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REG - Agriterra Ltd - Interim Results

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RNS Number : 6852J  Agriterra Ltd  14 December 2022

The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.
596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information
is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

Agriterra Limited / Ticker: AGTA / Index: AIM / Sector: Agriculture

 

Agriterra Limited ('Agriterra' or the 'Company')

 

Interim Results

 

Agriterra Limited, the AIM listed African agricultural company, announces its
unaudited results for the six months ended 30 September 2022.

Chair's Statement

 

I am pleased to provide an update on our performance in the first half of the
2023 financial year ('HY-2023'). These results will be made available on the
Company's website.

 

 

Operational update

 

Grain division

 

The Grain division commenced the period with more than 7,000 tons of maize in
silos valued at MZN 87.5 million (US$ 1.4 million) which was not milled in the
prior year due to low sales volumes caused by cheap raw maize imports flooding
the informal market.

 

Grain strategy was revised with the main objective being to reduce the level
of debt, thus allowing grain division to break even by:

·      Reducing finance costs,

·      Further cost reductions amounting to MZN 3m (US$ 47,000) per
month.

·      Building on prior year operating initiatives such as:

o  Buying cheap maize during the harvest period.

o  Ensuring maize meal extraction rates remain above 78%.

o  Milling from Compagri which has access to cheaper maize.

 

In August 2022, Grain division bank debt was refinanced with a shareholder
loan amounting US$ 6.1 million which reduced finance costs by MZN 6 million
(US$ 90 000) per month. In addition, the Grain division managed to cut MZN 2
million (US$ 31,000) operational costs of the targeted MZN 3 million (US$
47,000) by September 2022.

 

Grain division sales volumes were in line with the prior year at 7,947 tons
(HY-2022: 7,981 tonnes) generating revenue of US$ 3.6 million (HY-2022: US$
3.6 million). Meal sales volume were ahead of the budget of 7,563 tons
(HY-2022: 12,530 tons). Budgeted volumes have been reduced, as compared to
prior period, to avoid unnecessary interest and stock holding expenses.

 

An additional US$ 1.5m shareholder loan was secured, to fund maize working
capital for the season. The business, as at 30 September 2022, has in silo a
total stock of 7,444 tons of maize (HY-2022: 18,942 tons), which will be
rolled over continuously to fund maize requirements through to April 2023.
This will necessitate the purchase of a further 5,000 tons to meet the milling
requirements until the next harvest.

 

Operating costs decreased by US$ 0.2m to US$ 0.5m following a further
aggressive cost cutting exercise. EBITDA decreased to US$ 0.1m (HY-2022:
EBITDA of US$ 0.2m) due to a higher cost of maize as compared to the prior
year. Average cost of maize is 19% higher than prior year at US$ 227 per ton
(HY-2022: US$ 191 per ton). Finance costs increased to US$ 0.8m (HY-2022: US$
0.7m) and depreciation cost remained constant at US$ 0.25m. Grain incurred a
loss of US$ 0.87m for the 6 months period ending 30 September 2022 (HY-2022:
Loss US$ 0.75m).

 

In response to the shrinking margins, Grain division is evaluating alternative
ways of sourcing maize and increasing other milling revenues. The following
mitigating actions have been implemented:

 

·      Reduce finance costs and stock holding costs by borrowing less
and rolling over maize inventories equivalent to US$ 1.5 million;

·      Sourcing milling services from non-governmental organisations. As
at 30 September, Grain division won a contract to mill 600 tons of maize for
World Food Programme (WFP); and

·      Further extend the service milling to commercial customers.

 

 

 

Beef division

 

Improvement in the performance of the Beef division has been limited by a
shortage of animals in the feedlot due to a lack of working capital. At the
beginning of the period, the feedlot had 1,334 animals operating at 44% of the
feedlot capacity.

 

The number of animals dropped to 961 by July 2022 in response to stronger
customer demand. In August 2022, Beef division received an advance amounting
to US$ 300,000 as working capital funding for the purchase of animals. The
advance enabled Beef division to purchase 1,000 animals and sales volumes are
expected to increase within 90 days, and this will enable Beef division to be
profitable thereafter.

 

As at 30 September 2022, Beef division had 1,513 animals and cash resources
which can buy an additional 400 animals. With the additional funding, Beef
division will be able to operate at 64% of the feedlot capacity.

