I N T E R I M   R E S U L T S  -  2 0 0 1
The Interim Results to shareholders for the six months ended 31 March 2001 is now available.
  • Headline earnings per share +24%
  • Dividend per share 24 cents

You may also download the results from here. Please note that the document is in Acrobat Acrobat (PDF) format. If you do not already have the free Acrobat Reader, you can download the software from this site, or directly from the Adobe site.


GROUP INCOME STATEMENT

The results for the six months ended 31 March 2001 are set out below:

Six months ended
31 March
   Year ended
30 Sept
Notes   2001
R million
   (Unaudited)
   2000
R million
   (Unaudited)
%
   change
  2000
R million
   (Audited)

Revenue 2 112,2 1 579,5 34 3 340,1

Operating profit 1 184,8 125,1 48 275 5
Net interest and dividend income 2 33,5 32,4 3 58,8

Profit before abnormal items 218,3 157,5 39 334,3
Abnormal items - capital profit on disposal of businesses - 89,2 77,4

Profit before taxation 218,3 246,7 411,7
Taxation 73,8 51,0 114,0

Profit after taxation 144,5 195,7 297,7
Share of associate companies' profits 2 28,6 22,4 28 73,8

Profit after tax including associate companies 173,1 218,1 371,5
Earnings attributable to outside shareholders in subsidiaries 19,3 0,3 4,3

Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders in Reunert Limited 153,8 217,8 367,2

Basic earnings per share (cents) 4 78,4 106,9 (27) 180,3
Diluted earnings per share (cents) 4 77,4 106,9 (28) 178,6
Headline earnings per share (cents) 5 78,3 63,0 24 140,7
Diluted headline earnings per share (cents) 5 77,3 63,0 23 139,4
Dividend per ordinary share (cents) 24,0 20,0 20 76,0
Taxation rate excluding abnormal items (%) 33,8 32,4 34,1
Operating profit as a % of turnover 8,7 7,9 8,2

Note 1
Operating profit
Operating profit is stated after charging:
- Cost of sales 1 509,5 1 175,9 2 432,4
- Other income (13,4) (9,2) (25,0)
- Other expenses excluding depreciation 408,1 270,5 620,4
- Depreciation 15,6 15,6 36,7

Note 2
Net interest and dividend income
Interest received 36,8 39,2 77,0
- Finance Company 24,2 26,7 56,9
- External 12,6 12,5 20,1
Interest paid (7,1) (21,4) (33,4)
Dividend income other than from associates 3,8 14,6 15,2

Total 33,5 32,4 58,8

Dividend income from associates included in share of associate companies profits 22,8 5,7 47,6

Note 3
Accounting policy changes
Reunert has adopted South African statements of generally accepted accounting practice which have become effective during the current financial year. This has resulted in changes of accounting policies, requiring the restatement of the comparative figures for 2000. The main change involves the consolidation of RC&C Finance Company (Pty) Ltd ("Finance Company") which was previously equity accounted as an associate company. Had the new policies been used in 2000, the group's retained income would not have been affected. The effect of the change in policies has been to increase/(decrease) the following:
Income statement
Turnover 82,8 156,0
Cost of sales 54,9 96,3
Operating profit 15,0 30,9
Taxation 5,6 11,7
Share of associate companies' profits (9,4) (19,2)

Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders in Reunert Limited - -

Balance sheet
Fixed assets 0,6 0,6
Investments (22,4) (13,0)
Finance Company accounts receivable 829,0 751,6
Accounts receivable - (19,9)
Deferred taxation liabilities 31,8 26,8
Accounts payable, provisions, taxation and shareholders for normal dividend 53,5 61,9
Finance Company borrowings - Long-term 25,0 -
                                            - Short-term 696,9 630,6

Note 4
Basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share
The earnings used to determine both basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share are the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders in Reunert Limited (Rm) 153,8 217,8 367,2
The weighted average number of shares in issue used to determine basic earnings per share and headline earnings per share (millions of shares) 196,3 203,7 203,7
Adjusted by the dilutive effect of unexercised share options available to executives employed in the group (millions of shares) 2,6 - 1,9
Weighted average number of shares used to determine diluted earnings per share and diluted headline earnings per share (note 5) (millions of shares) 198,9 203,7 205,6

Note 5
Headline earnings per share and diluted headline earnings per share
Headline earnings per share and diluted headline earnings per share have been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue as detailed in note 4.
Headline earnings are determined by eliminating the effect of capital items in attributable earnings as follows:
Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders 153,8 217,8 367,2
Capital profit on disposal of businesses - (89,2) (89,0)
Other (net) (0,1) (0,2) 8,3

Headline earnings 153,7 128,4 20 286,5

Note 6
Finance Company accounts receivable
Collectable within one year  312,8 309,5 292,0
Collectable after one year 435,4 519,5 459,6

748,2 829,0 751,6

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
   31 March 2001    31 March 2000    30 Sept 2000
R million (unless otherwise stated) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)

