REDD Redde Northgate Plc

 
TIDMREDD 
 
12 May 2021 
 
            This announcement contains price sensitive information 
 
                              REDDE NORTHGATE PLC 
 
              ("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company") 
 
                           Pre-close Trading Update 
 
 Stronger than expected performance with PBT ahead of consensus; entering new 
                   financial year in a position of strength 
 
Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD), the leading integrated mobility solutions 
platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle, today announces a 
pre-close trading update for the year ended 30 April 2021, ahead of its results 
for the year scheduled for 7 July 2021. 
 
Group trading 
 
Further to the interim results announcement on 8 December 2020, momentum has 
continued to build across the Group in the second half of FY2021.  Against the 
backdrop of COVID-19, including the most recent lockdowns in the UK, total 
closing VOH has grown 2% across the Group in the second half, comprising 4% 
growth in UK&I, with Spain broadly flat. Closing VOH is now higher than prior 
year by 13% in UK&I, 9% in Spain and 11% in the combined Group. The used 
vehicle market has remained strong in LCVs (particularly in the UK) delivering 
higher disposal profits than expected. Redde continued to be impacted by 
reduced volumes through the period, but post the easing of lockdown 
restrictions in early April, volume indicators are now showing a significant 
pick up. 
 
Based on unaudited results, underlying revenues (excluding vehicle sales) were 
approximately 51% higher than the prior year, and total Group revenues 
(including vehicle sales) were approximately 43% higher than the prior year. 
The increase in revenues year on year is primarily attributable to the 
inclusion of Redde since the Merger on 21 February 2020, as well as LCV rental 
and sales growth. 
 
As a consequence of the stronger than expected performance in H2, the Board now 
expects underlying PBT for FY2021 to be moderately above the top end of the 
current range of analyst estimates[1] and not less than £92m. 
 
Focus, Drive and Broaden 
 
The Group continues to make excellent progress on delivering its strategic 
initiatives through the Focus, Drive and Broaden framework. To date, it has 
achieved Merger integration savings of £14.6m against the FY2022 target of £ 
15m.  Together with additional permanent cost savings achieved of £4.2m, the 
total annualised run rate is £18.8m, and is expected to be delivered at a 
one-off cash cost of £2.5m against an original estimate of £10m. 
 
Cash flow and financing 
 
The Group's financial position remains strong, with continuing good cash flow 
generation in the period, closing the year with substantial headroom under its 
debt facilities. From this position of strength we have taken the opportunity 
post year-end to acquire c2,000 vehicles from a Scottish vehicle rental 
business for approximately £25m, bringing significant benefits from ongoing 
customer relationships, which we would look to further strengthen through our 
expanded Group offerings. 
 
Outlook 
 
With rental revenue and used LCV values supporting a strong closing position to 
the financial year and Redde volumes showing a strong rebound post lockdown 
restrictions easing in early April, the Board is confident that the strategy it 
set out at the time of the Merger will deliver the value it envisaged. 
 
Commenting on the trading update, Martin Ward, CEO Redde Northgate said: 
 
"The second half of the year has delivered a strong set of results. The demand 
for LCV rental and used LCV sales has seen an uplift in H2 and sets the 
business up well going into our new financial year. Traffic volumes and 
resultant mobility and repair incidents continued to be suppressed throughout 
H2 but early indications, post lockdown restrictions easing in early April, 
have shown a strong bounce back as daily routines in mobility resume. 
 
"Our integration plans have almost delivered the revised targets we set out on 
cost savings, well ahead of time, and well below the one-time cash costs to 
implement. This has placed the business in a strong position as we face into a 
number of opportunities to deliver our unique integrated mobility platform 
proposition. However, I recognise there is still much more to do to deliver the 
full benefits of our strategy, and we remain focussed on our strategic 
initiatives. 
 
"I am particularly thankful to our people who have worked tirelessly throughout 
the year to deliver exceptional service to our customers. Many of our 
colleagues have taken up the SAYE share scheme, launched this year, and it's 
good to see they have the opportunity to share in the future success of the 
business.  Our entry into the FTSE250 index in April was a milestone we are all 
proud to have achieved. 
 
"We enter FY2022 from a position of strength, and we look forward to updating 
on progress as we continue to execute on our strategy. " 
 
Notice of Results 
 
The Group is planning to announce its preliminary results on 7 July 2021 and 
publish its Annual Financial Report shortly thereafter. 
 
For further information contact: 
 
Buchanan 
 
David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Tilly Abraham                        +44 (0) 207 466 
5000 
 
Notes to Editors: 
 
Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing 
services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility 
solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers 
across six key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle disposal, vehicle ancillary 
services, repairs, accident management and vehicle data. 
 
The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through 
meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when 
unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde 
Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive 
enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable 
compounding growth.  The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its 
strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden. 
 
Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet 
of over 110,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 500,000 managed 
vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across 
the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive 
services professionals. 
 
Further information please visit the Company's website: 
 
www.reddenorthgate.com 
 
[1] Current range of analyst estimates for FY2021 underlying PBT £83.3m to £ 
88.0m 
 
 
 
END 
 
 

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May 12, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

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