 

Beef division generated US$ 1.7m revenue resulting in an increase of US$ 0.2m
as compared to same period last year. 455 tons of beef were sold during the
period (HY-2022: 452 tons) compared to a budget of 653 tons. Cumulative gross
profit of 23.49% was achieved (Budget: gross profit of 25.24%). This is the
second year Beef division has achieved gross profit above 20% due to the
following measures which were implemented:

·      Effective monitoring of animal travel mass losses;

·      Careful selection and purchase of healthy animals with high
growth potential by the farm manager;

·      Aggressive pricing to meet customer demand;

·      Consistent monitoring animal meat dress out ratio to achieve a
minimum of 52% of the animal weight;

·      Streamlining processes and reducing costs.

 

Operational loss for the period decreased from US$ 0.276 million to US$ 0.264
million as compared to prior year. Finance costs decreased to US$ 27,000
(HY-2022: US$ 29,000) and the loss after tax decreased to US$ 0.272m (HY-2022:
loss US$ 0.284m).

 

Beef division is creating several revenue streams by diversifying and/or
creating new markets. The following initiatives are increasing revenue for the
Beef division:

·      Diversifying into the supply of goat meat. The challenge being
faced is to secure sustainable supply of goats to meet customer demand.
Management is searching for new areas to buy goats to meet the demand.

·      Pushing more carcass sales to supermarkets in northern
Mozambique, where the imported South African meat cannot be supplied at
competitive rates.

·      Offering of a new economy cut stewing meat package for retailers
to purchase and sell in smaller portions in the informal markets. This is
proving to be very popular, and the sales are increasing rapidly each month,
driving up the value attributed to each carcass.

·      Commenced the production of free-range pigs at the farms to
improve farm productivity and reduce cost per kg. As at 30 September 2022,
Mozbife has 162 pigs. Beef division is targeting to slaughter 40 pigs per
month which will produce 5 tons of pork per month from April 23 onwards.

 

 

Snax Division

 

The Snax division has seen strong market penetration reflecting a superior
quality product and has been operating above 75% of the installed plant
capacity. In August 2022, Snax division purchased a new extruder to increase
the production capacity from 110 000 bales to 150 000 bales per month. The new
extruder has been funded by internally generated funds and Snax division has
plans to expand into new geographical markets in Mozambique.

Snax division generated US$ 1.3m revenue (HY-2022: US$ 0.7m). Mozambique has
not been immune to global price pressures which have affected the cost of
cooking oil, fuel and packaging materials. Consequently, gross margin
decreased from 32% to 19.60% as compared to prior year. However, due to
significant increase in sales volumes, gross profit increased from US$ 206,629
to US$ 250,165. Operating expenses increased by US$ 63,925 due to a 5%
management fee payable to Grain division. DECA Snax is a joint venture and
based on International Financial Reporting Standards, revenue is not
consolidated but the profit portion attributable to the group is included as
share of profit in equity accounted investee in the Consolidated Income
Statement.

Deca Snax reported a profit of US$ 70,000 (HY-22: US$ 94,000) and the group's
share of profit in equity accounted investee is US$ 35,000 (HY-22: US$
47,000).

Group Results

Group revenue for the half-year ended 30 September 2022 increased by 2% to US$
5.0m (HY-2022: US$ 4.9m). As a result of increase in the cost of fuel and
packaging in all divisions, gross profit decreased to US$ 1.1m (HY-2022: US$
1.3m) achieving a group gross margin of 22% (HY-2022: Gross margin of 27%).
Aggressive cost cutting in Grain and Beef division decreased operating
expenses from US$ 1.9m to US$ 1.6m as compared to prior period. Decrease in
the operating expenses mitigated the decrease in gross profit and operating
loss decreased to US$ 466,000 from US$ 510,000.

 

Finance costs increased by 28% to US$ 0.918m (HY-2022: US$ 0.715m).
Significant decrease in finance cost is expected from October 2022 to March
2023 resulting from the refinancing of external bank debt with the shareholder
loans amounting in total to US$ 7.9m. At least a US$ 0.5 million saving is
expected by year end.

 

During the period, inventories have decreased by US$ 0.051m to US$ 2.125m as
compared to 31 March 2022. Grain division is keeping low inventory levels as a
result of the revised strategy to reduce stock holding cost and finance cost
in Grain division. Net debt at 30 September 2022 was US$ 10.9m (31 March 2022:
US$ 10.7m).

