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MPE M.p. Evans Group Plc

844.00
6.00 (0.72%)
Last Updated: 10:25:05
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
M.p. Evans Group Plc LSE:MPE London Ordinary Share GB0007538100 ORD 10P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  6.00 0.72% 844.00 824.00 844.00 844.00 824.00 824.00 2,857 10:25:05
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
General Farms,primarily Crop 326.92M 73.06M 1.3583 6.07 443.21M

M. P. Evans Group PLC Final Results (0993T)

23/03/2021 7:00am

UK Regulatory


M.p. Evans (LSE:MPE)
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TIDMMPE

RNS Number : 0993T

M. P. Evans Group PLC

23 March 2021

M.P.EVANS GROUP PLC

M.P.Evans Group PLC ("MP Evans", "the Group" or "the Company"), a producer of sustainable Indonesian palm oil, announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2020.

The Group's 2020 annual report is available on its website at www.mpevans.co.uk .

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION (EU) NO.596 /2014.

The person responsible for making this announcement is Tristan Price, chief executive of the Group.

Highlights

Financial

- Profit for the year US$22.2 million (2019 US$7.5 million)

- Operating profit US$31.3 million (2019 US$16.1 million)

- Sustainability premia increased to US$2.6 million (2019 US$1.9 million)

- Continuing EPS 37.4 US cents (2019 - 11.6 US cents)

- 24% increase in total dividend for the year with proposed final dividend of 17p per share

- Intention to propose 30p per share total dividend in respect of 2021

Indonesian palm oil

- Total crop processed up 21% to 1.2 million tonnes

- 100% of Group and scheme-smallholder crop grown to sustainability standards

- Group crops up to 724,000 tonnes, a 9% increase

- Crops at youngest operation, Musi Rawas, nearly trebled

- Crude-palm-oil production up 17% to 272,000 tonnes

- New Group 40-tonne mill began production in September 2020

- Launched pilot traceability initiative, working with independent smallholders to achieve 100% traceability of all third-party ffb processed by the Group

Malaysian property

- Conditional sale agreement of Bertam Estate for US$24.9 million announced

Group value

- Group equity value of GBP10.99 per share at 31 December 2020

Commenting on the results, Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, executive chairman of MP Evans , said: "I am pleased to report that 2020 was another record year for production and revenue resulting in a sharp rise in profit, which nearly trebled to US$22.2 million, and an increase in sustainability premia. Given this performance the board is recommending a final dividend of 17p per share, an increase of 4.25p, bringing total dividends for the year to 22p per share. In view of the strong increase in crop and production projected for the immediate future and the prospects for the palm-oil market, the board intends to recommend a dividend of 30p per share in respect of the 2021 financial year."

Enquiries:

 
 M.P.Evans Group PLC                  +44 (0)20 7796 4133 on 23 March 
                                       2021 only 
                                      Thereafter +44 (0)1892 516333 
 Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, Chairman 
 Tristan Price, Chief executive 
 Matthew Coulson, Finance director 
 
 Peel Hunt LLP                        +44 (0)20 7418 8900 
 Dan Webster 
 Andrew Clark 
 
 finnCap                              +44 (0)20 7220 0500 
 Tim Redfern 
 Chris Raggett 
 
 Hudson Sandler                       +44 (0)20 7796 4133 
 Charlie Jack 
 Elfie Kent 
  Francis Kerrigan 
 

An analysts' meeting will be held today at 09.30 by video conference.

Covid-19

The pandemic has had little effect on the Group's operations. Once the widespread nature of the virus became known, preventative measures were quickly introduced to protect the Group's employees and these measures remain under review and in place as required. Staff travel has been restricted, the Group has controlled access to its plantations and the majority of staff in its Jakarta office have been put on remote working. All estates and mills operated without interruption during the year. During the second quarter of the year, Covid-19 did have a marked effect on the price of CPO, but the price recovered strongly in the second half of the year.

