20.10.2021 KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA  DE0007074007

DGAP-News: KWS successfully completes fiscal year 2020/2021 and increases dividend


 

DGAP-News: KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA / Key word(s): Annual Results
KWS successfully completes fiscal year 2020/2021 and increases dividend

20.10.2021 / 07:00
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.


Einbeck, October 20, 2021

KWS successfully completes fiscal year 2020/2021 and increases dividend

Net sales up 2%, currency-adjusted by 9% - Net income and earnings per share +16% - Higher dividend of €0.80 per share proposed (PY: €0.70) - Further growth planned for fiscal year 2021/2022

The KWS Group (ISIN: DE0007074007) achieved net sales growth of approximately 2% to €1.31 billion in fiscal year 2020/2021. The key figures EBIT and EBITDA were at the level of the previous year; net income and earnings per share recorded a significant increase.

"Our business figures again developed very pleasingly last year, enabling us to increase our dividend significantly," commented Eva Kienle, Chief Financial Officer of KWS. "With our focus on innovative seed, we are scoring in established and new markets and thus growing steadily and sustainably. At the same time, we are systematically expanding our digital farming offerings and thus providing additional service to our customers. In the new fiscal year, we will continue on this successful path and grow further."

Net sales increased by 2.2% to €1,310.2 million (€1,282.6 million) in fiscal 2020/2021. On a comparable basis (excluding currency effects), net sales rose by 8.8%. The KWS Group's operating income before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) improved by 2.4% to €230.9 (225.5) million. Operating income (EBIT) was on a par with the previous year at €137.0 (137.4) million, despite planned higher expenditure on research & development and significant currency burdens.

The financial result improved significantly to € 5.2 (-7.8) million compared with the previous year. In addition to improved net interest expense of € -12.2 (-18.6) million, this was due to higher net income from equity-accounted companies amounting to € 17.4 (10.8) million. Taxes on income amounted to € -31.6 (-34.3) million. This resulted in net income of € 110.6 (95.2) million and earnings per share of € 3.35 (2.89).

Free cash flow improved significantly in the reporting period to €84.2 million (previous year: €31.5 million excluding the acquisition of Pop Vriend Seeds), mainly as a result of strict working capital management and a more cautious investment policy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overview of the key figures

in € millions   2020/2021 2019/2020 +/-
Net sales   1,310.2 1,282.6 2.2%
EBITDA   230.9 225.5 2.4%
EBIT   137.0 137.4 -0.3%
Net financial income/expenses   5.2 -7.8 -
Result of ordinary activities   142.2 129.5 9.8%
Income taxes   31.6 34.3 -7.9%
Net income   110.6 95.2 16.2%
Earnings per share in € 3.35 2.89 15.9%
 

Business performance of the segments

In the year under review, the Corn Segment generated net sales of €774.0 million, on a par with the previous year (€775.7 million); adjusted for exchange rate effects, the segment recorded an increase of 8.3%. The main contributors to the currency-adjusted growth were the South American markets of Argentina and Brazil and the Europe region. In Europe, the high-performance hybrid varieties for grain corn launched in recent years performed particularly well, enabling us to significantly strengthen our market position in this area. In Brazil, the successful commercialization of high-performance hybrid corn varieties led to a significant expansion in business volume and market share gains. In North America, sales of the AgReliant joint venture declined slightly in a challenging competitive environment. Currency effects from the devaluation of the U.S. dollar against the euro also had a significant negative impact. Segment earnings rose by 6.3% to €71.3 (67.1) million. This was due in particular to increased earnings contributions in North America and Brazil. The EBIT margin for the segment increased slightly from 8.6% to 9.2%.

