and borrowing facilities.The Group's revenues are largely derived from long-term contracts withgovernments which, historically, have been largely unaffected by changes in thegeneral economy. The contract portfolio is spread across a number of markets,sectors and geographies such that a downturn in any one segment is highlyunlikely to affect the Group as a whole. In addition, with an order book of £16.7bn and high visibility of future revenue streams, the Group is well placedto manage its business risks despite the current economic climate.
During 2008, the Group secured its principal financing by entering into a five-year revolving credit facility and amortising term facility. Including some bilateral facilities and US private placements, the Group has committed funding in excess of £880m Sterling equivalent.
After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that theGroup has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for theforeseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basisin preparing the half-yearly condensed financial statements.The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation arefollowed in the condensed set of financial statements as applied in the Group'slatest annual audited financial statements except for as described below. Thecondensed set of financial statements includes the results of subsidiaries andjoint ventures. Joint ventures have been proportionally consolidated.
Changes in accounting policy
In the current financial year, the Group has adopted International FinancialReporting Standard 3 `Business Combinations' (revised 2008) and InternationalAccounting Standard 27 `Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements'(revised 2008).The most significant changes to the Group's previous accounting policies forbusiness combinations are: acquisition related costs are included inadministrative expenses as they are incurred rather than capitalised; and anychanges to the cost of an acquisition, including contingent consideration,resulting from an event after the date of acquisition are recognised in profitor loss rather than as an adjustment to goodwill.Any adjustments to contingent consideration of acquisitions made prior to 1January 2010 which result in an adjustment to goodwill continue to be accountedfor under IFRS 3(2004) and IAS 27(2005), for which the accounting policies canbe found in the Annual Review and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009.
Changes in segmental information
As described in the Annual Review and Accounts for the year ended 31 December2009, from the start of 2010 the Group repositioned its business to maximisethe focus on growth and opportunities and to ensure that it maintains aflexible and devolved organisation which is responsive to its customers' needs.From 1 January 2010, we have reorganised our business into five new divisions,focused on the Group's principal markets: Civil Government; Local Governmentand Commercial; Defence, Science and Nuclear; Americas; and AMEAA. The keychanges arising from our previous segments are as follows:Civil Government, our UK and Europe Healthcare, Home Affairs, and Welfare toWork business will be included in the new Civil Government division; our UK andEurope Consulting, Education, Integrated Services and IT & BPO businesses willbe part of the new Local Government and Commercial division; and our CivilGovernment businesses in North America and the rest of the world will beallocated to our Americas and AMEAA divisions respectively;
Defence transfers to Defence, Science and Nuclear, with the exception of businesses operating in the geographical regions of Americas and AMEAA;
Transport has been transferred to Civil Government with the exception of businesses operating in the geographical regions of Americas and AMEAA;
Science transfers to Defence, Science and Nuclear.
As a consequence of these changes, previously published financial information has been restated.
Restatement of comparative information
In the Annual Review and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009, theConsolidated Balance Sheet at 31 December 2008 was restated to reflect thefinalisation of provisional fair value adjustments relating to the acquisitionsof SI International, Inc and Amtech Private Limited (`Infovision'). Thefinalisation of these adjustments also necessitates the restatement of theBalance Sheet as at 30 June 2009. Further details of the balances impacted arecontained within the Annual Review and Accounts for the year ended 31 December2009, and not replicated in this report.
Investment revenue and finance costs
6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Investment revenue 1.6 1.3 2.7
Interest payable on non recourse loans (0.8) (0.8) (1.6) Interest payable on other loans (11.3) (14.4) (26.8) Interest payable on obligations under (1.0) (0.7) (1.8)
finance leases
Movement in discount on provisions and (0.6) - (1.2)
deferred consideration
Net interest payable on retirement benefit (2.1) (3.1) (6.3)
obligations Finance costs (15.8) (19.0) (37.7) 3. Segmental informationInformation reported to the Chief Executive and Executive Board for thepurposes of resource allocation and assessment of segment performance focuseson the categories of customer identified using their respective markets.Details of the different products and services provided to each operatingsegment are included in the Operating Review section of this report. From 1January 2010, the Group has reapportioned its business into five new divisions.The Group's reportable operating segments under IFRS 8 are:
Restatement of prior period segmental information
Reportable Segments Operating Segments
Civil Government UK and Europe civil government and transport;
Defence, Science and Nuclear UK and Europe defence and science-based businesses;
Local Government and Commercial UK and Europe IT and BPO, integrated services, education and commercial businesses;
Americas US defence, intelligence and federal civil government agencies operations, and Canadian operations; and
AMEAA Africa, Middle East, Asia (including Hong Kong and India) and Australasia.
