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South Africa’s biggest cement producer PPC said on Wednesday its half-year core earnings were expected to rise between 12 percent and 17 percent due to a strong recovery in cement sales in the second quarter, sending its shares up sharply. By 1114 GMT, shares in PPC had firmed 13,16 percent as the market cheered a better-than-expected outlook. PPC said after a difficult start to its 2021 financial year, which started in April, as a result of Covid-19 related trade restrictions, the group experienced a strong recovery in cement sales in the second quarter of the first half, “which contributed to the improved operating performance”.
As a result of improved sales, PPC expects revenue for the six months ended September 30 to be 1 percent to 5 percent higher.
Headline earnings per share, however, are seen falling to between 18 and 21 cents from a restated 32 cents during the same period a year earlier. The decline was primarily due to non-cash related items, it said.
“The results are better than expected and the outlook is expected to be rosier than we are currently seeing,” said Ryan Woods a trader with Independent Securities.
The cement producer also said it had signed facilities agreements with its two primary South African lenders, which provide R1,85 billion ($120,33 million) of term loans and long term revolving credit facilities and R625 million of short-term general banking facilities.
It has signed revised terms with a third South African lender for a working capital facility of R175 million. The company is in the middle of a restructuring and refinancing programme to improve its balance sheet.
It also said following a number of unsolicited approaches regarding PPC Lime, it has decided to accelerate the sale of PPC Lime and has appointed financial advisors to manage a structured sales process of the business. – Reuters.
Bongani Ndlovu