Fincantieri reports 9.7% growth in revenues in Jan-Oct and total backlog above EUR 32bn with ships to be delivered up to 2027

Revenues of in the first nine months of 2019 increased by 9.7% if compared to the same period of last year, thus confirming the growth expectation for 2019 in the Shipbuilding and in the Equipment Systems and Services segments, Fincantieri said in its press release.

Group EBITDA at September 30, 2019 was euro 287 million (+2.1% compared to September 30, 2018) with an EBITDA margin of 6.7%, including the positive performance of the Shipbuilding segment (+30.2% if compared to September 30, 2018 despite the negative impact of the Vard Cruise projects) and is impacted by the negative margin in the Offshore and Specialized Vessels segment.

With reference to the subsidiary VARD, following the delisting completed in December 2018, the process of full integration within the Fincantieri Group and alignment to the best practices continued. A change in management followed, together with the launch of a reorganization process. In particular, a review of the industrial management systems and of the economic planning of both Cruise and Offshore and Specialized Vessels projects was launched. Such initiatives, supported by the Italian personnel of the Group, led on the one hand to the recovery of the production delays, which would have impeded the on-time delivery of the units, and to the review, on the other hand, of the estimated costs at completion which were included within the results as of September, 30 2019, including the higher costs occurred to recover the delays on the ships in delivery. Further analysis on the industrial management systems and on the economic planning of projects are still ongoing.

With regards to the initiatives already completed, the exit from the business of small fishery and aquaculture support vessels (which impacted negatively the EBITDA of the first nine months of 2019 by euro 19 million) and the dismissal of Aukra shipyard were approved. Also with reference to the review of the production footprint, the dismissal of Brevik, a second Norwegian shipyard was authorized. Moreover, the conversion of the Romanian Tulcea shipyard, which is now working at full capacity on Cruise shipbuilding is in its final stages of completion.

Revenues in the Shipbuilding segment at September 30, 2019 were equal to euro 3,686 million, with an increase of 11.1% if compared to the first nine months of 2018. The revenue growth in the Cruise shipbuilding (+11.0%) is due to the increase of the dimension and value of the vessels currently under production, whereas the increase of the naval revenues (+11.0%), is mainly due to the advancing of the construction for both the Qatari Ministry of Defense program and the Italian Navy fleet renewal program.

The EBITDA of the segment at September 30, 2019, was euro 336 million (+30.2% if compared to September 30, 2018) with an EBITDA margin of 9.1%, reflecting the increasing profitability of the Group shipbuilding activities both in Cruise and Naval areas of business. However, the margin of the segment was affected by the unsatisfactory profitability of some of Vard’s Cruise business unit projects. In particular, the support of the Italian personnel of the Group led on the one hand to the recovery of the production delays in order to deliver on-time the units under construction, on the other hand it required a review of the estimated costs at completion that impacted on the September 30, 2019 results, inclusive also of the higher costs occurred to recover the delays on the ships due for delivery. On the operating side, it is currently under completion the conversion of the Romanian Tulcea Shipyard to support the activities of the Italian Group facilities to develop the significant construction volume required by the record order backlog. Such conversion will bring to a substantial increase of the shipyard value, also because of the acquisition of the specific know-how.

Offshore and Specialized Vessels revenues at September 30, 2019 stood at euro 392 million, decreasing in comparison to the same period of 2018 because of the slowdown of production volumes due to the almost total lack of orders in the core market.

EBITDA of the segment at September, 30 was negative for euro 75 million, with an EBITDA margin of -19.3%. The results of the first nine months 2019 included the estimated costs at completion of the projects and represented, pending the finalization of the ongoing analysis, the best estimate of the negative impacts on the full year results. Also the reduced utilization of the shipyards had a negative impact on the results, together with the high level of operative complexity linked to the development of the specialized vessels order portfolio, that is particularly challenging due to the diversity of projects and units contemporarily under production.

With the aim of margin recovery of the segment in the medium term and in the context of Vard reorganization plan currently being developed, the first initiatives of production footprint optimization were identified and approved. Among these the decision of exiting from the business of small fishery and aquaculture support vessels (which negatively impacted the EBITDA of the segment for euro 19 million in the first nine months of the year) and therefore dismissing the Aukra shipyard. Also with reference to the review of the production footprint, it was approved the dismissal of Brevik, a second Norwegian shipyard, whereas the activity and the personnel of the Brazilian shipyard of Promar were reduced to the minimum in order to contain its management costs.

