Final Results 2025

About this update from M.p. Evans Group Plc

M.P. EVANS GROUP PLC   FINAL RESULTS 2025   ANOTHER YEAR OF RECORD PROFITS AND INCREASING SHAREHOLDER RETURNS   M.P. Evans Group PLC ("M.P. Evans", "the Group" or "the Company"), a producer of sustainable Indonesian palm oil, announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2025. The Group has, once again, achieved record-breaking results during the year. Pricing for the Group's key products, crude palm oil and palm kernels, remained strong during 2025, and the Group focused on processing a greater proportion of its own, high-quality crop, benefiting margins. Planted hectarage under management increased during the year, now exceeding 70,000 hectares.   The Group's 2025 annual report and a video overview of the results are available on its website at www.mpevans.co.uk .   HIGHLIGHTS   Financial   -      Average mill-gate price for Group CPO US$866 per tonne (2024 US$823 per tonne) -      Revenue for the year US$371.0 million (2024 US$352.8 million) -      Gross profit US$142.2 million (2024 US$116.6 million) -      Earnings per share 161.3 pence (2024 - 129.6 pence) -      Operating cash generation US$161.5 million (2024 US$152.6 million) -      Cash balance at year end of US$87.5 million (2024 net cash of US$46.4 million) -      Dividend for the year 60.0p per share (2024 - 52.5p per share) with proposed final dividend of 42.0p per share (2024 - 37.5p per share)   Operational   -      Total crop harvested in Group-managed areas up 7% to 1.3 million tonnes -      Six certified sustainable palm-oil mills in operation throughout year processing 94% of total crop -      Further increase in certified sustainable CPO, up to 275,000 tonnes (2024 - 257,000 tonnes) -      Earnings-enhancing acquisition of more than 3,000 planted hectares close to Group's Bumi Mas estate -      Further planting at Group's Kota Bangun and Musi Rawas estates for future crop growth -      37 million kWh of renewable energy generation, resulting in more than US$4 million of savings -      Actively seeking new strategic acquisitions   Commenting on the results, Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, chairman of M.P. Evans, said: "We have had an excellent year in 2025, harvesting and processing more of our own crop than ever before in our own, efficient palm-oil mills, delivering an increase in certified sustainable production. We have achieved record profitability, and dividends have increased to 60p per share. Since the year end, crops have continued to increase in the early part of 2026, and pricing for the Group's output remains strong. "   Enquiries:   M.P. Evans Group PLC Telephone: +44 (0) 1892 516333 Peter Hadsley-Chaplin, chairman Matthew Coulson, chief executive Luke Shaw, chief financial officer   Cavendish Capital Markets (Nomad and joint broker) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7220 0500 Matt Goode, George Lawson (Corporate finance) Harriet Ward (ECM)   Canaccord Genuity Limited (Joint broker) T elephone: +44 (0) 20 7523 4500 Henry Fitzgerald O'Connor, George Grainger   Alma Strategic Communications (Financial PR) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3 405 0205 Rebecca Sanders-Hewett, Josh Royston, David Ison   A presentation for analysts will be held today at 9.30am in the City of London.   CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT   Results   The Group achieved another record year in 2025, with gross profit of US$142.2 million, 22% higher than the US$116.6 million in 2024. Earnings per share in 2025 were 161.3p (2024 - 129.6p). Whilst production levels were similar to the previous year, the Group focused on processing its own crop rather than purchasing from outside suppliers, helping to improve margins. Additionally, pricing for the Group's main products, crude palm oil ("CPO") and palm kernels ("PK"), was higher than in the previous year, also boosting profitability. The Group, once again, generated a substantial amount of operating cash, with operating cash generation of US$161.5 million (2024 US$152.6 million).   Dividend   An interim dividend of 18p per share (2024 - 15p per share) was paid on 7 November 2025 and the board is recommending a final dividend of 42p per share (2024 - 37.5p per share). The total dividend of 60p per share (2024 - 52.5p per share) represents a 7.5p per share increase on the previous year, as was the case for 2024, and shows the Group's ongoing commitment to its progressive dividend policy. The Group is proud of its track record, which now goes back for 35 years, of maintaining or increasing normal dividends.   Strategic developments   The Group progressed with its strategic objectives during 2025. We seek to be a responsible producer of sustainable Indonesian palm oil, focusing on excellence in all our operations, with a continued priority for further growth and, at the same time, delivering an increasing and attractive yield for shareholders.   