Wrap Text
Bid Corporation Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 1995/008615/06
Share code: BID
ISIN: ZAE000216537
(?Bidcorp? or ?group? or the ?company?)
CAPITAL MARKETS TRADING UPDATE: TEN MONTHS TO APRIL 2022
Shareholders are advised that today, Wednesday May 25th 2022, Bidcorp wishes to
update the market on the trading environment across its global operations, particularly
in the period January 2022 to April 2022. This is in accordance with the group?s
obligation for continuous disclosure in terms of the JSE Listings Requirements.
Management comment as follows:
Our group trading results have achieved a record level in Q3 F2022, which is pleasing
considering the challenging operating conditions being experienced. Our UK and
Europe businesses have had a solid start to the calendar year, bearing in mind the
seasonality which impacts hospitality during the Northern Hemisphere winter. Only the
Netherlands business, constrained by the harsh government response to the spread
of the Omicron-COVID variant, was significantly negatively impacted, which resulted
in a lower-than-expected performance. The Emerging Markets businesses, other than
Angliss Greater China, have continued along their positive trajectory and are
performing better than in all previous comparative periods. Our Greater China business
(China, Hong Kong, and Macau) has had severe restrictions to contend with from late
January onwards which continue to affect activity levels. In Australia, activity levels
have bounced back strongly. Our New Zealand business has been affected by lower
activity with the delayed emergence of the country from Omicron restrictions and
impacts.
Overall market trends
The operating environment post December 2021 has been generally challenging,
driven by diminished labour availability, ongoing supply chain disruptions, and product
shortages. In addition, aggressive inflation is being fueled by labour costs, increasing
energy and fuel costs, as well as higher food prices, compounded by the Russian
invasion of Ukraine.
The consequence of these factors creates a challenge to maintaining service levels,
as balancing supply disruption with demand uncertainty remains challenging. Our
customers are also contending with the same labour issues as we are, restaurants are
only opening for limited hours or staying closed for entire days. Hotels are not using
multiple floors because they cannot find staff for housekeeping or service areas. Our
teams around the world have come to expect unpredictability and continue to remain
flexible, nimble, and highly adaptive to the circumstances as they inevitably evolve and
have continued to perform admirably well.
In most geographies in which we operate, we have seen a normalisation of the majority
of the discretionary spend sectors. However, several activities such as
accommodation, workplace catering, entertainment, sports events, business travel,
conventions and conferences, and the cruise line industry, continue to be adversely
affected to a lesser or greater degree by the ongoing but lessening COVID fallout. Non-
discretionary demand from our institutional customers, including education, hospitals,
aged care, prisons, the military, and government departments, has remained stable
subject to the usual anticipated seasonality.
The work-from-home (WFH) requirement has been replaced with hybrid arrangements
in many workplaces, allowing employees flexibility to work part of their week at home.
This has improved workplace catering activity in large inner-capital cities, but demand
currently is only tracking at 60% - 70% of pre-COVID levels, impacting the activity
levels of our some of our national customers.
Our multiyear efforts to ?rebalance the customer portfolio? continues to put us in a very
favourable position. We have spread our sales risk and we deal with a higher number
of reasonably sized partners, and fewer large operators who have greater
concentrated leverage in the market. It is evident in our businesses that have the
highest proportion of large customers on longer-term contracts, have had the greatest
difficulty in passing on price increases, both in terms of timing and quantum.
We believe we continue to gain market share in the ?preferred? sectors of the market
against competitors who may not have the flexibility, resilience, and financial strength
of Bidcorp. Our independent customer base has generally managed the reopening of
their markets relatively well through their flexibility and adaptability.
Group trading performance for the ten months to April 2022
Our F2022 trading results reflect the strong performances of most of our businesses,
many of which are seeing record performances. The Northern Hemisphere winter has
reflected a more normalised seasonality, other than in the COVID-restricted
Netherlands. COVID-related lockdowns and the consequential opening journey in
parts of Greater China and New Zealand have impacted their trading results. Emerging
Markets overall has performed well through the ten months of the financial year-to-
date. In terms of HEPS, YTD to April 2022 has delivered a good performance
compared to the F2019 pre-COVID comparative period, reflecting the strong recovery
of the financial year.
Sales progression by division and for the group, from the start of July 2021 to mid-May
2022, as shown in the table below, reflects the sales trajectory of our operations
compared to both F2021 and F2019 (pre-COVID period).
