TIDMKCOM
RNS Number : 3044Q
KCOM Group PLC
05 June 2018
The following amendment has been made to the KCOM Group PLC
Final Results announcement released on 5 June at 7.00am under RNS
No 2678Q.
The proposed full year dividend per share for the audited year
ended 31 March 2017 should read 6.00 pence.
All other details remain unchanged. The full amended text is
shown below.
5 June 2018
KCOM GROUP PLC (KCOM.L)
Results for the year ended 31 March 2018
KCOM Group PLC (KCOM.L) announces its preliminary full year
results for the year ended 31 March 2018.
Highlights
-- Profit ahead of expectations despite lower revenue
_ EBITDA(1,2) up 1% year on year, driven by multi-year network
rates rebate, higher margins and strong cost control
_ Lower revenue reflects anticipated decline in National Network Services
-- Good progress in Hull & East Yorkshire
_ Revenue up 2% overall
_ Strong performance in Consumer channel, revenue up 4%
_ Full-fibre deployment on target to be available to 100% of addressable market by March 2019
_ More customers taking broadband over full-fibre now than over copper
-- Margin and profit improvement in Enterprise, despite 3% revenue decline
_ Revenue affected by lower government spend, and previously identified software contracts
-- Two software contracts now exited; customer relationship
maintained with new business in place
_ Strengthened management team driving momentum from cloud-based wins and renewals
-- Statutory profit before tax increased by 11.5% reflecting
lower level of exceptional costs partially offset by increased
depreciation and amortisation
-- Net debt(2) increase reflects our capital investment,
including continued investment in fibre
-- Recommended final dividend of 4.00p, to deliver committed
6.00p per share dividend for the full year
-- Existing dividend commitment extended to 2018/19 financial year
Financial highlights
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended Change
31 March 31 March over
2018 2017 prior
GBP'm GBP'm year
-------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
Performance measure
Revenue 301.9 331.3 (8.9%)
EBITDA 68.3 67.6 1.0%
Adjusted basic earnings per share(2)
(pence) 5.26 6.10 (13.8%)
Cash capital expenditure(2) (43.9) (47.2) (7.0%)
Reported results
Profit before tax 34.0 30.5 11.5%
Basic earnings per share (pence) 5.38 4.85 10.9%
Net debt 62.6 42.4 47.6%
Proposed final dividend per share
(pence) 4.00 4.00 -
Proposed full year dividend per
share (pence) 6.00 6.00 -
-------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
(1) EBITDA is stated before exceptional items. All references to
"EBITDA" throughout the remainder of this document are before
exceptional items, except where specifically highlighted in Note
1.
(2) For the definition and purpose of this alternative
performance measure stated here and used subsequently throughout
this document, please see the glossary. The glossary also provides
a reconciliation to the closest equivalent IFRS measure.
Graham Holden, Chairman, said:
"In a challenging environment, we have made continued progress
and have achieved year on year growth in EBITDA and profit before
tax, ahead of our expectations. Our objective remains to deliver
long-term sustainable value for our shareholders. The operating
segments we established last year have allowed us to more clearly
articulate our segments' goals and understand their individual
performance and value. This leads to our continued refinement of
the allocation of investment and resources.
"Our Hull & East Yorkshire performance this year was
particularly pleasing, with our ultrafast fibre deployment firmly
on target for completion next year and another strong performance
secured in our key Consumer market. Enterprise delivered
strengthened margins against a difficult backdrop, largely driven
by an unexpected slowdown in government spending. We remain focused
on capitalising on the growing trend for business applications
moving to the cloud, our Enterprise team's greatest strength.
"We are making good progress with the important work to manage
leadership changes within our business. We are well advanced in our
search for a replacement for our CEO Bill Halbert, who is providing
strong continuity whilst we complete that task. We have also
announced the appointment of Anna Bielby as interim Chief Financial
Officer on 1 July 2018 and have new leadership in place in Hull
& East Yorkshire.
"I am pleased to confirm that the Board is recommending a final
dividend of 4.00 pence per share which, if approved, will bring our
full year dividend to 6.00 pence per share - in line with our
commitment. We are extending the minimum dividend commitment of
6.00 pence per share for the year ending 31 March 2019."
Chief Executive's statement
We have continued to execute against our operating plans -
progressing our fibre deployment in Hull & East Yorkshire,
improving brand awareness, market position and margins in
Enterprise, and managing National Network Services for value. The
respective segment strategies and plans were outlined at the
Capital Markets Day on 1 February 2018, where we highlighted also
the strengths of the Group and areas of focus. We provided further
detail on our plans to invest in, and transform KCOM's network and
other key assets and capabilities.
We have continued to establish sustainable momentum across the
business:
-- Overall Group profit performance was resilient, reflecting
the strength of our Hull & East Yorkshire segment. EBITDA was
GBP68.3 million (2017: GBP67.6 million) and statutory profit before
tax was GBP34.0 million (2017: GBP30.5 million).
-- Revenue (GBP301.9 million) was held back mainly by the
anticipated decline in legacy activities within National Network
Services. Enterprise experienced an unexpected slowdown in
government spend and was affected also by previously disclosed
software contract issues, but succeeded in delivering a
strengthened margin performance, while achieving important new wins
and renewals.
In order to maximise opportunities and returns in our Enterprise
segment, the Board has adopted a higher appetite for risk than in
our other go-to-market segments. From time to time risks will
materialise. This year we have incurred contract losses of GBP5.3
million (2017: GBP3.7 million) with one particular customer. We
have performed a review of both the factors which led to the issues
encountered on these contracts, and the lessons learnt. This has
resulted in a number of targeted improvements to the governance of
our Enterprise contracts and a specific and ongoing transformation
project to strengthen our project delivery capability.
Moving into the next financial year, we look forward to
completing our fibre deployment in Hull & East Yorkshire and
are focused on building further market opportunities to maximise
the value of our growing Enterprise capability, particularly as
customers continue the trend to move business applications into the
cloud environment, an area of significant strength for our
Enterprise team.
The operating segments we established in the prior year allow
for a better understanding of segmental performance and clearer
communication of the segmental operating plans through to
performance. We will continue activity that will allow us to show
greater granularity of segmental performance and value and to
support further reductions in operating costs. As part of this, we
will continue the investment in the transformation of our network
as well as accelerating the simplification and upgrading of our IT
estate. Those activities will include further exceptional
costs.
