EANS-News: Lenzing AG Earnings more than doubled in the first half of 2021
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Mid Year Results/Company Information
Highlights -
* Strong operating result: EBITDA at EUR 217.8 mn, cash flow from operating
activities at EUR 199.8 mn
* Major strategic projects continue fully on track - production start of the
lyocell plant in Thailand in the fourth quarter of 2021
* Start of strategic cooperation agreement for textile recycling with Södra
* New milestones in the implementation of group-wide carbon neutrality: EUR 200
mn investment in existing locations in Asia
* Guidance 2021: Lenzing expects EBITDA of at least EUR 360 mn
Lenzing - The Lenzing Group reported a significant improvement in revenue and
earnings in the first half of the year. Growing optimism in the textile and
apparel industry and the ongoing recovery in retail caused a substantial
increase in demand and prices on the global fiber market, in particular at the
beginning of the current financial year.
Revenue rose by 27.5 percent to EUR 1.03 bn in the first half of 2021. This
increase is primarily attributable to higher viscose prices, which stood at more
than RMB 15,000 in May thanks to significantly higher demand for fibers,
especially in Asia. The focus on wood-based specialty fibers such as TENCEL(TM),
LENZING(TM) ECOVERO(TM) and VEOCEL TM(TM) branded fibers also had a positive
impact on the revenue development; the share of specialty fibers in fiber
revenue rose to 72.8 percent in the reporting period. The negative impact of
more unfavorable currency effects was consequently more than offset. The
earnings development essentially reflects the positive market development and
was additionally reinforced by measures to improve efficiency. Energy and
logistics costs increased significantly throughout the entire reporting period.
EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) more than
doubled and amounted to EUR 217.8 mn in the first half of 2021 (compared to EUR
95.6 mn in the first half of 2020). The EBITDA margin rose from 11.8 percent to
21.1 percent. Net profit for the period amounted to EUR 96.1 mn (compared to a
net loss of EUR minus 14.4 mn in the first half of 2020) and earnings per share
to EUR 3.06 (compared to EUR 0.06 in the first half of 2020).
"Lenzing had a very strong first half-year. The demand for our sustainably
produced specialty fibers once again developed excellently," says Stefan
Doboczky, CEO of the Lenzing Group. "Strategically, we remain fully on track.
The largest investment program in the company's history is proceeding according
to plan and we still expect to start up the new lyocell plant in Thailand in the
fourth quarter. The cooperation with Södra and our significant investment in the
existing locations are the next milestones on our path towards a carbon-free
future. With our climate goals, we are a frontrunner in the production industry
and in the fiber industry in particular," Doboczky adds.
Gross cash flow more than tripled to EUR 199.5 mn in the first half of 2021
(compared to EUR 63.9 mn in the first half of 2020). This increase was above all
due to the earnings development. Cash flow from operating activities amounted to
EUR 199.8 mn (compared to EUR minus 17.7 mn in the first half of 2020). Free
cash flow amounted to EUR minus 224.3 mn (compared to EUR minus 285.7 mn in the
first half of 2020) due to the investment activities related to the projects in
Thailand and Brazil. CAPEX (expenditures for intangible assets, property, plant
and equipment and biological assets) increased by 58.5 percent to EUR 426 mn
during the reporting period, of which roughly half was financed out of cash flow
from operating activities. The renewed strong increase in investments is
attributable to the implementation of the key projects.
Zwtl.: Strengthening specialty fiber growth
The construction of the pulp mill in Brazil continues to proceed according to
plan despite the challenging developments related to COVID-19. The start-up of
the pulp mill is still scheduled for the first half of 2022. The new mill will
strengthen backward integration and, consequently, Lenzing's specialty fiber
growth in line with the sCore TEN strategy.
Specialty fibers are Lenzing's great strength. The objective is to generate more
than 75 percent of fiber revenues from business with wood-based specialty fibers
such as lyocell and modal fibers by 2024. The focus of this strategic target is
on the construction of a new state-of-the-art lyocell plant in Thailand. The
investment for the new plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons amounts to roughly
EUR 400 mn. Construction work started in the second half of 2019 and went
according to plan in the reporting period. The recruiting and onboarding of new
employees is also progressing successfully. Production is scheduled to start
towards the end of 2021.
In addition, Lenzing is investing more than EUR 200 mn in its production sites
in Purwakarta (Indonesia) and Nanjing (China) to convert existing standard
viscose capacity into capacity for environmentally responsible specialty fibers.
