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Share Name | Share Symbol | Market | Type | Share ISIN | Share Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Produce Invest | LSE:PIL | London | Ordinary Share | GB00B3ZGBY47 | ORD 1P |
Price Change | % Change | Share Price | Bid Price | Offer Price | High Price | Low Price | Open Price | Shares Traded | Last Trade | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.00 | 0.00% | 186.50 | 173.00 | 200.00 | 0.00 | 01:00:00 |
Industry Sector | Turnover | Profit | EPS - Basic | PE Ratio | Market Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | N/A | 0 |
TIDMPIL
RNS Number : 0300S
Produce Investments PLC
28 September 2017
28 September 2017
PRODUCE INVESTMENTS PLC
("Produce," "Company" or the "Group")
FINAL RESULTS
A Year of two halves
Produce Investments plc, (AIM:PIL) ("Produce," "Company" or the "Group"), a leading operator in the fresh potato and daffodil sectors, is pleased to announce its final results for the year ended 1 July 2017.
Key Operational Highlights:
- Revenue increased 8.1% to GBP200.1m (2016: GBP185.1m) driven by:
o High priced potato driven by lower yield
o New retail business win during the year
- More robust business model:
o Longer term commitments with key customers
o Improved visibility of volume and margin
- Improving operations:
o Strong performance in Jersey
o Expanded customer base in the Daffodil sector
o Continued recovery at Swancote
Key Financial Points:
- Operating profit before exceptional items for the year decreased 9.1% to GBP8.4m (2016: GBP9.2m) in line with the Board's expectation
- Profit before tax is GBP6.6m, up 88% vs the prior year (2016: GBP3.5m)
- Increase in full year dividend to 7.466p (2016: 7.32p) reflecting the Board's confidence in the outlook
- Net debt increased to GBP28.0m (2016: GBP18.1m) at year end (includes the purchase of Jersey packing facility)
Angus Armstrong, Chief Executive, commented:
"Following a very tough first half year I am pleased to report a significant improvement during the second half as we recovered higher raw material costs in our core potato business. Operating profit was lower by 9.1% from 2016 although the EBITDA* decrease was reduced to 2%. By working with core and new customers to create a more collaborative supply chain model, the core potato business has benefited from a new business win as well as increasing volume with an established customer.
Work to improve operational efficiencies has continued and the benefit from investment in a new ERP system is now being realised. The focus on, and continued investment in, improved systems and processes is ongoing.
The Rowe Farming Daffodil business had a slightly more challenging season with rapid crop development compromising sales opportunities, however new business wins in this sector should see an improvement for next year. The recovery at Swancote continues with an expanded product portfolio helping win new business. Jersey had a good season with favourable growing conditions and excellent demand.
While the market will remain challenging, the Board remains very confident about the company's ability to deal with such pressures. The Board remains confident that Produce Investments is in a strong position to grow and take advantage of any acquisition opportunities which may arrive."
* EBITDA means Group operating profit before exceptional items, depreciation, and amortisation.
A presentation for analysts will be held at 09.00am this morning at Powerscourt's offices, 1 Tudor Street, EC4Y 0AH.
- End -
For further information contact:
Produce Investments plc Jonathan Lamont 01890 819503 Numis Securities Limited (Nomad) Oliver Cardigan 020 7260 1000 Powerscourt Nick Dibden / Samantha Trillwood produce@powerscourt-group.com 020 7250 1446
Notes to Editors
The Group is a vertically integrated potato and daffodil company supplying blue chip customers including Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Coop, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.
Website: www.produceinvestments.co.uk
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Group ended on a high in a year of two halves.
I am pleased to report a strong performance in the second half of our financial year, confirming the effectiveness of our strategic approach and the success of the diversified business model we have developed in our established produce operations.
Results
As we anticipated in the interim report, the second half saw a much improved trading result as we began to recover higher raw material costs in our core Greenvale potato business, enjoyed a strong season for Jersey Royals, and started to realise the benefits of our new ERP system. This has delivered a Group operating profit before exceptional items for the year of GBP8.4m (2016: GBP9.2m), in line with our expectations, and a profit before tax of GBP6.6m (2016: GBP3.5m) despite the increased loss before tax of GBP1.0m (2016: loss GBP0.2m) reported in the first half.
