UPDATE: Synlait shares plunge on 1H profit decline, lower margins
(Updates share price from first paragraph, adds FNZC comment from fourth paragraph.)
By Rebecca Howard
March 20 (BusinessDesk) - Synlait Milk shares dropped more than 17 percent after the company reported a 9.7 percent
decline in first-half net profit on lower margins.
The firm, which still expects a lift in full-year earnings, said net profit was $37.3 million in the six months to Jan
31, versus $41.3 million in the same period a year earlier. Revenue, however, lifted 7 percent to $470.9 million on
higher sales volumes across its powders and cream and lactoferrin businesses. It processed 12.4 percent more milk than
it did in the same period last year, producing 90,495 metric tonnes of product.
Synlait shares fell by $1.99, or 17.6 percent, to $9.30. Ahead of the result, the stock had gained 25 percent
year-to-date.
Broking firm FNZC says the result was disappointing: "There was nothing in this result that supported a more positive
view" on Synlait's earnings outlook or its new growth initiatives.
"There is a lot priced in for Synlait" and its valuation continues to be dominated by a view on long-term finished
infant formula margins and volumes, FNZC says, noting the downwards pressure on margins as its key customer, A2 Milk,
matures.
Synlait said sales volumes of fully-finished infant formula were slightly ahead of the first-half of 2018, but these
were delivered at lower margins.
"This is a result of the new pricing agreement entered into with The a2 Milk Company last July, as well as not having
the benefit of the higher margin sales to our China-based customers that we enjoyed in HY18. These brands are awaiting
State Administration for Market Regulation registration," Synlait said in a statement.
All manufacturers of infant formula are required to register brands and recipes with the China Food and Drug
Administration to sell into the Chinese market through traditional channels. The registration is part of broader efforts
by China to lift food safety standards after a number of scares including the death of infants from ingesting infant
formula laced with melamine in 2008.
Synlait expects to obtain SAMR registration for New Hope’s Akara and E-Akara brands and Bright Dairy’s Pure Canterbury
brand by the end of 2019, but noted it is difficult to be definitive on timelines.
Synlait said the first half was characterised by the significant investments in its manufacturing base across all its
key categories. "This is part of our focus on supporting the growth of our customers and diversifying our business," it
said.
Nearly $200 million of capital expenditure was invested in the six months to Jan 31.
Synlait said its new manufacturing facility in Pokeno continues to be on track for commissioning for the 2019-20 milk
season. "This is a $260 million investment which will allow us to meet customer demand, whilst also eliminating our
single-site risk," it said. The company continues to recruit new milk suppliers in the area.
It also said it is on track to complete an advanced liquid dairy packaging facility in Dunsandel, a $125 million
investment.
The company said it is on track to meet full-year canned infant formula volume guidance of 41,000 – 45,000 MT, with
significantly higher volumes forecast to be delivered in the second half of the financial year.
"The volume growth in the second half of FY19 is driven by strong growth in The a2 Milk Company’s infant formula
products. We maintain our outlook that full-year profitability is expected to increase in FY19, but not at the same rate
as FY18," it said.
(BusinessDesk)
ends