Redhall close to completing its turnaround
The Wakefield-based firm has experienced unforeseen delays on some of its nuclear and infrastructure projects which has led to work being deferred into next year. The most significant of these relates to its work on Hinkley Point C.
Redhall said its strategic transformation into a focused, high integrity manufacturing and services group, working in complex, secure and hazardous environments, gained momentum in 2017.
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Hide AdA growing proportion of the group’s order book is now manufactured product, principally for the nuclear sector.
Redhall said that Jordan Manufacturing’s success in being awarded preferred bid status on the £8m marine works at Hinkley Point C illustrates the group’s strategic progress.
In July it raised £9.5m of new equity through an oversubscribed placing and additionally £3.75m of debt was converted to equity.
The order book stands at £32m, up 19 per cent compared with £27m in December 2016.
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Hide AdRevenue in the year to September 30 from continuing operations was £39m, down from £44m the previous year.
Adjusted operating profit before exceptional items was £1.4m, up from £900,000 in 2016.
The group said that despite the results being below its original expectations, it was pleased with the progress achieved in the year.
The loss for the year was £1.4m, down from a loss of £1.7m the previous year.
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Hide AdWith the completion of the turnaround, chief executive Phil Brierley has decided to step down in March. He will be succeeded by Wayne Pearson, currently the group’s chief operating officer, who has a background in manufacturing.
To ensure a smooth handover, Mr Brierley will remain with the group in an advisory role until the end of 2018.
Mr Brierley said: "We feel the turnaoround is largely done. Over the last three years, we've seen the sale of the engineering division, we've sold assets and raised money in the city.
"That's behind us now and we are getting productivity up. We are getting into a good growth position."
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Hide AdTalking about his decision to step down, Mr Brierley said: "Wayne has more experience delivering manufacturing. It's been a gradual process and Wayne has really improved the business. it feels the right time for me to step down."
Analyst John Cummins at WH Ireland said: "Redhall has come a long way in recent years and these results mark the completion of the numerous turnaround initiatives undertaken across the group.
"Booth and Jordan are both seeing a significant level of demand for their services across each of the three high margin nuclear segments and whilst timing of contracts is likely to remain an inherent risk, we would expect these businesses to secure their fair share of work in these growing markets.
"Whilst acknowledging the risks, we believe the shares remain fundamentally undervalued given the outlook for the group."