REG - Vesuvius plc - AGM Trading Update

VesuviusAnnouncement

18/05/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 8546L  Vesuvius plc  18 May 2022

18 May 2022

AGM Trading Update

Strong start to the year despite softer end markets

 

Vesuvius plc ("Vesuvius", the "Group"), a global leader in molten metal flow
engineering, releases the following Trading Update in conjunction with its
Annual General Meeting being held today.

 

TRADING

Our sales performance in the first four months of 2022 was stronger than
expected.

 

Positive volume growth in our Steel division was supported by market share
gains, particularly in Flow Control, across all key regions. Foundry division
volumes were broadly in-line with the equivalent period of 2021 as we
experienced continued weakness in automotive end markets.

 

In parallel, our active management of selling prices has successfully offset
all cost inflation to date. As a consequence of this positive volume and
pricing environment, our trading profit in the first four months of 2022
increased by more than 60% on a constant currency basis relative to both the
equivalent period at the start of 2021 and the last four months of 2021. Our
Return-on-Sales also improved materially.

The integration of the Universal Refractories business is proceeding as
planned, with performance marginally ahead of our expectations set at the time
of the acquisition in December 2021.

In line with the position set out at our 2021 full year results, we have
ceased trading with all sanctioned customers in Russia. We are in the process
of winding down remaining contractual obligations with other customers in the
country. We will review our position on this latter point at mid-year based on
the evolution of the conflict and an assessment of the effectiveness of these
measures.

 

END MARKETS

Steel production in Q1 2022 decreased by 2.2% compared to Q1 2021 in the world
excluding China, which accounts for approximately 90% of our sales, as
reported by the World Steel Association. This reflects a broad-based weakening
across all regions, except for India, South East Asia and Mexico. EMEA was
especially weak in Q1 2022 with production down 5.1%. In relation to our
foundry markets, global light vehicle and heavy commercial vehicle production
have decreased by 4.9% and 30.3%, respectively, compared to Q1 2021, as
reported by IHS.

 

EXPANSION OF FLOW CONTROL CAPACITY

Our £28m investments in Flow Control, focused on expanding capacity to
support growth and continuous market share gains in some of our most
profitable product lines to serve the fast-growing EEMEA((1)), Indian and
South-East Asian markets, are on-track and expected to be operational from
late 2022.

 

WORKING CAPITAL

As indicated at the announcement of our 2021 full year results, we have
continued to see working capital growth in early 2022 due to higher business
activity and our decision during 2021 to build-up raw material inventory to
counteract the risk of supply chain disruption and ensure customer deliveries.
A reduction of working capital is contingent on an improved supply chain,
which is not expected until late in 2022 or early 2023.

 

FINANCIAL POSITION

Our balance sheet remains strong and as a result of the robust performance in
the first four months of the year we expect leverage at the half-year to
remain largely unchanged versus year-end 2021, despite the impact on net debt
from increased working capital. We expect leverage to decline in the second
half of the year.

 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

The implied impact on our expected 2022 results of average Q1 2022 exchange
rates, when compared to average 2021 FX rates, is a tailwind of 1.5% on our
expected 2022 Trading Profit.

 

OUTLOOK

The global macro-economic outlook has weakened since the start of the year due
to geo-political uncertainty, Covid-related restrictions in China and the
prospect of increasing interest rates to combat inflation. The latest World
Steel Association forecasts for steel production growth in the world excluding
China have been lowered to 0.7% from 4.7%. A similar downward revision has
been made by IHS to automotive and heavy vehicle production forecasts which
have been lowered to +4.4% and -8.4% from 9.0% and -4.8%, respectively.

However, despite this weakening economic environment, our expectations for the
Group performance for the full year remain unchanged given the strong start to
the year and our proven ability to actively manage cost pass through with
pricing.

 

(1)      Eastern Europe, Middle-East and Africa.

 

 CONFERENCE CALL

 

Patrick André (Chief Executive) and Guy Young (Chief Financial Officer) will
be hosting a conference call for analysts and investors at 09:00 (UK time)
today (18 May).

