H1 2014: EBIT increased by 32%, lower growth rate
Key points H1 2014
Brunel International (unaudited) |
||||||
P&L amounts in EUR million |
||||||
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2013 |
Change % |
H1 2014 |
H1 2013 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
340.6 |
304.5 |
12% * |
681.4 |
600.7 |
13% ** |
Gross Profit |
57.7 |
52.1 |
11% |
119.7 |
104.5 |
15% |
Gross margin |
16.9% |
17.1% |
17.6% |
17.4% |
||
Operating cost |
43.2 |
38.6 |
11% |
84.1 |
77.6 |
7% |
EBIT |
14.5 |
13.5 |
8% |
35.6 |
26.9 |
32% |
EBIT % |
4.3% |
4.4% |
5.2% |
4.5% |
||
Average directs |
11,845 |
11,013 |
8% |
12,177 |
10,769 |
13% |
Average indirects |
1,603 |
1,502 |
7% |
1,612 |
1,501 |
7% |
Ratio direct / Indirect |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.6 |
7.2 |
* 18% in constant currency
** 20% in constant currency
H1 2014 results by division
Brunel Oil & Gas (unaudited) |
||||||
P&L amounts in EUR million |
||||||
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2013 |
Change % |
H1 2014 |
H1 2013 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
242.6 |
210.1 |
15% * |
480.8 |
410.8 |
17% ** |
Gross Profit |
28.7 |
22.8 |
26% |
56.6 |
43.7 |
30% |
Gross margin |
11.8% |
10.8% |
11.8% |
10.6% |
||
Operating cost |
16.7 |
15.7 |
6% |
32.4 |
29.6 |
9% |
EBIT |
12.0 |
7.1 |
68% |
24.2 |
14.1 |
72% |
EBIT % |
4.9% |
3.4% |
5.0% |
3.4% |
||
Average directs |
7,343 |
6,698 |
10% |
7,728 |
6,484 |
19% |
Average indirects |
766 |
681 |
12% |
779 |
679 |
15% |
Ratio direct / Indirect |
9.6 |
9.8 |
9.9 |
9.5 |
* 25% in constant currency
** 27% in constant currency
The Oil & Gas division consists of the Energy division and the Projects division.
Key points Q2 2014
Key points H1 2014
Brunel Energy (unaudited) |
||||||
P&L amounts in EUR million |
||||||
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2013 |
Change % |
H1 2014 |
H1 2013 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
200.4 |
183.3 |
9%* |
393.7 |
348.3 |
13% ** |
Gross Profit |
24.6 |
20.2 |
22% |
47.9 |
38.2 |
25% |
Gross margin |
12.3% |
11.0% |
12.2% |
11.0% |
||
Operating cost |
15.6 |
14.4 |
8% |
30.3 |
26.9 |
13% |
EBIT |
9.0 |
5.8 |
55% |
17.6 |
11.3 |
57% |
EBIT % |
4.5% |
3.2% |
4.5% |
3.2% |
||
Average directs |
6,846 |
6,279 |
9% |
7,096 |
6,067 |
17% |
Average indirects |
736 |
649 |
13% |
749 |
646 |
16% |
Ratio direct / Indirect |
9.3 |
9.7 |
9.5 |
9.4 |
* 18% in constant currency
** 22% in constant currency
Revenue
Revenue continued to grow, but at a limited pace due to the developments in the industry and the geopolitical situation. In constant currencies, revenue increased by 22%. All regions achieved double digit growth (constant currencies), except the Americas, which had a flat revenue development. We did not yet see any direct impact from the circumstances in Russia.
Headcount increased by 17% over the first half year.
Gross Profit
A gross margin improvement of 1.3ppt to 12.3% in Q2 2014 represents a global margin improvement across all regions. The gross margin improvement combined with the growth in revenue drove the gross profit increase by 22% to EUR 25 million in Q2 2014.
Operating Costs
The continuous growth is supported by the hiring of additional staff, causing operating costs to increase by 13% in H1 2014.
EBIT
The leverage effect of the growing business in Energy is reflected in the 55% increased EBIT to EUR 9 million, leading to an EBIT margin of 4.5% in Q2 2014.
