The firm said a weak first-half performance had been followed by significant improvement in the second half, where pre-tax profit exceeded guidance to the market, at US$33.55 million, up 178 % on the US$12.10 million reported in the first six months of the financial year.
The Latin American segment reported
another year of improved performance with revenues increasing by 5% and profits
rising by 11%. Sales were up in every market across the continent. Mexico,
Ainsworth’s largest market in the region, saw increased penetration and now
accounts for 39% of total sale units.
In its ‘rest of the world’ sales segment, the company said that "increased
sales contribution from Asia and Europe” as a result of its tie-up with
Novomatic had resulted in unit volume rising by 74% year-on-year, to 1,807.
Ainsworth said Novomatic contributed sales of US$9.05 million.
"Our impressive second half
performance begins to reflect the competitiveness of our broader product
offering, our investments in technology, sales and marketing, and the strength
of our international footprint,” commented Ainsworth’s chief executive Danny
Gladstone, in a prepared statement.
"We continue to expand on strategies to
broaden and diversify product offerings in established and new markets. With
the introduction of new technologies and an increased range of innovative
content, we expect to progressively grow market share and profitability across
international and domestic markets,” Gladstone added.
"The board maintains its commitment
and policy to distribute profits to shareholders and will review recommencement
of dividend payments in financial-year 2018 subject to investment and growth
objectives,” Gladstone concluded.
Source: GMB