Responsible operation remains central to everything that the Group does. The Group produces green electricity from the power plants connected to palm-oil mills and our sustainability team works tirelessly to ensure that our mill output achieves and maintains sustainable accreditation.   We continued to grow during 2025, and were proud to report a further earnings-enhancing acquisition in July, when we added over 3,000 planted hectares close to our Bumi Mas estate in East Kalimantan. This was in line with the Group's strategy of adding planted hectarage close to our existing estates, particularly those with our own milling capacity. The newly acquired hectarage has already been integrated into the existing Bumi Mas estate and the enlarged property is being run as a single operating unit with all crop being sent to our Bumi Mas mill for processing.   Alongside the acquired planted hectarage, the Group has continued to plant more hectares at its existing estates, particularly Musi Rawas in South Sumatra and Kota Bangun in East Kalimantan, where it has been possible to plant additional areas at one of the properties acquired by the Group in 2023. Taking the acquisition and the further planting together, the area managed by the Group grew by almost 5,000 hectares during 2025 and, by the end of the year, the Group managed over 70,000 planted hectares. Over the last three years, the total area managed by the Group has increased by more than 30 per cent, as a result of our acquisition and planting programmes.   Sustainability   The volume and proportion of certified sustainable production increased during the year. Delivering certified sustainable output remains a core part of the Group's strategy and all six Group mills are certified sustainable producers. The total amount of certified sustainable CPO production was just over 275,000 tonnes, representing 80% of the production in Group mills, or 76% of the overall Group total. This compares to 257,000 tonnes in 2024, which was 69% of that year's total production. As the Group's harvest continues to increase and reliance on buying outside crop diminishes further, so the proportion of certified output should continue to rise.   During 2025, everyone in the Group played a part in achieving additional recognition from third parties who report on the Group's ESG commitments and disclosures. The Group has, for many years, received a rating from the Zoological Society of London as part of its SPOTT palm oil ESG transparency index. In 2025, the Group achieved a further increase to an overall rating of 91%. Additionally, the Group has now completed CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) reporting, covering each of the categories of climate change, forests and water security, and has been rated by CDP with a very respectable 'B' grade.   The Group publishes regular, more detailed, TCFD (Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) and ESG reports, with additional analysis of its approach to these areas, and these are available from the sustainability section of the Group's website.   Indonesian environment   In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto has been in office since late 2024. Following his appointment, during 2025, a task force known as "Satgas" was established to review regulatory compliance by palm-oil companies and, in some cases, to levy fines and reclaim land for state ownership. The Group has always recognised the importance of responsible development. This includes following due process and ensuring that land titles are fully documented. As a result, to date, there has been no material impact of Satgas' activities on Group operations.   Operational developments   The total crop harvested by the Group from its own areas and those of its connected smallholders during 2025 was 1,308,800 tonnes, an increase of 7% on the 1,222,900 tonnes harvested in the previous year. A further 229,200 tonnes (2024 - 386,000 tonnes) were purchased for processing from independent suppliers, deliberately down on the previous year as the market for outside crop became more competitive and less reliable.       2025  Increase/ (decrease) 2024  Tonnes  % Tonnes  Crop       Own crops                 Kota Bangun 304,200  7  284,000                  Bangka 127,900  (7) 137,400                  Pangkatan 170,000  1  168,600                  Bumi Mas 175,300  21  144,800                  Musi Rawas 156,500  15  136,100                  Simpang Kiri 75,400  14  66,100  1,009,300  8  937,000  Scheme-smallholder crops                 Kota Bangun 112,700  7  105,500                  Bangka 75,900  (7) 81,400                  Pangkatan 7,600  46  5,200                  Bumi Mas 32,700  12  29,200                  Musi Rawas 69,200  8  64,000                  Simpang Kiri 1,400  133  600  299,500  5  285,900  Crop harvested 1,308,800 7  1,222,900  Independent crops purchased                 Kota Bangun 104,000  (28) 144,200                  Bangka 73,400  (20) 91,400                  Pangkatan 16,100  (57) 37,200                  Bumi Mas 6,200  (84) 39,800                  Musi Rawas 29,500  (60) 73,400  229,200  (41) 386,000  Total crop 1,538,000  (4) 1,608,900    The Group produced certified sustainable output at all six of its palm-oil mills throughout 2025. Of the crop harvested by the Group at its six key operating locations, 94% was processed in one of the Group's own mills. All crop purchased from independent suppliers is processed by the Group. Total output from the Group's mills arising from its own harvest increased during the year but, because of the planned reduction in crop purchased from independent suppliers, total output from those mills in 2025 was 342,600 tonnes of CPO and 75,300 tonnes of PK, lower by 4% and 3% respectively than the same figures in 2024.         