To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

RHODES FOOD GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED - Summarised consolidated results for the year ended 29 September 2019 and cash dividend declaration

Release Date: 19/11/2019 07:05
Code(s): RFG     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Summarised consolidated results for the year ended 29 September 2019 and cash dividend declaration

Rhodes Food Group Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number 2012/074392/06
JSE share code: RFG   ISIN: ZAE000191979
("RFG" or "the Group" or "the Company")

SHORT-FORM ANNOUNCEMENT


Summarised consolidated results for the year ended 29 September 2019
and cash dividend declaration


 -   Group turnover up 8.5%
 -   Operating margin up 90 basis points to 7.2%
 -   Operating profit up 24.9%
 -   Profit after taxation up 39.6%
 -   Diluted HEPS up 37.8% to 83.8 cents
 -   Dividend per share up 37.4% to 27.9 cents
 -   Net debt/EBITDA ratio reduced from 2.7 to 2.1 times

COMMENTARY

Group turnover increased by 8.5% to R5.4 billion.

Turnover in the regional segment (South Africa and the rest of Africa) increased
by 8.4% and accounted for 80% of total turnover.

Long life foods increased turnover by 9.2% (4.3% volume growth) with good
growth in canned meats, fruit juice and dry foods.

Fresh foods sales increased by 7.3%, with volumes unchanged on last year.
Ready meals and infant food performed well while the pie category again proved
resilient in the current trading environment.

International turnover increased by 8.8%, assisted by the 7.7% depreciation of
the Rand against RFG's major trading currencies.

Following the adoption of IFRS 15, distribution and warehouse allowances have 
been reclassified from expenses to revenue. This resulted in a decrease in 
revenue of R119.4 million for 2018. The turnover growth rates for the Group and 
the regional segment therefore differ from those reported in the Group's trading 
update released on SENS on 29 September 2019.

The Group's operating profit increased by 24.9% to R392.2 million as the
operating margin expanded by 90 basis points to 7.2%. The regional operating
margin improved from 8.0% to 8.3% despite the adverse effect of the lower
margin long life foods category growing at a faster rate than fresh foods.

The international operating margin showed the early signs of recovery from
-0.5% to 3.4% as the segment benefited from the 7.7% weakening in the Rand
against RFG's major trading currencies. Profitability was materially impacted by
the drought-related impact on costs and quality of canned fruit in the first half of
the financial year.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by
R105.7 million or 22.9% to R566.6 million. The EBITDA margin improved from
9.2% to 10.5%.

Taxation was R12.9 million higher, with the effective tax rate reducing to 
21.7% (2018: 23.3%). The Group received income tax rebates of R10.0 million 
(2018: R8.5 million) relating to capital projects.

Profit after tax increased by 39.6% to R215.5 million and headline earnings rose
by 38.1% to R219.8 million. The Group's earnings per share grew by 35.4% to
82.7 cents and headline earnings per share by 33.3% to 84.0 cents. Diluted
headline earnings per share were 37.8% higher at 83.8 cents.

Earnings per share measures have been impact by an increase of 3.6% in the
weighted average number of shares in issue during the reporting period following
the conversion of preference shares to ordinary shares in the first half of the
financial year.

A cash dividend of 27.9 cents has been declared, 37.4% higher than the previous
year, based on the Group's dividend cover policy of three times diluted HEPS.

Net working capital increased by 6.6%, impacted by the timing of creditor and
debtor payments over year end which fell before the calendar month end. Net
working capital days improved from 124 days to 119 days.

Cash generated from operations increased by 1.6% to R495.1 million. The
Group's net debt reduced by R85.5 million and the net debt to equity ratio
improved from 53.9% to 47.0%.

The Group invested R231.5 million (2018: R479.6 million) in capital projects
which included completion of the relocation of the pulps and purees plant,
expansion of the Western Cape ready meals facility, site upgrade at the Groot
Drakenstein production hub, expansion of warehouse capacity at the fruit juice
production plant and ongoing development of the new pineapple plantations in
Eswatini.

