Not logged in
  Home   Markets   Shares   Funds   Portfolio   Toolbox   Charting   Alerts   Directory   
 Admin   

Wed 17 Feb 2010, 15:00 ASR - Assore - Interim Results for the half-year ended 31 December 2009
ASR
ASR                                                                             
ASR - Assore - Interim Results for the half-year ended 31 December 2009         
Assore Limited                                                                  
Company registration number:                                                    
1950/037394/06                                                                  
Share code: ASR   ISIN: ZAE000017117                                            
Assore Interim Results for the half-year ended 31 December 2009                 
Earnings decreased significantly due to market conditions                       
Interim dividend decreased from R10 to R5 per share                             
Assmang`s Khumani Expansion Project to 16 million tons per annum progressing    
according to schedule                                                           
Markets showing strong signs of improvement                                     
Consolidated income statement                                                   
                            Half-year ended            Year ended               
                            31 December   31 December  30 June                  
                            2009          2008         2009                     
Unaudited     Unaudited    Audited                  
                            R`000         R`000        R`000                    
Revenue                      2 752 752      6 805 831    9 527 669              
Turnover                      2 550 160     6 387 524    8 818 655              
Cost of sales                (1 937 504)   (2 338 355)  (3 983 720)             
Gross profit                    612 656     4 049 169    4 834 935              
Profit on disposal of                                                           
available-for-sale                                                              
investments                  -             -            19 086                  
Other income                  267 484       955 470      1 410 828              
Other expenses                 (265 498)    (138 956)    (717 821)              
Finance costs                  (61 760)     (189 517)    (298 148)              
Profit before taxation and                                                      
State`s share of profits     552 882       4 676 166    5 248 880               
Taxation and State`s share                                                      
of profits                   (211 085)     (1 642 159)  (1 981 493)             
Profit for the period         341 797       3 034 007    3 267 387              
Attributable to:                                                                
Shareholders of the holding                                                     
company                      338 114       2 980 574    3 241 452               
Non-controlling interests     3 683         53 433       25 935                 
Profit for the period (as                                                       
above)                       341 797       3 034 007    3 267 387               
Earnings as above             338 114       2 980 574    3 241 452              
Profit on disposal (net of                                                      
tax) of:                                                                        
- Available-for-sale                                                            
investments                   -             -           (16 414)                
- Property, plant and                                                           
equipment                    (1 208)       (3 902)      (18 359)                
Impairment of non-financial                                                     
assets                        -            -            59 114                  
Headline earnings             336 906       2 976 672    3 265 793              
Earnings per share (cents)                                                      
(basic and diluted)          1 413         12 461       13 669                  
Headline earnings per share                                                     
(cents)                                                                         
(basic and diluted)           1 408         12 444       13 772                 
Dividends per share declared                                                    
in respect of the profit                                                        
for the period (cents):      500            1 000        2 000                  
- Interim                     500           1 000        1 000                  
- Final                                                  1 000                  
Weighted average number of                                                      
ordinary shares (million)                                                       
Ordinary shares in issue      27,57         27,75        27,66                  
Weighted impact of treasury                                                     
shares:                                                                         
- Held by Group companies     (2,73)        (2,92)       (3,03)                 
- Held by Bokamoso Trust      (0,91)        (0,91)       (0,91)                 
                              23,93        23,92        23,72                   
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income                                  
Half-year ended              Year ended             
                            31 December   31 December    30 June                
                            2009          2008           2009                   
                            Unaudited     Unaudited      Audited                
R`000         R`000          R`000                  
Profit for the period (as      341 797      3 034 007      3 267 387            
above)                                                                          
Other comprehensive                                                             
income/(loss) for the                                                           
period, net                                                                     
of tax                        178 759       (240 904)      (237 400)            
Net gain/(loss) on                                                              
revaluation of available-                                                       
for-sale investments to                                                         
market value                  208 488      (298 676)      (270 143)             
Profit on disposal of                                                           
available-for-sale                                                              
investments recognised in                                                       
profit for the period         -             -              (19 086)             
Deferred capital gains                                                          
taxation                     (29 100)      41 815         40 492                
                             178 759       (256 861)      (248 737)             
Exchange differences on                                                         
translation of                                                                  
foreign operations             (629)        15 957         11 337               
Total comprehensive income                                                      
for the period, net of tax    520 556       2 793 103      3 029 987            
Attributable to:                                                                
Shareholders of the holding                                                     
company                      516 873       2 739 670      3 004 052             
Non-controlling interests     3 683         53 433         25 935               
As above                      520 556       2 793 103      3 029 987            
Consolidated cash flow statement                                                
