PPC not out of the woods yet, but sees growth potential

JSE-listed PPC has posted flat earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of R1.14-billion for the six months ended September 30, while its Ebitda margin, at 22.2%, was negatively impacted on by selling price pressures and the timing of administration and other operating expenses. The cement producer further noted that owing to higher finance costs and revaluation losses on the foreign currency monetary items, together with the nonrecurrence of the prior period's exceptional profit on the sale of noncore assets, net profit attributable to shareholders declined by 72% to R102-million.