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LASCO Distributors Delivers Another Solid Quarter Of Profitable Growth, Driven By Accelerated And Disciplined Execution Of Company’s Strategic Framework.

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John De Silva Managing Director LASCO Distributors Limited Has Released The Following Unaudited Results For The Three Months Ended June 30th, 2022.

Highlights
• Revenue increased by 8.7% to $6.26B
• Net Profit increased by 1 1.2% to $324.9M
• Exports increased by 35%
• Cash and Short-term investments closed at $3.56B
• 17.7% Return on Average Equity (Annualised)

Revenue was $6.26B, an increase of 8.7%, or $500M over the previous year. This was the result of growth in all Divisions: Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Exports, driven by rebalanced marketing investment to diversify the business and a focus on improving on-shelf availability.

The Nutrition, Food and Beverage categories continue to grow, led by a strong recovery in the Beverages portfolio.

The Hygiene categories also grew, led by the Unilever portfolio of Home and Personal Care brands which increased momentum and achieved growth of 45%.

The Healthcare category, managed via the Pharmaceutical Division continued its growth trajectory and is collaborating with new partners to further expand its portfolio.

The redesigned Exports strategy is gaining traction, contributing to a 35% growth in this business as international expansion continues to be a focus for the Company.

Gross Profit increased by 11.2% or $108M, to $1.07B. Margin improvement initiatives are a focus and have yielded positive results with Gross Margins improving by 400 bps to 17.1 % compared to 16.7% in the previous year.

Operating Expenses were $718M, an increase of 2.6% due primarily to an increase in marketing investments, however the Operating Expenses ratio to Revenue decreased to 1 1.5% vs. 12.2% last year.

Foreign Exchange movements impacted Other Income negatively, resulting in a loss of $11M compared to a gain of $43M in the previous year.

Profit Before Tax was $382M, an increase of 10.3%, or $36M. Profit After Tax grew by 11.2% to $325M, improving Net Profit Margins to 5.2% vs. 5.1% last year.

Balance Sheet

Total Assets at the end of June 2022 stood at $13.48, an increase of 12.6% compared to the same period last year. Inventories increased by $925M or 32.7% to close at $3.7B. This was driven by increased safety stocks.

Total Receivables increased to $3.7B, an increase of 16.2% over the previous year.
Cash and Short-term investments taken together closed at $3.6B compared to $3.5B for the same period last year, an increase of 2.7%.

Total Payables increased to $5.8B, an increase of 19.6% over last year.

Total Shareholders’ Equity closed at $7.4B, which was $554M or 8.1% above the previous year. Return on Average Equity continues to increase, delivering an annualised performance of 17.7% during the Quarter.

Dividend Payment
An interim dividend of $0.09 per share totalling $316M was paid on June 29, 2022, to shareholders on record at the close of business on June 10, 2022.

More Information CLICK HERE

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Higher Operating Costs And Margin Pressures Impacted Main Event’s Overall Q1 Profitability.

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Entering 2025 with a strategic focus on expanding revenue streams, strengthening client relationships, and maintaining financial discipline, the Company achieved revenue growth.
However, higher operating costs and margin pressures impacted overall profitability.

The Company reported revenues of $585.03M, representing a 3% or $17.28M increase over the $567.75M recorded in Q1 2024. This growth was primarily driven by a significant increase in revenue contribution from a previously underperforming segment, reflecting the success of targeted expansion efforts. While revenue remains below prior peak levels, the Company continues to recalibrate and drive demand through expanded service offerings and strengthened client engagements.

Gross profit for the quarter stood at $301.67M, reflecting a 4% decline from $315.82M in Q1 2024. This decline resulted from higher direct costs associated with event execution, infrastructure upgrades, additional non-recurring costs incurred during the period, and increased labour costs related to service delivery. Consequently, the gross margin contracted to 51.56% from 55.63% in the prior year. The Company remains focused on managing costs effectively to support long-term profitability.

Operating expenses increased to $218.72M, up 7.5% from $206.35M in Q1 2024. This rise was attributed to planned administrative enhancements, a significant one-off expenditure for the Company’s 20th Anniversary celebration, higher personnel costs, increased security and fuel expenses, and a 51% increase in amortisation expenses to $11.36M due to renegotiated lease agreements and the addition of a new lease.

Operating profit stood at $87.48M, a 24% decline from $115.28M in Q1 2024. Increased finance costs, stemming from renegotiated lease agreements and new lease additions, also impacted results.
Net profit for the quarter amounted to $73.67M, a 27% decrease from $100.25M in Q1 2024, influenced by lower gross margins, increased operational costs, and higher impairment charges. As a result, earnings per share (EPS) fell from $0.33 in Q1 2024 to $0.25 in Q1 2025.

Total assets grew by 6.4%, reaching $1,306.01M, up from $1,227.37M in Q1 2024. This increase was primarily driven by a 53% rise in receivables, reflecting expanded customer engagements, with several balances stemming from events executed near the period’s end. Short-term deposits increased to $250.24M from $236.50M, while cash and bank balances declined by 30% to $131.74M from $188.91M due to timing differences in collections and reinvestments.

Shareholders’ equity strengthened to $956.17M, reflecting a 5% increase over $912.66M in Q1 2024. This growth was primarily supported by retained earnings, demonstrating the Company’s ability to generate and reinvest profits efficiently.

Payables increased by 47%, rising to $229.58M from $156.38M in Q1 2024, mainly due to the timing of event executions towards the end of the quarter, resulting in higher accrued expenses related to supplier payments.

While the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, the Company remains optimistic about the upcoming quarters. The focus will be on enhancing operational efficiencies to manage cost structures effectively and strengthening revenue streams through deeper market penetration and strategic partnerships. Additionally, the Company intends to use owned-events as a driver of revenue growth.
Our continued success is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and resilience of our exceptional team. Their ability to adapt and innovate in a dynamic industry ensures that we consistently exceed expectations and deliver outstanding experiences. Their dedication was especially evident during the holiday period, where they worked tirelessly to execute high-quality events, ensuring continued excellence in service delivery. We also recognise and appreciate the unwavering guidance of our Board; whose strategic leadership continues to drive our company’s growth and long-term vision.

Solomon Sharpe Chief Executive Officer

For More Information on Main Event Entertainment Group Limited (MEEG) Unaudited Results, Q1 – Three Months Ended January 31, 2025 (Revised) Click Here

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