Net sales in the Sugarbeet Segment rose by 6.6% to €524.3 (491.8) million as a result of the growing success of innovative KWS varieties. Demand for CONVISO(R) SMART continued in the year under review, with the corresponding varieties now available in 25 countries. In addition, initial sales were generated with newly launched varieties based on a new Cercospora tolerance (CR+). Re-seeding due to winter weather conditions in spring 2021 had a positive impact on sales development, particularly in France, Germany and the USA. Currency effects, mainly from the translation of the U.S. dollar and the Turkish lira, impacted sales by -6.4%; adjusted for currency effects, the segment recorded an increase of 13.0%. Segment profit increased to €174.7 million (€170.1 million), while the EBIT margin was slightly below the previous year's level at 33.3% (34.6%).

In the Cereals Segment, net sales remained at the previous year's level of €191.2 million (€191.2 million); adjusted for exchange rate effects, net sales rose by around 3%. While business with barley seed declined slightly by 5%, mainly due to weather conditions, sales of rapeseed increased (10%) as a result of higher prices. Wheat seed business also increased by around 10%. Sales of hybrid rye seed declined slightly due to lower cultivation areas in the EU and adverse currency effects. Segment profit declined to €21.3 million (€26.4 million), mainly due to higher research and development expenses. The EBIT margin was 11.1%, down on the previous year (13.8%).

Sales in the Vegetables Segment, which includes the business activities of the acquired vegetable seed company Pop Vriend Seeds, came to €58.2 million, significantly below the previous year's figure (€83.5 million). The decline was largely due to lower sales of spinach seed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to adverse currency effects. By contrast, the bean seed business recorded an increase of around 13%. Segment profit (adjusted for effects relating to the purchase price allocation for the acquisition of Pop Vriend Seeds) reached €7.9 million. Taking into account non-cash effects from the purchase price allocation of inventories measured at fair value (€-4.1 million) and amortization of acquired intangible assets (€-21.9 million), the segment result was €-18.1 million.

Net sales at the Corporate Segment were €6.0 (4.6) million. These are mainly generated by KWS farms in Germany, France and Poland. In addition, all overarching costs for the KWS Group's central functions and basic research expenses are reflected in the Corporate segment, which is why the segment's income is regularly negative. The segment's income improved significantly to €-92.0 million (€-104.6 million), mainly due to positive currency effects from financing instruments and pandemic-related cost savings.

The difference from the KWS Group's statement of comprehensive income and segment reporting is due to the requirements of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and is summarized for the key indicators of net sales and EBIT in the reconciliation table below:

Reconciliation table

in € millions   Segments Reconciliation KWS Group1
Net sales   1,553.8 -243.6 1,310.2
EBIT   157.2 -20.2 137.0

1 Excluding the shares of the equity-accounted companies AGRELIANT GENETICS LLC., AGRELIANT GENETICS INC. and KENFENG - KWS SEEDS CO., LTD.

Capital spending

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the KWS Group pursued a cautious investment policy in fiscal 2020/2021, as a result of which capital expenditure fell to €81.3 (108.0) million. Investment activity in the year under review followed the long-term growth plans with a focus on establishing and expanding production and research & development capacities.

Planned appropriation of profits: Significant increase in dividend

In view of the company's pleasing operating performance, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on December 2, 2021, that a dividend of €0.80 (0.70) per share would be distributed for fiscal 2020/2021. This means that €26.4 (23.1) million would be distributed to the shareholders of KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA. That would correspond to a payout ratio of 23.9% (24.3%), once again in line with the KWS Group's earnings-oriented policy of paying a dividend of 20% to 25% of its net income.

Forecast for the 2021/2022 fiscal year: Further growth expected

In view of a brightening agricultural environment with price increases for agricultural raw materials, the Executive Board expects demand for seed to rise in fiscal 2021/2022. The KWS Group expects to achieve net sales growth of 5 to 7%. The EBIT margin is expected to be around 10% and, adjusted for non-cash effects from purchase price allocations as part of company acquisitions, in a range between 11% and 12%. The research & development ratio is expected to be in the range of 18% to 20%.

