30 April 2025

Anglo-Eastern Plantations Plc

(The "Company" or "AEP")

Trading Statement and Delay in 2024 Audited Financial Statements

Delay to publication of the audited financial results for the year ended 31 December 2024

Anglo-Eastern Plantations Plc, which owns, operates and develops plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia, announces that the audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 is ongoing and will not be completed by 30 April 2025.

Forvis Mazars, our current auditor, requires additional time to complete its first-year audit. To date, AEP has not been informed of any significant audit issues. We continue to work with Forvis Mazars to ensure that the audit is completed as soon as possible.

As a result, the Company expects that its shares will be temporarily suspended from listing and trading from 1 May 2025 until the audit is completed and the 2024 annual report and accounts are published.

AEP recognises the importance of timely financial reporting and remains committed to restoring its usual reporting timetable going forward.

Operating Performance from continuing operations

Notwithstanding the above, the Board presents the following underlying performance of the Company from continuing operations for the year ended 31 December 2024. The figures presented in this statement remain subject to finalisation of the audit.

Our revenue is expected to be around $372.6 million for 2024. Profit after tax is expected to be around $67.6 million, which is 20% higher than 2023, supported by a combination of elevated CPO prices and lower expenses, including fertiliser spend. Earnings per share is set to increase by 37% to 171 cents following the full acquisition of minority interests in our Indonesian subsidiaries in 2024.

In 2024, our FFB and CPO production declined by 7% and 12%, respectively, compared to the previous year. The decline in production was partly due to our ongoing replanting programme and further influenced by broader regional conditions, particularly in the first half of the year, where excessive rainfall and flooding disrupted operations in certain regions.

Dividend

Accordingly, and in line with the Group's stated dividend policy, the Board is proposing to declare a final dividend of 51 cents per share (2023: 30.0 cents (interim and final)), which is subject to the approval by shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting, which is expected to be held in June 2025. This represents approximately 30% of the indicative retained profits attributable to our Group for the year. 

The following dates are subject to confirmation, owing to the delay in the publication of the annual report and accounts. The dividend is scheduled to be paid on 18 July 2025 to shareholders who are on the register of members at the close of business on 20 June 2025. The ex-dividend date is set for 19 June 2025.

For further enquiry, contact:

Anglo-Eastern Plantations Plc                                               +44 (0) 20 7216 4621

Marcus Chan Jau Chwen, Executive Director (Corporate Affairs)

Kevin Wong Tack Wee, Group Chief Executive Officer

Panmure Liberum                                                                    +44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Amrit Mahbubani / Freddie Wooding

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.