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Mon 14 May 2012, 7:15 ARL - Astral Foods Limited - Unaudited interim results and dividend
ARL
ARL                                                                             
ARL - Astral Foods Limited - Unaudited interim results and dividend             
declaration                                                                     
for the six months ended 31 March 2012                                          
Astral Foods Limited                                                            
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa                                    
Registration number 1978/003194/06                                              
Share code:  ARL     ISIN: ZAE000029757                                         
Unaudited interim results and dividend declaration                              
for the six months ended 31 March 2012                                          
- Revenue increase 16%                                                          
- Operating profit decrease 14%                                                 
- Earnings per share decrease 17%                                               
- Interim dividend 336 cents per share                                          
Condensed group statement of financial position                                 
                           Unaudited      Unaudited                Audited      
six months     six months               12 months    
                           ended          ended                    ended        
                           31 March 2012  31 March 2011            30 Sept 2011 
                           R`000          R`000                    R`000        
ASSETS                                                                          
Non-current assets          1 773 066      1 784 969                1 876 789   
Property, plant and         1 615 939      1 646 487                1 711 966   
equipment                                                                       
Intangible assets           11 333         4 562                    11 120      
Goodwill                    139 147        124 802                  140 401     
Investments and loans       6 647          9 118                    13 028      
Deferred tax assets         -              -                        274         
Current assets              1 615 358      1 502 994                1 508 605   
Inventories                 424 352        291 574                  321 031     
Biological assets           362 156        316 584                  342 234     
Trade and other receivables 743 563        715 094                  662 836     
Current tax asset           -              -                        429         
Derivative financial        291            385                      210         
instruments                                                                     
Cash and cash equivalents   84 996         179 357                  181 865     
Assets of disposal group    156 842        -                        -           
classified as held for sale                                                     
Total assets                3 545 266      3 287 963                3 385 394   
EQUITY                                                                          
Capital and reserves        1 576 583      1 491 307                1 574 194   
attributable to equity                                                          
holders of the parent                                                           
company                                                                         
Issued capital              2 044          2 321                    2 044       
Treasury shares             (204 435)      (204 435)                (204 435)   
Reserves                    1 778 974      1 693 421                1 776 585   
Non-controlling interest    11 421         24 626                   11 438      
Total equity                1 588 004      1 515 933                1 585 632   
LIABILITIES                                                                     
Non-current liabilities     495 473        564 517                  569 100     
Borrowings                  19 045         103 999                  99 496      
Deferred tax liability      381 863        370 343                  378 950     
Retirement benefit          94 565         90 175                   90 654      
obligations                                                                     
Current liabilities         1 364 943      1 207 513                1 230 662   
Trade and other liabilities 1 227 509      1 031 235                1 101 455   
Current tax liabilities     5 287          50 586                   7 316       
Borrowings                  132 147        125 692                  121 891     
Liabilities of disposal     96 846         -                        -           
group classified as held                                                        
for sale                                                                        
Total liabilities           1 957 262      1 772 030                1 799 762   
Total equity and            3 545 266      3 287 963                3 385 394   
liabilities                                                                     
Condensed group statement of comprehensive income                               
                          Unaudited  Unaudited             Audited              
                          six        six months            12 months            
months                                                
                          ended      ended                 ended                
                          31 March   31 March 2011  Change 30 Sept 2011         
                          2012                                                  
R`000      R`000          %      R`000                
Revenue                    4 885 288  4 214 698      16     8 605 904           
Operating profit           323 541    375 355        (14)   674 919             
Fair value adjustment of   -          (1 805)               (1 805)             
investment in assets held                                                       
for sale                                                                        
Finance income             3 070      5 354                 12 676              
Finance costs              (11 387)   (14 670)              (27 849)            
Profit before income tax   315 224    364 234        (13)   657 941             
Income tax expense         (113 975)  (122 036)             (222 679)           
Profit for the period      201 249    242 198        (17)   435 262             
Other comprehensive                                                             
income                                                                          
Foreign currency           (5 663)    2 816                 13 555              
translation adjustments                                                         
Total comprehensive        195 586    245 014        (20)   448 817             
income for period, net of                                                       
tax                                                                             
Profit attributable to:                                                         
Equity holders of the      199 245    240 103        (17)   429 217             
parent company                                                                  
Minority interests         2 004      2 095          (4)    6 045               
                          201 249    242 198        (17)   435 262              
Comprehensive income                                                            
attributable to:                                                                
Equity holders of the      193 733    242 494        (20)   441 278             
parent company                                                                  
Minority interests         1 853      2 520          (26)   7 539               
195 586    245 014        (20)   448 817              
Earnings per share                                                              
(cents)                                                                         
