Durban - Black-owned and managed fishing company Premier Food and Fishing (PFF) delivered a solid growth in earnings for the six months to end February.
The company reported headline earnings per share rose 33 percent to 12.70 cents a share, from 9.52c a share from the same period last year, while revenue increased by 7 percent to R182 million. The group attributed the growth mainly to increased sales volumes in the lobster and squid segments.
PFF chief executive Samir Saban said: “Premier Fishing achieved solid performance and positive growth for the six months to end February as per our expectations.”
The group’s operating profit also increased by 12 percent to R18 million, from R16 million. PFF also holds medium to long-term fishing rights in west coast rock lobster, south coast rock lobster, small pelagics, hake deep sea trawl, hake long-line swordfish and tuna as well as squid. The group owns an abalone farm and invests in organic agriculture through the “Seagro” range of products.
“The group experienced increased lobster landings due to good catch rates as well as a good size mix for the period under review.
Read also: Premier Food and Fishing is first 2017 listing
“The industrial fish landings were up by 20 percent compared to the prior period, while hake sales volumes and the profitability of the hake segment increased during the current period, ” PFF said.
PFF is a member of diversified listed entity African Equity Empowerment Investments (AEEI) and operates a vertically integrated fishing business specialising in the harvesting, processing and marketing of fish and fish-related products, as well as general food products.
PFF was listed on the main board of the JSE at the beginning of March and the group raised capital in the amount of R526 million on the listing date through the issue of 117 million new shares.
During the listing Saban said that the capital raised would be used for the expansion of the company’s abalone farm as well as for acquisitions of other fishing companies.
PFF shares remained flat on the JSE and closed at R4.60.
Full press release:
PFF, a member of diversified listed entity African Equity
Empowerment Investments Limited (AEEI), operates a vertically integrated
fishing business specialising in the harvesting, processing and marketing of
fish and fish-related products, as well as general food products.
On 2 March 2017, PFF was listed on the main board of the
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and raised capital in the amount of R526
million on the listing date through the issue of 117 million new shares.
The Group is one of the largest black-owned and managed
fishing businesses in South Africa and the most transformed in terms of its
management and employees.
It also holds medium to long-term fishing rights in west
coast rock lobster (WCRL), south coast rock lobster (SCRL), small pelagics,
hake deep sea trawl, hake long-line swordfish and tuna as well as squid. The
Group owns an abalone farm and invests in organic agriculture through the
“Seagro” range of products.
Chief Executive Officer of PFF, Samir Saban states,
“Premier Fishing achieved solid performance and positive growth for the six
months ended 28 February 2017, as per our expectations. This was largely
attributable to strong performance in our lobster and squid businesses. We are
very pleased with the results and are looking to further build on this during
the rest of the year.”
Group revenue increased by 7% from R170 million to R182
million compared to the prior period mainly as a result of increased sales
volumes in the lobster and squid segments.
Group operating profit increased by 12% from R16 million
to R18 million mainly due to efficiencies achieved across all segments, while
the Group’s profit before tax for the six months to 28 February 2017 increased
by 26% from R19 million to R24 million.
Headline earnings per share increased by 33% from 9.52
cents per share to 12.70 cents per share. These results indicate consistent and
steady growth of PFF’s financial position over the last few years.
Commenting on the operations, Saban said, “The Group
experienced increased lobster landings due to good catch rates as well as a
good size mix for the period under review. The industrial fish landings were up
by 20% compared to the prior period while hake sales volumes and the
profitability of the hake segment increased during the current period.”
“The squid segment experienced higher catch rates as well
as higher sales volumes compared to the prior period, which also resulted in
increased revenue and operating profit for the period under review.”
“We continue to focus on increasing production capacity
and efficiencies at our abalone farm and the sales volumes were in line with
our expectation when compared to the prior period,” said Saban.
When listing PFF, Saban expressed that the capital raised
would be used for the expansion of the company’s abalone farm, as well as for
acquisitions of other fishing companies. The Group reported that the expansion
of the abalone farm will commence shortly with the expansion of the farm from
100 tons to 300 tons.
Premier Fishing submitted its long-term fishing rights
for west coast rock lobster (WCRL), horse mackerel and hake inshore to the
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (DAFF) during February 2016.
The company was successful in its application for horse mackerel and still
awaits the outcome of its application for the WCRL fishing rights from DAFF.
Saban concludes by saying, “We are satisfied that
PFF is well positioned for organic and acquisitive growth to deliver the
projected outlook for sustainable returns for all stakeholders in terms of its
Vision 2020 Vision.”
Khalid Abdulla, Group CEO of AEEI, the major shareholder,
is also pleased with the Group’s results and performance which are in line with
its growth strategies.
Due to the seasonality of the fishing industry, Premier
Fishing normally performs better in the second half of the financial year.