PARIS, Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellium SE (NYSE: CSTM) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022.

Fourth quarter 2022 highlights:

• Shipments of 368 thousand metric tons, down 5% compared to Q4 2021
• Revenue of €1.8 billion, up 8% compared to Q4 2021
• Value-Added Revenue (VAR) of €696 million, up 18% compared to Q4 2021
• Net income of €30 million compared to net income of €7 million in Q4 2021
• Adjusted EBITDA of €148 million, up 1% compared to Q4 2021
• Cash from Operations of €128 million and Free Cash Flow of €22 million

Full year 2022 highlights:

• Shipments of 1.6 million metric tons, up 1% compared to 2021
• Revenue of €8.1 billion, up 32% compared to 2021
• VAR of €2.7 billion, up 21% compared to 2021
• Net income of €308 million compared to net income of €262 million in 2021
• Adjusted EBITDA of €673 million, up 16% compared to 2021
• Cash from Operations of €451 million and Free Cash Flow of €182 million
• Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 11.0%, up 120 bps compared to 2021
• Net debt / LTM Adjusted EBITDA of 2.8x at December 31, 2022

Jean-Marc Germain, Constellium’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Constellium delivered strong results in 2022, and I want to thank each of our 12,500 employees for their commitment and relentless focus on safety and serving our customers. 2022 was a year full of challenges including significant inflationary pressures and continuing supply chain disruptions. Despite these challenges, we achieved record Adjusted EBITDA of €673 million, including record results in both A&T and AS&I, generated record Free Cash Flow of €182 million and reduced our leverage to 2.8x.”

Mr. Germain continued, “Looking ahead to 2023, we expect aerospace demand to remain strong as the path of recovery continues. We expect automotive demand to improve, but to remain below pre-COVID levels. In packaging, we are experiencing weakness as we begin the year, but expect demand to return to trend growth rates as excess inventory is depleted. While we continue to see signs of weakness across certain industrial markets, we are encouraged by the resilience of a number of these markets. Overall, we like our end market positioning. We are expecting inflationary pressures to continue at an elevated level throughout 2023, though we are confident in our ability to offset a substantial portion of the impact with improved pricing and our relentless focus on cost control.”

Mr. Germain concluded, "Based on our current outlook, we expect Adjusted EBITDA of €640 million to €670 million and Free Cash Flow in excess of €125 million in 2023. We also remain confident in our ability to deliver on our long-term target of Adjusted EBITDA over €800 million in 2025. We are focused on executing our strategy, driving operational performance, generating Free Cash Flow, achieving our ESG objectives and increasing shareholder value.”

Group Summary

The difference between the sum of reported segment revenue and total group revenue includes revenue from certain non-core activities and inter-segment eliminations. The difference between the sum of reported segment Adjusted EBITDA and the Group Adjusted EBITDA is related to Holdings and Corporate.

For the fourth quarter of 2022, shipments of 368 thousand metric tons decreased 5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 mostly due to lower shipments in the Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products segment. Revenue of €1.8 billion increased 8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 primarily due to improved price and mix, partially offset by lower metal prices and lower shipments. VAR of €696 million increased 18% compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year primarily due to improved price and mix and favorable foreign exchange translation, partially offset by lower shipments and unfavorable metal costs due to inflation. Net income of €30 million increased €23 million compared to net income of €7 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA of €148 million increased 1% compared to the fourth quarter of last year due to stronger results in our Aerospace & Transportation segment offset by weaker results in our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products segment and higher costs in Holdings & Corporate primarily due to timing.

For the full year of 2022, shipments of 1.6 million metric tons increased 1% compared to the full year of 2021 on higher shipments in the Aerospace & Transportation and Automotive Structures & Industry segments, partially offset by lower shipments in the Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products segment. Revenue of €8.1 billion increased 32% compared to the full year of 2021 primarily due to higher metal prices and improved price and mix. VAR of €2.7 billion increased 21% compared to the full year of 2021 primarily due to improved price and mix and favorable foreign exchange translation, partially offset by unfavorable metal costs due to inflation. Net income of €308 million increased €46 million compared to net income of €262 million in the full year of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA of €673 million increased 16% compared to the full year of 2021 on stronger results in our Aerospace & Transportation and Automotive Structures & Industry segments, partially offset by weaker results in our Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products segment.

