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Wed 22 Oct 2008, 13:13 APK/APKP - Astrapak Limited - Unaudited results for the six months ended
APK   APKP
APK                                                                             
APK/APKP - Astrapak Limited - Unaudited results for the six months ended        
31 August 2008                                                                  
Astrapak Limited                                                                
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1995/009169/06)                                            
Share code: APK         ISIN: ZAE000096962                                      
Share code: APKP        ISIN: ZAE000087201                                      
UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 AUGUST 2008                       
Condensed consolidated income statements                                        
                                                     Audited                    
                          Unaudited     Unaudited    Previously                 
six months    six months   reported                   
                          ended         ended        year ended                 
                          31 August     31 August    29 February                
                          2008          2007         2008                       
(R`000)                                                                         
Revenue                     1 573 838     1 366 879    2 820 875                
Cost of sales               1 240 894     1 051 820    2 220 685                
Gross profit                332 944       315 059      600 190                  
Other operating income      4 904         6 833        18 707                   
Distribution and selling    108 336       95 600       195 614                  
costs                                                                           
Administrative and other    126 007       94 825       195 256                  
expenses                                                                        
Share of results of         1 508         667          1 466                    
associates                                                                      
Profit from operations      105 013       132 134      229 493                  
Investment income           13 235        3 968        14 844                   
Finance costs               59 366        34 511       89 553                   
Profit before taxation      58 882        101 591      154 784                  
Taxation                    37 385        23 568       43 453                   
Profit for the year         21 497        78 023       111 331                  
Attributable to:                                                                
Ordinary shareholders of    10 288        66 615       87 573                   
the parent                                                                      
Preference shareholders of  9 143         7 849        16 160                   
the parent                                                                      
Minority interest           2 066         3 559        7 598                    
Profit for the year         21 497        78 023       111 331                  
Earnings per ordinary       8,7           58,7         76,3                     
share (cents)                                                                   
Attributable income         8,7           56,8         74,5                     
Debenture interest          -             1,9          1,8                      
Earnings per ordinary       8,4           55,5         72,8                     
share - fully diluted                                                           
(cents)                                                                         
Attributable income         8,4           53,6         71,0                     
Debenture interest          -             1,9          1,8                      
Weighted number of          117 885       117 253      117 524                  
ordinary shares in issue                                                        
(000`s)                                                                         
Weighted number of          121 980       124 181      123 361                  
ordinary shares in issue -                                                      
fully diluted (000`s)                                                           
                                                                                
Total ordinary dividends    19 594*       33 445       19 594*                  
paid                                                                            
Ordinary dividend per       14,5*         24,75        14,5*                    
share (cents)                                                                   
Preference dividends paid   9 143         7 849        16 160                   
and accrued                                                                     
Preference dividend per     609,53        523,27       1 077,33                 
share (cents)                                                                   
*Dividends per ordinary share for the year ended 29 February 2008               
were declared on 13 May 2008 and were paid on 4 August 2008                     
Reconciliation between profit attributable to ordinary                          
shareholders of the parent and headline earnings                                
Profit attributable to                                                          
ordinary shareholders of                                                        
the parent                  10 288        66 615       87 573                   
Add debenture interest      -             2 083        2 083                    
Add loss on exercise of     290           410          427                      
options                                                                         
Less IAS 16 reversal of                                                         
impairment of property,                                                         
plant and equipment         -             (3 000)      (3 000)                  
Less IAS 16 profit on       20            (186)        (5 958)                  
disposal of property,                                                           
plant and equipment                                                             
Total tax effect of         (4)           36           12                       
adjustments                                                                     
Total minority interest of  -             -            (63)                     
adjustments                                                                     
Headline earnings           10 594        65 958       81 074                   
Headline earnings per       9,0           56,3         69,0                     
ordinary share (cents)                                                          
Attributable income         9,0           54,4         67,2                     
Debenture interest          -             1,9          1,8                      
Headline earnings per                                                           
ordinary share -                                                                
fully diluted (cents)       8,7           53,1         65,7                     
Attributable income         8,7           51,2         63,9                     
Debenture interest          -             1,9          1,8                      
Reconciliation between                                                          
profit from operations                                                          
and EBITDA                                                                      
