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| Date/Time | Headline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 19-11-09 | RNS |
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RNS Number : 7403C National Grid PLC 19 November 2009
19 November 2009 National Grid plc Half year report for the six months ended 30 September 2009 (unaudited)
HIGHLIGHTS
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Business performance
Statutory results
Steve Holliday, Chief Executive, said: "We have made good operational and financial progress against our priorities for this year and have delivered a very strong financial performance in the first half. Our pre-tax profits were up 16%, supported by lower financing costs, delivering higher operating cash flows. We have now filed or implemented new rate plans for over 60% of our US rate base and are on track to deliver this year's investment programme of £3.4bn, financed through internal cash flows and borrowings.
As we look to the future our focused strategy is being confirmed by the changing energy landscape, which creates a number of organic growth opportunities for National Grid. With the right regulatory frameworks this will create significant value for our shareholders."
National Grid has made a very good start to what is expected to be a strong financial year. This is despite the prevailing economic conditions, which have marginally affected our distribution businesses particularly in the US. We have made good progress on our stated priorities for 2009/10:- delivering our disciplined investment programme, progressing with our US regulatory filings and driving efficiency through the phased introduction of our operating model. Looking forward, the energy landscape is changing, creating a number of organic growth opportunities for National Grid. Priorities for 2009/10 Our investment pipeline remains strong. In the UK electricity and gas markets, investment is being driven by changes in sources of gas supply and electricity generation (c.40%), and the need for asset replacement (c.60%). In the US electricity and gas markets, investment is being driven by customer additions (c.20%), the need for asset replacement (c.50%), system reinforcement (c.20%) and the emerging need for renewable generation (c.10%). To date this year we have invested £1.5bn and are on target to invest around £3.4bn for the full year, growing our asset base. This is supported by current rate plans and long term contracts and is being financed from internal cash flow and borrowings. Our financial position remains robust. Net operating cash flows are £747m higher than the previous period reflecting a favourable working capital movement. We have completed our funding requirement of £2.5bn for 2009/10 and have already pre-funded £1.3bn of our funding requirement for 2010/11. This year National Grid has issued long term bonds totalling over $2bn, from its Upstate New York regulated entity, Niagara Mohawk, and Massachusetts Electric at competitive rates. This is part of our programme to reallocate debt to our US operating companies. Our net finance costs for this period have decreased by £20m to £504m. This reflects our variable rate debt benefiting from lower interest rates, along with UK deflation positively affecting our index linked debt. We have taken full advantage of these lower rates, fixing the majority of our variable rate debt portfolio for both the current year and 2010/11. We are committed to financing our business in a manner consistent with maintaining an efficient balance sheet and optimising our cost of capital. We expect all credit metrics to improve this year, primarily due to the reduction in our interest charge. Moody's Investor Services, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's have all reaffirmed our credit ratings with stable outlook. We continue to make progress on our rate case filings in the US. This financial year we have made filings in Massachusetts Electric Company and Narragansett Electric. In addition we plan to file the Niagara Mohawk electric rate case in early 2010 and intend to file a rate case for our Colonial Gas business in the first quarter of 2010/11. At the same time we plan to make a consolidated filing, combining our Boston and Essex gas businesses into a single rate plan, greatly simplifying and improving the transparency of our Massachusetts gas regulatory arrangements. We continue to drive efficiency through the phased introduction of our operating model. We expect that our 2009/10 regulated controllable costs (excluding bad debts) as a proportion of our asset base will reduce significantly from the 8.1% reported for 2008/09. We continue to drive procurement costs down through a combination of leveraging National Grid's scale, unit price reductions and a decrease in the number of suppliers. We remain on track with delivery of our KeySpan synergy savings, at 30 September 2009 we had achieved a run rate of $140m. Potential growth opportunities When we set out our strategy in November 2006, we noted the significant requirement for investment in our chosen markets, the UK and US, driven largely by the need for asset replacement, renewable energy policy and customer connections. Since that time, there have been clear developments in both UK and US energy policy and the regulatory and commercial regimes are now beginning to take shape. In the main they are being driven by specific national and state targets for renewable energy supply and reductions in carbon emissions. This changing energy landscape will create a number of opportunities for National Grid and other energy companies. These will include the need for investment in renewable generation, new transmission systems to connect new nuclear stations and onshore and offshore wind generation, smart grids, carbon capture and storage projects, interconnectors and strategic gas storage. Whilst it is unclear today which of these projects will be appropriate for National Grid or their precise timing, we expect that greater clarity will emerge as UK and US energy policies continue to crystallise and appropriate regulatory frameworks are put in place. We are clear that we will adopt a rigorous approach to the assessment of these opportunities as they emerge and will be selective about which we pursue. We will only undertake investments that produce an attractive and predictable return for shareholders.
