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NZK 1H20 Half Year Results Announcement

Half Year Results26 February 2020NZKConsumer Staples

Market Announcement
February 27, 2020


NEW ZEALAND KING SALMON ANNOUNCES SOLID 1H20 RESULT AND INTERIM DIVIDEND;

NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED


New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd (NZX & ASX:NZK) reports its financial performance for

the six month period ended 31 December 2019 (1H20). Highlights include:


• Record average price achieved of $24.46/kg, up from $22.93/kg in 1H19

• Revenue of $84.2m, down slightly from $87.7m in 1H19, due to lower sales volume

• Sales volume of 3,442 tonnes down from 3,824 tonnes in 1H19 as we managed demand

for long term security of supply

• Pro Forma Operating EBITDA of $16.5m, compared with $17.3m in 1H19

• Statutory NPAT of $20.8m, improved from $15.1m in 1H19

• Successful implementation of new aquaculture operating model and upwelling prior

to summer

• Fully imputed dividend of 2.0 cents per share declared, payable 20 March 2020


Chairman John Ryder said “We are pleased to announce first half results ahead of our expectations.

The successful six-month period has seen record pricing achieved, and we can confirm that FY20

financial performance is on track against previous Guidance.


“We restrained sales volume to 90% of last year to ensure good availability for second half demand,

yet stronger market values saw EBITDA only 5% off last year.”


“It’s a solid start to the year considering lower volume available. North America continues to perform

strongly, and our brand and innovation strategy is driving value growth across all markets.”


New Zealand King Salmon CEO Grant Rosewarne described the company’s results as extremely

pleasing in a challenging environment.


“We’ve focused on improved performance in our aquaculture operations, whilst reinforcing our

premium positioning in key salmon niches globally. We have had our challenges in previous

summers, and this year, we have put everything in place for our sea farm operations to be ready for

the summer.


“As we aren’t forecasting significant volume growth until 2022, we’re aiming to use every part of our

salmon to create premium products. We’ve successfully launched our pet food brand Omega Plus in

China and we’re actively targeting the most promising markets and channels with our diversified

portfolio of salmon products.


“We’re also optimistic that our longer-term growth plans are progressing well, with our pending

application to commence open ocean farming, at a site named Blue Endeavour, 7kms north of Cape

Lambert in the Cook Strait. We see Blue Endeavour as a key part of the company adapting to climate

change.


The result of the application is expected by the end of this year, and, assuming a positive outcome,

the first harvest will take place in Q1 of CY2023.


The open ocean application is aligned with the Government’s recently launched Aquaculture Strategy

with the objective to have the industry achieve $3 billion in sales by 2035.


“The framework is in place for industry to move forward, but this is only the first step and aquaculture

companies will need continued support from all levels of Government plus the ongoing community

backing to achieve this target,” Mr Rosewarne added.


“The company is alert to the challenges, restraints and opportunities arising from the COVID-19

Coronavirus outbreak. Our current assessment is that impact will be low given our diversity of

demand markets and options for global procurement. In the short term we have re-allocated the 2%

of total sales normally destined for China, into other markets at equivalent margins.”


The Board reaffirms previous guidance for the FY20 year for a Pro Forma Operating EBITDA result of

$25.0-$28.5m based on known factors at this time. As in previous years, an update on fish

performance will be provided following the key summer period.


The Board also declared a fully imputed interim dividend of 2.0 cents per share, to be paid on 20

March, 2020.


NEW DIRECTOR


The Board is very pleased to announce the appointment of Associate Professor Catriona Macleod

GIBio, MSc, PhD, GAICD as an independent director effective from 26

th

February 2020.


Dr Macleod is the Head of Ecology and Biodiversity Centre at the University of Tasmania and in

recent years her research focus has been on an improved understanding of the environmental

impacts and interactions of finfish aquaculture, plus providing the system understanding and

recommendations to support sustainable development and management of aquaculture operations.


In welcoming Dr Macleod, Chairman John Ryder noted that her expertise in these areas is very

important as we look to grow in supportive empathy with the ecology around our activities. Dr

Macleod also brings extensive aquaculture experience through her career in salmon farming

operational management in Scotland and Australia, and significant research and teaching in Australia

and internationally.



