HeidelbergCement reports results for the first quarter of 2017

Italcementi acquisition strengthens sales volumes, revenue and result

• Sales volumes: 28 million tonnes of cement (+58%); 61 million tonnes of aggregates (+23%); 10 million cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete (+31%)
• Revenue up by 34% to €3.8 billion (previous year: 2.8)
• Result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation improved by 19% to €383 million (previous year: 321)
• Financial result increased by €32 million to €-82 million (previous year: -114)
• Typical seasonal shortfall (Group share) reduced to €-70 million (previous year: -72); earnings per share improved by 7%

Outlook for 2017 unchanged:

• Positive outlook for global economy; higher geopolitical and macroeconomic risks
• Expected growth in sales volumes of cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete
• Moderate increase in revenue and mid-single to double-digit percentage increase in result from current operations on a comparable pro forma basis*; significant rise in profit for the financial year before non-recurring effects
• HeidelbergCement is well positioned to benefit from good and stable development in industrial countries, particularly in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the countries of Northern Europe, and Australia

^{* Comparable pro forma basis: with the inclusion of Italcementi in the first half of 2016 and adjusted for currency and consolidation effects}

Q1 sales volumes benefit from consolidation of Italcementi

In the first quarter, the sales volumes of HeidelbergCement’s building materials rose substantially as a result of the consolidation of Italcementi. The continued recovery of the construction industry in North America and Europe also had a positive impact on the development of sales volumes. In contrast, development in the emerging countries was mixed.

In the first quarter, the Group’s cement and clinker sales volumes increased by 58% to 27.8 million tonnes (previous year: 17.6) as a result of the acquisition. On a pro forma basis, i.e. taking into account Italcementi’s deliveries in the same period of the previous year, sales volumes remained unchanged. Cement sales volumes showed an improvement in all Group areas apart from Africa-Eastern Mediterranean Basin. The strongest increase on a pro forma basis was recorded in Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia, followed by Western and Southern Europe as well as North America. In Asia-Pacific, cement sales volumes grew in India in particular, while they declined in Thailand and Bangladesh. Although sales volumes rose substantially in Africa south of the Sahara, they dropped sharply in Egypt due to the weak market development.

Deliveries of aggregates also registered an acquisition-related rise of 23% to 60.9 million tonnes (previous year: 49.3). Taking into account Italcementi’s deliveries in the same period of the previous year, the growth amounts to 8%. Higher sales volumes in all Group areas, excluding Asia-Pacific, and particularly the consolidation of the Mibau Group in Northern Europe contributed to this increase.

Deliveries of ready-mixed concrete also rose as a result of the new consolidations by 31% to 10.4 million cubic metres (previous year: 8.0). On a pro forma basis, sales volumes fell slightly by 1%. Asphalt sales volumes grew by 6% to 1.5 million tonnes (previous year: 1.4).

Accelerated growth of revenue and result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation due to the Italcementi acquisition

As a result of the consolidation of Italcementi, revenue and result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation increased significantly. Group revenue rose by 34% in the first quarter to €3,784 million (previous year: 2,832). The result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation improved by 19% to €383 million (previous year: 321). After depreciation and amortisation, the result from current operations fell by 21% to €108 million (previous year: 138).

On pro forma basis, revenue increased slightly. The result from current operations before and after depreciation and amortisation, however, declined by 2% and 13%, respectively. The result from the mature markets of Europe and North America rose significantly in the first quarter of 2017 despite the already relatively strong first quarter of the previous year and bad weather conditions. As the contribution to results from these markets is generally rather weak in the first quarter due to seasonal factors, it could not offset the decline in result in the emerging countries, which was mainly due to a drop in prices in Indonesia and Ghana. The result in Western and Southern Europe was additionally negatively impacted by higher maintenance costs, which in comparison with the previous year were more pronounced in the first quarter. Energy costs also rose moderately in comparison with the first quarter of 2016.