Net asset value per share (cents) 378 430 400
Current ratio (:1) 1,3 1,6 1,4
187,4 204,0 202,5
Number of ordinary shares in issue (million) 204,0 204,0 204,0
Less: Held by subsidiary (16,6) - (1,5)
Capital expenditure 18,6 22,6 22,5
- Expansion 4,7 18,1 10,3
- Replacement 13,9 4,5 12,2
Capital commitments 15,6 10,8 20,4
- Contracted 5,7 6,0 8,5
- Authorised not yet contracted 9,9 4,8 11,9
Commitments in respect of operating leases 69,8 48,8 46,5
Contingent liabilities 0,3 10,1 1,4
- Guarantees on behalf of third parties - 8,2 1,0
- Other 0,3 1,9 0,4

GROUP BALANCE SHEET

The consolidated balance sheet at 31 March 2001 is set out below:

Note       31 March 2001
R million
 (Unaudited)
   31 March 2000
 R million
 (Unaudited)
   30 Sept 2000
R million
(Audited)

Non-current assets
Fixed assets 177,8 172,0 175,3
Investments - at cost and directors' valuation 179,4 156,6 176,4
Finance Company accounts receivable 6 748,2 829,0 751,6
Deferred taxation assets 22,6 - 22,6

1 128,0 1 157,6 1 125,9

Current assets
Inventory and contracts in progress 432,2 366,4 417,0
Accounts receivable 570,5 490,3 528,0
Cash and cash equivalents (net) 522,7 612,7 703,4

1 525,4 1 469,4 1 648,4

Total assets 2 653,4 2 627,0 2 774,3

Shareholders' funds
Ordinary 933,6 876,4 826,7
Reunert Limited shares held by a subsidiary (226,2) - (16,7)
Preference 0,7 0,7 0,7

708,1 877,1 810,7
Outside shareholders in subsidiaries 113,3 81,7 99,2

821,4 958,8 909,9

Non-current liabilities
Deferred taxation liabilities 33,1 38,6 31,3
Long-term borrowings 2,7 25,0 4,1

35,8 63,6 35,4

Current liabilities
Finance Company short term borrowings 636,6 696,9 630,6
Accounts payable, provisions, taxation and shareholders for normal dividend 1 159,6 907,7 1 198,4

1 796,2 1 604,6 1 829,0

Total equity and liabilities 2 653,4 2 627,0 2 774,3

GROUP CASH FLOW INFORMATION

The abridged cash flow statement for the six months ended 31 March 2001 is set out below:

Six months ended
31 March

   Year ended
30 Sept
2001
R million
   (Unaudited)
2000
R million
   (Unaudited)
2000
R million
(Audited)

Operating cash flows before working capital changes 202,2 141,3 312,9
Reduction in net working capital 7,7 57,3 164,5
Reduction in Finance Company accounts receivable 3,4 44,1 121,5
Other working capital changes (net) 4,3 13,2 43,0

Cash generated from operations 209,9 198,6 477,4
Net interest and dividends received (including associates) 56,3 38,1 106,4
Taxation paid (105,0) (67,1) (96,0)
Dividends paid (120,2) (86,6) (127,4)

Net cash inflow from operating activities 41,0 83,0 360,4
Net fixed asset additions and other acquisitions (18,5) (4,5) (80,9)
Reunert Limited shares purchased by subsidiary (209,5) - (16,7)
Other (net) 0,3 5,5 (21,7)

Net cash flow from operations (186,7) 84,0 241,1
Net proceeds on disposal of non-core operations, other assets and related working capital - 154,6 154,5

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (186,7) 238,6 395,6
Net cash/(borrowings) equivalents at beginning of the period 72,8 (322,8) (322,8)

Net (borrowings)/cash equivalents at end of the period (113,9) (84,2) 72,8

Net cash resources of the group excluding the Finance Company borrowings
- Deposit on call with the Finance Company 220,7 619,9 483,4
- Other 302,0 (7,2) 220,0

522,7 612,7 703,4
Finance Company borrowings (636,6) (696,9) (630,6)

Net (borrowings)/cash equivalents at end of the period (113,9) (84,2) 72,8

The deposits on call with the Finance Company are repayable on demand. The Finance Company has long-term banking facilities to replace these funds.
GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

The consolidated statement of changes in equity at 31 March 2001 is set out below:

Six months ended
31 March 

   Year ended
30 Sept
2001
R million
    (Unaudited)
2000
R million
    (Unaudited)
2000
R million
(Audited)

Balance at beginning of period as previously reported 810,7 674,4 674,4
Net profit for the period 153,8 217,8 367,2
Dividends declared (46,9) (44,9) (158,3)
Goodwill written off  - - (83,4)
Translation reserve movement during period - 2,4 0,1
Shares issued in terms of the Reunert Share Option Scheme - 27,4 27,4
Reunert Limited shares bought by subsidiary (209,5) - (16,7)

Balance at end of period 708,1 877,1 810,7

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS
Six months ended 31 March  Year ended
30 Sept
Revenue including associate companies 2001
R million
(Unaudited)
        % 2000
R million
  (Unaudited)
        % %
  change
2000
R million
(Audited)
%

