HKScan Corporations’s Financial Statements Bulletin 1 January – 31 December 2019: HKScan’s strengthened cash flow and significantly improved financial performance create a firm basis for 2020

HKScan Corporation, Financial Statements Bulletin, 6 February 2020, at 8:00 EET

HKScan Corporations’s Financial Statements Bulletin 1 January – 31 December 2019:
HKScan’s strengthened cash flow and significantly improved financial performance create a firm basis for 2020

JANUARY–DECEMBER 2019

• HKScan’s net sales increased by 1.7 per cent and were EUR 1,744.4 (1,715.4) million. In comparable currencies, net sales were EUR 1,765.2 million, representing an increase of 2.9%.
• Comparable EBIT improved by EUR 44.1 million to EUR -2.2 (-46.3) million. The impact on the EBIT from changes in currency rates was EUR -0.4 million.
• HKScan recorded a total of EUR -21.0 (-2.0) million in non-recurring items impacting the EBIT.
• EBIT improved by EUR 25.1 million but remained negative at EUR -23.2 (-48.3) million.
• The strong improvement of the poultry business performance in Finland continued and was the most significant factor strengthening the Group’s EBIT and cash flow. Also commercial successes, operational efficiency and cost control improved the EBIT.
• Cash flow from operating activities improved by EUR 73.5 million to EUR 59.2 (-14.3) million.
• The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the company will not pay a dividend for 2019.
• In June 2019, the company raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 71.9 million in a successful directed share issue, strengthening the Group’s capital structure. In July 2019, the company agreed with its financing banks on a new credit agreement that replaced its earlier bank loans.
• Interest-bearing net debt was EUR 275.8 (335.6) million and net gearing 84.8 (103.3) per cent including an IFRS16 impact of approximately 14 percentage points.
• HKScan’s new Group strategy was published in November 2019.
• The company decided to introduce a new Group-wide operating model from the beginning of 2020 to support the implementation of the Turnaround Programme and Group strategy. The new operating model emphasises Business Units’ profit responsibility.

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2019

• HKScan’s net sales increased by 2.0 per cent and were EUR 463.8 (454.7) million. In comparable currencies, net sales were EUR 469.3 million, representing an increase of 3.2 per cent.
• Comparable EBIT improved by EUR 7.7 million to EUR 5.8 (-1.9) million. The impact on the EBIT from changes in currency rates was EUR -0.2 million.
• HKScan recorded a total of EUR -12.3 (-1.7) million in non-recurring items impacting the EBIT.
• EBIT was EUR -6.5 (-3.5) million.
• Cash flow from operating activities improved by EUR 16.7 million to EUR 48.6 (31.9) million.
• Profitability improved across the business and in all market areas. The positive development of the poultry business in Finland as well as improved commercial performance, operational efficiency and good cost control were the most significant factors strengthening the Group’s EBIT.

 The figures in parentheses refer to the comparison period, i.e. the same period in the previous year, unless otherwise mentioned.

 Financial information presented in October-December 2019 interim report is unaudited. The financial statements 2019 has been approved and audit report received.

As of 1 January 2019, HKScan has adopted the new IFRS 16 Leases standard using the full retrospective method. Quarterly and full-year Group and market area financial information for 2018 has been restated accordingly. Additional information about the impact is disclosed in the accounting policies.

OUTLOOK 2020

HKScan estimates that the Group’s comparable EBIT in 2020 will improve compared to 2019.

KEY FIGURES, NET SALES

KEY FIGURES, EBIT

KEY FIGURES, OTHER

HKSCAN’S CEO TERO HEMMILÄ

We started the Turnaround programme at HKScan at the beginning of 2019. The programme proceeded as planned and we are pleased with the achieved profit improvement. The Group’s comparable EBIT improved by over EUR 44 million from the comparison year but was still EUR -2.2 million negative. We are on the right track and our profit improvement is almost on target. EBIT improved by over EUR 25 million from the comparison year and was EUR -23.2 million negative. The most significant non-recurring items in 2019 were related to the Rauma poultry unit, adjusting the number of personnel and impairment of assets in the Danish operations.

The company’s cash flow from operating activities improved significantly in 2019 and was EUR 59.2 million positive, almost EUR 74 million higher than in the comparison year. Cash flow after investing activities was EUR 27.6 million positive. In the last quarter, cash flow from operating activities was EUR 48.6 million positive, almost EUR 17 million up from the comparison period.

In 2019, all HKScan’s market areas improved their comparable EBIT. Finland and the Baltics were the best performers. Clear improvement was also seen in Sweden. Due to a clearly improved second half in 2019, Denmark achieved a better comparable EBIT compared to the previous year. It is clear that the Group’s profitability is not yet at a satisfactory level, but we will continue our goal-oriented, systematic work together with the entire personnel.

In the fourth quarter, HKScan’s comparable EBIT was EUR 5.8 million positive, nearly EUR 8 million higher than in the comparison period. EBIT was EUR -6.5 million negative, mainly due to the write-down related to the Rauma poultry unit. The most significant factors contributing to the last quarter’s profit improvement were the positively developed poultry business in Finland, affected by improved productivity and delivery capability at the Rauma unit, and our strong brand Kariniemen^®. Commercial activities, cost control consistent with objectives and operational efficiency improvement measures also had a strong impact on profit improvement. During the last quarter of 2019, all market areas recorded a higher comparable EBIT than in the comparison period.

