DSM reports 2019 results

Heerlen, NL, 13 Feb 2020 07:00 CET

Highlights^1,2,3

• DSM reports a good year
• Results compared to underlying business in 2018:
  • Group sales: +2%, Adjusted EBITDA up 10% (including 3% from IFRS 16)
  • Nutrition: sales +5%, organic sales +2%, Adjusted EBITDA up 12% (including 3% from IFRS 16)
  • Materials: sales -6%, volume -5%, Adjusted EBITDA -1% (including 1% from IFRS 16)
• Net Profit €764m. Adjusted net profit €830m, up 8% versus underlying business in 2018
• Adjusted Net Operating Free Cash Flow €801m; up 47% versus underlying business in 2018
• Proposed dividend increase from €2.30 to €2.40 per ordinary share
• Full year outlook 2020: mid-single digit increase in Adjusted EBITDA

1) In 2018 DSM benefitted from a temporary vitamin effect (see below). Underlying (business) is defined as the performance measure sales and Adjusted EBITDA, corrected for DSM’s best estimate of this temporary vitamin effect.
2) Adjusted EBITDA is an Alternative Performance Measure (APM) that reflects continuing operations.
3) DSM adopted IFRS 16 as per its effective date of 1 January 2019 and has not restated 2018 (see page 25 of PDF below).

Feike Sijbesma, outgoing CEO, Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze, incoming Co-CEOs, commented: “We are pleased to have delivered a good financial performance, as well as achieving our key milestones in the first year of Strategy 2021. Given the softer trading conditions seen in some of our markets, we are focused on driving growth, costs and operational excellence initiatives across the company to offset these adverse macro-economic conditions. Our outlook for 2020 is based on our own strength and self-help actions, and underlines our commitment to DSM’s Strategy 2021 targets. Our businesses are well positioned to capitalize on many strong fundamental growth drivers related to the world’s most pressing challenges and we expect our large innovation programs to begin to contribute in 2020, and further expand during 2021 and beyond.”

DSM expects to deliver a mid-single digit increase in Adjusted EBITDA for 2020 compared to prior year, together with an improvement in Adjusted Net Operating Free Cash Flow in line with our Strategy 2021 targets. This outlook is driven by DSM’s own growth initiatives, innovation programs and self-help actions, and does not assume any significant improvement to the current macro-economic environment. With regard to any potential impact of the coronavirus, DSM will monitor the situation closely.

As announced on 2 December 2019, CEO Feike Sijbesma will hand over his responsibilities to his Managing Board colleagues Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze as Co-CEOs on 15 February 2020 and will support a smooth transition until 1 May 2020.

Feike Sijbesma, commented: “It has been my greatest privilege and joy to lead DSM for 13 years. I am proud of the company it is today, and I am pleased that we once again delivered a good financial performance for the year, despite an increasingly challenging market environment. 2019 marked another year of clear progress in our strategy of evolving towards a Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living company, addressing the world’s most pressing challenges as key business drivers with our science-based innovations. I am delighted to leave a DSM that is on track to meet its Strategy 2021 objectives, and in the excellent hands of Geraldine and Dimitri, who I know share my commitment to the purpose of the company, and the excitement about the long-term growth drivers of our business and our strong market execution.”

Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze, added: “We are honored to lead the company in the next stage of its journey and thank Feike for his extraordinary leadership over the years.”

Feike Sijbesma has been appointed Honorary Chairman of DSM, being a tribute to Feike’s contribution to the company over the years, maintaining a connection between him and DSM, as Feike will -when requested- continue representing DSM externally, especially in areas such as (mal)nutrition and climate.

DSM has launched a program in DSM Nutritional Products to increase its agility to drive above market profitable growth. By simplifying the operating model and further improving business steering, the program aims to better serve customers and respond to the differentiated needs of their respective end markets. At the same time, it creates a more efficient organization.

DSM announced on 14 February 2019 a repurchase of shares with an aggregate market value of €1 billion, with the intention to reduce its issued capital. In 2019 DSM has repurchased 5.4 million shares for a total consideration of €600 million under this program. DSM intends to repurchase the remaining €400 million during the first half year of 2020, next to the usual repurchase programs which DSM executes from time to time to cover commitments under the share-based compensation plans and the stock dividend.

Q4 Highlights^1,2,3

• DSM reports a solid Q4
• Group sales -3%, Adjusted EBITDA up 7% (including 4% impact from IFRS 16)
• Nutrition: sales +1%, organic sales -1%, Adjusted EBITDA up 9% (including 3% impact from IFRS 16)
• Materials: sales -9%, volume -6%, Adjusted EBITDA -1% (including 2% impact from IFRS 16)

1) In 2018 DSM benefitted from a temporary vitamin effect (see below). Underlying (business) is defined as the performance measure sales and Adjusted EBITDA, corrected for DSM’s best estimate of this temporary vitamin effect.
2) Adjusted EBITDA is an Alternative Performance Measure (APM) that reflects continuing operations.
3) DSM adopted IFRS 16 as per its effective date of 1 January 2019 and has not restated 2018 (see page 25 of PDF below).

1) Including result attributed to non-controlling interest
2) Including €25m tax on temporary vitamin effect of €290m in 2018

In this report:

• ‘Organic sales growth’ is the total impact of volume and price/mix;
• ‘Total Working Capital’ refers to the total of ‘Operating Working Capital’ and ‘non-Operating Working Capital’;
• ‘Adjusted Net Operating Free Cash Flow’ is the cash flow from operating activities, corrected for the cash flow of the APM adjustments, minus the cash flow of capital expenditures and drawing rights.

1) Over Adjusted taxable result
2) Including result attributed to non-controlling interest
3) Cash, net of customer funding, investment grants and excluding leases
4) Net debt end of December 2019 includes €217 million following the adoption of IFRS 16 on ‘Leases’

The complete version of this press release with accompanying financial statements and the Presentation to Investors are below in PDF format.

• Press Release & Financial Statements
• Presentation to Investors: Full year 2019 results
• Analysts Conference Call: Full year 2019 results
• Media Conference Call: Full year 2019 results