SX homes boost Care UK’s profits

Care UK Health and Social Care Holdings reported a 9.4% increase in group turnover to £487.5m for the year ending 30 September 2012 (2011: £445.7m). Most of this growth was attributable to the residential division following the addition of 1,850 beds from the failed Southern Cross portfolio at the end of 2011. Adjusted group EBITDA (operating profit plus depreciation), which is one of Care UK’s preferred KPIs, increased by 8.6% to £49.3m (2011: £45.4m). After charging depreciation (£17.4m ), amortisation (£17.2m) and non-recurring items (£4.2m), operating profit was a narrowish £10.5m for the year (2011: loss of ££7.1m). And net financing expenses of £73.4m (2011: £68.8m) pushed the private equity owned company (backed by Bridgestone) well into the red again with a £62.9m pre-tax loss (2011: £75.9m). However, a tax credit of £9.7m brought the loss after tax down to £53.2m with the 2011 sum reduced to £64.4m following a tax credit of £11.5m.