News

Half Year 2018 Unaudited Financial Results

07 August 2018

Urenco Group (“Urenco” or “the Group”), an international supplier of uranium enrichment services and nuclear fuel cycle products, today announces its results for the half year ended 30 June 2018.

Summary

• Revenue and EBITDA in line with management expectations, reflecting strong operational performance – revenue down €39.5 million (-4.9% on half year 2017) and EBITDA up €3.2 million (+0.7% on half year 2017).
• Net income down by €65.3 million (-26.1% on half year 2017) primarily due to higher net income tax in H1 2018 compared to H1 2017.
• Contract order book has an approximate value of €12.1 billion, providing visibility of future short to medium term cash flows.
• Construction of UK Tails Management Facility (TMF) nearing completion; commissioning commenced.
• Continued strong progress to deliver on our strategic objectives through cost savings and new business contracts.

Financial highlights

(€ million)

	Six months to June 2018 (unaudited)	Six months to June 2017 (unaudited)
Revenue	771.9	811.4
EBITDA (i)	494.0	490.8
EBITDA margin - %	64.0%	60.5%
Income from operating activities	331.6	297.9
Net income	184.5	249.8
Net income margin - %	23.9%	30.8%
Capital expenditure	96.3	151.2
Cash generated from operating activities	457.7	599.8

(i) EBITDA is earnings before exceptional items, interest (including other finance costs), taxation, depreciation and amortisation and joint venture results. Depreciation and amortisation are adjusted to remove elements of such charges included in changes to inventories and other expenses. EBITDA is reconciled to income from operating activities on page 7.

Thomas Haeberle, Chief Executive of Urenco Group, commenting on the half year results, said:

“The half year results in 2018 reflect a strong operational performance and positive progress in the delivery of our strategic objectives, with support provided by our long established contract order book. We have maintained our focus on safety performance and implemented initiatives to further enhance our safety culture.

Revenue is down for the first six months of 2018 compared to half year 2017 driven by lower prices after currency hedges. EBITDA is slightly improved, reflecting lower revenues being more than offset by reduced costs. The phasing of revenue between the first and second half of 2018 is expected to be broadly similar to that in 2017, with the second half of the year predicted to account for the majority of sales. The continued challenging market conditions and pricing pressures are reflected in new contracts and consequently in the contract order book value that will be delivered in future periods.

Global demand for a continuous and secure supply of low carbon energy provides the opportunity for growth in the nuclear industry. Urenco is well positioned to support this growth. However, the market needs a sustainable pricing structure to allow for the necessary investments so that, in the longer term, we can continue to supply the market from our diverse enrichment sites.

The challenging market conditions reinforce the importance of our strategic objectives. Good progress has been made in each key pillar of our strategy, supporting the long term success of our business. We are on track to realise €300 million in cumulative cash savings by the end of 2019 resulting from the successful reduction of operating costs and capital spending. We have signed new contracts to maintain our global customer base and continue to explore several possible new business ventures.

Our micro-modular U-Battery received funding from the UK Government demonstrating U-Battery’s commercial and technical case in addressing energy and decarbonisation challenges in the UK and globally.

The TMF project is nearing completion, commissioning has commenced, with commercial operation anticipated to start in 2019. Investment in this facility demonstrates our commitment to uranium stewardship by safely and responsibly managing depleted uranium.

I would like to thank our employees for their commitment, strong operational performance and the successful implementation of our strategy.”

Financial Results

Revenue for the six months ended 30 June 2018 was €771.9 million, a decrease of 4.9% on the €811.4 million for the same period last year. SWU revenues after currency hedges were down by €34.5 million as the impact of marginally higher volumes was more than offset by lower average unit revenues. Uranium related sales were down by €2.0 million due to lower volumes despite slightly higher average unit revenues being achieved. Other revenue decreased by €3.0 million compared to the same period last year. Overall, the phasing of revenue between the first half and second half of 2018 is expected to show a similar level of seasonality to that experienced in 2017, with the second half of the year still expected to account for the majority of sales.

EBITDA was €494.0 million for the first half of 2018, €3.2 million higher than the same period last year (H1 2017: €490.8 million), corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 64.0% (H1 2017: 60.5%). The EBITDA result reflects the adverse impact from revenue being more than offset by lower operating and administrative expenses and lower net costs for tails provisions in the first half of 2018.

Other operating and administrative expenses in H1 2018 were lower by €31.6 million compared to H1 2017 reflecting a lower average unit cost of sales as a result of both the sales mix realised in the period and the continued good progress from the ongoing implementation of our strategy. The costs for H1 2017 also benefited from a one-time credit associated with the closure of the UK defined benefit scheme to further accrual.

The net lost for tails provisions was €11.1 million lower in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period for 2017. This was due to €31.3 million lower costs of new tails provisions created, offset by €20.2 million lower releases from the tails provision. The cost of new tails provisions created of €71.3 million was lower than the same period for 2017 (H1 2017: €102.6 million) as a result of a lower volume of new tails generated and the increase in tails deconversion costs recorded during H1 2017. The €20.2 million lower release from the tails provision was due to a €21.9 million release from the tails provisions in the first half of 2018 compared to €42.1 million for H1 2017. The releases from tails provision are associated with ongoing optimisation of operations and reductions in higher assay tails associated with enrichment services contracts.

