Jardine Strategic Hldgs Ltd Interim Management Statement (6307S)

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RNS Number : 6307S

Jardine Strategic Hldgs Ltd

07 November 2019

7th November 2019

For immediate release

Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited

Interim Management Statement

Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited today publishes its Interim Management Statement for the third quarter of 2019.

The Group performed steadily during the period, with overall earnings in line with the comparable period in 2018, although weaker consumer sentiment began significantly to affect most of its consumer businesses in Hong Kong as a result of the ongoing social unrest. The Group's balance sheet at 30th September 2019 remained strong, with gearing little changed from the half year.

Of the Group's businesses held directly by Jardine Matheson, Jardine Pacific delivered results in line with the comparable period in 2018. JEC continued to trade well and Transport Services saw improved earnings. Jardine Schindler produced a steady contribution. Jardine Motors saw its earnings increase overall, primarily due to higher contributions from Zung Fu in mainland China and the investment in Zhongsheng. Softer performance, however, was recorded at Zung Fu in Hong Kong and the dealerships in the United Kingdom, both of which are being impacted by weaker market sentiment.

Within the businesses held by the Company, Hongkong Land saw positive rent reversions and occupancy levels remained high in its office portfolios in Hong Kong and Singapore. The group's Central retail portfolio effectively remained fully occupied.

Hongkong Land's property development activities in mainland China saw higher contracted sales in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, due to a greater number of sales launches and changes in product mix. Market sentiment remained stable. There were satisfactory levels of pre-sales at the group's projects in Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia.

Dairy Farm saw stronger results from its Food business, with an improvement in its Southeast Asia Supermarkets and Hypermarkets business due to the implementation of its store optimisation plan, partially offset by a weaker performance in North Asia as a result of rental and labour cost pressures. Convenience Stores continued to perform well. Home Furnishings saw strong growth in Taiwan and Indonesia, which offset a lower performance in Hong Kong caused by weak consumer sentiment.

While Southeast Asia Health and Beauty sales improved, overall Health and Beauty performance is being significantly impacted by difficult market conditions in Hong Kong as a result of the ongoing social unrest which has also adversely affected Maxim's performance.

Yonghui reported strong underlying growth in profitability and Dairy Farm continued to benefit from its interest in Robinson's Retail.

As anticipated, the closure of The Excelsior, Hong Kong at the end of March 2019 and the major renovation in Bangkok resulted in substantially lower results for the quarter in Mandarin Oriental compared with the same period in 2018, despite strong results from the newly renovated London hotel. Earnings from the group's flagship hotel in Hong Kong were lower due to difficult market conditions.

Jardine Cycle & Carriage delivered lower results in the third quarter, compared with the same period last year, due to lower contributions from Astra in Indonesia - which saw weaker performances from its heavy equipment, mining, construction and energy, automotive businesses and agribusiness, partially offset by higher earnings from its financial services business - and the group's Direct Motor Interests, particularly Truong Hai Auto Corporation in Vietnam.

Jardine Strategic is a holding company which takes long-term strategic investments in multinational businesses, particularly those with an Asian focus, and in other high quality companies with existing or potential links with the Group. Its principal attributable interests are in Jardine Matheson 58%, Hongkong Land 50%, Dairy Farm 78%, Mandarin Oriental 78% and Jardine Cycle & Carriage 75%, which in turn has a 50% interest in Astra. It also has minority interests in Zhongsheng and Greatview Aseptic Packaging. Jardine Strategic is 85% held by Jardine Matheson.

Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Company's interests are managed from Hong Kong by Jardine Matheson Limited.

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For further information, please contact:

Jardine Matheson Limited

Jonathan Lloyd (852) 2843 8223

Brunswick Group Limited

David Ashton (852) 3512 5063

This and other Group announcements can be accessed through the internet at www.jardines.com.

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November 07, 2019 04:29 ET (09:29 GMT)