DIVIDEND Reflecting the positive outlook for the year, the Board has approved an 8% increase in the interim dividend to 13.65p per ordinary share ($1.1480 per American Depositary Share) in line with its long term policy. The interim dividend is to be paid on 20 January 2010 to shareholders on the register as at 4 December 2009. A scrip dividend alternative will be offered.
OUTLOOK Current performance remains in line with our expectations. We continue to expect a strong performance from our Transmission and Electricity Distribution and Generation businesses. Our Gas Distribution business will benefit from increases in net revenues under our UK and US rate plans, but will be impacted by negative timing differences, resulting in lower operating profit in this business. Net interest charges will benefit from low inflation and the majority of our variable rate debt having been fixed at low interest rates. Our full year effective tax rate is expected to be in line with last year. Overall we are well positioned to deliver another year of strong performance. BASIS OF PRESENTATION Unless otherwise stated, all financial commentaries are given on a business performance basis at actual exchange rates. Business performance represents the results for continuing operations before exceptional items, mark-to-market remeasurements of commodity contracts and financial instruments that are held for economic hedging purposes but did not achieve hedge accounting, and US stranded cost recoveries. Commentary provided in respect of results after exceptional items, mark-to-market remeasurements and US stranded cost recoveries is described as 'statutory'.
REVIEW OF RESULTS AND FINANCIAL POSITION Operating profit was £1,149m, up 6% on the prior period (up 2% on a constant currency basis4). This was primarily driven by good results in our Transmission and Electricity Distribution and Generation businesses partially offset by timing related items in our US Gas Distribution business. Operating profit performance in the first half of the year reflected the expected seasonality in our US businesses. Net finance costs were £504m, 4% lower than the prior period, reflecting lower interest rates and RPI deflation benefiting the accretion on index linked bonds. We expect this trend to continue through to the full year but lessen as RPI inflation returns. Profit before tax was up 16% to £649m. The tax charge on profit was £93m, £32m lower than the prior period, with the first half tax charge under IAS34 reflecting discrete items of £67m and the geographical and seasonal split of our earnings. For the full year we expect our effective tax rate to be in line with last year. Earnings were up £123m on the prior period at £554m. Earnings per share increased 31% from 17.2p in the first half last year to 22.5p. Exceptional items and remeasurements for continuing operations increased statutory earnings by £142m after tax. After these items and minority interests, statutory earnings for continuing operations attributable to shareholders were £696m - statutory basic earnings per share from continuing operations were 28.3p compared with 16.2p for the prior period. Operating cash flows from continuing operations, before exceptional items, remeasurements, stranded cost recoveries and taxation, were £1,607m, £747m higher than the prior period. Organic investment in our continuing businesses was £1.5bn, in line with our plans for the year. Our net debt fell to £21.98bn at 30 September 2009 compared with £22.67bn at 31 March 2009, reflecting the impact of the weakening of the US dollar - pound exchange rate on our dollar denominated debt. Further information about our principal risks and uncertainties for the next six months of the financial year is provided in Note 13 on page 25. REVIEW OF TRANSMISSION OPERATIONS
Operating profit by geographical segment Six months ended 30 September
UK 549 508 8
US 88 103 (15)
UK 561 684 (18)
US 99 72 38
Transmission operating profit was up 8% at £637m. Our allowed UK transmission regulated revenue increased by 6.7% for electricity and 3.8% for gas at 1 April 2009 in line with our RPI + X price control allowances. This resulted in operating profit from our UK regulated revenue being £60m higher than the prior period. This was partially offset by operating profit lower in the US by £15m largely due to timing differences. Operating profit from our French Interconnector, which had a particularly strong performance last year, was lower by £22m. Other items increased operating profit by £3m. The period on period movement in exchange rates had a £20m positive benefit on Transmission operating profit. Capital investment in Transmission was £660m. Large schemes in the UK include load related investment in the Thames estuary and transmission investment in renewable generation (which earns an enhanced return). Investment in our US transmission networks includes reliability spend in New York and investment on the New England East-West Solution (NEEWS) project, where we earn an enhanced Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) return on equity of 12.89%.
