Very satisfying 2019 annual results
Record organic growth, solid EBITDA margin, significant increase of headline net result and free cash-flow
| In millions of euros | 2019 Reported | of which IFRS 16 | 2018 Restated | Change |
| Revenue | 3,281.8 | - | 3,133.3 | +4.7% |
| EBITDA | 1,103.0 | 70.3 | 985.6 | +11.9% |
| EBITDA margin | 33.6% | +210bps | 31.5% | +210bps |
| EBIT | 454.9 | 3.7 | 426.4 | +6.7% |
| EBIT margin | 13.9% | +10bps | 13.6% | +30bps |
| Net result | 141.9 | (4.2) | 81.8 | +73.4% |
| Headline net result | 256.1 | (4.2) | 224.3 | +14.2% |
| Free cash-flow | 247.5 | 61.4 | 153.7 | +61.0% |
Saint Cloud, March 4, 2020 – Elis, an international multiservice provider, offering textile, hygiene and facility services solutions across 28 countries in Europe and Latin America, today announces its 2019 full-year financial results. The accounts have been approved by the Management Board and examined by the Supervisory Board on March 3, 2020. They have been audited and the auditors issued a report without any qualification.
Commenting on the 2019 full-year results, Xavier Martiré, CEO of Elis, said:
“In 2019, Elis demonstrated the strength of its model: Revenue reached a record €3.3bn, with organic growth attaining one of the highest-ever levels for the Group at +3.3%. In line with our expectations, our EBITDA margin excluding IFRS 16 remained solid at 31.5% of revenue. Net result and free cash-flow clearly improved.
The year 2019 was marked by high inflation in energy and labor costs, notably in Europe. In this context, Elis demonstrated its ability to pass on cost inflation in its prices, while improving its client retention rate. This key indicator, which measures the quality of our service and our commercial reactivity, improved in most of our regions, especially in France and in the Workwear segment in the United Kingdom.
In 2019, we also continued to open the rental-cleaning activity in many countries, in particular in Brazil and Spain, countries with very high growth potential. This ability to develop our markets, combined with our multiservice strategy, offering additional services to our clients, represent significant drivers for value creation for the Group in the mid-to long-term.
Our model is also virtuous from an environmental standpoint. The circular economy concept encourages maintenance, reuse and recycling, while Elis' know-how and processes made it possible to continue, in 2019, to optimize the consumption of water, energy and detergents, and reduce their environmental impact.
Finally, the third and final part of the capex plan related to Berendsen was completed in 2019, in line with the initially anticipated amount and timeline. The Group also continued its targeted acquisition strategy while improving its leverage ratio. Cash generation, already higher than expected in 2019, should significantly increase this year.
As of today, we expect in 2020 organic revenue growth of c. 3%, an increase of EBITDA margin of c.+20bps and free cash-flow at c. €320mn. After a very good start of the year, we have been observing since last week the first impacts of the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic on our activity, with a decrease in orders from Hospitality clients in Paris and in the South East of France. That said, Elis’ business model is robust: The nature of our contracts, the diversification of our client portfolio and the variety of our services make the Group very resilient in times of crisis. In case of a major activity slowdown, the resulting decrease in linen investment, as well as our ability to annualize working hours in our plants, thus to make our production costs variable, constitute natural buffers for cash generation and margins respectively.”
Introductory comments related to the accounting options and IFRS standards
1. Impact of the 1st application of IFRS 16 standard
The application of IFRS 16 standard has an impact on several Group aggregates, as shown in the table below:
| In millions of euros | 2019 |
| Income statement | |
| EBITDA | +70.3 |
| Depreciation and amortization including portion of grants transferred to income | (66.6) |
| EBIT | +3.7 |
| Financial result | (9.6) |
| Net result | (4.2) |
| Cash flow statement | |
| Net interests paid | (8.9) |
| Free cash-flow | +61.4 |
| Financial statement | |
| Financial debt as of 31 December | (22.9) |
2. Clinical Solutions divestment process
The figures presented in this press release exclude the entire activity of Clinical Solutions in 2019 and 2018. In H1 2018 the Group initiated the sale process for its Clinical Solutions (operating only in the United Kingdom) and sold the activity in two parts in August and October 2019.
Revenue
As announced on January 30, 2020, Group revenue for 2019 was up +4.7% at €3.3bn. Organic growth was up +3.3%.
The 2019 organic growth illustrates the Group’s ability to pass on inflation of its cost base in its prices while improving its commercial activity and its client retention rate.
In France, organic growth was above +3% as all our markets were well-oriented, thanks to an improvement in the retention rate of our clients, who recorded good activity for their part.
