Quarterly Report • Feb 26, 2021
Quarterly Report
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Note: the preliminary financial figures presented in this document are reported in accordance with the Order of the Minister of Public Finances no. 2844/2016, with subsequent amendments, which is as per the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union, except for IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates regarding the functional currency, for the provisions of IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants regarding the recognition of revenues from green certificates, and except for IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers regarding the revenues from the taxes related to the distribution grid connection. These exceptions do not affect the conformity with IFRS of the preliminary financial figures of the Group and the Company.
The preliminary financial figures are not audited and do not include the results of the impairment test on investments in subsidiaries. Consequently, the final financial statements for the year 2020 may differ from these.
The functional and the presentation currency is the Romanian leu (RON). This report is prepared in RON thousand, rounded to the nearest unit.
This is a free translation from the original Romanian binding version
Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the year 2020 - unaudited in RON '000, except per share data
| Alro Group | |
|---|---|
| -- | ------------------- |
| Alro Group | Alro Group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | Note | 2020 | 2019 | |
| 572,761 | 615,448 | Revenue from contracts with customers | 1 | 2,514,716 | 2,777,801 |
| -556,160 | -587,647 | Cost of goods sold | 2 | -2,521,548 | -2,550,785 |
| 16,601 | 27,801 | Gross result | 3 | -6,832 | 227,016 |
| -110,063 | -71,462 | General, administrative and selling expenses | 4 | -323,390 | -280,238 |
| 139,475 | 19,221 | Other operating income | 5 | 735,791 | 167,755 |
| -1,688 | -2,347 | Other operating expense | -6,142 | -15,292 | |
| 44,325 | -26,787 | Operating result (EBIT) | 6 | 399,427 | 99,241 |
| -12,450 | -19,647 | Interest expenses | -59,144 | -77,334 | |
| - | 2,562 | Gains (losses) from derivative financial instruments, net | - | -3,598 | |
| -3,172 | -3,572 | Other financial gains / (losses), net | -14,707 | -16,505 | |
| 29,392 | 16,071 | Net foreign exchange gains / (losses) | 7 | 40,593 | -34,589 |
| 58,095 | -31,373 | Result before income taxes | 366,169 | -32,785 | |
| -2,468 | -13,143 | Income tax | -37,190 | -34,452 | |
| 55,627 | -44,516 | Result for the period | 8 | 328,979 | -67,237 |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense), net of tax: | |||||
| Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss |
|||||
| -7,026 | -3,322 | Remeasurements of post-employment benefit obligations | -7,029 | -3,333 | |
| 1,056 | 577 | Income tax on items that will not be reclassified | 1,056 | 577 | |
| Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: |
|||||
| -5,611 | -5,376 | Translation adjustment | -11,091 | -6,266 | |
| -11,581 | -8,121 | Other comprehensive income / (expense) for the period, net of tax |
-17,064 | -9,022 | |
| 44,046 | -52,637 | Total comprehensive income / (expense) for the period | 311,915 | -76,259 | |
| Result attributable to: | |||||
| 55,408 | -44,499 | Shareholders of Alro SA | 328,489 | -67,734 | |
| 219 | -17 | Non-controlling interest | 490 | 497 | |
| 55,627 | -44,516 | 328,979 | -67,237 | ||
| Total comprehensive income / (expense) attributable to: | |||||
| 43,868 | -52,587 | Shareholders of Alro S.A. | 311,499 | -76,719 | |
| 178 | -50 | Non-controlling interest | 416 | 460 | |
| 44,046 | -52,637 | 311,915 | -76,259 | ||
| Earnings per share | |||||
| 0.078 | -0.062 | Basic and diluted (RON) | 0.460 | -0.095 |