Increase/     2025  (decrease) 2024  Production - crude palm oil Tonnes  %  Tonnes  Group mills                 Kota Bangun 120,900  (2) 123,500                  Bangka 63,800  (9) 70,200                  Pangkatan 44,300  (6) 47,200                  Bumi Mas 50,500  (2) 51,300                  Musi Rawas 63,100  (1) 64,000  342,600  (4) 356,200  Third-party mills                 Kota Bangun 1,000  -  1,000                  Simpang Kiri 17,200  15  15,000                  18,200  14  16,000  360,800  (3) 372,200  Production - palm kernels Group mills                 Kota Bangun 26,200  (4) 27,200                  Bangka 16,500  (7) 17,800                  Pangkatan 10,600  (3) 10,900                  Bumi Mas 9,600  -  9,600                  Musi Rawas 12,400  (1) 12,500  75,300  (3) 78,000  Third-party mills                 Kota Bangun 200  (33) 300                  Simpang Kiri 3,400  13  3,000  3,600  9  3,300  78,900  (3) 81,300  Extraction rates - crude palm oil %  %  %  Group mills                     Kota Bangun - Bumi Permai 24.1  (1) 24.3                  Kota Bangun - Rahayu 22.4  1  22.1                  Bangka 23.0  2  22.6                  Pangkatan 22.9  2  22.4                  Bumi Mas 23.6  (2) 24.0                  Musi Rawas 24.7  6  23.4  23.5  1  23.2  Third-party mills                 Kota Bangun 20.0  9  18.3                  Simpang Kiri 22.5  -  22.5  Extraction rates - palm kernels Group mills                 Kota Bangun - Bumi Permai 5.7  2  5.6                  Kota Bangun - Rahayu 4.2  (7) 4.5                  Bangka 6.0  5  5.7                  Pangkatan group 5.5  6  5.2                  Bumi Mas 4.5  -  4.5                  Musi Rawas 4.9  7  4.6  5.2  2  5.1  Third-party mills                 Kota Bangun 4.5  (8) 4.9                  Simpang Kiri 4.4  -  4.4    The Group continued to grow the area under its management during 2025, with almost 5,000 planted hectares added during the year, through a combination of acquisition and new planting at its existing estates.   The Group originally acquired its estate at Bumi Mas in East Kalimantan in 2017 and has consistently been improving yields since that time. An on-site 60-tonne-per-hour mill was built, and this became operational in 2021. Until this year, the total planted area under management has been just under 9,000 hectares and, even with the purchase of available independent crop, the Bumi Mas mill has had the highest amount of spare capacity when compared to the others in the Group. As referred to above, during 2025, the Group was successful in acquiring a further 3,000 planted hectares close to Bumi Mas, increasing the Group-managed area there by over 33%. All of the crop from the acquired area is being processed in the Bumi Mas mill, improving utilisation and, whilst crop from the acquired area is already at an encouraging level, it is expected to increase in the coming years, to the further benefit of mill utilisation.   The management team at the Group's Musi Rawas estate in South Sumatra is continuing to do excellent work, securing additional suitable areas for further planting at that estate. More than 500 hectares were planted during the year, bringing the total developed area at Musi Rawas to just over 11,400 hectares.   The increasing crop from Musi Rawas as further areas mature is providing valuable input to the Group's on-site mill and helping to improve production from that very efficient facility.   During 2023, the Group acquired over 8,000 planted hectares which forms part of its enlarged Kota Bangun estate. As reported in 2024, the Group had identified some environmentally suitable areas in the acquired land which were available for further planting and had set a target to plant an additional 1,000 hectares. By the end of 2025, a little over 1,000 hectares had been planted, with more opportunities identified for 2026.   Current trading and prospects   The Group continued to experience crop increases across almost all its Indonesian estates in the first two months of 2026, extending the trend seen in the latter part of 2025. A further benefit is coming from recent acquisitions, and the Group's new areas at Bumi Mas continue to perform well in their first full year following acquisition in the middle of the previous year. Overall, the total crop harvested by the Group, either from its own areas or from areas managed on behalf of associated scheme smallholders, has increased by 10% since the first two months of 2025.   