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Elmera Group ASA

Earnings Release Feb 13, 2020

3591_rns_2020-02-13_10805164-10b8-497a-87ee-2cf0d115a2da.pdf

Earnings Release

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Q4 2019 PRESENTATION

Rolf Barmen (CEO) Ole Johan Langenes (Acting CFO)

Oslo, 13th February

Q4 2019 HIGHLIGHTS

Rolf Barmen (CEO)

Highlights fourth quarter 2019

Favourable market dynamics driving strong profitability growth

  • Net revenue growth across all segments. Margin improvement is the main driver for the increase
  • Particularly favourable market dynamics in both the elspot market and other commodity markets positively affecting COGS
  • EBIT adjusted increase 38% YoY. The Consumer segment is the main driver
  • Organic growth in all segments. Reaching the 100k mobile subscribers milestone, further strengthening the position as the largest mobile service provider apart from the network operators
  • Fjordkraft Mobile awarded best call centre in both the Telecom industry and on top across all industries in Norway's most prestigious call centre awards

Key Highlights

1
# of deliveries (end of period)
Δ in # of deliveries (QoQ)
622 092 2 637
Increase of
3 %
YoY
Of which org. growth
2 637
2
Volume sold
Gross revenue
4 002 GWh NOK
2 047m
Increase of
1 %
YoY
Decrease of
-6 %
YoY
3
Net revenue (adj.)
2
K6
3
EBIT (adj.)
NOK
372m
NOK
148m
Increase of
22 %
YoY
9
K7
Increase of
38 %
YoY
Basic EPS (reported) K13NIBD (cash)
NOK
1.20
(NOK 581m)
Increase of
76 %
YoY
K19NIBD/LTM EBITDA:
-0.85

Sources: Company information

  • 1) Number of deliveries excl. Extended Alliance deliveries. Number of deliveries incl. Extended Alliance deliveries: 654,188
  • 2) Not including Alliance volume. Volume turnover for alliance partners Q4 2019: 1,297 GWh

3) Adj. Net revenue and EBIT are reported figures adjusted for any estimate deviations on sales and distribution of electricity related to previous reporting periods, special items, unrealised gains and losses on financial derivatives and depreciations from acquisitions

BUSINESS REVIEW

Rolf Barmen (CEO)

Market development

Key highlights in Q4 2019

  • Increase in elspot prices during the first part of the quarter, then decrease in prices through November and December
  • Temperatures colder than normal in two out of three months. Two out of three months are also colder than last year1
  • October: -1.4°C below normal (1.9°C colder than 2018)
  • November: -1.0°C below normal (4.7°C colder than 2018)
  • December: +3.4°C above normal (1.2°C warmer than 2018)

Weekly elspot prices (NOK/kWh)2

Sources:

1) Temperature figures from met.no's monthly reports

2) Weekly system prices in NOK from Nordpool, forward prices from Montel

Segment development - Consumer

Key highlights in Q4 2019

  • Continued organic growth
  • Net additions in Q4 2019 were 2,169, all of which organically
  • Volume growth of 4% YoY, with increase in # of deliveries being the driver for the growth
  • Avg. volume per delivery is stable YoY 3,976 kWh in Q4 2019 vs. 3,959 kWh in Q4 2018

# of electricity deliveries1 ('000)

1) Number of electricity deliveries at the end of the period

Segment development - Business

  • Positive development in the segment
  • Net additions in Q4 2019 were 468, all of which organically
  • Volume decrease 2% YoY driven by decrease in avg. consumption per delivery because of loss of tender customers. Limited financial impact
  • Avg. volume per delivery decreasing -5% YoY 23,636 kWh in Q4 2019 vs. 26,771 kWh in Q4 2018

Key highlights in Q4 2019 # of electricity deliveries1 ('000)

