PRESS RELEASE

Regulated information1

Ieper, March 24, 2022 - 8:00 am CET

RECOVERY OF GLOBAL MACHINERY MARKET GENERATES STRONG RESULTS IN 2021

STRONG TESSENDERLO GROUP RESULTS IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS

1. KEY EVENTS

  • Construction works at the new production facility in Rasnov (Romania) were completed at the end of 2021 (Machines & Technologies segment) and some of the production already started in January 2022. Transferring all production to the new plant is planned to take place in the third quarter of 2022.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2021, Picanol launched its customer platform PicConnect. This is a new, fully digital platform offering a wide range of features from industrial IoT to service-related applications. In addition, Picanol introduced its latest generation of airjet and rapier weaving machines, which have been called the Connect generation. These new generation weaving machines focus on connectivity and an increased level of data availability (Machines & Technologies segment).
  • At the end of 2021, Picanol Group announced the construction of a new head office for its Machines & Technologies segment in its hometown of Ieper (Belgium). Construction work in Ieper is planned to start in the second quarter of 2022, with the new head office scheduled to open in 2024.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Performance Chemicals business unit changed its name to Kuhlmann Europe (Industrial Solutions segment). Kuhlmann Europe terminated its operating agreement in 2021 for the production of sulfur derivatives in Tessenderlo, Belgium (Kuhlmann Belgium). The deteriorating market conditions, the continuing limited availability of raw materials, and increased electricity prices made the sulfur derivatives activity economically unfeasible. In the 2021 results, Tessenderlo Group recognized restructuring expenses in accordance with the termination clauses of the operating agreement, while the yearly contribution of sulfur derivatives to the group's results was not significant.
  • At the end of 2021, Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. (TKI) announced its plans to construct a new plant in Defiance, Ohio (US), serving the Eastern Great Lakes region. The new facility will focus on the leading liquid sulfur- based crop nutrition brands Thio-Sul®, KTS®, K-Row 23®, as well as sulfite chemistries for the industrial markets. The plant is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2024 (Agro and Industrial Solutions segments).
  • In December 2021, Tessenderlo Group agreed to acquire the assets of B.V. Fleuren Tankopslag, a tank storage and transshipment company for liquid products in the Port of Cuijk (the Netherlands). The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022. After completion of the acquisition, the group will integrate the Fleuren Tankopslag operations within the Tessenderlo Kerley International business unit (Agro segment). The transaction will have no material impact on the results of the group.
  • PB Shengda (Zhejiang) Biotechnology Co., Ltd, a 50% joint-venture between Tessenderlo Group and Zhejiang Shengda Ocean Co., Ltd., was established in June 2020 for the construction of a marine collagen peptides plant. Both partners agreed in 2021 to terminate the joint-venture agreement. This will have no material impact on the results of the group. PB Leiner however confirms its ambition to become active in the marine collagen market (Bio-valorization segment).
  • Construction works at Tessenderlo Kerley International's new Thio-Sul® (ammonium thiosulfate) manufacturing plant in Geleen (the Netherlands) are scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2022. The factory is expected to be operational as from the third quarter of 2023.

After the balance date:

  • Following the launch of the new Connect generation weaving machines in 2021, Picanol introduced the OmniPlus-i TC Connect in January 2022. This dedicated execution for the weaving of tire cord fabrics has now been upgraded to the latest airjet technology and combined with the Connect generation features.

1 The enclosed information constitutes regulated information as defined in the Royal Decree of November 14, 2007, regarding the duties of issuers of financial instruments which have been admitted for trading on a regulated market.