TABLE: Constant currency sales by division and group per month from July 2021 to
mid-May 2022 compared to F2021 and F2019:
EMERGING UNITED
MONTH AUSTRALASIA EUROPE GROUP
MARKETS KINGDOM
% OF F2021
JULY 108,6% 118,9% 132,9% 126,9% 119,8%
AUGUST 94,9% 117,7% 132,6% 130,0% 116,9%
SEPTEMBER 91,8% 120,6% 120,6% 135,7% 116,7%
OCTOBER 98,0% 151,8% 124,9% 146,1% 129,9%
NOVEMBER 103,9% 179,4% 122,0% 180,8% 142,1%
DECEMBER 110,1% 157,1% 124,2% 167,6% 136,2%
JANUARY 103,3% 153,0% 119,5% 237,4% 140,4%
FEBRUARY 106,4% 168,8% 112,5% 252,3% 148,5%
MARCH 102,9% 194,3% 117,6% 205,0% 150,0%
APRIL 110,4% 194,6% 122,6% 160,1% 146,4%
MAY 110,1% 167,4% 118,4% 149,8% 137,9%
EMERGING UNITED
MONTH AUSTRALASIA EUROPE GROUP
MARKETS KINGDOM
% OF F2019
JULY 107,8% 116,2% 114,6% 97,4% 109,0%
AUGUST 78,4% 110,2% 109,9% 91,4% 97,4%
SEPTEMBER 80,3% 103,2% 104,2% 94,2% 95,5%
OCTOBER 89,9% 104,9% 117,5% 92,1% 99,6%
NOVEMBER 100,1% 102,6% 119,5% 99,4% 103,8%
DECEMBER 105,9% 94,0% 123,0% 96,9% 102,8%
JANUARY 99,4% 92,4% 112,5% 97,9% 99,1%
FEBRUARY 97,7% 103,0% 116,4% 103,2% 103,6%
MARCH 106,2% 124,0% 120,5% 115,0% 116,5%
APRIL 114,6% 118,8% 115,9% 113,6% 116,0%
MAY 116,7% 126,1% 117,2% 115,1% 119,5%
Please note that the month-on-month percentages should be viewed as a sales trend
rather than absolute numbers and are not cumulative.
? Australasia (AUS) - Demand was negatively impacted by lockdowns at
varying times in Australia from early July 2021 through October 2021; and in
New Zealand from mid-August 2021 to April 2022; notably with the Omicron
impacts in both geographies in January & February 2022.
? Europe (EUR) - Sales held up very well through the Northern Hemisphere
summer and for most countries, through the winter as well (factoring in normal
pre-COVID seasonality) other than in the Netherlands due to restrictions.
? United Kingdom (UK) - Wholesale sales (approximately 90% of the total
division) have held up well and are tracking ahead of both F2021 and F2019.
Fresh, a business that was scaled back and restructured at the commencement
of the COVID pandemic, is tracking at approximately 83% of those sales
achieved pre-COVID.
? Emerging Markets (EM) - Our EM region has performed well, other than
Greater China in Q3 F2022. All businesses (except Greater China) continue to
report progressively strong growth where our current activity levels are
significantly larger than they were pre-COVID.
Currency volatility has negatively impacted our rand-translated results. Year-to-date
currency movements for the ten months to the end of April 2022 are shown below:
F2022 F2021
% Change
Average FX rate Average FX rate
AUD:ZAR 11,00 11,63 (5,4%)
EUR:ZAR 17,22 18,65 (7,6%)
GBP:ZAR 20,36 20,93 (2,7%)
Group gross profit percentage for the period to April 2022 has held up well, ahead of
both F2021 and F2019. We are benefitting from our strategic mix in our customer base
serviced. The onset of the Omicron variant in December, the rise of input costs, and
food inflation put some pressure on gross margins in Q2 F2022 but has recovered in
Q3 F2022 to Q1 F2022 levels. Our selling prices supported by buying gains associated
with stock purchases made ahead of significant price increases are assisting in driving
gross margin gains, attributable to the skill and flexibility of our operators, inherent in
our decentralised model.
