First-half 2015 financial results

30 July 2015 - 6:00 pm - Finances

- Slight decline (1.8%) in revenue¹
- Speeding up international development (+8.4%)¹
- Good traffic momentum at VINCI Autoroutes and VINCI Airports
- Improvement in Ebit margin (operating income from ordinary activities/revenue) to 8.6% (8.2% in first half of 2014¹)
- Increase in net income excluding non-recurring items: €827 million (+6.3%)
- Net financial debt reduced by €1.0 billion²
- Interim dividend: €0.57 per share

Key figures

 

Xavier Huillard, the Group’s chairman and CEO, announced: “VINCI’s performance in the first half of 2015 reflects the soundness of its concession-construction model, the good fit between its business activities and the relevance of its strategy. Concessions continued its upward trend, with traffic growth better than expected at both VINCI Autoroutes and VINCI Airports. The key event for VINCI Autoroutes in the first half was the signature with the French government of a memorandum of understanding including, in particular, the motorway stimulus plan. VINCI Airports meanwhile continued its expansion, winning the 20-year concession for Santiago de Chile International Airport and the 25-year concession for Toulon Hyères airport in France. In Contracting, despite a marked decline in business volumes in France and certain markets affected by the fall in oil prices, operating margins held up well. In addition, the focus on international expansion in higher-growth potential markets led to two new acquisitions: Orteng, a Brazilian electrical engineering company, and HEB Construction, an infrastructure construction company in New Zealand. Net financial debt at the end of June was down sharply year on year. Based on this good performance and a recent upturn in the pace of Contracting’s order intake, VINCI is moving into the second part of the year with confidence.”

VINCI’s Board of Directors, chaired by Xavier Huillard, met on 30 July 2015 to finalise the financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2015. The Board also approved the payment of a 2015 interim dividend of €0.57 per share.

 

I. Key financial data

VINCI’s first-half 2015 consolidated financial statements show a slight decline in revenue and an increase in both Ebitda⁷ and recurring operating income. The Group’s net income attributable to owners of the parent is also up after adjustment for non-recurring items (non-recurring income⁸ was recorded in the first half of 2014 when VINCI Park’s capital was opened to new investors).

Consolidated revenue was €17.9 billion, down 3.2% on an actual basis relative to the first half of 2014. The decrease on a comparable basis, after adjustment for the positive impacts of exchange rates (2.3%) and changes in consolidation scope (1.2%), was 6.7%.

Concessions revenue rose 3.8% on a comparable basis to €2.7 billion. This is attributable to a 3.0% increase in VINCI Autoroutes revenue, including 2.7% growth in traffic, and strong growth (12.7%) in VINCI Airports revenue, reflecting the good momentum in passenger traffic (up 11.7%⁹). It is to be noted that VINCI Park was deconsolidated on 4 June 2014.

Contracting revenue (VINCI Energies, Eurovia and VINCI Construction) was €15.2 billion, down 2.4% on an actual basis and 8.3% on a comparable structure basis.

In France, consolidated revenue declined 7.5% on a constant consolidation basis to €10.6 billion (down 9.1% on an actual basis), including 1.7% attributable to progress made on the Tours–Bordeaux high-speed rail line (SEA HSL), which reached 85% completion following the end of civil engineering works and earthworks.

Outside France, consolidated revenue increased 7.1% on an actual basis to €7.3 billion (down 5.5% on a comparable structure basis). Business in the first half benefited from a 5.9% positive exchange rate impact due to the depreciation of the euro and from a 6.7% positive impact due to changes on consolidation scope, the consequence of including newly acquired companies, mainly in the Energy business line (Imtech ICT, Electrix and Orteng). Revenue generated outside France now accounts for almost 41% of total revenue (37% in the first half of 2014). In Contracting, internationally generated revenue represents 45% of total revenue.

Revenue in the second quarter declined 5.6% on a comparable structure basis but was virtually unchanged on an actual basis. The pace of growth in Concessions accelerated, with a 4.4% increase in revenue due to brisk traffic growth at VINCI Airports and VINCI Autoroutes. In Contracting, the 6.8% decline on a comparable structure basis was less pronounced than in the first quarter in the various business lines.

