Earnings Release • Nov 6, 2017
Earnings Release
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Paris La Défense, 6 November 2017: the Vicat group (Euronext Paris: FR0000031775 – VCT) today reported its nine-month 2017 sales, which came to €1,921 million, up +4.0% at constant scope and exchange rates. On a reported basis, the Group's sales rose +2.9% compared with the same period of 2016. In the third quarter, sales grew +10.1% at constant scope and exchange rates and +6.9% on a reported basis.
| Nine | Nine | Change (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | month 2017 sales |
month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates* |
|
| Cement | 932 | 951 | -2.0% | +4.3% | |
| Concrete & Aggregates |
739 | 680 | +8.7% | +2.9% | |
| Other Products & Services |
249 | 236 | +5.8% | +5.8% | |
| Total | 1,921 | 1,867 | +2.9% | +4.0% |
Commenting on these figures, the Group's Chairman and CEO said: "In the first nine months of the year, our sales grew at a healthy pace. This was achieved through further growth in the United States, despite tough weather conditions in the South-East, and a gradual improvement in the French, Indian and Kazakh markets. After very unfavourable weather conditions in the first half, our business in Turkey posted brisk growth again in the third quarter. Lastly, our sales were almost stable in the West Africa and Middle East region. Against this backdrop, Vicat continues to execute its strategy and remains focused on its objectives of generating cash and reducing its debt."
* The alternative performance measures (APMs), such as "at constant scope and exchange rates", "operational sales", "EBITDA", "net debt", "gearing" and "leverage" are defined in the appendix to this press release.
VICAT INVESTOR CONTACTS:
STÉPHANE BISSEUIL TEL. +33 (0)1 58 86 86 13 [email protected]
VICAT PRESS CONTACTS:
MARION GUERIN TEL. +33 (0)1 58 86 86 26 [email protected]
TOUR MANHATTAN 6 PLACE DE L'IRIS F-92095 PARIS - LA DEFENSE CEDEX TEL.: +33 (0)1 58 86 86 86 FAX: +33 (0)1 58 86 86 12
COMPANY WITH SHARE CAPITAL OF €179,600,000 EU VAT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: FR 92 - 057 505 539 RCS NANTERRE
A FRENCH REGISTERED
The Vicat Group's consolidated sales in the first nine months of 2017 came to €1,921 million, representing an increase of +2.9% on a reported basis and +4.0% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with the same period of 2016. This top-line performance reflected:
At constant scope and exchange rates, growth in operational sales by business was as follows:
The breakdown of nine-month 2017 operational sales by business shows a decrease in the Cement business's contribution to 51.1% of operational sales from 53.1% in the same period of 2016. The operational sales contribution from the Group's Concrete & Aggregates business advanced to 34.4% from 32.6% over the same period in 2016. Lastly, the contribution made by Other Products & Services was almost stable at 14.5% of the Group's operational sales, compared with 14.3% in the first nine months of 2016.
In the third quarter of 2017, consolidated sales totalled €673 million, up +10.1% at constant scope and exchange rates and up +6.9% on a reported basis compared with the same period of 2016.
Third-quarter operational sales advanced +10.6% at constant scope and exchange rates and rose +7.8% on a reported basis compared with the same period of 2016.
By business, growth in operational sales at constant scope and exchange rates was as follows:
In this press release, and unless indicated otherwise, all changes are calculated based on the first nine months of 2017 by comparison with the first nine months of 2016 and are stated at constant scope and exchange rates.
| Nine | Nine-month | Change (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | month 2017 sales |
2016 sales | Reported | At constant scope |
| Consolidated sales |
665 | 604 | +10.2% | +1.1% |
Consolidated sales recorded in France in the nine months to 30 September 2017 totalled €665 million. They grew +1.1% at constant scope, reflecting the improvement in economic and industry conditions. During the third quarter, consolidated sales came to €221 million, representing an increase of +11.2% on a reported basis and of +1.1% at constant scope and exchange rates.
| Change (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | Nine-month 2017 sales |
Nine-month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates |
| Consolidated sales |
315 | 310 | +1.5% | +1.6% |
Nine-month 2017 sales in Europe excluding France rose +1.5% on a reported basis and +1.6% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with the same period of 2016. During the third quarter, sales came to €118 million, up +8.4% at constant scope and exchange rates (+5.2% on a reported basis).
In Switzerland, the Group's consolidated sales over the first nine months of 2017 climbed +1.8% at constant scope and exchange rates (+1.7% on a reported basis). While the Cement and Precast businesses remained brisk, the first nine months of the year brought a sales contraction in the Concrete and Aggregates business. In the third quarter, consolidated sales grew +9.1% at constant scope and exchange rates (+5.8% on a reported basis).
but declined close to -4% in Aggregates. Lastly, selling prices were stable in Concrete and rose in Aggregates.
In Italy, consolidated sales slipped -3.4% lower over the period as a whole. The decline of close to -7% in sales volumes was only partially offset by an improvement in selling prices in a domestic market still held back by a challenging macroeconomic and industry environment.
