Raisio plc: Financial Statements Bulletin 2019

Financial Statements Bulletin of Raisio plc 12 February 2020, 8:30 a.m.

Raisio stabilised its core business operations and achieved profitable growth

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN BRIEF

January–December 2019

• The Group's net sales totalled EUR 236.3 (228.2) million, which signified a growth of +3.5%.
  EBIT was EUR 27.3 (16.6) million, accounting for 11.5 (7.3)% of net sales.
  Comparable EBIT was EUR 27.3 (25.6) million, accounting for 11.5 (11.2)% of net sales.
• The Healthy Food Segment's net sales totalled EUR 137.5 (137.7) million.
  EBIT was EUR 18.2 (17.1) million, accounting for 13.2 (12.4)% of net sales.
  Comparable EBIT was EUR 18.2 (16.1) million, accounting for 13.2 (11.7)% of net sales.
• The Healthy Ingredients Segment's net sales totalled EUR 124.6 (116.6) million.
  EBIT was EUR 12.5 (12.9) million, accounting for 10.0 (11.0)% of net sales.
• The Group's cash flow from business operations after financial items and taxes totalled EUR 23.3 (11.5) million.
• Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) was 13.9 (8.1)%.
• The Board of Director’s dividend proposal for the Annual General Meeting is EUR 0.13 per share.

October–December 2019

• The Group's net sales totalled EUR 54.5 (55.6) million, which signified a decrease of -2.0%.
  EBIT was EUR 4.3 (-2.1) million, accounting for 7.9 (-3.8)% of net sales.
  Comparable EBIT was EUR 4.3 (5.0) million, accounting for 7.9 (9.0)% of net sales.
• The Healthy Food Segment's net sales totalled EUR 35.0 (35.4) million.
  EBIT was EUR 4.1 (4.7) million, accounting for 11.6 (13.2)% of net sales.
  Comparable EBIT was EUR 4.1 (3.5) million, accounting for 11.6 (9.9)% of net sales.
• The Healthy Ingredients Segment's net sales totalled EUR 25.7 (27.0) million.
  EBIT was EUR 1.8 (2.8) million, accounting for 7.1 (10.2)% of net sales.

 KEY FIGURES OF THE GROUP 

PRESIDENT AND CEO PEKKA KUUSNIEMI:

Raisio’s final quarter of the year was weighed down by the escalation of uncertainty that continued on the British market throughout the year up until the confirmation of the UK general election results. A positive turn in UK consumer confidence occurred towards the end of December and was also visible in terms of the demand for Benecol products. Furthermore, we have intentionally reduced our intermediary trade in grain, which is not part of our core business due to its low profitability. In relation to the comparison period, this move has caused a downward trend in net sales.

The year 2019 was the first year of Raisio’s new, focused direction as a company providing healthy, plant-based foods and ingredients. In terms of the long-term development of our activities, we have made good progress in several different areas. Promising steps have been taken to reinforce our value-based activities, to advance in our responsibility programme and to significantly improve occupational safety at our production facilities. These steps, together with our personnel’s determined implementation of our strategy, gave us the capacity to achieve results far into the future.

Net sales for the financial period increased by 3.5% for a total of EUR 236.3 million (228.2) and, at the same time, relative profitability rose to 11.5 (11.2)%. Despite the considerable rise in raw material costs at the start of the year, we were able to maintain profitability and to further invest in the recognition of our key brands. Success in product development is a prerequisite for future growth and, for that reason, we have determinedly increased our investments, particularly in terms of recruiting people who have strong expertise in the properties and possibilities of plant-based raw materials.

The determined implementation of our strategy is also visible in our realised investment decisions. During the financial period, we invested EUR 19.5 (3.6) million to develop the competitiveness of our plant-based product range. The construction of the new production facility for plant-based products, rising within Raisio’s carbon-neutral industrial area, is proceeding on schedule and the modernisation process of the Nokia mill was completed during December. Cash flow increased significantly from the previous financial period for a final figure of EUR 23.3 (11.5) million. Even after the strong increase in investments, cash flow reached to EUR 5.6 million.

The uncertain political situation in the UK threw a shadow over the Healthy Food segment for the entire year. As a whole, however, the profitability of the segment improved, but the impact of the price increases on the volume was reflected negatively, particularly in our most competitive product categories. The new Healthy Ingredients segment had an especially encouraging start and was responsible for the growth in the Group’s net sales. Both Raisioaqua’s fish feed business and our value-added grain products improved their performance over that of the previous financial period in a promising way. New market openings supported growth and, at the same time, reduce geographical risk.

I am personally thrilled, in particular, with the hard work our personnel has invested to implement our strategy and I am confident that the decisions that have been made are steering Raisio in the right direction. We are supported by megatrends and our long-term work will help us to assure a solid position, also internationally, in the plant-based product market.

OUTLOOK 2020

In 2020, Raisio expects its net sales for continuing operations to grow (2019: EUR 236.3 million) and comparable EBIT to be over 10 per cent of net sales.

Raisio will continue its investments in the brands, R&D and the company's own production in its most important product categories.

In Raisio, 11 February 2020

Raisio plc
Board of Directors

Further information:
Pekka Kuusniemi, President and CEO, tel. +358 50 537 3883
Toni Rannikko, CFO, tel. +358 40 078 8812
Mika Saarinen, Director of Investor Relations, tel. +358 40 072 6808

Raisio’s financial releases in 2020
The Report of the Board of Directors, Financial Statements and the Corporate Responsibility Report for 2019 will be published on 3 March 2020.
Raisio's Interim Report for January–March will be published on 6 May 2020.
Raisio's Half-Year Financial Report for January–June will be published on 5 August 2020.
Raisio's Interim Report for January–September will be published on 4 November 2020.

The Financial Statements Bulletin has not been audited.

Raisio plc

Raisio is an international company specialised in healthy, responsibly produced food. Our well-known brands include, for example, Benecol, Elovena, Nalle and Sunnuntai. In Raisio’s products, the focus is on well-being, health, good taste and sustainable development. Profitable growth is ensured through our strong expertise and passion for creating new. Raisio’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. In 2018, the Group’s net sales for continuing operations totalled EUR 228 million and comparable EBIT was EUR 26 million. Our food is good for Health, Heart and Earth. For more information on Raisio go to www.raisio.com.

Distribution
Nasdaq
Key media
www.raisio.com