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  • In February 2022, Tessenderlo Group announced that it intends to acquire the production plant and the associated business of Pipelife France in Gaillon (France). The Gaillon plant specializes in the manufacturing of pipes for gas, water, and cable protection. The transaction is expected to reach completion in the course of 2022. After completion of the acquisition, Tessenderlo Group intends to integrate the business within the DYKA Group business unit (Industrial Solutions segment). This transaction will not materially impact the results of the group.
  • The group also announced that its growth unit Violleau plans to construct a new production line for organic fertilizers in Vénérolles (France). The new line will focus on the production of organic pellets, responding to the rising demand for organic fertilizers. It is scheduled to be operational from the first quarter of 2023 and it will be constructed on the site of Akiolis' manufacturing plant in Vénérolles. With effect from 2022, Violleau will be included in the Agro segment.
  • In February 2022, Tessenderlo Group repurchased 35.0 million EUR of its outstanding "2022 bonds" at a price of 102.875%. This repurchase resulted in a cash-out of 36.0 million EUR and the remaining amount of outstanding "2022 bonds" maturing in July 2022 stands at 130.5 million EUR. Also in February 2022, the group agreed two term loan credit facilities for 30.0 million EUR each, with a maturity of 7 years (starting April 2022) and a maturity of 5 years (starting August 2022) respectively. These loans, with quarterly capital reimbursements, have a fixed interest rate of 1.16% and 0.94% respectively, and contain no financial covenants. Both transactions will further reduce the liquidity risk as well as the interest costs of the group.
  • In early March 2022, Tessenderlo Group submitted a new permit application to the Flemish Region for the construction of a new 900 MW combined cycle steam and gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in Tessenderlo (Belgium). With a view to future auctions, Tessenderlo Group adjusted its previously submitted project (an investment of approximately 500 million EUR) to respond to the objections that led to the refusal of that application.
  • The current conflict in Eastern Europe and the subsequent economic and financial sanctions imposed are negatively affecting the supply and the cost prices of both raw materials and energy. In particular, MOP (muriate of potash) is the key raw material used for the production of SOP (sulfate of potash) fertilizers that are produced at Tessenderlo Kerley Ham (Belgium). Tessenderlo Group currently sources MOP from Russia and Belarus, as well as some other countries. In this connection, the group is in the process of reviewing its sourcing mix, and it is therefore currently not possible to determine what the effect on the production would be, if any, although no significant impact is expected in the first half of 2022. At present, it is also difficult to estimate the impact on the other activities of the group.

2. FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES

(million EUR)

2021

2020

% change

Revenue

2,741.7

2,188.5

25%

Adjusted EBITDA2

430.3

361.7

19%

Adjusted EBIT3

239.9

170.2

41%

EBIT

242.0

158.2

53%

Profit/(loss) for the period

237.7

86.8

174%

Non-controlling interest

77.0

31.4

146%

Profit/(loss) for the period attributable to the

160.7

55.4

190%

equity holders of the company

Total comprehensive income attributable to the

183.6

48.0

282%

equity holders of the company

Capital expenditure

112.5

113.1

-1%

Cash flow from operating activities

304.0

323.1

-6%

Net financial debt

34.9

97.1

-64%

  1. Adjusted EBITDA equals Adjusted EBIT plus depreciation and amortization.
  2. Adjusted EBIT is considered by the group to be a relevant performance measure in order to compare results over the period 2020-2021 as it excludes EBIT adjusting items.

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GROUP KEY FIGURES: SECOND HALF YEAR

(million EUR)

2H21

2H20

% change

Revenue

1,387.4

1,052.9

32%

Machines & Technologies

326.9

250.7

30%

Agro

375.8

220.7

70%

Bio-valorization

345.8

288.0

20%

Industrial Solutions

302.9

258.6

17%

T-Power

36.0

34.9

3%

Adjusted EBITDA

194.3

166.2

17%

Machines & Technologies

24.8

33.6

-26%

Agro

72.3

41.1

76%

Bio-valorization

36.6

36.6

0%

Industrial Solutions

34.0

28.3

20%

T-Power

26.6

26.6

0%

Adjusted EBIT

99.1

71.3

39%

Machines & Technologies

18.3

27.2

-33%

Agro

38.0

7.9

380%

Bio-valorization

18.3

18.0

2%

Industrial Solutions

16.6

10.3

61%

T-Power

7.8

7.7

1%

EBIT adjusting items

-0.1

-12.4

-100%

EBIT

99.0

58.9

68%

GROUP KEY FIGURES: FULL YEAR

(million EUR)