The combined output from those activities should enhance our
ability to deliver long-term sustainable cash generation alongside
future opportunities to maximise shareholder value.
Outlook
We remain confident about our prospects in the medium-term. Our
investment in network, systems and processes will underpin
long-term sustainable value, greater understanding of segmental
performance and a simplified operating model.
As we make fibre available to 100% of our addressable Hull &
East Yorkshire market over the next year, we will evaluate and
develop the next wave of services to maximise returns on that
investment.
In Enterprise, the investment we have made in management, key
skills and partnerships is expected to generate growth in the
medium-term adding to the already growing proportion of recurring
revenues. We continue to manage National Network Services for value
having tightened its strategic focus over the last year.
The recommended final dividend of 4.00 pence, when combined with
the interim dividend of 2.00 pence, sees the Group deliver once
again on its commitment to a minimum 6.00 pence full year dividend.
The Board is pleased to announce the extension of the existing
dividend commitment for an additional year.
For further information please contact:
KCOM Group PLC 01482 602 595
Bill Halbert, Chief Executive Officer
Jane Aikman, Chief Financial Officer
Cathy Phillips, Investor Relations
FTI Consulting LLP 020 3727 1137
Edward Bridges
Matt Dixon
Jamie Ricketts
Leah Dudley
Performance review
Group performance
The results for the year show an increase in EBITDA (up 1% to
GBP68.3 million) and an anticipated decline in Group revenue (down
9% to GBP301.9 million), largely driven by the expected decline in
National Network Services.
Our Hull & East Yorkshire segment continues to perform well
and during the year we saw growth across core channels, supporting
the cash generation of the Group. Fibre take-up remains strong and
we have reached the milestone where more of our broadband customers
are taking the service on fibre than on copper.
Despite some in-year challenges, the Enterprise segment offers
an important opportunity for growth. We are continuing to develop
and refine the articulation of our propositions and to win the
trust of new and existing customers, with a particular emphasis on
our core capabilities around cloud-based implementation and Contact
and Collaboration services.
Our National Network Services segment has seen an expected
reduction in both revenue and contribution(1) . We will continue to
manage this segment for value focusing on growing those areas where
we can differentiate our propositions.
In the year ended 31 March 2017, we refined our operating
segments in order to report three distinct customer segments,
namely; Hull & East Yorkshire, Enterprise and National Network
Services. Those segments allow for a better understanding of
segmental performance and clearer communication of the Group's
strategy through to performance. As communicated at our recent
Capital Markets Day each segment has a clearly defined go-to-market
plan, under the common KCOM brand. We began an exercise midway
through last year to allocate our shared costs to the go-to-market
segments, in order to understand more clearly performance at this
level. Certain costs are more easily allocated at a segment or
customer level. Other costs (such as network and IT infrastructure)
are more difficult to allocate due to their nature and the
complexity of our processes and systems. We have allocated those
costs based on our best available information.
This significant piece of work continues, with the next stage
focused on a better understanding of our market segments in order
to enable us to maximise value. With that in mind, and to continue
to drive down our costs, we are investing in the transformation of
our network and are accelerating the simplification and upgrading
of our IT estate. We expect capital expenditure to peak next year
as we focus on those important investments.
Exceptional items show a net credit of GBP0.7 million (2017:
GBP8.0 million charge) due to a regulatory settlement and a
reduction in the level of restructuring. In the prior year, we saw
a high level of exceptional restructuring costs (2017: GBP7.3
million) as we undertook significant transformation in order to
create a simplified Group with an appropriate cost base and
investment aligned to market opportunities. Transformation
activities continued through the year although we have incurred
much lower restructuring costs (2018: GBP1.6 million).
In line with our accounting policy, regulatory items are shown
as exceptional. Restructuring items are shown as exceptional, where
they relate directly to the transformation of the business. After
careful consideration the directors believe that the following two
items should not be classified as exceptional:
-- Contract losses relating to certain complex software
contracts in our Enterprise segment (GBP5.3 million). These have
been excluded from exceptional items since they arose as part of
the normal course of business.
-- Multi-year rebate on network infrastructure hereditament
(rateable value) (GBP4.4 million). This has been excluded from
exceptional items since we expect items of this nature to occur
from time to time in the ordinary course of business. In addition,
previous charges (for which the rebate has been awarded) were
themselves not exceptional items and therefore presentation of the
rebate as exceptional would not assist comparisons with previous
periods.
Year end net debt was GBP62.6 million (31 March 2017: GBP42.4
million), with the increase on the prior year largely a result of
capital investment, including the continued investment in the Hull
& East Yorkshire infrastructure.
(1) For the definition and purpose of the alternative
performance measure stated here and used subsequently throughout
this document, please see the glossary. The glossary also provides
a reconciliation to the closest equivalent IFRS measure.
Segmental analysis
Management makes decisions and manages the business in line with
the segmental analysis set out below. This information is presented
before exceptional items in order to provide a better understanding
of underlying performance. A reconciliation of the Group's
pre-exceptional results is set out in Note 1. The definition of
contribution is set out in the glossary.
Hull & East Yorkshire
A stable, income-generating segment focused on our regional
market. Our plan is to achieve growth through continued broadband
penetration, fibre take-up and the introduction of additional
services enabled by our investment in the market leading full fibre
network.
Unaudited Unaudited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'm GBP'm
----------------- ------------- -------------
Revenue
Consumer 58.5 56.1
Business 30.5 29.6
Wholesale 10.8 11.0
----------------- ------------- -------------
Core channels 99.8 96.7
Media 1.9 2.4
Contact Centres 2.5 3.2
----------------- ------------- -------------
Total revenue 104.2 102.3
----------------- ------------- -------------
Gross margin 85.4 78.5
----------------- ------------- -------------
Contribution 65.7 60.4
----------------- ------------- -------------
The Hull & East Yorkshire segment performed strongly during
the year and has progressed in line with the strategy.
Consumer revenue has increased by 4% compared to the prior year.
Our fibre deployment has enabled us to access more customers, with
a net additional 2,700 broadband (copper and fibre) customers
during the year.
