Announcement
FLLYR: CVT: Strong earnings improvement at Comvita
08:31am
CVT
26/08/2021 08:31
FLLYR
PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 0831 HRS Comvita Limited
FLLYR: CVT: Strong earnings improvement at Comvita
Headlines
o Reported NPAT $9.5M vs. ($9.7M) in PCP
o Reported EBITDA* $25.5M, + $21.3M vs. June 2020 or +511%
- Double-digit top and bottom-line growth in focus growth markets, China, and
USA
- Double digit top and bottom-line growth in Manuka product category
- Double digit top and bottom-line growth in digital channels
o Gross profit +730 bps to 53.9%
o Marketing Investment +$8.7M or +56%
o Business transformation plan on track
o Net debt reduced by $10.9M to $4.6M, inventory reduction $11.7M, operating
cash inflow $24.8M
o 9% reduction in total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR)
o Fully imputed dividend of 4 cps declared
Comvita (NZX:CVT) today released its full year audited results for the year
ending 30th June 2021, reporting a full year EBITDA at the top end of its
market guidance at $25.5M. This represents an increase of +511% versus the
prior corresponding period (PCP) driven by strong performance in its focus
growth markets, focus channels and categories, underpinned by $12.1M of
benefits from its transformation programme over the last 18 months.
Reported net profit after tax was $9.5M versus a loss of $9.7M in the PCP as
work to both focus and simplify the organisation delivered results.
Reported net debt was $4.6M vs $15.5M in PCP as Comvita continued to focus on
good internal management of cashflows and working capital. Inventory reduced
by $11.7M and SKU count by 30%.
Comvita is pleased to announce resumption of dividend payments and have
declared a fully imputed dividend of 4 cps representing a payout of 30% of
NPAT.
Revenue in constant currency increased by 1.5% as strong performance in its
focus growth markets of China +31% and USA +23% offset material headwinds in
its Australia, New Zealand (ANZ) and Hong Kong segments. Underlying revenue
grew 5.4%*. It was encouraging to report that Q4 ANZ revenue increased by 17%
versus PCP and 33% versus Q3. While the UK market was negatively impacted at
revenue level (primarily due to Brexit and Covid impacts), it was encouraging
to see the market breakeven at net contribution, proving the longer-term
opportunity in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Comvita Chair Brett Hewlett commented "As I shared at the Annual Shareholder
Meeting in October 2020, FY21 was a crucial year for Comvita as we looked to
prove the significant potential that exists to all stakeholders. We are
pleased to report strong earnings growth at the top end of guidance, good
management of cash and working capital and to be able to reward our
shareholders with the resumption of dividends. In addition, we are
particularly encouraged to publish our first Green House gas emissions report
in this year's annual report as we embark on our journey to be carbon neutral
by 2025 and carbon positive by 2030. We believe our unique business model,
with significantly increased investment in our brand and supported by our
environmental and social causes, will see Comvita recognised by the
investment community as a sustainable premium FMCG brand with associated
multiples".
CEO David Banfield added "I would like to thank the whole team at Comvita for
their absolute focus on delivering the results we share today. The business
has gone through significant change in order to arrive at this point, it
hasn't always been easy, but we know that this is crucial to enable us to
deliver the true potential of Comvita, captured in our 2025 plan. Our
60:15:20 plan sets out our aim to deliver a GP in excess of 60%, marketing to
sales ratio of 15% and an EBITDA ratio of 20% by 2025. Today is an important
step on that journey. We are genuinely excited by the growth opportunities
that lay ahead of us".
Strong performance in focus growth markets
Comvita was particularly encouraged by its performance in its focus growth
markets of China and North America. In local currency, China market sales
(the world's biggest honey market), increased by 31% with strong performance
delivered across all channels. Despite increasing marketing investment by
139% versus PCP, net contribution increased by 25% as top line growth
translated to strong earnings improvement. Comvita remains the clear brand
and market leader in China. In North America, total revenue in local currency
increased by 23% and net contribution by 18%, despite increasing marketing
investment by over 80%. Comvita is the fastest growing Manuka honey brand in
North America***
Comvita has a unique business model in the category. Its subsidiary model is
designed to ensure that it is better connected to both customer and consumer
needs in market and by being closer to customer, it can be more agile and
responsive to changing customer needs around the world.
