Conduit Hldg Regulatory News (CRE)

24 Jun 2008 07:10



24 June 2008

Creston plc

Unaudited Preliminary Financial Results for the Year Ended 31 March 2008

Creston plc (LSE: CRE), the insight and communications group, today announces its preliminary financial results for the year ended 31 March 2008. 

Highlights

Excellent revenue growth of 16%  and 8% on a like for like basis

Headline PBIT growth of 9% and 2% on a like for like basis

Strong growth in online and digital revenues to 19% of Group revenues (2007: 15%)

Significant investment in new initiatives, including online research panels, extra headcount in digital departments and new corporate PR and international healthcare PR operations

Significant improvement in cash with net cash inflow from operating activities up 224% (£12.3 million) and cash conversion to Headline EBITDA of 102% (2007: 55%)

Net debt reduced by 18% to £17.8 million (£49 million including deferred consideration of £31.6 million)

The ratio of net debt to Headline EBITDA improved from 1.4 to 1.0. New banking facility ensures significant headroom settling all future deferred consideration

Net new business of £9m includes the wins of AstraZeneca, Barclaycard, Britvic, Capital One, Gordons Gin, GSK, Heinz, Homeform, Merlin Entertainments (Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park), Nissan Infiniti, Royal Mail and Twinings.

Financial Results

* Profit before Interest and Tax (PBIT) is defined as Profit before finance income, finance costs, income from financial assets and taxation. It has been restated to reflect the accounting treatment of deemed remuneration as described in Note 2.

** A reconciliation between Headline and Reported results is presented in note 4. 

Commenting on today's announcement, Don Elgie, Group Chief Executive, said:

 "The Board is pleased to announce another year of excellent financial and commercial results. Our strong new business record underpins the like-for-like revenue growth of 8 per cent and demonstrates our continued ability to outperform the UK marketing services sector.

In the current economic environment, we are focused on delivering exceptional results to our clients. 2008 has been a year of consolidation, investment and strategic evolution and we believe our diversified model and recent initiatives give a strong platform to continue our record of growth in 2009."

A meeting for analysts will be held today at 9.30 am at Threadneedles Hotel, 5 Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AY. Please contact Jennifer Kelly at Hogarth on telephone: 020 7357 9477 for details.

For further information, please contact:

Creston plc 020 7930 9757

Don Elgie, Chief Executive

Barrie Brien, COO & CFO

www.creston.com

Hogarth Partnership Limited 020 7357 9477

Chris Matthews

Sarah Macleod

  Chairman and Chief Executive Statement

Group Highlights

2008 has seen Creston produce another set of record results. Since our inception as a marketing services group in 2001 Creston has consistently delivered growth in revenue and PBIT. In 2008 we continued this record with revenue growth of 16 per cent and like-for-like revenue growth of 8 per cent, driven by net new business wins of £9 million from a range of blue chip clients. Since 2002 we have produced a compound annual revenue growth rate of 69 per cent. Clearly a large portion of this has been driven by acquisitive growth, but we pride ourselves on our ability to generate like-for-like growth that exceeds the market.

Whilst the revenue growth demonstrates our ability to attract and retain clients, we must ensure that this converts to profit. In 2008 we had a Headline PBIT margin of 19 per cent (our second highest margin achieved to date), which we believe significantly exceeds the industry average. Not only are we able to increase our market share through delivering exceptional results to our clients, we are able to convert this into increased profit for our shareholders through an efficiently managed business.

Since our companies are sharing skill sets to improve their client offering more than ever before and our resultant new business pipeline remains strong, we believe Creston, despite the economic climate, is in a strong position heading into 2009. 

Online and Digital

As clients' spend is switching from traditional to new digital channels, Creston has responded to this challenge by investing in new technologies, the training of employees, the recruitment of staff to fill skills gaps and the development of a group-wide integrated digital strategy. Where the Group does not possess certain capabilities, in the areas of search optimisation and digital healthcare, for example, we have formed strategic alliances to complete our offering to clients. This strategy has borne significant fruit with a large proportion of Creston's growth in 2008 coming from digital and online, which has grown by 43 per cent and accounts for 19 per cent of Group revenue.

