Preliminary Announcement of Annual Results
24 May 2016
Results for the year to 31 March 2016
A promising start to the new regulatory period
· Group financial results in line with
expectations and reflect a promising start to the AMP61:
· Group turnover of £1,787 million, down 0.8%
year-on-year due to regulated price decrease
· Group underlying PBIT2 of £523
million, down 3.2%
· Group reported PBIT £524 million up
0.4%
· Return on Regulatory Equity (RoRE) of
8.4%3
· Underlying basic EPS2 of
108.7p
· Final dividend of 48.40p, in line with
dividend policy, taking the 2015/16 dividend to 80.66p
· Customers remain at the heart of our
business:
· Lowest combined average bills in Britain -
£329 in 2016/17, flat year-on-year
· Doubled the number of vulnerable customers
supported
· Customer complaints down 28%
year-on-year
· Delivering on our levers of
outperformance:
· ODIs: net reward
of £23.2 million3
· Efficiencies: now
forecasting £670 million of totex efficiencies4 across AMP6. Equates to £260 million outperformance; ~50% of this
(£120 million) to be reinvested for the benefit of customers
· Totex: 2015/16
Wholesale totex4 of £1,017 million, £38 million lower than Final Determination
· Energy: now
generating equivalent of 33% of energy needs through our renewables programme; on track for 50% by 2020
· Financing:
effective interest rate reduced by 90 basis points to 4.5%
· Sector-leading environmental performance
again - provisional Environment Agency 4* rating
· Water Plus joint venture established with
United Utilities to deliver a market-leading non-household retail offer when the market opens for competition in 2017
1. AMP6 - Asset Management Plan regulatory period 2015 to 2020
2. Underlying Profit before Interest and Tax (PBIT) excludes exceptional
operating items. Underlying Earnings per Share (EPS) is set out in note 9 to the financial statements
3. RoRE at 2012/13 prices, and ODIs quoted pre-tax at 2012/13
prices
4. Efficiencies and totex costs quoted at actual and forecast nominal
prices
5. FD = Final Determination
Liv Garfield, Chief Executive Severn Trent Plc, said:
"Putting our customers at the heart of our business has led to a promising start to the current
regulatory period.
We continue to drive down costs and have the lowest combined bills in Britain, with our
customers paying on average less than a pound a day for their water and waste water services. Further efficiencies are also
allowing us to invest even more for the long-term benefit of our customers and shareholders.
Our performance continues to improve with customer complaints down 28% year-on-year. We still
lead the sector on waste water and have made strong progress in areas such as internal sewer flooding that is down 31%. These
achievements are a credit to the hard work of my colleagues, who are truly embracing our customer-focused culture.
There remains more to do to ensure that we are consistently achieving a great customer service
every day, and I am confident that we have the momentum and plans in place to achieve this."
Group Results
|
|
|
|
Underlying performance
|
2016
|
2015
|
Increase/
|
|
|
|
(decrease)
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
Group turnover
|
1,786.9
|
1,801.3
|
(0.8%)
|
Underlying group PBIT1
|
522.8
|
540.3
|
(3.2%)
|
Underlying group PBT2
|
313.6
|
300.4
|
4.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
pence/
share
|
pence/
share
|
|
Underlying basic earnings per share from continuing
operations3
|
108.7
|
107.2
|
1.4%
|
Total ordinary dividends
|
80.66
|
84.90
|
(5.0%)
|
|
|
|
|
Reported results
|
2016
|
2015
|
Increase/
|
|
|
|
(decrease)
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
Group PBIT
|
523.8
|
521.6
|
0.4%
|
Group PBT
|
322.3
|
148.2
|
117.5%
|
Group profit for the year
|
331.3
|
120.2
|
175.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
pence/
share
|
pence/
share
|
|
Basic earnings per share
|
139.8
|
49.9
|
180.2%
|
1. Profit Before Interest and Tax (PBIT) before exceptional items (see
note 3)
2. Profit Before Tax (PBT) before exceptional items and gains/losses on
financial instruments
3. Before exceptional items, gains/losses on financial instruments and
deferred tax
Note: FY2016/17 technical guidance is included in the Chief
Financial Officer's section of this RNS
Enquiries
|
|
|
Investors & Analysts
|
|
|
Ruban Chandran
|
Severn Trent Plc
|
07957 166615
|
Head of Investor Relations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard Tunnicliffe
|
Severn Trent Plc
|
07834 419722
|
Investor Relations Manager
|
|
|
|
|
|
Media
|
|
|
Kat Greenwood
|
Severn Trent Plc
|
07801 567105
|
Head of Communications
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Lloyd-Seed /
Jonathan Sibun
|
Tulchan Communications
|
0207 353 4200
|
Interim Results Presentation and Webcast
There will be a presentation of these results at 9:30am BST on Tuesday 24 May at Rothschilds Sky
Pavilion, New Court, St Swithin's Lane, London. EC4N 8AL. This presentation will be available as a simultaneous webcast on the
Severn Trent website (www.severntrent.com)
and will remain on the website for subsequent viewing.
Chief Executive's Review
The beginning of the current regulatory period, AMP6, brought considerable uncertainty, driven
by changes to the regulatory regime which shifted the balance of risk and reward. This has created opportunities for companies to
outperform the allowed regulatory return by delivering benefits to customers and the environment.
We have made a promising start to this AMP but equally we know there is more to be done. Our new
customer-focused culture is being embedded in the organisation and we believe the changes we have implemented over the past two
years set us on the right trajectory.
We continue to place emphasis on 'our winning formula', shown below, as the driving force behind
our actions:
· Customers at the heart of our
business
· Operational excellence
· Winners in a world of
incentivisation
· At the frontier of sector
efficiency
· Standard setters in renewable
energy
· Successful in competitive markets
Customers at the heart of our business
Given our position as a regional monopoly, it is imperative that we put customers at the heart
of our decision making process, ensuring that their needs and circumstances are reflected in our actions.
Our customers continue to benefit from the lowest combined average bills in the UK at £329 per
annum, which are flat year-on-year. We have also more than doubled the number of vulnerable customers
who benefit from our payment assistance initiatives, and we've worked hard to reduce customer complaints, which are down 28%
year-on-year.
We have implemented a range of new digital services to help customers access information when
they need it, for example our new 'Track My Job' app keeps customers up to date on the progress of any work. We will continue to
expand our range of digital services, including a refresh of our corporate website later this year.
We continue to improve our Service Incentive Mechanism (SIM) score which measures customer
service but have more work to do to improve our performance from our mid-table position. Our aspiration is to be the
leader in customer experience in our industry.
Operational excellence
We have remained the sector leader in waste water efficiency and delivered good performance on
key metrics, such as internal sewer flooding that is down 31%. We have done this while achieving high environmental standards,
reflected in our provisional Environment Agency (EA) 4* rating for the second time in three years. Underpinning this was our
performance on some key environmental metrics, including a 21% reduction in the number of category 3 pollution incidents and an
80% reduction in the number of serious pollution incidents.
In Water, we started the AMP knowing we needed to improve and we have established a clear action
plan to do this. The changes will not come overnight but we are ambitious in our targets and expect to report positive outcomes
in due course. On the positive side we have seen reductions of 62% since last year in coliform detections, and water-quality
complaints have been resolved 85% faster than the prior year.
On the downside there were some high profile events which left customers unable to access their
water. We are learning from these to continually improve our processes and systems.
Winners in a world of incentivisation
The new regulatory environment incentivises companies to outperform the allowed regulatory
return through mechanisms including Outcome Delivery Incentives (ODIs).
We have chosen to take the majority of ODI rewards or penalties in AMP through bills, rather
than on RCV at the end of the AMP. The targets we agreed with Ofwat were very challenging, requiring a significant step change in
our performance levels to avoid penalties. We are therefore pleased to report a net real reward of £23.2 million (at 2012/13
prices) in the first year of the AMP.
We have incentivised our workforce and key contractors through our ODI-linked employee bonus
scheme and performance-based incentive contracts.
ODI targets for the rest of the AMP continue to get tougher. We are responding to this
challenge, including for example further multi-skilling in our contact centres to enhance customer service, and initiatives
geared to improving and sustaining reductions in leakages, pollutions and flooding. As a result of these plans, we are targeting
£15 million of net ODI rewards for 2016/17 (at 12/13 prices).
Ofwat also incentivises companies to seek the lowest cost of finance to enable them to
outperform the regulatory allowed cost of debt. We remain focused on sourcing sustainable, low-cost, long-term finance from a
range of sources, all supported by an investment grade credit rating. We have reduced our effective cost of debt from 5.4% at the
end of 2014/15, to 4.5% this year, and we have taken advantage of low interest rates by moving a greater proportion of our debt
to floating rates. We see further opportunities to reduce interest costs through refinancing existing debt and raising new debt
to finance our investment plans.
Outperformance in ODIs, totex and financing all translates into our Return on Regulated Equity
(RoRE) which for 2015/16 is 8.4%.
At the frontier of sector efficiency
We have set ourselves clear efficiency targets to maintain our number one position in waste
water and ensure that we end AMP6 towards the upper quartile of peer companies in water.
We are pleased to share today our forecast for totex savings across AMP6 of £670 million (at
nominal prices). This includes the £372 million (at 2012/13 prices, £410 million at nominal prices) of savings announced in
November to reach the final determination level of totex; a further £80 million (nominal) of savings locked in today, and an
additional £180 million (nominal) that we are confident in delivering over the remainder of the AMP. Efficiencies have been
achieved across our operational and capital investment activities, through innovation, smarter procurement and tighter cost
control.
We are committed to investing not only for today but also for future generations and as such
have decided to reinvest around half (or £120 million) of the forecast £260m of totex outperformance into areas that are
important to our customers, such as improving water quality, enhancing security, and assisting vulnerable customers.
Our largest capital programme, the Birmingham Resilience scheme, is progressing well and remains
on track for on-time delivery to budget. We invited tenders for two elements of the scheme: the first, for the river inlet
pumping station and new cross-country water main, has now been awarded, with the second, the new treatment processes at Frankley
Water Treatment Works, expected to be awarded in July 2016.
Standard setters in renewable energy
Our renewable energy programme remains core to our strategy, combining a responsible approach to
the environment with good financial sense. All our programmes are targeted with delivering double-digit post-tax rates of return
on investment.
