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Wed 10 Nov 2004, 9:43 Interim Results for 30 September 2004
ARGENT Industrial Limited - Financial Report                                    
ARGENT Industrial Limited                                                       
(Reg no 1993/002054/06)                                                         
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(`The Group` or `The Company`)                                                  
Share code: ART                                                                 
ISIN code:  ZAE000019188                                                        
Unaudited Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2004            
*    Financial Highlights                                                       
*    REVENUE UP 14.6%                                                           
*    ATTRIBUTABLE EARNINGS UP 35.8%                                             
*    ATTRIBUTABLE EARNINGS per share UP 19.5%                                   
*    HEADLINE EARNINGS UP 35.8%                                                 
*    HEADLINE EARNINGS per share UP 19.4%                                       
*    GEARING 23.8%                                                              
Abridged Consolidated Income Statement for the six months ended 30 September    
2004                                                                            
                         Unaudited      Unaudited           Audited             
                         six months     six months          year ended          
30-Sep-04      30-Sep-03           31-Mar-04           
R`000                                                                           
REVENUE                  380,308        331,897             604,639             
OPERATING PROFIT before                                                         
financing costs          59,009         45,353              96,966              
FINANCING COSTS          4,535          6,093               15,703              
PROFIT before taxation   54,474         39,260              81,263              
TAXATION                 14,018         8,381               19,926              
PROFIT after taxation    40,456         30,879              61,337              
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE                                                           
to outside shareholders                 1,098                                   
EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE                                                           
to ordinary shareholders 40,456         29,781              61,337              
Attributable earnings                                                           
per share (cents)        61.1 =         51.1                99.1                
Headline earnings                                                               
per share (cents)        62             51.9                106.2               
Dividends per share                                                             
(cents)                  10             9                   18                  
Supplementary Information                                                       
Shares in issue (000)                                                           
 - at end of period      67,090         58,308              67,090              
 - weighted average      66,259         58,242              61,867              
Interest received                                                               
(R 000)                  1,254          2,197               8,375               
Cost of sales (R 000)    222,840        203,952             359,249             
Depreciation &                                                                  
amortisation (R 000)     8,608          6,803               14,292              
Calculation of Headline Earnings                                                
                         Unaudited      Unaudited           Audited             
                         six months     six months          year ended          
                         30-Sep-04      30-Sep-03           31-Mar-04           
R`000                                                                           
Earnings attributable                                                           
to ordinary shareholders 40,456         29,781              61,337              
Goodwill amortisation    828            651                 1,478               
Profit on disposal of                                                           
property, plant and                                                             
 equipment               -418           -262                -395                
Loss on disposal of                                                             
property, plant and                                                             
 equipment               184            55                  997                 
Discontinued operation                  2,288                                   
Headline earnings                                                               
attributable to                                                                 
ordinary shareholders    41,050         30,225              65,705              
Abridged Consolidated Balance Sheet                                             
for the six months ended 30 September 2004                                      
Unaudited      Unaudited           Audited             
                         six months     six months          year ended          
                         30-Sep-04      30-Sep-03           31-Mar-04           
R`000                                                                           
ASSETS                                                                          
Non-current assets                                                              
Property, plant and                                                             
 equipment               135,592        100,181             110,642             
Investment property      51,737         47,534              48,016              
Intangibles              30,541         25,169              31,390              
                         217,870        172,884             190,048             
Current assets                                                                  
Inventories              159,026        104,208             96,481              
Trade and other                                                                 
receivables              152,569        88,249              134,415             
Bank balance and cash    12,653         67                  34,720              
324,248        192,524             265,616             
TOTAL ASSETS             542,118        365,408             455,664             
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                          
Capital and reserves                                                            
Share capital and                                                               
premium                  118,003        104,855             117,046             
Reserves                 24,045         24,045              24,045              
Retained earnings        158,650        97,976              124,390             
Ordinary shareholders`                                                          
funds                    300,698        226,876             265,481             
Minority interest                       5,820                                   
Total shareholders`                                                             
funds                    300,698        232,696             265,481             
Non-current liabilities                                                         
Interest-bearing                                                                
borrowings               46,929         44,412              47,423              
Deferred tax             10,627         7,539               10,087              
                         57,556         51,951              57,510              
Current liabilities                                                             
Trade and other                                                                 
payables                 148,805        61,836              100,270             
Taxation                 10,320         4,549               12,532              
Bank overdraft                          1,277                                   
Current portion of                                                              
interest-bearing                                                                
borrowings               24,739         13,099              19,871              
                         183,864        80,761              132,673             
TOTAL EQUITY AND                                                                
LIABILITIES              542,118        365,408             455,664             
Net asset value per                                                             
share (cents)            448.2          389.1               395.7               
Abridged Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                       
for the six months ended 30 September 2004                                      
                         Unaudited      Unaudited           Audited             
                         six months     six months          year ended          
                         30-Sep-04      30-Sep-03           31-Mar-04           
R`000                                                                           
Cash generated from                                                             
operations               33,965         22,714              76,443              
Interest paid            -4,535         -6,093              -15,703             
Interest received        1,254          2,198               8,375               
Dividends paid           -6,196         -5,142              -10,635             
Taxation paid            -15,690        -8,366              -9,380              
Cash flows from                                                                 
operating activities     8,798          5,311               49,100              