In Nanjing, Lenzing will establish the first wood-based fiber complex in China
that is independent from coal as an energy source. At the same time a line of
standard viscose will be converted to a TENCEL TM branded modal fibers line
making the Chinese plant a 100 percent wood-based specialty fiber site by the
end of 2022. Investments in Lenzing's site in Indonesia will make this facility
fully compliant with the EU Ecolabel standards. As a result, the site will
become a pure specialty viscose supplier as of 2023. Upon completion of these
investments Lenzing will boost its share in specialty fibers as a percentage of
fiber revenues to well above the targeted 75 percent already by 2023.
Zwtl.: Vision of a zero-carbon future
With the implementation of its science-based targets, the Lenzing Group actively
contributes to combating the problems caused by climate change. In 2019, Lenzing
made a strategic commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions per ton of
product by 50 percent by 2030. The vision is to be climate-neutral by 2050. The
two key projects in Brazil and Thailand are important milestones on this
journey. Thanks to its excellent infrastructure, the location in Thailand can be
supplied with sustainable biogenic energy. In addition, the mill in Brazil will
feed more than 50 percent of the electricity generated into the public grid as
renewable energy. The investments at the existing Asian locations are also in
line with Lenzing's decarbonization goals.
In the first half of 2021, the company announced the construction of the largest
ground-mounted photovoltaic plant in Upper Austria on an area of 55,000 m² at
the Lenzing site. Construction is scheduled to start in the second half of 2021.
In addition, Lenzing is investing GBP 20 mn (equal to EUR 23.3 mn) to build a
new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant at its site in Grimsby (United
Kingdom). The investment is part of the company's plans to reduce wastewater
emissions by 2022.
The cooperation with Södra, a Swedish pulp producer, marks another milestone in
Lenzing's efforts to achieve its ambitious climate and sustainability goals. The
two leading global suppliers, which have been proactively driving circular
economy in the fashion industry for many years, are joining forces to give the
issue another boost and to make a decisive contribution to addressing the global
textile waste challenges. A capacity expansion for pulp from post-consumer waste
is also planned. The goal is to recycle 25,000 tons of textile waste per year by
2025.
The presentation of the first TENCEL(TM) branded lyocell fiber made of orange
pulp and wood sources as part of the new TENCEL(TM) Limited Edition initiative
with the Italian company Orange Fiber as well as the introduction of the first
carbon-neutral cellulosic fibers on the global nonwovens market under the VEOCEL
(TM) brand are other recent results of product innovation, which serve as
examples for the ambitious efforts of Lenzing and its partners on the issues of
climate change and circular economy.
Zwtl.: Momentum through legislation
Pollution of the environment - especially marine pollution - is one of the
biggest problems of our time. The fashion industry has an extremely negative
impact on the environment with its fast fashion business model and the growing
consumption of fossil resources. The use of fossil-based synthetic fibers in
textiles has roughly doubled over the last 20 years. More than half of all
textiles worldwide contain polyester today, and the share keeps increasing. This
is also demonstrated by a report of the non-profit organization Changing Markets
Foundation.
Consequently, Lenzing welcomes specific measures taken by the EU in fighting
plastic waste, for example those related to the Single-Use Plastics Directive
(EU) 2019/904[1] [#_ftn1]. The EU Commission specifies in the recently issued
guidelines for implementation of the directive which products fall within the
scope of the directive, thus providing clarity in the joint fight of the EU
member states against environmental pollution from plastic waste. Lenzing's
wood-based, biodegradable cellulosic fibers such as those of the VEOCEL(TM)
brand comprise a sustainable and innovative solution to this man-made problem.
The Single-Use Plastics Directive stipulates uniform labelling requirements for
some of the single-use plastic products on the packaging or the product itself
starting in July 2021. They encompass feminine hygiene products and wet wipes
for personal and household care containing plastic.
Zwtl.: EcoVadis Platinum status
Lenzing received several awards for its achievements during the reporting
period, most notably in the field of sustainability: The Corporate Social
Responsibility rating by EcoVadis deserves particular mention. Lenzing achieved
Platinum status for the first time and now ranks among the world's top one
percent of the companies evaluated with regard to the environment, fair working
conditions and human rights as well as ethics and sustainable procurement. The
non-profit environmental organization CDP once again recognized Lenzing's
efforts to tackle climate change. Lenzing earned a place on CDP's Supplier
Engagement Leaderboard for its role as a supplier engagement leader.
