Strong second quarter for Covestro

Bayer loans repaid in full

27-Jul-2016 - Germany

In the period from April to June 2016, the materials manufacturer Covestro continued its successful development from the first quarter of the year. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 8.8% to EUR 542 million year-on-year, mainly driven by higher core volumes in the Polyurethanes and Polycarbonates segments. On the Group level, core volumes (in kilotons) in the second quarter of 2016 increased substantially by 7.7% year-on-year.

“We have recorded strong results in the second quarter and continued the satisfying development of the first quarter. Our plant utilization rates are improving, allowing us to realize higher core volumes and increase profitability,” said CEO Patrick Thomas. “On the back of a positive development in the first half of 2016, we are raising our outlook for the full year.”

The company now expects a mid- to high-single-digit percentage increase in core volumes (previously: mid-single-digit percentage). It predicts that the Free Operating Cash Flow will be at the previous year’s level (previously: at high level, above the average of recent years) and sees ROCE above last year (previously: premium on the cost of capital). EBITDA for the second half of 2016 is expected to be at least at the level of the same period in 2015.

Strong earnings, lower sales

Group sales declined by 6.9% year-on-year to EUR 2.99 billion in the second quarter. The primary reason for this was a decline in selling price levels in all segments, Polyurethanes in particular. This decline in selling prices was mainly caused by lower raw material prices. Group sales were also slightly negatively affected by currency effects.

Despite lower Group sales, net income increased by 51.3% year-on-year to EUR 230 million. Free Operating Cash Flow went up slightly by 3.0% to EUR 237 million in the second quarter.

According to plan, in the second quarter Covestro completely repaid the remaining loan of EUR 810 million from Bayer. Compared with the level of December 31, 2015, the company reduced financial debt significantly from EUR 2.9 billion to EUR 2.2 billion, further improving the company’s financial profile.

Positive development in all segments

In the second quarter, the Polyurethanes segment saw a substiantial core volume increase of 9.0% driven by the product groups toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The product group polyether polyols (PET) saw a slight increase in core volumes. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.2% to EUR 228 million, mainly as the result of higher volumes. Lower margins and declines in selling and raw material prices had a negative impact on the segment’s earnings.

At Polycarbonates, core volumes also advanced significantly by 8.5% year-on-year. Core volumes increased in all three regions, especially APAC, with rises in almost all customer industries. Adjusted EBITDA went up by 27.3% to EUR 191 million with higher volumes and margins contributing to this increase.

Core volumes in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment declined slightly by 1.8%, compared with the strong growth recorded in Q2 2015. As expected, the second quarter of 2016 was impacted by the contractual termination of trading activities. Adjusted EBITDA increased slightly by 3.6% to EUR 142 million due to the positive effect of lower raw material prices.

Successful first six months

Overall, Covestro recorded positive results in the first half of 2016.
Core volumes increased by 8.1% over the first half of 2015. Adjusted EBITDA went up by 14.9% to EUR 1.1 billion. Sales decreased by 6.4% to EUR 5.9 billion year-on-year in the first six months due to lower selling price levels in all operating segments. Currency effects had a slight negative effect. The net income of the Covestro Group improved significantly by 54.3% to EUR 412 million.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/159078/strong-second-quarter-for-covestro.html