Profit from operations      105 013       132 134      229 493                  
Depreciation                69 496        54 266       119 006                  
Amortisation of             -             -            11                       
intangibles                                                                     
Earnings before interest,   174 509       186 400      348 510                  
taxation, depreciation and                                                      
amortisation (EBITDA)                                                           
Condensed consolidated cash flow statements                                     
                                          Unaudited                             
                               Unaudited  previously  Audited                   
                   Unaudited   restated   reported    Previously                
six months  six months six months  reported                  
                   ended       ended      ended       year ended                
                   31 August   31 August  31 August   29 February               
                   2008        2007       2007        2008                      
(R `000)                                                                        
Cash generated from  175 765     186 643    186 643     319 377                 
operations                                                                      
Decrease/(Increase)  30 946      (31 168)   (29 560)    (65 531)                
in working capital                                                              
Non-cash                                                                        
transactions -                                                                  
(loss)/profit on                                                                
disposal of                                                                     
property, plant                                                                 
and equipment        (20)        186        186         5 958                   
Net financing costs  (66 670)    (47 754)   (49 362)    (101 975)               
and taxation paid                                                               
Net cash inflow      140 021     107 907    107 907     157 829                 
before                                                                          
distributions to                                                                
shareholders                                                                    
Debenture interest   (25 797)    (44 230)   (44 230)    (50 122)                
and dividend                                                                    
distribution to                                                                 
shareholders                                                                    
Net cash inflow      114 224     63 677     63 677      107 707                 
from operating                                                                  
activities                                                                      
Capital expenditure  (107 067)   (162 298)  (162 298)   (262 531)               
Acquisition of       (21 470)    (49 652)   (49 652)    (61 670)                
investments,                                                                    
subsidiaries and                                                                
minority interests                                                              
Proceeds on the      1 636       1 702      1 702       12 277                  
disposal of                                                                     
property, plant and                                                             
equipment                                                                       
Net cash outflow     (126 901)   (210 248)  (210 248)   (311 924)               
from investing                                                                  
activities                                                                      
Net cash             74 193      (90 622)   (90 622)    136 417                 
inflow/(outflow)                                                                
from financing                                                                  
activities                                                                      
Net increase/        61 516      (237 193)  (237 193)   (67 800)                
(decrease) in cash                                                              
and cash                                                                        
equivalents                                                                     
Net cash and cash    (41 791)    26 009     26 009      26 009                  
equivalents at the                                                              
beginning of the                                                                
year                                                                            

Net cash and cash    19 725      (211 184)  (211 184)   (41 791)                
equivalents at the                                                              
end of the year                                                                 
Condensed consolidated balance sheets                                           
                                          Unaudited                             
                              Unaudited   previously  Audited                   
                Unaudited     restated    reported    Previously                
six months    six months  six months  reported                  
                ended         ended       ended       year ended                
                31 August     31 August   31 August   29 February               
(R `000)         2008          2007        2007        2008                     
Assets                                                                          
Non-current       1 192 605     1 079 849   1 093 496   1 151 470               
assets                                                                          
Property, plant   962 007       874 986     888 633     926 092                 
and equipment                                                                   
Deferred          47 438        44 798      44 798      57 610                  
taxation                                                                        
Goodwill and      165 539       141 972     141 972     149 140                 
trademarks                                                                      
Loans and         17 621        18 093      18 093      18 628                  
investments                                                                     
Currents assets   1 020 223     893 762     898 468     953 483                 
Inventories(1)    363 974       376 959     381 665     372 476                 
Trade and other   551 171       489 583     489 583     524 358                 
receivables                                                                     
Cash resources    105 078       27 220      27 220      56 649                  
Total assets      2 212 828     1 973 611   1 991 964   2 104 953               
Equity and                                                                      
liabilities                                                                     
Total equity      853 792       852 971     873 070     862 212                 
Ordinary share    199 502       199 502     199 502     199 502                 
capital and                                                                     
share premium                                                                   
Retained income   640 105       625 983     646 082     646 940                 
