Connaught plc explained

Connaught plc
Type:Public company
Foundation:1982
Location:Exeter, UK
Founder:William Tincknell
Key People:Sir Roy Gardner (Non-Executive chairman)[1]
Ian Carlisle (CEO)[2]
Industry:Outsourcing
Revenue:£659.6 million (2009)[3]
Operating Income:£32.6 million(2009)
Net Income:£17.5 million (2009)

Connaught plc was a company in the United Kingdom, operating in the social housing, public sector and compliance markets. A constituent of the FTSE 250 Index, it went into administration in October 2010.

History

The business was founded by William Tincknell (1935–2018)[4] in 1982 as a concrete repair specialist. Four years later, it was awarded its first major social housing concrete repair contract.[5] [6]

Expansion

During the early 1990s, Connaught expanded its services to include external wall insulation and overcladding and latterly began refurbishing all external elements of social housing including roofs, windows and doors. The business also expanded geographically. The 1990s saw significant corporate changes at Connaught plc, first in 1996 via a management buyout funded by HSBC Private Equity and again in 1998 when the business was floated on the Alternative Investment Market.[7] Mark Tincknell headed the business as CEO throughout this period.[8] By 2004, the business had acquired social housing service providers in Scotland and Wales and had revenues in the region of £300 million and negligible net debt. During 2005, Mark Davies was appointed CEO. In 2006, Stephen Hill, formerly at Serco, was appointed finance director. During 2006, Connaught was fully listed on the London Stock Exchange and, by 2007, the company had become a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.[6]

Having acquired Gasforce in 2002, Connaught appointed Altium Capital to advise on its regulatory obligations and acquisition strategy from 2003.[9] Between 2005 and 2007, Connaught acquired seven other related businesses and became the UK's leading provider of integrated compliance services with the 2007 acquisition of National Britannia.[10] [11] The acquisition of National Britannia cost the company £91 million, which was part funded by £57.9 million raised from investors.[12] During 2009, Connaught acquired the listed environmental services company Fountains plc in exchange for £13 million.[13] [14]

Collapse

Connaught was shaken by a series of events triggered by the abrupt departure of its CEO Mark Davies in January 2010 following the sale of his shares valued at £5.5m.[15] After Connaught issued a positive statement, shareholders were surprised when the business issued a profit warning on 26 June 2010; the company explained that the emergency budget introduced by the new government had damaged the company's profitability.[16] Connaught subsequently warned of a 'material loss' for the year ended 31 August 2010.[15] [17]

On 8 July 2010, Mark Tincknell, who had taken over the running of the business again when Davies departed, resigned from the CEO's position,[18] after which point Ian Carlisle took over the post.[2] During May 2010, Sir Roy Gardner was appointed chairman to Connaught's Board.[1]

On 8 September 2010, Connaught plc and Connaught Partnerships, the company's social housing arm, were put into administration.[19] That same month, Morgan Sindall purchased the repairs division of Connaught plc, saving 2,500 jobs in the process.[20] During February 2011, Rentokil Initial acquired the Fumigation & Pest Control, Water Treatment & Hygiene and Fire Safety & Prevention businesses of Santia, formerly Connaught plc, for £5.6m.[21]

Regulatory investigation

The preparation, approval and audit of the financial statements leading up to the administration of Connaught plc were investigated by the Accounting and Actuarial Disciplinary Board.[22]

Operations

The Group was organised into three divisions:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Connaught plc appoints Sir Roy Gardner as Non-Executive Chairman. Morning Star. 10 May 2010. 14 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Connaught to lose CEO and finance chief. 8 July 2010. City AM.
  3. Web site: Connaught plc Annual Report & Accounts 2009. Connaught. 2009. 11 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100922131143/http://www.connaught.plc.uk/userfiles/file/Annual%20Report%202009.pdf. 22 September 2010. dead. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: Long-time Nicholls owner Bill Tincknell dies aged 82. Racing Post. 21 May 2018. 27 May 2018.
  5. Web site: Connaught aims to triple turnover . Contract Journal . 8 August 1996.
  6. Web site: Connaught: History . Connaught . 11 September 2010.
  7. Web site: This little company went to market . Dave . King . Building . 1999 . 11 September 2010.
  8. Web site: Gardner shakes up management at Connaught . Financial Times . 8 July 2010 . 6 August 2015.
  9. Web site: Change of Adviser . Investegate . 9 September 2003 . 17 April 2016.
  10. News: City Briefing . . London . 27 July 2002 . 11 September 2010.
  11. Web site: Connaught delivers record profit growth . 24dash.com . 22 April 2008 . 11 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100902062542/http://www.24dash.com/news/Housing/2008-04-22-Connaught-delivers-record-profit-growth . 2 September 2010 . dead . dmy-all.
  12. Web site: Connaught swoops for National Britannia . The Telegraph . 26 September 2007 . 17 April 2016.
  13. Web site: Connaught on track and ready to acquire . CNPlus . 15 July 2009 . 11 September 2010.
  14. Web site: UNITE forms partnership with Connaught . SED . 2 June 2009 .
  15. News: Connaught social housing maintenance group warns of 'material loss' . 6 August 2010 . 8 July 2012 . London . The Guardian . Simon . Bowers.
  16. News: Shares in social housing group Connaught plunge after profit warning blamed on budget . The Guardian . 28 June 2010 . 16 January 2012 . London, UK . Simon . Bowers.
  17. News: Report to the Audit Committee year ended 31 August 2008 . 8 July 2012.
  18. Web site: Departing executives at ailing housing contractor Connaught sold £16.6m in shares . The Guardian . 8 July 2010 . 14 February 2015.
  19. News: Connaught appoints administrators after failing to secure new funding. 7 September 2010 . London. The Guardian. David. Teather. 7 September 2010.
  20. Web site: Morgan Sindall buys Connaught social housing arm, saves 2,500 jobs . Daily Telegraph . 10 September 2010.
  21. Web site: Rentokil Initial has bought the environmental services division of Santia Group from the administrators of Connaught . Construction Index . 15 February 2011.
  22. Web site: AADB announces investigation in connection with Connaught plc . 29 November 2010 . Financial Reporting Council . 19 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140303203035/https://frc.org.uk/News-and-Events/FRC-Press/Press/2010/November/AADB-announces-investigation-in-connection-with-Co.aspx . 3 March 2014 . dead . dmy-all.