However, this growth came at a cost in our last financial year. Our agencies incurred substantial freelance and recruitment fees to service the growing client demand. We completed a significant recruitment drive, especially in DLKW and TMW, and are now well placed to improve our profit conversion from the digital revenue growth.

Group revenue from digital and online activities now exceeds £15 million - this ranks Creston ahead of many of the UK's leading specialist digital agencies. Complementing our growing digital revenue, we have received industry awards for the work performed by newvista research, digitaltmw, DLKW and TRA. We have an excellent digital platform and reputation, and this will help continue to develop and drive the future growth of the Group.

New Business

Creston enjoyed another excellent year of new business wins during 2008. Net new business wins were £9 million and came from a range of new clients and new business from our existing clients, for example AstraZeneca, Barclaycard, Britvic, Capital One, Gordons Gin, GSK, Heinz, Homeform, Merlin Entertainments (Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park), Nissan Infiniti, Royal Mail and Twinings. In 2007 our top 20 clients accounted for 57 per cent of Group revenue - this decreased to 52 per cent in 2008 as we added new clients to the portfolio.

The 2009 financial year has started strongly with a host of impressive new business wins, such as Amazon (PR), Lipton, Berry Bros (Direct Marketing) and Daily Mirror, House of Fraser, Insignia and General Motors (Advertising).

We believe that our agencies offer their clients an exceptional return on their marketing investment, and the market leading position of many of our agencies suggests that we will consistently win new business - during 2008 many of our agencies had a pitch to win ratio in excess of 50 per cent.

Group Strategy

Our Partners' Board has recently identified four areas where they feel Creston has the opportunity to develop its cross group capabilities in order to deliver superior client solutions and create substantial growth and differentiation . These 4 pillars of growth are:-

Insight & Intelligence - Creston already provides clients with exceptional market research data and analysis, however, by developing this core ability with our communications' insight and planning capabilities the Group will be able to act as advisors to its clients rather than purely as suppliers.

Digital - We have achieved significant growth in this area and we aim to stay ahead of our competition. Our strategy is to crystallise and share best practice throughout the Group in order to drive cutting edge digital delivery and maximise profitability. Our digital forum will be the place where best practice and innovation is shared.

Healthcare - we are best described as "a family of healthcare communications experts"- the current synergistic relationship that already exists between our companies is being complemented by the services of other Creston group companies, for example research, digital and CRM, to put Creston's healthcare offering ahead of its competitors.

Group - This pillar involves working with the directors of the Creston operating companies in order to identify individuals, practice areas, products/service and geographic priorities that are deemed to be strategic priorities in order to populate a compelling group or "integrated" offer. By approaching clients as a group rather than as silos, the Group is able to offer clients a full service insight and communication solution to their marketing needs.

The Partners' board is working together to develop the above initiatives, whilst also identifying and introducing new initiatives within their existing operating companies in order to help drive growth.

International Development

Although all of our companies are UK based, the proportion of our turnover and revenue generated internationally has grown to 20 per cent (2007: 18 per cent) and 17 per cent (2007: 14 per cent) respectively, due to the growth of our international client base. This continued expansion has been driven by a number of organic developments within our existing UK based agencies and further complemented by a number of new affiliations agreed with strategic partners across the US and Europe, namely ICM joining the WIN network and RDC joining the Indigenus network. As clients are looking more and more to the micro networks for their insight and communication needs, we feel we are well positioned to exploit future growth opportunities internationally.

Net Debt and Settlement of Earn Outs

At 31 March 2008, 55% of the Group's Headline PBIT was under earnout arrangements. To give an example, on average, for every £1 decline in PBIT from these companies, over £2 will be reduced from the earnout liability at 31 March 2009. This serves as an effective "hedge" against shortfalls in PBIT arising in the event of a downturn in UK marketing services.

