Cibi e Bevande
Mbws: FY 2018 Results and Q1 2019 Net Sales
Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits (Euronext: MBWS), today announced its consolidated results for the full year 2018. The accounts were approved by the company's Board of Directors on 30 April 2019. The audit procedures on the consolidated financial statement as of year-end 2018 are in progress. The Company also reported its consolidated unaudited Q1 2019 net sales.
For the full-year 2018, MBWS reported net sales of €388.9m, a decrease of -6.2% versus the previous year. EBITDA totalled -€28.0m in FY 2018, compared to €-11.9m in FY 2017. Attributable net loss in FY 2018 is -€61.9m, versus -€67.3m in 2017.
Q1 2019 consolidated net sales reached €81.6m, a slight +0.2% increase versus Q1 2018 on an organic basis. The Branded Business delivered +12.8% net sales growth to €41.2m. This growth was partially offset by net sales in the Other Businesses, which decreased by -10.0% to €40.4m.
Andrew Highcock, CEO of MBWS, commented,
FY 2018 net sales, excluding excise tax, decreased -6.2% to €388.9m in FY 2018 versus the previous year. Gross profit was €105.3m for the year, a -16.2% decrease versus 2017, resulting in a gross margin of 27.1%. This represents a 3.2 percentage point erosion as compared to FY 2017 gross margin of 30.3%. The narrowing of consolidated gross margin is due to the greater weight of Other Businesses in the consolidated net sales mix in FY 2018 (49.7%) as compared to the previous year (44.4%). Additionally, gross margin suffered the impact of top-line decreases – attributable to both volume and price —across all clusters. Gross profit improved on a sequential basis, and the operating loss narrowed in the second half of the year compared to the first semester.
Operating expenses decreased by -6.1% in 2018 versus year ago. However, this reduction was not enough to offset the gross profit decline, and consequently consolidated EBITDA for the full year 2018 fell to -€28.0m, a further decrease from -€11.9m reported for FY 2017, and as announced previously. Nevertheless, -€6.9m EBITDA in H2 2018 represents a year-on-year improvement versus the EBITDA of -€10.0m generated in H2 2017, and a sequential improvement compared to H1 2018 EBITDA of -€21.1m.
Attributable net loss was -€61.9m in FY 2018.
In FY 2018, the Branded business generated net sales of €195.8m, a -14.8% decrease versus the previous year. The top-line fall-off was attributable primarily to the WEMEA and CEE clusters, which saw their net sales decline by -10.3% and -17.5% respectively. The Americas and Asia Pacific clusters also generated net sales decreases of -28.6% and -29.2% respectively. Other Businesses posted net sales growth of +4.4%.
Branded Business EBITDA was -€13.9m in 2018 compared to €4.8m in 2017. These results are attributable to the top-line decrease, which drove down gross and operating margins, in spite of greater operating efficiency across the clusters. Corporate expenses decreased by 18.1% during the year due to the implementation of effective cost-cutting measures.
Other Businesses generated an EBITDA loss of -€3.4m in FY 2018, a slight improvement compared to -€3.6m in FY 2017.
Western Europe, Middle East and Africa: Sharp EBITDA decrease mainly attributable to spirits category slow-down
FY 2018 net sales in the Western Europe, Middle East and Africa cluster (WEMEA) totalled €118.4m, a -10.3% decrease versus the previous year. In France, which accounted for 82% of the cluster's top-line, sales decreased -11.2% during the year to €96.9m. The top-line performance of MBWS France reflects the impact of the dynamics in the overall market, with the value of the spirits category declining by -1.8% in 2018. Moreover, the value of MBWS' largest categories decreased even more sharply during the year: Scotch whisky -3.3%, vodka -2.8% and fruit-flavored wine beverages -10.0%. In response to this decline, promotional pricing increased across the category, resulting in a volume and pricing decrease for MBWS which in turn drove down gross margin. FY 2018 net sales in the rest of the cluster fell by -6.4% to €21.5m.
FY 2018 EBITDA was €3.9m, a -57.3% decrease compared to the previous year of which H2 EBITDA reached €3.4m, a sequential improvement vis-à-vis the €0.5m EBITDA generated in the first half of the year. The top-line decline during the year, due to a commercial policy that did not generate the anticipated results, largely explains the EBITDA decrease in the cluster.