Once again, the Group has restricted the amount of higher-cost, lower-quality crop purchased from independent suppliers as it continues to focus on processing a greater proportion of better inputs harvested from areas managed by the Group's skilled agronomic teams. This is expected to be a continuing benefit for the Group's gross margin.   Overall, total crop processed in the first two months of 2026 was 246,200 tonnes. Details are set out in the following table:     2 months ended  Increase/  2 months ended    28 February 2026  (decrease)  29 February 2025    Tonnes  %  Tonnes  Own crops 169,500  13  150,100  Scheme-smallholder crops 50,100  -  50,000  Independent crops purchased 26,600  (33) 39,500  246,200  3  239,600    The Group's average mill-gate selling price for its CPO was US$866 per tonne during 2025. Pricing has remained encouragingly strong during the first two months of the new year, and the Group has seen some sales tenders exceed US$900 per tonne. Overall, in the two months to February 2026, the average tender price was approximately US$860 per tonne. PK pricing, whilst not at the elevated levels seen during some of 2025, has also remained robust in the early part of 2026, with an average tender price in the first two months of the year of approximately US$760 per tonne.   The Group continues to be focused on opportunities for growth and expects to be planting more new areas, both in South Sumatra and in East Kalimantan during 2026, and is taking steps in both locations to secure areas, agree land compensation, prepare ground and ensure planting material is ready. In addition, the Group is developing a number of land acquisition opportunities, with projects close to existing estates which would enable the Group to make existing estates and mills work even more efficiently and profitably.   Over recent weeks, conflict has, once again, escalated in the Middle East, spilling over from Iran to several countries in the region. Our primary concern is for those whose lives are affected during this turmoil. The world is likely to experience a period of high mineral-oil pricing and, as a knock-on effect, the Group may also receive some higher prices for its CPO output. However, this may also come with some increased input costs for fuel and fertiliser.   After a successful 2025, and with a good start to 2026 already achieved, the Group is clear about its priorities for continued prosperity and ongoing growth as a producer of certified sustainable palm oil. Management is focused on maintaining the Group's position as a high-quality, low-cost producer with a reputation for excellence. On this basis, the board is confident of its position of offering a progressive dividend for shareholders and that the Group's overall prospects remain secure.       Peter Hadsley-Chaplin Chairman   CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT For the year ended 31 December 2025   2025  2024    US$'000  US$'000    Continuing operations       Revenue 370,995  352,839      Cost of sales (228,774) (236,249)     Gross profit 142,221  116,590      (Loss)/gain on biological assets (139) 1,847      Foreign-exchange gain/(loss) 1,217  (23)     Other administrative expenses (6,446) (5,930)     Other income 1,978  3,211      Operating profit 138,831  115,695      Finance income 2,004  1,236      Finance costs (1,128) (3,441)     Profit before tax 139,707  113,490      Tax on profit on ordinary activities (29,688) (25,213)     Profit after tax 110,019  88,277      Share of associated companies' profit after tax 2,969  2,355  Profit for the year   112,988  90,632      Attributable to: Owners of M.P. Evans Group PLC 111,165  87,851    Non-controlling interests 1,823  2,781        112,988  90,632      US cents  US cents    Continuing operations     Basic earnings per 10p share 212.9  165.9      Diluted earnings per 10p share 211.8  165.1        Pence  Pence    Basic earnings per 10p share     Continuing operations 161.3  129.6      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET As at 31 December 2025   Company number: 1555042         2025  *2024  *2023    US$'000  US$'000  US$'000  Non-current assets Goodwill 1,158  1,158  1,158  Other intangible assets 694  852  1,012  Property, plant and equipment 511,632  480,983  486,915  Investments in associates 12,967  10,524  10,003  Investments 67  61  59  Deferred-tax asset 2,577  1,808  1,138  Trade and other receivables -  -  8,875  529,095  495,386  509,160  Current assets Biological assets 5,628  5,635  3,788  Inventories 22,842  22,788  24,155  Trade and other receivables 20,189  20,847  23,853  Current-tax asset 2,705  7,777  8,673  Current-asset investments -  214  270  Cash and cash equivalents 87,481  79,223  39,324    138,845  136,484  100,063  Total assets 667,940  631,870   609,223     Current liabilities Borrowings -  12,953  21,009  Trade and other payables 24,931  