Depreciation and amortisation for the half year 2018 was €161.0 million, a decrease of €12.4 million on the €173.4 million for the half year 2017. This reduction was driven by lower depreciation on US denominated assets due to the weakening of US dollar average exchange rates compared to H1 2017.

Net finance costs for the six months ended 30 June 2018 were €75.1 million, compared to €49.7 million for the same period last year. Where practicable, relevant loan balances are swapped using cross currency swaps and these swaps are placed in accounting hedge relationships. Where this is not possible the retranslation of the relevant unhedged loan balances (denominated in US dollars and euros but held by a sterling functional currency entity) generate gains/losses as a result of foreign exchange movements in the period. In H1 2018 the impact of this was a loss of €28.6 million (H1 2017: loss of €0.4 million) reflecting relevant unhedged balances and movements in foreign exchange rates and a €27.2 million one-off non-cash charge for unhedged cumulative foreign exchange losses that should have been recognised in the income statement in prior periods from 2014. A tax credit of €1.8 million relating to this non-cash charge has been recognised in the Income Statement tax line. In addition, a loss associated with ineffective cash flow hedges (including the impact of credit risk) was incurred of €1.7 million (H1 2017: €14.8 million gain). The finance costs on borrowings (including the impact of cross currency interest rate swaps) were lower at €39.5 million (H1 2017: €62.2 million) reflecting lower levels of net debt in 2018. The other key elements of net finance costs were broadly in line with the costs incurred in the prior period, notably capitalised interest of €24.2 million (H1 2017: €25.9 million) and the unwinding of discounting on provisions of €29.5 million (H1 2017: €27.8 million).

In the first half of 2018 the tax expense was €72.0 million (corresponding to an effective tax rate (ETR) of 28.1%), an increase of €73.6 million over the tax credit of €1.6 million for the first half of 2017 (ETR: -0.6%). The increase in tax expense is broadly driven by the inclusion of a €74.0 million credit in the first half of 2017 associated with the recognition of previously unrecognised deferred tax assets resulting from the impact that the increased lifetime for centrifuges and associated equipment will have on future depreciation. The tax expense was also higher due to foreign exchange financing gains and losses that are excluded from tax under the UK Disregard Regulations. These items were partially offset by changes in the relative proportions of profits and losses generated across the four jurisdictions in which Urenco operates and the reduction in corporate income tax rates in the US and UK.

In the six months ended 30 June 2018 there were no exceptional items (H1 2017: nil).

Net income was €184.5 million for the half year 2018, a decrease of €65.3 million compared to the half year 2017 net income of €249.8 million. The net income margin for H1 2018 was 23.9% compared to the H1 2017 net income margin of 30.8%. This decrease in net income is largely attributable to the higher income tax expenses incurred in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period for 2017.

Cash generated from operating activities (before tax) in the first half of 2018 was €457.7 million compared to €599.8 million in the first half of 2017. This primarily reflects lower revenue and adverse movements in working capital, particularly receivables where the movement in H1 2017 was particularly favourable due to the high receivables closing balance at the end of 2016. Tax paid in the period was €98.1 million (H1 2017: €98.3 million). Net cash flow from operating activities was €359.6 million compared to €501.5 million in H1 2017.

The Group invested €96.3 million for the construction of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in H1 2018 (H1 2017: €151.2 million) of which 47.9% (H1 2017: 71.0%) was associated with the TMF in the UK, and the remainder across the Group’s enrichment facilities. Construction of the TMF facility is nearing completion and commissioning has started.

Net cashflow from financing activities in the period included the final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2017 of €300.0 million, which was paid in full in March 2018 (31 December 2016: €300.0 million, paid in March 2017). In March 2018, a €100.0 million financing facility provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) was repaid and during the period €105.0 million was borrowed under bilateral facilities.

As at 30 June 2018, the Group held cash and cash equivalents of €26.4 million (31 December 2017: €59.1 million) and net debt was €2,152.7 million (31 December 2017: €2,104.7 million). Net debt increased by €48.0 million primarily because net cash flow from operating activities of €359.6 million was lower than cash outflows relating to capital expenditure of €96.3 million and the payment of the final dividend for 2017 of €300.0 million.

The Company’s debt ratings were reconfirmed in April 2018 by Moody’s (Baa1/Stable) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+/Stable).

Outlook

Market conditions continue to be challenging due to surplus inventory indicating ongoing pricing pressures in the short to medium term. Our order book extends to the 2030s with a value as at 30 June 2018 of €12.1 billion based on €/$ of 1:1.17 (31 December 2017: approximately €12.7 billion based on €/$ of 1:1.20), providing visibility and financial stability of future revenues.

The global nuclear industry is expected to grow and new reactors are being built. Nuclear energy has an important role to play in meeting a growing demand for affordable electricity from reliable and low carbon sources to meet important climate change targets.

Urenco is well positioned to support this growth and meet our customers’ changing needs through our portfolio of products and services, expertise and technology.

We continue to monitor the various political uncertainties that will impact our business. Work has progressed to prepare for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and EURATOM treaty. We are working with the UK government, EURATOM, and other key stakeholders to ensure there is minimum disruption to our business and customers. Our ability to provide services from sites in mainland Europe, the UK and the USA - and detailed plans to mitigate potential risks - will ensure a continuous, secure supply to our customers.

The principal risks and uncertainties to which the Group is exposed are the same as those disclosed in the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017.

Board

Mel Kroon will succeed George Verberg, who retires as Non-Executive Director on the Urenco Board, and will take up his position in September.

 

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