TIDMFJET
RNS Number : 4771G
Fastjet PLC
30 May 2017
fastjet Plc
("fastjet" or the "Company")
(AIM: FJET)
Final results for the year to 31 December 2016
30 May 2017
fastjet, the low-cost African airline, announces its audited
final results for the year ended 31 December 2016.
The table below shows the financial performance of the fastjet
Group's continuing activities.
2016 2015
US$ US$
--------------------------------- -------- --------
Revenue 68.5m 65.1m
Group Operating loss (63.9)m (37.9)m
Loss from continuing activities
before tax (65.8)m (35.9)m
Loss from continuing activities
after tax (66.0)m (36.2)m
Profit/(loss) from discontinued
activities after tax 18.0m 14.3m
Loss for the year after
tax (48.0)m (21.9)m
Loss per share from continuing
activities (0.84) (0.71)
Cash balance at year end 3.6m 28.9m
--------------------------------- -------- --------
Strategic highlights
-- Nico Bezuidenhout appointed CEO on 1 August 2016.
-- Stabilisation Plan initiated comprising:
o Major cost reductions
o Fleet transition to smaller aircraft
o Head office relocation to Johannesburg
o Revenue initiatives including route rationalisation
-- Successful capital fundraising of approximately US$20.0m before expenses in August 2016
-- Strategic and operational partnership with Solenta Aviation
Holdings concluded in January 2017 providing 3 E145 aircraft at
reduced lease rates and Solenta acquiring a 28% shareholding in
fastjet.
-- Additional capital raise of approximately US$28.8m before
expenses in January 2017, reflecting optimism in the strategic
outlook for fastjet
Operational highlights
-- Named Africa's Leading Low-Cost Airline 2016 at the World Travel Awards
-- Revenues increased by 5% to US$68.5m (2015: US$65.1m), despite route rationalisation
-- Passenger numbers up marginally at 783,317 (2015: 781,238)
-- Aircraft utilisation constant year on year at 11.2 hours during peak months
-- Costs increased by 29% caused by increased capacity and
start-up losses on new routes in 2016
-- Negative cash flow from operations of US$(52.3m) (2015:
US$(36.9m)), primarily impacted by high costs mentioned above
Nico Bezuidenhout, fastjet Chief Executive Officer,
commented:
"2016 was a challenging year and these financial results reflect
not only a difficult market place but also the overly optimistic
expansion plan adopted in early 2015.
Since I became CEO on 1 August 2016 we have successfully
initiated a Stabilisation Plan to address the immediate challenges.
However, although good progress has been made many of the Plan's
benefits to reduce our cost base, and match capacity with demand,
have naturally taken time to feed through and as such will only be
materially realised in 2017. Nevertheless, the effects of the
Stabilisation Plan in the second half of 2016 saw fastjet withdraw
from a number of loss-making routes and remove surplus capacity
such that while between July and December, capacity was reduced by
25%, passenger numbers were only down by 3% and revenues rose by
5%.
The final stages of the Stabilisation Plan are now implemented
and the strong progress we have made means that fastjet's cost base
will be significantly reduced by the third quarter of 2017 and that
we are well on the way to fulfilling our baseline aim of achieving
a cash flow break even position by the fourth quarter of 2017.
Since the year-end, fastjet has completed a US$28.8m
fundraising, entered into a strategic and operational partnership
with Solenta, and significantly strengthened our Board. With these
initiatives building on the benefits of the Stabilisation Plan, and
although a number of challenges remain, fastjet is now close to
being sufficiently stable and well positioned to be able to
consider disciplined growth opportunities in our target African
markets."
fastjet's report and accounts for the year ended 31 December
2016 ("2016 Report and Accounts"), notice of the Annual General
Meeting ("AGM") and the form of proxy, are expected to be posted to
shareholders shortly.
A copy of the 2016 Report and Accounts will be available to view
and download shortly from the Company's website:
www.fastjet.com
For more information, contact:
fastjet Plc Tel: +44 (0) 20 3651
6307
Nico Bezuidenhout, Chief
Executive Officer
Michael Muller, Chief Financial
Officer
UK media - Citigate Dewe Tel: +44 (0) 20 7638
Rogerson 9571
Eleni Menikou
Toby Moore
Nick Hayns
South African media - Hein Tel: +27 (0) 82 520
Kaiser 0555
For investor enquiries please
contact:
Liberum Capital Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100
- Nominated Adviser and 2222
Broker
Clayton Bush
Jill Li
NOTES TO EDITORS
About fastjet Plc
fastjet Plc is the holding company of the low-cost airline
fastjet which commenced flights under the fastjet brand in Tanzania
in November 2012. By adhering to international standards of safety,
quality, security and reliability; fastjet has brought a new flying
experience to the African market at unprecedented low prices.
Utilising a fleet of modern jet aircraft, fastjet has a long-term
strategy to implement the low-cost carrier model across Africa to
become the continent's first low-cost, pan-Africa airline.
The results of the second quarter 2016 customer satisfaction
surveys showed that an average of 73% of customers were likely to
recommend fastjet to a friend. In developing its strong brand and
identity, fastjet has won and been nominated for a number of
awards, including Africa's Leading Low-Cost Airline 2016 at the
23rd World Travel Awards, winning three Transform awards for the
rebrand and launch of fastjet, the award for "Brand Strategy of the
Year" at 2014's Drum Marketing Awards in London, and the Transport
Innovator Award at the 8th Transport Africa Awards 2015 in
Johannesburg.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of the Market Abuse Regulation.
fastjet Plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative
Investment Market ("AIM").
For more information see www.fastjet.com.
Preliminary Statement
2016 was a year of both challenge and transformation for
fastjet. During the year fastjet continued to face weak economic
conditions and increased competition in its key markets - Tanzania
and Zimbabwe - and these combined challenges had an adverse effect
on the Company's full year results.
In the first half of the year, fastjet's ability to effectively
meet these challenges was significantly impeded by a number of
structural and operational vulnerabilities within the Company. With
the appointment of Nico Bezuidenhout as Chief Executive Officer on
1 August 2016 these issues were immediately addressed through the
adoption of a comprehensive Stabilisation Plan designed to
positively transform the Company, while staying true to the
low-cost model and fastjet's vision to be a pan-African airline.
While we are pleased with the progress we have made in implementing
this Plan, many of the benefits from these key interventions, such
as a reduced cost base, will only be fully realised during, and
increasingly through, the new financial year.
During the second half of the year, fastjet withdrew from a
number of loss-making routes, and eliminated surplus capacity by
reducing the number of scheduled flights and commencing a
re-fleeting to smaller aircraft. From July to December 2016 while
capacity was reduced by 25% passenger numbers were down by only 3%
and revenues were improved by 5%.
The head office relocation from London to Johannesburg,
initiated as part of the Stabilisation Plan, is nearing completion
and we are already beginning to realise the cost benefits of this
move. In addition to saving costs, we are also focused on improving
the overall efficiency of our operations, including the interaction
between the Commercial, Operations and Finance functions of the
business, and the relocation of our head office will aid this
process.
Today fastjet has three aircraft - two Airbus A319s (one
currently out of service and in the process of being returned to
the lessor) in Tanzania and one Solenta Embraer E145 in Zimbabwe.
