Hayleys posts PBT Rs 4.8 b in FY 2011-12
Hayleys Group has posted its best annual earnings in the history of
the 134 year old conglomerate, tripling net profit in FY 2011-12. With
its Agriculture, Hand Protection, Purification and Transportation
sectors turning in particularly strong performances, the Group improved
turnover to Rs 62.5 billion, growing by Rs 8.1 billion or 15 percent
over the 12 months ending March 31, 2012.
Pre-tax profit more than doubled to Rs 4.8 billion, and profit after
tax grew 238 percent to Rs 3.8 billion, the Blue Chip conglomerate said
in a filing with the Colombo Stock Exchange. While capital gains of Rs
2.3 billion contributed substantially to these results, profit before
tax from operations excluding capital gains reflected a growth of 23
percent.
Profit attributable to equity holders of the company increased from
Rs 677 million in 2010-11 to Rs 2.5 billion for the year under review.
The Board of Directors of Hayleys PLC has proposed a dividend of Rs 4
per share, payable in July 2012.
Hayleys Chairman Mohan Pandithage said most sectors made positive
contributions to the Group’s earnings in the concluded financial year.
“It is satisfying to note that our performance is a reflection of a
number of strategic actions taken in recent years,” he said.
“A fundamental change that was implemented in 2009 was the policy
that Hayleys will focus on investments in which we have ownership and
management control, and exit passive stakes. This was done to exercise
more control over our income streams, and this approach is now reaping
rewards.” “Our broad strategy in recent years has been to drive
innovation and value addition in our core businesses and strategically
enter into new growth areas that have emerged in post war Sri Lanka,”
Pandithage said.
He said this is reflected in the Group’s performance in the year
reviewed, with major contributions to earnings from the Hand Protection
(32 percent of PBIT), Agriculture (19 percent of PBIT), Purification (13
percent of PBIT) and Transportation (9 percent of PBIT) sectors.
“In all our core business areas, we have mastered the business, grown
organically and become leaders on the national as well as the global
stage,” Pandithage said. “Hayleys has consciously taken strong positions
in industries that have strong future growth potential based on long
term economic and socio-political trends.”
“At the same time, the management is well aware that with a paradigm
shift in the Sri Lankan economy since 2009, there are new growth areas
in the economy that the Group ought to have exposure to. It is well
established that the leisure sector will be a major growth area in Sri
Lanka in the next decade,” he said, pointing out that the exposure of
Hayleys to the leisure sector is holistic, ranging from hotel ownership,
management, travel agency and tour operations.
The recent acquisition of the Amaya Group has already brought in
significant earnings and also brings in synergies in resort management.
With the refurbishment of the Continental Hotel, Hayleys will have a
modern and diverse leisure portfolio, well positioned to take advantage
of the impending tourism boom, Pandithage said. Hayleys investments in
wind power and mini-hydro power are also expected to add to the Group’s
bottom line in years to come. |