ARKEMA: SECOND-QUARTER 2022 RESULTS

admin July 29, 2022

4 15 minutes read

Excellent quarterly results, confirming the soundness of our strategy toward Specialty Materials, and achieved in a very inflationary context.

Annual guidance raised despite a more uncertain macroeconomic environment.

COLOMBES, France–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Regulatory News:

Arkema (Paris:AKE):

Sales of €3.2 billion, up by 32.9% compared with Q2’21:
- Benefits of new business developments in high value-added sustainable solutions (batteries, sports, electronics, healthcare, etc.)
- Selling price adjustments in the face of very significant raw materials, energy and transportation cost inflation
- Slight decline in volumes relative to last year’s high comparison base. Contrasting regional dynamics, robust in North America, down in Europe, and slightly positive in Asia despite the context of lockdowns in China
EBITDA up by a strong 47.5% compared with Q2’21 to €705 million, and a record EBITDA margin of 22.1%:
- Very significant 41.8% growth in Specialty Materials’ EBITDA to €600 million (€423 million in Q2’21), supported by each of the three segments, Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials and Coating Solutions
- Intermediates’ EBITDA at €129 million (€81 million in Q2’21), benefiting notably from more favorable market conditions overall and from initiatives taken by the Group
Adjusted net income up very strongly by 65.9% to €443 million, representing €5.99 per share (€3.50 in Q2’21)
Recurring cash flow of €235 million, reflecting the quality of the Group’s financial performance and including an increase in working capital linked to higher prices and traditional seasonality
Net debt tightly controlled at €2,789 million, including €700 million in hybrid bonds, representing 1.3x last-twelve-months EBITDA
New, more ambitious climate plan announced on 7 July, with an increased level of commitment, aligned with a 1.5°C trajectory and now including scope 3 emissions
Strengthening of the Coating Solutions segment’s downstream with the acquisition of Polimeros Especiales, one of the leaders in solvent-free acrylic resins in Mexico, which will complement the Group’s offering of more environmentally friendly solutions
Annual guidance raised significantly despite a more uncertain macroeconomic environment and weaker demand in Europe: Arkema now aims to achieve in 2022, excluding further significant disruption of the global context, annual EBITDA growth of 17% to 22% at constant scope compared with 2021 (vs. “slight growth” previously), representing an EBITDA of around €2,100 million.

Following Arkema’s Board of Directors’ meeting held on 28 July 2022 to approve the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the first half of 2022, Chairman and CEO Thierry Le Hénaff said:

“The excellent second-quarter performance was achieved in a demanding operating environment, marked by high raw materials inflation, the particular energy context in Europe and disruptions to logistics flows between regions. I would like to thank all of our teams, who contributed to this outstanding financial performance through their commitment and responsiveness, as well as our customers, for engaging in high quality dialogue that enabled us to support them in this complex environment. The Group also continued to benefit from the superior quality of its portfolio of technologies in high performance materials, the opportunities created by the strength of its innovation for sustainable development, and its balanced geographic presence between the three key regions.

Moreover, Arkema is continuing to implement its strategy focused on sustainable growth, with the successful integration of Ashland’s adhesives, the announcement of a high-quality bolt-on acquisition in the Coating Solutions segment’s downstream, the upcoming start-ups of our major investments in Aurora, North Carolina, and Singapore, and our new climate plan announced in early July, which is aligned with the Paris Agreement and a 1.5°C SBT trajectory.

In a global environment that many observers and experts are qualifying as difficult for the coming months and which incites us to be attentive, the new EBITDA guidance for 2022, which has been significantly raised, is a sign of confidence in the Group’s ability to meet the challenges that could arise in the second half of the year.”