Results

Another record year for production and revenue resulted in a sharp increase in profit for the year. A rising CPO price and continuing control of costs saw profit margins jump in comparison to 2019. Operating profit was US$31.3 million compared with US$16.1 million in 2019 despite an adverse foreign-exchange movement during 2020. The Group benefitted from an increase in the sustainability premia it receives for its CPO and palm kernels as well as sales of electricity generated from the methane it captures. Profit for the year nearly trebled to US$22.2 million.

Dividend

An interim dividend of 5.00p per share (2019 - 5.00p per share) was paid on 6 November 2020, and the board is recommending a final dividend of 17.00p per share (2019 - 12.75p per share). This represents an increase of 24% in the dividend in respect of normal operations for the year, bringing it to 22.00p per share.

The board intends to continue its long-standing policy of maintaining or increasing the dividend where possible. It believes the projected increase in yield from its young plantations provides a basis for sustained future crop growth and enhanced dividends. Furthermore, the Group expects capital expenditure to fall substantially from 2023 as it completes the series of investments begun in 2005, and its debt to have reached a peak in 2020. In light of the Group's strong balance sheet, and the marked increase in crop and production projected for the immediate future, and the prospects for the palm-oil market, the board intends to recommend a dividend of 30p per share in respect of the 2021 financial year.

Palm-oil market

The CPO price at the end of December 2020 stood at US$1,035 per tonne, a level last seen in July 2012. Having started 2020 promisingly, the CPO price fell as the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Whilst the pandemic resulted in a fall in world palm-oil consumption, world production of palm oil fell even further as labour shortages, dry weather and an increasing industry-average palm age took their toll. During the initial months of the year, stocks of palm oil acted as a buffer. Stocks then rebounded but quickly began to fall as a result of the production deficit.

Whilst initially the CPO price fell sharply, it recovered strongly from the middle of May 2020, continuing its rise to the end of the year. The average cif Rotterdam price for the year was US$716 per tonne, US$150 higher than in 2019. Regrettably, the Group has not benefitted fully from this rise as the Indonesian government imposed an increased export levy in December 2020, designed to subsidise Indonesian producers of biodiesel while crude-oil prices have been languishing. This was widely anticipated and reflected in prices received by the Group from October. The structure of the levy means the Group receives very nearly the same ex-mill-gate price at US$1,000 per tonne as for US$800 per tonne. This nonetheless represents a very healthy profit margin.

Strategic developments

The Group has continued to implement its strategy to focus on developing and operating majority-held plantations to produce sustainable Indonesian palm oil. Wherever possible, the Group mills its own crop of ffb since this allows it to report a higher level of certified sustainable production. The Group makes long-term decisions, suited both to a long-lived plant such as the oil palm and to the thinking needed to make the right choices for a sustainable future. The Group works closely with the local communities living on and near to its operations, seeking to have a positive economic and social impact on these communities, and foster long-term relationships.

During 2020, the Group commissioned its second mill at Kota Bangun, needed to process the increasing crop from the maturing plantings on this project. This brings the Group's mills to four in total, with two at Kota Bangun, one at Bangka and one at Pangkatan. Construction of the Group's fifth mill, at Bumi Mas, is well advanced with commissioning expected in the middle of 2021, and design work has started on the sixth mill at Musi Rawas, planned for completion at the end of 2022. Where the Group has spare capacity in its mills, it buys ffb from independent smallholders. As we refer to below, the Group is committed to working with these smallholders to ensure their ffb can be certified as fully traceable and so sustainable under the new RSPO Independent Smallholder Standard.

The Group's strategy of controlling all its operations means it is best able to draw on its excellent operational management team, with a proven track record of developing and improving estates in the most effective, productive and sustainable way. This has resulted in construction of roads, permanent housing, methane capture facilities and water-management infrastructure, in addition to its mills. However, the Group's investment programme to develop its existing projects is coming to an end. A strong balance sheet allows the Group to plan for increasing returns to shareholders, as well as to acquire incremental hectarage for planting around its existing projects.

In Malaysia, the Group reached an agreement to sell its last wholly-owned Malaysian asset, the remaining 70 hectares of its old Bertam Estate. The buyer was Bertam Properties Sdn Bhd, the joint venture in which the Group has a 40% shareholding. Bertam Properties will be able to add substantial value to this land by developing it, and the Group will reap its share of this benefit. The sale proceeds will contribute to funding the Group's investment in expansion of both its hectarage and production facilities in Indonesia.

