Pressure Technologies dives 47% on expected full-year loss

(Alliance News) - Pressure Technologies PLC shares slumped on Tuesday as it said it now expects ...

Alliance News 27 September, 2022 | 11:31AM
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(Alliance News) - Pressure Technologies PLC shares slumped on Tuesday as it said it now expects to post an adjusting loss for the year ending October 1.

Shares in the Sheffield-based engineering firm fell by 47% to 33.17 pence each in London on Tuesday around midday.

Back in June, Pressure Technologies reported a half-year adjusted operating loss of GBP2.1 million, but said it expected a "stronger" performance in the second half due to a strong order book for its Chesterfield Special Cylinders division and an expected recovery in order intake in its Precision Machined Components division.

On Tuesday, the company said that it expects to report an adjusted operating profit in the second half, however the recovery has been "significantly" below its expectations and it now expects an adjusted operating loss for the full year to October 1.

In the prior year, it reported an adjusted operating loss of GBP700,000.

In Pressure Technologies' Chesterfield Special Cylinders division, the company said it has seen unexpected customer delays, supply chain disruption and the unplanned outage of key equipment, delaying significant revenue into the first half of financial year 2023.

Input costs from raw materials and energy-intensive processes increased "significantly" throughout the year, further impacting margins, it noted.

Further, the company said that in its Precision Machined Components division there was an unexpected slow down in order placement from oil & gas customers over the summer period, which recovered later in the fourth quarter. This resulted in lower revenue and a "significantly greater" adjusted operating loss the anticipated for the full year.

Pressure Technologies also said that its revolving credit facility with Lloyds Banking Group PLC, which runs to June 30, 2023, is expected to be fully drawn at GBP2.4 million on October 2.

Due to the expected adjusted operating loss, the company now expects that it will not be able to meet the requirements of the two existing financial covenants contained within the current facility.

"These covenants relate to leverage and interest cover and a first test is currently required at the end of October based on full-year performance to September 30, 2022," it explained.

Pressure Technologies said that it is now in "constructive" talks with Lloyds regarding these covenants and ongoing facility requirements.

"Ernst & Young LLP continues to support the group with the review of funding options to replace the Lloyds Bank facility with new arrangements that provide increased liquidity, greater flexibility and the required working capital to support the group's strategic investment in CSC, in particular for growth opportunities in hydrogen energy," the company added.

Looking ahead, Pressure Technologies expects to return to profitability and positive cash generation in financial year 2023.

It added that its Chesterfield Special Cylinders arm is supported by an order book of GBP5.9 million and a strong pipeline of defence contracts, Integrity Management deployments and hydrogen storage and transportation projects.

Meanwhile, its Precision Machined Components division is expected to have an order book of around GBP3.3 million at the start of financial year 2023, up from GBP1.8 million year-on-year. The board now expects the arm to return to profitability in the second quarter of financial year 2023.

"The positive outlook for the group in the medium and longer term is underpinned by a strong defence orderbook and pipeline, the completion of projects deferred from financial year 2022, improving order placement in PMC over recent weeks and exciting opportunities in hydrogen storage and transportation," the company explained.

By Sophie Rose; sophierose@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Pressure Technologies PLC 37.50 GBX 0.00 -
Lloyds Banking Group PLC 52.18 GBX 0.23

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