With energy being our second largest direct cost, we are focused on using less, generating more,
and paying the lowest energy prices.
We have previously announced that we plan to invest up to £190 million in renewables across
AMP6. This year we have increased renewable energy generation by 17% (44GWh) meaning that we now generate energy equivalent to
33% of our own energy needs. We remain on track for 50% by 2020.
Successful in competitive markets
The arrival of non-household retail competition in 2017 is the first major step towards
competition in our regulated business.
Our new 'Water Plus' joint venture (JV) with United Utilities will combine the complementary
skills of both companies, including sales, customer service, business strategy and credit management, to deliver an attractive
proposition for large and small business customers across England and Scotland.
Investor Timetable
24th May 2016
|
Full-year results 2015/16
|
16th June 2016
|
Ex-dividend date (Final)
|
17th June 2016
|
Dividend record date (Final)
|
20th July 2016
|
AGM and Q1 Trading Update
|
22nd July 2016
|
Final dividend payment date
|
30th September 2016
|
Close period commences
|
24th November 2016
|
Half-year results 2016/17
|
1st December 2016
|
Ex-dividend date (Interim)
|
2nd December 2016
|
Dividend record date (Interim)
|
6th January 2017
|
Interim dividend payment date
|
For more information please visit:
https://www.severntrent.com/investors/financial-calendar
|
Chief Financial Officer's Review
The group has delivered strong financial results in the first year of the new AMP. Our Regulated
Water and Waste Water business has performed well, with reduced operating costs helping to offset the impact of the lower prices
we agreed in the final determination. Business Services has delivered growth in both sales and underlying PBIT1 this
year and has made good progress in renewable energy generation and with the formation of the joint venture, Water Plus, we have
made good progress in getting ready for non-household retail competition in England.
We saw the benefits of our rebalanced financing strategy, increasing the proportion of our debt
that is at floating rates, which has helped to deliver a £30.7 million reduction in financing costs year on year. Our effective
interest rate for the year was 4.5%.
Our underlying tax rate was 18.5% (2014/15: 17.6%).
A brief summary of our financial performance for the year is as follows:
· Group turnover from continuing operations was
£1,786.9 million (2014/15: £1,801.3 million), a decrease of £14.4 million or 0.8% reflecting primarily £31 million lower
regulated revenues following the agreed price reduction in the Final Determination.
· Underlying PBIT1 of £522.8 million
(2014/15: £540.3 million) was £17.5 million lower as the reduction in turnover in regulated water and waste water was partially
offset by lower operating costs in the regulated business and increased operating profits in our non-regulated
business.
· Reported group PBIT1 was £523.8
million (2014/15: £521.6 million).
· We recorded an exceptional credit of £1.0
million from the release of a prior year provision (2014/15: charge of £18.7 million).
· Net finance costs were £209.3 million
(2014/15: £240.0 million).
1. PBIT is profit before interest and tax; underlying PBIT
excludes exceptional items as set out in note 3
Changes to segmental presentation
The group is now organised into two main business segments, "Regulated Water and Waste Water"
and "Business Services".
· Regulated Water and Waste Water comprises
Severn Trent Water's wholesale operations and household retail activities and related support functions.
· Business Services comprises the Operating
Services businesses in the USA, UK, Ireland and Italy, the group's renewable energy business and Severn Trent Water's
non-household retail business.
The Water Purification business, which was sold on 2 July 2015, has been treated as a
discontinued operation.
The tables below reconcile our results for the year ended 31 March 2016 under the old segmental
basis (Severn Trent Water, Severn Trent Services, and Corporate and Other) to the new basis.
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Renewable energy (regulated)
|
Non household retail
|
Additional inter-segment sales
|
Regulated Water and Waste
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Total sales
|
1,550.2
|
(17.5)
|
(391.3)
|
364.7
|
1,506.1
|
Underlying PBIT
|
520.3
|
(17.6)
|
(10.6)
|
-
|
492.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Services
|
Severn Trent Services
|
Renewable energy (regulated and non-regulated)
|
Non household retail
|
Additional inter-segment sales
|
Business Services
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Total sales
|
233.2
|
34.0
|
391.3
|
16.1
|
674.6
|
Underlying PBIT
|
10.7
|
16.9
|
10.6
|
-
|
38.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate and Other
|
|
Corporate and Other (old basis)
|
Renewable energy
(non-regulated)
|
Additional inter-segment sales
|
Corporate and Other (new basis)
|
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Total sales
|
|
11.7
|
(8.5)
|
-
|
3.2
|
Underlying PBIT
|
|
(8.6)
|
0.7
|
-
|
(7.9)
|
The new segments reflect the way we organise and manage the group. Our renewable energy
business, including the electricity and gas generating assets owned by Severn Trent Water's regulated business, is now all
managed in Business Services. We transferred management responsibility for non-household retail to Business Services, in
preparation for further competition in these activities from April 2017. This created a clear separation between our regulated
wholesale and non-regulated retail activities.
On 3 May 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority ('CMA') announced clearance of the proposal
to form the Water Plus joint venture with United Utilities PLC. On that date the disposal of the non-household retail activities
to Water Plus became highly probable and these activities were reclassified as a discontinued operation and equity accounted.
However, as this transaction was still subject to CMA approval at 31 March 2016, the results of the non-household retail
activities are included in continuing operations in these financial statements.
Comparative financial information for the 2014/15 on the new basis is not available across all
segments and so the commentary that follows describes year on year performance on the old basis.
Regulated Water and Waste Water
Turnover for the new Regulated Water and Waste Water segment was £1,506.1 million and underlying
PBIT was £492.1 million.
On a like for like basis, turnover decreased by £31.0 million. The price reduction in our Final
Determination reduced turnover by £30.2 million. This was partially offset by growth from new customers and consumption increases
of £6.7 million. Tariff mix and other effects reduced turnover by £7.5 million. Underlying PBIT decreased by £18.7 million as
lower operational costs partially offset the decline in turnover.
Within our 2015/16 revenue, there is around £11.5 million of over-billing against the Final
Determination as a result of higher consumption and growth in our customer base; this, together with a small penalty of about
£0.5 million for being outside the forecasting corridor, will be returned to customers through adjusted bills in
2017/18.
|
New basis
|
Old basis
|
|
2016
|
2016
|
2015
|
Better/(worse)
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
%
|
Turnover
|
1,506.1
|
1,550.2
|
1,581.2
|
(31.0)
|
(2.0)
|
Net labour costs
|
(135.1)
|
(142.1)
|
(156.0)
|
13.9
|
8.9
|
Hired and contracted costs
|
(157.2)
|
(172.3)
|
(163.8)
|
(8.5)
|
(5.2)
|
Bad debts
|
(20.3)
|
(23.7)
|
(28.4)
|
4.7
|
16.5
|
Power
|
(89.1)
|
(61.8)
|
(63.9)
|
2.1
|
3.3
|
Other costs
|
(179.2)
|
(193.8)
|
(196.4)
|
2.6
|
1.3
|
Total opex
|
(580.9)
|
(593.7)
|
(608.5)
|
14.8
|
2.4
|
Infrastructure maintenance
|
(126.0)
|
(126.0)
|
(134.8)
|
8.8
|
6.5
|
Depreciation
|
(307.1)
|
(310.2)
|
(298.9)
|
(11.3)
|
(3.8)
|
Underlying PBIT
|
492.1
|
520.3
|
539.0
|
(18.7)
|
(3.5)
|
Adjustment for new segmental basis
|
|
(28.2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
492.1
|
|
|
|
Net labour costs were 8.9% lower. The benefits of the reorganisation carried out at the end of
2014/15 and the closure of the defined benefit pension scheme to future accrual more than offset the costs of the new employee
incentive scheme.
Hired and contracted costs increased by £8.5 million. This is partly due to costs incurred in preparation for market opening including an increase
in contributions to Open Water. In addition, we have seen an increase in distribution and tankering costs in our waste
business and have paid a bonus to our supply chain for support on delivering our strong ODI performance.
Bad debt charges improved to 1.5% of turnover - down from 1.8% in 2014/15 as a result of
improved collection performance on amounts billed in the year and better management of aged debt balances. The provision level
against our household debt is typically higher than for non-household debt and we therefore expect that after the transfer of our
non-household business to Water Plus, this ratio will increase.
Power costs decreased by £2.1 million mainly due to the benefit of a full year of biogas to grid
generation. We continue to make good progress on our renewable energy generation, and self-generated the equivalent of 33% of
gross consumption in the year, providing an increasingly effective hedge against energy price volatility.
Material and Other costs were £2.6 million lower year-on-year. Higher costs in particular
on business rates and abortive capital write offs were more than offset by the £4.4m refund from the Environment Agency at half
year, and second-half gains on property disposals were in line with those for the first half.
Depreciation increased by £11.3 million, primarily due to the growing asset base and an
accelerated charge of £3.6 million arising from the decommissioning of older assets as part of our water quality improvement
programme. Infrastructure maintenance expenditure was £8.8 million lower due to a lower level of activity at the start of the
year, and improved efficiencies in delivering the programme, as highlighted in our interim results.
Return on Regulatory Equity (RoRE)
A key indicator of the performance of the regulated business is the Return on Regulatory Equity
or "RoRE". Outperformance against the Final Determination for totex, ODIs and financing is included in RoRE.
Profits reported under IFRS do not reflect all of the regulatory impacts in the year of
performance and may reflect the impacts of performance in previous years.
Severn Trent Water's RoRE for the year ended 31 March 2016 is set out in the following
table:
|
|
%1
|
Base return2
|
|
5.7
|
Totex outperformance3
|
|
0.7
|
ODI outperformance4
|
|
0.7
|
Financing outperformance5
|
|
1.4
|
Other6
|
|
(0.1)
|
Regulatory return for the year
|
|
8.4
|
1. Based on RCV of £7,324 million in 2012/13 prices
2. Per Final Determination
3. Company share of totex outperformance in the year
4. Company assessment of performance, subject to Ofwat review
process in Autumn 2016
5. Based on actual financing cost and actual gearing
6. Includes non-household revenue, land sales and disposals, other
income and the Wholesale Revenue Forecasting Incentive Mechanism
Severn Trent Water's totex benefit to RoRE, after taking account of sharing with customers was
£19 million in 2012/13 prices after tax.