-  basic                   523        631            (17)   1 128               
-  diluted                 523        630            (17)   1 126               
Condensed group statement of cash flow                                          
                      Unaudited       Unaudited              Audited            
                      six months      six months             12 months          
ended           ended                  ended              
                      31 March 2012   31 March 2011          30 Sept 2011       
                      R`000           R`000                  R`000              
Cash operating profit  388 565         440 705                809 169           
Working capital        (86 067)        (37 921)               27 782            
changes                                                                         
Cash generated from    302 498         402 784                836 951           
operating activities                                                            
Tax paid               (111 196)       (74 583)               (214 564)         
Cash flows from        191 302         328 201                622 387           
operating activities                                                            
Net cash used in       (81 157)        (58 897)               (193 261)         
investing activities                                                            
Capital expenditure    (85 780)        (78 179)               (147 556)         
Finance income         3 070           5 354                  12 676            
Proceeds on disposal   1 553           13 928                 9 945             
of property, plant                                                              
and equipment                                                                   
Acquisition of         -               -                      (82 261)          
business unit                                                                   
Proceeds on disposal   -               -                      13 935            
of investment held                                                              
for sale                                                                        
Cash generated for     110 145         269 304                429 126           
the period                                                                      
Cash used in           (212 365)       (184 697)              (337 654)         
financing activities                                                            
(Decrease)/Increase    (5 808)         7 347                  5 021             
in borrowings                                                                   
Interest paid          (12 623)        (14 670)               (31 021)          
Dividends paid         (193 934)       (178 683)              (298 962)         
Cost of non-           -               -                      (14 000)          
controlling interest                                                            
acquired                                                                        
Shares issued          -               1 309                  1 308             
Net movement in cash   (102 220)       84 607                 91 472            
and cash equivalents                                                            
Effects of exchange    1 928           1 379                  6 938             
rate changes                                                                    
Reclassification to    (12 839)        -                      -                 
assets held for sale                                                            
Cash and cash          69 416          (28 994)               (28 994)          
equivalent balances                                                             
at beginning of                                                                 
period                                                                          
Cash and cash          (43 715)        56 992                 69 416            
equivalent balances                                                             
at end of period                                                                
(note 6)                                                                        
Condensed group statement of changes in equity                                  
                      Unaudited      Unaudited             Audited              
                      six months     six months            12 months            
ended          ended                 ended                
                      31 March 2012  31 March 2011         30 Sept 2011         
                      R`000          R`000                 R`000                
Balance beginning of   1 585 632      1 446 197             1 446 197           
period                                                                          
Total comprehensive    195 586        245 014               448 817             
income for period                                                               
Dividends to the       (192 205)      (178 825)             (294 909)           
company`s                                                                       
shareholders                                                                    
Payments to non-       (1 869)        -                     (4 571)             
controlling interest                                                            
holders                                                                         
Option value of share  860            1 648                 2 790               
options granted                                                                 
Shares issued from     -              1 309                 1 308               
share options                                                                   
exercised                                                                       
Cost of non-           -              590                   (14 000)            
controlling interest                                                            
acquired                                                                        
Balance at end of      1 588 004      1 515 933             1 585 632           
period                                                                          
Condensed group segmental analysis                                              
Unaudited      Unaudited             Audited              
                      six months     six months            12 months            
                      ended          ended                 ended                
                      31 March 2012  31 March 2011 Change  30 Sept 2011         
R`000          R`000         %       R`000                
Revenue                                                                         
Poultry                                                                         
- South Africa and     3 101 529      2 771 716     12      5 599 160           
Swaziland                                                                       
Feed                   2 588 888      2 052 909     26      4 210 296           
- South Africa         2 468 605      1 956 925     26      4 004 451           
- Other Africa         120 283        95 984        25      205 845             
Services and ventures  155 127        132 236       17      275 902             
Inter-group            (960 256)      (742 163)             (1 479 454)         
- Feed to Poultry      (912 160)      (703 573)             (1 395 071)         
- Services and         (48 096)       (38 590)              (84 383)            
ventures to Poultry                                                             
and Feed                                                                        
                      4 885 288      4 214 698     16      8 605 904            
Operating profit                                                                
Poultry                                                                         
- South Africa and     144 188        228 904       (37)    353 193             
Swaziland                                                                       
Feed                   166 261        133 048       25      282 329             
