Grab advances break-even timeline on boost from cost cuts, strong demand

By Yuvraj Malik

(Reuters) -Grab Holdings forecast a smaller operating loss for the current year and pulled forward its profitability timeline on Wednesday, as cost savings from its recent workforce reduction supplement strong demand for its food delivery and ride-share services.

The Southeast Asian internet firm also delivered better-than-expected results for the last quarter, sending its U.S.-listed shares up 9%.

The company now expects to break even on an adjusted core earnings basis in the current quarter ending September, ahead of its earlier fourth-quarter target. Moreover, it expects $80 million in annualized cost savings from the recent changes, including layoffs.

Grab is undergoing a restructuring focused on lowering costs, with measures including cuts to its cloud bill and consumer and worker incentives.

In June, the company reduced around 1,000 roles, or about 11% of its workforce, in its biggest round of layoffs since early 2020, when the pandemic began.

It now sees adjusted loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization between $30 million and $40 million, compared to its earlier forecast of $195 million to $235 million.

"While we tried to optimize our bottom-line, we're also making sure that we can continue to grow our business," Grab CFO Peter Oey said in an interview.

"There's still a lot of opportunity in mobility. We haven't reached pre-COVID levels yet, which we are aiming for by the end of this year."

In the quarter ended June 30, the company's revenue increased 77%, to $567 million, surpassing analysts' estimate of $546.1 million, according to Refinitiv data.

Sales from the food delivery business - its largest - more than doubled, while those from the ride-share business grew 29%. Delivery sales were marginally lower than Refinitiv estimates.

The company said it took a $50 million charge largely related to the layoffs in June. On adjusted basis, Grab lost 3 cents per share, compared to an estimated 5 cents.

(Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)

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