REG - Cambria Africa PLC - FY 2017 Audited Financial Results <Origin Href="QuoteRef">CMBC.L</Origin>

Cambria AfricaAnnouncement

27/02/2018 07:05

RNS Number : 9847F
Cambria Africa PLC
27 February 2018
Cambria Africa Plc
("Cambria" or the "Company")
Audited FY 2017 Results (the "Results") and Trading Update:
From Continuing Operations:
PBT $716,000 up $856,000 from FY 2016 Loss of $140,000;
EBITDA $1,245,000 up 97%.
Following the trading update published on 23rd October 2017, Cambria Africa PLC (AIM:CMB) ("Cambria" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its audited results for the year ending 31 August 2017. Audited Financial Statements are available on the Company's website (www.cambriaafrica.com) and will be sent to shareholders by 28 February 2018.
The Results and their comparatives have been restated to treat the closure of Payserv Zambia as discontinued operations. Therefore, Payserv Zambia's losses of $218,000 in FY 2016 and $153,000 in FY 2017 have been excluded from continuing operations. This has resulted in reporting increased earnings for FY 2016 and FY 2017 from continuing operations.
Paynet Zimbabwe fully utilised its tax-loss carry-forward during FY 2016 and, for the first time since dollarisation in FY 2009, the Company has paid significant corporate taxes. As a result, after tax profits were significantly impacted by a 66% increase in Group consolidated tax expenses from $397,000 in FY 2016 to $660,000 in FY 2017.
FY 2017 Results Highlights
All results below refer to Continuing Operations and exclude losses attributable to the discontinued operations of Payserv Zambia:
 EBITDA from continuing operations nearly doubled, increasing by 97% to $1,245,000 from $632,000 in FY 2016. This increase included legal costs of $957,000 - comprising of the Consilium settlement of $223,000 and associated legal fees of $734,000 (FY 2016: $816,000).
 Excluding legal costs, EBITDA increased by 52% or $750,000 to $2.20 million from $1.45 million in 2016. All known legal costs associated with the Consilium Dispute have been accrued in FY 2017 leaving little or no carryover of associated legal costs to FY 2018.
 Following on from a significant rationalisation and reduction in 2016 which slashed non-legal central costs by 86% from $2 million to $280,000, Cambria's central costs (excluding legal costs) have stabilised at $311,000.
 Profit before Tax (PBT) increased by $856,000 to $716,000 from a loss of $140,000 in FY 2016
 Profit after Tax (PAT) found itself in positive territory reaching $56,000 - a $593,000 increase in profitability compared to a loss of $537,000 in FY 2016. This increase in after-tax profitability was achieved despite a 66% ($263,000) increase in taxes to $660,000 from $397,000 in FY 2016.
 Borrowings, which include capitalised interest, fell by $1.02 million (23%) to $3.41 million from $4.43 million in FY 2016.
 Net finance costs were accordingly reduced by $285,000 (44%) to $356,000 from $641,000 in FY 2016. This was primarily a result of the VAL Loan Conversion and pay down of the CABS loan by Paynet Zimbabwe.
 Payserv Africa, Cambria's largest subsidiary by revenue and profit, achieved a
o 20% increase in revenues to $6.37 million,
o 35% increase in Consolidated EBITDA to $2.65 million,
o 51% increase in profit before tax to $2.43 million,
o 61% increase in profit after tax and after minority interests of $1.52 million.
 Millchem, following the closure of its unprofitable subsidiaries in Malawi and Zambia, achieved
o Positive cash flows from operations
o Significant reductions in overheads
o EBITDA loss paired by 39% to $143,000 from a loss of $234,000 in 2016.