Key metrics relating to our broadband market are as follows:
Unaudited Unaudited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 31 Mar Change
2018 2017
------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ --------------
Overall broadband penetration of
customer base 2 percentage
(fibre and copper) % 85% 83% points
% of broadband customers taking a 21 percentage
fibre service 54% 33% points
Broadband Average Revenue Per User
(ARPU) per month (GBP) GBP35.17 GBP33.77 4%
------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ --------------
The success of our ultrafast Fibre to the Premise offering
continues. A summary of our progress is below:
Unaudited Unaudited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
-------------------------------------------- --------------- ---------------
Total fibre availability (premises
passed) 164,000 137,000
Total number of fibre customers (including
businesses) 67,000 (3,500) 43,000 (2,800)
Availability delivered during current
year (premises passed) 27,000 45,000
Premises connected to fibre during
the year (net) 24,000 19,000
--------------------------------------------- --------------- ---------------
Within our fibre enabled areas, 64% of broadband customers are
taking a fibre service.
We expect to complete our full fibre deployment (premises
passed) by March 2019 at a total cost of cGBP80.0 million, a
further cGBP5.0 million will be incurred in 2020 in order to
continue to connect customers.
Business revenue has increased by 3% compared to the prior year.
This growth has been underpinned by our fibre proposition with a
further 700 Business customers connected in the year, alongside an
increase in project revenues.
Our Wholesale channel has reported broadly flat revenue with
some stabilisation in the rate of decline seen in previous
years.
As anticipated and signalled previously, our non-core Media and
Contact Centres revenues have continued to decline. We closed our
outsourced Contact Centres on 31 March 2018 following the end of
our largest customer contract.
Contribution has increased compared to the prior year, with the
current year including the benefit of a multi-year rebate on
network infrastructure hereditament (rateable value) (GBP4.4
million). The prior year results include a one off supplier credit
(GBP1.0 million).
Enterprise
Our opportunity for growth in shareholder value. Our focus is to
increase both scale and capability in the provision of
cloud-enabled solutions to the enterprise market.
Unaudited Unaudited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'm GBP'm
----------------- ------------- -------------
Revenue
Projects 35.5 48.3
Managed Service 39.8 30.5
Network 13.0 12.2
----------------- ------------- -------------
Total revenue 88.3 91.0
----------------- ------------- -------------
Gross margin 29.9 25.6
----------------- ------------- -------------
Contribution 5.1 4.5
----------------- ------------- -------------
Overall revenue for the year decreased by 3% year on year. This
principally relates to Projects where revenue was affected by
unexpected lower public sector spending (as a result of the UK
General Election and Brexit), alongside the mutually agreed exit of
two previously identified complex software contracts, which
incurred contract losses of GBP5.3 million (2017: GBP3.7 million).
Following the mutual exit of these contracts, we continue to work
with this customer on new projects.
Despite the challenges above, we continue to see the translation
of prior year Project activity into
annuity-based revenue through existing relationships. We
continue to build relationships with key customers such as HMRC and
NFUM both of whom have renewed and extended contracts during the
year. Revenue from our top five customers has grown by 5% compared
to the prior year.
Contracts were signed with a number of new customers including
Jaguar Land Rover, InterDigital, SES Water and ITSO, all of which
exploit our cloud capability. We have now joined the Google Cloud
Partner Programme adding to our strong relationships with Amazon
Web Services and Microsoft Azure.
We have continued to invest in the Enterprise management team
and delivery capability which has driven an increased contribution
through higher gross margin alongside tighter cost control.
National Network Services
Our national, connectivity-based segment, where we seek to
maximise the value from our national network infrastructure with a
tight focus on mid-market customers' requirements for
connectivity-based services.
Unaudited Unaudited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'm GBP'm
----------------- ------------- -------------
Revenue
SMB 51.9 52.6
Partners 33.9 41.8
Large Corporate 27.4 47.4
----------------- ------------- -------------
Total revenue 113.2 141.8
----------------- ------------- -------------
Gross margin 32.0 41.0
----------------- ------------- -------------
Contribution 9.0 16.0
----------------- ------------- -------------
As anticipated, we have seen a decrease in revenue compared to
the prior year. The majority of this decline has come from Large
Corporate customers taking legacy services which we no longer sell.
There has also been a reduction in Partners revenue relating to
anticipated customer churn, alongside the continuing industry wide
change in the mix of services in intelligent numbering (e.g. the
movement to 03 numbers). As a consequence of this, contribution
also reduced compared to the prior year.
During the year, we have tightened our focus on the larger end
of the mid-market (SMB), where we can provide more value. We have
seen continued success in the provision of managed wide area
network (WAN) connectivity services to multi-site organisations,
including the deployment to 900 retail convenience stores
nationally for One Stop stores.
We are now focusing on core customer segments supporting the
provision of WANs, a specific public sector opportunity relating to
the delivery of Health and Social Care Networks (HSCN) and call
management services.
Central
Central costs include PLC and corporate costs, where allocation
to the underlying segments would not improve understanding of those
segments. These include costs associated with our defined benefit
pension obligations and share schemes, along with the residual
Group cost of finance, HR, risk, legal and communications, once
appropriate recharges have been made to the three go-to-market
segments.
Central costs have decreased from GBP13.2 million in the prior
year to GBP11.5 million, largely as a result of headcount
reduction.
EBITDA reconciliation
A reconciliation of EBITDA to its closest statutory measure
(profit before tax) is set out below. Further details can be found
in the glossary.
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'm GBP'm
---------------------------------- ------------- -------------
EBITDA 68.3 67.6
Exceptional items 0.7 (7.9)
Depreciation (16.9) (14.3)
Amortisation (15.7) (12.6)
Finance costs (2.4) (2.3)
Share of profit before associate 0.0 0.0
---------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Profit before tax 34.0 30.5
---------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Exceptional items
The Group benefitted from a net exceptional credit of GBP0.7
million during the year. This comprises:
-- a credit of GBP2.4 million from an industry wide settlement
which arose as a result of a breach in BT Openreach's contractual
and regulatory obligations relating to compensation for misapplying
'Deemed Consent'; offset by
-- restructuring costs of GBP1.6 million including redundancy
costs for the closure of our outsourced Contact Centre business and
the improvement of our project delivery capability in line with our
strategic growth plans.
Capital investment
Cash capital expenditure during the period was GBP43.9 million
(2017: GBP47.2 million), slightly below previous guidance. The
major project in the period was the continued deployment of fibre
in Hull & East Yorkshire.
We expect capital expenditure to increase (to cGBP50.0 million)
in the year ending 31 March 2019 due to continued investment in
transforming our network and improving our underlying systems and
processes, in part to allow greater understanding of segmental
performance.
