Textured Jersey 3Q net up 95% to Rs.365 mn

Surpasses last year’s full year profit in first 9 months

Textured Jersey Lanka PLC (TJL), Sri Lanka’s leading provider of knit fabric to major global brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Marks & Spencer, Intimissimi and Decathlon, reported Rs.365 million in net profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 (3Q FY2012/13), growing 95 percent compared to the same period last year, as per the financial results released to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).

This has resulted in the company surpassing last year’s full year profit in just the first nine months of the current year, a noteworthy achievement given the challenging market conditions. Additionally the company declared a generous interim dividend of Rs. 0.66 per share representing a substantial 62% pay-out.

In his release to the CSE, Textured Jersey Chairman Bill Lam stated that as a result of “innovative and responsive product realignment strategies coming into fruition in the quarter under review, the company was able to achieve much higher sales volumes.” As a result of higher margin products being added to the sales mix, combined with industry-leading production efficiencies, lower yarn costs and the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee, a substantial increase in gross profit margins was noted in 3Q FY2012/13. Gross profits for the quarter reached Rs. 460mn, a 26% year-on-year increase. According to Mr Lam’s statement, “higher sales volumes also compensated for the lower average selling prices, enabling TJL to maintain revenue at Rs. 2.86bn for 3Q FY2012/13, a mere 7% lower than the corresponding quarter in the previous financial year.”

TJL’s operating profit for 3Q FY2012/13 came in at Rs. 354mn, a significant 55% increase year-on-year. This was largely due to a 23% decrease in administrative expenses and a 24% decline in selling and distribution expenses compared to the same period of the last financial year.

Additionally, TJL recorded a finance income of Rs. 11mn for the quarter, compared to a finance expense of Rs. 40mn during the same period of the last financial year.

In his statement, Lam attributed this to TJL's strong balance sheet position as at 31st December 2012, with zero long-term borrowings, Rs. 53mn in short-term borrowings compared with Rs. 1.42bn as at 31st December 2011, and a healthy cash balance of Rs. 2bn.

Commenting on strategic initiatives, Lam stated that “the construction phase of TJL's multi-fuel boiler plant commenced during the quarter. The plant, which will reduce TJL's energy cost substantially, is scheduled to be commissioned during 2H FY2013/14.” He also stated that TJL's expansion strategy is moving forward according to schedule.