The Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) share price is down around 5% after its FY23 update.
Disappointing FY23 update
Industrial business Downer revealed that it’s expecting to report that underlying net profit after tax (NPATA) will be approximately $174 million, which was within its guidance range.
However, it’s also expecting to include an impairment charge totalling $550 million in its upcoming 2023 annual result for the 12 months to 30 June 2023.
This impairment means that Downer is now expecting to report a statutory net loss after tax of approximately $386 million.
Downer said that its full year operating cash conversion was 65% of underlying EBITDA (EBITDA explained), though cash conversion was 110% in the second half.
The business said its net debt to EBITDA ratio was 2x at the financial year end, compared to 2.3x at 31 December 2022. An improving debt situation should be helpful for the Downer share price.
What are the impairments?
Downer split the total into three different areas – a $483 million goodwill impairment, the impairment of other assets for $66.6 million and ‘other individually significant items’ for $1.1 million.
The goodwill impairments were affected by the higher cost of debt, as well as a reassessment of the defence sector pipeline to reflect “tightening in market conditions.” It also said that the utilities segment had underperformed, and it had reassessed its pipeline in the short to medium term to reflect Downer’s risk appetite.
The $66.6 million impairment charge related to the carrying value of the rail fixed assets and inventory. It also includes the shut down, relocation and consolidation of the asphalt plants in Australia. IT and other assets that will no longer be utilised or provide future economic benefit were impaired. Finally, it included in this charge office space being surplus to requirements and vacated as a result of business restructuring, divestments and transformation.
In other words, Downer has acknowledged that the assets on its balance sheet are not worth as much as they were before now.
Final thoughts on the Downer share price
Management did say that the company is on target to achieve the “overall transformation cost out benefits of $100 million per annum in FY25.”
The business is working its way through some improvements, but it has seen a number of setbacks over the years and I’m not sure if it’s the sort of business that is going to be able to deliver good compounding returns.
