Grieg Seafood ASA: Q1 2023 results

12 May 2023 06:00 CEST

Highlights

* Harvest volume of 15,357 tonnes (16,916 tonnes)
* Operational EBIT in the quarter of NOK 385 million (NOK 453 million), with
operational EBIT/kg of NOK 25.1 (26.8)
* Salmon market remains strong, supporting earnings
* Harvest volume above guidance due to advanced harvesting related to
biological challenges. Increasing smolt release to compensate and rebuild
biomass
* Newfoundland developing according to plan
* 81% of harvested volume in the quarter was ASC certified
* Dividend proposal of NOK 4.5 per share based on a record high 2022 result,
subject to approval by the Annual General Meeting in June 2023
* Expect harvest of 21,300 tonnes in Q2 2023 and 80,000 tonnes for the year
2023


Financial results

Operational EBIT for Grieg Seafood was NOK 385 million in the first quarter of
2023, compared to NOK 453 million in the corresponding period last year. Harvest
volume was 15,357 tonnes during the period (16,916), which gives an operational
EBIT per kg of NOK 25.1 (26.8).

Harvest volume in Rogaland was 7,502 tonnes in the quarter (9,645), 2,200 tonnes
above guidance due to advance harvesting to reduce biological risk related to
Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) at one site and winter ulcers. Operational
EBIT/kg ended at NOK 38.4 for the quarter (33.5) and was impacted by a reduced
superior share, negative contribution from contracts and reduced average harvest
weight.

In Finnmark, harvest volume was 7,856 tonnes in the quarter (5,175), 2,100
tonnes above guidance due to advance harvesting related to the Spiro parasite
(Spironucleus salmonicida) and winter ulcers. No new incidents of Spiro have
been detected at the freshwater facility during the first quarter. Operational
EBIT/kg for the quarter ended at NOK 20.1 (25.0), impacted by a low superior
share, low average harvest weight and negative contribution from contracts.

To compensate for the advance harvesting in Finnmark, Grieg Seafood will
increase smolt release for the remainder of the year to rebuild biomass.
However, the initiative is not expected to fully compensate for the lost
biomass, and the 2023 harvest target for Finnmark is reduced from 28,000 to
26,000 tonnes.

In BC, there was no harvest during the first quarter. This was according to plan
to prioritize growing of biomass. Seawater performance was good during the
quarter with stable survival rate at 92%. In Q1 2022 harvest volume in BC was
2,096 tonnes.

In Newfoundland, freshwater production was good during the quarter, with good
fish health and growth. Next transfer of smolt to sea is scheduled for late
spring or early summer 2023. Seawater production in the region is developing
according to plan, with high survival and no sea lice issues. First harvest from
this new region is expected to commence towards the end of 2023.

Commenting on the quarter, Andreas Kvame, CEO of Grieg Seafood ASA said:

"The markets for Atlantic salmon remained strong during the quarter, with solid
demand from both the retail, and the hotel and restaurant segments. On the
farming side we were still impacted by biological challenges in the beginning of
the year, though biology improved throughout the quarter and is currently good
in Rogaland, BC and Newfoundland. Like in the previous quarter, Finnmark is
still impacted by the Spiro parasite. Mitigating measures have been taken to
address the issues. The fish in Newfoundland handled a cold winter in the sea
well and the development of the region is going according to plan.

In Norway, we are expecting the final proposal of the resource tax to be made
public soon. The current version of the tax would negatively impact a
sustainable development of the industry in Norway significantly. We sincerely
hope that the Parliament will make the necessary changes to secure continued
innovation, investments and development throughout the production cycle, which
is necessary to improve biology and sustainability of Norwegian salmon farming."

Outlook

Global harvest of Atlantic salmon in 2023 is expected to be in line with 2022.
The current harvest estimates indicate a significant difference between supply
volumes in the first and second half of 2023, the same pattern as observed in
2022. Grieg Seafood expects a continued strong salmon market going forward.

Grieg Seafood generally targets an annual contract share of 20-50%. Estimated
contract share for the Norwegian operations in Q2 2023 is 12% and 15% for the
full year 2023. The contract market is somewhat subdued due to uncertainty
related to the proposed resource rent tax on salmon in Norway.

In Q2 2023, expected harvest volume is 21,300 tonnes, distributed as follows:

* Rogaland: 10,500 tonnes
* Finnmark: 5,500 tonnes
* BC: 5,300 tonnes

Grieg Seafood guides for a harvest volume of 80,000 tonnes in 2023, down from
previously guided 82,000 tonnes.

* Rogaland: 29,000 tonnes
* Finnmark: 26,000 tonnes
* BC: 20,000 tonnes
* NL: 5,000 tonnes

Results presentation

Grieg Seafood ASA will release its first quarter 2023 report on Friday, 12 May
2023, at 6:00 a.m. CEST.

The same day at 8:00 a.m. CEST, CEO Andreas Kvame and CFO Atle Harald
Sandtorv will present the results live at Hotel Continental, Stortingsgaten
24/26, Oslo.

Following the presentation, it will be opened up for questions from the
audience. The presentation and the subsequent Q&A will be held in Norwegian.

A live webcast from the presentation can be accessed
at www.investor.griegseafood.com or with the following link:
https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/hegnarmedia/20230512_1/.

Webcast participants need to register to post questions. A recording of the
webcast and an English transcript of the webcast will be made available on our
website.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Andreas Kvame, CEO
Cell phone: +47 907 71 441

Atle Harald Sandtorv, CFO
Cell phone +47 908 45 252


About Grieg Seafood
Grieg Seafood ASA is one of the world's leading salmon farmers. Our farms are
in Finnmark and Rogaland in Norway, as well as in British Columbia and
Newfoundland in Canada. Our headquarter is located in Bergen, Norway. Grieg
Seafood ASA was listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange in June 2007. More than 750
people work in the Company throughout our regions.

Sustainable farming practices are the foundation of Grieg Seafood's
operations. The lowest possible environmental impact and the best possible fish
welfare is
both an ethical responsibility and drive economic profitability. Towards
2026, we aim for global growth, cost improvements and to evolve from a pure
salmon
supplier to an innovation partner for selected customers.

To learn more, please visit www.griegseafood.com


This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to
section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

More information:
Access the news on Oslo Bors NewsWeb site

590473_2023 Q1 GSF quarterly report.pdf
590473_2023 Q1 GSF quarterly presentation.pdf