Our assessment of performance on our Outcome Delivery Incentives ("ODI"s) will be published in
Severn Trent Water Limited's Annual Performance Report in July. We earned a net reward for performance in 2015/16 of £23.2
million before tax at 2012/13 prices, which is subject to the Ofwat review process in Autumn 2016. All of this relates to "in
AMP" measures, which will be reflected in increased prices that we will set for 2017/18.
Severn Trent Water's financing costs in 2015/16 were £40 million lower than the Final
Determination in 2012/13 prises after tax. This is due to the impact of lower inflation on our index linked debt and nominal
interest rates achieved lower than assumed in the Final Determination - a consequence of low market interest rates and savings
arising from our AMP6 financing activities. In addition, we have a lower debt requirement than assumed in the Final
Determination.
Business Services
Turnover for the new Business Services segment was £674.6 million and underlying PBIT was £38.2
million.
Turnover and underlying PBIT on a like for like basis at actual exchange rates and on a constant
currency basis are shown below:
|
|
|
Increase/
|
|
2016
|
2015
|
(decrease)
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
%
|
Turnover
|
|
|
|
Services as reported
|
233.2
|
216.3
|
7.8%
|
Impact of exchange rate fluctuations
|
-
|
8.3
|
|
Constant currency
|
233.2
|
224.6
|
3.8%
|
Underlying PBIT
|
|
|
|
Services as reported
|
10.7
|
9.7
|
10.3%
|
Impact of exchange rate fluctuations
|
-
|
(0.1)
|
|
Constant currency
|
10.7
|
9.6
|
11.5%
|
The results above exclude the Water Purification business, which was classified as a
discontinued operation in 2014/15.
In our Operating Services business we saw good growth in turnover, up 3.8% on a constant
currency basis to £233.2 million, mainly due to contract gains and additional work in our UK business. Underlying PBIT was up
£1.1 million to £10.7 million with higher profits across all regions.
Corporate and other
Corporate overheads totalled £10.6 million (2014/15: £13.4 million). Our other businesses
generated a net profit of £2.4 million (2014/15: £1.2 million).
Exceptional items before tax
There was an exceptional operating credit of £1.0 million arising from the release of a
provision originally recorded as an exceptional charge (2014/15: charge of £18.7 million).
Net finance costs
The group's net finance costs were £209.3 million, down from £240.0 million in the prior year.
The reduction resulted from the actions we took at the end of the 2015 financial year to increase our exposure to floating rates,
lower costs achieved on new floating rate debt and lower finance costs on our index linked debt as a result of lower inflation in
the year. Finance costs capitalised were £3.3 million lower mainly due to the lower finance cost incurred.
The effective interest rate, including index linked debt, for the year ended 31 March 2016 was
4.5% (2014/15: 5.4%). The effective cash cost of interest (excluding the RPI uplift on index linked debt) was 4.2% (2014/15:
4.9%).
The group's net interest charge, excluding gains/(losses) on financial instruments and net
finance costs from pensions, was covered 4.3 times (2014/15: 3.7 times) by profit before interest, tax, depreciation and
exceptional items, and 2.7 times (2014/15: 2.4 times) by underlying PBIT.
Gains/(losses) on financial instruments
The group uses financial derivatives solely to hedge risks associated with its normal business
activities including:
· Exchange rate exposure on borrowings
denominated in foreign currencies;
· Interest rate exposure on floating rate
borrowings; and
· Exposure to increases in electricity
prices.
Accounting rules require that these derivatives are revalued at each balance sheet date and,
unless the criteria for cash flow hedge accounting are met, the changes in value are taken to the income statement. If the risk
that is being hedged does not impact the income statement in the same period, then an accounting mismatch arises from the hedging
activities and there is a net charge or credit to the income statement.
Where derivatives are held to their full term mismatches will net out over the life of the
instrument. The changes in value that are recorded during the lives of the derivatives, unless crystallised, do not represent
cash flows. Therefore the group presents underlying earnings figures that exclude these non-cash items. In exceptional
circumstances the group may terminate swap contracts before their maturity date. The payments or receipts arising from the
cancellations are charged or credited against the liability or asset on the balance sheet, and amounts previously recognised in
reserves are recycled through the income statement.
The group holds interest rate swaps with a notional principal of £518.1 million and cross
currency swaps with a sterling principal of £98.3 million which economically act to hedge the interest rate risk on floating rate
debt or the exchange rate risk on certain foreign currency borrowings. However, the swaps do not meet the hedge accounting rules
of IAS 39 and therefore the changes in fair value are taken to gains/(losses) on financial instruments in the income statement.
During the year there was a credit of £53.8 million (2014/15 charge of £183.4 million) in relation to these
instruments.
An analysis of the amounts charged to the income statement in the period is presented in note 5
to the financial statements.
The group manages its electricity costs through a combination of self generation forward price
contracts and financial derivatives. The group has fixed around 37% of the estimated wholesale energy usage for
2016/17.
Taxation
The total tax credit for the year was £9.7 million (2014/15: charge of £32.7
million).
The current tax charge for 2015/16 was £55.2 million (2014/15: £37.8 million). The deferred tax
charge before exceptional tax was £13.7 million (2014/15: credit of £5.1 million).
There was an exceptional deferred tax credit of £78.6 million arising from the change in tax
rates (2014/15 £nil). This was a result of the Finance Act 2015 being enacted in the current year, reducing the corporation tax
rate from 20% to 18% with effect from 1 April 2020.
See note 6 for further detail.
The underlying effective rate of current tax on continuing operations, excluding prior year
credits, exceptional tax credits and tax on exceptional items and financial instruments, calculated on profit from continuing
operations before tax, exceptional items before tax and gains/(losses) on financial instruments was 18.5%
(2014/15:17.6%).
Reported group profit for the period and earnings per share
After a loss of £0.7 million (2014/15: profit of £4.7 million) from discontinued operations,
reported group profit for the period was £331.3 million (2014/15: £120.2 million). Profit before interest and tax was broadly
flat year on year. Net finance costs were £30.7 million lower. Amounts charged to the income statement relating to financial
instruments improved by £141.2 million. Tax charged excluding exceptional tax was £36.2 million higher before an exceptional
deferred tax credit of £78.6 million arising from the change in corporation tax rate to 18%.
Underlying basic earnings per share (from continuing operations, before exceptional items,
gains/(losses) on financial instruments, current tax on gains/(losses) on exceptional items and financial instruments and
deferred tax) was 108.7 pence (2014/15: 107.2 pence) (see note 9). Lower financing costs largely offset the lower
underlying PBIT and higher current tax charge.
Basic earnings per share were 139.8 pence (2014/15: 49.9 pence).
Group cash flow
|
2016
|
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
Cash generated from operations
|
797.5
|
|
760.1
|
Net capital expenditure
|
(410.0)
|
|
(416.1)
|
Net interest paid
|
(189.6)
|
|
(218.2)
|
Payment to close out interest rate swaps
|
-
|
|
(139.2)
|
Tax received
|
11.5
|
|
10.5
|
Tax paid
|
(44.9)
|
|
(39.1)
|
Other cash flows
|
-
|
|
(1.4)
|
Free cash flow
|
164.5
|
|
(43.4)
|
Disposal of subsidiaries
|
45.7
|
|
-
|
Dividends
|
(197.0)
|
|
(196.9)
|
Net purchase of shares
|
(89.8)
|
|
(16.7)
|
Change in net debt from cash flows
|
(76.6)
|
|
(257.0)
|
Non cash movements
|
5.8
|
|
(48.1)
|
Change in net debt
|
(70.8)
|
|
(305.1)
|
Net debt 1 April
|
(4,752.6)
|
|
(4,447.5)
|
Net debt at 31 March
|
(4,823.4)
|
|
(4,752.6)
|
Net debt comprises:
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
55.2
|
|
176.7
|
Bank loans
|
(1,249.8)
|
|
(1,279.2)
|
Other loans
|
(3,539.7)
|
|
(3,467.5)
|
Finance leases
|
(117.2)
|
|
(180.0)
|
Cross currency swaps
|
28.1
|
|
(2.6)
|
|
(4,823.4)
|
|
(4,752.6)
|
Net debt at 31 March 2016 was £4,823.4 million (2014/15: £4,752.6 million). Balance sheet
gearing (net debt/net debt plus equity) at the year end was 82.6% (2014/15: 86.1%). Net debt, expressed as a percentage of RCV at
31 March 2016 of £7,829 million was 61.6% (2014/15: 61.4%).
The fair value of net debt at 31 March 2016 is estimated to be £5,686.4 million (2014/15:
£5,645.4 million) compared to the book value of £4,823.4 million (2014/15: £4,752.6 million). The difference between the book
value and fair value of debt arises from fixed rate and index linked debt where the interest rate on the debt is higher than
prevailing market rates at the year end.
Treasury management and liquidity
The group's principal treasury management objectives are:
· to access a broad range of sources of finance
to obtain both the quantum required and lowest cost compatible with the need for continued availability;
· to manage exposure to movements in interest
rates to provide an appropriate degree of certainty as to its cost of funds;
· to minimise counterparty credit exposure
risk;
· to provide the group with an appropriate
degree of certainty as to its foreign exchange exposure;
· to maintain an investment grade credit rating;
and
· to maintain a flexible and sustainable balance
sheet structure.
The group continues to ensure it has adequate liquidity to support business requirements and
provide headroom for downside risk. At 31 March 2016 the group had £55.2 million (2014/15: £176.7 million) in cash and cash
equivalents and committed undrawn facilities amounting to £875 million (2014/15: £745 million).
The group is funded for its projected investment and cash flow needs up to at least January
2018.
Cash is invested in deposits with financial institutions benefiting from high credit ratings and
the list of counterparties is reviewed regularly.
In November 2015 Severn Trent Water completed its first US Private Placement debt issue raising
the equivalent of £471 million at competitive pricing with maturities ranging from 11 to 15 years. The proceeds were received in
March 2016 and were used to repay the remaining £396 million of our €700 million bond.
