Transpacific cuts jobs, costs amid slump
The company was forced to continue to rely on asset sales and cost-cutting to reduce borrowings, with no underlying pick-up in demand anticipated in the near term.
The December-half net profit rose to $42 million from $16.5 million a year earlier, on revenue of $1.16 billion, up from $1.12 billion. Earnings a share rose to 2¢ from 0.7¢.
A review has resulted in about 200 employees being retrenched, helping to shave $15 million off costs over a full year, with $3 million of these savings expected to be realised in the second half.
During the December half, net proceeds from divestments totalled $10 million, and since then a further $15 million has been raised from property sales, along with the divestment of the Australian and New Zealand metals manufacturing businesses.
In Australia, landfill volumes slumped 24 per cent, with a 55 per cent dive in NSW alone, which had a significant impact on margins.
The decline reflects the downturn in manufacturing in NSW and Victoria, coupled with Queensland's decision to remove its waste levy, which has resulted in rubbish being dumped over the border from NSW.
Transpacific is targeting paying down debt by $10 million a month, with the aim of cutting the interest bill by $25 million over the year to June, with further asset sales to help achieve this target.
Transpacific shares rallied 13 per cent to close at 90¢, just off the day's high of 91¢, and the highest level since early November, when they were dumped on a profit warning.
At that time, a decline in first-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 6 per cent pushed the shares from 90¢ to below 70¢ in a matter of days. Transpacific told the market on Friday that December-half EBITDA was down a more modest 3 per cent and it was making steady gains in whittling down debt.
"The operational performance of our waste management businesses is disappointing and we need to improve our performance markedly," chief executive Kevin Campbell said.
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Transpacific's December-half was weighed down by a slump in waste volumes in Victoria and New South Wales. The decline reflected a downturn in manufacturing in NSW and Victoria and Queensland's removal of its waste levy, which led to cross-border dumping and weaker margins.
Transpacific reported a December-half net profit of $42 million, up from $16.5 million a year earlier, on revenue of $1.16 billion (up from $1.12 billion). Earnings per share rose to 2¢ from 0.7¢.
A company review led to about 200 employees being retrenched. Management says those changes will shave around $15 million off costs over a full year, with about $3 million of savings expected to be realised in the second half.
During the December half Transpacific raised $10 million in net proceeds from divestments. Since then it has raised a further $15 million from property sales and divested its Australian and New Zealand metals manufacturing businesses to help reduce borrowings.
Landfill volumes in Australia slumped 24% overall, including a 55% dive in NSW. That fall in landfill volumes had a significant negative impact on Transpacific's margins.
Transpacific is targeting paying down debt by $10 million a month and aims to cut its interest bill by $25 million over the year to June, using ongoing asset sales to help achieve this goal.
Transpacific shares rallied 13% to close at 90¢ (day high 91¢), the highest level since early November. Earlier, a 6% decline in first-quarter EBITDA had pushed the shares from about 90¢ to below 70¢, but the company reported December-half EBITDA was down a more modest 3% and said it was making steady gains in reducing debt.
Management indicated no underlying pick-up in demand is anticipated in the near term. CEO Kevin Campbell said operational performance is disappointing and needs to improve markedly, while the company focuses on cost reductions, asset sales and whittling down debt.
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