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Bakkafrost P/f

Earnings Release Feb 24, 2016

7331_rns_2016-02-24_df8f74a4-e023-489b-b2c5-e46c48e0b2d3.html

Earnings Release

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Operational EBIT of DKK 257 million for Q4 2015

Operational EBIT of DKK 257 million for Q4 2015

The Bakkafrost Group delivered a total operating EBIT of DKK 257 million for Q4

2015, compared with DKK 227 million for Q4 2014. Harvested volumes were 13.7

thousand tonnes gutted weight in Q4 2015. Result after tax in Q4 2015 was DKK

319 million.

The total volumes harvested in Q4 2015 were 13,675 tonnes gutted weight and

50,565 tonnes gutted weight for the whole 2015. The farming segment delivered an

operational EBIT of DKK 215 million for Q4 2015, which corresponds to NOK 19.67

per kg. The VAP segment made an operational EBIT of DKK 24 million. The FOF

segment delivered an EBITDA of DKK 45 million for Q4 2015.

Commenting on the result, CEO Regin Jacobsen said:

"2015 was an eventful year for Bakkafrost. In the summer, the live fish carrier

"M/S Hans á Bakka" was delivered to Bakkafrost, which we consider a milestone

for the salmon farming industry in the Faroes. The activity was high, both

regarding operation and investments, and all in all the result was good. Large

harvested volumes of salmon, the good sourcing situation of raw material in the

FOF segment and the good result in the VAP segment was the reason for the record

high operational EBIT of DKK 1,001 million for 2015."

Bakkafrost released 4.9 million smolts in Q4 2015 and 11.3 million smolts for

the whole 2015.

Havsbrún's sourcing of raw material in the fourth quarter was good. Havsbrún has

purchased 64 thousand tonnes of raw material in Q4 2015. Havsbrún's purchase of

raw material in 2015 amounts to 235 thousand tonnes, compared to 193 thousand

tonnes in 2014.

The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that DKK 8.25 per

share shall be paid out as dividend. This corresponds to approximately DKK 403.1

million. The Annual General Meeting will be convened on 8 April 2016.

In December 2015, Bakkafrost secured the refinancing of its bank loan that would

have matured at the end of 2016. The new financing agreement both extends and

restructures Bakkafrost's credit facilities. The new bank loan is a

multicurrency revolving credit facility for a period of five years, totalling

DKK 850 million. In addition to the DKK 850 million credit facility, the new

financing agreement has an accordion increase option of maximum DKK 750 million.

Bakkafrost's net interest bearing debt at the end of Q4 2015 was DKK 391

million, compared with DKK 233 million at year-end 2014. Bakkafrost had undrawn

credit facilities of approximately DKK 890 million at the end of Q4 2015, and

the equity ratio was 66%.

OUTLOOK

Market

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

markets are affected differently by the currency development during the year.

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

Atlantic salmon is expected to decrease by 3% in volume during 2016, compared to

2015. Production capacity is close to full utilization and further expansion

relates to high investments.

Farming

The outlook for the farming segment is good. Biology and veterinary situation is

the most important risk area for Bakkafrost. The Group is focusing on this risk

with new investments and procedures to diminish the risk. Sea lice is an area,

which has demanded more effort and is a part of the biological risk.

Bakkafrost's new live fish carrier, M/S Hans á Bakka, has freshwater treatment

equipment installed. M/S Hans á Bakka's operations using freshwater has shown to

be effective against sea lice and therefore these operations will be an

important part of Bakkafrost's treatment against sea lice. The biological

situation is good, and the price outlook in the market place is good.

Bakkafrost expects to harvest 48,000 tonnes gutted weight in 2016. Bakkafrost's

forecast for smolt release in 2016 is 10.4 million pieces. The estimates for

harvesting volumes and smolt releases is as always dependent on the biological

situation.

Value added products (VAP)

Bakkafrost's long-term strategy is to sell around 40-50% of the harvested

volumes of salmon as value added products on fixed price contracts. The

contracts last for 6 to 12 months. Bakkafrost has signed contracts covering

around 60% of the VAP capacity for 2016. This corresponds to around 25% of the

expected harvested volumes for 2016.

Fishmeal, -oil and feed (FOF)

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 is most likely to reduce in volume in 2016 from relatively high

volumes in 2015.

The major market for Havsbrún´s fish feed is the local Faroese market including

Bakkafrost's internal use of fish feed.

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

Investments

Bakkafrost has announced an investment plan for the period until 2017, latest

updated in August 2014. The purpose of the investment plan is to continue to

have one of the most costs efficient 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.

The total investments for the period 2014-2017 were announced to be DKK 1,370

million including maintenance CAPEX. Whereof the future investment plan for the

next two years is DKK 570 million.

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

harvest operation is expected to start in Q2 2016, while the VAP operation will

start in H2 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 smolt capacity, making Bakkafrost self-supplied

with smolts at a size of 200-300g each before end 2017. The benefits are shorter

production time at sea as well as reduced biological risk. The expansion of the

hatchery in Viðareiði, which started in 2015, will be finalised in Q2 2016. The

expansion will fourfold the capacity of this hatchery. An investment in a new

hatchery site is expected to start in 1H 2016.

Financial

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

effective production will likely improve the financial flexibility going

forward. A high equity ratio with the Group'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 Q4 2015 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

Klaksvík, Strendur, Kollafjørður, and secondary processing (VAP) in Glyvrar and

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

of around 725 full-time employees.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR

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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