Separate statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the year 2020 - unaudited in RON '000, except per share data
| Alro stand alone | Alro stand alone | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | Note | 2020 | 2019 | |
| 543,102 | 561,439 | Revenue from contracts with customers | 1 | 2,307,360 | 2,492,611 |
| -557,434 | -569,256 | Cost of goods sold | 2 | -2,445,143 | -2,434,648 |
| -14,332 | -7,817 | Gross result | 3 | -137,783 | 57,963 |
| -76,925 | -44,477 | General, administrative and selling expenses | 4 | -218,076 | -178,821 |
| -61 | -573 | Impairment of investments | -1,178 | -48,873 | |
| 98,593 | 4,468 | Other operating income | 5 | 650,663 | 87,906 |
| -502 | -313 | Other operating expense | -1,766 | -6,747 | |
| 6,773 | -48,712 | Operating result (EBIT) | 6 | 291,860 | -88,572 |
| -10,647 | -17,081 | Interest expenses | -51,017 | -67,815 | |
| - | 2,562 | Gains (losses) from derivative financial instruments, net | - | -3,598 | |
| -2,880 | -3,314 | Other financial gains / (losses), net | -13,379 | 33,031 | |
| 26,984 | 14,986 | Net foreign exchange gains / (losses) | 7 | 34,678 | -31,585 |
| 20,230 | -51,559 | Result before income taxes | 262,142 | -158,539 | |
| -1,037 | 8,620 | Income tax | -26,531 | 5,638 | |
| 19,193 | -42,939 | Result for the period | 8 | 235,611 | -152,901 |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense), net of tax: | |||||
| Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss | |||||
| -5,702 | -3,086 | Remeasurements of post-employment benefit obligations | -5,702 | -3,086 | |
| 912 | 494 | Income tax on items that will not be reclassified | 912 | 494 | |
| -4,790 | -2,592 | Other comprehensive income / (expense) for the period, net of tax | -4,790 | -2,592 | |
| 14,403 | -45,531 | Total comprehensive income / (expense) for the period | 230,821 | -155,493 | |
| Earnings per share | |||||
| 0.027 | -0.060 | Basic and diluted (RON) | 0.330 | -0.214 |
| Alro Group | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | 31 December | 31 December | |
| 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Assets | |||
| Non-current assets | |||
| Property, plant and equipment | 1,089,217 | 1,169,009 | |
| Investment properties | 664 | 696 | |
| Intangible assets | 5,957 | 9,611 | |
| Goodwill | 88,856 | 94,284 | |
| Right-of-use assets | 10,731 | 13,258 | |
| Deferred tax asset | 36,212 | 37,294 | |
| Other non-current assets | 10 | 45,329 | 3,866 |
| Total non-current assets | 1,276,966 | 1,328,018 | |
| Current assets | |||
| Inventories | 678,445 | 828,948 | |
| Trade receivables, net | 51,389 | 76,352 | |
| Current income tax receivable | 642 | 6,225 | |
| Other current assets | 9 | 504,575 | 93,137 |
| Restricted cash | 10 | 95 | 46,164 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 105,500 | 83,182 | |
| Total current assets | 1,340,646 | 1,134,008 | |
| Total assets | 2,617,612 | 2,462,026 | |
| Shareholders' Equity and Liabilities | |||
| Shareholders' equity | |||
| Share capital | 370,037 | 370,037 | |
| Share premium | 86,351 | 86,351 | |
| Other reserves | 335,158 | 342,667 | |
| Retained earnings | -40,769 | 36,446 | |
| Result for the period | 328,489 | -67,734 | |
| Equity attributable to shareholders of Alro S.A. | 1,079,266 | 767,767 | |
| Non-controlling interest | 2,601 | 2,185 | |
| Total shareholders' equity | 1,081,867 | 769,952 | |
| Non-current liabilities | |||
| Bank and other loans, non-current | 10 | 848,285 | 374,271 |
| Leases, non-current | 3,712 | 6,161 | |
| Provisions, non-current | 37,463 | 36,704 | |
| Post-employment benefit obligations | 49,430 | 46,637 | |
| Government grants, non-current portion | 43,703 | 47,970 | |
| Other non-current liabilities | 1,148 | 890 | |
| Total non-current liabilities | 983,741 | 512,633 | |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Bank and other loans, current | 10 | 120,293 | 869,667 |
