For immediate release
29 August 2006
New Zealand Exchange Announcement and Media Release
PGC posts another record result
Results for the year ended 30 June 2006
- Net profit after tax $66.3m - last year $30.2m
- Net operating profit $29.0m - last year $28.9m
- Dividend (fully imputed) 20 cents per share - last year 19 cents per share
- Record profits for both MARAC and Perpetual.
Financial results
Pyne Gould Corporation Ltd today reported an audited net profit after tax for the year ended 30 June 2006 of $66.3m,
compared with $30.2m last year.
This profit includes a non-operating abnormal gain of $37.3m resulting from the merger of Pyne Gould Guinness with
Wrightson to form PGG Wrightson. Last year non-operating items were $1.3m from the sale of surplus properties by Pyne
Gould Guinness.
The net operating profit before abnormal items was $29.0m, compared to $28.9m last year.
“Both MARAC and Perpetual made substantial contributions to the overall group result. The contribution from PGG
Wrightson was down on last year due to merger activity and generally slower trading conditions in the rural sector”,
said PGC Chairman Sam Maling.
- MARAC reported a 5% increase in net profit to $24.2m.
- Perpetual achieved another record net profit of $3.0m.
- PGG Wrightson contributed $6.7m to the group profit.
Dividends
The directors have declared a final dividend of 11 cents per share, fully imputed for tax purposes. Together with the
interim dividend of 9 cents paid in February, this brings the total dividend for the year to 20 cents, compared with 19
cents last year.
The interim dividend included a 1 cent special dividend passed through to Pyne Gould Corporation shareholders from the
special dividend paid by Pyne Gould Guinness before the merger with Wrightson. Last year a special dividend of 1 cent
was also declared.
MARAC
The year ended 30 June 2006 was another excellent one for the MARAC group. Net profit was up 5% to $24.2m, and finance
receivables and operating lease vehicles reached $1.2bn, an increase of $135m.
“A high point of the year was MARAC Finance Ltd achieving an investment grade credit rating from international credit
ratings agency Standard & Poor’s, making MARAC Finance New Zealand’s only non-bank owned finance company to achieve this grade. This reinforces
MARAC’s standing in the market,” commented Managing Director Brian Jolliffe.
Commercial lending was again the strongest growth area, reflecting the strategic intention of the past several years to
invest additional resources to expand this part of MARAC proportionally faster than any other area. The expansion into
regional areas that was undertaken 12 months ago has been the foundation of much of the growth achieved this year.
The Commercial dealer business (financing plant and equipment through equipment suppliers) has also received strong
management focus in recent times. The dealer network has been expanded considerably as has the diversity of items
financed.
Overall Commercial finance receivables increased by 24% to $428m. This was achieved across all industry segments and
throughout the country.
The selling and associated financing of motor vehicles in New Zealand continues to go through radical change. MARAC
expects this trend to continue. As always, MARAC has focused and will continue to focus on the upper-end of the market,
with high-quality vehicles and low-risk borrowers.
In the past vehicle loans made direct to customers (rather than through a dealer) were a very small part of MARAC's
motor business. With the introduction of a client retention strategy for dealer-introduced customers together with the
broadening of distribution channels, MARAC Direct has become an important part of the motor division.
Overall Motor finance receivables were down marginally to $376m.
The vehicle leasing business showed strong growth, with the total value of leases increasing by 10% to $69m. MARAC
continues to take a conservative approach to the determination of residual values.
In the Marine and Leisure financing business, MARAC continued to focus on the comparatively new business of financing
predominantly higher quality boats (sail and motor), and motor-homes and caravans. There has been a general slowdown in
the marine and leisure market throughout the year in line with general consumer confidence trends. In the larger boat
market, increasing fuel prices have also had a noticeable affect. This has made growth more challenging, so the increase
in total finance receivables to $45m is pleasing.
MARAC’s Property business has been maintained at similar levels to those at half year, despite an overall softening in
the property market. MARAC’s criteria for loans, coupled with internally imposed guidelines for total exposure, ensure
that MARAC is not overly exposed to this market. Property finance receivables are $251m, up 22% on 2005.
