The Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) share price is edging lower this morning after the building products company revealed it expects to recognise a $1.3 billion impairment charge in its upcoming FY20 results.
All is not well in America
Boral announced a $1.2 billion write-down of its North American operations over the weekend, pricing in lower housing starts and reducing goodwill on its major Headwaters purchase and related joint ventures.
It is the first move of the new CEO as he seeks to clear the decks and embark on a growth program coinciding with the post-pandemic recovery.
The Australian businesses were similarly written down by a smaller $123 million due to slowing construction, the impact of recent bushfires on the Timber business and uncertainty relating to COVID-19.
What’s the damage?
Boral is expecting full-year earnings to land between $820 million and $825 million, and profit before the significant $1.3 billion non-cash impairment charge in the range of $175 million to $180 million.
Unfortunately, Boral’s second-half dividend has been cancelled ahead of its FY20 earnings report on Friday.
For those interested, management is required to update the market as soon as it is aware of these changes, hence why it could not wait until Friday.
Overall, these are disappointing but not unexpected decisions amid a global slowdown.
