Australia's Booktopia hits record low on flagging COVID-19 cost impacts

Booktopia

23/12/2021 02:37

** Online book retailer's shares  BKG.AX  slide as much as
15% to A$1.37, hits record low
    ** Company sees H1 EBITDA between A$4 mln and A$4.5 mln
($2.88 mln to $3.24 mln), vs A$8 mln last year  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nASX18nDZ 
    ** BKG says earnings impact to H1 is from COVID-19-related
costs, and to a greater extent than expected at time of AGM
    ** Company says it was impacted by coronavirus outbreak in
Sydney's western suburbs, where its main distribution facility
is located, and BKG had to reduce number of shifts 
    ** Booktopia biggest loser on ASX All Ordinaries index
 .AORD  
    ** Stock on track for worst session since Dec. 6
    ** About 313,000 shares change hands, more than 3x 30-day
avg of about 88,000 shares
    ** BKG shares down 38.3% YTD, as of last close 

 ($1 = 1.3883 Australian dollars)

 (Reporting by Harshita Swaminathan in Bengaluru)
 ((Harshita.Swaminathan@thomsonreuters.com))