| Leases, current | 3,401 | 4,321 | |
| Provisions, current | 4 | 33,276 | 2,793 |
| Trade and other payables | 233,742 | 206,386 | |
| Current income taxes payable | 15,700 | 2,551 | |
| Government grants, current portion | 4,267 | 4,267 | |
| Other current liabilities | 141,325 | 89,456 | |
| Total current liabilities | 552,004 | 1,179,441 | |
| Total liabilities | 1,535,745 | 1,692,074 | |
| Total shareholders' equity and liabilities | 2,617,612 | 2,462,026 |
| Alro Stand-alone | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | 31 December | 31 December | |
| 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Assets | |||
| Non-current assets | |||
| Property, plant and equipment | 790,878 | 839,732 | |
| Investment properties | 4,439 | 4,761 | |
| Intangible assets | 5,653 | 9,287 | |
| Investments | 398,790 | 399,968 | |
| Right-of-use assets | 8,496 | 10,630 | |
| Deferred tax asset | 5,929 | 11,192 | |
| Other non-current assets | 10 | 45,329 | 3,866 |
| Total non-current assets | 1,259,514 | 1,279,436 | |
| Current assets | |||
| Inventories | 473,979 | 576,332 | |
| Trade receivables, net | 79,719 | 58,538 | |
| Current income tax receivable | - | 5,917 | |
| Other current assets | 9 | 469,686 | 84,599 |
| Restricted cash | 10 | - | 45,200 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 88,750 | 72,546 | |
| Total current assets | 1,112,134 | 843,132 | |
| Total assets | 2,371,648 | 2,122,568 | |
| Shareholders' Equity and Liabilities | |||
| Shareholders' equity | |||
| Share capital | 370,037 | 370,037 | |
| Share premium | 86,351 | 86,351 | |
| Other reserves | 306,191 | 306,191 | |
| Retained earnings | -25,823 | 131,868 | |
| Result for the period | 235,611 | -152,901 | |
| Total shareholders' equity | 972,367 | 741,546 | |
| Non-current liabilities | |||
| Bank and other loans, non-current | 10 | 806,244 | 256,699 |
| Leases, non-current | 2,726 | 4,821 | |
| Provisions, non-current | 1,389 | 1,337 | |
| Post-employment benefit obligations | 41,278 | 39,492 | |
| Government grants, non-current portion | 35,745 | 39,187 | |
| Other non-current liabilities | 422 | 371 | |
| Total non-current liabilities | 887,804 | 341,907 | |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Bank and other loans, current | 10 | 80,141 | 804,980 |
| Leases, current | 2,742 | 3,495 | |
| Provisions, current | 4 | 28,620 | 2,700 |
| Trade and other payables | 309,351 | 151,955 | |
| Current income taxes payable | 2,161 | - | |
| Government grants, current portion | 3,442 | 3,442 | |
| Other current liabilities | 85,020 | 72,543 | |
| Total current liabilities | 511,477 | 1,039,115 | |
| Total liabilities | 1,399,281 | 1,381,022 | |
| Total shareholders' equity and liabilities | 2,371,648 | 2,122,568 |
in RON '000
| Alro Group | Alro Group | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities | ||||
| 58,095 | -31,373 | Result before income taxes | 366,169 | -32,785 |
| Adjustments for: | ||||
| 39,437 | 40,328 | Depreciation and amortisation | 166,987 | 152,754 |
| 4 | - | Impairment of property, plant and equipment | 4 | -4,790 |
| 29,768 | -1,141 | Movement in provisions | 30,482 | -28,440 |
| -6,571 | 434 | Change in allowance for impairment of inventory | -3,659 | 14,252 |
| 259 | -81 | Change in allowance for impairment of doubtful receivables | 391 | -274 |
| 9 | 171 | Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 445 | 6,114 |
| -31,549 | -2,989 | Net foreign exchange (gains)/ losses on loans revaluation | -44,140 | 43,500 |
| -870 | -820 | Interest income | -3,523 | -4,866 |
| 12,450 | 19,647 | Interest expense | 59,144 | 77,334 |
| - | -1 | Dividend income | -2 | -1 |
| - | -2,562 | Effect of derivative financial instruments | - | 3,598 |
| Changes in working capital: | ||||
