CAPCO Swings To Profit In FY21

Capital & Counties Properties plc (CAPC.L), on Wednesday, reported a turnaround to profit for the fiscal year 2021, and further said it looks ahead “with confidence to continued progress in 2022 to generate long-term returns for shareholders from our unique portfolio of West End investments.”

The company reported fiscal 2021 profit from continuing operations of £29.3 million compared to a loss of £702.7 million incurred a year ago. Earnings from continuing operations attributable to owners of the Parent was 3.4p per share compared to a loss of 82.6p per share last year.

Equity attributable to owners of the Parent was £1.786 billion or 209.8p per share versus £1.760 billion or 206.8p per share in the prior year period.

Headline earnings per share was 5.3p versus a loss of 1.3p reported in the previous year. Underlying earnings totaled 0.5p per share compared to a loss of 0.7p per share in 2020.

Revenue for the year declined to £68.0 million from £73.9 million generated in the same period of last year.

Ian Hawksworth, Chief Executive of Capco, said, “We are pleased with the strong level of leasing demand for Covent Garden which has contributed to a valuation uplift in the second half. With footfall continuing to increase, customer sales approaching 2019 levels and our creative approach, Covent Garden is the most vibrant district in the West End and is well-positioned for further rental growth…”

Danone 2021 Net Income Declines; Sales Up 3.4% On LFL Basis

Danone (DANOY.PK) reported full year 2021 recurring net income – Group share of 2.16 billion euros, down 1.1% from last year. Recurring earnings per share was 3.31 euros compared to 3.34 euros. Net income – Group share was 1.92 billion euros, down 1.6%. Earnings per share was 2.94 euros compared to 2.99 euros.

Full year 2021 net sales were 24.28 billion euros, up 3.4% on a like-for-like basis and an increase of 2.8% on a reported basis.

In the fourth quarter, sales increased by 6.7% on a like-for-like basis. Reported sales rose by 10.9%, for the quarter.

Danone’s Board will propose a dividend of 1.94 euros per share in cash, in line with last year. The dividends will be payable on May 12, 2022.

PUMA Q4 Operating Result Rises; Sales Up 14.3% Currency Adjusted

PUMA (PMMAF.PK) reported that its fourth quarter net earnings decreased to 7.9 million euros from 24.7 million euros, prior year, due to a lower financial result and a negative impact attributable to non-controlling interests. Earnings per share decreased to 0.05 euros from 0.16 euros. Operating result (EBIT) improved to 65 million euros from 63 million euros. Sales increased by 14.3% currency adjusted to 1.77 billion euros, or up 16.2% reported.

Full year 2021 net earnings increased to 309.6 million euros from 78.9 million euros, last year. Earnings per share increased to 2.07 euros from 0.53 euros. Operating result (EBIT) improved to 557 million euros from 209 million euros. Full year sales increased by 31.7% currency adjusted to 6.80 billion euros, or up 30.0% reported. The company said the very strong sales development was driven by double-digit growth rates in all regions and product divisions.

PUMA expects a strong currency-adjusted sales growth of at least ten percent in the financial year 2022. The company anticipates operating result (EBIT) to be in a range of 600 million euros and 700 million euros, and net earnings to improve correspondingly.

Henkel FY Adj. EBIT Increases – Quick Facts

Henkel (HENOY.PK,HENKY.PK) reported that its adjusted operating profit or adjusted EBIT for fiscal year 2021 increased by 4.2 percent to 2.69 billion euros from fiscal 2020.

Adjusted earnings per preferred share rose by 7.0 percent to 4.56 euros from the prior year. At constant exchange rates, adjusted earnings per preferred share increased 9.2 percent.

Henkel Group sales were 20.07 billion euros in fiscal 2021. This corresponds to a nominal growth of 4.2 percent and to a significant organic sales growth of 7.8 percent.

Henkel will propose a stable dividend of 1.85 euros per preferred share and 1.83 euros per ordinary share to its shareholders at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

In addition, Henkel has announced a share buyback program with a volume of up to 1 billion euros at the end of January 2022 and already started the implementation in February. Henkel plans to buy back preferred shares with a total value of up to 800 million euros and ordinary shares with a total value of up to 200 million euros. The program is expected to be carried out latest until March 31, 2023.

The company noted that the outlook for fiscal 2022, which was already published at the end of January, remains unchanged. The company expects organic sales growth in the range of 2 to 4 percent, and an adjusted return on sales (EBIT margin) between 11.5 and 13.5 percent. At Group level, Henkel expects for adjusted earnings per preferred share a development in the range between -15 to +5 percent at constant exchange rates in fiscal 2022.

Darktrace Acquires Attack Surface Management Company Cybersprint For 47.5 Mln Euros

U.K.-based Darktrace (DRKTF, DARK), a global leader in cyber security AI, on Wednesday announced a definitive agreement to acquire Netherlands-based privately held Cybersprint B.V., a cybersecurity company that specializes in digital footprint, for 47.5 million euros or $53.7 million.

The consideration, to be paid approximately 75 percent in cash and 25 percent in equity, is around 12.5 times the value of Cybersprint’s annual recurring revenue (ARR). The transaction is expected to be completed on or around 1 March.

Cybersprint’s technology and external data is complementary to the Darktrace product set and would add to its new “Prevent” product suite, underpinned by Attack Path Modeling. Through this acquisition, Darktrace is also gaining a second European R&D Centre in The Hague, Netherlands.

Cybersprint’s results of operations are not expected to be material to Darktrace’s results for the remainder of fiscal 2022.

Shares of Darktrace closed Tuesday’s trading at $4.6360, up $0.2060 or 4.65 percent from previous close.