In 2008 we generated Headline EBITDA of £17.5 million (2007: £15.9 million) and free cash flow, after finance costs, taxation and capital expenditure of £10.6 million (2007: £2 million). Our total net debt plus contingent liability of deferred consideration of £49.4 million will be settled with free cash flow, although the Group has the option to settle up to £8.3 million of these debts by the issue of equity. Therefore, the total net debt requiring cash settlement is £41.1 million, which represents 4 years of free cash flow (based on the 2008 results). The Group is also pleased to announce a new banking facility of £40 million which amortises over 4 years to 31 March 2012.

The Group's ratio of total net debt to Headline EBITDA is 2.8 which reduces to 2.3 after eliminating debt which may be settled by equity. This is well within the Group's banking covenants and is not excessive when compared to our peer group.

In March 2008 both CML and DLKW completed their earn-outs and senior management have committed to long term incentive schemes with the Group.

Outlook

Despite the current pessimism amongst economic commentators we are yet to feel any tangible effects. The tell tale signs of cut backs and delayed expenditure have yet to have a material impact at Group level, indeed in the last quarter of the year we saw revenue increase 6 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

Given Creston's record of outperforming the market and with the Group being comprised of outstanding experienced practitioners, who have excellent track records of growing their companies in tough times, we are confident that the Group is well positioned for an economic downturn.

However, we are not being complacent. We have already been reducing costs and there are opportunities for further cost reductions which are being explored. To conclude, nobody has a crystal ball with regard to future economic performance but we believe Creston is structured to weather the economic uncertainties that may face us.

David Marshall Don Elgie

Chairman Chief Executive Officer

  Financial Review

Financial Highlights

In 2008 Creston's solid commercial performance delivered another set of record results. Revenue increased by 16 per cent to £80.5 million (2007: £69.7 million) and on a like-for-like basis by 8 per cent (2007: 5 per cent). This growth has been generated by a full year's consolidation of ICM, TMW and PAN plus the underlying growth achieved from a strong new business performance. Headline PBIT increased by 9 per cent to £15.2 million (2007: £14.0 million); and Headline Profit before Taxation (PBT) increased by 2 per cent to £13.5 million (2007: £13.3 million). Reported PBIT increased by 23 per cent to £12.7 million (2007: £10.3 million) and Reported PBT increased by 25 per cent to £9.6 million (2007: £7.7 million). In 2008 the investment in new ventures, increased headcount and freelance costs for digital services held back like-for-like headline PBIT growth to 2 per cent (2007: 7 per cent) pre head office.

Key Performance Indicators

The Group manages its operational performance through a number of key performance indicators (KPIs), and each of these remains strong compared to the industry average. Revenue per head increased by 3 per cent to £93,700 (2007: £90,600); Headline PBIT per head remained high at £17,800 (2007: £18,200); the Group achieved its second highest Headline PBIT margin at 19 per cent (2007: 20 per cent); and Headline DEPS fell by 2 per cent to 17.01 pence (2007: 17.35 pence). Reported DEPS grew by 3 per cent to 8.64 pence (2007: 8.41 pence).

Despite growth in the revenue KPIs, the Headline PBIT and EPS KPIs were affected by (a) the investment in the new ventures of Corporate PR, international Healthcare PR, merging the DLKW and Dialogue offering, TRA Asia, businessvista research; and (b) significant freelance costs and recruitment fees in response to the rapid growth in digital and online communications. The Board is confident that this investment in our client offering is essential and will best place the Group for continued growth.

Divisional Performance

Insight Division

The Insight Division accounts for 22 per cent of Group revenue and 29 per cent of Group Headline PBIT. It has delivered another year of growth with revenue increasing by 16 per cent to £17.9 million (2007: £15.4 million) and Headline PBIT increasing by 5 per cent to £5.3 million (2007: £5.0 million). Reported PBIT increased by 20 per cent to £5.2 million (2007: £4.3 million). 

The above growth was generated by a full year consolidation of ICM (acquired in May 2006) and like-for-like revenue growth of 9 per cent. This compares favourably with the industry, which has grown by 2 per cent (Source: MRS 2007 Q4). Revenue per head increased by 10 per cent to £115,300 (2007: £104,700), whilst Headline PBIT per head remained at £34,200 (2007: £34,300). The Headline PBIT margin remained high at 30 per cent (2007: 33 per cent), although some decrease has been caused by the continued investment in online research and the recruitment of a number of senior industry experts to help facilitate future growth within the division.