Double digit top and bottom-line growth in both digital sales and Manuka
honey
Comvita continued its strong performance in both its focus Manuka honey
category and in the digital channel with both recording double digit top and
bottom-line growth. Constant currency digital sales grew 17% versus PCP to
35% of total group sales. Manuka honey sales increased 10% versus PCP as the
continued focus delivered results.
Comvita strategy on track - Building a Better Business
- Stabilise results, transform the organisation and deliver long-term
resilience and growth
Stabilise results
The results shared today show that we have come a long way to stabilise
performance at Comvita. Not only have we returned to profitability with a
reported NPAT of $9.5M versus a loss of $9.7M in the PCP, we have also
significantly simplified the business to set up Comvita for long-term
profitable growth. Despite significant headwinds in ANZ, we have been able to
prove the underlying resilience of our model. In doing this, we have reduced
our monthly revenue required to break even to $13.5M, despite a material
increase in investment in our brand. It is encouraging that ANZ performance
in Q4 was +17% versus PCP and +33% versus the previous quarter highlighting
that we can now start to build revenue again in FY22.
Comvita improved its GP by 730 BPS versus PCP in this period, in line with
its aim to deliver a 60% GP by 2025. This was delivered through focus growth
markets (China and North America), focus channels (digital) and focus
categories (Manuka honey), along with productivity improvements.
Inventory was reduced by $11.7M and SKU count by 30% as our focus on ensuring
good management of working capital and SKU profitability continued. Operating
cash inflow was $24.8M and net debt finished the period at $4.6M.
Transformed organisation
We have now completed our restructuring process. Our attention now fully
focuses on optimisation and creating an aligned performance driven culture at
Comvita. We have a clear view of the steps required to drive profitable
growth across all segments and returns for all stakeholders. We have also
proven that our new harvest model works, further increasing organisational
resilience and reducing risk associated with variability of the weather.
Our $25M ($15M +$10M) transformational plan remains on track to deliver by
2025. In the first 18 months, we have delivered over $12M of improvements,
investing $1.2M to deliver this in FY21. In FY22 we will invest a further
$2.5M in transformation projects.
Long-term resilience and growth
Our focus remains on setting Comvita up for long-term resilience and growth.
We have a clear view and understanding of what it will take to win in our
focus growth markets, our focus channels and our focus categories. Our new
business model ensures that we have funds available to tell discerning
consumers around the world 'why Comvita' and also share the founding story of
Alan and Claude from 1974/5 that we know resonates with consumers today. We
now focus on delivering our FY22 guidance, and further building trust with
all our stakeholders on our journey to deliver our 2025 plan.
David Banfield added "A year ago, I shared that we were looking to deliver a
rebound in performance in FY21. I am delighted that we have achieved that,
but much remains to be done to deliver world class performance and experience
for our consumers around the world. We know that we have an incredible
opportunity to put in place the foundations that will enable Comvita and our
bees to thrive for years to come and we remain absolutely committed to this
cause. This starts by delivering our FY22 guidance and ensuring that we
become recognised as a sustainable, premium FMCG brand. I look forward to
sharing further progress at our Annual Shareholder Meeting in October."
Brett Hewlett Chair, David Banfield CEO
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Ends.
For further information contact:
Kelly Bennett, One Plus One Communications
Mobile: +64 21 380 035
Email: kelly.bennett@oneplusonegroup.co.nz
Note:
*EBITDA earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation,
constant currency revenue and underlying revenue are non-GAAP measures. We
monitor these as key performance indicators and believe they assist investors
in assessing the performance of the core operations of our business.
Constant currency revenue and underlying revenue are both defined in our
Investor Presentation.
**Previous corresponding period.
***SPINS data
Background information
Comvita (NZX:CVT) was founded in 1974, with a purpose to heal and protect the
world through the natural power of the hive. With a team of 500+ people
globally, united with more than 1.6 billion bees, we are the global market
leader in Manuka honey and bee consumer goods. Seeking to understand, but
never to alter, we test and verify all our bee-product ingredients are of the
highest quality in our own government-recognised and accredited laboratory.
We are growing industry scientific knowledge on bee welfare, Manuka trees and
the many benefits of Manuka honey and propolis. We have pledged to be carbon
neutral by 2025 and carbon positive by 2030, and we are planting more than
two million native trees every year. Comvita has operations in Australia,
China, North America, South East Asia, and Europe - and of course, Aotearoa
New Zealand, where our bees are thriving.
End CA:00377960 For:CVT Type:FLLYR Time:2021-08-26 08:31:25
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