The Group's depreciation and amortisation charge for the period
is GBP32.6 million (2017: GBP26.9 million), the increase resulting
from the higher capital investment in recent years, which has an
ongoing impact on profit before tax.
Net debt and cash flow
Year end net debt is GBP62.6 million (31 March 2017: GBP42.4
million), representing a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.9x.
The increase in net debt compared to the prior year end position
arises principally as a result of dividend payments and continued
capital investment (in particular fibre deployment in Hull &
East Yorkshire).
Trade debtors and creditors continue to be well controlled. Days
Sales' Outstanding (30) is broadly consistent with the prior year
(27) and our Days' Purchases Outstanding shows a slight increase on
the 31 March 2017 position. Our underlying working capital(1)
movement shows a small outflow of GBP2.4 million which reflects the
timing of one significant customer's payments at the year end
compared to the prior year.
(1) For the definition and purpose of the alternative
performance measure stated here and used subsequently throughout
this document, please see the glossary. The glossary also provides
a reconciliation to the closest equivalent IFRS measure.
Dividend
The Group's proposed dividend is 4.00 pence per share (31 March
2017: 4.00 pence), which is consistent with the Board's previously
stated commitment to pay a total dividend of no less than 6.00
pence for the year ending 31 March 2018. The dividend, if approved
by shareholders, will be paid on 3 August 2018 to shareholders
registered on 22 June 2018. The ex-dividend date is 21 June
2018.
Pensions
The year end IAS 19 pension liability is GBP7.5 million (31
March 2017: GBP19.7 million). The decrease from 31 March 2017
principally arises, as a result of slight changes in assumptions
(GBP3.5 million) alongside contributions to the schemes (GBP9.5
million).
The agreed level of deficit repair payments across both schemes
is GBP6.7 million (rising in line with CPI until the year ending 31
March 2020 for the Data scheme and 31 March 2022 for the Main
scheme). In addition, the Group makes pre-agreed payments to its
pension schemes through the asset backed partnership. The full year
payment for both the current year and prior year is GBP2.7
million.
Tax
The Group's tax charge including the impact of prior year items
is GBP6.6 million (31 March 2017: GBP5.7 million). The effective
tax rate is 19.3%, broadly in line with the prevailing rate of
corporation tax .
Consolidated income statement
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
Note GBP'000 GBP'000
Revenue 1 301,898 331,303
Operating expenses (265,462) (298,547)
----------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Operating profit 36,436 32,756
Finance costs 3 (2,399) (2,263)
Share of profit of associates 12 12
----------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Profit before taxation 1 34,049 30,505
Taxation 4 (6,571) (5,743)
----------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Profit for the year attributable to owners
of the parent 27,478 24,762
----------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Operating profit analysed as:
EBITDA before exceptional items 1 68,270 67,645
Exceptional credits 2 2,361 -
Exceptional charges 2 (1,638) (7,981)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (16,906) (14,279)
Amortisation of intangible assets (15,651) (12,629)
Earnings per share
Basic 5 5.38p 4.85p
Diluted 5 5.33p 4.81p
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
Note GBP'000 GBP'000
Profit for the year 27,478 24,762
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Items that will not be reclassified to
profit or loss
Remeasurements of retirement benefit
obligations 7 4,203 (12,035)
Tax on items that will not be reclassified (715) 1,738
-------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Total items that will not be reclassified
to profit or loss 3,488 (10,297)
-------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Total comprehensive income for the year
attributable to owners of the parent 30,966 14,465
-------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Consolidated balance sheet
Unaudited Audited
as at as at
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
Note GBP'000 GBP'000
Assets
Non-current assets
Goodwill 51,372 51,372
Other intangible assets 36,816 45,709
Property, plant and equipment 122,928 106,323
Investments 46 45
Deferred tax assets 4,376 7,836
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
215,538 211,285
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Current assets
Inventories 3,713 3,075
Trade and other receivables 53,568 68,406
Cash and cash equivalents 8 13,223 16,093
70,504 87,574
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Total assets 286,042 298,859
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables (87,281) (110,917)
Bank overdrafts 8 - (5,903)
Finance leases 8 (1,722) (1,942)
Provisions for other liabilities and charges (471) (377)
Non-current liabilities
Bank loans 8 (73,821) (48,587)
Retirement benefit obligation 7 (7,507) (19,691)
Deferred tax liabilities (8,016) (7,498)
Finance leases 8 (285) (2,094)
Provisions for other liabilities and charges (5,746) (1,962)
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Total liabilities (184,849) (198,971)
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Net assets 101,193 99,888
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Equity
Capital and reserves attributable to owners of the parent
Share capital 51,660 51,660
Share premium account 353,231 353,231
Accumulated losses(1) (303,698) (305,003)
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
Total equity 101,193 99,888
----------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------------- -------------
(1) Included within accumulated losses is a profit after tax of
GBP27.5 million (2017: GBP24.8 million).
Consolidated statement of changes in shareholders' equity
Share
Share premium Accumulated
Capital account losses Total
Note GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
At 1 April 2016 (audited) 51,660 353,231 (288,624) 116,267
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Profit for the year - - 24,762 24,762
Other comprehensive expense - - (10,297) (10,297)
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Total comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 March
2017 (audited) - - 14,465 14,465
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Deferred tax charge relating
to share schemes - - (122) (122)
Purchase of ordinary shares - - (1,778) (1,778)
Employee share schemes - - 1,742 1,742
Dividends 6 - - (30,686) (30,686)
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Transactions with owners - - (30,844) (30,844)
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
At 31 March 2017 (audited) 51,660 353,231 (305,003) 99,888
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Profit for the year - - 27,478 27,478
Other comprehensive income - - 3,488 3,488
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Total comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 March
2018 (unaudited) - - 30,966 30,966
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Purchase of ordinary shares - - (450) (450)
Employee share schemes - - 1,785 1,785
Dividends 6 - - (30,996) (30,996)
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Transactions with owners - - (29,661) (29,661)
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
At 31 March 2018 (unaudited) 51,660 353,231 (303,698) 101,193
------------------------------ ----- ---------- --------- -------------- ---------
Consolidated cash flow statement
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
Note GBP'000 GBP'000
Cash flows from operating activities
Operating profit 36,436 32,756
Adjustments for:
- depreciation and amortisation 32,557 26,908
- increase in working capital (4,197) (18,302)
- (profit)/loss on sale of property, plant
and equipment (15) 555
- non-employee-related pension charges 1,100 655
- share-based payment charge 1,785 1,742
Payments made to defined benefit pension
schemes 7 (9,470) (7,724)
Tax paid (3,698) (8,019)
Net cash generated from operations 54,498 28,571
------------------------------------------------- ---- ------------ ------------
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (34,139) (28,403)
Purchase of intangible assets (7,697) (15,792)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant
and equipment 517 68
Net cash used in investing activities (41,319) (44,127)
------------------------------------------------- ---- ------------ ------------
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid 6 (30,996) (30,686)
Interest paid (1,601) (1,257)
Capital element of finance lease repayments (2,099) (3,025)
Payment of loan issue costs - (720)
Repayment of bank loans (20,000) (15,000)
Drawdown of bank loans 45,000 65,000
Purchase of ordinary shares (450) (1,778)
------------------------------------------------- ---- ------------ ------------
Net cash (used in)/generated from financing
activities (10,146) 12,534
------------------------------------------------- ---- ------------ ------------
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 3,033 (3,022)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning
of the year 10,190 13,212
------------------------------------------------- ---- ------------ ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of
the year 8 13,223 10,190
------------------------------------------------- ---- ------------ ------------
Notes to the unaudited financial information
1. Segmental analysis
The Group's operating and reportable segments are based on the
reports reviewed by the KCOM Group PLC Board which are used to make
strategic decisions. The chief operating decision-maker of the
Group is the KCOM Group PLC Board.
