2019-20
Preliminary results presentation 2019/20 - September 2020
Highlights
- Good performance in H1 with COVID-19 impacting performance in H2
- Energy & Environment, Defense and Rail all delivered an increase in profits on the prior year
- Automotive-related businesses were significantly impacted with lower profits than prior year
- We experienced a delay in some orders being placed and some challenges in the delivery of projects due to Ricardo and customers working remotely, leading to reduced levels of efficiency and lower margins
- Automotive-related businesses restructured to provide lower cost base (c. £10m per annum) and realign it to anticipated demand
- Disposal of DTC test business and exit from Santa Clara, in line with agile and asset-light strategy.
- Acquired businesses in Australia integrated and performing well
- Good cash performance with positive working capital for the year – net debt was flat for the COVID-19 impacted H2. Cash resources increased by £50m and liquidity of £143m at 30 June 2020
- Majority of offices and all assembly lines now open and operational following significant disruption during H2
- Interim dividend of 6.24p paid in April 2020 – no final dividend proposed