Billington Holdings Plc (LON:BILN), one of the UK’s leading structural steel and construction safety solutions specialists, has announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2022.
| Unaudited six months to 30 June 2022 | Unaudited six months to 30 June 2021 | Percentage Movement | |
| Revenue | £46.19m | £37.73m | 22.4% |
| Adjusted EBITDA* | £2.52m | £1.73m | 45.7% |
| EBITDA | £2.35m | £1.73m | 35.8% |
| Adjusted profit before tax* | £1.47m | £0.76m | 93.4% |
| Profit before tax | £1.30m | £0.76m | 71.1% |
| Cash and cash equivalents | £5.31m | £13.19m | (59.7)% |
| Adjusted earnings per share (EPS)* | 10.1p | 5.1p | 98.0% |
| Earnings per share (EPS) | 8.7p | 5.1p | 70.6% |
*before share based payments
Highlights
| • | Revenue increased by 22.4 per cent to £46.19 million (H1 2021: £37.73 million) as post pandemic market recovery continued |
| • | Adjusted profit before tax* increased 93.4 per cent to £1.47 million (H1 2021: £0.76 million) |
| • | Cash and cash equivalents decreased by 59.7 per cent to £5.31 million at 30 June 2022 (30 June 2021: £13.19 million and 31 December 2021: £10.38 million), reflecting inventories and work in progress increasing to £16.28 million (30 June 2021: £14.38 million) and trade and other receivables increasing to £13.17 million (30 June 2021: £5.65 million), primarily as a result of payments due for receipt post period end. Some materials were purchased earlier than ordinarily would have been the case both to secure supply and enhance margins on contracts |
| • | Post period end cash generation and cash receipts leading to cash and cash equivalents at 26 September 2022 of £11.35 million |
| • | The period was one of stabilisation and continued recovery post the Covid-19 pandemic as challenging market conditions, including supply side inflation and constraints, remained |
| • | The Group has a strong current order book, at improved margin levels, and a significant pipeline of opportunities, providing an improved outlook for the second half of 2022 and into 2023 |
Post Period Highlights
| • | The Group has secured a significant volume of new work post period end. In particular contracts have been secured in the data centre, energy from waste and industrial warehousing sectors at improved margins. |
Mark Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Billington, commented:
“The first half of the year was a period of both stabilisation and continued recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic related disruption to the market. Whilst the financial results for the period were impacted by the completion of lower margin legacy contracts and continued material price inflation and supply constraints, I believe the business has a bright future. We have been building our order book with improved margin work and are seeing some stability return to the market.
“Whilst macroeconomic headwinds are likely to remain for some time, particularly with regard to material availability, price volatility and continuing inflationary pressures, we are seeing a consistent stream of opportunities at better margins. Billington continues to be a robust business with a strong balance sheet, with limited borrowings and has weathered the pandemic well. I now expect the Group to deliver profits for the full year and for FY23, ahead of previous Board expectations.”
CHIEF EXECUTIVE STATEMENT
Introduction
The first half of 2022 saw a further recovery in the market following the Covid-19 pandemic, although a number of project delays continued as some clients paused their decision making in the light of a turbulent and inflationary environment. The Group’s revenues increased by 22.4 per cent to £46.19 million for the period (H1 2021: £37.73 million), a similar level of revenue to that in the first half of 2019 (H1 2019: £47.15 million), a period before the pandemic struck.
During the period margin pressure remained across the industry and the overall profitability of the Group was impacted by the completion of legacy contracts. However, the Group has been successful in recent times in securing a number of significant contracts at improved margin levels and has a very healthy pipeline of current and potential business.
Whilst we are mindful of continuing inflationary pressures and supply constraints on materials and labour, we anticipate a further improvement in performance in the second half of the year. Billington has weathered the pandemic well and remains a robust and profitable business, supported by a healthy balance sheet and a committed workforce. The Group is well placed to take advantage of the significant number of opportunities at improved margin levels that are currently being presented.
Group Companies
Billington Structures and Shafton Steel Services
Billington Structures is one of the UK’s leading structural steelwork contractors with a highly experienced workforce capable of delivering projects from simple building frames to complex structures in excess of 10,000 tonnes. With facilities in Barnsley and Bristol and a heritage dating back over 75 years, the business is well recognised and respected in the industry with the capacity to process over 50,000 tonnes of steel per annum.
The Shafton facility operates in two distinct business areas. The first undertakes activities for Billington Structures. The second, Shafton Steel Services offers a complete range of steel profiling services to many diverse external engineering and construction companies, providing further opportunities for growth as well as allowing for the supply of value added, complementary products and services enhancing the comprehensive offering of the Group.
