Sacyr, S.A. (SCYR) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Good morning. I'm Manuel Manrique, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sacyr. Joining me today at this presentation, as usual, is Mr. Carlos Mijangos, the company's CFO. Thank you very much, dear analysts, media representatives and investors for attending Sacyr's results presentation for fiscal year 2021. With this results presentation, we are reporting 16 consecutive quarters or 4 years of profit growth at Sacyr, thanks to our strategic focus derived from our business plan. In a macroeconomic uncertain context, I believe that Sacyr's operating results are highly positive, and they prove the soundness of the business model and high profitability of the company. We have grown in terms of EBITDA, in terms of cash flows, and we have significantly reduced our recourse net debt. All of Sacyr's businesses have been evolving, and they have been reporting increased margins while cutting down on costs, increasing the awards of concession projects with low demand risk and a particular focus on our core strategic markets. In 2022, in addition, we would also commission some of our most important concessional assets such as the Pedemontana-Veneta highway in Italy, Mar 1 and Viastur in [indiscernible] and Colombia, respectively, and Américo Vespucio Oriente 1 in Chile. These projects will further reinforce our leading position in the sector. Some of financing agreements closed both in Italy and Colombia recently show that Sacyr is backed up by the international financing system. In terms of net profit or loss, however, we have been affected by 3 major developments, a change in accounting consolidation regarding Repsol's stake shifting from the equity method to the fair value method. Also, a provision that has been allocated prudently in terms of the estimated difference between the R3 and R5 radial highway debt and RPA that will be paid -- charged to the general state budgets that were approved at year-end. And finally, a change in regulations affecting our tax credits as approved by the executive at the closing of 2021. However, all these accounting impacts will have no effect whatsoever on the company's treasury position, and they are all accounted for following a prudent approach, the same that we apply to our financial statements. 2021 entailed the starting point of our current strategic cycle. We were able to reduce our recourse net debt below EUR 700 million, and we will continue along these lines until 2022. We have, therefore, shown that it's possible to reduce such a debt while keeping on growing profitably by investing in the proper assets. We keep on enhancing our focus on the group's concessional activities, which already account for 83% of total EBITDA, and which, in absolute terms, are growing by 28%. We also keep our firm commitment with shareholder remuneration by offering 4.6% in terms of dividend payout. We are also reducing our stake in Repsol in order to simplify our balance sheet, and we will continue doing so in the forthcoming days. Our stake will already be below 3%. And we also proved our commitment with a sustainable business model, with a relevant position on the most important specialized indexes. I believe that from a strategic perspective, we are thoroughly fulfilling the road map that were established by our shareholders. I would also like to underscore that with regard to 2022 operating environment, there are some highlights. For example, high profitability. EBITDA exceeds EUR 920 million growing by 28%. EBIT, which is EUR 730 million, therefore, growing by 56% year-on-year. Second, we have also reported a strong cash flow generation and reduction of the recourse net debt with operational cash flow reaching EUR 629 million, 15% more. And the recourse net debt goes from EUR 700 million down, therefore, accounting for a 20% reduction. Thirdly, we have increased our dividend up to 17% year-on-year. Fourth, our stake in Repsol has been now accounted for at fair value. And this accounting impact translates into minus EUR 93 million, but it will not affect our financial statements any further. We have also reported a awarding record with a backlog in the amount of more than EUR 46 billion, 80% of which corresponds to our concessional business. Therefore, the group's future is more than appealing in this regard, and it's also certain. With regards to our concessional assets, during our Investor Day held in October, we valued our assets at EUR 2.8 billion. And finally, we have also driven sustainability further through significant green financing arrangements in Spain and Colombia with very high ratings that place us as sector leaders on the most important indexes and ratings, which shows our responsible way of working. With regards to our key financials. You have all the relevant details and information you have been provided. We see a significant increase, EUR 923 million in terms of EBITDA growing by 28%, revenue growing by 3%, also a 56% increase. The concessional EBITDA reaches 83%, growing by 5% year-on-year. Also the EBITDA margin is perhaps one of the highest in the sector, which is close to 20%, growing by 3.8% compared to 2020 when it stood at 16%. The EBITDA margin is near 20%. As for the profit from the business, there has been an increase of 23%, reaching EUR 111 million. However, there has been a net profit of minus EUR 189 million due to some one-offs. Operating cash flow stood at EUR 629 million, growing by 15% year-on-year. And finally, the recourse net debt stood at EUR 681 million with a 19% variation or nearly 20% variation year-on-year. I would also like to share with you some further details in closing. I would like to compare our results with our pre-COVID fiscal year, that is to say 2019. At that time, EBITDA is 36% compared to 2019 because now we are standing at EUR 923 million. As for operating cash flow, we are talking about more than 23% standing at EUR 629 million. And finally, the recourse net debt now stands at EUR 681 million, that is to say it's 20% lower compared to 2019. So by way of conclusion, I would like to underscore that our operations are sound, and they continue to grow with an increase in profitability by reducing the recourse net debt. This has been part of our commitment. Therefore, we have been generating value for all of our stakeholders, therefore, meeting our 2021-2025 strategic plan. Next, Carlos Mijangos will provide you with more details and more color about all of the results from the different business units and the holding.