Prysmian S.p.A. First-Quarter Financial Results 2018
Financial results
Group Sales amounted to €1,879 million, posting organic growth of +3.1% assuming the same group perimeter and excluding metal price variation and exchange rate effects. The Energy Projects segment recorded increased volumes and sales (organic growth of +14.8%) thanks to favourable phasing of submarine cable project execution and to strong demand in the High Voltage Underground business. Telecom also performed well (organic sales growth of +1.7%) underpinned by steady growth in demand for optical cables for deployment in broadband networks which more than offset the significant fall in copper cable sales. Within the Energy Products segment, the Industrial & Network Components business posted a significant growth in sales (organic sales increase of +10.7%), while the Energy & Infrastructure business saw a market recovery by building wires, although partially absorbed by lower Power Distribution volumes and sales (organic sales –2.5%). Lastly, the Oil & Gas scenario remained negative, reflected in a decline in organic sales (-9.1%).
Adjusted EBITDA came to €153 million (before net expenses for company reorganisation, net non-recurring expenses and other net non-operating expenses totalling €17 million), and was in line with the corresponding first-quarter figure of €154 million in 2017, despite the impact of €20 million provision for the Western Link project. The Adjusted EBITDA margin on sales was stable at 8.1% (8.3% in Q1 2017). The resilience of profitability was supported by the significant growth of Telecom (Adjusted EBITDA margin on sales up to 23.5% from 16.3% in the corresponding period of 2017), and was affected by negative forex effects of €13 million and the provision for the Western Link project in the Energy Projects business.
EBITDA amounted to €136 million, compared with €130 million in Q1 2017 (+4.9%), inclusive of €17 million in adjustments (€24 million in Q1 2017). Such adjustments in the first three months of 2018 mainly comprise costs for reorganising and improving efficiency and costs related to the acquisition and integration of General Cable.
Operating Income came to €57 million, compared with €78 million in Q1 2017, mainly reflecting the negative non-cash effect of fair value changes in metal derivatives following a stabilisation in copper prices.
Net Finance Costs came to €19 million in the first three months of 2018 compared with €26 million in the corresponding period of 2017. The decrease of €7 million is mainly attributable to lower finance costs, partly due to conversion of the convertible bond 2013, and to exchange differences, more negative the year before.
Net Profit attributable to the Group is €28 million versus €37 million in the corresponding period of 2017, mainly reflecting the non-cash effect of fair value changes in derivatives used to hedge metal price risk.
Net Financial Debt came to €648 million at 31 March 2018 (€998 million at 31 March 2017), having benefited from €291 million for conversion of the convertible bond 2013. Net cash flow over the past 12 months (before dividends and share buybacks) has been particularly high (€257 million).
The principal factors influencing the change in Net Financial Debt in the past twelve months were:
- €616 million in net cash flow provided by operating activities before changes in net working capital;
- €40 million in cash flow provided by the decrease in net working capital;
- €101 million in tax payments and €10 million in dividend receipts;
- €233 million in net operating capital expenditure over the past 12 months;
- €68 million in payments for finance costs;
- €101 million to pay dividends paid and €48 million for buyback of the Company's shares and other changes.
Energy projects operating segment performance and results
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Energy Projects sales to third parties reached €311 million (organic growth +14.8%), with Adjusted EBITDA at €21 million versus €40 million in the same period of 2017 (Adjusted EBITDA margin on sales at 6.9% down from 14.4%), having absorbed €20 million provision related to a fault - currently under investigation - occurred during the testing phase in preparations for the Western Link project commissioning.
Submarine Cables and Systems posted a positive sales performance thanks to positive phasing of project execution, also enabled by the Group's investment in innovative assets allowing it to improve its installation capabilities. Of particular note in the first three months was the award of the first ever cable contract for a floating offshore wind farm, the Kincardine in Scotland, for which the Group will also supply the inter-array cables, and the award of a contract by Terna Rete Italia S.p.A. for a submarine power cable between Capri and Sorrento.
The total value of the Submarine Cables and Systems order book stands at around €1.9 billion. Tendering activity is expected to intensify in the second half of the year.
