DJ RUBIS: Business model demonstrates remarkable resilience - Capacity to rebound remains intact as investments continue
RUBIS RUBIS: Business model demonstrates remarkable resilience - Capacity to rebound remains intact as investments continue 11-March-2021 / 17:35 CET/CEST Dissemination of a French Regulatory News, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. =---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paris, March 11, 2021, 5:35pm In a 2020 financial year marked by a health crisis and exacerbated volatility in the prices of petroleum products, Rubis has shown tremendous resistance, limiting decline of EBIT and net income Group share to 11% and 9% respectively. In this context of generalized uncertainty and constrained mobility, the Company remained fully confident in its business model, continuing to invest to strengthen its market positions and ensure its long-term growth The year 2020 marks the concretization of proactive ESG actions, with the announcement of a target to reduce CO2 emissions (scopes 1 & 2) by 20% by 2030 (on a 2019 basis) and the statutory reform. The later relates to the calculation of General Partners dividend (high watermark) aiming to better align the interests of the two categories of shareholders. While April 2020 saw an extreme point of decline in activity (-42%), the following months saw a steady return to normalization, coupled with an increase in unit margins making it possible to stabilize the operating profit in the second half of the year (vs. 21% decline in H1 2020). Excluding the Covid impact and on a like-for-like basis, the EBITDA and EBIT increased by 7% and 3% respectively, in line with historical organic growth. CONSOLIDATED RESULTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 (in millions of euros) 2020 2019 Change Revenue 3,902 5,228 -25% EBITDA 506 524 -4% EBIT, of which 366 412 -11% Retail & marketing 269 324 -17% Support & Services 120 108 11% Net income, Group share, out of which 280 307 -9% Net income from continuing operations, Group share 180 279 -36% Net income from operations held for sale, Group share 100 28 259% Cash flow from operations 591 498 19% Net debt 180 637 Capital expenditure 245 230 Diluted earnings per share 2,72 EUR 3,09 EUR Dividend per share (1) 1,80 EUR 1,75 EUR
(1) Amount to be proposed at the General Meeting on June 10, 2021.
General business operations have shown exceptional resilience with volumes down 8% at current scope and 16% like-for-like, thanks to the Group's multi-country and multi-segment positioning as well as its dual midstream/ downstream structure. Thus, the LPG segment (-5%) serving the residential and agrifood sectors held up very well, while sales of jet fuel for the aviation activity were particularly affected (-51%). The balanced final distribution/trading exposure has proven its cyclical complementarity with strong growth in bitumen, both in final distribution (+20%) and in trading-supply (+7%) as well as in the storage activity (storage revenue from the Rubis Terminal JV: +10%), benefiting from the return of contango and its strengthened positioning in chemicals and agrifood product, thanks to the transformative acquisition in Spain (Tepsa).
FY 2020 results include positive and negative non-recurring items: the sale of 45% of the stake in Rubis Terminal resulted in a capital gain of EUR83 million and an operating result of EUR17 million (January 1 to April 30, 2020), i.e. EUR100 million in net income Group share from operations held for sale. At the same time, a charge of EUR77 million in other operating income and expenses was recorded, including EUR46 million recognized for the petroleum product distribution business (Caribbean), which resulted from the political and economic developments that occurred in Haiti in the first half of 2020, and EUR25 million impairment loss on financial assets, for which the Company has determined a significantly increased credit risk, based on a multi-factor analysis that takes into account the local political and economic climate, leaving a positive impact of EUR6 million.
The Group's financial situation at the end of the year remains very solid, with a ratio of net debt/EBITDA less than 0.4. Thus, Rubis has started a share buyback with a view to reducing the capital by cancelling the shares for a total amount of up to EUR250 million. Main objective is to increase the intrinsic value of the Rubis share while preserving its ability to pursue acquisitions.
Overall, in a particularly challenging environment, Rubis has generated EUR449 million of cash flow, down only 5% after adjusting for the contribution of Rubis Terminal. Taking into account the positive impact of the fall in petroleum product prices on working capital, operating cash flow reached EUR591 million, up 19%.
Investments increased to EUR245 million compared to EUR230 million in 2019, mainly focused on future growth (including EUR131 million for maintenance investments):
- Retail & marketing: EUR135 million across 31 profit centers corresponding to the maintenance of facilities (terminals, filling plants, service stations), to the development of Group activities (bottles, tanks, logistics or service stations) and the purchase of facilities or business assets as well as the acquisition of the head office in Lisbon;
- Support & services: EUR84 million focused on the SARA refinery (EUR70 million, an exceptional high level linked to a major maintenance project) and the acquisition of a new vessel for the Caribbean zone for EUR8 million;
- Rubis Terminal: EUR26 million over the period preceding the implementation of the JV (January 1 to April 30, 2020).
OUTLOOK
The first months of 2021 are in line with trends seen in the last quarter of 2020, indicating likely gradual easing of the health crisis thanks to the acceleration of vaccination campaigns around the world.
The Group benefits from growth levers, particularly in East Africa and, assuming the lifting of restrictive measures in the second half of the year, will be able to generate earnings growth for FY 2021.
Solid and resilient business model supports payment of EUR1.80 dividend per share, +3% increase; this amount is subject to shareholders' approval at the General Meeting on June 10, 2021.
The Management Board, met on March 10, 2021, approved the accounts for the 2020 financial year; these accounts have been examined by the Supervisory Board on March 11. Regarding the process of certifying the accounts, the Statutory Auditors have to date substantially carried out their audit procedures.
Next publication:
First-quarter revenues on May 6, 2021 (after market close)
Media relations Investor relations
PUBLICIS CONSULTANTS - Aurélie Gabrieli RUBIS - Anna Patrice, Head of Investor relations
Tel.: +(33) 1 44 82 48 33 Tel.: +(33) 1 45 01 72 32
aurelie.gabrieli@publicisconsultants.com A.Patrice@rubis.fr ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulatory filing PDF file File: RUBIS: Business model demonstrates remarkable resilience - Capacity to rebound remains intact as investments continue
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Language: English
Company: RUBIS
46, rue Boissière
75116 Paris
France
Phone: +33 144 17 95 95
Fax: +33 145 01 72 49
E-mail: communication@rubis.fr
Internet: www.rubis.fr
ISIN: FR0013269123
Euronext Ticker: RUI
AMF Category: Inside information / News release on accounts, results
EQS News ID: 1175033
End of Announcement EQS News Service
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1175033 11-March-2021 CET/CEST
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 11, 2021 11:36 ET (16:36 GMT)
