VLE - Value Group Limited - Reviewed financial results for the year ended 2916 May 2012
VLE
VLE                                                                             
VLE - Value Group Limited - Reviewed financial results for the year ended 29    
February 2012                                                                   
Value Group Limited                                                             
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1997/002203/06)                                            
JSE code: VLE & ISIN: ZAE000016507                                              
("Value" or "the Company")                                                      
Value Group Limited                                                             
The measurable logistics company                                                
REVIEWED FINANCIAL RESULTS                                                      
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2012                                             
Revenue up 13% to R 1,8 billion                                                 
Adjusted headline earnings per share up 7%                                      
Net asset value up 16% to R3,53 per share                                       
Dividends up 17%                                                                
R263 million cash generated by operations                                       
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                                  
                                %        Reviewed      Audited                  
R000`s                           change   2012         2011                     
Revenue                          13        1 798 012    1 588 315               
Cost of sales                              (1 034 898)  (891 874)               
Gross profit                     10        763 114      696 441                 
Other income                               9 022        4 379                   
Operating expenses                         (595 149)    (534 405)               
Operating profit                 6         176 987      166 415                 
Once-off BEE equity transaction           -             (12 192)                
costs                                                                           
Share of profit of associate               34           11                      
net of taxation                                                                 
Investment income                          15 222       17 715                  
Finance costs                              (38 224)     (34 370)                
Net profit before taxation                 154 019      137 579                 
Taxation (note 2)                          (44 517)     (43 468)                
Net profit for the year          16        109 502      94 111                  
Other comprehensive income net            -            -                        
of taxation                                                                     
Total comprehensive income for             109 502      94 111                  
the year                                                                        
Earnings per share (cents)                                                      
(note 3)                                                                        
- Basic                                    66,4         54,5                    
- Headline                       21        68,0         56,2                    
- Adjusted headline              7         68,0         63,3                    
- Diluted basic                            58,7         56,4                    
- Diluted headline                         60,2         58,0                    
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION                                    
                                 %        Reviewed    Audited                   
R000`s                            change   2012        2011                     
Assets                                                                          
Non-current assets                          981 687     864 931                 
Property, vehicles, plant and               938 715     828 456                 
equipment                                                                       
Intangible assets                           37 362      31 611                  
Investments and loans                       2 414       1 007                   
Deferred tax assets                         3 196       3 857                   
Current assets                              397 627     370 010                 
Inventories                                 60 060      68 260                  
Investments and loans                       902         2 617                   
Trade and other receivables                 272 455     218 857                 
Taxation in advance                         234         100                     
Cash and cash equivalents                   63 976      80 176                  
Non-current assets held for sale            139         20                      
Total assets                                1 379 453   1 234 961               
Equity and liabilities                                                          
Equity                                      582 728     502 774                 
Non-current liabilities                     359 932     315 212                 
Interest-bearing borrowings                 221 346     194 963                 
Deferred tax                                138 586     120 249                 
Current liabilities                         436 793     416 975                 
Trade and other payables                    340 180     317 346                 
Current portion of interest-                92 748      84 042                  
bearing borrowings                                                              
Current tax payable                         3 865       15 587                  
                                                                                
Total equity and liabilities                1 379 453   1 234 961               
Net asset value per share         16        353,0       304,8                   
(cents)                                                                         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS                                            
                                 %        Reviewed    Audited                   
R000`s                            change   2012        2011                     
Cash flows from operating                   145 010     133 450                 
activities                                                                      
Cash generated by operations      7         262 966     246 908                 
Net finance costs                           (23 179)    (16 967)                
Changes in working capital                  (26 118)    (36 098)                
