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Record high volumes for Mowi in 2020
(Bergen, 17 February 2021) Mowi achieved all-time high volumes in all divisions in 2020, harvesting 440 000 tonnes of salmon, selling 240 000 tonnes of value-added products, and producing 540 000 tonnes of feed.
Mowi’s farming division recorded all-time high harvest volumes for the quarter and for the full year. Consumer Products continued to benefit from the shift in demand towards elaborated products, and delivered all-time high quarterly and full-year volumes. Feed also delivered another good set of results, and similarly to Consumer Products delivered record quarterly and full-year volumes.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues at Mowi for delivering record-high volumes in all divisions in an extremely challenging year. At the same time we have managed to keep everyone safe during the Covid-19 pandemic so far by employing the strictest biosecurity measures across our business,” Mowi CEO, Ivan Vindheim said.
The strength of Mowi’s integrated value chain during these unprecedented times was demonstrated yet again as the Consumer Products division continued to capitalise on the shift in consumer demand from foodservice to retail. Mowi has produced more value-added products than ever through its downstream facilities, and the development in the retail market continues to be strong.
Covid-19 impacting results
Mowi’s results in the fourth quarter were significantly impacted by Covid-19 and extensive lockdown measures, together with seasonal high supply.
The company reported operational EBIT of EUR 49 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with EUR 166 million in the corresponding quarter in 2019. Costs are reduced compared with the fourth quarter last year, hence the decline in results is explained by significantly lower prices.
“The pandemic still impacts out-of-home consumption to a large degree, and although retail sales are strong and offset some of the demand shortfall, overall demand was down by approximately 5%. However, we still strongly believe in the positive long-term market outlook for the industry. A significant share of new customers in retail are expected to permanently increase their retail consumption rates post Covid-19, even as the foodservice segment gradually re-opens in due course,” Vindheim said.
Mowi reported operational revenues of EUR 1 008 million (EUR 1 112 million) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Total harvest volume in the quarter of 126 634 tonnes gutted weight (116 314) was in line with guidance. Full-year harvest guidance for 2021 is unchanged at 445 000 tonnes.
Recognition of sustainability efforts
Mowi’s sustainability work has yet again been recognised with the company being named the most sustainable animal protein producer in the world in the 2020 Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index and being recognised for leadership in corporate sustainability by global environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its prestigious ‘A List’ for tackling climate change.
“Sustainability will be even more important going forward for both Mowi and the salmon farming industry. By producing healthy and delicious food in the most sustainable manner, we are part of the solution,” said Vindheim.
Dividend
The dividend has been an important component of Mowi's financial strategy and to make dividend payments more predictable and transparent the Board has decided to operationalise the dividend policy by introducing ordinary and extraordinary dividends. Mowi’s ambition is to create long-term value for the shareholder through both positive share price development and a growing dividend in line with long-term earnings. Quarterly ordinary dividends shall under normal circumstances be at least 50% of underlying earnings per share. Excess capital will be paid out as extraordinary dividends. When deciding excess capital the Board of Directors will take into consideration expected cash flow, capital expenditure plans, financing requirements and appropriate financial flexibility. Further to this a long-term target level for net interest-bearing debt is determined, reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
Based on this, the Board has decided to pay NOK 0.32 per share in ordinary dividend in the first quarter of 2021, equivalent to 50% of underlying earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2020.
For further information, please contact:
Kristian Ellingsen, CFO, +47 905 14 275
Kim Galtung Døsvig, IR Officer & Head of Treasury, +47 908 76 339
Ola Helge Hjetland, Group Communications Director, +47 970 67 932
About Mowi ASA
Mowi is the world’s leading seafood company and the largest producer of farm-raised salmon in the world. As the first global seafood company with an end-to-end supply chain, Mowi brings supreme quality salmon and other seafood to consumers around the world.
With headquarters in Bergen, Norway, Mowi employs 12 200 people in 25 countries worldwide, and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.mowi.com.
Forward looking statements
This release may be deemed to include forward-looking statements, such as statements that relate to Mowi's goals and strategies, salmon prices, ability to increase or vary harvest volume, production capacity, trends in the seafood industry, restructuring initiatives, exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, expected research and development expenditures, business prospects and positioning with respect to market, demographic and pricing trends, strategic initiatives, and the effects of any extraordinary events and various other matters (including developments with respect to laws, regulations and governmental policies regulating the industry and changes in accounting policies, standards and interpretations) on Mowi's business and results. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases, such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "may increase," "may fluctuate," "plan," "goal," "target," "strategy," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could." Forward-looking statements are Mowi's current estimates or expectations of future events or future results. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated by these statements because the realization of those results is subject to many risks and uncertainties. Mowi ASA's Annual Report contains additional information about factors that could affect actual results, including: changes to the price of salmon including the value of our biological assets; hedging risks; risks related to fish feed; economic and market risks; environmental risks; operational risks; risks related to escapes, disease and sea lice; product risks; risks related to our acquisitions; financing risks; regulation risks including relating to food safety, the aquaculture industry, processing, competition and anti-corruption; trade restriction risks; litigation risks; tax and accounting risks; strategic and competitive risks; and reputation risks. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available at the time of the release, and Mowi assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
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