The group's policy for the management of interest rate risk requires that not less than 40% of
the group's borrowings in AMP6 should be at fixed interest rates, or hedged through the use of interest rate swaps or forward
rate agreements. Going forward, the group intends to manage its existing debt portfolio and future debt issuance to increase the
proportion of debt which is at floating rates. At 31 March 2016, interest rates for 56% (2014/15: 67%) of the group's net
debt of £4,823.4 million were fixed.
The group's long term credit ratings are:
Long term ratings
|
Severn Trent Plc
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Moody's
|
Baa1
|
A3
|
Standard and Poor's
|
BBB-
|
BBB+
|
The outlook is stable for Standard and Poor's, negative for Moody's
Pensions
The group operates two defined benefit pension schemes for its UK employees, of which the UK
Severn Trent Pension Scheme (STPS) is by far the largest. The most recent formal triennial actuarial valuations and funding
agreements were carried out as at 31 March 2013 for both schemes. As a result, deficit reduction contributions of £40 million in
2013/14, £35 million in 2014/15, £15 million in 2015/16 and £12 million per annum in subsequent years to 2024/25 were agreed.
Further payments of £8 million per annum through an asset backed funding arrangement will also continue to 31 March 2032. The
next triennial valuation, as at 31 March 2016, is underway.
As previously announced, the defined benefit schemes closed to future accrual on 31 March 2015.
On 1 April 2015, members of the defined benefit schemes were transferred to the defined contribution Severn Trent Group Personal
Pension Scheme, which was opened on 1 April 2012.
The key actuarial assumptions for the defined benefit schemes have been updated for these
accounts. On an IAS 19 basis, the estimated net position of the schemes was a deficit of £309.5 million as at 31 March 2016. This
compares to a deficit of £468.9 million as at 31 March 2015. The movements in the net deficit can be summarised as
follows:
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Present value at 1 April
|
(468.9)
|
(348.3)
|
Change in actuarial assumptions
|
194.2
|
(336.8)
|
Asset (under)/outperformance
|
(45.9)
|
193.4
|
Contributions in excess of income statement charge
|
11.1
|
22.8
|
Present value at 31 March
|
(309.5)
|
(468.9)
|
The funding level has increased to 87.1% (2014/15: 81.7%).
Exchange rates
The trading results of overseas subsidiaries are translated to sterling at the average rate of
exchange ruling during the period and their net assets are translated at the closing rate on the balance sheet date.
The impact of changing exchange rates on net assets was immaterial. Details of the impact of changing exchange
rates on turnover and underlying PBIT are set out in the commentary on Business Services above.
Dividend
In line with its announced AMP6 policy the board has proposed a final ordinary dividend of 48.40
pence (2015: 50.94 pence). This gives a total ordinary dividend for the year of 80.66 pence (2015: 84.90 pence). The final
ordinary dividend is payable on 22 July 2016 to shareholders on the register at 17 June 2016.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The board considers the principal risks and uncertainties affecting the business activities of
the group to be those detailed below:
Customer perception
· Failure to improve and maintain our levels of
customer service sufficiently to deliver what our customers tell us they want.
· Failure to take full advantage of the
opportunities presented by the opening up of the non-household retail market to competition.
Legal & Regulatory environment
· Failure to effectively anticipate and/or
influence future developments in the UK water industry resulting in our business plans becoming unsustainable.
· The regulatory landscape is complex and
subject to on-going change. There is a risk that processes may fail or that our processes may not effectively keep pace with
changes in legislation leading to the risk of non-compliance.
Operations, assets & people
· Loss of data or interruptions to our key
business systems as a result of cyber threats.
· Failure to achieve our regulatory targets
including targets from Ofwat in relation to operational performance of our assets resulting in regulatory penalties.
· Failure of certain key assets or processes
may result in inability to provide a continuous supply of clean water and safely take waste water away within our
area.
· Our operations could endanger the health and
safety of our people, contractors and members of the public as well as negatively impact our local and wider
environment.
· Inability to deal with the impact of extreme
and unpredictable weather events on our assets and infrastructure and/or inability to successfully plan for future water resource
supply and demand due to climate change.
Financial risks
· Lower interest rates, higher inflation or
underperforming equity markets may require us to provide more funding for our pension schemes.
· Inability to fund the business sufficiently
in order to meet our liabilities as they fall due.
Technical Guidance 2016/17
Regulated Water and Waste Water:
Revenues are expected to be in the range of £1.50 billion to £1.54 billion (2015/16: £1.51
billion).
We expect operating costs (IFRS) to be lower year-on-year (2015/16: £581 million) as we
recognise the benefits of efficiency drive. In addition, we expect a further £130 million to £155 million of net infrastructure
renewals expenditure (2015/16: £126 million), which will be charged to the income statement.
We expect to earn net rewards for 2016/17 ODI outperformance of £151 million
(2015/16: £23.2 million). Wholesale Totex2 is expected to be £1.11 billion to £1.13 billion (2015/16: £1.02 billion),
of which 42.1% will be capitalised onto the RCV.
Business Services
We expect to deliver growth in revenues and PBIT year-on-year (2015/16 £277 million and £27
million respectively, after adjusting for the impact of transferring non household retail to Water Plus).
Group
The group interest charge is now expected to be lower year-on-year (2015/16: £209 million),
benefiting from refinancing at the end of 2015/16 and the impact of lower interest rates on floating rate debt.
The effective current tax rate for the group for 2016/17 is expected to be between 17% and 19%
(2015/16: 18.5%.)
We estimate net capital expenditure (cash) under IFRS will be £450 million to £490 million
(2015/16: £410 million).
In line with our announced policy, the dividend for 2016/17 will be 81.5p (2015/16: 80.66p) and
will grow by at least RPI annually over AMP6.
Our RCV in March 2020 is now expected to be £9.3 billion3, impacted by lower RPI
assumptions and savings on our totex programme.
1. ODIs quoted real at FY2012/13 prices
2. Excludes retail costs, includes regulated renewables
3. Assumes average of 2.5% year end RPI for 2016-2020, based on Office
of Budget Responsibility forecasts and includes £670m of announced forecast efficiencies
Further information
For further information, including the group's preliminary results presentation, see the Severn
Trent website (www.severntrent.com).
Consolidated income statement
Year ended 31 March 2016
|
|
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
|
|
Notes
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
|
Turnover
|
2
|
1,786.9
|
1,801.3
|
|
|
Net operating costs before exceptional items
|
|
(1,264.1)
|
(1,261.0)
|
|
|
Exceptional operating items
|
3
|
1.0
|
(18.7)
|
|
|
Total operating costs
|
|
(1,263.1)
|
(1,279.7)
|
|
|
Profit before interest, tax and exceptional items
|
2
|
522.8
|
540.3
|
|
|
Exceptional items before interest and tax
|
3
|
1.0
|
(18.7)
|
|
|
Profit before interest and tax
|
|
523.8
|
521.6
|
|
|
Finance income
|
4
|
73.1
|
81.7
|
|
|
Finance costs
|
4
|
(282.4)
|
(321.7)
|
|
|
Net finance costs
|
4
|
(209.3)
|
(240.0)
|
|
|
Gains/(losses) on financial instruments
|
5
|
7.7
|
(133.5)
|
|
|
Share of results of associates and joint ventures
|
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
|
|
Profit before tax, gains/(losses) on financial instruments and exceptional
items
|
|
313.6
|
300.4
|
|
|
Exceptional items before tax
|
3
|
1.0
|
(18.7)
|
|
|
Gains/(losses) on financial instruments
|
5
|
7.7
|
(133.5)
|
|
|
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
|
|
322.3
|
148.2
|
|
|
Current tax excluding exceptional credit
|
6
|
(55.2)
|
(37.8)
|
|
|
Deferred tax excluding exceptional credit
|
6
|
(13.7)
|
5.1
|
|
|
Exceptional tax credit
|
6
|
78.6
|
-
|
|
|
Total taxation on profit on ordinary activities
|
6
|
9.7
|
(32.7)
|
|
|
Profit for the year from continuing operations
|
|
332.0
|
115.5
|
|
|
(Loss)/profit for the year from discontinued operations
|
8
|
(0.7)
|
4.7
|
|
|
Profit for the year
|
|
331.3
|
120.2
|
|
|
Attributable to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Owners of the company
|
|
330.0
|
119.1
|
|
|
Non-controlling interests
|
|
1.3
|
1.1
|
|
|
|
|
331.3
|
120.2
|
|
|
Earnings per share (pence)
|
|
|
|
|
|
From continuing operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
9
|
140.0
|
48.3
|
|
|
Diluted
|
9
|
139.4
|
48.1
|
|
|
From continuing and discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
9
|
139.8
|
49.9
|
|
|
Diluted
|
9
|
139.1
|
49.6
|
|
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Year ended 31 March 2016
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Profit for the year
|
331.3
|
120.2
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
|
|
|
Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement:
|
|
|
Net actuarial gain/(loss) on defined benefit pension schemes
|
148.3
|
(143.4)
|
Tax on net actuarial gain/loss
|
(26.7)
|
28.8
|
Deferred tax arising on change of rate
|
(9.6)
|
-
|
|
112.0
|
(114.6)
|
|
|
|
Items that may be reclassified to the income statement:
|
|
|
Loss on cash flow hedges
|
(2.7)
|
(13.8)
|
Deferred tax on loss on cash flow hedges
|
0.4
|
2.8
|
Amounts on cash flow hedges transferred to the income statement in the
year
|
12.2
|
23.6
|
Deferred tax on transfers to income statement
|
(2.2)
|
(4.7)
|
Exchange movement on translation of overseas results and net
assets
|
(1.1)
|
8.9
|
Cumulative exchange losses transferred to income statement
|
11.7
|
-
|
|
18.3
|
16.8
|
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year
|
130.3
|
(97.8)
|
Total comprehensive income for the year
|
461.6
|
22.4
|
Attributable to:
|
|
|
Owners of the company
|
460.2
|
19.6
|
Non-controlling interests
|
1.4
|
2.8
|
|
461.6
|
22.4
|
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Year ended 31 March 2016
|
Equity attributable to owners of the company
|
|
|
|
Share
capital
|
Share
premium
|
Other
reserves
|
Retained
earnings
|
Total
|
Non-controlling interests
|
Total
equity