Zwtl.: New divisional structure
To prepare the Lenzing Group for the challenges and opportunities arising from
the investment projects and the changed market environment, the Managing Board
presented a new organizational structure, which supports the goals of the sCore
TEN strategy focusing on profitable, organic specialty fiber growth and will
further increase efficiency and transparency. The organization of business was
consequently adjusted and structured in two new divisions, "Fiber" and "Pulp",
as well as "Others"[2] [#_ftn2].
Zwtl.: Guidance for 2021
The International Monetary Fund expects global growth of 6 percent for 2021.
However, the economic recovery after the deep recession caused by COVID-19 is
subject to risks and largely depends on the vaccination progress and successful
containment of the pandemic. The currency environment is expected to remain
volatile in the regions relevant to Lenzing.
The global fiber and pulp markets came under considerable pressure as a result
of the COVID-19 crisis. The significant recovery of demand from the third
quarter of 2020 onwards, starting in China, continued into the first quarter of
2021. In February/March of this year, the market turned again and has since
moved sideways. In the cotton market, a shortage in production volume is
anticipated in the current 2020/2021 harvest and, consequently, a slight decline
in inventory levels. The prices for dissolving wood pulp remain at a high level.
Lenzing expects a continued increase in demand for sustainably produced fibers
for the textile and apparel industry as well as for the hygiene and medical
industry. This trend is likely to continue unabated after the COVID-19 pandemic,
not least due to a number of legislative initiatives.
With the prospect of a progressing active immunization of a broad population
against COVID-19, optimism and confidence in an early return to normality are
also growing within the textile value chain. However, the currently positive
environment is still characterized by a high level of uncertainty, also due to
the increased occurrence of virus mutations and the extreme occurrence of
infections in countries such as Brazil and India. Therefore, the visibility
remains limited.
Taking into account the above factors and due to the very positive development
of the first half of the year, the Lenzing Group expects the EBITDA in 2021 to
reach at least a level of EUR 360 mn.
In view of these developments, Lenzing considers itself well-positioned with its
sCore TEN corporate strategy, and will continue to drive the completion of the
major strategic projects, which will make a significant contribution to earnings
from 2022. In addition to its targets for EBITDA (EUR 800 mn) and ROCE (>10 %[3]
[#_ftn3]), Lenzing also confirms its four other medium-term targets for 2024:
net debt/EBITDA (<2.5 x), share of specialty fibers (>75 % of fiber revenue),
internal production of dissolving wood pulp (>75 %), decarbonization (>40 %
fewer CO2 emissions per ton of product).
Selected indicators of the
Lenzing Group 01-06/2021 01-06/2020
EUR mn
Revenue 1,033.3 810.2
EBITDA (Earnings before
interest, tax, 217.8 95.6[1]
depreciation and
amortization)
EBITDA margin 21.1 % 11.8 %[1]
Net profit/loss for the 96.1 (14.4)
period
Earnings per share in EUR 3.06 0.06
Cash flow from operating 199.8 (17.7)
activities
CAPEX[2] 426.0 268.7
30/06/2021 31/12/2020
Net financial debt 705.8 471.4
Adjusted equity ratio[3] 44.3 % 45.8 %
Number of employees 7,633 7,358
(headcount)
1) As of the beginning of the 2021 financial year, the Lenzing Group prepares
the consolidated income statement according to the cost-of-sales method rather
than the total cost method, thus increasing international comparability with
peer group companies. Some amounts previously recognized in EBIT/EBITDA are
reclassified to the financial result (see note 1 of the consolidated interim
financial statements of the Half-Year Report 01-06/2021)
2) Capital expenditures: expenditures for intangible assets, property, plant and
equipment and biological assets as per consolidated statement of cash flows
3) Ratio of adjusted equity to total assets in percent
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[1] [#_ftnref1] Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of June 5, 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic
products on the environment
[2] [#_ftnref2] Note 3 to the condensed interim consolidated financial
statements as at June 30, 2021
[3] [#_ftnref3] To be adjusted for assets under construction
Further inquiry note:
Dominic Köfner
Vice President Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Lenzing AG
Phone: +43 7672 701 2743
E-mail: media@lenzing.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Lenzing AG
A-4860 Lenzing
phone: +43 7672-701-0
FAX: +43 7672-96301
mail: office@lenzing.com
WWW: http://www.lenzing.com
ISIN: AT0000644505
indexes: WBI, ATX
stockmarkets: Wien
language: English