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Revenue: Decreased by 28% to ZAR 852.7 million.
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Gross Profit Margin: Stable at 32%.
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Net Profit: ZAR 76.9 million, a reduction of 57% from the prior period.
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Earnings Per Share: 16.34 cents.
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Headline Earnings Per Share: 16.26 cents.
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Cash on Hand: ZAR 243 million.
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Loan to Value Ratio: Improved to 40.2%.
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Net Asset Value Per Share: Increased by 3% to ZAR 8.58.
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Operating Costs: Reduced by 7% to ZAR 155 million.
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Number of Apartments Recognized in Revenue: 640, down from 834.
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Annuity Business Revenue: Increased by 17% to ZAR 66 million.
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Operating Profit from Annuity Business: ZAR 26.9 million.
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EBITDA Margin for Annuity Business: 46.4%.
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Profit Before Tax: ZAR 104 million.
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Effective Tax Rate: 26%.
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Development Loans and Facilities: ZAR 3.1 billion.
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Cash Flows from Operations: Positive ZAR 133 million.
Release Date: October 28, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
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Balwin Properties Ltd (JSE:BWN) has seen a recovery in apartment sales in Gauteng, traditionally a strong market for the company.
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The company has a significant development pipeline with over 42,000 apartments, with 26,000 registered as IFC edge advance certified, enhancing their green credentials.
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Balwin Properties Ltd (JSE:BWN) has achieved 53 international awards, highlighting its excellence in property development.
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The annuity business portfolio experienced robust growth, increasing revenue by 17% to ZAR66 million.
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The company has implemented significant cost containment measures, reducing operating costs by 7% and focusing on cost engineering innovations.
Negative Points
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Revenue decreased by 28% to ZAR852.7 million, with a 57% reduction in profit for the period.
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The number of apartments recognized in revenue contracted to 640 compared to 834 a year ago, impacting revenue.
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The KwaZulu-Natal region faced significant delays in town planning, restricting apartment delivery and impacting revenue by 34%.
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The company is facing pricing pressures, particularly in Gauteng, leading to a contraction in gross profit margins.
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High debt levels remain a concern, with net debt increasing by ZAR46 million over the period.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Why are directors' salaries omitted from the results, and why is the German loan more expensive than others? A: Jonathan Bigham, CFO, explained that directors' salaries are not a reporting requirement for interim results but will be disclosed in the annual financial statements. Regarding the German loan, Stephen Brookes, CEO, admitted it was a mistake due to cultural mismatches and has since been exited for a cheaper alternative.