1) Number of electricity deliveries at the end of the period

New Growth Initiatives

  • Strong growth in the number of Mobile subscribers, reaching the 100k subscriber milestone at the end of the quarter
  • Growth of 7,756 subscribers in Q4 2019
  • Fjordkraft Mobile awarded best call centre in both the Telecom industry and on top across all industries in Norway's most prestigious call centre awards

• 4% YoY Alliance volume decrease YoY, as Vesterålskraft is now included in the Consumer and Business segments

Key highlights in Q4 2019 # of Mobile subscribers1 ('000)

Sources: Company information

1) Number of mobile subscribers at the end of the period

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Ole Johan Langenes (Acting CFO)

Net revenue improvement across all segments

  • Adj. net revenue growth driven almost entirely by margin improvement Consumer segment with the biggest impact
  • Particularly favourable market dynamics in both the elspot market and other commodity markets positively affecting COGS
  • Last twelve months adj. net revenue improvement ~ 90/10 split between improved margins and volume growth1 YoY

Sources: Company information

1) New Growth Initiatives figures are excluded from the calculations, as high volumes with very low margins distorts the analysis

Continued increase in EBIT adj.

• EBIT improvement of 41 NOKm with the Consumer segment as the main driver

  • OPEX increase driven by sales and marketing costs, customer service costs and administrative costs
  • Adj. EBIT margin increasing 5 pp YoY. Adj. EBIT margin LTM is increasing 2 pp YoY and 1 pp quarter over quarter

Sources: Company information

Segment overview

  • Increase in adj. net revenue YoY margin improvement accounting for ~85% of the increase. Favourable market dynamics driving the growth
  • 5 pp margin expansion driven by net revenue growth

  • Increase in adj. net revenue is driven by improved margins, primarily from value added services

  • Stable development in EBIT margin YoY

  • Adj. net revenue and adj. EBIT improvement driven by Alliance

  • Solid growth in # of Mobile subscribers, passing 100k subscribers at the end of 2019

Sources: Company information

Negative NWC driven by positive effect from el. cert and operational improvements

Net working capital1 (NOKm)

  • Net working capital (NWC) is increasing by 31 NOKm from last quarter, driven by seasonally higher volumes and elspot prices
  • Volume increase 73% from last quarter2
  • Elspot prices increase 14%3 from Q3 2019 to Q4 2019
  • Positive effect from post-payment practice of el certificates throughout the year
  • Continuous improvements in the invoicing process is also contributing positively to the development

Sources: Company information

  • 1) NWC includes the following items from current assets: Inventories, intangible assets, trade receivables, derivative financial instruments and other current assets (that is, all current assets in the balance sheet except cash and cash equivalents); and the following items from current liabilities; trade payables, current income tax liabilities, derivative financial instruments, social security and other taxes and other current liabilities excl. 55.6 NOKm in short-term interest bearing debt
  • 2) Volume sold in the Consumer and Business segments
  • 3) Average of daily system prices in NOK

Strong underlying cash generation

Change in net cash Q-o-Q (NOKm)

Sources: Company information

1) OpFCF defined as EBITDA adj. less CAPEX excl. M&A and payments to obtain contract assets

2) Non-cash NWC relates to items included in "change in NWC" that are not affecting net cash position. Other includes interest, tax, change in long-term receivables, proceeds from non-current receivables, proceeds from other long-term liabilities, share based payment expense, change in post-employment liabilities, payment of lease liability and adjustments made on EBITDA.