 

To participate, please register at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the
call by logging on
to: https://cossprereg.btci.com/prereg/key.process?key=PTWJR8PAN
(https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcossprereg.btci.com%2Fprereg%2Fkey.process%3Fkey%3DPTWJR8PAN&data=05%7C01%7Ceuan.drysdale%40vesuvius.com%7C0f961073e3e54701adae08da374b89fb%7C9316d1d247f84c56924f2ccb9bde9ac9%7C0%7C0%7C637883094958404887%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5RR5e5l286KwDrbJH2zTtWsWGwd17bm9TDgeXAB8hO0%3D&reserved=0)

 

A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the event
for two weeks on the following number:

 

Replay:

UK Freephone: 0800 032 9687

UK Direct: 0207 136 9233

Replay Global Access URL:
http://www.conferencingsupport.com/globalaccess/?bid=00&itfn=1&ddi=1&ref
(http://www.conferencingsupport.com/globalaccess/?bid=00&itfn=1&ddi=1&ref)

Passcode: 46400226

 

 For further information, please contact:
 Shareholder/analyst enquiries:
 Vesuvius plc                    Patrick André, Chief Executive                  +44 (0) 207 822 0000
                                 Guy Young, Chief Financial Officer              +44 (0) 207 822 0000
                                 Euan Drysdale, Group Head of Corporate Finance  +44 (0) 7584 641 315

 Media enquiries:
 MHP Communications              Andrew Jaques/ Rachel Farrington/Peter Lambie   +44 (0) 203 128 8570

 

 

About Vesuvius plc

 

Vesuvius is a global leader in molten metal flow engineering and technology
principally serving process industries operating in challenging
high‑temperature conditions.

 

We develop innovative and customised solutions, often used in extremely
demanding industrial environments, which enable our customers to make their
manufacturing processes safer, more efficient and more sustainable. These
include flow control solutions, advanced refractories and other consumable
products and increasingly, related technical services including data capture.

 

We have a worldwide presence. We serve our customers through a network of
cost-efficient manufacturing plants located close to their own facilities, and
embed our industry experts within their operations, who are all supported by
our global technology centres.

 

Our core competitive strengths are our market and technology leadership,
strong customer relationships, well established presence in developing markets
and our global reach, all of which facilitate the expansion of our addressable
markets.

 

Our ultimate goal is to create value for our customers, and to deliver
sustainable, profitable growth for our shareholders giving a superior return
on their investment whilst providing each of our employees with a safe
workplace where they are recognised, developed and properly rewarded.

 

We think beyond today to create solutions that will shape the future for
everyone.

 

Forward looking statements

 

This announcement contains certain forward looking statements which may
include reference to one or more of the following: the Group's financial
condition, results of operations, cash flows, dividends, financing plans,
business strategies, operating efficiencies or synergies, budgets, capital and
other expenditures, competitive positions, growth opportunities for existing
products, plans and objectives of management and other matters.

 

Statements in this announcement that are not historical facts are hereby
identified as "forward looking statements". Such forward looking statements,
including, without limitation, those relating to the future business
prospects, revenue, working capital, liquidity, capital needs, interest costs
and income, in each case relating to Vesuvius, wherever they occur in this
announcement, are necessarily based on assumptions reflecting the views of
Vesuvius and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking
statements. Such forward looking statements should, therefore, be considered
in light of various important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward
looking statements. These include without limitation: economic and business
cycles; the terms and conditions of Vesuvius' financing arrangements; foreign
currency rate fluctuations; competition in Vesuvius' principal markets;
acquisitions or disposals of businesses or assets; and trends in Vesuvius'
principal industries.

 

The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. When considering
forward looking statements, careful consideration should be given to the
foregoing factors and other uncertainties and events, as well as factors
described in documents the Company files with the UK regulator from time to
time including its annual reports and accounts.

 

You should not place undue reliance on such forward looking statements which
speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except as required by the
Rules of the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange and applicable
law, Vesuvius undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any
forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions,
the forward looking events discussed in this announcement might not occur.

 

Vesuvius plc, 165 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2AE

Registered in England and Wales No. 8217766

LEI: 213800ORZ521W585SY02

www.vesuvius.com (http://www.vesuvius.com)

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