Airwork lifts annual forecast profit on strong helicopter unit trading

Wednesday 19th March 2014

Airwork Holdings, the aviation services specialist which listed last December, says annual profit will beat its offer document forecast by $1 million as its helicopter division operates ahead of expectations.

The Auckland-based company expects net profit of $9.4 million in the year ending June 30, up from the forecast $8.4 million in its initial public offer document, it said in a statement. The upgrade comes after Airwork affirmed the IPO forecast last month when reporting its first-half result.

The "helicopter division continues to perform strongly with trading and overhaul activity further improving ahead of expectations," it said.

The company's helicopter unit boosted first-half sales 23 percent to $31.4 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, even as flying hours dropped due to an ongoing dispute with a customer in the South Island.

Airwork said it had reached a satisfactory insurance settlement over an incident at Honiara Airport in the Solomon Islands in January, and has also signed a term sheet with lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia to refinance debt maturing in 2014 for another four years.

The shares rose 0.7 percent to $2.80 yesterday, and have gained 7.7 percent from their $2.60 offer price in December. First NZ Capital, which follows the stock, rates it a hold with a price target of $3.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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