Dividend
The Board recommends an increased final dividend of 5.026 pence per share (2016: 4.88 pence). Together with the interim dividend of 2.44 pence per share (2016: 2.44 pence) paid in April, this makes a total dividend for the year of 7.466 pence (2016: 7.32 pence), a rise of 2.0%. Subject to the approval of shareholders at the AGM, the final dividend will be paid on 5 December 2017 to ordinary shareholders on the register at the close of business on 5 November 2017.
Board changes
I will be retiring at the AGM on 29 November 2017, as will Non-Executive Director (NED) Sean Christie. Having served two full three year terms Senior independent NED Sir David Naish will also be retiring by rotation. Barrie Clapham will resume the position of Chairman on an interim basis as the Group commences a recruitment process to find a more permanent successor. Liz Kynoch will continue in her role as NED as will Robert Johnston, the principal representative of the Jerry Zucker Revocable Trust, the largest shareholder in the Group, who joined the Board as NED on 9 June 2017. The Board will continue to work in a sustainable way to deliver incremental shareholder value over the longer term.
Strategy
Following the restatement of Strategy at the interims in March the board has decided to revert to the original strategy of growing the business through strategic acquisitions of quality businesses that offer synergies and product or customer diversification. At the same time we will continue to explore and fund the organic growth opportunities of the subsidiary companies.
People
On behalf of the Board, I would like to express sincere thanks to all our employees for their hard work in delivering these results, and for their continuing commitment to ensuring that we provide our customers with products and service of the highest quality. Maintaining and improving these high standards is key to our future success.
Outlook
Looking to the year ahead, harvest is now progressing although with the majority of the potato crop still in the ground, favourable weather is required during October to see the harvest safely secured. Assuming harvest proceeds as it should, an increase in the planted area will see a gross crop yield that will exceed demand and therefore deflate raw material prices. A solid start to the year sees trading in-line with forecast and the new business gains, and new contractual arrangements with established customers, give us much enhanced visibility on both volume and margins in our core retail potato business. We are achieving improved efficiencies in our two fresh potato processing sites, and anticipate further significant efficiency benefits from the implementation of our new ERP system. All this allows us to feel confident in the Group's ability to achieve good progress during the current year.
As a business predominantly growing and selling produce in the UK, our principal concern about Britain's withdrawal from the EU is ensuring the continued availability of high quality seasonal labour. While we have encountered no difficulties in recruitment to date, and return rates of seasonal staff remain high, clear direction from the Government is required to ensure a Brexit agreement that maintains access to this essential resource.
The Group continues to generate cash and we are well placed to continue our well-established and proven strategy of widening both our product range and customer base within our existing produce operations, and to exploit other opportunities for profitable acquisitions as these arise.
Neil Davidson
Chairman
CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT
Diversification, investment, new business gains and strengthened customer relationships have all helped us to overcome the significant challenges posed by rising raw material costs and continuing intense price competition in the UK retail market place.
Fresh
Our core potato business, accounting for circa 78% of Group revenues during the year (2016: circa 78%), traded successfully through a less stable year, characterised by lower crop yields, resulting in higher raw material costs, and retail price deflation. Although the planted area for UK potatoes increased by just over 4% in the 2016 harvest, below average yields resulted in a 4% reduction in the total crop to 5.22m tonnes (2015 harvest: 5.43m tonnes). With demand outstripping supply throughout the year, input costs remained consistently high. However, Kantar World panel data for the fresh retail potato market showed a decline in market value of 3.5% during the year, on relatively static volumes, reflecting the continuation of intense competition in the supermarket sector.
We have benefited from our strategic approach in this challenging market, securing increased volumes with a major retail customer for a fixed period of three years through the adoption of a more collaborative and transparent approach to supply chain management. This has delivered improved efficiencies for both parties. We are also pleased to announce that we have won a third mainstream retail account, again for an initial fixed period of three years. Sales into the non-retail sectors of foodservice and wholesale also showed good growth during the year, and the launch of Linwood Crops at the start of the year as a subsidiary trading division will support further growth in these sectors.