IFRS 16 Leases
The Group will adopt IFRS 16 Leases on a fully retrospective basis for the 
2020 financial year. If the Group had adopted the new leasing standard for the 
2019 financial year, the impact on the statement of comprehensive income would have
been a decrease in profit after tax of R1.0 million. The statement of financial
position would reflect an increase in the right-of-use asset of R95.9 million and
an increase in the lease liability of R119.8 million.

Outlook
The Group expects to maintain the current growth momentum into the 2020 financial year, 
based on the strong turnaround in performance in 2019 and the recovery in the international business.

While consumer spending is likely to remain under pressure in the medium term
in the weak macroeconomic environment, the focus in the regional segment will
continue to be on improving margins, driving organic growth and increasing
brand shares.

The international segment is expected to continue to improve its operating
margin in the year ahead. Turnover growth will be supported by expected
increases in the export of fruit snacks in cups to the USA and higher canned fruit
sales. The volatile Rand exchange rate continues to be a risk to performance of
the international segment.

Management priorities for the year ahead include improving the balance sheet by
generating stronger cash flows to reduce debt levels, a continued focus on working capital
management and containing costs in the constrained consumer environment.

Capital investment of R150 million is planned for the 2020 financial year,
including R24 million for the capitalisation cost of pineapple crops in Eswatini.
Projects include the installation of additional fire prevention equipment in
manufacturing plants, equipment replacement in the ready meals factories and
equipment upgrades in the fruit products facility in Tulbagh.

Any reference to future performance included in this announcement has not been
reviewed or reported on by the Group's independent auditor.

CASH DIVIDEND DECLARATION
The board of directors has declared a gross dividend of 27.90 cents per share in
respect of the year ended 29 September 2019 for holders of ordinary shares.

The dividend has been declared out of income reserves. A dividend withholding
tax of 20% will be applicable to all shareholders who are not exempt, resulting in
a net dividend to these shareholders of 22.32 cents.

Shareholders are advised of the following salient dates in respect of the dividend
declaration:

Last day to trade to receive a dividend                  Tuesday, 14 January 2020
Shares commence trading "ex" the dividend                Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Record date                                              Friday, 17 January 2020
Dividend payment to shareholders                         Monday, 20 January 2020

The number of ordinary shares in issue at the date of declaration is 262 762 018.  

The company's tax reference number is 9348/292/17/9.

Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between
Wednesday, 15 January 2020 and Friday, 17 January 2020, both days included.


Bruce Henderson                                 Tiaan Schoombie
Chief Executive Officer                         Chief Financial Officer

Groot Drakenstein
19 November 2019

This short-form announcement is the responsibility of the Rhodes Food Group Holdings Limited directors.
This announcement is itself not audited but a summary of the full audited results announcement
and therefore does not contain full or complete details. The full results announcement can be downloaded 
from https://senspdf.jse.co.za/documents/2019/jse/isse/RFG/Annual2019.pdf and on the
Group's website at http://www.rfg.com. The full results announcement is available for
inspection, at no charge, at the company's registered office (Pniel Road, Groot
Drakenstein) and at the office of the sponsor (1 Merchant Place, corner Rivonia
Road and Fredman Drive, Sandton) during office hours for a period of 30 calendar 
days following the date of this announcement. Any investment decision
in relation to the company's shares should be based on the full results announcement.

Directors: 
Dr YG Muthien* (Chairperson), BAS Henderson (Chief Executive Officer), 
MR Bower* (Lead Independent Director), TP Leeuw*, LA Makenete*, BN Njobe*, 
CC Schoombie (Chief Financial Officer), CL Smart**, GJH Willis**

* Independent non-executive     **Non-executive

Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

http://www.rfg.com


Date: 19/11/2019 07:05:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.

Share This Story