Communications Division

The Communications Division, which accounts for 78 per cent of Group revenue and 71 per cent of Headline PBIT, has delivered another year of growth with revenue increasing by 15 per cent to £62.6 million (2007: £54.3 million) and Headline PBIT increasing by 9 per cent to £13.1 million (2007: £12.0 million). Reported PBIT increased by 21 per cent to £11.7 million (2007: £9.7 million). This growth was generated by a full year consolidation of TMW and PAN (acquired in May 2006 and December 2006, respectively) and like-for-like revenue growth of 7 per cent. We believe this compares favourably to the industry. 

The key performance measures remain in the upper quartile for the industry averages and are largely in line with the prior year: Revenue per head increased by 2 per cent to £91,000 (2007: £88,500), whilst Headline PBIT per head decreased by 3 per cent to £19,000 (2007: £19,600). The Headline PBIT margin remains high at 21 per cent (2007: 22 per cent) - this small change is the result of the continued investment in digital infrastructure, the temporary reliance on freelance resource, especially in the high growth digital sector and the recruitment of a number of senior industry figures to lead the expansion into Consumer PR, Corporate PR and International healthcare PR.

Cash flow performance

In the current economic climate the importance of cash generation takes equal ranking alongside underlying operational performance. The Group delivered an increase in operating cash flow of 105 per cent to £17.8 million (2007: £8.7 million). The cash conversion ratio of Headline EBITDA to operating cash flow was 102 per cent (2007: 55 per cent), which is above Management's long term target of 95 per cent. Cash flow from operating activities per share increased by 207 per cent to 22.21 pence (2007: 7.24 pence).

The Group's cash from operating activities was used to settle consideration liabilities due to DLKW (£0.2 million), NBC (£0.3 million), RDC (£2.7 million), ICM (£0.4 million) and TMW (£0.3 million); bank repayments (£2.8 million); capital expenditure (£1.8 million) and dividends to shareholders (£1.5 million). The net cash flow for the Group was an inflow of £2.1 million (2007: outflow of £3.6 million), which increased the Group's cash balance to £3.8 million (2007: £1.6 million).

Banking

Despite the difficult market conditions, the Group is pleased to announce that it has converted post year-end a proportion of the fixed term debt to a revolving credit facility, whilst extending the availability of the facility until March 2012. In summary, this provides the Group with a £40 million facility, £40 million of which is amortising until 31 March 2011 and £25 million of which is available until 31 March 2012 and is a sign of confidence in the underlying performance of the Group. 

The amended facility provides the Group with significant flexibility to settle all future deferred consideration liabilities in cash and loan notes, whilst also providing the capacity for further corporate investments. The Group continues to maintain significant headroom in each of its banking covenants.

Balance sheet, net debt and gearing

Total equity rose during the year by £3.7 million to £82.9 million. After dividends, earnings contributed the majority of this increase.

Under the deferred consideration arrangements Creston has the right to settle certain deferred consideration liabilities with equity rather than loan notes and the amount of the deferred consideration is amended each year to the expected amount payable. It had been agreed that the final consideration due to DLKW would be settled fully in loan notes. Accordingly, £12.8 million twelve month loan notes were issued in April 2008 in full settlement of the deferred consideration. With the new banking facility in place, the Company has the ability and the headroom to settle a larger proportion of deferred consideration in loan notes rather than equity in order to maximise shareholder value.

Creston's gearing (net debt over equity) has fallen to 21 per cent (2007: 27 per cent) and the net debt of the Group at 31 March 2008 was £17.8 million (2007: £21.7 million). After including deferred consideration to be settled by a mixture of loan notes and shares of £29.5 million (2007: £34.2 million), the Group's total debt was reduced to £47.4 million (2007: £56.0 million). On this basis the Group's gearing fell to 57 per cent (2007: 71 per cent).