Cash flows from                                                                 
investing activities     -36,196        -19,028             -49,212             
Cash flows from                                                                 
financing activitie      5,331          5,908               28,233              
Net (decrease) increase                                                         
 in cash and cash                                                               
 equivalents             -22,067        -7,809              28,121              
Cash and cash                                                                   
equivalents at                                                                  
beginning of period      34,720         6,599               6,599               
Cash and cash                                                                   
equivalents at                                                                  
 end of period           12,653         -1,210              34,720              
Statement of Changes in Equity                                                  
for the six months ended 30 September 2004                                      
Share   Share    Treasury  Revalu-   Reserve   Retained  Total
                  Capital premium  shares    ation     on subs-  earnings       
                                             reserve   idiary                   
                                                       acquisition              
R`000                                                                           
Balance at                                                                      
30 September                                                                    
2003 as                                                                         
previously                                                                      
stated            2,915   103,651            836       23,209    97,835  228,446
Consolidation                                                                   
of share                                                                        
incentive                                                                       
trust                                        -1,711              141     -1,570 
Balance at                                                                      
30 September                                                                    
2003                                                                           
restated          2,915   103,651  -1,711    836       23,209    97,976  226,876
Shares                                                                          
 issued           439     28,016   -16,679                               11,776 
Net treasury                                                                    
movement                           415                                   415    
Net profit                                                                      
for the period                                                   31,556  31,556 
Dividends                                                        -6,038  -6,038 
Less treasury                                                                   
shares                                                           896     896    
Balance at                                                                      
31 March                                                                        
2004              3,354   131,667  -17,975   836       23,209   124,390  265,481
Net treasury                                                                    
movement                           957                                   957    
Net profit                                                                      
for the period                                                  40,456   40,456 
Dividends                                                       -6,709   -6,709 
Less treasury shares                                            513      513    
Balance at                                                                      
30 September                                                                    
2004              3,354   131,667  -17,018   836       23,209   158,650  300,698
Segment Report                                                                  
for the six months ended 30 September 2004                                      
Business Segments                                                               
                    Revenue        Results        Revenue        Results        
                    Unaudited      Unaudited      Unaudited      Unaudited      
six months     six months     six months     six months     
                    ended          ended          ended          ended          
                    30-Sep-04      30-Sep-04      30-Sep-03      30-Sep-03      
R`000                                                                           
Steel & Steel                                                                   
 Related Products   333,880        48,186         279,959        35,761         
Non Steel Related   46,365         5,944          51,874         3,103          
Properties          63             344            64             396            
Total               380,308        54,474         331,897        39,260         
Restatement of comparatives                                                     
A recent ruling given by the GAAP Monitoring Panel has provided more clarity    
regarding the consolidation of share incentive scheme trusts. Consequently the  
Group has changed its accounting policy in respect of its share incentive scheme
trust (`share trust`). The share trust is now consolidated to the extent that   
the Group issued share capital is under the control of the Group. These shares  
are shown as treasury shares. The prior period comparatives have been restated  
as follows:                                                                     
                         As previously       Adjustment               Restated  
                         stated                                                 
R`000                                                                           
Balance Sheet                                                                   
Employee share                                                                  
incentive scheme         1,570               -1,570                             
Treasury shares                              1,711                    1,711     
Retained earnings                                                               
(opening)                97,835              141                      97,976    
Number of shares                                                                
Shares in issue                                                                 
- weighted (`000)        58,308              -66                      58,242    
Earnings per share                                                              
Attributable earnings                                                           
per share (cents)        51.1                0                        51.1      
Headline earnings                                                               
 per share (cents)       51.8                0.1                      51.9      
Net asset value                                                                 
per share (cents)        391.8               -2.7                     389.1     
Movement in share incentive scheme                                              
The movement in the shares in the share incentive scheme trust for the period   
under review can be  summarised as follows:                                     
R`000                         30-Sep-04      30-Sep-03                          
Opening balance               1,229          1,400                              
Purchases                     5,148          632                                
Shares exercised              -1,273         -803                               
Closing balance               5,104          1,229                              
COMMENTARY                                                                      
Chief Executive Officer`s Review                                                
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Argent Industrial Limited, the unaudited 
results for the six months ended 30 September 2004 are hereby presented.        
Salient Review                                                                  
Revenue increased by 14,6% to R380,3 million (2003 - R331,9 million)            
Attributable earnings increased by 35,8% to R40,5 million                       
Attributable earnings per share increased by 19,5% to 61,1cents per share (2003 
- 51,1 cents per share)                                                         
Headline earnings increased by 35,8% to R41,0 million (2003 - R30,2 million)    
Headline earnings per share increased by 19,4% to 62,0 cents per share (2003 -  
51,9 cents per share)                                                           
Gearing decreased to 23,8% (2003 - 24,7%)                                       
GROUP PERFORMANCE                                                               
The Group had an excellent first six months and the trend will continue for the 
remainder of the financial year.                                                
DIVISIONAL PERFORMANCE                                                          
Steel and Steel Related Products                                                
The Group`s steel merchants, operating under the Phoenix Steel banner, had an   
excellent first six months and will further benefit from Ispat Iscor`s recent   
price increases. Phoenix Steel - Gauteng commissioned its second tube mill and  
will complete its building expansion in November 2004. Phoenix Steel - Natal    
achieved remarkable results for the first six months, breaking its turnover     
record month after month on the back of a substantial increase in demand and the
Ispat Iscor price increases. Two of the steel companies established by the      
Group, Phoenix Steel - Mpumalanga and Phoenix Steel - Richards Bay are now      
consistent contributors to the Group`s bottom line.                             