Central and Eastern Europe: Negative EBITDA due to destocking in first half of year
Top-line in the Central and Eastern Europe cluster (CEE) totalled €57.3m in FY 2018, marking a -16.9% decrease versus the previous year, mainly attributable to net sales in Poland, which declined -28.2% over the period to €29.0m. This decrease was due to the proactive destocking policy implemented in Poland by MBWS in H1 2018, with the intent to normalize stock levels of the company's products in the spirits market. Consequently, net sales in Poland decreased -62.0% in H1 2018, partially offset by a +22.6% top-line increase in H2 2018. The new agreements signed with a broader network of distributors in Poland drove sales growth in the second half of the year.
In the rest of the CEE cluster, top-line decreased -3.0% to €29.0m in 2018 due to the impact of regulatory issues in Lithuania early on in the year, with sales in that market gradually recovering in the second half. Thus, the CEE cluster generated top-line growth in H2 2018 of +5.2%.
The CEE cluster generated an EBITDA loss of -€14.5m in FY 2018, versus -€7.6m in 2017, due largely to Poland. On a half-year view, H2 2018 EBITDA of -€3.3m in the CEE cluster marked an improvement compared to the -€9.8m EBITDA generated in H2 2017, and also improved sequentially compared to the –€11.2m reported for H1 2018.
Americas: Negative EBITDA, but H2 improved versus H1
The Americas cluster reported FY 2018 net sales of €17.0m, a decrease of -28.8% versus the previous year, as the US vodka category continued to suffer the effects of a highly competitive market. Shipments were also affected by destocking in some US markets. Nonetheless, Marie Brizard liqueurs and Cognac Gautier continued to grow dynamically off of a small base.
The cluster generated an EBITDA loss of -€2.4m in FY 2018, versus EBITDA of €3.7m in FY 2017. The loss in 2018 is attributable most significantly to the downturn in net sales. The result in H2 2018, with EBITDA of -€0.8m marks a sequential improvement compared to H1 2018 EBITDA of -€1.6m
Asia-Pacific: investing in infrastructure for growth in 2018
The Asia-Pacific cluster reported net sales of €3.1m in FY 2018, a -29.2% decrease versus full-year 2017. EBITDA in the Asia-Pacific cluster was -€0.9m for the full-year, a -67% decrease compared to FY 2017.
Other Businesses
Other Businesses generated an EBITDA loss of -€3.4m in FY 2018, almost flat compared to FY 2017.
Corporate Expenses
Corporate expenses totalled €10.8m for full year 2018, an improvement of €2.3m compared to the previous year. The operating efficiency gains were due in large part to the cost control measures, largely related to head-count and salary freezes, implemented over the course of the year, in light of the difficult top-line and profit outlook.
At 31 December 2018 the company had shareholders' equity of €103.3m, a -36.9% decrease versus the previous year, resulting from the net loss recorded during the year.
Net debt totaled €68.9m at year-end 2018, as announced previously, an increase of €65.3m compared to year-end.
The Group's consolidated non-audited net sales in the first quarter of 2019 totaled €81.6m, +0.2% versus Q1 2018 on an organic basis. However, the Branded Business generated net sales growth of +12.8% to €41.2m. These gains were partially offset by a -10.0% contraction of the Other Business top-line to €40.4m. The Branded Business accounted for 50.5% of total sales, an increase from 44.4% in Q1 2018.
The top-line in France decreased by -5.5% to €20.4m in Q1 2019, in line with expectations and as a consequence of the suspension of promotional activity. MBWS management expects that this commercial policy, whose objective it is to drive greater profitability, can deliver the anticipated results. The decrease in France was partially offset by +8.6% growth to €3.7m in the rest of the cluster, with the export markets performing strongly.
In the CEE cluster, top-line increased by 48.0% to €12.5m during the quarter. This growth was due primarily to the ongoing momentum driven by expanding distribution in Poland, where net sales increased +94.9% versus year-ago to €5.7m. This top-line growth also reflects improving product mix, one of the main objectives of the commercial policy implemented beginning in H2 2018.
Elsewhere in the cluster, sales grew by 22.5% to €6.8m, due largely to strong sales in Lithuania in advance of an excise duty increase that went into effect in early March, and may have an impact on sales growth in Q2 2019. Bulgaria also performed strongly during the quarter.