REVIEW OF GAS DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS
Operating profit by geographical segment Six months ended 30 September
UK 385 264 46
US (132) 12 -
US 204 170 20
Gas Distribution operating profit decreased by £21m during the period to £253m. In the UK, net regulated revenues were up £23m, reflecting increases under the price control allowance. In addition the re-phasing of UK billing between the first and second half of the year increased operating profit by £104m. In the US, where the vast majority of annual revenue is collected in the second half of the year, net revenues were up £16m on the prior period. This good performance comes on the back of last year's significant over recovery, which together with negative timing impacts in this half year, has led to a £142m period on period decrease in operating profit. Most of this year's under recovery is expected to reverse in the second half. In addition, as anticipated, the US recession is reducing our customers' ability to pay their bills with operating profit down by £16m as a result of an increase in bad debts. Other items reduced UK and US net operating profit by £8m. The period on period movement in exchange rates had a £2m positive benefit on operating profit. During the period, together with our Gas Distribution alliance partnerships in the UK, we have replaced around 1,026km of gas mains, resulting in total replacement expenditure (repex) of £233m. In our US operations customer connections have slowed as a result of the US recession. This period we have added around 19,000 new customers. Overall, our investment in network infrastructure projects in the UK and US resulted in total capital expenditure (including repex) of £541m this period, 20% up on the prior period. We continue to make good regulatory progress in the US. On 14 May 2009 our Niagara Mohawk gas rate case, recommended by the New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) staff, was approved in full with a base allowed return of 10.2% and provided for a $39m increase in revenues. The revenue increase came into effect on 20 May. On 29 May 2009 the New Hampshire gas rate case (covering around 1% of our US rate base) was approved. We were disappointed with the allowed return on equity of 9.54%, which is out of line with other regulatory decisions and we subsequently asked the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission to reconsider the decision. Last week, the Commission denied our motion for reconsideration and we are now considering our next steps. Next year we plan to make a rate case filing for Colonial Gas and a consolidated filing, combining our Boston and Essex businesses into a single rate plan. Our continued programme of refiling rate cases will benefit both customers and shareholders by supporting much needed investment and recovery of costs.
REVIEW OF ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION AND GENERATION OPERATIONS
services
During the period, operating profit from Electricity Distribution and Generation increased by 31% to £169m. This period saw an increase in our net revenues of £29m, primarily reflecting the increase in generation contract revenues. Timing related items, mainly relating to an under recovery of income, temporarily reduced operating profit by £64m. Other items, including a reduction in service penalty costs and the absence of non-cash one off items incurred last year, increased operating profit by £44m. 2008 saw us delivering a significant improvement in our upstate New York system reliability performance, consistently beating our historic average and avoiding service penalties. The period on period movement in exchange rates benefited operating profit by £31m. We have made solid regulatory progress during the period. As planned in Massachusetts and Rhode Island we filed electric rate cases on 15 May 2009 and 1 June 2009 respectively. These filings will benefit both customers and shareholders by supporting much needed investment and recovery of costs. We expect a conclusion to be reached around the end of the year in Massachusetts and early next year in Rhode Island.
