Vis børsmeldingen
company continued to progress well on projects globally. Tendering activity
remains high, and the company updated its financial guidance. The Board of
Directors has proposed a dividend of NOK 0.20 per share for the fiscal year
2021.
4Q 2021 Financial Highlights
(excluding special items)
· Revenue NOK 8.7 billion
· EBITDA NOK 593 million
· EBITDA margin 6.8 percent
· Earnings per share NOK 0.23
· Net cash position NOK 2.2 billion
· Order intake NOK 9.3 billion (1.1x book-to-bill)
· Order backlog NOK 49.2 billion
2021 Full-Year Financial Highlights
(excluding special items)
· Revenue NOK 29.5 billion
· EBITDA NOK 1,871 million
· EBITDA margin 6.4 percent
· Earnings per share NOK 0.65
· Order intake NOK 40.5 billion (1.4x book-to-bill)
· Order backlog NOK 49.2 billion
· Board proposes dividend of NOK 0.20 per share for 2021
“I am happy that we delivered another solid quarter both operationally and
financially, and pleased with our performance in 2021 overall. The year was
successful for Aker Solutions on many fronts, delivering improved profitability,
strong order intake and with key commercial successes related to our transition
journey. All our key figures increased from the year before, and we delivered on
our financial targets. I am very proud of our employees for making this great
achievement possible,” said Kjetel Digre, chief executive officer of Aker
Solutions.
“In 2021, we also took several steps to accelerate our strategy and position the
company for the future. Looking forward, we see increased market activity across
areas and regions where we are relevant. Aker Solutions is well positioned to
take full advantage of opportunities ahead,” said Digre.
Key Financials
In the fourth quarter, Aker Solutions delivered revenues of NOK 8.7 billion and
an EBITDA of NOK 593 million excluding special items, equivalent to an EBITDA
-margin of 6.8 percent. The earnings per share was NOK 0.23 in the quarter, and
the company had a net cash position of NOK 2.2 billion at the end of the
quarter, excluding IFRS 16 leasing liabilities.
For 2021, the company delivered revenues of NOK 29.5 billion with an EBITDA of
NOK 1,871 million excluding special items, equivalent to an EBITDA-margin of 6.4
percent. The earnings per share was NOK 0.65 for the year. The order intake in
2021 was NOK 40.5 billion, equivalent to 1.4x book-to-bill, bringing the order
backlog at year-end to NOK 49.2 billion, an increase from NOK 38.0 billion a
year ago. Aker Solutions generated a strong free cashflow before repayment of
debt of NOK 1.7 billion in 2021 and the company’s financial position is solid.
Dividend Policy
The Board of Directors has decided on a dividend policy targeting to distribute
annual dividends of 30-50 percent of net profit over time. Given the company’s
solid financial position and positive outlook, the board has proposed a dividend
of NOK 0.20 per share for the fiscal year 2021.
Order Intake
In the fourth quarter, Aker Solutions delivered an order intake of NOK 9.3
billion, equivalent to 1.1x book-to-bill. At the end of the quarter, the backlog
stood at NOK 49.2 billion, an increase of 29 percent from NOK 38.0 billion a
year ago.
During the quarter, Aker Solutions won several important contracts across its
business segments. The company was awarded a contract by Petrobras to provide
the subsea production system for the Mero 4 project offshore Brazil. The company
also won a contract from Chevron to provide subsea umbilicals for the Jansz-Io
subsea gas compression development, offshore Australia. It also won a contract
for decommissioning and recycling at the Heimdal and Veslefrikk fields in Norway
from Heerema Marine Contractors, which was the largest decommissioning contract
awarded in the European market in 2021. The company was also awarded growth in
the scope on the Johan Castberg project, from Equinor.
Aker Solutions also announced several important front-end engineering and design
(FEED) contracts during the quarter. These included the FEEDs for the FPSO for
the Wisting field from Equinor and for the topsides at the Valhall field and the
King Lear discovery from Aker BP, in Norway. These single sourced FEED contracts
have the potential to convert to large order intake for Aker Solutions at the
end of 2022, subject to final investment decision and regulatory approvals. The
company also won a strategically important carbon capture FEED for the project
Net Zero Teesside Power, from BP in the UK. As one of two consortiums awarded
this FEED, Aker Solutions is executing the FEED through its consortium with
Doosan Babcock and Siemens Energy, and with Aker Carbon Capture as
subcontractor.
Key Developments
During the quarter, Aker Solutions announced that it has formed the Windstaller
Alliance with DeepOcean and Solstad Offshore, for the growing offshore wind
market. The alliance will deliver fabrication and marine services towards
offshore wind and other renewable segments.
After quarter-end the company announced that it will enhance its engineering
offering by establishing an engineering consultancy services, and that it has
agreed to acquire Unitech Power Systems. Unitech is a leading electrical power
systems consultant, and the acquisition is a first building block in creating a
leading engineering consultancy business and will enable Aker Solutions to
further accelerate its transformation. The all-cash transaction is expected to
be completed during the first quarter of 2022, at an undisclosed value.
Outlook
The outlook remains positive for Aker Solutions and the company expects
increased project sanctioning in 2022 in regions and segments where it has a
strong position.
A tight supply-and-demand balance in the oil and gas market is expected to
result in an attractive investment environment for the company’s customers,
supported by greater confidence in the oil-price environment. This is projected
to lead to a substantial step-up in capital spending, and Aker Solutions is well
positioned to capitalize on such a cyclical recovery.
Aker Solutions is also well positioned for longer-term structural changes in the
energy markets and is well underway with its transition journey. Recent contract
awards and the company’s continued high tender pipeline illustrate a gradual
change in Aker Solutions’ exposure as the company tilts further towards
renewables and transitional solutions with the target of reaching one third of
revenues from these business areas by 2025. At the end of the fourth quarter,
these areas already represented 32 percent of the company’s order backlog.
For 2022, the company increases its full-year guidance. Based on the secured
backlog and market activity, revenue is now seen up by more than 20 percent from
2021. The underlying EBITDA-margin is at this early stage of the year seen up
from 2021. Recent awards of several important, large single sourced FEED
contracts, combined with high front-end and tendering activity, supports the
potential for record-high order intake in 2022 for Aker Solutions.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Torbjørn Andersen, mob: +47 928 85 542, email:
torbjorn.andersen@akersolutions.com
Investor Contact:
Fredrik Berge, mob: +47 450 32 090, email: fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com
Aker Solutions delivers integrated solutions, products and services to the
global energy industry. We enable low-carbon oil and gas production and develop
renewable solutions to meet future energy needs. By combining innovative digital
solutions and predictable project execution we accelerate the transition to
sustainable energy production. Aker Solutions employs approximately 15,000
people in more than 20 countries.
Visit akersolutions.com and connect with us on
Facebook (Aker Solutions),
Instagram (https://instagram.com/akersolutions/),
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/aker-solutions),
Twitter (https://twitter.com/akersolutions) and
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/akersolutions).
This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is
subject to our disclaimer, see https://akersolutions.com
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5
-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Kilde