Report
David O'Brien ...
  • Mike Jeremy

Fix Underway

With plans in place to review the Middle East and APAC regions, the trading update suggests that management were taken by surprise. The rationalisation process is likely to be more severe than originally anticipated, potentially including an overhaul of reporting procedures. We expect the focus to turn to gross margins, cash collection and higher utilisation levels – involving headcount reductions, office closures, and a focus on higher quality customers.

The likely scale of the required actions increases short-term uncertainty to the business. We anticipate positive news will emerge in due course, commencing with the appointment of a new CFO. Until then we have suspended any financial estimates. Following the trading update we have reduced our fair value / share to 49p, based on a heavily discounted peer group comparison valuation model.
Underlying
Driver Group

Driver Group is engaged in providing consultancy services to the engineering and construction industries. Co. is organized into three operating divisions: Europe and Americas (EuAm), Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) and Initiate. In EuAm and AMEA the key service provisions are: quantity surveying, planning/programming, quantum and planning personnel, dispute avoidance/resolution, litigation support, contract administration and commercial advice/management. In Initiate the key service provisions are capital investment consultancy providing development, project and contracting management services to the infrastructure market in the U.K.

Provider
Equity Development
Equity Development

​Equity Development enables companies to become better understood and supported by investors. Since our launch in 1996 we have consistently focused on helping our clients improve their communication and relationships with both existing and potential shareholders. Our clients have come from a wide variety of sectors and domiciles, are both private and quoted and range in size from micro-cap to $multi-billions. We offer free access to company research notes written by experienced analysts. These notes include detailed forecasts, financial models and a fair value. We host regular Private Investor Forums at which investors have the opportunity to hear company directors present, and to ask questions. These are free to attend. We broadcast live Webinars with company management that include active Q&A. We also make the recordings available online. We arrange face to face meetings between private investors and company management. We are active users of Twitter, commenting daily on company news, share price moves, Directors’ Dealings, Equity Development Research Notes & Events.

Analysts
David O'Brien

Mike Jeremy

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