Recylex S.A. - Half-year results 2020
Recylex S.A. (Euronext Paris: FR0000120388 - RX)
publishes today its consolidated financial results for the first
half of 2020, as approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting
on December 16, 2020. For more details, the 2020 Half-Year
Financial Report, filed today with the Autorité des Marchés
Financiers, can be consulted on the company's website
www.recylex.eu (Finance - Publications section).
- Context of the closing of the 2020 half-year financial
statements
As a reminder1, following the filing for
insolvency under the German law on May 14, 2020 by all the German
sub-group, Recylex S.A. definitively lost control of these
entities, which consequently led to the deconsolidation of the
entire German scope of consolidation with effect from May 2020.
Since then, the Recylex Group consists2 solely of the French
operations, which are Recylex S.A.'s two used lead-acid battery
recycling plants, C2P S.A.S. in the polypropylene recycling
business and Recytech S.A.'s 50% joint venture.
Like the 20193 consolidated and parent company
financial statements, the closing of the 2020 half-year financial
statements is characterized by the uncertainties that still weigh
on the company's ability to continue as a going concern and on the
realization of the assumptions structuring its financial plan,
which were taken to close the 2020 half-year consolidated financial
statements. This going concern depends on the fulfilment of several
structuring assumptions4 relating to the continuation of a business
activity with Weser-Metall GmbH, the restructuring of Recylex
S.A.'s financial and non-financial debt and to the disposal of
non-operating assets.
In this context, the suspension of the share's
listing remains in place until Recylex is in a position to
communicate reliably on its going concern outlook.
- Consolidated results and balance sheet items
as of June 30, 2020
In order to enable an assessment of the 2020
consolidated figures in the context of the Group's new scope of
consolidation following the loss of control of the German entities
in May 2020, certain key aggregates of the Recylex Group's 2019 and
2020 financial information are presented under "New scope of
consolidation", excluding those entities that have been
deconsolidated2.
2.1 Income
statement items
in millions of euros |
As of 30/06/2020 |
As of 30/06/2019 |
As of 30/06/2020 New scope of consolidation |
As of 30/06/2019 New scope of consolidation |
Change New scope of consolidation |
Sales |
82.0 |
153.6 |
26.3 |
37.0 |
-10.7 |
EBITDA5 |
(14.1) |
(12.9) |
(3.7) |
(1.2) |
-2.5 |
Operating income/(loss) before non-recurring items |
(23.8) |
(18.4) |
(10.2) |
(2.0) |
-8.2 |
Net income |
129.4 |
(21.4) |
148.3 |
0.5 |
+ 147.8 |
Consolidated sales at June 30, 2020 amounted to
€82.0 million euros. Sales of the new scope of consolidation (i.e.
without taking into account the entities of the German sub-group)
amounted to €26.3 million compared to €37.0 million in the first
half of 2019.
In the context of a general economic slowdown in
the first half of 2020 related to the health measures linked to the
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the decline in activity in the new scope of
consolidation is explained by the decline in the performance of the
Lead segment impacted by the reduction in volumes processed by the
two used lead battery recycling plants in France and by the fall in
lead prices (-8% compared to the first half of 2019) but also by a
sharp reduction in sales in the Plastics segment given this
context.
In the first half of 2020, consolidated EBITDA5
reached -€14.1 million. The consolidated EBITDA5 of the new scope
of consolidation amounted to -€3.7 million compared to -€1.2
million in the first half of 2019. This erosion in operating
profitability of the new scope of consolidation is mainly explained
by (i) the disappearance of the mechanism for sharing structure
costs between the Group's holding company and the German entities
that were deconsolidated (-€1,7 million) and (ii) the lower
financial performance of the Lead and Plastics businesses (-€0.8
million) due to lower volumes in both businesses and lower sales
margin in the Lead segment.
Consequently, while the Group recorded a current
operating loss of €23.8 million in the first half of 2020 compared
to €18.4 million in the first half of 2019, the current operating
loss of the new scope of consolidation was €10.2 million compared
to a loss of €2.0 million in the first half of 2019. This sharp
deterioration in recurring operating income is notably due to the
impairment of trade receivables from entities of the German
sub-group in the amount of €5.2 million.