                            Half-year ended             Year ended              
                            31 December   31 December   30 June                 
                            2009          2008          2009                    
Unaudited     Unaudited     Audited                 
                            R`000         R`000         R`000                   
Cash generated from                                                             
operations                   460           2 911 436     3 670 885              
Cash utilised in investing                                                      
activities                   (699 305)     (905 399)     (1 620 690)            
Cash utilised by financing                                                      
activities                   (102 950)     (38 435)      (990 085)              
(Decrease)/increase in cash                                                     
for the period               (801 795)     1 967 602     1 060 110              
Cash resources at beginning                                                     
of period                    3 049 067     1 988 957     1 988 957              
Cash resources as per                                                           
statement of financial                                                          
position                     2 247 272     3 956 559     3 049 067              
Consolidated statement of financial position                                    
At 31         At 31         At 30 June              
                            December      December                              
                            2009          2008          2009                    
                            Unaudited     Unaudited     Audited                 
R`000         R`000         R`000                   
Assets                                                                          
Non-current assets                                                              
Property, plant and                                                             
equipment, investment                                                           
properties and intangible                                                       
assets                       5 617 492     4 820 765     5 183 450              
Investments - Available-for-                                                    
sale investments             644 346       363 278       415 066                
- Other                       42 663        36 706        42 259                
Total non-current assets      6 304 501     5 220 749    5 640 775              
Current assets                                                                  
Inventories                    1 868 563    2 051 088     1 804 010             
Trade and other receivables    715 968      2 094 550     593 087               
Cash resources                2 247 272     3 956 559     3 049 067             
Total current assets          4 831 803     8 102 197     5 446 164             
Total assets                 11 136 304     13 322 946    11 086 939            
Equity and liabilities                                                          
Share capital and reserves                                                      
Ordinary shareholders`                                                          
interest                     6 880 759     6 578 190     6 603 229              
Non-controlling interest      74 898        99 859        71 819                
Total equity                  6 955 657     6 678 049     6 675 048             
Non-current liabilities                                                         
Net deferred taxation                                                           
liabilities                  1 479 976     1 076 861     1 341 836              
Long-term liabilities         253 706       232 085       257 513               
Total non-current                                                               
liabilities                  1 733 682     1 308 946     1 599 349              
Current liabilities                                                             
Interest bearing              1 528 952     2 589 062     1 623 843             
Non-interest bearing          918 013       2 746 889     1 188 699             
Total current liabilities     2 446 965     5 335 951     2 812 542             
Total equity and liabilities 11 136 304     13 322 946    11 086 939            
Net asset value per share                                                       
(Rand)                       290,6         279,0         278,9                  
Capital expenditure (R                                                          
million)                     680,7         806,8         1 476,0                
Capital commitments (R                                                          
million)                     3 994,8       2 002,5       3 656,9                
Consolidated statement of changes in equity                                     
                            Half-year ended             Year ended              
                            31 December   31 December   30 June                 
                            2009          2008          2009                    
Unaudited     Unaudited     Audited                 
                            R`000         R`000         R`000                   
Share capital, share premium                                                    
and other reserves                                                              
Balance at beginning of                                                         
period                       151 762       389 173       389 173                
Par value of shares                                                             
repurchased and cancelled    -             (11)          (11)                   
Other comprehensive                                                             
income/(loss)                178 759       (240 904)     (237 400)              
Balance at end of period      330 521       148 258       151 762               
Treasury shares                                                                 
Balance at beginning of                                                         
period                       (2 125 285)   (2 341 725)   (2 341 725)            
Treasury shares repurchased                                                     
during the period            -             (26 465)      (26 465)               
Warehouse transaction costs   -             (5 038)       (5 038)               
Cancellation of treasury                                                        
shares repurchased                                                              
during the period                                                               
- Value of shares cancelled,                                                    
excluding par value          -             248 718       248 718                
- Costs of shares cancelled   -             (775)         (775)                 
Balance at end of period     (2 125 285)    (2 125 285)  (2 125 285)            
Retained earnings                                                               
Balance at beginning of                                                         
period                       8 576 752     6 063 424     6 063 424              
Comprehensive income -                                                          
profit                       338 114       2 980 574     3 241 452              
Treasury shares repurchased                                                     
and cancelled during the                                                        
period                        -             (248 718)     (248 718)             
Ordinary dividends declared                                                     
No. 105 at R10,00 per share                                                     
(2008: R10,00 per share)      (239 343)     (240 063)     (479 406)             
Balance at end of period      8 675 523     8 555 217     8 576 752             
Ordinary shareholders`                                                          
equity                       6 880 759     6 578 190     6 603 229              
Non-controlling interest                                                        
Balance at beginning of                                                         
period                       71 819        111 528       111 528                
Total comprehensive income    3 683         53 433        25 935                
Dividends paid to minorities  (604)         (65 102)      (65 644)              
Balance at end of period      74 898        99 859        71 819                
Total equity                  6 955 657     6 678 049     6 675 048             
Segmental information                                                           
                      Joint venture mining and beneficiation                    
R`000                  Iron ore   Manganese   Chrome      Subtotal              
Half-year ended 31                                                              
December 2009                                                                   
Unaudited                                                                       
Revenues                                                                        
- third party           1 797 336  2 408 415   504 429     4 710 180            
- intersegment         -          -           -           -                     
Total revenues          1 797 336  2 408 415   504 429     4 710 180            
Contribution to                                                                 
profit                 383 314    355 240     (136 062)   602 492               
Contribution to                                                                 
headline earnings      382 525    355 240     (136 062)   601 703               
Segment assets                                                                  
6 969 701  7 750 518   1 852 285   16 572 504             
Capital expenditure     777 424    375 571     135 146     1 288 141            
Half-year ended 31                                                              
December 2008                                                                   
Unaudited                                                                       
Revenues                                                                        
- third party           2 922 584  7 123 211   1 123 706  11 169 501            
- intersegment          -          -           -           -                    
Total revenues          2 922 584  7 123 211  1 123 706   11 169 501            
Contribution to                                                                 
profit                 1 542 485  3 641 162   453 849     5 637 496             
Contribution to                                                                 
headline earnings      1 531 885  3 641 826   453 849     5 627 560             
Segment assets                                                                  
                      5 706 277  11 668 590  2 338 530   19 713 397             
Capital expenditure     874 771    409 434     219 412     1 503 617            
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2009                                                                            
Audited                                                                         
Revenues                                                                        
- third party          5 026 714   8 897 515   1 812 333  15 736 562            
- intersegment          -          -           -           -                    
Total revenues         5 026 714  8 897 515   1 812 333   15 736 562            
Contribution to                                                                 
profit                 2 170 428  3 955 584   193 146     6 319 158             
Contribution to                                                                 
headline earnings      2 159 878  3 926 926   213 344     6 300 148             
Segment assets          6 504 050  8 348 952   2 038 210  16 891 212            
Capital expenditure     1 529 176  853 983     396 616     2 779 775            
               Marketing  Other mining   Eliminations                           
               and          and           and                                   
R`000           shipping   beneficiation  adjustments*  Consolidated            
Half-year ended                                                                 
31 December                                                                     
2009                                                                            
Unaudited                                                                       
Revenues                                                                        
- third party    242 449    79 855         (2 279 732)   2 752 752              
- intersegment   153 806   -               (153 806)    -                       
Total revenues   396 255    79 855         (2 433 538)   2 752 752              
Contribution to                                                                 
profit          71 963     (25 175)       (307 483)     341 797                 
Contribution to                                                                 
headline                                                                        
earnings        65 185     (22 893)       (307 089)     336 906                 
Segment assets  5 647 818   2 989 583     (14 073 601)   11 136 304             
Capital                                                                         
expenditure     2 575      34 020         (644 071)     680 665                 
Half-year ended                                                                 
31 December                                                                     
2008                                                                            
Unaudited                                                                       
Revenues                                                                        
- third party    805 271    231 253        (5 400 194)   6 805 831              
- intersegment   377 020    2 800          (379 820)    -                       
Total revenues  1 182 291   234 053        (5 780 014)   6 805 831              
Contribution to                                                                 
profit          137 241    84 254         (2 824 984)   3 034 007               
Contribution to                                                                 
headline                                                                        
earnings        123 118    43 011         (2 817 017)   2 976 672               
Segment assets  6 645 966   2 285 290     (15 321 707)   13 322 946             
Capital                                                                         
expenditure     5 391      49 638         (751 809)     806 837                 
Year ended 30                                                                   
June 2009                                                                       
Audited                                                                         
Revenues                                                                        
- third party   1 120 715   305 623       (7 635 231)    9 527 669              
- intersegment   513 336    4 592          (517 928)    -                       
Total revenues  1 634 051   310 215        (8 153 159)   9 527 669              
Contribution to                                                                 
profit          193 942    (73 660)       (3 172 053)   3 267 387               
Contribution to                                                                 
headline                                                                        
earnings        183 645    (55 452)       (3 162 548)   3 265 793               
Segment assets  4 660 165   2 184 242     (12 648 680)   11 086 939             
Capital                                                                         
expenditure      2 491     83 590         (1 389 888)   1 475 968               
* Eliminations and adjustments mainly give effect to the elimination of the 50% 
share attributable to the other joint venture party in Assmang.                 
