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Company AEA Technology Group PLC TIDM AAT Headline Trading Statement Released 07:00 18-Jul-2012 Number 8983H07
RNS Number: 8983H
AEA Technology Group PLC
18 July 2012
At the time of the publication of the Group's interim results
on 30 November 2011, the Company announced that, following
the expected reduction in adjusted operating profits
announced on 16
November 2011, the Group had secured the approval of Lloyds
Banking Group (the "Bank") to amend its financial covenants
for 2012 and therefore was able to continue to access its
banking facilities. Notwithstanding this, at the same time,
the Company highlighted the on-going need to complete the
negotiation of banking covenants for 2013 during the course
of 2012.
As reported in the Company's interim results for the six
months ended 30 September 2011, net debt and net liabilities
in respect of retirement benefits, as at 30 September 2011,
were £34.3m and
£165.5m respectively.
On 20 January 2012, the Company announced a further
significant adverse impact on adjusted operating profits for
financial year 2012 and reported that the Bank remained
supportive of the Group.
Since that date, the Bank has remained supportive of the
Group's activities while the Board, together with its
advisers, have prepared a new strategy and business plan.
During this period, the Company has sought to reach agreement
with the Bank as to revised facilities, including amended
covenants for
2013. At the same time the Company has been holding detailed
discussions with the trustee of the Group's defined benefit
pension scheme (the "Trustee") with a view to addressing the
significant deficit of the scheme and the Group's on-going
funding of these retirement benefit obligations.
The new strategy and business plan has now been completed and
has been discussed with both the Bank and Trustee. The new
strategy and expected operating performance sets out a
positive way forward for the Group and its employees, and the
actions already taken by the Board to improve operational
efficiency have started to deliver results. However, despite
constructive discussions with the Bank and Trustee, the Board
has been unable to achieve a long term solution to the
existing levels of net debt and the significant on-going
funding costs of the Group's retirement benefit
obligations.
As a result, with the support of the Trustee and the Bank,
including short term financial support, the Board has decided
to consider all strategic options to realise value. However,
the Board does not envisage there will be offers for the
share capital of the Company and the Board expects that such
options will result in little or no value for
shareholders.
The Company will provide a further update in due course.
For further information:
Dr Paul Golby, Chairman John Lowry, Interim CEO Kevin Higginson, CFO
IR Focus 020 7593 4015
Neville Harris
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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