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

Tue 8 Aug 2006, 17:23 Bell Equipment Ltd - Interim Report Six Months End
BEL
 BEL                                                                             
     Bell Equipment Ltd - Interim Report Six Months Ended 30 June 2006          
     Bell Equipment Ltd                                                         
     (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                             
(Share code: BEL & ISIN: ZAE000028304)                                     
     Registration number 1968/013656/06                                         
     ("Bell")                                                                   
     INTERIM REPORT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2006                       
Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                 
                               Unaudited              Audited                   
                                            RESTATED                            
                               at 30 June   at 30     at 31                     
June      December                  
     R"000                     2006         2005      2005                      
     ASSETS                                                                     
     Non-current assets        379 284      284 532   295 765                   
Property, plant and       313 459      231 211   237 394                   
     equipment                                                                  
     Investments and long-                                                      
     term receivables          62 739       53 321    50 885                    
Deferred taxation         3 086        -         7 486                     
     Current assets            1 649 395    1 336 784 1 345 842                 
     Inventory                 1 109 914    940 653   928 838                   
     Trade and other           503 436      360 203   361 812                   
receivables                                                                
     Current portion of long-                                                   
     term receivables          12 294       7 112     12 128                    
     Prepayments               13 002       3 367     7 732                     
Taxation                  1 238        19 031    2 194                     
     Cash resources            9 511        6 418     33 138                    
     TOTAL ASSETS              2 028 679    1 621 316 1 641 607                 
     EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                     
Capital and reserves      824 304      728 282   699 259                   
     Stated capital (Note 5)   225 946      225 776   225 946                   
     Non-distributable         59 590       45 627    36 921                    
     reserves                                                                   
Retained earnings         538 768      456 879   436 392                   
     Non-current liabilities   161 723      65 342    89 401                    
     Interest-bearing          3 574        6 248     4 754                     
     Repurchase obligations                                                     
and deferred leasing      142 978      43 386    69 176                    
     income                                                                     
     Long-term provisions      15 171       15 476    15 471                    
     Deferred taxation         -            232       -                         
Current liabilities       1 042 652    827 692   852 947                   
     Trade and other payables  613 509      495 057   391 670                   
     Current portion of                                                         
     interest-bearing          2 706        3 411     2 731                     
liabilities                                                                
     Current portion of                                                         
     repurchase obligations    18 600       8 130     8 639                     
     and deferred leasing                                                       
income                                                                     
     Current portion of        70 748       52 048    64 637                    
     provisions                                                                 
     Taxation                  22 431       -         -                         
Short-term interest-                                                       
     bearing debt              314 658      269 046   385 270                   
     TOTAL EQUITY AND          2 028 679    1 621 316 1 641 607                 
     LIABILITIES                                                                
Number of shares in                                                        
     issue ("000)              94 763       94 713    94 763                    
     Net asset value per                                                        
     share (cents)             870          769       738                       
Consolidated Income Statement                                              
                               Unaudited             Audited                    
                               6 months   6 months   12 months                  
                               ended      ended      Ended                      
30 June    30 June    31 December                
     R"000                     2006       2005       2005                       
     Revenue                   1 534 894  1 668 402  3 209 233                  
     Cost of sales             1 236 536  1 418 553  2 701 658                  
Gross profit              298 358    249 849    507 575                    
     Other operating income    53 290     44 987     92 615                     
     Distribution costs        (193 299)  (209 279)  (441 523)                  
     Administration expenses   (17 344)   (29 679)   (62 615)                   
Other operating           (15 400)   (23 118)   (48 773)                   
     expenses                                                                   
     Profit from operating     125 605                                          
     activities                           32 760     47 279                     
Net finance (income)      (23 286)                                         
     costs (Note 2)                       13 835     43 459                     
