Feronia Inc. Reports Q1 2013 Results
(firmenpresse) - TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/30/13 -- Feronia Inc. ("Feronia" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: FRN) today released its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. All amounts in this release are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Q1 2013 Highlights and Developments
Subsequent Events
Bill Dry, CEO of Feronia Inc. commented: "Whilst the low volumes of CPO we currently produce and soft global CPO pricing continue to have an impact on Feronia in the short term, the future value of the Company will come from its new plantings. The addition of the African Agriculture Fund as a significant investor in Feronia is a major endorsement of our long-term vision from one of the continent's most sophisticated investors who are an active supporter of management's efforts to achieve our business objectives and create value for shareholders."
About Feronia Inc.
Operational Summary and Key Metrics by Division
Palm Oil Operations
The following table shows key data relating to operations at Plantations et Huileries du Congo ("PHC") as at and for the three months ending March 31, 2013:
Notes:
The following tables show key data relating to PHC's assets and infrastructure as at March 31, 2013.
Notes:
The Company also owns the Yaligimba Research Station, one of Africa's pre-eminent oil palm seed research and breeding operations. The Yaligimba Research Station supplies PHC with all of the oil palm seeds required for its replanting programme and undertakes research into increasing oil palm yields and optimal fertilizer regimes. The seeds provided by the Yaligimba Research Station are resistant to fusarium Wilt, a soil-born fungal disease that is prevalent in Africa. The Yaligimba Research Station also sells both fusarium wilt resistant and non-resistant seed varieties to third party customers.
Recent developments in the oil palm operations
As previously reported, harvesting at the Yaligimba plantation was suspended at the beginning of Q1 2012 once the short-term strategy to barge fruit from the Yaligimba plantation to the Lokutu plantation was proven to be uneconomical and will recommence upon completion of the Yaligimba palm oil mill. As a result, Yaligimba did not contribute to Fresh Fruit Bunches ("FFB") or Crude Palm Oil ("CPO") production in either Q1 2013 or Q1 2012.
The total number of producing hectares (excluding Yaligimba) at March 31, 2013 was 5,952 ha (March 31, 2012: 6,310 ha). The year-on-year reduction of 358 ha is a result of 651 ha of palms over 25 years old being removed and 293 ha of young palms coming into production.
The total tonnage of fruit production was 9,550 tonnes for the three months ended March 31, 2013, 13% lower than the 10,975 tonnes produced during the corresponding period in 2012. The lower level of production is due to less density of fruit at the Lokutu plantation resulting from a proportion of trees being in a male flowering phase during Q1 2013. This phase, which arises periodically, has since passed and the shortfall experienced in Q1 2013 has subsequently been made up.
Replanting of oil palms commenced in March 2013 in line with rainfall patterns, with 442 ha planted by March 31, 2013 (Q1 2012: 264 ha) representing the replanting of approximately 71,000 trees (Q1 2012: approximately 42,000 trees). Year-to-date as at May 22, 2013 the Company had replanted 1,757 ha representing the replanting of approximately 281,000 trees. The size of Feronia's workforce has been and will be a key factor in delivering on its objective to replant 5,000 ha representing approximately 800,000 trees this year.
The oil produced by the Company is of a high quality with the average Free Fatty Acid ("FFA") content of oil sold at 2.17% (Q1 2012: 2.3%).
At March 31, 2013, the Company employed 3,564 staff in its palm oil operations (March 31, 2012: 3,701), more than would typically be required for a palm oil business with production at Feronia's current levels. However, the Company recognises the considerable amount of knowledge and skill held within its workforce and believes it is a tremendous asset. While a large proportion of the workforce is currently utilised in Feronia's replanting program, a sufficient portion of the workforce has the skillset to be re-allocated to harvesting operations as the Company's producing hectares increase.
The Company also has in place a Management Training Programme to develop management capabilities and skills across four areas - agronomy, finance, technical (engineering) and personnel. The Company believes this is essential to ensure the development of skills through the organisation and is a key part of the Company's succession planning. The two year programme is open to Congolese nationals under 33 years of age with relevant qualifications and experience with successful applicants required to pass a technical examination and interview. Participants are also subject to ongoing assessment. The 2013 programme, which starts in June 2013, has an intake of 10 people.
At Yaligimba, completion of the CPO mill by the Company's contractor continues apace and testing of some modules is underway and the charging of equipment with lubricants and hydraulic fluids has commenced. The company expects the mill to produce its first CPO by the end of June 2013. Once the new palm oil mill is operational, the Company will have access to an additional 3,757 ha of producing palms. The Yaligimba plantation is expected to achieve operating results similar to Lokutu on a per hectare basis.