Taxation paid                               (37 375)    (32 411)                
Cash available from operating               176 294     161 432                 
activities                                                                      
Dividends paid                              (31 284)    (27 982)                
Cash flows from investing                   (196 571)   (204 071)               
activities                                                                      
Cash flows from financing                   35 361      45 915                  
activities                                                                      
Net change in cash and cash                 (16 200)    (24 706)                
equivalents                                                                     
Cash and cash equivalents at                80 176      104 882                 
beginning of year                                                               
Cash and cash equivalents at end            63 976      80 176                  
of year                                                                         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY                                     
                                          Reviewed    Audited                   
R000`s                                     2012        2011                     
Ordinary share capital and premium          10 841      10 841                  
Balance at beginning of year                10 841      194                     
Shares issued                              -            73 003                  
Share issue expenses                       -            (2 356)                 
Share buy back                             -            (60 000)                
A shares                                    10          10                      
Balance at beginning of year                10         -                        
Shares issued                              -            10                      
Treasury shares                             (100 086)   (100 325)               
Balance at beginning of year                (100 325)   (28 323)                
Treasury shares sold                        239         1 011                   
Treasury shares acquired                   -            (73 013)                
Share-based payment reserve                 15 155      13 623                  
Balance at beginning of year                13 623      746                     
Share-based payment expense                 1 532       13 130                  
Transfer to retained income                -            (253)                   
Retained income                             656 808     578 625                 
Balance at beginning of year                578 625     512 389                 
Transfer from share-based payment          -            253                     
reserve                                                                         
Profit/(Loss) on disposal of treasury       33          (120)                   
shares                                                                          
Dividends paid                              (31 352)    (28 008)                
Net profit for the year                     109 502     94 111                  
                                                                                
Total capital and reserves                  582 728     502 774                 
SEGMENT INFORMATION                                                             
                                        Reviewed     Audited                    
R000`s                                   2012         2011                      
Total segment revenue                     1 941 589    1 719 757                
General distribution                      1 473 993    1 266 234                
Truck rental and other                    370 280      368 640                  
Head office and other                     97 316       84 883                   
Less: Inter-segment revenue               143 577      131 442                  
General distribution                      9 994        3 609                    
Truck rental and other                    37 205       43 017                   
Head office and other                     96 378       84 816                   
External segment revenue                  1 798 012    1 588 315                
General distribution                      1 463 999    1 262 625                
Truck rental and other                    333 075      325 623                  
Head office and other                     938          67                       
Business segment results                                                        
General distribution                      138 015      142 376                  
Truck rental and other                    46 526       39 228                   
Head office and other                     (7 554)      (15 189)                 
Business segment results                  176 987      166 415                  
Once-off BEE equity transaction costs     -            (12 192)                 
Share of profit of associate net of       34           11                       
taxation                                                                        
Investment income                         15 222       17 715                   
Finance costs                             (38 224)     (34 370)                 
Net profit before taxation               154 019      137 579                   
Total segment assets                                                            
General distribution                      622 371      532 612                  
Truck rental and other                    620 449      560 690                  
Head office and other                     129 887      134 078                  
Segment assets                            1 372 707    1 227 380                
Investments and loans                     3 316        3 624                    
Deferred tax                              3 196        3 857                    
Taxation in advance                       234          100                      
Total assets                              1 379 453    1 234 961                
NOTES                                                                           
1. Statement of compliance                                                      
The financial results have been prepared in accordance with International       
Financial Reporting Standards and in the manner required by the Companies       
Act of South Africa and are presented in accordance with IAS 34: Interim        
Financial Reporting.                                                            
The basis for the preparation of the financial results is consistent with       
that applied in the preparation of the annual financial statements for the      
year ended 28 February 2011.                                                    
The Group`s auditors, Charles Orbach & Company have reviewed these results.     