| -71,205 | 17,247 | Change in inventories | 154,524 | -4,399 |
| -97,757 | 6,671 | Change in trade receivables and other assets | -393,403 | -9,836 |
| 49,798 | -26,817 | Change in trade and other payables | 73,862 | -11,257 |
| -3,564 | -639 | Income taxes (paid)/refunded | -17,560 | -37,342 |
| -22,717 | -15,945 | Interest paid | -67,000 | -71,773 |
| - | -2,399 | Cash receipts/ (Payments) from derivatives, net | -701 | 5,752 |
| -44,413 | -269 | Net cash generated by / (used in) operating activities | 322,020 | 97,541 |
| Cash flow from investing activities | ||||
| -22,121 | -46,234 | Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, net |
-82,567 | -159,056 |
| - | -484 | Government grants received | - | 4,411 |
| 602 | 61 | Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment | 1,472 | 1,003 |
| - | - | Dividends received | 2 | - |
| 30,890 | 8,447 | Change in restricted cash | 869 | 7,407 |
| 959 | 1,162 | Interest received | 3,523 | 4,866 |
| 10,330 | -37,048 | Net cash used in investing activities | -76,701 | -141,369 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | ||||
| 86 | 35,208 | Proceeds from loans and leasing | 104,047 | 408,617 |
| -191,856 | -125,684 | Repayment of loans | -326,920 | -160,490 |
| -12 | -130 | Dividends paid | -56 | -324,779 |
| -191,782 | -90,606 | Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | -222,929 | -76,652 |
| -225,865 | -127,923 | Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 22,390 | -120,480 |
| 331,417 | 211,175 | Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 83,182 | 203,609 |
| -52 | -70 | Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents | -72 | 53 |
| 105,500 | 83,182 | Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 105,500 | 83,182 |
| Alro Stand-alone | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities | ||||
| 20,230 | -51,559 | Result before income taxes | 262,142 | -158,539 |
| Adjustments for: | ||||
| 25,433 | 26,865 | Depreciation and amortisation | 109,182 | 101,886 |
| 61 | 573 | Impairment of investments | 1,178 | 48,873 |
| - | - | Impairment of property, plant and equipment | - | -4,754 |
| 25,920 | 1 | Movement in provisions | 25,920 | -23,906 |
| -6,685 490 |
122 66 |
Change in allowance for impairment of inventory Change in allowance for impairment of doubtful receivables |
-3,773 1,040 |
13,940 35 |
| -56 | 13 | Losses/(gains) on disposal of property, plant and equipment | -153 | 5,406 |
| -28,886 | -14,974 | Net foreign exchange (gains)/ losses on loans revaluation | -40,178 | 40,273 |
| -846 | -784 | Interest income | -3,408 | -4,487 |
| 10,647 | 17,081 | Interest expense | 51,017 | 67,815 |
| - | -1 | Dividend income | -2 | -48,325 |
| - | -2,562 | Effect of derivative financial instruments | - | 3,598 |
| Changes in working capital: | ||||
| -60,461 | 19,066 | Change in inventories | 107,833 | 36,052 |
| -107,912 | 35,809 | Change in trade receivables and other assets | -413,723 | 136,292 |
| 41,667 | 2,289 | Change in trade and other payables | 166,015 | 9,157 |
| - | - | Income taxes (paid)/refunded | -12,278 | -10,927 |
| -20,657 | -12,760 | Interest paid | -60,921 | -64,973 |
| - | -2,399 | Cash receipts/ (Payments) from derivatives, net | -701 | 5,752 |
| -101,055 | 16,846 | Net cash generated by / (used in) operating activities | 189,190 | 153,168 |
| Cash flow from investing activities | ||||
| -13,659 | -14,457 | Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, net | -48,565 | -84,760 |
| - | - | Government grants received | - | 3,572 |
| 56 | 6 | Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment | 98 | 148 |
| - | - | Dividends received | 2 | 48,324 |
| 30,000 | 1 | Change in restricted cash | - | 5,085 |
| 846 | 784 | Interest received | 3,408 | 4,487 |
| 17,243 | -13,666 | Net cash used in investing activities | -45,057 | -23,144 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | ||||