KEY FIGURES

in millions of euros	Q2’22	Q2’21⁽¹⁾	Change	H1’22	H1’21⁽¹⁾	Change
Sales	3,184	2,395	+32.9%	6,071	4,621	+31.4%
EBITDA	705	478	+47.5%	1,324	836	+58.4%
Specialty Materials	600	423	+41.8%	1,156	729	+58.6%
Intermediates	129	81	+59.3%	223	156	+42.9%
Corporate	-24	-26		-55	-49
EBITDA margin	22.1%	20.0%		21.8%	18.1%
Specialty Materials	21.0%	20.4%		21.2%	18.5%
Intermediates	40.1%	25.7%		37.6%	23.6%
Recurring operating income (REBIT)	570	345	+65.2%	1,058	568	+86.3%
REBIT margin	17.9%	14.4%		17.4%	12.3%
Adjusted net income	443	267	+65.9%	819	426	+92.3%
Adjusted net income per share (in €)	5.99	3.50	+71.1%	11.07	5.58	+98.4%
Recurring cash flow	235	245	-4.1%	261	298	-12.4%
Free cash flow	211	313	-32.6%	188	297	-36.7%
Net debt including hybrid bonds	2,789	1,281		2,789	1,281
€1,177m as of 31/12/2021

SECOND-QUARTER 2022 BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

At €3,184 million, sales were up by 32.9% compared with second-quarter 2021. Specialty Materials, at the core of the Group’s strategy and which represented 90% of second-quarter 2022 sales, saw volumes decline slightly by 3.4% compared with last year’s elevated level. The Group’s volumes were down by a moderate 5.3%. The Group benefited from positive growth in the United States, driven by underlying demand that remained well oriented in most end markets, and in Asia despite the lockdowns in China, but is impacted by the slowdown observed in Europe, notably in the construction and automotive markets. The price effect was a positive 28.5%, reflecting mainly raised selling prices to adapt to the very strong increase in raw materials, energy and transportation costs, better market conditions in upstream acrylics and the product mix improvement. The scope effect was a positive 1.6%, as the integration of acquisitions in Specialty Materials, particularly Ashland’s performance adhesives, was partly offset by the divestment of PMMA on 3 May 2021. With the significant appreciation of the US dollar and Chinese yuan against the euro, the positive 8.1% currency effect reflects the strength of the Group’s positioning in the United States and in China.

⁽¹⁾

Includes the reclassification of upstream PVDF to the Advanced Materials segment (from the Intermediates segment).

EBITDA rose by a very significant 47.5% and reached a historic high of €705 million (€478 million in Q2’21). Growing strongly in each of the three segments and thus reflecting the Group’s balance, Specialty Materials’ EBITDA amounted to €600 million (€423 million in Q2’21), supported in particular by the price effect in a context of continued high inflation, the product mix shift toward innovative, higher value-added solutions for sustainable megatrends, the integration of recent acquisitions in Adhesive Solutions, as well as more favorable market conditions in upstream acrylics. Growth in Intermediates, with EBITDA of €129 million (€81 million in Q2’21), reflects mainly the improvement of market conditions in refrigerant gases, in particular in the Unites States, and in acrylics in Asia, but also the quality of the positioning work carried out by the teams. Despite a lower level of demand than last year and the mechanical dilution of the price effect, the EBITDA margin increased by 210 bps, reaching the record level of 22.1% (20.0% in Q2’21).

Recurring operating income (REBIT) grew by 65.2% compared with the prior-year period, coming in at €570 million, and the REBIT margin reached 17.9% (14.4% in Q2’21), including recurring depreciation and amortization of €135 million, virtually stable year-on-year.

Adjusted net income increased by a sharp 65.9% to €443 million, representing €5.99 per share. Excluding exceptional items, the tax rate amounted to 21% of recurring operating income.

CASH FLOW AND NET DEBT AT 31 MARCH 2022

Recurring cash flow came to €235 million (€245 million in Q2’21). It reflects the Group’s excellent operating performance and includes the increase in working capital which reflects the strong inflation in raw materials and energy costs, the higher selling prices, as well as the second quarter’s traditional seasonality. At end-June 2022, working capital remained well under control, representing 14.9% of annualized sales (11.9% at end-June 2021 in the context of the post-Covid rebound and sourcing difficulties, and 16.0% at end-June 2019). Recurring cash flow also included recurring capital expenditure of €99 million, virtually stable compared to last year (€93 million).

At €211 million, free cash flow included a strong year-on-year decrease in exceptional capital expenditure at €26 million (€64 million in Q2’21), due to the upcoming start-up of the two major projects concerned.