Electronics
Nashua Office Automation 253,8 10 222,8 11 14 487,5 11
Panasonic 454,6 17 448,6 22 1 840,0 19
Cellular 674,2 26 309,3 15 118 771,0 17
Telecommunications 401,0 15 384,1 19 4 977,7 22
Reutech 253,2 10 216,1 10 17 422,2 9
Saco 24,4 1 16,2 1 51 52,5 1

Total electronics 2 061,2 79 1 597,1 78 29 3 550,9 79

Electrical engineering and cables
ATC 95,3 4 87,5 4 9 196,9 4
CBI 183,6 7 150,6 7 22 316,2 7
African Cables 197,6 7 133,1 7 48 294,7 7

Total electrical engineering and cables 476,5 18 371,2 18 28 807,8 18

Financial services 70,8 3 82,8 4 (14) 153,9 3

Total operations 2 608,5 100 2 051,1 100 27 4 512,6  100
Less: Reunert's attributable portion of associate companies' revenue (496,3) (471,6) (1 172,5)

Revenue as reported 2 112,2 1 579,5 34 3 340,1

Operating profit including associate companies
Electronics
Nashua Office Automation 20,5 9 15,1 9 36 42,7 11
Panasonic 14,6 6 13,4 8 9 23,2 6
Cellular 34,9 15 13,6 9 157 35,2 9
Telecommunications 35,1 15 27,5 17 28 88,6 22
Reutech 44,9 19 38,6 24 16 71,8 18
Saco 6,1 2 1,7 1 259 13,0 3

Total electronics 156,1 66 109,9 68 42 274,5 69

Electrical engineering and cables
ATC 16,0 7 9,6 6 67 30,1 7
CBI 30,3 13 23,4 14 30 55,3 14
African Cables 16,6 7 0,5 - 3 220 3,9 1

Total electrical engineering and cables 62,9 27 33,5 20 88 89,3 22

Financial services 16,9 7 18,8 12 (10) 35,5 9

Total operations 235,9 100 162,2 100 45 399,3 100
Less: Reunert's attributable portion of associate companies' operating profit  (51,1) (37,1) (123,8)

Operating profit as reported 184,8 125,1 48 275,5

REVIEW OF RESULTS

Turnover for the six months ended 31 March increased by 34%, with operating profit growing by 48%. Operating margins increased from 7,9% to 8,7%, reflecting an improvement in efficiencies. Headline earnings increased by 20% to R154 million. Headline earnings per share of 78 cents represents an improvement of 24% over the previous period.

Since the commencement of the share buyback in July 2000, the Group has repurchased a total of 16,6 million shares at a cost of R226 million. The average price paid was R13,62, inclusive of all costs. The buyback contributed 4 of the 24% improvement in headline earnings per share.

Due to the change in accounting policies referred to in note 3, the Finance Company has now been consolidated.

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

ELECTRONICS
The cellular businesses of Nashua and Nedcor were merged in July last year and integration was substantially completed by February. The benefits derived from this venture have exceeded original expectations.

Nashua is continuing to enhance its position as the leading supplier of office automation equipment in South Africa and is enjoying increased market share.
The environment for Panasonic continues to be difficult due to reduced consumer demands.

Reutech had a good first half year. Performance is expected to slow down as a result of the phasing of orders.

Telecommunications was influenced by the delays in the award of the third cellular licence, as well as the continued deferment of capital expenditure by Telkom. Exports partially compensated for this.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND CABLES
Circuit Breaker Industries had a strong first half, both in the domestic and export markets. Growth in exports is expected to continue.

ATC is benefiting from strong international demand for optical fibre cable. Capacity is being expanded to take advantage of the favourable international market conditions. Demand for copper cable remains strong.

The very pleasing performance from African Cables is the result of management effort, as well as a modest pick-up in demand. Further room for improvement exists.

PROSPECTS

Growth in headline earnings per share for the year should equate to that achieved in the first half.

DIVIDEND

Notice is hereby given that an interim dividend (No. 150) of 24c has been declared by the directors. The dividend is payable to ordinary shareholders registered in the books of the company on 1 June 2001. Payment will be made in South African currency on or about 22 June 2001. The transfer and share registers will be closed from 4 June 2001 to 15 June 2001, both dates inclusive.

On behalf of the board

D E Cooper    G Pretorius
Chairman    Chief Executive Officer

11 May 2001

DIRECTORS

D E Cooper (Chairman)*, G Pretorius (Chief Executive), B P Connellan*,
P T W Curtis*, B P Gallagher, S D Jagoe*, K J Makwetla*, G J Oosthuizen, D J Rawlinson, C L Valkin*, Dr J C van der Horst*
*Non-executive

REUNERT LIMITED

Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
Registration number 1913/004355/06

Registered office
Lincoln Wood Office Park
6 - 10 Woodlands Drive, Woodmead, Sandton
PO Box 784391, Sandton, 2146
Telephone (011) 517-9000

Transfer office
Mercantile Registrars Limited
11 Diagonal Street, Johannesburg, 2001
PO Box 1053, Johannesburg, 2000
visit our website at
www.reunert.com


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