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Super Group earnings up 19% in difficult conditions

Super Group‚ the JSE-listed transport logistics and mobility company‚ on Tuesday (20 August) reported a 19% rise in headline earnings per share to 213c in the year to June.
Super Group earnings up 19% in difficult conditions

Chief executive Peter Mountford said the results were "excellent"‚ adding: "All of our divisions performed well overall and it shows in the results."

Group revenue was up 14.8% to R11.7bn and operating profit rose 22% to R1.13bn. "Our divisions grew regardless of some difficult trading conditions‚" Mountford said.

During the year‚ Super Group bought a controlling interest in Digistics‚ a procurement and food distribution business in the quick-service restaurant market‚ and a 75% interest in Safika Oosthuizens Transport‚ a logistics company that hauls dry bulk goods such as coal‚ chrome and run-of-mine minerals" in tipper trucks.

The results of Digistics and Safika Oosthuizens were included in the group's results with effect from October last year and March this year‚ respectively.

Super Group's three divisions entail supply-chain management‚ fleet solutions and vehicle dealerships.

"Supply Chain South Africa delivered a commendable set of results in an environment that continues to be highly competitive and challenging‚" the company said.

"The increase in revenue‚ operating profit and profit before taxation for the year ended June was mainly driven by good sales volume growth across most of the operations within Supply Chain South Africa.

Africa growth

"FleetAfrica performed above expectations by securing new contracts‚ the most notable being the fleet outsource contract for the City of Polokwane and the redeployment of former City of Johannesburg assets into other authorities.

"In addition‚ a number of key corporate and public sector contracts were secured that will provide a solid foundation in the forthcoming financial year," Supergroup's statement said.

The group added: "Dealerships reported good results‚ reflecting the inclusion of three new dealerships‚ two agencies added to existing sites and a solid performance by the finance and insurance operations."

New vehicle sales were up 22.4% from existing dealerships over the year‚ which was well ahead of market growth. Comparable growth in 2012 was 16%.

A large portion of Super Group's fleet business operates in Australia and in New Zealand through lease operations. SG Fleet expected moderately lower revenue growth into the next financial year amid a slowdown in the Australian economy.

"Lease volumes in Australia were expected to fall because of tax uncertainties arising from Labour government pronouncements‚" Super Group said.

Changes in Australia

"SG Fleet is more optimistic about the prospects for both the UK and New Zealand operations as they gain traction in their respective markets‚" it said.

The Australian Labour government‚ ahead of a federal election on 7 September said it was considering an amendment to the fringe benefit tax on novated leases‚ which allow a business to lease a motor vehicle on behalf of an employee.

"The industry is objecting to the proposed change of excluding the statutory cost method from novated lease contracts as it will increase the administrative burden for companies and employees on these schemes‚" Super Group said. "The uncertainty created will also have a negative impact on new vehicle sales‚ particularly in the lower-cost vehicle categories," it added.

It said recent economic data showed South Africa is likely to see slower economic growth than expected for the rest of this year. Despite an improvement in exports‚ inflationary pressures and unemployment would continue to hamper growth. The outlook for the Australian economy for the same period was also less buoyant than last year.

Mountford said trading conditions were far more difficult for many countries than many people believed. "The recession is still very much with us‚" he said. "The consumer is under pressure. You see very little growth in fast-moving consumer goods. Consumers have to bear toll costs‚ electricity costs and other living costs."

Super Group remained focused on organic growth but there were some acquisitive growth opportunities. "We have our eyes on pharmaceuticals‚" Mountford added.

Source: I-Net Bridge

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