MARAC Insurance, the newest business, commenced in February 2006 with $0.6m of gross premiums written in the first four
months. The current insurance product is lifestyle protection insurance and is offered alongside loans for vehicles.
Credit quality throughout the business is a key contributor to this years result. MARAC’s arrears position, one of the
key determinants of quality in any finance company, ended the year where it started at a very good 0.5% of total finance
receivables.
During the year MARAC changed to a dynamic method of assessing and accounting for bad and doubtful debts. It is a more
modern and robust approach that uses actual business experience to assess the likelihood of loss. It is an ongoing
process, performed regularly throughout the year, that more accurately reflects the quality of finance receivables held
at any given point in time. This changeover has resulted in a reduction of $1.8m in the provision for bad/doubtful debts
in 2006.
MARAC’s investors have continued to strongly support the company despite an often negative spotlight on the industry in
the later part of the year. The directors attribute this to MARAC’s excellent reputation and the weight of its
investment grade credit rating from independent ratings agency Standard & Poor’s.
“Not withstanding the current environment there are opportunities for MARAC in all of its businesses, and there is good
potential for further growth and increased profitability in 2007 and beyond” said Brian Jolliffe.
Perpetual
Perpetual’s revenue grew 16% to $19.8m. Net profit after tax was $3.0m, up 32% on last year, with Perpetual Trust
contributing $2.6m and Mortgage Express $0.4m. This is another record result for Perpetual; the second year in a row.
“Perpetual has undergone significant change in the past three years. The aim has been to improve customer service, focus
activity in the key business areas, and grow revenue and ultimately profitability.
The benefits of this restructuring are now being realised through increased diversity in revenue streams and significant
cost reductions”, commented Brian Jolliffe.
Peter Baynes, who was principally responsible for refocusing the business on customer service and clarifying the
strategic direction for the business, finished with Perpetual at the end of the financial year. Louise Edwards, who
worked closely with Peter during the restructuring and refocusing of the business, has been appointed Chief Executive
and took up the position on 1 July 2006.
Personal wealth management and advice, which provides trust, estate and asset management services for individuals and
their families, experienced good growth during the year. The number of new and revised wills written was down slightly
on the previous year. The number of estates distributed was also down slightly, but the value distributed was
significantly higher. Funds under advice experienced growth of 6%.
The Corporate Trust division provides corporate trustee services for debt securities, securitisation, unit trusts,
superannuation schemes, special partnerships and retirement villages. The business had a more challenging year but still
delivered a 14% improvement in revenue, with funds under supervision now standing at $17.9bn.
Managed Funds were maintained at similar levels to the previous year. A review of all products resulted in the launching
of two new funds late in the year, the Aria Fund and the New Zealand/Australia Share Fund.
With the sale of the assets of the Opio Forestry Fund now completed, following the sale of Nuhaka’s assets in 2004,
Perpetual’s involvement in the management of forestry investment funds is now at an end.
Mortgage Express had a good year and achieved an increased profit. The change in commission structures which affected
revenue was more than offset by an increase in new mortgage business.
Perpetual has recorded two consecutive years of record financial performance. While some revenue streams have come to
end, the effort put in over the past few years to diversify revenue sources should enable ongoing further growth. The
experienced management team that has lead this transition is firmly in place and the company is in a strong position.
PGG Wrightson Ltd
The company reported a net profit after tax of $27m for the year ended 30 June 2006. This is after amortisation of $10m
and includes a net gain of $7m in non-recurring items.
PGG Wrightson contributed an operating profit of $6.7m to the Pyne Gould Corporation group result, down from $9.5m last
year.
During the year Pyne Gould Guinness (PGG), in which Pyne Gould Corporation had a 55% shareholding, merged with Wrightson
to form PGG Wrightson. The newly formed company became an associate, with Pyne Gould Corporation’s shareholding reducing
from 55.5% to 22.2%. This investment now comprises 62.4m shares in PGG Wrightson and is carried at a value of $89.7m.
