Agility reports 8pct Q3 earnings increase

Revenue up 1.6 pct to KD 400.7million

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 14: Agility, a leading global logistics provider, today reported third-quarter earnings of 13fils per share on net profit of KD 21.7 million, an increase of 8.4% (or 12.1% excluding IFRS16 impact) over the same period in 2018.Q3EBITDA grew 20.9% (or 2.8% excluding IFRS16 impact) to KD 47.4 million, and revenue increased 1.6% to KD 400.7 million.

Year to date, earnings were 38.2 fils per share and net profit was KD 63.6 million, up7.9% (or 11.3% excluding IFRS 16 impact). Year-to-date EBITDA was KD 142.4 million, an increase of 24.9% (or 6.4% excluding IFRS 16 impact). Revenue for the first three quarters was KD 1,175.8 million, an increase of 2.2%.

“Our Infrastructure portfolio of companies drove our results in the third quarter, with all major entities seeing growth. Our Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) business, on the other hand, was affected by challenging market conditions and trade-war headwinds that have affected the industry as a whole,” Tarek Sultan, Agility Vice-Chairman and CEO, said. “Even so, GIL is moving forward aggressively with its digitization agenda to improve operational efficiency and drive a better customer experience.”

Sultan said: “We continue to invest in technology-driven change and seek to be the digital leaders in our industry. Our Agility Ventures team is partnering with innovative start-ups that are re-shaping the supply chain in areas ranging from green technologies to e-commerce. We are also accelerating in-house development, acquisitions, and partnerships to grow our digital logistics platform, Shipa. We believe this is the key to differentiating Agility and positioning us for future growth.”

Agility Global Integrated Logistics (GIL)

GIL EBITDA was KD 7.8 million (excluding IFRS 16 impact), a 1% decline from same period in 2018. The decrease was due to higher operating expenses related to new facilities,as well as investments in digital transformation.

GIL gross revenue was KD 285 million, a 2.4% decline (or 0.7% decline on a constant currency basis) from same period in 2018 due to challenges within the freight forwarding industry. GIL’s Q3 net revenue was KD 67.3 million, a 4% increase (or 5.3% increase on a constant currency basis) vs. Q3 2018. The net revenue increase was driven mainly by growth in Ocean Freight, Project Logistics and Contract Logistics. The overall net revenue margin was 23.6% in Q3 vs. 22.2% in Q3 2018.

Q3 Air Freight volume fell 15.8% (in tonnage) as a result of trade concerns and lower demand from customers across industries and geographies. This decline in volume was partially offset by higher yields – expressed as net revenue/ton–which increased 15.5%. As a result, Air Freight net revenue decreased 2.8% vs. Q3 2018.

Ocean Freight TEUsfell 9.3%, but Q3 yields improved13.7% vs. the same period in 2018. GIL Ocean Freight yields were strongest in the Americas and Europe. Ocean Freight net revenue improved 3.2% as compared with Q3 2018.

Contract Logistics posted healthy growth, mainly in the US, Australasia, India and Singapore, with the MEA region continuing to perform well. Project Logistics also showed solid and increased growth.

Excluding IFRS 16 impact, year-todate GIL EBITDA was KD 24.5 million, flat vs. the same period in 2018. Year-to-date net revenue improved 2.7%, and revenue fell 2.1%.

To strengthen performance and its market differentiation, GIL is implementing its digital strategy. By accelerating its digital transformation, GIL intends to enhance customer and supplier connectivity, create innovative complex customer solutions, increase the efficiency of its business processes, and enable comprehensive business insight.

Agility’s Infrastructure Companies

Agility’s Infrastructure group EBITDA rose 3.8% to KD 32.6 million in the third quarter. Revenue reached KD 119.7 million, an increase of 13.4%. For the nine months, EBITDA grew 8.3%; and revenue increased14.5% (all numbers exclude IFRS16 impact).

Agility Logistics Parks (ALP) reported a 14.2% increase in thirdquarter revenue as compared with the same quarter in 2018. Revenue from facilities completed in late 2018 contributed to strong results, as did yield improvement at existing facilities. Near-term growth will be driven by development of new logistics parks and warehouses in Saudi Arabia and Africa, along with optimization of the company’s land bank in Kuwait.

Tristar, a fully integrated liquid logistics company, posted 9.6% revenue growth in the third quarter, driven by increases in road transport, warehousing operations and the shipping business, in addition to business wins from new and existing customers. Tristar continues to execute and to look for opportunities to unlock additional value for its shareholders.

National Aviation Services (NAS) revenue rebounded, growing 8.5% in Q3 after a difficult start to the year. NAS’s first-half performance was hurt by unforeseen regulatory and operational expenses in Kuwait, price reduction in Cote d’Ivoire, and a temporary reduction of flights in and out of Afghanistan. NAS expects improvement in results to continue into Q4 and 2020. Operations in Mozambique, Tanzania and Morocco remain in launch phases and are hindering group performance, but Uganda, Jordan and Egypt continue to outperform.

United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC) posted Q3 revenue growth of 1.4%. UPAC operations are still being affected by the shift in passenger traffic to dedicated airline terminals at Kuwait International Airport. UPAC has been able to offset the impact by generating new revenue from car park management operations in (T4) and through the strong performance of its real estate management operations in Kuwait. In Abu Dhabi, construction continues to progress on Reem Mall, a $1.2 billion project.

GCS, Agility’s customs modernization company, posted revenue growth of 8.2% in Q3. Gains were driven by implementation of new services in customs operations, digital services for the trade community, and port operations. GCS continues implementing digital initiatives to drive efficiency and improve profitability.

Recap of Agility third quarter 2019 Financial Performance

Agility’s net profit increased 8.4% to KD 21.7million in the 3rd quarter of 2019. EPS was 13 fils vs.12 fils a year earlier.

Agility’s 3rd quarter reported EBITDA increased 20.9% to KD 47.4 million.

Agility’s 3rd quarter revenue rose 1.6%, to KD 400.7million and net revenue increased 6.5%.

GIL 3rdquarter revenue declined 2.4% to KD 285 million (a decline of 0.7% on a constant currency basis).

Infrastructure’s 3rd quarter revenue grew 13.4% to KD 119.7 million.

Agility enjoys a healthy balance sheet with KD 2 billion in assets. Net debt on a reported basis was KD 295.1million as of Sept 30, 2019 (excluding IFRS 16 Net debt is KD 196 million). Reported operating cash flow was KD 98.1 million for the nine months of 2019, an increase of 77.2%.