Aitken Spence PLC’s profit attributable to shareholders fell 4 percent to Rs. 381.1 million in the September quarter, even as Group pre-tax profit rose 67 percent to Rs. 1.07 billion on a stronger contribution from equity-accounted investees. Earnings per share eased to 94 cents from 98 cents a year earlier.
Group revenue rose 6 percent to Rs. 22.76 billion in the second quarter of FY2026/27, according to interim results filed with the Colombo Stock Exchange. Operating profit fell 32 percent to Rs. 851.9 million as staff costs and indirect operating expenses rose and the Group recorded a net charge of Rs. 386.5 million under other operating income, compared with income of Rs. 21.2 million a year earlier.
Net finance costs rose 29 percent to Rs. 1.43 billion. The Group’s share of profit from equity-accounted investees more than tripled to Rs. 1.65 billion from Rs. 488.5 million, more than offsetting the decline in operating profit and the increase in finance costs.
Group profit after tax climbed to Rs. 340.9 million from Rs. 16.1 million. Losses attributable to non-controlling interests narrowed to Rs. 40.2 million from Rs. 381 million a year earlier, accounting for the divergence between the rise in Group profit and the decline in earnings attributable to Aitken Spence shareholders.
For the six months ended September, Group revenue rose 2.6 percent to Rs. 41.72 billion and pre-tax profit increased 71.4 percent to Rs. 2.82 billion. First-half profit attributable to shareholders nearly doubled to Rs. 1.83 billion from Rs. 930.8 million, lifting earnings per share to Rs. 4.51 from Rs. 2.29.
Maritime and freight logistics was the largest contributor to first-half earnings, with pre-tax profit rising 54 percent to Rs. 3.28 billion. The company cited higher volumes, improved freight rates and increased throughput at overseas ports. Services pre-tax profit rose to Rs. 1.50 billion from Rs. 535.9 million, helped by the Group’s Port City business process outsourcing venture and a gain on the sale of an investment property.
Tourism remained the Group’s largest business by revenue, generating Rs. 25.96 billion in the first half. Its pre-tax loss nearly doubled to Rs. 1.64 billion, with the company citing weaker occupancy and higher operating costs in the Maldives. The listed hotel subsidiary, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, separately reported a September-quarter loss of Rs. 970.8 million despite a 12 percent increase in net revenue to Rs. 10.86 billion.
The strategic investments division’s first-half pre-tax loss widened to Rs. 325.7 million from Rs. 186.8 million. The company said maintenance disrupted power generation and its apparel operations continued to report losses. On 3 November, Aitken Spence completed the sale of its entire stake in an apparel subsidiary with three production facilities.