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
At 1 April 2014
|
233.9
|
94.2
|
82.2
|
667.3
|
1,077.6
|
12.5
|
1,090.1
|
Restatement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(54.3)
|
(54.3)
|
-
|
(54.3)
|
At 1 April 2014 after restatement
|
233.9
|
94.2
|
82.2
|
613.0
|
1,023.3
|
12.5
|
1,035.8
|
Profit for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
119.1
|
119.1
|
1.1
|
120.2
|
Losses on cash flow hedges
|
-
|
-
|
(13.8)
|
-
|
(13.8)
|
-
|
(13.8)
|
Deferred tax on losses on cash flow hedges
|
-
|
-
|
2.8
|
-
|
2.8
|
-
|
2.8
|
Amounts on cash flow hedges transferred to the income statement
|
-
|
-
|
23.6
|
-
|
23.6
|
-
|
23.6
|
Deferred tax on transfers to the income statement
|
-
|
-
|
(4.7)
|
-
|
(4.7)
|
-
|
(4.7)
|
Exchange movement on translation of overseas results and net assets
|
-
|
-
|
7.2
|
-
|
7.2
|
1.7
|
8.9
|
Net actuarial losses
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(143.4)
|
(143.4)
|
-
|
(143.4)
|
Tax on net actuarial losses
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
28.8
|
28.8
|
-
|
28.8
|
Total comprehensive income for the period
|
-
|
-
|
15.1
|
4.5
|
19.6
|
2.8
|
22.4
|
Share options and LTIPs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- proceeds from shares issued
|
0.7
|
6.0
|
-
|
-
|
6.7
|
-
|
6.7
|
- value of employees' services
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7.7
|
7.7
|
-
|
7.7
|
- own shares purchased
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(5.9)
|
(5.9)
|
-
|
(5.9)
|
Current tax on share based payments
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
-
|
0.7
|
Deferred tax on share based payments
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(0.1)
|
(0.1)
|
-
|
(0.1)
|
Share buy back
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(100.0)
|
(100.0)
|
-
|
(100.0)
|
Share cancellation
|
(0.9)
|
-
|
0.9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Transfer
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
(0.5)
|
-
|
Dividends paid
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(196.9)
|
(196.9)
|
(1.4)
|
(198.3)
|
At 31 March 2015 after restatement
|
233.7
|
100.2
|
98.2
|
323.5
|
755.6
|
13.4
|
769.0
|
Profit for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
330.0
|
330.0
|
1.3
|
331.3
|
Losses on cash flow hedges
|
-
|
-
|
(2.7)
|
-
|
(2.7)
|
-
|
(2.7)
|
Deferred tax on losses on cash flow hedges
|
-
|
-
|
0.4
|
-
|
0.4
|
-
|
0.4
|
Amounts on cash flow hedges transferred to the income statement
|
-
|
-
|
12.2
|
-
|
12.2
|
-
|
12.2
|
Deferred tax on transfers to the income statement
|
-
|
-
|
(2.2)
|
-
|
(2.2)
|
-
|
(2.2)
|
Exchange movement on translation of overseas results and net assets
|
-
|
-
|
(1.2)
|
-
|
(1.2)
|
0.1
|
(1.1)
|
Cumulative exchange losses transferred to income statement
|
-
|
-
|
11.7
|
-
|
11.7
|
-
|
11.7
|
Net actuarial gains
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
148.3
|
148.3
|
-
|
148.3
|
Tax on net actuarial gains
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(26.7)
|
(26.7)
|
-
|
(26.7)
|
Deferred tax arising from rate change
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(9.6)
|
(9.6)
|
-
|
(9.6)
|
Total comprehensive income for the period
|
-
|
-
|
18.2
|
442.0
|
460.2
|
1.4
|
461.6
|
Share options and LTIPs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- proceeds from shares issued
|
0.7
|
6.6
|
-
|
-
|
7.3
|
-
|
7.3
|
- value of employees' services
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5.2
|
5.2
|
-
|
5.2
|
- own shares purchased
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(4.6)
|
(4.6)
|
-
|
(4.6)
|
Current tax on share based payments
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
-
|
1.2
|
Deferred tax on share based payments
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(0.5)
|
(0.5)
|
-
|
(0.5)
|
Share buy back
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(10.0)
|
(10.0)
|
-
|
(10.0)
|
Share cancellation
|
(0.1)
|
-
|
0.1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Disposal of minority interest
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(13.7)
|
(13.7)
|
Dividends paid
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(197.0)
|
(197.0)
|
-
|
(197.0)
|
At 31 March 2016
|
234.3
|
106.8
|
116.5
|
559.8
|
1,017.4
|
1.1
|
1,018.5
|
Consolidated balance sheet
At 31 March 2016
|
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
|
|
Restated
|
|
Note
|
£m
|
£m
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
14.8
|
14.3
|
Other intangible assets
|
|
72.2
|
69.3
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
|
7,718.6
|
7,531.7
|
Interests in joint ventures and associates
|
|
5.1
|
4.6
|
Derivative financial assets
|
|
40.2
|
13.5
|
Available for sale financial assets
|
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
|
|
7,851.0
|
7,633.5
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
Inventory
|
|
21.0
|
16.7
|
Trade and other receivables
|
|
516.6
|
492.0
|
Current tax receivable
|
|
-
|
9.3
|
Derivative financial assets
|
|
0.7
|
13.5
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
55.2
|
176.7
|
Assets held for sale
|
8
|
-
|
107.9
|
|
|
593.5
|
816.1
|
Total assets
|
|
8,444.5
|
8,449.6
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
Borrowings
|
|
(280.6)
|
(463.0)
|
Derivative financial liabilities
|
|
(1.1)
|
(32.2)
|
Trade and other payables
|
|
(450.0)
|
(494.0)
|
Current income tax liabilities
|
|
(11.1)
|
-
|
Provisions for liabilities and charges
|
|
(12.3)
|
(15.9)
|
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale
|
8
|
-
|
(35.3)
|
|
|
(755.1)
|
(1,040.4)
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
Borrowings
|
|
(4,626.1)
|
(4,463.7)
|
Derivative financial liabilities
|
|
(178.0)
|
(175.1)
|
Trade and other payables
|
|
(874.9)
|
(823.0)
|
Deferred tax
|
|
(664.7)
|
(691.0)
|
Retirement benefit obligations
|
10
|
(309.5)
|
(468.9)
|
Provisions for liabilities and charges
|
|
(17.7)
|
(18.5)
|
|
|
(6,670.9)
|
(6,640.2)
|
Total liabilities
|
|
(7,426.0)
|
(7,680.6)
|
Net assets
|
|
1,018.5
|
769.0
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
Called up share capital
|
|
234.3
|
233.7
|
Share premium account
|
|
106.8
|
100.2
|
Other reserves
|
|
116.5
|
98.2
|
Retained earnings
|
|
559.8
|
323.5
|
Equity attributable to owners of the company
|
|
1,017.4
|
755.6
|
Non-controlling interests
|
|
1.1
|
13.4
|
Total equity
|
|
1,018.5
|
769.0
|
Consolidated cash flow statement
Year ended 31 March 2016
|
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
Note
|
£m
|
£m
|
Cash generated from operations
|
11
|
797.5
|
760.1
|
Tax received
|
|
11.5
|
10.5
|
Tax paid
|
|
(44.9)
|
(39.1)
|
Net cash generated from operating activities
|
|
764.1
|
731.5
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
Interest received
|
|
5.3
|
1.8
|
Net cash inflow from sale of businesses
|
8
|
45.7
|
-
|
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
|
|
10.8
|
11.6
|
Purchases of intangible assets
|
|
(24.3)
|
(17.7)
|
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
|
|
(431.4)
|
(446.2)
|
Contributions and grants received
|
|
34.9
|
36.2
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
(359.0)
|
(414.3)
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
|
Interest paid
|
|
(188.1)
|
(213.1)
|
Payments to close out interest rate swaps
|
|
-
|
(139.2)
|
Interest element of finance lease payments
|
|
(6.8)
|
(6.9)
|
Dividends paid to owners of the company
|
|
(197.0)
|
(196.9)
|
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
|
|
-
|
(1.4)
|
Repayments of borrowings
|
|
(924.6)
|
(334.2)
|
Repayments of obligations under finance leases
|
|
(62.8)
|
(21.2)
|
New loans raised
|
|
926.7
|
685.0
|
Issue of shares
|
|
7.3
|
6.7
|
Share buy back
|
|
(92.5)
|
(17.5)
|
Purchase of own shares
|
|
(4.6)
|
(5.9)
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
|
(542.4)
|
(244.6)
|
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(137.3)
|
72.6
|
Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
196.0
|
123.2
|
Effect of foreign exchange rates
|
|
(3.5)
|
0.2
|
Amounts included in assets held for sale
|
8
|
-
|
(19.3)
|
Net cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
55.2
|
176.7
|
Net cash and cash equivalents comprise:
|
|
|
|
Cash at bank and in hand
|
|
23.4
|
24.9
|
Short term deposits
|
|
31.8
|
151.8
|
Net cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
55.2
|
176.7
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period includes £19.3 million which was
classified as assets held for sale (see note 8).
Notes
1 Basis of preparation
a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS), International Accounting Standards (IAS) and IFRIC interpretations issued and effective and ratified by the
European Union as at 31 March 2016 and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS as
adopted by the European Union.
The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis under the historical cost
convention as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair
value.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the
reported amount of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on management's best
knowledge of the amount, event or actions, actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates.
The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute the company's
statutory accounts, within the meaning of section 430 of the Companies Act 2006, for the years ended 31 March 2016 or 2015, but
is derived from those accounts. While the financial information included within this announcement has been prepared in accordance
with the recognition and measurement criteria of IFRS, it does not comply with the disclosure requirements of IFRS. Statutory
accounts for 2015 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for 2016 will be delivered following the company's
annual general meeting. The auditors have reported on those accounts; their reports were unqualified and did not contain
statements under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
The auditors have consented to the publication of the Preliminary Announcement as required by
Listing Rule 9.7a having completed their procedures under APB bulletin 2008/2.
b) Prior year restatement
The comparative balance sheet has been restated to reflect a reclassification between property
plant and equipment and non-current trade and other payables. Contributions which had been received in previous years in relation
to infrastructure assets, and which had a carrying value of £294.5 million as at 31 March 2014 were identified as being deducted
from the carrying value of property, plant and equipment. In order to comply with the requirements of IAS 16 and IAS 18,
these contributions have been reclassified from property, plant and equipment to non-current trade and other payables.
