goldfinger
- 18 Mar 2006 00:18
Watch out for this one floating in the next few days, it could turn out to be the float of the year. Theres not much available on the company yet but I have found the write up below which shows the fantastic potential of this one. Note just how cheap it is.
New Issue: here's one that's more than hot air
Published: 12:45 Monday 27 February 2006
By Cliff Feltham, Companies Correspondent
Owners of thousands of buildings in the UK are facing massive bills over the next few years to comply with new energy standards, which is good news for new AIM entrant Worthington Nicholls.
Air conditioning and ventilation units using ozone depletive gases have to be replaced by systems using more environmentally friendly gases.
The measures are creating a windfall for air conditioning installation companies like Manchester-based Worthington Nicholls which is to float on AIM with a price tag close to 35 million.
The firm, which has been around since the early 1970s, needs extra working capital to cope with the influx of orders which will see this year's turnover climb from 11.7 million to nearly 30 million.
The flotation, sponsored by broker Corporate Synergy, will also allow founder chairman Peter Worthington, who is nearing his 70th birthday, to sell shares worth around 7 million.
After years of steady progress, the firm has seen a huge jump in work triggered by new energy efficient legislation flowing from the Kyoto Agreement.
The deadline for owners of buildings to replace air conditioning, heating, ventilation and chilled water systems using banned gases is the end of 2009.
Chief executive Mark Worthington, son of John, believes there are at least 9,000 buildings in the UK which will have to comply with the new regulations. But the figure could be much higher. ' We are talking billions of pounds here,' he says.
Worthington Nicholls has concentrated on servicing hotel and retail clients which include Hilton, Holiday Inns, Debenhams, Arcadia and Boots.
A new, energy compliant air conditioning plant in a high street store can cost anywhere between 80,000 and 120,000. Re-fitting a Debenhams branch cost 670,000 while hotels can expect to pay around 3,500 a room for a new air conditioning unit.
Worthington Nicholls offers a complete service, designing the system, managing installation and providing regular maintenance. At present income from maintenance contracts is running at around 20% of total sales but that is expected to rise.
The flotation, which is raising a total of 15 million, will also provide a warchest for acquisitions. Two deals have already been lined up with will add another 20 million a year to turnover.
Mark Worthington says there is huge scope for acquisitions. The company claims to be market leader yet it only has a 3% share suggesting plenty of room for consolidation.
The company is making some confident assumptions about future growth. Profits are expected to rise from 3.7 million last year to 8.6 million in the current year to September. By 2008 it is projecting earnings of 12.6 million on sales of 45 million but this does not take into account any contribution from future acquisitions.
Says Worthington: 'Stringent environmental legislation has changed our business. Now the large international hotel and restaurant groups prefer to deal with a single supplier. We believe there is huge scope for expanding not just in the UK but across Europe.'
Price of the shares being placed will be fixed over the new few weeks following investor presentations with dealings due to start in about a month's time.
Please DYOR and do not use money on shares you cannot afford to lose.
cheers GF.
AUGUSTMAN
- 21 Dec 2006 10:02
- 277 of 1203
(AFX) - Air conditioning services firm Worthington Nicholls Group PLC said it has acquired specialist electrical contractor Lumenglow Ltd for a total 150,000 stg in cash and shares.
The company said the acquisition will reduce its 'substantial' yearly outlay on electrical subcontracting, thereby increasing profitability, and will also bolster its presence in London and the South East.
Lumenglow reported a pretax loss of 4,000 stg on turnover of about 830,000 for the full year ended July 31, 2006.
newsdesk@afxnews.com
tsk/vb
goldfinger
- 21 Dec 2006 11:07
- 278 of 1203
On the face of it only a small deal but with this company they tend to have a shrewd eye for bargains.
Will certainly help margins I believe if it helps outlay on electrical subcontracting.
jimmy b
- 21 Dec 2006 20:29
- 279 of 1203
I agree ,looks like a shrewd move ,roll on next year ,,,actually don't roll on too fast ,i'll be another year older.
Dil
- 22 Dec 2006 00:28
- 280 of 1203
Sold today guys to free up funds , taking a more cautious approach in 2007. No reflection on how I think these will do so good luck for next year.
goldfinger
- 22 Dec 2006 09:48
- 281 of 1203
Yup good luck to you Dil and a happy christmas to you and everyone.
cheers GF.
Dil
- 23 Dec 2006 01:03
- 282 of 1203
Ta mate , hope these go all the way and thanks to you I managed to get a few quid out of them on the ride up they've enjoyed over the last few months.
All the best.
goldfinger
- 28 Dec 2006 10:17
- 283 of 1203
Worthington Nicholls Group plc
28 December 2006
Worthington Nicholls Group plc
(the 'Company')
Update on acquisitions
On 10 November 2006 the Company announced a fundraising of 6m and at that time
anticipated making 2 further acquisitions before the end of the year. On 21
December 2006, the Company announced the acquisition of Lumenglow Limited. The
Company will not be announcing any further acquisitions by 31 December 2006,
although it has a number of potential acquisitions under review and anticipates
announcing further acquisitions in the New Year.
