Johannesburg, Nov 4 - South African Astral Foods said on Monday its first-half headline and attributable earnings per share would fall between 35 to 40 percent versus a year ago, sending its shares tumbling.
Highlights
* H1 headline EPS to fall between 35-40 percent
* Expects H1 net debt/equity ratio of between 10-15 percent
* Shares tumble
Shares in Astral lost 6.82 percent to 82 rand against a 0.31 percent rise in the All Share index .
The food manufacturer also said its anticipates a net debt to equity ratio of between 10 to 15 percent for the half year period to end September.
Headline EPS -- the key profit measure in South Africa, stripping out capital, non-trading and some extraordinary items.
Astral is involved in animal feed, animal feed pre-mix, broiler operations, the production and sale of day-old broilers and hatching eggs among others. The group recently bought a 50 percent stake in a company which bakes and sells hamburger buns, English muffins, Kaiser rolls and other sandwich carriers.
Astral said the results for the twelve months to 30 September 2008 would be published on 14 November 2008.