2021

2020

% change

Revenue

2,741.7

2,188.5

25%

Machines & Technologies

660.2

451.3

46%

Agro

749.3

582.9

29%

Bio-valorization

643.2

575.7

12%

Industrial Solutions

617.8

509.1

21%

T-Power

71.2

69.5

2%

Adjusted EBITDA

430.3

361.7

19%

Machines & Technologies

76.1

47.1

62%

Agro

147.4

125.6

17%

Bio-valorization

78.5

81.9

-4%

Industrial Solutions

76.1

53.0

44%

T-Power

52.2

54.1

-4%

Adjusted EBIT

239.9

170.2

41%

Machines & Technologies

63.3

35.0

81%

Agro

79.3

58.7

35%

Bio-valorization

41.9

44.7

-6%

Industrial Solutions

41.0

15.2

170%

T-Power

14.5

16.6

-13%

EBIT adjusting items

2.0

-12.0

-117%

EBIT

242.0

158.2

53%

REVENUE

2H21 revenue increased by 32% compared to the same period last year. The Machines & Technologies revenue increased by 30% as the global machine market continued its strong recovery after COVID-19. Excluding the foreign exchange effect, the revenue of Agro increased by +67% helped by favorable market circumstances and

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higher sales prices, implemented to compensate the increase of raw material, energy and transportation costs. Excluding foreign exchange effect, the revenue of Bio-valorization increased by 19%, while Industrial Solutions revenue increased by +16%. The revenue of T-Power remained stable.

The 2021 revenue increased by 25%. The revenue increased in all business segments: Machines & Technologies

+46%, Agro: +29%, Industrial Solutions: +21%, Bio-valorization: +12% and T-Power: +2%.

ADJUSTED EBITDA

The 2H21 Adjusted EBITDA amounts to 194.3 million EUR compared to 166.2 million EUR one year earlier, or a 17% increase. The Adjusted EBITDA of segment Machines & Technologies decreased by 8.8 million EUR (-26%) as the unprecedented increase in raw material prices could not be fully re-charged to the customers. While the contribution of the operating segments Agro (+76%) and Industrial Solutions (+20%) increased, the contribution of Bio-valorization and T-Power remained stable.

The 2021 Adjusted EBITDA amounts to 430.3 million EUR, an increase by +19% compared to 361.7 million EUR in 2020. The Adjusted EBITDA of Machines & Technologies (+62%), Agro (+17%) and Industrial Solutions (+44%) increased, while the contribution of Bio-valorization(-4%) and T-Power(-4%) to the group Adjusted EBITDA was in line with prior year.

NET FINANCIAL DEBT

As per year-end 2021, group net financial debt amounts to 34.9 million EUR, which implies a leverage of 0.1x (2020: 97.1 million EUR or a leverage of 0.3x). Short-term borrowings for 215.3 million EUR and 196.2 million EUR long-term borrowings are partially compensated by cash and cash equivalents (366.7 million EUR) and short- term investments (10.0 million EUR of short-term bank notes with maturity date in January 2022). The short- term borrowings include the bond, issued in 2015 with a maturity of 7 years, for an amount of 167.7 million EUR, which will mature in July 2022. Excluding the IFRS 16 lease liabilities, the group net cash position would have amounted to 21.6 million EUR compared to a net financial debt of 40.8 million EUR as per year-end 2020.

PROFIT (+) / LOSS (-) FOR THE PERIOD ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY

The 2021 profit amounts to 160.7 million EUR compared to 55.4 million EUR in 2020. The profit was positively impacted by exchange gains and losses, mainly on non-hedged intercompany loans and cash and cash equivalents in USD (+15.3 million EUR) and by the non-realized profit on the Rieter shares, resulting from the fair value revaluation at the share price of December 31 (+35.9 million EUR).