     Profit before taxation    148 891                                          
     (Note 3)                             18 925     3 820                      
Taxation                  46 847     6 291      12 017                     
     Profit (loss) for the     102 044    12 634     (8 197)                    
     period                                                                     
     Earnings (loss) per                                                        
share (basic) (cents)     108        13         (9)                        
     (Note 4)                                                                   
     Earnings (loss) per       108        13         (9)                        
     share (diluted) (cents)                                                    
(Note 4)                                                                   
     Proposed dividend per                                                      
     share (cents)             -          -          -                          
     Abbreviated Cash Flow Statement                                            
Unaudited            Audited                  
                                  6 months   6 months  12 months                
                                  ended      ended     ended                    
                                  30 June    30 June   31 December              
R"000                        2006       2005      2005                     
     Cash operating profit        165 762    63 009                             
     before working capital                            100 679                  
     changes                                                                    
Cash (invested in)           (100 963)  76 693    (23 146)                 
     generated from working                                                     
     capital                                                                    
     Cash generated from          64 799     139 702   77 533                   
operations                                                                 
     Net finance income (costs    23 286     (13 835)  (43 459)                 
     paid)                                                                      
     Taxation (paid) refunded     (19 060)   (4 070)   501                      
Net cash generated from      69 025     121 797                            
     operating activities                              34 575                   
     Invested in property,        (104 598)  (15 093)  (41 670)                 
     plant, equipment,                                                          
investments and long-term                                                  
     receivables                                                                
     Increase in interest-        82 558     1 774     25 899                   
     bearing liabilities,                                                       
repurchase obligations and                                                 
     deferred leasing income                                                    
     Proceeds from shares issued  -          1 362     1 532                    
     Net cash inflow              46 985     109 840   20 336                   
Statement of Changes in Equity                                                  
                                    Unaudited          Audited                  
                                             RESTATED                           
                                    6 months 6 months  12 months                
ended    ended     ended                    
                                    30 June  30 June   31 December              
     R"000                          2006     2005      2005                     
     Equity at the beginning of     699 259  701 462   701 462                  
the period                                                                 
     Changes in share capital       -        1 362     1 532                    
     Issue of share capital         -        1 362     1 532                    
     Changes in non-distributable                      3 774                    
reserves                       22 669   12 480                             
     Effect of change in tax rate   -        265       265                      
     on surplus on revaluation of                                               
     properties                                                                 
Realisation of revaluation                                                 
     reserve on depreciation of                                                 
     buildings                      (332)    (344)     (688)                    
     Increase in foreign currency                                               
translation reserve of                                                     
     foreign subsidiaries           22 279   12 239    2 666                    
     Exchange differences on        722      320       1 531                    
     foreign reserves                                                           
Changes in retained earnings   102 376  12 978    (7 509)                  
     Net profit (loss) for the      102 044  12 634    (8 197)                  
     period                                                                     
     Transfer from revaluation      332      344       688                      
reserve on depreciation of                                                 
     buildings                                                                  
     Equity at the end of the       824 304  728 282   699 259                  
     period                                                                     
Notes to Interim Report                                                    
                                 Unaudited           Audited                    
                                 6 months   6 months 12 months                  
                                 ended      ended    ended                      
30 June    30 June  31 December                
     R"000                       2006       2005     2005                       
     1.   ACCOUNTING POLICIES                                                   
     The accounting policies of the group are in accordance with International  
Financial Reporting Standards and                                          
     are consistent with those applied to the previous year.                    
     This abridged report complies with Interim Financial Reporting (IAS34).    