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. If we now analyze how the group's results are translated in each section. We see the case of concessions, EBITDA was EUR 504 million, EBIT EUR 435 million with an increase in margin from 54% to 57%. As for Engineering and Infrastructure, EBITDA was EUR 342 million, EBIT EUR 292 million with an EBITDA margin going from 11% to 13%. As for Services, EBITDA was EUR 101 million, EBIT EUR 48 million with an increase in margin of 10%. If we now analyze the contribution by activity of revenue, Engineering and Infrastructure accounts for 52%, followed by Concessions 29% and finally, Services accounting for 19%. With regards to EBITDA out of EUR 923 million, 53% corresponds to Concessions, 36% corresponds to Engineering and Infrastructure and 11% corresponds to services. As for concessional assets under each division, we can see that Concessions accounts for 100% of EUR 504 million Engineering and Infrastructure shows the Pedemontana contribution due to commercial reasons, and then we have Services and treatment plans. EUR 767 million, that's the total concession assets that is to say 83% of total -- of the total assets. As for the backlog, EUR 45.93 billion, 13% corresponds Engineering and Infrastructure, 7% to Services and the rest to Concessions. This is the breakdown of our backlog. You can see that in Southern Europe, North America and in some Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Colombia and Peru, that's where our major operations are. We have some key projects that we have been awarded this year. Like, for example, we are now running the first project in Canada, the Lakeshore East-West project. Also, we have a project in the University of Idaho in Latin America. We have one highway in Brazil, another one in Chile, hospitals as well as the Jorge Chavez airport terminal construction in Peru. And in Spain, we have several building projects, for example, for the ADA or the high-speed railway and for different speed sections. In Italy, we have also signed an agreement in order to build further sections for the A3 and A21. We also have other VSM projects, which are also very important, like, for example, in Barcelona for urban waste collection or cleaning services or garden services in Madrid. If we now analyze net debt evolution, it grows from 5.212 billion to 6.013 billion. This is mainly due to activity of this company. So promotions development and concessions. Operational cash flow is minus EUR 629 million. We see a working capital of EUR 377 million and some EUR 671 million in adjustments that corresponds to the financial assets due to the IFRS 12, we now have to account for in that way. So EUR 384 million is our financial result, and our investment is in excess of EUR 1 billion in terms of concessional assets. We had to repay EUR 95 million as a result of an arbitration award. However, we also had some inflows in the amount of EUR 64 million from the Repsol stake. That's why we reached this amount of EUR 6 billion. If we now analyze the evolution of the recourse net debt, it has come down by 19% in excess of EUR 150 million, and this was mainly due to the strength of our business and the cash flows from our transactions. And we have EUR 137 million in terms of EBITDA, we have EUR 130 million distribution from concessions then we have EUR 60 million in terms of recourse net debt. We have invested EUR 180 million, EUR 150 million in our concessions equity and EUR 30 million is the machinery and equipment required for our service and construction business. We should also highlight the payment of EUR 95 million due to the arbitration award regarding the Panama Canal. But we have also been able to obtain EUR 189 million in additional financing, thanks to some great financing coming from VSM and the securitization of collection rights coming from some operations and maintenance contracts for biomass plants. Then we have EUR 64 million coming from the coal spread regarding Repsol. That's how we to EUR 681 million, below EUR 700 million, which was our commitment. If we now analyze the profit attributable to the business, we can see that we have gone from EUR 90 million to EUR 111 million, therefore, growing by 23%. In the case of Concessions, there have been some variations due to ForEx variations. But all in all, you can see the steady progress of all of our activities and business areas. It is true that we should compare these figures without taking into account the impact of the new fiscal measures of the Pedemontana project. In terms of the net profit with no impact on our treasury, we should speak about our consolidation as a result of our stake in Repsol. So we have 2 impacts here. On the one hand, we are talking about an adjustment of the book value to market value. This implies a negative impact of EUR 56 million and then the conversion reserves because now we have to account for this in the balance under the equity method. So there have been some changes in Repsol and this accounts for EUR 37 million that were already accounted for in the equity. However, this has to go through our financial statements are the same. As of January 1, 2022, the accounting record of Repsol stake will be at fair value, and therefore it will not affect the income statement of the group. The second impact has to do with radials provision. Provisions have been allocated following a prudent approach, taking into account of demand. We have observed also what the administration will offset against the general state budgets. And finally, there were some tax measures included in such budget law. Therefore, now the maximum tax rate is 15% of taxable income in the corporate tax. And this has had an effect of minus EUR 46 million. And this has to do directly with our research, development and innovation. As for Concessions, here, you can see that there has been an increase in revenue of 7%. As for Concession revenues, they have grown sustainably by 31%, whether we're talking about infrastructure or water activities with 33% and 23%, respectively. Construction revenues came down by 16% because we are now completing some of the projects we were undertaking. And as a result, EBITDA therefore is now EUR 900 million compared to EBITDA. There has also been a significant increase of plus 38%. 