| 118 | 4,206 | Proceeds from loans and leasing | 101,065 | 290,603 |
| -144,995 | -125,968 | Repayment of loans | -228,938 | -159,747 |
| -12 | -144 | Dividends paid | -56 | -324,779 |
| -144,889 | -121,906 | Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | -127,929 | -193,923 |
| -228,701 | -118,726 | Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 16,204 | -63,899 |
| 317,451 | 191,272 | Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 72,546 | 136,445 |
| 88,750 | 72,546 | Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 88,750 | 72,546 |
Consolidated statement of changes in shareholders' equity for the year 2020 - unaudited in RON '000
| Other reserves | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share | Share | Other | Translation | Total other | Retained | Result for | Attributable to | Non | Total | |
| capital | premium | reserves | reserve | reserves | earnings | the period | shareholders of | controlling | shareholders' | |
| Alro SA | interests | equity | ||||||||
| Balance at 1 January 2019 | 370,037 | 86,351 | 367,834 | -23,501 | 344,333 | 135,358 | 235,006 | 1,171,085 | 1,739 | 1,172,824 |
| Result for the period | - | - | - | - | - | - | -67,734 | -67,734 | 497 | -67,237 |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense) | ||||||||||
| Translation adjustment | - | - | - | -6,229 | -6,229 | - | - | -6,229 | -37 | -6,266 |
| Remeasurements of post-employment benefits | - | - | - | - | - | -3,333 | - | -3,333 | - | -3,333 |
| Deferred tax on benefits remeasurement | - | - | - | - | - | 577 | - | 577 | - | 577 |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - | -6,229 | -6,229 | -2,756 | - | -8,985 | -37 | -9,022 |
| Total comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - | -6,229 | -6,229 | -2,756 | -67,734 | -76,719 | 460 | -76,259 |
| Transactions with owners of the company recognized directly in equity | ||||||||||
| Distributions to owners of the company | ||||||||||
| Appropriation of prior year result | - | - | 4,563 | - | 4,563 230,443 -235,006 | - | - | - | ||
| Dividends distribution | - | - | - | - | - -326,600 | - | -326,600 | -14 | -326,614 | |
| Balance at 31 December 2019 | 370,037 86,351 372,397 | -29,730 | 342,667 | 36,446 | -67,734 | 767,767 | 2,185 | 769,952 | ||
| Balance at 1 January 2020 | 370,037 86,351 372,397 | -29,730 | 342,667 | 36,446 | -67,734 | 767,767 | 2,185 | 769,952 | ||
| Result for the period | - | - | - | - | - | - 328,489 | 328,489 | 490 | 328,979 | |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense) | ||||||||||
| Translation adjustment | - | - | - | -11,024 | -11,024 | - | - | -11,024 | -67 | -11,091 |
| Remeasurements of post-employment benefits | - | - | - | - | - | -7,021 | - | -7,021 | -8 | -7,029 |
| Deferred tax on benefits remeasurement | - | - | - | - | - | 1,055 | - | 1,055 | 1 | 1,056 |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - | -11,024 | -11,024 | -5,966 | - | -16,990 | -74 | -17,064 |
| Total comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - | -11,024 | -11,024 | -5,966 328,489 | 311,499 | 416 | 311,915 | |
| Transactions with owners of the company recognized directly in equity | ||||||||||
| Distributions to owners of the company: | ||||||||||
| Appropriation of prior year result | - | - | 3,515 | - | 3,515 -71,249 | 67,734 | - | - | - | |
| Balance at 31 December 2020 | 370,037 86,351 375,912 | -40,754 | 335,158 -40,769 328,489 | 1,079,266 | 2,601 | 1,081,867 |
Separate statement of changes in equity for the year 2020 - unaudited in RON '000
| Share | Share | Other | Retained | Result for | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| capital | premiu | reserves | earnings | the period | ||
| Balance at 1 January 2019 | m 370,037 86,351 |