Non-              814           (1 269)     (1 269)     814                     
distributable                                                                   
reserves                                                                        
Capital           (6 619)       9 773       9 773       (9 343)                 
reserve(2)                                                                      
Treasury shares   (152 958)     (153 574)   (153 574)   (154 168)               
Ordinary          680 844       680 415     700 514     683 745                 
shareholders`                                                                   
funds                                                                           
Preference        142 590       142 590     142 590     142 590                 
share capital                                                                   
and share                                                                       
premium                                                                         
Minority          30 358        29 966      29 966      35 877                  
interest                                                                        
Non-current       460 913       317 332     315 724     503 643                 
liabilities                                                                     
Long-term         325 072       214 113     214 113     376 947                 
interest-                                                                       
bearing debt                                                                    
Deferred          135 841       103 219     101 611     126 696                 
taxation                                                                        
Current           898 123       803 308     803 170     739 098                 
liabilities                                                                     
Trade and other   536 643       489 332     489 194     489 855                 
payables                                                                        
Shareholders      7 803         6 616       6 616       7 335                   
for preference                                                                  
dividends                                                                       
Short-term        353 677       307 360     307 360     241 908                 
interest-                                                                       
bearing debt                                                                    
Total equity      2 212 828     1 973 611   1 991 964   2 104 953               
and liabilities                                                                 
(1) Inventories                                                                 
Inventories amounting to R696 874 (2007: R1 046 954) are carried at             
net realisable value.                                                           
(2) Capital reserve                                                             
The capital reserve relates to employee share options valued using              
the Black-Scholes method and the cash financed stock plan.                      
Additional information                                                          
Capital       107 067       162 298       162 298        262 531                
expenditure                                                                     
Capital                                                                         
commitments                                                                     
- contracted  52 425        38 941        38 941         38 186                 
not spent                                                                       
- authorised  37 245        16 781        16 781         55 864                 
not                                                                             
contracted                                                                      
Net asset     578           580           597            582                    
value per                                                                       
ordinary                                                                        
share                                                                           
(cents)                                                                         
Net tangible  437           459           476            455                    
asset value                                                                     
per ordinary                                                                    
share                                                                           
(cents)                                                                         
Net interest- 70            60            59             68                     
bearing debt                                                                    
as a                                                                            
percentage                                                                      
of equity                                                                       
(%)                                                                             
Net interest- 573 671       494 253       494 253        562 206                
bearing debt                                                                    
Long-term     325 072       214 113       214 113        376 947                
interest-                                                                       
bearing debt                                                                    
Short-term    353 677       307 360       307 360        241 908                
interest-                                                                       
bearing debt                                                                    
Cash          (105 078)     (27 220)      (27 220)       (56 649)               
resources                                                                       
Contingent    37 354        2 010         2 010          44 035                 
liabilities                                                                     
(increase                                                                       
mainly due                                                                      
to                                                                              
additional                                                                      
guarantees                                                                      
provided in                                                                     
subsidiary                                                                      
companies)                                                                      
Number of     135 131 250   135 131 250   135 131 250    135 131 250            
ordinary                                                                        
shares in                                                                       
issue                                                                           
Property,                                                                       
plant and                                                                       
equipment                                                                       
Opening       926 092       764 882       778 529        764 882                
balance -                                                                       
net book                                                                        
value                                                                           
Additions     107 067       162 298       162 298        262 531                
