AIM listed specialist technical fluid power products supplier Flowtech Fluidpower plc (LON:FLO), issues the following unaudited Q3 Trading Update for the nine-month financial reporting period ended
30 September 2017:
GROUP Trading Update
Group revenue during the first nine months of the current year increased by 34.4%. Our strong performance is being driven by continued momentum across all the business divisions and further enhanced by the contribution from new subsidiaries.
Revenue for the nine-month period
ended 30 September 2017
YTD 2017 PYTD Growth
2016
Flowtechnology GBP28.33m GBP26.62m 6%
Power Motion
Control (PMC) GBP21.61m GBP11.88m 82%
Process GBP4.51m GBP2.00m 126%
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Total Group revenue
for the period GBP54.45m GBP40.50m 34%
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Net debt GBP12.10m GBP15.70m
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Since reporting our HY1 2017 results and market update in early September the business has experienced a solid trading period which remains in line with market expectations. Of note is organic sales growth in the Q3 period of 12.4%. The comparative quarter in 2016 reflects the period immediately following the June Brexit vote when markets and currencies softened, and consequently a strong rebound was expected. However, it is pleasing to report that combined with this expected uplift we delivered further organic growth through a mixture of price increases and strong volume gains at consistent gross margins – this is further evidence that our multi-channel strategy is gaining traction.
ACQUISITONS
Since the start of this financial year we have concluded six acquisitions of which, the following three were concluded during Q3:
-- UK: Orange County (OCL) and Group HES -- Europe: Hydroflex Hydraulics (Hydroflex)
These acquisitions have all added or enhanced the Group’s position with key European and global suppliers (such as Eaton Corporation, Danfoss Power Solutions, Parker Hannifin, Brugg Pipesystems and Ebsray Pumps), broadened our sector and geographical coverage, and added to our technical competence. Our four-channel approach to the creation of a fluid power specialist group is continuing to present further prospects for expansion, and the Board believes that the Group can continue to exploit this “pipeline” in both the short and medium term, whilst at the same time ensuring that net bank borrowings remain well within facilities.
INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE
By way of an update since the HY Report, the redesigned Shared Logistics Centre in Skelmersdale is now expected to be completed by the end of October. As well as modernised office and conference facilities, the enhanced layout will offer an increase in capacity of around 40% and, will deliver operational and stocking improvements for use by all our Profit Centres. It will also provide considerable scope for both the profitable integration of future acquisitions to the Group, and provide scope for further organic growth within the current portfolio. The process has been completed with no disruption to the market leading service level offered by the Skelmersdale operation. At the date of this announcement, we are currently working towards securing a dedicated new site in Knowsley, on Merseyside for our Shared Engineering Centre. This initiative when launched will enhance the Primary Fluid Power operation based nearby and underpin our objective of creating a Centre of Excellence and become recognised as a complete service provider to the fluid power sector. As we announced last week we are also to officially launch our Onsite Services Division in 2018.
SUMMARY
Our focus remains growth through both acquisitive and organic means backed up by our four-layered approach to extracting synergistic benefits over the short, medium and long term. This targeted approach ensures we can achieve both a concentration and enhancement to our product set which is the core of our business model.
The Board believe that the acquisitions so far, this financial year clearly reinforce the ongoing strategy to develop a focused Fluid Power Group that serves a wide number of industry sectors, allowing a de-risking of some of the cyclic nature of the business.
The Group’s current performance will deliver another year of solid progress. As a business, we are confident in our strategy, commercial opportunities and the prospects of the Group and, the business remains on track to meet current market expectations for the year ending 31 December 2017.
