2019 Half-Year Report

RNS Number : 1482I

Glencore PLC

07 August 2019

 

Glencore PLC

NEWS RELEASE

Baar, 7 August 2019

2019 Half-Year Report

Highlights

Glencore's Chief Executive Officer, Ivan Glasenberg, commented: "Our performance in the first half reflected a challenging economic backdrop for our commodity mix, as well as operating and cost setbacks within our ramp-up/development assets. Adjusted EBITDA declined 32% to $5.6 billion.

"The rest of our business, however, remained strong and performed well. Excluding our African copper assets and Koniambo, our metals and coal industrial assets delivered robust Adjusted EBITDA mining margins^◊ of 39%. In particular, our copper business, excluding African copper, recorded an EBITDA mining margin of 52% and a full unit cash cost of 72c/lb, while our coal business again generated margins in excess of $30/t, basis a $46/t thermal unit cash cost. Similarly, our marketing business is tracking towards the middle of our full year Adjusted EBIT guidance range of $2.2-$3.2 billion, after adjusting for some $350 million of non-cash cobalt losses reported in the first half.

"However, our African copper business did not meet expected operational performance. We have moved to address the challenges at Katanga and Mopani with several management changes as well as overseeing a detailed operational review, targeting multiple improvements to achieve consistent, cost-efficient production at design capacity. Our teams have identified a credible roadmap towards delivering on the significant cashflow generation potential of these assets, at targeted steady state production levels. At Mutanda, we are planning to transition the operation to temporary care and maintenance by year end, reflecting its reduced economic viability in the current market environment, primarily in response to low cobalt prices. We continue to progress studies on the sulphide project, having the potential to extend operations for many years, and anticipate being able to provide an update at our Investor Day in December.

"Looking ahead, we are confident that commodity fundamentals will move in our favour and that our diverse commodity portfolio will continue to play a key role in global growth and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our asset teams are focussed on delivering the full potential of our business, which together with our promising range of commodities, should see us well positioned for the future. Through continued constructive collaboration, we remain focussed on creating sustainable long-term value for all stakeholders."

US$ million	H1 2019	H1 2018	Change %	2018
Key statement of income and cash flows highlights2:
Net income attributable to equity holders	226	2,776	(92)	3,408
Adjusted EBITDA◊	5,582	8,1801	(32)	15,767
Adjusted EBIT◊	2,229	5,0911	(56)	9,143
Earnings per share (Basic) (US$)	0.02	0.19	(89)	0.24
Funds from operations (FFO)3◊	3,516	5,5661	(37)	11,595
Cash generated by operating activities before working capital changes	5,409	6,805	(21)	13,210
Net purchase and sale of property, plant and equipment3	2,193	2,0551	7	4,899

US$ million	30.06.2019	31.12.2018	Change %
Key financial position highlights:
Total assets	127,183	128,672	(1)
Net funding3◊	33,238	32,138	3
Net debt3◊	16,308	14,710	11
Ratios:
FFO to Net debt3,4◊	58.5%	78.8%	(26)
Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA4◊	1.24	0.93	33

1 Restated to present Glencore Agri on a basis consistent with its underlying IFRS treatment (equity accounting), previously proportionately accounted, refer to APMs section for reconciliations and note 2 of the 2018 annual report.

2 Refer to basis of presentation on page 5.

3 Refer to page 9.

4 H1 2019 and H1 2018 ratio based on last 12 months' FFO and Adjusted EBITDA, refer to APMs section for reconciliation.

◊ Adjusted measures referred to as Alternative performance measures (APMs) which are not defined or specified under the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards; refer to APMs section on page 66 for definition and reconciliations, to note 3 of the financial statements for reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT/EBITDA and to page 18 for reconciliations of Mining Margins.

 

Healthy cash generation despite significantly lower commodity prices

-       H1 2019 Adjusted EBITDA of $5.6 billion, down 32% ($5.9 billion, pre $350 million non-cash cobalt loss)

-       Net income attributable to equity holders down to $0.2 billion, mainly driven by lower average period-over-period commodity prices and impairment charges in our Chad oil and African copper portfolios

-       Cash generated by operating activities before working capital changes of $5.4 billion, down 21%

-       Net purchase and sale of property, plant and equipment of $2.2 billion, up 7%

-       Our ramp-up/development assets, comprising Copper Africa and Koniambo, weighed on earnings in H1 2019, with negative Adjusted EBITDA of $0.4 billion. These assets offer significant upside at steady state production levels.

Industry leading cost positions

-       First-half operational unit cash cost performance in our key commodities: copper (excluding African copper) 72c/lb, zinc 3c/lb (40c/lb ex-gold), nickel (excluding Koniambo) 329c/lb and thermal coal $46/t at a $32/t margin

Marketing a diversified earnings driver

-       Marketing Adjusted EBIT of $1.0 billion, down 35%, but only 13%, excluding a cobalt related loss on an 'involuntary' long cobalt position, against a particularly strong base period

Full year outlook factors…

-       On an annualised basis, pre-cobalt Marketing Adjusted EBIT of $1.3 billion tracking towards the middle of our $2.2-$3.2 billion long-term guidance range

-       Expected Industrial production weighted towards H2 for each of Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Coal and Oil

-       Extensive operational and cost improvement initiatives being undertaken at African Copper and Koniambo

…and balance sheet in strong shape for the medium term

-       Debt facilities renewed in March/April. Bond maturities continue to be capped at ~$3 billion in any given year

-       Although Net debt of $16.3 billion is at the upper end of our target range, on account of a new lease accounting standard,
$1.1 billion of new lease liabilities were recognised during H1 2019, that previously would have been treated as operating leases

-       Conservative 1.24x Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA ratio. Intend to manage the balance sheet over the next 6-12 months towards our target of around 1x, in the current uncertain economic cycle backdrop

To view the full report please click

https://www.glencore.com/dam/jcr:de09eded-6a3b-42f7-9b82-f40d1a257dcd/GLEN-2019-Half-Year-Report.pdf 

For further information please contact:

Investors
Martin Fewings		t: [phone]		m: [phone]		[e-mail]
Media
Charles Watenphul		t: [phone]		m: [phone]		[e-mail]

www.glencore.com 

Glencore LEI: 2138002658CPO9NBH955

Notes for Editors

Glencore is one of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 90 commodities. The Group's operations comprise around 150 mining and metallurgical sites, oil production assets and agricultural facilities.

With a strong footprint in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of more than 90 offices located in over 50 countries.

Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, oil and food processing sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore's companies employ around 158,000 people, including contractors.

Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

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Important notice concerning this document including forward looking statements

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No statement in this document is intended as a profit forecast or a profit estimate and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities.

The companies in which Glencore plc directly and indirectly has an interest are separate and distinct legal entities. In this document, "Glencore", "Glencore group" and "Group" are used for convenience only where references are made to Glencore plc and its subsidiaries in general. These collective expressions are used for ease of reference only and do not imply any other relationship between the companies.  Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer collectively to members of the Group or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

 

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