Whilst finalising the proposed adjustments, it was noted that amortisation was not charged on
these contributions before 2004 when the accounting treatment was clarified and therefore an additional £13.5m of amortisation
has been credited to opening retained earnings.
In addition, the restated balances result in an increased total tax liability of £67.8 million
(£1.9 million current tax and £65.9 million deferred tax) as the carrying value of the underlying infrastructure assets
previously shown net reduced the deferred tax liability previously calculated and there were other non-material adjustments to
deferred tax arising from leases and financial instruments. The total tax restatement of £67.8 million was charged to opening
retained earnings.
Property, plant and equipment and other intangible fixed assets have been analysed to disclose
separately the carrying value of assets under construction. This resulted in a further adjustment between property, plant and
equipment and other intangible fixed assets of £2.6 million.
The adjustment to the opening balances at 1 April 2014 is:
|
Property plant and equipment
|
Other intangible assets
|
Current tax receivable
|
Deferred income
|
Deferred tax
|
Retained earnings
|
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
At 31 March 2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As previously stated
|
7,023.5
|
80.2
|
16.5
|
(491.9)
|
(654.0)
|
667.3
|
Impact of amounts transferred to deferred income
|
291.9
|
2.6
|
(1.9)
|
(281.0)
|
(65.9)
|
(54.3)
|
As restated
|
7,315.4
|
82.8
|
14.6
|
(772.9)
|
(719.9)
|
613.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 March 2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As previously stated
|
7,239.8
|
66.7
|
11.2
|
(542.0)
|
(625.1)
|
377.8
|
Impact of amounts transferred to deferred income
|
291.9
|
2.6
|
(1.9)
|
(281.0)
|
(65.9)
|
(54.3)
|
As restated
|
7,531.7
|
69.3
|
9.3
|
(823.0)
|
(691.0)
|
323.5
|
2 Segmental analysis
The group is organised into two main business segments:
Regulated Water and Waste Water includes the wholesale water and waste water activities of the
group's regulated subsidiary Severn Trent Water Limited and its retail services to domestic customers.
Business Services includes the group's Operating Services businesses in the US and the UK,
Severn Trent Water Limited's non-household retail activities and the group's renewable energy business.
In the prior year results all of Severn Trent Water Limited's activities comprised a single
segment and Severn Trent Services comprised the group's Operating Services and Water Purification businesses. Comparative
information for the new segmentation is not available and the cost to develop it would be excessive. Therefore the current year
results have been presented on both the old basis and new basis of segmentation in accordance with IFRS 8.
The Water Purification business was classified as a discontinued operation in the year ended 31
March 2015 and the sale of this business was completed on 2 July 2015. The prior year segmental results have been restated to
present the Water Purification business as a discontinued operation.
a) Segmental results
The tables below shows the changes from the old to the new segmentation for turnover and PBIT
for the year ended 31 March 2016:
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Renewable energy (regulated)1
|
Non household retail2
|
Additional inter-segment sales3
|
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
External sales
|
1,548.5
|
(17.5)
|
(391.3)
|
-
|
1,139.7
|
Inter-segment sales
|
1.7
|
-
|
-
|
364.7
|
366.4
|
Total sales
|
1,550.2
|
(17.5)
|
(391.3)
|
364.7
|
1,506.1
|
Profit before interest, tax and exceptional items
|
520.3
|
(17.6)
|
(10.6)
|
-
|
492.1
|
Exceptional items (see note 3)
|
1.0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.0
|
Profit before interest and tax
|
521.3
|
(17.6)
|
(10.6)
|
-
|
493.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Services
|
Severn Trent Services
|
Renewable energy (regulated and non-regulated)1
|
Non household retail2
|
Additional inter-segment sales4
|
Business Services
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
External sales
|
233.1
|
30.7
|
391.3
|
-
|
655.1
|
Inter-segment sales
|
0.1
|
3.3
|
-
|
16.1
|
19.5
|
Total sales
|
233.2
|
34.0
|
391.3
|
16.1
|
674.6
|
Profit before interest, tax and exceptional items
|
10.7
|
16.9
|
10.6
|
-
|
38.2
|
Profit before interest and tax
|
10.7
|
16.9
|
10.6
|
-
|
38.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate and Other
|
Corporate and Other (old basis)
|
Renewable energy (non-regulated)1
|
Non household retail2
|
Additional inter-segment sales
|
Corporate and Other (new basis)
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
External sales
|
5.2
|
(5.2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Inter-segment sales
|
6.5
|
(3.3)
|
-
|
-
|
3.2
|
Total sales
|
11.7
|
(8.5)
|
-
|
-
|
3.2
|
Loss before interest, tax and exceptional items
|
(8.6)
|
0.7
|
-
|
-
|
(7.9)
|
Profit before interest and tax
|
(8.6)
|
0.7
|
-
|
-
|
(7.9)
|
2 Segmental analysis (continued)
1. The electricity generating assets owned by Severn Trent's regulated and
non-regulated businesses are now managed by the Business Services segment. Business Services external sales includes £8 million
of income that was treated as a reduction in operating costs in Severn Trent Water
2. Management of Severn Trent Water's non-household retail activities has been
transferred to the Business Services segment
3. The additional inter-segment sales in Regulated Water and Waste Water represent
the wholesale water and waste water charges to non-household retail within Business Services
4. The additional inter-segment sales in Business Services represent sales from the
Regulated Renewable Energy business to Regulated Water and Waste Water
The following table shows the segmental turnover and PBIT on the old segmentation:
|
2016
|
|
2015
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Severn Trent Services
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Severn Trent Services
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
External sales
|
1,548.5
|
233.1
|
|
1,579.1
|
216.2
|
Inter-segment sales
|
1.7
|
0.1
|
|
2.1
|
0.1
|
Total sales
|
1,550.2
|
233.2
|
|
1,581.2
|
216.3
|
Profit before interest, tax and exceptional items
|
520.3
|
10.7
|
|
539.0
|
9.7
|
Exceptional items
|
1.0
|
-
|
|
(20.6)
|
1.9
|
Profit before interest and tax
|
521.3
|
10.7
|
|
518.4
|
11.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit before interest, tax and exceptional items is stated after:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortisation of intangible assets
|
20.0
|
1.7
|
|
22.2
|
1.0
|
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
|
290.3
|
3.2
|
|
276.7
|
3.5
|
Profit on disposal of fixed assets
|
(3.0)
|
(0.1)
|
|
(0.4)
|
(0.1)
|
Segmental underlying PBIT is reconciled to the group's profit before tax as follows:
Year ended 31 March
|
2016
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
|
(new basis)
|
(old basis)
|
|
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Underlying PBIT:
|
|
|
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
-
|
520.3
|
539.0
|
|
Severn Trent Services
|
-
|
10.7
|
9.7
|
|
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
492.1
|
-
|
-
|
|
Business Services
|
38.2
|
-
|
-
|
|
Corporate and other
|
(7.9)
|
(8.6)
|
(12.1)
|
Consolidation adjustments
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
3.7
|
Group underlying PBIT
|
522.8
|
522.8
|
540.3
|
Exceptional items:
|
|
|
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
-
|
1.0
|
(20.6)
|
|
Severn Trent Services
|
-
|
-
|
1.9
|
|
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
1.0
|
-
|
-
|
Share of results of associates and joint ventures
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
Net finance costs
|
(209.3)
|
(209.3)
|
(240.0)
|
Net gains/(losses) on financial instruments
|
7.7
|
7.7
|
(133.5)
|
Profit before tax
|
322.3
|
322.3
|
148.2
|
2 Segmental analysis
(continued)
b) Segmental capital employed
The tables below show the changes from the old to the new segmentation for capital employed as
at 31 March 2016:
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Renewable energy (regulated)
|
Non household retail
|
Inter-segment payables & receivables
|
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Operating assets
|
8,142.6
|
(59.6)
|
-
|
27.8
|
8,110.8
|
Goodwill
|
1.3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.3
|
Interests in joint ventures and associates
|
0.1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.1
|
Segment assets
|
8,144.0
|
(59.6)
|
-
|
27.8
|
8,112.2
|
Segment operating liabilities
|
(1,555.9)
|
4.0
|
9.6
|
(4.0)
|
(1,546.3)
|
Capital employed
|
6,588.1
|
(55.6)
|
9.6
|
23.8
|
6,565.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Services
|
Severn Trent Services
|
Renewable energy (regulated and non-regulated)
|
Non household retail
|
Inter-segment payables & receivables
|
Business Services
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Operating assets
|
111.0
|
141.1
|
-
|
4.0
|
256.1
|
Goodwill
|
14.8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
14.8
|
Interests in joint ventures and associates
|
5.1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5.1
|
Segment assets
|
130.9
|
141.1
|
-
|
4.0
|
276.0
|
Segment operating liabilities
|
(64.2)
|
(24.2)
|
(9.6)
|
(27.8)
|
(125.8)
|
Capital employed
|
66.7
|
116.9
|
(9.6)
|
(23.8)
|
150.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate and other
|
Corporate and other
|
Renewable energy (non-regulated)
|
Non household retail
|
Inter-segment payables & receivables
|
Corporate and other
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Operating assets
|
110.6
|
(81.5)
|
-
|
-
|
29.1
|
Segment assets
|
110.6
|
(81.5)
|
-
|
-
|
29.1
|
Segment operating liabilities
|
(60.3)
|
20.2
|
-
|
-
|
(40.1)
|
Capital employed
|
50.3
|
(61.3)
|
-
|
-
|
(11.0)
|
The following table shows the segmental capital employed on the old segmentation:
|
2016
|
|
2015
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Severn Trent Services
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Severn Trent Services
|
|
|
|
|
Restated
|
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Operating assets
|
8,142.6
|
111.0
|
|
7,974.4
|
100.9
|
Goodwill
|
1.3
|
14.8
|
|
1.3
|
14.3
|
Interests in joint ventures and associates
|
0.1
|
5.1
|
|
0.1
|
4.5
|
Segment assets
|
8,144.0
|
130.9
|
|
7,975.8
|
119.7
|
Segment operating liabilities
|
(1,555.9)
|
(64.2)
|
|
(1,631.1)
|
(58.8)
|
Capital employed
|
6,588.1
|
66.7
|
|
6,344.7
|
60.9
|
Operating assets comprise other intangible assets, property plant and equipment, inventory and
trade and other receivables.