The merger earned Pyne Gould Corporation an abnormal gain of $37.3m. From an accounting rules perspective, Pyne Gould
Corporation sold 33.3% of PGG, in return for 22.2% of Wrightson. The difference between the fair value of the
consideration received for this shareholding and Pyne Gould Corporation’s carrying value gave rise to this gain.
The results of PGG have been consolidated for the three months up to the merger at the end of September 2005, and then
the results of PGG Wrightson have been accounted for using the equity method from 1 October.
PGG Wrightson is now fully established as a single business following a rapid but comprehensive merger programme.
Two key objectives were targeted throughout the merger process. These were to complete the merger quickly and to do so
without any negative impact on client relationships or market share. Both have been achieved, and the synergy benefits
are above the level initially anticipated. The full effect of the synergy gains resulting from the merger will be
realised in 2007.
Trading conditions for PGG Wrightson were materially less favourable in the latter months of the financial year. The
livestock, rural supplies, and seed and grain divisions were the most affected, while the finance and real estate
businesses performed well.
Prospects for the rural sector are generally positive, now that the exchange rate is more favourable and industry
confidence has increased. In addition, the company has a number of business improvement initiatives in place,
particularly in the finance, insurance and real estate businesses. However, as always, climate conditions have the
potential to again adversely affect the PGG Wrightson result.
Pyne Gould Corporation continues to fully support PGG Wrightson, and is confident that the benefits of the merger will
continue to enhance the value of Pyne Gould Corporation’s investment.
Summary and Outlook
Looking ahead, Sam Maling concluded that “The focus for MARAC is on delivering wider distribution for its products and
services in markets that are changing and in some cases slowing. The independent acknowledgement of quality from
Standard & Poor’s provides a unique launch platform for the year ahead. Perpetual Trust is well positioned to take advantage of
opportunities and changing market conditions, and again distribution of its products and services to wider customer
segments is a key focus. In PGG Wrightson the merger is completed and attention has firmly turned to growing the
business and delivering the promised benefits to customers and shareholders.
While the economic outlook for the year ahead is more subdued than has been experienced in recent years, Pyne Gould
Corporation’s businesses are in excellent shape with sound strategies in place for growth” he said.
Dividend
Record date: 15 September 2006
Payment date: 25 September 2006
For further information please contact:
Sam Maling Brian Jolliffe
Chairman Managing Director
Pyne Gould Corporation Pyne Gould Corporation
Telephone 03 366 1150 Telephone 09 539 9702
Mobile 027 252 0911 Mobile 027 446 6066
ABOUT PYNE GOULD CORPORATION
Pyne Gould Corporation is a holding company for three separate businesses: MARAC and Perpetual, which are 100% owned
subsidiaries, and PGG Wrightson, a 22% owned associate. Pyne Gould Corporation also owns its head office building in
Christchurch.
MARAC consists of:
MARAC Financial Services Ltd, which is the umbrella company for all the MARAC companies:
MARAC Finance Ltd – a motor vehicle, business, plant and equipment (commercial), marine and leisure, and property
lending finance company
MARAC Securities Ltd – an arranger of structured finance solutions
MARAC Investments Ltd – a specialised niche investment company
MARAC Insurance Ltd – a provider of insurance products to MARAC clients.
Nissan Finance New Zealand Ltd – a lender to the Nissan dealer network.
Perpetual consists of Perpetual Trust Ltd, a statutory trust company, and a 60% shareholding in Mortgage Express Ltd, a
mortgage broking business.
Perpetual is a nationwide trustee company operating under its own Act of Parliament, passed in 1884. The company
specialises in financial planning, managing investments, and providing professional trustee services to personal and
corporate clients.
PGG Wrightson is New Zealand’s leading rural services group, with national and international operations serving clients
in agriculture, horticulture and other sectors. The group has 130 branches, under the PGG Wrightson, Williams & Kettle and Fruitfed Supplies brands.
PGG Wrightson is a leader in forage plant breeding for pastoral farming, with seed research and marketing operations in
New Zealand, Australia and Uruguay.
Nationwide businesses comprise livestock and wool broking, farm input supplies, real estate, rural finance and farm
insurance services.
The group also includes businesses in farm consulting and training; irrigation and pumping systems; feed supplement
supply to dairy producers.
ENDS