For the year ended 31 March 2018, the Board considered four
segments in assessing the performance of the Group and making
decisions in relation to the allocation of resources. These four
segments are:
-- Hull & East Yorkshire - providing communication and
internet-based services to consumer and business customers within
the region.
-- Enterprise - providing consulting, design, implementation and
managed services related to the collaborative systems and
cloud-based solutions markets.
-- National Network Services - providing network connectivity
and related services to business customers nationally.
-- Central - holding the PLC costs and corporate costs, where
allocation to the underlying segments would not improve
understanding of these segments. These include costs associated
with our defined benefit pension obligations and share schemes,
alongside the residual cost of finance, HR, risk, legal and
communications once appropriate recharges have been made to
go-to-market segments.
Segmental information has been prepared on a basis consistent
with the prior financial year. The segment information provided to
the KCOM Group PLC Board for the reportable segments, for the year
ended 31 March 2018 and for the year ended 31 March 2017, is as
follows:
Revenue Contribution
-------------------------- --------------------------
Unaudited Audited Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017 31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Before exceptional items
Hull & East Yorkshire 104,216 102,275 65,660 60,424
Enterprise 88,285 90,966 5,115 4,500
National Network Services 113,212 141,811 9,021 15,959
Central (3,815) (3,749) (11,526) (13,238)
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total before exceptional
items 301,898 331,303 68,270 67,645
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Exceptional items
Hull & East Yorkshire - - (357) (2,338)
Enterprise - - (591) (2,624)
National Network Services - - 2,059 353
Central - - (388) (3,372)
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total - - 723 (7,981)
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total post-exceptional
items 301,898 331,303 68,993 59,664
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
A reconciliation of total EBITDA post-exceptional items to
profit before tax is provided as follows:
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
EBITDA post-exceptional items 68,993 59,664
Depreciation (16,906) (14,279)
Amortisation (15,651) (12,629)
Finance costs (2,399) (2,263)
Share of profit of associate 12 12
------------------------------ ------------ ------------
Profit before tax 34,049 30,505
------------------------------ ------------ ------------
Disclosure has not been made of segmental assets and
liabilities. This is in accordance with IFRS 8 as this measure is
not provided regularly to the KCOM Group PLC Board.
The split of total revenue between external customers and
inter-segment revenue is as follows:
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Revenue from external customers
Hull & East Yorkshire 100,375 97,921
Enterprise 88,285 90,966
National Network Services 113,212 141,811
Central 26 605
-------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Total 301,898 331,303
-------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Inter-segment revenue
Hull & East Yorkshire 3,841 4,354
Central (3,841) (4,354)
-------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Total - -
-------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Group total 301,898 331,303
-------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Inter-segment sales are charged at prevailing market prices.
None of the revenue, operating profit or net operating assets
arising outside the United Kingdom are material to the Group.
Revenue of GBP33.3 million from transactions with one customer
within the Enterprise go-to-market segment exceeded 10% of Group
revenue. In the prior year, no external customers contributed in
excess of 10% of Group revenue.
2. Exceptional items
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Regulatory matters (2,361) -
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Credited to income statement (2,361) -
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
- Restructuring costs 1,638 7,271
- Regulatory matters - 710
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Charged to income statement 1,638 7,981
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Net (credit)/charge to operating profit (723) 7,981
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
The Group recorded an exceptional credit of GBP2.4 million
relating to regulatory matters (2017: charge GBP0.7 million). The
credit resulted from an industry wide settlement which arose as a
result of a breach in BT Openreach's contractual and regulatory
obligations relating to compensation for misapplying 'Deemed
Consent'.
The Group has incurred high levels of restructuring costs in
recent years as part of transformation activity (see the
performance review for more information). The Directors recognise
the need to differentiate those costs outside the normal course of
business from the underlying trading performance. Management
scrutinises all restructuring costs on a line by line basis in
order to determine the appropriate treatment. During the year
exceptional restructuring costs of GBP1.6 million were incurred in
relation to four main areas:
-- Strategic exit from certain products and markets (GBP0.4
million). This relates to the Group's decision to exit areas of the
business that are not of strategic focus. The cost largely relates
to the closure of our outsourced Contact Centres, within the Hull
& East Yorkshire segment, on 31 March 2018, following the end
of our largest customer contract.
-- Transformation of project delivery capability (GBP0.4
million). The Group has undertaken a discrete project designed to
improve and de-risk our delivery of complex customer contracts.
This transformation will enable us to deliver in-flight and future
contracts more profitably and help avoid a re-occurrence of the
losses on specific contracts incurred in both the current and prior
years. We plan for this transformation to continue into the year
ended 31 March 2019.
-- Transformation of central functions (GBP0.4 million). The
Group has carried out a structural re-organisation of some of its
central functions, including HR and Legal, in order to deliver more
efficient support for the go-to-market segments. The Group has also
begun a process of the centralisation of the technical and customer
support teams into centres of excellence designed to provide an
improved customer experience.