Operating liabilities comprise trade and other payables, retirement benefit obligations and
provisions.
Capital employed does not include assets held for sale or liabilities associated with assets held
for sale.
2 Segmental analysis (continued)
The tables below show the changes from the old to the new segmentation for additions to other
intangible assets and property plant and equipment as at 31 March 2016:
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Renewable energy (regulated)
|
|
Non household retail
|
Regulated Water and Waste Water
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Other intangible assets
|
21.9
|
-
|
|
-
|
21.9
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
459.1
|
(6.7)
|
|
-
|
452.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Services
|
Severn Trent Services
|
Renewable energy (regulated and non-regulated)
|
|
Non household retail
|
Business Services
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Other intangible assets
|
1.8
|
-
|
|
-
|
1.8
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
2.2
|
36.7
|
|
-
|
38.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate and other
|
Corporate and other
|
Renewable energy (non-regulated)
|
|
Non household retail
|
Corporate and other
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Other intangible assets
|
0.3
|
-
|
|
-
|
0.3
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
30.0
|
(30.0)
|
|
-
|
-
|
The following table shows the additions to other intangible assets and property, plant and
equipment on the old basis:
|
2016
|
|
2015
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Severn Trent Services
|
|
Severn Trent Water
|
Severn Trent Services
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Other intangible assets
|
21.9
|
1.8
|
|
15.4
|
1.0
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
459.1
|
2.2
|
|
481.3
|
2.7
|
3 Exceptional items before tax
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Severn Trent Water
|
|
|
Restructuring costs
|
(1.0)
|
28.3
|
Profit on disposal of fixed assets
|
-
|
(7.7)
|
|
(1.0)
|
20.6
|
Severn Trent Services
|
|
|
Restructuring costs
|
-
|
4.4
|
Release of bad debt provision
|
-
|
(6.3)
|
|
-
|
(1.9)
|
Total exceptional operating items before tax
|
(1.0)
|
18.7
|
Exceptional tax is disclosed in note 6.
4 Net finance costs
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Investment income
|
|
|
Bank deposits
|
0.4
|
0.6
|
Other financial income
|
5.0
|
1.0
|
Total interest revenue
|
5.4
|
1.6
|
Interest income on defined benefit scheme assets
|
67.7
|
80.1
|
Total investment income
|
73.1
|
81.7
|
Finance costs
|
|
|
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts
|
(21.9)
|
(17.1)
|
Interest on other loans
|
(170.6)
|
(201.8)
|
Interest on finance leases
|
(6.8)
|
(6.9)
|
Total borrowing costs
|
(199.3)
|
(225.8)
|
Other financial expenses
|
(0.3)
|
(1.4)
|
Interest cost on defined benefit scheme obligations
|
(82.8)
|
(94.5)
|
Total finance costs
|
(282.4)
|
(321.7)
|
Net finance costs
|
(209.3)
|
(240.0)
|
5 Gains/(losses) on financial
instruments
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Loss on swaps used as hedging instruments in fair value hedges
|
(0.7)
|
(2.6)
|
Loss arising on debt in fair value hedges
|
(1.1)
|
-
|
Exchange (loss)/gain on other loans
|
(32.6)
|
73.3
|
Loss on cash flow hedges transferred from equity
|
(12.2)
|
(23.6)
|
Hedge ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges
|
0.5
|
2.8
|
Gain/(loss) arising on swaps where hedge accounting is not applied
|
53.8
|
(183.4)
|
|
7.7
|
(133.5)
|
6 Taxation
|
|
|
2016
|
|
2015
|
|
Before exceptional tax
|
Exceptional
tax
|
Total
|
|
Total
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
£m
|
Current tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current year at 20% (2015: 21%)
|
57.6
|
-
|
57.6
|
|
46.4
|
Prior years at 21% (2015: 23%)
|
(2.4)
|
-
|
(2.4)
|
|
(8.6)
|
Total current tax
|
55.2
|
-
|
55.2
|
|
37.8
|
Deferred tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
Origination and reversal of temporary differences - current year
|
10.9
|
-
|
10.9
|
|
(11.3)
|
Origination and reversal of temporary differences - prior year
|
2.8
|
-
|
2.8
|
|
6.2
|
Exceptional credit arising from rate change
|
-
|
(78.6)
|
(78.6)
|
|
-
|
Total deferred tax
|
13.7
|
(78.6)
|
(64.9)
|
|
(5.1)
|
|
68.9
|
(78.6)
|
(9.7)
|
|
32.7
|
The current tax charge was £55.2 million (2015: £37.8 million). This includes a credit of £2.4
million (2015: credit of £8.6 million) arising from adjustments to prior year tax computations.
The Finance Act 2015 was enacted in the current year which implemented a reduction in the
corporation tax rate from 20% to 18% with effect from 1 April 2020. This resulted in an additional exceptional deferred tax
credit of £78.6 million in the income statement and a deferred tax charge of £9.6 million in reserves.
A further reduction to 17% with effect from 1 April 2020 has been announced but not yet
substantively enacted. The estimated impact of this rate change will be a reduction in the deferred tax liability of
approximately £37 million.
7 Dividends
Amounts recognised as distributions to owners of the company in the period:
|
2016
|
|
2015
|
|
Pence per share
|
£m
|
|
Pence per share
|
£m
|
Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2015 (2014)
|
50.94
|
121.2
|
|
48.24
|
115.5
|
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016 (2015)
|
32.26
|
75.8
|
|
33.96
|
81.4
|
Total dividends
|
83.20
|
197.0
|
|
82.20
|
196.9
|
Proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016
|
48.40
|
|
|
|
|
The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting
and has not been included as a liability in these financial statements.
8
Discontinued operations
On 23 January 2015 the board approved a process to dispose of the group's Water
Purification business which formed part of the Severn Trent Services segment. These operations were classified as discontinued
and as a disposal group held for sale as at 31 March 2015. The results of discontinued operations are disclosed separately in the
income statement and the assets and liabilities of the disposal group are presented separately in the balance sheet at 31 March
2015.
On 12 May 2015 the group entered into a binding agreement to sell the business to Industrie De
Nora. The sale was completed on 2 July 2015.
The results of the discontinued operations were as follows:
|
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
|
Turnover
|
29.7
|
108.2
|
|
|
Total operating costs
|
(27.6)
|
(103.3)
|
|
|
Profit before tax
|
2.1
|
4.9
|
|
|
Attributable tax expense
|
(0.1)
|
(0.2)
|
|
|
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations
|
(2.7)
|
-
|
|
|
Attributable tax expense on loss on disposal
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
(Loss)/profit for the year
|
(0.7)
|
4.7
|
|
|
Attributable to:
|
|
|
|
|
Owners of the company
|
(0.6)
|
3.7
|
|
|
Non-controlling interests
|
(0.1)
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
(0.7)
|
4.7
|
|
The major classes of assets and liabilities comprising the operations classified as held for sale
were as follows:
|
31 March
|
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
Goodwill
|
1.8
|
Other intangible assets
|
7.2
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
5.0
|
Inventories
|
17.3
|
Trade and other receivables
|
57.3
|
Cash and bank balances
|
19.3
|
Total assets classified as held for sale
|
107.9
|
|
|
Trade and other payables
|
(33.6)
|
Tax liabilities
|
(0.2)
|
Provisions for liabilities and charges
|
(1.5)
|
Total liabilities associated with assets held for sale
|
(35.3)
|
Net assets of disposal group
|
72.6
|
Cash flows arising from the disposal group were as follows:
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Net cash flows attributable to:
|
|
|
- operating activities
|
(0.5)
|
1.8
|
- investing activities
|
(11.6)
|
(2.1)
|
- financing activities
|
(6.4)
|
3.6
|
|
(18.5)
|
3.3
|
8 Discontinued operations
(continued)
Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share from discontinued operations are as
follows:
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Result
|
Weighted average number of shares
|
Per share amount
|
|
Result
|
Weighted
average number of shares
|
Per share
amount
|
|
£m
|
m
|
pence
|
|
£m
|
m
|
pence
|
Basic (loss)/earnings per share
|
(0.6)
|
236.1
|
(0.3)
|
|
3.7
|
238.8
|
1.5
|
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share
|
(0.6)
|
237.2
|
(0.3)
|
|
3.7
|
239.9
|
1.5
|
The net assets of the business at the date of disposal were:
|
£m
|
Goodwill
|
1.8
|
Other intangible assets
|
6.5
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
3.6
|
Investments
|
0.1
|
Inventories
|
14.6
|
Trade and other receivables
|
59.9
|
Cash and bank balances
|
11.0
|
Trade and other payables
|
(36.1)
|
Tax liabilities
|
(0.2)
|
Intercompany borrowings
|
(18.1)
|
Provisions for liabilities and charges
|
(1.5)
|
|
41.6
|
Attributable to:
|
|
Owners of the company
|
27.9
|
Non-controlling interest
|
13.7
|
|
41.6
|
The net loss on disposal is calculated as follows:
|
£m
|
Consideration
|
42.8
|
Net assets attributable to owners of the company
|
(27.9)
|
Disposal costs
|
(4.8)
|
Provisions arising on disposal
|
(1.1)
|
Net gain on disposal before foreign exchange losses
|
9.0
|
Foreign exchange losses recycled from reserves
|
(11.7)
|
Net loss on disposal
|
(2.7)
|
The net cash flows arising from disposal in the year were:
|
£m
|
Consideration received in cash and cash equivalents
|
42.8
|
Settlement of intercompany loans
|
18.1
|
Disposal costs paid in cash and cash equivalents
|
(4.2)
|
Cash and bank balances disposed of
|
(11.0)
|
|
45.7
|
9 Earnings per share
a) Basic and diluted earnings per share
Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary
shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year, excluding those held in the Severn Trent
Employee Share Ownership Trust which are treated as cancelled.