This will change to two E190 aircraft in Tanzania by October 2017
and a second Solenta E145 to be deployed to Zimbabwe. We hold two
Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) - in Tanzania and Zimbabwe - and
operate six routes.
Fund Raising and Strategic Partnership
In August 2016, the Company raised US$20.0m before expenses to
fund working capital and the implementation of the Stabilisation
Plan.
Since the year end, in January 2017 the Company raised a further
US$28.8m before expenses. At the same time the Company also entered
a strategic partnership with Solenta Aviation Holdings Limited
("Solenta"), a South African-based operator of one of the largest
African aircraft fleets. Under this agreement, Solenta will, in
exchange for a shareholding of approximately 28% in the Company,
provide and operate aircraft on a reduced cost "wet-lease" basis
for fastjet and supply other aviation services over the next five
years. This is an exciting and positive strategic partnership as it
will allow the Company to leverage Solenta's existing African
business and provide the platform to grow and scale fastjet
flexibly and cost effectively.
The Board should like to thank all shareholders who participated
in these fund-raising exercises for their continued support.
Financial performance
The Group has reported a loss after tax for the year of US$48.0m
(2015: loss after tax US$21.9m) on revenues up 5% at US$68.5m
(2015: US$65.1m). The results for the year in large part reflect
decisions in early 2015 to introduce too many new routes, expand
the fleet and deploy capacity beyond market demand. The
Stabilisation Plan is addressing these issues and although benefits
are already being realised, primarily in cost reduction, the full
benefit will only be seen as we progress through the new financial
year.
The Group's operating loss for the year was US$63.9m (2015:
US$37.9m) and fastjet's continued reliance on domestic and
international routes, within and from Tanzania, meant that
increased competition and on-going macroeconomic pressures in the
country in 2016 had an adverse effect on revenues. Although the
economy officially grew by 6.9% in 2016, this did not translate
into travel spend across our target market due to increased
competition and the concentration of wealth. Strict capacity
discipline and a highly effective and coordinated commercial effort
will be exercised to meet these challenges and achieve our
financial objectives in 2017.
As a result of the operating loss for the year the Group
incurred a significant operating cash outflow which resulted in a
cash balance at the year-end of US$3.6m (2015: US$28.9m). At 30
April 2017, the Group's cash balance was US$12.9m reflecting
further operating cash outflows and creditor reduction, offset by
the January fundraise of US$28.8m (gross). As the benefits of the
Stabilisation Plan are further realised during the new financial
year, the operating cash outflows are forecast to continue to
improve and the Group is expected to achieve cash flow breakeven in
Q4 2017.
Despite the progress made in implementing the Stabilisation
Plan, the Directors believe that the current economic and trading
outlook in fastjet's key markets of Tanzania and Zimbabwe remains
challenging. The Group will continue to experience significant
challenges in achieving the required increase in sales revenue and
growth to achieve a cash flow break-even position by Q4 2017.
Notwithstanding this, the Directors have adopted the Going Concern
basis in preparing these Financial Statements. Further details are
set out in the Going Concern statement below and in Note 1 of the
Financial Statements.
Strategic Developments
Stabilisation Plan
The Stabilisation Plan is designed to strengthen the commercial
and financial aspects of the business. We are pleased with progress
to date, specifically regarding the Balance Sheet and cost
reduction, and initiatives are in place to deliver revenue growth
during 2017 with a target of achieving a cash flow break-even
position by Q4 2017. The Stabilisation Plan has several key
elements:
Rationalisation of routes
The rationalisation of fastjet's route schedule and network,
which commenced in August 2016 after Nico Bezuidenhout joined, is
already complete. The objective has been to more closely match
capacity with demand. Frequencies on underperforming routes have
been reduced, and some direct services have been incorporated into
other existing services as an extension, rather than as stand-alone
routes. Withdrawal from some routes was required owing to
insufficient demand generating inadequate revenues which failed to
even cover direct operating costs. Plans for further expansion of
the network and projects to obtain licenses in additional African
countries have been postponed, until our current routes are
performing satisfactorily.
Fleet
The number, size and type of aircraft operated by fastjet has
been fundamentally reviewed. During the year, the Group's fleet was
reduced in size with aircraft being returned at the end of their
leases and with the sale of the Group's one owned aircraft during
October. In addition, the aircraft capacity requirements of the
airline were reassessed in Q3 2016 and it was concluded that an
alternative and smaller aircraft type, with materially lower
operating costs, was more appropriate for the current and medium
term demand characteristics of the markets in which fastjet
operates. The Embraer and Bombardier 80-120 seat jet aircraft were
considered and the Embraer E190/E195 was identified as the most
appropriate for fastjet's requirements. Compared with the Airbus
A319 type aircraft that fastjet has been operating, the Embraer is
expected to yield a cost reduction of approximately 15% with lower
fuel, maintenance, handling and navigation costs and charges.
The transition from the existing Airbus A319 aircraft to the
replacement fleet of Embraer aircraft commenced in October 2016
with the first aircraft introduced into service, through a
short-term "wet-lease" (on an "ACMI basis" where aircraft, crew,
maintenance and insurance are supplied and priced into the lease
payment). One of the Group's two remaining Airbus A319 aircraft is
in the process of being returned to the lessor while the second
A319 will continue to be operated in Tanzania until the end of
September 2017 when it is expected to be returned to its lessor. In
April, fastjet replaced the short-term wet leased A319 with the
first Embraer under the Solenta partnership, with a further Solenta
wet-leased E145 expected to enter service this August. Two more
Embraer's are expected to enter service in October 2017, at which
point fastjet's fleet will comprise only Embraer aircraft.
Cost Reduction
Having reviewed all overhead costs, a restructuring and
reorganisation of the Group's operating entities was implemented
during 2016. Unnecessary duplication and excess resource was
eliminated, resulting in a more streamlined, cost efficient and
appropriate organisational structure. Supplier agreements have also
been reviewed and renegotiated. The Group's high standards of
safety, quality and compliance with regulatory requirements will
not be compromised as a result of these initiatives.
The Group has substantially completed its head office
re-location from Gatwick to Johannesburg, South Africa. The
Commercial function has already completed its transition and the
Finance function was fully transferred to Johannesburg by 30 April
2017. The new head office location has brought fastjet's management
and support functions closer to the airline's operations and
markets.
With the combination of head office relocation, transition to
smaller gauge aircraft and renegotiation of supplier agreements,
the cost base of the Group will be significantly reduced by Q3
2017.
Revenue initiatives
The Stabilisation Plan has accelerated and enhanced a wide range
of commercial initiatives including:
-- Improved distribution via travel agents, a new mobile phone
gateway and a new Contact Centre;
-- The first revenue was generated from the interline agreement with Emirates;
-- Improved revenue management focus, adjusting to smaller gauge
Embraer E190 aircraft and better capacity discipline; and
-- Accelerated plans for a new Central Reservations System.
The Board of Directors
During 2016 there were a number of changes to the fastjet board
including the appointment of Nico Bezuidenhout as Chief Executive
Officer in August 2016.
In April 2017 Rashid Wally was appointed Non-Executive Chairman
and Peter Hyde joined the board as a Non-Executive Director and
Chairman of the Audit Committee. With effect from 15 May 2017
Michael Muller was appointed as an Executive Director and Chief
Financial Officer.