Our operating costs as a percentage of net revenue (?cost of doing business?) through
to April 2022 has declined to 19,4%, lower than F2021; however, it is elevated
compared to the F2019 level of 18,8%. Constant currency operating expenditure
(opex) has increased by 27,1% compared to a constant currency revenue increase of
31,6% for the ten-month period to April 2022. We have achieved some operating
leverage however this has recently been dissipated by cost-push inflation, driven by
the following trends:
? supply chain disruptions and product shortages;
? higher labour costs due to the lack of available staff (mainly warehouse
workers and drivers); and
? rapidly rising energy and fuel costs.
Encouragingly our constant currency cost of doing businesses in March and April 2022,
where normalised pre-COVID sales levels have been achieved, have tracked back to
a pre-COVID run rate. Accordingly, there is relatively neutral pressure on margins as
we generally have been able to pass through cost increases to date, although the
timing is not always matched. Bidcorp remains a reliable supplier with a broad range
of products at competitive prices in this current environment.
For the ten-month period to April 2022, the group made a pleasing EBITDA (Earnings
Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortisation) margin of 5,3% of net revenue,
higher than for the ten-month period to April 2021 of 4,3%, but slightly below EBITDA
to April 2019 of 5,7% (a period unaffected by COVID and inflation).
Average working capital days to April 2022 are 7 days, the same as that achieved in
F2021. Working capital is within management expectations considering activity levels
and the conscious efforts to ?buy in? inventory where possible. The working capital %
of net revenue (WAR%) has increased from 4,2% in Q3 F2021 to 4,4% in Q3 F2022.
Normal levels of WAR% are between 4,0% and 5,0% of net revenue. Traditionally
Bidcorp absorbs working capital in its first half of the financial year and generates into
the second half, a trend which we expect to continue relative to much higher activity
levels.
Of the gross capex to March 2022 of R2,0 billion (F2021: R1,4 billion), significant
contributors include: Australia (R511 million); Bidfood UK (R316 million); the
Netherlands (R247 million); and Czech Republic (R228 million). The majority of the
capex is in respect of new warehousing facilities to facilitate further growth, as well as
to deliver operational and environmental efficiencies.
New acquisitions in Q3 F2022 were in the Netherlands for the Zegro (Rotterdam)
business (R216 million) and property (R315 million); and the Australian Bayview
business of R37 million (a manufacturing facility for battered protein and vegetable
products).
Free cash flow (excluding dividends but after operating cashflows, working capital, and
capex) for the ten-month period to April 2022 amounted to an outflow of R2,3 billion,
the key diver of which is the investment in working capital. Dividend payments to
shareholders of R2,3 billion have been made this financial year (a payment of 400
cents per share paid to shareholders in October 2021 and 300 cents per share paid to
shareholders in March 2022).
Liquidity
A significant refinancing exercise was undertaken through February and March to
rollover and refinance term debt that was maturing. The US Private Placement market
was accessed for ?225 million and bank debt of ?75 million was rolled. This enabled a
significant portion of group debt to be termed out to three, five, and seven years at
competitive fixed interest rates, which reduces both liquidity as well as interest rate
risks in the current environment. Since December 2021, global interest rates have
started to rise, and the expectation is that they will continue increasing as market
participants price-in aggressive hiking cycles by Central Banks being front loaded to
stem inflation risks. The group and its subsidiaries have at April 30 2022, total
headroom available, including uncommitted facilities and cash and cash equivalents,
of R15,9 billion (#833 million).
Debt covenants
The group?s debt covenants sit at 2,5x net debt to EBITDA, and interest cover ratio of
EBITDA to net consolidated finance costs (excluding the effects of IFRS 16) of not less
than 5x. At April 2022, the group remains well within these ranges.
Update on under-performing businesses
Fresh UK has delivered profitable results to April 2022, notwithstanding that there
remains more work required to improve the meat and produce divisions. Our business
in Spain continues to improve with all segments profitable following the Carnicas meat
business disposal in January 2022. Germany is making slow but steady progress
towards stability.
Update on the Miumi fraud
With regards to the fraud in the Miumi division of our Angliss Greater China business
as extensively detailed previously, nothing further has come to light to impact the total
financial impact as accounted for at June 30 2021. Forensic investigations into this
complex fraud are now complete, and we are now pursuing criminal and civil
proceedings against various parties in both Hong Kong and China. We remain hopeful
of some recoveries in the future, none of which have been accounted for to date.