During the first half of the year the Group’s structural steel businesses continued to operate at near full capacity, although a number of projects continued to be subject to delays and timetable movements. Many of the projects undertaken, as in 2021, continued to be in areas, such as large distribution warehouses, which have a larger steel content per man hour than more complex projects such as commercial offices, and as such attracted a lower, all be it positive margin. Whilst the business maintained a good spread of customers, the margins achieved were impacted by the legacy nature of many of the contracts.
A number of larger than average contracts were secured subsequent to the period end at improved margins, particularly in the data centre, energy from waste and industrials sectors. These contract wins provide an increased visibility well into 2023 and allow us to look forward with an increased level of optimism.
Specialist Protective Coatings
In March 2022 the Group announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Specialist Protective Coatings Ltd (“SPC”), focussed on surface preparation and the application of protective coatings for products across a variety of sectors including rail, highways, defence, petrochemical, energy, structural steel and infrastructure.
The business was formed in January 2022 following the Company’s acquisition out of administration of the trading assets of Orrmac Coatings Ltd (“Orrmac Coatings”), a specialist painting company based in Sheffield, UK.
The Group had been seeking to expand its painting capabilities for some time and the acquisition presented an excellent opportunity to strengthen the Group’s internal offering in this area, as well as providing a specialist service to the wider market. Since Billington acquired the trading assets of Orrmac Coatings, based in a 55,000 square foot facility in Sheffield, it has undergone a substantial refurbishment, and an investment programme is ongoing to ensure the facility is able to effectively service the most demanding of projects, including shotblasting and lifting capabilities for steel assemblies that are amongst the largest in the UK.
The business has made good progress since its formation and is trading in line with expectations, servicing both internal Billington work and external customers. In addition, the Group has recently established a dedicated on-site painting service to enable SPC to be a one-stop-shop for the painting requirements of the structural steel sector.
Peter Marshall Steel Stairs
Based in Leeds, Peter Marshall Steel Stairs is a specialist designer, fabricator and installer of bespoke steel staircases, balustrade systems and secondary steelwork. It has the capability to deliver stair structures for the largest construction projects and operates in sectors spanning retail, data, commercial offices, education, healthcare, rail and many more.
Peter Marshall Steel Stairs continued its recent strong performance in the period, maintaining robust margins and undertaking substantial work as part of contracts with Billington Structures and for third parties.
During the period the business received its largest ever order of over £2.0 million, and enjoys a robust market position, as one of the largest companies in its sector, in what is a fragmented market. The outlook for Peter Marshall Steel Stairs continues to be positive and the business has a strong order book for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023.
Easi-Edge
Easi-Edge is a leading site safety solutions provider of perimeter edge protection and fall prevention systems for hire within the construction industry. Health and safety is at the core of the business which operates in a legislative driven market.
Easi-Edge remains a significant and consistent contributor to Group profits, although the business continued to experience lower than historic utilisation rates for its solutions in the first half. This is primarily as a result of the limited number of commercial office developments currently being undertaken, as these types of projects require a greater amount of product when compared to most other types of projects, such as distribution warehouses.
However, Easi-Edge continues to secure opportunities in those buoyant market sectors where new developments are being undertaken and it is anticipated that activity for the remainder of 2022 will be consistent with that achieved in the first half.
Hoard-it
Hoard-it produces a unique range of re-usable temporary hoarding solutions which are environmentally sustainable and available on both a hire and sale basis tailored to the requirements of its customers.
Hoard-it enjoyed a very strong first half of 2022, outperforming management’s expectations, as new projects were secured, and others resumed following the delays experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the period Hoard-it secured its largest ever order of over £0.5 million for a large mixed-use development in Kent.
Other significant projects were undertaken for both existing and new customers, as the client base expanded in line with the goal of ensuring the hoarding system becomes the number one choice for main contractors and developers in the built environment. Hoard-it particularly benefited from its investment in stock levels in advance of anticipated demand, enabling rapid deployment of its solutions and providing a degree of mitigation for inflationary pressures on its materials to ensure margins were protected.
Hoard-it’s expanded graphics capability, introduced in 2021, was also a catalyst for attracting further demand and is being utilised on both Hoard-it’s own products and on those produced by others.
Financial Results
Revenue and Profit Before Tax
Group revenue increased by 22.4 per cent in the period to £46.19 million (H1 2021: £37.73 million) as the post pandemic market recovery continued and new business was secured.
Despite the continuing challenging market conditions and inflationary pressures, profit before tax for the period improved to £1.30 million (H1 2021: £0.76 million), an increase of 35.8 per cent on H1 2021.
Earnings per Share
Earnings per share for the first half of the year increased by 70.6 per cent to 8.7 pence (H1 2021: 5.1 pence).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Group’s gross cash and cash equivalents decreased by 59.7 per cent to £5.31 million at 30 June 2022 (30 June 2021: £13.19 million and 31 December 2021: £10.38 million) with inventories and work in progress increasing to £16.28 million (30 June 2021: £14.38 million). Trade and other receivables increased to £13.17 million (30 June 2021: £5.65 million), primarily as a result of payments due for receipt from a number of larger contracts post period end.