FULL YEAR 2019

Ole Johan Langenes (Acting CFO)

Group performance stronger than expected

Adj. net revenue1 (NOKm) Adj. EBIT1 (NOKm)

  • Product margin improvement is the main driver for the 18% adj. net revenue growth
  • Well above targeted, also adjusted for positive M&A effects
  • 1 pp of the increase is related to New Growth Initiatives
    • ~60/40 contribution from Alliance and Mobile, driven by both margin improvement and customer growth
  • All time high adj. EBIT improvement across all segments
  • Adj. EBIT margin increasing 2 pp from 2018 better than targeted

Adj. net revenue and adj. EBIT by segment – Full Year

• EBIT performance in line with targets

  • than expected, driven by ability to maintain product margins in a competitive market as well as positive M&A effects
  • EBIT margin stronger than targeted, driven by net revenue performance

Sources: Company information

1) 2019 figures are not audited

2) All targets are on an organic basis

  • driven by both VAS and improved product margins with minor positive impact from M&A
  • EBIT margin in line with target

Performance vs financial targets1

Targets Status
Group
Ambition to act as a consolidator in a fragmented market

One acquisition in 2019
Cap.ex.
Targeted to be in the area of NOK 50m annually on an organic basis over the next three years

In line with targets (50 NOKm)
Leverage
Moderate leverage with variations intra-year due to seasonality in net working capital

Current balance sheet enabling substantial capacity to finance acquisitions

Currently net cash position,
supporting M&A ambitions
Dividend
Attractive and increasing dividend

Target pay-out ratio of at least 80% (based on adjusted net income)

Proposed dividend of 3.0 NOK per
share2,3

1) Base line for the financial targets is adjusted 2018 financials

2) Subject to approval at the annual general meeting

3) How the dividend is calculated:

[(Adjusted EBIT + net finance)*(1-average tax rate) – amortisation of acquisition debt]*pay-out ratio

[(491 NOKm+8 NOKm)*(1-24.52%)-55.6 NOKm]*97.7%=313.5 NOKm, equivalent of a DPS of 3.0 NOK with the current number of shares outstanding

Outlook for 2020-20221

Group
Targeting high-single digit net revenue growth on an organic basis

Targeting an EBIT margin of 36-38%

Ambition to act as a consolidator in a fragmented market

Growth
Targeting mid-single digit net revenue growth on an organic basis
Consumer EBIT

Targeting a sustainable level of 32-34% on an organic basis
margin

Targeting double digit net revenue growth in 2020, followed by a sustainable mid-single digit annual growth in 2021 and 2022
Growth
Business EBIT

Targeting a sustainable level of 52-54% on an organic basis
margin
New
growth

Targeting a stable nominal EBIT from 2019 to 2020. Positive development in both Alliance and Mobile, while new spin offs negatively affect
the segment EBIT in 2020 with in the area of -10 NOKm.
initiatives
NGI targeted to comprise up towards 5% of group EBIT in 2022
Cap.ex.
Targeted to be in the area of NOK 50m annually on an organic basis
Tax rate
Prevailing corporate tax rate for Norway –
22% for 2020
Leverage
Moderate leverage with variations intra-year due to seasonality in net working capital

Current balance sheet enabling substantial capacity to finance acquisitions
Dividend
Target pay-out ratio of at least 80% of net income, adjusted for certain cash and non-cash items2

Attractive and increasing dividend

1) All targets are based on adjusted figures, further described under alternative performance measures in the quarterly report 2)Adjusted EBIT + net finance – estimated tax – amortisation of acquisition debt

Appendix

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT

Summary reported financials

NOK million Q4 2019 Q4 2018 ∆ YoY
Gross revenue 2 046.5 2 179.1 -132.6
Cost of sales -1 672.3 -1 871.6 199.3
Net revenue 374.3 307.5 66.8
Personnel expenses -49.2 -64.7 15.4
Other operating expenses -104.7 -103.5 -1.2
Operating expenses -153.9 -168.2 14.3
Other gains and losses, net 13.1 -2.7 15.8
EBITDA 233.5 136.6 96.9
Depreciation & amortization -58.9 -44.9 -14.0
Operating profit (EBIT) 174.6 91.7 82.9
Net financials 1.0 0.4 0.6
Profit / loss before taxes 175.6 92.1 83.5
Taxes -49.9 -20.7 -29.2
Profit / loss for the period 125.7 71.4 54.3
Basic earnings per share (in NOK) 1.20 0.68 0.52
Diluted earnings per share (in NOK) 1.19 0.68 0.51