- South Africa         151 069        120 603       25      257 536             
- Other Africa         15 192         12 445        22      24 793              
Services and ventures  13 092         13 403        (2)     39 397              
                      323 541        375 355       (14)    674 919              
Additional information                                                          
                      Unaudited      Unaudited             Audited              
                      six months     six months            12 months            
                      ended          ended                 ended                
31 March 2012  31 March 2011 Change  30 Sept 2011         
                      R`000          R`000         %       R`000                
Headline earnings      198 739        241 886       (18)    436 697             
(R`000) (note 5)                                                                
Headline earnings per                                                           
share (cents)                                                                   
- basic                522            636           (18)    1 148               
- diluted              521            635           (18)    1 145               
Dividends per share    336            305           10      810                 
(cents)                                                                         
Number of ordinary                                                              
shares                                                                          
- Issued net of        38 060 308     38 060 308            38 060 308          
treasury shares                                                                 
- Weighted-average     38 060 308     38 050 557            38 055 446          
- Diluted weighted-    38 111 641     38 096 186            38 124 355          
average                                                                         
Net debt (borrowings   66 196         50 334                39 522              
less cash and cash                                                              
equivalents) (R`000)                                                            
Net asset value per    41,42          39,18         6       41,36               
share (Rand)                                                                    
Notes                                                                           
1. Nature of business                                                           
Astral is a leading South African integrated poultry producer. Key activities   
consist of: broiler genetics, production and sale of day-old chicks and         
hatching eggs, integrated breeder and broiler production operations, abattoirs  
and sale and distribution of various key poultry brands as well as animal feed  
pre-mixes and the manufacturing of animal feeds.                                
2. Basis of preparation                                                         
The condensed interim financial statements for the six months ended 31 March    
2012 have been prepared in accordance with International Reporting Standards    
("IFRS"), IAS 34 - Interim Financial Reporting, the Listings Requirements of    
the JSE Limited and the South African Companies Act (2008). These condensed     
interim financial statements have been prepared by the financial director, DD   
Ferreira, CA(SA).                                                               
These financial statements have not been reviewed or audited by the group`s     
auditors.                                                                       
3. Accounting policies                                                          
The accounting policies applied in this interim financial statements comply     
with IFRS and IAS 34 and are consistent with those applied in the preparation   
of the group`s annual financial statements for the year ended 30 September      
2011.                                                                           
                              Unaudited      Unaudited     Audited              
six months     six months    12 months            
                              ended          ended         ended                
                              31 March 2012  31 March 2011 30 Sept 2011         
                              R`000          R`000         R`000                
4. Operating profit                                                             
The following items have been                                                   
accounted for in the                                                            
operating profit:                                                               
Biological assets - fair       1 673          410           2 620               
value gain                                                                      
Amortisation of intangible     1 208          1 403         2 679               
assets                                                                          
Depreciation on property,      59 380         56 799        115 251             
plant and equipment                                                             
Profit/(Loss) on disposal of   703            31            (6 338)             
property, plant and equipment                                                   
Foreign exchange               (830)          187           1 214               
(loss)/profit                                                                   
Provision for Competition      17 000         -             -                   
Commission settlement                                                           

5. Reconciliation to headline                                                   
earnings                                                                        
Earnings for period            199 245        240 103       429 217             
(Profit)/Loss on sale of       (506)          (22)          4 392               
property, plant and equipment                                                   
- net of tax                                                                    
Loss on disposal of            -              1 805         1 805               
investment held for sale                                                        
Loss on assets scrapped - net  -              -             132                 
of tax                                                                          
Impairment of assets - net of  -              -             1 151               
tax                                                                             
Headline earnings for period   198 739        241 886       436 697             
                                                                                
6. Cash and cash equivalents                                                    
per cash flow statement                                                         
Bank overdrafts - included in  (128 711)      (122 365)     (112 449)           
current borrowings                                                              
Cash at bank and in hand       84 996         179 357       181 865             
Cash and cash equivalents per  (43 715)       56 992        69 416              
cash flow statement                                                             
                                                                                
7. Capital commitments                                                          
Capital expenditure approved   340 306        131 739       142 769             
not contracted                                                                  
Capital expenditure            33 662         24 909        27,542              
contracted not recognised in                                                    
financial statements                                                            
8. Disposal group classified as held for sale                                   
The assets and liabilities of East Balt, a 50% owned joint venture disclosed    
as part of the Services and Ventures segment, have been presented as held for   
sale following a decision to divest from the business.                          
