CCB 2Q net profit up 10.6% to RM6.52m, declares 5c interim dividend

KUALA LUMPUR: Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd (CCB) net profit for
the second quarter ended June 30, 2011 rose 10.64% to RM6.52 million
from RM5.89 million a year earlier due mainly to increase in sales.

Revenue for the quarter rose to RM178.63 million from RM161.02
million a year earlier. Earnings per share was 6.47 sen while net assets
per share was RM1.84.

The company declared an interim dividend totaling five sen comprising
gross 3.93 sen per share and single-tier exempt dividend of 1.07 sen
per share.

For the six months ended June 30, CCB’s revenue rose 8% to RM330.8 million while net profit increased by 13% to RM14.4 million.

In a statement Monday, July 25, CCB chairman Ben Keswick said
competition in the premium vehicle segment in Malaysia was intense in
the first half of the year.

Nevertheless, he said CCB increased its sales of Mercedes-Benz
passenger cars by 11% with the inclusion of sales by recently acquired
subsidiary, Lowe Motors. Its after-sales operations also made a good
contribution, while corporate expenses were slightly lower than the
previous year as costs and overheads continued to be well managed.

The acquisition of Lowe Motors Sdn Bhd, the authorised dealer of
Mercedes-Benz in the state of Penang, was completed in May 2011, he
said.

On its prospects, Keswick said that while conditions in the market
were expected to continue to be competitive, the outlook for the group
in remainder of the year was positive.

No wonder it shot up yesterday