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Steel & Tube Shareholder Newsletter December 2023

General10 December 2023STUMaterials

SHAREHOLDER
NEWSLETTER

December 2023

ECONOMIC HEADWINDS
PUTTING PRESSURE ON

DEMAND

Global unrest, high inflation and interest

rates, cost of living pressures and political

uncertainty have all combined to dampen

domestic demand. While immigration-

driven population growth and international

demand for our primary sector are

underpinning some areas of the economy,

other sectors are facing more volatility.

Residential construction consents are down

more than 20% on the same time last year,

with commercial construction consents

only slightly higher than prior year

1

. The

manufacturing sector has contracted further

2

,

however large scale infrastructure projects

remain in progress.

POSITIVE MEDIUM TO

LONG TERM MACRO-

TRENDS

Longer term macro-trends are more

positive. As cost of borrowing and political

stability start to improve, we expect to

see more incentive for investment in

construction projects and a more favourable

manufacturing environment. Net immigration

growth will drive demand for housing, and the

infrastructure pipeline remains strong.

We have significant medium to long term

opportunities in areas of climate resilience,

seismic strengthening, rebuild activity

and essential water services, supported by

government budgeted infrastructure spend of

$71b over the next five years.

Susan Paterson ChairMark Malpass Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY UPDATE

1

Statistics NZ October 2023

2

Treasury Economic Update 20 October 2023

DEAR SHAREHOLDER

KIA ORA, TĒNĀ KOUTOU

As we arrive at the end of 2023, we can look back at another 12 months where

Steel & Tube has delivered solid results in a difficult economic environment.

While volumes have been under pressure from economic headwinds, staying the

course on strategy and our focus on ‘controlling the controllables’ has allowed

us to continue generating strong margins, grow market share in key categories,

offset inflation pressures with cost efficiencies and strengthen our balance sheet.

In difficult economic times, maintaining a strong balance sheet and a lean cost

structure is critical. As at end of November 2023, we had net cash of $17.1m

($6.5m at 30 June 2023), and a further reduction in inventory down to $135.50m

($139.2m at 30 June 2023).

DELIVERING ON
STRATEGY WHILE

CONTROLLING THE

CONTROLLABLES

Our strength is underpinned by our relentless focus

on customer service and providing quality steel

products and solutions. We have a lean operating

structure and have built a sustainable and resilient

business platform. The competitive advantage

provided by our national network, broad product

offering and multi-sector exposures provides

significant operating leverage to the anticipated

upswing in future demand.

The strategic investments we have made over the

last two years into high value products and services

and acquisitions continue to perform strongly:

• We have continued to expand the range of

aluminium products we sell, since launching

this line in early 2023

• Building on the plate processing growth

in Auckland, new equipment will be

commissioned in Christchurch in the new

year, ahead of schedule, allowing us to better

service the South Island market

• We continue to leverage our national footprint

to expand our acquired Kiwi Pipe and Fittings

business from its historical customer base of

Auckland and Waikato

COMPANY UPDATE

3

Normalised EBIT has been adjusted to exclude non-trading adjustments of ~$1m primarily relating to Software as a Service and Project Strong costs.

STEEL MARKET

PROCUREMENT

U P DATE

Steel & Tube prepares a regular

Procurement Update, providing

insights into the global steel market

and what this means for Steel &

Tube. The December 2023 Update

‘Expansion or Contraction’ suggests

a more stable outlook for the 2024

year but with continued risks from

economic and global headwinds

and expected price volatility.

The Steel & Tube Procurement

Update can be read here.

• Our Project Strong investment in semi-

automated palletised warehousing will increase

our capacity for high value, high demand

products

• Upgraded mesh straightening equipment

has been installed in Auckland and we have

also invested in new purlins machinery with

automated stacking systems.

1H24 EARNINGS GUIDANCE

We previously advised that we anticipated activity

in the 2023 calendar year to be subdued, however

expected to maintain 1H24 normalised EBIT in line

with 2H23. We are pleased to report that, despite

the challenging environment, we remain on track

to deliver 1H24 normalised EBIT in the range of $10

to $11m (2H23: $10.6m).

This has been achieved through customer focus,

strong pricing disciplines and good progress with

our $5m cost management programme which has

allowed us to offset inflation with efficiencies. Gross

margin dollars/tonne continues to improve vs the

prior comparative period.

Our leverage and tight cost controls should result

in strong earnings growth when volumes return to

prior year levels as the economy improves.

