Arkema’s net profit to jump on higher prices, volumes | EBITDA beats estimates

Supported by accelerating demand for innovative, high-performance materials, in an environment marked by strong inflation of raw materials and supply chain disruptions that are weighing on organic growth, Group EBITDA rose by a significant 54.4% year-on-year, and is well above the pre-Covid level of 2019. This performance reflects in particular the evolution in the Group’s profile towards Specialty Materials and its unique positioning to provide technological solutions that address the major challenges linked to sustainable development.

Group sales of €2.4 billion, up, at constant scope and currency, nearly 30% versus 2020 and approximately 17% versus 2019:
- Accelerating demand for cutting-edge and sustainable solutions, notably in batteries, material lightweighting and design, high-performance bonding and more environmentally friendly products
- Solid growth in volumes (+5.3% versus Q3’20) in an operating context marked by the shortage of an increasing number of raw materials and logistics constraints in Asia and the United States
- In a context of strong raw materials and energy inflation, significant increase in selling prices (+23.8% versus Q3’20), reflecting the Group’s initiatives to adapt to the situation, as well as an improved product mix
EBITDA of €474 million, up by a strong 54.4% compared to Q3’20, and EBITDA margin of close to 20%, a record level for a third quarter:
- Specialty Materials’ EBITDA up 57.1% to €421 million, with growth across all segments, and well above the pre-Covid level (+34.9% versus Q3’19)
- Intermediates’ EBITDA of €74 million, benefiting from favorable market conditions that more than offset the negative scope effect related to the PMMA divestment
Adjusted net income multiplied by 2.4 at €258 million, representing €3.44 per share
Net debt of €1.255 billion (including €700 million in hybrid bonds), representing 0.8x last-twelve-months EBITDA, integrating a recurring cash flow ⁽¹⁾ of €236 million
New step in the strategy to refocus on Specialty Materials with the acquisition of Ashland’s performance adhesives business on 31 August
Full-year targets significantly raised again: for 2021, Arkema is now targeting growth of at least 40% in Specialty Materials’ EBITDA relative to 2020 at constant scope and currency ⁽²⁾, resulting in a new forecast for Group EBITDA at around €1.6 billion

^{(1) Recurring cash flow corresponds to free cash flow before exceptional items. It excludes non-recurring items and exceptional capital expenditure}

^{(2) With the assumption of a €/$ exchange rate of 1.2 for 2021, the impact on 2020 EBITDA is estimated at a negative €30 million for Specialty Materials and a negative €10 million for Intermediates}

Outlook for 2021

Activity in the fourth quarter of 2021 is expected to be in line with the previous few months. Operational performance will continue to be impacted by the unavailability and inflation of certain raw materials, logistical difficulties and rising energy and transportation costs. These factors will continue to guide the Group’s selling price policy. The automotive sector will also remain impacted by the shortage of electronic components, and energy restrictions in China could temporarily reduce demand in the region.

While remaining attentive to the evolution of the macro-economic context, Arkema will continue to greatly benefit from the repositioning of its portfolio towards Specialty Materials and from the very positive momentum driven by major sustainable trends, particularly in the fields of materials lightweighting, clean mobility, natural resource management, and living comfort and home efficiency.

Taking all of these elements into account, the Group is once again significantly raising its annual guidance. Arkema is now aiming for growth of at least 40% in Specialty Materials’ EBITDA in 2021 relative to 2020 at constant scope and currency ⁽³⁾, versus the 30% announced in the first-half 2021 financial results. Group EBITDA should therefore reach around €1.6 billion for the full year. In addition, the Group confirms its full year EBITDA margin target of 14% for the Adhesive Solutions segment, an increase of one percentage point compared to 2020, thus demonstrating the segment’s resilience in an exceptional context of strong raw materials inflation and shortages.

Finally, the Group will continue to implement its strategy in line with its ambition to become a pure sustainable and high-performance Specialty Materials player by 2024.

Source: Arkema

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