Results by Segment

Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products (P&ARP)

For the fourth quarter of 2022, Adjusted EBITDA decreased 20% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 as a result of lower shipments and higher operating costs mainly due to inflation and operating challenges at our Muscle Shoals facility which resulted in higher maintenance costs, partially offset by improved price and mix and favorable foreign exchange translation. Shipments of 254 thousand metric tons decreased 7% compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year due to lower shipments of packaging and specialty rolled products, partially offset by higher shipments of automotive rolled products. Revenue of €1.0 billion decreased 3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 primarily due to lower shipments and lower metal prices, partially offset by improved price and mix.

For the full year of 2022, Adjusted EBITDA of €326 million decreased 5% compared to the full year of 2021 as a result of lower shipments and higher operating costs mainly due to inflation and operating challenges at our Muscle Shoals facility which resulted in higher maintenance costs, partially offset by improved price and mix, favorable metal costs and favorable foreign exchange translation. Shipments of 1.1 million metric tons decreased 1% compared to the full year of 2021 due to lower shipments of packaging and specialty rolled products, largely offset by higher shipments of automotive rolled products. Revenue of €4.7 billion increased 26% compared to the full year of 2021 primarily due to higher metal prices and improved price and mix.

Aerospace & Transportation (A&T)

For the fourth quarter of 2022, Adjusted EBITDA increased 87% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 primarily due to improved price and mix, partially offset by higher operating costs mainly due to inflation. The fourth quarter of 2022 included an €8 million customer payment related to a contractual volume commitment. Shipments of 53 thousand metric tons were stable compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 on higher shipments of aerospace rolled products offset by lower shipments of TID rolled products. Revenue of €422 million increased 32% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 on improved price and mix.

For the full year of 2022, Adjusted EBITDA of €217 million increased 96% compared to the full year of 2021 primarily due to higher shipments, improved price and mix and favorable foreign exchange translation, partially offset by higher operating costs due to inflation and costs associated with the production ramp-up in aerospace. The full year of 2022 included €18 million in customer payments related to contractual volume commitments. Shipments of 223 thousand metric tons increased 8% compared to the full year of 2021 on higher shipments of aerospace rolled products, partially offset by lower shipments of TID rolled products. Revenue of €1.7 billion increased 49% compared to the full year of 2021 primarily due to improved price and mix, higher metal prices and higher shipments.

Automotive Structures & Industry (AS&I)

For the fourth quarter of 2022, Adjusted EBITDA was stable compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 due to higher shipments and improved price and mix offset by higher operating costs mainly due to inflation. Shipments of 61 thousand metric tons increased 1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 due to higher shipments of automotive extruded products, partially offset by lower other extruded product shipments. Revenue of €428 million increased 19% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 primarily due to improved price and mix, partially offset by lower metal prices.

For the full year of 2022, Adjusted EBITDA of €149 million increased 5% compared to the full year of 2021, primarily due to higher shipments and improved price and mix, partially offset by higher operating costs mainly due to inflation. Shipments of 268 thousand metric tons increased 2% compared to the full year of 2021 on higher shipments of automotive and other extruded products. Revenue of €1.9 billion increased 35% compared to the full year of 2021 primarily due to improved price and mix and higher metal prices.

Net Income

For the fourth quarter of 2022, net income of €30 million compares to net income of €7 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year. The increase in net income is primarily related to gains on OPEB and pension plan amendments in 2022 compared to a loss on OPEB plan amendments in 2021, partially offset by lower gross profit and an unfavorable change in gains and losses on derivatives mostly related to our metal hedging positions.

For the full year of 2022, net income of €308 million compares to net income of €262 million in the prior year. The increase in net income is primarily related to the recognition of previously unrecognized deferred tax assets, gains on OPEB and pension plan amendments in 2022 compared to a loss on OPEB plan amendments in 2021, and lower finance costs, partially offset by an unfavorable change in gains and losses on derivatives mostly related to our metal hedging positions and higher selling and administrative expenses.

