CSR shows improvement on annual performance at 66%
CSR Limited confirmed on Wednesday that it performed decently at 66 per cent in its annual result for the year ended March 31. The firm did not specify any expected figures for the following year.
CSR also said it will proceed on discussions with Chinese company Bright Star on a possibility to sell its sugar and renewable energy businesses and to demerge the division into a new company.
Figures show that CSR had a net loss of $111.7 million in the fiscal 2010, after a disappointing loss of $326.5 million from the previous year.
Net profit before significant items was at $173 million. It was 29 per cent higher during the fiscal year of 2009.
Its non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge totaled to $250 million to reduce the carrying value of CSR's Viridian.
Group earnings before interest and taxes for the year summed up at $364.1 million, a 14 per cent higher than the previous year.
Jeremy Sutcliffe, managing director of CSR, attribute the boost of its company into the competiting market over the year to its two operating businesses - Socrogen and Building Products.
"While Sucrogen benefited from a higher average realised raw sugar price, the improved reliability and performance in the mills following the capital upgrade program also assisted in achieving a very strong result," Mr Sutcliffe said.
"Our building products businesses in general have performed creditably in what continued to be a challenging environment for most of the year and remain well positioned to capitalise on emerging signs of recovery, particularly in residential construction."
The company said it is too early and inappropriate to forecast earnings for 2011.
CSR said it will not stop engaging in talks with Bright Foods as shareholders want to determine whether the proposal is of value to the company.
Shareholders of CSR also agree to continue on with the demerger plans.
CSR is a manufacturer of sugar, energy and building materials in Australia.