Consolidated sales in Italy sank -14.1% in the third quarter owing to a contraction of over -17% in volumes delivered over the period. Selling prices moved above their level in the third quarter of 2016.
| Nine | Nine | Change (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | month 2017 sales |
month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates |
| Consolidated sales |
297 | 276 | +7.6% | +7.4% |
Business in the United States maintained its growth momentum in a still upbeat macroeconomic environment that was supportive for the construction sector. Against this backdrop, in spite of highly unfavourable weather conditions since the beginning of the year – in California, in the first quarter and then in the South-East region in the second and third quarters – the Group's consolidated sales moved up +7.4% at constant scope and exchange rates (+7.6% on a reported basis).
In the third quarter, the Group's business trends remained firm. Its consolidated sales totalled €105 million, up +9.9% at constant scope and exchange rates (+4.9% on a reported basis).
In the Cement business, operational sales grew +10.2% at constant scope and exchange rates (+10.5% on a reported basis) in the first nine months of the year. Consolidated sales rose +10.8% (+11.0% on a reported basis). Volumes continued to grow (over +6%) on the back of the robust trends in California fully offsetting the volume contraction in the South-East region as a result of the very poor weather conditions in the second and third quarters. Selling prices rose in both regions as a result of the full impact of the hikes introduced in 2016 and those announced during the first half of 2017.
| Nine-month 2017 sales |
Change (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | Nine-month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates |
|
| Consolidated sales |
426 | 407 | +4.8% | +10.9% |
Sales across Asia as a whole came to €426 million in the first nine months of 2017, rising +10.9% at constant scope and exchange rates and +4.8% on a reported basis. Third-quarter consolidated sales in the region totalled €162 million, up +28.4% at constant scope and exchange rates (+16.9% on a reported basis).
In Turkey, consolidated sales came to €156 million, up +16.3% at constant scope and exchange rates, but down -4.8% on a reported basis. In the third quarter, sales leapt +45.0% higher at constant scope and exchange rates (+16.9% on a reported basis), as a result of supportive weather conditions after the challenging climate of the first half.
basis. Consolidated sales moved up +46.9% at constant scope and exchange rates (up +18.5% on a reported basis). This performance was driven by growth in sales volumes in both the Konya and Ankara markets, accompanied by a healthy increase in selling prices.
In India, the Group posted consolidated sales of €227 million in the first nine months of 2017, up +7.2% at constant scope and exchange rates (+10.6% on a reported basis). This performance was driven by volume growth of +4%, with over 3.8 million tonnes delivered, and higher selling prices throughout the period.
In the third quarter, consolidated sales in India surged +19.0% at constant scope and exchange rates (+17.9% on a reported basis). This solid increase was powered by significant growth in volumes, and a small rise in average selling prices.
In Kazakhstan, the Group posted consolidated sales of €44 million, up +7.4% at constant scope and exchange rates (+14.5% on a reported basis). This improvement reflected a sharp rise in selling prices, which more than offset a volume contraction of close to -7% over the period as a whole.
Consolidated sales generated in Kazakhstan in the third quarter rose +11.5% at constant scope and exchange rates (+12.8% on a reported basis) on the back of a significant rise in prices amid almost stable volumes during the period.
| Nine | Change (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | Nine-month 2017 sales |
month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates |
|
| Consolidated sales |
218 | 271 | -19.4% | -0.5% |
In the Africa and Middle East region, consolidated sales came to €218 million, a near-stable performance at constant scope and exchange rates (-0.5%), but a steep decline on a reported basis (-19.4%) owing to the very significant devaluation in the Egyptian pound in November 2016.
Third-quarter consolidated sales in the region totalled €68 million, up +3.5% at constant scope and exchange rates, but down -15.7% on a reported basis.
| Change (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | Nine month 2017 sales |
Nine-month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates |
|
| Volume (thousands of |
16,909 | 16,637 | +1.6% | ||
| Operational sales |
1,120 | 1,136 | -1.4% | +4.2% | |
| Eliminations | (188) | (184) | |||
| Consolidated sales |
932 | 951 | -2.0% | +4.3% |
Operational sales in the Cement business fell -1.4% on a reported basis, but rose +4.2% at constant scope and exchange rates. Volumes grew +1.6% over the period. During the third quarter, operational sales came to €386 million. This represented an increase of +3.0% on a reported basis and of +10.9% at constant scope and exchange rates. Third-quarter cement volumes grew +10.0% over the quarter.
| Change (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | Nine month 2017 sales |
Nine-month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates |
|
| Concrete volumes (thousands of m3 ) |
7,063 | 6,564 | +7.6% | +1.2% | |
| Aggregates volumes (thousands of tonnes) |
18,054 | 16,320 | +10.6% | ||
| Operational sales | 754 | 698 | +8.0% | +2.6% | |
| Eliminations | (15) | (18) | |||
| Consolidated sales | 739 | 680 | +8.7% | +2.9% |
The Concrete & Aggregates business recorded operational sales up +8.0% on a reported basis and up +2.6% at constant scope and exchange rates.
