HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015
- Revenue: EUR 3.24 billion (+2%)
- EBITDA: EUR 885 million (-6%)
- Net profit: EUR 440 million (-10%)
- Order book: EUR 2.49 billion
- Proposed dividend: EUR 1.60 per share
OUTLOOK
- Continued market weakness due to low oil and commodity prices
- Enhanced opportunities in offshore wind market
Offshore Energy also had a good year and despite the deteriorated market conditions earnings increased slightly, partly helped by the strong US dollar. The good result was driven by good utilization of the equipment and good project results.
Towage & Salvage saw a decline in the result on balance compared to the previous year, mainly as a result of deconsolidation effects at Towage. From an operational perspective Salvage can look back on a very busy and successful year. In the course of 2015 Boskalis increased its stake in Fugro N.V. from 19.9% to 28.6% at end-2015. The revaluation gain from the first half of the year was reversed as at end-2015, as a result of which the Fugro stake is now recognized at EUR 16.15 per share - virtually equal to the average purchase price. The order book fell to EUR 2,490 million (end-2014: EUR 3,286 million).
Peter Berdowski, CEO of Boskalis: "We look back on a very successful year in which we achieved excellent results across the entire business. While the storm was gathering strength outside, we had an exceptionally busy year with many impressive projects. At Dredging, with projects such as the expansion of the Suez Canal - a project of unprecedented scope that was delivered on time and within budget. At Offshore Energy, where we were actually able to beat our record year of 2014. Salvage, too, had one of its busiest years ever, with prominent projects such as the removal of the wreck of the Baltic Ace from the access channel to the Port of Rotterdam. The stormy conditions outside are also increasingly being felt within our company. Falling prices for oil, gas and commodities are also taking their toll in various market segments we operate in. Volumes and prices are under pressure, which is also translates into our order book. Conditions that require us to steer a different course and demonstrate helmsmanship. We are tightening up the fleet and the organization and are alert to respond to the opportunities the market continues to present - opportunities in existing market segments as well as opportunities created by adjusting our playing field and extending it to growth markets. A good example of this is the acquisition of VolkerWessels' offshore activities, which substantially strengthens our position in the growing offshore wind market. Our fleet, organization and balance sheet put us in an excellent position to weather the storm with reason and consideration and come out of it even stronger."
Market developments
The megatrends on which the Boskalis business model is based continue to apply. These are global population growth and increasing prosperity. However, the timing and momentum with which these trends translate into promising projects varies widely from region to region. In a number of regions and markets where Boskalis is active these trends are developing less favorably in the short and medium term, making the outlook uncertain. Boskalis continues to focus on market segments that display structural growth in the longer term whilst also offering opportunities in the short term: Energy (oil, gas, wind and the decommissioning of old offshore platforms), Ports and Climate change-related projects (coastal defense and riverbank protection). In the past 18 months the oil price has fallen by approximately 75% to USD 30-40 per barrel. Prices of numerous commodities have also dropped by around 50%. Players in these markets have invested heavily in production capacity, but in the meantime there has been a substantial drop in demand, partly because the Chinese economy has moved onto a much lower growth path than predicted. Many investments in the oil and gas industry have now been scaled down or put on hold. Against this backdrop short-term developments in the Dredging and Offshore Energy segments have become more unpredictable. There is a reluctance to invest in major new port and offshore-related projects. Despite this the global megatrends on which our strategy is based remain unchanged. Global population growth is fueling sustained structural demand for our land reclamation and infra activities. Climate change is forcing governments on several continents to take steps to protect their populations against flooding and rising sea levels. This will result in growing demand for integrated sustainable solutions for complete maritime infrastructures. Moreover one of the positive developments for Boskalis arising from the extremely low oil price is that many old offshore oil and gas rigs are now being taken out of service and decommissioned. The following underlying trends also remain favorable for Boskalis:- demand for larger and deeper ports with associated infrastructure to accommodate larger oceangoing and other vessels with deeper drafts, despite current expectations for the slower growth in seaborne trade;
- demand for energy and the associated increase in offshore exploration and production, also in vulnerable regions, which in turn increases the need for sustainable solutions;
- the greater focus on climate-related issues partly as a result of the Paris Agreement (COP21), which creates opportunities such as new offshore wind farm projects and potentially greater demand for coastal defense and riverbank protection projects.
