Latest news with #R2.3bn
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Omina Holdings increases dividend pay out despite setbacks in agriculture division
The diversified company, propelled by its mining sector which is seeing new orders for its regional markets on the back of a rebound in copper and battery metals, achieved robust results and delivered bumper dividends. Image: Supplied Tawanda Karombo Omnia Holdings delivered a resilient performance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 despite set backs in the agriculture division, which was impacted by currency issues in Zimbabwe, drought in Zambia, and the civil unrest in Mozambique. The diversified company, propelled by its mining sector which is seeing new orders for its regional markets on the back of a rebound in copper and battery metals, achieved robust results and delivered bumper dividends. 'The agri business Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique didn't perform well,' Seelan Gobalsamy, CEO of Omnia told Business Report in an interview. 'Zimbabwe had the usual currency issues and a lot of uncertainty (and) we had some regulatory challenges and in Zambia, we saw a massive drought that impacted revenue.' The unrest that rocked Mozambique in 2024 and early into this year also affected Omnia. The company had to send products via Namibia into Zambia as routes through Mozambique were disturbed by the unrest, impacting working capital and profits negatively. With strong performance from Agriculture RSA and mining segment, Omnia's revenues for the year to the end of March grew 2.7% to R22.82 billion. Mining has emerged as Omnia's strongest business from an outdoor projective. 'There is still a strong demand for metals, you know, the metals that drive that transition to cleanar energy, you know, the battery metals, uranium. So we are positively disposed to the mining market and we are winning new customers, renewing new customers,' explained Gobalsamy. Headline earnings per share increased by 1% to 704 cents, while operating profit remained unchanged at R1.7bn despite the inclusion of the Chemicals restructuring costs, along with the impact of severe drought conditions and currency depreciation in Agriculture Rest of Africa. The Mining segment delivered an improved operating margin of 12.4% from 12.1%, supported by strong performance from Mining RSA and Mining International, as well as higher throughput and efficiencies. In the mining sector, sustained demand for critical minerals supporting the global energy transition, underpinned exploration activity and supported positive fundamentals for the explosives market. However, geopolitical tensions and trade policy uncertainty presented ongoing risks. The group had a net cash balance of R1.77bn was down from R2.3bn. The board declared a total dividend of 675 cents per share for the year. This comprises an increased ordinary dividend of 400 cents, from 375 cents the prior year, and a special dividend of 275 cents per share, returning R1.1bn to shareholders. "Despite persistent macroeconomic headwinds, Omnia delivered sustained profitability and continued to create long-term value for shareholders. This performance reflects the strength, quality, and growing diversity of our portfolio, underpinned by a sharpened focus on manufacturing efficiency, supply chain resilience, and customer-driven innovation," Gobalsamy said "The increased ordinary dividend payout, and special dividend declared is a clear signal of our confidence in the sustainability of our earnings and the successful execution of our growth and diversification strategy."