306,191 | 235,103 | 225,957 | 1,223,639 | |
| Result for the period | - | - | - | - -152,901 | -152,901 | |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense) | ||||||
| Remeasurements of post-employment benefits | - | - | - -3,086 | - -3,086 |
||
| Deferred tax on benefits remeasurement | - | - | - 494 |
- 494 |
||
| Total other comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - -2,592 | - -2,592 |
||
| Total comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - -2,592 | -152,901 | -155,493 | |
| Transactions with owners of the company recognized directly in equity | ||||||
| Distributions to owners of the company | ||||||
| Appropriation of prior year result | - | - - |
225,957 | -225,957 | - | |
| Dividends distribution | - | - - |
-326,600 | - -326,600 | ||
| Balance at 31 December 2019 | 370,037 | 86,351 | 306,191 | 131,868 | -152,901 | 741,546 |
| Balance at 1 January 2020 | 370,037 | 86,351 | 306,191 | 131,868 | -152,901 | 741,546 |
| Result for the period | - | - | - | - 235,611 | 235,611 | |
| Other comprehensive income / (expense) | ||||||
| Remeasurements of post-employment benefits | - | - | - -5,702 | - -5,702 |
||
| Deferred tax on benefits remeasurement | - | - | - 912 |
- 912 |
||
| Total other comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - -4,790 | - -4,790 |
||
| Total comprehensive income / (expense) | - | - | - -4,790 | 235,611 | 230,821 | |
| Transactions with owners of the company recognized directly in equity | ||||||
| Distributions to owners of the company | ||||||
| Appropriation of prior year result | - | - - |
-152,901 | 152,901 | - | |
| Balance at 31 December 2020 | 370,037 | 86,351 | 306,191 | -25,823 | 235,611 | 972,367 |
As early as the first quarter of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic spread around the world, and the number of disease cases began to grow significantly. This has forced state governments to take unprecedented measures such as shutting down economic activities and restricting the movement of people. The aluminum industry was immediately impacted and deliveries to severely affected countries such as Italy, Spain, Great Britain, France, Germany, Poland were partly stopped due to restrictions on transports and national regulations on the movement of goods.
In the second quarter of 2020, most of the European countries applied measures to gradually ease restrictions on business circulation and activities; however, by the end of 2020 the effects of the second wave of the pandemic began to be felt even stronger. Thus, most European countries began to apply restrictions and the measure of partial isolation was implemented. In addition, the COVID-19 epidemic crisis came amid existing trade tensions and Brexit uncertainties.
In this context, Alro Group has efficiently managed the coronavirus pandemic by implementing complex protocols and procedures in its work locations, which were put in place since the beginning of the pandemic, and the Group has thus ensured the continuity of the course of activity under safe conditions.
On the background of pandemia the LME aluminium prices crashed below the 1,500 USD/tonne level in March - April 2020, while starting June 2020 the aluminium prices increased and exceeded 2,000 USD/tonne in the end of the year. Signs of recovery have started to be visible in Q4 2020, and the LME quotation gradually reached an average of 2,018 USD/ton in December 2020. Thus, the LME average value gained 164 USD/ton in Q4 2020 (1,916 USD/ton) as compared to Q4 2019 when the average LME was 1,752 USD/ton. Even so, the current pandemic context has influenced the level of demand in all business areas of the Group, which determined a decrease by 7% of sales revenues in Q4 2020 as compared to Q4 2019 (from RON 615,448 thousand reported in Q4 2019 to RON 572,761 thousand reported in Q4 2020).