     2. NET FINANCE (INCOME)                                                    
COSTS                                                                      
     Net interest paid             11 720    12 769    22 404                   
     Net currency exchange         35 006)   1 066     21 055                   
     (income) losses                                                            
Net finance (income) costs    (23 286)  13 835    43 459                   
     3. PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION                                                  
     Profit before taxation is arrived at after taking into account:            
     Income                                                                     
Import duty rebates           14 611    20 428    42 116                   
     Net surplus on disposal of                                                 
     property, plant and           220       3 403     2 372                    
     equipment                                                                  
Expenditure                                                                
     Auditors" remuneration -                                                   
     audit and other services      2 541     6 995     10 811                   
     Depreciation of property,                                                  
plant and equipment           16 733    14 869    31 566                   
     Increase in warranty          666       1 340     16 212                   
     provision                                                                  
     Operating lease charges                                                    
-  equipment and motor        6 838     6 820     16 320                   
     vehicles                                                                   
     -  properties                 8 241     8 143     15 946                   
     Research and development                                                   
expenses                      17 779    12 735    10 072                   
     Staff costs                   228 886   205 974   408 987                  
     4. EARNINGS/(LOSS) PER SHARE                                               
     The calculation of earnings (loss) per share is based on profit (loss)     
after taxation and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 
     during the period. The weighted average number of shares in issue for the  
     period under review was 94 763 400 (June 2005: 94 399 542). On a diluted   
     basis, the fully converted weighted average number of shares is 94 850 178 
(June 2005: 94 481 028).                                                   
     Headline earnings (loss) is arrived at after excluding the net surplus on  
     disposal of property, plant and equipment as reflected in note 3:          
     Headline earnings (loss)      108       11        (11)                     
per share (basic) (cents)                                                  
     Headline earnings (loss)      107       11        (11)                     
     per share (diluted) (cents)                                                
5. STATED CAPITAL                                                               
Authorised                                                                 
     100 000 000 (June 2005:100                                                 
     000 000) ordinary shares of                                                
     no par value                                                               
Issued                                                                     
     94 763 400 (June 2005: 94                                                  
     712 900) ordinary shares of                                                
     no par value                  225 946   225 776   225 946                  
6. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE                                                     
     COMMITMENTS                                                                
     Contracted                    2 588     304       475                      
     Authorised, but not           29 904    10 405    44 591                   
contracted                                                                 
     Total capital expenditure                                                  
     commitments                   32 492    10 709    45 066                   
7. SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS                                                           
Geographical segments                                                           
The group operates in two principal geographical areas                          
                                  Operating                                     
     R"000             Revenue    profit    Assets     Liabilities              
June 2006                                                                  
     South Africa      774 812    91 377    1 354 336  884 710                  
     Rest of world     760 082    34 228    674 343    319 665                  
     Total             1 534 894  125 605   2 028 679  1 204 375                
June 2005                                                                  
     (Restated)                                                                 
     South Africa      731 021     20 833   1 089 611  639 512                  
     Rest of world     937 381    11 927    531 705    253 522                  
Total             1 668 402  32 760    1 621 316  893 034                  
                                 Unaudited           Audited                    
                                 at 30      at 30    at 31 December             
                                 June       June                                
R"000                       2006       2005     2005                       
     8. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES                                                  
     8.1 The repurchase of                                                      
     units sold to customers                                                    
and financial institutions                                                 
     has been guaranteed by the                                                 
     group for an amount of      106 534     172     134 900                    
                                            405                                 
In the event of             119 429    172 596  151 078                    
     repurchase, it is                                                          
     estimated that these units                                                 
     would presently realise                                                    
(12 895)   (191)    (16 178)                   
     Provision for residual      (6 179)    (6 016)  (8 127)                    
     value risk on specific                                                     
     machines                                                                   
The provision for residual value risk is based on the assessment of the    
     probability of return of the units.                                        
     8.2 The group has assisted customers with the financing of equipment       
     purchased through a financing venture with Wesbank, a division of          
FirstRand Bank Limited.                                                    
     In respect of a certain category of this financing provided and in the     
     event of default by customers, the group is at risk for the full balance   
     due to Wesbank by the customers.                                           
At period end the amount due by    51 200     151 978    90 758            
     customers to Wesbank in respect                                            
     of these transactions totalled                                             
     In the event of default, the       (63 670)                                
units financed would be recovered                                          
     and it is estimated that they                 (115 778)  (76 957)          
     would presently realise                                                    
                                        (12 470)   36 200     13 801            
Less: provision for non-recovery   (10 832)   (20 929)   (9 795)           
     Net contingent liability           -          15 271     4 006             
     To the extent that customers are both in arrears with Wesbank and there is 
     a shortfall between the estimated realisation values of units and the      
balance due by the customers to Wesbank, a provision for the full shortfall
     is made.                                                                   
     8.3 The residual values of certain equipment sold to financial institutions
     has been guaranteed by the group.                                          
In the event of a residual                                                 
     value shortfall, the group                                                 
     would be exposed to an        10 892    10 512    8 496                    
     amount of                                                                  
8.4  Certain trade                                                         
     receivables have been                                                      
     discounted with financial                                                  
     institutions for an amount    14 037    3 498     5 943                    
of                                                                         
     These transactions are with recourse to the group.                         