37% corresponds to Infrastructure and Concessions and 65% corresponds to the water activity. The average margin therefore now stands at 63% for Infrastructure and Concessions and 21% for the water activity. The backlog has also climbed significantly reaching EUR 36 billion, therefore, standing at 18% year-on-year. We have invested EUR 150 million in infrastructure and water assets. As for the main awards and highlights, we should speak about 2 key financing arrangements. As social bond, it has to do with Puerta de Hierro project in Colombia accounted for EUR 174 million and maturing in 24 years. And then the financing restructuring the Rutas del Este project in Paraguay with an issuance of obligations for EUR 219 million. We also have some significant projects such as the Route 78 in Chile and Buin Paine Hospital for a 15-year validity term. Then we also have another project in Brazil for 30 years. In Southern Italy, we have also signed some agreements for 25 years, and we have been awarded the A21 highway. This is a project for the highway between Turin and Piacenza, and this is a 12-year project. And then we have water infrastructure in Spain. Here, we have been awarded a pipeline infrastructure project in Edam Carboneras and Júcar-Vinalopó. If we now analyze performance by Concessions, we have already completed our first concession in Puerta de Hierro. This represents 198 kilometers in Rumichaca-Pasto. We have completed the project by 97%. And we have opened 45 kilometers out of 83 already. As for Pamplona Cúcuta, this project already stands at 60% of completion. We are talking about 143 kilometers in Mar 1. 96% of the project has been completed here. In Pedemontana, 60 out of 94 has already been commissioned. Américo Vespucio Oriente will be commissioned all at the same time. We are about to commission this project. And then Ferrocaril Central. More than 60% of this project has already been completed. So all of our Concessions projects are evolving as expected, and they will all be put into operation in 2022 -- most of them. As for the core EBITDA from Concession, we can see that it's mainly in Colombia, Chile and Spain. Here, we should highlight that Italy is accounted for in the construction company's financial statements. These are -- we have 52 concession assets, which are already operational. We have different assets distributed in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, the United States as well as in Mexico, in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay, respectively. If we now analyze the Engineering and Infrastructure division, we that there has been an increase of 1% in terms of revenue year-on-year. We continue with our projects in Chile, Colombia, United States, Peru, but some projects are now being completed and therefore we are going to start with new awards. There has been an increase in backlog awards of 12%. EBITDA now stands at EUR 342 million. If we analyze the Pedemontana concession activity, we can see that EBITDA was EUR 92 million with a 4.1% increase year-on-year. It's slightly below last year's results due to an increase in commodity prices. We have a backlog for 30 months of activity. As for awards, as I said before, they have been quite relevant. The key -- or the highlights here is the Lakeshore East West project in Canada. We have 4 sections of roadways in Florida and Texas, respectively, and then the Highway A3 Naples Salerno project in Italy or the SS340 Tremezzina construction project. In Brazil and in Italy, the concession projects provide us significant awards. And in Portugal, f Sines and Faro electrification lines account for nearly EUR 50 million. As for Services, revenue increased 2% year-on-year, but EBITDA grew even further by 14% due to good performance by the environment area. There have been new projects awarded in Collado Villalba, in Santurce, et cetera. And in Madrid, we have been awarding some urban cleaning services and gardening services as well, and many others that we had to carry out due to the Filomena storm. As for Multiservices, revenue also climbed because now several contracts we have received we're talking. But for example, some office spaces or airport facilities, all this has to do with Multiservices. As a result, the EBITDA margin went from 8.9% to 9.9% with a 17% increase in terms of the backlog. With regards to main awards in Catalonia, we are talking about the road cleaning and urban waste collection project in the amount of EUR 378 million or the road cleaning and urban waste collection service in Reus, Tarragona for EUR 53 million. In Madrid, we are talking about projects such as the cleaning of public spaces, the conservation and maintenance and clean of green areas as well as services of road cleaning and waste collection in Torrejón de Ardoz, et cetera. In Chile, there are projects awarded in the amount of EUR 50 million for several infrastructure conservation contracts. And in other parts of Spain, we are providing waste collection services, for example, in Andalusia, among others. So that's all concerning our operational results, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, Carlos. Now we are ready to answer any questions that the analysts may have.