Ebitda rose 5.8%¹⁰ to €2.5 billion, 76% of which being attributable to the Concessions business. It represented 13.8% of revenue (12.8%¹⁰ in the first half of 2014).

Operating income from ordinary activities (Ebit) increased 2.9%¹⁰ to €1.5 billion and represented 8.6% of revenue (8.2%¹⁰ in the first half 2014). In Concessions, the Ebit margin improved to 44.0% (42.8%¹⁰ in the first half of 2014). In Contracting, it fell to 2.1% (2.4% in the first half of 2014), the situation varying from one business line to another: VINCI Energies put in a good performance in France and internationally; Eurovia showed resilience in France despite difficult market conditions, and improved its international operations¹¹. VINCI Construction’s contribution, however, declined due to a combination of decreased business volumes in France and lower investments by oil and gas producing countries and operators, especially in Africa. These effects were partly offset by the good performance of Soletanche Freyssinet and VINCI Construction Grands Projets, as well as the reduction in losses at VINCI plc.

Recurring operating income amounted to €1,586 million, up 6.3%¹⁰.

Operating income, including non-recurring items, was €1.6 billion, compared with €2.2 billion in the first half of 2014 when it included, in particular, the gross disposal gain resulting from opening up VINCI Park’s capital to new investors.

Net income attributable to owners of the parent amounted to €819 million, down €529 million from the first-half 2014 figure of €1,348 million. Excluding non-recurring items, it was €827 million, up 6.3% (€778 million in the first half of 2014). Diluted earnings per share¹² was €1.48, up 7.5% (€1.38 in the first half of 2014)¹³.

Net financial debt at 30 June 2015 amounted to €13.9 billion, down €1 billion from the year-before figure. The €0.6 billion increase relative to 31 December 2014 was due mainly to seasonal movements in the operational cash position, which is generally negative during the first half. This negative change was, however, less pronounced than in the first half of 2014.

The Group had liquidity of almost €9.2 billion at 30 June 2015, comprising €3.2 billion of managed net cash and €6 billion of unused credit facilities.

The credit ratings of VINCI and its motorway subsidiaries from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, A- and Baa1 respectively, were confirmed with a stable outlook.

 

II. Operating performance

Following a good first quarter, traffic on VINCI Autoroutes motorways rose even more sharply in the second quarter of 2015 to 3.2%: light-vehicle traffic (+3.3%) was boosted by lower fuel prices and the large number of public holidays in May; heavy-vehicle traffic (+2.8%), meanwhile, continued to benefit from the upturn in Spain’s economy. Over the six-month period, traffic increased 2.7% (light and heavy vehicles: +2.7%).

Passenger traffic at VINCI Airports continued to grow at a firm pace, rising 11.0% in the second quarter of 2015 (see detail by airport in the appendixes) and 11.7% over the full six months of the period, including 1.0% growth related to the integration of Toulon Hyères airport. Both Portugal and Cambodia put in strong performances (11.8% and 14.4% first-half growth respectively), while France maintained good momentum (8.8% first-half growth, including 7.2% related to the integration of Toulon Hyères).

In Contracting, following a decrease in order intake in the first quarter, the situation improved in the second quarter, both in France and internationally, including several significant contracts such as La Santé prison in Paris and the construction of a new terminal at Santiago de Chile International Airport. Over the six-month period, it declined 2.5% relative to the first half of 2014 to €15.3 billion, the situation varying from business line to business line: declines of 15% at Eurovia and 3% at VINCI Construction, but growth of 9% at VINCI Energies. This change reflects a fall of almost 11% in France and a 9% increase elsewhere.

The order book at 30 June 2015 stood at €28.7 billion, up 2.8% over the six-month period but down 2.8% relative to 30 June 2014. Adjusted for progress on the SEA HSL project, it was stable year on year (+0.3%).

VINCI Immobilier recorded strong growth in reservations in the first half of 2015 (up 47% to more than 1,900 units) and the launch of works on new programmes, confirming the upturn of the residential market in France.