-- Redundancy costs relating to prior year transformation
activity (GBP0.4 million). These costs were incurred as a result of
strategic decisions made in the prior year in order to ensure we
have the right people with the right skill set in the right areas.
The benefits associated with these costs have been realised in the
current financial year and are expected to continue into future
periods.
The combined effect of these items is a charge of GBP0.1 million
(2017: credit GBP1.6 million) in respect of current tax and GBPNil
(2017: GBPNil) in respect of deferred tax.
Cash flow impact of exceptional items is an outflow if GBP1.1
million (2017: GBP8.3 million). The impact on working capital of
exceptional items was an increase of GBP1.8 million.
3. Finance costs
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Bank loans, overdrafts and other loans 1,401 1,195
Retirement benefit obligations 389 375
Finance lease and hire purchase contracts 69 110
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------
1,859 1,680
Amortisation of loan arrangement fees 416 583
Provision: unwind of discount 124 -
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------
Charged to profit before tax 2,399 2,263
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------
4. Taxation
The charge based on the profit for the year comprises:
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
UK corporation tax
- current tax on profits for the year 3,865 3,889
- adjustment in respect of prior years (558) (905)
------------------------------------------------ ------------- -------------
Total current tax 3,307 2,984
UK deferred tax
Origination and reversal of timing differences
in respect of:
- profit for the year 1,740 1,356
- change in rate (309) 672
- adjustment in respect of prior years 540 214
- charge in respect of retirement benefit
obligation 1,293 517
------------------------------------------------ ------------- -------------
Total deferred tax 3,264 2,759
Total taxation charge for the year 6,571 5,743
------------------------------------------------ ------------- -------------
Factors affecting tax charge for the year
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Profit before taxation 34,049 30,505
Profit before taxation at the standard rate
of corporation tax in the UK of 19% (2017:
20%) 6,469 6,101
Effects of:
- income not subject to tax - (379)
- expenses not deductible for tax purposes 429 40
- adjustment in respect of prior years (18) (691)
- change in rate reflected in the deferred
tax asset (309) 672
Total taxation charge for the year 6,571 5,743
--------------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
5. Earnings per share
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
No. No.
Weighted average number of shares
For basic earnings per share 511,133,847 510,384,583
Share options in issue 4,730,273 4,643,349
----------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
For diluted earnings per share 515,864,120 515,027,932
----------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Earnings
Profit attributable to equity holders of the
company 27,478 24,762
Adjustments:
Exceptional items (723) 7,981
Tax on exceptional items 137 (1,596)
----------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Adjusted profit attributable to equity holders
of the company 26,892 31,147
----------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
Pence Pence
Earnings per share
Basic 5.38 4.85
Diluted 5.33 4.81
-------------------- ------------ ------------
Adjusted basic 5.26 6.10
Adjusted diluted(1) 5.21 6.05
-------------------- ------------ ------------
(1) For the definition and purpose of the alternative
performance measure stated here and used subsequently throughout
this document, please see the glossary. The glossary also provides
a reconciliation to the closest equivalent IFRS measure.
6. Dividends
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Final dividend for the year ended
31 March 2016 of 3.94 pence per share - 20,354
Interim dividend for the year ended
31 March 2017 of 2.00 pence per share - 10,332
Final dividend for the year ended
31 March 2017 of 4.00 pence per share 20,664 -
Interim dividend for the year ended
31 March 2018 of 2.00 pence per share 10,332 -
---------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Total 30,996 30,686
---------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
The proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2018 is
4.00 pence per share amounting to a total dividend of GBP20.7
million. In accordance with IAS 10 (Events after the balance sheet
date), dividends declared after the balance sheet date are not
recognised as a liability in this financial information.
7. Retirement benefit obligation
The movements in the net defined benefit obligation over the
year and the amounts recognised in the balance sheet are detailed
below:
Main scheme Data scheme Total
GBP'000s GBP'000 GBP'000
At 1 April 2017 (audited) (12,690) (7,001) (19,691)
Net finance costs (241) (148) (389)
Net administrative expenses (711) (389) (1,100)
Contributions under asset-backed partnership 2,398 328 2,726
Deficit repair payments 4,496 2,248 6,744
Actuarial remeasurements 4,029 174 4,203
At 31 March 2018 (unaudited) (2,719) (4,788) (7,507)
---------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------
Main scheme Data scheme Total
GBP'000s GBP'000 GBP'000
At 31 March 2017 (audited)
Present value of defined benefit
obligations (229,723) (41,506) (271,229)
Fair value of plan assets 217,033 34,505 251,538
---------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------
Deficit (12,690) (7,001) (19,691)
---------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------
At 31 March 2018 (unaudited)
Present value of defined benefit
obligation (221,282) (40,502) (261,784)
Fair value of plan assets 218,563 35,714 254,277
---------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------
Deficit (2,719) (4,788) (7,507)
---------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------
Principal financial assumptions
2018 2017
-------------------------- --------------------------
Main scheme Data Scheme Main scheme Data Scheme
% % % %
RPI Inflation 3.10 3.10 3.15 3.15
CPI Inflation 2.10 2.10 2.15 2.15
Rate of increase to pensions
in payment 1.93 3.78 1.97 3.78
Discount rate for scheme
liabilities 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50
------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
8. Movement in net debt
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Opening net (debt)/funds (42,433) 7,412
Closing net debt (62,605) (42,433)
-------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Increase in net debt in the year (20,172) (49,845)
-------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Reconciliation of movement in the year
Net cash flow from operations 54,498 28,571
Cash capital expenditure (43,935) (47,220)
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment 517 68
Interest (1,601) (1,257)
Payment of loan issue costs - (720)
Dividends (30,996) (30,686)
Purchase of ordinary shares (450) (1,778)
Finance leases(1) 2,029 2,915
Other (234) 262
-------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Increase in net debt in the year (20,172) (49,845)
-------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
(1) Represents the movement in finance lease liabilities during the year.
Net debt comprises:
Unaudited Audited
year ended year ended
31 Mar 2018 31 Mar 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Cash and cash equivalents (including bank
overdrafts) 13,223 10,190
Bank loans (73,821) (48,587)
Finance leases (2,007) (4,036)
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------
Net debt (62,605) (42,433)
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------
9. Basis of preparation
General information
KCOM Group PLC is a company domiciled in the United Kingdom. The
Group has its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Basis of preparation
The Group prepares its annual consolidated financial statements
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS) and International Financial Reporting Interpretations
Committee (IFRIC) interpretations endorsed by the European Union
(EU) and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to
companies reporting under IFRS. The consolidated financial
information contained within this preliminary announcement is
unaudited and has been prepared under the historical cost
convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets and
financial liabilities (including derivative financial instruments)
at fair value through reserves. The financial information included
in this preliminary announcement does not include all the
disclosures required by IFRS or the Companies Act 2006 and
accordingly it does not itself comply with IFRS or the Companies
Act 2006.
