Interim Results and General Market Update

RNS Number : 1253M

Steppe Cement Limited

17 September 2021

 

Steppe Cement Ltd

Interim Results for the Half Year ended 30 June 2021

and General Market Update

1. Interim Results

Steppe Cement Ltd ("Steppe Cement" and "the Company") posted a consolidated profit after tax of USD6.2 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021, an increase of 52%.

	6 months ended 30 June 21	6 months ended 30 June 20	% of change
Sales (Tonnes)	840,661	764,752	10%
Consolidated turnover KZT million	16,657	13,677	22%
Consolidated turnover (USD Million)	39.5	33.8	17%
Consolidated profit after tax (USD Million)	6.2	4.1	52%
Earnings per share (Cents)	2.8	1.9	47%
Average exchange rate (USD/KZT)	424	405	-5%

· The Company managed to increase cement prices during the first half of 2021.

· The average ex-factory price increased from 14,727 KZT /tonne (USD36 per tonne) to 16,571 KZT/tonne (USD39 per tonne) or 11% during the period.

· Steppe Cement's gross margin increased from 40% to 46% in USD terms due to price increases.

· Selling expenses per tonne increased in USD terms by 16% and in KZT by 21% due to increases in transportation prices from the national railways.

· General and administrative expenses increased by 16% in USD.

· The Kazakh Tenge average rate depreciated by 5% compared to the first half of 2020 but only translated in a small foreign exchange loss of USD 0.2 million as the company maintains very small loan balances in USD.

· The Company generated operating profit before working capital changes of USD12.9 million in 1H 2021 against USD 11 million in 2020.

· Kazakhstan GDP increased by 2.3% in 1H2021 compared to 1H2020 rebounding from a drop of 1.4% in the first quarter of 2021.

· Reported inflation has been 7% up to the end of August 2021.

2. Production costs

· Production costs increased by 5% in KZT mostly due to the higher electricity cost, diesel and spare parts for maintenance.

3. Update on the Kazakh cement market

· The Kazakh cement market increased by 28% during the first half of the year. The increase is due mostly to the program set in place by the government that allows partial withdrawal from personal pension funds for real estate investment or health reasons. It was done to stimulate the economy and it may bring total cement consumption in 2021 to 10.5 to 11 million tonnes in 2021, an increase of more than 1 million tonnes from 2020.

· Steppe Cement's local market share decreased from 16.5% in 1H2020 to 15% in 1H2021 due to the strong growth in the overall market. We expect to maintain this share for the full year. Exports represented 9% of the volumes in the 1H2021 from 11% last year.

· Imports into Kazakhstan have increased to 0.4 million tonnes in 2021 and represent 7% of the market.

· Exports from Kazakhstan have increased slightly to 0.97 million tonnes.

· Exports from Kazakhstan represent 17% of local production from 18% last year.

· Overall production of all factories in Kazakhstan has increased by 1 million tonnes to 5.7 million tonnes for the 1H2021 as closures in the smaller factories were balanced by increases in production by Gezhuoba Cement and Alacem.

· Currently 82% of production in the country is manufactured from dry lines up from 80% in 2020.

4. Financing

· Interest expenses on bank debt were reduced to USD 0.37 million from USD 0.41 million in 2020 mostly on subsidised loans while we reduced interest expenses on lease liabilities to USD 0.13 million from USD 0.35 million after the application of IFRS 16 on the 3 years wagon leases. The rental on those wagons was considered selling expenses previously.

· Steppe Cement recorded a net cash position of USD7.4 million compared to net cash of USD6.4 million as of 30 June 2020.

· The borrowings of the Company as of 30 June 2021 were USD6.1 million while we carried a cash balance of USD 13.5 million. For comparison, on 30 June 2020 we had USD3.2 million in borrowings and USD9.6 million in cash.

· As of 15 September 2021 after paying the dividend, the financial debt was the equivalent of USD 5.6 million (all denominated in KZT) and the cash was USD10.5 million.

· We have maintained the working capital lines available for the winter.

