Sydney, 20 May 2008 - Lion Nathan Limited has posted a strong interim result, lifting operating net profit after tax (NPAT) by 7.0% to $167.7 million for the six months to 31 March 2008.
Net sales revenue again grew strongly, rising 7.9% to $1.12 billion as increased investment in marketing and innovation initiatives continued to encourage drinkers to shift to higher equity national and premium brands.
The robust revenue improvement was also assisted by the earlier timing of Easter in 2008 and the inclusion of almost three months of Boag’s trading following its acquisition in January 2008.
Lion Nathan CEO Rob Murray said: “We have continued to produce strong earnings and cash flow while increasing investment in our brands, our breweries and our people to achieve higher sustainable long term NPAT growth”.
“The strong revenue growth reflects successful brand investment and new product development in our core businesses,” Mr Murray continued.
The result was achieved despite higher input costs driven by higher commodity and fuel prices and also poor weather conditions, especially in the first quarter in New South Wales and Queensland.
After the impact of one-time items (OTI) and individually significant items (ISI), reported NPAT increased 1.6% to $164.6 million. The prior period Reported NPAT included the release of a provision surplus of $9.5 million following the conclusion of a tax audit in the first half of the 2007 year.
Lion Nathan confirmed its full year NPAT guidance range of $265-$275 million, with a significant step-up in earnings forecast for FY09.
Increased marketing investment drives strong revenue growth in Australia, Boags integration ahead of schedule Lion Nathan Australia (LNA) delivered strong operating EBIT growth, up 7.3% to $248.7 million, boosted in part by the inclusion of Boag’s volumes ahead of schedule and the timing of Easter. After adjusting for onetime costs associated with the Boag’s acquisition, reported EBIT increased 5.6% to $244.2 million.
LNA delivered revenue growth of 9.6% from a total volume increase of 3.4%. Excluding the first-time contribution from Boag’s, the business delivered revenue growth of 6.6% on 0.6% volume growth.
The favourable volume, revenue and EBIT growth for the year was again achieved predominantly as a result of Power brand1 growth. Total Power brand volume growth (including Boag’s) was 5.1% for the 6 months driven by Tooheys Extra Dry (volumes up 26% vs H1FY07) and Hahn Super Dry (159%), and the addition of Boag’s Draught, Classic Blonde and Premium brands in the second quarter.
XXXX Gold, Australia’s second-biggest selling brand grew volume and value share of the mid-strength category despite new entrants and a relatively poor summer in Queensland. Hahn Premium Light again grew its share of a declining category and now holds 42% share of the Light category.
The international premium brand portfolio volume declined around 2% as LNA pursued a value growth strategy for this category during the period which resulted in solid revenue growth of 5%.
New product innovation developed during the last three years continued to contribute strongly to volume and revenue growth, particularly Hahn Super Dry and the recently released Barefoot Radler which has outperformed expectations. Spirits and Ready to Drinks (RTDs), especially McKenna, continued to grow solidly off a low base and provided 0.3 percentage points of volume growth.
Increases in taxes on RTDs were recently announced by the Australian Government. While the full impact of this change is difficult to assess at this early stage, RTD growth levels are expected to slow significantly. Lion Nathan remains committed to developing its Spirits and RTDs strategy. Lion Nathan supports measures to encourage responsible consumption and is playing an active role with industry, government and the community to tackle alcohol misuse.
Rob Murray said: “We have continued to make a very significant investment in our power brand portfolio and we are seeing very strong revenue growth as a consequence. This is a very robust Australian result despite poor weather and continued cost pressures from commodity and raw material inputs.”
“The Boag’s integration is ahead of schedule and we are confident that the addition of Boag’s will drive further momentum in our Australian business in the coming years”.
Steinlager Pure success drives New Zealand back into growth
In NZ dollar terms operating EBIT grew 4.2% to NZ$54.8 million. The overall LNNZ result was driven by strong performances from beer, wine and RTDs with only spirits lower than the prior period. An unusually hot summer along with the timing of Easter trading boosted the result.
Reported LNNZ net sales revenue grew 2.1%, or 7.0% excluding the CBC, LLR and Maltexo businesses, driven by Power brand2 volume growth and positive mix.
