World meat industry news

PJSC Cherkizovo Group (MOEX: GCHE), the largest vertically integrated meat producer in Russia, today announces its audited consolidated IFRS results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2018

Fourth quarter financial highlights

• Revenue increased by 31.0% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RUB 31.9 billion.
• Net change in fair value of biological assets amounted to negative RUB 2.0 billion, compared to RUB 0.9 billion in 4Q17. Revaluation of harvested crops in stock changed to negative RUB 0.4 billion from negative RUB 1.3 billion in 4Q17.
• Gross profit of RUB 7.7 billion up by 33.5% compared to 4Q17.
• Adjusted EBITDA* up by 179.0% y-o-y to RUB 6.8 billion. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 21.2% from 10.0% in 4Q17.
• Net profit increased to RUB 1.6 billion from RUB 0.2 billion in 4Q17. Adjusted net profit** amounted to RUB 3.6 billion, compared to RUB 0.7 loss a year ago.
• Net operating cash flow increased by 114.1% to RUB 6.8 billion.

2018 financial highlights

• Revenue increased by 13.5% y-o-y to RUB 102.6 billion from RUB 90.5 billion in 2017.
• Net change in fair value of biological assets amounted to RUB 1.8 billion, compared to RUB 0.7 billion in 2017. Revaluation of harvested crops in stock totalled RUB 2.2 billion, up from negative RUB 0.9 billion in 2017.
• Gross profit was up by 35.5% y-o-y to 31.9 billion from RUB 23.6 billion in 2017.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased by 39.4% and amounted to RUB 20.4 billion. Adjusted EBITDA margin advanced to 19.9%.
• Net profit more than doubled compared to 2017 result and reached RUB 12.0 billion. Adjusted net profit increased by 100.7% to RUB 10.2 billion, from RUB 5.1 billion a year ago.
• Net operating cash flow was higher by 8.9% and amounted to RUB 14.2 billion.
• Net debt*** amounted to RUB 58.6 billion as of December 31, 2018, and net debt/EBITDA improved to 2.9x from 3.3x a year ago.

2018 corporate highlights

• During the year the company launched seven new wean-to-finish facilities.
• On July 17th the Company started a fully automated robotic meat processing plant in Kashira, in the Moscow Region.
• On October 23rd Cherkizovo acquired poultry breeder assets of Krasnoyaruzhsky Broiler in Belgorod region, with hatching eggs production capability of 80 mln eggs/year for cash consideration of RUB 1.8 billion.
• On November 28th the Company acquired 100% of Altaisky Broiler, a poultry producer located in the Siberian Federal District, capable of producing 58 thousand tonnes of finished products for cash consideration of RUB 4.6 billion. 
• On December 21st, the Group acquired Rosselkhozbanks’ rights to claim debts from LLC “Belaya Ptitsa Kursk” and related security agreements for RUB 5.6 billion.
• On December 25th Cherkizovo acquired 75% of Samson – Food Products, a group of companies based in St Petersburg and offering meat products under such brands as Samson, Fileya and others for cash consideration of RUB 0.35 billion, excluding debt of RUB 0.55 billion.

Key corporate highlights after reporting period

• On February 13th Board of Directors recommended to AGM to pay dividends in the amount of RUB 101.63 per share, in addition to interim dividends of RUB 20.48 per share announced in September 2018.

Sergei Mikhailov, CEO of Cherkizovo, commented:

“We are pleased to announce our exceptional 2018 results, and attribute them to investments we’ve made in recent years, and steps we’ve taken to focus our strategy to strengthen Company’s business model, against the backdrop of gradually improving consumer demand, volatile grain markets, weakening local currency and some market supply dislocations.

A few developments were particulary instrumental to our operating and financial results performance. A relentless focus on brand development for chicken meat products paid back via the significant increase of Petelinka and Chicken Kingdom sales, rising 35% and 24%, respectively, with growth achieved through the modern retail trade channel. We also broadened our portfolio of products catering to HoReCa clients, where the focus remains on quick service restaurants, which delivered 44% sales growth. By the end of 2018, our live pork production system achieved its targeted capacity of 300 thousand tons per annum, with the majority of planned wean-to-finish facilities now built and populated. Profitability of the pork segment remains well above plan as we focus on sustaining cost leadership in the industry, and our operational efficiency is underpinned by multi-year concentrated efforts at implementing best practices and our utilizing state-of-the-art asset base. Kashira-1, a dry sausage facility launched in summer near Moscow, and aims to be fully ramped up in 2019, thereby enhancing our ability to offer consumer dry sausages products, a niche where we remain the leader domestically. Grain segment contributed materially to overall company performance, as we optimized crop structure in favor of wheat growing, and grains prices gained with the arrival of 2017/18 harvest.

