29 million riyals «Gulf International» semi-annual profits

Gulf International Services (GIS) has earned a revenue of QR1.5bn and a net profit of QR29mn in the six-month period up to June.

GIS is one of the largest services groups in Qatar, with interests in a broad cross-section of industries, ranging from insurance and re-insurance, onshore and offshore drilling, accommodation barge, helicopter transportation, and catering services.

In the six-month period GIS’ earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) stood at QR366mn.

The group’s revenue for the period that ended in June (QR1.5bn) was up 17% compared to revenue of QR1.3bn in the previous year, up by 17%.

The insurance segment was the largest source of revenue to GIS during this period.

The group’s net profit amounted to QR29mn, with earnings per share of QR0.016, compared to net profit of QR34mn and earnings per share of QR 0.018 in the previous year.

The earnings per share of the prior period have been reported taking into effect the stock split transaction mandated by Qatar Financial Markets Authority.

The overall reduction in the group’s net profit was primarily affected by the insurance segment.

Revenue in the insurance segment has improved significantly versus last year as a result of securing a number of new major clients in both the medical and energy lines of business and regaining some of the previously lost businesses.

On the other hand, due to the nature of the insurance business, the segment’s operating cost has increased with the improved revenue, which has resulted in the segment reporting lower operating margins compared to last year.

“The impact of this decline was partially reduced by better performance of the segment’s investment portfolio,” GIS said.

The drilling segment has reported a marginal growth in revenue, mainly due to the deployment of the new offshore drilling rig “West Tucana” contracted to Qatargas via a strategic partnership with Seadrill.

In addition, the company will continue bidding for future contracts whenever an opportunity arises. The segment’s net loss witnessed a year-on-year reduction of 15% despite an increase in financing cost, primarily due to increased revenue together with reduction in “G&A” expenses.

The aviation segment has reported a moderate growth in revenue compared to last year, mainly as a result of the growth of activities in the segment’s international operations supported by short-term contracts in Pakistan, Turkey and South Africa, while maintaining its commercial aviation position locally.

The growth in the international operations along with savings in G&A expenses contributed to the growth in net profit.

The catering segment, on the other hand, has reported a reduction in revenue due to the demobilisation of major contracts and reduction in camps occupancy.

However, the segment continues to actively seek opportunities from both industrial and non-oil and gas sectors.

Net profit in the segment witnessed a year-on-year reduction of 24%, mainly due to reduced revenue from the catering and accommodation services.

The group’s closing cash (including short-term investments) stood at QR892mn (as on June 30) with total debt of QR4.8bn. The drilling segment represents 92% of the group’s debt.

GIS has embarked on a number of initiatives to improve financial and operational performance through optimising costs and operations. The group is continuing the execution of some of the previously identified initiatives, which are in various stages of completion and are progressing well.

These initiatives include the recently announced award of contracts by Qatar Petroleum to provide six premium jack up rigs for the North Field Expansion project in the drilling segment, the acquisition of a 49% stake in Air Ocean Maroc in the aviation segment, and wining three major insurance contracts in the medical insurance segment. In addition, the insurance segment has decided to share the medical insurance risk via reinsurance.

Additionally, the group was able to reduce its G&A expenses during the period by QR15mn, or 14%, compared to the same period of 2018.

GIS will continue the assessment of the group’s operation to capture additional potential revenue enhancement and cost improvement opportunities.

أعلنت شركة الخليج الدولية للخدمات نتائجها المالية لفترة النصف الأول من العام الحالي، والمنتهية في 30 يونيو الماضي، حيث حققت صافي ربح بلغ 29 مليون ريال، بعائد على السهم بواقع 0.016 ريال، مقارنة بصافي أرباح 34 مليون ريال وبعائد على السهم 0.018 ريال للفترة نفسها من العام الماضي.

وسجلت المجموعة إيرادات في الفترة المنتهية بتاريخ 30 يونيو 2019 بواقع 1.5 مليار ريال، بزيادة تبلغ نسبتها 17% مقارنة بالفترة نفسها من العام الماضي، وأرباحاً قبل احتساب الفوائد والضرائب والإهلاك والاستهلاك بواقع 366 مليون ريال. وتجدر الإشارة إلى أن قطاع التأمين كان المصدر الأكبر لإيرادات المجموعة خلال هذه الفترة مقارنة بقطاعاتها الأخرى.

وقد ارتفعت إيرادات قطاع التأمين ارتفاعاً كبيراً مقارنة بالفترة نفسها من العام الماضي مع الفوز بعدد من العملاء الجدد في شريحتي التأمين الطبي والتأمينات المقدمة لقطاع الطاقة، هذا بالإضافة إلى استعادة بعض أعمال سبق وفقدها القطاع، وبرغم ذلك، ونظراً لطبيعة عمل قطاع التأمين، فقد ارتفعت التكاليف التشغيلية للقطاع بالتوازي مع ارتفاع إيراداته، الأمر الذي أسفر عن انخفاض الهوامش التشغيلية مقارنة بالفترة نفسها من العام الماضي. وقد ساهم تحسن أداء المحفظة الاستثمارية للقطاع في التخفيف جزئياً من أثر هذا الانخفاض.

وحققت إيرادات قطاع الحفر بعض النمو، الأمر الذي يعود بصورة أساسية إلى تشغيل منصة الحفر البحرية الجديدة «ويست توكانا» لدى «قطر غاز» من خلال شراكة استراتيجية مع شركة «سي درل»، وبرغم ارتفاع تكاليف التمويل، فإن صافي خسارة القطاع قد انخفض بنسبة 15% مقارنة بالفترة نفسها من العام الماضي، وهو ما يعزى بصورة أساسية إلى زيادة الإيرادات وتراجع المصروفات العامة والإدارية.