Earnings Release • Feb 13, 2014
Earnings Release
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Suresnes, February 13, 2014: The Recylex Group (NYSE Euronext Paris: FR0000120388 - RX) has today reported its sales for the year to December 31, 2013 and for the fourth quarter of 2013. They came respectively to €438.2 million, down 7.0% on the level posted in 2012, and to €119.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, down 6.7% on the fourth quarter of 2012.
The breakdown in consolidated sales in the year to December 31, 2013 by business segment was as follows:
| Year to | Year to | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | December 31, 2013 | December 31, 2012 | change | |
| Lead | 325.3 | 353.5 | -8% | |
| Zinc | 77.6 | 81.5 | -5% | |
| Special Metals | 19.9 | 23.1 | -14% | |
| Plastics | 15.4 | 13.0 | +19% | |
| Total | 438.2 | 471.1 | -7% |
"The major scheduled maintenance shutdowns that cut into production volumes and the downtrend in zinc prices during the year had a major impact on the Group's 2013 sales. As a result, consolidated sales declined by 7% compared with 2012. In addition, purchasing prices in the Lead segment rose again during the year, taking a heavy toll on our margins. Recylex SA is continuing its search for €16 million in financing following agreement to postpone €7.9 million in repayments outstanding under the continuation plan."
Compared with 2012, the average lead price remained stable (up 1%) in 2013 while the average zinc price recorded a significant decrease (down 5%) in 2013.
The price of lead stood at €1,797 per tonne on January 1, 2013, but closed the year at €1,602 per tonne on December 31, 2013, representing a decline of 11%. The price of zinc began 2013 at €1,573 per tonne, but closed the year down 4% at €1,514 per tonne.
Average prices in the year to December 31 were as follows:
| Year to December 31, | Year to December 31, | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (€ per tonne) | 2013 | 2012 | change |
| Lead price | 1,612 | 1,603 | +1% |
| Zinc price | 1,437 | 1,514 | -5% |
Consolidated sales during the 2013 financial year came to €438.2 million, down 7% compared with 2012.
This sales contraction was chiefly attributable to the major maintenance shutdowns scheduled in Germany at the Weser-Metall GmbH smelter (Lead segment) and the Harz-Metall GmbH Waelz oxide production facility (Zinc segment), the final closure of the FMM subsidiary's lead smelter activity in Belgium during the second half and the fall in zinc prices during the year.
Consolidated sales in the fourth quarter of 2013 totaled €119.1 million, down 7% compared with the same period of 2012, owing chiefly to the fall in metals prices (lead prices down 9% and zinc prices down 7% on the fourth quarter of 2012).
During 2013, Lead sales accounted for 74% of the consolidated total. Compared with 2012, they declined 8% to €325.3 million mainly due to:
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Lead segment's sales came to €91.5 million, down 7% on the same period of 2012. This decline was triggered by the steep decrease in lead prices over the period (down 9% compared with the fourth quarter of 2012) and very strong fall in silver prices (down 39% over the period).
Zinc sales accounted for 18% of consolidated sales during the 2013 financial year. Compared with the same period of 2012, they declined 5% to €77.6 million.
Trends again varied from one activity to another. The zinc scrap recycling activity recorded an increase in its sales on the back of higher sales volumes even though zinc prices slipped lower over the year. Conversely, the electric arc furnace dust recycling activity experienced a small sales contraction due to the 6-week maintenance shutdown by the Group's German subsidiary
Harz-Metall GmbH during June 2013, the fall in zinc prices over the period and less favorable market conditions than in 2012.
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Zinc segment's consolidated sales totaled €18.6 million, down 6% compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, owing mainly to the decrease in zinc prices over the period (-7%).
Special Metals sales contributed 5% of the consolidated total in the year to December 31, 2013. They came to €19.9 million, down 14% on 2012, owing primarily to the very steep contraction in demand for germanium and arsenic, especially during the third quarter of 2013.
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Special Metals segment's sales totaled €5.4 million, down 17% compared with the fourth quarter of the previous year for the same reasons and also because of a slowdown in demand for gallium.
