Date: August 29, 2007
Source: Veolia Environnement
Veolia Environnement: Results at June 30, 2007
Continued improvement in operating performance and results
Consolidated revenue (1): €15,461.6 million at June 30, 2007, up 10.9% at current exchange rates (up 11.6% at constant exchange rates)
Operating income: €1,271.8 million at June 30, 2007, up 12.7% at current exchange rates (up 13% at constant exchange rates)
Recurring operating income: €1,235.8 million at June 30, 2007, up 9.5% at current exchange rates (up 9.8% at constant exchange rates)
Net income: €493.0 million at June 30, 2007 versus €444.5 million at June 30, 2006, up 10.9%
Recurring net income: €481.9 million at June 30, 2007 versus €380.7 million at June 30, 2006, up 26.6%
To ensure the comparability of data, the financial statements have been adjusted for the first half of 2006 to take into account the effects of IFRS5 on Veolia Transport in Denmark and the definitive adoption of IFRIC12 (which has no impact on the income statement) in the second half of 2006.
Confirmation of the business model and continued strong growth
Veolia Environnement achieved continued growth in all of its businesses, benefiting from strong demand in each of its sectors. The Company won new contracts in municipal outsourcing, notably in Europe, North America and Asia, as well as in the industrial sector during the halfyear period. In addition, significant and value creating acquisitions have been made over the course of the last few months in Europe (the acquisitions of Sulo, the n°2 waste treatment company in Germany; TMT, the largest private operator in the thermal waste treatment market in Italy; several non-regulated businesses in the water sector in the United Kingdom) and in North America with the acquisition of TNAI, the largest portfolio of district heating and cooling networks in the United States. As these acquisitions had not yet been finalized at June 30, 2007, they did not contribute to results in the first half of 2007.
The €2.6 billion capital increase, finalized on July 10th of this year, will further support the Company's ability to finance future growth.
Total consolidated revenue at June 30, 2007, for Veolia Environnement increased to €15,462 million versus €13,941 million at June 30, 2006, up 10.9% at current exchange rates and up 11.6% at constant exchange rates.
Further improvement in profitability
Operating income at June 30, 2007 increased 12.7% at current exchange rates (up 13% at constant exchange rates) to €1,271.8 million versus €1,128.8 million at June 30, 2006.
Recurring operating income at June 30, 2007, increased 9.5% at current exchange rates (up 9.8% at constant exchange rates) to €1,235.8 million versus €1,128.8 million at June 30, 2006. This increase resulted from business growth, continued productivity improvement and the increased maturity in the portfolio of contracts built up over the last few years.
These strong results were achieved despite unfavorable weather conditions for the Company during the first half of 2007. The results demonstrate the good performance of the existing contracts and confirm the strength of Veolia Environnement's business development model.
Veolia Water's operating income rose to €576.1 million versus €526.6 million in the first half of 2006. Recurring operating income increased to €574.4 million versus €526.6 million in the first half of 2006 (up 9.1% at constant exchange rates).
In France, despite a slight decline in volumes, operating income benefited from efforts at the operations to reduce costs as well as growth in income at the Works businesses during the first half of the year.
Outside France, the good level of operating income stemmed from good results in Europe (in particular further improvement in results in the Czech Republic), in Asia (Shenzhen's increased contribution and the increasing contributions of Kunming, Urumqi and Changzhou) and in Morocco. These favorable developments more than offset occasional difficulties encountered due to the lack of rainfall in Gabon. Lastly, operating margins and income continued to improve in the engineering and technological solutions businesses.
Veolia Environmental Services' (the waste management division) operating income increased to €389.1 million versus €307.2 million in the first half of 2006. Recurring operating income grew 28.3% at constant exchange rates to €389.1 million versus €307.2 million in the first half of 2006.
In France, the operating performance benefited from the ongoing productivity drive and from the increase in tonnages, particularly in special waste treatment plants.
Outside France, the increase in operating income primarily benefited from the acquisition of Cleanaway UK, completed in October 2006, as well as good performances in the UK market accounted for by the full effect of the Sheffield and Nottinghamshire contracts, the availability of the three incinerators in Hampshire and good performances on integrated contracts and in industrial services. The rise in operating income also benefited from the satisfactory performance of the waste collection business in Denmark, the improvement in margins in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the improvement in results of the hazardous waste operations in Poland as well as the industrial services businesses in the United States.
Veolia Energy's operating income amounted to €259.7 million versus €266.7 million in the first half of 2006. Recurring operating income declined 6.4% at constant exchange rates to €250.9 million from €266.7 million in the first half of 2006.
The negative impact of climate effects on operating income totaled €39 million during the first half of the year.
