BOLLORE: 2019 Results
| PRESS RELEASE |
| 2019 Results | March 12, 2020 |
Good results from all business segments
of the Bolloré Group in 2019
Project of a simplified alternative tender offer for Blue Solutions,
followed by a mandatory de-listing
- Revenue: €24,843 million, up +8% (+3% at constant scope and exchange rates).
- Adjusted operating income (EBITA(1)): €1,634 million +0,2% (excluding extraordinary items, EBITA rose +20%):
Very good operating performance of the transport and communications businesses and significant non-recurring impairment losses (€319 million), mainly related to electric cars, older generation batteries and car-sharing assets as part of the strategic redeployment in batteries, buses and stationary.
| ·Bolloré Transportation & Logistics: | €637m | +17% |
| ·Communications (Vivendi): | €1,526m | +18% |
| ·Electricity Storage and Systems: | €(434)m, | vs. €(160) m |
- Net income: €1,408 million, up +27%, and net income Group share of €237 million up 1%.
- Net debt: €8,720 million vs. €4,882 million at December 31, 2018 due to capital expenditure and share buybacks at Vivendi | Gearing: 34% including a reduction in Bolloré’s debt excluding Vivendi of €(402) million.
§ Proposed dividend: €0.06 per share (including a €0.02 interim already paid in 2019) identical to that paid in 2018, payable in cash only.
2019 Results
The Board of Directors of Bolloré, which met on March 12, 2020, approved the 2019 financial statements.
2019 revenue amounted to €24,843 million, up 3% at constant scope and exchange rates (+8% as reported), with:
- Transportation and Logistics down 2%:
- Bolloré Logistics: -2% hampered by general declines in air and maritime volumes,
- Bolloré Africa Logistics: -1% reflecting the contraction in logistics, partly offset by growth in port terminals;
- Oil logistics: -2% in an environment of lower volumes and unfavorable weather events, despite a slight increase in the price of oil products;
- Communications: growth of 6 %, attributable to Vivendi, which benefited from strong growth at UMG (+14 %);
- Electricity Storage and Systems: -5% due to the decline in the car-sharing business and dedicated terminals, partly offset by the growth in the bus, battery and telecom businesses.
On a reported basis, revenue was up 8%, which includes €878 million from changes in the scope of consolidation (consolidation of Editis and M7 at Vivendi), and €285m of foreign exchange impacts (mainly reflecting the rise of the U.S. dollar).
Adjusted operating income (EBITA(2)) was €1,634 million, up 0.2% (-5%(3) at constant scope and exchange rates) with:
- Transportation and logistics: +13%(3), largely due to the good performance of port terminals;
- Oil logistics: +64%, benefiting from higher earnings in distribution and storage;
- Communications (Vivendi): +11% due to the very good performance of UMG;
- Electricity Storage and Systems: recognition of €(269) million of extraordinary items, mostly in connection with the impairment losses mainly related to electric cars, older generation batteries and car-sharing assets and the discontinuation of car-sharing services in London and Indianapolis.
Net financial income amounted to €17 million, vs. €140 million in 2018, primarily reflecting lower revaluation of securities (Spotify, Tencent Music): +€139 million in 2019 vs. +€311 million in 2018, €(101) million in interest expenses on the IFRS 16 lease liability and €111 million of capital gains (Wifirst, Bolloré Ports
France, etc.).
The share of the net income of equity-accounted non-operating companies totaled €98 million, compared with €172 million in 2018 primarily due to a lower contribution from Telecom Italia.
After accounting for €35 million of tax income (vs. €(506) million of tax expense in 2018), attributable entirely to Vivendi, consolidated net income was €1,408 million, vs. €1,107 million in 2018. Net income Group share amounted to €237 million, compared with €235 million in 2018.
Net debt was €8,720 million vs. €4,882 million at December 31, 2018, due to acquisitions (Editis, M7, etc.) and Vivendi’s shares buyback. Bolloré’s net debt excluding Vivendi decreased by €402 million primarily due to disposals of shares (such as Wifirst) and of Bolloré Ports France.
Shareholders’ equity was €25,942 million (€28,204 million as of December 31, 2018), reflecting the decline in Vivendi’s shareowner’s equity due to Vivendi’s repurchase of 10% of its own shares for €3,0 billion. The ratio of net debt to equity (gearing) was 34%, compared with 17% at the end of 2018.
At January 31, 2020, the Group’s liquidity(4), undrawn long term confirmed lines and liquid investments represented approximately €2.6 billion for Bolloré and €8.2 billion including Vivendi.
Proposed dividend: €0.06 per share
The General Shareholders’ Meeting will be asked to distribute a dividend of €0.06 per share (including a €0.02 interim dividend already paid in 2019) identical to that paid in 2018, payable in cash only.
The ex-dividend date is set for June 4, 2020 and payment in cash will be made on June 8, 2020.
Governance:
In order to clarify the governance and respond to certain observations made by investors and agencies, Bolloré and Financière de l’Odet wish to change the composition of the Boards of Directors to make them:
- smaller:
- Bolloré: 13 members as opposed to 19 members,
- Financière de l’Odet: 15 members as opposed to 17 members.
- more independent:
- separate independent directors between Bolloré and Financière de l’Odet,
- limitation on seats held by legal entities,
- changes to the Audit Committees and Appointments and Compensation Committees, so that they no longer include employee senior executives.
- more female:
- Bolloré: 47% women,
- Financière de l’Odet: appointment of 3 female directors to the Board of Directors of Financière de l'Odet.
The Bolloré Group intends to continue in the future to tailor its governance to fit the expectations of its shareholders.