Hendor Mining, the Group`s underground mining scraper supplier, had an          
impressive first six months. However, it will be adversely affected by Ispat    
Iscor`s October/November increases until interim price increases are secured    
from its customers. Hendor has managed to increase its market share and can look
forward to a more than acceptable financial year.                               
Bavarian Metal Industries had a satisfactory first six months. Being for the    
most part an in-house manufacturer, the company has benefited from the upswing  
in the Group`s activities.                                                      
Koch`s Cut and Supply had a very good first six months and should benefit from  
the upswing in the steel prices over the next six months.                       
Giflo Engineering purchased an additional 10 000 square metres of land and now  
has a footprint of 62 500 square metres of which 29 400 square metres is under  
cover. During the period under review, Giflo commissioned its two new pipe      
benders and will commission its electro polishing plant and new laser machine in
November 2004. Giflo`s local volumes continue to be satisfactory, while its     
export book is in excess of USD 1 million.                                      
Excalibur Vehicle Accessories had an excellent first six months and this trend  
will continue through to the end of the current financial year. Excalibur opened
branches in both Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and is in the process of opening  
one near the Gateway shopping centre in Umhlanga Ridge, Kwa-Zulu Natal.         
Jetmaster had a fantastic first six months and allied with its product expansion
plans, should continue to go from strength to strength. Jetmaster managed to    
increase its export market in Australia and New Zealand and will concentrate on 
doing the same in the United Kingdom over the next six months. Jetmaster        
launched a number of new products both in South Africa and internationally. The 
Group will benefit from sales of  the new product range during the balance of   
the current financial year.                                                     
Non Steel Related                                                               
New Joules Engineering North America, the Group`s American based company had a  
satisfactory first six months and is hoping to secure an order for USD 2.4      
million in January 2005. New Joules concluded an agreement to purchase a        
building in Kansas City for USD 570 000. The company plans on moving from its   
existing leased premises to the purchased one in December 2004.                 
Megamix and Villiersdorp Quarries continue to take advantage of the current boom
in the construction and building sectors and are performing in line with        
budgetary expectations.                                                         
Prospects                                                                       
The continued increases in local steel prices, strengthening of the gold price, 
low interest rates leading to additional personal disposal income as well as the
boom experienced in the local vehicle market has led to the Group posting a good
set of results for the period under review. There is no indication that these   
trends will not continue over the next six months and the Group will continue to
take advantage of this situation. The rand-dollar exchange rates however,       
continue to place strain on the Group`s export margins.                         
Dividend                                                                        
A final dividend of 10 cents per share in respect of the year ended 31 March    
2004 was paid during the period.                                                
An interim dividend of 11 cents per share has been declared, subsequent to 30   
September 2004, payable on Monday 24 January 2005 to shareholders recorded in   
the register at close of business on Friday 21 January 2005, being the record   
date in order to participate in such dividend. The last day to trade cum-div is 
Friday 14 January 2005. The share will trade ex-div on Monday 17 January 2005.  
Share certificates may not be dematerialised/rematerialised between Monday 17   
January 2005 and Friday 21 January 2005, both days inclusive.                   
In accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice Statement AC107, the  
interim dividend of 11 cents per share proposed by the Directors has not been   
reflected in the interim financial statements.                                  
Accounting Policies                                                             
The financial statements for the period under review are prepared in accordance 
with South African Statements of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and     
incorporate Accounting Policies which are consistent with those applied in the  
preparation of the audited financial results for the previous period.           
On behalf of the Board                                                          
T.R. Hendry CA (SA) MaraisburgChief Executive Officer  10 November 2004         
Registered Office1316 Clubhouse Street, Maraisburg, Roodepoort, 1724Tel: (011   
474 2100)                                                                       
Auditor:Etchells James Kruger & Associates Inc.                                 
Sponsor:                                                                        
LCP Manhattan                                                                   
Transfer Secretaries:Ultra Registrars, 5th floor, 11 Diagonal Street,           
Johannesburg,2001(PO Box 4844, Johannesburg, 2000)                              
Directors:T Scharrighuisen (Non-Executive Chairman), TR Hendry (Chief Executive 
Officer), Ms SJ Cox (Financial Director), PA Day (Non-Executive), MJ Antonic    
(New Business Development), PH Lawson, GK Youngman (Alternate), D Smith, MP     
Allen (Alternate), F Litschka (Non-Executive)                                   
Date: 10/11/2004 09:37:57 AM           
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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