     In the event of default,                                                   
     certain units could be                                                     
recovered and it is                                                        
     estimated that these units                                                 
     would presently realise at    14 037    3 498     5 943                    
     least                                                                      
9. EXCHANGE RATES                                                          
               30 June 2006          30 June 2005        31 December 2005       
               Weighted              Weighted            Weighted               
               average    Closing    average   Closing   average   Closing      
The                                                                         
    following                                                                   
    major                                                                       
    rates of                                                                    
exchange                                                                    
    were                                                                        
    used:                                                                       
    Euro:                                                                       
United                                                                      
    States $   1,24       1,28       1,28      1,21      1,24      1,18         
    SA Rand:                                                                    
    United                                                                      
States $   6,37       7,11       6,24      6,66      6,36      6,33         
    British                                                                     
    GBP:                                                                        
    United     1,80       1,84       1,87      1,79      1,81      1,72         
States $                                                                    
     10. COMPARATIVE INFORMATION                                                
     Comparative information has been restated for the effects of the following 
     prior year adjustments:                                                    
10.1 Correction recognised in respect of leases previously accounted for   
     incorrectly on the contractual basis.                                      
     Prior period figures have been appropriately restated to account for leases
     on the straight line basis in terms of IAS 17.                             
10.2 Correction recognised in respect of the income tax treatment of       
     profits earned by a controlled foreign company of the group. Prior period  
     figures have been appropriately restated.                                  
     The aggregate effect of the restatements is as follows:                    
Prior       Prior year                      
                                    year        adjustment                      
                         Previously adjustment  - lease                         
     R"000               stated     - taxation  escalation Restated             
For the period                                                             
     ended 30 June                                                              
     2005                                                                       
     Current portion     51 889                            52 048               
of provisions                  -           159                             
     Long term           10 224     -           5 252      15 476               
     provisions                                                                 
     Deferred taxation   1 586      -           (1 354)    232                  
Taxation asset      25 346     (6 315)     -          19 031               
     Opening retained                                                           
     earnings - 1                                                               
     January 2005        454 273    (6 315)     (4 057)    443 901              
11. INDEPENDENT AUDITORS" REPORT                                           
     The financial information set out in the interim report has been reviewed, 
     but not audited, by the company"s auditors, Deloitte & Touche. Their       
     unqualified report is available for inspection at the company"s registered 
office.                                                                    
     Chairman"s Statement                                                       
     The results for the six months ended 30 June 2006 reflect the long awaited 
     turn around in our group. The cessation of the loss making contracts with  
North America, some weakening of the Rand against the US Dollar and more   
     particularly the Euro coupled with the benefits of our Project 100 Plus    
     Programme and the strong improvement in the world construction and mining  
     equipment markets have allowed us to make a healthy profit for the six     
months under review.                                                       
     Revenue is down by 8% from R1,668 million to R1,535 million on the         
     comparative period largely due to the drop in sales of completed           
     Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) to North America, despite which the gross   
profit is up from R249,8 million to R298,4 million. There has been a       
     decrease in import duty rebates due to our new business model whereby      
     royalties are earned on ADTs manufactured by John Deere Construction and   
     Forestry Company in the US, which has caused our other operating income to 
increase by 18,5%. Export revenues are down from R937,4 million to R760,1  
     million as compared with the same period last year due to the drop in      
     volume of units to North America mentioned above. Another encouraging      
     aspect of the results is the drop in overheads of R36,0 million due almost 
exclusively to our Project 100 Plus Programme. The reduced amount of       
     interest paid, together with the currency exchange gain of R35 million,    
     resulted in our profit before taxation being higher than the profit from   
     operating activities.                                                      
The effective taxation rate at 31,5% remains disappointingly high, as we   
     have not yet had the promulgation of the Minister of Finance"s amendments  
     to the Income Tax Act in order to assist manufacturers and exporters with  
     research and development expenditure. Headline earnings are sharply up from
11 cents to 108 cents and net asset value per share has also increased by  
     R1,32 since the beginning of the year to R8,70 per share.                  
