BPPL Holdings last week announced its interim unaudited financial results for the eleven month period April 2016 to February 2017. Consolidated revenue for the period was Rs. 2.2 billion, up 19% over the corresponding period in the previous year. Revenue continued to grow as the company pursued its dual objectives of penetrating the household market segment both through direct sales to retailers and own branded goods sales in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Direct sales accounted for 11% of total sales for the period, up 30% year-on-year. Own branded goods also grew by 55%, again over the corresponding period in the previous year.
Gross profit was up by a faster 30% year-on-year to Rs. 881 million due to margin expansion amid revenue growth. Gross profit margins, which improved from 37% to 40% during the eleven month period ended February 2017, continued to benefit from higher productivity, lower costs as a result of improved raw material sourcing and Sri Lankan Rupee depreciation against the US Dollar. Improved productivity and stringent cost controls also led to a 47% increase in operating profit to Rs. 472 million compared to the same period in the previous year.
Moreover, margins continued to expand to 21% at a Profit-Before-Tax level due to lower interest expenses as accumulated profits were used for debt retirement.
Profit-Before-Tax was Rs. 453 million for the period whilst Profit-After-Tax attributable to the company’s shareholders was Rs. 393 million, an increase of 48% year-on-year. Non-annualized EPS for the period amounted to Rs1.28.
Meanwhile, BPPL Holdings moved ahead with its plans for extruding synthetic yarn by placing orders with machinery suppliers.
The construction of a new factory in the Horana BOI Industrial Zone also commenced in January. This yarn production facility, which involves an investment of Rs. 675 million, is set to come on stream in the January to March quarter of 2018 and contribute to revenue from April 2018.