Delivery volumes rose +1.2% in Concrete (at constant scope) and +10.6% in Aggregates.
During the third quarter, operational sales came to €264 million. This represented an increase of +9.0% on a reported basis and +5.9% at constant scope and exchange rates. Volumes moved up +10.2% in Concrete (at constant scope) and rose +19.7% in Aggregates.
| Change (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (€ million) | Nine month 2017 sales |
Nine-month 2016 sales |
Reported | At constant scope and exchange rates |
|
| Operational sales | 319 | 306 | +4.2% | +5.6% | |
| Eliminations | (70) | (75) | |||
| Consolidated sales |
249 | 236 | +5.8% | +5.8% |
The operational sales recorded by the Other Products & Services business rose +4.2% on a reported basis and +5.6% at constant scope and exchange rates. In the third quarter, operational sales increased +11.9% on a reported basis and +14.7% at constant scope and exchange rates to €117 million.
Vicat's financial position remains very healthy.
Gearing (net debt/equity) stood at 38.1% at 30 September 2017, versus 40.0% at 30 September 2016.
Its leverage ratio (net debt/EBITDA) was 2.01x at 30 September 2017 vs. 2.18x at 30 September 2016.
Bank covenants do not pose a threat to either the Group's financial position or its balance sheet liquidity. Vicat meets all the covenant ratios contained in its borrowing agreements.
After a first semester marked by a certain number of unfavourable factors, the second semester should benefit from a markedly more positive environment, both in terms of volumes and pricing, in a context of gradually stabilizing production costs.
The Group is providing the following guidance concerning its regional markets:
On this basis, and for 2017 as a whole, the Group expects further improvements in its
performance, capitalizing on continued growth in the United States, France and India, and a return to growth in Europe and Kazakhstan. These elements should offset the expected increase in energy costs and the sharp decline in profitability in Egypt. As a result, on a reported basis, EBITDA is expected to record a very small increase in 2017, subject to exchange rate trends, the evolution of the situation in Egypt, and weather conditions over the remainder of the year.
Against this backdrop, the Group should be able to confirm in 2017 a continued reduction in its level of debt.
The Group will publish its full reporting schedule for 2018 in the next few weeks.
Its 2017 sales and results will be released on 19 February 2018 after the market close.
To accompany the publication of its nine-month 2017 sales, the Vicat group is holding a conference call in English on Tuesday 7 November 2017 at 3pm Paris time (2pm London time and 9am New York time).
To take part in the conference call live, dial one of the following numbers:
| France: | +33(0)1 76 77 22 74 |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom: | +44 (0)330 336 9105 |
| United States: | +1 323 794 2423 |
| To listen to a playback of the conference call, which will be available until | |
| midday on 12 November 2017, dial one of the following numbers: | |
| France: | +33 (0) 1 70 48 00 94 |
| United Kingdom: | +44 (0)207 984 7568 |
| United States: | +1 719 457 0820 |
| Access code: | 8396960# |
Investor relations contact: Stéphane Bisseuil: Tel.: +33 (0) 1 58 86 86 14 [email protected] Press contacts: Marion Guérin: Tel.: +33 (0)1 58 86 86 26 [email protected]
The Vicat Group has over 8,000 employees working in three core divisions, Cement, Concrete & Aggregates and Other Products & Services, which generated consolidated sales of €2,454 million in 2016. The Group operates in eleven countries: France, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, Turkey, Egypt, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Kazakhstan and India. Almost 68% of its sales are generated outside France.
The Vicat Group is the heir to an industrial tradition dating back to 1817, when Louis Vicat invented artificial cement. Founded in 1853, the Vicat Group now operates three core lines of business: Cement, Ready-Mixed Concrete and Aggregates, as well as related activities.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements 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.vicat.fr). These statements do not reflect the future performance of the Company, which may differ significantly. The Company does not undertake to provide updates of these statements.
Cash flow from operations: net income before net non-cash expenses (i.e. predominantly depreciation, amortization, additions to provisions and impairment losses, deferred taxes, gains and losses on disposals and fair value adjustments)
Net debt represents gross debt (consisting of the outstanding amount of borrowings from investors and credit institutions, residual financial liabilities under finance leases, any other borrowings and financial liabilities excluding options to sell and bank overdrafts), net of cash and cash equivalents, including remeasured hedging derivatives and debt.
| Cement | Concrete & Aggregates |
Other Products & Services |
Inter segment eliminations |
Consolidated sales |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 270 | 340 | 191 | -137 | 665 |
| Europe (excluding France) |
124 | 128 | 103 | -40 | 315 |
| United States | 160 | 188 | 348 | ||
| Asia | 380 | 66 | 25 | -45 | 426 |
| Africa and Middle East |
186 | 32 | 218 | ||
| Operational sales |
1 120 | 754 | 319 | -221 | 1 972 |
| Inter-segment eliminations |
-188 | -15 | -70 | 221 | |
| Consolidated sales |
932 | 739 | 249 | 0 | 1 921 |
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