The net cash outflow from portfolio management operations of €11 million in second-quarter 2022 was linked to the acquisition of Ashland’s performance adhesives finalized on 28 February 2022. In 2021, the inflow included in particular the proceeds from the divestment of PMMA finalized in May.

At €2,789 million, net debt including hybrid bonds was virtually stable compared with end-March 2022 (€2,703 million) and was up significantly relative to end-2021 (€1,177 million). It includes in particular the payment for the acquisition of Ashland’s performance adhesives of close to €1.5 billion and the payment of the dividend of €3 per share for a total amount of €222 million. The net debt (including hybrid bonds) to last-twelve-months EBITDA ratio remained well below the 2x threshold, standing at 1.3x.

Moreover, on 28 July 2022, the Group amended and extended its syndicated line of credit maturing on 29 July 2024. The amount was increased to €1.1 billion and the maturity extended to 28 July, 2027 with two one-year extension options subject to lender approval. The margin is linked to three CSR indicators which now take into account the Group’s new objectives.

CLIMATE PLAN

On 7 July 2022, Arkema reinforced its commitment to fight global warming by publishing its new climate plan. In line with the expectations of the Paris Agreement to contain global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, the Group has set itself an ambitious target, based on an SBT (Science Based Target) approach, to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and its scope 3 emissions by 46% by 2030 relative to 2019. Thus, the Group has raised its level of commitment from a trajectory well below 2°C for scopes 1 and 2 to a 1.5°C trajectory across its entire value chain.

This decarbonization target is based on energy efficiency and the evolution of the energy mix for scopes 1 and 2, as well as, for scope 3, on the reduction of the most emissive activities, innovation contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and suppliers’ commitment to climate action. Moreover, this target will be supported by an increase in investments contributing to decarbonization, which could reach €400 million by 2030 and which will be included in the Group’s recurring capital expenditure envelope.

SECOND-QUARTER 2022 PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT

ADHESIVE SOLUTIONS (25% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

in millions of euros	Q2’22	Q2’21	Change
Sales	779	575	+35.5%
EBITDA	111	82	+35.4%
EBITDA margin	14.2%	14.3%
Recurring operating income (REBIT)	92	65	+41.5%
REBIT margin	11.8%	11.3%

Sales in the Adhesive Solutions segment totaled €779 million, up 35.5% compared with second-quarter 2021. The scope effect was a positive 17.7%, reflecting the successful integration of Ashland’s performance adhesives. Prices rose by a sharp 17.4%, in response to very elevated raw materials, energy and logistics cost inflation. Compared with last year’s high comparison base, volumes decreased by 6.2%, up strongly in the United States and in Asia but impacted by the slowdown in the construction and DIY market in Europe. The currency effect was a positive 6.6%.

At €111 million, EBITDA for the segment was up by a significant 35.4% compared with second-quarter 2021 (€82 million), driven in particular by the discipline in adjusting selling prices in the face of cost inflation, the evolution of the product mix toward higher value-added solutions, as well as by the very good performance of Ashland’s adhesives right from the first months of its integration. The EBITDA margin was stable year-on-year at 14.2% despite the mechanical dilutive effect of price increases of some 200 bps.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (35% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

in millions of euros	Q2’22	Q2’21⁽¹⁾	Change
Sales	1,113	785	+41.8%
EBITDA	282	184	+53.3%
EBITDA margin	25.3%	23.4%
Recurring operating income (REBIT)	215	116	+85.3%
REBIT margin	19.3%	14.8%

Up by a very strong 41.8% compared with second-quarter 2021, sales in the Advanced Materials segment amounted to €1,113 million. Volumes decreased moderately by 4.1% year-on-year, impacted by the slowdown in Europe, logistics disruptions and lockdowns in China. With the exception of the automotive market, which continued to be impacted by component shortages, demand remained well oriented in most of the segment’s key end markets. The price effect, coming in at + 38.4%, was highly positive in both of the segment’s Business Lines. This reflects the Group’s selling price increases in a highly inflationary context for raw materials and energy, and a product mix that continues to evolve favorably thanks to the development of innovative, high performance solutions in batteries, lightweighting, sports, bio-based materials, healthcare, electronics, etc. The 0.8% negative scope effect was attributable to the divestment of the epoxides business, partly offset by the impact of the acquisition of Agiplast, and the currency effect was a positive 8.3%.

