利豐集團半年業績低於預期

Li & Fung, the supplier of made-in-Asia goods to the likes of Marks and Spencer and Walmart, has placed a question mark over the prospect of global economic recovery with underwhelming results.

利豐集團(Li & Fung)平平無奇的業績爲全球經濟復甦前景打上了一個問號。利豐是爲瑪莎百貨(Marks and Spencer)和沃爾瑪(Walmart)之類大型零售商提供亞洲製造商品的供應商。

The Hong Kong-based middleman – seen as a bellwether of the wider retail sector – blamed weakness in the US for missing analysts’ forecasts.

這家總部位於香港的中間商被視爲零售業整體的風向標。該集團將未能達到分析師預期的原因歸結爲美國需求疲弱。

It reported turnover that was up 3 per cent on a year earlier to $8.71bn for the six months to June 30, undershooting the $8.73bn forecast by analysts polled by Bloomberg. Operating profit fell back 9 per cent to $227m – also missing analysts’ forecasts. The interim dividend was trimmed from HK$0.15 to HK$0.13.

該集團報告，截至6月30日的6個月裏營業額同比增長3%，達到87.1億美元，這一數字低於彭博(Bloomberg)所調查的分析師給出的87.3億美元的預測。運營利潤則回落9%，跌至2.27億美元，同樣低於分析師預測。中期股息從每股0.15港元減少至0.13港元。

“The US is not performing very well, and we expect the second half to also be difficult,” said Spencer Fung, who recently took over as chief executive.

最近剛剛擔任首席執行官的馮裕鈞(Spencer Fung)表示：“美國的業績不是太好，我們預計下半年仍將處境艱難。”

In March, Li & Fung used an all-stock spin-off to split itself into two companies: a sourcing and logistics company, and another managing and licensing brands, called Global Brands Group.

今年3月，利豐進行了全股票剝離操作，將自身分成兩家企業：一家負責採購和物流的企業，以及一家負責品牌管理和授權、名爲全球品牌集團(Global Brands Group)的企業。

“We are back to what Li & Fung was before, which was the world’s largest sourcing company and supply chain manager, where we completely dominate the market,” Mr Fung said.

馮裕鈞表示：“我們重新迴歸了過去的利豐，也就是那個全球最大的採購企業及供應鏈管理商。在這個領域，我們完全主導市場。”

The spin-off marked the end of an acquisition binge that began in 2006 and involved snapping up more than 40 companies, with 18 bought in 2011 alone. The total cost to Li & Fung – the upfront price plus phased performance-related payments – topped $7bn.

那次剝離標誌着始於2006年的收購熱潮的結束。在那次收購潮中，利豐收購了逾40家企業，其中2011年一年就收購了18家。利豐爲此付出的總成本（包括前期預付價格及與業績相聯繫的分階段付款）達到70億美元。

Li & Fung shares closed up 1 per cent at HK$10.48 before the results were announced.

在這次業績報告公佈之前，利豐股價收盤上漲1%，至每股10.48港元。