The unaudited consolidated financial information in this report
has been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies
disclosed in the Group's 2017 Annual report and accounts, except as
disclosed in Note 10.
The financial information set out in this announcement does not
constitute the company's statutory accounts within the meaning of
Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 for the years ended 31 March
2018 or 2017. The financial information for the year ended 31 March
2017 is derived from the statutory accounts for that year, which
have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors'
report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a
statement under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006. The
statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2018 will be
finalised on the basis of the financial information presented by
the Directors in this unaudited preliminary announcement and will
be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Annual
General Meeting.
The financial information contained within this preliminary
announcement was approved by the Board on
5 June 2018 and has been agreed with the Company's auditors for
release.
This preliminary announcement will be published on the Company's
website. The maintenance and integrity of the website is the
responsibility of the Directors. The work carried out by the
auditors does not involve consideration of these matters.
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and
dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation
in other jurisdictions.
Going concern basis
The Group meets its day-to-day working capital requirements
through its bank facilities. The Group's forecasts and projections,
taking account of reasonably possible changes in trading
performance, show that the Group should be able to operate within
the level of its current facilities. After making enquires, the
Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable
future. The Group therefore continues to adopt the going concern
basis in preparing its consolidated financial statements.
10. Accounting policies
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those
published in the Group's 2017 Annual report and accounts with the
exception of the following policies which have been refined during
the year. These policies have not changed in function, but the
wording has been amended to improve clarity and transparency.
Retrospective application of these accounting policy amendments
would have no impact on the previously reported results.
Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration
received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods
supplied, stated net of discounts, returns and value-added taxes.
The Group recognises revenue when the amount of revenue can be
reliably measured, when it is probable that future economic
benefits will flow to the entity and when specific criteria have
been met for each of the Group's activities, as described below.
The Group bases its estimate of return on historical results,
taking into consideration the type of customer, the type of
transaction and the specifics of each arrangement.
Revenue from calls is recognised in the Consolidated income
statement at the time the call is made over the Group's network.
Revenue from rentals is recognised evenly over the rental
period.
Revenue from product sales is recognised at the point of
effective transfer of risk and reward. Revenue from production of
directories is recognised at the point when the directory is
published. For large long-term annuity and multiple element
customer contracts the Group is able to distinguish between the
installation and the in-life service phases of a contract.
Contractually agreed revenues are recognised for each phase unless
they do not represent a fair and market value for the work
performed. Should contractually agreed revenues not represent a
fair and market value then revenues are allocated between the two
phases by reference to the overall contract margin, the expected
costs of performing each phase and the typical selling prices had
the phases been contracted separately. Revenue is recognised on the
following basis for each phase:
-- Installation - within this phase revenue relating to
resources and services is accounted for on a stage of completion
basis with reference to the progress made towards fulfilling our
contractual obligations. Revenue related to equipment is accounted
for based on the point of effective transfer of risks and rewards
(shipment); and
-- In-life service - revenue for this phase is recognised in
line with the obligation to provide service as dictated by customer
contracts.
Pre-contract costs, such as bid costs, on key contract wins are
expensed as and when incurred.
Revenue arising from the provision of other services, including
maintenance contracts, is recognised in the accounting period in
which services are rendered, by reference to stage of completion of
the specific transaction, and assessed on the basis of the actual
service provided as a proportion of the total services to be
provided.
Exceptional items
Exceptional items are presented whenever significant expenses
are incurred or income received as a result of events considered to
be outside the normal course of business, where the unusual nature
and expected frequency merits separate presentation to assist
comparisons with previous periods. Items which are always
classified as exceptional are:
-- Regulatory matters;
-- Onerous property leases;
-- Impairment of goodwill; and
-- Termination costs associated with Executive Directors.
Restructuring and transformational costs are considered on a
case by case basis as to whether they meet the exceptional
criteria. Other items are considered against the exceptional
criteria based on the specific circumstances. The presentation is
consistent with the way financial performance is measured by
management and reported to the Board.
Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the current tax and
deferred tax expense.
The current tax is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable
profit differs from profit before tax as reported in the income
statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are
taxable or deductible in other years and/or items that are never
taxable or deductible. The Group's liability for current tax is
calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively
enacted by the balance sheet date.
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in
the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the
balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are
recognised generally for all taxable temporary differences and
deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is
probable that taxable profits will be available against which
deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and
liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises
from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination)
of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects
neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each
balance sheet date and reduced or increased to the extent that
sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part
of the asset to be recovered.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary
differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates,
and interests in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to
control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable
that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable
future.
Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to
apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is
realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income
statement, except when it relates to items recognised in other
comprehensive income or directly to equity. In this case the
deferred tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or
directly in equity, respectively.
Prior year adjustments to current and deferred taxes are
recognised if the estimated tax position differs from the final tax
position subsequently agreed with the taxation authority.
Research and development (R&D) tax reliefs are recognised as
a credit to profit before taxation in the year in which relief is
claimed.
Claims for R&D relief can be made up to two years after the
end of the accounting period to which it relates, therefore the
period in which the claim is recognised is not necessarily the same
as the period in which the costs were borne. Unclaimed reliefs are
not recognised.
Pensions
Defined contribution
Obligations for contributions to the defined contribution (money
purchase) scheme are charged to the income statement in the period
they fall due. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to
the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in the future payments
is available.
Defined benefit
For defined benefit retirement schemes, the cost of providing
benefits is determined using a building block approach, with
actuarial valuations being carried out at each balance sheet date.
Remeasurements are recognised in full in the period in which they
occur and are recognised in equity and presented in the
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
The current and past service costs of the scheme (the increase
in the present value of employees' future benefits attributable to
the current or prior periods) are charged to the income statement
in the period. The cost or benefit of committed settlements and
curtailments is recognised immediately in the income statement. The
interest cost of the scheme is recognised in the income statement
in the period to which it relates.