Solenta is, under the terms of the strategic partnership
agreement, entitled to appoint two Non-Executive Directors.
Outlook for 2017
The Board is pleased that the initial benefits of the
Stabilisation Plan are already being realised and remains confident
that we have the necessary industry and market-specific skills and
platform to achieve our vision of being a successful pan-African
airline, based on the Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) model. While the
airline is relatively small we are taking the time to build
capability, efficiency and strengthen governance so that when we
begin to grow and enter new markets we will do this with a clear
business case to deliver shareholder value and a return on
capital.
Challenging trading conditions, increased competition and
regulatory challenges on new market entry will be met with a
renewed energy from our African operational base and we are well on
the way to fulfilling our baseline objective of achieving a cash
flow break-even position by Q4 2017. fastjet is stabilising and is
being positioned for disciplined and measured growth, taking
advantage of new strategic and commercially viable growth
opportunities in Africa.
For and on behalf of the Board
Nico Bezuidenhout
Chief Executive Officer
30 May 2017
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Group is subject to various risks, including those that
derive from the nature of the aviation industry and from operating
in Africa. Risk assessment and evaluation is an essential part of
the Group's planning and an important aspect of the Group's
internal control system.
As more fully described in the Going Concern statement in the
Financial Review below, there are a number of material
uncertainties that may cast significant doubt upon the Group's and
the parent Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
The risk management and internal control systems encompass the
Company's policies, culture, organisational behaviour, processes
and systems. The Group has a risk management framework and process
that identifies and monitors its principal risks regularly
identifying and associating mitigating actions to those risks.
Given that many commercial and financial risks were realised during
the period, in January 2017 the Company commenced a complete review
of its risk management approach and expects to have a fully
functional ISO31000 compliant risk management framework in place by
the end of June 2017.
The following list sets out the Group's principal risks and
uncertainties, many of which are inherent in the operation of an
airline in any jurisdiction, and also provides details as to how
these are managed. This list is not intended to be exhaustive:
-- Safety: A major safety incident could adversely affect
fastjet's operational and financial performance and reputation.
fastjet's quality and safety management systems provide the key
risk mitigation together with additional assurance from the license
post-holders in Tanzania and Zimbabwe and oversight from the Plc
Board's Safety Committee;
-- Strategic: The continued operation of existing routes, the
commencement of operations in new markets and the selection of
fleet type can have a material impact on the Company's current
financial performance and future prospects. The new management
team, through the Stabilisation Plan, has fundamentally reassessed
the Company's services and fleet and introduced more rigorous
criteria against which new services will be considered;
-- Commercial: Network and fleet planning and the need for
effective competitor and market analysis are important to ensure
effective on-going revenue growth. The Group now has in place an
experienced management team using in-house marketing tools and
external market analysis where appropriate;
-- Operational: Maintenance of a safe, reliable and low cost
airline is essential. The Company has in place the necessary
systems and internal controls to ensure sufficient crew levels to
operate the schedule and effective contract management around key
supplier relationships, such as aircraft lessors, maintenance
providers and ground handlers;
-- Finance: Ensuring the Group has the financial resources to
continue operations and deliver its strategic objectives is
essential. The Group seeks to ensure it has appropriate and
effective budgeting, reporting, forecasting and cash management
systems in place underpinned by a strong internal control
environment;
-- Regulatory: The retention of regulatory approvals and
licences is essential for services and operations to continue
uninterrupted. The Company has the management and systems in place
to ensure compliance with aviation regulations in the licensed
markets -Tanzania and Zimbabwe - in which we are based and markets
we operate to, such as South Africa and Zambia; and
-- Litigation: During 2016 fastjet was notified that fastjet
Aviation Limited had been served with an order for a creditor
instructed liquidator to be appointed over fastjet Aviation
Limited. To date, no indication has been made by the liquidator of
any proposed action seeking to set aside the Loan notes as a
preference or undervalue. Legal advice obtained by the company
suggests that there is no recourse to fastjet PLC, that any claim
is unlikely and, even if there was a claim, that it is unlikely to
succeed.
One of the key benefits of relocating the head office from
Gatwick to Africa is that it will position the senior management
team much closer to our operations, our customers and our
regulators. This will help ensure that, in addition to providing
more efficient management, risks will be able to be monitored and
controlled more effectively.
The Board will ensure there is a robust assessment of the risks
in relation to the approved business model and strategy and the
ability to continue to meet this strategy in light of the risks and
associated mitigating actions.
Financial Review
fastjet Group
The Company recorded a loss for the 2016 year of US$48.0m (2015:
US$21.9m). The profit from discontinued activities of US$18.0m
(2015 restated: US$14.3m) relates to the disposal of the legacy
fastjet Aviation Limited (BVI) ("FAL"). The profit on discontinued
activities in 2016 reflects the removal of the net liabilities of
the Fly 540 cash generating unit ("CGU") from the fastjet Group as
it is no longer consolidated. (see note 3)
Group revenue increased by 5% to US$68.5m (2015: US$65.1m)
reflecting a 6% increase in revenue per passenger (US$87.50) (2015:
US$82.74). Passenger numbers remained relatively stable as did the
US dollar to the Tanzanian Shilling. A full year of revenues for
the Zimbabwe operation contributed to the year on year
increase.
Year on year costs from continuing activities increased by 29%
to US$132.4m (2015: US$103.0m). The increase in costs largely
represents the increase in fleet and capacity in early 2016. Costs
of wet leasing one Embraer E190 in Tanzania and one Airbus A319 in
Zimbabwe as part of the Stabilisation Plan also contributed to the
increase while additional costs were incurred to comply with
contractual obligations in respect of the return conditions on
leased aircraft. Fuel accounted for 15% of total costs, while
maintenance, reserves and engineering of the aircraft accounted for
24% of costs. An onerous contract provision of US$3.8m has been
recognised relating to the A319 maintenance contract. This
maintenance contract is for four A319's whereas only one aircraft
remains in operation. This provision is expected to be fully
utilised during the 2017 and 2018 financial years.
The loss after tax for the year for the continuing businesses,
increased to US$66.0m loss (2015: US$36.2m loss).
Non-trading financial performance
Discontinued operations
During the year, the Company was notified that the subsidiary
and legacy entity, fastjet Aviation Limited (formerly Lonrho
Aviation (BVI) Limited) had been served with an order for a
creditor instructed liquidator to be appointed over fastjet
Aviation Limited in accordance with the Insolvency Act 2003 (BVI).
fastjet Aviation Limited is the intermediate parent company of the
sub-group which included Fly 540 Angola and, formerly Fly 540
Ghana.
The deemed disposal of fastjet Aviation Limited has resulted in
a profit from discontinued operations of US$18.0m for the year (see
note 3).
Post balance sheet event
On 5 January 2017 the Company announced that it had entered into
an agreement with Solenta Aviation Holdings Limited ('Solenta'), a
specialist African aviation aircraft operator and aircraft services
group, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the provision and
operation of three wet-leased aircraft and supply of other services
over the next five years. Under the terms of the Solenta agreement,
Solenta agreed to recognise US$19.2m of the aggregate total
expected cost of the three, five year wet-leases as being satisfied
immediately upon completion through the issue of 95,633,199
Consideration shares. On admission of these Consideration shares to
AIM Solenta became a 28% shareholder in the Company.