REVIEW OF NON-REGULATED AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Operating profit by principal activities Six months ended 30 September
Operating profit from our non-regulated and other activities increased by 6% to £90m. This was primarily driven by an increase in profit in our Metering and Grain LNG businesses, partially offset by a reduction in operating profit in our Property business. As reported in February, given current market conditions we have taken action to defer property sales in order to preserve value. This has reduced operating profit by £14m compared to the previous period. Metering operating profit was up £10m at £86m, mainly driven by increased revenue, and lower costs and depreciation charges. During the period, capital investment in this business was £64m, with around 360,000 new meters installed. On 29 April 2009 the Competition Appeal Tribunal in part overturned Ofgem's decision to fine us for a breach of the UK Competition Act 1998 and reduced the fine to £30m but also upheld the original decision in part. The Court of Appeal has granted us leave to appeal the Tribunal's decision both on points of law and as to the amount of the penalty. Our Grain LNG business delivered an operating profit of £20m, five times that of the previous period, as a result of Phase II becoming operational in December 2008. During the period capital investment in this business decreased by 51% to £60m, mainly reflecting the completion of the Phase II capacity extension in October 2008. Phase III is currently under construction and is planned to complete in late 2010. This will add a further LNG tank and a second unloading jetty, increasing the total annual capacity of the terminal to around 15 million tonnes, representing around 20% of total UK gas demand. These investments are underpinned by long-term, take-or-pay contracts, which deliver an index-linked revenue stream for 20 years.
PROVISIONAL FINANCIAL TIMETABLE
18 December 2009 Scrip election date for 2009/10 interim dividend
CONTACTS National Grid:
Investors
Victoria Davies +44 (0)20 7004 3171 +44 (0)7771 973447(m)
Media
Brunswick: Tom Burns +44 (0)20 7404 5959 +44 (0)7974 982308(m) An analyst presentation will be held at the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7LS at 9:15am (UK time) today. Live telephone coverage of the analyst presentation - password 'National Grid' UK dial in number +44 (0) 203 023 4488 US dial in number +1 866 966 5335 Telephone replay of the analyst presentation (available until 19 December 2009) Dial in number +44 (0) 208 196 1998 Account number 5254788¿ A live web cast of the presentation will also be available at www.nationalgrid.com. A short video of Steve Holliday talking about these results is available on www.cantos.com. You can view or download copies of our latest Annual Report or the Annual Review from our website at www.nationalgrid.com/corporate/Investor+Relations/ or request a free printed copy by contacting investor.relations@ngrid.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT This announcement contains certain statements that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information. These statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include information with respect to National Grid's financial condition, results of operations and businesses, strategy, plans and objectives. Words such as "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will", "continue", "project" and similar expressions, as well as statements in the future tense, identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of National Grid's future performance and are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond National Grid's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as delays in obtaining, or adverse conditions contained in, regulatory approvals and contractual consents, unseasonable weather affecting the demand for electricity and gas, competition and industry restructuring, changes in economic conditions, currency fluctuations, changes in interest and tax rates, changes in energy market prices, changes in historical weather patterns, changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policies, developments in legal or public policy doctrines, the impact of changes to accounting standards, technological developments and the ability to access capital markets and other sources of credit in a timely manner on acceptable terms, especially considering the recent deterioration of market conditions in the global economy and financial markets. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this announcement include the ability to integrate the businesses relating to announced or recently completed acquisitions with National Grid's existing business to realise the expected synergies from such integration, the availability of new acquisition opportunities and the timing and success of future acquisition opportunities, the timing and success or other impact of the sales of National Grid's non-core businesses, the failure for any reason to achieve reductions in costs or to achieve operational efficiencies, the failure to retain key management, the behaviour of UK electricity market participants on system balancing, the timing of amendments in prices to shippers in the UK gas market, the performance of National Grid's pension schemes and the regulatory treatment of pension costs, and any adverse consequences arising from outages on or otherwise affecting energy networks, including gas pipelines owned or operated by National Grid. For a more detailed description of some of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties, together with any other risk factors, please see National Grid's filings with and submissions to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (and in particular the "Risk Factors" and "Operating and Financial Review" sections in its most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F). Except as may be required by law or regulation, National Grid undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements. The effects of these factors are difficult to predict. New factors emerge from time to time and National Grid cannot assess the potential impact of any such factor on its activities or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The contents of any website referenced herein do not form part of this document.
