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Novelis Reports Third Quarter of Fiscal 2020 Results
Advancing strategic initiatives and investments while delivering strong financial results

ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --  

(PRNewsfoto/Novelis Inc.)

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Highlights

  • Net income attributable to common shareholder of $107 million, up 37% YoY; excluding special items, net income of $132 million, up 31% YoY
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $343 million, up 7% YoY
  • Net sales of $2.7 billion, down 10% YoY
  • Shipments of 797 kilotonnes, flat YoY
  • Net leverage ratio of 2.3x

Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today reported net income attributable to its common shareholder of $107 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, compared to $78 million in the prior year period. Excluding tax-effected special items in both years, the company reported net income of $132 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, compared to $101 million in the prior year period. This 31 percent increase is primarily due to higher Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA increased seven percent to $343 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to $322 million in the prior year period, primarily driven by portfolio optimization efforts, operating cost efficiencies, and favorable foreign exchange, partially offset by less favorable recycling benefits due to lower aluminum prices. Adjusted EBITDA per ton reached $430 in the quarter, as compared to $403 in the prior year.

Net sales decreased ten percent from the prior year period to $2.7 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2020, driven by lower average LME aluminum prices and local market premiums. Flat rolled product shipments were in line with the prior year, at 797 kilotonnes.

"Novelis continues to perform very well both operationally and financially, delivering another set of strong results in the third quarter," said Steve Fisher, President and CEO, Novelis Inc. "At the same time, we have made excellent progress advancing our major organic expansion projects in the U.S., China and Brazil, allowing us to continue to grow with our customers and better compete against steel and other materials."

Each of these projects continue to progress on time and on budget. Notably, the company's greenfield automotive finishing plant in Guthrie, Kentucky, is in the commissioning process, with commercial shipments to customers expected to commence in the coming months.

Fiscal year-to-date free cash flow before capital expenditures improved 43 percent over the prior year to $483 million, driven primarily by higher Adjusted EBITDA as well as favorable working capital combined with lower aluminum prices. Capital expenditures doubled year-over-year to $422 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020, mainly to support strategic investments in incremental rolling, recycling and automotive finishing capacity. As a result of this increased capital spending, fiscal 2020 free cash flow of $61 million compares to $127 million in the prior year period.

(in $ millions, non-GAAP measures)

Three Months Ended December 31,


Nine Months Ended December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018

Free cash flow

$

43



$

23



$

61



$

127


Capital expenditures

122



96



422



210


Free cash flow before capital expenditures

$

165



$

119



$

483



$

337


"Our recent successful bond issuance in January is a reflection of the consistently strong financial performance Novelis has delivered quarter after quarter, as well as our ability to maintain disciplined net leverage levels despite a significant increase in capital expenditures to fuel future growth," said Devinder Ahuja, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Novelis Inc.

As of December 31, 2019, the company reported a strong total liquidity position of $1.9 billion, and reduced its net leverage ratio to 2.3x as compared to 2.8x in the prior year period.

Aleris Acquisition

On July 26, 2018, Novelis announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aleris Corporation. Novelis has received approval from antitrust regulators in China, the U.S., and the European Commission (EC) to close the transaction. In the U.S., Novelis' ability to acquire Aleris' automotive plant in Lewisport, Kentucky, will be resolved through an arbitration proceeding in the fourth quarter. The EC's approval is conditioned on Novelis entering into an agreement to divest Aleris' Duffel plant to a buyer approved by the EC. The EC is currently reviewing the proposed buyer of the plant, Liberty House Group, a UK-based industrial conglomerate. Novelis remains fully committed to completing the transaction and continues to work with all relevant parties to do so as quickly as possible.

Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 Earnings Conference Call

Novelis will discuss its third quarter of fiscal year 2020 results via a live webcast and conference call for investors at 7:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. To view slides and listen only, visit the web at https://cc.callinfo.com/r/1mkvqup88oyng&eom. To join by telephone, dial toll-free in North America at 800 918 9577, India toll-free at 1800 266 0834 or the international toll line at +1 212 231 2930. Presentation materials and access information may also be found at novelis.com/investors.

About Novelis

Novelis Inc. is driven by its purpose to shape a sustainable world together.  As a global leader in innovative products and services and the world's largest recycler of aluminum, we partner with customers in the automotive, beverage can and specialties industries to deliver solutions that maximize the benefits of lightweight aluminum throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, operates 23 facilities in nine countries, has approximately 11,000 employees and recorded $12.3 billion in revenue for its 2019 fiscal year. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, an industry leader in aluminum and copper, and the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India. For more information, visit novelis.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release and the presentation slides for the earnings call contain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC rules. We believe these measures are helpful to investors in measuring our financial performance and liquidity and comparing our performance to our peers. However, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial measures. To the extent we discuss any non-GAAP financial measures on the earnings call, a reconciliation of each measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure will be available in the presentation slides filed as Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the SEC concurrently with the issuance of this press release. In addition, the Form 8-K includes a more detailed description of each of these non-GAAP financial measures, together with a discussion of the usefulness and purpose of such measures.