In the first half of 2020, income from
associates (50% stake in Recytech S.A.S) amounted to €0.7 million,
a down €3.1 million compared with the first half of 2019, given the
sharp fall in zinc prices over the period.
The Group reported a net income of €129.4
million at June 30, 2020, compared with a net loss of €21.4 million
at June 30, 2019, reflecting the impact of the deconsolidation of
the German entities in the first half of 2020 in the amount of
€159.4 million. This impact is solely of an accounting nature and
reflects the negative consolidated contribution in the past of the
German sub-group to the Group's net equity.
2.2 Balance sheet
Items
in millions of euros |
As of 30/06/2020 |
As of 31/12/2019 |
Variation |
As of 31/12/2019 New scope of consolidation |
Change New scope of consolidation |
Cash and cash equivalents |
13.1 |
9.1 |
+ 4.0 |
5.2 |
+7.9 |
Net cash6 |
13.1 |
(5.9) |
+19.0 |
5.2 |
+7.9 |
Equity |
(37.5) |
(168,7) |
+131.2 |
- |
- |
Net debt |
41,5 |
176.9 |
-135.4 |
49.1 |
-7.6 |
Consolidated gross cash at June 30, 2020 was
€13.1 million, an increase of €4.0 million compared to December 31,
2019. It should be noted that as of June 30, 2020 the Group had no
credit lines, unlike as of December 31, 2019 when it had credit
lines of €15.0 million, which were fully drawn down at the level of
the German sub-group. As a result of the deconsolidation of the
German sub-group in the first half of 2020, the Group's net cash
position was positive for €13.1 million euros as of June 30, 2020,
compared to a negative position of -€5.9 million as of December 31,
2019. The net cash position of the new scope of consolidation
increased by €7.9million. This temporary increase in the cash
position of the new scope of consolidation is explained by:
- A positive cash flow from operating activities of €6.4 million
following a strong decrease in working capital requirements of
€10.1 million on both activities which more than compensated the
loss generated by both activities;
- Dividends from Recytech SA (equity method consolidated company)
in the amount of 4.0 million euros;
- A positive cash flow of €0.7 million euros related to the
repayment of part of the compensation paid by Recylex S.A. in
respect of claims by former employees of Metaleurop Nord following
the decision of the French Supreme Court of Appeals of May 24, 2018
in favor of Recylex S.A.
Cash flows generated by the reduction in working capital
requirements made it possible to finance (i) maintenance
investments (€0.5 million), (ii) the repayment of the European
Commission’s fine payment plan in the amount of €0.8 million
(including interest) and (iii) expenses related to the
rehabilitation of former sites in the amount of €2.1 million
(including €1.5 million for the Estaque site).
As of June 30, 2020, the parent company Recylex
S.A.'s available cash position was €11.6 million compared to €4.5
million as of December 31, 2019. This temporary increase in cash
and cash equivalents is explained by:
- A sharp decrease in working capital requirements due in
particular to a sharp reduction in trade receivables and
inventories following the slowdown in activity in April 2020 in
connection with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic;
- The effect of the introduction of a prepayment system for
Recylex S.A.'s deliveries to Weser Metall GmbH since May 14,
2020.
However, the Company believes that its cash
position is expected to decrease significantly by the end of fiscal
year 2020 as a result of an anticipated increase in working capital
requirements in the second half of 2020 and accumulated operating
losses due to reduced volumes in the context of confinement
measures related to the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in
autumn 2020.
Net financial debt amounted to €41.5 million
compared to €176.9 million at December 31, 2019. This decrease of
€135.4 million compared to December 31, 2019 is explained by the
effect of the deconsolidation of the German sub-group whose share
in net financial debt at December 31, 2019 amounted to€ 130.5
million. The Group's net financial debt as of June 30, 2020 breaks
down as follows:
- A loan of €16.0 million contracted in 2014 with Glencore
International AG. The filing for insolvency proceedings at the
level of the German sub-group entities rendered this loan payable
at any time. On May 18, 2020, the Group obtained a waiver from
Glencore International AG until October 31, 2020 of its right to
declare this loan immediately payable. This deferral was
conditionally extended to end of February 2021.
