Our final actionable component is dynamic capital allocation; the consistent application of our capital application policy to optimise capital deployment for the benefit of all our stakeholders. Maintaining financial and operational flexibility enables us to flex our business and operational models through the economic cycleThis enables us to react quickly to both opportunities in the market and adverse changesThe more growth we experience and plan for, the more financial and operational flexibility we needA key element of our strategy is ensuring we have the financial strength to enable growth when appropriate and make our returns sustainableHaving a strong balance sheet is fundamental to our success at all stages in the cycle.  

Our consistently applied policy continues with the following allocation priorities: 

  • organic growth investment in existing locations and greenfield sites; 
  • bolt-on acquisitions; and 
  • returns to shareholders – a progressive dividend policy and share buybacks to maintain our target leverage range. 

A core element of our financial stability comes from our strategy of ensuring that, averaged across the economic cycle, we always deliver RoI well ahead of our cost of capital.  RoI through the cycle is the key measure for any rental company and the best medium-term indicator of the strength of the business.  We do this in a variety of ways at different stages of the cycle, all focused on the effective management of invested capital and financial discipline. 

The maturity of our stores has a big impact on RoI.  As stores mature, and the size and range of fleet increases, there is natural margin and returns progression.  Stores that were greenfield sites only two years ago are now already adding same-store growth.  We are always focused on moving new and young stores up the maturity curve as there is scope for higher returns as they progress.  This also means that we are now at a very different stage in our evolution in the current economic cycle relative to where we were in the last cycle.  We have more stores and they are larger and more mature than at the peak of the last cycle, and are well placed to take advantage of growth opportunities and much better placed to weather downturns, when they arise, as was seen during the pandemic. 

We have been consistent in our commitment to both low leverage and a well invested fleet, and we benefit from the options this strategy has provided.  The length and gradual nature of the last cycle enabled us to establish a smooth, well distributed fleet profile across the age bands which provides significant flexibility across the economic cycle.  Traditionally, rental companies have only generated cash in a downturn when they reduce capital expenditure and age their fleet.  In the upturn, they consume cash as they replace their fleets and then seek to grow.  We have changed this dynamic through the cycle with our scale and strong margins.  We have been in a phase where we continued to grow the business in the latter part of the last cycle and were highly cash generative.  This cash generation continued in 2022/23, with free cash flow of $531m, while we invested significantly in the business.  Our leverage remains towards the bottom of our target range of 1.5 to 2.0 times net debt to EBITDA (excluding IFRS 16) which provides the Group with significant flexibility, security and a platform for growth as we look to take advantage of good markets. 

This financial position, when combined with the scale, maturity and diversity of the business, puts us in a strong position as we look forward to Sunbelt 4.0.  Free cash flow from operations will fund 100% of our ambitious organic growth plans, leaving significant capacity for bolt-ons and returns to shareholders