Feed business ForFarmers has reported a strong increase in profits and volume in the first half of 2014, despite a decline in turnover as raw materials prices fell.
Highlights first half 2014:
• Operating result increased by 33% to 27.2 million, compared with 20.5 million in the first half of 2013
• Compound feed volume rose slightly by 1% to 3.2 million tonnes, partly on the back of the acquisition of HST Feeds. Excluding the impact of acquisition, compound feed volume remained unchanged
• Turnover declined by 9% to 1,249 million, due to a drop in raw materials prices
• Gross profit up by 6% compared to the first half of 2013; all countries contributed to this increase
• Increase in solvency to 45.9%, from 44.2% at year-end 2013
• Solid progress in One ForFarmers strategic programme: internal organisation strengthened and total re-branding of the activities has been launched, with the exception of Reudink, Pavo and PoultryPlus
• Continued expansion in United Kingdom with the acquisition of HST Feeds in February and Wheyfeed shortly after the end of the first half of the year
Yoram Knoop, CEO ForFarmers: “In the first half of 2014 ForFarmers realised a strong improvement in its operating result. The decline in turnover was caused by lower raw material prices which were passed on to our customers. Gross profit was up 6% in the first half of the year, because of synergy in the area of nutritional expertise. We continued our international expansion in the first half of the year. In February 2014, we acquired HST Feeds in the United Kingdom and shortly after the end of the first half of the year we announced the acquisition of Wheyfeed, also in the United Kingdom. Both acquisitions will contribute to earnings per share in the current financial year.
This year we announced our sharpened strategic course under the header ‘One ForFarmers’. The aim of the One ForFarmers programme is to intensify cooperation within the group. In the context of this programme, we will in the coming months begin the re-branding of our activities in the United Kingdom to the ForFarmers brand and this brand will be used by all other ForFarmers companies within the next 12 months, with the exception of Reudink, Pavo and PoultryPlus. In addition, we recently began a further sharpening of the strategy, with a view to investing in the effectiveness and steering of our organisation. The professionalisation and increase in scale of the agricultural companies who are our clients continues unabated, which has in turn led to structural changes in their demand. Our client-focused proposition, combined with a strong operational efficiency, provides us with the opportunity to strengthen our market leadership. In the course of the second half of the year, we will define the targets associated with the sharpened strategy in more detail, after which implementation will follow.”
General
In the agricultural sector, farmers continue to see pressure on returns. This applies to all sector with the exception of the dairy sector. Market conditions are difficult in the pig and poultry sector and especially difficult in the layers sector.
Turnover and result
In the first half of 2014, ForFarmers recorded turnover of 1,249.4 million. This is a decrease of 127.6 million compared to the same period of 2013, largely due to the fall in raw material prices. ForFarmers was nevertheless able to realise solid half-year results due to focus on products based on an optimal nutritional expertise, combined with the company’s growing efficiency. Gross profit in the first half of the year increased in all countries when compared to the same period last year. The currency effects of the British pound increased the operating result by 0.3 million, while the acquisition effect on the operating result was 0.3 million.
Compound feed volumes increased slightly in the first half of the year (1%), compared to the first half of 2013. All countries contributed to this increase with the exception of the Netherlands where the compound feed volume fell slightly. Excluding the impact of the acquisition, volume in compound feeds remained unchanged.
ForFarmers increased gross profit to 198.4 million in the first half of 2014, compared to 187.1 million in the same period in 2013. All countries contributed to this increase. Gross profit in the first half was enhanced by the focus on products based on optimal nutritional expertise.
The higher gross profit was partially offset by an increase in operating expenses to 174.5 million in the first half of 2014, versus 169.7 million in the prior year period. This increase was partly due to a one-off charge of 2.1 million relating to the intended closure of a production plant in Deventer. Operating expenses in the first half of 2014 also included one-off costs relating to the exploration and preparation for the company’s possible public listing. Excluding these one-off charges, the exchange rate effect and the impact of the acquisition, operating expenses were slightly lower in the first half of 2014.
The operating result increased to 27.2 million, compared to 20.5 million in the same period of 2013. All countries contributed to this increase. The operating result excluding acquisitions and currency effects amounted to 26.6 million in the first half of the year.
Result after tax increased by 21% to 18.8 million. The result recorded in the first half of the year 2013 was enhanced by a one-off net gain of 1.6 million from the sale of the company’s minority stake in Agrovision B.V.
The Netherlands
Compound feed volume in the Netherlands decreased slightly compared to the first half of 2013. This reduction was most significant in the pig and poultry sector. The pig sector continues to shrink. In addition, this sector is undergoing changes to rations, whereby more single feeds are being used, which in turn has led to a slight fall in compound feed sales. The layers sector is suffering from a continuing decline in the number of animals. The decrease in compound feed use in these sectors is in line with market developments.
Gross profit was higher due to the integration of the product ranges during the course of 2013. This development more than offset the decrease in volumes.
Reudink’s organic feeds’ contribution to gross profit was higher in the first half of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Finally, the roughage and arable farming sectors had a good season with higher volumes in the first half of 2014 compared to prior year having a positive impact on gross profit.
Germany
The increase in compound feed volume in Germany exceeded the overall market average, which showed slight growth. All sectors contributed to this increase, demonstrating that targeted sales efforts, with a focus on particular growth segments, are having a positive impact. In particular, the pig and cattle sectors benefited from the clear focus on customers. The positive developments of the trans-shipment activities in the joint venture HaBeMa also contributed to the improvement in gross profit.