Sustainability

The Group is running a pilot project in its Bangka estates to establish how best to generate enthusiasm amongst independent smallholders to register under the RSPO Independent Smallholder Standard and then achieve certification. At the end of 2020, 208 smallholders with more than 1,200 hectares of land had committed to the scheme. The Group has started to deliver training in agronomy to those who have registered to help them increase the yield from their palms. This will be supplemented by in-field visits and advice starting in the middle of 2021. As regards its own workforce, the Group has been conducting a pilot project in Kota Bangun to improve health and safety. This project aims to measure workplace injuries more accurately to help direct effective prevention.

Operational developments

The strong projected growth of the Group's crop is being realised. In 2020, the total crop processed grew by 21%, having grown at the same rate in 2019. The Group's crops rose by 9% and those of 'scheme smallholders' (those attached to the Group's projects) by 12%. The rise in crop was particularly pronounced at Musi Rawas, where the mature hectarage nearly doubled compared with 2019. High growth at Bumi Mas continued as the Group's investments in that area had an increasing impact. The crop at Kota Bangun declined slightly after it was not able to match the robust growth seen in the second half of 2019. In addition, the Group was able to increase its purchases of ffb from independent smallholders by more than 70% to reach 290,000 tonnes.

 
                                                Increase/ 
                                        2020    (decrease)        2019 
                                      Tonnes        %           Tonnes 
 Crop 
 Own crops 
                Kota Bangun          186,400       (4)         194,000 
                Bangka               127,500       (1)         128,900 
                Pangkatan group      170,300        4          164,300 
                Bumi Mas             154,300       26          122,000 
                Musi Rawas            44,500       189          15,400 
                Simpang Kiri          41,300        7           38,700 
--------------------------------  ----------                ---------- 
                                     724,300        9          663,300 
--------------------------------  ----------                ---------- 
 Scheme-smallholder crops 
                Kota Bangun           81,500       (7)          87,300 
                Bangka                64,400       12           57,500 
                Bumi Mas              26,900       37           19,600 
                Musi Rawas            20,200       162           7,700 
--------------------------------  ----------                ---------- 
                                     193,000       12          172,100 
--------------------------------  ----------                ---------- 
 Independent-smallholder 
  crop purchased 
                Kota Bangun          142,500       260          39,600 
                Bangka               112,800        7          105,200 
                Pangkatan group       34,400       62           21,300 
                                     289,700       74          166,100 
--------------------------------  ----------                ---------- 
 Total crop                        1,207,000       21        1,001,500 
--------------------------------  ----------                ---------- 
 

The Group continues to pride itself on the level of extraction it achieves from its ffb. Overall, the Group's extraction rate in its own mills fell to 23.1% from 23.7% in 2019. This reflected the dramatic increase in crop bought from independent smallholders, which is not of the same quality as its own crop or that of scheme smallholders. The oil-extraction rate in its Bumi Permai mill at Kota Bangun was particularly affected by this since it not only processed significantly more independent-smallholder crop than in 2019, but also worked at very high levels of capacity utilisation in the period prior to commissioning the Rahayu mill. This led to longer maintenance intervals and some unplanned stoppages. The Group's other mills maintained good rates of oil- and kernel-extraction. For the time being, the Group's new Rahayu mill is processing exclusively crop bought from independent smallholders. In total, the Group produced 270,000 tonnes of CPO, 17% more than in 2019.

