2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

UNITED KINGDOM PART 3 (ii): COMPANY ANALYSIS: LOCAL/REGIONAL PLAYERS
Pennon Group Plc (South West Water Plc)
In 1998, South West Water Plc was renamed Pennon Group Plc. Pennon is based on the Old English
for a long flag or pennant. The regulated activities are still called South West Water Limited, while
Haul Waste, the waste management arm operates under Viridor Ltd (the Latin ‘to make green’).
South West Water Services Limited, remains firmly fixed between the rock of occupying some of the
poorest regions of Britain and the hard place of the demands placed on its sewerage infrastructure by
its large number of designated bathing areas within its territory. South West Water supplies water and
sewerage services to 0.76 million customers, including 1.5 million people in the south west Peninsula
of England. This figure is boosted by up to 500,000 tourists every year given the region’s popularity as
a holiday destination. Over the past 10 years, the company has moved away from primary treatment
and long sea outfalls, to secondary and more advanced sewage effluent treatment. 30 schemes
currently include ultraviolet disinfection of effluents before discharge. 141 out of 143 designated
bathing waters met the EU’s mandatory standard in 2004, along with 116 reaching the guideline
standard.
The area’s rural nature is reflected by 3% of the population still obtaining their water from private
springs and 12% using septic tanks.
Pennon Group, profit and loss account
Y/E 31/03 (£ million) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Water - Turnover 251.4 260.4 270.2 291.8 309.8
Water - Operating profit 107.3 107.0 111.5 118.9 121.7
Water - Pre-tax profit 67.0 66.8 67.1 70.1 67.1
Group turnover 435.1 423.9 417.2 471.3 54.2
Operating profit 128.1 121.8 127.0 129.8 151.5
Group pre-tax profit 74.2 77.4 74.2 72.3 87.4
Post-tax profit 74.2 74.1 57.1 61.5 68.8
Earnings per share (p) 41.4 54.2 44.2 49.5 54.6
Contact Details
Name: Pennon Group Plc
Address: Peninsula House, Rydon Lane,
Exeter, EX2 7HR UK
Tel: +44 1392 446 688
Fax: +44 1392 434 966
Email: www.pennon-group.co.uk
Ken Harvey (Chairman)
David Dupont (Finance Director)
Robert Baty (CEO, South West Water Ltd.)
Colin Drummond (CEO, Viridor Ltd.)
353 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006