 

 

Outlook for H2-2023

 

The Grain business is entering H2-2023 with over 7,000 tons of grain in silo
which is not sufficient to take us to the next harvest and the strategy is to
rollover the working capital until we link to the next grain buying season.
This will reduce finance cost for the group as well as stock holding expenses.
On the other hand, Beef division has already set the platform for ramping up
operations and will increase feedlot capacity utilisation to 64%.  All
divisions have been striving to be self-sustaining at low-capacity utilisation
and now are expanding into profitable operations as volumes increase after
rightsizing. Management will continuously monitor operations for profitability
and seize new market opportunities creating a group basket of products to
effectively lower overheads per product in the medium to long term.

 

Grain remains the core group business and management will seek to add value by
creating additional product lines building on the success of Deca Snax.
Additionally, for the FY-23 period, we are working on a financing programme to
rebuild the beef stocks and to improve our overall distribution of products
for Deca Snax and Mozbife.

 

 

 CSO Havers
 Chair

 14 December 2022

 

 

 

For further information please VISIT www.agriterra-ltd.com or contact:

 

 Agriterra Limited                              Strand Hanson Limited
 Caroline Havers    caroline@agriterra-ltd.com  Ritchie Balmer / James Spinney / David Asquith  Tel: +44 (0) 207 409 3494

                                                Peterhouse Capital Limited
                                                Eran Zucker/Lucy Williams/Duncan Vasey          Tel: +44 (0) 207 7469 0934

 

 

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income

Consolidated income statement

                                                                      6 months           6 months         Year

                                                                      ended              ended            ended

                                                                      30 September       30 September     31 March

                                                                      2022               2021             2022
                                                                      Unaudited          Unaudited        Audited

                                                            Note      $000               $000             $000
 CONTINUING OPERATIONS
 Revenue                                                    2         4,964              4,869            10,277
 Cost of sales                                                        (3,883)            (3,512)          (7,715)
 (Decrease)/Increase in fair value of biological assets               -                  (32)             1
 Gross profit                                                         1,081              1,325            2,563

 Operating expenses                                                   (1,603)            (1,900)          (3,490)

 Other income                                                         56                 57               86
 Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment                  -                  8                20
 Operating loss                                                       (466)              (510)            (821)

 Net finance costs                                          3         (918)              (715)            (1,627)
 Share of profit in equity-accounted investees, net of tax            35                 47               55
 Loss before taxation                                                 (1,349)            (1,178)          (2,393)

 Taxation                                                             -                  -                123
 Loss for the period                                        2         (1,349)            (1,178)          (2,270)

 Loss for the period attributable to owners of the Company            (1,349)            (1,178)          (2,270)

 LOSS PER SHARE
 Basic and diluted loss per share - US Cents                4         (6.35)             (5.54)           (10.70)

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of comprehensive income

                                                                                         6 months           6 months         Year

                                                                                         ended              ended             ended

                                                                                         30 September       30 September     31 March

                                                                                         2022               2021             2022

                                                                                         Unaudited          Unaudited        Audited

                                                                                         $000               $000             $000

 Loss for the period                                                                     (1,349)            (1,178)          (2,270)
 Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
 Foreign exchange translation differences                                                (490)              711              932
 Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
 Revaluation of Property, plant and equipment                                            -                  -                -
 Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the period                                        (490)              711              932
 Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period attributable to owners of the          (1,839)            (467)            (1,338)
 Company

Consolidated statement of financial position

 

                                                                    30 September    30 September    31 March

                                                                    2022            2021            2022

                                                                    Unaudited       Unaudited       Audited

                                                          Note      $000            $000            $000
 Non-current assets
 Property, plant and equipment                                      24,682          25,464          25,051
 Intangible assets                                                  10              40              18
 Equity-accounted investees                                         91              47              56
                                                                    24,783          25,551          25,125
 Current assets
 Biological assets                                                  421             436             463
 Inventories                                                        2,125           4,380           2,176
 Trade and other receivables                                        1,190           1,595           824
 Cash and cash equivalents                                          350             283             107
                                                                    4,086           6,694           3,570
 Total assets                                                       28,869          32,245          28,695
 Current liabilities
 Borrowings                                               5         4,287           8,575           8,809
 Trade and other payables                                           1,530           2,330           960
                                                                    5,817           10,905          9,769
 Net current liabilities                                            (1,731)         (4,211)         (6,199)

