COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ramboll achieved a gross revenue of DKK 7 billion in the first half year of 2019, which is 24% higher than the same period in 2018. Organic growth was 3.9% compared to 7.1% in the first half of 2018. Operating profit before amortization (EBITA) was DKK 308.5 million compared to DKK 275.2 million in the first half of 2018. At 4.4%, the EBITA margin was below the same period last year (4.8%). The EBITA margin was as expected impacted by the inclusion of OBG which has been characterized by a high degree of low-margin revenue through subcontractors on specific large projects. On a like-for-like basis, the underlying margin was 0.4%-point higher than same period last year. The number of employees grew by 9% during the first half of 2019 mainly due to the acquisition of the US engineering and design consultancy, OBG.
“Ramboll continues its strong growth with good performances in the UK and in the Nordics and in our global Water, Transport and Buildings markets,” reports Group CEO Jens-Peter Saul. “I am also pleased that the integration of OBG is progressing according to plan and that our combined skills have led to more projects than expected for our first half-year together,” he says.
“As expected, the inclusion of OBG has a temporary dilution effect on our margin. However, our general performance is good and on a like-for-like basis our operating margin is higher than last year,” he says.
“Looking ahead we will continue to integrate OBG and improve the operating margin of the newly acquired operations. Further, we will continue our investments in digitalisation and innovation, including our global incubator program, to support our ambition to become a digital leader in our industry. We expect to continue the good growth curve and to finish 2019 with a higher operating profit compared to 2018,” says Jens-Peter Saul.
Strengthened position in the US
On 1 January 2019, Ramboll acquired the US engineering and design consultancy OBG, adding 900 employees to Ramboll, and established a new Principal Business Unit for the Americas with 2,000 global experts within water, energy, environment and health.
“OBG has had an excellent start of the year with a strong growth but also improving profitability. The integration of the company is progressing according to plan and we are successfully harvesting the revenue synergies between Ramboll’s consulting-oriented business in the US and OBG’s strong project execution capabilities. Our combined strongholds put us in a unique position to deliver multi-disciplinary, integrated solutions to the global challenges caused by megatrends such as urbanisation, climate change and resource scarcity,” says Jens-Peter Saul.
In one of the most notable joint project wins following the acquisition Ramboll will contribute to the innovative development of a new vision for rebuilding and enhancing the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline in North America as part of REDI – the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. REDI is focused on addressing the immediate and long-term resiliency needs of this geography which has been hard-hit by flooding, while also enhancing economic development and lake health. The State of New York chose Ramboll for its domestic capabilities coupled with European climate change and flood resilience experience.
Major large-scale projects worldwide
Ramboll has won significant major projects elsewhere during the first half year of 2019.
In Denmark, DSB (Danish State Railways) has chosen Ramboll as full-service consultant for the construction of three large workshop facilities for train maintenance in three cities in Denmark. The workshops will be central to the overall rollout of electric train service that will provide Denmark with new climate-friendly trains.
In Norway, Ramboll was chosen as consultant for the new Øya pumping station in Trondheim. The station will drastically raise the capacity and security for sewage handling in one of Trondheim’s major areas. In planning and building the station, the advanced use of BIM, 3D scanning and other digital tools were utilised. Next step is to implement a digital operation and maintenance system for the pumping station.
In Sweden, Ramboll is making railway history with the planning of the next generation of high-speed rail network resulting in faster and more sustainable passenger transport. It’s been 150 years since Sweden's main rail links were built. Now tracks for new high-speed rail link will be laid and Ramboll has been commissioned by the Swedish Transport Administration to plan the route through the city Linköping as well as the route Gothenburg-Borås.
In Finland, Ramboll was chosen as consultant to draw up a masterplan on the potential expansion of Tampere tramway system whose purpose is to make the everyday life and transportation easier in the city whose average population has grown by more than 2,000 annually. The first phase of the modern tramway system is currently under construction and is expected to be in operation in 2021. If the extension is implemented, the length of the regional tramway system will be about 32 km.
In the UK, Ramboll is providing civil and structural engineering for two important new residential schemes in Wandsworth in central London. These two schemes will provide 950 apartments with associated retail and leisure facilities. The development forms a significant part of the client Legal & General’s private rental strategy, helps to address London’s housing crisis and provides homes appropriate for today’s lifestyles.
| Key figures and financial ratios | H1 2019 | H1 2019 | H1 2018 | 2018 |
Income statement, DKK million | EUR m | |||
| Revenue | 941.6 | 7,024.1 | 5,680.8 | 11,351.0 |
| Operating profit before depreciation and amort. (EBITDA) | 55.1 | 411.3 | 351.7 | 759.5 |
| Operating profit before goodwill amort. (EBITA) | 41.4 | 308.5 | 275.2 | 597.0 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | 24.2 | 180.7 | 183.7 | 317.9 |
| Profit before tax | 21.7 | 161.8 | 204.6 | 360.8 |
| Profit for the period | 11.0 | 81.8 | 118.5 | 237.8 |
Balance sheet | ||||
| Total assets | 1,089.6 | 8,128.5 | 6,635.6 | 7,566.3 |
| Total equity | 321.4 | 2,397.5 | 2,208.5 | 2,350.6 |
| Net interest-bearing cash/ (debt) | (112.6) | (839.8) | (584.3) | (701.4) |
Cash flow, DKK million | ||||
| Cash flow from operating activities | (4.6) | (34.3) | (113.8) | 496.0 |
| Investment in tangible assets, net | (15.8) | (117.7) | (87.2) | (237.0) |
| Free cash flow | (20.4) | (152.0) | (201.0) | 259.1 |
| Acquisitions of companies | (2.9) | (21.5) | (368.8) | (996.2) |
Employees | ||||
| Number of employees, end of period | 15,679 | 14,020 | 14,443 | |
| Number of full-time employee equivalents | 14,727 | 12,748 | 13,276 | |
Financial ratios in % | ||||
| Revenue growth | 23.6 | 4.6 | 5.7 | |
| Organic growth | 3.9 | 7.1 | 7.0 | |
| EBITDA margin | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.7 | |
| EBITA margin | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.3 | |
| EBIT margin | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.8 | |
| Return on invested capital (ROIC) | 15.1 | 14.9 | 17.0 | |
| Return on equity (ROE) | 8.5 | 7.4 | 10.5 | |
| Cash conversion ratio | (2.5) | (8.8) | 116.2 | |
| Equity ratio | 29.5 | 33.3 | 31.1 |
About Ramboll
Ramboll is a leading engineering, design and consultancy company founded in Denmark in 1945. The company employs more than 15,500 people globally and has especially strong representation in the Nordics, UK, North America, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
With 300 offices in 35 countries, Ramboll combines local experience with a global knowledgebase constantly striving to achieve inspiring and exacting solutions that make a genuine difference to our clients, the end-users, and society at large. Ramboll works across the following markets: Buildings, Transport, Planning & Urban Design, Water, Environment & Health, Energy and Management Consulting. www.ramboll.com
Ownership
The Ramboll Foundation is the main owner of Ramboll Group A/S and its main objective is to promote the company’s continuance alongside the long-term development of the company, its employees and the communities it serves. All shares in Ramboll Group A/S are owned either by the Ramboll Foundation (98%) or by employees in Ramboll (2%).
Contact
Jens-Peter Saul, Group Chief Executive Officer, +45 5161 1893, CEO@ramboll.com
Marianne Sørensen, Group Chief Financial Officer, +45 5161 1893, MASRE@ramboll.com