ASSYSTEM: First-half 2023 results

First-half 2023 results

• Revenue: €282.5 million (up 16.9% in total and 13.9% like for like)
• Operating profit before non-recurring items (EBITA)⁽¹⁾: €15.7 million (down 4.3%)
• EBITA margin: 5.6% (down 1.2 pts)
  
  

Paris La Défense, 13 September 2023, 5.35 p.m. (CEST) – At its meeting held today, the Board of Directors of Assystem S.A. (ASY – ISIN: FR0000074148), an international engineering group, reviewed the Group’s financial statements for the first half of 2023 (i.e. the six months ended 30 June 2023).

Dominique Louis, Assystem’s Chairman & CEO, stated:

"Assystem is pursuing its strategic mission by supporting the development of nuclear energy both in France and throughout the world. This long-standing positioning is more relevant than ever, as demonstrated by the growth in our business. While attracting and retaining talent are major challenges today for the engineering industry overall, the commitments we have made at Assystem to both the climate and our people’s development enable us to stand out from the competition.”

KEY FIGURES

ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST-HALF 2023 INCOME STATEMENT

• Revenue
  
  

Assystem’s consolidated revenue totalled €282.5 million in the first half of 2023, up 16.9% on first-half 2022. The year-on-year increase breaks down as 13.9% in like-for-like growth, a positive 3.9% impact from changes in the scope of consolidation (due to the first-time consolidations of Relsafe, LogiKal and Oreka), and a 0.9% negative currency effect.

Revenue from Nuclear activities amounted to €198.1 million versus €171.7 million in the first half of 2022. The 15.4% year-on-year rise includes 15.8% in like-for-like growth, a positive 0.4% impact from changes in the scope of consolidation, and a negative 0.9% currency effect.

ET&I revenue came to €84.4 million in the first half of 2023, compared with €69.9 million in first-half 2022. Total year-on-year growth was 20.6%, breaking down as 9.1% like-for-like growth, a positive 12.3% impact from changes in the scope of consolidation, and a negative 0.8% currency effect.

• Operating profit before non-recurring items (EBITA) and EBITDA⁽⁴⁾
  
  

Consolidated EBITA amounted to €15.7 million in the first six months of 2023, versus €16.4 million in first-half 2022. EBITA margin amounted to 5.6%, as expected, compared with 6.8% in first-half 2022, due to the impact of the recruitment campaign carried out upstream of projects. This campaign was launched as of end-2022 in order to help drive the Group’s business growth over the medium term.

EBITA for Assystem Operations (all of the Group’s operations except for Holding company activities) totalled €18.6 million, representing 6.6% of revenue, compared with €19.0 million and 7.9% respectively in first-half 2022.

The Group’s "Holding company” expenses had a €2.9 million negative impact on consolidated EBITA in first-half 2023 versus a €2.6 million negative impact in the same period of 2022.

Excluding the impact of IFRS 16, consolidated EBITDA⁽⁴⁾ came to €18.5 million in first-half 2023, representing 6.5% of revenue, compared with €19.3 million and 8.0% respectively in first-half 2022.

• Operating profit and other income statement lines
  
  

After taking into account €5.0 million in net non-recurring income for the period, mainly comprising (i) a reversal of the provision for the tax dispute related to the FY 2011 and 2012 research tax credits and (ii) €1.0 million in share-based payments (shares awarded free of consideration), consolidated operating profit for the six months ended 30 June 2023 totalled €19.7 million, compared with €14.4 million in the first half of 2022.

Expleo Group – in which Assystem holds 37.22% of the capital and 38.94% of the quasi-equity instruments issued by that company (convertible bonds with capitalised interest) – contributed €4.0 million to consolidated profit, breaking down as €6.3 million in coupons on the convertible bonds less Assystem’s €2.3 million share of Expleo Group’s loss for the period.

Assystem recorded net financial income of €0.3 million for first-half 2023, versus €5.0 million in the six months ended 30 June 2022. The 2023 figure includes a €2.6 million dividend receivable from Framatome and €1.5 million in interest income recognised following the above-mentioned reversal of the provision for the tax dispute related to the FY 2011 and 2012 research tax credits. In terms of expenses, it includes (i) a €1.3 million expense recognised as a result of applying IAS 29 (Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies) to items in the consolidated statement of financial position related to the Group’s Turkish subsidiary, although this had no impact on consolidated cash, and (ii) higher miscellaneous financial expense items due to the rise in interest rates.
After deducting an income tax expense of €3.4 million (versus €3.5 million in first-half 2022), consolidated profit from continuing operations totalled €21.0 million, versus €19.0 million in the first six months of 2022.

Consolidated profit for the period totalled €21.0 million, compared with €32.7 million in first-half 2022 (which included €13.7 million in profit from operations that were discontinued in 2022).

• Information about Expleo Group
  
  

Revenue generated by Expleo Group advanced 13.1% to €698.6 million in the first six months of 2023 from €617.8 million in first-half 2022.

Expleo Group’s EBITDA (including the impact of IFRS 16) stood at €66.8 million for the first half of 2023, representing 9.6% of consolidated revenue (up 2.3 points on first-half 2022).

Expleo Group’s consolidated pro?t before recognition of the capitalised interest on its quasi-equity instruments was €11.6 million, versus €7.8 million in the first six months of 2022.

FREE CASH FLOW⁽⁵⁾ AND NET DEBT

Taking into account the seasonal pattern of the Group’s working capital requirement, free cash flow (excluding the impact of IFRS 16) corresponded to a negative €27.5 million in the first half of 2023, compared with a negative €7.0 million in first-half 2022.