- The debt related to the European Commission fine for an amount
of €24.5 million.
- The clawback clause under the 2005-2015 continuation plan for
an amount of €4.1 million. The due amounts of the debt under the
financial clawback clause amount to €1.7 million as of June 30,
2020, with Glencore international AG as the main creditor for €1.6
million euros.
- The rescheduled debt resulting from Recylex S.A.'s continuation
plan amounted to €7.9 million, including €5.1 million owed to
Glencore International AG (due in 2026).
- Lease debt in accordance with IFRS 16 amounting to €1.5
million.
The Group's equity reached a negative amount of
€37.5 million at June 30, 2020 compared to an also negative amount
of €168.7 million at December 31, 2019. This improvement is mainly
due to the effect of the deconsolidation in the first half of 2020
of the German entities whose contribution to shareholders' equity
was strongly negative.
3. Consolidated results by segment at
June 30, 2020 (excluding Holding and Environment)
3.1
Evolution of metal prices in Euros as of June 30,
2020
€ per ton |
Average for the first half of 2020 |
Average for the first half of 2019 |
Change (%) |
Lead price |
1,598 |
1,736 |
-8% |
Zinc price |
1,857 |
2,419 |
-23% |
€/$ exchange rate |
1.1022 |
1.1298 |
-2% |
Source: London Metal Exchange.
3.2
Results by segment as of June 30, 2020
Lead segment (83% of consolidated sales
– new scope of consolidation)
in millions of euros |
As of 30/06/2020 |
As of 30/06/2019 |
As of 30/06/2020 New scope of consolidation |
As of 30/06/2019 New scope of consolidation |
Change New scope of consolidation |
Sales |
72.1 |
94.1 |
21.8 |
29.9 |
-8.1 |
Operating income/(loss) before non-recurring items |
(9.8) |
(13.6) |
(2.1) |
0.1 |
-2.2 |
In the first half of 2020, sales for the new
scope of consolidation of the Lead segment amounted to €21.8
million, a decrease of 27% compared to the first half of 2019.Due
to health measures and the economic slowdown related to the
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the activities of the Group's two used
lead-acid battery recycling plants in France (Recylex S.A.) were
almost entirely shut down between April and May 2020, with
"short-time working" measures for their employees7. In this
context, Recylex S.A. recycled 26,800 tonnes of used lead-acid
batteries in the first half of 2020 (-16% compared to the first
half of 2019).
Over the period, the fall in lead prices coupled
with the deterioration in commercial conditions for sales and the
rise in the price of used lead-acid batteries at the point of
purchase weighed heavily on this segment's margin. As a result, the
Lead segment recorded a current operating loss of €2.1 million for
the six months ended in June 30, 2020, compared to a breakeven
result in the first half of 2019 (new scope of consolidation). It
should be noted that following the deconsolidation of Weser-Metall
GmbH and Harz-Metall GmbH, the Lead segment now comprises only
Recylex S.A.'s activities in France.
Plastic segment (15% of consolidated
sales – new scope of consolidation)
in millions of euros |
As of 30/06/2020 |
As of 30/06/2019 |
As of 30/06/2020 New scope of consolidation |
As of 30/06/2019 New scope of consolidation |
Change New scope of consolidation |
Sales |
3.8 |
6.9 |
3.8 |
6.0 |
-2.2 |
Operating income/(loss) before non-recurring items |
(0.5) |
(0.7) |
(0.5) |
(0.2) |
-0.3 |
Sales reached €3.8 million at June 30, 2020,
down 37% compared to June 30, 2019 (new scope of consolidation).