The following is an analysis of the Group's revenue and results by each newoperating segment in the six months ended 30 June 2010. The accounting policiesof the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary ofthe significant accounting policies which are described in the Group's latestannual review and accounts.Reportable segments6 months to 30 June Civil Defence, Local Americas AMEAA Total 2010 (unaudited) Government Science Government and and Nuclear Commercial £m £m £m £m £m £m Revenue External sales 573.9 460.9 433.1 454.7 217.7 2,140.3 Result Segment result 34.4 39.1 25.2 31.1 14.4 144.2 Corporate expenses (28.6) Operating profit 115.6 Investment revenue 1.6 Finance costs (15.8) Profit before tax 101.4 Tax (27.0) Profit after tax 74.4 Restated Civil Defence, Local Americas AMEAA Total Government Science Government 6 months to 30 June and and 2009 (unaudited) Nuclear Commercial £m £m £m £m £m £m Revenue External sales 505.0 445.1 394.4 446.9 158.4 1,949.8 Result Segment result 22.8 37.1 17.7 30.9 11.9 120.4 Corporate expenses (19.3) Operating profit 101.1 Investment revenue 1.3 Finance costs (19.0) Profit before tax 83.4 Tax (22.0) Profit after tax 61.4
Segmental information (continued)
Restated Civil Defence, Local Americas AMEAA Total Government Science Government Year ended 31 and and December 2009 Nuclear Commercial (audited) £m £m £m £m £m £m Revenue External sales 1,026.3 921.2 809.2 872.6 340.7 3,970.0 Result Segment result 45.0 77.9 47.0 61.8 24.1 255.8 Corporate expenses (43.7) Operating profit 212.1 Investment revenue 2.7 Finance costs (37.7) Profit before tax 177.1 Tax (46.9) Profit after tax 130.2 Segement assets Restated Restated 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Civil Government 303.6 255.2 284.4
Defence, Science and Nuclear 443.6 400.5 447.4 Local Government and Commercial 559.3 541.5 538.7
Americas 721.5 648.0 661.2 AMEAA 222.4 164.2 197.2 Total segment assets 2,250.4 2,009.4 2,128.9 Unallocated assets 22.2 86.3 30.0 Consolidated segment assets 2,272.6 2,095.7 2,158.9
Segment assets exclude all derivative financial instruments, current and deferred taxation receivables and cash.
Segement liabilities Restated Restated 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Civil Government (275.8) (202.1) (242.2)
Defence, Science and Nuclear (381.2) (303.8) (340.6) Local Government and Commercial (234.5) (239.8) (207.8)
Americas (131.7) (114.1) (105.7) AMEAA (77.4) (49.0) (54.0) Total segment liabilities (1,100.6) (908.8) (950.3) Unallocated liabilities (111.8) (74.2) (138.6)
Consolidated segment liabilities (1,212.4) (983.0) (1,088.9)
Segment liabilities consist of all trade and other payables and retirement benefit obligations.
Geographical 6 months to 30 June Restated Restated analysis 2010 6 months to 30 June Year ended 2009 31 December 2009 Revenue Non-current Revenue Non-current
Revenue Non-current
assets assets assets (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) (audited) £m £m £m £m £m £m United Kingdom 1,337.2 747.2 1,244.0 691.9 2,541.9 734.9 United States 417.1 486.0 418.9 471.1 819.2 404.8 Other countries 386.0 175.3 286.9 167.8 608.9 233.7 Total 2,140.3 1,408.5 1,949.8 1,330.8 3,970.0 1,373.4 Non-current assets exclude derivative financial instruments and deferred taxassets.Dividends 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m
Amounts recognised as distributions to
equity holders in the period:
Final dividend for the year ended 31 21.6 - - December 2009 of 4.40p per share on 490.5
million ordinary shares
Final dividend for the year ended 31 - 16.9 16.9 December 2008 of 3.52p per share on 481.1
million ordinary shares
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 - - 9.0 December 2009 of 1.85p per share on 489.0
million ordinary shares 21.6 16.9 25.9
The proposed interim dividend for the year ending 31 December 2010 is 2.20p per ordinary share on 488.0 million shares (£10.7m) (30 June 2009: 1.85p per ordinary share on 489.0 million shares (£9.0m)).