Outlook
In the coming period the general market conditions will be characterized by lower volumes of work and pressure on utilization rates and margins. At Dredging & Inland Infra the emphasis will be on maintaining utilization rates at responsible levels of project risk. With the current orders in hand a good part of the fleet is utilized for 2016, albeit at lower margins than in previous years. The picture at Offshore Energy remains mixed. A number of long-term contracts and work already contracted provide stability for part of the fleet, but the spot market-related transport activities and subsea services are experiencing pressure on utilization rates and margins. The offshore wind market presents new opportunities, partly through the recently announced intention to acquire offshore activities of VolkerWessels. By the end of this year all the Towage activities will have been transferred to joint ventures. Market volumes in this segment are relatively stable, although competition is expected to increase here, too, especially in terminal services. To respond to these market developments we have launched a fleet rationalization and cost reduction program. It is expected that equipment will be taken out of service at both Dredging and Offshore Energy with the associated implications for staffing levels. In addition, we are taking a critical look at reducing the cost of the global office network. The project-based nature of a significant part of our activities, in addition to the uncertain market conditions, makes it difficult to give a specific quantitative forecast with regard to the 2016 full-year result early on in the year. It is, however, clear that net profit will be substantially lower than the very strong 2015 result. Capital expenditure in 2016 is expected to be approximately EUR 200 million, excluding acquisitions, and will be financed from the company's own cash flow. Boskalis has a very sound financial position and the solvency ratio has increased to 56%. The good result and lower net debt position has further reduced the net debt : EBITDA ratio to 0.4.Dividend policy and dividend proposal
The main principle underlying the Boskalis dividend policy is to distribute 40% to 50% of the net profit from ordinary operations as dividend, with Boskalis aiming to achieve a stable development of the dividend for the longer term. The choice of dividend form (in cash and/or fully or partly in shares) takes into account the company's desired balance sheet structure as well as the interests and wishes of the shareholders. In light of this, Boskalis will propose to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 10 May 2016 that a dividend of EUR 1.60 per share be distributed in the form of ordinary shares, unless the shareholder opts to receive a cash dividend. The dividend will be payable from 3 June 2016.| KEY FIGURES | 2015 | 2014 |
| (in millions of EUR) | ||
| Revenue | 3,240.3 | 3,166.9 |
| EBITDA | 884.7 | 945.9 |
| Net result from JVs and associates | 43.3 | 56.4 |
| Operating result (EBIT) | 562.8 | 652.3 |
| Net profit | 440.2 | 490.3 |
| Dividend (proposal*) per share in euro | 1.60* | 1.60 |
| 31-12-2015 | 31-12-2014 | |
| Order book | 2,490.0 | 3,285.5 |
Live audio webcast
The Board of Management of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. will comment on the 2015 full-year results at the analyst meeting (11.30 am - 1.30 pm CET) on 9 March 2016. This meeting can be followed by means of a live audio webcast (Dutch spoken with simultaneous translation into English), details of which can be found on the homepage (www.boskalis.com).Publication of Annual Report
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. will publish both its Annual Report 2015 and its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report 2015 today, 9 March. The reports, which are published in both Dutch and English, will be made available in the course of the day on www.boskalis.com.| 2016 | Financial agenda |
| 9 March | Publication of 2015 annual results |
| 10 May | Q1 2016 trading update |
| 10 May | Annual General Meeting of Shareholders |
| 12 May | Ex-dividend date |
| 13 May | Record date for dividend entitlement (after market close) |
| 27 May | Final date for stating preference for dividend in cash or shares |
| 1 June | Determination and publication of conversion rate for stock dividend based on the volume-weighted average share price on 30 and 31 May and 1 June (after market close) |
| 3 June | Dividend payment and delivery of shares |
| 18 August | Publication of 2016 half-year results |
| 11 November | Q3 2016 trading update |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Investor relations:
Martijn L.D. Schuttevâer
ir@boskalis.com Press:
Arno Schikker
press@boskalis.com T +31 78 6969310 This is an English translation of the Dutch press release. In the event of any disparity between the Dutch original and this translation, the Dutch text will prevail. Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. is a leading global services provider operating in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors. The company provides creative and innovative all-round solutions to infrastructural challenges in the maritime, coastal and delta regions of the world with services including the construction and maintenance of ports and waterways, land reclamation, coastal defense and riverbank protection. In addition, Boskalis offers a wide variety of marine services and contracting for the offshore energy sector including subsea, heavy transport, lifting and installation (through Boskalis, Dockwise and Fairmount) and towage and salvage (through SMIT). Furthermore, Boskalis has a number of strategic partnerships in harbor towage and terminal services (Keppel Smit Towage, Saam SMIT Towage and Smit Lamnalco). With a versatile fleet of 1,000 units Boskalis operates in around 75 countries across six continents. Excluding its share in partnerships, Boskalis has over 8,200 employees. This press release can also be found on our website www.boskalis.com.
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