 Non-current liabilities
 Borrowings                                               5         6,968           2,418           1,003
 Deferred tax liability                                             6,243           6,371           6,243
                                                                    13,211          8,789           7,246
 Total liabilities                                                  19,028          19,694          17,015

 Net assets                                                         9,841           12,551          11,680

 Share capital                                            6         3,373           3,373           3,373
 Share premium                                                      151,442         151,442         151,442
 Share based payments reserve                                       67              87              67
 Revaluation reserve                                                12,186          12,563          12,312
 Translation reserve                                                (16,498)        (16,229)        (16,008)
 Accumulated losses                                                 (140,729)       (138,685)       (139,506)
 Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent                9,841           12,551          11,680

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Agriterra Limited
for the six months ended 30 September 2022 were approved by the Board of
Directors and authorised for issue on 14 December 2022.

 

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 CSO Havers

 Chair

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 

 

                                                                              Share         Share premium      Share based payment reserve      Translation reserve      Revaluation reserve      Accumulated      Total

losses

                                                                              capital                                                                                                                              Equity

                               Note                                           US$000        US$000             US$000                           US$000                   US$000                   US$000           US$000

 Balance at 1 April 2021                                                      3,373         151,442            87                               (16,940)                 12,563                   (137,507)        13,018
 Loss for the period                                                          -             -                  -                                -                        -                        (1,178)          (1,178)
 Other comprehensive income:
 Exchange translation gain on foreign operations restated                     -             -                  -                                711                      -                        -                711
 Total comprehensive loss for the period                                      -             -                  -                                711                      -                        (1,178)          (467)
 Transactions with owners
 Share based payments                                                         -             -                  -                                -                        -                        -                -
 Total transactions with owners for the period                                -             -                  -                                -                        -                        -                -
 Balance at 30 September 2021                                                 3,373         151,442            87                               (16,229)                 12,563                   (138,685)        12,551
 Loss for the period                                                          -             -                  -                                -                        -                        (1,092)          (1,092)
 Other comprehensive income:
 Exchange translation gain on foreign operations                              -             -                  -                                221                      -                        -                221
 Total comprehensive income for the period                                    -             -                  -                                221                      -                        (1,092)          (871)
 Transactions with owners
 Share based payments                                                         -             -                  (20)                             -                        -                        20               -
 Revaluation surplus realised                                                 -             -                  -                                -                        (251)                    251              -
 Total transactions with owners for the period                                -             -                  (20)                             -                        (251)                    271              -
 Balance at 31 March 2022                                                     3,373         151,442            67                               (16,008)                 12,312                   (139,506)        11,680
 Loss for the period                                                          -             -                  -                                -                        -                        (1,349)          (1,349)
 Other comprehensive income:
 Exchange translation (loss) on foreign operations                            -             -                  -                                (490)                    -                        -                (490)
 Total comprehensive loss for the period                                      -             -                  -                                (490)                    -                        (1,349)          (1,839)
 Transactions with owners
 Share based payments                                                         -             -                  -                                -                        -                        -                -
 Revaluation surplus realised                                                 -             -                  -                                -                        (126)                    126              -
 Total transactions with owners for the period                                -             -                  -                                -                        (126)                    126              -
 Balance at 30 September 2022                                                 3,373         151,442            67                               (16,498)                 12,186                   (140,729)        9,841

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated cash flow statement

 

                                                                           Note      6 months ended    6 months ended    Year

                                                                                     30 September      30 September       ended

                                                                                     2022              2021              31 March

                                                                                     Unaudited         Unaudited         2022

                                                                                                                         Audited

                                                                                     $000              $000              $000

 Loss before tax for the period                                                      (1,349)           (1,178)           (2,393)
 Adjustments for:
 Amortisation and depreciation                                             2         435               425               874
 Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment                                 -                 (8)               (20)
 Foreign exchange (loss)/gain                                                        (493)             226               162
 Decrease / (increase) in value of biological assets                                 -                 32                (1)
 Net decrease / (increase) in biological assets                                      42                15                (12)
 Share of profit in associate                                                        (35)              (47)              (55)
 Net Finance costs                                                                   918               715               1,627
 Operating cash flows before movements in working capital                            (482)             180               182
 Decrease / (increase) in inventories                                                51                (3,447)           (1,243)
 (Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables                                (366)             157               928
 Increase / (decrease) in trade and other payables                                   570               284               (1,086)
 Cash used in operating activities                                                   (227)             (2,826)           (1,219)
 Corporation tax paid                                                                -                 -                 -
 Interest received                                                                   -                 -                 -
 Net cash used in operating activities                                               (227)             (2,826)           (1,219)