Acquisition   -             3 588         3 588          24 004                 
of                                                                              
subsidiaries                                                                    
Depreciation  (69 496)      (54 266)      (54 266)       (119 006)              
Disposals -   (1 656)       (1 516)       (1 516)        (6 319)                
book value                                                                      
Closing       962 007       874 986       888 633        926 092                
balance -                                                                       
net book                                                                        
value                                                                           
Segmental analysis                                                              
(R `000)     Films      Rigids      Flexibles   Indus-    Total                 
                                               trial                            
Revenue for   653 524    657 933     324 400     44 632    1 680 489            
the segment                                                                     
- 2008                                                                          
Transactions  (20 999)   (50 593)    (30 530)    (4 529)   (106 651)            
with other                                                                      
operating                                                                       
segments of                                                                     
the Group -                                                                     
2008                                                                            
External      632 525    607 340     293 870     40 103    1 573 838            
customers -                                                                     
2008                                                                            
Revenue for   571 730    572 506     298 053     20 725    1 463 014            
the segment                                                                     
- 2007                                                                          
Transactions  (41 013)   (23 269)    (27 988)    (3 865)   (96 135)             
with other                                                                      
operating                                                                       
segments of                                                                     
the Group -                                                                     
2007                                                                            
External      530 717    549 237     270 065     16 860    1 366 879            
customers -                                                                     
2007                                                                            
Profit from                                                                     
operations                                                                      
(segment      36 293     64 363      2 082       2 275    105 013               
result) -                                                                       
2008                                                                            
Profit from                                                                     
operations                                                                      
(segment      36 630     76 538      17 456      1 510     132 134              
result) -                                                                       
2007                                                                            
Depreciation  12 963     46 068      9 453       1 012     69 496               
- 2008                                                                          
Depreciation  10 076     35 440      8 153       597       54 266               
- 2007                                                                          
Capital       18 546     81 261      2 419       4 840     107 066              
expenditure                                                                     
- 2008                                                                          
Capital       32 728     92 694      34 282      2 594     162 298              
expenditure                                                                     
- 2007                                                                          
Total assets  747 346    1 026 467   377 720     61 295    2 212 828            
- 2008                                                                          
Total assets  714 067    855 739     378 268     25 537    1 973 611            
- 2007                                                                          
(restated)                                                                      
Total         658 301    469 491     205 275     25 969    1 359 036            
liabilities                                                                     
- 2008                                                                          
Total         573 339    329 478     204 802     13 021    1 120 640            
liabilities                                                                     
- 2007                                                                          
(restated)                                                                      
Reconciliation of prior year balance and movements                              
Unaudited                                                          
             Balance as                                                         
             Pre-         Restatement to                                        
             viously      accounts in prior                                     
reported     periods impacting on           Unaudited              
                                                         Restated               
                          balance sheet as               31 August              
             31 August    reported at                    2007                   
2007         31 August 2007                                        
                          Adjust-    Adjust-     Adjust-                        
                          ment(1)    ment(2)     ment(3)                        
Retained       646 082      (8 754)    (13 031)    1 686   625 983              
earnings                                                                        
Property,      888 633      -          (13 647)    -       874 986              
plant and                                                                       
equipment                                                                       
Inventories    381 665      -          (4 706)     -       376 959              
Deferred tax   101 611      7 898      (5 322)     (968)   103 219              
liabilities                                                                     
Trade and      489 194      856        -           (718)   489 332              
other                                                                           
payables                                                                        
(1) The restatements above was due to errors in the February 2007 tax           
calculation, mainly due to the incorrect treatment of a tax holiday             
in terms of section 37(H) of the Income Tax Act.                                
(2) The restatements were due to overstatement of profits and assets            
by an employee in one of the Group`s subsidiaries during the period             
September 2006 to February 2007. Such overstatement arose through an            
intentional misstatement of the assets in the subsidiary.                       
(3) The restatement was due to an error in the February 2007 tax                
calculation.                                                                    
Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity                           
Ordinary                  Non-                               
                   share                     distri-                            
                   capital and   Retained    butable   Capital                  
                   premium        income      reserve  reserve                  
Audited balance as   199 502       588 641     (1 269)   8 490                  
at 28 February                                                                  
2007                                                                            
Net income for the                 74 464                                       
six months                                                                      
Net ordinary                       (29 274)                                     
dividends paid                                                                  
Preference                         (7 849)                                      
dividend paid                                                                   
Adjustments to                                                                  
minority interest                                                               
Acquisition of                                                                  
treasury shares                                                                 
Redemption of                                                                   
debentures                                                                      
Expensing of share-                                      1 283                  
based payments for                                                              
the year                                                                        
                                                                                
Share issue                                                                     
expenses written                                                                
off                                                                             
Unaudited balance    199 502       625 982     (1 269)   9 773                  
as at 31 August                                                                 
2007                                                                            
As previously        199 502       646 082     (1 269)   9 773                  
reported                                                                        
Restatements to      -             (20 100)    -         -                      
results as at 28                                                                
February 2007 as                                                                
previously                                                                      
reported                                                                        
Net income for the                 29 269                                       
six months                                                                      
Net ordinary                       -                                            
dividends paid                                                                  
Preference                         (8 311)                                      
dividend paid                                                                   
Adjustments to                                                                  
minority interest                                                               
Increase in                                    2 083                            
foreign currency                                                                
reserve                                                                         
Redemption of                                                                   
debentures                                                                      
Expensing of share-                                      (19 116)               
based payments for                                                              
the year                                                                        
Audited balance as   199 502       646 940     814       (9 343)                
at 29 February                                                                  
2008                                                                            
Net income for the                 19 431                                       
six months                                                                      
Net ordinary                       (17 122)                                     
dividends paid                                                                  
Preference                         (9 143)                                      
dividend paid                                                                   
Adjustments to                                                                  
minority interest                                                               
Reduction in                                                                    
treasury shares as                                                              
a result of share                                                               
option exercises                                                                
Expensing of share-                                      2 724                  
based payments for                                                              
the year                                                                        
Unaudited balance    199 502       640 105     814       (6 619)                
as at 31 August                                                                 
2008                                                                            
Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity (continued)               
                                                    Attributable                
                                                     to ordinary                
shareholders                
                            Treasury     De-        of the                      
                            shares       bentures   parent                      
Audited balance as at 28      (154 872)    58 005     698 497                   
February 2007                                                                   
Net income for the six                                74 464                    
months                                                                          
Net ordinary dividends paid                           (29 274)                  
Preference dividend paid                              (7 849)                   
Adjustments to minority                               -                         
interest                                                                        
Acquisition of treasury       1 298        (998)      300                       
shares                                                                          
Redemption of debentures                   (57 007)   (57 007)                  
Expensing of share-based                              1 283                     
payments for the year                                                           
Share issue expenses written                          -                         
off                                                                             
Unaudited balance as at 31    (153 574)    -          680 414                   
August 2007                                                                     
As previously reported        (153 574)    -          700 514                   
Restatements to results as    -            -          (20 100)                  
at 28 February 2007 as                                                          
previously reported                                                             
Net income for the six                                29 269                    
months                                                                          
Net ordinary dividends paid                           -                         
Preference dividend paid                              (8 311)                   
Adjustments to minority                               -                         
interest                                                                        
Increase in foreign currency                          2 083                     
reserve                                                                         
Redemption of debentures      (594)                   (594)                     
Expensing of share-based                              (19 116)                  
payments for the year                                                           
Audited balance as at 29      (154 168)    -          683 745                   
February 2008                                                                   
Net income for the six                                19 431                    
months                                                                          
Net ordinary dividends paid                           (17 122)                  
Preference dividend paid                              (9 143)                   
Adjustments to minority                               -                         
interest                                                                        
Reduction in treasury shares  1 210                   1 210                     
as a result of share option                                                     
exercises                                                                       
Expensing of share-based                              2 724                     
payments for the year                                                           
Unaudited balance as at 31    (152 958)    -          680 844                   
August 2008                                                                     
Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity (continued)               
                              Preference                                        
share                                             
                              capital                                           
                              and          Minority    Total                    
                              premium       interests  equity                   
Audited balance as at 28        142 602      31 149      872 248                
February 2007                                                                   
Net income for the six months                3 559       78 023                 
Net ordinary dividends paid                  (250)       (29 524)               
Preference dividend paid                                 (7 849)                
Adjustments to minority                      (4 492)     (4 492)                
interest                                                                        
Acquisition of treasury shares                           300                    
Redemption of debentures                                 (57 007)               
Expensing of share-based                                 1 283                  
payments for the year                                                           
Share issue expenses written    (12)                     (12)                   
off                                                                             
Unaudited balance as at 31      142 590      29 966      852 970                
August 2007                                                                     
As previously reported          142 590      29 966      873 070                
Restatements to results as at   -            -           (20 100)               
28 February 2007 as previously                                                  
reported                                                                        
Net income for the six months                4 039       33 308                 
Net ordinary dividends paid                  (1 950)     (1 950)                
Preference dividend paid                                 (8 311)                
Adjustments to minority                      3 822       3 822                  
interest                                                                        
Increase in foreign currency                             2 083                  
reserve                                                                         
Redemption of debentures                                 (594)                  
Expensing of share-based                                 (19 116)               
payments for the year                                                           
Audited balance as at 29        142 590      35 877      862 212                
February 2008                                                                   
Net income for the six months                2 066       21 497                 
Net ordinary dividends paid                  (300)       (17 422)               
Preference dividend paid                                 (9 143)                
Adjustments to minority                      (7 285)     (7 285)                
interest                                                                        
Reduction in treasury shares                             1 210                  
as a result of share option                                                     
exercises                                                                       
Expensing of share-based                                 2 724                  
payments for the year                                                           
Unaudited balance as at 31      142 590      30 358      853 792                
August 2008                                                                     
Commentary                                                                      
Group Profile                                                                   
Astrapak Limited and its subsidiaries ("the Group"), manufactures and           
distributes an extensive range of plastic packaging products resulting in       
annualised revenues in excess of R3 billion. The Group has manufacturing        
facilities in all the main centres of South Africa and a joint venture in       
Mauritius. The Group employs 4 238 people in South Africa.                      
The operations are grouped into four segments - Films, Rigids, Flexibles        
and Industrial - and service mainly the food, beverage, personal care,          
pharmaceutical, agricultural, industrial and retail markets.                    
The Group remains focused on innovation-led growth in plastic packaging,        
which should continue to gain an increasing share of the overall packaging      
market, and plans to continue to seek expansion through an appropriate          
balance of organic and acquisitive growth.                                      
Financial Results                                                               
Notwithstanding the challenging trading conditions which prevailed              
throughout the period under review, the directors are disappointed with the     
results achieved. The downward pressure on margins has remained a feature       
of the results, again being caused by relentless increases in polymer           
prices, the difficulty in timeously negociating price increases with            
customers and a general slowdown in consumer spending, especially in the        
higher-end markets in which some of the Group`s companies operate. Higher       
interest rates during the period under review had a material impact on the      
Group as it affected consumer spending, the cost of servicing debt and the      
cost of servicing preference shareholders. The average interest rate during     
the period under review was 2,3% higher than during the comparative period.     
Sales price increases accounted for 15% of the increased turnover, whilst       
the 2% increase in turnover due to acquisitions was offset by a 2% decline      
in turnover as a result of reduced consumer spending.                           
The main issues affecting the results were a 2% loss of margin due to the       
difficulty in timeously negotiating input price increases with customers,       
slower sales in the higher-end markets and issues specific to certain           
industries such as the dairy industry where a shortage in the supply of         
milk impacted negatively on the results of businesses such as Marcom            
Plastics (Pty) Limited, Plastform and Ultrapak (both divisions of Astrapak      
Western Cape (Pty) Limited).                                                    
Profit from operations decreased by 20,5% to R105 million (R129,1 million)      
and the resultant operating margin reduced to 6,6% (9,6%). Operating            
overheads increased by 24,6% as a result of the acquisitions that were not      
included in the results for the full comparative six month period, an           
increase in capacity due to increased capital investment, increases in          
distribution costs associated with increased fuel prices, wage increases in     
excess of inflation, material increases in the cost of electricity and a        
rapidly increasing cost environment. Once-off expenses of approximately R5      
million have been incurred during the period. The Group has introduced          
measures to address increasing costs and benefits from these measures have      
already materialised.                                                           
Net interest paid of R46,1 million (R30,5 million) was significantly higher     
than that of the prior year as a consequence of higher interest rates,          
increased borrowings utilised for acquisition funding and capital               
expenditure and increased working capital requirements. A lot of attention      
has gone into working capital management and the Group has managed to           
reduce its working capital investment by R30,9 million since the end of its     
financial year - a significant achievement during a period when polymer         
prices has continued its upward trend. Management is committed to reduce        
this number even further.                                                       
Taxation amounted to R37,4 million (R23,6 million) and includes the payment     
of Secondary Taxation on Companies. The Group`s effective taxation rate was     
63,5% (23,2%). The high effective tax rate is mainly due to the reversal of     
certain deferred tax assets, totalling R15 million, raised in subsidiary        
companies during prior financial periods. In terms of International             
Accounting Standards, once the Group takes a decision to reverse deferred       
tax assets, the Group is required to reverse those assets in full against       
current period earnings, although the deferred tax assets might have been       
created in prior reporting periods or acquired upon acquisition of the          
relevant subsidiary. The reversal of these deferred tax assets has no cash      
flow impact and the related tax losses, against which these assets were         
originally raised, is still available for utilisation within the relevant       
subsidiaries in future years.                                                   
No acquisitions or major investments were made by the Group during the          
period under review. Capital expenditure incurred was R107,1 million and        
the Group acquired minority interests in the Plastech group of companies        
and Consupaq (Pty) Limited for a total purchase consideration of R24,0          
million. The lower capital investment, together with the release of R30,9       
million from working capital, meant that the Group was able to keep its net     
debt position nearly unchanged from that of the financial year-end at           
R573,7 million. The net interest bearing debt to equity ratio increased         
from 68% at year-end to 70%, however this is expected to reduce during the      
remainder of the financial year ahead.                                          
The result of all of the above is a decline in headline earnings per share      
("HEPS") by 84% to 9,0 cents (56,3 cents) against the comparative period.       
Fully diluted HEPS declined by 83,6%.  Profit attributable to ordinary          
shareholders of the parent amounted to R10,3 million (R66,7 million).           
Prospects                                                                       
The difficult trading conditions are expected to remain until at least the      
second quarter of 2009. International markets remain volatile and the           
effects will continue to spill over into the local economy. The weakening       
local currency has been exacerbated by the uncertainty around current           
economic issues and will continue to impact on consumer confidence.             
The weakening local currency could offset any expected benefits resulting       
from the potential reduction in international oil and polymer prices, the       
latter is expected as a result of capacity increases coming on-stream           
during 2009. In addition, the effect of the high interest rate environment      
and inflationary pressure is likely to continue to impact on consumer           
spending during the remainder of this financial year.                           
The steep increase in the cost of electricity and the level of increases        
forecast for the next financial year is of further concern.                     
Capital allocation and cost reduction programs, tighter financial               
disciplines, together with the introduction of plant level productivity         
initiatives, will ensure that the Group remains focussed on improving           
margins and, therefore, profitability and returns to shareholders.              
In addition, the Group is currently reviewing all of its operations and         
target markets to fully assess each business in order to derive a strategy      
or action plan for each operation and the Group as a whole. Underperforming     
assets will be identified during the review process and the Group will          
derive a strategy on how to best deal with such assets in the shortest          
possible timeframe so as to minimise the impact on shareholder value.           
