Accrol Gp Regulatory News (ACRL)

12 January 2022

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR.

Accrol Group Holdings plc

("Accrol", the "Group" or the "Company")

Trading Update

Accrol (AIM: ACRL), the UK's leading independent tissue converter, today provides the following trading update for the current financial year ending 30 April 2022 ("FY22").

In the period since the Company's last trading update of 20 October 2021, the Group has experienced further inflationary pressure on input costs including pulp prices, supply chain costs and most significantly energy costs. In light of these cost increases, the Group has implemented further cost efficiencies and has engaged with all its customers successfully securing substantial price increases, over and above those secured in mid-2021 and, as a result, the Board was confident of meeting its revised expectations for FY22.

However, unavoidable surcharges to parent reel prices, relating to exceptional energy price increases, have very recently been levied on the Company, which will significantly impact margins. The management team has experience of successfully managing inflationary pressures and the Board is confident that this is a timing issue and that further cost increases, including these recent surcharges, will continue to be passed on successfully to Accrol's customers. The underlying business is in good shape and the Board remains confident in the medium-term prospects for the Group.

Despite continued supply chain disruption, particularly at ports, around the world and specifically in the UK, the business continues to manage customer supply well, having secured and maintained additional stocks in paper and finished goods.

In FY22, revenue is now expected to grow by 17% to c.£160m (FY21: £136.6m), generating adjusted EBITDA1 of c.£9.0m (FY21: £15.6m) with margin recovery anticipated in FY23.

The Group continues to operate well within its existing banking covenants and has more than sufficient liquidity to meet its existing and future needs.

In light of the above and the short-term but inherent volatility of earnings experienced in the current year, the Board has concluded that it is now appropriate for Accrol to conduct a full strategic review of its business. Such review will be designed to capitalise on the evident strength of the business' market position, its balance sheet, and its solvency, underpinned by significant banking support, to ensure that the shareholder value is optimised.

A further update will be provided with the Groups H1 2022 results, which will be announced on 18th January 2022.

1 Adjusted EBITDA is defined as profit before finance costs, tax, depreciation, amortisation, separately disclosed items and share based payments

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Overview of Accrol

Accrol Group Holdings plc is a leading tissue converter and supplier of toilet tissues, kitchen rolls, facial tissues, and wet wipes to many of the UK's leading discounters and grocery retailers across the UK. Following the recent acquisitions of LTC in Leicester and JD in Flint, North Wales, the Group now operates from six manufacturing sites, including four in Lancashire, which generate revenues totalling c.16% of the £2.1bn UK retail tissue market.

For more information, please visit www.accrol.co.uk.