The Yaligimba palm oil mill will have an initial processing capacity of 30 tonnes per hour of FFB, with the potential to increase to 60 tonnes per hour in a phase 2 expansion. The Yaligimba palm oil mill's commissioning will mean that the Company will have installed processing capacity of 55 tonnes per hour across its entire operations; sufficient to process 230,000 tonnes of FFB per annum. It is anticipated that under the current planting program and internal forecasts for yield improvement, there will be no requirement for additional processing capacity, other than the phase 2 expansion at Yaligimba, until 2020.
In April 2013, Benedict Rich joined the Company as Managing Director of PHC. Mr. Rich has extensive experience managing plantation operations in emerging markets and has also been responsible for various aspects of research and development programs in both tea and oil palm. He is ISO qualified and has a keen interest and understanding of sustainability and the environment in the palm oil industry, having helped develop the industry's environmental, social and sustainability standards.
Arable Farming Operations
Key Metrics:
Recent developments in the arable farming operations
In October 2012, the most recent trial planting of 500 ha of rice was completed. The Company planted NERICA-4® (New Rice for Africa-4), an upland rice variety suited to African soil and weather conditions. Harvest of this crop commenced in mid-February 2013 with mechanized harvesting supplemented through local casual labour.
Results from the trial planting were positive with in-field yields of around 4 tonnes of paddy rice per ha. Mechanized harvesting achieved an average yield of 3.1 tonnes of paddy rice per ha over the first 46 ha harvested in February 2013 and 2.5 tonnes per ha from the subsequent 77 ha harvested mechanically by the end of March 2013. The harvest was completed in April 2013 and 685 tonnes of dry paddy rice was harvested from 395 ha. Yield per ha declined as the harvest progressed due to in-field losses caused by the protracted harvest period and insufficient harvesting machinery to complete the harvest in the optimum time period. The Company had ordered a second combine harvester to support the harvest but, due to shipping delays unrelated to the DRC, it did not arrive in time to participate in the beginning of the harvest.
As previously reported in April 2013, following quality tests and qualifying as an approved supplier to Heineken N.V., the Company commenced selling rice grown on its farm to Bralima, Heineken's wholly-owned DRC subsidiary. Bralima has agreed to purchase 1,100 tonnes of rice during 2013.
The Company also commenced selling rice into the local food market through sales to Ets Kuku, a food wholesaler. The premium grade rice, containing 5% or less broken grains, is being supplied on a weekly basis in 25kg, Feronia-branded polypropylene sacks.
Fulfillment of both contracts is expected to be made from existing stocks of rice accumulated from the Company's trial plantings which were harvested, dried and subsequently milled by the Company, and from current and expected future harvests. The Company expects that minimal capital expenditures will be required for fulfillment of said contracts.
The Company now has in place a pricing structure whereby the price it charges for rice is determined by the quality of the product sold, specifically, the percentage of broken grains. The prices that the Company is achieving are consistent with earlier estimates and at a significant premium to global rice prices. The Company anticipates selling to additional counterparties over the course of time.
Outlook
The Company's strategy for its oil palm plantations business continues to be to maximize returns from existing plantings while investing in new plantings and the required processing capacity. Commissioning of the new palm oil mill at Yaligimba is expected to provide the Company with immediate access to an additional 3,757 ha of mature oil palms for the production of CPO, an increase of 62.1% from the area currently accessible. Once the Yaligimba palm oil mill is completed, there are no major capital expenditures currently anticipated in the Company's oil palm plantations business, excluding costs associated with the Company's replanting program.
The Company has made progress in establishing commercially viable rice yields at its arable operation, has established a pricing formula and is making sales to high quality local counterparties. This furthers our confidence in the favorable dynamics of the local rice market. The Company is currently evaluating how to prudently expand its arable farming operation in light of these recent positive developments.
In summary, the key objectives of the Company in 2013 are as follows:
As previously disclosed by the Company, on December 24, 2011, the government of the DRC promulgated a new law, "Loi Portant Principes Fondamentaux Relatifs a L'Agriculture" (the "Agriculture Law"), for the stated purposes of developing and modernizing the country's agricultural sector. Feronia continues to seek clarification on the implications of this legislation from local counsel and government in the DRC. If the Agriculture Law is interpreted by the DRC government to apply to the existing concession rights held by the Company and the Agriculture Law is not amended, it could have a material and substantial adverse effect on the value of its business and its share price. In such case, Feronia may be required to sell or otherwise dispose of a sufficient interest in its operating subsidiaries so as to ensure that it meets local ownership requirements. There is no assurance that such a sale or disposition would be completed at fair market value or otherwise on acceptable terms to Feronia. Please refer to the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2013 available on for a full discussion on the Agriculture Law.