 Cash flows from investing activities
 Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment, net of expenses            -                 48                20
 incurred
 Acquisition of property, plant and equipment                                        (58)              (368)             (79)
 Acquisition of intangible assets                                                    -                 (3)               -
 Net cash used in investing activities                                               (58)              (323)             (59)

 Cash flow from financing activities
 Finance costs                                                             3         (918)             (715)             (1,627)
 Net (repayment) / drawdown of overdrafts                                  5         (6,255)           4,087             2,236
 Net drawdown / (repayment) of loans and finance leases                    5         7,701             (171)             545
 Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities                              528               3,201              1,154

 Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                243               52                (124)
 Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents                               -                 -                 -
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                    107               231               231
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                          350               283               107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General information

 

Agriterra Limited ('Agriterra' or the 'Company') and its subsidiaries
(together the 'Group') is focussed on the agricultural sector in Africa.
Agriterra is a non-cellular company limited by shares incorporated and
domiciled in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The address of its registered office
is Connaught House, St Julian's Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1GZ.

 

The Company's Ordinary Shares are quoted on the AIM Market of the London Stock
Exchange ('AIM').

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in US Dollars ('US$' or '$') as this is the currency of the primary economic
environment in which the Group operates.

 

1.            Basis of preparation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group for the 6 months
ended 30 September 2022 (the 'H1-2023 financial statements'), which are
unaudited and have not been reviewed by the Company's Auditor, have been
prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards
('IFRS'). The accounting policies adopted by the Group are set out in the
annual report for the year ended 31 March 2022 (available at
www.agriterra-ltd.com). The Group does not anticipate any significant change
in these accounting policies for the year ended 31 March 2023.

 

This interim report has been prepared to comply with the requirements of the
AIM Rules of the London Stock Exchange (the 'AIM Rules'). In preparing this
report, the Group has adopted the guidance in the AIM Rules for interim
accounts which do not require that the interim condensed consolidated
financial statements are prepared in accordance with IAS 34, 'Interim
financial reporting'. Whilst the financial figures included in this report
have been computed in accordance with IFRSs applicable to interim periods,
this report does not contain sufficient information to constitute an interim
financial report as that term is defined in IFRSs.

 

The financial information contained in this report also does not constitute
statutory accounts under the Companies (Guernsey) Law 2008, as amended. The
financial information for the year ended 31 March 2022 is based on the
statutory accounts for the year then ended. The Auditors reported on those
accounts. Their report was unqualified and referred to going concern as a key
audit matter. The Auditors drew attention to note 3 to the financial
statements concerning the Group's ability to continue as a going concern which
shows that the Group will need to renew its overdraft facilities, maintain its
current borrowings and raise further finance in order to continue as a going
concern.

 

The H1-2023 financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the
IFRS principles applicable to a going concern, which contemplate the
realisation of assets and liquidation of liabilities during the normal course
of operations. Having carried out a going concern review in preparing the
H1-2023 financial statements, the Directors have concluded that there is a
reasonable basis to adopt the going concern principle.

 

 

2.            Segment information

 

The Board considers that the Group's operating activities during the period
comprised the segments of Grain, Beef and Snax, undertaken in Mozambique. In
addition, the Group has certain other unallocated expenditure, assets and
liabilities.