At €282 million, the segment’s EBITDA was up by 53.3% on the prior-year period, and the EBITDA margin reached the high level of 25.3%, reflecting mainly the growth in demand for solutions coming from the Group’s innovation, the strength of positions developed in the United States and in China, which benefit from favorable exchange rates, and a particular tightness in the availability of certain product lines.

⁽¹⁾

Includes the reclassification of upstream PVDF to the Advanced Materials segment (from the Intermediates segment).

COATING SOLUTIONS (30% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

in millions of euros	Q2’22	Q2’21	Change
Sales	960	712	+34.8%
EBITDA	207	157	+31.8%
EBITDA margin	21.6%	22.1%
Recurring operating income (REBIT)	175	128	+36.7%
REBIT margin	18.2%	18.0%

Sales in the Coating Solutions segment were up by 34.8% compared with Q2’21 and came in at €960 million, around 35% of which were in acrylic monomers. In a still highly inflationary environment, the price effect was a positive 26.7%, reflecting price increases for downstream products (resins and additives), as well as more favorable conditions in upstream acrylics. While benefiting from a significant increase in the United States, volumes nevertheless fell by a slight 0.4%, impacted by the slowdown in Europe and lockdowns in China. The currency effect was a positive 8.5%.

In this context, the segment’s EBITDA rose by a sharp 31.8% year-on-year to €207 million, and the EBITDA margin reached an excellent level at 21.6%. Moreover, the segment’s performance was driven by the product mix improvement toward higher value-added and more environmentally friendly solutions, particularly photocure resins in new energies, electronics and 3D printing, as well as powders and rheology additives.

INTERMEDIATES (10% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

in millions of euros	Q2’22	Q2’21 ⁽¹⁾	Change
Sales	322	315	+2.2%
EBITDA	129	81	+59.3%
EBITDA margin	40.1%	25.7%
Recurring operating income (REBIT)	114	64	+78.1%
REBIT margin	35.4%	20.3%

Sales in the Intermediates segment rose by a slight 2.2% to €322 million despite an 18.4% negative scope effect linked to the residual impact of the divestment of the PMMA business in May 2021. The price effect was a positive 29.2%, supported by the good momentum in refrigerant gases, particularly in the United States, and more favorable market conditions in acrylics in Asia. Volumes were down by 18.1% due to the mechanical effect of quotas in the United States in fluorogases, and the impact in acrylics of lockdown measures in China, particularly at the beginning of the quarter. The currency effect was a positive 9.5%.

In this context, the segment’s EBITDA grew by a significant 59.3% compared with Q2’21 to €129 million. The EBITDA margin reached 40.1% (25.7% in Q2’21), reflecting the much-improved performance of refrigerant gases compared with the low comparison base last year, and tightness in upstream acrylics in Asia.

⁽¹⁾

Includes the reclassification of upstream PVDF to the Advanced Materials segment (from the Intermediates segment).

OUTLOOK FOR 2022

The second half is marked by a context of risks of lockdowns in China, geopolitical tensions linked to the war in Ukraine, concerns regarding the availability and price of natural gas and electricity in Europe, as well as the significant increase in the level of inflation, which are all factors that could weigh on demand going forward.

In this context, the Group will benefit from its balanced geographic presence and will remain attentive to the evolution of market conditions. Moreover, it will ensure to take inflation into account in its selling prices, strictly manage its fixed costs and inventories, and pursue its innovation in high performance materials.

Despite the uncertain macroeconomic environment and the decline in volumes observed in Europe, Arkema is raising its annual targets and now aims to achieve in 2022, excluding further significant disruption of the global context, annual EBITDA growth at constant scope of 17% to 22% compared with 2021 (vs. “slight growth” previously), representing an EBITDA of around €2,100 million.