Outside France, the negative weather effect in Central Europe was offset by business development, despite a smaller contribution from sales of surplus greenhouse gas emission rights.
Veolia Transport's operating income was €73.3 million versus €74.0 million in the first half of 2006. Recurring operating income was €47.8 million versus €74.0 million in the first half of 2006 (down 35.8% at constant exchange rates). Recurring operating income in the first half of 2006 included an €18.7 million capital gain, affecting the comparison of operating income for these periods.
In France, profitability improved at passenger transportation operations, due to the good performance recorded by the inter-urban businesses and in the Greater Paris Area as well as the contribution from the consolidation of SNCM.
Outside France, profitability was negatively impacted by the start-up and renewal of two major contracts in the Netherlands that generated significant additional costs at the beginning of the period. In the United States, the transit business is growing satisfactorily. Business continued to improve in Scandinavia and Central Europe while the turnaround in the business related to the Marschbahn rail contract in Germany was confirmed.
Strong cash flow generation
Cash flow from operations before tax and interest expense increased 5.4% to €2,012 million from €1,910 million at June 30, 2006.
In addition, the Company continued its active asset management policy and disposed of assets and equity interests amounting to €181 million.
The cash flow generated, after financial expenses and current tax, was able to cover all maintenance capital expenditures (€742 million, which were up from the first half of 2006 linked to the growth in operations), current growth and development capital expenditures that totaled €397 million, as well as the change in working capital requirement resulting from growth in business.
Accordingly, free cash flow before new major projects totaled €413 million. The Company continued to pursue its growth by investing in new major projects and targeted acquisitions which together amounted to €444 million. A significant part of this investment was linked to the award of contracts in the Middle East (Oman Sûr) and Haikou in China in the water business, small acquisitions in the waste management sector in North America and Asia, the acquisition of companies in Hungary and the Czech Republic in the energy services activity and capital investments in industrial assets in the transportation business, notably the purchase of a ship for SNCM.
After these investments and the dividend payment, net financial debt increased from €14.7 billion at December 31, 2006 to €15.2 billion at June 30, 2007.
Financing costs
At June 30, 2007, the cost of net financial debt increased from €329.2 million at June 30, 2006, to €391.6 million at June 30, 2007. The increased cost of net financial debt resulted primarily from the rise in average outstanding debt in the period and, to a lesser extent, from the higher cost of borrowing. The cost of borrowing rose to 5.27% in the first half of 2007 versus 5.07% over full-year 2006.
Robust increase in net income
Driven by the combined effect of good operating performances, the tight control of borrowing costs and the improvement in the effective tax rate, Veolia Environnement's consolidated recurring net income grew 26.6% to €481.9 million at June 30, 2007 versus €380.7 million at June 30, 2006.
Net income reached €493.0 million at June 30, 2007 versus €444.5 million at June 30, 2006. Net income at June 30, 2007 included a net loss of €8.2 million from discontinued operations (Transport division in Denmark which was sold in July 2007).
To download this Press Release with appendices:
www.veoliaenvironnement.com/ressources/documents/2/2414,PR-RESULTATS-30-JUIN-2007-03-08-07-version-270807.pdf.
Outlook
Following the Board of Directors meeting, Veolia Environnement Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Henri Proglio stated:
"Since the beginning of the year, Veolia Environnement has continued to pursue it growth strategy in its businesses and priority geographical zones through organic growth (contracts won, extended or renewed) as well as acquisitions.
The strong performances achieved during the first half of the year, as well as the recent acquisitions currently in the process of being integrated, enable us to be confident about the objectives for the full year 2007 results: an objective for total revenue growth of more than 12% accompanied by an objective for operating income growth of similar proportions."
Important Disclaimer
Veolia Environnement is a corporation listed on the NYSE and Euronext Paris. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the provisions of the U. S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, most of which are outside the Company's control, and in particular risks related to the development of Veolia Environnement's activities in highly competitive sectors that require substantial human and financial resources, the risk that changes in energy prices and the level of taxes might lower Veolia Environnement's income, the risk that public authorities may terminate or modify some of the contracts signed with Veolia Environnement, the risk that compliance with environmental legislation may become even more expensive in the future, the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates may have a negative influence on the financial situation of Veolia Environnement as reflected in its financial statements that could lead to a decline in the share price of Veolia Environnement, the risk that Veolia Environnement may see its environmental liability involved because of its past, present and future activities, as well as the risks described in the documents Veolia Environnement has filed with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Veolia Environnement does not undertake, nor does it have, any obligation to provide updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Veolia Environnement with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission from Veolia Environnement.
Contact
" Marie-Claire Camus
+33 1 71 75 06 08
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