On 5 January 2017 the Company also announced that it had
conditionally raised US$28.8m (before expenses) by way of a placing
with institutional and other shareholders of 143,449,794 Placing
shares at 16.3 pence per Placing Share.
On 23 January 2017 the Company announced that at the general
meeting of the Company held to approve, inter alia, certain matters
necessary to implement the Placing, all resolutions put to
shareholders were duly passed.
Fuel cost
Since March 2016 fastjet has purchased its fuel at prevailing
market prices. The Board will keep its fuel price hedging strategy
under review.
fastjet Tanzania
fastjet Tanzania's revenues decreased by 7% to US$60.0m (2015:
US$64.6m) driven by a 13 percentage point decrease in load factors.
This decrease in load factor was due to some overcapacity in the
market but also the increase in fleet size in 2016 compared with
the prior year. Aircraft utilisation improved to an average of 10.8
block hours per day (2015: 9.9 block hours per day). The business
reported an operating loss of US$44.9m for the year (2015: US$24.2m
loss) largely due to increased costs arising from the additional
capacity and the return conditions for three aircraft which left
the Tanzanian fleet during the last quarter of the year and an
onerous contract provision for maintenance services of US$1.9m.
Exchange rate changes in 2016
Tanzania - Exchange Rate, TZS/USD
Source: Bloomberg
The shilling depreciated by only one per cent in 2016 compared
with a 25 per cent depreciation experienced in 2015.
fastjet Zimbabwe
fastjet Zimbabwe commenced services in October 2015 and had its
first full year results for 2016. It reported revenues of US$9.0m
(2015: US$ US$0.3m) and an operating loss before exceptional items
of US$14.5m for the year (2015: US$4.0m). The losses stemmed mainly
from over capacity on the markets entered, which has been reduced
as part of the Stabilisation Plan, together with the type of
aircraft. An onerous contract provision for maintenance services of
US$1.9m has also been recognised. Return conditions for the A319
currently undergoing return, have also been provided for in the
2016 results. Aircraft utilisation was an average of 6.5 block
hours per day for 2016.
Key performance indicators
The Directors consider the following to be the key performance
indicators (KPI's) when measuring underlying operational
performance. The KPI's reflect standard airline industry metrics
which provide measures of efficiency and business performance. They
provide a mechanism for the company to track performance at both a
company level and industry level. They are indicative of how the
business is achieving its strategy and objectives from an
operational, cost and revenue perspective. These measures relate to
the operating performance of fastjet Tanzania and Zimbabwe
only.
Measure 2016 2015 Movement
Passenger numbers 783,317 781,238 +0%
Revenue per Passenger (US$) 87.50 82.74 +6%
Seats Flown 1,459,202 1,171,818 +25%
Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) 1,155,844,321 957,871,744 +21%
Load Factor 53.7% 66.7% -13%
Revenue per ASK (US cents) 5.93 6.75 -12%
Cost per ASK (US cents) 11.15 9.28 +20%
Cost per ASK ex. Fuel (US cents) 9.41 7.09 +33%
Aircraft Utilisation (Hours) 9.8 9.9 -1%
Aircraft Utilisation at Year End (Hours) 8.6 9.6 -11%
Aircraft Utilisation in Peak Month (Hours) 11.2 11.2 0%
Funding
A placing and open offer on 8 August 2016 successfully raised
GBP15.2m (US$20.0m) before expenses from institutional and other
investors. The proceeds of the placing have been utilised in
providing working capital to existing operations in Tanzania and
Zimbabwe.
On 5 January 2017 the Company also announced a further placing
of 143,449,794 shares at 16.3 pence or GBP23.4m (US$28.8m) before
expenses from institutional investors and other shareholders. These
proceeds will be used for implementation of the Stabilisation Plan
specifically the change to the aircraft fleet and completion of the
relocation of the head office.
Going Concern
The Group's cash balance at 30 April 2017 was US$12.9m
reflecting the benefit of the January 2017 equity placing of
US$28.8m before expenses offset by high operating costs and
creditor reductions. This cash balance included US$2.0m which is
only available for use within Zimbabwe. The Group does not have any
debt facilities other than a US$10.3m loan note in respect of
fastjet Aviation Limited (see note 3).
There are risks associated with operating in Africa including
but not limited to political, judicial, administrative, fiscal or
other regulatory matters. Many countries in Africa, including those
in which the Group currently operates may in the future experience
severe socio-economic hardship and political instability, including
political unrest and government change.
The commitment of local business people, government officials
and agencies and the judicial system to abide by legal requirements
and negotiated agreements may be more uncertain, creating
particular concerns with respect to licences and agreements for
business which may be susceptible to delay, revision or
cancellation, as a result of which legal redress may be uncertain
or delayed.
The Company is implementing a Stabilisation Plan. This process
commenced in September 2016 and involves the following key
aspects:
1. Relocation of the Gatwick office to Johannesburg
Various functions have been relocated to Johannesburg, namely
Finance, Commercial and Marketing. The Group Operations and
Engineering functions are currently being operated from Gatwick.
The Gatwick office lease will not be renewed and expires in August
2017.
2. Route optimisation
The rationalisation of the route network focussing on more
profitable routes continued, with a number of loss making routes
suspended during the year.
3. Re-fleeting to smaller aircraft (Embraer E145s/E190s)
The process to remove the A319 aircraft from the fleet is well
advanced. The estimated costs of early return for the two remaining
aircraft and re-fleeting to a smaller capacity aircraft are circa
US$4.0m. At the end of 2016 the Company operated two A319s, both on
long term leases, and is currently negotiating an early release of
these two aircraft. One A319 has already been taken out of service
and there are plans for the second A319 to be removed by the end of
September 2017. The current fleet plan utilises a combination of
both wet leases and dry leases throughout 2017.
The Directors have prepared detailed forecasts through to June
2018, based on the Stabilisation Plan. The key assumptions which
form the basis of the forecast are:
Revenue
-- Load factors reach 87% by end of Q2 2017, mainly driven by smaller aircraft capacity;
-- Year on year passenger decrease of 14% for continued routes due to reduced capacity; and
-- Average fare for continued routes slight decrease year on year.
Expenditure
-- Gatwick office relocated to Johannesburg by August 2017.
Salary savings associated with this move will be approximately
22%;
-- Progressive replacement of the A319s by Embraer E190s/E145s.
Fastjet currently only operates one A319 and has already begun to
operate one of the E145 aircraft under the Solenta operational
agreement. By October 2017 fastjet expects to operate two E190 dry
leases in Tanzania and two E145 Solenta wet leases in Zimbabwe by
August 2017.