Trading Update
The unaudited FY 2018 management accounts for the 4 months ended 31 December 2017 continue to exceed expectations compared to the same period in FY 2017:
 Payserv
o 18% increase in revenues to $2.54 million
o 71% increase in cash flow to $706,000 from $413,000
o 23% increase in EBITDA to $1,052,000 from $855,000
 Millchem has begun to trade profitably after years of losses
o $650,000 in revenues - a reduction of 45% to achieve a more profitable product mix
o 30% gross profit margin - a nearly two-fold increase from 16% gross profit margin
o $130,000 turnaround in EBITDA to $90,000 from a loss of $40,000
o $123,000 reduction (53%) in administrative expenses from $230,000 to $107,000
o $131,000 turnaround in Profit After Tax to $84,000 from a loss of $47,000
Subsequent events
Subsequent to the end of the financial year notable events include:
Settlement of Consilium Dispute in October 2017.
 Both parties agreed to settle all claims against each other;
 Cambria paid Consilium $223,000;
 The security for costs previously lodged was released back to Cambria.
Appointment of Sibert Dube as Payserv Zimbabwe CEO.
Mr. Dube identified the following areas of growth for Cambria's largest subsidiary by revenue and profit:
 Entry into the consumer market where its market share is minimal compared to its commanding position (90% market share) in the corporate trade and salary payments;
 Providing facilitation services to major players for distribution of inward international remittances;
 Capitalising on distributed ledger and other leading technologies to enhance its services
 Expanding Tradanet's payroll-based loan processing to also include insurance sales and loan origination.
Prospects
The Company believes that the resignation of President Robert Mugabe and the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa will result in a favourable business and investment climate. President Mnangagwa has announced new business-friendly policies which are intended to attract investment, protect investment, and bring with it international balance of payments support. These developments support Cambria's focus on Zimbabwe as providing the best investment opportunities and returns in the region. 
Changes to the board
The board remains unchanged.
About Cambria Africa Plc
Cambria Africa Plc, quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, is a long term, active investment company, investing primarily in Southern Africa.
Contacts
Cambria Africa Plc
www.cambriaafrica.com
Samir Shasha
+44 (0) 207 669 0115
WH Ireland Limited
www.wh-ireland.co.uk
James Joyce / Alex Bond
+44 (0) 20 7220 1666
Chief Executive's Report
Introduction:
FY 2017 and subsequent, systematic and non-systematic events have ushered in a new dawn for Zimbabwe and Cambria.
Since I took over as CEO in August 2015, I have extricated the group companies from loss-making regional operations in Malawi and Zambia. I have repeatedly expressed my conviction that "Zimbabwe provides the best regional opportunity for successful investment and growth in the short to medium term." The performance of Payserv and Millchem are testimony to the soundness of our investment philosophy.
 EBITDA from continuing operations have doubled to $1.25 million while PBT increased by nearly $856,000 to $716,000 from a prior year loss of $140,000.
 Despite an increase of 66% in taxes, Cambria achieved an after tax profit of $56,000 - a $593,000 increase in profitability compared to a loss of $537,000 in FY 2016.
 Cambria settled with Consilium and accrued the cost of that settlement and associated legal fees in FY 2017. There should be little or no associated costs from this litigation in FY 2018 which should commensurately flow a savings of approximately $900,000 to Cambria's bottom line.
 Excluding legal costs, after slashing central costs by 80% in FY 2016 from $2 million to $280,000, these costs have stabilised at that level increasing modestly in FY 2017 to $311,000. 
 Debt levels, interest expense, shareholder equity & cash flows, have all improved and have continued to improve subsequent to end of FY 2017.
Divisional Review
Payserv Africa Group
The Payserv Africa Group continued to achieve record revenues and profits in FY 2017.
Payserv Africa Divisional Results (*restated)
  
US$ '000's
2017
2016*
Growth
Revenues
6,370
5,319
20%
Gross profit
5,958
5,028
18%
Gross margin
94%
95%
(2%)
Overheads
(3,310)
(3,066)
8%
EBITDA
2,648
1,962
35%
Profit before interest and tax
2,499
1,855
35%
Interest
(71)
(250)
72%
Profit before tax
2,428
1,605
51%
Minority interests in PBT
(340)
(348)
(2%)
PBT (excluding minority interests)
2,088
1,257
66%
Paynet Zimbabwe
Paynet Zimbabwe is actively present in, transacting with and contributing to, the profitability of all financial institutions in Zimbabwe.