You can read the full announcement on our

website here.

Our commitment to our people, our

communities and the environment continues.

Steel & Tube was recently recognised in the

2023 Forsyth Barr Carbon ESG Report with

an overall CESG ranking of 17 out of the 58

companies assessed, and as one of the top 10

Social performers.

We’re pleased to share with you some of our

recent initiatives in this newsletter, as well

as introduce you to Steel & Tube’s new Chief

Digital Officer, Raffaella Del Prete.

Steel & Tube has an experienced and

engaged team who continue to focus on

the performance of the core business, while

taking advantage of growth opportunities

in steel processing, aluminium and our new

acquisitions. As a result of their efforts, the

company continues to perform strongly in

the more challenging trading environment.

As always, we welcome feedback from our

shareholders. Thank you for your continued

support.

Ngā mihi and Happy Holidays

Susan Paterson Mark Malpass

Chair Chief Executive Officer

CELEBRATING
70 YEARS

2023 was the year of Steel & Tube’s 70th anniversary, a significant milestone

that marks seven decades of unwavering commitment to providing

our customers with quality steel products and solutions. From humble

beginnings, our company has adapted and evolved, emerging stronger and

more resilient than ever. In a world where less than half of businesses make

it past the first ten years, our longevity and strong standing is testament

to our enduring spirit, our ability to move with the times, the dedication of

our team and the loyalty of our customers. The 70th anniversary is not just

a reflection of our past achievements but also a springboard for the exciting

future that lies ahead.

Our team has celebrated this milestone over the year, with activities ranging

from special occasion branding on cars and in workplaces, through to sharing

stories on long serving employees and their contributions to our legacy, and

the creation of a mural at our company office, depicting our history. Our

annual Excellence Awards also pay tribute to this significant event.

We are pleased to be gifting all permanent team

members with 70 shares each in Steel & Tube

as part of our 70th anniversary. This recognises

the vital contribution that our people make to

the success and longevity of the company. We

already have a highly engaged workforce and this

is another way we can engage with and reward

our team members for their efforts. This gift of

shares will have a negligible dilution on existing

shareholders while creating strong loyalty and

ownership for all our staff. We look forward to

having them as owners in our business.

GIFT OF SHARES TO TEAM MEMBERS

Our Values
TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR

OUR CUSTOMERS

Our Purpose

WE HAVE RESPECT

WHAKAUTE

• We value the skills the whole

team bring to the table – we’re

stronger together

• We’re inclusive, seek diversity of

thought and accept differences

• We honour the legacy of our

brand and strive to strengthen

it for future teams

WE ARE BRAVE

MĀIA

• We fight the good fight and

work hard to do what is right

• We stand out from the crowd

and support each other to

push the boundaries of what

is possible

• We walk the talk and take

responsibility for delivering

value to our customers

WE CARE

MANAAKI

• We look after our customers,

our communities, our

environment and each other

• We put safety and wellbeing

at the heart of our business

• We cheer our people on,

celebrate great work and

recognise progress

POWERFUL NEW VALUES

UNDERPINNING OUR FUTURE

As part of Steel & Tube’s 70th anniversary, we have refreshed our

company values and purpose, with input from our people across

the organisation. As well as general feedback, several important

groups of employees provided additional contributions – our

longest serving team members, a group of future leaders, our Māori

cadetship team and the Executive team.

The outcome is a refreshed purpose and values which underpin

Steel & Tube’s future success for the decades ahead.


Our Strategic Goals

STRENGTHEN

THE CORE

GROW HIGH VALUE

PRODUCTS AND

SERVICES

FROM STEEL TO POWER
We celebrated Steel & Tube’s role in a massive

infrastructure project, as the first turbine was

switched on at Merdian Energy’s Harapaki

Wind Farm development in November 2023.

Over the coming months, the 41 wind turbines

will be installed and energised.

Steel & Tube worked on the project for

14 months, supplying and installing more

than 2,800 tonnes of reinforcing steel. This

has been used to build the high strength

bases needed to meet the demands on the

foundations when operating wind turbines of

this size, as well as pile cages which are used

to support and distribute the weight load and

protect against seismic movement.

The project was not without its challenges,

with major weather events such as Cyclone

Gabrielle closing State Highway 5 and

severing access to the wind farm. While the

winter months brought snow, high winds

and extreme cold, the summer months also

delivered a lot more rainfall than expected.

