Novelis Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Fiscal Year 2017 Results

Operational efficiencies and strategic product shift drive record results and automotive shipments

Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Highlights

- Net income of $47 million; excluding special items, net income up 46% to $73 million

- Record fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag up 5% to $292 million

- Automotive shipments increased 26%

- Reduced net debt leverage ratio below 4.0x

Fiscal Year 2017 Highlights

- Net income of $45 million; excluding special items, net income up 78% to $233 million

- Record Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag up 13% to $1.09 billion

- Automotive shipments increased 17%; represent 18% of total FRP shipments

- Record free cash flow of $361 million, more than double prior year

- Reduced annual cash interest by $79 million through long-term debt refinancing

ATLANTA, May 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today reported record results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 with significant year-over-year increases in Adjusted EBITDA, net income, free cash flow and automotive sheet shipments.  This strong performance was driven by Novelis' focused strategy to improve operational efficiencies and increase shipments of premium products, resulting in fiscal 2017 net income attributable to its common shareholder of $47 million for the fourth quarter and $45 million for the full year. 

Excluding tax-effected special items in all periods, Novelis grew its fourth quarter fiscal 2017 net income 46 percent to $73 million, and increased full year net income by 78 percent to $233 million.  The increase in both fourth quarter and full year net income reflects the significant improvement in adjusted EBITDA, as well as lower interest expense, a result of the company's long-term debt refinancing actions during fiscal 2017. 

"By consistently executing our strategy and staying focused on business fundamentals, we have driven value for our stakeholders and are able to better serve our customers," said Steve Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer for Novelis. "This year's record performance provides us with a blueprint for sustainable results and the strategic flexibility to enhance our leadership position in the industry."

Key achievements in fiscal 2017 include:

  • Increased Adjusted EBITDA per ton, excluding metal price lag, by $45 to $354 per ton.
  • Refinanced $2.5 billion of senior notes and a $1.8 billion term loan, reducing annual cash interest by $79 million and extending debt maturity profile.
  • Improved metal mix by increasing recycled inputs from 53 percent to 55 percent for the full year.
  • Achieved record automotive sheet shipment levels as a result of the seamless ramp-up of all new finishing lines to support the new Ford F-Series Super Duty line of trucks in North America, the success of Jaguar Land Rover's new aluminum-intensive vehicles in Europe, and the Cadillac CT6 and Jaguar XFL in China.
  • Signed agreement with next-generation car company NIO to provide innovative aluminum solutions for its fleet of smart, high-performance, premium aluminum-intensive electric vehicles to be launched over the next five years.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results

Net sales increased nine percent to $2.6 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, driven by higher average aluminum prices and increased shipments of higher conversion premium products, including a 26 percent increase in automotive shipments.  Total shipments of rolled aluminum products were flat year-over-year at 789 kilotonnes.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 increased to $292 million from $270 million. There was no metal price lag in the current year period.  Excluding $7 million of negative metal price lag in the prior year, adjusted EBITDA increased five percent.  Higher automotive sheet shipments, operating efficiencies, lower metal cost, and favorable currency were partially offset by higher employment cost and lower prices on some can and specialty products.

Full Year Fiscal 2017 Results

Revenues decreased three percent to $9.6 billion in fiscal 2017.  A two percent decline in shipments to 3,067 kilotonnes was partially offset by an increased level of higher conversion premium products, including a record level of automotive shipments.  For fiscal 2017, the percentage of the company's shipment portfolio stemming from automotive sheet grew to 18 percent, up from 15 percent in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA grew 33 percent to $1.05 billion in fiscal 2017, due in part to the reduced negative impact of metal price lag during fiscal 2017 as local market premium volatility has moderated.  Metal price lag reduced to negative $31 million in fiscal 2017 as compared to negative $172 million in fiscal 2016.

Excluding the impact of metal price lag in both years, Adjusted EBITDA was $1.09 billion in fiscal 2017, up 13 percent compared to $963 million in fiscal 2016. The increase was driven by strong operational efficiencies, favorable product mix, and favorable currency, partially offset by lower shipments. 

The company more than doubled its full year free cash flow to a record $361 million in fiscal 2017 driven by stronger adjusted EBITDA, as well as lower interest and capital expenditures. Capital expenditures declined to $224 million as compared to $370 million in the prior year.  

"We exceeded our expectations for delivering strong free cash flow as a result of excellent EBITDA performance and significant interest savings generated by our debt refinancing actions," said Devinder Ahuja, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Not only have we strengthened our balance sheet and driven our net debt leverage ratio below 4x, our continued focus on driving operational excellence and positive portfolio shift will allow us to sustain our current levels of performance."

As of March 31, 2017, the company reported strong liquidity of $1.3 billion.

Fourth Quarter and Full Fiscal Year 2017 Earnings Conference Call
Novelis will discuss its fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2017 results via a live webcast and conference call for investors at 9:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. To view slides and listen only, visit the web at https://cc.callinfo.com/r/1qaji08qitzcm&eom. To join by telephone, dial toll-free in North America at 877 893 5390, India toll-free at 18002662125 or the international toll line at +1 415 226 5355. Presentation materials and access information may also be found at novelis.com/investors.

About Novelis
Novelis Inc. is the global leader in aluminum rolled products and the world's largest recycler of aluminum. The company operates in 10 countries, has approximately 11,000 employees and had $10 billion in revenue for its 2017 fiscal year. Novelis supplies premium aluminum sheet and foil products to transportation, packaging, construction, industrial and consumer electronics markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, an industry leader in aluminum and copper, and metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India. For more information, visit novelis.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/NovelisInc and Twitter at twitter.com/Novelis.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press 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 and Adjusted EBITDA excluding Metal Price Lag, Free Cash Flow, Total Liquidity, Reconciliation to Net Income attributable to our common shareholder excluding Special Items, Segment Information, and Net Debt leverage ratio.

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 the company's expectation to sustain its current levels of performance. 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 for future capital requirements; 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, labor relations and negotiations, breakdown of equipment and other events; the impact of acquisitions, divestitures and restructuring efforts in the future; 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, particularly sectors in which our customers operate; cyclical demand and pricing within the principal markets for our products as well as seasonality in certain of our customers' industries; 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; the effect of taxes and changes in tax rates; our level of indebtedness and our ability to generate cash. The above list of factors is not exhaustive. Other important risk factors included under the caption "Risk Factors" in our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 are specifically incorporated by reference into this news release.

 

 

Novelis Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

(in millions)








Three Months Ended March 31,


Year Ended March 31,


2017


2016


2017


2016







Net sales

$

2,621



$

2,402



$

9,591



$

9,872


Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

2,182



2,035



8,016



8,727


Selling, general and administrative expenses

118



103



421



407


Depreciation and amortization

93



89



360



353


Interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs

63



83



294



327


Research and development expenses

17



15



58



54


Gain on assets held for sale





(2)




Loss on extinguishment of debt

22





134



13


Restructuring and impairment, net

6



19



10



48


Equity in net loss of non-consolidated affiliates



1



8



3


Other expense (income), net

32



10



95



(68)



2,533



2,355



9,394



9,864


Income before income taxes

88



47



197



8


Income tax provision

41



18



151



46


Net income (loss)

47



29



46



(38)


Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests





1




Net income (loss) attributable to our common shareholder

$

47



$

29



$

45



$

(38)


 

 

Novelis Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(in millions, except number of shares)




March 31,

ASSETS

2017


2016

Current assets




Cash and cash equivalents

$

594



556


Accounts receivable, net




— third parties (net of uncollectible accounts of $6 as of March 31, 2017 and $3 as of March 
     31, 2016)

1,067



956


— related parties

60



59


Inventories

1,333



1,180


Prepaid expenses and other current assets

111



127


Fair value of derivative instruments

113



88


Assets held for sale

3



5


Total current assets

3,281



2,971


Property, plant and equipment, net

3,357



3,506


Goodwill

607



607


Intangible assets, net

457



523


Investment in and advances to non–consolidated affiliate

451



488


Deferred income tax assets

82



87


Other long–term assets




— third parties

$

94



$

82


— related parties

$

15



16


Total assets

8,344



$

8,280


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S DEFICIT




Current liabilities




Current portion of long–term debt

121



47


Short–term borrowings

294



579


Accounts payable




— third parties

1,722



1,506


— related parties

51



48


Fair value of derivative instruments

151



85


Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

554



569


Total current liabilities

2,893



2,834


Long–term debt, net of current portion

4,437



4,421


Deferred income tax liabilities

94



89


Accrued postretirement benefits

799



820


Other long–term liabilities

198



175


Total liabilities

8,421



8,339


Commitments and contingencies




Shareholder's deficit




Common stock, no par value; unlimited number of shares authorized; 1,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and 2016