Attached to this news release are tables showing the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Liquidity, Net Income excluding Special Items, and Segment Information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this news release which describe Novelis' intentions, expectations, beliefs or predictions may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by, or including the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," or similar expressions. Examples of forward looking statements in this news release are statements about our expectation that commercial shipments from our new Guthrie, Kentucky plant will commence in the coming months. Novelis cautions that, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty and Novelis' actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. We do not intend, and we disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ from the results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, among other things: changes in the prices and availability of aluminum (or premiums associated with such prices) or other materials and raw materials we use; the capacity and effectiveness of our hedging activities; relationships with, and financial and operating conditions of, our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders; fluctuations in the supply of, and prices for, energy in the areas in which we maintain production facilities; our ability to access financing including in connection with potential acquisitions and investments; risks relating to, and our ability to consummate, pending and future acquisitions, investments or divestitures, including the proposed acquisition of Aleris Corporation and related divestitures; changes in the relative values of various currencies and the effectiveness of our currency hedging activities; factors affecting our operations, such as litigation, environmental remediation and clean-up costs, breakdown of equipment and other events; economic, regulatory and political factors within the countries in which we operate or sell our products, including changes in duties or tariffs; competition from other aluminum rolled products producers as well as from substitute materials such as steel, glass, plastic and composite materials; changes in general economic conditions including deterioration in the global economy; changes in government regulations, particularly those affecting taxes, derivative instruments, environmental, health or safety compliance; changes in interest rates that have the effect of increasing the amounts we pay under our credit facilities and other financing agreements; and our ability to generate cash. The above list of factors is not exhaustive. Other important risk factors are included under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.

 

Novelis Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

(in millions)



Three Months Ended
December 31,


Nine Months Ended
December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018

Net sales

$

2,715



$

3,009



$

8,491



$

9,242


Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

2,239



2,568



7,001



7,816


Selling, general and administrative expenses

131



129



380



373


Depreciation and amortization

91



88



267



260


Interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs

59



67



185



201


Research and development expenses

21



18



58



50


Restructuring and impairment, net

3



1



36



2


Equity in net (income) loss of non-consolidated affiliates

1



(1)



1



(2)


Other (income) expenses, net

(3)



10



3



33


Business acquisition and other integration related costs

17



14



46



24



$

2,559



$

2,894



$

7,977



$

8,757


Income before income taxes

156



115



514



485


Income tax provision

49



37



157



154


Net income

$

107



$

78



$

357



$

331


Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest








Net income attributable to our common shareholder

$

107



$

78



$

357



$

331


 

Novelis Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(in millions, except number of shares)



December 31,
 2019


March 31,
 2019

ASSETS




Current assets




Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,031



$

950


Accounts receivable, net




— third parties (net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $9 and $7 as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively)

1,247



1,417


— related parties

170



164


Inventories

1,494



1,460


Prepaid expenses and other current assets

116



121


Fair value of derivative instruments

51



70


Assets held for sale

5



3


Total current assets

$

4,114



$

4,185


Property, plant and equipment, net

3,524



3,385


Goodwill

607



607


Intangible assets, net

311



351


Investment in and advances to non–consolidated affiliates

794



792


Deferred income tax assets

141



142


Other long–term assets

215



101


Total assets

$

9,706



$

9,563


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY




Current liabilities




Current portion of long–term debt

$

19



$

19


Short–term borrowings

51



39


Accounts payable




— third parties

1,744



1,986


— related parties

200



175


Fair value of derivative instruments

59



87


Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

541



616


Total current liabilities

$

2,614



$

2,922


Long–term debt, net of current portion

4,355



4,328


Deferred income tax liabilities

252



223


Accrued postretirement benefits

821



844


Other long–term liabilities

240



180


Total liabilities

$

8,282



$

8,497


Commitments and contingencies




Shareholder's equity




Common stock, no par value; unlimited number of shares authorized; 1,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019




Additional paid–in capital

1,404



1,404


Retained earnings

560



203


Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(509)



(506)


Total equity of our common shareholder

$

1,455



$

1,101


Noncontrolling interest

(31)



(35)


Total equity

$

1,424



$

1,066


Total liabilities and equity

$

9,706



$

9,563


 

Novelis Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(in millions)



Nine Months Ended December 31,


2019


2018

OPERATING ACTIVITIES




Net income

$

357



$

331


Adjustments to determine net cash provided by operating activities:




Depreciation and amortization

267



260


(Gain) loss on unrealized derivatives and other realized derivatives in investing activities, net

(32)



(4)


(Gain) loss on sale of assets

(1)



4


Impairment charges

13




Deferred income taxes, net

30



38


Equity in net (income) loss of non-consolidated affiliates

1



(2)


Amortization of debt issuance costs and carrying value adjustments

14



14


Other, net

2



(1)


Changes in operating assets and liabilities:




Accounts receivable

143




Inventories

(42)



(214)


Accounts payable

(176)



(17)


Other assets

(3)



(30)


Other liabilities

(109)



(55)


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$

464



$

324


INVESTING ACTIVITIES




Capital expenditures

(422)