Top-line in the Americas cluster increased +53.6% during the quarter to €4.1m. This year-on-year increase was largely attributable to the end of de-stocking of Sobieski in the US market which affected 2018 net sales. The sales increase in Q1 2019 was in evidence across most of the regions where MBWS products are sold. Year-over-year top-line growth in Brazil also boosted the cluster's net sales during the period.
In the Asia Pacific region, net sales increased +23.7% off of a low base in the first quarter, to €0.5m.
The Other Businesses reported a sales decrease of -10.0% to €40.4m in Q1 2019, attributable to lower sales at Sobieski Trade and the Private Label business. Sobieski Trade's top-line declined by -7.4% to €23.8m due in part to a larger portion of MBWS-Polska's sales flowing through new distribution agreements, and to the decision to focus on better margin products. Private Label top-line decreased by -13.5% in the quarter to €16.6m due to fewer third party contracts during the period.
Lancut distillery now operating
Operations at the Lancut distillery in south-eastern Poland began in February 2019, and are now in the ramp–up phase. The new distillery is expected to produce distillate for use in MBWS' vodka production, and in particular, the Krupnik and Sobieski brands.
Management changes in Poland
MBWS has appointed Robert Cooper as the new General Manager of its Polish subsidiary, MBWS-Polska, following the recent departure of Ania Jakubowski who left the company to pursue other interests.
Robert Cooper is a seasoned general manager who has worked previously in Poland with SAB Miller, where he was part of Andrew Highcock's management team. He brings significant leadership experience to his new role at MBWS, developed over the course of his career at large spirits companies such as Diageo and Campari. Robert, who joined MBWS in mid-April, has a track record of driving results and building strong teams. He will build on the progress made at MBWS-Polska over the last year.
Short-Term Stock Warrants
The period to exercise the Short-Term Stock Warrants began on 29 March 2019 and ended at the close of market on 29 April 2019. Over the course of that period, 15.4m Short-Term Stock Warrants were subscribed, out of a potential 37.76m warrants. COFEPP subscribed 11.5m Short Term Stock Warrants, accounting for 5m newly created shares for an amount of €15m, and representing 74% of the total. Other shareholders, both institutional and individual, subscribed 3.9m Short-Term Stock Warrants equivalent to 1.7m newly created shares for a total amount of €5.1m, and 26% of the total. Overall, €20.1m in new funds were generated.
Update on discussions with financial partners
As previously announced, MBWS has continued discussions with its banking partners, in the presence of COFEPP, and aims to reach an agreement regarding the Group's refinancing within the framework of the ongoing conciliation process.
Over the course of these discussions, and in order to enable the Group's access to financial resources, with a view to enable the carrying out of its Strategic Plan, COFEPP has proposed a new financing arrangement, to be disbursed in several allotments. As of the writing of this press release, it is proposed that the any amount of financing provided by COFEPP should be reduced in relation to the level of the funds generated via the subscription to Short-Term and Long-Term Stock Warrants that have been or will be received by the Company on and after 23 April 2019 (at present, amounting to roughly €5m).
COFEPP's proposal remains subject to several conditions, in particular those pertaining to (i) the progress of the discussions with banking partners regarding the continuation of the stand-still granted on the medium-term loan of €45m, in principal amount, and to the potential terms and conditions under which the latter would continue working with MBWS in the future, particularly via the reestablishment of a revolving credit facility, (ii) the conclusion of ongoing negotiations regarding the modification of a Scotch Whisky supplier contract, and (iii) a change to the rescheduling plan granted by the Commission of the Heads of Financial Services of Île-de-France ("CCSF").
Additionally, discussions are also ongoing with one of the Group's banking partners in Poland, seeking to extend its authorization for the financing of operations (overdraft authorization and short-term line of credit) beyond 31 May 2019.
As indicated in the press release of 25 March 2019, without this new financing or additional subscription as a result of the exercise of the Warrants, the Group may have to consider future asset disposals in order to ensure its medium-term in the context of the execution of its Strategic Plan.
Availability of the 2018 Registration Document
MBWS' 2018 Registration Document, including full financial statements, management report, and the auditors' report, will be available on or before 15 May 2019.
MBWS reiterates the objective provided in its 2019-2022 strategic plan, which is to gradually return to profitability, and to set the conditions for future growth with the objective of generating EBITDA in a range of €13m to €19m in the year 2022.
The Group is currently assessing its geographic reporting structure, and may modify the composition of its clusters in future quarters.
MBWS will report H1 2019 Net Sales on 25 July 2019.
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