     Another pleasing aspect of these results is the positive cash flow of R47  
     million that was generated in the six months, despite net capital          
expenditure of R22,0 million. Unfortunately working capital continues to be
     a problem for the group, in particular the R181,1 million increase in      
     inventory which caused trade cycle days to rise from 82 days to 99 days as 
     at the end of June. Trade receivables peaked on 30 June 2006 as a result of
large shipments in the last week of the month, the proceeds of which were  
     only received during July. The increase in inventory was largely financed  
     by an increase in trade payables but this is an area that management       
     continues to work at reducing on a daily basis. The cost reduction benefits
from the Project 100 Plus Programme, which was implemented in the later    
     part of 2005, which have come on stream in this period are extremely       
     pleasing and the savings in overheads and product costs from this          
     initiative are expected to continue to flow through to the bottom line in  
the next twelve to eighteen months as the programme continues to be rolled 
     out. Obviously the weakening Rand affects our offshore operating costs when
     reporting in Rand but we do expect increased savings in our overall        
     manufacturing costs as a consequence.                                      
As shareholders are aware the reciprocal manufacturing distribution and    
     royalty agreements signed with John Deere in 2005 have now been operational
     for over twelve months and we are particularly excited by benefits that we 
     have been able to achieve in cost reductions for our Front-End Loaders     
(FELs) and Tractor Loader Backhoes (TLBs). We have become a significant    
     supplier of TLBs in Southern Africa and we expect a substantial increase in
     the market share of these units that we are manufacturing for the local and
     export markets over the next eighteen months. Our range of FELs that we    
import in a knockdown form from John Deere has increased to a nine-model   
     range and we are enjoying improved margins from this world-class product.  
     Localisation of some components is being pursued for both of these         
     products.                                                                  
Quality continues to be a high level focus with continuous refinement and  
     improvements to our product development programme where we are spending    
     more up front during the design and engineering stage of products before   
     releasing them to the market. Our Southern African Distribution operation  
continues to be a key contributor and what is encouraging is the increased 
     contribution we have been able to make on lower revenue from our activities
     outside of South Africa. Our results in Europe are pleasing with good      
     progress being made in a number of countries.                              
I am pleased to report that the entire Bell team is extremely excited by   
     the progress that has been made in the last six months and we look forward 
     to ensuring that our targets set for working capital management, cost      
     reduction, efficiency and quality improvements continue to be realised for 
the rest of the year and are sustainable into the future. We are optimistic
     that when compared with the prior year our efforts will see a continuation 
     of these benefits and results to report to our stakeholders in December    
     2006.                                                                      
Howard J Buttery                                                           
     Group Chairman                                                             
     4 August 2006                                                              
     Directors:  HJ Buttery (Group Chairman),  GW Bell (Group Chief Executive), 
DL Smythe,  KJ van Haght,  GP Harris,                                      
     BW Schaffter*#,  JW Kloet*#,  RL Bridges*#,  DJJ Vlok*,  PJC Horne*,  TO   
     Tsukudu*,  MA Mun-Gavin*                                                   
     Alternate Directors: PA Bell, PC Bell, MA Campbell, DM Gage*#              
(*Non-executive directors)    (#USA))                                      
     Company Secretary: DP Mahony                                               
     Sponsor: Investec Bank Limited                                             
     Registered Office: 13 - 19 Carbonode Cell, Alton, Richards Bay             
Transfer Secretaries: Computershare Investor Services 2004 (Pty) Limited   
     70 Marshall Street, Johannesburg                                           
Date: 08/08/2006 05:23:50 PM Produced by the JSE SENS Department                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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: