THE local licensee of 7-Eleven convenience stores reported a 41% profit decline in the first quarter of the year, as it used a new accounting rule that changes the recognition of leased properties.
Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC) said in a statement Friday that net income stood at P112.2 million, lower than the P190.5 million it posted in the same period a year ago. Systemwide sales meanwhile went up 18% to P12.54 billion.
The company noted that the International Financial Reporting Standards on Leases (IFRS 16), which took effect at the start of the year, pulled down profitability since most of its stores are under long-term lease agreements.
“IFRS 16 requires lessees to recognize an asset on the right to use the leased property (the right-of-use asset) and a liability, for the obligation to make lease payments…Unlike, the previous accounting policy, rental payments are recognized as expense evenly or on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease,” the company explained.
Without IFRS 16, net income would have grown 48.3% to P282.6 million.
PSC was supported by a 6.8% same store sales growth and higher number of operating stores. The company ended the quarter with 2,593 7-Eleven stores, following the addition of 56 branches and closure of 13. — Arra B. Francia