In Central Europe, organic growth was +2.8%, mainly driven by very good momentum in Poland and the Netherlands. Growth in Germany was more moderate.
In 2019, good commercial momentum continued in Scandinavia & Eastern Europe, where organic growth was +3.7%.
In the United Kingdom & Ireland, operational indicators improved not only in Hospitality, with a focus on price increases, but also in Workwear, where efforts are underway to improve the client retention rate.
In Southern Europe, organic growth exceeded +7%, mainly due to the price effect in a context of high inflation of labor costs in Spain.
Finally, organic revenue in Latin America grew by +7.1%. Commercial momentum remains good and we continue to open the market in these countries, which offer high growth potential.
EBITDA
| In millions of euros | 2019 Reported | 2019 excl. IFRS16 | 2018 Restated | Var. 18/19 Reported | Var. 18/19 excl. IFRS 16 | ||||
| H1 | H2 | Total | Total | H1 | H2 | Total | Total | Total | |
| France | 188.6 | 217.5 | 406.1 | 381.5 | 171.1 | 190.9 | 362.0 | +12.2% | +5.4% |
| As of % of revenue | 36.3% | 39.8% | 38.0% | 35.7% | 33.8% | 36.2% | 35.0% | +300bps | +70bps |
| Central Europe | 108.0 | 123.8 | 231.8 | 217.4 | 98.7 | 111.2 | 209.9 | +10.4% | +3.6% |
| As of % of revenue | 30.0% | 33.2% | 31.6% | 29.6% | 29.9% | 31.5% | 30.6% | +100bps | -100bps |
| Scandinavia & Eastern Eur. | 94.6 | 101.6 | 196.2 | 185.5 | 87.6 | 93.4 | 181.0 | +8.4% | +2.5% |
| As of % of revenues | 37.9% | 39.5% | 38.7% | 36.6% | 36.4% | 38.4% | 37.4% | +130bps | -80bps |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | 54.9 | 58.6 | 113.5 | 102.5 | 52.9 | 52.4 | 105.3 | +7.8% | -2.7% |
| As of % of revenue | 28.0% | 29.1% | 28.6% | 25.8% | 26.8% | 26.1% | 26.4% | +220bps | -60bps |
| Southern Europe | 38.9 | 47.0 | 85.9 | 80.7 | 32.5 | 38.5 | 71.0 | +21.0% | +13.7% |
| As of % of revenue | 27.4% | 30.1% | 28.8% | 27.0% | 25.6% | 27.3% | 26.4% | +240bps | +60bps |
| Latin America | 38.3 | 41.4 | 79.7 | 75.6 | 32.2 | 34.5 | 66.7 | +19 .5% | +13.3% |
| As of % of revenue | 29.6% | 31.1% | 30.4% | 28.8% | 25.6% | 28.2% | 26.9% | +350bps | +190bps |
| Others | (4.3) | (5.9) | (10.2) | (10.6) | (6.0) | (4.3) | (10.3) | -1.0% | +2.9% |
| Total | 519.0 | 584.0 | 1,103.0 | 1,032.7 | 469.1 | 516.5 | 985.6 | +11.9% | +4.8% |
| As of % of revenue | 32.4% | 34.8% | 33.6% | 31.5% | 30.6% | 32.3% | 31.5% | +210bps | - |
Percentage change calculations are based on actual figures
« Others » includes Manufacturing Entities and Holdings
In 2019, with EBITDA of €1,032.7mn, Group EBITDA margin (excluding IFRS 16 impact) was stable at 31.5%. EBITDA margin including the IFRS 16 impact was 33.6%, increasing by +210bps, with EBITDA at €1,103.0mn.
France
In 2019, EBITDA margin increased by +70bps to 35.7% of revenue (excluding IFRS 16 impact) and to 38.0% of revenue under IFRS standards. The price environment is favorable, and we posted an improvement of our client retention rate as well as new productivity gains.
Central Europe
In 2019, EBITDA margin was at 29.6% of revenue (excluding IFRS 16 impact) and at 31.6% of revenue under IFRS standards. Margins are slightly down in Germany due to difficulties in passing on labor cost inflation in a fragmented Healthcare market, as well as the growth mix, as acquisitions in the past year were mainly made in this sector.
Scandinavia & Eastern Europe
In 2019, EBITDA margin remains high at 36.6% of revenue (excluding IFRS 16 impact) and at 38.7% of revenue under IFRS standards. Commercial momentum was very good in the region, but margin was penalized by a double mix effect: (i) The countries that lift the region’s growth, with organic growth up in some cases by double-digits, are not the most profitable ones in the region and (ii) growth was driven by Flat linen in Sweden, Denmark and Finland, creating a negative product mix on margins.
