Interim Results

RNS Number : 4982N
Steppe Cement Limited
02 September 2011
 



 

Steppe Cement Limited

2 September 2011

 

Steppe Cement Ltd

Interim Results for the Half Year 30 June 2011

and General Market Update

 

1. Interim Results

Steppe Cement Ltd ("Steppe Cement" or the "Company") posted a consolidated loss after tax of USD2.2 million for the six months ended 30 June 2011.

 


6 months

ended

30 June 11

6 months

ended

30 June 10

% of change

Sales (Tonnes)

601,099

523,156

15

Consolidated turnover (USD Million)

43.0

31.5

36

Consolidated loss after tax (USD Million)

(2.2)

(3.8)

(42)

Loss per share (Cents)

(1.2)

(2.5)

(52)

Average exchange rate (USD/KZT)

146

147.2

(1)

 

·    Sales increased by 36% in Tenge ("KZT") while volumes increased by 15%. The average sales price increased from USD61/tonne to USD72/tonne during the period.

·    Production costs per tonne increased by 11% in USD. The increase is concentrated in electricity and transportation and is partly offset by productivity increases. The number of employees declined from 1,081 to 1,049 as at the end of June 2011 despite the increase in production.

·    Selling expenses have grown on a per tonne basis by 34% reflecting as sharp increase in transport costs in part as markets further away from the plant are being targeted.

·    General and administrative expenses decreased by 5% during the period.

·    Steppe Cement generated USD7.3 million from operations in the 1H 2011 due to improved trading conditions and inventory reduction.

·    The KZT has remained stable and the Kazakhstan economy continues to grow at 7% per year.

·    In August 2011 Central Asia Cement, a fully owned subsidiary of Steppe Cement, repaid the principal and last coupon of the KZT2.7 billion (USD18.6 million at current exchange rates) bond issued in 2006. 

 

 

2. Update on the Kazakh cement market

·     The Kazakhstan cement market increased by 4% during the first half of the year and Steppe Cement currently expects this to increase by 8% for 2011 overall to 6.2 million tonnes.

·     Prices are expected to increase significantly in 2H 2011when compared to the 1H 2011 and 2H 2010.

·     Overall local production has increased by 13% in the first half of 2011 compared to 2010 while the share of the imported cement continues to decrease.

·     Steppe Cement increased its market share from 20% in 1H 2010 to 21% in 1H 2011 and we expect it to remain around that level for the full year 2011.

·     The Kazakhstan Government has continued its infrastructure projects and ongoing support for completion of real estate projects in Almaty and Astana. It has been recently announced that this support will continue in the smaller cities.

·     The two new entrants in the market Minarat Cement (Vicat) near the Balkhash lake and Standard Cement near Taraz in the south of Kazakhstan have commenced operations and are ramping up production during the summer. They are absorbing the increased demand in Kazakhstan and contributing to reduce imports to 17% of the total market.

             

3. Production and refurbishment progress

·     Line 6 production has continued to increase and was up 4% in the 1H 2011 and it is already up 15% in the year to August.

·     Currently line 6 is achieving up to 2,450 tonnes per day of clinker and up to 3,000 tonnes per day of cement compared to 2,000 tonnes of clinker per day in 1H 2010.

·     The wet lines are performing at lower levels to those of 2010.

·     For the full year 2011 the volumes from the dry line are expected to exceed those of the wet lines.

·     The main cost increases are driven by electricity tariffs and the Company is taking measures to limit the impact in the coming year.

 

4. Financing

·     Steppe Cement's net debt was reduced to USD52 million after the redemption of the KZT2.7 billion bond and coupon in August.

·     Steppe Cement is currently negotiating to secure financing to complete line 5 in view of the more stable outlook for the market and the production cost benefits that will accrue over the existing wet process.

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

 

Steppe Cement's AIM nominated adviser is RFC Corporate Finance Ltd.

Contact Stephen Allen or Trinity McIntyre at +61 8 94802500.

 

 



SUMMARY OF INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2011 (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 INCOME STATEMENT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

 



The Group


The Company



6 months ended


6 months ended



30 June 2011


30 June 2010


30 June 2011


30 June 2010



USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000










Revenue


43,059


31,556


50


50










Cost of sales


(30,757)


(23,946)


-


-










Gross profit


12,302


7,610


50


50










Selling expenses


(7,886)


(5,083)


-


-










General and administrative









expenses


(4,573)


(4,802)


(261)


(298)










Operating loss


(157)


(2,275)


(211)


(248)

Investment income


17


^


-


^

Finance costs


(2,673)


(3,062)


-


-

Other (expense)/income, net


(25)


736


(19)


54










Loss before income tax


(2,838)


(4,601)


(230)


(194)










Income tax credit


600


717


-


-










Loss for the period


(2,238)


(3,884)


(230)


(194)










Attributable to:









Shareholders of the Company


(2,238)


(3,884)


(230)


(194)










Loss per share:


















Basic (cents)


(1.3)


(2.5)





 

^ - Insignificant amount

 

 

 



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 



The Group


The Company




6 months ended


6 months ended




30 June 2011


30 June 2010


30 June 2011


30 June 2010




USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000












Loss for the period


(2,238)


(3,884)


(230)


(194)












Other comprehensive income:




















Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign subsidiary companies


1,357


758


-


-












Total comprehensive loss for the period


(881)


(3,126)


(230)


(194)












Attributable to:










Shareholders of the Company


(881)


(3,126)


(230)


(194)


 

 

 



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 30 JUNE 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

 



The Group


The Company




Unaudited


Audited


Unaudited


Audited




30 June 2011


31 Dec 2010


30 June 2011


31 Dec 2010




USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000

Assets










Non-Current Assets:










