ASTRAL FOODS LIMITED - Voluntary Trading Update and Initial Trading Statement

ASTRAL FOODS LIMITED
"Astral" or "the Group"
(Reg. No. 1978/003194/06)
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Share Code: ARL
A2X Code: ARL
ISIN Code: ZAE000029757


VOLUNTARY TRADING UPDATE AND INITIAL TRADING STATEMENT

VOLUNTARY TRADING UPDATE


Astral reported a devastating set of results for the year ended 30 September 2023, incurring its
first loss in its 23-year history. The results reflected the numerous headwinds faced during the
previous financial year. These included additional costs related to load shedding, water supply
disruptions, record high raw material inputs and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ("HPAI" or
"bird flu") decimating the Group's earnings for the 2023-year end. In the annual results released
on 20 November 2023, Astral indicated that the business will focus on normalising its
operations, and will exert every effort in rebuilding the Balance Sheet.


For the first quarter of the financial year ("FY") ending 30 September 2024 ("1Q2024"), Astral
has made good headway in addressing a number of issues faced by the Group in the prior
reporting period. This includes amongst others:

    - maintaining emergency backup generator capacity at all its operations;
    - lower load shedding stages has allowed the Group to contain diesel expenses to below
      those anticipated. Despite this, a significant diesel cost is still being incurred to operate
      the Standerton poultry processing plant due to municipal power supply interruptions;
    - implementing contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted water supply reducing plant
      downtime on water infrastructure failures, albeit at a higher cost;
    - lower feeding costs were achieved as a result of a normalised broiler age and live
      weight, resulting in an improved feed conversion rate following the "big bird era",
      supported by easing local soft commodity input prices;

    - normalised poultry sales mix on the back of a consistent bird size through the poultry
      processing plants, which was adversely affected during the "big bird era", negating the
      previously high levels of promotional discounting; and

    - averting a potential shortage of chicken as a result of bird flu, through a costly
      programme of importing broiler hatching eggs.


In addition to the above factors, the general trading conditions through 1Q2024 as well as a
view on the nearby prospects for the Group are set out below.

FEED DIVISION

   -  The Feed Division experienced markedly lower internal feed sales against the
      comparable period on reduced demand from the Poultry Division, as a result of lower
      feed requirements for both broilers (on the back of normalising the targeted bird age),
      and the in-house broiler breeder operations due to breeding stock being culled during
      the bird flu pandemic last year.

   -  External feed sales into the poultry industry have been limited by the impact of bird flu,
      particularly in the commercial layer sector.

   -  The lower internal feed volumes will negatively impact the Feed Division's financial
      performance for the six months ending 31 March 2024 ("1H2024").

   -  Internal feed volumes are projected to normalise during the second half of FY2024
      ("2H2024").

POULTRY DIVISION

   -  Following the significant bird flu impact on Astral's broiler breeding stock, a higher cost-
      base of production has been incurred to supply day-old broiler chicks within the Group.
   -  Protocols for voluntary vaccination against bird flu have been published by
      Government, and the registration of the necessary vaccines has and is receiving
      attention by the relevant authorities.

   -  On the back of depressed consumer spending, Astral has aligned broiler slaughter
      numbers in an effort to adapt to current market conditions, and remains committed to
      recovering input costs.

   -  Astral is dismayed at a poultry import tariff rebate structure recommended by the
      International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) against HPAI-related
      shortages. No shortage of chicken has been experienced or expected in the local
      supply chain with industry production at normalised levels due to numerous
      contingency plans implemented.

   -  The Group's Poultry Division has posted a marginal level of profitability in 1Q2024.

FINANCIAL POSITION


The Group's financial position remains sound, with gearing levels trending lower.

INITIAL TRADING STATEMENT


Following the low level of earnings achieved in the prior comparative six months ended 31
March 2023, being earnings per share ("EPS") of 162 cents and headline earnings per share
("HEPS") of 163 cents, Astral expects that EPS and HEPS for the six months ending 31 March
2024 could increase by at least 300% to 647 cents and 654 cents, respectively.


The financial information in this announcement has not been reviewed or reported on by the
Group's auditors.


Further voluntary trading updates will be considered should market and operational conditions
change materially.


A further trading statement will be provided in April 2024 once the Board has reasonable
certainty of the expected EPS and HEPS ranges.

Lanseria
31 January 2024

Sponsor

Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, a division of Nedbank Limited

Date: 31-01-2024 07:05:00

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