16th Apr 2010 07:00
Aggreko plc
INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT
Aggreko plc, the world leader in the supply of temporary power and temperature control, is today issuing its Interim Management Statement covering the period from 1 January 2010 to date.
Trading
The Group has traded in line with our expectations in the three months to 31 March 2010. Revenues grew by 5% on a headline basis, and by 8% in constant currency and excluding pass-through fuel.
International Power Projects revenues grew by 8% excluding pass-through fuel; margins remained very strong. Order intake hit a new record in the first quarter with 18 new projects contracted, representing over 440 MW of new capacity. Average MW on rent in the quarter grew by about 5% year-on-year; the slower growth was caused by the timing of on-hires and off-hires during the quarter, and we expect the growth-rate of capacity on rent to accelerate markedly during the second quarter as recent project wins are commissioned.
Local business revenues in constant currency grew by 8%, helped by revenues from the Vancouver Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup; on an underlying basis revenues fell 9%. Volumes on rent remained robust; average MW of power on rent in the quarter was about 7% up on the prior year, and we have begun to see quarter-on-quarter rate increases in some areas. In constant currency Local business revenues grew by 21% in North America and by 11% in Aggreko International; they fell by 4% in Europe & Middle East. On an underlying basis, excluding the Vancouver Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, underlying Local business revenues fell by 17% in North America and by 5% in Aggreko International.
Financial position
Net debt at £163 million has decreased by £12 million in the three months to 31 March 2010 and was £164 million lower than at 31 March 2009. With facilities of £467 million we have ample headroom to finance the needs of the business.
Outlook
In the light of the strong order intake in International Power Projects, we now expect fleet capital expenditure to be around £220 million, which is £20 million higher than previous guidance. However, in light of the fact that this additional fleet is unlikely to be earning revenue until well into the second half, our expectations for trading for the year as a whole remain broadly unchanged from those set out six weeks ago at the time of our Preliminary Results announcement.
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Enquiries to:
Rupert Soames / Angus Cockburn
Aggreko plc
Tel. 0141 225 5900
Neil Bennett / George Hudson
Maitland
Tel: 020 7379 5151
Related Shares:
AGK.L