TU on track for another record year
- Operating profit of THB 1,454 million, up 54.6% YoY
- 2016 Q1 sales of THB 31, 257 million, up 9.3% YoY
- Net debt-to-equity ratio down to 0.69x
Bangkok - (May 9, 2016) - Thai Union Group PCL (TU) reported 2016 first quarter consolidated sales of THB 31, 257 million, up 9.3% from THB 28,606 million from the same period last year, with sales growth from recent acquisitions contributing during a seasonally low period. This promising start to 2016 clearly demonstrates the company’s ability to meet its annual target.
The quarterly gross profit margin improved significantly to 15.15% from 13.8%. Additionally, the quarterly operating profit jumped up 54.6% to THB 1,454 million from THB 940 million a year ago. The higher operating margin was primarily the result of low tuna and shrimp raw material costs and a weak Thai baht. Other contributing factors included the continually improving pet care business, the strong branded ambient seafood business in Europe, as well as better overall margins in its US subsidiaries.
Net profit dropped 19.0% to THB 1,231 million from a year ago. This was the result of an absence of a sizeable FX gain of as much as THB 1,125 million which was reported last year, when compared with a FX gain of merely THB 264 million in this quarter. As a result, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) also declined slightly by 6.6% to THB 2,755 million in 1Q16.
However, the acquisition of Rügen Fisch contributed to the company’s overall encouraging sales growth as the transaction regarding this acquisition was completed in early February. Moreover, the company’s emerging market strategy has begun to show positive results from its Middle East joint venture. Additionally the company boasted better operating performance this quarter, compared with a year ago and cash flow generation continued to stay very strong, while the quarterly free cash flow surged to THB 4,483 million, compared with the full year of THB 11,664 million in 2015, the company’s strongest financial year yet.
Mr. Thiraphong Chansiri, President / CEO of Thai Union Group PCL. (TU) commented, “Despite the seasonal low period, we have still managed to generate a 9.3% increase in sales for this quarter from a year ago. Our 2016 first quarter performance is on track to achieve our full year target. This is another example of our resilience and ability to grow, despite challenges faced by both the global and Thai seafood industries. Volatile foreign exchange rates; tuna and shrimp prices;
uncertain global economic conditions and sustainability issues faced by the country have not discouraged us from outperforming the industry. This is thanks to our teams’ efforts in achieving efficiency and cost savings to boost our margins, together with the consolidation of Rügen Fisch into the Thai Union family.”
“Also, our financial position has improved thanks to strong free cash flows. This has allowed us to bring our net debt-to-equity ratio down to 0.69x from 0.76x at the end of 2015. This means that we are ready for any new investment opportunity that could further support our growth strategy,” he added.
Based on the company’s sales in 1Q16, the tuna category still commanded the largest share of business, accounting for 38% of its business. This was followed by shrimp and related business (26%); salmon business (9%); sardine and mackerel business (9%); pet food business (7%); and value-added and other products (11%).
Additionally, from this year, the disclosure of sales information will be divided into 3 categories (previously 6) which are; ambient (shelf-stable) seafood (49%); frozen, chilled and related seafood (39%); and pet care, value-added and other products (12%). The new classification should better explain the growth dynamics and margin trends of our business, given the different key channels these categories are serving now.
Currently, sales contribution from our own brands is stable at 43% in the first quarter, with the balance being our private label sales. On the other hand, the US remained our largest market at 41% in 1Q16, followed by Europe at 32%, Thai domestic market at 8%, Japan at 6% and other markets at 13%.
• Operating profit of THB 1,454 million, up 54.6% YoY
• 2016 Q1 sales of THB 31, 257 million, up 9.3% YoY
• Net debt-to-equity ratio down to 0.69x
Bangkok - (May 9, 2016) - Thai Union Group PCL (TU) reported 2016 first quarter consolidated sales of THB 31, 257 million, up 9.3% from THB 28,606 million from the same period last year, with sales growth from recent acquisitions contributing during a seasonally low period. This promising start to 2016 clearly demonstrates the company’s ability to meet its annual target.