During the period the Group temporarily utilised a proportion of its cash resources to maximise the margin available on contracts via the stockpiling of steel when appropriate to take advantage of attractive supply and pricing opportunities. At the end of the period the Group had approximately £3 million of steel stockpiled over and above that held historically for a similar level of business. This has largely been utilised post period end. As at 26 September 2022 the Group had cash and cash equivalents of £11.35 million.
Capital Expenditure
During the period the Group continued to invest in capital expenditure projects to facilitate service enhancements and to replace obsolete equipment.
A new specialist steel profiling machine was installed in Shafton Steel Services in the period that increases the output of specialised profiling services it offers to the external market as well as for Billington Structures and Peter Marshall Steel Stairs.
A programme of updating the Groups saw/drill lines commenced with the first machine being delivered and installed at the Wombwell facility in September 2022. The new machines, replacing outdated, aged technology will increase the capacity, productivity and efficiency of Billington Structures’ operations moving forward.
The Group will continue to actively invest in appropriate areas, whilst being mindful of the returns achievable from capital investment in light of ongoing equipment price inflation.
Production Resources
Billington, alongside the wider steel industry has struggled with the recruitment of sufficient skilled production labour at its facilities resulting in reduced capacity and under recovery of its overheads.
In order to address these issues the Group has progressed its activities in two key areas to enhance the recruitment of skilled fabricators and welders.
Billington, in combination with Betterweld, a specialist training provider, has reached an agreement in principal with Barnsley College to set up a regional training centre to provide fabrication/welding training at our Shafton facility. This partnership will provide access to increased numbers of direct personnel on a consistent basis at its two Barnsley based facilities.
Investigations into the recruitment of qualified overseas labour in the first half of the year has now progressed and the Company is now seeing the arrival of its first cohort of experienced fabricators. The anticipated increased volume of skilled direct labour over the remainder of 2022 will increase the production capacities of the Company and improve the margins achievable on its contracts.
Dividend
In the first half of 2022 Billington declared a final dividend in relation to the year ended 31 December 2021 of 3.00 pence per share amounting to £0.39 million, which was 2.7 times covered by 2021 underlying earnings. No interim dividend for 2022 has been declared (2021: nil), a policy consistent with prior years.
Market and Economic Outlook
During the period iron ore and metallurgic coking coal prices continued to be volatile, rising at the start of the year, before declining towards the period end. This, coupled with significant increases in energy prices has led to continued volatility and inflationary pressures on steel prices, a situation that has continued post period end. Whilst the Group operates many fixed price supply contracts and has arrangements in place to mitigate some of the increases, we have suffered continued escalation in the price of consumables and ancillary products that we have not been able to pass on. Although in general prices appear to be stabilising, inflationary pressures and the restrictions in the supply of certain steel products are expected to continue for some time.
Many of the markets in which Billington operates continue to see reduced levels of activity, particularly large office developments. However, other sectors such as large distribution warehouses and industrial developments combined with energy from waste and data centre facilities are more active. With all our projects we are conscious that a number of the main construction contractors continue to operate under significant pressure as they deliver contracts that were tendered for before the recent price rises. The Group insures its exposures with the maximum available cover, in a difficult credit insurance market, and continues to focus on projects with the more robust larger contractors that can deliver an appropriate margin. We have a robust process in place to assess the risks associated with individual projects on a case-by-case basis to reduce and mitigate the associated risks where possible.
Prospects and Outlook
The first half of the year was a period of both stabilisation and continued recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic related disruption to the market. Whilst the financial results for the period were impacted by the completion of lower margin legacy contracts and continued material price inflation and supply constraints, I believe the business has a bright future. Billington continues to be a robust business and has weathered the pandemic well.
Whilst macroeconomic headwinds are likely to remain for some time, particularly with regard to material availability, price volatility and continuing inflationary pressures, we are seeing a consistent stream of opportunities at improved margins and have a very healthy order book. Recently secured contracts for two energy from waste facilities and a number of large industrial production / warehousing projects are good examples of the type of business we are managing to secure. We are also seeing other opportunities particularly in large retail distribution warehouses, data centres, ‘Gigafactories’, food processing developments, public sector works, rail infrastructure and stadium developments, together with a return of some commercial office development projects and for projects outside of the UK.
In closing, I would like to thank Billington’s Board, employees, shareholders and all stakeholders for their continued support. Despite the difficult macroeconomic environment, I believe that Billington is very well positioned and I now expect the Group to deliver profits for the full year and for FY23, ahead of previous Board expectations.
Mark Smith
Chief Executive
27 September 2022
