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Elexir improves profits

By Iain Scott, ITWeb group consulting editor
Johannesburg, 17 Dec 2004

Elexir has posted a R2.34 million attributable profit for the 12 months to August, thanks to the restructuring transaction announced in October.

This compares with an attributable profit of R1.89 million for the previous year and an attributable loss of R0.89 million for the six months to February.

The results, which show revenue of R17.44 million compared with R40.9 million a year ago, are being presented as interim figures as the group has changed its year-end to February.

The restructuring, aimed at cutting the company`s debt, includes the sale of the property owned by subsidiary Pitstop Properties for R2.89 million cash. Transfer of ownership is expected to happen next month.

Among other measures announced in October, Elexir is issuing 60 million shares at 3.5c each to settle the debt owed to TV Homewatch. It is also issuing an additional 20 million shares at the same price to corporate advisor SME Corporate Solutions, for structuring and negotiating the deal.

The group also proposed increasing its authorised ordinary share capital from R2 million (divided into 200 million shares of 1c each) to R5 million (divided into 500 million shares of 1c each).

"The significant levels of debt within the group were reduced with the implementation of the restructuring transaction, thereby substantially improving the Elexir balance sheet," says CEO James Casey.

The balance sheet shows a current ratio of 0.85 at the end of August, compared with 0.61 last year. Long-term borrowings total R1.72 million, against R2.33 at the end of August 2003. At the end of the six months to February, Elexir recorded a current ratio of 0.8 and had long-term borrowings of R6.58 million.

The net asset value has improved from 0.2c a share last August to 2.53c a share.

However, the group incurred a loss of R5.47 million on the restructuring, leading to a headline loss of 3.12 million, compared with a year-earlier profit R1.38 million.

"Trading conditions remain challenging but management is implementing a repositioning strategy for the group that, if successful, will improve profitability and unlock shareholder value," Casey says.

"As the liabilities of the group were substantially reduced with the implementation of the restructuring transaction, as announced on 7 October 2004, the business can now focus on securing new business in order to operate profitably in the future."

Related stories:
Elexir in bid to cut debt

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