-- Costs relating to ground handling reduce by 15% due to
smaller aircraft and renegotiation of agreements;
-- Fuel cost assumed to reduce by 35% due to smaller aircraft
and reduced routes operated. The oil price for 2017 will remain
static;
-- Flight crew costs reduced by 75% as a consequence of ceasing
to employ expatriate pilots and the changes in routes and size of
fleet operated;
-- Removal of remaining two A319's by September 2017;
-- Availability to use up to three wet-leased aircraft at a
reduced ACMI rate as a result of the transaction entered into with
Solenta. The ACMI cash element rate, as compared to current rates
being charged, will be reduced by 33% due to an element of the
lease being consideration for the shares issued to Solenta. One
E145 is already in operation under this agreement, with an
additional E145 expected to be utilised in Zimbabwe later this
summer: and
-- Repayment of Loan Notes to fastjet Aviation Limited to
commence in July 2017. Repayment is due over 10 years in quarterly
instalments at 4% per annum.
Other
-- Exchange rates. Fastjet's cashflows are most exposed to
movements in the Tanzanian shilling and the US dollar. In its
forecasting Fastjet has assumed that the key exchange rates remain
as at current levels.
-- fastjet Aviation Limited (formerly Lonrho Aviation (BVI)
Limited) has been issued with an order for a creditor appointed
liquidator to be appointed under the Insolvency Act 2003 (British
Virgin Islands). The Directors do not believe that there is
recourse to fastjet Plc for any of the liabilities of fastjet
Aviation Limited.
The Directors have also considered a number of risks in
achieving these forecasts including inter alia:
-- Not achieving forecast passenger numbers and load factors;
-- Aviation fuel prices, which are currently not hedged, increase;
-- Adverse currency exchange rate movements;
-- Not achieving the cost reductions required to reach breakeven by Q4;
-- Availability of aircraft with only three aircraft in the fleet; and
-- Not achieving additional funding if required.
The Directors believe, on the basis of current financial
projections and funds available, that the Group has sufficient
resources to meet its operational needs until at least June 2018.
It should be noted, however, that the headroom over available cash
resources is minimal with forecasts showing headroom at its lowest
in October 2017. The Directors have also prepared sensitised cash
flow forecasts which indicate that the Group will need to raise
additional funding if any of the following variances in assumptions
arise. Specifically:
-- Load factors not met by 5%; or
-- Fare prices decrease by 2% year on year; or
-- Fuel prices increase by 15% with no recovery in ticket prices, or
-- Foreign exchange rate depreciation of Tanzanian shilling by 13% against the US dollar.
Should additional funds be required the Directors believe it
will be necessary to request additional equity from existing and
possibly new shareholders. As at the date of approval of these
Financial Statements, no commitment has been made or received for
any future financing and there can be no certainty that additional
funding if required will ultimately be available.
In preparing these financial statements, the Directors continue
to adopt the going concern basis, notwithstanding the possibility
that further funding may be required and about which there is no
certainty at the date of approval of these financial
statements.
However, given the minimal headroom in the forecast, the matters
described above represent material uncertainties that may cast
significant doubt upon the Group's and the parent Company's ability
to continue as a going concern and, therefore, to continue
realising its assets and discharging its liabilities in the normal
course of business. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments that would result if the basis of preparation proved
inappropriate.
Michael Muller
Chief Financial Officer
30 May 2016
Consolidated income statement
2016 2015 (restated)
--------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
fastjet fastjet
Note US$'000 US$'000
-------------------------- ----- --------- ----------------
Revenue 68,538 65,055
Cost of Sales (95,422) (77,963)
-------------------------- ----- --------- ----------------
Gross Loss (26,884) (12,908)
Administrative
costs (37,026) (25,018)
Group operating
loss (63,910) (37,926)
Finance income 30 2,330
Finance charges (1,943) (273)
-------------------------- ----- --------- ----------------
Loss from continuing
activities before
tax (65,823) (35,869)
Taxation 4 (175) (353)
Loss from continuing
activities after
tax (65,998) (36,222)
Profit from discontinued
activities net
of tax 3 17,953 14,281
Loss for the year (48,045) (21,941)
-------------------------- ----- --------- ----------------
Attributable to:
Shareholders of
the parent company (68,483) (21,941)
Non-controlling
interests 20,438 -
-------------------------- ----- --------- ----------------
(48,045) (21,941)
Loss per share
(basic and diluted)
(US$) 5
From continuing
activities (0.84) (0.71)
From discontinued
activities (0.03) 0.28
-------------------------- ----- --------- ----------------
Total (0.87) (0.43)
-------------------------- ----- --------- ----------------
The comparable results for 2015 have been restated to include
the Angola CGU as a discontinued activity (see note 3)
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
2016 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ ----------- ---------
Note US$'000 US$'000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ ----------- ---------
Loss for the year (48,045) (21,941)
Foreign exchange translation differences (194) 3,226
Translation reserve taken to the income statement on disposal of subsidiary 15 (10,937)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------
Total other comprehensive expense for the year (179) (7,711)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------
Total comprehensive expense (48,224) (29,652)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------
Attributable to:
Shareholders of the parent company (68,662) (29,652)
Non-controlling interests 20,438 -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ ----------- ---------
Total comprehensive expense (48,224) (29,652)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------
All items in other comprehensive income will be re-classified to
the Income Statement.
Non- controlling interests for 2015 are US$ Nil as there was no
profit or loss within the Fly 540 Angola legal entity for the
period.
Consolidated balance sheet
2016 2015
Note US$'000 US$'000
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
Non-current assets
Intangible assets 312 487
Property, plant and equipment 465 18,338
Trade and other receivables 780 2,054
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
1,557 20,879
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 3,607 29,890
Trade and other receivables 10,835 9,087
14,442 38,977
Total assets 15,999 59,856
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
Equity
Called up equity share capital 145,324 144,923
Share premium account 127,185 108,366
Reverse acquisition reserve 11,906 11,906
Retained earnings 1 (312,956) (245,138)
Translation reserve 3,643 3,822
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
Equity attributable to shareholders of the Parent Company (24,898) 23,879
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
Non-controlling interests - (20,438)
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
Total equity (24,898) 3,441
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Loans and other borrowings 8,102 -
Trade and other payables 1,558 1,786
9,660 1,786
Current liabilities
Bank overdrafts - 975
Loans and other borrowings 1,127 -
Provisions 3,784 -
Obligations under finance leases - 14,406
Trade and other payables 25,844 38,940
Taxation 482 308
31,237 54,629
Total liabilities 40,897 56,415
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
Total liabilities and equity 15,999 59,856
----------------------------------------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------
These financial statements were approved and authorised for
issue by the Directors on 30 May 2017 and are signed on their
behalf by:
Nico Bezuidenhout
Chief Executive Officer
Consolidated cash flow statement
2016 2015(restated)
------------------------------------------------------------ --------- ---------------
US$'000 US$'000
------------------------------------------------------------ --------- ---------------
Operating activities
Result for the year (48,045) (21,941)
Tax charge 175 353
Loss/(Profit) on disposal of aircraft 2,913 -
Loss on disposal of other property, plant and equipment 37 -
Profit from discontinued operations (17,953) (14,281)
Impairment of aircraft - -
Depreciation and amortisation 1,152 292
Finance income (30) (2,592)
Finance charges 997 353
Tax paid - (159)
(Increase)/Decrease in receivables (1,025) (3,285)
Increase in trade and other payables 8,778 3,583
Share option charges 665 778
------------------------------------------------------------ --------- ---------------
Net cash flow from operating activities (52,336) (36,899)
Investing activities
Disposal of discontinued operation net of cash disposed of 921 4,356
Sale of aircraft 7,840 11,000
Sale of other plant, property and equipment 6 -
Purchase of intangibles (82) (226)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (69) (13,304)
Net cash flow from investing activities 8,616 1,826
Financing activities
Proceeds from the issue of shares (net of expenses) 19,220 71,918
Interest paid (755) (192)
Finance lease payments on held for sale aircraft - (11,319)
------------------------------------------------------------ --------- ---------------
Net cash flow from financing activities 18,465 60,407
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents (25,255) 25,334
Foreign currency difference (53) 2,204
Opening net cash 28,915 1,377
------------------------------------------------------------ --------- ---------------
Closing net cash 3,607 28,915
------------------------------------------------------------ --------- ---------------
Cash balances at 31 December 2016 include US$ Nil (2015:
US$54,000) of cash not available for use by the Group, being US$
nil (2015: US$54,000) held in Angola where the government restricts
movement of currency. Cash balances at 31 December 2016 include US$
1,331,000 (2015: US$ 30,000) of cash that is held in Zimbabwe and
can only be used within that territory.
