JKH records Rs.3.15 b pre-tax profit

John Keells Holdings Limited reported a pre-tax profit of Rs 3.15 billion for the year ended March 31, 2005. This is a growth of 33 per cent over the previous year.

The company recorded a 6 per cent increase in Group revenue from Rs 22.28 billion to Rs 23.65 billion and 21 per cent increase in Profit Attributable to Shareholders from Rs 1.89 billion to Rs 2.28 billion. A company spokesman said that the tsunami impact felt mainly in the Leisure sector, which was estimated to be approximately Rs 750 million in net attributable profits.

Keells also recorded 12 per cent growth in EPS from Rs 5.12 to Rs 5.73 and EPS prior to Exceptional / Extra-ordinary items declined by 9 per cent from Rs 5.77 to Rs 5.26.

The net dividend payout of Rs 1.03 billion which is an increase of 42 per cent over the previous year. The total Shareholder Returns for the year was 37 per cent.

The spokesman said that the Group is confident of growth during 2005/06 on the back of an expected recovery in tourism, an upgraded leisure product offering including newly refurbished rooms at the city hotels, continued strong performance from the transportation sector and a restructured food and beverage sector.