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RAUBEX GROUP LIMITED
(Previously Lexpub 49 Investments Limited)
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 2006/023666/06)
JSE Share Code: RBX
ISIN: ZAE000093183
("Raubex” or “the Company”)
Results of Annual
General Meeting
Raubex shareholders are advised that at the
Annual General Meeting of members held on Friday 2 October,
2009, all resolutions as proposed in the Notice of the Annual
General Meeting were approved by the requisite majority of
members. The special resolution will be lodged with the Companies
and Intellectual Property Registration Office for registration
in due course.
At the Annual General Meeting, Mr. G M Raubenheimer
(executive director) did not seek re-election and accordingly
resigned from the board. Mr. G M Raubenheimer will continue
as part of the Group’s management team. Mr R J Fourie was
appointed as an executive director of the board.
The chairman, Collin Matjila, made the following
address at the Annual General Meeting:
The past year was marked by volatile
economic conditions in the global world markets. Despite these
challenges, Raubex achieved yet another strong financial and
operational performance which was substantiated by a growing
order book and the continued healthy demand for our services.
This has also been a year of consolidation
as we entrenched the group as a competitive industry player
with adequate scale and reach. Following a balanced strategy
of organic and acquisitive growth has proven to be profitable
and highly beneficial.
Five acquisitions were successfully
incorporated into the Group and have already delivered strong
financial and operational performances within the various
divisions. Organically, the government’s continued demand
for our services has served us well and our investment into
a new asphalt production facility will also increase our market
share in the key Gauteng area significantly.
Current indications point to the
Gauteng Freeway Improvement Programme being extended into
a third phase and we will continue to actively explore associated
Public Private Partnership opportunities.
But South Africa will not provide
the necessary growth potential forever. Whilst maintenance
of the newly developed infrastructure will remain a cornerstone
of our business, Raubex has made it clear that in the long-term,
it will continue to look at the international market to sustain
its growth momentum. Our international strategy is moving
ahead and we have continued to carefully expand into the SADC
region on a country by country basis. Post year end, our strong
presence in Zambia was complemented by the awarding of two
large road contracts in Namibia with a combined value of R1
billion. Smaller contracts were also awarded in that country
subsequently.
We will continue to cautiously explore
new opportunities in geographies that meet our investment
criteria with Botswana, Angola and Zimbabwe appearing attractive
in the medium term. It is anticipated that international operations
will contribute 50% of Group revenue in the next five years.
Raubex announced a final dividend
of 70 cents per share bringing the total dividend for the
year to 100 cents per share. The dividend policy of three
times cover indicated at listing remains unchanged.
A cornerstone of Raubex’s success
has been its entrepreneurial culture supported by strong management
and I have no doubt that this will continue in the future.
In line with the Group’s succession strategy, Mr Koos Raubenheimer,
the current CEO and founder of Raubex, announced his intention
to retire from his position in March 2010. It is anticipated
that Rudolf Fourie, current Managing Director of the Roadmac
division, will assume the position of CEO in March next year
whilst Koos Raubenheimer will take on a non-executive role
on the Board. As a result, the Board will be streamlined to
two executives with Francois Diedrechsen retaining his position
as Financial and Commercial Director. GM (Thabo) Raubenheimer
will be retiring as an executive member of the Board but will
remain with the business going forward. I would like to thank
him for his services and continued valuable contribution to
the success of the business.
We believe that the global economic
focus on infrastructure will underpin South Africa’s essential
development plans and this will continue to drive the current
cycle. Our strategy to continue to secure the medium term
order book will ensure further growth and we remain committed
to a conservative capital expenditure strategy until there
is improvement in the long-term visibility.
I would like to extend my thanks
to my colleagues on the Board, management and all employees
for the achievements of the past year but also our investors
for their continued support. I look forward to another year
of continued success and growth.
ENQUIRIES:
Raubex Group Limited +27 12 665 3226
Francois Diedrechsen, Commercial and Financial Director
College Hill +27 11 447 3030
Fred Cornet +27 83 307 8286
Hayley Crane +27 72 758 1677
Investment Bank and Sponsor:
Investec Bank Limited
Johannesburg
2 October 2009 |