The quarterly gross profit margin improved significantly to 15.15% from 13.8%. Additionally, the quarterly operating profit jumped up 54.6% to THB 1,454 million from THB 940 million a year ago. The higher operating margin was primarily the result of low tuna and shrimp raw material costs and a weak Thai baht. Other contributing factors included the continually improving pet care business, the strong branded ambient seafood business in Europe, as well as better overall margins in its US subsidiaries.
Net profit dropped 19.0% to THB 1,231 million from a year ago. This was the result of an absence of a sizeable FX gain of as much as THB 1,125 million which was reported last year, when compared with a FX gain of merely THB 264 million in this quarter. As a result, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) also declined slightly by 6.6% to THB 2,755 million in 1Q16.
However, the acquisition of Rügen Fisch contributed to the company’s overall encouraging sales growth as the transaction regarding this acquisition was completed in early February. Moreover, the company’s emerging market strategy has begun to show positive results from its Middle East joint venture. Additionally the company boasted better operating performance this quarter, compared with a year ago and cash flow generation continued to stay very strong, while the quarterly free cash flow surged to THB 4,483 million, compared with the full year of THB 11,664 million in 2015, the company’s strongest financial year yet.
Mr. Thiraphong Chansiri, President / CEO of Thai Union Group PCL. (TU) commented, “Despite the seasonal low period, we have still managed to generate a 9.3% increase in sales for this quarter from a year ago. Our 2016 first quarter performance is on track to achieve our full year target. This is another example of our resilience and ability to grow, despite challenges faced by both the global and Thai seafood industries. Volatile foreign exchange rates; tuna and shrimp prices;
uncertain global economic conditions and sustainability issues faced by the country have not discouraged us from outperforming the industry. This is thanks to our teams’ efforts in achieving efficiency and cost savings to boost our margins, together with the consolidation of Rügen Fisch into the Thai Union family.”
“Also, our financial position has improved thanks to strong free cash flows. This has allowed us to bring our net debt-to-equity ratio down to 0.69x from 0.76x at the end of 2015. This means that we are ready for any new investment opportunity that could further support our growth strategy,” he added.
Based on the company’s sales in 1Q16, the tuna category still commanded the largest share of business, accounting for 38% of its business. This was followed by shrimp and related business (26%); salmon business (9%); sardine and mackerel business (9%); pet food business (7%); and value-added and other products (11%).
Additionally, from this year, the disclosure of sales information will be divided into 3 categories (previously 6) which are; ambient (shelf-stable) seafood (49%); frozen, chilled and related seafood (39%); and pet care, value-added and other products (12%). The new classification should better explain the growth dynamics and margin trends of our business, given the different key channels these categories are serving now.
Currently, sales contribution from our own brands is stable at 43% in the first quarter, with the balance being our private label sales. On the other hand, the US remained our largest market at 41% in 1Q16, followed by Europe at 32%, Thai domestic market at 8%, Japan at 6% and other markets at 13%.
About Thai Union Group (TU):
Thai Union Group PCL is the world’s seafood leader bringing high quality, healthy, tasty and innovative seafood products to customers across the world for over 38 years.
Today, Thai Union is regarded as the world’s largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding THB125 billion and a global workforce of over 46,000 people who are dedicated to pioneering sustainable, innovative seafood products.
The company’s global brand portfolio includes Thai-leading brands Sealect, Fisho and Bellotta; as well as market-leading international brands such as Chicken of the Sea, John West, Petit Navire, Parmentier, Mareblu, King Oscar, Century, and Rugen Fisch.
As a company committed to innovation and globally responsible behaviour, Thai Union is proud to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact, and a founding member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). Its work in sustainability has been recognised by its inclusion in the Dow Jones
Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Emerging Markets in 2014. In 2015 Thai Union was listed in the index for the second year in a row with a 67 percent increase in its overall score driven by improved performances across its environmental, economic and social criteria.