Their unqualified review opinion is available for inspection at the             
company`s registered office.                                                    
Reviewed      Audited                    
    R000`s                             2012          2011                       
2.   Taxation                                                                   
    Secondary tax on companies         3 244          3 422                     
included in taxation                                                        
3.   Headline earnings                                                          
3.1  Reconciliation between basic and                                           
    headline earnings                                                           
Basic earnings                     109 502       94 111                     
    Loss on disposal of property,      2 746         2 935                      
    vehicles, plant and equipment                                               
    less taxation                                                               
Headline earnings                  112 248       97 046                     
    Once-off BEE equity transaction    -             12 192                     
    costs less taxation                                                         
    Adjusted headline earnings         112 248        109 238                   
3.2  Number of ordinary shares of                                               
    R0,001 each in issue                                                        
    Actual                              198 627 386   198 627 386               
    Weighted average                    164 991 563   172 707 357               
Diluted                             187 903 103   189 376 556               
3.3  Number of A shares of R0,001 each                                          
    in issue                                                                    
    Actual                              10 429 010    10 429 010                
4.   Supplementary information                                                  
    Depreciation                        77 351        69 710                    
    Amortisation of intangible assets   10 511        8 698                     
    Depreciation and amortisation       87 862        78 408                    
COMMENTARY                                                                      
INTRODUCTION                                                                    
Value Group Limited ("the Group") and its subsidiaries provide a                
comprehensive range of tailored logistical solutions throughout southern        
Africa. The major operating divisions specialise in providing a diversified     
range of supply chain services, which encompass distribution, transport of      
normal and abnormal loads, clearing and forwarding, warehousing, container      
and fleet management, forklift and commercial vehicle rental and leasing.       
FINANCIAL REVIEW                                                                
Although the Group`s customer base expanded, the year under review proved to    
be challenging with the Group faced with a number of extraneous market          
factors.  Meaningful growth in the first half was achieved despite              
disruptive fuel supplies and operational changes in certain business units.     
Conversely, unexpected volume decline in the second half impacted revenue       
growth and profitability. Consequently, revenue for the year increased by       
13% from R1,59 billion to R1,8 billion.                                         
Expansion of the Group`s infrastructure in addition to increased fuel,          
labour and maintenance costs contributed to the gross profit percentage         
reducing from 43,8% to 42,4%. Notwithstanding this, gross profit improved by    
10% to R763,1 million. This improvement more than offset the increased          
operational expenses and net finance costs to produce increased earnings. In    
addition, the once-off non-deductable BEE equity transaction costs incurred     
in the previous year had a negative effect on comparative headline earnings.    
Accordingly, headline earnings increased by 21% from 56,2 cents per share to    
68 cents per share. Excluding the previous year`s once-off BEE equity           
transaction costs, adjusted headline earnings increased by 7% from 63,3         
cents per share to 68 cents per share.                                          
Cash flows remained solid. A total of R239 million was spent on the             
acquisition of capital assets which consisted of R129,6 million for             
vehicles, R42,7 million for materials handling equipment, R37,8 million for     
IT hardware and software, R17,3 million for property upgrades and the           
balance of R11,6 million for plant, equipment and accessories. R203,9           
million of this capital expenditure was funded by a 7% increase in cash         
generated by operations and proceeds on disposal of assets.  The remainder      
of the capital expenditure totalling R35,1 million was funded by net            
interest-bearing debt.                                                          
The balance sheet remains sound with net asset value per share increasing by    
16% from 304,8 cents per share to 353 cents per share.  The debt equity         
ratio improved marginally to 53,9%. Interest-bearing debt levels are            
expected to remain within the target range of 40% to 60%.                       