For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is
adjusted to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares.
Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations are calculated
on the basis of profit from continuing and discontinued operations attributable to the equity holders of the company.
The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following
data:
Earnings for the purpose of basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing
operations
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the company
|
330.0
|
119.1
|
Adjusted for loss/(profit) from discontinued operations (see note 8)
|
0.6
|
(3.7)
|
Profit for the period from continuing operations attributable to owners of the
company
|
330.6
|
115.4
|
Number of shares
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
m
|
m
|
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of basic earnings per
share
|
236.1
|
238.8
|
Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares - share options and LTIPs
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted earnings per
share
|
237.2
|
239.9
|
b) Underlying earnings per share from continuing operations
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
pence
|
pence
|
Underlying basic earnings per share
|
108.7
|
107.2
|
Underlying diluted earnings per share
|
108.2
|
106.7
|
Underlying earnings per share figures are presented for continuing operations. These exclude the
effects of deferred tax, exceptional tax, gains/losses on financial instruments, current tax related to gains/losses on financial
instruments, exceptional items and current tax related to exceptional items. The directors consider that the underlying figures
provide a useful additional indicator of performance. The denominators used in the calculations of underlying basic and diluted
earnings per share are the same as those used in the unadjusted figures set out above.
Adjustments to earnings
The adjustments to earnings that are made in calculating underlying earnings per share are as
follows:
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Earnings for the purpose of basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing
operations
|
330.6
|
115.4
|
Adjustments for
|
|
|
- exceptional items before tax
|
(1.0)
|
18.7
|
- current tax related to exceptional items
|
(0.2)
|
(4.7)
|
- gain/loss on financial instruments
|
(7.7)
|
133.5
|
- current tax related to gain/loss on financial instruments
|
(0.2)
|
(1.8)
|
- deferred tax excluding exceptional credit
|
13.7
|
(5.1)
|
- exceptional tax credit
|
(78.6)
|
-
|
Earnings for the purpose of underlying basic and diluted earnings per share
|
256.6
|
256.0
|
10 Retirement benefit obligations
Movements in the present value of the defined benefit obligation were as follows:
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Present value at 1 April
|
(468.9)
|
(348.3)
|
Service cost
|
-
|
(22.8)
|
Past service cost
|
0.7
|
(18.1)
|
Net interest cost
|
(15.1)
|
(14.4)
|
Contributions from the sponsoring companies
|
27.8
|
81.0
|
Actuarial gains/(losses) recognised in the statement of comprehensive income
|
148.3
|
(143.4)
|
Scheme administration costs
|
(2.3)
|
(2.9)
|
Present value at 31 March
|
(309.5)
|
(468.9)
|
The major assumptions used in the valuation of the defined benefit pension schemes were as
follows:
|
2016
|
2015
|
Price inflation
|
3.0%
|
3.0%
|
Pension increases in payment
|
3.0%
|
3.0%
|
Pension increases in deferment
|
3.0%
|
3.0%
|
Discount rate
|
3.6%
|
3.3%
|
Remaining life expectancy for members currently aged 65 (years)
|
|
|
- men
|
21.4
|
21.4
|
- women
|
24.6
|
24.5
|
Remaining life expectancy for members currently aged 45 upon retirement at 65
(years)
|
|
|
- men
|
22.8
|
22.7
|
- women
|
26.1
|
26.1
|
The following table summarises the estimated impact on scheme liabilities resulting from changes
to key actuarial assumptions whilst holding all other assumptions constant:
Assumption
|
Change in assumption
|
Impact on scheme liabilities
|
Discount rate
|
Increase/decrease by 0.1%
|
Decrease/increase by £45 million
|
Price inflation
|
Increase/decrease by 0.1%
|
Decrease/increase by £40 million
|
Mortality
|
Increase in life expectancy by 1 year
|
Increase by £65 million
|
11 Cash flow statement
a) Reconciliation of operating profit to operating cash flows
|
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
|
Profit before interest and tax from continuing operations
|
523.8
|
521.6
|
|
|
(Loss)/profit before interest and tax from discontinued operations
|
(0.6)
|
4.9
|
|
|
Profit before interest and tax
|
523.2
|
526.5
|
|
|
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
|
294.2
|
281.6
|
|
|
Amortisation of intangible assets
|
22.0
|
24.2
|
|
|
Impairment
|
-
|
0.2
|
|
|
Pension service cost
|
(0.7)
|
40.9
|
|
|
Defined benefit pension scheme administration costs
|
2.3
|
2.9
|
|
|
Defined benefit pension scheme contributions
|
(27.8)
|
(81.0)
|
|
|
Share based payments charge
|
5.2
|
7.7
|
|
|
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
|
(0.9)
|
(8.6)
|
|
|
Loss on disposal of businesses
|
2.7
|
-
|
|
|
Deferred income movement
|
(10.5)
|
(10.1)
|
|
|
Provisions charged to the income statement
|
5.9
|
20.0
|
|
|
Utilisation of provisions for liabilities and charges
|
(10.7)
|
(26.0)
|
|
|
Operating cashflows before movements in working capital
|
804.9
|
778.3
|
|
|
Increase in inventory
|
(2.8)
|
(5.7)
|
|
|
Increase in amounts receivable
|
(24.1)
|
(32.5)
|
|
|
Increase in amounts payable
|
19.5
|
20.0
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations
|
797.5
|
760.1
|
|
|
Tax received
|
11.5
|
10.5
|
|
|
Tax paid
|
(44.9)
|
(39.1)
|
|
|
Net cash generated from operating activities
|
764.1
|
731.5
|
|
b) Exceptional cash flows
|
2016
|
2015
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Restructuring costs
|
(4.0)
|
(25.4)
|
Disposal of fixed assets
|
-
|
9.4
|
Disposal of subsidiaries
|
-
|
(3.5)
|
|
(4.0)
|
(19.5)
|
c) Reconciliation of movement in cash and cash equivalents to movement in net debt
|
As at
1 April
2015
|
Cash flow
|
Fair value adjustments
|
RPI uplift on index-linked debt
|
Foreign exchange
|
Other
non cash
movements
|
As at
31 March
2016
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
Net cash and cash equivalents
|
176.7
|
(137.3)
|
-
|
-
|
(3.5)
|
19.3 1
|
55.2
|
Bank loans
|
(1,279.2)
|
30.9
|
-
|
(1.4)
|
-
|
(0.1)
|
(1,249.8)
|
Other loans
|
(3,467.5)
|
(33.0)
|
(1.1)
|
(13.4)
|
(32.6)
|
7.9
|
(3,539.7)
|
Finance leases
|
(180.0)
|
62.8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(117.2)
|
Cross currency swaps
|
(2.6)
|
-
|
39.8
|
-
|
-
|
(9.1)
|
28.1
|
Net debt
|
(4,752.6)
|
(76.6)
|
38.7
|
(14.8)
|
(36.1)
|
18.0
|
(4,823.4)
|
1. Other non cash movements on cash and cash equivalents represent amounts transferred to
assets held for sale in the prior year (see note 8).
12 Contingent liabilities
Bonds and guarantees
Group undertakings have entered into bonds and guarantees in the normal course of business. No
liability is expected to arise in respect of either bonds or guarantees.
The group has given certain guarantees in respect of the borrowings of its associate, Servizio
Idrico Integrato S.c.p.a. The guarantees are limited to €5.1 million (2015: €5.1 million). The group does not expect any
liabilities that are not provided for in these financial statements to arise from these arrangements.
13 Related party transactions
There have been no related party transactions that materially affected the financial position or
performance of the group during the period.
14 Post balance sheet events
Dividends
Following the year end the board of directors has proposed a final dividend of 48.40 pence per
share. Further details of this are shown in note 7.
Water Plus joint venture
On 1 March 2016 the group announced its intention, subject to approval from the Competition and
Markets Authority ('CMA'), to enter into a joint venture with United Utilities PLC to compete in the non-household water and
waste water retail markets in Great Britain. On 3 May 2016 the CMA announced approval of the joint venture. On this date the
group determined that completion of the proposed transaction became highly probable and the non-household retail business was
classified as a disposal group and discontinued operation with effect from this date.
15 Annual report
The annual report will be made available to shareholders in June. Copies may be obtained from
the Company Secretary, Severn Trent Plc, PO Box 5309, Coventry CV3 9FH.
16 Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Ricoh Arena, Phoenix Way, Foleshill, Coventry,
CV6 6GE at 11am on Wednesday 20 July 2016.
Cautionary statement regarding Forward Looking Statements
This document contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, 'forward-looking statements'
with respect to Severn Trent's financial condition, results of operations and business and certain of Severn Trent's plans and
objectives with respect to these items.
Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in
the future or such words as 'anticipates', 'aims', 'due', 'could', 'may', 'will', 'would', 'should', 'expects', 'believes',
'intends', 'plans', 'projects', 'potential', 'reasonably possible', 'targets', 'goal', 'estimates' or words with a similar
meaning, and, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. Any forward-looking statements in this
document are based on Severn Trent's current expectations and, by their very nature, forward-looking statements are inherently
unpredictable, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or
may not occur in the future.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurances can be
given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. There are a number of factors, many of which are
beyond Severn Trent's control, that could cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the Principal Risks
disclosed in our latest (which have not been updated since the date of its publication); changes in the economies and markets in
which the group operates; changes in the regulatory and competition frameworks in which the group operates; the impact of legal
or other proceedings against or which affect the group; and changes in interest and exchange rates.
All written or verbal forward-looking statements, made in this document or made subsequently,
which are attributable to Severn Trent or any other member of the group or persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified
in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this
document will be realised. This document speaks as at the date of publication. Save as required by applicable laws and
regulations, Severn Trent does not intend to update any forward-looking statements and does not undertake any obligation to do
so. Past performance of securities of Severn Trent Plc cannot be relied upon as a guide to the future performance of
securities of Severn Trent Plc.
Nothing in this document should be regarded as a profits forecast.
This document is not an offer to sell, exchange or transfer any securities of Severn Trent Plc
or any of its subsidiaries and is not soliciting an offer to purchase, exchange or transfer such securities in any jurisdiction.
Securities may not be offered, sold or transferred in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended).