Businessuite Markets
GraceKennedy Reporting Revenue And Profit Ahead Of Half-Year Targets
Donald G. Wehby, Group Chief Executive Officer for GraceKennedy Limited (GK) has released the following report on the company’s financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
During the first half of 2022, GK achieved revenues of J$72.59 billion, representing an increase of 14.6% or J$9.24 billion over the corresponding period in 2021. Profit before tax (PBT) was J$5.46 billion or $12.6 million higher than the corresponding period in 2021.
Net profit attributable to stockholders was J$3.70 billion, $111.6 million higher than
the corresponding period in 2021. Earnings per stock unit for the period was J$3.73 (2021: J$3.62).
GK remains cautiously optimistic as we continue to manage the business through the challenges presented by high inflation globally, sustained supply chain issues, increasing interest rates, and foreign currency volatility. Notwithstanding the difficult economic climate, revenue and profit are ahead of our half-year target, and our team remains unwavering in their commitment to GK and focused on the execution of our strategic initiatives.
Performance of Business Segments
Foods
GK’s food business recorded an overall growth in revenues when compared to the corresponding period of 2021.
PBT recorded an increase, however there were mixed results across the segment, reflecting the dynamic nature of the current economic environment within which we operate. Challenges included higher distribution costs, resulting in compressed margins.
Our Jamaican food distribution business continues to do well and recorded healthy growth in both revenues and pre-tax profits. Our next generation product portfolio, which includes Grace Sardines, Grace Tuna, Grace Mighty Malt and Grace Aloe, displayed growth over the corresponding period last year. Key products such as vienna sausages, frankfurters, and the Tastee Cheese and Tropical Rhythms lines reported strong growth over 2021.
World Brands Services (WBS) recorded a strong performance, with increases in both revenues and PBT over the corresponding period in 2021. This was driven by the growth of signature brands such as Frito-Lay, Capri Sun, Lucozade, and Mars. Consumer Brands Limited (CBL) also reported significantly increased revenues and PBT.
Both WBS and CBL continue to prioritize the expansion of their distribution points and have renewed customer engagement through in-store promotions.
GK’s chain of supermarkets in Jamaica, Hi-Lo Food Stores, remains focused on improving service levels and customer satisfaction. Strong growth in revenues and PBT were recorded during the period and Hi-Lo’s e-commerce platform continues to receive positive feedback from our customers.
GK’s Manufacturing Division achieved growth in revenues and PBT compared to the corresponding period last year, due to solid performances by Grace Agro-Processors (Hounslow), Dairy Industries Jamaica Limited (DIJL) and Grace Food Processors (Meats). The merger of two of our factories in Jamaica, National Processors (Nalpro) and Grace Food Processors (Canning), into NALCAN, is on track to be completed in 2022 and will bring greater efficiency to our manufacturing operations in Jamaica.
Our international food business recorded improvement in revenue over prior year; however, record inflation in all territories, as well as elevated distribution costs resulted in mixed performance results.
GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC (GK Foods USA) delivered good revenue growth over prior year. PBT was impacted by high demurrage and storage costs, for which corrective measures have been put in place. Cost saving and margin management initiatives continue to be implemented to help mitigate these conditions.
Grace Foods UK Limited reported a commendable performance, achieving growth in both revenues and PBT. The company remains challenged by high commodity prices and the high cost of trading in Europe due to BREXIT.
Notwithstanding, the food service side of the business has rebounded with significant improvements in both revenue and profitability compared to the prior year period.
Grace Foods Canada Inc. closed the second quarter of 2022 with revenues exceeding prior year; however, record inflation in the Canadian market and supply chain challenges affected margins and impacted PBT. Key products including Grace Corned Beef, Grace Mackerel and Grace Canned Peas remained popular, which helped to drive top line growth.
Grace Foods Latin America and the Caribbean (GF LACA) reported positive half year numbers with growth in both revenues and PBT being attributed to the strength of the Grace brand across the region. GF LACA was successful in negotiating the listing of Grace Sardines and Grace Coconut Milk in PriceSmart Barbados, and launched Grace Coconut Milk regionally, and Grace Coffee in Guyana.
Financial Services
The GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG) reported a positive performance for the period, as we continue to expand our regional footprint.
Our Banking and Investments segment yielded positive results, led by GK Capital Management Limited (GK Capital), the investment and advisory arm of GKFG. GK Capital sustained its growth momentum into the second quarter of 2022, with revenues growing significantly compared to the same period last year. This positive performance was largely buoyed by the two successful initial public offerings of Spur Tree Spices Jamaica Limited and Jamaica Fibreglass Products Limited and GK Capital’s increased non-interest revenue streams.
GK Capital has signed an agreement with the largest operator and manager of mutual funds in the Caribbean, the Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (TTUTC). The new venture, which remains subject to the requisite regulatory approvals, will allow GK Capital and TTUTC to partner in the distribution of mutual funds in Jamaica.
First Global Bank (FGB), GK’s commercial bank in Jamaica, continues to achieve growth in its loans and deposits portfolios when compared to the prior year. FGB’s revenues increased over the same period last year and PBT recorded growth. For the remainder of 2022, FGB will continue to focus on implementing its digital strategy, including online credit card applications and other digital alternatives to in-branch transactions.
SigniaGlobe Financial Group Inc., GK’s jointly owned merchant banking business in Barbados, continues to show significant growth in retail loan and non-interest income revenue over the corresponding period of 2021. As a result, profitability over the period has doubled when compared to prior year. GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) reported a decline in revenue and PBT for the period, primarily attributed to lower remittance flows and the volatility of the Jamaican dollar against the US dollar.
The Bank of Jamaica has reported a decline in remittance inflows since the start of the year, and we have put strategies in place to address this which are focused on marketing, pricing, agents, compliance, and our customers.
Bill Express and FX Trader continue to perform well, and recorded growth in both revenues and PBT. GKMS remains focused on improving and expanding its digital channels and service levels.
GK’s Insurance segment continues to benefit from our recent acquisitions and recorded double digit growth. GKFG’s most recent acquisition, GK Life Insurance Eastern Caribbean Limited continues to implement its strategy to maximize the performance of its portfolio while establishing itself as a major pan-Caribbean insurer. Key Insurance Company Limited continued to produce positive results, recording growth in revenues and PBT during the first half of 2022.
Canopy Insurance Limited generated revenue growth over prior year in all business segments and remains focused on revenue diversification and the pursuit of strategic partnerships. The company remains challenged from a profitability perspective, driven primarily by medical inflation. Allied Insurance Brokers Limited is focused on strengthening and growing client relationships and leveraging partnerships.
GK General Insurance Company Limited (GKGI) outperformed its prior year revenues due to growth in its core business portfolios. An initiative which was implemented in the first quarter of 2022 to optimize GKGI’s structure and internal processes, as well as keen partner relationship management, have improved efficiency and service delivery and remain key to the company’s growth strategy.
Digital Transformation
The GK One mobile app was released in the Google Play and Apple App stores in March with the Bill Payment feature enabled. Customers can now also receive a Western Union remittance via the app, directly to their mobile wallet.
The Visa prepaid card associated with the app has been dubbed the “Shelly” card as it features an image of our outstanding Jamaican sprinter and GK Ambassador Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Customers have expressed excitement upon receiving their “Shelly” card and are responding positively to the ease of use of the GK One app and card. Additional money services are on target to be rolled out via the app in the coming months.
Mergers & Acquisitions
GK continues to advance its Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) strategy. Following the acquisition of Bluedot in the second quarter of 2022, the M&A Unit continues to hold discussions regarding M&A transactions locally and internationally, as we move towards achievement of our 2030 objectives.
GK100
GK100 continued to be prominently featured at events, in campaigns and customer engagement activities during the second quarter of 2022. Following a special celebration at the 2022 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Champs in April, our 100th anniversary also featured prominently during the Jamaica 60 Diaspora Conference in June. Since 2004, GK has been a legacy partner of the Diaspora Conference, which is convened by Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. On the evening of the first day of the Conference this year, the GK team hosted in-person and virtual participants to a mini-concert, which featured performances by Jamaican reggae artistes Tony Rebel and Ding Dong, and highlighted GK100.
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Businessuite Markets
Barita Reporting Treasury, Trading And Brokerage And Investment Banking Business Lines As Largest Contributors FY24 Performance
Net profit after tax (“NPAT”) for Q4 FY24 increased by 200% to $999 million, bringing NPAT for FY 2024 to $3.9 billion, 14% ahead of 2023. The improvements achieved in Q4 FY24 reflected the effects of management’s strategy to influence improvements in operating revenue through a focus on active balance sheet management, revenue diversification and expense management, in particular the management of funding costs.