33,122  27,547  Current-tax liability 13,367  13,029  6,279    38,298  59,104  54,835  Net current assets 100,547  77,380  45,228  Non-current liabilities Borrowings -  20,074  33,413  Deferred-tax liability 7,979  8,204  5,595  Retirement-benefit obligations 14,005  13,141  12,429    21,984  41,419  51,437  Total liabilities 60,282  100,523   106,272   Net assets 607,658  531,347   502,951     Equity Share capital 8,933  8,922  9,062  Other reserves 55,391  53,887  53,263  Retained earnings 535,170  460,816  420,626  Equity attributable to the owners of MP Evans Group PLC   599,494    523,625    482,951  Non-controlling interests 8,164  7,722  20,000  Total equity 607,658  531,347   502,951     *Restated - see note 3     CONSOLIDATED CASH-FLOW STATEMENT For the year ended 31 December 2025     2025  2024    US$'000  US$'000  Net cash generated by operating activities 137,110  135,800    Investing activities Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired (20,484) -  Purchase of property, plant and equipment (24,627) (21,630) Purchase of intangible assets (25) (24) Interest received 2,004  1,050  Repayment of loans made to smallholder co-operatives 413  2,291  New loans to smallholder co-operatives (460) (1,608) Bank deposits treated as current-asset investments 207  44  Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment 377  548  Net cash used by investing activities (42,595) (19,329)   Financing activities Acquisition of non-controlling interest -  (6,000) New borrowings -  637  Repayment of borrowings (32,541) (21,145) Repayment of loans assumed on acquisition (12,552) -  Dividends paid to Company shareholders (38,721) (32,339) Dividends paid to non-controlling interest (1,400) (3,145) Issue of Company shares -  107  Buyback of Company shares -  (13,367) Net cash used by financing activities (85,214) (75,252)   Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 9,301  41,219    Net cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 79,223  39,324  Effect of foreign-exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents (1,043) (1,320) Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 87,481  79,223      Notes   1.    Dividends paid and proposed 2025  2024  US$'000  US$'000  2025 interim dividend - 18p per 10p share (2024 interim dividend 15p)   12,309    10,448  2024 final dividend - 37.5p per 10p share (2023 final dividend 32.5p)   26,412    21,891    38,721  32,339    Following the year end, the board has proposed a final dividend for 2025 of 42.0p per 10p share, amounting to US$29.6 million. The dividend will be paid on or after 18 June 2026 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 24 April 2026.   2.    Basic and diluted earnings per share   The calculation of earnings per 10p share is based on:-   2025    2024  2025  Number  2024  Number  US$'000  of shares  US$'000  of shares  Profit for the year attributable to the owners   of M.P. Evans Group PLC 111,165  87,851  Average number of shares in issue 52,217,936  52,962,578  Diluted average number of shares in issue* 52,484,210  53,223,589    *The difference between the number of shares in issue and the diluted number of shares relates to unexercised share options held by directors and key employees of the Group.   3.    Prior-year adjustment   The Group made a prior-year adjustment to goodwill, deferred-tax liabilities and opening reserves following a review of previous acquisition accounting. In previous years, a deferred-tax liability had been recognised, along with related goodwill on fair value adjustments made to land on acquisition. On review, it was concluded that no such deferred-tax liability should be accounted for. Prior year goodwill assets and deferred-tax liabilities have been reduced by US$15.9 million and US$13.8 million respectively with a remaining US$2.1 million adjusted to opening reserves in 2024.   4.    Financial information   The financial information has been derived from the Company's audited accounts but does not itself constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 have been reported on by the Group's auditors, BDO LLP, and will be filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors thereon was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006, nor did it contain any matters to which the auditors drew attention without qualifying their audit report.   5.    International Accounting Standards   This announcement is based on the Group's financial statements which were prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards.   6.    Distribution timetable   The Group's 2025 annual report is available on the Group's website and will be despatched to shareholders on or before 10 April 2026. Printed copies of the Group's 2025 annual report will be available from the Company, 3 Clanricarde Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1HQ. The annual general meeting will be held on Friday 12 June 2026.     By order of the board Katya Merrick Company secretary

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