Given the very sharp slowdown in global demand for recycled
polypropylene, particularly in the automotive sector weakened by
the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, C2P S.A.S.'s activity in
France was drastically reduced in April 2020 and gradually resumed
from May 2020.
In this context, the segment's operating
income/loss before non-recurring items showed a loss of €0.5
million for the six months ended in June 30, 2020, compared to a
loss of €0.2 million for the same period in 2019.
It should be noted that following the
deconsolidation of C2P GmbH in the context of the insolvency
proceedings under German law opened in May 2020, the Plastics
segment now comprises only the activities of C2P S.A.S. in
France.
Zinc segment 8
in millions of euros |
As of 30/06/2020 |
As of 30/06/2019 |
As of 30/06/2020 New scope of consolidation |
As of 30/06/2019 New scope of consolidation |
Change New scope of consolidation |
Sales |
20.6 |
43.4 |
- |
- |
- |
Operating income/(loss) before non-recurring items |
(4.5) |
0.7 |
- |
- |
- |
Following the deconsolidation of the German
entities Norzinco-GmbH and Harz-Metall GmbH, the Zinc segment now
only consists of the 50% stake in Recytech S.A. in France, which is
reported under the equity method in the consolidated financial
statements in accordance with IFRS. For this reason, sales and
results of this joint venture are no longer included in the segment
reporting. In this context, the Zinc segment no longer exists in
the new scope of the Recylex Group's activities.
The first-half 2020 consolidated sales for this
segment represent the sales of the German scope until May 2020, the
date of deconsolidation of these entities. It reached €20.6 million
in the first half of 2020. The segment reported an operating loss
of €4.5 million as of June 30, 2020.
Special metals segment
in millions of euros |
As of 30/06/2020 |
As of 30/06/2019 |
As of 30/06/2020 New scope of consolidation |
As of 30/06/2019 New scope of consolidation |
Change New scope of consolidation |
Sales |
5.7 |
9.1 |
- |
- |
- |
Operating income/(loss) before non-recurring items |
(1.5) |
(0.8) |
- |
- |
- |
Sales of the Special Metals segment represent
the sales of PPM Pure Metals GmbH until May 2020, the date of
deconsolidation of this entity. It generated sales on the amount of
€5.7 million as of June 30, 2020, and reported a current operating
loss of €1.5 million as of June 30, 2020 9.
It should be noted that following the
deconsolidation of PPM Pure Metals GmbH, the Special Metals segment
no longer exists within the scope of the Recylex Group's
activities.
- Update on current legal proceedings
concerning Recylex S.A.
The document summarizing the proceedings
concerning Metaleurop Nord S.A.S. and Recylex S.A., updated
on December 11, 2020, is available on the Finance section of
the Recylex Group website.
- Outlook10
Recylex S.A.'s ability to continue as a going
concern is based on short-, medium- and long-term financial
prospects and cash flow forecasts based on the information
available to date, taking into account the new scope of its
activities but also other parameters, in particular cyclical
factors linked to changes in the economic environment. This new
outlook is based on several structuring assumptions:
- The continuation of the business relation with Weser-Metall
GmbH and the continuing supply of secondary materials to the
Weser-Metall GmbH smelter by Recylex S.A.;
- The extension of the deferral beyond the maturity date of the
€16 million loan granted in 2014 by Glencore International AG,
which has been extended until the end of February 2021 subject to
conditions;
- The suspension of the financial interests related to the €16
million loan for at least for the next 12 months, as well as the
adjustment of the repayment terms and medium-term interest;
- The temporary suspension of the payment plan for the fine
imposed in 2017 by the European Commission as well as a favorable
outcome of the discussions initiated with the European Commission
regarding the payment of this fine;
- Acceptance by the competent authorities of the request made at
the end of May 2020 for a temporary suspension to the
rehabilitation works at the Estaque site until December 31, 2021,
as well as the postponement of the date for completion of works to
December 31, 2024;
- The successful completion of the process for the disposing of
certain non-operational assets over the next 12 months.