Belgium
Compound feed volume increased in Belgium, primarily due to gaining new customers in the pig and cattle sectors. In addition, ForFarmers’ growth kept pace with that of its customers, which are largely located in the growth segments of the market. The poultry sector is relatively lagging behind. The increase in gross profit in Belgium was due to both an increase in volume and to a focus on products based upon optimal nutritional expertise.
United Kingdom
Compound feed volume increased in the UK on the back of the acquisition of HST Feeds. Excluding this acquisition, there was a slight decrease in volume. The pig sector performed well in terms of volume, whilst volume in the cattle sector slightly decreased. Excluding acquisition effects, the slight decrease in gross profit was largely caused by the very different weather conditions in the first half of 2014 compared to the previous year. Animals were kept inside for a longer period in 2013.
Capital structure and solvency
Group equity in the first six months of 2014 increased to 346.3 million, 3.6 million higher compared to 31 December 2013. The key factor in this increase was the profit realised in the current financial year less dividends paid ( 14.4 million). The amount of the exchange rate difference relating to the UK operations has also been booked as a direct change in shareholders’ equity. Furthermore an additional amount of 3.5 million for pension costs has been booked against equity. These developments combined resulted in an increase in the solvency ratio to 45.9% at the end of June 2014, from 44.2% at year-end 2013.
Net debt, representing gross bank debt less bank balances, went down by 0.3 million compared to year-end 2013. This was due to the operational cash flow in the first half of the year. This was offset by outgoing cash flows for the dividend payment relating to 2013, regular loan repayments, the acquisition of HST Feeds Ltd and investments in tangible fixed assets. The strong balance sheet and healthy cash position places ForFarmers in a position to move forward in a responsible way with the strategic road map and the sharpening of the strategy.
Special developments
The 2014 interim results include a one-off charge of 2.1 million relating to the intended closure of one of the two existing production plants in Deventer. The Works Council has been informed based upon its advisory capacity in this process. The production at the facility in Deventer will be transferred to other locations. ForFarmers expects to be able to implement this change without forced redundancies. The move will result in structural savings as from 2015.
In line with the authorisation granted by the General Meeting, the Supervisory Board has appointed KPMG as the new auditor. With effect from the financial year 2014, KPMG will audit the financial statements of ForFarmers B.V.
Strategic developments
ForFarmers wants to contribute towards a better return for its customers by providing the best possible animal nutrition solutions. ForFarmers achieves this by increasingly responding to individual customer needs with client-specific solutions. Initiatives in this area include providing specialist expertise and advice and implementing best-in-class nutritional solutions, using the existing route-to-market. The ‘total feed’ concept will be further expanded, while maintaining the focus on operational excellence, for the sustainable production of dairy, meat and eggs. ForFarmers is a key link in the feed to food chain, higher production from lower inputs.
In recent months, major progress was made in the One ForFarmers strategic programme. The aim of the programme is to realise a more uniform way of working and the focused use of available expertise to introduce certain products and innovations in local markets. Recently a start was made with the re-branding of the activities in the United Kingdom to the ForFarmers brand. The current plan is to complete the transition of all other activities to the ForFarmers brand within the next 12 months (with the exception of Reudink, Pavo and PoultryPlus). In addition, a start has been made with the further sharpening of the strategy. As part of this process, the 50% stake in Subli B.V. (horse feeds) was sold. In addition, after the first half year, ForFarmers subsidiary Reudink, a manufacturer of organic feeds, announced a strategic partnership with Agrifirm under which Reudink will produce organic feeds for Agrifirm.
The Executive Board has welcomed two new members: Stijn Steendijk as director of Strategy & Organisation and Steven Read as director of Purchasing, Pricing and Formulation. In addition, Nico de Vos will focus on Operations & Supply Chain activities. The Supervisory Board has also announced that it intends to add two new members to the statutory Board of Directors, which currently consists of Yoram Knoop (CEO). The two new members who have been nominated are Jan Potijk (COO, responsible for the ForFarmers activities in the Netherlands) and Arnout Traas (CFO), who both are already members of the current ForFarmers Executive Board. The purpose of this expansion is to further safeguard continuity in the decision-making process of the organisation. The above appointments will be submitted for approval to the General Meeting to be held on 17 September 2014.
Outlook for 2014
ForFarmers’ strategy is aimed at providing customers with products based on optimal nutritional expertise, through growth, increase in scale and international expansion. The optimal use of nutritional expertise per individual customer will lead to organic growth. Furthermore, strategic alliances and partnerships will contribute to additional economies of scale and further deepening and broadening of expertise. Finally, the international expansion, with focus on ‘Europe+’, will contribute towards expanding and/or acquiring number one and two positions in selected markets. This will be partly realised through acquisitions.
The ambitions of ForFarmers in these areas are currently incorporated into the sharpened strategy. Also in the second half of the year, extra costs will be incurred for the exploration and the preparation for a possible public listing.
For the second half of the current financial year, we expect a continued fluctuation in raw material prices, which has an impact on returns at our clients and at ForFarmers. The current harvest expectations and the expected price developments in the raw material markets compared to the second half of 2013 are likely to result in a decrease in turnover in the second half of this year. This means that the turnover for the full year 2014 is expected to be lower than 2013. ForFarmers will continue its efforts to realise the best possible returns for the customer by providing the ‘total feed’ concept and by continuously adapting the feed solutions to trends and to market conditions.