“We continued our strong operational development in the first quarter and realised further synergies,” says Dr. Bernd Scheifele, Chairman of the Managing Board. “We were able to almost offset the effect of higher energy costs, bad weather conditions, and increased competition in some emerging countries in the most seasonally weak quarter of the year. Thanks to the ongoing refinancing of our maturities at more favourable terms, we have successfully continued to improve the financial result and made an important contribution to the further rise in our cash flow. All in all, we have slightly increased the Group share of profit for the financial year despite the challenging environment.”

The additional ordinary result fell by €12 million to €-16 million (previous year: -4). The financial result substantially improved by €32 million to €-82 million (previous year: -114). Net interest expenses were reduced by a further €13 million. The currency result and other financial result also developed positively.

The profit before tax from continuing operations declined by €5 million to €9 million (previous year: 14). Expenses relating to income taxes rose to €48 million (previous year: 36). As a result, net loss from continuing operations increased to €-39 million (previous year: -21). The net income from discontinued operations of €4 million represents operations of the Hanson Group that were discontinued in previous years.

Overall, the typical seasonal loss for the period increased slightly to €-35 million (previous year: -31). The profit relating to non-controlling interests fell by €6 million to €35 million (previous year: 41). The Group share consequently improved to €-70 million (previous year: -72) and the loss per share to €-0.35 (previous year: -0.38).

At the end of the first quarter of 2017, the number of employees at HeidelbergCement stood at 60,481 (previous year: 45,979). The increase of 14,502 employees is primarily attributable to the acquisition of Italcementi.

Refinancing on favourable terms

In the first quarter, HeidelbergCement repaid a bond of €1 billion with a coupon of 8.0%. Two new bonds were placed for refinancing purposes: a four-year bond of €750 million with a fixed coupon of 0.5% and a nine-year bond of €1 billion with a fixed coupon of 1.625%. Owing to its investment grade credit rating and the low interest environment, HeidelbergCement is able to refinance its maturities on substantially more favourable terms, thereby improving the interest result and cash flow.

Net debt at the end of the first quarter amounted to €9.6 billion, which, as a result of the acquisition, was around €3.7 billion more than at the end of the same quarter of the previous year. Gearing (net debt-to-equity ratio) at the end of the first quarter rose correspondingly to 53.8% (previous year: 38.7). Leverage (net debt-to-result from current operations before depreciation and amortisation ratio) increased on a pro forma basis, i.e. also taking into account the contribution to results of Italcementi for the first half of 2016, to 3.0x (previous year: 2.2). In 2017, we will focus on bringing leverage back down to around 2.5x or less. The liquidity reserve fell from €4.9 billion to €4.6 billion.

Integration of Italcementi is progressing well

The implementation of the measures to integrate Italcementi is progressing well. In North America, operational best practices that have proven successful have already been transferred to the acquired plants, thereby substantially improving operational key performance indicators. The integration remains on schedule, and the synergy target of €470 million still applies.

Outlook for 2017 confirmed

In its latest forecast from April 2017, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) slightly increased the growth rate for the global economy and now anticipates a rise in global economic growth from 3.1% in 2016 to 3.5% in 2017. Accelerating growth in the USA is one of the drivers behind this trend. It is also anticipated that the growth rates in the emerging countries will increase again, despite a further economic slowdown in China. Higher growth rates are particularly expected for countries in Africa south of the Sahara and in Asian countries with the exception of China.

Global risks have increased considerably compared with the previous year. This relates both to geopolitical and macroeconomic risks. Among the geopolitical risks are notably the conflicts in the Middle East and in eastern Ukraine. In terms of macroeconomic risks, special mention must be made of the increase in energy prices and inflation, the unpredictable consequences of the downturn in the Chinese economy, the impact of monetary policy measures, particularly by the US Federal Reserve, and the shift of political measures towards protectionism.