Cash Flow

Free Cash Flow was €182 million in the full year of 2022 compared to €135 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to stronger Adjusted EBITDA and lower cash interest, partially offset by increased capital expenditures and higher cash taxes.

Cash flows from operating activities were €451 million for the full year of 2022 compared to cash flows from operating activities of €357 million in the prior year. Constellium increased derecognized factored receivables by €23 million for the full year of 2022 compared to a decrease of €53 million in the prior year.

Cash flows used in investing activities were €270 million for the full year of 2022 compared to cash flows used in investing activities of €221 million in the prior year.

Cash flows used in financing activities were €163 million for the full year of 2022 compared to cash flows used in financing activities of €435 million in the prior year. In 2022, Constellium drew on the Pan-U.S. ABL due 2026 and used the proceeds and cash on the balance sheet to repay the €180 million PGE French Facility due 2022 and the CHF 15 million Swiss Facility due 2025. In 2021, Constellium issued $500 million of 3.75% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 and €300 million of 3.125% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 and used the proceeds and cash on the balance sheet to redeem $650 million of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2025, $400 million of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2024 and $200 million of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2026.

Liquidity and Net Debt

Liquidity at December 31, 2022 was €709 million, comprised of €166 million of cash and cash equivalents and €543 million available under our committed lending facilities and factoring arrangements.

Net debt was €1,891 million at December 31, 2022 compared to €1,981 million at December 31, 2021.

Outlook

Based on our current outlook, we expect Adjusted EBITDA in the range of €640 million to €670 million in 2023.

We are not able to provide a reconciliation of this Adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income, the comparable GAAP measure, because certain items that are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA cannot be reasonably predicted or are not in our control. In particular, we are unable to forecast the timing or magnitude of realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments, metal lag, impairment or restructuring charges, or taxes without unreasonable efforts, and these items could significantly impact, either individually or in the aggregate, net income in the future.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” with respect to our business, results of operations and financial condition, and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events and conditions. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as, but not limited to, “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “approximately,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” likely,” “will,” “would,” “could” and similar expressions (or the negative of these terminologies or expressions). All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in our industry and markets, while others are more specific to our business and operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: market competition; economic downturn; disruption to business operations, including the length and magnitude of disruption resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic; the Russian war on Ukraine; the inability to meet customer demand and quality requirements; the loss of key customers, suppliers or other business relationships; supply disruptions; excessive inflation; the capacity and effectiveness of our hedging policy activities; the loss of key employees; levels of indebtedness which could limit our operating flexibility and opportunities; and other risk factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and as described from time to time in subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About Constellium

Constellium (NYSE: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including packaging, automotive and aerospace. Constellium generated €8.1 billion of revenue in 2022.

Constellium’s earnings materials for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022, are also available on the company’s website (www.constellium.com).

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT (UNAUDITED)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME / (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

SEGMENT ADJUSTED EBITDA

SHIPMENTS AND REVENUE BY PRODUCT LINE

NON-GAAP MEASURES

Reconciliation of Revenue to VAR (a non-GAAP measure)

Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure)

Reconciliation of net cash flows from operating activities to Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP measure)

Reconciliation of borrowings to Net debt (a non-GAAP measure)

Reconciliation of Net income to NOPAT and ROIC (non-GAAP measures)

(1) Tax impact on net operating profit computed using the Group's average statutory tax rate
(2) Trade receivables derecognized under our factoring agreements
Non-GAAP measures