September
Operating profit Total operating profit 2c 1,404 943 2,623
income Interest expense and other finance costs 4 (973) (1,022) (2,549)
joint ventures and associates Profit before taxation Total profit before taxation 944 564 1,394 Taxation Total taxation (246) (156) (472) Profit from continuing operations after taxation Profit for the period from 698 408 922 continuing operations Profit for the period from discontinued operations - 17 25
Attributable to: 698 425 947 Earnings per share from continuing operations* Dividends per ordinary share: 7 23.00p 21.30p 33.94p paid during the period
for the period
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF 2009 2008 Year ended 31 March COMPREHENSIVE 2009
INCOME
for the six months ended 30
September
Other comprehensive income:
losses
respect of cash flow hedges
on cash flow hedges
hedges
equity on available-for-sale
investments
on sale of available-for-sale
investments
available-for-sale investments
(loss)/income for the period
(loss)/income for the period Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to: (329) 468 34
at 30 September
Non-current assets
investments
Current assets
intangible assets
investments
Current liabilities
liabilities
Non-current liabilities
liabilities
post-retirement benefit
obligations
Equity
Changes in equity for the period:
(loss)/income for the period
issue
interests
Changes in equity for the period:
the period
and purchase of treasury
shares
interests
Changes in equity for the year:
(loss)/income for the year
and purchase of treasury
shares
interests
STATEMENT 2009
for the six months ended 30
September
Cash flows from operating
activities
Adjustments for:
remeasurements and stranded
cost recoveries
post-retirement benefit
obligations
exceptional items
stranded cost recoveries
continuing operations
discontinued operations
(excluding tax)
activities
Cash flows from investing
activities
and equipment
and equipment
ventures
investments
operations - investing activities Cash flows relating to discontinued operations Net cash flow (used in)/from (969) 870 (1,998) investing activities
Cash flows from financing
activities
capital and sale of treasury
shares
borrowings and related
derivatives
and purchase of treasury
shares
financing activities
cash and cash equivalents
at start of period
at end of period (ii)
NOTES TO THE 2009/10 HALF YEAR FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1. Basis of preparation and new accounting standards, interpretations and amendments The half year financial information covers the six month period ended 30 September 2009 and has been prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and IFRS as adopted by the European Union, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority. The half year financial information is unaudited but has been reviewed by the auditors and their report is attached to this document. The following standards, interpretations and amendments, issued by the IASB and by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC), are effective for the year ending 31 March 2010. None of these had a material impact on consolidated results or assets and liabilities.
The following interpretation and amendments, issued by the IFRIC and the IASB, are effective for the year ending 31 March 2010, but have not yet been endorsed by the European Union:
The amendment to IFRS 7 and amendments to IFRIC 9 and IAS 39 have no impact on the consolidated results or assets and liabilities of the Company. The impact of IFRIC 18 is to increase profit for the six months ended 30 September 2009 and reduce liabilities as at 30 September 2009; however, the adoption of this interpretation did not have a material impact on our consolidated results or assets and liabilities and therefore the half year financial information complies with both IFRS as issued by the IASB and IFRS as adopted by the European Union. The half year financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. It should be read in conjunction with the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009, which were prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union and the IASB and have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' report on these statutory accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The half year financial information has been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies expected to be applicable for the year ending 31 March 2010 and consistent with those applied in the preparation of our accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009, except for the impact of new standards, interpretations and amendments noted above. Date of approval
This announcement was approved by the Board of Directors on 18 November 2009.
The segmental analysis is based on the information the Board of Directors uses internally for the purposes of evaluating the performance of operating segments and determining resource allocation between operating segments. The Company assesses the performance of its operations principally on the basis of operating profit before exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries. The following table describes the main activities for each operating segment:
Other activities primarily relate to non-regulated businesses and other commercial operations not included within the above segments, including: UK-based gas metering activities; UK property management; a UK LNG import terminal; other LNG operations; US unregulated transmission pipelines; US gas fields; and corporate activities, including business development. Sales between operating segments are priced having regard to the regulatory and legal requirements to which the businesses are subject. The Gas Distribution US segment experiences significant seasonal fluctuations owing to weather conditions and peak delivery volumes occurring in the second half of the fiscal year. In the UK the pricing methodology for gas distribution has a higher capacity delivery component and a lower volume component and so is not subject to such significant seasonal fluctuations. A reconciliation of the operating segments' measure of profit to total profit before taxation is provided on the face of the income statement. Further details of the reconciling items are provided in note 3.