Revenues of the Equipment, Systems and Services segment at September 30 stood at euro 582 million recording an increase of 27.1% if compared to the first nine months of 2018, thanks to the development of the relevant backlog for services provided within the naval projects and to the volume increase of the ship repair and conversion activity. It is also to be mentioned the significant contribution of the operations of Fincantieri Infrastructure performed in 2019.

EBITDA of the segment at September 30, 2019 was equal to euro 55 million with an EBITDA margin of 9.5%, reflecting the higher contribution of infrastructure projects and of the ship conversions and refurbishment activities, both characterized by a reduced profitability profile if compared to other activities within the same segment. These projects, however, have a strategic relevance as they allow the development and maintenance of commercial relationships and contribute to the increase of utilization of some Italian shipyards of the Group.

Net fixed capital was euro 1,831 million (euro 1,703 million at December 31, 2018), increased by euro 128 million. Among the main impacts, besides the investments of the period, there is the inclusion of the right of use of the leased assets following the first application of IFRS 16 net of amortization and the inclusion within the fixed assets of two vessels previously accounted for as Construction contracts following the decision of managing them directly.

Net working capital was positive at euro 250 million with a variation of euro 206 million if compared to December 31, 2018. The main variations include i) the decrease of the Inventories and advances (euro 18 million), mainly due to the delivery of a vessel previously included in the Inventories following the order cancellation, and then sold; ii) the increase in Construction contracts and client advances (euro 463 million) and of Trade payables (euro 218 million) following the increase of production volumes; iii) the decrease of the Provisions for risks and charges (euro 59 million), mainly for the use of the provisions for the “Serene” litigation, following the settlement agreement terminating all proceeds standing.

Construction loans, dedicated credit instruments used for the exclusive financing of the project they are referred to, amounted to euro 793 million at September 30, 2019, with an increase of euro 161 million. Of these, euro 500 million were related to the Parent Company and euro 293 million to the subsidiary VARD.

Net financial position, reported a net debt balance of euro 904 million (euro494 million in net debt at December 31, 2018), consistently with the production volumes developed by the Group and with the delivery schedule of the cruise units (3 units delivered in October). It also includes the financial liabilities arising from the application of IFRS 16 (euro 89 million).

The Group performance is confirmed to be positive from an operational standpoint thanks to the favorable trends of the cruise and naval shipbuilding across all geographies, although limited by the negative results of VARD in cruise and offshore projects.

With reference to the subsidiary Vard, the commitment of the Group to align the industrial management systems and the economic planning of the projects to the Group best practices continues, as reported in the “Economic data” section. Any potential additional adjustment on the estimated costs at completion for longer term projects that may arise from this process will be included in the full year 2019 results. The reorganization plan for the subsidiary Vard is expected to be presented together with the approval of the full year Group results.

Net financial position is expected to slightly improve, following the delivery of 3 cruise vessels in the last quarter of the year, even if financing needs will remain high due to the need to finance the working capital for the vessels under construction and in delivery.

In the Shipbuilding segment, in October the Group delivered 3 cruise vessels, whereas the naval business area is focused on the full swing of the program for the Qatari Ministry of Defense, with 3 vessels under construction and first delivery scheduled for 2021.

With reference to Vard Cruise business unit, the initiatives mentioned above are under development.

In the Offshore and Specialized Vessels segment, the shipbuilding activities pertaining to the current backlog will continue and the ongoing focus on execution aiming at margin recovery will remain, together with the commercial activities focused on the development of innovative products and cutting-edge technologies in areas not directly related to the Oil&Gas sector. The analysis phase of the business and the reorganization plan for the subsidiary Vard are still ongoing.

On the Equipment, Systems and Services, we expect the confirmation of the revenues growth trend, thanks to the backlog deployment for the naval programs, to the volumes for the production of cabins and public areas to support the cruise shipbuilding activities, and to the development of the infrastructures with a significant advancing of the construction of the bridge over the Polcevera River in Genoa.