(210)


Acquisition of assets under a capital lease



(239)


Proceeds from sales of assets, third party, net of transaction fees and hedging

3



2


Proceeds from investment in and advances to non-consolidated affiliates, net

6



1


Proceeds (outflows) from the settlement of derivative instruments, net

3



2


Other

10



10


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

$

(400)



$

(434)


FINANCING ACTIVITIES




Proceeds from issuance of long-term and short-term borrowings

79




Principal payments of long-term and short-term borrowings

(16)



(95)


Revolving credit facilities and other, net

(38)



109


Debt issuance costs

(3)



(2)


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

$

22



$

12


Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

86



(98)


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(4)



(25)


Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — beginning of period

960



932


Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — end of period

$

1,042



$

809






Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,031



$

797


Restricted cash (Included in "Other long-term assets")

11



12


Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — end of period

$

1,042



$

809


 

Reconciliation of Net income attributable to our common shareholder to Adjusted EBITDA

(unaudited)

The following table reconciles Net income attributable to our common shareholder to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure.


(in millions)

Three Months Ended
December 31,


Nine Months Ended
December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018

Net income attributable to our common shareholder

$

107



$

78



$

357



$

331


Noncontrolling interests








Income tax provision

49



37



157



154


Interest, net

57



64



177



193


Depreciation and amortization

91



88



267



260


EBITDA

$

304



$

267



$

958



$

938










Unrealized (gains) losses on change in fair value of derivative instruments, net

(6)



6



(15)



9


Realized (gains) losses on derivative instruments not included in segment income

(1)





2



(1)


Adjustment to reconcile proportional consolidation

13



14



42



45


(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets

1



2



(1)



4


Restructuring and impairment, net

3



1



36



2


Metal price lag

11



13



18



(21)


Business acquisition and other integration related costs

17



14



46



24


Other, net

1



5



3



11


Adjusted EBITDA

$

343



$

322



$

1,089



$

1,011


 

Free Cash Flow (unaudited)

The following table presents "Free cash flow".


 (in millions)

Nine Months Ended December 31,


2019


2018

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$

464



$

324


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(400)



(434)


Plus: Cash used in the acquisition of assets under a capital lease



239


Less: Proceeds from sales of assets and business, net of transaction fees, cash income taxes and hedging

(3)



(2)


Free cash flow

$

61



$

127




Cash and Cash Equivalents and Total Liquidity (unaudited)

The following table reconciles the ending balances of cash and cash equivalents to total liquidity.


(in millions)

December 31, 2019


March 31, 2019

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,031



$

950


Availability under committed credit facilities

838



897


Total liquidity

$

1,869



$

1,847


 

Reconciliation of Net income attributable to our common shareholder to Net income attributable to our common shareholder, excluding special items (unaudited)

The following table presents Net income attributable to our common shareholder excluding special items.  We adjust for items which may recur in varying magnitude which affect the comparability of the operational results of our underlying business. 


(in millions)

Three Months Ended
December 31,


Nine Months Ended
December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018

Net income attributable to our common shareholder

$

107



$

78



$

357



$

331


Special Items:








Business acquisition and other integration related costs

17



14



46



24


Metal price lag

11



13



18



(21)


Restructuring and impairment, net

3



1



36



2


Tax effect on special items

(6)



(5)



(20)



2


Net income attributable to our common shareholder, excluding special items

$

132



$

101



$

437



$

338


 

Segment Information (unaudited)

The following table presents selected segment financial information (in millions, except shipments which are in kilotonnes).


Selected Operating Results
Three Months Ended December 31, 2019


North
America


Europe


Asia


South
America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

127



$

47



$

55



$

116



$

(2)



$

343















Shipments (in kt)













Rolled products - third party


269



218



170



140





797


Rolled products - intersegment




6



3



6



(15)




Total rolled products


269



224



173



146



(15)



797




Selected Operating Results
Three Months Ended December 31, 2018


North
America


Europe


Asia


South
America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

125



$

48



$

49



$

100



$



$

322















Shipments (in kt)













Rolled products - third party


279



206



176



139





800


Rolled products - intersegment




5



6



3



(14)




Total rolled products


279



211



182



142



(14)



800




Selected Operating Results
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2019


North
America


Europe


Asia


South
America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

468



$

160



$

154



$

309



$

(2)



$

1,089















Shipments (in kt)













Rolled products - third party


844



678



529



411





2,462


Rolled products - intersegment




25



5



15



(45)




Total rolled products


844



703



534



426



(45)



2,462




Selected Operating Results
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2018


North
America


Europe


Asia


South
America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

395



$

170



$

151



$

295



$



$

1,011















Shipments (in kt)













Rolled products - third party


848



656



514



386





2,404


Rolled products - intersegment




16



11



8



(35)




Total rolled products


848



672



525



394



(35)



2,404


 

SOURCE Novelis Inc.

For further information: Media Contact: Matthew Bianco, +1 404 760 4159, matthew.bianco@novelis.adityabirla.com; Investor Contact: Megan Cochard, +1 404 760 4170, megan.cochard@novelis.adityabirla.com