The Steel & Tube team embraced the

challenging conditions, with multiple crews

working on various bases simultaneously, and

delivering an enhanced installation option

that assisted in the acceleration of the build

programme by several months.

“OUR EXPERIENCE

WITH STEEL & TUBE

WAS COLLABORATIVE

AND POSITIVE. THE

COMPLEXITY OF

THE FOUNDATIONS

CONSTRUCTION WITHIN

A HARSH ENVIRONMENT

WAS CHALLENGING,

AND DETAILED

PLANNING AND GOOD

COMMUNICATION WAS

KEY TO THE SUCCESSFUL

OUTCOME ACHIEVED.”

Contractor, Spartan Construction, commented

FROM THE

GROUND UP

HOMER TUNNEL
The Homer Tunnel is a crucial conduit

along SH94, connecting Te Anau to the

breathtaking Milford Sound Piopiotahi.

A $29 million project is being undertaken by

Downer for Waka Kotahi NZTA to improve

the safety and resilience of the Homer

Tunnel.

Work has officially begun to replace the

decades-old avalanche and rockfall shelter

at the eastern tunnel entrance, with a state-

of-the-art replacement. Delivering better

avalanche and rockfall protection on the Te

Anau side of Homer Tunnel, the new shelter

is designed to blend in with its unique and

breathtaking alpine surroundings. Around

150 precast concrete modules have been

prepared off-site, each carefully designed

for transport and efficient assembly at the

tunnel.

Steel & Tube has supplied c.400 tons of

reinforcing steel to ensure the structural

integrity and durability of these precast

modules. Adding to the complexity of the

project, is the need to bend large diameter

reinforcing to a particular shape. Steel & Tube

is working closely with McIntosh Precast

which is producing the concrete modules and

who provides 3D drawings for Steel & Tube to

work with.

SELO is a new urban village in West Auckland
– a master-planned townhouse development,

developed by Aedifice Property Group,

offering multi-unit housing, communal

amenities and shared spaces. The site has

been transformed into a people-oriented

micro-neighbourhood and incorporates a

mix of terraced townhouse styles. Working

for contractor, Chancellor Construction, Steel

& Tube provided the roofing for most of the

development.

Said Chancellor Construction: “For SELO, we

used Plumbdek® because it can be used on

3-degree roofs, it is modern and also very

cost-efficient.”

“Steel & Tube was very responsive, with

specification and sales support. We planned

and worked well together. There were some

unexpected storylines, like the Auckland

floods not long ago, but Steel & Tube assisted

in finding solutions without impacting our

supply chain.”

Read more on our website here.

BUILDING A VILLAGE

THE COMMISSIONING OF NEW

MESH STRAIGHTENING EQUIPMENT

IN AUCKLAND IS PART OF STEEL

& TUBE’S CAPITAL INVESTMENT

PROGRAMME IN ITS REINFORCING

BUSINESS. THE MACHINERY

REMOVES THE CURVE FROM

PRE-ROLLED DUCTILE WIRE AND

CUTS IT TO LENGTH. THIS IS THEN

USED TO MAKE ALL VARIATIONS

OF MESH. THE EQUIPMENT

IS MORE EFFICIENT, FASTER,

WITH GREATER CAPACITY AND

BETTER TECHNOLOGY THAN THE

PREVIOUS EQUIPMENT WHICH IT

HAS REPLACED.

SEE IT IN ACTION

OUR PEOPLE
Steel & Tube has a diverse workforce which is representative of the

communities in which we operate. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori

Language Week) provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate

both personal achievement and cultural diversity at Steel & Tube. At

the heart of this celebration is the Hāpai Tūhono – TPK Cadetship

Programme, an amazing initiative aimed at nurturing the growth

and development of our Māori staff at Steel & Tube. This programme

not only promotes career advancement but also champions Māori

culture. The cadetship is a collaboration between Te Puni Kōkiri, Hāpai

Tūhono and Steel & Tube.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW

CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER

Raffaella Del Prete

Steel & Tube is pleased to welcome Raffaella

Del Prete as the company’s new Chief Digital

Officer. Technology is a key enabler for our

business, with data and insights helping us run

our business more effectively, our ecommerce

platform supporting our customers, and our

digital platform enabling efficient management

and operation of our business. We are already

using Artificial Intelligence in some areas of

the business and continue to assess further

opportunities.