A pdf copy of the announcement and the full interim financial statements is available on the company's website at www.steppecement.com .

Steppe Cement's AIM nominated adviser and broker is RFC Ambrian Limited.

Nominated Adviser: Contact Stephen Allen or Andrew Thomson at [phone].

Broker: Contact Charlie Cryer at [phone]

SUMMARY OF INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021 (UNAUDITED)

(In United States Dollars)

The Notes to the Interim Financial Statements form an integral part of the Condensed Financial Statements. Please visit the Company's website at www.steppecement.com to view the full interim financial statements.

STEPPE CEMENT LTD

(Incorporated in Labuan FT, Malaysia under the Labuan Companies Act, 1990)

AND ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT AND LOSS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021 (UNAUDITED)

		The Group				The Company
		6 months ended				6 months ended
		30 June 2021		30 June 2020		30 June 2021		30 June 2020
		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000
Revenue		39,534		33,786		691		701
Cost of sales		(21,230)		(20,285)		-		-
Gross profit		18,304		13,501		691		701
Selling expenses		(6,577)		(5,162)		-		-
General and administrative
expenses		(2,965)		(2,566)		(157)		(135)
Operating profit		8,762		5,773		534		566
Interest income		78		112		-		^
Finance costs		(475)		(766)		-		-
Net foreign exchange (loss)/gain		(147)		(571)		(1)		3
Other income, net		(511)		248		-		82
Profit before income tax		7,707		4,796		533		651
Income tax expense		(1,515)		(736)		-		-
Profit for the period		6,192		4,060		533		651
Attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company		6,192		4,060		533		651
Earnings per share:
Basic and diluted (cents)		2.8		1.9

^ Insignificant amount.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT AND LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021 (UNAUDITED)

		The Group				The Company
		6 months ended				6 months ended
		30 June 2021		30 June 2020		30 June 2021		30 June 2020
		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000
Profit for the period		6,192		4,060		533		651
Other comprehensive loss:
Item that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign subsidiary companies		(902)		(3,499)		-		-
Total other comprehensive loss for the period		(902)		(3,499)		-		-
Total comprehensive income for the period		5,290		561		533		651
Attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company		5,290		561		533		651

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 30 JUNE 2021 (UNAUDITED)

		The Group					The Company
			Unaudited		Audited		Unaudited		Audited
			30 June 2021		31 Dec 2020		30 June 2021		31 Dec 2020
			USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000
Assets
Non-Current Assets:
Property, plant and equipment			49,461		48,856		-		-
Right-of-use assets			2,571		3,483
Investment in subsidiary companies			-		-		36,307		36,294
Loan to subsidiary company			-		-		30,100		30,110
Advances			11		-		-		-
Other assets			1,887		1,901		-		-
Total Non-Current Assets			53,930		54,240		66,407		66,404
Current Assets
Inventories			11,766		11,098		-		-
Trade and other receivables			3,438		2,332		7,807		6,776
Other assets			-		305		-		-
Income tax receivable			1,037		1,435		-		-
Loans and advances to subsidiary companies			-		-		40		40
Advances and prepaid expenses			4,915		3,644		18		6
Cash and cash equivalents			13,470		8,214		846		1,353
Total Current Assets			34,626		27,028		8,711		8,175
Total Assets			88,556		81,268		75,118		74,579

		The Group					The Company
			Unaudited		Audited		Unaudited		Audited
			30 June 2021		31 Dec 2020		30 June 2021			31 Dec 2020
			USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000
Equity and Liabilities
Capital and Reserves
Share capital			73,761		73,761		73,761		73,761
Revaluation reserve			2,222		2,370		-		-
Translation reserve			(119,416)		(118,514)		-		-
Retained earnings			106,665		100,325		1,164		631
Total Equity			63,232		57,942		74,925		74,392
Non-Current Liabilities
Borrowings			3,587		2,368		-		-
Lease liabilities			1,057		2,077		-		-
Deferred taxes			4,728		4,560		-		-
Deferred income			1,762		1,492		-		-
Provision for site restoration			177		151		-		-
Total Non-Current Liabilities			11,311		10,648		-		-
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables			5,116		4,075		-		-
Accrued and other liabilities			3,139		1,638		193		187
Borrowings			2,470		4,429		-		-
Lease liabilities			1,914		1,831		-		-
Taxes payable			1,374		705		-		-
Total Current Liabilities			14,013		12,678		193		187
Total Liabilities			25,324		23,326		193		187
Total Equity and Liabilities			88,556		81,268		75,118		74,579