Six months ended 30 September 2009 2008 Year ended 31 March 2009 £m £m £m Operating segments - continuing
operations
Generation US
recoveries
Geographical area
Six months ended 30 September 2009 2008 Year ended 31 March 2009
Operating segments - continuing operations
US
remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries
Geographical area
remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries
c) Operating profit - after exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries
2009
Operating segments - continuing
operations
Generation US
items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries
Geographical area
US 394 100 894
items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries
d) Total assets
Operating segments - continuing operations
Geographical area
The analysis of total assets includes all attributable goodwill and excludes inter-segment balances. Unallocated total assets comprise cash and cash equivalents, taxation, current financial investments and total derivative financial assets.
e) Depreciation and amortisation
Operating segments - continuing operations
Geographical area UK 356 331 679
US 232 185 448
Exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries are items of income and expenditure that, in the judgement of management, should be disclosed separately on the basis that they are material, either by their nature or their size, to an understanding of our financial performance and significantly distort the comparability of financial performance between periods. Items of income or expense that are considered by management for designation as exceptional items include such items as significant restructurings, write-downs or impairments of non-current assets, material changes in environmental or decommissioning provisions, integration of acquired businesses, amortisation of acquisition-related intangibles and gains or losses on disposals of businesses or investments. Remeasurements comprise gains or losses recorded in the income statement arising from changes in the fair value of commodity contracts and of derivative financial instruments to the extent that hedge accounting is not achieved or is not effective.
Stranded cost recoveries represent the recovery of historical costs in the US related to generation assets that are no longer owned. Such costs can be recovered from customers as permitted by regulatory agreements.
2009
(i)
provisions (ii)
and stranded cost recoveries included within operating profit
derivative financial instruments (vi)
included within finance costs
and stranded cost recoveries before taxation
arising from change in UK industrial
building allowance regime (vii)
costs (i)
related provisions (ii)
contracts (iv)
financial instruments (vi)
and stranded cost recoveries
and stranded cost recoveries
after taxation
remeasurements after taxation
taxation
and stranded cost recoveries after taxation 3. Exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries (continued)
4. Finance income and costs
2009
instruments
other post-retirement benefit plan assets (i)
income
instruments
post-retirement benefit plan
liabilities
provisions
Net gains/(losses) on derivative
financial instruments and
commodity contracts
finance costs
Comprising:
exceptional finance costs and
remeasurements
remeasurements (see note 3)
i) The difference between actual and expected investment return on pension assets is reported as an actuarial gain or loss within the statement of comprehensive income.
The tax charge for the period, excluding tax on exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries is £93m (six months ended 30 September 2008: £125m; year ended 31 March 2009: £517m). The effective tax rate of 14.3% (six months ended 30 September 2008: 22.4%) for the period is based on the best estimate of the weighted average annual income tax rate by jurisdiction expected for the full year. The current period rate reflects the seasonality of earnings following the KeySpan acquisition as well as other discrete items. For the full year we expect the group effective tax rate to be approximately 29%. The actual effective tax rate for the year ended 31 March 2009 was 29.2%. 6. Earnings per share
a) Basic earnings per share
2009 2009
2009 2009 2008 2008
operations
taxation
remeasurements after taxation
after taxation
taxation
operations
operations after taxation
shares - basic
b) Diluted earnings per share
2009 2009
2009 2009 2008 2008
operations
taxation
remeasurements after taxation
after taxation
taxation
operations
discontinued operations
operations after taxation
operations
shares - diluted
The following table shows the dividends paid to equity shareholders:
Ordinary dividends
2008
2009
2009
The Directors are proposing an interim dividend of 13.65p per share that would absorb approximately £336m of shareholders' equity to be paid in respect of the year ending 31 March 2010. A scrip dividend will be offered as an alternative. 8. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt
2009
and cash equivalents
investments
borrowings and related
derivatives (i)
components of net debt
from cash flows
financial assets and
liabilities and exchange
movements
components of net debt
related derivative financial
instruments) in the period
derivative financial instruments) at start of period
derivative financial instruments) at end of period i) The decrease in borrowings and related derivatives for the six months ended 30 September 2009 comprises proceeds received from loans issued of £0.9bn less payments to repay loans of £0.7bn and movement in short-term borrowings and derivative settlements of £0.3bn. 9. Net debt
2009
liabilities
instruments)
2009
provided
Comparatives have been restated to present items on a basis consistent with the current period classification. i) Commodity contracts that do not meet the normal purchase, sale or usage criteria and hence are accounted for as derivative contracts are recorded at fair value and incorporated in other non-current assets, trade and other receivables, trade and other payables and other non-current liabilities. At 30 September 2009 these amounted to £196m (30 September 2008: £64m; 31 March 2009: £310m).