Property, plant and equipment



140,759


142,509


-


-

Investment in subsidiary companies



-


-


26,500


26,500

Advances paid



808


322


-


-

Other assets



32,700


32,434


-


-











Total Non-Current Assets



174,267


175,265


26,500


26,500











Current Assets










Inventories, net



13,919


15,334


-


-

Trade receivables, net



2,549


2,135


-


-

Amount owing by subsidiary companies



-


-


28,940


28,590

Other receivables, advances and prepaid expenses



8,832


8,576


-


1

Cash and bank balances



19,755


9,532


491


964











Total Current Assets



45,055


35,577


29,431


29,555











Total Assets



219,322


210,842


55,931


56,055



 



The Group


The Company

 




Unaudited


Audited


Unaudited


Audited

 




30 June 2011


31 Dec 2010


30 June 2011


31 Dec 2010

 




USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000

 











 

Equity and Liabilities










 











 

Capital and Reserves










 

Share capital



58,298


58,298


58,298


58,298


Revaluation reserve



10,940


10,940


-


-


Translation reserve



(17,587)


(18,944)


-


-


Retained earnings/ (Accumulated loss)



72,187


74,425


(3,268)


(3,038)













Total Equity



123,838


124,719


55,030


55,260













Non-Current Liabilities











Loans



51,458


52,462


-


-


Deferred tax liabilities, net



4,099


4,687


-


-













Total Non-Current Liabilities



55,557


57,149


-


-













Current liabilities











Trade payables



6,975


4,465


-


-


Other payables and accrued liabilities



6,617


3,315


901


795


Bonds



18,441


18,258


-


-


Loans



6,978


2,248


-


-


Taxes payable



916


688


-


-













Total Current Liabilities



39,927


28,974


901


795













Total Liabilities



95,484


86,123


901


795













Total Equity and Liabilities



219,322


210,842


55,931


56,055



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 




Non-distributable

 





Distributable



The Group

Share capital


Share Premium


Revaluation reserve


Translation reserve


Retained earnings


Total/Net

 

USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000













Balance as at 1 January 2010

1,540


41,296


3,024


(20,864)


77,004


102,000

Loss for the period

-


-


-


-


(3,884)


(3,884)

Exchange differences arising on   translation of foreign subsidiary companies

-


-


-


758


-


758

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

-


-


-


758


(3,884)


(3,126)













Balance as at 30 June 2010

1,540


41,296


3,024


(20,106)


73,120


98,874

 

 



 




Non-distributable






Distributable



The Group

Share capital


Share Premium


Revaluation reserve


Translation reserve


Retained earnings


Total/Net

 

USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000













Balance as at 1 January 2011

58,298


-


10,940


(18,944)


74,425


124,719

Loss for the period

-


-


-


-


(2,238)


(2,238)

Exchange differences arising on   translation of foreign subsidiary companies

-


-


-


1,357


-


1,357

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

-


-


-


1,357


(2,238)


(881)













Balance as at 30 June 2011

58,298


-


10,940


(17,587)


72,187


123,838

 

 



 




Non-distributable

 

Distributable



 

The Company

Share capital


Share Premium


Retained earnings


Total/Net

 

 

USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000

 









 

Balance as at 1 January 2010

1,540


41,296



(2,756)


40,080

Total comprehensive loss for the period

-


-



(194)


(194)

Balance as at 30 June 2010

1,540


41,296



(2,950)


39,886










Balance as at 1 January 2011

58,298


-



(3,038)


55,260

Total comprehensive loss for the period

-


-



(230)


(230)










Balance as at 30 June 2011

58,298


-



(3,268)


55,030

 

 

          


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

 




The Group


The Company


 




6 months ended


6 months ended


 




30 June 2011


30 June 2010


30 June 2011


30 June 2010


 




USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


USD'000


 

 











 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES











 

Loss before tax



(2,838)


(4,601)


(230)


(194)


Adjustments for non-cash items



6,621


6,615


-


(38)













Operating Profit/(Loss) Before Working Capital Changes



3,783


2,014


(230)


(232)













 

(Increase)/ Decrease in:











 

Inventories



1,411


(990)


-


-


 

Trade receivables



(414)


(533)


-


-


 

Other receivable and prepaid expenses



(1,399)


(1,653)


1


4


 

Amount owing by subsidiary companies



-


-


(350)


(3,599)


 

Increase/ (Decrease) in:











 

Trade payables



1,531


(965)


-


-


 

Other payables and accrued liabilities



4,840


(161)


106


(37)


 












 

Cash Generated From/(Used In) Operations



9,752


(2,288)


(473)


(3,864)


 

Income tax paid



(107)


(303)


-


-


 

Interest paid



(2,343)


(2,938)


-


-


 












 

Net Cash Generated From/(Used In) Operating Activities



7,302


(5,529)


(473)


(3,864)


 












 












 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES











 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment



^


7


-


-


 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment



(280)


(442)


-


-


 

Purchase of non-current assets



(162)


-


-


-


 

Interest received



17


^


-


-


 












 

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities



(425)


(435)


-


-


 












 












 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES











 

Proceeds from borrowings



6,171


16,219


-


-


 

Repayment from borrowings



(2,910)


(15,128)






 












 

Net Cash From by Financing Activities



3,261


1,091


-


-


 












 

NET INCREASE/(DECREASE)/ IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS



10,138


(4,873)


(473)


(3,864)


 

EFFECTS OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES



85


6


-


-


 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD



9,532


6,545


964


3,886


 












 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE PERIOD



19,755


1,678


491


22


 












 

 

^ - Insignificant amount

 

 


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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