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Barloworld Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1918/000095/06)
(Income Tax Registration number 9000/051/71/5)
(Share code: BAW)
(A2X share code: BAW)
(JSE ISIN: ZAE000026639)
(Share code: BAWP)
(Bond issuer code: BIBAW)
(JSE ISIN: ZAE000026647)
("Barloworld" or the "group")
VOLUNTARY TRADING UPDATE FOR THE FOUR MONTHS TO 31 JANUARY 2024
Overview
In the first four months of the 2024 financial year, Barloworld saw a 5% reduction in group
revenue when compared to the four months to 31 January 2023 (the "prior period"), due to
reduced sales volumes in some of our businesses, following a slowdown in the mining
sector, continued geopolitical conflicts and reduction in consumer demand in its consumer
industries vertical.
Operational review for the four months to 31 January 2024 (the "period")
Industrial Equipment and Services
Equipment southern Africa
Machine sales revenue declined in line with the anticipated slowdown in mining activity,
buffered by the uptick in after sales activity, resulting in a marginal decline in Equipment
southern Africa revenue of 2% relative to the prior period. The uptick in after sales activity
occurred at softer gross margins thus resulting in a reduction in operating profit.
Bartrac, the joint venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo, continues to deliver strong
performance with Barloworld's share of profit showing an increase when compared to the
prior period.
Investment in working capital is starting to decrease from the high levels in the 2023 financial
year in anticipation of the slow-down in the mining industry. However, planned deliveries in
the second half of the 2023 financial year are still being delivered in the first half of the 2024
financial year.
Equipment Eurasia
Equipment Eurasia continues to show strong performance, supported by an excellent
performance by Barloworld Mongolia. Relative to the prior period, Barloworld Mongolia
delivered revenue growth of 20%, although offset by the 26% reduction in revenue from
Vostochnaya Technika ("VT"). Both businesses generated solid operating margins.
Barloworld Mongolia's revenue increased significantly due to continuing strong mining
activity and the overall outlook is proving to be more supportive than anticipated.
Although there was a significant revenue reduction at VT, the business continues to make
good progress in restructuring the cost base in line with existing trading levels. This has
resulted in higher margin realisation.
Barloworld continues to manage its risks and exposures while remaining agile and strictly
complying with an ever-changing regulatory environment.
Consumer Industries
Ingrain
Ingrain's revenue declined by 5% against the prior period, impacted by a reduction in sales
volumes, and lower customer demand in the alcoholic beverages, papermaking and
converting sectors.
Export sales were down due to competitive global pricing of starch, compounded by
challenges in the Port of Durban.
Local maize prices are trending downwards and wet weather conditions bode well for maize
supply for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.
Whilst the group is seeing some improvement in operational efficiencies, agri-product pricing
is under pressure impacting gross margins. Operating margins are behind the prior period as
a result of a reduction in revenue with a rising fixed cost base.
To that end, the business has commenced a restructure to realign its fixed expenses with
lower trading activity. This will position the business to achieve targeted returns in the near
future.
Barloworld remains focused on value extraction from the investment in this business and is
confident that the actions taken will improve the overall business profitability in line with
previous guidance.
Funding and capital allocation
The group continues to purposefully allocate capital by investing cash in projects that aim to
yield returns higher than the cost of capital, distributing cash to shareholders and paying
down debt as part of ongoing efforts to maximise shareholder value.
A final ordinary dividend of R3.00 per share was paid in January 2024, resulting in a total
dividend of R5.00 per share paid in respect of the 2023 financial year, being R948 million in
total.
Barloworld has reviewed its current facilities, including committed and non-committed
facilities, as well as headroom on the existing domestic medium term note programme and
remains satisfied with the positive state of the headroom, gearing and liquidity.
Conclusion
The group will release a voluntary pre-close update closer to the six-month period ending 31
March 2024.
Shareholders are advised that the information in this voluntary trading update has not been
audited, reviewed, or reported on by the group's external auditors. This update does not
constitute a forecast.
Sandton
15 February 2024
Equity and Debt Sponsor:
Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, a division of Nedbank Limited
Date: 15-02-2024 04:00:00
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