Reuters Events | Supply Chain & Logistics Business Intelligence

Agility, a leading global logistics provider, today announced its fourth quarter and full year financial results for 2012.

For the fourth quarter, the company reported a net profit of KD 9.6 million and earnings per share of 9.71 fils. This is an increase of 179% and 181% respectively compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. Fourth quarter revenue was KD 383.7 million, an increase of 9% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.

For the full year ending December 31, 2012, net profits were KD 34.3 million, or 34.42 fils per share. This is an increase of 27% and 28% respectively over the full year of 2011. Revenue increased by 7% to KD 1.4 billion.

The Board of Directors met recently and proposed a dividend distribution of 30% cash and 5% bonus shares for fiscal year 2012. 

The Board of Directors also approved a forward-looking minimum dividend policy recommendation of 30 fils per share cash distribution for the fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015. As with all such recommendations, this will be subject to the approval of the General Assembly of the Shareholders as well as the concerned authorities.

“We have worked hard in the past few years to refocus the company and outline a vision for the future, which is already reaping results,” said Tarek Sultan, Agility’s Chairman and Managing Director. “In 2012, we continued to improve profitability, invested strategically in the business and maintained a healthy balance sheet. All this is impressive in light of the fact that the global economy was – and continues to be – weak.”

Financial Highlights

Figures in the table above have been rounded

Agility’s Core Business: Global Integrated Logistics

Revenue for Agility Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) for the full year 2012 was KD 1.18 billion, an increase of 2.2% from FY 2011.

GIL has shown an improvement in its operational and financial performance during 2012. This has been driven by focused execution of its core strategy: to leverage its global footprint and market-leading position in emerging markets; grow business with existing and new customers; concentrate on key global accounts and strategic trade lanes; maintain financial discipline; and achieve productivity gains through technological transformation.    

“Agility’s GIL business will to some extent always be tied to the global economy and trade volumes; which continue to be volatile,” said Sultan. “That said, our approach is to focus on what we can control. Our goal is to realize GIL’s full potential over the next three to five years, by maintaining our momentum when it comes to executing against our core strategy. Although we still have work ahead, GIL has made significant progress in becoming a more efficient, productive, and customer-focused business. GIL’s competitive advantage going forward is its strong platform in emerging markets, which continue to drive global growth.”

Agility’s Infrastructure Group

Agility’s Infrastructure companies contributed KD 243 million to full year 2012 revenue, a 19% increase over 2011.

Agility’s Infrastructure companies continue to occupy profitable niches in the marketplace; serving as a healthy hedge against volatility in the global economy because they are in relatively stable, high-growth sectors in emerging markets.

Agility’s Real Estate business remains the main contributor to the Infrastructure group. By focusing on revenue enhancement and improving utilization, Agility Real Estate has grown its revenue by 12% in 2012. Tristar, a fuel transport company, and National Aviation Services, a ground handling company, are also significant contributors to the Infrastructure group, improving their revenue in 2012 by 44% and 32% respectively. Other entities within Agility’s Infrastructure portfolio have also shown growth over the last several years. The company is taking a number of actions to further enhance the potential of these companies.

Agility remains open to investing in businesses that are operationally and financially healthy, under its Infrastructure portfolio. In 2012, Agility acquired an 88.2% stake in United Projects for Aviation Services (UPAC). UPAC manages commercial real estate at the Kuwait International Airport and various ground handling and maintenance services at the private terminal of the airport.

Recap of Financial Performance for FY 2012

• Agility net profit stands at KD 34.3 million, a 27% increase from KD 27 million in 2011. EPS was 34.42 fils, compared to 26.94 fils a year earlier.
• EBITDA stands at KD 79.4 million, a 36% increase from the year before
• Operating expenses decreased by 7.5% when compared to 2011
• Agility revenue for FY 2012 is KD 1.4 billion, an increase of 7% from KD 1.3 billion in the same period in 2011.
• GIL revenue stands at KD 1.18 billion, a 2.2% increase from KD 1.15 billion a year earlier.
• Infrastructure revenue was KD 243 million compared with KD 204 million a year earlier, a 19% increase from 2011.
• Agility enjoys a healthy balance sheet, with low leverage, a net cash position of KD 64 million, and free cash flow of KD 45 million.