United Kingdom & Ireland
In 2019, EBITDA margin decreased by -60bps at 25.8% of revenue (excluding IFRS 16 impact) and at 28.6% under IFRS standards. This margin decrease is mainly explained by the negative product mix effect in the United Kingdom: The increase of prices in Hospitality did not fully offset client losses in Workwear, the most profitable segment. As a result, attention is now paid to product mix while operational indicators are evolving in a very satisfactory manner.
Southern Europe
In 2019, EBITDA margin increased by +60bps to 27.0% of revenue (excluding IFRS 16 impact) and to 28.8% of revenue under IFRS standards. This improvement is explained by the pass-through of wage increases in prices and productivity gains in the region. The expansion of the Workwear market, which we continue to open in Spain and Portugal, supports the margin increase in the region.
Latin America
In 2019 EBITDA margin was up +190bps to 28.8% of revenue (excluding IFRS 16 impact) and to 30.4% of revenue under IFRS standards. This improvement illustrates the implementation in the region of Elis’ best practices and the resulting productivity gains.
From EBITDA to net result
| In millions of euros | 2019 Reported | Of which IFRS 16 | 2018 Restated | Var. |
| EBITDA | 1,103.0 | +70.3 | 985.6 | +11.9% |
| As a % of revenue | 33.6% | +210bps | 31.5% | +210bps |
| EBIT | 454.9 | +3.7 | 426.4 | +6.7% |
| As a % of revenue | 13.9% | +10bps | 13.6% | +30bps |
| Current operating income | 442.1 | 407.5 | +8.5% | |
| Amortization of intangible assets recognized in a business combination | (88.3) | (112.5) | ||
| Non-current operating income and expenses | (18.5) | (49.8) | ||
| Operating income | 335.3 | 245.2 | +36.7% | |
| Financial result | (150.0) | (9.6) | (110.5) | |
| Income tax | (47.6) | +1.7 | (51.7) | |
| Net result from continuing operations | 137.7 | (4.2) | 83.0 | +65.9% |
| Net result | 141.9 | (4.2) | 81.8 | +73.4% |
| Headline net result* | 256.1 | (4.2) | 224.3 | +14.2% |
Margin rate calculations are based on precise figures.
* A reconciliation between net result and headline net result is presented in the section “From net result to Headline net result” of this press release.
EBIT
As of a percentage of revenue, EBIT was up +20bps in 2019, excluding IFRS 16 impact.
Operating income
The main items between EBIT and operating income are as follows:
Financial result
In 2019, financial expense was €150mn. It increased by €39.5mn compared to 2018.
Financial result is mainly made of (i) interests on financial debt for c. €60mn, (ii) exceptional items related to the 2019 refinancing for €45mn (iii) amortization of issuing costs for previous loans for c. €12mn, (iv) notional interests related to OCEANE for €9mn and (v) interest expenses on lease liabilities and finance leases related to the application of IFRS 16 for c. €10mn.
Net result from continuing operations
Net result from continuing operations was €137.7mn in 2019, up +65.9% compared to 2018.
From net result to headline net result
| In millions of euros | 2019 Reported | 2018 Restated |
| Net result from continuing operations | 137.7 | 83.0 |
| Amortization of intangible assets recognized in a business combination1 | 70.7 | 86.6 |
| IFRS 2 expense1 | 10.6 | 15.6 |
| Accelerated amortization of loans issuing costs1 | 12.2 | 2.6 |
| Breakup costs (refinancing) 1 | 4.5 | - |
| Unwinding of swaps1 | 12.9 | - |
| Non-current operating income and expenses including: | 7.5 | 36.4 |
| Litigation provisions reversal | (11.6) | (0.6) |
| Acquisition-related costs1 | 6.6 | 22.3 |
| Restructuring costs1 | 6.5 | 22.2 |
| Other1 | 6.0 | (7.5) |
| Headline net result | 256.1 | 224.3 |
| IFRS 16 impact on net result | (4.2) | - |
| Net result excluding IFRS 16 impact | 260.3 | 224.3 |
1 Net of tax effect
Headline net result was €256.1mn in 2019, increasing by +14% compared to 2018. Improvement of the “Non-current operating income and expenses” due to (i) a decrease of restructuring costs in 2019, the bulk of the costs related to Berendsen having been recorded in 2018 and (ii) acquisition costs that were lower in 2019, as 2018 was penalized by an earn-out provision related to past acquisition.