Raffaella is a highly experienced senior digital

technology professional with a wealth of

experience leading and developing digital

strategy through to delivery of large-scale

digital transformation. She has over 20 years’

experience, with global businesses such as

Accenture, Nokia, Tesco, BP, T-Mobile, AIA and

Vodafone, in New Zealand, the UK and France.

Raffaella is Italian, having moved to New

Zealand for the outdoor lifestyle. She joined the

Steel & Tube team in early December 2023.

Whakapau kaha

(Structured Mentoring):

Each cadet is paired with a mentor who

not only provides valuable insights and

guidance but also serves as a strong support

system.

Whakapau mahi

(Tailored Training and Development):

Customised training and development plans

are designed to cater to the unique needs

and aspirations of each cadet, ensuring that

their growth is meaningful and aligned with

their goals.

Whakapau huarahi

(Relevant Work and Life Skills):

Beyond skill development, the programme

also focuses on imparting essential life

skills that empower cadets personally and

professionally.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND CULTURAL RICHNESS

THE PROGRAMME IS BUILT ON THREE FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS:

RECENT GRADUATES AND NEW CADETS DEMONSTRATE DEDICATION, RESILIENCE

AND A COMMITMENT TO PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, ALL WHILE

PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE.

SUPPORTING PEST
ERADICATION IN LEWIS

PASS

Every year in the South Island’s Lewis Pass,

volunteers for charity Doubtless Conservation

set out to trap as many stoats and possum

as possible, in their aim to create a large

inland predator-free ‘island’. Their efforts

in the Doubtful and Nina Valleys help to

protect Great Spotted kiwi (raroa) and blue

duck (whio). This work reinforces what was

started by Hurunui College in 2008, which has

seen the introduction of kiwi and successful

breeding of whio in the valley.

However, at times their hard work is being

thwarted by New Zealand’s cheekiest (and

also endangered) bird, the Kea. Known as

one of the most intelligent birds in the world,

these clever mountain parrots have decided

that setting off the traps is great amusement

and can also be a source of food. The loud

bang the traps make when tipped over and

set off, together with the added bonus of the

chance of scoring an egg, make traps a target

for kea.

In an effort to ‘kea-proof’ the traps, as well as

stop wind and water turning the traps over,

the charity uses pieces of steel rebar as an

anchor so the trap can’t be moved.

The charity has a strong connection with the

Department of Conservation and are guided

by them to ensure they are undertaking the

best trapping practice.

Steel & Tube is delighted to support the

efforts of Doubtless Conservation by donating

custom cut steel rebar.

Find out more

OUR COMMUNITIES

SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORT INITIATIVE

Steel & Tube is collaborating with a number

of other local businesses in East Tamaki and

Highbrook to advocate for better short

and longer-term transport solutions for

our business community. Options include

increased public transport options; shared

shuttles; car-sharing initiatives; cycling and

other transport modes. The overarching goal

is to make it easier to get around without a

car, which in turn helps to reduce emissions.

Making it easier and more cost effective to

travel to work also helps attract employees to

the area.

One of the deterrents is the lack of public

transport options. Alternative transport

modes such as walking and cycling are

confined by limited access via major arterial

roads. In partnership with Business East

Tamaki, Goodman Property Trust and several

other East Tamaki businesses, Steel & Tube is

proposing a shared transport shuttle service

to take employees from existing transport

hubs to the workplace. This would help

to reduce congestion, supplement public

transport services, provide better value for

money and deliver environmental benefits.

Work is underway to establish a pilot of

the programme, with success providing a

template for other business precincts to

follow.

Read more here

ENVIRONMENTAL

CERTIFICATIONS

Steel & Tube has recently renewed its

Sustainable Steel Council Gold Certification

as well as Eco Choice Aotearoa (New

Zealand’s only government-backed eco label)

certification. The company is also a member

of the Sustainable Business Council and is

certified against ISO 14001 (Environment

Management Systems) standard.

Our goal is clear:

to maximise steel’s

contribution to a

sustainable and low

emissions society, whilst

continuing to grow our

business and deliver

value to our shareholders.

Environmental

sustainability is a critical

part of our decision

making and is embedded

in our strategy.

Licence #: 5717145

SUSTAINABLE

BUSINESS

STRONGER
TOGETHER

THANK YOU

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CONTACT US:

Steel & Tube Holdings Ltd

7 Bruce Roderick Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013, New Zealand

PO Box 58880, Botany, Auckland 2163, New Zealand

Tel: +64 4 570 5000 Email: investor.relations@steelandtube.co.nz

www.steelandtube.co.nz

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