 

III. Key events

- Motorway stimulus plan
On 9 April 2015, discussions initiated by the French government with motorway concession companies resulted in the signature of a memorandum of understanding that included the motorway stimulus plan approved by the European Commission on 28 October 2014.

As a result of this agreement, amendments to the companies’ concession contracts have been drafted for publication in France’s Journal Officiel after approval by the Conseil d’État (France’s highest administrative court).

- New business
February 2015: VINCI named operator of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stadium in London for 25 years.
April 2015:
- Start of Toulon Hyères airport 25-year concession.
- Consortium comprising VINCI Airports (40%), Aéroports de Paris (45%) and Astaldi (15%) officially named as operator of Santiago de Chile International Airport from October 2015 for 20 years.

June 2015:
- VINCI named preferred bidder for the 30-year public-private partnership agreement covering the construction and operation of the Regina Bypass in Saskatchewan, Canada (VINCI Concessions: 37.5%; other partners: 62.5%).
- New Kansai International Airport announced that consortium consisting of VINCI Airports and Orix had successfully completed the first stage of the tendering process for the 45-year concession for Kansai and Osaka International airports.

July 2015: Finalisation of financing and construction contract for sections 7 and 8 of the Moscow–St Petersburg motorway (VINCI Concessions: 40%; VTB Group: 60%).

• - New developments

March 2015: Acquisition of Orteng Engenharia e Sistemas, an electrical engineering company, in Brazil.
May 2015: Acquisition of Indonesian company PT Istana Karang Laut (IKL), which operates in the oil and gas sector.
June 2015: Acquisition of HEB Construction, a New Zealand construction company
July 2015: Strategic partnership agreement signed between VINCI and Constructora Conconcreto, Colombia’s leading construction and property development company.

 

IV. 2015 outlook

Based on its first-half performance, VINCI anticipates the following for the full year 2015:
- A slight decline in consolidated revenue on an actual basis taking into account:
    - increase in Concessions revenue¹⁴, including traffic growth equivalent to that achieved in 2014: more than 2% for VINCI Autoroutes, close to 9% for VINCI Airports.
    - change in Contracting’s revenue comparable, on an actual basis, to that recorded in the first half, with a decline of around 10% in France but strong international growth due to the acquisitions made. Order intake is expected to reach a low point during the second half of 2015.
    - increase in revenue generated outside France, which should exceed 40% of total revenue

- An increase in Ebit margin, including an improvement in the contribution from Concessions and stabilisation of Contracting’s margins.

- Net income attributable to owners of the parent slightly higher than that achieved in 2014 excluding non-recurring items.

 

V. Interim dividend

An interim dividend of €0.57 in respect of 2015 will be paid in cash on 12 November 2015 (ex-dividend date: 10 November 2015).

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¹ Excluding VINCI Park deconsolidated from 4 June 2014.
² Relative to 30 June 2014.
³ Amounts restated in line with the change in accounting method arising from the application of IFRIC 21 “Levies” since 1 January 2015 and described in Note B.4 of the half-year financial report at 30 June 2015.
⁴ Excluding concession subsidiaries’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies.
⁵ After taking account of dilutive instruments.
⁶ Excluding exceptional dividend of €0.45 per share.
⁷ Cash flow from operations before tax and financing costs (Ebitda).
⁸ Net amount of €570 million.
⁹ Including 1% growth in respect of the Toulon Hyères airport concession, which was won in April 2015.
¹⁰ Excluding VINCI Park deconsolidated from 4 June 2014.
¹¹ Note: Eurovia’s Ebit margin is not representative of the business line’s full-year performance due to seasonal effects.
¹² After taking account of dilutive instruments.
¹³ Diluted earnings per share, including non-recurring items, amounted to €1.47, down 39% (€2.39 in the first half of 2014).
¹⁴ Excluding VINCI Park deconsolidated from 4 June 2014.

APPENDIXES: see pdf version of press release

 

About VINCI
VINCI is a global player in concessions, energy and construction, employing 280,000 people in more than 120 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, we are committed to operating in an environmentally, socially responsible and ethical manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. Based on that approach, VINCI’s ambition is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, partners and society in general.