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021 (UNAUDITED)

			Non-distributable				Distributable
The Group	Share capital		Revaluation reserve		Translation reserve		Retained earnings		Total
	USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000
Balance as at 1 January 2021	73,761		2,370		(118,514)		100,325		57,942
Profit for the period	-		-		-		6,192		6,192
Other comprehensive loss	-		-		(902)		-		(902)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period	-		-		(902)		6,192		5,290
Transfer of revaluation reserve relating to the depreciation of property, plant and equipment through use	-		(148)		-		148		-
Balance as at 30 June 2021	73,761		2,222		(119,416)		106,665		63,232

			Non-distributable				Distributable
The Group	Share capital		Revaluation reserve		Translation reserve		Retained earnings		Total
	USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000
Balance as at 1 January 2020	73,761		2,016		(113,286)		100,386		62,877
Profit for the period	-		-		-		4,060		4,060
Other comprehensive (loss)/income	-		-		(3,499)		-		(3,499)
Total comprehensive income for the period	-		-		(3,499)		4,060		561
Transfer of revaluation reserve relating to the depreciation of property, plant and equipment through use	-		(157)		-		157		-
Balance as at 30 June 2020	73,761		1,859		(116,785)		104,603		63,438

 

The Company	Share capital		Retained earnings				Total
	USD'000		USD'000				USD'000
Balance as at 1 January 2021	73,761		631				74,392
Total comprehensive income for the period	-		533				533
Balance as at 30 June 2021	73,761		1,164				74,925
Balance as at 1 January 2020	73,761		1,577				75,338
Total comprehensive income for the period	-		651				651
Balance as at 30 June 2020	73,761		2,228				75,989

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021 (UNAUDITED)

			The Group				The Company
			6 months ended				6 months ended
			30 June 2021		30 June 2020		30 June 2021		30 June 2020
			USD'000		USD'000		USD'000		USD'000
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Profit before income tax			7,707		4,796		533		651
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment			3,733		3,559		-		-
Depreciation of right-of-use assets			1,031		1,446		-		-
Adjustments for non-cash items			478		1,192		(1,030)		(329)
Operating Profit/(Loss) Before Working Capital Changes			12,949		10,993		(497)		322
(Increase)/ Decrease in:
Inventories			(1,607)		541		-		-
Trade and other receivables,			(2,175)		(1,411)		(12)		(872)
advances and prepaid expenses
Loans and advances from subsidiary companies			-		-		(3)		10
Increase in:
Trade and other payables,			3,317		2,251		5		16
accrued and other liabilities
Cash Generated From/(Used In) Operations			12,484		12,374		(507)		(524)
Income tax paid			(730)		(185)		-		-
Interest paid			(299)		(580)		-		-
Net Cash Generated From/(Used In) Operating Activities			11,455		11,609		(507)		(524)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property, plant and equipment			(4,529)		(2,644)		-		-
Purchase of other assets			(18)		-		-		-
Interest received			78		112		-		330
Net Cash (Used In)/Generated From Investing Activities			(4,469)		(2,532)		-		330
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from borrowings			3,350		2,098		-		-
Repayment from borrowings			(4,089)		(9,003)		-		-
Payment of lease liabilities			(877)		(1,133)		-		-
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities			(1,616)		(8,038)		-		-
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS			5,370		1,039		(507)		(194)
EFFECTS OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES			(114)		(486)		-		-
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD			8,214		9,014		1,353		262
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE PERIOD			13,470		9,567		846		68

 

END

 

 

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