Fletcher Building Half Year Results

Fletcher Building Half Year Results

Auckland, 17 February 2016 – Fletcher Building today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 December, 2015. The group recorded net earnings after tax of $172 million, compared with $114 million in the prior corresponding period.

The result included a net gain within significant items of $10 million relating to the gain on sale of a number of Rocla Quarries joint venture assets, partly offset by closure costs of three manufacturing plants. The result for the prior corresponding period included significant items of $66 million relating to impairment of goodwill and site closure costs. Net earnings before significant items were 7% lower at $159 million.

Operating earnings (earnings before interest and tax) were $288 million, up 29% on the $224 million earned in the prior corresponding period, while operating earnings excluding significant items were 4% lower at $278 million.

Revenue for the period of $4,434 million was 2% higher. Cash flow from operations was $170 million, up 16% from $146 million in the prior corresponding period.

The interim dividend will be 19.0 cents per share, and will be paid on 13 April, 2016. The dividend reinvestment plan will be operative for this dividend payment.

Fletcher Building chief executive officer Mark Adamson said the result was driven by strong performances in the Building Products and Distribution divisions, offset by lower residential development and construction earnings.

“We saw increased earnings from most of our manufactured building products businesses in New Zealand and Australia, and continued strong growth in earnings from our distribution division. This was partly driven by the strength of the broader construction market, particularly in New Zealand, but also resulted from the efforts we have made to lift performance across our business portfolio. This was evident in the performances of our Australian businesses, with Laminex, Iplex, Fletcher Insulation, Rocla Pipelines, Stramit and Tasman Sinkware all achieving improved earnings versus last year.

“As expected, earnings from the residential development business were lower than for the same period last year due to a reduction in earnings from the Stonefields development. What has been pleasing has been the progress we have made in sourcing new land for future development and in bringing other developments to market sooner.

“Similarly, in our construction division, we had lower earnings this half than last year, which was solely due to the timing of key projects. The outlook for our construction businesses is encouraging, with committed future contracted work now standing at $3.3 billion compared with $2 billion a year ago.

“In terms of the portfolio, with the recently announced conditional acquisition of Higgins, the sale of the Rocla Quarries assets, and the new aluminium windows and doors joint venture announced today, we have completed a substantial reorientation of the group and focused our activities where we see the best opportunities”, Mr Adamson said.

Results overview

Comparisons are with the prior corresponding six month period ended 31 December 2014.

ENDS

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