Brunel Projects (unaudited) |
||||||
P&L amounts in EUR million |
||||||
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2013 |
Change % |
H1 2014 |
H1 2013 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
42.2 |
26.8 |
57% |
87.1 |
62.5 |
39% |
Gross Profit |
4.1 |
2.6 |
61% |
8.8 |
5.4 |
62% |
Gross margin |
9.8% |
9.5% |
10.1% |
8.7% |
||
Operating cost |
1.1 |
1.3 |
-15% |
2.2 |
2.6 |
-15% |
EBIT |
3.0 |
1.3 |
122% |
6.6 |
2.8 |
133% |
EBIT % |
7.1% |
5.0% |
7.6% |
4.5% |
||
Average directs |
497 |
419 |
19% |
632 |
417 |
52% |
Average indirects |
30 |
33 |
-9% |
30 |
33 |
-9% |
Ratio direct / Indirect |
16.8 |
12.8 |
21.1 |
12.6 |
Revenue
Q2 2014 was a very successful quarter for the projects division, also due to a weak Q2 in 2013. For the remainder of 2014, the project activity will gradually slow down.
Gross Profit
The gross margin increased to 10.1% in H1 2014; the margin in H1 2013 was relatively low as a result of low margin termination payments for the completion of a large project in Q1 2013. The margin in Q2 2014 has been relatively stable compared to Q2 2013.
Operating Costs
Operating costs decreased to EUR 2.2 million in H1 2014, mainly driven by the reduction of the indirect headcount.
EBIT
Driven by the revenue and margin improvement in 2014 and strengthened by the overhead reduction, EBIT increased by 133% and 122% in H1 2014 and Q2 2014 respectively.
Brunel Europe (unaudited) |
||||||
P&L amounts in EUR million |
||||||
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2013 |
Change % |
H1 2014 |
H1 2013 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
98.0 |
94.4 |
4% |
200.6 |
189.9 |
6% |
Gross Profit |
29.0 |
29.3 |
-1% |
63.1 |
60.8 |
4% |
Gross margin |
29.6% |
31.1% |
31.5% |
32.0% |
||
Operating cost |
23.5 |
21.7 |
8% |
46.7 |
42.9 |
9% |
EBIT |
5.5 |
7.6 |
-28% |
16.4 |
17.9 |
-9% |
EBIT % |
5.6% |
8.1% |
8.2% |
9.4% |
||
Average directs |
4,501 |
4,316 |
4% |
4,449 |
4,286 |
4% |
Average indirects |
837 |
821 |
2% |
833 |
822 |
1% |
Ratio direct / Indirect |
5.4 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
Brunel Europe consists of Brunel Germany, Brunel Netherlands, Brunel Belgium, Brunel Czech Republic, Brunel Switzerland and Brunel Austria.
Key points Q2 2014
Key points H1 2014
Brunel Germany (unaudited) |
||||||
P&L amounts in EUR million |
||||||
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2013 |
Change % |
H1 2014 |
H1 2013 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
48.8 |
49.3 |
-1% |
100.2 |
98.7 |
2% |
Gross Profit |
16.1 |
17.0 |
-5% |
35.0 |
34.9 |
0% |
Gross margin |
33.0% |
34.5% |
34.9% |
35.4% |
||
Operating cost |
11.9 |
11.4 |
4% |
23.8 |
22.5 |
6% |
EBIT |
4.2 |
5.6 |
-24% |
11.2 |
12.4 |
-9% |
EBIT % |
8.7% |
11.3% |
11.2% |
12.6% |
||
Average directs |
2,186 |
2,176 |
0% |
2,174 |
2,161 |
1% |
Average indirects |
415 |
410 |
1% |
413 |
411 |
0% |
Ratio direct / Indirect |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
Revenue
The first half year of 2014 Germany continued to grow by 2% to EUR 100 million. However, comparing Q2 2014 to Q2 2013, Germany could not continue its growth path and revenue decreased compared to Q2 2013 by 1%. The number of headcount remained flat in 2014. The June 2014 headcount is slightly below the June 2013 headcount.
Gross Profit
Comparing H1 2014 to H1 2013, the revenue increase was offset by a gross margin decrease by 0.5ppt to 34.9% as a result of lower productivity of the direct employees, leading to a flat gross profit development. However, in Q2 2014 the revenue decrease was strengthened by the gross margin drop by 1.5ppt to 33.0%, mainly caused by one less working day.