Plastics sales contributed 3% of consolidated sales during 2013. They recorded strong growth of 19% over the period to reach €15.4 million, with the increase in sales volumes and the new customers won by the C2P subsidiary in France.
During the fourth quarter 2013, the segment's consolidated sales totaled €3.6 million, representing a rise of 13% on the fourth quarter of the previous year for the same reasons.
On November 22, 2013 Recylex SA paid €3.2 million for the eighth installment due under its continuation plan, which has been scrupulously abided since 2005. To recap, its liabilities repayable under the plan were increased very substantially (+€16 million) as a result of the damages awarded to former employees of its Metaleurop Nord subsidiary in liquidation after they brought a lawsuit in 2005.*
The amount of external financing needed to cover the Group's cash requirements over 2014- 2015 currently stands at around €16 million, and the aim is to complete this financing exercise by the end of the first half of 2014.
Initially, the amount of external financing searched was €30 million as disclosed on Recylex' 2013 first quarter sales press release on May 2nd, 2013. The amount required was reduced notably by reaching agreement with certain creditors, including Glencore International AG, to postpone until 2019 (i.e. after the continuation plan has ended) repayment of a total of around €7.9 million in amounts covered by the plan.
As of December 31, 2013, Recylex SA's (Group's mother company) debt amounted to €17.1 million, consisting of:
*A document summarizing the developments in legal proceedings concerning Recylex SA and Metaleurop Nord SAS can be found on the Recylex Group's website (www.recylex.fr – News – Legal proceedings schedule).
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With operations in France, Germany and Belgium, Recylex is a European group specializing in lead and plastics recycling (mainly from automotive and industrial batteries), zinc recycling (from electric arc furnace dust and scrap zinc) and the production of special metals, primarily for the electronics industry.
A key player in the circular economy with long-standing expertise in urban waste recovery, the Group has close to 650 employees in Europe and generated consolidated sales of €438 million in 2013.
For more information about the Recylex Group go to: www.recylex.fr
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Press/Investor contact:
Gabriel ZEITLIN + 33 (0)1 58 47 29 89 [email protected]
Disclaimer: this press release contains regulated quarterly financial information for the Recylex Group as defined in Article L. 451-1-2-IV of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Article 221-1 of the AMF General Regulations. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that do not constitute forecasts regarding results or any other performance indicator, but rather trends or targets. These statements are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's annual report available on its website (www.recylex.fr). Further information about Recylex is available from its website (www.recylex.fr).
| (€ per tonne) | First quarter 2013 |
Second quarter 2013 |
Third quarter 2013 |
Fourth quarter 2013 |
First quarter 2012 |
Second quarter 2012 |
Third quarter 2012 |
Fourth quarter 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead price | 1,741 | 1,572 | 1,587 | 1,551 | 1,597 | 1,536 | 1,581 | 1,698 |
| Zinc price | 1,539 | 1,408 | 1,404 | 1,401 | 1,544 | 1,502 | 1,509 | 1,504 |
| (€ million) | First quarter 2013 |
Second quarter 2013 |
Third quarter 2013 |
Fourth quarter 2013 |
First quarter 2012 |
Second quarter 2012 |
Third quarter 2012 |
Fourth quarter 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 69.4 | 81.3 | 83.1 | 91.5 | 90.1 | 84.7 | 80.4 | 98.3 |
| Zinc | 21.4 | 17.8 | 19.8 | 18.6 | 21.6 | 18.8 | 21.4 | 19.7 |
| Special Metals |
5.0 | 6.2 | 3.3 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6.5 |
| Plastics | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Total | 99.8 | 109.6 | 109.8 | 119.1 | 120.0 | 112.4 | 111.0 | 127.7 |
| Year to December 31, 2013 |
Year to December 31, 2012 |
% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | change | ||
| Lead activities | 74.0 | 81.8 | -10% |
| Services to Group companies | 1.6 | 1.5 | 7% |
| Total sales | 75.6 | 83.3 | -9% |
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