Goals and objectives
Primary objectives
- To achieve sustainable, balanced and integrated economic, social and environmental performance
- To provide all employees with a working environment that is safe and without risk to their health
Growth
- To expand the group’s sugar and cane production profitably
- To consolidate and improve the profitability of downstream products and develop new applications where appropriate
- To maximise usage of bagasse and biomass to generate electricity for own operations and to supply power into national grids where economically viable
- To seek new opportunities for sugar and downstream products nationally and internationally
Profitability
- To achieve a competitive rate of return on shareholders’ funds and increase profits on an ongoing basis in real terms
- To maintain a distribution/dividend cover of at least two times
Asset management
- To manage investments in fixed assets and working capital so as to achieve the most efficient usage of funds employed, with the objective of not exceeding gearing of 40% over the long term and achieving an interest cover of not less than five times
Product development
- To be proactive in identifying the needs of customers
- To consistently deliver quality products and services to customers
- To undertake research and development to improve returns, and develop new products and applications, from its core commodity products using every stick of cane
Human resources
- To promote the ongoing development of all employees in order that they reach their maximum level of competence and participate fully in achieving the group’s objectives
- To offer equal opportunity to all employees
Corporate governance
- To ensure that the company is managed in an efficient, accountable, responsible, transparent and ethical manner
- To be socially responsible, and maintain and develop appropriate ethical, social environmental and risk management standards as an integral part of the business
- To take cognisance of all stakeholders’ interests in the group’s business