Contact: Grant Rosewarne

Managing Director and CEO, New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd.

Email: grant.rosewarne@kingsalmon.co.nz


About New Zealand King Salmon

New Zealand King Salmon is the world’s largest producer of the premium King salmon species. We

operate under four key brands: Ora King, Regal, Southern Ocean and Omega Plus, and the New

Zealand King Salmon label. We have been growing and selling salmon to consumers for more than

30 years. Today we employ over 500 people. New Zealand investors make up a significant

percentage of the ownership of NZ King Salmon, and the communities of Marlborough, Nelson and

Tasman are well represented with around 400 of the approximately 2,800 shareholders being from

the Top of the South.


More information can be found at www.kingsalmon.co.nz

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FACTS AND FIGURES
























































---

Results announcement
(for Equity Security issuer/Equity and Debt Security issuer)




93 Beatty Street, Tahunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand

+64 3 548 5714


contact@kingsalmon.co.nz


www.kingsalmon.co.nz


Results for announcement to the market

Name of issuer New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited

Reporting Period 6 months to 31 December 2019

Previous Reporting Period 6 months to 31 December 2018

Currency NZD

NZ$ Amount (000s) Percentage change

Revenue from continuing

operations

$84,189 (3.9) %

Total Revenue $84,189 (3.9) %

Net profit/(loss) from

continuing operations

$20,766 37.7 %

Total net profit/(loss) $20,766 37.7) %

Interim/Final Dividend

Amount per Quoted Equity

Security

$ 0.02000000

Imputed amount per Quoted

Equity Security

$0.00777778

Record Date 06 March 2020

Dividend Payment Date 20 March 2020

Current period Prior comparable period

Net tangible assets per

Quoted Equity Security

$0.99 $0.86

A brief explanation of any of

the figures above necessary

to enable the figures to be

understood

The interim dividend was declared on 26 February 2020

Authority for this announcement

Name of person


authorised

to make this announcement

Andrew Clark

Contact person for this

announcement

Andrew Clark

Contact phone number

+64 21 471 953


Contact email address

Andrew.clark@kingsalmon.co.nz


Date of release through MAP


26 February 2020


Unaudited financial statements accompany this announcement.

---

Distribution Notice


93 Beatty Street, Tahunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand

+64 3 548 5714


contact@kingsalmon.co.nz


www.kingsalmon.co.nz


Section 1: Issuer information

Name of issuer New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited

Financial product name/description Ordinary Shares

NZX ticker code NZK

ISIN (If unknown, check on NZX

website)

NZNZKE0003S0

Type of distribution

(Please mark with an X in the

relevant box/es)

Full Year Quarterly

Half Year X Special

DRP applies

Record date 06/03/2020

Ex-Date (one business day before

the Record Date)

05/03/2020

Payment date (and allotment date for

DRP)

20/03/2020

Total monies associated with the

distribution

$2,779,712.70

Source of distribution (for example,

retained earnings)

Retained earnings

Currency NZD

Section 2: Distribution amounts per financial product

Gross distribution $0.02777778

Total cash distribution $0.02000000

Excluded amount (applicable to listed

PIEs)

N/A

Supplementary distribution amount $0.00352941

Section 3: Imputation credits and Resident Withholding Tax

Is the distribution imputed Fully imputed

If fully or partially imputed, please

state imputation rate as % applied

28%

Imputation tax credits per financial

product

$0.00777778

Resident Withholding Tax per

financial product

$0.00138889

Section 5: Authority for this announcement

Name of person


authorised to make

this announcement

Andrew Clark



Distribution Notice



93 Beatty Street, Tahunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand

+64 3 548 5714


contact@kingsalmon.co.nz


www.kingsalmon.co.nz


Contact person for this

announcement

Andrew Clark

Contact phone number +64 21 471 953

Contact email address Andrew.clark@kingsalmon.co.nz

Date of release through MAP


26/02/2020

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.

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