Our strong organic growth and increasing market share were bolstered by material acquisitions, completed at the end of 2018. Altaisky Broiler, a poultry producer with strong existing brand portfolio, will set the stage for the Company’s geographic expansion into the Siberian region, where our main clients, federal retail chains, have been expanding recently. This acquisition is coupled with the purchase of poultry breeder facility of Krasnoyaruzhsky broiler which supplies hatching eggs to Altaisky Broiler and other current assets of the Company. We also acquired the rights to claim debt from Belaya Ptitsa Kursk, which is expected to add significant modern broiler breeding operations and versatile processing plant, capable to produce value-added, HoReCa, and products aimed to export markets. Samson Food Products will augment our growing presence in Saint Petersburg and broader Northwestern region markets, adding premium well-known deli brands to our portfolio.“

Financial summary

1 In line with the Group’s management accounting practices and described herein (*,**) in more detail, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net profit don’t include the net change in fair value of biological assets.

Revenue

In 2018 revenue increased by 13.5% y-o-y to RUB 102.6 billion (2017: RUB 90.5 billion). Revenue growth is attributed to higher volumes across all segments, sales mix shift towards branded and value added products, and favourable pricing environment for chicken and pork products in the second half of 2018.

Gross profit

Gross profit increased by 35.5% y-o-y to RUB 31.9 billion, (2017: RUB 23.6 billion). Gross profit was positively affected by revenue growth, operational efficiency gains in chicken and pork segments and associated costs savings, and increase of net change in fair value of biological assets in pork and poultry segments and net revaluation of harvested crops in stock in grain segment, offset by higher input prices for meat processing segment. Gross profit margin improved to 31.1% (2017: 26.0%)

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by 19.8% y-o-y to RUB 16.3 billion, (2017: RUB 13.6 billion), due to higher selling expenses, which in turn is mostly driven by broadening of our distribution network, and G&A expenses largely unchanged from previous year. Operating expenses as a percentage of sales increased to 15.9% (2017: 15.0%). Share of loss of joint ventures and associates decrease by 74.3% y-o-y to RUB 0.06 billion (2017: RUB 0.22 billion).

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA of RUB 20.4 billion, increased by 39.4% y-o-y. Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 19.9% (2017: 16.2%) due to higher revenue across segments, improved profitability of poultry, pork and grain segments, and strict cost control on the corporate level.

Interest expense                                                                                                                           

Net interest expense in 2018 declined by 10.8% y-o-y to RUB 3.3 billion.

Net profit

Net profit for the Group totalled RUB 12.0 billion in 2018, up 107.0% compared to RUB 5.8 billion in 2017. Net profit margin improved to 11.7% from 6.4% a year ago.

Adjusted net profit increased by 100.7% to RUB 10.2 billion, from RUB 5.1 billion a year ago. Adjusted net profit margin improved to 9.9% from 5.6% a year ago.

Cash flow

Operating cash flow of RUB 14.2 billion (2017: RUB 13.0 billion), an increase of 8.9% affected by working capital increase due to higher interest payments coupled with lower government grants for compensation of interest expense.

Capital expenditure and debt

The Group’s capital expenditure on property, plant, equipment and maintenance amounted to RUB 9.8 billion during 2018, a decline of 20.9% y-o-y. Kashira facility completion and construction of new wean-to-finish pork facilities were major projects of capital expenditures in the reported period.

As of December 31, 2018, net debt*** was RUB 58.6 billion, compared to RUB 48.7 billion at the end of 2017. Gross debt increased to RUB 68.8 billion as of December 31, 2018, compared to 50.0 billion a year ago. At the end of 4Q18 long-term debt accounted for 65% of the debt portfolio and amounted to RUB 44.6 billion. The effective cost of debt was 4.7% as of December 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017: 7.3%). Subsidised loans and credit facilities made up 40% of the debt portfolio in 2018 (2017: 35%). Cash and cash equivalents amounted to RUB 9.6 billion as of December 31, 2018.

Subsidies

Starting from 1 January 2017 the Group receives government grants through accredited banks, who provide loans to agricultural producers at reduced rates not exceeding 5% per annum on Rouble-denominated loans (“reduced rate lending subsidy”). The difference between market rate and the reduced rate equals the Refinancing Key rate of the Central Bank of Russia and is compensated by Ministry of Agriculture to the accredited banks. Total government grants for compensation of interest expense grossed of related interest expense amounted to RUB 1.3 billion RUB.

Net change in fair value of biological assets

A higher net change in fair value of biological assets is explained by a higher valuation of sows, market hogs,  and by higher market prices of the products that the Group produces.

Business segments

 2 Revenue includes inter-segment sales

3 Volume and revenue reported in turkey section represent turkey sales by Trading Company “Cherkizovo”

Poultry Division      

Sales volumes in 2018 increased by 4.1% to 544.2 thousand tonnes (2017: 522.5 thousand tonnes). The average selling price increased by 9.1% y-o-y to 96.9 RUB/kg due to growth of Petelinka and Chicken Kingdom sales of 35% and 24% y-o-y respectively, shift in the sales mix towards cut-up products, coupled with distribution focused on modern retail trade and HoReCa products gain of 44% y-o-y. As a result, segment’s revenue was up 13.5% and amounted to RUB 53.8 billion (2017: RUB 47.4 billion).