iii) Includes commitments largely relating to gas purchasing and property remediation of £640m (30 September 2008: £195m; 31 March 2009: £615m). In last year's Annual Report and Accounts we reported a decision by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) (the "Decision") to levy on us a fine of £41.6 million for a breach of the UK Competition Act 1998 in respect of term contracts with gas suppliers entered into by our UK metering services business in 2004. We also noted that we had appealed the Decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (the "Tribunal"). On 29 April 2009, the Tribunal overturned the Decision in part and reduced the fine to £30 million but upheld the original Decision in part. The Court of Appeal has granted us leave to appeal the Tribunal's decision both on points of law and as to the amount of the penalty. As at the date of this announcement, we remain of the view that an outflow of economic benefits is not probable, and as a result, no provision has been made in these accounts either for the reduced fine of £30 million, or for any other possible financial impact of the ruling. In October 2008, we informed Ofgem that our mains replacement activity carried out within the UK's West Midlands Alliance partnership may have been misreported. National Grid and Ofgem jointly appointed Ernst & Young to carry out a full investigation to determine the extent of the issue. At present it is too early to determine the likely outcome of the investigation and any potential consequences. In May 2007, KeySpan received a civil investigative demand from the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), requesting the production of documents and information relating to its investigation of competitive issues in the New York City electricity capacity market prior to the Company's acquisition of KeySpan. The civil investigative demand is a request for information in the course of an investigation and does not constitute the commencement of legal proceedings, and no specific allegations have been made against KeySpan. In April 2008, KeySpan received a second civil investigative demand in connection with this matter. KeySpan believes that its activity in the capacity market has been consistent with all applicable laws and regulations and it continues to cooperate fully with the investigation. Since July 2009, KeySpan and the DoJ have entered discussions that could potentially lead to a settlement of this matter.
The consolidated results are affected by the exchange rates used to translate the results of its US operations and US dollar transactions. The US dollar to pound sterling exchange rates used were:
2009
12. Related party transactions There were no significant changes in the nature and size of related party transactions for the period to those disclosed in the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2009. 13. Principal risks and uncertainties The principal risks and uncertainties which could affect National Grid for the remaining six months of the financial year are disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09 ('Annual Report'). A list of the significant risks is provided on page 40 of the Annual Report, and the risks are then disclosed in more detail on pages 97 to 99, and pages 166 to 172. Our overall risk management process is designed to identify, manage, and mitigate our business risks, including financial risks. Our assessment of the principal risks and uncertainties and our risk management processes have not changed since the year end.
The half year report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the half year report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority. The Directors confirm that the financial information has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the European Union, and that the half year report herein includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8. The Directors of National Grid plc are as listed in the National Grid plc Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2009 with the exception of Bob Catell who retired from the Board on 27 July 2009. By order of the Board
Independent review report to National Grid plc Introduction We have been engaged by the Company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2009, which comprises the consolidated income statement, statement of comprehensive income, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, cash flow statement and related notes. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements. Directors' responsibilities The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority. As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting', as adopted by the European Union. Our responsibility Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review. This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in producing this report, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing. Scope of review We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, 'Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity' issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion. Conclusion Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2009 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 as adopted by the European Union and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Chartered Accountants London 18 November 2009 <HR>--------------------------------------- 1 Business performance results are the primary financial performance measure used by National Grid, being the results for continuing operations before exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries. Remeasurements comprise gains or losses recorded in the income statement arising from changes in the fair value of commodity contracts and of derivative financial instruments to the extent that hedge accounting is not achieved or is not fully effective. Stranded cost recoveries are costs associated with historical generation investment and related contractual commitments that were not recovered through the sale of those investments - these recoveries end in 2011. Further details are provided in Note 3 on page 20. A reconciliation of business performance to statutory results is provided in the consolidated income statement on page 11. 