Headline EBITDA cover to net debt and total debt (excluding deferred consideration which can be settled via equity at the option of the Group) has also continued to fall and at the year end was 1.0 (2007: 1.4) and 2.3 (2007: 3.0) respectively. This important ratio was significantly below the banking covenants of 2.5 and 3.5 respectively.

Creston continued to maintain its policy of managing its net debt and gearing to prudent levels, whilst maximising returns for shareholders, in order to preserve its financial stability. The Board remains confident that between the strong cash generation performance and the agreed banking facility, the long term liabilities are manageable with headroom in all banking covenants.

Settlement of Future Earn-out Liabilities

The Group's Headline total net debt position of net debt plus deferred consideration as at March 2008 was as follows:-

The total net debt requiring cash settlement represents 3.9 years of Free Cash Flow. The Group's banking facilities expire in four years on 31 March 2012.

The ratio of total net debt to Headline EBITDA was 2.8 which reduces to 2.3 after eliminating earn out liability which may be settled by equity. This level of debt plus contingent liability is not unusual in an acquisitive group like Creston and was comparable to our peer group.

Net finance costs

Headline net finance costs were £1.7 million (2007: £1.0 million) reflecting the full year impact of the increased term loan to fund acquisitions in the previous year and an increase in the underlying interest rate. Headline net finance costs were covered 10 times (2007: 16 times) by Headline EBITDA. The reported net finance cost was £3.1 million (2007: £2.9 million), which includes notional finance costs of £1.4 million (2007: £1.9 million) relating to the future deferred consideration payments.

Effective tax rate

The Group's effective Headline tax rate was 30 per cent (2007: 31 per cent). The reported effective tax rate was 50 per cent (2007: 42 per cent).

Dividends

The Board recommend a final dividend for the year of 1.80 pence per share (2007: 1.76 pence per share), giving a total dividend for 2008 of 2.77 pence per share (2007: 2.64 pence per share). This continues the Group's progressive dividend policy and represents an increase in dividend per share of 5 per cent. At 31 March 2008 the Group's shares offered a dividend yield of 4.8 per cent (2007: 1.5 per cent) and a dividend cover of 3.3 (2007: 3.2).

Capital Expenditure

Capital expenditure for 2008 was £1.9 million (2007: £2.2 million) with the main categories of investment being investment in IT hardware and software and leasehold improvements.

By 1 April 2008 all Group companies were live on the Group-wide operating and accounting system platform, Maconomy. This is a major step in enhancing the corporate governance and internal control procedures.

Basis of Headline results

Creston has presented Headline results as the key profit performance indicators because they eliminate the non-recurring charges associated with acquisitions and, in 2008, the terminated Creston US operation and, therefore, provide a truer picture of the underlying ongoing operational performance of the Group year-on-year. The Headline results exclude the following items (as detailed in note 4 to the preliminary results):

Notional finance costs on future deferred consideration payments;

Future acquisition payments due to employees deemed as remuneration;

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets;

Deferred tax on the above items; and

Costs associated with the terminated Creston US office.

Summary

2008 was another year of healthy financial performance for the Group, driven by a solid commercial performance. With investment in the core businesses and the launch of a number of new ventures, the Group is well positioned to continue to leverage its diversified portfolio of operating companies in 2009. Despite the uncertain economic climate, the Group has demonstrated its continued ability to grow revenue in excess of the market and with an encouraging new business pipeline the Group is well positioned to continue its record of growth. Nevertheless, the Group is cautious of a marketing services downturn and is operating prudently in maximising its cash generation, reducing costs through greater synergies between operating companies and trimming operating costs. 

Barrie Brien

Chief Operating and Financial Officer

  Consolidated Income Statement

  Consolidated Balance Sheet

  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

  Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

  Notes:

1. Basis of Preparation

The unaudited results for the years ended 31 March 2008 and 2007 do not amount to the statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.

The information has been prepared in accordance with the EU-adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and IFRIC interpretations and with those parts of the Companies Act 1985 which are applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

The preliminary results were prepared in accordance with the prior year accounting policies with the exception of the following change:

Prior period adjustment

The treatment of share awards under long term incentive plans in respect of acquisitions has been amended in the year. Such awards were previously included as an acquisition cost and hence as part of goodwill, but are now recognised in the income statement (as deemed remuneration) over the related vesting period.