Whilst 80% of Paynet Zimbabwe's revenue growth in FY 2017 was from existing corporate clients, where Paynet has an estimated market share of 90 - 95%, significant growth opportunities remain from new initiatives. These include:
 Leveraging our technology and position of trust with financial institutions into the consumer market where Paynet's market share is minimal;
 Exploring distributed ledger technologies to enhance transaction security and reduce transaction costs;
 Developing non-transactional EDI products for the Insurance and Securities Industries;
 Establishing our foothold as a last-mile service provider to multiple international remittance operations by improving their distribution channels and value addition;
 Establishing stronger cost controls on Paynet overheads to maximise the impact of increases in transaction volume and minimise the impact of possible reversals in transaction volume as a result of competition, economic downturns, or a cut in public sector employment;
 Increasing revenues by rationalising transaction pricing which remains among the lowest in the industry, despite the commanding market position in our sector.
Payserv Zambia operations discontinued
In line with the closure of Millchem's unprofitable subsidiaries in Zambia and Malawi in FY 2016, Payserv Africa closed its unprofitable Payserv Zambia subsidiary in FY 2017. After years of losses and unsuccessful bids for contracts and the reversal of successful bids by various actors, the Board decided if Zambia cannot sustain a cash flow positive operation it must be discontinued.
This decision was consistent with Cambria's announced strategy to focus on Zimbabwe and signaled the end of Cambria's costly strategy of regional expansion where the Company had little if any strategic or competitive advantage. In line with International Financial Reporting Standards, Payserv Zambia's performance in FY 2016 and FY 2017 are reflected separately as a "discontinued operation" and excluded from the balance of Payserv's & Cambria's continuing operations. This resulted in showing a profit from continuing operations in FY 2017 and narrowing Cambria's losses from continuing operations in FY 2016.
Autopay Zimbabwe
Autopay has not achieved its full potential in the market. Nevertheless, and despite a lack of marketing and innovation, the division has maintained profitability. Payserv will be preparing segment reporting in the future to better identify the earning contribution of group company divisions.
Despite standing on Paywell's robust payroll software, Autopay has been plagued by declining private sector employment and increasing numbers of contract workers paid through wallets. The segments of Autopay consist of 1) full service Payroll Bureau; 2) Software and licensing to major corporates and 3) Online SME payroll process.
Autopay is in the process of realigning its strategy to increase its penetration into the SME market where it is poorly represented, leveraging its integral relations with Paynet's payment services and Tradanet's loan services, and the possible acquisition and development of its supporting software architecture.
Tradanet
Until her resignation on 8 March 2017, Frances Pickering, representing the minority shareholder of Tradanet with a 49% interest, was the Managing Director of Tradanet, which is Paynet's majority-held subsidiary. When Mrs. Pickering resigned as Managing Director and subsequently as a Director of Tradanet, Cambria and Paynet took operational control of Tradanet. I was appointed as the Managing Director in March 2017 and nominated Manfred Chaniwa, a veteran of the financial industry, to replace the outgoing general manager in July 2017. Tradanet's performance improvements have since accelerated.
There has been a recovery of loan volumes issued from the lows experienced mainly as a result of the termination of the Credit Partners program in April 2015. Since the reinstatement of Credit Partners in February 2017 and the introduction of other new products, particularly Flexicredit, loan volumes have recovered from $119 million in 2016 to $138 million in 2017. The recovery in volumes can be attributed 73% to Flexicredit, 12% to CPS and 10% to Retail Credit. Credit partner's loans currently represent just 20% of their peak of $30 million in 2014. Further improvements in loan volumes are expected as the Credit Partner program recovers from its current level of $6,283,000 per annum.
