RIYADH — Shaker Group (Al Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker Co), Saudi Arabia’s leading importer, manufacturer and distributor of air conditioners and home appliances, has announced its financial results for the year ended Dec. 31 2019. Full-year revenue of SR882.8 million grew by 14.1% as compared to 2018. Gross profit of SR165.6 million increased by 65.8% year-on-year. The Group’s 12-month net loss of SR49.8 million narrowed by 74.8%, with an operating loss of SAR 38.4 million decreasing by 75.2%. Management attributes the healthy increase in revenues, and significant reduction in net and operating losses, to the success of its Breakthrough Program, which has focused on strengthening and broadening revenue streams while rationalizing costs and improving operating efficiencies. The Breakthrough Program was introduced and piloted for the first time at the end of 2018, and was officially launched at the beginning of 2019. Eng. Azzam Saud Almudaiheem, chief executive officer at Shaker Group, commented: “As with recent periods, these financial results are a clear indication of the impact that the Breakthrough Program turnaround strategy has had on our business. Having completed an aggressive liquidation process in 2019, and having fully restructured our sales organization, we are now focused on driving improved sales while targeting competitive gross margins. “We have captured a healthy share of AC sales related to the SEEC program, and this remains an important growth avenue in the medium-term. In addition, developments in 2019 included the launch of our e-commerce platform, which we intend to build on in 2020, along with a strong uptick in sales across our Home Appliances portfolio. “Meanwhile, both Board and management are working hard to mitigate any adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are monitoring the situation daily, and will introduce contingency measures for our supply chain and distribution network, should it become necessary. Our business continuity protocols remain in place and effective at the present time.” Mohammed Ibrahim Abunayyan, chief strategy & transformation officer at Shaker Group, commented: “This was a rewarding year, during which we achieved meaningful results from the intensive and wide-reaching Breakthrough Program turnaround strategy. Its implementation has been supported by management and staff across the Kingdom, and its impact is clear. “Sales revenue in Saudi Arabia improved by more than 18%, while the roll-out of an upgraded talent structure and improved operating efficiencies drove down costs to increase profitability. We’ve put the business in a strong position to capture the opportunities that are available to it — not just in our AC business, but across energy-saving and after-sales services, as well as in our growing Home Appliances offerings. Looking to 2020, we have every intention of building on our improved operating model, while navigating the market for short- and long-term growth opportunities.” Impact and response: COVID-19 The Board has made an initial assessment on the impact of the recent global outbreak of COVID-19. The supply chain of the Group is currently dependent on parts and products sourced from the Far East, Europe and USA. The Group is currently managing its supplies to the local market through its existing inventory levels and orders that are in the pipeline, which will continue to be monitored in the light of the evolving situation. These orders are primarily from a local manufacturing facility, which is currently operational. Outlook for 2020 As in 2019, key growth avenues for the Group include the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center’s (SEEC) high-efficiency AC units initiative, which is positively supporting revenues with the Company having achieved a boost in sales and a competitive share of the program. Further opportunity is provided by the development of the Saudi housing strategy, and private sector support initiatives, which reflect positively on marketing opportunities. The Group is exploiting its market share of the Multi V product range to bid for projects throughout the year. An attractive opportunity is presented by Tarshid, the Saudi government’s National Energy Services Company, which is tasked with retrofitting assets owned by public or government entities — among them 2 million street lights, 110,000 government buildings, 35,000 schools, 100,000 mosques and 2,500 hospitals and clinics. Shaker Group is bidding for a healthy portion of these projects. Having launched its e-commerce platform in 2019, the Group will build on the offer provided by its extensive portfolio of international Home Appliance brands, taking advantage of emerging retail channels that will better serve customers while achieving efficiencies across the sales and distribution process. Shaker Group, which is listed on Tadawul, is a leader in the Saudi market as both a distributor for international electrical brands and a local manufacturer of LG Air Conditioners. The Company’s portfolio brands include LG Air Conditioners, as well as Indesit, Ariston, Maytag, Midea and Bissell in the home appliances segment. In 2015, the Group increased its stake in the UAE’s Emirates Energy Management Services (EMS) from 20% to 74%, and in establishing ESCO, as a business unit of Shaker Group, took an important strategic step towards diversifying operations and revenue streams. — SG