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Reverse Non-
Share Share Acquisition Translation Retained controlling Total
Capital Premium Reserve Reserve Earnings Interests Equity
-------------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------
US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000
-------------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------
Balance at 31
December 2014 69,850 108,366 11,906 11,533 (218,227) (23,031) (39,603)
-------------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------
Shares issued 75,073 - - - (3,155) - 71,918
Share based payments - - - - 778 - 778
Change in non-controlling
interests
- - - - (2,593) 2,593 -
Transactions with
owners 75,073 - - - (4,970) 2,593 72,696
Translation reserve
taken into income
statement on disposal
of subsidiary - - - (10,937) - - (10,937)
Foreign exchange
difference - - - 3,226 - - 3,226
Loss for the year - - - - (21,941) - (21,941)
-------------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------
Balance at 31
December 2015 144,923 108,366 11,906 3,822 (245,138) (20,438) 3,441
-------------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------
Shares issued 401 18,819 - - - - 19,220
Share based payments - - - - 665 - 665
Transactions with
owners 401 18,819 - - 665 - 19,885
Foreign exchange
difference - - - (194) - - (194)
Translation reserve
taken into income
statement on disposal
of subsidiary - - - 15 - - 15
Loss for the year - - - - (68,483) 20,438 (48,045)
-------------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------
Balance at 31
December 2016 145,324 127,185 11,906 3,643 (312,956) - (24,898)
-------------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------
Notes to the Group financial statements
1. Significant accounting policies
fastjet Plc is the Group's ultimate parent company. It is
incorporated in England and Wales. The Company's shares are quoted
on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Basis of preparation
The preliminary results announcement for the year ended 31
December 2015 has been prepared by the Directors based upon the
results and position which are reflected in the statutory accounts.
The statutory accounts are prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the
European Union (Adopted IFRS).
The financial information set out above does not constitute the
company's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 December 2016
or 2015 but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for
2015 have been delivered to the registrar of companies, and those
for 2016 will be delivered in due course. The auditor has reported
on those accounts; their reports were (i) qualified in 2015 in
respect of the appropriateness of evidence to support the carrying
value of assets of US$1.4m and liabilities of US$18.1m relating to
Fly 540 Angola. In addition, the report was qualified in 2016 and
2015 in respect of the profit from discontinued operations of
US$17.9m (2015: US$14.3m) (ii) 2016 and 2015 included a reference
to an emphasis of matter in which the auditor drew attention,
without qualifying their report, to the material uncertainties in
respect of the Company and Group being a Going concern, and (iii)
did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the
Companies Act 2006.
Going concern
The Group's cash balance at 30 April 2017 was US$12.9m
reflecting the benefit of the January 2017 equity placing of
US$28.8m before expenses offset by high operating costs and
creditor reductions. This cash balance included US$2.0m which is
only available for use within Zimbabwe. The Group does not have any
debt facilities other than a US$10.3m loan note in respect of
fastjet Aviation Limited (see note 3).
There are risks associated with operating in Africa including
but not limited to political, judicial, administrative, fiscal or
other regulatory matters. Many countries in Africa, including those
in which the Group currently operates may in the future experience
severe socio-economic hardship and political instability, including
political unrest and government change.
The commitment of local business people, government officials
and agencies and the judicial system to abide by legal requirements
and negotiated agreements may be more uncertain, creating
particular concerns with respect to licences and agreements for
business which may be susceptible to delay, revision or
cancellation, as a result of which legal redress may be uncertain
or delayed.
The Company is implementing a Stabilisation Plan. This process
commenced in September 2016 and involves the following key
aspects:
1. Relocation of the Gatwick office to Johannesburg
Various functions have been relocated to Johannesburg, namely
Finance, Commercial and Marketing. The Group Operations and
Engineering functions are currently being operated from Gatwick.
The Gatwick office lease will not be renewed and expires in August
2017.
2. Route optimisation
The rationalisation of the route network focussing on more
profitable routes continued, with a number of loss making routes
suspended during the year.
3. Re-fleeting to smaller aircraft (Embraer E145s/E190s)
The process to remove the A319 aircraft from the fleet is well
advanced. The estimated costs of early return for the two remaining
aircraft and re-fleeting to a smaller capacity aircraft are circa
US$4.0m. At the end of 2016 the Company operated two A319s, both on
long term leases, and is currently negotiating an early release of
these two aircraft. One A319 has already been taken out of service
and there are plans for the second A319 to be removed by the end of
September 2017. The current fleet plan utilises a combination of
both wet leases and dry leases throughout 2017.
The Directors have prepared detailed forecasts through to June
2018, based on the Stabilisation Plan. The key assumptions which
form the basis of the forecast are:
Revenue
-- Load factors reach 87% by end of Q2 2017, mainly driven by smaller aircraft capacity;
-- Year on year passenger decrease of 14% for continued routes due to reduced capacity; and
-- Average fare for continued routes slight decrease year on year.
Expenditure
-- Gatwick office relocated to Johannesburg by August 2017.
Salary savings associated with this move will be approximately
22%;
-- Progressive replacement of the A319s by Embraer E190s/E145s.
Fastjet currently only operates one A319 and has already begun to
operate one of the E145 aircraft under the Solenta operational
agreement. By October 2017 fastjet expects to operate two E190 dry
leases in Tanzania and two E145 Solenta wet leases in Zimbabwe by
August 2017.
-- Costs relating to ground handling reduce by 15% due to
smaller aircraft and renegotiation of agreements;
-- Fuel cost assumed to reduce by 35% due to smaller aircraft
and reduced routes operated. The oil price for 2017 will remain
static;
-- Flight crew costs reduced by 75% as a consequence of ceasing
to employ expatriate pilots and the changes in routes and size of
fleet operated;
-- Removal of remaining two A319's by September 2017;
-- Availability to use up to three wet-leased aircraft at a
reduced ACMI rate as a result of the transaction entered into with
Solenta. The ACMI cash element rate, as compared to current rates
being charged, will be reduced by 33% due to an element of the
lease being consideration for the shares issued to Solenta. One
E145 is already in operation under this agreement, with an
additional E145 expected to be utilised in Zimbabwe later this
summer: and
-- Repayment of Loan Notes to fastjet Aviation Limited to
commence in July 2017. Repayment is due over 10 years.