Employees
The health and well-being of our employees continues to be a top priority in the current
difficult operating environment. Our teams continue to deliver outstanding service
despite the added pressure brought on by labour shortages and strongly rebounding
sales demand. Some of these shortages are driven by COVID-related isolation rules,
compounded by acute shortages of people willing and capable of warehousing and
driving roles. There is also a limit as to how hard our existing workforce can push
themselves, as we strive to maintain a safe and balanced work environment.
Strategic challenges and opportunities
Bidcorp?s focus is to operate in accordance with activity levels anticipated from country-
to-country, which are positively returning to pre-COVID levels in most jurisdictions. We
remain confident that the combination of the strength our teams and business model
are well equipped to deal with each country?s ?new normal?, whatever that maybe.
It appears that there hasn?t been any long-term fundamental shift in consumer
behaviour negatively impacting the eating-away-from-home market. The consumer
currently appears to be in reasonable shape worldwide and this is benefitting our
desired target market.
Our businesses in the UK and Europe are expecting a positive Northern Hemisphere
summer with a return of significant tourism and higher business travel, all of which
bode well for higher market activity. In Australia, the current trajectory is expected to
continue with New Zealand hopeful that the opening of its borders will improve its
bruised economy. Most of our Emerging Markets businesses should continue to
perform well, except for Greater China, who are dependent on the eventual easing of
current COVID-restrictions and resumption of more normalised level of economic
activity. The potential risk for further disruptions from new COVID-waves and variants
remains across all jurisdictions.
The Russia-Ukrainian war is a source of great concern for our people in Eastern
Europe and for the broader group, as we just don?t know what the impacts will be and
for how long. Inflation is a concern, as are labour shortages and wage pressures, but
both appear manageable at this stage, however the long-term negative impacts of
inflation on overall economic activity cannot be discounted. Supply chain disruptions
related to imported food products are most significantly impacting our Emerging Market
businesses in Asia and the Middle East. For the rest of our businesses, much of our
product range is procured reasonably locally and although there may be an element of
disruption and product shortages, this is having a minor impact on the businesses.
Some of our businesses are going through a further phase of customer rationalisation,
as at present, there is limited capacity in the wholesaler environment and if certain
larger customers cannot meet our expectations for a mutually beneficial relationship,
then we have no choice but to amicably part company. This process may have a limited
short-term sales impact but will free up capacity to onboard more of the ?right? type of
customer, a void which in our experience has been filled relatively quickly.
Our ecommerce and digital strategy remain a key enabler of competitive advantage,
as our bespoke technology solutions continue to lead innovation in the foodservice
industry. We are continually investing in and developing our tech and data capability
to drive this key component of our growth strategy forward.
Bidcorp has made very good progress in moving towards its target of a 25% reduction
in carbon emissions by 2025. We are a user of energy in that we operate refrigerated
warehouses, and we operate fleets of vehicles delivering our multi-temp product range
to our customers. Our initiatives and investments are focused firmly on the areas within
our control i.e. in zero-emission, energy-efficient refrigeration and renewable energy
generation; however, an environmentally friendly fleet of vehicles capable of delivering
the required payloads over the required distances remains elusive. We continue to
actively trial new technology as it becomes available.
Capex has returned to our pre-COVID run rate to sustain anticipated demand into the
future. A significant portion of our capex is in new modern and efficient warehousing
capacity.
No new country acquisitions in the foodservice industry have become evident but we
remain on the lookout for suitable potential transactions. We retain the financial
firepower to make acquisitions, even of significant scale, however we will be patient in
finding the most appropriate opportunities.
Within Bidcorp, there is a sense of great optimism that we have navigated the
challenges of the past two years successfully and that our businesses are probably in
better shape than they were pre-pandemic. We continue to work with our partners,
including customers and suppliers, to enthusiastically keep moving forward and to
continue to deliver on the strong, positive momentum we are experiencing now.
Comment
Bernard Berson, CEO, commented as follows:
?We have a great team in place, with our various country leadership groups all
driving their businesses forward. I remain indebted and in awe of our people
around the world who make it happen every day, through snow and floods, and
even when large numbers of their staff are absent with COVID. They are hero?s?
The information contained in this announcement has not been reviewed or reported on
by the group?s external auditors.
___________________________________________________________________
Date: May 25th 2022
Johannesburg
Sponsor: The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Date: 25-05-2022 09:00:00
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