The Processed Aluminum Division was significantly affected by the pandemic, since the flat rolled products are mainly exported to European countries, and recorded a decrease by 8% in the sales value in 2020 as compared to 2019, mainly due to the decrease by 36% in the sales of coils, which was influenced by the decline in demand from the aerospace and automotive industries. However, signs of recovery have been noted starting Q2 and Q3 2020 for plate deliveries which were 2,100 tonnes higher in 2020 as compared to 2019. In spite of the new lockdowns imposed by several West European countries, of uncertainties caused by Brexit and of the trucks shortage during the winter holidays, in Q4 2020, the value of the processed aluminum products sales increased by 1.5%, and the plates deliveries were higher by more than 1,200 tons as compared to the same period of the previous year, the plates being the product of the Group with the highest value added. As regards the other types of flat rolled products, i.e. sheets and coils, although the sales of these products went down in Q4 2020, our customers in the automotive and construction sectors began to improve their activity towards the end of 2020, which determined an increase in the demand for these types of products and we expect this to reflect in higher sales in the first quarter of the next year.
In spite of the negative factors that constrain aluminum producers at this time, a good performance of processed aluminum sales was achieved for quantitative sales of extruded products, which increased by 22% in 2020 as compared to 2019 and by 23% in Q4 2020 as compared to Q4 2019. The Group seized the existing demand opportunities in the solar panel market and sold 4,500 tons more extruded products in 2020 as compared to the same period of the previous year and 1,000 tons more if we speak about the fourth quarter.
In Q4 2020, the subsidiary of Alro Group, Vimetco Extrusion, an extruded products manufacturer, became a supplier for one of the most sophisticated industries, providing high and very high value-added products for the heliports construction. Vimetco Extrusion concluded a partnership with ABC Development Aviation, a company certified by AACR (Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority) as developer and installer of aerodrome elements and infrastructure for developing helideck platforms made in Romania.
As regards the Primary Aluminum Division, the sales volume recorded an increase by 1% in 2020 as compared to 2019, mainly due to the aluminum wire rod sales. Demand for aluminum wire rod was stable in 2020, during this period of economic decline, as cable manufacturers are considered essential in the supply chain since they have public utilities companies in their client portfolios. In 2020, the Group's aluminum wire rod sales were more than 2,700 tons higher than last year. However, some of our customers reported short-staffing and impossibility to continue their activity at the expected level due to the quarantine imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a decrease by 3% in the volume of primary products sales in Q4 2020 as compared to Q4 2019.
Another range of primary products where the Group recorded increased sales is billets. In this area, the Group managed to sell over 300 tons more billets in Q4 2020 as compared to Q4 2019, due to the increase in demand in the extruded sector starting September 2020.
Regarding the cost of goods sold, the Group reported RON 29,237 thousand less in 2020 as compared to 2019 (2020: RON 2,521,548 thousand versus 2019: RON 2,550,785 thousand) and RON 31,487 thousand less in Q4 2020 as compared to Q4 2019 (Q4 2020: RON 556,160 thousand versus Q4 2019: RON 587,647 thousand), thanks to the decrease in the raw materials purchase prices, in line with the prices on specific markets and with the Group's strategy to reduce costs in 2020, but this benefit was partly impaired by the existing electricity prices on the Romanian market, which continued to show an upward trend.
In 2020, the Group reported a negative gross result in the amount of RON 6,832 thousand (2019: gross profit RON 227,016 thousand) which was influenced by a combination of factors, namely: conditions of the market that recorded low aluminum price levels in the first part of year, lower demand for aluminum due to the global crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and an upward trend in electricity prices. Since towards the end of the year 2020 there was a slight recovery of LME quotations and demand for certain products, especially those with high value added, the Group recorded a positive gross result in amount of RON 16,601 thousand in Q4 2020 as compared to a positive gross result of RON 27,801 thousand in Q4 2019. The cost of goods sold which led to a gross loss in 2020 does not include the compensation granted to the Group, which was included under Other operating income .