The retirement benefit obligation recognised on the balance
sheet represents the present value of the defined benefit
obligation as adjusted for unrecognised past service cost and as
reduced by the fair value of scheme assets. Should an actuarial
valuation result in a net asset position then the amount recognised
will be limited to the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount
shall be determined with reference to the agreements made between
the Group and the trustees within the pension scheme rules.
Provisions
A provision is recognised on the balance sheet when the Group
has a present, legal or constructive obligation as a result of a
past event and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits
will be required to settle the obligation. If the effect is
material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected
future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market
assessments of the time value of money and, where appropriate, the
risks specific to the liability.
Certain provisions are treated as exceptional items, as set out
in our exceptional items accounting policy.
Provisions for onerous contracts are recognised should the
unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract
exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under it. The
estimated onerous element of the contract is recognised in full in
the period in which the contract is identified as onerous. The
assessment of whether a multi-element customer contract is onerous
is undertaken separately for the installation and in-life phases
should the revenues for that contract also be recognised on that
basis.
11. Principal risks and uncertainties
As with all businesses, the Group is affected by a number of
risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond its control. The
key risks that we have identified will be disclosed within the
Annual report and accounts.
12. Changes to reporting
IFRS 15
We will report our financial statements under IFRS 15 from the
six months ended 30 September 2018. We will adopt IFRS 15 on a
modified retrospective basis in our 2018/19 financial statements.
Accordingly we will not restate prior year comparatives for the
effect of IFRS 15 but will instead restate our 1 April 2018 opening
reserves for the full cumulative impact of adopting this standard.
We will provide a reconciliation of our primary financial
statements under IAS 18 to our primary financial statements under
IFRS 15 in our Annual Report 2018/19. We are in the process of
finalising the impact of the standard including the final
transition adjustment to retained earnings. We have estimated that
the likely impact on transition at 1 April 2018 will result in a
movement in retained earnings of between a GBP0.5 million increase
and GBP0.5 million decrease before tax.
We expect the principal areas of impact will be:
-- Hull & East Yorkshire: a c.GBP2m reduction in EBITDA; PBT neutral
-- Enterprise: a c.GBP3m reduction in revenue; EBITDA and PBT neutral
Other areas of impact include the treatment of licenses,
connections and commissions
13. Related party transactions
The remuneration of the Directors who are key management
personnel of KCOM Group PLC will be disclosed in the audited part
of the Directors' Remuneration report in the Annual report and
accounts.
There are no other material related party transactions.
Signed by Order of the Board on 5 June 2018 by:
Glossary
Alternative Performance Measures
In response to the Guidelines on Alternative Performance
Measures (APMs) issued by the European Securities and Markets
Authority (ESMA), we have provided additional information on the
APMs used by the Group. The Directors use the APMs listed below as
they are critical to understanding the financial performance of the
Group. As they are not defined by IFRS, they may not be directly
comparable with other companies who use similar measures.
Measure Closest Definition and purpose Reconciliation
equivalent to closest equivalent
IFRS measure IFRS measure
of performance
Profit measures
EBITDA before Profit before EBITDA before exceptional items A reconciliation
exceptional tax is the key measure used by management of this measure
items ("EBITDA") to monitor the underlying performance is provided
of the Group. EBITDA before exceptional in Note 1 of
items is also reported to the the financial
Board, is incorporated in banking infornation.
covenants and is an important
measure for setting remuneration.
EBITDA before exceptional items
is important to the users of the
accounts as it assists with comparing
performance from previous periods.
The items classified as exceptional
items are described in Note 2.
EBITDA before exceptional items
is defined as 'profit before tax'
before share of profit before
associates, finance costs, amortisation,
depreciation and exceptional items.
--------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Contribution Profit before An equivalent measure to 'EBITDA A reconciliation
tax before exceptional items' for of this measure
each of the Group's market segments. is provided
The metric is used by management in Note 1 of
and the Board to compare performance the financial
across segments. information.
--------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Adjusted Basic earnings This provides additional information A reconciliation
basic earnings per share regarding earnings per share attributable of this measure
per share to the underlying activities of is provided
the business. in Note 5 of
Basic earnings per share based the financial
upon profit after tax adjusted information.
for the impact of exceptional
items.
--------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Adjusted Diluted This provides additional information A reconciliation
diluted earnings earnings regarding diluted earnings per of this measure
per share per share share attributable to the underlying is provided
activities of the business. in Note 5 of
Diluted earnings per share based the financial
upon profit after tax adjusted information.
for the impact of exceptional
items.
--------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Measure Closest Definition and purpose Reconciliation
equivalent to closest equivalent
IFRS measure IFRS measure
of performance
Cash flows and net debt measures
Net debt Cash and Net debt is important as it allow A reconciliation
cash equivalents, management to assess available of this measure
bank overdrafts, funds by calculating how much is provided
finance headroom there is within the Group's in Note 8 of
leases (current borrowing facilities. It is used the financial
and non-current) in the monitoring, reporting and information.
and bank planning of cash flows, and for
loans the purpose of monitoring compliance
with the terms of the Group's
Facilities. Net debt to EBITDA
is a key ratio used by external
stakeholders.
Net debt is cash and cash equivalents,
bank overdrafts, finance leases
(current and non-current) and
bank loans.
------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------
Cash capital Net cash A proportion of our capital expenditure Reported in
expenditure used in is obtained under financing arrangements the consolidated
investing therefore, compared to captial cash flow: Net
activities additions, this measure allows cash used in
management to monitor, report investing activites
and plan the cash flows relating (GBP41.3 million)
to capital projects. This measure add back proceeds
is important to the users of the from sale of
accounts as it provides the outflow property, plant
of cash expenditure in the current and equipment
year relating to assets purchased (GBP0.5 million)
in current and prior years. plus capital
Cash capital expenditure is net element of finance
cash used in investing activities lease repayments
before proceeds from sale of property, (GBP2.1 million).
plant and equipment plus capital
element of finance lease repayments.
------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------
Underlying No direct This measure is used by management Increase in
working capital equivalent as it provides a more appropriate working capital
movement reflection of the working capital quoted in consolidated
movement by excluding certain cashflow (GBP4.2
movements relating to exceptional million) less
items. increase due
Underlying working capital movement to exceptional
is working capital movement less items quoted
working capital movement due to in Note 2 (GBP1.8
exceptional items. million).
------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------
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London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
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END
FR FAMFTMBTMMFP
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 05, 2018 02:31 ET (06:31 GMT)
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