Cash-flow statement
| In millions of euros | 2019 Reported | Of Which IFRS 16 | 2018 Restated |
| EBITDA | 1,103.0 | +70.3 | 985.6 |
| Non-recurring items and provision variance | (24.4) | (35.5) | |
| Acquisition and cession fees | (10.2) | (4.4) | |
| Other | (0.6) | - | |
| Cash flows before net finance costs and tax | 1,067.8 | 945.7 | |
| Net capex | (660.3) | (644.3) | |
| Change in working capital requirement | 26.9 | (15.8) | |
| Net interests paid | (110.7) | (8.9) | (55.2) |
| Income tax paid | (76.2) | (76.7) | |
| Free cash-flow | 247.5 | 61.4 | 153.7 |
| Lease liabilities payments – principal | (73.3) | (61.4) | (3.0) |
| Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired | (83.2) | (62.2) | |
| Change arising from subsidiaries (gain or loss of control) | (15.1) | (12.7) | |
| Other flows related to financing activities | (20.0) | (26.4) | |
| Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash transferred | 30.0 | 1.0 | |
| Dividends paid | (81.2) | (81.1) | |
| Capital increase, treasury shares and reclassification of leases from “financial” to “liabilities” | 29.0 | 22.9 | 1.5 |
| Other | (48.0) | (41.8) | |
| Net debt variance | (14.4) | 22.9 | (71.1) |
| Net financial debt | 3,372.1 | 22.9 | 3,357.7 |
Investments
In 2019, the Group’s capital expenditures represented 20.1% of revenue (including Clinical Solutions revenue in the ratio calculation), stable compared to 2018. They include linen capex, industrial capex and additional investments (mainly industrial) related to the Berendsen acquisition, as announced in 2018.
Change in working capital requirement
In 2019, the change in working capital requirement became positive at c. €27mn due to very good cash receipts at year-end and to the c. €15mn one-off impact linked to the change in CICE calculation.
Free cash-flow
In 2019, Free cash-flow amounted to €247mn (€186mn excluding IFRS 16 impact, i.e. +21% vs 2018).
Net financial debt
Group net financial debt as of 31 December 2019 was €3,372.1mn compared to €3,357.7mn as of 31 December 2018. The debt leverage ratio calculated for the covenants (net financial debt as defined in the contracts/ EBITDA proforma for the full-year impact of acquisitions finalized during the last 12 months and after the impact of synergies and excluding IFRS 16 impact) stood at 3.2x compared to 3.3x as of 31 December 2018.
Payment for the 2019 financial year
At the next Annual General Meeting of shareholders on 19 May 2020, the Supervisory Board will recommend the payment of €0.39 per share for the 2019 financial year, an increase of +5.4% compared to last year.
Financial definitions
2020 outlook
The guidance provided in this press release has been prepared in a manner comparable to the historical financial information, and in line with the Group's accounting methods. It does not take into account the possible future impacts related to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Consolidated financial statements
Consolidated financial statements for the year 2019 are available at this address:
https://fr.elis.com/en/group/investors-relations/regulated-information
Geographical breakdown
Presentation of Elis’ Full-Year 2019 results (in English)
Date:
Wednesday 4 March 2020 at 8:30am GMT (9:30am CET)
Venue:
Sofitel London St James, 6 Waterloo Pl, St. James’s, London, SW1Y4AN
Webcast link:
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/9eru8oe7
Investor presentation:
An investor presentation will be available at 8:15am GMT (9:15am CET) at this address: https://fr.elis.com/en/group/investors-relations/regulated-information
Forward looking statements
This document may contain information related to the Group’s outlook. Such outlook is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group regarded as reasonable at the date of this press release. Those data and assumptions may change or be adjusted as a result of uncertainties relating particularly to the economic, financial, competitive, regulatory or tax environment or as a result of other factors of which the Group was not aware on the date of this press release. Moreover, the materialization of certain risks described in chapter 2 “Risk factors & risk control, insurance policy, and vigilance plan” of the Registration Document may have an impact on the Group’s activities, financial position, results or outlook and therefore lead to a difference between the actual figures and those given or implied by the outlook presented in this document. Reaching the outlook also implies success of the Group’s strategy. As a result, the Group makes no representation and gives no warranty regarding the attainment of any outlook set out above.
Next information
Q1 2020 revenue: April 28, 2020 (after market)
Contacts
Nicolas Buron, Investor Relations Director – Phone: +33 1 75 49 98 30 - nicolas.buron@elis.com
Audrey Bourgeois, Investor Relations - Phone: + 33 (0)1 75 49 96 25 - audrey.bourgeois@elis.com
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