Revenue growth in Q4 FY24 was both robust and well-distributed, led by an exceptional performance in our Treasury, Trading and Brokerage business line, which accounted for 56% of total revenue. This improvement was supported by the continuation of the uptrend in net interest income which rose 3% to $164 million relative to the comparable quarter in financial year 2023.
Directionally, this performance aligned with expectations, buttressed by a pivotal shift in the monetary policy stance of the Bank of Jamaica and the US Federal Reserve, both of which reduced their benchmark policy rates by 25 and 50 basis points respectively, during the fourth quarter. While an additional 25 basis point cut was announced at the end of September, to come into effect at the beginning of October, the BOJ had communicated a shift in its policy posture during Q3 FY24, to which the market began to react via the downward repricing of liabilities, by extension, benefitting our Net interest income. The balance of risks points towards continued improvement in our net interest income as our interest-bearing liabilities reprice with a more frequent cadence.
The macroeconomic landscape has also evolved favourably. Domestic inflation has moderated, now averaging within the BoJ’s target range for the last 6 months, and a similar moderation has taken hold in the U.S.A., even as the Federal Reserve continues to signal a cautious, data-driven approach to future rate cuts. While these developments suggest a more stable financial environment prospectively, potential global risks remain. Slowing growth in key global markets, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties and the impending change in administration following the recent election in the US could introduce volatility; however, Barita’s diversified revenue streams and resilient business model position us well to navigate these headwinds.
Operating Performance
Barita generated net operating revenues of $10.0 billion for FY24, representing an increase of 10% or $901 million relative to FY23. The increase was broadly distributed across our various business lines, with income from the treasury, trading and brokerage and investment banking business lines being the largest contributor.
Net profit was $3.9 billion for FY24, rising 14% relative to FY23. The resulting earnings per share (“EPS”) was $3.24, up 14%.
Quarterly Performance
For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, Barita registered revenue of $3.0 billion, $1.2 billion or 72% higher than Q4 FY23, driven by a material uplift in the Treasury, Trading and Brokerage business line during the quarter. In the quarter, Barita produced NPAT of $999 million, $667 million (200%) higher than the prior year. This resulted from the aforementioned higher operating revenue, partially offset by a 26% or $346 million increase in operating expenses. Profit before taxation amounted to $1.3 billion, which was an improvement of $888 million or 207% relative to the prior year.
Shareholders’ equity closed the period at $35.5 billion, an increase of $71 million, marginally higher than the $35.4 billion outturn at the end of FY23. This was driven by an improvement of $734 million in the fair value reserve, offsetting the decline in retained earnings due to dividends declared and paid during the year. Our capital levels remain resilient, with capital adequacy of 25.45% compared to the FSC’s early warning level of 14%.
Investment Strategy & Capital Management: Our Outlook
The outlook for monetary policy continues to evolve over the course of the fourth quarter of FY24, transitioning from the tightening cycle that has dominated the past two years. Both the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) and the Federal Reserve, along with other major Central Banks, have reduced their policy rates amidst a sustained moderation in inflation. This shift is expected to lay the groundwork for a more favourable investment environment in the coming quarters.
In the United States, recent economic indicators suggest that the cooling effect of tight monetary conditions has begun to take hold. Core PCE inflation has moderated to 2.7% from a pandemic peak of 5.7% in February 2022. Unemployment remained low at 4.1% in September but has attracted more focus from policymakers at the Federal Reserve given the upward trend since the beginning of 2024. The U.S. economy delivered solid GDP growth of 3.0% in the second quarter of 2024, exceeding expectations, but leading indicators continue to suggest potential weakness ahead. Against this backdrop, the Fed opted for a 50-basis point rate cut in September 2024, bringing the federal funds target range to 4.75%-5.00%. Markets have since priced in the expectation of further rate cuts as inflation trends towards the Fed’s 2% target.
Locally, Jamaica has seen similar progress. Annual headline inflation in Jamaica stood at 5.7% as of September 2024, back within the BoJ’s target range following the uptick in August to 6.5% due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl. Moreover, the BoJ’s recent cumulative reduction of its policy rate by 50 basis points to 6.50% during the quarter, reflects growing confidence that average inflation will remain within the target range in the near term, supported by stable domestic demand, a relatively stable exchange rate, and the continued moderation of global commodity prices. Jamaica’s economy remains resilient, albeit with moderating growth in key goods-producing and service sectors.
