Blue chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC yesterday reported profit attributable to shareholders of Rs. 3.7 billion in Financial Year 2013/14, an increase of 11.7% over the previous year’s profit of Rs. 3.3 billion. Profit before tax was Rs. 5.4 billion and profit after tax was Rs. 4.5, recording growth of 7.6% and 5.5% respectively. The diversified Group’s annual revenue declined marginally to Rs. 36.6 billion whilst earnings per share improved by 11.7% to Rs. 9.04 for the financial year. In a statement Aitken Spence said the Group’s bottom line was driven primarily by the Tourism sector. Sri Lanka welcomed over 1.27 million tourists during the year 2013, with a target of 1.5 million set for 2014.The boom in the tourism industry was reflected in the Group’s performance with the revenue of the Tourism sector for the financial year growing by 9.4 % to Rs. 16.9 billion and profit before tax surging by 26.3 % to Rs. 4.4 billion.
During the period, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, the Group’s hotel owning strategic business unit, entered into a shareholders’ agreement with RIU Hotels of Spain to build a 500-room luxury resort in Ahungalla, costing approximately $ 100 million. The construction of the hotel is expected to commence during the second half of the financial year 2014/15.
Annual revenue for the Maritime Cargo Logistics sector increased 15.3% to Rs. 7.3 billion whilst profits before tax for the sector increased by 26% to Rs. 709 million. Entry into a strategic partnership in Fiji for port management services through the acquisition of a 51% shareholding in Ports Terminal Ltd. – the first- ever public-private partnership overseas by a Sri Lankan company recorded to date, was a highlight for the year.
Services sector reported revenue of Rs. 819.6 million for the financial year under consideration which was a growth of 11.5 %, and a profit before tax of Rs. 180.5 million, a growth of 10.2% compared to the previous year. The Strategic Investments sector reported a year-on-year decrease of 16.1% in revenue to Rs. 15.3 billion, while profit before tax dropped by 81.1% to Rs. 159.8 million for the financial year primarily due to the Aitken Spence power plants in Matara and Horana not being operational during the reporting period consequent to the cessation of the power purchase agreements. Further, a provision for impairment of approximately Rs. 400 million was made in respect of the remaining assets of these two companies, which dragged down the profits of the sector. The company disposed of the Horana power plant during the financial year, while the 100 MW power plants at Embilipitiya remained operational, albeit with lower generation due to excessive rainfall during the first nine months of the financial year.
During the period under review the Group inaugurated a landmark project by investing in a luxury retirement homes complex that will comprise 140 villas and associated high-end facilities located at a 30-acre site in Negombo. The project aims to attract Sri Lankans living overseas who wish to return to their homeland as well as foreign nationals who wish to retire and live in Sri Lanka.
“The company has been able to deliver consistent results through a combination of strategic foresight and the capacity to transform challenges into opportunities. These qualities have been underpinned by a well-diversified business model that supports the company’s growth trajectory,” said Chairman Deshamanya D.H.S. Jayawardena. “Our strategies for the long term and exploration of potential new areas of business factor in the company’s responses to some of the key future trends,” he added. The Group announced a dividend of Rs. 2 per share which is a 33% increase over the previous year subject to approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. Aitken Spence PLC is among Sri Lanka’s leading and most respected corporate entities with operations in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South Pacific.
It is an industry leader in hotels, travel, maritime services, logistics, power generation and printing, with a significant presence in plantations, financial services, insurance, information technology and apparel.
Source: http://www.ft.lk/2014/05/27/aitken-spence-ups-bottom-line-by-12-to-rs-3-7-b-in-fy14/
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