This change has resulted in a restatement of the comparative figures. The impact on the balance sheet at 1 April 2006 is to decrease goodwill by £1,122,000, decrease shares to be issued by £829,000, decrease deferred tax assets by £180,000 and decrease retained earnings by £473,000. The income statement charge for the year ended 31 March 2007 is £628,000. The corresponding tax effect for the year ended 31 March 2007 is £142,000. 

3. Segmental Analysis

The Group has changed its operational framework to a two divisional structure consisting of the Insight and Communications divisions. The latter division now encompasses those businesses previously included within the BRANDCOM, MARCOMS and PR divisions while the former incorporates the Group's research offerings and remains unchanged. 

Turnover, revenue, profit before finance income, finance costs, income from financial assets and taxation, capital expenditure, depreciation, amortisation, gross assets and gross liabilities attributable to Group activities are shown below.

Primary segmental analysis by business

Consolidated total assets and liabilities are split as:

The Head Office costs include £586,000 (2007: £nil) relating to the New York office which was closed in February 2008. There was no revenue attributable to this office as clients are currently serviced from the UK agencies or through US based affiliates.

Consolidated total assets and liabilities are split as:

Secondary segmental analysis by geography

The following table provides an analysis of the Group's turnover and revenue by geographical market, irrespective of the origin of the services.

All significant assets and liabilities are located within the UK.

4. Reconciliation of Headline profit to Reported profit

The Directors are of the opinion that as Creston is an acquisitive company certain accounting policies relating to deferredconsideration deemed as remuneration, notional finance costs on deferred consideration and amortisation of intangible assets have a material impact on the reported results and introduce volatility to the reported figures. In order to enable a better understanding of the underlying trading of the Group, Creston refer to Headline PBIT, PBT and PAT which eliminates these non-recurring non-cash charges from the reported figures plus, in 2008, the one-off costs of the US office closed during the year, as follows: 

Creston is unlike other marketing communications groups in its acquisition deal structure, in that it requires up to 25 per cent of any deferred consideration payable as part of an earn out, to be paid to the non-shareholders of the company. Creston believes this is an important driver in motivating employees beyond just the shareholders to grow the company and outperform the market. This contingent consideration paid by Creston to non-shareholder employees in respect of the deferred consideration is deemed as remuneration. The notional finance costs also relate to the deferred consideration. Both of these charges will cease once the relevant earn-outs have been settled. 

5. Earnings per share

DEPS has been calculated based on the following dilutive elements. An estimate of 91,663 options (2007: 573,674) remain outstanding that would have been issued based on the average share price (this includes SAYE, EMI and unapproved options). 

A reconciliation of the profit after tax on a reported basis and the Headline basis is given in note 4.

6. Dividends

A final dividend of 1.80 pence (2007: 1.76 pence) equivalent to £994,000 is to be paid on 8 September 2008 to shareholders on the register on 8 August 2008. In accordance with IFRS the final dividend will be recognised in the 2009 accounts, should it be approved by shareholders at the AGM.

7. Goodwill

The adjustments to consideration relate to a change in the estimated deferred consideration for agencies in the earn-out period under the terms of the relevant sale and purchase agreements. The fair value adjustments relate to the revision of estimated trade and other payables together with revisions to other acquisition costs directly related to the deferred consideration. 

At 31 March 2008 the following components of goodwill had been finalised as the earn out period had completed: MSL, CML and DLKW.

Components of goodwill at 31 March 2008 and 2007 are:

8. Reconciliation of profit before finance income, finance costs, income from financial assets and taxation to operating cash flow

9. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt

10. Analysis of net debt

No new finance leases were entered into during the year.

11. Availability of the Annual Report and Accounts

Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts will be sent to shareholders in due course and are available from the Company's

registered office at City Group P.L.C., 30 City Road, London, EC1Y 2AG and on the company's website www.creston.com