Following completion of our packing site rationalisation programme in 2015, we now operate two efficient facilities in Scotland and Cambridgeshire, which are very well placed for both the major UK potato growing areas and distribution channels. We have continued to drive productivity through investment in these sites, which accounted for a significant proportion of the Group's operational capital expenditure during the year of GBP4.8m (Net of the Jersey Peacock farm packing facility) (2016: GBP3.7m).
We have also continued our investment in IT, following the successful transition in 2015 from in-house servers to a cloud-based external provider, thereby reducing the risk of business disruption and improving our contingency planning and disaster recovery capability. The focus this year has been on the installation of our new ERP system which, as noted in the interim report, resulted in some additional costs during a longer than expected implementation process. The roll-out across both our UK packing sites has now been completed and we are pleased to report that it has bedded in well, and that the expected planning and process efficiencies are starting to be realised.
Our growing arm had a successful year, benefiting from higher raw material prices. The increased order book in our fresh packing business also drove higher demand for seed, delivering a strong performance by our seed division. Our varietal development programme in this division continues apace, and we have a strong pipeline of new potato varieties coming through to market.
Our Cornish business of Rowe has had an average year growing, picking and marketing daffodils in a season that extends from late December to late April. Unfortunately rapid crop development resulted in an early harvest which compromised sales opportunities. Expansion of our production area has given us the opportunity to serve an extended customer base, enabling us to secure a number of new business wins during the year. In addition to daffodils, Rowe Farming also grows and supplies early potatoes from Cornwall, and made a successful start to the 2017 season.
Following a good and uninterrupted planting season, and subsequent favourable growing conditions, Jersey produced an excellent crop of new potatoes in 2017. Strong UK demand from the launch of the crop in late April through into June ensured an equally successful sales season, and the performance of the business was further enhanced by our continued focus on cost control and efficiency gains.
Processing
Our potato processing business has continued its recovery, benefiting from a new management structure and an ongoing focus on improved processes and efficiencies. We have invested in new cooking equipment and detection technology, extended our product range into the raw peel sector, and gained new business as a result. The performance of the business was much improved in the closing months of the year and we are about to install a third production line in the factory to keep pace with growing demand.
Other
Our storage and ripening technology business enjoyed a better year, with recovery in two core markets. In addition, new member state chemical approvals within the EU have enabled Restrain to achieve a significant increase in its territorial reach within the last few months, giving solid grounds for optimism about its prospects in the year ahead.
Finances
The business remains cash generative. An increase in net debt to GBP28.0m (2016: GBP18.1m) at the year-end principally reflects our purchase during the year of a packing facility (Land and Buildings) in Jersey for GBP6.1m (cash), as well as higher stock valuations and increased trade receivables. Following the closure of Greenvale's Kent packing facility in December 2015 we have removed all plant and machinery from the buildings and are confident that the sale of the site is now nearing completion.
Prospects
The indications are that the planted area of potatoes in the UK has increased by approximately 4% for the second successive year. A timely planting season has been followed by variable growing conditions, and current predictions are for a 2017 crop that is of average yield and quality. If this proves to be accurate, it could deliver a gross yield as much as 9% greater than in 2016 at around 5.7m tonnes. This would usually indicate that we will have a season with more moderate raw material pricing compared with the season 2016/2017.
The diversity of our core business has delivered real benefits during the year under review. This proven model, the new retail business we have secured, and the more transparent arrangements we have agreed with established customers, all give us increased confidence in our ability to achieve profitable growth in our established produce operations in the years ahead.
