Brambles Limited

From IntFX

See also: BXB for realtime information.

Brambles Limited is a support services provider and operates through two group businesses:

• CHEP (Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool) offers a wide range of pallets and containers pooling services. The business supports over 300,000 customer in 44 countries through a team of 7,700 people. CHEP issues, collects, repairs and reissues about 285 million pallets and containers from its global network of over 450 service centers. The customer industry sectors include Fast Moving Consumer Goods, produce, meat, home improvement, beverage, raw materials and automotive. In 2004, the business launched its PLUS ID service offering, which included reliable RFID-enabled CHEP pallets. Brambles acquired the business from the Australian Government in 1958.

• Recall operates approximately 300 facilities in 22 countries offering information management services including document management solutions, data protection services and secure destruction services. The business employs approximately 4,500 people that service nearly 80,000 customers worldwide. Recall’s primary industry focus is banking and finance, insurance, legal, health care, retailing and government.

The Company has presence in 47 countries across six continents and employs approximately 12,000 people. The Company’s global headquarters are in Sydney, Australia. Brambles Limited has a primary listing on the Australian Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

[edit] History

Brambles Industries Limited was first listed on Australian Stock Exchange in 1954. Brambles purchased CHEP from Australian government in 1958. The Company formed Cleanaway Limited (purchased as Redland Purle) as a joint venture with GKN plc in 1980.

In 2001, GKN plc de-merged its support services activities and listed them under the name Brambles Industries plc on the London Stock Exchange. In the same year, Brambles Industries plc and Brambles Industries Limited were combined in a dual listed companies' structure.

[edit] Financial performance

Brambles’ sales revenues increased 9.8% to US$3,868.8 million in 2007 from US$3,522.1 million in 2006. During the same period, while the Company’s operating profit increased 20.9% to US$932.8 million, its net profit before exceptional items declined 5.7% to US$1,443.3 million. On the similar lines, Brambles witnessed an improvement in its operating margin increased to 24.1% from 21.9% in 2006 and a decline in net profit margin before exceptional items to 37.3% from 43.5% in 2006.