ADJUSTED EBIT reconciliation

NOK in thousands Q3 2019 Q4 2019 Q4 2018 FY 2019 FY 2018
Revenue adjusted 1 101 634 2 045 382 2 183 312 7 066 432 6 712 291
Corporate 1) - 1 127 (4 222) 56 096 8 657
Revenue 1 101 634 2 046 509 2 179 090 7 122 528 6 720 948
Direct cost of sales adjusted (842 307) (1 673 178) (1 878 678) (5 782 711) (5 624 399)
Corporate 1) - 921 7 079 (44 681) 873
Direct cost of sales -842 307 -1 672 256 -1 871 598 -5 827 394 -5 623 526
Revenue less direct cost of sales adjusted 259 327 372 204 304 634 1 283 721 1 087 893
Corporate 1) - 2 048 2 857 11 414 9 529
Revenue less direct cost of sales 259 327 374 252 307 492 1 295 134 1 097 422
Total operating expenses adjusted (196 359) (224 495) (197 529) (792 668) (697 751)
Special items 2) (287) 23 502 (2 233) 21 218 (25 835)
Depreciation of acquisitions 3) (11 774) (11 774) (13 333) (45 560) (36 375)
Total operating expenses -208 418 -212 769 -213 096 -817 011 -759 961
Other gains and losses 4) (8 427) 13 126 (2 683) 4 615 (10 578)
Operating profit 42 482 174 610 91 714 482 738 326 883
Interest income 4 444 5 192 3 497 20 071 15 178
Interest expense lease liability (401) (904)
-
(1 677)
-
Interest expense (1 633) (2 096) (1 598) (6 956) (4 927)
Other financial items, net (1 057) (1 177) (1 501) (3 737) (5 277)
Profit/(loss) before tax 43 835 175 624 92 112 490 440 331 858

1) Corporate consists of estimate deviations previous year and special revenue items. A large proportion of the Group's final settlement of sales and distribution of electricity is made after the Group has finalised its financial statements. At the date of reporting, the Group recognises electricity revenue and the associated cost of sales based on a best estimate approach. Thus, any estimate deviation related to the previous reporting period is recognised in the following reporting period. Management is of the opinion that the underlying operating profit in the reporting period should be adjusted for such estimate deviations related to previous reporting periods, thus the table below also presents the Group's operating profit before such estimate deviations in the line "Operating profit (before unallocated and estimate deviations)".

ADJUSTED EBIT reconciliation cont.

2) Special items consists of one-time items as follows:

NOK in thousands Q3 2019 Q4 2019 Q4 2018 FY 2019 FY 2018
Special items incurred specific to:
- the process of listing the company on Oslo Stock Exchange - - - - (11 323)
- acquisition related costs and implementation costs (287) (861) (1 935) (3 145) (11 643)
- legal costs related to the compensatory damages - - - - (460)
- strategic costs related to markets abroad - - (298) - (2 409)
- change in pension plan - 28 969 - 28 969 -
- Impairment charge - (4 606) - (4 606) -
Special items -287 23 502 -2 233 21 218 -25 835

3) Depreciation of acquisitions consists of depreciation related to customer portfolios and acquisitions of companies accounted for in intangible assets in the consolidated statement of financial position. The Group has decided to report the operating profit of the segments adjusted for depreciation of acquisitions. In order to accommodate this, historically reported figures have been adjusted accordingly:

NOK in thousands Q3 2019 Q4 2019 Q4 2018 FY 2019 FY 2018
TrønderEnergi Marked acquisition (8 188) (8 188) (10 951) (32 753) (30 777)
Oppdal Everk Kraftomsetning acquisition (1 085) (1 085) (1 306) (4 342) (1 306)
Vesterålskraft Strøm acquisition (758) (758) - (1 516) -
Other customer acquisitions (1 743) (1 743) (1 076) (6 949) (4 292)
Depreciation of acquisitions -11 774 -11 774 -13 333 -45 560 -36 375

4) Other gains and losses, net consist of gains and losses on derivative financial instruments associated with the purchase and sale of electricity.

