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.
goldfinger
- 22 Mar 2007 23:18
- 515 of 1203
A good afternoon.
goldfinger
- 22 Mar 2007 23:39
- 516 of 1203
Ive just posted what I think will be this years(2007/2008) new float of the year.... EAGA.
It might interest a few.
AUGUSTMAN
- 23 Mar 2007 07:58
- 517 of 1203
morning all Just picked this up from AFX
Worthington Nicholls says current trading 'encouraging', pipeline 'very healthy'
AFX
LONDON (AFX) - Air conditioning services firm Worthington Nicholls Group PLC said its current trading is encouraging and it has a 'very healthy' pipeline of new orders.
The orders include work from five new hotel groups to install air conditioning systems, the company said in statement made to coincide with its annual general meeting today.
Worthington Nicholls also said there is an increasing flow of new tenders due to the growing awareness among its clients of the potential issues caused by the R22 gas replacement programme and the need to comply with European legislation.
newsdesk@afxnews.com
faj/jr
SHARES UP IN GREY MARKET A COUPLE OF POINTS
AUGUSTMAN
- 23 Mar 2007 08:05
- 518 of 1203
WOW just moved up 6 points
AUGUSTMAN
- 23 Mar 2007 08:09
- 519 of 1203
agm sttement in full
now up 8 - very positive
Worthington Nicholls Group plc
23 March 2007
Worthington Nicholls Annual General Meeting Update
('Worthington Nicholls' or the 'Group')
The following Chairman's AGM Report will be made at the Company's AGM being held
today:
Chairman's AGM Report
This has been a very important year for Worthington Nicholls. Our decision to
join AIM and raise expansion capital was a significant milestone in the Group's
history and development.
The experience of joining AIM has been a very positive one. Our increased
commercial profile and stronger balance sheet have enabled us to implement some
very exciting changes within the Group.
As you are aware from our results for the year to 30 September 2006, we reported
proforma annualised turnover of 25 million, gross profits of 7.2 million and
earnings before interest and tax of 3.7 million. As a result of these profits,
we were delighted to propose payment of our first dividend as a publicly quoted
company.
I am pleased to report that I am encouraged by our current trading position.
Looking ahead, we have a very healthy pipeline of new orders, including work
from five new hotel group clients that have commissioned Worthington Nicholls to
install their air conditioning systems for the very first time. Currently, we
have 17 retained hotel and 16 retained retail clients.
Each new contract gives Worthington Nicholls the opportunity to secure preferred
supplier status. This status, in turn, helps us to secure future additional
contracts if we continue to provide excellent service and focus on each
customer's particular requirements.
We have also been pleased to welcome new staff and management to the Group, some
of whom have joined us as a result of the acquisitions we have made and others
that we have hired to facilitate our organic growth. In late June, we acquired
Project Air Limited ('Project Air'), a profitable specialist installer of air
conditioning systems to the retail sector, and in December we bought Lumenglow
Limited ('Lumenglow'), a specialist electrical contractor. We are pleased to
report that in both instances the integration process is proceeding smoothly.
In integrating these companies, we have been aided greatly by the skills and
experience of Tim Hunt, who joined the Group as full time Finance Director in
January 2007. We are pleased at how quickly and well Tim has integrated himself
within the Group, and we are already benefiting from the improvements to our
financial accounting systems that he has introduced. We believe Tim's
experience will be key as we continue to explore further acquisitions and grow
sales.
Our acquisition strategy is to look for opportunities that profitably increase
our market share in existing sectors as well as broadening out into new sectors,
such as the retail sector as we did with the acquisition of Project Air. In
addition, through acquisition we may seek to bring in-house certain trade skills
that are necessary for installations. By doing this we increase the range of
services to our clients and should improve profit margins. It also helps us to
monitor and ensure high standards of workmanship on the projects that we run.
This is exactly what we have been able to do with Lumenglow. Not only were we
able to acquire skilled electricians but we will also be able to make
significant savings from ceasing to outsource electrical work to other
companies.
The Group has also made its first steps into Europe through the major
installations we are undertaking in Amsterdam. This has resulted in additional
interest from other potential European clients and we look forward to building
on this platform going forward.
In closing, shareholders will be pleased to hear there that is a growing
awareness of the potential issues caused by the R22 gas replacement programme
amongst our clients and their need to comply with European legislation. As a
result we are seeing an increasingly healthy flow of new tenders from both
existing and new customers.
Peter Worthington
Chairman
23 March 2007
Enquiries:
Worthington Nicholls 0870 609 1829
Mark Worthington, Chief Executive
David Levis, Corporate Director
Gresham PR Ltd 020 7404 9000
Neil Boom / Laura Black
Corporate Synergy 020 7448 4400
Rhod Cruwys / Romil Patel
Halliwells LLP
Frank Shephard / Lisa Stavropoulos 0870 365 8000
Information on Worthington Nicholls can be accessed via the Group's website:
www.worthington-nicholls.co.uk
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
fliper
- 23 Mar 2007 08:12
- 520 of 1203
Looking good
stockdog
- 23 Mar 2007 08:35
- 521 of 1203
Very happy to be in finally at sub 160p (call me a late starter, or what!) looking for 200p quite soon at this rate.
jimmy b
- 23 Mar 2007 08:39
- 522 of 1203
Another good day .
goldfinger
- 23 Mar 2007 09:38
- 523 of 1203
Solid AGM report.
Very solid.
goldfinger
- 30 Mar 2007 11:14
- 524 of 1203
Have these been tipped today?.
capa
- 30 Mar 2007 11:30
- 525 of 1203
No idea goldfinger, what a share this is.
Bought on the post results dip and up 50% in two and a bit months.
all the best
capa
goldfinger
- 30 Mar 2007 11:42
- 526 of 1203
Was wondering if the Investors Chronicle had a follow up article.
scotinvestor
- 30 Mar 2007 11:50
- 527 of 1203
who cares as ic is shite............they couldnt tip rubbish. mind u shares mag is even worse, pick some of worst shares imaginable
goldfinger
- 30 Mar 2007 11:59
- 528 of 1203
Well they both picked this.........................
well having said that when it was well over 100% up.
robinhood
- 30 Mar 2007 14:08
- 529 of 1203
Goldfinger thx for pointing out WNG- bot them beginnning feb 07 ata 141 so not complaining..... 1 favour to be repaid with another , have a look at AXS
goldfinger
- 30 Mar 2007 14:48
- 530 of 1203
AXS will do RH, many thanks.
goldfinger
- 10 Apr 2007 11:44
- 531 of 1203
Sprung to life again.
Wish the management would announce another acquisition.
fliper
- 10 Apr 2007 12:17
- 532 of 1203
They will make big money on maintenance contracts and spares . Another very hot summer forcast .
webster frank
- 10 Apr 2007 12:40
- 533 of 1203
scotinvestor,
if ic and sharemag are rubbish, what do you recommend?
jimmy b
- 10 Apr 2007 13:34
- 534 of 1203
Yes GF another acquisition would be nice, however if we continue to tick up slowly i'll be happy.