Simplified alternative tender offer for Blue Solutions, followed by a mandatory de-listing:
The provisional timetable is as follows:
**** *** * Consolidated key figures for Bolloré |
| (in millions of euros) | 2019 | 2018 | Change |
| Revenue | 24,843 | 23,024 | 8% |
| EBITDA(1) | 3,070 | 2,728 | 13% |
| Depreciation and provisions | (1,436) | (1,097) | 31% |
| Adjusted operating income (EBITA(1)) | 1,634 | 1,630 | 0.2% |
| Amortization resulting from PPA(1) | (375) | (329) | 14% |
| Operating income | 1,259 | 1,301 | (3%) |
| of which equity-accounted operating companies | 23 | 23 | 4% |
| Financial income | 17 | 140 | (88%) |
| Share in net income of equity-accounted non-operating companies | 98 | 172 | (43%) |
| Taxes | 35 | (506) | - |
| Net income | 1,408 | 1,107 | 27% |
| Net income, Group share | 237 | 235 | 1% |
| Minority interests | 1,171 | 872 | 34% |
| December 31, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | Change (€ m) | |
| Shareholders’ equity | 25,942 | 28,204 | (2,262) |
| of which Group share | 9,088 | 9,234 | (146) |
| Net debt | 8,720 | 4,882 | 3,838 |
| Gearing(2) | 34% | 17% |
- See glossary.
- Gearing ratio = Net debt to shareholder equity.
| Ajusted operating income (EBITA) by activity |
| (in millions of euros) | 2019 | 2018 | As reported | Organic growth(2) | |
| Bolloré Transportation & Logistics | 637 | 545 | +17% | +17% | |
| Transportation and Logistics(1) | 580 | 511 | +14% | +13% | |
| Oil Logistics | 56 | 34 | +64% | +64% | |
| Communications | 1,526 | 1,288 | +18% | +11% | |
| Electricity Storage and Systems | (434) | (160) | - | - | |
| Other (agricultural assets, holding companies)(1) | (94) | (43) | - | - | |
| Total EBITA Bolloré Group | 1,634 | 1,630 | +0.2% | -4.9% |
- Before Bolloré trademark fees.
- Restated for the first-time application of IFRS 16, which had a positive impact of €74 million on EBITA, the variation was -9% for the Group, +9% for Bolloré Transport & Logistics and +8% for Vivendi.
A detailed presentation of the results is available .
The audit procedures for the 2019 consolidated financial statements have been conducted and the certification report will be issued after the management report is reviewed
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Comparability of financial statements
- IFRS 16 – “Leases”
- Application as of January 1, 2019, without restatement of comparative periods.
- Balance sheet recognition of right-of-use and lease liabilities in the amount of €2 billion.
- The application of IFRS 16 had a positive impact of €74 M on the Group’s EBITA at December 31, 2019 and a negative impact of €101 million on financial expenses (lease expense).
- Change in the scope of consolidation
- Editis has been consolidated by Vivendi since February 1, 2019.
- M7 has been consolidated by Canal+ group since September 12, 2019.
- Change over time of main currencies
| 2019 | 2018 | Change | |
| USD | 1.12 | 1.18 | 5% |
| GBP | 0.88 | 0.89 | 1% |
| JPY | 122.06 | 130.41 | 6% |
| ZAR | 16.17 | 15.61 | (4%) |
| NGN | 405.47 | 427.23 | 5% |
| CDF | 1,868.27 | 1,933.59 | 3% |
Glossary
- Organic growth: growth at constant scope and exchange rates.
- Net revenue (Havas Group): revenue after deduction of re-billable costs.
- Adjusted operating income (EBITA): operating income before amortization of intangible assets related to business combinations – PPA (purchase price allocation), impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets related to business combinations.
- EBITDA: operating income before depreciation and amortization.
- Net financial debt/Net cash position: sum of borrowings at amortized cost, less cash and cash equivalents, cash management financial assets and net derivative financial instruments (assets or liabilities) with an underlying net financial indebtedness, as well as cash deposits backed by borrowings.
The non-GAAP measures defined above should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for other GAAP measures of operating and financial performance, and Bolloré considers these to be relevant indicators of the Group's operational and financial performance. Furthermore, it should be noted that other companies may define and calculate these indicators differently. It is therefore possible that the indicators used by Bolloré cannot be directly compared with those of other companies.
The percentages changes indicated in this document are calculated in relation to the same period of the preceding fiscal year, unless otherwise stated. Due to rounding in this presentation, the sum of some data may not correspond exactly to the calculated total and the percentage may not correspond to the calculated variation.
DISCLAIMER
This press release is for information purposes only. It does not constitute a sales offer, or a solicitation/invitation to purchase or subscribe for securities, nor is it a solicitation of any vote in connection with the transaction or any other matter in any jurisdiction.
The supporting documents attached to the tender offer, which will include, once it is filed, the terms and conditions governing the tender offer, will be submitted to the French Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) for approval. Investors and shareholders are strongly encouraged to read said documents as soon as they become available, as well as any amendment or additions thereto, it being specified that these documents will include material information on Bolloré, Blue Solutions and the envisaged transaction.
This press release must not be published, released or distributed, directly or indirectly, in any country in which the release of such information is subject to legal restrictions.
The release or distribution of this press release in certain countries may be subject to legal or regulatory restrictions. Accordingly, people located in countries where this press release is published, released or distributed should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Bolloré accepts no responsibility with regard to any potential violation of these restrictions by any person whatsoever.
1 See glossary
2 See glossary
3 Restated for the first-time application of IFRS 16, which had a positive impact of €74 million on EBITA, the variation was -9% for the Group, +9% for Bolloré Transportation & Logistics and +8% for Vivendi.
4 excluding Vivendi.
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