Avon Protection — Confirming the growth path

Avon Technologies (LSE: AVON)

Last close As at 02/12/2024

GBP13.96

−16.00 (−1.13%)

Market capitalisation

GBP434m

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Research: Industrials

Avon Protection — Confirming the growth path

Avon Protection has indicated that management guidance for FY21 revenue and EBITDA margin has been achieved before an additional one-off, non-cash inventory write-down of around $4m in ballistics. Cash generation was better than anticipated after record levels of investment and order intake remained strong despite previously indicated pandemic delays. The healthy opening backlog underpins strong growth in FY22 as ballistics revenues ramp up, Team Wendy makes a full year contribution and EBITDA margins should recover as volumes improve. Following COVID and the ballistics deferrals, Avon’s focus on protection markets continues to offer a strong pipeline of potential contracts to support continued growth in FY23.

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Written by

Industrials

Avon Protection

Confirming the growth path

FY21 trading update

Aerospace & defence

13 October 2021

Price

1,854p

Market cap

£575m

US$1.364/£1

Adjusted net debt ($m) at 30 Sept 2021
(excluding lease liabilities)

27

Shares in issue

31.0m

Free float

98.8%

Code

AVON

Primary exchange

LSE

Secondary exchange

N/A

Share price performance

Business description

Avon Protection designs, develops and manufactures personal protection products for Military and First Responder markets including respiratory mask systems, helmets and body armour. Its main customers are national security agencies such as the US Department of Defense and c 90% of sales are from the United States.

Analyst

Andy Chambers

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Avon Protection is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Avon Protection has indicated that management guidance for FY21 revenue and EBITDA margin has been achieved before an additional one-off, non-cash inventory write-down of around $4m in ballistics. Cash generation was better than anticipated after record levels of investment and order intake remained strong despite previously indicated pandemic delays. The healthy opening backlog underpins strong growth in FY22 as ballistics revenues ramp up, Team Wendy makes a full year contribution and EBITDA margins should recover as volumes improve. Following COVID and the ballistics deferrals, Avon’s focus on protection markets continues to offer a strong pipeline of potential contracts to support continued growth in FY23.

Year end

Revenue ($m)

PBT*
($m)

EPS*
(c)

DPS
(c)

P/E
(%)

Yield
(%)

09/19

162.0

28.3

84.9

26.6

29.8

1.1

09/20

213.6

36.0

96.2

34.5

26.3

1.4

09/21e

248.0

25.6

66.7

44.9

37.9

1.8

09/22e

328.9

46.8

122.2

53.9

20.7

2.1

Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.

Avon Protection met its FY21 guidance issued in August, of revenues at $250m (FY20: $214m), with Team Wendy contributing $41m in its initial 11 months of consolidation. Revenue growth in Military respiratory revenues (+10%) was offset by the declines in ballistic protection (-31%), leaving overall Military revenues down 3% at $149m. First Responder achieved 2% revenue growth to $61m against a strong COVID-assisted performance last year. EBITDA margins are now expected to be in the 15–16% range (from 17–18%) after a one-off inventory write-down of around $4m in ballistic protection. Adjusted for that, profitability is also in line with previous guidance. Stronger than expected cash conversion of c 80% leaves adjusted net debt at $27m (excluding lease liabilities) at end September. Encouragingly, order intake grew 34% to c $280m, or 15% excluding Team Wendy, resulting in an order backlog of $141m at the year end.

In September, Avon confirmed the award of a two-year $87.6m dual-source contract for the second-generation Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS). Production is expected to start in H222 leading to revenues in H123, after first article test samples are delivered in H122. Larger production contracts from the US Army should ensue and the award follows on from the low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract for first-generation IHPS helmets, which was extended to 2022.

The company confirmed on 24 September that the first of two one-year extension options had been exercised under the DLA’s Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) body armour contract, triggering a $19m minimum order to add to the initial $20m order in FY21. Production is ramping up, with shipments and revenues expected in Q222.

With ballistics contracts getting back on track, management expectations for FY22 are underpinned and guidance is unchanged. Avon continues to invest record amounts to support the growth strategy, with a strong pipeline of opportunities to further develop its leading global position in respiratory and ballistic protection.

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