[Operator Instructions] The first question is by Fernando Lafuente from Alantra.

I have 2 quick questions for you. You have made a significant effort in terms of recourse net debt by bringing it down to EUR 700 million according to your guidance. But I believe that you will go further. So what's your viewpoint in this respect in 2022? Do you have any specific drivers in mind in order to keep on cutting your recourse net debt down because equity in concession could be kept on halt this year, but you will be obtaining increased dividends. So what's your forecast with regards to net debt? What about the Construction division margins? I believe that in Q3, they were quite low. They are still low compared to the level at the beginning of the fiscal year. So have you observed any impact due to cost cutting or disruptions in the supply chain? And what should we expect in 2022? Do you think that these impacts will remain or whether there will be some kind of recovery already? So what's your forecast with regards to the Construction division going forward?

With regards the recourse net debt, in fact, we have met our goal bringing it down to below EUR 700 million. As for 2022, what should we expect? Okay. Let me say something that is in line with what we already reported in the past. Right now, we have EUR 681 million. Carlos told us in October that we need about EUR 100 million just in case or to be on the safe side. Okay, we are going to allocate [ EUR 81 million ] just in case. So we're talking about EUR 600 million all in all. We still have 4 years to go to fulfill our strategic plan. So we're talking about EUR 150 million. If the -- I also remember that I mentioned that in '22 was going to be higher. We are going to reduce our debt by an additional EUR 200 million. As for the Construction division's margin, in fact, the margin reported was lower due to an increase in commodity prices. We are awaiting approval by the Ministry of Economy. Right now, they are discussing a number of decrees. They are holding a number of discussions with the Ministry of Development, and we expect that in the forthcoming weeks, a solution will be reached in order to offset this impact. I should also say that all of the projects that have been put to tender are now being reviewed in terms of pricing. As for private customers, most of them have already recognized this impact. Therefore, we believe that fiscal 2022 will be a good year. I thought so up until yesterday. We don't know what's going to happen going forward. But if we do not consider the impact that the war that broke out yesterday, the one started by Russia on Ukraine, we could say that the impact was under control due to the review of -- this one-off impact review as well as due to the pricing review of all of our contracts and also because of the review of all of our private agreements. With regard to drivers and as for 2022 debt in order to come down to EUR 200 million at least, we still have EUR 14 million from the VSM in 2021. All this will be translated into real figures in 2022. On the other hand, we have the distribution of our Concession business some cash -- recourse cash flow generation, which has been growing year-on-year. And finally, asset rotation, which when we are talking about nonstrategic mature assets, we normally do this year after year. So right now, for this to bear fruit in 2022, some of them have already been set into motion. We will make further announcements in this regard once they are duly consolidated.