Commentary                                                                      
Headline earnings for the six months to 31 December 2009 have decreased by 88,7%
compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, to R336,9 million due  
to the significant decrease in the earnings of Assmang Limited (Assmang), and   
the decreased commissions earned on the reduced sales of group products. Assore 
holds a 50% interest in Assmang, which is proportionately consolidated in       
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).             
Assmang`s headline earnings decreased by 89,3% to R601,7 million compared to the
same period of the previous fiscal year, due to lower selling prices for all    
products. The global recession that set in during the last quarter of calendar  
2008, resulted in prices reducing strongly for all the group`s commodities,     
combined with a strengthening in the South African Rand/US Dollar exchange rate,
leading to lower revenues. Except for iron ore, market conditions for all       
products were weak but did show some improvement towards the end of the period  
under review.                                                                   
Sales volumes                                                                   
Assmang`s turnover for the period under review declined significantly, and      
despite sales volumes for all products being higher compared to the same period 
for the previous fiscal year, amounted to                                       
R4,6 billion (2008: R10,9 billion), a reduction of 57,9%. The table below sets  
out Assmang`s sales volumes for the period:                                     
                              Half-year ended                                   
                              31 December  31 December                          
Metric tons `000               2009         2008          % increase            
Iron ore                       4 452        3 455         29                    
Manganese ore*                 1 582        1 291         23                    
Manganese alloys*              120          70            71                    
Charge chrome                  75           65            15                    
Chrome ore*                    99           80            24                    
* Excluding intra-group sales                                                   
Capital expenditure                                                             
The bulk of the group`s capital expenditure occurs in Assmang. The major capital
expenditure occurred in the iron ore and manganese divisions. A total of R772   
million was spent on the Khumani Expansion Project (KEP) at Assmang`s Khumani   
Iron Ore Mine, while R194 million was spent at Assmang`s Black Rock Manganese   
Mine on the construction of a new enlarged beneficiation plant. The expenditure 
programme on the KEP is planned to meet the timing of Assmang`s increased       
allocation of railage capacity on the Sishen-Saldanha line from 10 to 14 million
tons per annum by mid-2012, and is progressing according to schedule. A further 
R170 million was spent on furnace upgrades across Assmang`s Manganese and Chrome
divisions. A total of R27 million was spent on further developing two           
underground shafts at the Rustenburg Chrome Ore Mine, with commercial production
expected to meet local commitments upon depletion of the existing opencast      
resources over the next 18 months.                                              
Outlook                                                                         
Trading conditions have shown further signs of improvement, and customers and   
agents are prepared to acquire more ore and alloy inventories. However, it      
remains unclear as to the degree of recovery in the markets in which the group  
trades. Commodity prices have increased from the lows experienced in early 2009,
and the weak US Dollar continues to have a positive impact on these prices,     
however, with the SA Rand trading at relatively strong levels, group revenues   
remain depressed. The group`s performance continues to be significantly exposed 
to fluctuations in exchange rates as the bulk of the group`s sales remain in the
export market.                                                                  
Dividends                                                                       
The results in the announcement include the final dividend relating to the      
previous financial year of 1 000 cents (2008: 1 000 cents) per share, which was 
declared on 26 August 2009 and paid to shareholders on 21 September 2009. Based 
on the decreased earnings for the current period the board has declared a lower 
interim dividend of 500 cents (2008: 1 000 cents) per share, which will be paid 
to shareholders on or about 29 March 2010. In accordance with IFRS, this interim
dividend is not included in the results for the period under review as it was   
declared after                                                                  
31 December 2009.                                                               
Accounting policies and basis of preparation                                    
The financial results for the period under review have been prepared on the     
historical cost basis, except for financial instruments that are fairly valued, 
in accordance with IAS 34 - Interim Reporting, issued by the International      
Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The accounting policies applied are          
consistent with those adopted in the financial year ended 30 June 2009, with the
exception of the adoption of the following policies in response to changes in   
IFRS:                                                                           
IAS 1 (Amendment) - Presentation of Financial Statements; and                   
IFRS 8 - Operating Segments.                                                    
The adoption of this amendment and this standard has had no effect on the       
financial statements of the group except for the disclosure of additional       
information. In addition, further amendments to IFRS and interpretations as     
issued by the IASB, have also been considered and adopted by the group. These   
amendments and interpretations have not had any effect on the financial results 
for the period or any requirement for additional disclosure.                    
