Revenue was $600 million in FY2014, an increase of 43% compared to $420 million for FY2013, and well ahead of the PFI forecast of $524 million.
Synlait Milk Chairman Graeme Milne said he is pleased with the result and the continued growth of the business in its sixth year of operation.
“Our focus during the year has been to deliver on the promises we made to shareholders when we listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in 2013. Profitability was on target with our PFI, driven largely by a favourable product mix that enabled the business to make the most from the period of very high world market prices.
“However, achieving targeted premiums and gross margin for specialised ingredients when world market prices were high proved challenging. Along with the development of our nutritionals business being set back by regulatory change in the important Chinese market, it meant the profitability advantages over and above PFI we experienced in the first half of the year were largely eliminated.
“Over what has been a challenging year, the progress we have made with our key customers continues to give us confidence in our future. The ongoing execution of our growth initiatives to ensure the development of our infant formula and nutritionals business supports these customers is a key focus going forward,” said Mr Milne.
Synlait Milk’s growth initiatives, including a 22,500m2 drystore expansion, lactoferrin extraction and purification plant and blending and consumer packaging plant were completed during the year.
Construction has begun on a new administration office and quality assurance laboratory, as well as a third large scale infant formula capable dryer, due to be completed in September 2015.
(see PDF for key metrics table)
Synlait Milk’s volume of milk grew to 49.9 million kilograms of milk solids (kgMS) in FY2014, lifting manufactured volumes to 96,492 metric tonnes (MT). This compares to a volume of milk of 46.8 million kgMS and manufactured volumes of 91,229 MT in FY2013.
Synlait Milk paid its milk suppliers a total average milk price of $8.31 per kg MS.
Managing Director Dr John Penno said the focus for the coming financial year will be on the execution of the current growth initiatives, maximising volume growth of the infant formula and nutritionals business and ensuring operational targets are achieved.
“We continue to invest in people, systems, plant and equipment to build technical capability that supports our strategic development,” said Dr Penno.
“Our customer and market development strategy is progressing faster than we planned. We now produce product for four of the world’s leading multinational infant formula companies and are in discussions with each of them about increasing volumes, manufacturing higher value products and collaborating on research and development opportunities.”
“China remains an important focus for us. The disruption caused during the year by the regulatory changes is easing and we are well positioned to take advantage of improved returns from increased sales in this market.”
“It is our desire, as the manufacturing company, to develop a close association with our Chinese brand owners to reassure consumers that these brands are produced from a reliable, vertically integrated company that is prepared to stand behind the quality of the product. This approach has been signalled by Chinese officials as a future requirement for the export of retail-ready infant formula to China.”
“We are pleased to announce we have entered into a conditional agreement, subject to certain approvals, for a 25% shareholding in Sichuan New Hope Nutritional Foods Co., Ltd., the company responsible for the ownership, sale and distribution of the akaraTM branded infant formula range in China. Through a small investment, the partnership will create an integrated supply chain for the manufacture, packaging, supply, distribution and sale of akaraTM to consumers in China, ensuring transparency back from can to paddock,” said Dr Penno.
In FY2014 Synlait Milk achieved a pre-tax return on capital employed of 11.5%.
In relation to its dividend policy, Synlait Milk confirmed that with its present focus firmly on growing the business, no dividend will be payable for the financial year ending 31 July 2014, nor for the immediate future. This is consistent with statements made in the Investment Statement and Prospectus at the time of listing.