OPERATIONAL FREE CASHFLOW

The 2021 operational free cash flow amounts to 304.0 million EUR, compared to 323.1 million EUR in 2020. This decrease, despite the increase of the Adjusted EBITDA (+68.6 million EUR), can be explained by the movement of trade working capital, which increased by +65.2 million EUR in 2021. This increase is impacted by the higher activity and increasing purchase and sales prices. Capital expenditure amounted to 112.5 million EUR in 2021, in line with prior year (113.0 million EUR).

3. OUTLOOK

The following statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially.

The group anticipates a continued high level of uncertainty in 2022 due to the current conflict in Eastern Europe, the difficult supply chain circumstances, and other challenges following the coronavirus pandemic. The group is faced with higher logistics, energy and raw materials costs, and this implies that our sales margin could come under pressure during the coming months. Based on currently available information, the group expects that the 2022 Adjusted EBITDA will be lower than that of 2021. This guidance does not include the risk of further deteriorating economic and financial market conditions.

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4. OPERATING SEGMENTS PERFORMANCE REVIEW

MACHINES & TECHNOLOGIES

(million EUR)

2021

2020

% change

Revenue

660.2

451.3

46%

Adjusted EBITDA

76.1

47.1

62%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

12%

10%

Adjusted EBIT

63.3

35.0

81%

Adjusted EBIT margin

10%

8%

After the heavy impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, the recovery - which started in the second half of 2020 - continued throughout 2021. Both the Weaving Machines activities (Picanol) as well as the other industrial activities (Proferro, PsiControl) showed a strong revenue increase. The Adjusted EBITDA increased by 62% compared to last year as fixed costs did not increase proportionally to sales. In the second half of the year however, the profitability was under severe pressure as the negative impact of rising component prices could not be fully translated into higher sales prices, partly due to the large order book.

AGRO

(million EUR)

2021

2020

% change

Revenue

749.3

582.9

29%

Adjusted EBITDA

147.4

125.6

17%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

20%

22%

Adjusted EBIT, excl. fair value adjustment

116.4

95.8

22%

Adjusted EBIT margin, excl. fair value adjustment

16%

16%

Adjusted EBIT

79.3

58.7

35%

Adjusted EBIT margin

11%

10%

2021 revenue increased by +29%. Revenue was impacted by higher volumes and an increase of sales prices, implemented in 2021 to compensate the higher raw material, energy and transportation costs. Also the start of the partnership agreement between Tessenderlo Kerley International and Kemira Oyj (Kemira), announced in 2020, under which Kemira produces premium SOP fertilizers (both standard and water-soluble grade) at its plant in Helsingborg (Sweden) and Tessenderlo Kerley International partially markets these products, positively impacted revenue.

The Adjusted EBITDA increased by +17% compared to prior year. The Adjusted EBITDA of Crop Vitality and Tessenderlo Kerley International increased thanks to favorable market circumstances, while the Adjusted EBITDA of NovaSource remained stable.

BIO-VALORIZATION

(million EUR)

2021

2020

% change

Revenue

643.2

575.7

12%

Adjusted EBITDA

78.5

81.9

-4%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

12%

14%

Adjusted EBIT, excl. fair value adjustment

43.8

47.1

-7%

Adjusted EBIT margin, excl. fair value adjustment

7%

8%

Adjusted EBIT

41.9

44.7

-6%

Adjusted EBIT margin

7%

8%

Revenue increased by +12%, mainly thanks to an improved product mix and market prices for fats and proteins that increased substantially.

The 2021 Adjusted EBITDA remained stable compared to prior year (-4%) as favorable market circumstances for fats and proteins were offset by lower margins of some gelatin products.

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Picanol NV published this content on 24 March 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 24 March 2022 07:17:05 UTC.