OPERATION REVIEW                                                                
General distribution segment                                                    
Annual price adjustments and fuel recoveries contributed to the segment`s       
revenue growing by 16% from R1,26 billion to R1,46 billion.  Although           
additional business from new and existing customers contributed to revenue      
growth, volumes throughout the period were flat. Furthermore, unexpected        
volume declines in September 2011 and more so in January 2012 impacted the      
segment`s results.  Consequently, operating margins reduced from 11,3% to       
9,4%.  Operating profit reduced by 3% from R142,4 million to                    
R138 million.                                                                   
Truck rental and other segment                                                  
Despite extremely competitive market conditions, a positive turnaround in       
profitability was achieved. Although revenue increased marginally from          
R325,6 million to R333,1 million, operating margins improved from 12% to        
14%, a direct result of repricing service offerings to drive up                 
utilisations. Operating profit increased by 19% from R39,2 million to R46,5     
million.                                                                        
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY                                                          
The substantial portion of the Group`s information technology infrastructure    
upgrade is complete. A new world class data centre has been constructed and     
is fully operational.  The latest technology in servers, data storage           
devices and network equipment has been commissioned. The Group will continue    
to invest in its IT infrastructure to enhance scalability, security,            
redundancy, and manageability of its core networks and server environment.      
This long-term investment will not only improve response times, but also        
provide a platform for the Group`s future applications, data and                
transactional volume growth requirements.                                       
The application environment has been bolstered by the recruitment of highly     
skilled staff, the result of which has been an improved turnaround time and     
quality of customer interface and Group software development and support. In    
addition, the implementation of specialised software applications continues     
throughout the business.                                                        
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE                                                             
Capital expenditure for the 2013 financial year is estimated to be R200         
million. This will be funded by interest-bearing debt and internally            
generated funds.                                                                
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR                               
The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Velile Welcome           
Mcobothi as a non-executive director effective 3 November 2011 and as an        
independent non-executive director effective 29 February 2012.  The Board       
congratulates Velile on his appointments to the Board, the audit and risk       
committee and the social and ethics committee.                                  
PROSPECTS                                                                       
Management expects the effects of the ongoing fuel price hikes and current      
trading environment to continue into the new financial year.  Consequently,     
consumer discretionary spend could be impacted further which may negate         
volume recovery within the existing customer base. In addition, certain         
costs have escalated above inflation. These challenges in this economic         
environment have led to rate pressures and resistance in obtaining the          
required annual increases.                                                      
Growing a diversified profitable revenue base across all logistical service     
offerings, whilst simultaneously containing and reducing costs, remains a       
top priority of the Group.  The Group`s infrastructure base has been            
expanded to enable it to manage large growth in trading activity and            
critical mass. The restructuring and expansion of the Group`s sales force       
has been completed. New accounts have been procured and commenced in the        
current financial year. Although volumes in March were flat, contribution       
from other revenue streams within the Group has produced reasonable results.    
In the absence of any material unforeseen circumstances, management expect      
headline earnings to improve.  This forecast has not been reviewed nor          
reported on by the Group`s auditors.                                            
DECLARATION OF FINAL DIVIDEND (NUMBER 11)                                       
As previously announced on 29 March 2012, the Board declared a final            
dividend of 14 cents per ordinary share.  This dividend is covered 3,1 times    
by second half earnings and is payable as follows:                              
Declaration date                         Wednesday, 28 March 2012               
Last day to trade cum dividend           Friday, 22 June 2012                   
Trading ex-dividend commences            Monday, 25 June 2012                   
Record date                              Friday, 29 June 2012                   
Payment date                             Monday, 2 July 2012                    
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between 25       
June 2012 and                                                                   
29 June 2012 both days inclusive.                                               
Total dividends declared have increased by 17% from 18 cents per share in       
2011 to 21 cents per share in 2012.                                             
For and on behalf of the Board                                                  
C D Stein             S D Gottschalk                                            
Chairman              Chief Executive Officer                                   
Johannesburg                                                                    
16 May 2012                                                                     
Value Group Limited                                                             
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1997/002203/06)                                            
ISIN: ZAE000016507                                                              
Share code:  VLE                                                                
Directors: C D Stein* (Chairman), S D Gottschalk (CEO), C L Sack, I M           
Groves*, N M Phosa*, M Padiyachy, V W Mcobothi*                                 
*Non-executive director                                                         
Sponsor: Investec Bank Limited                                                  
Date: 16/05/2012 13:33:02 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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