The Group had net debt of €80.6 million at 30 June 2023, versus €50.9 million at 31 December 2022. The €29.7 million increase breaks down as follows:

• a €27.5 million impact from the negative free cash flow, including €39.5 million resulting from the change in working capital requirement (€20.2 million in first-half 2022), due to the Group’s business growth particularly in geographic areas where customer payment times are longer;
• a €0.6 million net impact relating to acquisitions and disposals⁽⁶⁾;
• €1.6 million from other movements.
  
  

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE

The Annual General Meeting of 5 June 2023 approved the payment to Assystem’s shareholders of a €1.0 dividend per outstanding share. This dividend was paid on 7 July, representing an aggregate payment of €14.8 million.

At end-July, the Group carried out the first phase of its key personnel retention plan aimed at supporting its business growth, with the launch of an initial free share plan (288,250 shares).

OUTLOOK FOR FULL-YEAR 2023

Assystem has signed an agreement to sell its business activities in the Pacific area – Assystem Polynésie and Assystem Nouvelle-Calédonie – to the current management of those two companies. Subject to the fulfilment of conditions precedent, the sale is due to close by the end of 2023, enabling Assystem to complete its strategic refocusing.

Taking into account this disposal, Assystem’s targets for full-year 2023 are as follows:

• consolidated revenue of around €570 million;
• and EBITA of around €35 million.

These targets are based on the assumption that the macroeconomic, geopolitical and public health context will remain similar to the first half of the year.

AVAILABILITY OF THE FIRST-HALF 2023 INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT

Assystem’s first-half 2023 interim financial report will be published and filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on 14 September after stock market close of trading. This report, as well as the presentation of the Group’s first-half 2023 results, will be able to be viewed and downloaded on Assystem’s website (www.assystem.com) in the "Finance/Regulated Information” section.

2023 FINANCIAL CALENDAR

• 14 September:        First-half 2023 results presentation at 8.30 a.m. (CEST)
• 26 October:         Third-quarter 2023 revenue release

ABOUT ASSYSTEM

Assystem, one of the world's leading independent nuclear engineering companies, is committed to accelerating the energy transition across the globe. With more than 55 years of experience in highly regulated sectors with stringent safety and security constraints, the Group provides engineering and project management services as well as digital solutions and services to optimise the performance of complex infrastructure assets throughout their life cycle.
In its 12 countries of operation, Assystem’s 6,500 experts are supporting energy transition. To achieve an affordable low carbon energy supply, Assystem is committed to the development of low carbon electricity (nuclear, renewables and electricity grids) and clean hydrogen. The Group is also helping drive the use of low carbon electricity in industrial sectors such as transportation.

For more information please visit www.assystem.com / Follow Assystem on Twitter: @Assystem

CONTACTS 

Malène Korvin – Chief Financial Officer – mkorvin@assystem.com - Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 25 29 00

Anne-Charlotte Dagorn – Communications Director – acdagorn@assystem.com - Tel.: +33 (0)6 83 03 70 29

Agnès Villeret – Komodo – Investor relations – agnes.villeret@agence-komodo.com – Tel.: +33 (0)6 83 28 04 15

APPENDICES

1/ Revenue and EBITA

• Revenue
  
  

(1) Based on a comparable scope of consolidation and constant exchange rates.
(2) UK-based LogiKal consolidated since 1 December 2022, and Relsafe and Oreka since 1 January 2023.

• EBITA⁽¹⁾
  
  

(1) Operating profit before non-recurring items (EBITA - Earning Before Interest and Taxes - from Activity) including share of profit of equity-accounted investees other than Expleo Group and MPH (€0.6 million in H1 2022 and €0.4 million in H1 2023).

2/ Consolidated financial statements

• Consolidated statement of financial position
  
  

(1) Including Framatome shares, representing €134.0 million at 30 June 2023.

• (2) O/w, at 30 June 2023, €14.8 million in dividends payable to Assystem shareholders.
  
  

Consolidated income statement

• Consolidated statement of cash flows
  
  

* Including interest expense.

3/ Movements in net debt

4/ Information about the Company’s capital

Ownership structure at 31 August 2023

(1)  HDL Development is a holding company that is 95.65%-controlled by Dominique Louis (Assystem’s Chairman & CEO), notably through HDL, which itself holds 0.85% of Assystem’s capital.
(2)  Including 0.85% held by HDL.

(1) Operating profit before non-recurring items (EBITA - Earning Before Interest and Taxes - from Activity) including share of profit of equity-accounted investees other than Expleo Group and MPH (€0.6 million in H1 2022 and €0.4 million in H1 2023).
(2) Including profit attributable to non-controlling interests, amounting to €0.3 million in H1 2022 and €0.8 million in H1 2023. Profit for the period attributable to owners of the parent therefore totalled €32.4 million in H1 2022 (including €13.7 million in profit from operations discontinued in 2022) and €20.2 million in H1 2023.
(3) Debt less cash and cash equivalents, excluding the IFRS 16 impact.

(4) EBITA excluding the impact of IFRS 16 (€23.6 million in first-half 2023) and before depreciation and amortisation expense and net provisions for recurring items excluding the IFRS 16 impact.

(5) Corresponding to net cash generated from operating activities less capital expenditure, net of disposals.
(6) Including a debt impact of €(5.1) million from disposals (adjusted to reflect the impact of the deferred payment related to the sale of Assystem’s controlling interest in the Staffing business) and €5.7 million from acquisitions.

Attachment

• 2. CP ASY_Re´sultats semestriels (ANG) VDEF_V2