COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT
The following is a company announcement issued by AST Group P.L.C., a company registered under the laws of Malta with company registration number C 66811 (the “Company”), pursuant to the rules of Prospects, a market regulated as a multi-lateral trading facility and operated by the Malta Stock Exchange.
Financial Sustainability Forecasts
QUOTE
The Company refers to the obligation to which Prospects MTF companies are subject to in terms of Rule 4.11.03 and Rule 4.11.12 relating to the publication of the twelve-month financial information as defined in Table 1 paragraph 3 and specifically the publication and dissemination via an announcement of Financial Sustainability Forecasts including management assumptions thereon (‘FSFs’). The below copy of the Group FSFs (which consists of AST Group p.l.c. and its subsidiaries Damask Investment Limited, AST Shipping Limited, Damask Chartering Limited and Damask Shipping Management Company Limited), as approved by the Board of Directors, are based on the following assumptions:
Revenues
Historically, the animal feed business consisted of guar meal, DDGS, Hi-Pro Sunflower Meal and fishmeal, however, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group added corn and barley (i.e. grains) to its product portfolio given that there was a surge in demand for flour. Given that grains are high volume but low margin products an increase in total turnover shall result in FY2021. The projections assume that the Group will generate revenue of €25.3 million from the animal feed business by trading 8,000 tons of guar meal, 2,000 tons of fishmeal, 11,000 tons of DDGS, 800 tons of Hi-Pro Sunflower meal, 41,000 tons of corn and 18,000 tons of barley.
Revenue from shipping operations is generated through the operation of its vessel, M/V AST Malta. The projections assume that the vessel will operate for 340 days at sea and will be used either to carry the corn and barley products aforementioned (i.e. own use) or chartered out to third parties at €2,900 per day. The 340 days at sea factor in rough sea days as well as a fortnight for drydocking, when the vessel would not be able to generate revenue.
The Group’s revenue for the twelve months ending 31 December 2021 is expected to total €26.3 million.
Direct costs
Direct costs comprise the purchase cost of the animal feed products sold and the associated transport cost, crew costs to operate the Vessel, brokerage costs, insurance costs, bunkering and vessel maintenance costs. The projections have been based on the AST Group’s gross profit margins achieved historically, factoring in also the lower margin on the trading of corn and barley.
Administrative expenses
Administrative expenses are expected to amount to c. €0.6 million in FY2021, and primarily consist of administrative salaries, professional fees, insurance costs and depreciation and amortization costs.
Finance costs
Finance costs are expected to total €0.2 million in FY2021 and consist of interest on the Bond as well as interest incurred on bank factoring.
Taxation
Current taxation is calculated at an effective 30% tax rate on profits generated on animal feed through the branches operating throughout Europe however, profits derived from shipping activities are exempt from tax given that that the shipping of the Group satisfy the conditions set out in the Merchant Shipping Act and regulations issued thereunder.
Drydocking costs
The projections also assume that the Group will incur drydocking costs of €0.1 million on M/V AST Malta.
Consolidated income statement of AST Group
Statement of comprehensive income for the year ending 31 December
€000s FY2021
Revenue 26,344
Cost of sales (25,472)
Gross profit 873
Administrative, selling and distribution expenses (616)
EBIT 256
Net finance costs (202)
Profit before tax 55
Tax for the year (51)
Loss after tax 4
Consolidated statement of financial position of AST Group
Statement of financial position as at 31 December
€000s 2021
Assets
Non-Current assets
Property, Plant and equipment 1,619
Deferred tax assets 27
Sinking fund 100
Total non-current assets 1,746
Current assets
Inventories 1, 247
Trade and other receivables 3,122
Cash and cash equivalents 200
Total current assets 4,568
Total Assets 6,314
Equity and liabilities
Equity
Share capital 50
Total reserves 1,020
Total equity 1,070
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings 1,765
Deferred tax liability 22
Total non-current liabilities 1,787
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 3,457
Total current liabilities 3,457
Total liabilities 5,244
Total equity and liabilities 6,314
Consolidated statement of cash flows of the AST Group
Statement of cash flows for the period ending 31 December
2021
Cashflows generated from operating activities
EBITDA 465
Finance cost (202)
Tax (51)
Working capital movements
Movement in inventory (27)
Movement in trade receivables (25)
Movement in trade payables 139
Net cash generated from operating activities 300
Cashflows generated from investing activities
Drydocking costs (100)
Net cash (used ingenerated from investing activities) (100)
Cashflows generated from financing activities
Sinking fund repayments (100)
Net cash (used in) financing activities (100)
Movement in cash balance 100
Opening cash balance ast beginning of year 100
Closing cash balance at end of year 200
UNQUOTE
Dr Katia Cachia
Company Secretary
29th April 2021