Tradanet also expects to increase its revenues through other new products it has received or is seeking approval from CABS: 
 Flexicredit Hybrid - a product directed at employees of larger publicly held corporates which can be evaluated by reliance on publicly disclosed information;
 Insurance Premium Financing;
 Automobile ownership financing.
Millchem Zimbabwe
Following the resignations of Millchem's Managing Director and Operations Manager, as Cambria's CEO, I took an active and direct role in controlling the operations of Millchem and deployed the services of Ambrose Consulting to oversee day-to-day activities and imports and manufacturing.
Millchem Holdings Divisional Results
US$ '000's
2017
2016
Growth
Revenues
2,228
3,193
(30%)
Gross profit
407
525
(22%)
Gross margin
18%
16%
11%
Overheads
(552)
(758)
(27%)
EBITDA
(145)
(233)
38%
Loss before tax
(169)
(264)
36%
For the first time in four years, Millchem has recorded an after-tax profit during the first four months of FY 2018 ending 31 December 2017. This result was helped in no small part by the cooperation of our bankers who provided the needed remittances to import raw materials. The results for the first four months of FY 2018 support a sustained recovery of Millchem:
 $650,000 in revenues reduced by 45% to achieve a more profitable product mix,
 30% gross profit margin - a nearly 2 fold increase from 16% gross profit margin,
 $128,000 turnaround in EBITDA to $90,000 from a loss of $40,000,
 $131,000 turnaround in Profit After Tax to $84,000 from a loss of $230,000,
 $123,000 reduction (53%) in administrative expenses from $230,000 to $112,000.
Consilium Dispute
The Consilium Dispute was settled in October 2017 subsequent to the financial year-end. However, all the settlement and legal costs directly associated with the dispute were accounted for in FY 2017. As this was a full and final settlement, Cambria will not be incurring any further costs in relation to this matter in FY 2018. With the distraction of a major legal dispute and associated expenses behind us, we can direct our exclusive focus on investing in the "new Zimbabwe" by exploring organic and acquisitive opportunities.
Board of Directors and Compensation
Cambria's Directors and Payserv's Executives have supported my role as CEO providing direction and management support without compensation since my appointment in July 2015. As the ultimate beneficiary of over 66% of Cambria shares, I continue to serve without compensation. It is my intention that in FY 2018 we should begin compensating those who have dedicated themselves with extraordinary conviction to Cambria. Proposals for the use of Cambria shares as compensation are being considered and will be presented in the near future.
I expect to continue serving the Company without compensation in FY 2018.
Inauguration of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
The most significant and material development for shareholders of Cambria subsequent to the end of FY 2017, was the inauguration of Zimbabwe's new President, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, on 21 November 2017 following the resignation of former President Robert Mugabe. 
President Mnangagwa has announced new business-friendly policies which are intended to attract investment, protect investment, and bring with it international balance of payments support. It vindicates management's focus on Zimbabwe as providing the best investment opportunities and returns in the region. 
During the lead up to the change in government and following the change, I was interviewed byCNBC Europe,Al Jazeera, andCNBC Online. In these interviews I expressed my confidence and optimism in Zimbabwe's future, and made the following salient points:
 Positive changes will come but they will not be overnight; 
 Investors are well-advised to have patience and give the new government time to visualise and implement sound economic policies;
 Indigenisation laws would be rationalised - These laws required indigenisation of 51% of ownership in most industries and they significantly hindered investment. The President of Zimbabwe has since announced that this policy will only apply to natural resource based investments;
 Zimbabwe should seek to join the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Common Monetary Area (CMA)which includes its largest trading partner, South Africa, to bring about investor confidence and align its economy and competitive advantages with its largest neighbor while earning customs tariff revenue in a convertible currency;
 Tourism and agricultural are the most promising sectors for greenfield foreign investment given President Mnangagwa's policy initiatives.
