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Pin to quick picksUkrproduct Regulatory News (UKR)

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Trading Update

8 Sep 2016 12:25

RNS Number : 3342J
Ukrproduct Group Ltd
08 September 2016
 



 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2016

 

TRADING UPDATE

 

 

Kyiv, Ukraine - September 8, 2016 - Ukrproduct Group Limited ("Ukrproduct" or the "Group") (AIM: UKR), one of the leading Ukrainian producers and distributors of branded dairy foods and beverages (kvass), today announces the following trading update for the six months ended 30 June 2016 ahead of publishing its interim results later this month.

 

During the first half of 2016 Ukrproduct continued to experience the consequences of the storm in the Ukrainian economy in recent years. A devalued currency, a geographically contracted market place and consumers now pressured further by inflation provided a challenging business environment.

 

The Group's response has been to adjust its focus to relevant products, sales channels and customers providing acceptable margins and ability to pay on time. Working capital has been released and costs contained via improved productivity.

 

Trading

 

Volumes fell, though revenues fell only marginally in hryvnia terms. Gross margins showed an improving trend but prices remained constrained by competition and low consumer confidence and spending power. Branded products, now subject to more emphasis, showed improved revenues with the key categories of packaged butter, spreads and processed cheese advancing. Private Label contracts with only marginal profitability have been terminated. Those retained reflect the quality demanded by the retailer and commensurate margins.

 

The kvass beverage continued to make a good gross profit contribution. Plans are in place to extend the offering in this category with white kvass, uzvar and rose hip based healthy drinks.

 

Skimmed milk powder is subject to the vagaries of world prices which were not encouraging in this period and milk prices trended upwards on the world market from midsummer. However the Group's spare spray drying capacities were utilized profitably for third parties during the period.

 

The continued exchange rate depreciation has facilitated the successful pursuit of export business not least to CIS countries, Russian intervention notwithstanding.

 

Finances

 

In the challenging trading environment hryvnia revenues have held up to within 5% of same period 2015. However whilst management efforts resulted in some improvement in gross margins, overall they remained struggling. Although the Group made substantial progress in the second quarter, the first quarter negative result was not fully offset.

 

Overheads were reduced but EBITDA struggled to remain positive with an overall operating loss, accentuated by negative exchange differences for the period.

 

Cash under such trading circumstances is very much in focus. Along the lines mentioned the Company has adopted a trading model to release cash not least from working capital to fulfill its ongoing obligations. This importantly includes interest payments due to EBRD under the terms of the favourable loan restructuring agreement finalized by the end of June.

 

Outlook

 

The Group targets a return to profitability as the market place continues to work towards stabilization. Our markets will however remain competitive. Ukrproduct's strategy as detailed earlier is to target segments with differentiated products and services. In particular, pursuit of growth opportunities in beverages and export and improving the cost and service efficiency of the supply chain. Overhead reduction has included the remuneration of directors. Underpinning this all is the need to continue to create positive cash flows.

 

 

***

For further information, please visit  www.ukrproduct.com or contact:

Ukrproduct Group Ltd

Jack Rowell, Non-Executive Chairman

Tel: +380 44 232 9602 

Alexander Slipchuk, Chief Executive Officer

 

www.ukrproduct.com

ZAI Corporate Finance Ltd.

Nominated Adviser and Broker

Peter Trevelyan-Clark, Jamie Spotswood

Tel: +44 20 7060 2220

www.zaicf.com

 

Ukrproduct Group Ltd is one of the leading Ukrainian producers and distributors of branded dairy products and kvass, a traditional fermented beverage. The Group's product portfolio includes processed and hard cheese, packaged butter, skimmed milk powder (SMP) and kvass. Ukrproduct has built a range of recognisable product brands ("Our Dairyman", "People's Product", "Creamy Valley", "Molendam", "Farmer's") that are well known and highly regarded by consumers. The Group reported consolidated revenues of approximately GBP 20.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and total assets of approximately 11.5 million as at that date . Ukrproduct's securities are traded under the symbol "UKR" on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.

 

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Group. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might" the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These statements are only predictions and they may differ materially from the actual events or results. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in such projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment, risks associated with operating in Ukraine, rapid technological and market change in our industry, as well as many other risks specifically related to the Group and its operations.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
TSTLLFILAAITIIR
Date   Source Headline
26th May 200911:33 amBUSUkrproduct Releases 2008 Annual Report and Updates Dividend Timetable
29th Apr 20098:00 amBUSFinal Results
2nd Mar 20091:00 pmBUSNotice of Results
29th Jan 20093:45 pmBUSResult of EGM
2nd Jan 20097:00 amBUSNOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
18th Dec 20084:00 pmBUSChange of Nominated AIM Broker
17th Dec 20083:45 pmBUSUkrproduct Announces Trading Update for the Year Ending 31 December 2008
15th Dec 200810:45 amBUSStatement re CANCELLATION OF OPTIONS
26th Nov 200812:00 pmBUSStatement re NATIONWIDE MARKETING CAMPAIGN ACCELERATES GROWTH OF UKRPRODUCT'S DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
24th Sep 20087:00 amBUSUkrproduct Announces Unaudited Financial Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
22nd Sep 20082:00 pmBUSStatement re UKRPRODUCT GROUP: CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008
1st Sep 20085:15 pmBUSCHANGE OF NOMINATED AIM BROKER
29th Aug 20082:14 pmRNSCancellation of Options
29th Aug 200810:47 amRNSDirectorate Change
4th Aug 200812:28 pmRNSAppointment of Adviser
25th Jul 20084:02 pmRNSNotice of Results
27th Jun 20088:33 amRNSDirectorate Change
26th Jun 200812:05 pmRNSResult of AGM
23rd Apr 20087:00 amRNSFinal Results
22nd Apr 20083:24 pmRNSDirectorate Change
10th Apr 20088:43 amRNSDirectorate Change
25th Mar 20082:22 pmRNSAnnouncement of Final Results
5th Mar 20084:02 pmRNSChange of Adviser
21st Feb 20084:00 pmRNSResult of EGM
15th Feb 20084:18 pmRNSExercise of Options
25th Jan 20083:13 pmRNSNotice of EGM
21st Jan 20082:17 pmRNSExercise of Options
14th Dec 200710:42 amRNSTrading Statement
29th Nov 20074:57 pmRNSExercise of Options
19th Nov 20073:22 pmRNSPublic Tender Won
19th Nov 20073:18 pmRNSContract Win
13th Nov 20072:43 pmRNSUpdate
26th Oct 20073:28 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
26th Sep 200710:05 amRNSExercise of Options
25th Sep 20077:00 amRNSInterim Results
6th Sep 20077:00 amRNSUN World Food Programme
28th Aug 20075:13 pmRNSNotice of Results
17th Aug 20072:13 pmRNSAIM Rule 26 Information
8th Aug 20077:00 amRNS2nd smoke room in operation
25th Jul 20077:00 amRNSHard Cheese Plant Operational
12th Jul 20077:00 amRNSTrading Statement
5th Jul 20072:28 pmRNSStatement re Nestle Audit
21st Jun 20078:27 amRNSAGM Statement
15th Jun 20072:17 pmRNSMilk programme update
24th Apr 20077:01 amRNSFinal Results
2nd Feb 20078:48 amRNSNotice of Results
12th Dec 20068:39 amRNSCompletion of dryer facility
19th Sep 20067:02 amRNSInterim Results
4th Sep 200611:23 amRNSNotice of Results
12th Jul 20062:20 pmRNSBoard Change

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