The general, administrative and selling expenses were higher in 2020 as compared to 2019 due to the recognition of a provision in amount of RON 29,665 thousand in Q4 2020, in accordance with the clauses of the collective labour agreement and the GMS decisions regarding management remuneration.
In 2020, other operating income in 2020 mainly includes the subsidy of RON 647,243 thousand (in 2019: 0) recorded by Alro Group as a compensation for higher energy costs in accordance with EU legislation on the EU-ETS scheme for the years 2019 and 2020. In Q4 2020, the Group recognized revenues from subsidies related to the EU-ETS compensation scheme in the amount of RON 99,324 thousand (Q4 2019: 0). Additionally, an amount of RON 73,668 thousand (in 2019: RON 120,197 thousand) from the sale of greenhouse gas emission certificates is included in the category Other operating income in 2020, as the Group had the benefit of an increase in the market prices of carbon dioxide emission certificates. The group had a surplus of emission certificates, as a result of sustained efforts to invest in energy efficiency increase over the last years. As for the quarter, in Q4 2020 the sales of emission certificates were in the amount of RON 37,607 thousand (Q4 2019: RON 12,499 thousand).
The Group's operating result for the year 2020 amounts to RON 399,427 thousand as compared to RON 99,241 thousand in 2019, mainly from the compensation recognized in the category of Other operating income, as mentioned above. Therefore, the Group reported a 4-time higher EBIT level as compared to the previous year. A similar evolution was recorded in the quarterly figures where the Group reported a positive EBIT of RON 44,325 thousand in Q4 2020 as compared to a negative EBIT in the amount of RON 26,787 thousand in Q4 2019.
Net foreign exchange gains / (losses) are mainly amounts with no effect on the cash flow, arising from the revaluation of the Group's loans and other foreign currency liabilities. While in 2019 overall the Group recognized a foreign exchange loss, in 2020 and in Q4 for both 2020 and 2019, the Group recorded gains from exchange rate differences, especially from the revaluation of USD-denominated loans considering that the Romanian leu appreciated during these quarters.
The Group's net result in 2020 is a net profit of RON 328,979 thousand as compared to a RON 67,237 thousand loss reported in 2019. The same trend continues to exist in Q4 2020, when the net profit was RON 55,627 thousand as compared to the net loss of RON 44,516 thousand reported in Q4 2019.
Reconciliation of adjusted net result with the net result of Alro Group:
| in RON '000 Q4 2020 |
in RON '000 Q4 2019 |
in RON '000 2020 |
in RON '000 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55,627 | -44,516 | Result for the period | 328,979 | -67,237 |
| 4 | - | Plus/(minus) charge/ (reversal) of non-current assets | 4 | -4,790 |
| impairment expense/(income) | ||||
| - | -2,562 | Plus/(minus) the loss/(gain) from derivative financial | - | 3,598 |
| instruments for which hedge accounting was not applied | ||||
| -8,019 | 12,430 | Plus/(minus) deferred tax expense | 839 | 15,093 |
| 47,612 | -34,648 | Adjusted net result | 329,822 | -53,336 |
10. Bank loans: in November 2020, the Parent company re-negotiated and signed the extension until November 2023 of the revolving loan agreement with a nominal value of USD 120,000 thousand with a syndicate of banks, and until February 2024 of the non-cash financing line of USD 30,000 thousand. At the same time, in November 2020 the Parent company signed the extension until November 2023 of another revolving loan amounting to RON 180,000 thousand contracted from a commercial bank. Consequently, cash collateral of RON 45,200 thousand pledged in relation to some of the extended loans for more than one year was reclassified from Restricted cash (at 31 December 2019) to Other non-current assets (at 31 December 2020).
Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
Gheorghe Dobra Genoveva Nastase
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