Operating Costs
Operating costs in the first half year increased by 6%, mostly driven by additional staff and marketing costs. The growth in the net number of account managers is behind plan.
EBIT
EBIT decreased in the second quarter and in the first half 2014 by EUR 1 million, driven by a combination of a lower gross profit in Q2 and increased overhead. Year to date EBIT decreased by 9% to EUR 11 million.
Brunel Netherlands(unaudited) |
||||||
P&L amounts in EUR million |
||||||
Q2 2014 |
Q2 2013 |
Change % |
H1 2014 |
H1 2013 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
42.4 |
38.5 |
10% |
86.6 |
77.0 |
12% |
Gross Profit |
11.3 |
10.8 |
4% |
24.9 |
22.7 |
10% |
Gross margin |
26.6% |
28.1% |
28.7% |
29.4% |
||
Operating cost |
9.8 |
8.5 |
15% |
19.4 |
16.9 |
15% |
EBIT |
1.5 |
2.3 |
-36% |
5.5 |
5.8 |
-4% |
EBIT % |
3.5% |
6.0% |
6.4% |
7.5% |
||
Average directs |
1,984 |
1,802 |
10% |
1,947 |
1,782 |
9% |
Average indirects |
345 |
318 |
9% |
341 |
318 |
7% |
Ratio direct / Indirect |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.6 |
Revenue
Revenue in The Netherlands continued to grow in the second quarter of 2014. The revenue increase in H1 2014 amounts to 12% to EUR 87 million. The drivers are the business lines Finance, ICT and Legal, with the demand for professionals in the banking and insurance sector fuelling the number of placements for Finance. Revenue growth exceeded the growth in average headcount due to a higher productivity in Q1 2014. Average headcount increased by 3% compared to Q1.
Gross Profit
Following the relative growth of the Finance business line, at lower margins compared to the other business lines, total gross margin decreased by 0.7ppt to 28.7% in H1 2014. In addition, the margin dropped as a result of increased share of freelancers with a lower margin compared to own employees. The margin reduction was offset by 1 additional working day in H1 2014. The growth in gross profit in H1 2014 by 10% to EUR 25 million was therefore mainly volume driven.
Operating Costs
In H1 2014 operating costs increased by EUR 2.5 million (15%), mainly as a result of increased staff costs, predominantly driven by the hiring of 75 new account managers to support the expected growth in the near future and additional marketing expenses.
EBIT
As a result of the investment in the sales force, the revenue rise has not yet been sufficient to improve the bottom line as well, leading to an EBIT reduction of 4% to EUR 5.5 million in H1 2014.
The effective tax rate has increased from 31.1% in FY 2013 to 33.3% in H1 2014. The negative impact of 2.2ppt is attributable to increased other taxes, mainly non refundable withholding taxes.
Reference is made to our 2013 Annual Report (pages 54 – 58). The reassessment of our risks, especially in the light of the geopolitical situation, has resulted in some adjustments to the likelihood and impact, but we did not identify any additional risks.
Brunel’s cash position remained strong compared to December 2013 at EUR 88 million, despite the dividend payment of EUR 27 million in June 2014.
For the remainder of 2014, we expect revenue to be in line with H1 2014. The Netherlands will continue to grow, but we expect Energy to be temporary affected by the developments in the industry and the geopolitical situation. EBIT will slightly increase compared to H1 2014, mainly due to the seasonality in Europe, partly offset by the lower activity in Projects. As a result, we expect between 5% and 10% growth in revenue and EBIT for FY 2014.
Jan Arie van Barneveld, CEO of Brunel International N.V.: “We are reporting good H1 2014 results, but we are very aware of the different challenges we are currently facing in various parts of our business. The awareness within Brunel and the initiatives taken so far give me confidence that we’re on the right track for long term growth”.
The Board of Directors of Brunel International N.V. hereby declares that, to the best of its knowledge, the interim financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and result of Brunel International N.V. and the companies jointly included in the consolidation, and that the interim report gives a true and fair view of the information referred to in the eighth and, insofar as applicable, the ninth subsection of Section 5:25d of the Dutch Act on Financial Supervision and with reference to the section on related parties in the interim financial statements.
Amsterdam, 14 August 2014
Brunel International N.V.
Jan Arie van Barneveld (CEO)
Peter de Laat (CFO)
Jeroen Ekkel
Arjan de Vries