Subsequent event                                                                
On 2 December 2009 shareholders were advised that, subject to certain conditions
precedent, an empowerment transaction had been concluded which would result in  
share ownership by Historically Disadvantaged South Africans, increasing from   
the existing 15,26% to 26,07%. Shareholders approved the transaction at a       
shareholders` meeting convened for that purpose on 19 January 2010 and          
subsequently all the suspensive conditions applicable to the first phase of the 
transaction have been fulfilled. It is anticipated that the remaining conditions
will be fulfilled on or about the end of February 2010. Had the transaction been
implemented prior to 31 December 2009, earnings per share for the period under  
review would have decreased by 54 cents per share to 1 359 cents per share, due 
to the estimated costs of the transaction.                                      
Directors                                                                       
On 31 August 2009, Mr J W Lewis was withdrawn as alternate director, due to his 
impending retirement from the group on 31 December 2009.                        
Declaration of interim dividend                                                 
Interim dividend No. 106 of 500 cents per share was declared on 16 February     
2010, in the currency of the Republic of South Africa. In accordance with Strate
Limited, the following dates apply to the dividend declared:                    
The last trading date to qualify for the dividend (and for changes of address   
or dividend instructions) will be Thursday, 18 March 2010.                      
The company`s ordinary shares will commence trading "ex dividend" from the      
commencement of business on Friday, 19 March 2010.                              
The record date will be Friday, 26 March 2010.                                  
Dividend cheques in payment of this dividend to holders of certificated shares  
will be posted on or about Monday, 29 March 2010. Electronic payment to holders 
of certificated shares will be undertaken simultaneously.                       
Holders of dematerialised shares will have their accounts at their Central      
Securities Depository Participant or broker credited on Monday, 29 March 2010.  
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Friday,  
19 March 2010 and Friday, 26 March 2010, both days inclusive.                   
On behalf of the board                                                          
Desmond Sacco                               CJ Cory                             
Chairman                                    Chief Executive Officer             
Johannesburg                                                                    
17 February 2010                                                                
Registered office                           Transfer office                     
Assore House                                Computershare Investor              
15 Fricker Road                             Services (Pty) Limited              
IIlovo Boulevard                            70 Marshall Street                  
Johannesburg 2196                           Johannesburg 2001                   
Directors                                                                       
Executive                                   Non-executive                       
Desmond Sacco (Chairman)                    BM Hawksworth                       
RJ Carpenter (Deputy Chairman)              MC Ramaphosa                        
CJ Cory (Chief Executive Officer)           EM Southey                          
PC Crous (Technical and Operations)         Dr JC van der Horst                 
Alternate                            
Company secretaries                         NG Sacco                            
African Mining and Trust Company Limited    PE Sacco                            
                                           R Smith                              
Assore Limited                                                                  
Company registration number:                                                    
1950/037394/06                                                                  
Share code: ASR   ISIN: ZAE000017117                                            
www.assore.com                                                                  
Date: 17/02/2010 15:00:02 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the    
JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or            
implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or   
completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers,     
employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,     
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature,     
howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,          
information disseminated through SENS.
Profile Group (Pty) Ltd. has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information.
Other Profile Group sites: FundsData Online (unit trust data)  |  Profile Group corporate site
Terms of Use |  Privacy Policy |  PAIA manual |  FAQs/Help |  Site Map |  © Copyright Reserved 2026  ]
  


Powered by ProfileData

Profile Mobile App Google Play Store Apple App Store


Follow us on: