Irish Continental Irish Continental Group Plc : Interim Management Statement
November 17 2014 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMICGC
INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT
9 months to the
Q3 Q3 end of September
Financial Highlights 2014 2013 2014 2013
EURm EURm EURm EURm
Revenue 93.4 84.7 224.1 205.6
EBITDA 28.1 26.9 42.1 42.7
Operating Profit 23.8 22.3 29.0 28.7
Current trading
In the seasonally most significant quarter of the year, the three months
to the end of September, Group revenue rose 10.3% to EUR93.4 million
(2013: EUR84.7 million) while EBITDA rose to EUR28.1 million, compared
with EUR26.9 million in the same quarter in 2013. Operating profit in
the quarter was EUR23.8 million versus EUR22.3 million in the same
period in 2013. Summer trading has been encouraging across most business
areas, with volume and revenue growth in the passenger, car and Roll on
Roll Off (RoRo) segments, partially offset by weaker container freight
volumes. Fuel costs in the quarter were EUR14.3 million (2013: EUR12.7
million) due to the additional sailings of the Epsilon, partially offset
by lower fuel prices.
Volumes 1 July - 15 November
In the 20 weeks from 1 July 2014 to 15 November 2014 total passengers
carried increased by 8%, while cars carried increased by 11%. In the
RoRo freight market, Irish Ferries volumes were up 26% in the four and a
half months. Container freight volumes for the same period were down 4%
at 105,000 teu, due to lower feeder traffic, while units lifted at our
ports were up 5% at 73,000 lifts.
Year to Date Volumes
Cumulatively, in the 46 weeks to 15 November 2014, total passengers
carried were up 5% at 1,507,500, while cars carried were up 9% at
347,200. RoRo freight volumes in the same period were up 22% on last
year at 216,200 units. Container freight volumes were down 1% at 247,700
teu, while units handled at our port terminals in Dublin and Belfast
rose by 6% to 165,700 lifts.
Cumulative Financial Results to the end of September (unaudited)
Group revenue for the nine months to the end of September 2014 was
EUR224.1 million (2013: EUR205.6 million), up 9.0%. Revenue in the
Ferries division was up 13.0% compared with the comparable period in
2013, while in the Container & Terminal division cumulative revenue was
up 2.5% year on year. EBITDA for the nine months was EUR42.1 million
(2013: EUR42.7 million), reflecting the additional operational costs of
the Epsilon which was introduced in late 2013. Operating profit for the
nine months was EUR29.0 million compared with EUR28.7 million in the
same period in 2013. Net debt at the end of September was EUR57.6
million compared with EUR71.9 million at 30 June 2014. Subsequent to the
quarter end the interim dividend of EUR6.4 million was paid.
Pensions
Separately, on 16 October 2014, the company announced that the Pensions
Authority had sanctioned the implementation of the deficit funding
proposal in respect of the main Irish Ferries Pension Scheme. Under the
terms of the proposal, the company will make deficit payments to the
scheme of EUR1.5 million per annum for a projected period of 10 years to
2023, or, until the deficit is eliminated, if earlier, with additional
payments of EUR0.5 million per annum to an escrow account over the same
period, the balance of which will also be payable to the Scheme in
certain circumstances.
Sulphur Directive
The EU Sulphur Directive will come into force on the North Sea and the
English Channel in approximately six weeks (1 January 2015). This will
reduce the permissible level of sulphur in fuel consumed in those areas
from 1% to 0.1 %. For the Group the main impact will be to require
vessels in the Eucon fleet to burn 0.1 % sulphur fuel while in the
English Channel. In Irish Ferries (until 2020 at least) the impact will
be limited to the section of the Ireland / France route which falls
within the English Channel. As 0.1% sulphur fuel is considerably more
expensive than fuel with 1% sulphur content, the Group is engaging with
its customers on the requirement to recover this additional
environmental cost, which must be borne by the end user.
Dublin
17 November 2014
Enquiries
Eamonn Rothwell, CEO, +353 1 607 5628
Garry O'Dea, Finance Director, +353 1 607 5628
This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on
behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information
contained therein.
Source: Irish Continental Group plc via Globenewswire
HUG#1871715
www.icg.ie
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