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Bakkafrost P/f

Earnings Release Aug 23, 2016

7331_rns_2016-08-23_bc23ea0c-67a7-4ce1-916c-e0056c40bd43.html

Earnings Release

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BAKKAFROST: Operational EBIT of DKK 307 million for the second quarter of 2016

BAKKAFROST: Operational EBIT of DKK 307 million for the second quarter of 2016

The Bakkafrost Group delivered a total operating EBIT of DKK 307.1 million for

Q2 2016. Harvested volumes were 13.0 thousand tonnes gutted weight. The combined

farming and VAP segments made an operational EBIT of DKK 289.5 million. The

farming segment made an operational EBIT of DKK 357.9 million and the increased

salmon spot prices had a positive effect on the farming segment. The high salmon

spot prices affected the VAP segment negatively, and the VAP segment made an

operational EBIT of DKK -68.4 million. The EBITDA for the FOF segment was DKK

45.4 million.

The total volumes harvested in Q2 2016 were 13.0 thousand tonnes gutted weight.

Bakkafrost transferred 1.9 million smolts in Q2 2016. In Q2 2016, Havsbrún

sourced 84.0 thousand tonnes of raw material.

The farming segment made an operational EBIT of DKK 357.9 million for Q2 2016,

which corresponds to NOK 34.47 per kg. The VAP segment made an operational EBIT

of DKK -68.4 million for Q2 2016. The high spot prices in Q2 2016 had a negative

effect on the operational EBIT in the VAP segment. The combined farming and VAP

segments made an operational EBIT of DKK 289.5 million for Q2 2016, which

corresponds to NOK 27.88 per kg. The FOF segment (fishmeal, oil and feed) made

an operational EBITDA of DKK 45.4 million for Q2 2016.

Commenting on the result, CEO Regin Jacobsen said:

"We are very satisfied with the result for Q2 2016. The salmon spot price has

been record high in the quarter and the biological performance has been good.

The VAP segment has struggled, but we maintain our strategy to sell a share of

our production as value added products. The development in our fishmeal, fish

oil and fish feed segment in the quarter was also good. The five year investment

plan was updated in June on our Capital Market Day, and the hatchery in

Viðareiði is starting production at the moment, the new Harvest plant has

started operation, and the construction of the new hatchery in Strond has

commenced."

On 14 July 2016, Bakkafrost announced suspicion of pathogenic ISA virus in the

farming site A-73 Hvannasund Norður based on regular ISA test results, carried

out by the Veterinary Authorities according to the Faroese veterinary system.

Consequently, Bakkafrost prepared to take necessary actions, and the Veterinary

Authority undertook further tests in order to confirm the suspicion of

pathogenic ISA virus. After a week of extensive testing, all the results were

negative and did not prove the presence of pathogenic ISA virus.

After that, the Veterinary Authority increased surveillance at the farming site

A-73 Hvannasund Norður and carried out extra tests on neighbouring farming

sites, which will be carried out for the next half year. This procedure is

stipulated in the Faroese veterinary farming regime with the purpose of securing

and maintaining good biology in the Faroese farming industry.

Bakkafrost acquired the remaining outstanding shares (51%) in P/F Faroe Farming,

effective from 1 July 2016. The Faroese Registry and the Competition Authorities

have approved Bakkafrost's acquisition of P/F Faroe Farming. Simultaneously,

Bakkafrost filed (relinquished) two farming licenses to the Faroese Authorities.

Following these two transactions, Bakkafrost has 14 licenses for farming salmon

in the Faroe Islands.

The Bakkafrost Group's net interest bearing debt amounted to DKK 603.0 million

at the end of Q2 2016. Bakkafrost had undrawn credit facilities of approximately

DKK 642.8 million at the end of Q2 2016 and the equity ratio was 61% at 30 June

OUTLOOK

Market

The global demand in the salmon market continues with strong growth rates. The

market balance will be tighter in 2016, compared to 2015. Global supply of

Atlantic salmon is expected to decrease by approximately 4% in volume during

2016, compared to 2015. The decrease is expected to be 8-9% in the second half

of 2016. Production capacity is close to full utilization and further expansion

relates to high investments.

Farming

The outlook for the farming segment is good. The estimates for harvesting

volumes and smolt releases are as always dependent on the biological situation.

Bakkafrost has acquired the remaining outstanding shares in P/F Faroe Farming,

effective from 1 July 2016. P/F Faroe Farming is a salmon farming company and

operates in the southern part of the Faroe Islands, Suðuroy. P/F Faroe Farming

holds three farming licenses in Suðuroy, Faroe Islands, and the total harvested

volumes for 2015 were 4,681 tonnes gutted weight, and the harvested volumes for

H1 2016 were 2,054 tonnes gutted weight. P/F Faroe Farming will be consolidated

into Bakkafrost Group from 1 July 2016. P/F Faroe Farming expects to harvest

1,000 tonnes gutted weight in the second half of 2016.