Organic sales growth by High Voltage Underground Cables benefited from robust demand in some Asian markets, such as Indonesia, as well as in France, Spain and Turkey. Profitability was affected by the mix of sales, significantly up in more competitive markets. The Group's order book for High Voltage Underground cables stands at around €450 million, with a positive outlook thanks to dynamism in the Middle East and Asia Pacific markets.
Energy products operating segment performance and results
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Energy Products sales to third parties amounted to €1,194 million, posting organic growth of +1.4%, largely due to recovery in volumes in Europe. Adjusted EBITDA amounted to €58 million (€61 million in Q1 2017), with a slight fall in margins (Adjusted EBITDA 4.8% on sales versus 5.2% in Q1 2017) due to the hike in metal prices for Power Distribution and drop in margins for Oman Cables Industry.
Energy & Infrastructure
Energy & Infrastructure sales to third parties amounted to €790 million, reflecting a negative organic change of -2.5%. Adjusted EBITDA came in at €31 million versus €35 million in Q1 2017.
Trade & Installers recorded an upturn in demand with the start of the year, translating into growth in sales, most in evidence in Southern Europe, Germany, Eastern Europe and the Netherlands, also thanks to implementation of Europe's new Construction Products Regulation (CPR), whose requirements for higher quality and safety standards is to Prysmian Group's advantage with its complete range of top-end products. The subsidiary Oman Cables Industry (OCI) performed poorly, reflecting conditions on the local market, which is influenced by the oil price. Overall business profitability improved.
Power Distribution reported flagging sales volumes, particularly in South America, Northern Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East (OCI), also adversely affecting profitability. Germany and the Netherlands showed a slight recovery.
Industrial & Network Components
Industrial & Network Components sales to third parties recorded a significant improvement, rising to €369 million after organic growth of +10.7%. Three-month Adjusted EBITDA came to €27 million, in line with the result in Q1 2017 (margins at 7.3%, down from 7.9% in 2017). Specialties & OEM & Renewables both turned in a strong performance with double-digit organic growth, particularly driven by Railways and Infrastructure; Renewables were stable, while Crane and Nuclear both underperformed. Profitability was therefore affected by the unfavourable sales mix. Organic sales growth by the Elevators business was largely the result of growing demand in the EMEA region. Volumes were also positive in North America but more subdued in China. Adjusted EBITDA was affected by forex, metal prices and an unfavourable product mix in North America. Organic growth and higher profitability marked the results of the Automotive business, thanks to solid performance in North America, South America and Europe, with Adjusted EBITDA benefiting from an improved sales mix and reduction in fixed costs. Lastly, a weaker trend for Medium and Low Voltage accessories in the Network Components business was partially offset by a recovery in High and Extra High Voltage in APAC and Europe.
Oil & Gas operating segment performance and results
- Core Oil & Gas shows signs of upturn in demand
- Lower volumes and price pressure for Umbilicals
- Positive signs for Downhole Technology thanks to Shale Oil
Oil & Gas sales to third parties came to €57 million in the first three months of 2018, posting an organic change of -9.1%. Adjusted EBITDA was a negative €1 million, compared with a break-even in the same period of 2017, with margins at -2.3% versus 0.2% last year.
The SURF business (Subsea Umbilicals Risers and Flowlines) was affected by price pressure and reductions in umbilical projects, resulting in a significant shrinkage in sales and margins.
In the Downhole Technology business, demand showed signs of improving with an upturn in volumes thanks to the dynamism of shale oil in the USA and a recovery in demand in the Middle East. The offshore market has remained weak.
The Core Oil & Gas business recorded signs of reviving demand, driven by onshore projects, with a recovery in profitability thanks to the Group's focus on Design-to-Cost and actions in the supply chain to offset the impact of lower prices. Volumes were once again down in the higher margin offshore and MRO sector.
Telecom operating segment performance and results
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Telecom sales to third parties amounted to €317 million in the first three months of 2018, with organic growth of +1.7% driven by strong demand for optical cables which more than offset the decline in copper cables. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 40.1% to €75 million, with margins improving to 23.5% from 16.3% in Q1 2017. The strong growth in segment results benefited from the growth in volumes, increased competitiveness and improved industrial efficiency, positive results of the Chinese associate YOFC and partial release of the provision made in 2016 against receivables in Brazil.
