n 2014 the big idea at Connect Group (LSE:CNCT) was to diversify into parcel delivery and at the same time gain synergy with the early morning News Distribution business by buying Tuffnells for £121m. Here are the performance numbers for Tuffnells under Connect’s ownership – not pretty reading for shareholders who forked out £121m.
£m 2019 2018 2017 2016 Less than year to August 2015 Revenue 165 175 183 174 114 Adjusted operating profit -14.1 -5.0 12.0 15.0 9.7 Exceptional items – write-offs -53.5 -52.7 -7.7 -8.9 -4.6 Statutory operating profit -67.6 -57.7 4.3 6.1 5.1 Assets n/a 109 167 176 177 Liabilities n/a -35 -36 -49 -41 Depreciation and amortisation -10.9 -57.7 -11.2 -10.4 -6.5 Additions to non-current assets 4.8 4.4 6.7 11.1 Perhaps we should be grateful turnover did not decline much, indicating that there are thousands of customers still coming to Tuffnells despite hiccups in customer service. Having said that, Gary Kennedy mentioned, at a November analyst’s briefing that Tuffnells’ “volumes continue to be soft” and “unfortunately in that business we are not at the point we expected to be. But I have no doubt we have the resolve to get there….We’ve fallen short – competitors are picking up customers. It’s a highly competitive market. Brexit doesn’t help.” Not exactly brimming with confidence, is he? There wasn’t any good news to report at January’s AGM other than Gary Kennedy, Chairman, saying that Michael Holt, who had recently been put in charge of Tuffnells, was doing “a sterling job”. The Tuffnells turnaround plan The directors have pointed to the following actions,
Some scenarios
I’m hopeful that the increased national demand for parcel delivery has greatly increased the chances of Tuffnells being profitable this year and next. If Tuffnells just breaks-even Connect Group makes about £23.7m pa after tax from Smiths News (perhaps declining by 4% pa in future). Company intrinsic value is then over five times its current market price.2. 2. Sell it An industry buyer is found to ………………To read more subscribe to my premium newsletter Deep Value Shares – click here http://newsletters.advfn.com/deepvalueshares/subscribe-1
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Glen ArnoldI'm a full-time investor running my portfolio. I invest other people's money into the same shares I hold under the Managed Portfolio Service at Henry Spain. Each of my client's individual accounts is invested in roughly the same proportions as my "Model Portfolio" for which we charge 1.2% + VAT per year. If you would like to join us contact Jackie.Tran@henryspain.co.uk investing is about making the right decisions, not many decisions.
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