The proposed interim dividend was approved by the Board on 24 August 2010 and has not been included as a liability as at 30 June 2010.
Earnings per share
Basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) have been calculated in accordance with IAS 33 `Earnings Per Share'. EPS is shown both before and after amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition to assist in the understanding of the underlying performance of the business.
The calculation of the basic and diluted EPS is based on the following data:Number of shares 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Millions Millions Millions
Weighted average number of ordinary shares 491.1 486.6 486.6
for the purpose of basic EPS
Effect of dilutive potential ordinary 9.9 6.2 5.6
shares: share options
Weighted average number of ordinary shares 501.0 492.8 492.2 for the purpose of diluted EPS
Earnings 6 months to 30 June 6 months to 30 June Year ended 2010 2009 31 December 2009 Earnings Per share Earnings Per share
Earnings Per share
amount amount
amount
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) (audited) £m Pence £m Pence £m Pence Earnings for the 74.3 15.13 61.4 12.62 130.2 26.76 purpose of basic EPS being net profit attributable to the equity holders of the parent Add back: Amortisation of 6.9 1.40 6.8 1.40 13.5 2.77 intangible assets arising on acquisition, net of tax £1.9m (30 June 2009: £2.1m, 31 December 2009: £ 4.1m) Adjusted earnings 81.2 16.53 68.2 14.02 143.7 29.53 before amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition, net of tax Earnings for the 74.3 15.13 61.4 12.62 130.2 26.76 purpose of basic EPS Effect of dilutive - (0.30) - (0.16) - (0.31) potential ordinary shares Diluted EPS 74.3 14.83 61.4 12.46 130.2 26.45 Acquisitions
On 17 February 2010, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital in RB Solutions Limited. Net assets acquired total £0.1m purchased for consideration of £1.5m of cash and £0.5m in deferred consideration paid on 17 August 2010.
The acquisition gives rise to £1.9m of goodwill relating to future opportunities in Local Government BPO. None of the goodwill recognised is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.
RB Solutions Limited is based in the UK and provides remote processing services to Local Government.
This transaction has been accounted for in accordance with IFRS 3 `Business Combinations' (2008). Costs of £0.3m have been expensed in relation to the acquisition and integration of RB Solutions Limited.
Due to the small size of the acquisition, full IFRS 3 disclosures have not been presented.
Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m
Operating profit for the period 115.6 101.1 212.1
Adjustments for: Share-based payment expense 4.5 4.0 7.2
Depreciation of property, plant and 19.8 17.8 34.4 equipment Amortisation of intangible assets 24.9 20.3 40.5 Loss on disposal of property, plant and 1.1 - 2.0 equipment Profit on disposal of intangible assets (1.5) - -
Impairment of goodwill 4.2 - - Movement in provisions (4.1) (0.7) (0.6)
Operating cash inflow before movements 164.5 142.5 295.6 in working capital Decrease/(increase) in inventories 4.8 (5.5) (15.1)
Increase in receivables (70.0) (16.9) (31.1)
Increase/(decrease) in payables 74.3 (1.7) 24.8
Cash generated by operations 173.6 118.4 274.2 Tax paid (22.8) (14.2) (39.1)
Net cash inflow from operating 150.8 104.2 235.1
activities Analysis of net debt At 30 June At 30 June At 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Cash and cash equivalents 313.8 237.2 319.4 Non recourse loans (27.3) (28.9) (29.0) Other loans (576.9) (619.1) (624.9)
Obligations under finance leases (26.4) (22.2) (24.0)
Total net debt (316.8) (433.0) (358.5) Provisions Employee Property Contract Other Total related £m £m £m £m £m At 1 January 2009 5.9 9.8 11.2 19.0 45.9 (audited) Charged to income 0.9 - - 0.9 1.8 statement Released to income - - (0.5) - (0.5) statement Utilised during the (0.3) (0.6) (0.3) (0.8) (2.0) period Exchange differences (0.3) (1.1) (0.9) (2.4) (4.7) At 30 June 2009 - 6.2 8.1 9.5 16.7 40.5 restated (unaudited) Charged to income 1.5 - 0.9 1.0 3.4 statement Utilised during the (0.3) (0.6) (0.4) (2.0) (3.3) period Unwinding of discount - 0.4 0.3 - 0.7 Exchange differences 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.0 At 31 December 2009 7.7 8.0 10.4 16.2 42.3 (audited) Charged to income 1.1 - 0.2 - 1.3 statement Released to income - (0.6) (0.9) (0.1) (1.6) statement Utilised during the (0.3) (0.5) (0.5) (2.5) (3.8) period Unwinding of discount - 0.2 0.1 - 0.3 Exchange differences 0.3 0.5 0.5 1.2 2.5 At 30 June 2010 8.8 7.6 9.8 14.8 41.0 (unaudited) 10. Joint venturesThe Group's interest in joint ventures is reported in the condensedconsolidated financial statements using the proportionate consolidation method.The effect of the Group's joint ventures on the condensed consolidated incomestatement is as follows: 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 31 30 June 2010 30 June 2009 December 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Revenue 407.5 378.1 786.0 Operating profit* 27.7 28.1 61.5 Profit before tax 28.6 28.4 62.0 Tax (8.1) (5.9) (14.9) Share of post-tax results of 20.5 22.5 47.1 joint ventures
* Operating profit is after allocating £0.7m of costs incurred by Group (30 June 2009: £1.4m, 31 December 2009: £2.8m) and £4.2m of goodwill impairment.
