Brickworks record year driven by diversification

Building products, property and investment group Brickworks achieved a record net profit after tax in FY21 driven by a 38 per cent rise in its investment in WHSP, property development and stronger building products performance in Australia.

Underlying NPAT from continuing operations was up 95 per cent to $285 million and statutory profit down 20 per cent.

Revenues were down six per cent in the year to $890 million though a focus on cost control saw underlying EBIT up 86 per cent to $383 million.

The key driver in Brickworks’ stellar year was a $1.2 billion rise in the company’s 39.4 per cent shareholding in investment group WHSP to $3.4 billion.

Total assets now stand at $4.8 billion, a rise of 149 per cent in 10 years.

Property trust assets also gained in value by $149 million.

The company’s building products businesses in Australia achieved an EBIT of $44 million, up 36 per cent due to a broad-based operating costs reduction.

Brickworks managing director Lindsay Partridge said: “Early in the financial year sales were subdued, due primarily to disruptions and uncertainty at the start of the pandemic.

“However, as the year progressed demand improved in response to government stimulus measures

During the year the company reached the commissioning stage of its Oakdale East masonry plant in Sydney, and began work on a brick facility at Horsley Park, though these were hit by Covid-19 disruptions.

In the United States EBIT was down six per cent to $9 million, on revenue marginally lower at $210 million.

Partridge said: “Significant rationalisation of manufacturing plants and retail outlets (in the US) has been accelerated through the pandemic.

“The number of operating brick plants has been reduced from 16 to 10.”

Picture: Brickworks

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.