Angus Armstrong
Chief Executive Officer
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
For the 53 weeks ended 1 July 2017
2017 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 CONTINUING OPERATIONS Revenue 200,130 185,102 Cost of sales (128,681) (115,036) ----------- ----------- Gross profit 71,449 70,066 Administrative and other operating expenses (63,076) (60,852) Operating profit before interest, tax, exceptional items and dividends 8,373 9,214 Exceptional Items (1,007) (4,635) ----------- ----------- Operating profit 7,366 4,579 Finance costs (867) (1,107) Finance income 17 13 Share of profit of associate 62 11 Profit before tax 6,578 3,496 Income tax expense (483) (181) ----------- ----------- Profit for the period 6,095 3,315 ----------- ----------- Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 6,046 3,211 Non-controlling interests 49 104 6,095 3,315 ----------- ----------- Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent during the year: Basic earnings per share (pence) 22.43 11.97 Diluted earnings per share (pence) 21.42 11.60
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the 53 weeks ended 1 July 2017
2017 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 ------------------------------ --------- --------- Profit for the period 6,095 3,315 ========= ========= Other comprehensive income: Actuarial (loss) in respect of pension scheme (2,011) (1,531) Deferred tax movement on actuarial loss 180 196 Current income tax credit on actuarial loss 64 65 Deferred tax movement on share based payments 357 (302) Other comprehensive income for the period (1,410) (1,572) Total comprehensive income for the period 4,685 1,743 ========= ========= Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 4,636 1,639 Non-controlling interests 49 104 --------- --------- 4,685 1,743 ========= =========
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
At 1 July 2017
2017 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 --------------------------------- --------- --------- ASSETS Non-current assets: Property, plant and equipment 39,902 34,084 Intangible assets 15,589 16,136 Investment in associates 190 172 Other investments 122 529 55,803 50,921 --------- --------- Current assets: Inventories 9,663 8,860 Biological assets 21,006 19,792 Trade and other receivables 34,469 30,438 Prepayments 2,355 1,640 Cash and short-term deposits 7,749 742 --------- --------- 75,242 61,472 --------- --------- Assets held for sale 1,250 1,250 Total assets 132,295 113,643 --------- --------- EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity: Issued capital 271 268 Share premium 21,842 21,670 Other capital reserves 10,228 10,228 Retained earnings 21,349 18,559 --------- --------- Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 53,690 50, 725 Non-controlling interests 719 530 --------- --------- Total equity 54,409 51,255 --------- --------- Non-current liabilities: Interest-bearing loans and 16,875 - borrowings
Other non-current financial liabilities 544 849 Deferred revenue 47 70 Pensions and other post employment benefit obligations 8,954 7,268 Deferred tax liability (net) 1,977 2,838 28,397 11,025 --------- --------- Current liabilities: Trade and other payables 29,624 31,075 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 18,912 18,871 Deferred revenue 53 88 Income tax payable 900 1,329 49,489 51,363 --------- --------- Total liabilities 77,886 62,388 --------- --------- Total equity and liabilities 132,295 113,643 ========= =========
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the 53 weeks ended 1 July 2017
Other Issued Share capital Retained Non-controlling Total Capital premium reserves earnings Total interest Equity Notes GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 As at 27 June 2015 267 21,598 10,228 18,855 50,948 452 51,400 --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- Profit for the period - - - 3,211 3,211 104 3,315 Actuarial loss on post-employment benefit obligations - - - (1,531) (1,531) - (1,531) Deferred tax on actuarial loss - - - 196 196 - 196 Current year tax taken to equity - - - 65 65 - 65 Deferred tax taken directly to equity - - - (302) (302) - (302) --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- Total comprehensive income - - - 1,639 1,639 104 1,743 --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- New shares issued during period 1 72 - - 73 - 73 Equity dividends paid - - - (1,935) (1,935) (26) (1,961) --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- As at 25 51, June 2016 268 21,670 10,228 18,559 50,725 530 255 --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- Profit for the period - - - 6,046 6,046 49 6,095 Actuarial loss on post-employment benefit obligations - - - (2,011) (2,011) - (2,011) Deferred tax on actuarial loss - - - 180 180 - 180 Current year tax taken to equity - - - 64 64 - 64 Deferred tax taken directly to equity - - - 357 357 - 357 --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- Total comprehensive income - - - 4,636 4,636 49 4,685 --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- New shares issued during period 3 172 - - 175 - 175 Minority interest acquisition - - - (155) (155) 155 - Share-based payment transactions - - - 280 280 - 280 Equity dividends paid - - - (1,971) (1,971) (15) (1,986) --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- -------- As at 1 July 2017 271 21,842 10,228 21,349 53,690 719 54,409 --------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------------- --------