The Annual Report and the Sustainability Report can be downloaded on the Internet at www.kws.com.

About KWS*

KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. Around 6,000 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.3 billion in fiscal 2020/2021. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for 165 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, vegetables, rapeseed and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants' resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €250 million last fiscal year in research and development.

* All figures excluding the shares of the equity-accounted companies AGRELIANT GENETICS LLC., AGRELIANT GENETICS INC. and KENFENG - KWS SEEDS CO., LTD.

More information: www.kws.com. Follow us on Twitter(R) at https://twitter.com/KWS_Group.

Contact:

Peter Vogt
Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +49-30 816914-490
[email protected]
Martin Heistermann
Senior Manager Investor Relations
Phone: +49-30 816914- 341
[email protected]
Sina Barnkothe
Corporate Communications
Phone: +49-5561 311-1783
sina[email protected]
 

 



20.10.2021 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
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Language: English
Company: KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA
Grimsehlstraße 31
37555 Einbeck
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)5561 311-0
Fax: +49 (0)5561 311-322
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.kws.de
ISIN: DE0007074007
WKN: 707400
Indices: S-DAX
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hanover; Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
EQS News ID: 1241937

 
End of News DGAP News Service

1241937  20.10.2021 

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Die wichtigsten Finanzdaten auf einen Blick
  2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023e
Umsatzerlöse1 1.068,01 1.113,34 1.282,55 1.310,23 1.539,52 1.819,80 1.900,00
EBITDA1,2 182,42 198,72 225,50 230,86 252,40 318,15 335,00
EBITDA-Marge3 17,08 17,85 17,58 17,62 16,40 17,48
EBIT1,4 132,56 149,99 137,37 137,03 155,06 222,76 239,00
EBIT-Marge5 12,41 13,47 10,71 10,46 10,07 12,24 12,58
Jahresüberschuss1 99,66 104,02 95,22 110,59 107,76 126,99 131,00
Netto-Marge6 9,33 9,34 7,42 8,44 7,00 6,98 6,90
Cashflow1,7 98,06 72,85 136,16 168,32 100,32 144,65 0,00
Ergebnis je Aktie8 3,02 3,15 2,89 3,35 3,27 3,85 3,96
Dividende8 0,64 0,67 0,70 0,80 0,80 0,90 0,64
Quelle: boersengefluester.de und Firmenangaben

  Geschäftsbericht 2022 - Kostenfrei herunterladen.  
1 in Mio. Euro; 2 EBITDA = Ergebnis vor Zinsen, Steuern und Abschreibungen; 3 EBITDA in Relation zum Umsatz; 4 EBIT = Ergebnis vor Zinsen und Steuern; 5 EBIT in Relation zum Umsatz; 6 Jahresüberschuss (-fehlbetrag) in Relation zum Umsatz; 7 Cashflow aus der gewöhnlichen Geschäftstätigkeit; 8 in Euro; Quelle: boersengefluester.de

Wirtschaftsprüfer: Ernst & Young

INVESTOR-INFORMATIONEN
©boersengefluester.de
KWS Saat
WKN Kurs in € Einschätzung Börsenwert in Mio. €
707400 49,550 Kaufen 1.635,15
KGV 2025e KGV 10Y-Ø BGFL-Ratio Shiller-KGV
10,32 17,58 0,59 15,89
KBV KCV KUV EV/EBITDA
1,30 11,30 0,90 6,92
Dividende '22 in € Dividende '23e in € Div.-Rendite '23e
in %
Hauptversammlung
0,90 0,90 1,82 13.12.2023
Q1-Zahlen Q2-Zahlen Q3-Zahlen Bilanz-PK
09.11.2023 08.02.2024 14.05.2024 27.09.2023
Abstand 60Tage-Linie Abstand 200Tage-Linie Performance YtD Performance 52 Wochen
1,01% -6,01% -7,73% -17,00%
    
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Agrar , 707400 , KWS , XETR:KWS