 
                                                       Increase/ 
                                                2020   (decrease)      2019 
 
 Production                                   Tonnes       %         Tonnes 
 Crude palm oil 
                Kota Bangun                   96,500       22        79,000 
                Bangka                        69,600       3         67,400 
                Pangkatan group               46,100       8         42,800 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                                             212,200       12       189,200 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                Bumi Mas                      37,400       27        29,500 
                Musi Rawas                    13,200      175         4,800 
                Simpang Kiri                   8,900       6          8,400 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                                              59,500       39        42,700 
                                             271,700       17       231,900 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
 Palm kernels 
                Kota Bangun                   19,300       14        17,000 
                Bangka                        16,900       4         16,200 
                Pangkatan group               10,800       7         10,100 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                                              47,000       9         43,300 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                Bumi Mas                       8,600       26         6,800 
                Musi Rawas                     2,900      164         1,100 
                Simpang Kiri                   1,900       6          1,800 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                                              13,400       38         9,700 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                                              60,400       14        53,000 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
 
 
 Extraction rates                                  %       %              % 
 Crude palm oil 
                Kota Bangun - Bumi Permai       23.8      (3)          24.6 
                Kota Bangun - Rahayu            21.6       -              - 
                Bangka                          22.9      (1)          23.1 
                Pangkatan group                 22.5      (3)          23.1 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                                                23.1      (3)          23.7 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                Bumi Mas                        20.7      (1)          20.9 
                Musi Rawas                      20.4      (1)          20.6 
                Simpang Kiri                    21.5      (1)          21.8 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
 Palm kernels 
                Kota Bangun - Bumi Permai        4.9      (8)           5.3 
                Kota Bangun - Rahayu             4.0       -              - 
                Bangka                           5.5      (2)           5.6 
                Pangkatan group                  5.3      (2)           5.4 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                                                 5.1      (6)           5.4 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
                Bumi Mas                         4.7      (2)           4.8 
                Musi Rawas                       4.6       -            4.6 
                Simpang Kiri                     4.5      (6)           4.8 
------------------------------------------  --------               -------- 
 

At Bumi Mas, the Group continues its planned investment in strengthening roads, managing tidal water flows and building housing for workers.

At Musi Rawas, planting since development began has not changed from the 8,000 hectares reached in the middle of 2019. This is a result of pausing development to ensure the Group complies with enhanced standards affecting new planting adopted by the RSPO in 2019. In both the Group's own areas and those of its scheme smallholders, planting is carried out in rigorous compliance with RSPO standards to ensure the fruit will be certified as being produced sustainably. It is anticipated that planting at Musi Rawas should resume in mid-2021.

At the end of 2020, the Group managed 51,600 hectares of oil palm on behalf of itself and its scheme smallholders. The effective ownership of planted oil palm hectarage by the Group's shareholders, taking account of minority-shareholder interests, amounted to 37,700 hectares.

Group valuation

Continuing development of the Group's estates produced an increase in the total US Dollar value of the Group's plantations during the year. At the same time, there was a reduction in the value of Malaysian property in line with a general fall in the sector. There was also a decline in the value of the US Dollar against Sterling. Overall, the Group's value per share, based on an independent valuation at the end of 2020 was GBP10.99, similar to that a year earlier.

Current trading and prospects

Crop in the first two months of 2021 is ahead of 2020 in all regions except North Sumatra, which lagged the good levels seen last year. The increase was particularly pronounced at Musi Rawas in South Sumatra, where yield on the young palms is improving and new areas are being brought into first harvesting. Compared with last year, the Group has also purchased significantly more ffb from independent smallholders. At the end of February, total crop processed was 217,000 tonnes, 20% more than the 180,000 tonnes processed during the first two months of 2020. The details are set out in the following table:-

 
                             2 months ended               2 months ended 
                           28 February 2021   Increase  29 February 2020 
                                     Tonnes          %            Tonnes 
------------------------  -----------------  ---------  ---------------- 
 Own crops                          124,200         16           107,100 
 Smallholder crop                    38,300         39            27,500 
 Outside crop purchased              54,400         19            45,600 
                                    216,900         20           180,200 
------------------------  -----------------  ---------  ---------------- 
 

Crop is rising due to the young average age of its palms across the Group, an average of 8 years. This is a consequence of the development of its projects in Bangka and East Kalimantan over the last ten years, the acquisition of Bumi Mas and the development of Musi Rawas. The upward trend in crop is expected to last until 2027 before plateauing. This would be further augmented by the acquisition or development of new project areas.