BALANCE SHEET

Summary reported financials

NOK million Q4 2019 Q4 2018
Intangible assets 178.5 200.0 (21.4)
PP&E 73.1 4.1 68.9
Goodwill 166.7 155.8 10.8
Financial assets 25.4 20.1 5.3
Other non-current assets 159.2 149.9 9.3
Total non-current assets 602.9 529.9 73.0
Trade receivables 1 507.5 2 006.3 (498.9)
Derivative financial instruments 79.3 463.6 (384.4)
Other current assets 43.0 66.9 (23.8)
Cash and cash equivalents 775.5 381.4 394.1
Total current assets 2 405.3 2 918.2 (512.9)
Total assets 3 008.2 3 448.2 (440.0)
Total equity 1 003.2 871.0 132.2
Net employee defined benefit liabilities 64.1 79.3 (15.2)
Interest-bearing long term debt 139.0 194.6 (55.6)
Deferred tax liabilities 27.5 20.8 6.6
Other provisions 56.5 0.8 55.7
Total non-current liabilities 287.0 295.6 (8.5)
Trade payables 818.1 1 100.2 (282.0)
Overdraft facilities - - -
Current income tax liabilities 111.7 94.2 17.4
Derivative financial instruments 68.0 455.4 (387.4)
Social security and other taxes 142.6 57.5 85.1
Other current liabilities 577.6 574.2 3.3
Total current liabilities 1 718.0 2 281.6 (563.6)
Equity and liabilities 3 008.2 3 448.2 (440.0)

CASH FLOW

Summary reported financials

NOK million Q4 2019 Q4 2018 ∆ YoY
EBITDA 233.5 136.6 96.9
Payments to obtain a contract (contract assets) -29.1 -28.2 -0.9
Other non-cash adjustments -34.5 2.5 -37.1
Change in fair value of financial instruments -13.1 2.7 -15.8
Changes in working capital, etc. -33.0 -85.8 52.7
Cash from operating activities 123.7 27.9 95.8
Interest paid -2.1 -0.3 -1.7
Interest received 5.2 3.5 1.7
Income tax paid -19.6 -3.0 -16.6
Net cash from operating activities 107.2 28.0 79.1
Purchases of property, plant and equipment -0.9 -0.5 -0.4
Purchase of intangible assets -12.6 -33.2 20.5
Net cash outflow on aquisition of subsidiares - 3.6 -3.6
Proceeds from non-current receivables -2.4 -0.2 -2.2
Net cash used in investing activities -15.9 -30.2 14.3
Proceeds from borrowings -13.9 -13.9 -
Net (outflow)/proceeds from change in overdraft facilities - - -
Dividends - - -
Payment of lease liability -2.9 - -2.9
Net cash used in financing activities -16.8 -13.9 -2.9
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 74.4 -16.1 90.5
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 701.1 397.5 303.6
Cash and cash equivalents at end 775.5 381.4 394.1

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This presentation contains, or may be deemed to contain, statements that are not historical facts but forward-looking statements with respect to Fjordkraft's expectations and plans, strategy, management's objectives, future performance, costs, revenue, earnings and other trend information. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to many factors, many of which are outside the control of Fjordkraft.

All forward-looking statements in this presentation are based on information available to Fjordkraft on the date hereof. All written or oral forwardlooking statements attributable to Fjordkraft, any Fjordkraft employees or representatives acting on Fjordkraft's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. Fjordkraft undertakes no obligation to update this presentation after the date hereof.

For more information: Fjordkraft's Investor Relations Morten A. W. Opdal +47 970 62 526 [email protected]

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