The next question is by João Safara Silva from Santander.

I have 2 questions. The first question is the following. Could you please provide us with an update -- sorry if you have already discussed this because I have just joined this conference call. When do you expect the projects in Colombia to be completed? And in Italy, especially the Pedemontana project, I read some news a few days ago, stating that the project had been put half or at least its completion until 2023. So what about the deadline for that project? The second question is the following. Could you provide us with some timing with regard to the arbitration proceedings regarding the Panama Canal? Do you have any time line in mind in this regard for additional decision-making on the matter?

Yes. Carlos already mentioned that Pedemontana will be completed in 2022 and the Colombia project as well. The presentation documentation provides further details on our current stage of completion for each project. As for the news recently published, in fact, pursuant to the reciprocal protection agreement between Spain and Panama, the arbitration court has decided that the ACP procedures can be attributed to the Republic of Panama as we argued. So they told us that we are right. They say that the authority of Panama Canal, all of their decisions can be attributed on into the Republic of Panama. That means, therefore, that we can move forward with the arbitration procedure against the state of Panama. We cannot provide any time line at this point. I'm sure that it will be similar to what [indiscernible] did with [indiscernible]. So it might take 2, 3 years, it's difficult to tell. However, we can push our claims further pursuant to this investment protection agreement in place between Spain and Panama. This is not within the purview of other awards we discussed in the past.

[Operator Instructions]

Okay. Now we're going to answer the questions received via webcast. Daniel Gandoy from JB Capital asks the following. Could you please provide us with some guidance in terms of EBITDA for fiscal '22 for the entire group, and some update as for the dividends you expect from Concessions in fiscal 2022?

Okay. It's -- guesswork is never easy. But since we have 83% of Concessions, and it's quite easy to say what we're going to do. We're going to surpass the magical amount of EUR 1 billion in terms of EBITDA. With regard to dividend from Concessions, that will stand between EUR 170 million to EUR 180 million, which will be enough in order to cover equity for our projects, which will be tantamount to that amount.

The next question is by Filipe Leite from CaixaBank. He has 4 or 5 questions. The first question has already been answered about the contribution of dividends from Concessions. And he also asked about the recourse net debt reduction, whether it could be EUR 600 million. I believe the Chairman has already provided a clear answer. The third question is whether you are planning to sell any assets to further reduce the net debt this year? I believe that he has already mentioned that when talking about drivers. He also speaks about the margin of Concessions in terms of EBITDA. There has been an increase and the Concession business has been growing significantly. So his question is which are the reasons behind such a fantastic evolution? The fourth question is, what about the RPA payment for radials. When do you expect that to happen? And finally, is the Pedemontana construction project is completed this year? Will that be consolidated into the Concessions business this year, or will it be done next year?

Okay. As for increased margin coming from Concessions projects are making steady progress. So when they are in a wrap-up stage, they have lower margins, but then as they evolve over time, such margins grow. There has also been a significant increase in terms of traffic across the assets we manage even though there is a mitigated demand risk related to them, we collect from traffic in the case of Chile, specifically, increased traffic is quite significant surpassing that of 2019. With regard to radials, they are included in the general state budgets. Therefore, now we just have to wait for their payment, but that's beyond our control, whether they are supposed to be paid -- charged to 2021, 2022. So payment will take place any time. As for the Pedemontana project, this is, well, an internal matter, whether we account for this transaction under the consolidation method or not, this is all the same within our key financials for the whole group.

There are no further questions. And now let me give the floor back to the Chairman.

Well, I wish you all the best. Keep healthy and safe, and we will look forward to meeting you again for the next presentation of results for 2022. Thank you very much. [Statements in English on this transcript were spoken by an interpreter present on the live call.]