Listed South African hotel and gaming group Peermont Global continues to look at further acquisitions to boost its growth in 2005, and is currently examining “alternative methods” for funding this investment since the company has reached its maximum level of gearing, according to CEO Ernie Joubert.
Joubert was speaking to I-Net Bridge following the release of the company’s results earlier on Monday, in which it reported a 24,6% rise in headline earnings per share to 49,7 cents for the year ended December 31, from a restated 39,9 cents in 2003, beating its own pre-listing forecasts.
The group declared a final dividend of 16 cents per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 27,4 cents.
Peermont Global has a 62% interest in the well-known Caesars Hotel Casino and Convention Resort in Gauteng, as well as stakes in the Graceland Hotel Casino and Country Club in Secunda, the Mondazur hotel at San Lameer and the Grand Palm Hotel Casino and Convention Resort in Gaborone, Botswana.
Following year-end, the company opened a new hotel, the Metcourt Inn, and acquired two more hotels in Botswana.
“We are now at the maximum amount of gearing, so we are looking at alternative plans for funding new growth,” said Joubert. “However, we are not currently envisaging an IPO [initial public offering] from Peermont Global Limited — we are working on other funding plans.”
The group has already undertaken a relatively ambitious expansion programme, having spent R88,5-million during the second half of 2004 on various investments. These included R19,3-million for an interest in Hydrogen Entertainment World at Caesars Gauteng; R27,8-million to build the budget Metcourt Inn at the Grand Palm in Gaborone; R56,4-million to add new gaming capacity at Caesars Gauteng; and the purchase of the San Lameer Hotel land and buildings for R8-million.
Joubert said the group also has an objective to begin to outsource its hotel management business to third parties, now that it had established international branding via its Metcourt Inn and Grand Palm hotels.
“We expect another solid performance in 2005,” the CEO forecast. “Revenue and profit growth should remain healthy. We will also be in de-gearing mode for the next seven years, which will also have a positive effect on earnings.”
According to Joubert, the group’s Botswana operations are likely to post improved results in 2005 after the Grand Palm was affected by a price war in Gaborone, initiated by a competitor, in 2004. As the group did not discount its room prices, its occupancy levels fell, although margins did not suffer.
Now that Peermont has opened its new budget (three-star) Metcourt Inn and purchased the Syringa hotel (aimed at longer-stay visitors) in Gaborone, it has a much wider coverage of the local hotel market, he pointed out. Since its opening in February, the Metcourt Inn has proved very popular, already producing a profit in what is a growth sector in the Southern African market.
In South Africa, the group’s Caesars hotel and Graceland hotel in Secunda have both maintained high occupancy and room rates, benefiting from good interest from local visitors and not dependent on international tourists. The Graceland Casino, however, experienced only a 6,6% increase in revenue due to relatively depressed economic conditions in the region.
At Caesars, revenues rose by 14,2%, compared with an overall increase in the Gauteng gaming market of 15,3% for the year, pointing to a slight decline in market share for the casino — to 27,1% from 27,5%.
However, Caesars’ earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margin improved to 40,3% from 37,7% in 2003, which Joubert said was a “major achievement” for the resort, as revenue growth combined with more efficient staff usage to underpin higher margins.
Caesars posted record gaming revenues in December 2004, he added, helped by the addition of new gaming positions in November.
For the year, Peermont’s total revenue rose by 11,6% to R917,1-million, with gaming revenues rising by 13,5% to R738,5-million and accounting for the lion’s share of business. Non-gaming revenues, including hotel management and other business, grew by only 4% to R178-million.
Following the release of its results, Peermont’s shares remained untraded on the JSE Securities Exchange on Monday morning, last quoted at R7,80. — I-Net Bridge