Grab Q2 loss widens to $1.09 billion, cuts full-year outlook on Covid-19 spread

SINGAPORE (THE BUSINESS TIMES, REUTERS) - Grab sank deeper into the red in its second quarter, even as revenue more than doubled. South-east Asia’s ride-hailing and delivery giant cut its full-year projections for several key matrix this year, citing renewed uncertainty amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It posted a net loss of US$815 million (S$1.09 billion) for the three months ended June 30, exceeding the US$718 million net loss recorded a year earlier. Meanwhile, revenue rose to US$180 million. The bulk of US$118 million in revenue came from the mobility segment, where revenue jumped 128 per cent year on year. The deliveries segment was up 92 per cent to hit US$45 million, while the company’s financial services contributed US$6 million. Grab expects to report group-level adjusted net sales of US$2.1 billion to US$2.2 billion, a step down from the US$2.3 billion it initially projected in April. It also expects full-year gross merchandise value of US$15 billion to US$15.5 billion, trimmed from an earlier forecast of US$16.7 billion. “Grab’s full-year 2021 outlook anticipates an extension of partial and complete lockdowns throughout several countries where Grab operates as a result of th...