The following is an analysis of the Group's revenue and results by operating
segment:

 

 6 months ended 30 September 2022 - Unaudited     Grain      Beef       Snax      Unallo-cated      Elimina-tions      Total

                                                  $000       $000       $000      $000              $000               $000
 Revenue
 External sales((2))                              3,309      1,655      -         -                 -                  4,964
 Inter-segment sales((1))                         245        -          -         -                 (245)              -
                                                  3,554      1,655      -         -                 (245)              4,964

 Segment results
 - Operating loss                                 (141)      (264)      -         (127)             -                  (532)
 - Interest expense                               (776)      (27)       -         (115)             -                  (918)
 - Share of profit in equity accounted investees  -          -          35        -                 -                  35
 - Other gains and losses                         47         19         -         -                 -                  66
 (Loss)/Profit before tax                         (870)      (272)      35        (242)             -                  (1,349)

 Income tax                                       -          -          -         -                 -                  -
 (Loss)/Profit for the period                     (870)      (272)      35        (242)             -                  (1,349)

 

 

 

 6 months ended 30 September 2021 - Unaudited     Grain    Beef     Snax    Unallo-cated    Elimina-tions    Total

                                                  $000     $000     $000    $000            $000             $000
 Revenue
 External sales((2))                              3,361    1,508    -       -               -                4,869
 Inter-segment sales((1))                         247      -        -       -               (247)            -
                                                  3,608    1,508    -       -               (247)            4,869

 Segment results
 - Operating loss                                 (121)    (276)    -       (188)           -                (585)
 - Interest expense                               (686)    (29)     -       -               -                (715)
 - Share of profit in equity accounted investees  -        -        47      -               -                47
 - Other gains and losses                         54       21       -       -                                75
 (Loss)/Profit before tax                         (753)    (284)    47      (188)           -                (1,178)

 Income tax                                       -        -        -       -               -                -
 (Loss)/Profit for the period                     (753)    (284)    47      (188)           -                (1,178)

 

 

 

 Year ended 31 March 2022 - Audited              Grain        Beef        Snax(1)      Unallo-cated      Elimina-tions      Total

                                                 US$000       US$000      US$000       US$000            US$000             US$000
 Revenue
 External sales((2))                             7,118        3,159       -            -                 -                  10,277
 Inter-segment sales((1))                        226          -           -            -                 (226)              -
                                                 7,344        3,159       -            -                 (226)              10,277
 Segment results
 - Operating loss                                (55)         (444)       -            (429)             -                  (928)
 - Interest expense                              (1,548)      (79)        -            -                 -                  (1,627)
 - Other gains and losses                        88           19          -            -                 -                  107
 -Share of profit in equity-accounted investees  -            -           55           -                 -                  55
 (Loss)/Profit before tax                        (1,515)      (504)       55           (429)             -                  (2,393)
 Income tax                                      111          12          -            -                 -                  123
 (Loss)/Profit after tax                         (1,404)      (492)       55           (429)             -                  (2,270)

 

 

(1)        Inter-segment sales are charged at prevailing market prices

(2)        Revenue represents sales to external customer and is
recorded in the country of domicile of the Company making the sales. Sales
from the Grain and the Beef divisions are principally for supply to the
Mozambique market.

 

The segment items included within continuing operations in the consolidated
income statement for the periods are as follows:

 

                                               Grain      Beef      Unallo-cated      Elimina-tions      Total
                                               $000       $000      $000              $000               $000
 6 months ended 30 September 2022 - Unaudited
 Depreciation and amortisation                 257        178       -                 -                  435

 

 6 months ended 30 September 2021 - Unaudited
 Depreciation and amortisation                 247    178    -    -    425

 

 Year ended 31 March 2022 - Audited
 Depreciation and amortisation       502    359    13    -    874

 

3.      NET FINANCE COSTS

                                              6 months ended      6 months ended    Year

                                              30 September        30 September       ended

                                              2022                2021              31 March

                                              Unaudited           Unaudited         2022

                                                                                    Audited
                                              $000                $000              $000
 Interest expense:
 Bank loans, overdrafts and finance leases    918                 715               1,627
 Interest income:
 Bank deposits                                -                   -                 -
                                              918                 715               1,627

4.      LOSS per share

 

 The calculation of the basic and diluted loss per share is based on the
 following data:

 

                                                                                  6 months          6 months        Year

                                                                                   ended             ended           ended
                                                                                  30 September      30 September    31 March
                                                                                  2022              2021            2022
                                                                                  Unaudited         Unaudited       Audited
                                                                                  US$000            US$000          US$000

 Loss for the period/year for the purposes of basic and diluted earnings per      (1,349)           (1,178)         (2,270)
 share attributable to equity holders of the Company

 Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for the purposes of basic and                                           21,240,618
 diluted loss per share

                                                                                  21,240,618        21,240,618

 Basic and diluted loss per share - US cents                                      (6.35)            (5.54)          (10.70)

 

The Company has issued options over ordinary shares which could potentially
dilute basic loss per share in the future. There is no difference between
basic loss per share and diluted loss per share as the potential ordinary
shares are anti-dilutive.