In North America, HeidelbergCement, in conformity with the IMF, expects a stronger economic recovery and consequently a further increase in demand for building materials. In Western and Southern Europe, positive market development is expected. This is based on the continued recovery in the United Kingdom, the consistent solid condition of the German economy, and the stable economic development in Benelux. In Northern Europe, we expect a continuation of the good market conditions. In Eastern Europe, we anticipate growing demand for building materials as a result of the EU infrastructural programme, among other factors. The crisis in eastern Ukraine is continuing to impair the country’s sales volumes and result. The economic situation in Russia and Kazakhstan has improved following the increase in the oil price. In the African markets, we expect an acceleration in demand growth together with a persistent level of competition. In Asia, HeidelbergCement anticipates an upturn in demand, thanks in particular to increasing infrastructure investments in Indonesia. Nevertheless, a further decline in demand and an increase in excess capacities are expected in China. The impact on export volumes is limited, however, because a large proportion of Chinese capacities is located inland.

In view of the overall positive development of demand, HeidelbergCement projects increasing sales volumes of the core products cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete.

HeidelbergCement estimates that the cost base for energy will increase moderately to significantly in 2017 as a result of the rising oil and coal prices since the beginning of 2016. A slight to moderate rise in the cost of raw materials and personnel is also expected. HeidelbergCement remains focused on the continuous improvement of efficiency and margins. With this in mind, we are implementing “Continuous Improvement” programmes in the cement and aggregates business lines to establish a culture of consistent advancement of operational and commercial work processes at employee level. Process optimisations are expected to achieve a sustainable improvement in results of at least €120 million in both business lines over a three-year period. The “CIP” programme for the cement business commenced at the beginning of 2015, and the “Aggregates CI” programme for the aggregates business line was introduced at the beginning of 2016. We also continue to optimise our logistics with the “LEO” programme, which has the goal of reducing costs by €150 million over a period of several years. In addition, we launched the new efficiency improvement programme “Competence Center Readymix” (CCR) in the ready-mixed concrete business at the end of 2016. Over a three-year period, the optimisation of logistics and concrete recipes is expected to achieve an improvement in result of €120 million.

In 2017, we anticipate a significant decrease in financing costs on account of our disciplined cash flow management and the refinancing of maturities on more favourable terms.

On the basis of these assumptions, the Managing Board has set the goal for 2017 of increasing revenue moderately and the result from current operations before exchange rate and consolidation effects by a mid-single to double-digit percentage on a pro forma basis – i.e. taking into account the contributions of Italcementi for the first half of 2016 – as well as significantly improving the profit for the financial year before non-recurring effects.

“We continued our strong operational development in the first quarter of 2017,” explains Dr. Bernd Scheifele. “We will maintain our focus on concluding the integration of Italcementi and reducing net debt through disciplined cash flow management. Our declared aim is to maintain a long-term investment grade rating. In operational terms, we concentrate on five areas: an increase in customer satisfaction, high operating leverage, cost leadership, vertical integration, and optimised geographical positioning. As a result, we will increase our efficiency and the satisfaction level of our customers, especially in the world’s rapidly growing metropolitan areas. We will continue to drive forward our global programmes to optimise costs and processes as well as increase margins for aggregates (“Aggregates CI”), cement (“CIP”), ready-mixed concrete (“CCR”), and purchasing (“FOX”).”

“We remain cautiously optimistic about 2017,” continues Dr. Bernd Scheifele. “While the overall outlook for the global economy is positive, major macroeconomic and particularly geopolitical risks remain. HeidelbergCement will benefit from the good and stable economic development in the industrial countries, above all in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the countries of Northern Europe, and Australia. These countries generate approximately 60% of our revenue. With the acquisition of Italcementi and its rapid integration, we have impressively demonstrated our tremendous business potential and strong momentum. From a global perspective, we are well positioned to achieve our strategic goals – continuous growth and sustainable returns for our shareholders.”

Overview of the HeidelbergCement Group January-March 2017

1)   Including Italcementi in Q1 2016
2)   Adjusted for currency and consolidation effects
3)   Attributable to the shareholders of HeidelbergCement AG

Financial calendar

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