Financial Discussion - Three months ended March 31, 2013
Gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
The following table provides a summary of palm fruit production and CPO:
The reduced fruit and oil production during Q1 2013 is due to a lower density of fruit at the Lokutu plantation during the quarter resulting from trees being in a male flowering phase in Q1 2013. This phase has since passed and the shortfall in FFB production has subsequently been recovered.
Selling, general and administrative costs for Q1 2013 were $341,000 lower than in Q1 2012 due to:
Cash used in operating activities in Q1 2013 was $4,229,000 compared to $1,414,000 in Q1 2012.
Cash Flows and Liquidity
The cash balance at March 31, 2013 was $7,191,000, compared to $1,260,000 as at December 31, 2012. The increase in cash balance of $5,931,000 was a result of a net loss (excluding non-cash items) of $2,438,000, capital expenditures of $2,858,000 and an increase in working capital of $1,791,000 offset by the issue of shares for cash of $13,018,000.
For Q1 2013, working capital movements resulted in cash outflows of $1,791,000 (cash inflows of $1,167,000 for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012), driven by decreases in inventory of $414,000, receivables of $49,000, prepaid expenses of $419,000 and an increase in payables of $909,000.
Investing activities resulted in cash outflows of $2,956,000 for first quarter ended March 31, 2013 (cash outflows of $2,840,000 in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012).
Cash inflows from financing activities were $13,018,000 for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 (zero for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012). A further $1,375,000 relating to the same financing activities was received by the Company in early April, 2013.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As at March 31, 2013, the Company had cash totalling $7,191,000. The Company intends to use these funds to meet funding requirements associated with the growth and development of its business. This includes the rehabilitation of roads and other infrastructure on oil palm estates, new planting on oil palm estates, purchase of farm machinery and equipment, purchase of grain storage and processing plant, planting of crops, acquisition of IT hardware and software and further development of business systems.
The Company recorded net cash outflows in operations and investing activities for the 2012 calendar year and it is possible that this will continue for an additional few years as the Company continues to make significant investments in equipment and infrastructure activities necessary to commercialize its products. Feronia's actual funding requirements will vary based on the factors noted above and its relationships with lead customers and strategic partners.
As part of the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement with Golden Oil Holdings Limited completed on January 15, 2013, the Company issued 42,028,000 Common Shares for aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$5,043,360 ($5,116,007) at a purchase price of CDN$0.12 per share. In the second tranche completed on March 21, 2013, the Company issued 58,800,774 Common Shares to Golden Oil Holdings Limited for aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$7,056,093 ($6,883,993) at a purchase price of CDN$0.12 per share. Pursuant to the second tranche, the Company also issued 20,281,455 common shares to certain other qualifying shareholders of the Company for aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$2,433,774 ($2,392,857).
The proceeds are being used by the Company for working capital and capital expenditure purposes.
Continuing operations of Feronia are dependent upon its ability to continue to raise adequate financing and to commence profitable operations in the future. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue raising adequate financing or commence profitable operations in the future. See "Risks and Uncertainties" below.
Major outstanding anticipated capital expenditure cash requirements as at the date of this MD&A relate to the construction and completion of the new oil palm mill at Yaligimba (estimated to be $500,000), with expected completion in Q2 2013.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Gross margin is not a financial measure recognized by IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company's method of calculating gross margin may differ from other methods used. Gross margin is presented in this MD&A as additional information regarding the Company's financial performance. Gross margin has been calculated by deducting cost of sales from revenue.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company is subject to various business, financial and operational risks that could materially adversely affect the Company's future business, operations and financial condition and could cause such future business, operations and financial condition to differ materially from the forward-looking statements and information contained in this MD&A. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by the Company, please refer to the Company's annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2012, available at .
Cautionary Notes
Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipates", "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may" and "will". There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others: risks related to foreign operations (including various political, economic and other risks and uncertainties), the interpretation and implementation of the Agriculture Law, termination or non-renewal of concession rights or expropriation of property rights, political instability and bureaucracy, limited operating history, lack of profitability, lack of infrastructure in the DRC, high inflation rates, limited availability of debt financing in the DRC, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, competition from other businesses, reliance on various factors (including local labour, importation of machinery and other key items and business relationships), the Company's reliance on one major customer, lower productivity at the Company's plantations and arable farming operations, risks related to the agricultural industry (including adverse weather conditions, shifting weather patterns, and crop failure due to infestations), a shift in commodity trends and demands, vulnerability to fluctuations in the world market, the lack of availability of qualified management personnel and stock market volatility. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Feronia Inc.
Ravi Sood
Executive Chairman
(416) 907-2026
Feronia Inc.
Bill Dry
CEO
44 (0) 7887 525 046
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Datum: 30.05.2013 - 21:00 Uhr
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