 

 

5.      Borrowings

                   30 September 2022      30 September 2021    31 March

                                                               2022
                   Unaudited              Unaudited            Audited
                   $000                   $000                 $000

 Non-current
 Shareholder loan  6,215                  -                    -
 Bank loans        595                    2,148                783
 Leases            158                    270                  220
                   6,968                  2,418                1,003
 Current
 Shareholder loan  1,800                  -                    -
 Bank loans        2,377                  288                  2,438
 Leases            110                    105                  115
 Bank overdrafts   -                      8,182                6,256
                   4,287                  8,575                8,809

                   11,255                 10,993               9,812

 

 

Group

 

During the period, Agriterra Limited secured shareholder loans amounting to
US$ 7.9 million from Magister Investments Limited at an interest rate of
SOFR+3% to reduce the finance cost which has been increasing over the years
and has been used to pay commercial borrowing in Mozambique which were charged
interest above 18% per annum. The Group will save more than US$ 792,000 per
annum. The shareholder loans are made up of:

·      US$ 6.1m convertible loan facility with a 3-year tenure maturing
August 2025.

·      US$ 1.8m convertible loan facility with a 12-month tenure
maturing in August 2023.

 

Grain division

 

Grain division has two outstanding commercial bank loans amounting to US$ 2.9
million. Bank loan with an outstanding balance of US$ 2.2 million was issued
in May 2019. The loan facility which was originally issued as an overdraft
facility has been restructured several times and now is a term loan incurring
an interest rate of Bank's prime lending rate less 1.75% and matures in July
2023. The second debt facility with an outstanding balance of US$ 0.7 million
is a 5-year term loan maturing on 31 December 2026. The facility was
restructured into a term loan on 1 December 2021 with an interest of prime
lending rate plus 1.5%. The above-mentioned facilities are secured by land and
buildings.

 

In addition, Grain division has a finance lease for 6 vehicles maturing on 05
December 2023 with an outstanding balance amounting to MZN 4.7m (US$ 73,587).
Grain division incurs interest of 18.6% on this facility. During the period
MZN 4.2m (US$ 65,876) of the outstanding balance was repaid.

 

 

Beef division

 

The outstanding balance on agricultural equipment finance lease is MZN 12.3m
(US$ 0.194m). During the period, MZN 6.8 million (US$ 106,431) of the
principal balance was repaid. The finance lease is repayable over 5 years
maturing in July 2024 and is secured against certain agricultural equipment.

 

 

Reconciliation to cash flow statement

 

                               At 31         Cash flow      Foreign Exchange      At 30 September 2022

                                March

                               2022
                               US$000        US$000         US$000                US$000
 Non-current shareholder loan  -             6,215          -                     6,215
 Non-current bank loans        783           (188)          (1)                   594
 Non-current finance leases    220           (61)           -                     159
 Current shareholder loan      -             1,800          -                     1,800
 Current bank loans            2,438         (60)           (1)                   2,377
 Current finance leases        115           (5)            -                     110
 Overdrafts                    6,256         (6,255)         (1)                  -
                               9,812         1,446          (3)                   11,255

 

6.      Share capital

                                                  Authorised       Allotted and fully paid
                                                  Number           Number                       US$000
                                                  23,450,000       21,240,618                   3,135

 At 31 March 2022, 30 September 2022 and 2021

 At 31 March 2022, 30 September 2022 and 2021

 Deferred shares of 0.1p each                     155,000,000      155,000,000                  238

 Total share capital                              178,450,000      176,240,618                  3,373

 

The Company has one class of ordinary share which carries no right to fixed
income.

 

The deferred shares carry no right to any dividend; no right to receive
notice, attend, speak or vote at any general meeting of the Company; and on a
return of capital on liquidation or otherwise, the holders of the deferred
shares are entitled to receive the nominal amount paid up after the repayment
of £1,000,000 per ordinary share. The deferred shares may be converted into
ordinary shares by resolution of the Board.

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