11. Related party transactions
Transactions between the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, which arerelated parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed inthis note. Transactions between the Group and its joint venture undertakingsare disclosed below, with the relevant portion being eliminated onconsolidation. 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 31 30 June 2010 30 June 2009 December 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m
Royalties and management fees 1.0 0.1 1.6
receivable Dividends receivable 26.0 19.4 46.3 27.0 19.5 47.9
The following receivable balances relating to the joint ventures were included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet:
At 30 June At 30 June At 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Current: Loans 0.1 1.4 0.6 Non-current: Loans 3.3 6.1 2.2 12. Share-based paymentsIn accordance with IFRS 2, a charge of £4.5m (30 June 2009: £4.0m, 31 December2009: £7.2m) relating to the fair value of share-based schemes granted since 7November 2002, has been charged to the income statement.
13. Defined benefit schemes
The Group operates defined benefit schemes for qualifying employees of its subsidiaries in the UK and Europe. In addition, the Group has interests in joint ventures, which operate defined benefit schemes for qualifying employees.
The assets of the funded plans are held independently of the Group's assets inseparate trustee administered funds. The Group's major plans are valued byindependent actuaries annually using the projected unit credit method. Ananalysis of the Group's net pension liability and related assets together withthe amounts included within the SOCI are presented in the tables below. At 30 June At 30 June At 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m Net pension liabilities: Group scheme - non contract (124.5) (73.8) (120.0) specific Contract schemes specific: Reimbursable (165.3) (110.5) (144.3)
Not certain to be reimbursable (29.8) (25.7) (29.9)
Net pension liability (319.6) (210.0) (294.2) Related assets:
Intangible assets arising from 10.1 12.9 11.4
rights to operate franchises and contracts Reimbursable rights debtor 165.3 110.5 144.3 175.4 123.4 155.7 At 30 June At 30 June At 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £m £m £m
Actual return on scheme assets 37.9 (33.6) 141.7 Less: expected return on scheme (44.7) (34.3) (68.5)
assets (6.8) (67.9) 73.2 Other actuarial losses (51.7) (80.7) (332.2)
Actuarial losses recognised in (58.5) (148.6) (259.0) the SOCI Change in paragraph 58(b) limit (0.6) (2.4) 0.1 Change in franchise adjustment 18.1 27.3 39.3
Change in members' share 4.8 12.8 18.5
Movement in reimbursable rights 21.2 23.1 59.2 Actuarial gains on reimbursable 43.5 60.8 117.1 rights Total pension cost recognised in (15.0) (87.8) (141.9) the SOCI
The net pension liability at 30 June 2010 has been calculated on a year to date basis. The main assumptions adopted in valuing the schemes are as follows.
At 30 June At 30 June At 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) % % % Rate of salary increases 3.40 2.75-3.70 3.70
Rate of increase in pensions in 3.00 3.20 3.30
payment Rate of increase in deferred 3.00 3.20 3.30 pensions Inflation assumption 3.00 3.20 3.30 Discount rate 5.40 6.40 5.80
13. Defined benefit schemes (continued)
At 30 June At 30 June At 31 December 2010 2009 2009 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Years Years Years Post retirement mortality:
Current pensioners at 65 - male 20.8 20.3 20.3
Current pensioners at 65 - 23.3 23.2 23.2 female
Future pensioners at 65 - male 22.8 21.6 21.6
Future pensioners at 65 - 25.0 24.4 24.4 female
vendorRelated Shares:
Serco