The Group is also reaffirming its confidence in its ability to achieve the ambitious targets it has set for 2024 and will continue to implement its strategic roadmap for sustainable development. Arkema will thus leverage its bolt-on acquisition policy, its industrial capacity expansions to support its customers’ growth in high-potential markets, its numerous initiatives in CSR, and lastly the strength of its innovation which should enable the company to generate €1.5 billion of new revenues from 2019 to 2030 around its five large R&D platforms.

Further details concerning the Group’s second-quarter 2022 results are provided in the “Second-quarter 2022 results and outlook” presentation and the “Factsheet” document, both available on Arkema’s website at: www.arkema.com/global/en/investor-relations/

REGULATORY INFORMATION

The half-year financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2022 is available on the Group’s website (www.arkema.com) under Investors/Financials/Financial results.

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

10 November 2022: Publication of third-quarter 2022 results

23 February 2023: Publication of full-year 2022 results

DISCLAIMER

The information disclosed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial position, results of operations, business and strategy of Arkema.

In the current context, where the Covid-19 pandemic persists across the world, and where the consequences of the Russian offensive in Ukraine and the resulting economic sanctions against Russia on geopolitical stability and the global economy remain uncertain, the retained assumptions and forward-looking statements could ultimately prove inaccurate.

Such statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions that could ultimately prove inaccurate and are subject to risk factors such as (but not limited to) changes in raw materials prices, currency fluctuations, the pace at which cost-reduction projects are implemented, developments in the Russian offensive in Ukraine, developments in the Covid-19 situation, and changes in general economic and financial conditions. Arkema does not assume any liability to update such forward-looking statements whether as a result of any new information or any unexpected event or otherwise. Further information on factors which could affect Arkema’s financial results is provided in the documents filed with the French Autorité des marchés financiers.

Balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement data, as well as data relating to the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity and information by segment included in this press release are extracted from the condensed consolidated financial statements at 30 June 2022 as approved by Arkema’s Board of Directors on 28 July 2022. Quarterly financial information is not audited.

Information by segment is presented in accordance with Arkema’s internal reporting system used by management.

Details of the main alternative performance indicators used by the Group are provided in the tables appended to this press release. For the purpose of analyzing its results and defining its targets, the Group also uses EBITDA margin, which corresponds to EBITDA expressed as a percentage of sales, EBITDA equaling recurring operating income (REBIT) plus recurring depreciation and amortization of tangible and intangible assets, as well as REBIT margin, which corresponds to recurring operating income (REBIT) expressed as a percentage of sales.

For the purpose of tracking changes in its results, and particularly its sales figures, the Group analyzes the following effects (unaudited analyses):

scope effect: the impact of changes in the Group’s scope of consolidation, which arise from acquisitions and divestments of entire businesses or as a result of the first-time consolidation or deconsolidation of entities. Increases or reductions in capacity are not included in the scope effect;
currency effect: the mechanical impact of consolidating accounts denominated in currencies other than the euro at different exchange rates from one period to another. The currency effect is calculated by applying the foreign exchange rates of the prior period to the figures for the period under review;
price effect: the impact of changes in average selling prices is estimated by comparing the weighted average net unit selling price of a range of related products in the period under review with their weighted average net unit selling price in the prior period, multiplied, in both cases, by the volumes sold in the period under review;
volume effect: the impact of changes in volumes is estimated by comparing the quantities delivered in the period under review with the quantities delivered in the prior period, multiplied, in both cases, by the weighted average net unit selling price in the prior period.

Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and sustainable materials. With the ambition to become in 2024 a pure player in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into 3 complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials -Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions- accounting for some 85.5% of Group sales in 2021, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders.

Contacts

Investor relations
Béatrice Zilm +33 (0)1 49 00 75 58 [email protected]
Peter Farren +33 (0)1 49 00 73 12 [email protected]
Mathieu Briatta +33 (0)1 49 00 72 07 [email protected]
Caroline Chung +33 (0)1 49 00 74 37 [email protected]

Media
Gilles Galinier +33 (0)1 49 00 70 07 [email protected]
Véronique Obrecht +33 (0)1 49 00 88 41 [email protected]

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admin July 29, 2022

4 15 minutes read