LNNZ domestic beer volume grew 3.1% against estimated market growth of 1.5%, while exports grew 7.8%, with combined volumes up 3.4%. Power brand volume grew 7.2% propelled by new brand Steinlager Pure as well as strong performances by premium brands Corona and Mac’s, and robust Speights Gold Medal Ale growth (6.5%). Lion Red volume declined with its more targeted geographic sales and marketing focus, while Waikato Draught volume was up 4.2%.
Wine volumes increased 8.8% with Delegats Varietals, Oyster Bay and Imprint brands leading the growth. The wine portfolio was enhanced by the acquisition of the three new French Champagne brands to replace the Moet brand agency which ended in February 2008.
Spirits volumes declined 9% due to a highly price competitive market being supported by heavily discounted parallel imports and deep discounting on other competitor brands. McKenna Bourbon continues to perform well in RTD format. Smirnoff and Coruba RTDs also posted solid volume gains and helped drive RTD portfolio volume growth of 23%.
Rob Murray said: “The NZ ‘one business’ operating structure is delivering growth in a challenging competitive environment and despite a range of ongoing cost pressures”.
“The success of Steinlager Pure shows the power of well executed innovation to grow category value. Steinlager Pure has achieved significant growth and sells above the price of all other major premium brands in the NZ market. Given the deep cut competitive pricing seen in the NZ market in recent years, this innovation success is a welcome driver of revenue improvement.”
Strong growth from wine despite difficult industry conditions
Wine Group operating EBITS3 increased 25.4% to $7.9 million, while reported EBITS grew 38.6%, due to the impact of OTIs in the prior period. Excluding a re-classification of bulk wine sales, revenue increased by 12.1%.
Increases in volume, revenue and EBITS in the Wine Group were driven by a strong performance in the Australian market, partly offset by a decline in Australian winery brands such as St Hallett, primarily due to the loss of US distribution caused by the acquisition of distribution partner Beam Wine Estates by Constellation Brands.
Wither Hills volumes were up in Australia but down in the US due to the loss of distribution. In New Zealand Wither Hills volumes were impacted by the cycling of a significant price-led promotion in the prior period.
During the period, Lion Nathan moved to 100% ownership of FWP, the Company’s fine wine route to market. FWP has shown significant improvement during the past year and has strongly increased sales performance while controlling overhead costs.
Rob Murray said: “The Wine Group continues to show strong improvement in a challenging industry. While the loss of US distribution has frustrated growth from our Australian & New Zealand wineries, we are making good progress in securing alternative distribution arrangements with an announcement expected during the second half of the financial year”.
Brewery investment progressing well
Upgrades to the Tooheys and Castlemaine Perkins breweries are progressing well and the work on the NZ$250 million new brewery in Auckland has commenced.
Mr Murray said: “These investments will help Lion Nathan maintain low cost, efficient operations with increased flexibility, agility and quality standards to meet the evolving needs of our customers and consumers. It will also further improve health and safety standards and the environmental footprint of our breweries”.
Lion Nathan remains in sound financial position
Net operating cash flow (pre OTI and ISI) was up $70.0 million to $244.1 million primarily due to improved working capital driven by higher collections and the timing of supplier payments.
Rob Murray said: “High cash generation and stable cash flows make Lion well positioned to raise funds as necessary despite difficult conditions in the world debt markets. We achieved a positive outcome in the debt market with $500m refinancing of short-term Boag’s borrowings in January and we have also made significant progress in re-financing facilities maturing in FY09 in the normal course of business”.
The Board has declared an interim dividend of 20 cents per share, an increase of 5.3% and in line with the Company’s dividend payout ratio policy of 80% of operating NPAT.
Input costs and Outlook
Input costs, including malt (barley), sugar, hops, glass and cans are expected to increase in the second half, and rise again in FY09 by $30-36 million. A large part of this increase is driven by glass costs for step-up brands such as Steinlager Pure, Hahn Super Dry and Tooheys Extra Dry, which all have unique bottles but also deliver superior margin to mainstream brands.
Also contributing to input cost inflation is the extraordinary demand for commodities, rising energy costs, and normal supply contract price variations (e.g. CPI increases). Plans are in place to recover these input cost increases in 2008 and 2009.
Rob Murray expressed confidence that Lion Nathan is well placed to deliver against its growth aspirations: “Despite facing the cost increases hitting most manufacturers, we are well placed to deliver a solid full year result and to achieve a significant step up in earnings in FY09. I am very much encouraged by our ability to achieve strong revenue improvements driven by volume growth, new product development and a shift to higher value products”.