Trading update and revised guidance for the FY2018
NZX, ASX and Media Release 3 April 2018
Trading update and revised guidance for the 2018 financial year
Metro Performance Glass today provided an update on recent trading performance and guidance on
anticipated results for the financial year ending 31 March 2018. In addition the company gave updates on the
ongoing strategic review.
Metro Glass estimates that full year FY2018 results will be in the following range:
NZ$m FY2018
Guidance
FY2017
Actual
1
Normalised NPAT
2
18.0 –18.521.3
Reported NPAT 16.0–16.519.4
Metro Glass now expects Normalised NPAT for FY2018 to be at or slightly below the bottom of the previously
provided guidance range of $18.5 ‐ $20.0 million. This is principally a result of weaker than expected Australian
performance as it completed a complex and protracted capital program.
The Group will also have
some one‐off abnormal costs impacting Reported NPAT relating to the change in CEO
that were not anticipated in the previous guidance. The commentary below explains each of these drivers in
further detail.
FY2018 capital programme
The extensive capital programme is now complete. This will provide significant capability enhancements, plant
simplification and better geographic alignment of equipment to market opportunities at the Group’s seven
processing plants.
The New Zealand programme went largely to plan, however the Australian programme proved challenging.
Australian Glass Group (AGG) had to work around significant shipping disruptions delaying some key
equipment beyond the planned shutdown period. As
a consequence, AGG’s sales, costs and customer
experience were impacted in December, January and February.
The Group is now back to full operation, and is focused on delivering strongly for customers and improving
processing efficiency.
Update on general trading and manufacturing
Underlying financial performance in the New Zealand business stabilised
in the second half of the financial
year, with steady sales across the country and no further pricing deterioration in the South Island.
Commercial glazing sales in the second half will be lower than those achieved last year. However, profitability
has improved as the business focused on projects within its core
competencies. The forward book of work has
remained constant at circa $30 million.
1
FY2017 results included seven months of trading from Australian Glass Group. Metro Glass incurred $1.0m of
one‐off, non‐deductible due diligence expenses when acquiring AGG. Normalised NPAT excluded these
expenses as well as tax adjustments relating to IPO expenses and the finalisation of prior year tax positions.
2
FY2018 Normalised NPAT excludes one‐off CEO departure and recruitment costs.
2
A new advertising campaign
3
and ongoing investment in the Retrofit business’ infrastructure has helped to
ensure it is on track to meet its 30% revenue growth rate target in FY2018. This has been achieved with
improved profit margins versus last year.
Manufacturing performance in the Upper North Island has been below expectation in recent
months. With the
capital programme completed, the business is now fully focussed on driving increased throughput and
efficiency at the Highbrook plant and delivering improved service to customers into FY2019.
AGG’s performance has been below expectation due to the longer than anticipated disruption from the capital
programme. The Sydney plant also
encountered periods of poor machine reliability prior to the execution of
the capital programme. AGG’s third processing plant, in Hobart Tasmania has recently opened and is now
operational. This plant has double glazing, LowE (high performance glass) and edge‐working capabilities. This
investment is aligned with the Group’s vision of
becoming the service and product differentiated market leader
in the South East Australian double glazing market.
The Group had non‐recurring costs of circa $2.0 million in FY2018 relating to spikes in NZ electricity pricing and
one‐off consultancy costs associated with the strategic review and manufacturing improvement projects.
Recruitment and
transition plans for a new CEO
As announced on 14 December 2017, Metro Glass’ CEO Nigel Rigby resigned with effect from 30 March 2018.
Metro Glass Chairman Peter Griffiths said, “Finding the right leader to take Metro Glass forward is critical and
an international recruitment process is underway. In the
interim, the Group will be led by the senior leadership
team with close support from the Board. The Board has confidence in the leadership team, which remains
focused on the optimal operation of the company.”
Outgoing CEO, Nigel Rigby, will receive his contractual entitlements of 1 year’s salary and also consideration
for extending his restraint of trade to two years. No portion of the annual STI or LTI schemes will be paid. A
one off incentive that was proportionate to performance criteria for the current financial year (in particular,
delivery of the capital installation program and manufacturing improvement plan) will be
awarded. FY2018
Normalised NPAT excludes the one‐off CEO departure and recruitment costs. Mr Rigby will also repay an
outstanding employee loan in April 2018 relating to the purchase of company shares, totalling $1.3m.
Strategic Review
Mr Griffiths said, “the strategic review announced in October 2017 is well progressed. After very
strong sales
growth over a number of years, we expect that activity in our core New Zealand market will remain flat and
may eventually soften. The South East Australian market continues to show strong demand. Accordingly, this
review has challenged the historic focus on revenue growth, protection of market share,
and reviewed the
Group’s ability to generate acceptable returns over time from its investments.
“Based on work completed to date we have confidence that Metro Glass’ strategy and purpose are valid. We
will continue to be a customer focused organisation that delivers market differentiated glass products and
glazing services. We have
attractive positions in our key markets and have well considered plans to improve
their financial returns.
“AGG has good long‐term growth opportunities. We have capacity for increased sales in the South East of
Australia and intend to achieve material profitable growth there over the next 24 months.
“The New
Zealand business is now well set up to satisfy the anticipated market demand in coming years, and
will focus on becoming more efficient and productive.
“The Group will actively prioritise our efforts on the areas with the strongest opportunities to improve
customer experience and shareholder returns, and expect to reduce debt
over the next 24 months.
3
Recent advertising has focused on the benefits from double glazing and LowE glass in summer (keeping the house cooler). View the
advert by clicking the “Latest on TV” tile at http://www.retrodg.co.nz/.
3
“To ensure the Group achieves these goals and produces improved financial results, a critical pillar of our
strategy will be a greater investment in our people, their capabilities and support systems.
“We will provide more detail on the results of the review alongside our results announcement scheduled for
the 24 May
2018.“
/Ends
For further information please contact:
Andrew Paterson
Investor Relations Manager
(+64) 027 403 4323
andrew.paterson@metroglass.co.nz
Data sourced from publicly available filings. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@nzxplorer.co.nz. For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.