Smart Metering Systems plc (AIM: SMS, “the Group”), which installs and manages smart meters and carbon reduction assets (“CaRe”) to facilitate effective energy management, has published its final results for the 12 months to 31 December 2019.
The Group has also signed a partnership agreement with the Columbia Threadneedle Sustainable Infrastructure Fund (“ESIF”) to develop SMS’s pipeline of CaRe asset opportunities – see separate announcement.
On 12 March 2020, SMS announced that it has conditionally sold a minority of its meter assets to funds managed by Equitix Investment Management for a total gross cash consideration of £291 million. The disposal will enable the implementation of an enhanced long-term, sustainable dividend payment policy and results in a significant reshaping of SMS’s capital structure.
2019 financial performance
£’000 | 2019 | 2018 |
Group revenue | 114,281 | 98,492 |
Index-linked annualised recurring revenue (ILARR)1 | 90,118 | 75,358 |
Pre-exceptional EBITDA2 | 58,897 | 51,619 |
EBITDA | 50,370 | 35,478 |
Profit before taxation | 5,463 | 5,351 |
Underlying profit before taxation3 | 15,577 | 25,085 |
Underlying basic EPS (p)4 | 11.30 | 18.46 |
Basic EPS (p) | 3.56 | 3.97 |
Dividend per share (p) | 6.88 | 5.98 |
Net debt | 219,168 | 141,989 |
1 ILARR is the revenue generated from meter rental and data contracts at a point in time. Includes revenue from third-party managed meters.
2 Pre-exceptional EBITDA is statutory EBITDA excluding exceptional items.
3 Underlying profit before taxation is profit before taxation excluding exceptional items and amortisation of intangibles.
4 Underlying basic EPS is underlying profit after taxation divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of basic EPS.
A reconciliation between reported and underlying performance is detailed in the Financial Review section below.
Highlights
· Financial
• Total ILARR increased 20% to £90.1m (2018: £75.3m)
• Pre-exceptional EBITDA up 14% to £58.9m (2018: £51.6m)
· Disposal – announced 12 March 2020
• £291m gross proceeds from asset disposal
• Cash consideration will result in positive net cash position for Group overall
• Post the disposal, retained Group ILARR is £73.2m as at 29 February 2020
• Partnership with ESIF
• Funds SMS’s pipeline of Carbon Reduction (CaRe) assets
• CaRe assets developed within SMS’s well-established energy management division
• ESIF to fund and own the CaRe assets – SMS receives incremental long-term asset management fees
• Business positioning and opportunities
• Smart meters
• Growth in metering assets – total market c.36.5m meters to be exchanged
• Existing SMS c.2m smart meter order book expected to add c.£40m ILARR
• Existing SMS customers have additional c.4m to be exchanged
• Dividend
• Long-term sustainable growing dividends with upside potential from existing and new meter assets
• Proposed FY20 dividends increased to 25p – grow at least in line with RPI p.a. to 2024
• Sustainability is at the heart of SMS’ operations
• Smart meters are integral part of a flexible, decentralised and decarbonised energy system
• Well placed to originate CaRe assets in current and emerging electricity generation, storage, heat, lighting and transportation industry market segments
Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“A 20% increase in our key financial metric – ILARR – and a 14% increase in EBITDA in extremely challenging markets, is a testimony to our market position and operational capabilities.
“Last week’s transaction will not only realise considerable cash returns and demonstrates the substantial value of our smart meter portfolio but also will enable us to enhance greatly shareholder value with a significant and sustainable increase in dividends.
“The UK is the first major economy to adopt net zero emissions by 2050, mainly by electrification strategies. This will need the establishment of a decentralised and decarbonised energy system as well as substantial capital to meet that target.
“A combination of our strengthened balance sheet to support our smart meter rollout programme, todays’ partnership announcement with ESIF and our energy management division’s track record, positions us extremely well to accelerate and rapid expand our CaRe assets in the current and emerging electricity generation, storage, lighting, heating and transportation markets.”
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