In addition to the results reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), this press release includes information regarding certain financial measures which are not prepared in accordance with IFRS (“non-GAAP measures”). The non-GAAP measures used in this press release are: VAR, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA per metric ton, Free Cash Flow, NOPAT, Invested Capital, ROIC and Net debt. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures are presented in the schedules to this press release. We believe these non-GAAP measures are important supplemental measures of our operating and financial performance. By providing these measures, together with the reconciliations, we believe we are enhancing investors’ understanding of our business, our results of operations and our financial position, as well as assisting investors in evaluating the extent to which we are executing our strategic initiatives. However, these non-GAAP financial measures supplement our IFRS disclosures and should not be considered an alternative to the IFRS measures and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Value-Added Revenue ("VAR") is defined as revenue, excluding revenue from incidental activities, minus cost of metal which includes, cost of aluminium adjusted for metal lag, cost of other alloying metals, freight out costs, and realized gains and losses from hedging. Management believes that VAR is a useful measure of our activity as it eliminates the impact of metal costs from our revenue and reflects the value-added elements of our activity. VAR eliminates the impact of metal price fluctuations which are not under our control and which we generally pass-through to our customers and facilitates comparisons from period to period. VAR is not a presentation made in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to revenue determined in accordance with IFRS. 

In considering the financial performance of the business, management and our chief operational decision maker, as defined by IFRS, analyze the primary financial performance measure of Adjusted EBITDA in all of our business segments. The most directly comparable IFRS measure to Adjusted EBITDA is our net income or loss for the period. We believe Adjusted EBITDA, as defined below, is useful to investors and is used by our management for measuring profitability because it excludes the impact of certain non-cash charges, such as depreciation, amortization, impairment and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives as well as items that do not impact the day-to-day operations and that management in many cases does not directly control or influence. Therefore, such adjustments eliminate items which have less bearing on our core operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of Constellium and in comparison to other companies, many of which present an Adjusted EBITDA-related performance measure when reporting their results.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income / (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, results from joint ventures, net finance costs, other expenses and depreciation and amortization as adjusted to exclude restructuring costs, impairment charges, unrealized gains or losses on derivatives and on foreign exchange differences on transactions which do not qualify for hedge accounting, metal price lag, share based compensation expense, effects of certain purchase accounting adjustments, start-up and development costs or acquisition, integration and separation costs, certain incremental costs and other exceptional, unusual or generally non-recurring items.

Adjusted EBITDA is the measure of performance used by management in evaluating our operating performance, in preparing internal forecasts and budgets necessary for managing our business and, specifically in relation to the exclusion of the effect of favorable or unfavorable metal price lag, this measure allows management and the investor to assess operating results and trends without the impact of our accounting for inventories. We use the weighted average cost method in accordance with IFRS which leads to the purchase price paid for metal impacting our cost of goods sold and therefore profitability in the period subsequent to when the related sales price impacts our revenues. Management believes this measure also provides additional information used by our lending facilities providers with respect to the ongoing performance of our underlying business activities. Historically, we have used Adjusted EBITDA in calculating our compliance with financial covenants under certain of our loan facilities.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with IFRS, is not a measure of financial condition, liquidity or profitability and should not be considered as an alternative to profit or loss for the period, revenues or operating cash flows determined in accordance with IFRS.

Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditure, net of grants received. Management believes that Free Cash Flow is a useful measure of the net cash flow generated or used by the business as it takes into account both the cash generated or consumed by operating activities, including working capital, and the capital expenditure requirements of the business. However, Free Cash Flow is not a presentation made in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to operating cash flows determined in accordance with IFRS. Free Cash Flow has certain inherent limitations, including the fact that it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary spending, notably because it does not reflect principal repayments required in connection with our debt or capital lease obligations.

Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) is defined as Net Operating Profit after Tax (“NOPAT”), a non-GAAP measure, divided by Invested Capital, a non-GAAP measure. The calculation of ROIC together with a reconciliation of NOPAT to Net Income, the most comparable IFRS measure, are presented in the schedules to this press release. Management believes ROIC is useful in assessing the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time. ROIC is not calculated based on measures prepared in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to similar metrics calculated based on measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Net debt is defined as borrowings plus or minus the fair value of cross currency basis swaps net of margin calls less cash and cash equivalents and cash pledged for the issuance of guarantees. Management believes that Net debt is a useful measure of indebtedness because it takes into account the cash and cash equivalent balances held by the Company as well as the total external debt of the Company. Net debt is not a presentation made in accordance with IFRS, and should not be considered as an alternative to borrowings determined in accordance with IFRS.