Looking ahead, we anticipate a further shift toward more expansionary monetary conditions, both locally and globally, which will likely enhance our ability to optimize our balance sheet and improve the net interest margin. As funding costs stabilize and earning assets continue to reprice upward, we expect to see a positive impact on our financial performance. Additionally, more favourable market conditions should provide increased opportunities for trading gains, and we foresee a gradual acceleration in deal-making activity, further boosting revenue growth.
However, we remain cognizant of the risks that persist in the global macroeconomic environment. Slowing growth in key global markets, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties and the impending election in the world’s largest economy, may introduce volatility that could impact our investment activities. Despite these headwinds, we continue to prioritize the diversification of our revenue streams, particularly through our alternative investment platform, which includes our real estate ventures that are poised to deliver significant returns in the medium to long term.
In this context, prudent capital management remains central to our strategy. We will continue to ensure strict compliance with regulatory requirements while maintaining the flexibility to capitalize on emerging opportunities. Through these efforts, we are confident in our ability to navigate the evolving economic landscape and deliver sustained value to our shareholders.
Mark Myers, Chairman Barita Investments Limited (“Barita” or “the Group”)
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iCreate Transitioning From A Digital And Creative Training Company To A Diversified Investment Holding Company Kintyre Holdings.
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First Rock Real Estate Investments Registers Net Loss For Three Months Ended September 2024, Driven Primarily By Unrealised Foreign Exchange Losses
First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited registered a net loss attributable to Ordinary Shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2024, totalling US$674,536, which yielded an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of negative US$0.002. Net loss attributable to Ordinary Shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, totalled US$1,453,640, which yielded an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of negative US$0.005.
The results were driven primarily by unrealised foreign exchange losses on translation of foreign currency denominated liabilities, which amounted to US$72,034 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and US$275,170 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Additionally, interest expense amounted to US$118,839 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and US$524,340 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
The Group’s financial performance continues to reflect the impact of the ongoing high-interest rate environment in Jamaica, which exerts downward pressure on property values, resulting in lower Property Income relative to prior year. Property Income totalled US$49,056 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and US$1,916,074 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
To mitigate the impact on the bottom line from reduced revenues, the Group managed to reduce its overall Administrative & General expenses by 20% to US$2,274,250 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year. This cost management effort is part of our ongoing strategy to mitigate the impact of reduced revenues on the bottom line.
Outlook
The Group’s ongoing commitment to strategic growth remains steadfast as we navigate the headwinds that obtain in today’s real estate environment. By continuing to execute on our portfolio rebalancing strategy, which focuses on acquiring high-yield, income-generating properties across Latin America and the wider Caribbean region, we have built a resilient foundation that supports sustainable growth.
During the quarter our subsidiary, FirstRock Capital Cayman, entered into an agreement to acquire a fully tenanted investment property in Grand Cayman. As the largest acquisition in our portfolio, this property is poised to notably enhance our rental income stream, reinforcing our expansion across the region. Alongside this achievement, our two KFC locations in Costa Rica continue to deliver stable rental income under longterm lease agreements, with plans underway for additional site developments.
Looking ahead, we remain optimistic about finalizing additional acquisitions across the region, with several promising opportunities in advanced stages of negotiation. The Group remains committed to unlocking value through strategic investments, which we believe will yield substantial long-term benefits to our stakeholders.
Norman Reid J.P. Chairman First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited
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Edward Alexander Executive Chairman of tTech Limited announced that Simply Secure Limited increased its shareholding in tTech to 69.1%, representing 73,229,223 shares. The increased shareholding includes the purchase of 20,719,366 shares from Norman Chen and G. Christopher Reckord. The acquiring entity, Simply Secure Limited, is owned by Kevin Gordon and Rob Mayo-Smith. Messrs. Gordon and Mayo-Smith are also the owners of Simply Secure LLC, a Managed Security Services Provider based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The increased shareholding puts Simply Secure Limited over the 50% ownership threshold of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the company, requiring Simply Secure to extend an offer to all remaining tTech shareholders to purchase their shares subject to approval from the regulators. The tTech board will also provide an opinion on their view of the fairness of the offer price.
Norman Chen,
G. Christopher Reckord.
Following the sale of their shares, Messrs. Chen and Reckord will be resigning as Directors of tTech.
Chairman of the tTech Board, Edward Alexander, stated, “I would like to thank Norman and Chris for their service to tTech. Their contribution as executives and directors has enabled much of the success that tTech has enjoyed to date. We now look forward to the continued growth that is expected through the increased ownership in the company by Simply Secure.”
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