51
Table 9
In South African Rand
Six months ended December 31,
2023
2022
%
ZAR ’000
ZAR ’000
change
Revenue
5,232,165
4,499,262
16%
Cost of goods sold, IT processing, servicing and support
4,144,195
3,610,946
15%
Selling, general and administration
823,304
801,144
3%
Depreciation and amortization
218,029
205,547
6%
Operating income (loss)
46,637
(118,375)
nm
Reversal of allowance for EMI doubtful debt receivable
4,741
-
nm
Net gain on disposal of equity-accounted investments
-
2,346
nm
Interest income
17,448
13,799
26%
Interest expense
181,758
145,298
25%
Loss before income tax expense
(112,932)
(247,528)
(54%)
Income tax expense
17,670
6,813
159%
Net loss before loss from equity-accounted investments
(130,602)
(254,341)
(49%)
Loss from equity-accounted investments
25,852
44,828
(42%)
Net loss attributable to us
(156,454)
(299,169)
(48%)
Revenue increased
by $19.1
million (ZAR
0.7 billion),
or 7.3%
(in ZAR,
16.3%), primarily
due to
the increase
in low
margin
prepaid airtime sales
and other value-added
services, as well
as higher transaction, insurance
and lending revenues, which
was partially
offset by lower hardware sales revenue in our POS hardware distribution
business given the lumpy nature of bulk sales.
Cost of goods sold, IT processing, servicing and
support increased by $12.4 million (ZAR
0.5 billion), or 5.9% (in ZAR,
14.8%),
primarily due to the increase in low margin prepaid airtime sales, which were partially offset by the benefits of various
cost reduction
initiatives in Consumer and lower insurance-related claims.
Selling, general and administration expenses decreased by $2.4 million, or 5.1%, and in ZAR increased by ZAR 22.2 million, or
2.8%. In ZAR, the increase was
primarily due to higher employee-related expenses related to the
expansion of our senior management
team and the year-over-year impact of inflationary increases
on employee-related expenses, which were partially
offset by the benefits
of various cost reduction initiatives in Consumer and lower stock-based
compensation charges.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $0.2 million, or 2.1%, and in ZAR increased by ZAR 12.5 million or 6.1%.
In the ZAR, the increase was due to an increase in depreciation expense related to
additional POS devices deployed.
Our operating income (loss) margin for the first half of fiscal 2024 and 2023 was 0.9% and (2.6)%, respectively.
We discuss the
components of operating loss margin under “—Results of operations
by operating segment.”
We did not record any changes in the fair value of equity interests in MobiKwik and Cell C during the first half of fiscal 2024 or
2023, respectively.
During the first half of fiscal 2024,
we received an outstanding amount of
$0.3 million related to the sale Carbon
in fiscal 2023,
which resulted
in the
reversal of
an allowance
for doubtful
loans receivable
of $0.3
million recorded
in fiscal
2023.
We
recorded a
gain of $0.3
million related to the
disposal of our
entire interest in Carbon
during the first half
of fiscal 2023.
Refer to Note
5 to our
unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional
information regarding this disposal.
Interest on
surplus cash
increased to
$0.9 million
(ZAR 17.4
million) from
$0.8 million
(ZAR 13.8
million), primarily
due to
higher interest rates.
Interest expense increased
to $9.7 million (ZAR
181.8 million) from
$8.4 million (ZAR
145.3 million), primarily
as a result of
higher overall interest rates and higher overall borrowings during the first half of fiscal 2024 compared with comparable period in the
prior year to
date, which was
partially offset
by lower interest
expense incurred
on certain of our
borrowing for which
we were able
to negotiate lower rates of interest during the latter half of fiscal 2023.
Fiscal 2024 tax expense was $(1.0) million
(ZAR (17.7) million) compared to $0.4 million
(ZAR 6.8 million) in fiscal 2023. Our
effective tax rate for fiscal 2024 was impacted
by the tax expense recorded by our profitable South
African operations, a deferred tax
benefit related
to acquisition-related
intangible asset
amortization, non-deductible
expenses, the
on-going losses
incurred by
certain
of our South African businesses
and the associated valuation allowances
created related to the deferred
tax assets recognized regarding
net operating losses incurred by these entities.