TimesLIVE
12-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Boxer expands footprint: 48 new stores opened, targeting 60 more by 2026
Boxer Retail will invest R1.2bn in new stores and a distribution centre in KwaZulu-Natal this year. The grocery retailer added 48 new stores in the 52 weeks to March, bringing its total store network across South Africa and Eswatini to 525. This resulted in 3,000 new jobs, taking its total staff complement to close to 32,000. Boxer is targeting another 60 stores (25 superstores and 35 liquor stores) in the 2026 financial year. The company, which was unbundled from Pick n Pay and listed on the JSE in November last year, reported a 13.2% growth to R42.3bn. Trading profit increased 9.9% to R2.3bn, at a trading margin of 5.5%. 'The results are a testament to our powerful discount model underpinned by a deep understanding of our customers' needs,' the company said. 'We drive volume growth by giving customers great value, enabling us to expand our store network and improve our efficiency, all of which helps us deliver even better prices for our customers. 'It's a model that continues to work, and we're excited about the opportunities ahead and future growth. While there will be continued economic pressures, this is where Boxer really thrives, and we are resolutely focused on execution to capture growth opportunities, which remains our primary focus,' said Marek Masojada, Boxer CEO. Boxer operates in the lower market segment and competes with Shoprite, Usave and Spar's SaveMor. Boxer said 'it's lean discount model, efficient supply chain, and focused expansion give it a strong edge in South Africa's evolving retail landscape.' The company has 1.9-million members on its loyalty rewards programme, which was launched in October last year. It has partnered with Capitec to offer rewards members a discount on 5KG Goldi chicken. The partnership comes hot on the heels of similar collaborations between Pick n Pay and FNB, and Checkers and Standard Bank, who are offering discounts to clients.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Boxer Retail creates 3 000 jobs amid store expansion network in South Africa
Boxer CEO Marek Masojada says the company is well positioned to meet its pre-listing forecast of a dividend at the end of the first half of its 2026 financial year. Image: Supplied JSE-listed Boxer Retail added nearly 3 000 new jobs in the 53 weeks to March 2 after it opened more than 40 new stores and met the financial forecasts it had made to its investors on the JSE months ago. The soft discount retailer added 48 net new stores during the period, bringing its store network across South Africa and Eswatini to 525. The plan is to open another 60 stores—25 superstores and 35 liquor stores—in the new financial year. Additionally, there are plans to expand the distribution centre capacity for the stores, particularly in northern KwaZulu-Natal, CEO Marek Masojada said in an interview with BR. The additional employees brought its full staff complement to close to 32 000 and demonstrated the retailer's growth, and its efforts to uplift the communities and towns where it operates, he said. On the financial front, the retailer outperformed its pre-listing guidance with a 5.4% 52-week trading margin, which is ahead of the 5% forecast made prior to the listing. The maiden published annual financial results — after the biggest listing on the JSE in eight years—delivered a strong performance with consistent market share gains, and the focus in the new financial year is to continue meeting the targets provided before the listing, said Masojada. Turnover grew by 13.2% to R42.3 billion, and trading profit increased by 9.9% to R2.3bn. This growth was 17% when excluding non-recurring non-cash gains on the derecognition of a Pick n Pay financial guarantee in the prior year. Comparing year-on-year performance on a pro forma 52-week basis, turnover increased by 10.4%, in line with pre-IPO market guidance, while trading profit rose by 7%, and 14.0% when excluding the one-off non-cash gain in the prior year. Boxer's discount model, supply chain—which includes six distribution centres currently—and expansion plans, provide it with a strong edge in South Africa's evolving retail landscape, said Masojada. He said that many of their consumers are experiencing significant cost of living increases, even though Boxer managed to keep its selling price inflation flat. This was reflected in more consumers closely examining their monthly or weekly grocery purchases to get more value. The group was able to measure this by tracking the uptake of promotional activity. Boxer's commitment to "Lower Prices Every Day" was reflected in the normalised full-year internal selling price inflation of 0.3%, after adjusting for mix change impacts, which were influenced by promotional activity. Boxer had invested in its Boxer Rewards Club loyalty program and attracted over 1.9 million sign-ups since its launch in October 2024. The club offers a range of benefits, including discounts on repeat shopping trips The loyalty data also provides valuable insights, enabling Boxer to better understand and serve its customers, said Masojada. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He said Boxer's business model continues to work in the communities where its stores are located. In the past year Boxer's headline earnings remained flat at -0.1%, reflecting higher net finance costs associated with the new about R850m external debt introduced as part of the pre-IPO balance sheet restructuring, alongside an increase in the effective tax rate, which offset the positive impact of the operational performance. Boxer did not declare a final dividend for the 2025 financial year, as indicated in the pre-listing statement. However, the company remained cash generative, was working on reducing debt, and was on target to deliver a dividend at the end of the first half of the 2026 financial year, in line with pre-listing commitments, said Masojada. "We're excited about the opportunities ahead and future growth, Whilst there will be economic pressures, this is where Boxer really thrives, meeting challenges is part of our are resolutely focused on execution to capture growth opportunities," he said.