If Zimbabwe meets the standards of a free, fair, and transparent election in July, significant international balance of payments support will be forthcoming. 
What is good for Zimbabwe is good for Cambria 
We believe that the new dispensation will provide a growing market for our current investments and investment opportunities which we are uniquely positioned to identify and act on. Cambria will soon be announcing an Open Offer to shareholders to capitalise onopportunities for expanding our current business units in Zimbabwe and the acquisition of new businesses. An Open Offer will give shareholders the right to match any debt-equity swaps or new subscriptions on the same terms and conditions in proportion to their shareholding. It will also allow shareholders of record to apply for unallocated shares over and above their own allocation.
Samir Shasha
Chief Executive Officer
26th February 2018
Cambria Africa Plc
Audited consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 August 2017
Audited
Audited
31-Aug-17
*Restated
31-Aug-16
US$'000
US$'000
Revenue
8,598
8,512
Cost of sales
(2,233)
(2,958)
Gross profit
6,365
5,554
Operating costs
(5,307)
(5,056)
Other income
23
(2)
Profit on disposal and impairment of assets
(9)
5
Operating profit
1,072
501
Finance income
15
16
Finance costs
(371)
(657)
Net finance costs
(356)
(641)
Profit/(loss) before tax
716
(140)
Income tax
(660)
(397)
Profit/(loss) for the period from continuing operations
56
(537)
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations
(153)
(207)
Loss for the year
(97)
(744)
Attributable to:
Owners of the company
(349)
(1,010)
Non-controlling Interests
252
266
Loss for the year
(97)
(744)
Loss per share
Basic and diluted loss per share (cents)
(0.12c)
(0.49c)
Loss per share - continuing operations
Basic and diluted loss per share (cents)
(0.07c)
(0.39c)
Loss per share - discontinued operations
Basic and diluted loss per share (cents)
(0.05c)
(0.10c)
*Amounts have been restated due to the discontinued operations of Payserv Zambia Limited.
Cambria Africa Plc
Audited consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 August 2017
31-Aug-17
*Restated
31-Aug-16
US$'000
US$'000
Loss for the year
(97)
(744)
Other comprehensive income
Items that will not be reclassified to income statement:
Foreign currency translation differences for overseas operations
1
9
Total comprehensive loss for the year
(96)
(735)
Attributable to:
Owners
(348)
(1,001)
Non-controlling interests
252
266
Total comprehensive loss for the year
(96)
(735)
Cambria Africa Plc
Audited consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 August 2017
US$'000
Share Capital
Share Premium
Revaluation Reserve
Foreign Exchange Reserve
Share Based Payment Reserve
Retained Earnings
Non-distributable Reserve
Total
Non-controlling Interest
Total
Balance at 1 September 2015
34
83,950
438
(10,532)
86
(75,385)
1,900
491
65
556
(Loss)/profit for the period
-
-
-
-
-
(1,010)
-
(1,010)
266
(744)
Foreign currency translation differences for overseas operations
-
-
-
9
-
-
-
9
-
9
Total comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year
-
-
-
9
-
(1,010)
-
(1,001)
266
(735)
Contributions by/distributions to owners of the Company recognised directly in equity
Disposal of subsidiary
-
-
-
(105)
-
105
-
-
-
-
Expiry of share options
-
-
-
-
(43)
43
-
-
-
-
Dividends paid
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(335)
(335)
Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company
-
-
-
(105)
(43)
148
-
-
(335)
(335)
Balance at 31 August 2016
34
83,950
438
(10,628)
43
(76,247)
1,900
(510)
(4)
(514)
US$'000
Share Capital
Share Premium
Revaluation Reserve
Foreign Exchange Reserve
Share Based Payment Reserve
Retained Earnings
Non-distributable Reserve
Total
Non-controlling Interest
Total