In the second half of 2020, the Group is already
anticipating the effects on its activity of the new confinement
measures in connection with the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2
pandemic. The impacts of a possible third wave of the pandemic at
the beginning of 2021 on the Group's activity are not foreseeable
today.
During the second wave and the second
confinement period, Recylex S.A. noted a significant decline in the
availability of used lead-acid batteries. In this context, business
in the Lead segment slowed down and Recylex S.A. partly resorted to
short time working for its teams.In addition, C2P S.A.S.'s activity
in the Plastics segment remains fragile given the situation in the
recycled polypropylene market. Finally, given current commercial
conditions, zinc price levels and the availability of zinc dust for
recycling, the Group anticipates a significant reduction in
dividends receivable from Recytech S.A. in 2021 in respect of the
2020 financial year.
- Provisional financial agenda
It should be noted that the Recylex Group
published its financial information as of September 30, 2020 on
Thursday, November 5, 2020.
- Next publication: Financial information at December 31, 2020,
on Thursday, February 11, 2021 (after market close).
1 The main impacts for Recylex S.A. of the
opening of insolvency proceedings at the level of the entities of
the German subgroup, as identified as of May 14, 2020, were
described in the press releases of May 14, 2020 and May 20, 2020.
See also the press releases of December 5, 2018, March 26, 2019,
June 17, 2019, July 15, 2019, July 31, 2019, October 28, 2019,
November 7, 2019, November 27, 2019, December 20, 2019, February
21, 2020, March 19, 2020, April 30, 2020 and May 7, 2020.
2 The impacts of the deconsolidation of the
German sub-group entities are presented in Note 3 "Scope of
consolidation" to the shortened consolidated financial statements
for the six months ended in June 30, 2020.
3 The closing and publication of the 2019
consolidated and parent company financial statements had been
postponed until now due to the lack of prospects for the Group's
going concern in the context of discussions with the financial
partners of the German sub-group with a view of restructuring the
debt related to the December 2016 financing. These discussions
ended in May 2020 with the implementation of insolvency proceedings
for the German entities.
4 See Note 1-B "Financial position and going
concern assessment" to the shortened consolidated financial
statements as of June 30, 2020. These assumptions and factors of
risk are detailed in Note 39 to the 2019 consolidated financial
statements and in the "Subsequent events" note to the 2019 parent
company financial statements.
5 Current operating income/(loss) before
depreciation, amortization, provisions and impairment losses
(non-IFRS indicator).
6 Net cash and cash equivalents from used credit
lines.
7 See press releases of March 25, 2020 and April
30, 2020.
8 Sales and current operating income of the
zinc segment include Norzinco GmbH, for €14.5 million and -€1.1
million respectively at June 30, 2020. Norzinco GmbH has been
classified as discontinued operation since December 31, 2019 and is
included on a separate line "Result from discontinued operations"
in the consolidated financial statement at June 30, 2020.
9 Sales and current operating income of the
Special Metals segment correspond to PPM Pure-Metals GmbH, an
entity classified as discontinued operation since December 31,
2019, and included on a separate line "Result from discontinued
operations" in the consolidated financial statement at June 30,
2020.
10 See Notes 1 and 10 to the shortened
consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2020.
Disclaimer: This press release
may contain forward-looking statements that constitute either
trends or objectives and should not be construed as forecasts of
results or any other performance indicator. This information is by
its nature subject to risks and uncertainties, as described in the
Company's Annual Report available on its website (www.recylex.fr).
More detailed information on Recylex can be find on its website
(www.recylex.eu). In this press release, unless otherwise
indicated, all changes are expressed on an annual basis
(2020/2019).
***
Raw materials from urban mines
The Recylex Group is a European specialist in
the recycling of lead, zinc and polypropylene.
For more information about the Recylex
Group: www.recylex.eu
***
Press & Investor contact: T +33 (0)158 47 29 91 |
E info@recylex.eu
Recylex S.A. | Registered office: 6 place de la Madeleine |
75008 Paris | France
Administrative office: 79 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau | 92158
Suresnes Cedex | France
- Recylex S.A. Half-year results 2020