Financial overview                                                              
Headline earnings for the period decreased by 18% to R199 million from R242     
million for the same period last year mainly as result of increases in feed     
and other input costs not all recovered in selling price increases.             
Revenue increased by 16% from R4 215 million to R4 885 million due to           
increased volumes and higher sales realisations from all the business           
segments.                                                                       
Operating profit at R324 million was 14% down on the profit for the same        
period last year. The high increase in feed costs experienced during the past   
six months impact negatively on the Poultry division`s profit margins,          
resulting in a 37% decline in operating profit. Poultry`s operating profit      
also includes a provision of R17 million in respect of a proposed settlement    
of anti-competitive and alleged anti-competitive conduct by Astral. The Feed    
division on the other hand maintained its profit margin and reported a 25%      
increase in profits, in line with the higher revenue realised. The Other        
Africa operations reported increased profits and the Service and Ventures`      
profits were the same as the previous year.                                     
Net finance costs at R8 million were marginally down on the previous year`s R9  
million.                                                                        
Earnings per share decreased by 17% from 631 cents to 523 cents, and headline   
earnings per share decreased by 18% from 636 cents to 522 cents.                
Negative cash flow for the period, partly as result of the increase in working  
capital, resulted in a negative cash and cash equivalent balance of R44         
million, compared to the surplus of R69 million at 30 September 2011. The net   
debt level of R66 million (30 September 2011: R39 million) excludes R80         
million in respect of East Balt`s borrowings which is now disclosed as part of  
liabilities held for sale. The net debt to equity ratio remained low at 4% (30  
September 2011: 3%).                                                            
The board has declared an interim dividend of 336 cents per share (2011: 305    
cents per share). The dividend includes 31 cents per share to partially         
compensate for the portion of newly introduced Dividend Tax, which replaced     
the Secondary Tax on Companies (STC) previously part of the group`s tax         
charge.                                                                         
Operational overview                                                            
Poultry division                                                                
Revenue for the division was up by 12% to R3 102 million (30 September 2011:    
R2 772 million) on the back of higher volumes (up 5%) and pricing levels        
improving by 7%.                                                                
The higher volumes were as a result of an increase in the number of broilers    
placed and reared during the period under review.                               
An increase in feed costs for the period (up 23%) impacted negatively on        
margins for the division which reflected a decrease to 4,7% (30 September       
2011: 8,3%) with operating profit decreasing by 37% to R144 million (30         
September 2011: R229 million).                                                  
Poultry imports, primarily from Europe and Brazil, continued to climb to        
record levels resulting in pricing pressure on locally produced poultry which,  
in turn, led to a significant increase in promotional activity during the       
second quarter in order to manage higher stock levels.  The above resulted in   
the inability to recover significant increases in feed and other input costs,   
such as energy in the selling price of chicken, leading to substantial margin   
pressure in the Poultry division.                                               
Feed division                                                                   
Revenue for the division increased by 26% to R2 589 million (30 September       
2011: R2 053 million) as a result of higher feed prices on the back of higher   
maize and soya pricing levels, and higher sales volumes (up 3%) derived mainly  
from an increase in the inter-group requirement for poultry feed.               