Balance at 1 September 2016
34
83,950
438
(10,628)
43
(76,247)
1,900
(510)
(4)
(514)
(Loss)/profit for the period
-
-
-
-
-
(349)
-
(349)
252
(97)
Foreign currency translation differences for overseas operations
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
1
-
1
Total comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year
-
-
-
1
-
(349)
-
(348)
252
(96)
Contributions by/distributions to owners of the Company recognised directly in equity
Issue of ordinary shares
17
1,736
-
-
-
(5)
5
1,753
-
1,753
Expiry of share options
-
-
-
-
(43)
43
-
-
-
-
Dividends paid
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(149)
(149)
Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company
17
1,736
-
-
(43)
38
5
1,753
(149)
1,604
Balance at 31 August 2017
51
85,686
438
(10,627)
-
(76,558)
1,905
895
99
994
Cambria Africa Plc
Audited consolidated and company statements of financial position
As at 31 August 2017
Audited
Audited
Audited
Audited
Group
Company
Group
Company
31-Aug-17
31-Aug-17
*Restated
31-Aug-16
31-Aug-16
US$'000
US$'000
US$'000
US$'000
Property, plant and equipment
2,727
-
2,591
-
Goodwill
717
-
717
-
Intangible assets
27
-
39
-
Investment in subsidiaries
-
-
-
-
Total non-current assets
3,471
-
3,347
-
Inventories
233
-
407
-
Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss
86
-
40
-
Trade and other receivables
1,730
4,322
1,297
6,374
Cash and cash equivalents
1,045
143
698
-
Assets for discontinued operation
29
-
20
-
Total current assets
3,123
4,465
2,462
6,374
Total assets
6,594
4,465
5,809
6,374
Equity
Issued share capital
51
51
34
34
Share premium account
85,686
85,686
83,950
83,950
Revaluation reserve
438
-
438
-
Share based payment reserve
-
-
43
43
Foreign exchange reserve
(10,627)
(13,186)
(10,628)
(13,186)
Non distributable reserves
1,905
-
1,900
-
Retained losses
(76,558)
(73,243)
(76,247)
(71,765)
Equity attributable to owners of the company
895
(692)
(510)
(924)
Non-controlling interests
99
-
(4)
-
Total equity
994
(692)
(514)
(924)
Liabilities
Loans and borrowing
1,849
1,565
2,965
2,929
Provisions
186
-
193
-
Deferred tax liabilities
184
-
152
-
Total non-current liabilities
2,219
1,565
3,310
2,929
Current tax liabilities
397
-
308
-
Loans and borrowings
1,556
926
1,469
1,469
Trade and other payables
1,374
2,666
1,210
2,900
Liabilities for discontinued operation
54
-
26
-
Total current liabilities
3,381
3,592
3,013
4,369
Total liabilities
5,600
5,157
6,323
7,298
Total equity and liabilities
6,594
4,465
5,809
6,374

Cambria Africa Plc
Audited consolidated statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 August 2017
Audited
Audited
31-Aug-17
31-Aug-16
US$'000
US$'000
Cash from operations*
960
3,944
Taxation paid
(539)
(313)
Cash from operating activities
421
3,631
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment
21
20
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(291)
(170)
Net proceeds on disposal of subsidiary
-
60
Other investing activities
(2)
(40)
Interest received
15
16
Net cash used in investing activities
(257)
(113)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
(149)
(335)
Interest paid
(85)
(267)
Proceeds from issue of share capital
1,753
-
Loans repaid
(2,660)
(7,146)
Loans raised
1,344
4,277
Net cash from/(used in) financing activities
203
(3,471)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
367
47
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the Period
701
645
Foreign exchange
1
9
Net cash and cash equivalents at the end of the Period
1,069
701
* All amounts include both continuing and discontinued operations. Cash flow from discontinued operations the effect of which were cash utilised of $55 in 2017 and $ 235 in 2016.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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