HKScan’s full-year net sales increased by 1.7 per cent, totalling EUR 1,744.4 million. In comparable figures, growth was seen in all market areas and in all product categories. During the second half of the year, we became the market leader in the Finnish poultry category and Kariniemen gained a market leadership position in branded products. Sales increased significantly both in the food service channel and in the Group’s exports.

In Finland and Sweden, total meat consumption decreased slightly. In our estimation, the rise in consumer prices of meat has contributed to the consumption decline. Growth in poultry consumption was strong while pork and beef consumption declined. According to our own estimates, total meat consumption continued to grow in the Baltics, both in pork, beef and poultry. In Denmark, poultry consumption continued to grow. We expect the clear increase in poultry to continue in all our home markets in the coming years. 

Our pork exports from Finland to China increased, with volumes in line with targets. The demand is forecasted to remain strong also in 2020. The volatility of market prices is expected to continue. We will continue to work closely with the authorities in our home markets to obtain export licenses also for poultry and beef in China. The exceptional situation in the Chinese pork market caused by African swine fever has some impact on the demand for other types of meat and on world market prices.

We emphasise the role of meat as part of a healthy diet and the importance of responsible Northern livestock production in ensuring national food security in our home markets. The Group’s new responsibility programme is based on leading and promoting responsibility throughout our long value chain from farms to consumers. Wide-ranging environmental responsibility, healthy and sustainably produced food, animal welfare as well as well-being and competence development of all the people involved in our operations are at the heart of our responsibility work. These priorities are based on an extensive stakeholder survey conducted in autumn 2019 and on our customers' responsibility requirements.

Our responsibility work develops as a systemic change guiding all our operations. Together with our partners, we will build an ecosystem that improves profitability and sustainability footprint across our value chain.

At the beginning of November, we published the Group’s new strategy. HKScan’s strategic target is to grow profitably into a versatile food company with a focus on poultry meat and meals as growth drivers, while keeping the responsibly produced pork and beef as well as processed meat products at the heart of our activities. We are also actively looking into new product categories and raw materials. We want to have a stronger presence in consumers’ food moments and strengthen our market position in evolving markets together with our customers. The new strategy provides direction for the company’s development in the coming years.

In November, we published a strategic partnership with Hes-Pro (Finland) Oy. HKScan will sell and market Hes-Pro’s plant protein products under its own product brands in the retail and food service channels in selected markets.

In December, the company decided to introduce a new Group-wide operating model targeted to strengthen market area-level profit responsibility and performance management as well as a customer and consumer-driven way to operate. The new operating model was launched at the beginning of 2020.

We have decided to continue increasing capacity and improving productivity in the Rauma poultry unit; we will invest approximately EUR 6.0 million in renewing the slaughter process. The investment will be implemented in stages at the end of 2020. With the investment, raw material yields, productivity and operational reliability will improve, and the capacity of the whole unit can be significantly increased to meet the strongly growing demand for poultry meat in the coming years. The current slaughter line does not correspond to the functional level we have set as our target in the Rauma poultry unit.

HKScan’s strong profit improvement, significantly strengthened cash flow, successful share issue in summer 2019 and loan restructuring have provided the company with a solid foundation for continuing the systematic work to improve profitability and build the conditions for growth. We will continue the systematic implementation of our Turnaround programme, with our new strategy setting guidelines for the development and profitable growth of the company. Our goal is to make HKScan an attractive company that rewards its owners and is among the leading companies in its field.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ PROPOSAL ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROFIT

The parent company’s distributable equity stands at EUR 274.7 (216.7) million including the reserve for invested unrestricted equity, which holds EUR 215.1 (143.3) million. The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the company will not pay a dividend for 2019. The company did not pay dividend for the year 2018.

INFORMATION MEETING FOR ANALYSTS AND MEDIA

An information meeting related to HKScan Corporation’s 2019 financial statement for analysts, institutional investors and media will be organised in the auditorium of Hotel Haven (address: Eteläranta 16, Helsinki) on 6 February 2020 at 10–11 a.m. EET.

The financial statement will be presented by Tero Hemmilä, CEO, and Jyrki Paappa, CFO. The event will be held in Finnish.

Conference calls in English will be arranged upon separate request. Those interested in the calls, kindly contact HKScan Communications, communications@hkscan.com (phone +358 10 570 5700) to make an appointment.

Vantaa, 6 February 2020
HKScan Corporation
Board of Directors

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Tero Hemmilä, CEO, tel. +358 (0)10 570 2012
Jyrki Paappa, CFO, tel. +358 (0)10 570 2512
Keijo Keränen, VP Treasury and IR, tel. +358 (0)10 570 2196
Heidi Hirvonen, SVP Communications, tel. +358 (0)10 570 6072

Media contacts: HKScan Media Service Desk +358 (0)10 570 5700 or email: communications@hkscan.com

HKScan Corporation is a publicly listed food company with over one hundred years of experience in responsible Nordic food production for customer and consumer needs. HKScan’s sustainable way of operating spans the entire value chain, from farm to consumer. Our nearly 7 000 professionals ensure our promise of high-quality products that taste good. Our home markets cover Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltics. Our diverse product selection includes poultry, pork, beef, and lamb products as well as charcuterie and meals. The company’s strong consumers brands are HK®, Kariniemen®, Via®, Scan®, Pärsons®, Rakvere®, Tallegg® and Rose®. In 2019, HKScan’s net sales were EUR 1.7 billion.

DISTRIBUTION:

Nasdaq Helsinki,
Main media,
www.hkscan.com