The Group expects improved results for the second half of the financial         
year.                                                                           
Comparative Figures                                                             
The comparative figures for August 2007 have been restated to account for       
the restatements made by the Group for the financial year ended 28 February     
2007, as reported on previously. These restatements do not impact on the        
income statement for the comparative period, but the restatements to the        
results for the financial year ended 28 February 2007 impact on the opening     
balances in the balance sheet of the comparative period. Further details        
can be found in the reconciliation of prior year balances and movements         
statement.                                                                      
Basis of Preparation                                                            
This abridged report complies with International Accounting Standard 34 -       
Interim Financial Reporting, Schedule 4 of the South African Companies Act      
and the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited. The financial information     
has been prepared using accounting policies that comply with International      
Financial Reporting Standards. The accounting policies are consistent with      
those applied in the financial statements for the year ended                    
29 February 2008.                                                               
Changes to the Board of Directors ("Board")                                     
Mr Raymond Crewe-Brown retired from the Board on 6 June 2008 and Mr Marco       
Baglione was appointed as Chief Executive Officer on the same date.             
We would like to thank Ray for his significant contribution to the Group        
over the past 11 years and wish him well in his retirement.                     
Mr Paul Botha was appointed to the Board on 30 July 2008 as a non-executive     
director.                                                                       
Mr Gary King resigned as Company Secretary on 31 August 2008.  Mr Manley        
Diedloff has assumed the role of Company Secretary until such time as the       
vacancy is filled.                                                              
It has been resolved to re-align the strategic focus of the board and to        
further comply with the King Code of Good Corporate Governance.  As a           
consequence the following Divisional Chief Executives who served as             
executive directors on the board will step down with effect from 1 December     
2008 and will continue to serve on the Group Executive Committee: Mr Greg       
Petzer (Flexible Division) and Mr Johan Venter (Films Divisions).               
Mr Harry Todd has resigned as Financial Director with effect from 1             
December 2008 and Mr Manley Diedloff will take over as Chief Financial          
Officer on that date.                                                           
Acknowledgements                                                                
The Board would like to express its appreciation to all its management and      
staff for their efforts during the year.                                        
Investor presentation                                                           
An investor presentation has been prepared and can be accessed on the           
investor relations segment of the Astrapak website (www. astrapak.co.za).       
For and on behalf of the Board                                                  
Marco Baglione                 H A Todd                                         
(Chief Executive Officer)     (Financial Director)                              
Sandton                                                                         
22 October 2008                                                                 
Board of Directors:                                                             
K P Seopela* (Acting Chairman), M Baglione (Chief Executive Officer), P C       
Botha*, T Kgage*,                                                               
D C Noko*, J F Buchanan*, M Diedloff, G Petzer, H A Todd,                       
W J Venter                                                                      
*Non-executive                                                                  
Company Secretary: M Diedloff                                                   
Registered Office: 1st Floor Wierda Court, Johan Avenue,                        
Wierda Valley, Sandton                                                          
P O Box 652740, Benmore, 2010, South Africa                                     
Tel +27 11 784 5577/8/9                                                         
Fax +27 11 784 1569                                                             
Registrar: Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited  Ground Floor, 70      
Marshall Street,                                                                
Johannesburg, 2001  PO Box 61051, Marshalltown, 2107                            
Operating entities                                                              
Films Division: Barrier Film Converters  City Packaging  East Rand Plastics     
Packaging Consultants  Pack-Line Holdings  Peninsula Packaging  Spun            
Technologies                                                                    
Tristar Plastics  Ultrapak                                                      
Rigids Division:  Cinqpet  Consupaq  Hilfort  JJ Precision Plastics ?Marcom     
Plastics                                                                        
PAK 2000  Plastech  Plastform  Plas-top  Plastop (KwaZulu-Natal)  Thermopac     
Flexibles Division: Alex White  Asatrapak Flexible  Astraflex  Astra Repro      
Cape Wrappers  Diverse Labelling Consultants  Knilam Packaging  Saflite         
Standard Labels (Mauritius)  Tamperpak                                          
Industrial: International Edgeboard Technologies  International Tube            
Technologies                                                                    
Plusnet/Geotex                                                                  
Date: 22/10/2008 13:13:11 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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