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Aker Solutions — Earnings Release 2019
Feb 7, 2020
3531_rns_2020-02-07_79065016-c15c-4a8f-a12e-8e127da127bc.html
Earnings Release
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Aker Solutions ASA: Fourth-Quarter Results 2019
Aker Solutions ASA: Fourth-Quarter Results 2019
February 7, 2020 - Aker Solutions increased the 2019 fourth quarter revenue to
NOK 7.3 billion, a rise of 6 percent compared with the fourth quarter 2018, as
the company executed projects according to schedule and won awards in a
competitive market.
4Q 2019 Financial Highlights
· Revenue NOK 7.3 billion
· EBITDA NOK 434 million
· EBITDA margin 5.9%
· EBITDA ex. special items NOK 480 million
· EBITDA margin ex. special items 6.5%
· Earnings per share ex. special items NOK 0.08
· Order intake NOK 5.6 billion
· Order backlog NOK 25.4 billion
With high activity in projects for both Norwegian and international clients
throughout the year, Aker Solutions reported revenue growth in the fourth
quarter as well as for the full year.
Investments in digitalization and low-carbon solutions have proved key
differentiators in securing new orders. The company launched its updated
"20/25/30" strategy in October 2019.
"Delivering cost-efficient, low-carbon solutions is at the heart of our
offerings as our customers are increasingly looking at ways to reduce their
carbon footprint," said Luis Araujo, chief executive officer of Aker Solutions.
"We are already involved in major projects related to carbon capture,
electrification of production assets, subsea gas compression and unmanned
platforms - all part of our portfolio of low-carbon solutions that have the
potential to significantly reduce or remove emissions".
Orders totaled NOK 5.6 billion in the quarter, bringing the backlog to NOK 25.4
billion. Key awards included a contract from Aker BP to deliver a subsea
production system for phase two of the Ærfugl field in the Norwegian Sea. Aker
Solutions also secured a frame agreement for maintenance and modification
services from Vår Energi for its Jotun, Balder and Ringhorne assets, which the
company has serviced for more than 19 years already.
The company experienced another year of record demand for front-end engineering
services. In the fourth quarter Aker Solutions was awarded 40 front-end
contracts. This brings the total for 2019 to a record 151, with overseas
projects accounting for one third of the total.
Aker Solutions continues to pursue energy solutions that minimize the
environmental footprint, with carbon capture and floating wind at the forefront.
During the quarter, the company increased its ownership share to 25 percent in
Principle Power, which is one of only two companies with a proven technology
concept for offshore floating wind.
Revenue and EBITDA
Revenue rose to NOK 7.3 billion in the quarter from NOK 7 billion a year
earlier, supported by progress and deliveries on key projects. The EBITDA was
NOK 434 million, compared with NOK 483 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Excluding special items, the EBITDA was NOK 480 million with a margin of 6.5
percent compared 7.1 percent in the same period last year, reflecting a higher
proportion of brownfield work in the revenue mix. EBITDA margins in 2019 include
IFRS 16 effects.
Aker Solutions has two reporting segments: Projects and Services. Revenue in
Projects rose 1 percent to NOK 5.7 billion in the quarter from NOK 5.6 billion a
year earlier, mainly driven by the field design sub-segment. Excluding special
items, EBITDA margin was 6.6 percent in the quarter versus 6.2 percent a year
earlier.
Revenue in Services was NOK 1.6 billion, up 24 percent from NOK 1.3 billion in
the same quarter last year, with the increase driven by international growth in
the company's production asset services sub-segment. The EBITDA margin excluding
special items was 10.3 percent in the quarter, down from 14.6 percent a year
earlier.
With a liquidity buffer of NOK 6.3 billion, the financial position of Aker
Solutions is solid. However, the board has proposed that no dividend payment
should be declared for 2019 - still deeming it prudent to exercise caution and
to position the company to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the
ongoing energy transition.
Outlook
The global markets remain active, but very competitive. Tendering activity
remains high in main markets, and Aker Solutions is currently bidding for
contracts totaling about NOK 60 billion. Projects are being sanctioned, but many
contracts are taking longer to be awarded.
The company expects some key projects to be awarded over the next six to nine
months.
In the longer term, Aker Solutions anticipates an increase in global energy
demand and that investment efforts in sustainable energy solutions will be
rewarded.
After delivering strong top line growth of 16 percent last year, and 30 percent
over the last two years, Aker Solutions expects overall 2020 revenue at around
the 2018 level.
The company expects the 2020 EBITDA margin to remain around underlying 4Q
levels, reflecting delayed project sanctioning, continued progress on our new
backlog - won in a very competitive market - as well as a different revenue mix
with a high share of lower-margin brownfield activity.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Ivar Simensen, mob: +47 464 02 317, email: [email protected]
Investor Contact:
Fredrik Berge, mob: +47 450 32 090, email: [email protected]
Aker Solutions helps the world meet its energy needs. We engineer the products,
systems and services required to unlock energy. Our goal is to maximize recovery
and efficiency of oil and gas assets, while using our expertise to develop the
sustainable solutions of the future. Aker Solutions employs approximately 16,000
people in more than 20 countries.
Visit akersolutions.com and connect with us on
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AkerSolutions/),
Instagram (https://instagram.com/akersolutions/),
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/aker-solutions),
Twitter (https://twitter.com/akersolutions) and
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/akersolutions).
This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is
subject to our disclaimer, see https://akersolutions.com
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5
-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.