2 Operating cash flow from continuing operations before exceptional items, remeasurements, stranded cost recoveries and taxation. 3 Adjusted to reflect scrip dividend, refer to note 6 on page 22. 4 'Constant currency basis' refers to the reporting of the actual results against the prior period results which, in respect of any US$ currency denominated activity, have been translated using the average US$ exchange rate for the six months ended 30 September 2009, which was $1.55 to £1.00. The average rate for the six months ended 30 September 2008 was $1.92 to £1.00. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END
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Investors shun defensive value
Created: 17 November 2009 Updated: 18 November 2009 Written by: Algy Hall A slide in our recent roadshow presentations illustrated the current stock market dichotomy perfectly. It plotted the difference between the yield on cyclical shares and the yield on defensives - and showed a big spike upwards in recent months. In other words: defensives are very cheap compared to cyclicals. Advertising Could that be about to change? After all, cyclicals are starting to underperform; four of the top five performing FTSE 350 sectors - automotives and parts, industrial metals, banks and real estate - have underperformed the index since the blue chips first closed above the 5,000 mark this year. But defensives are, too. The five key defensive sectors that made up the markets laggards during the rally have failed to enjoy a reversal of fortune since the FTSE breached 5,000. All have continued to underperform. Particularly miserable performances from defensives sectors since the start of March include an underperformance of 46 per cent by the gas, water and multi-utility sector, a 44 per cent underperformance by electricity, a 31 per cent underperformance by tobacco, 30 per cent by mobile telecommunications and 22 per cent by pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Finding a way The upside of the weakness is that defensives sectors are now one of the few parts of the market that offer value based on historic valuation. For example, the electricity sector currently boasts a historic yield of 6.2 per cent compared with a five-year range of 6.3 per cent to 1.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the gas, water and multi-utility sector is yielding 5.6 per cent, compared with the range of 6.5 per cent to 3.4 per cent. And tobacco stocks yield 4.3 per cent currently compared with a five-year range of 5.3 per cent to 2 per cent. At a time when interest rates are absurdly low and could stay there for a while, those yields are certainly striking and account for the some of highest available from a sector perspective. Of course, it's common for go-slow defensives to offer bigger yields than the rest of the market, and there's always the danger of reading too much into apparent value. A cheap sector can always get cheaper still, as anyone who bought earlier this year can attest. But the divergence between cyclical and defensive sectors is unusually marked at the moment. In a recent economics and strategy briefing, broker Charles Stanley pointed out that the extremes in valuation between cyclical sectors and their defensive counterparts is now the widest since 1994, based on historic multiples. The broker also said that 1994 was a year which saw "an aggressive about turn in Fed policy" rates doubled from 3 per cent to 6 per cent in the US over a year from February that year, while in the UK base rates began a rise off a low of 5.25 per cent to eventually peak at 7.5 per cent in July 1998. Time for a change So, in fact, cyclical performance could have hit a theoretical wall. If the economic recovery disappoints, that could lead to weakness in cyclical share performance, given the expectations of 'business as usual' that have already been priced in. Equally, if the recovery is better than expected, that could lead to a rapid tightening of monetary and/or fiscal policy, which in turn could constrain spending and once again see cyclical underperformance. But will the signs of value in defensive sectors lead to a boost in performance any time soon? For the time being, exceptionally loose monetary policy is encouraging investors to hunt out riskier investments. And there are few signs that the appeal of companies with exposure to emerging market growth, especially miners, is diminishing. Defensives are also battling against a number of sector -specific concerns that are weighing on performance. Water regulator Ofwat, for example, is due to make its final determination on pricing on 26th November. S . . . Read Full Message More | View thread (1) | Respond | Login to Vote up | Login to Vote down |
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Sorry WSF
More attention to detail from me in the future Cheers MS More | View thread (4) | Respond | Login to Vote up | Login to Vote down |
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"SSE had a rights issue a little while back not available to general public big boyes only"
---------------------------------------- aka a share placing. a rights issue would be open to all shareholders. its a pretty common practice and dont think it had much of a dilutive effect thus we didnt really see a big drop in the sp. wsf. More | View thread (4) | Respond | Login to Vote up | Login to Vote down |
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SSE had a rights issue a little while back not available to general public big boyes only unfortunately. Good news is that the shares retained their price despite the extra ones in issue.
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