Enquiries:
Worthington Nicholls 0870 609 1829
Mark Worthington, Chief Executive
David Levis, Corporate Director
jimmy b
- 28 Dec 2006 12:58
- 284 of 1203
Still plenty of buying at these prices ,and another acquisition on the way soon,, that will do for me.
goldfinger
- 28 Dec 2006 13:25
- 285 of 1203
Me too.
Looks like we have more than one aswell.
goldfinger
- 29 Dec 2006 12:09
- 286 of 1203
Just ticked up, nice way to finish the year.
jimmy b
- 29 Dec 2006 12:27
- 287 of 1203
Yup nice ,mostly blue and buys , another hot summer on the way ??? . :-)
goldfinger
- 29 Dec 2006 23:32
- 288 of 1203
Would have thought so Jimmy, but cant see me going through July like it was last year, will have to bugger off somewhere out of it mate.
Have a good new year and dont please sup too much like me . hic hic.
jimmy b
- 30 Dec 2006 21:52
- 289 of 1203
Go to Iceland for a month on your WNG profits :-) ,, Happy New Year to you GF ..
goldfinger
- 30 Dec 2006 23:34
- 290 of 1203
Juzzle
- 02 Jan 2007 08:53
- 291 of 1203
First European hotel contract secured
Worthington Nicholls Group plc (AIM:WNG), installers of air conditioning,
heating, ventilation and chilled water systems, has secured a contract to
install new and replacement air conditioning systems with Grand City Hotels &
Resorts at the Park Hotel in Amsterdam, worth approximately Euro350,000.
Grand City Hotels & Resorts is a management company of hotels in The Netherlands
and Germany, and is based in Berlin. The hotels managed by the group operate
under various brands such as Steigenberger, Ramada, Intercity Hotels, Comfort
Inn, Quality Hotels, Mercure, Best Western and Ibis although they have recently
signed a deal with Intercontinental Hotels Group to re-brand 19 hotels.
The Grand City Hotels & Resorts estate has approximately 3,000 additional
bedrooms in Germany. Having won the mandate for the Park Hotel in Amsterdam, the
Company is confident that this will pave the way for further expansion into
Western Europe.
Following this new contract wins, Worthington Nicholls will be the retained
contractor to 16 hotel groups, and 16 retail chains.
Mark Worthington, Chief Executive of Worthington Nicholls, said:
"We recognise that to be successful in the European air conditioning market you
need to have reference sites that showcase your ability. This contract gives
Worthington Nicholls exactly that and should allow us to approach a number of
our major clients to offer our services within their hotels in mainland Europe."
goldfinger
- 02 Jan 2007 10:05
- 292 of 1203
Good news to start the new year with. Plenty more to come.
jimmy b
- 02 Jan 2007 11:36
- 293 of 1203
Nice constant stream of news.... Maybe their next acquisition will be European ..
goldfinger
- 02 Jan 2007 15:51
- 295 of 1203
Juzzle yes Ive seen a few analysts and tip sheets picking them as 2007 naps.
Moved up again this afternoon.
goldfinger
- 02 Jan 2007 16:42
- 296 of 1203
From growth company investor buy report just out..
Worthington Nicholls - BUY
Companies: WNG
02/01/2007
Air conditioning star Worthington Nicholls has won its first European hotel contract, a deal worth around 236,000, with Grand City Hotels & Resorts for work at Amsterdams Park Hotel.
Berlin-based Grand City Hotels & Resorts manages a variety of hotel brands throughout the Netherlands and Germany. To be successful in the European air conditioning market, explained chief executive Mark Worthington, you need to have reference sites that showcase your ability. This contract gives Worthington Nicholls exactly that.
Worthington Nicholls - the biggest independent installer of air conditioning, heating, ventilation and chilled water systems in the UK - boasts the likes of Hilton and Holiday Inn Hotels, as well as Arcadia and Debenhams, as clients and joined AIM in June, having raised 20m from institutions and VCTs at 50p.
This latest contract news follows a 6m November fundraising with institutions at 90p, with funds earmarked for acquisitions, and the subsequent acquisition of electrical contractor Lumenglow. Only last month, new hotel group contracts worth 2.3m were announced, further diversifying its client base.
Results for the year to September are slated for publication this month and analysts are looking for adjusted pre-tax profits of 3.6m from 25m sales, giving 4.6p of earnings and a lofty-looking prospective p/e of 26, with the shares having raced north since float. Nevertheless, we like the fact Worthington Nicholls is a full support services group, rather than a subcontractor (with all the implications this has for margins) and admire its acquisition strategy.
James Crux
Market cap: 79.14m
PE Forecast: 26
Share price: 119.5p