Loss ‘disappointing’ for Silver Fern Farms
$30.6 million aftertax loss follows $24.9 million net profit last year
SILVER Fern Farms chairman Rob Hewett has described the company’s financial results as ‘‘particularly disappointing’’ after it posted a $30.6 million aftertax loss.
The loss, for the year ended September, compared with a $24.9 million net profit in the previous financial year.
Operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) were $32.1 million, down from $90.5 million.
A $7.5 million net operating loss, before tax and impairment and on income of $2.2 billion, compared to a net operating profit of $30.8 million and income of $2.5 billion the previous year.
In December, Silver Fern Farms completed its joint venture partnership with Shanghai Maling, with the Chineseowned company investing $267 million in cash in return for a 50% stake in the business.
While the financial result was in line with previous guidance of a ‘‘small operating loss’’, it was disappointing and reflected a very challenging year across the industry, Mr Hewett said in a statement.
‘‘The company managed its way through a tough year as a perfect storm hit with sharp falls in a number of endmarkets in the first half, lower industrywide volumes, unseasonal livestock flows which limited capacity utilisation, and a strengthening New Zealand currency through the year amplified in June by the Brexit event.
‘‘It was one of the tougher environments we have been in for some time as events impacted both beef and sheep,’’ he said.
It was impacted by a oneoff $22.4 million nocash accounting writedown related to the Shanghai Maling investment.
‘‘As at balance date, we had an unconditional, but at the time yet to be completed, investment by Shanghai Maling.
‘‘Since the successful completion of the transaction was considered highly probable at balance date, the company was required under accounting standards to take a oneoff noncash accounting writedown in the value of the disposal group to reflect the value at which Shanghai Maling was investing at relative to our historical book values.
‘‘Of the $30 million noncash writedown, $22.4 million was taken through the P&L and $7.3 million through reserves to reflect the reversal of previous asset revaluations,’’ he said.
Looking ahead, chief executive Dean Hamilton said the company was confident that, if a more settled operating environment prevailed, combined with improvements it had under taken and had planned, its performance would ‘‘improve significantly’’ this year.
Net debt of $107.2 million was down from $120.9 million the previous year and $288.6 million in the 2014 financial year.
Mr Hamilton said disciplines in the business meant the company continued to manage its working capital, risk and capital expenditure prudently and reduce debt, also halving its finance costs to $14.8 million.
While very disappointing to ‘‘substantially’’ miss its profitability goals for the year, good progress was achieved in various areas; continuing to grow its valueadded business, improving health and safety performance, and creating a sustainable capital structure.
A 31% increase was achieved in value added sales of Silver Fern Farms branded products through retail and food service channels in New Zealand and overseas.
The company’s focus on selling more of its product in chilled form led to positive results, with more than 40% of its prime beef being sold chilled and more than 30% of lamb sales, he said.
Silver Fern Farms will hold its annual meeting in Dunedin on February 15.