Annual Financial Results Statement
Highlights
Financial Position
· On 18 July, the Board announced it would consider all strategic options to realise value and can report that this process is now underway, including ongoing discussions with a number of interested parties. However, as previously announced, the Board does not envisage there will be offers for the share capital of the Company and the Board expects that such options will result in little or no value for shareholders.
· Lloyds TSB Bank plc (the "Bank") will continue to provide short-term support while the Group executes its financial restructuring plan.
· The Bank has given an agreement in principle on the terms for a new money facility to provide additional short term funding of £5.0 million on a secured basis through to end of October 2012.
· The Trustee of the Group's pension scheme has agreed to defer all pension payments otherwise due to assist in the Group maintaining appropriate liquidity whilst the strategic review is undertaken.
Financial summary
· Order intake £134.1 million (2011: £80.9 million)
· Revenue £110.3 million (2011: £113.7 million)
· Adjusted operating profit £4.1 million (2011: £8.8 million) 1
· Operating loss £35.4 million (2011: £5.9 million)
· Net debt of £36.4 million (2011: £28.3 million)
· Net liabilities in respect of retirement benefits of £168.5 million (2011: £121.8 million)
Operational summary
· Despite challenging economic backdrop, the energy and environmental consulting businesses in both the UK and US delivered results in line with expectations.
· PPC has suffered from failure to secure expected new contracts together with some existing contract losses.
· New business plan with stronger commercial focus is being implemented by John Lowry.
· Plan supported by a strengthening and change of management in the US businesses.
1 Adjusted operating profit is defined as operating profit before amortisation of acquired intangibles, impairment of goodwill and other significant items
Dr Paul Golby CBE, Chairman of AEA Technology Group plc, said:
"The difficult trading conditions have made this a challenging year for all of our employees. Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful to them for their hard work, resilience and encouragement.
Despite a robust business plan and the underlying strength and expertise of the Group's employees, the business has been overwhelmed by the growing pension liability.
Going forward, the Board remains cautious in light of the challenging international trading conditions and material uncertainty over the future funding requirements of the Group."