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Business Description: Ausdrill Limited (ASL) is a diversified mining services company with operations across Australia, Africa and United Kingdom. Its core activities are focused on providing services in contract mining, grade control, drill & blast, exploration, mineral analysis, procurement & logistics and manufacturing.
Strategy Analysis: ASL strategy is to vertically integrate and become 'the complete service company´ to the mining industry in Australia and Africa. ASL has been extremely successful in acquiring businesses and integrating the operations, with the Brandrill operations now achieving similar margins to ASL. Participating in joint ventures has provided significant low-cost opportunities for the company to gain skills and expand operations to include coal seam gas drilling in Australia and underground gold mining in Africa.
ASL has developed a strong niche, providing drill and blast contract services to the gold mining industry. But while project work is buoyant, contract renewal and extensions are becoming more difficult due to increasing competition for tenders. The appointment of former Leighton´s CEO Wal King to the Board provides ASL with detailed experience and knowledge of the construction and contract mining industry.
Ausdrill reported NPAT down 11.9% to $48.14m for the half-year ended 31 December 2012. Revenues from ordinary activities were $580.16m, up 13.4% from the same period last year. Whilst revenues have increased as a result of increased activity in Africa, the Group's profits were impacted by a number of significant items as well as a general slowdown in activity in the Australian mining sector from September 2012 onwards. Diluted EPS was 15.67 cents compared to 17.97 cents last year. Net operating cash flow was $52.88m compared to $68.32m last year. The interim dividend declared was 6.5 cents in line with 6.5 cents last year. Looking ahead, at an operating level the second half should see the benefit of a full six month contribution from the BTP acquisition as well as the ramp-up at the Syama project.
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