Other
-- Exchange rates. Fastjet's cashflows are most exposed to
movements in the Tanzanian shilling and the US dollar. In its
forecasting Fastjet has assumed that the key exchange rates remain
as at current levels.
-- fastjet Aviation Limited (formerly Lonrho Aviation (BVI)
Limited) has been issued with an order for a creditor appointed
liquidator to be appointed under the Insolvency Act 2003 (British
Virgin Islands). The Directors do not believe that there is
recourse to fastjet Plc for any of the liabilities of fastjet
Aviation Limited.
The Directors have also considered a number of risks in
achieving these forecasts including inter alia:
-- Not achieving forecast passenger numbers and load factors;
-- Aviation fuel prices, which are currently not hedged, increase;
-- Adverse currency exchange rate movements;
-- Not achieving the cost reductions required to reach breakeven by Q4;
-- Availability of aircraft with only three aircraft in the fleet; and
-- Not achieving additional funding if required.
The Directors believe, on the basis of current financial
projections and funds available, that the Group has sufficient
resources to meet its operational needs until at least June 2018.
It should be noted, however, that the headroom over available cash
resources is minimal with forecasts showing headroom at its lowest
in October 2017. The Directors have also prepared sensitised cash
flow forecasts which indicate that the Group will need to raise
additional funding if any of the following variances in assumptions
arise. Specifically:
-- Load factors not met by 5%; or
-- Fare prices decrease by 2% year on year; or
-- Fuel prices increase by 15% with no recovery in ticket prices, or
-- Foreign exchange rate depreciation of Tanzanian shilling by 13% against the US dollar.
Should additional funds be required the Directors believe it
will be necessary to request additional equity from existing and
possibly new shareholders. As at the date of approval of these
Financial Statements, no commitment has been made or received for
any future financing and there can be no certainty that additional
funding if required will ultimately be available.
In preparing these financial statements, the Directors continue
to adopt the going concern basis, notwithstanding the possibility
that further funding may be required and about which there is no
certainty at the date of approval of these financial
statements.
However, given the minimal headroom in the forecast, the matters
described above represent material uncertainties that may cast
significant doubt upon the Group's and the parent Company's ability
to continue as a going concern and, therefore, to continue
realising its assets and discharging its liabilities in the normal
course of business. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments that would result if the basis of preparation proved
inappropriate.
Restatement of prior year
The Angola CGU has now left the Group following the appointment
of the Liquidator to fastjet Aviation Limited ("FAL"). The 2015
comparatives have therefore been restated to report the Angola CGU
as a discontinued operation with other FAL companies (see Note
3).
2. Segmental reporting
The Group's continuing business comprises that of airline
services. That business operates across a number of different
geographical territories, all within Africa. Accordingly, these
geographical territories are the basis for the Company's segmental
reporting disclosure.
The results of fastjet Plc head office and the Group's several
holding companies are disclosed under the heading 'Central'.
Year ended 31 December Tanzania Zimbabwe Central Eliminate Inter-segment Total
2016 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000
------------------------------------------------ --------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ----------
External 59,169 9,369 - - 68,538
Inter-segment 508 - 34,017 (34,525) -
--------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ----------
Total revenue 59,677 9,369 34,017 (34,525) 68,538
========= ========= ======== ======================== ==========
Operating loss excluding interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation (43,094) (14,454) (5,210) - (62,758)
Finance income - - 30 - 30
Finance Charges (1,670) 2 (680) 405 (1,943)
Depreciation and amortisation (93) (49) (869) - (1,011)
Impairments - - (141) - (141)
Tax (175) - - - (175)
--------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ----------
Net loss (45,032) (14,501) (6,870) 405 (65,998)
========= ========= ======== ======================== ==========
Non-current assets 233 181 1,143 - 1,557
------------------------------------------------ --------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ----------
Year ended 31 December Tanzania Zimbabwe Central Eliminate Inter-segment Total
2015 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000
------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ---------
External 64,637 310 108 - 65,055
Inter-segment - - 22,374 (22,374) -
--------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ---------
Total revenue 64,637 310 22,482 (22,374) 65,055
========= ========= ======== ======================== =========
Operating loss excluding interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation (24,075) (3,974) (9,389) - (37,438)
Finance income - - 2,330 - 2,330
Finance charges (78) - (195) - (273)
Depreciation and amortisation (113) (15) (360) - (488)
Impairments - - - - -
Tax (194) - (159) (353)
--------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ---------
Net loss (24,460) (3,989) (7,773) - (36,222)
========= ========= ======== ======================== =========
Non-current assets 436 202 15,241 - 15,879
------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- -------- ------------------------ ---------
The Board monitors the performance of the business units and the
overall group. It monitors loss after tax and its individual
components and therefore these are disclosed above. Assets and
liabilities are not reported by business unit. Central also
includes start-up costs for fastjet Zambia for obtaining an AOC.
This has subsequently been deferred as announced on 14 April
2016.
3. Discontinued operation and changes of control
In recent periods the Group has been exiting its legacy Fly 540
businesses. In H1 2015, the Fly 540 Ghana CGU was disposed of and
has been accounted for within Discontinued Activities in 2015. On 6
June 2016 a court appointed liquidator was appointed over fastjet
Aviation Limited (FAL) in accordance with the Insolvency Act 2003
(British Virgin Islands). On appointment of the liquidator, control
over fastjet Aviation Limited passed to the liquidator. FAL is the
intermediate parent company of the sub-group which included Fly 540
Angola. Consequently, FAL and subsidiaries including Fly 540 Angola
CGU have been deconsolidated and disclosed as a discontinued
business with the comparative results restated.
The profit from discontinued activities net of tax in the
consolidated income statement comprises:
12 months 12 months
ended ended
31 December 31 December
2016 2015
US$'000 US$'000
Fly 540 Ghana CGU - 19,371
Fastjet Aviation Ltd
including Fly 540 Angola
CGU 17,953 (5,090)
---------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Profit from discontinued
activities net of tax 17,953 14,281
---------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
The profit from discontinued activities arises on the removal of
the net liabilities of the CGU from the Group.
Fly 540 Ghana
In June 2015, fastjet disposed of its interest in Fly 540 Ghana
following which, its financial results; assets and liabilities are
no longer consolidated into the fastjet Group's financial
statements. The Fly 540 Ghana CGU is included within discontinued
activities.
The profit and loss on the discontinued Fly 540 Ghana CGU on the
Consolidated Income Statement can be analysed as follows:
12 months 12 months
ended ended
31 December 31 December
2016 2015
US$'000 US$'000
Revenue - -
Operating costs - -
------------------------------------ -------------- -----------------
Operating loss before exceptional - -
items
Exceptional items - profit
on disposal of aircraft - 2,250
Exceptional items - impairment - (460)
------------------------------------ -------------- -----------------
Operating loss after exceptional
items - 1,790
Finance charge - (113)
------------------------------------ -------------- -----------------
Loss before tax - 1,677
Profit on sale of Ghana
operation - 6,757
Transfer from Translation
reserve - 10,937
------------------------------------ -------------- -----------------
Profit for the period - 19,371
------------------------------------ -------------- -----------------
Net cash flows attributable
to investing activities - (4,356)
Fly 540 Angola
On 6 June 2016 a liquidator was appointed to Fastjet Aviation
Limited, the intermediate parent company of the sub-group which
included the Fly 540 Angola CGU. Upon this appointment, control has
now been transferred to the liquidator so the entity no longer
forms part of the Group consolidated accounts with effect from this
date. The Fly 540 Angola CGU now meets the definition of a
discontinued business and the comparative results have been
restated.