Gross profit was up by 29.1% y-o-y and totalled RUB 13.5 billion, (2017: RUB 10.5 billion) on higher volumes and sales price, operational efficiency gains resulted in cost savings, the change in fair value of biological assets, offset by higher feed costs. Gross margin improved to 25.1%, from 22.1% in 2017.

Operating expenses as a percentage of sales amounted to 11.3%, unchanged from 2017 results. Operating income increased by 44.8% y-o-y to RUB 7.4 billion (2017: RUB 5.1 billion). Operating margin increased to 13.8% from 10.8% in 2017.

The segment’s profit before income tax amounted to RUB 6.9 billion (2017: RUB 4.0 billion).

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 17.8% y-o-y to RUB 8.4 billion (2017: RUB 7.1 billion), while Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 15.6% from 15.0% a year ago.

Pork Division

Sales volumes in 2018 increased by 18.3% y-o-y, to 236.9 thousand tonnes (2017: 200.3 thousand tonnes). The average selling price of 98.2 RUB/kg, up by 6.6% y-o-y compared to 92.1 RUB/kg a year ago. The segment’s revenue increased by 26.2% y-o-y to RUB 23.6 billion (2017: RUB 18.7 billion), on the back of higher volumes and better pricing.

Gross profit increased by 61.2% y-o-y, to RUB 11.2 billion (2017: RUB 6.9 billion) due to higher sales volumes and prices, further improvement in operational KPI’s translated into cost  savings and a non-cash change in the fair value of biological assets of RUB 0.9 billion. The segment’s gross margin improved to 47.4%, from 37.1% a year ago.

Operating expenses as a percentage of sales amounted to 3.3%, compared to 3.4% in 2017.

Operating income was up 65.0% y-o-y, to RUB 10.4 billion from RUB 6.3 billion in 2017. The segment’s operating margin increased to 44.2% from 33.8% a year ago.

The segment’s profit before income tax amounted to RUB 9.9 billion compared to the 2017 result of RUB 5.6 billion.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 60.2% y-o-y to RUB 10.9 billion (2017: RUB 6.8 billion). Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 46.2% from 36.4% in 2017.

Meat Processing Division

Sales volumes in 2018 increased by 12.4% y-o-y to 229.5 thousand tonnes (2017: 204.2 thousand tonnes). The average selling price was unchanged at 169.6 RUB/kg (2017: 170.1 RUB/kg). The segment’s revenue increased by 13.0% and reached RUB 38.4 billion (2017: RUB 34.0 billion). Revenue growth was driven by higher volumes of the carcass in the sales mix, on the back of higher volumes of market hogs production in the pork segment.

Gross profit declined by 28.9% y-o-y to RUB 4.2 billion, (2017: RUB 6.0 billion). The gross margin fell to 11.0% from 17.5 % a year ago on higher prices of input materials.

Operating expenses as a percentage of sales amounted to 12.3%, vs. 12.5% in 2017.

Operating income turned to negative RUB 0.5 billion from RUB 1.7 billion in 2017. Operating margin decreased to negative 1.2% from 5.0% in 2017.

The segment’s loss before income tax was RUB 1.0 billion, compared to a profit RUB 1.4 billion a year ago.

Adjusted EBITDA declined by 80.9% to RUB 0.5 billion from RUB 2.4 billion in 2017.

Grain Division

Sales volumes in 2018 increased by 53.6% y-o-y to 696.1 thousand tonnes (2017: 453.3 thousand tonnes) as we shifted crop acrage towards wheat growing.  The segment’s revenue increased by 115.7% and reached RUB 7.0 billion (2017: RUB 3.2 billion).

Gross profit turned positive to RUB 2.1 billion (2017: negative RUB 1.3 billion). The gross margin increased to 30.8% from negative 40.8% a year ago on higher volumes and sale price and net revaluation of harvested crops in stock of RUB 1.3 billion.

Operating expenses as a percentage of sales declined to 6.2%, from 8.3% in 2017.

Operating income improved to RUB 1.7 billion from RUB a loss of 1.6 billion in 2017. Operating margin came to 24.6% from negative 49.2% in 2017.

The segment’s profit before income tax was RUB 1.5 billion, compared to a loss of RUB 1.8 billion a year ago.

Adjusted EBITDA amounted to RUB 2.3 billion compared to a loss of RUB 1.1 billion in 2017.

Outlook

Our strategy remains focused on Russian domestic consumer, supported by a sustained increase in branded value-added products in our sales portfolio. We intend to leverage our market-leading positions in poultry and pork segments while concentrating on our core brands Petelinka, Chicken Kingdom, Pava-Pava and Cherkizovo, as well as recently acquired Samson and Altaisky Broiler. We anticipate that our new acquisitions will deliver increased scale and significant operational synergies with existing operations, which will translate into further cost savings for the Сompany.

Federal retail chains will remain our key partners for distribution domestically, but we expect growth acceleration with our HoReCa clients, and will selectively pursue export opportunities of the poultry products. Going forward our organic growth will shift to the meat processing segment where we see significant upside with multiple products that will support our brand equity, and to selective M&A, aligned with our strategic goals.