The price of CPO climbed in the second half of 2020, ending the year at a price of US$1,035 per tonne cif Rotterdam. This strong level carried over into 2021. In the first two months of the year it has mainly stood above US$1,000, and indeed from the beginning of February 2021 climbed further to reach US$1,100. The price was influenced by higher export levies introduced in Indonesia. It is also likely that exports from Indonesia in December 2020 may have been boosted by trade brought forward from January in order to avoid potentially higher levies on exports in 2021. Nevertheless, stocks of palm oil were at low levels at the end of 2020. A recovery in palm-oil production is expected in 2021, although the extent of this may be limited by continuing labour shortages arising from travel restrictions imposed to control the spread of Covid-19. The path of consumption will be affected by the speed of recovery of the hospitality sector, notably in India, which is a significant consumer of palm oil. In the longer term, insufficient levels of replanting in Malaysia and a reduction in new Indonesian planting are likely to curb growth in production.

Notwithstanding the uncertainties surrounding Covid-19, the board is of the view that palm oil, because of its high yield and low cost of production, is well placed to benefit from increasing demand for vegetable oil and hence that the outlook remains encouraging.

Peter Hadsley-Chaplin

Chairman

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

For the year ended 31 December 2020

 
                                                  2020        2019 
                                               US$'000     US$'000 
-----------------------------------------   ----------  ---------- 
 Continuing operations 
    Revenue                                    174,510     119,341 
    Cost of sales                            (139,755)   (102,297) 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
    Gross profit                                34,755      17,044 
    Gain on biological assets                      682         927 
    Foreign-exchange (losses)/gains            (1,068)       1,161 
    Other administrative expenses              (4,587)     (3,466) 
    Other income                                 1,539         458 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
    Operating profit                            31,321      16,124 
    Finance income                                 527         403 
    Finance costs                              (3,408)     (3,747) 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
    Profit before tax                           28,440      12,780 
    Tax on profit on ordinary activities       (7,692)     (7,183) 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
    Profit after tax                            20,748       5,597 
    Share of associated companies' 
     profit after tax                            1,421       1,873 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Profit for the year                            22,169       7,470 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Attributable to: 
 Owners of M.P. Evans Group PLC                 20,371       6,333 
 Non-controlling interests                       1,798       1,137 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                22,169       7,470 
 -----------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 
                                              US cents    US cents 
-----------------------------------------   ----------  ---------- 
 Continuing operations 
    Basic earnings per 10p share                  37.4        11.6 
    Diluted earnings per 10p share                37.3        11.5 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 
                                                 Pence       Pence 
-----------------------------------------   ----------  ---------- 
 Basic earnings per 10p share 
    Continuing operations                         29.2         9.0 
------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 December 2020

 
 Company number: 1555042 
                                        2020     2019 
                                     US$'000  US$'000 
--------------------------------    --------  ------- 
 Non-current assets 
 Goodwill                             11,767   11,767 
 Other intangible assets               1,381    1,433 
 Property, plant and equipment       390,642  368,744 
 Investments in associates            22,154   21,553 
 Investments                              67       66 
 Deferred-tax asset                    5,046    5,284 
 Trade and other receivables          10,917   11,555 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
                                     441,974  420,402 
  --------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Current assets 
 Biological assets                     2,749    2,067 
 Inventories                          11,617   11,072 
 Trade and other receivables          48,620   45,117 
 Current-tax asset                     3,968    4,245 
 Current-asset investments               334    1,160 
 Cash and cash equivalents            27,222   25,947 
                                      94,510   89,608 
  --------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Total assets                        536,484  510,010 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Borrowings                           39,605   28,337 
 Trade and other payables             26,039   22,215 
 Current-tax liability                 6,003    3,657 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
                                      71,647   54,209 
  --------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Net current assets                   22,863   35,399 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Borrowings                           66,079   66,137 
 Trade and other payables                 38      265 
 Deferred-tax liability               10,529   12,312 
 Retirement-benefit obligations       14,051    9,401 
                                      90,697   88,115 
  --------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Total liabilities                   162,344  142,324 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Net assets                          374,140  367,686 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 
 Equity 
 Share capital                         9,204    9,200 
 Other reserves                       55,090   55,385 
 Retained earnings                   300,117  294,139 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Equity attributable to 
  the owners of 
  M.P. Evans Group PLC               364,411  358,724 
 Non-controlling interests             9,729    8,962 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 Total equity                        374,140  367,686 
----------------------------------  --------  ------- 
 