Additional paid–in capital

1,404



1,404


Accumulated deficit

(918)



$

(963)


Accumulated other comprehensive loss

$

(545)



(500)


Total deficit of our common shareholder

(59)



(59)


Noncontrolling interests

(18)




Total deficit

(77)



(59)


Total liabilities and deficit

8,344



$

8,280


 

 

Novelis Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(in millions)



Year Ended March 31,


2017


2016

OPERATING ACTIVITIES




Net income (loss)

$

46



$

(38)


Adjustments to determine net cash provided by operating activities:




Depreciation and amortization

360



353


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

(15)



(27)


Gain on assets held for sale

(2)




Loss on sale of business

27




Loss on sale of assets

6



4


Impairment charges

2



25


Loss on extinguishment of debt

134



13


Deferred income taxes

4



(93)


Amortization of fair value adjustments, net

7



11


Equity in net loss of non-consolidated affiliates

8



3


Loss (gain) on foreign exchange remeasurement of debt

2



(2)


Amortization of debt issuance costs and carrying value adjustments

22



19


Other, net

3




Changes in assets and liabilities including assets and liabilities held for sale (net of effects from divestitures):




Accounts receivable

(154)



336


Inventories

(193)



268


Accounts payable

253



(327)


Other current assets

9



(12)


Other current liabilities

10



7


Other noncurrent assets

(30)



20


Other noncurrent liabilities

76



(19)


Net cash provided by operating activities

575



541


INVESTING ACTIVITIES




Capital expenditures

(224)



(370)


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

4



3


Outflows from the sale of business, net of transaction fees

(2)




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

2



(2)


Proceeds (outflows) from settlement of other undesignated derivative instruments, net

8



(9)


Net cash used in investing activities

(212)



(378)


FINANCING ACTIVITIES




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

4,572



174


Principal payments of long-term and short-term borrowings

(4,477)



(216)


Revolving credit facilities and other, net

(229)



(187)


Return of capital to our common shareholder




Dividends, noncontrolling interest



(1)


Debt issuance costs

(191)



(15)


Net cash used in financing activities

(325)



(245)


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

38



(82)


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash



10


Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period

556



628


Cash and cash equivalents — end of period

$

594



$

556


 

Reconciliation from Net income (loss) attributable to our common shareholder to Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA excluding Metal Price Lag (unaudited)
Novelis is providing disclosure of the reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable financial measures on a GAAP basis. To better analyze underlying operational results, the following table also shows Adjusted EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA excluding the impact of Metal Price Lag. On certain sales contracts we experience timing differences on the pass through of changing aluminum prices from our suppliers to our customers. Additional timing differences occur in the flow of metal costs through moving average inventory cost values and cost of goods sold. This timing difference is referred to as metal price lag.

 

(in millions)

Three Months Ended March 31,


Year Ended March 31,


2017


2016


2017


2016

Net income (loss) attributable to our common
shareholder

$

47



$

29



$

45



$

(38)


Noncontrolling interests





1




Income tax provision

(41)



(18)



(151)



(46)


Interest, net

(59)



(79)



(283)



(314)


Depreciation and amortization

(93)



(89)



(360)



(353)


EBITDA

240



215



840



675










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

(13)



(22)



5



(4)


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

3





5



(1)


Adjustment to eliminate proportional consolidation

(8)



(9)



(28)



(30)


Loss on sale of a business





(27)




Loss on sale of fixed assets

(2)



(2)



(6)



(4)


Gain on assets held for sale





2



(13)


Loss on extinguishment of debt

(22)





(134)




Restructuring and impairment, net

(6)



(19)



(10)



(48)


Other costs, net

(4)



(3)



(21)



(16)


Adjusted EBITDA

$

292



$

270



$

1,054



$

791










Metal price lag



(7)



(31)



(172)


Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag

$

292



$

277



$

1,085



$

963


 

Free Cash Flow and Cash and Cash Equivalents (unaudited)
The following table shows the "Free cash flow" for the year ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and the ending balances of cash and cash equivalents (in millions).

 


Year Ended March 31,


2017


2016

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

575



$

541


Net cash used in investing activities

(212)



(378)


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

(2)



(3)


Free cash flow

$

361



$

160


Ending cash and cash equivalents

$

594



$

556


 

Total Liquidity (unaudited)
The following table shows available liquidity as of March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 (in millions).

 


Year Ended March 31,


2017


2016

Cash and cash equivalents

$

594



$

556


Availability under committed credit facilities

701



640


Total liquidity

$

1,295



$

1,196


 

Reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to our common shareholder, to Net Income attributable to our common shareholder, excluding Special Items (unaudited)
The following table shows Net Income attributable to our common shareholder excluding special items (in millions).  We adjust for items which may recur in varying magnitude which affect the comparability of the operational results of our underlying business.

 


Three Months Ended March 31,


Year Ended March 31,


2017


2016


2017


2016

Net income (loss) attributable to our common shareholder

$

47



$

29



$

45



$

(38)


Special Items:








Gain on assets held for sale





(2)



(13)


Loss on sale of a business





27




Loss on extinguishment of debt

22





134




Metal price lag



7



31



172


Restructuring and impairment, net

6



19



10



48


Tax effect on special items

(2)



(5)



(12)



(64)


Net income attributable to our common shareholder, excluding 
     special items

$

73



$

50



$

233



$

105


 

Segment Information (unaudited)
The following table shows selected segment financial information (in millions, except shipments which are in kilotonnes).

 

Selected Operating Results Three Months
Ended March 31, 2017


North

America


Europe


Asia


South

America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

116



$

47



$

29



$

103



$

(3)



$

292


Metal price lag


11



(11)



(2)



2






Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag


$

105



$

58



$

31



$

101



$

(3)



$

292


Shipments













Rolled products - third party


269



232



170



118





789


Rolled products - intersegment




3



4



7



(14)




Total rolled products


269



235



174



125



(14)



789


 

 

Selected Operating Results Three Months
Ended March 31, 2016


North

America


Europe


Asia


South

America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

95



$

47



$

35



$

92



$

1



$

270


Metal price lag


(1)



(9)



3







(7)


Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag


$

96



$

56



$

32



$

92



$

1



$

277


Shipments













Rolled products - third party


249



232



180



127





788


Rolled products - intersegment




12



7



7



(26)




Total rolled products


249



244



187



134



(26)



788


 

 

Selected Operating Results Year Ended
March 31, 2017


North

America


Europe


Asia


South

America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

384



$

180



$

153



$

340



$

(3)



$

1,054


Metal price lag


4



(28)



(10)



3





(31)


Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag


$

380



$

208



$

163



$

337



$

(3)



$

1,085


Shipments













Rolled products - third party


1,009



927



682



449





3,067


Rolled products - intersegment


1



16



8



25



(50)




Total rolled products


1,010



943



690



474



(50)



3,067


 

 

Selected Operating Results Year Ended
March 31, 2016


North

America


Europe


Asia


South

America


Eliminations
and Other


Total

Adjusted EBITDA


$

258



$

116



$

135



$

282



$



$

791


Metal price lag


(80)



(87)



(7)



2





(172)


Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag


$

338



$

203



$

142



$

280



$



$

963


Shipments













Rolled products - third party


1,031



918



718



456





3,123


Rolled products - intersegment


1



60



42



34



(137)




Total rolled products


1,032



978



760



490



(137)



3,123


 

Net Debt leverage ratio (unaudited)
The following table shows the "Net debt leverage ratio" for the year ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.  This ratio divides Net Debt by Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag.

 


Year Ended March 31,


2017


2016

Long–term debt, net of current portion

$

4,437



$

4,421


Current portion of long–term debt

121



47


Short–term borrowings

294



579


Total Debt

4,852



5,047






Less: cash and cash equivalents

594



556


Net Debt

$

4,258



$

4,491


Adjusted EBITDA excluding metal price lag

1,085



963


Net Debt leverage ratio

3.9



4.7


 

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SOURCE Novelis Inc.