A consequence of the FAL sub-group no longer being consolidated
is recognition of intercompany loans and balances. This includes
US$10.3m unsecured loan notes issued by fastjet Airlines Limited
(fastjet Tanzania) to FAL, together with accrued interest, which
are shown within "non-current & current liabilities" on the
Group Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2016. Interest on these
unsecured loan notes is accrued at 4%. The loan notes are repayable
in quarterly instalments with the first instalment by fastjet
Airlines Limited due on 1 July 2017.
The effect of the disposal of individual assets and liabilities
of fastjet Aviation Limited entity which includes the Fly 540
Angola CGU is as follows:
Angola Aircraft Other Total
Operations fastjet
Aviation
Ltd entities
US$,000 US$,000 US$,000 US$,000
Property, plant
and equipment - 4,719 - 4,719
Trade and other
Receivables 1,364 - 940 2,304
Cash and cash
equivalents 54 - - 54
Bank overdrafts (975) - - (975)
Obligations under
finance leases - (14,933) - (14,933)
Trade and other
payables (17,139) - (1,824) (18,963)
-------------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------------- -------------
Total (16,696) (10,214) (884) (27,794)
-------------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------------- -------------
The profit and loss arising on the deemed disposal of the
fastjet Aviation Limited entity which includes the Fly 540 Angola
CGU can be analysed as follows:
12 months 12 months
ended ended
31 December 31 December
2016 2015
US$'000 US$'000
Revenue - -
Operating costs (282) (845)
---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Operating loss before
exceptional items (282) (845)
Exceptional items -
impairment - (3,560)
---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Operating loss after
exceptional items (282) (4,405)
Finance charge (527) (685)
---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Loss Before Tax (809) (5,090)
Net liabilities no longer 27,794 -
consolidated
Crystallisation of loan (9,017) -
notes to fastjet Aviation
Limited from fastjet
Airlines Limited (see
note 15)
Transfer from foreign (15) -
exchange reserve
---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Profit/(loss) for the
year 17,953 (5,090)
---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Net cash flows attributable - -
to operations
Net cash flows attributable 921 -
to investing
Net cash flows attributable - -
to financing
fastjet Aviation Limited had provided legacy guarantees in
respect of certain liabilities of Fly 540 Ghana and Fly 540 Angola
that had not been discharged at 31 December 2016. However, the
Directors do not believe that there is any recourse to fastjet Plc
in respect of the original liabilities or by fastjet Aviation
Limited in respect of its guarantee of them.
4. Tax
Year ended Year ended
31 December 31 December
2016 2015
US$'000 US$'000
-------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
Current tax expense:
Current tax for the year 175 353
Adjustment to current tax in respect of previous years - -
---------------- ----------------
175 353
---------------- ----------------
Deferred tax (credit) / expense:
Origination and reversal of temporary differences - -
Reduction in tax rate - -
---------------- ----------------
- -
---------------- ----------------
Tax expense in income statement (excluding discontinued operations) 175 353
Tax from discontinued operations - -
---------------- ----------------
Total tax expense 175 353
================ ================
A reconciliation of the tax expense to the reported losses is
given below:
Year ended Year ended
31 December 31 December
2016 2015
US$'000 US$'000
-------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
Loss from continuing operations
before tax (65,823) (35,869)
Profit/(loss) from discontinued
operations before tax 17,953 14,281
---------------- ----------------
Loss before tax (47,870) (21,588)
================ ================
Loss before tax multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 20 % (2015:
20.25%) (9,574) (4,371)
Current year losses for which no deferred tax has been recognised 16,605 10,268
Tax losses not available for carry forward - 1,069
Liquidation of fastjet Aviation BVI group (3,756) -
Profit on sale of Fly 540 Ghana - (3,885)
Foreign exchange not allowed 37
Income not chargeable to tax (88) -
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 1,997 141
Utilisation of previously unrecognised losses (89) -
Overseas tax rates (5,132) (3,222)
Overseas turnover tax 175 194
Overseas capital gains tax - 159
----------- -----------
Total current tax charge (including tax on discontinued operations) 175 353
=========== ===========
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes includes specific and
general provisions disallowed for tax purposes until such time as
the expenditure is incurred. Examples are fundraising costs and
legal costs.
At 31 December 2016 the Group had accumulated tax losses of
approximately US$169m (2015: US$117m) available for offset against
future taxable trading profits. The ability to utilise these tax
losses is uncertain in some jurisdictions and therefore the
Directors consider it inappropriate to recognise this potential
deferred tax asset until such time as the Group begins to generate
taxable profits against which the losses will be utilised.
5. Loss per share
Loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss for the period
attributable to equity shareholders in the Parent Company (as
stated in the income statement) by the weighted average number of
shares in issue during the period.
On 21 April 2015 the Company issued 1 new ordinary share of GBP1
for each 100 existing ordinary share held at that date following a
share consolidation.
On 8 August 2016 the company issued 1 new ordinary share of 1p
and 11 deferred shares of 9p for each existing ordinary share of
GBP1 held on that date following a share reorganisation.
The weighted average number of shares in issue during the
period, adjusted for the share reorganisation, was 78,338,107
(2015: 51,286,617). The loss for the purposes of basic earnings per
share being the net loss attributable to the equity holders of the
parent was US$65,998,000 for the continuing operations and a loss
of USD$2,485,000 for discontinued operations (2015 restated:
US$36,222,000 loss continuing, US$14,281,000 profit
discontinued).
The following table reconciles the allocation of the
discontinued operations: -
2016
--------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Total Equity holders NCI
US$'000 US$'000 US$'000
--------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------------ -----------
Profit from discontinued operations including Fly 540 Angola 17,953 11,633 6,320
Reallocation to clear NCI to US$ Nil on deconsolidation of Fly 540
Angola - (14,118) 14,118
Profit/(Loss) on discontinued operations attributable 17,953 (2,485) 20,438
=========== ================== ===========
The non-controlling interest (NCI) at Fly 540 Angola is 40%.
The options and warrants in issue have no dilutive effect in
either period because the Group incurred a loss on continuing and
discontinued activities in both years.
6. Events after the balance sheet date
On 5 January 2017 the Company announced that it had entered into
an agreement with Solenta Aviation Holdings Limited ('Solenta'), a
specialist African aviation aircraft operator and aircraft services
group, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the provision and
operation of three wet-leased aircraft and supply of other services
over the next five years. In conjunction with this the company also
announced that it had conditionally raised US$28.8m (before
expenses) by way of a placing with institutional and other
shareholders of 143,449,794 Placing shares at 16.3 pence per
Placing Share.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
FR LFFLIEFIAFID
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 30, 2017 02:02 ET (06:02 GMT)
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