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the 53 weeks ended 1 July 2017
2017 2016 GBP'000 GBP'000 ------------------------------------ ---- ---- ---------- ---------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES Profit before tax from continuing operations 6,578 3,496 ---------- ---------- Adjustments to reconcile profit before tax for the year to net cash inflow from operating activities: Depreciation , amortisation and impairment of assets 5,628 7,737 Share-based payment transaction 280 - expense Exceptional non cash write 547 - offs Loss / (Gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment (389) 38 Finance costs 867 1,107 Share of net profit of associate (62) (11) Difference between pension contributions paid and amounts recognised in the income statement (552) (552) Working capital adjustments: (Increase) in trade and other receivables and prepayments (4,746) (1,561) (Increase) in inventories and biological assets (2,017) (1,590) (Decrease) / increase in trade and other payables (1,501) 1,994 (Decrease) in deferred revenue (58) (67) Income tax paid (1,168) (957) ---------- ---------- Net cash flows from operating activities 3,407 9,634 ---------- ---------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sale of property, 430 - plant and equipment Purchase of property, plant and equipment (10,953) (3,743) Purchase of intangible assets (41) (82) Cash flows arising from purchase of subsidiary (301) (451) Net cash flows used in investing activities (10,865) (4,276) ---------- ---------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES Bank loans repaid during period (750) (3,000) Invoice finance movement during the period 9,916 (1,609) New bank loans during period 7,750 - Interest paid (640) (881) Dividends paid (1,986) (1,961) Proceeds from share issues 175 73 Net cash flows generated from / (used in) financing activities 14,465 (7,378) ---------- ---------- Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 7,007 (2,020) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 742 2,762 ---------- ---------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 7,749 742 ========== ==========
Statement of compliance
The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory report and accounts for the year ended 1 July 2017 or the year ended 25 June 2016, but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 2016 have been delivered to the registrar of companies, and those for 2017 will be delivered in due course. The auditor has reported on those accounts; their reports were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The annual report and accounts for the year ended 1 July 2017 will be posted to shareholders by 27 October 2017. The results for the year ended 1 July 2017 were approved by the Board of Directors on 27 September 2017 and are audited.
The information contained in this preliminary announcement has been approved by the Board of Directors.
Basis of preparation
The Group's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union as they apply to the financial statements of the Group for the period ended 1 July 2017 and applied in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for derivative financial instruments and biological assets, which have both been measured at fair value in line with applicable accounting standards.
Earnings per share
2017 2016 -------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- Profit attributable to equity shareholders (GBP'000) 6,046 3,211 Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 26,946,218 26,815,963 Weighted average number of options with dilutive effect 1,281,042 858,278 ----------- ----------- Total number of shares - fully diluted 28,227,260 27,674,241 Basic earnings per share - pence 22.43 11.97 Diluted earnings per share - pence 21.42 11.60 Adjusted earnings per share Operating profit (GBP'000) 7,366 4,579 Exceptional Items 1,007 4,635 Finance costs and income (GBP'000) (850) (1,094) Income from associate 62 11 ----------- ----------- Adjusted profit before tax (GBP'000) 7,585 8,131 Tax on adjusted profit at effective rate (GBP'000) (557) (421) ----------- ----------- Adjusted profit after tax (GBP'000) 7,028 7,710 Adjusted profit attributable to ordinary shareholders (GBP'000) 6,979 7,606 Adjusted basic earnings per share - pence 25.90 28.36 Adjusted diluted earnings per share - pence 24.72 27.48 ============================================ =========== ===========
Report distribution
Copies of the annual report and financial statements will be sent to shareholders on or before 27 October 2017 and will be available for a period of one month from that date to the public at the offices of Produce Investments plc, Floods Ferry, Floods Ferry Road, Doddington, March, Cambridge, PE15 OUW, and at the Company's website.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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September 28, 2017 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)
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