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Acme Inc. Q2 2012 Financial Results

Q2 2012 has been a strong quarter for ACME, with EPS up over 13% to a record 56.8p. An outstanding performance from our Q1 events capped off a year of consistent delivery in which all our businesses met or exceeded their targets for the year. On the back of these results, it has been a record dividend for the quarter. These results are the fruit of our consistent strategy to focus on providing marketing, communications and data services, in winning formats, to thriving business communities.

Positive performance – 2012 Group guidance maintained

“UBM remains on track to deliver the consolidated Group guidance we reiterated at the Interim Results.  Events growth continues as expected with good growth in our large Q3 events, particularly in China, and we continue to invest to strengthen our global Events business.  PR Newswire performed well, with good growth and margins on track.  The Data Services and Marketing Services segments reflect slightly softer market conditions in businesses that serve the global semi-conductor industry.  Our guidance reflects this softness and we remain mindful of the continuing uncertainties in the macro environment.  We expect to complete the strategic review of Data Services by the end of Q1 2013.”

Unaudited results for the nine months ended 30 September 2012

Revenue

  2012(1)

2011

Change

Underlying Change(1)

 

 

£m

£m

%

%

 

Events

338.9

278.5

21.7

12.7

 

PR Newswire

147.2

139.7

5.4

4.5

 

Data Services

123.7

138.3

-10.6

-2.2

 

Marketing Services – Online

67.1

63.5

5.7

5.3

 

Marketing Services – Print

57.7

86.2

-33.1

-14.5

 

Total Revenue

734.6

706.2

4.0

4.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margin

 

Adjusted Operating Profit

2012(1)

2011

Change

2012

2011

 

 

£m

£m

%

%

%

 

Events

105.1

85.5

22.9

31.0

30.7

 

PR Newswire

32.2

28.5

13.0

21.9

20.4

 

Data Services

15.5

18.6

-16.7

12.5

13.4

 

Marketing Services – Online

(0.2)

0.5

nm

(0.3)

0.8

 

Marketing Services – Print

2.9

4.7

-38.3

5.0

5.5

 

Corporate Operations

(13.8)

(10.3)

nm

-

-

 

Total Adjusted Operating Profit

141.7

127.5

11.1

19.3

18.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Adjusted operating profit is group operating profit excluding amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisitions, exceptional items and share of taxation on profit from joint ventures and associates. 

(1) Following the formation earlier this year of our UBM Tech business unit, a number of business activities have been reallocated from the Data Services segment to Events and Marketing Services – Online.  The impact of this realignment on revenue and EBITA for the 9 month period ended 30 September 2012 is as set out in the following table:

£m

Data Services

Events

Marketing Services – Online

Revenue

(8.5)

5.5

3.0

EBITA

(0.2)

0.0

0.2

Events
  • YTD event revenues are up 21.7% to £338.9m (Sept 2011: £278.5m); underlying growth was 12.7%.

  • Of our top 20 shows which ran during the quarter Furniture China, Black Hat USA, Concrete Brazil and Children-Baby-Maternity-Expo showed good double digit growth while growth at the September Hong Kong Jewellery Show was, as expected, more moderate given venue space constraints, which will continue into 2013.
  • It should be noted that a number of shows ran in H1 in 2012 rather than Q3 as in 2011.
  • YTD adjusted operating margin of 31.0% (Sept 2011: 30.7%).
  • As at 30 September 2012, forward bookings for our 2011 Top 20 annual events are up 14.7% compared to last year.
  • We continue to build our physical presence across target Emerging Markets and today announce the acquisition of the EFEM events in Turkey – see separate press release.
  • Events guidance: we continue to expect full year underlying growth of 12-14% with a full year margin of 31-32% reflecting the lower even year biennial impact and higher investment in Q4.

 
PR Newswire
  • YTD PR Newswire’s revenues rose 5.4% to £147.2m (Sept 2011: £139.7m); underlying growth was 4.5%.
  • Our US Distribution business had a strong Q3 as the initiative to sell higher engagement offerings to our existing client base more than offset declines in traditional release volumes. The other areas of PR Newswire have broadly continued the trends seen in the first half of the year.  
  • YTD adjusted operating margin was 21.9% (Sept 2011: 20.4%) reflecting growth in US Distribution and international business as well as the benefit of investment and sales force development.  This was partially offset by dilution from Vintage and the launch of the Agility product.
  • PR Newswire guidance: we continue to expect full year underlying growth of 3-5% with full year margin in line with the FY 2011 margin of 21.8%.
 

Data Services
  • YTD Data Services revenues fell 10.6% to £123.7m (Sept 2011: £138.3m), with underlying revenues down 2.2%.
  • Our businesses in healthcare, trade and transport, built environment and paper performed in line with our expectations.  However, UBMTechInsights revenues continue to reflect delays in expected orders given softer market conditions in the global semi-conductor industry.
  • YTD adjusted operating margin was 12.5% (Sept 2011: 13.4%).
  • Data Services guidance: with continued weakness in the semi-conductor industry, Data Services revenue and margin may both be approximately 100bps lower than the previous segmental guidance (revenues flat and margins of 17%).
 

Marketing Services – Online & Print
  • Combined reported revenues fell 16.6% to £124.8m (Sept 2011: £149.7m), with underlying revenue down 4.7%.
  • The combined YTD adjusted operating margin was 2.2% (Sept 2011: 3.5%).
  • Weakness has been most pronounced in both our electronics portfolio (print and online) and in the built environment, where we have seen revenue declines of 11% and 12% respectively.
  • Overall YTD Online revenues rose 5.7% to £67.1m (Sept 2011: £63.5m).  Underlying revenues were up 5.3% with growth in webcasting and custom engagement products partially offset by declines in other online advertising revenues.
  • YTD print revenues fell by 33.1% to £57.7m (Sept 2011: £86.2m) largely reflecting disposals of print titles.  Underlying revenues were down 14.5% as a result of continued declines in advertising and general marketing spend, notably in the technology, pharmaceutical and construction industries.
  • UBM’s print magazine portfolio comprised 84 titles at 30 September 2012 (30 Sept 2011: 103).
  • Marketing Services – Online & Print guidance: as a result of weakness in more traditional online advertising, particularly for the electronics market, and accelerating declines in print advertising, we anticipate combined underlying revenues will be flat for the full year with a combined margin of 2-3%.


Portfolio changes
  • There were no acquisitions or disposals completed during Q3 2012.

Debt
  • UBM’s consolidated net debt stood at £518.9m as at 30 September 2012 down from £536.8m at 30 June 2012.
  • 2.1x LTM EBITDA (pro forma for acquisitions).