CONSOLIDATED CASH-FLOW STATEMENT

For the year ended 31 December 2020

 
                                                                2020        2019 
                                                             US$'000     US$'000 
--------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ---------- 
 Net cash generated by operating activities                   39,598      32,002 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------- 
 
 Investing activities 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                  (41,409)    (46,531) 
 Purchase of intangible assets                                 (113)       (721) 
 Interest received                                               108         210 
 Decrease in bank deposits treated 
  as current-asset 
 investments                                                     826       1,342 
 Decrease in receivables from smallholder 
  co-operatives                                                3,886       4,690 
 Proceeds on disposal of property, 
  plant and equipment                                            732         489 
 Loan to related party                                             -    (11,747) 
 Net cash used by investing activities                      (35,970)    (52,268) 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------- 
 
 Financing activities 
 New borrowings                                               24,581     110,419 
 Repayment of borrowings                                    (13,307)    (46,134) 
 Lease liability payments                                      (209)       (167) 
 Dividends paid to Company shareholders                     (12,105)    (12,364) 
 Dividends paid to non-controlling 
  interest                                                      (89)           - 
 Purchase of non-controlling interests                             -    (25,417) 
 Exercise of Company share options                                 -         218 
 Buy-back of Company shares                                  (1,155)     (2,286) 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------- 
 Net cash (used)/generated by financing 
  activities                                                 (2,284)      24,269 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------- 
 
 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                     1,344       4,003 
 
 Net cash and cash equivalents at 1 
  January                                                     25,947      21,626 
 Effect of foreign-exchange rates on 
  cash and cash 
 equivalents                                                    (69)         318 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December                     27,222      25,947 
---------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------- 
 
 

Notes

   1.             Dividends paid and proposed 
 
                                                US$'000   US$'000 
---------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 2020 interim dividend - 5.00p per 10p share 
  (2019 interim dividend 5.00p)                   3,511     3,519 
 2019 final dividend - 12.75p per 10p share 
  (2018 final dividend 12.75p)                    8,594     8,845 
---------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
                                                 12,105    12,364 
---------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Following the year end, the board has proposed a final dividend for 2020 of 17.00p per 10p share, amounting to US$13.0 million.

 
                                    2020       2019 
 Ex-dividend date               22 April   23 April 
                                    2021       2020 
 Record date                    23 April   24 April 
                                    2021       2020 
 Dividend payable on or after    18 June    19 June 
                                    2021       2020 
 
   2.             Basic and diluted earnings per share 

The calculation of earnings per 10p share is based on:-

 
                                                     2020                   2019 
                                        2020       Number      2019       Number 
                                     US$'000    of shares   US$'000    of shares 
----------------------------------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------- 
 Profit for the year attributable 
  to the owners 
  of M.P. Evans Group PLC             20,371                  6,333 
 Average number of shares 
  in issue                                     54,478,518             54,599,417 
 Diluted average number of 
  shares in issue*                             54,667,409             54,875,441 
----------------------------------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------- 
 

*The difference between the number of shares in issue and the diluted number of shares relates to unexercised share options held by directors and key employees of the Group.

   3.             Financial information 

The financial information has been derived from the Company's audited accounts but does not itself constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 have been reported on by the Group's auditors, BDO LLP, and will be filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors thereon was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006, nor did it contain any matters to which the auditors drew attention without qualifying their audit report.

   4.             International Financial Reporting Standards 

This announcement is based on the Group's financial statements which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

   5.             Distribution timetable 

The Group's 2020 annual report is available on the Group's website and will be despatched to shareholders on or before 31 March 2021. Printed copies of the Group's 2020 annual report will be available from the Company, 3 Clanricarde Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1HQ. The annual general meeting will be held on Thursday 10 June 2021.

By order of the board

Katya Merrick

Company secretary

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