Together with Bakkafrost's unchanged expected harvest (excl. Faroe Farming) of

48,000 tonnes gutted weight, the total harvest for Bakkafrost Group in 2016 will

be 49,000 tonnes gutted weight.

The number of smolts released is one key element of predicting Bakkafrost's

future production. Bakkafrost forecasts a release of 10.4 million smolts in

2016, compared with 11.3 million smolts released in 2015 and 10.4 million smolts

released in 2014.

The biological situation is Bakkafrost's most important risk area. The suspicion

of possible pathogenic ISA virus in on of Bakkafrost's farming sites on 14 July

2016 draws the attention to the importance of good animal welfare and biology to

reduce the biological risk. Bakkafrost is focusing on the biological risk

continuously and has made several new investments and procedures to diminish

this risk.

VAP (Value added products)

Bakkafrost has signed contracts covering around 79% of the VAP capacity for the

rest of 2016. This corresponds to around 39% of the expected harvested volumes

for the rest of 2016. The remaining 21% are expected to be committed during the

period. Bakkafrost has already signed contracts covering approximately 50% of

the VAP capacity for 2017. In connection with the negotiation and signing of the

new contracts for 2017, Bakkafrost has renegotiated the prices for part of the

remaining quantities from the end of Q3 2016 in line with the forward price

picture.

FOF (Fishmeal, -oil and feed)

The outlook for the production of fishmeal and fish oil is dependent on the

availability of raw material. The quotas for catching blue whiting in the North

Atlantic are expected to be reduced, and therefore the production of fishmeal

and fish oil are most likely to reduce in volume in 2016 from relatively high

volumes in 2015.

Havsbrún's sales of fish feed in 2016 are expected to be at 80,000 tonnes.

Investments

In June 2016, Bakkafrost announced a five-year investment plan from 2016 to

2020. The total investments for the period is DKK 2.2 billion, including

maintenance CAPEX.

The purpose of the investment plan is to continue to have one of the most cost

conscious value chains in the farming industry, carry out organic growth,

increase flexibility and reduce the biological risk to meet the future

consumers' trends and to be more end-customer orientated.

Bakkafrost has a goal to be self-supplied with smolts at a size of 500g each.

The benefits are a shorter production time at sea as well as reduced biological

risk. To reach this goal, approximately half of Bakkafrost's total investments

over the next five years will be in hatcheries.

The investment of the new harvest/VAP factory will be finalised in 2016. The

harvest operation has started and the VAP operation is expected to start in Q4

2016. There will be some extra costs during the start-up period, but the

investment is expected to result in operational savings of DKK 70-90 million per

year with gradual effect from 2017.

Bakkafrost plans to increase the value of offcuts from salmon harvested and

processed in the new harvest/VAP factory. Bakkafrost will invest in a new salmon

-meal and salmon-oil plant, located in Fuglafjørður and operated by Havsbrún.

The FOF segment will also invest in a new feed line, which will increase the

capacity of the feed production.

Financial

Improved market balances in the world market for salmon products and cost

conscious production will likely improve the financial flexibility going

forward. A high equity ratio together with Bakkafrost's bank financing and the

issuance of bonds makes Bakkafrost's financial situation strong. This enables

Bakkafrost to carry out its investment plans to further focus on strengthening

the Group, M&A's, organic growth opportunities and fulfil its dividend policy in

the future.

Please find enclosed the Company's Q2 2016 report and presentation.

Contacts:

Regin Jacobsen, CEO of P/F Bakkafrost: +298 235001 (mobile)

Gunnar Nielsen, CFO of P/F Bakkafrost: +298 235060 (mobile)

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5

-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

About Bakkafrost:

Bakkafrost is the largest salmon farmer in the Faroe Islands. The Group is fully

integrated from feed production to smolt, farming, VAP and sales. The Group has

production of fishmeal, fish oil and salmon feed in Fuglafjørður. The Group

operates licenses on 14 farming fjords. The Group has primary processing in

Glyvrar, Kollafjørður, Vágur, and secondary processing (VAP) in Glyvrar and

Fuglafjørður. The headquarter is located in Glyvrar, and the company has 765

fulltime employees.

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INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES.

This press release does not constitute or form part of an offer or solicitation

to purchase or subscribe for securities. The securities referred to herein may

not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption

from registration as provided in the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Copies of this announcement are not being made and may not be distributed or

sent into the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan.

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