Johannesburg - Mpact reported a 6 percent fall in half-year profit on Thursday and the South African paper and plastic packaging firm warned on future earnings, sending its share price lower.
Underlying operating profit fell to R322 million ($24 million) from R342 million, Mpact said in a statement.
Headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six-months to the end of June fell 29.4 percent to 94.9 cents from 134.4 cents.
HEPS is the main profit gauge in South Africa and excludes certain one-time and non-trading items.
Earnings were impacted by lower containerboard sales and a loss in Mpact Polymers.
Mpact's shares were down 3.98 percent to R31.16 at 0756 GMT.
Read also: Mpact, New Era get raided
The company said its net debt rose by 12.5 percent to R1.9 billion mainly due to investments in major capital projects and its Remade acquisition.
Mpact said it expects its earnings during the second half to continue to be impacted by a higher effective tax rate and higher finance costs.
“The conditions here (in South Africa), I wouldn't call them buoyant, they are under pressure and that is likely to continue in this period,” CEO Bruce Strong said.
Mpact declared an interim gross dividend of 30 cents per ordinary share, unchanged from a year earlier.
REUTERS