The operating profit increased by 25% to R166 million (30 September 2011: R133  
million) with a stable margin at 6,4% (30 September 2011: 6,5%). The increase   
in the operating profit was mainly due to an increase in the net Rand per ton   
margins on feed.                                                                
The division`s other Africa operations reported a healthy 22% increase in       
operating profit.                                                               
Services and Joint Ventures                                                     
Revenue for the division increased by 17% to R155 million ((30 September 2011:  
R132 million) whilst operating profit decreased marginally to R13 million ((30  
September 2011: R13,4 million).                                                 
Competition Commission                                                          
The group`s financial results were impacted by a provision of R17 million in    
respect of a proposed settlement with the Competition Commission on various     
open matters. The proposed penalty remains to be settled with the Competition   
Commission and then reviewed by the Competition Tribunal.                       
Prospects                                                                       
The business environment for the next reporting period is not expected to       
improve from prevailing conditions. Maize and soya pricing as key cost drivers  
in feed and poultry will remain at high levels with limited ability to recover  
the increased production costs from a depressed poultry market exacerbated by   
record levels of poultry imports.                                               
Declaration of Ordinary Dividend No. 23                                         
The board has approved and declared an interim dividend of 336 cents per        
ordinary share (gross) in respect of the six months ended 31 March 2012.        
The dividend will be subject to the new Dividends Tax that was introduced with  
effect from 1 April 2012. In accordance with paragraphs 11.17 (a) (i) to (x)    
and 11.17(c) of the JSE Listings Requirements the following additional          
information is disclosed:                                                       
The dividend has been declared out of income reserves;                          
The local Dividends Tax rate is 15% (fifteen per centum);                       
There are no Secondary Tax on Companies (STC) credits utilised;                 
The gross local dividend amount is 336 cents per ordinary share for             
shareholders exempt from the Dividends Tax;                                     
The net local dividend amount is 285.6 cents per ordinary share for             
shareholders liable to pay the Dividends Tax;                                   
Astral Foods has currently 42 148 885  ordinary shares in issue (which          
includes 4 088 577 treasury shares); and                                        
Astral Foods Ltd`s income tax reference number is 9125190711.                   
Shareholders are advised of the following dates in respect of the interim       
dividend:                                                                       
Last date to trade cum dividend                 Friday, 8 June 2012             
Shares commence trading ex dividend             Monday, 11 June 2012            
Record date                                     Friday, 15 June 2012            
Payment of dividend                             Monday, 18 June 2012            
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Monday,  
11 June 2012 and Friday, 15 June 2012, both days inclusive.                     
On behalf of the board                                                          
JJ Geldenhuys                     CE Schutte                                    
Chairman                          Chief Executive Officer                       
Pretoria                                                                        
14 May 2012                                                                     
Registered office                                                               
92 Koranna Avenue, Doringkloof, Centurion, 0157, South Africa                   
Postnet Suite 278, Private Bag X1028, Doringkloof, 0140                         
Telephone: +27 (0) 12 667-5468                                                  
Website address:                                                                
www.astralfoods.com                                                             
Directors                                                                       
JJ Geldenhuys (Chairman)                                                        
*CE Schutte (Chief Executive Officer)                                           
*GD Arnold                                                                      
*T Delport                                                                      
Dr T Eloff                                                                      
*DD Ferreira (Financial Director)                                               
IS Fourie                                                                       
*Dr OM Lukhele                                                                  
M Macdonald                                                                     
TCC Mampane                                                                     
Dr N Tsengwa                                                                    
(*Executive director)                                                           
Company Secretary                                                               
MA Eloff                                                                        
Transfer secretaries                                                            
Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited                                   
PO Box 61051, Marshalltown, 2107                                                
Telephone: +27 (0) 11 370-5000                                                  
Sponsor                                                                         
JP Morgan Equities Limited                                                      
1 Fricker Road, Illovo, Johannesburg, 2196                                      
Telephone: +27 (0) 11 507-0430                                                  
Date: 14/05/2012 07:15:06 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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