Growth in sales for optical fibre cables benefited from broadband investment projects in Europe, particularly France with the Très Haut Débit project. In Brazil, investments by the major telecom operators reported a slight recovery. The copper cables business was affected, as expected, by the decline in volumes in Australia.
Growth by Multimedia Solutions reflected increased volumes in the European market.
The high value-added business of optical connectivity also confirmed positive results, thanks to the development of new FTTx networks (providing last mile broadband) in Europe (particularly in France and Britain).
Business outlook
World economic performance in the first few months of 2018 has largely confirmed the growth rates achieved in 2017 by the United States and China, despite the decision announced by both nations to introduce new trade tariffs on specific imported goods. While the tax reform introduced by the Trump administration has fanned US growth, in China the improvement in domestic consumption has driven economic growth in the first months of the year. In Europe, growth remains solid, albeit down from the latter part of 2017, while the main indicators of business and consumer confidence remain high. In Brazil the gradual recovery emerging at the end of 2017 has been confirmed, supported by renewed political stability and lower inflation.
In such a macroeconomic context, Prysmian Group expects in FY 2018 to see higher demand in the cyclical businesses of building wires and industrial applications than in 2017, reflecting stronger European demand as partially tempered by weakness in the Middle East (Oman). The business of medium voltage cables for utilities can expect largely stable demand, with a mixed performance between the different geographical areas. As far as Energy Projects segment is concerned, with market expansion forecast, Prysmian Group anticipates consolidating its leadership in submarine cables and systems in view of an expected growth in tendering activity in the second half of the year.
The Group expects high voltage underground cables and systems to make a moderate recovery from 2017, with a steady improvement in results anticipated in China thanks to the new manufacturing footprint. In the Oil & Gas segment, the Group expects stable cable demand for new onshore projects (primarily in North America and the Middle East) thanks to the gradual rise in oil prices, while the SURF business is forecast to remain weak due to the reduction in prices and volumes in the Brazilian market. The Telecom segment should see solid organic growth in 2018, underpinned by strong growth in demand for optical cables in North America and Europe, while copper telecom cables are confirmed in retreat due to declining demand in Australia.
In addition, assuming exchange rates remain at the same level as at the date of the present document, the effect of translating Group company results into the reporting currency can be expected to have a negative impact of around €20-25 million on the Group's forecast operating income for 2018.
In view of these considerations, the Group is forecasting Adjusted EBITDA for FY 2018 in the range of €730-770 million, from the €736 million reported in 2017. This forecast considers, in line with the first-quarter results, a growth in volumes and margins in the Telecom operating segment and an improvement in sales volumes by E&I and Industrial & Network Components. The forecast also includes the aforementioned negative impact of exchange rates (€20-25 million) and the provision of €20 million (already booked in the first quarter) for the Western Link project. The forecast is based on the Group's current business perimeter and takes into account the existing order book.
The Prysmian Group's First-Quarter Financial Report at 31 March 2018, approved by the Board of Directors today, will be made available to the public at the Company's registered office in Via Chiese 6, Milan and at Borsa Italiana S.p.A.. It will also be available on the corporate website at www.prysmian.com and in the authorised central storage mechanism used by the company at www.emarketstorage.com.
The present document may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events and future operating, economic and financial results of the Prysmian Group. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they depend on the occurrence of future events and circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors.
The managers responsible for preparing corporate accounting documents (Carlo Soprano and Alessandro Brunetti), hereby declare, pursuant to art. 154-bis par. 2 of Italy's Unified Financial Act, that the accounting information contained in this press release corresponds to the underlying documents, accounting books and records.
The results at 31 March 2018 will be presented to the financial community during a conference call to be held today at 18:00 CET, a recording of which will be subsequently made available on the Group's website: www.prysmian.com.
The documentation used during the presentation will be available today in the Investor Relations section of the Prysmian website at www.prysmian.com.
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