2011 Annual results

7 February 2012 - Finances

- Solid revenue and earnings growth
    - Revenue: €37 billion (+10.7%)
    - Net income: €1.9 billion (+7.2%)
    - 2011 dividend: €1.77 per share (+6.0%)

- Improved financial position
    - Decrease of net financial debt of €470 million
    - Improvement of liquidity

- Good business momentum
    - Record order book: €30.6 billion (+18%)

(1) Excluding concession companies’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies. Revenue calculated according to IFRIC 12, including works carried out by non-Group companies, totalled €37,646 million in 2011 (€34,003 million in 2010).
(2) After taking into account stock options.
(3) Dividend to be proposed to the AGM on 12 April 2012.
(4) Cash flow from operations before tax and financing costs (EBITDA).

VINCI's Board of Directors, chaired by Xavier Huillard, met on 7 February 2012 to finalise the annual financial statements⁵ for the year ended 31 December 2011 prior to submitting them for approval at the next Shareholders' Meeting on 12 April 2012.

VINCI delivered a robust performance in 2011, with solid growth in revenue and income.

Consolidated revenue amounted to nearly €37 billion, representing an increase of around 11%. This performance reflects steady organic growth (+6.4%), particularly in the Contracting business lines (VINCI Energies, Eurovia, VINCI Construction), and the full-year impact of acquisitions made in 2010. Concessions revenue rose 3.9% as a result of an upward trend at VINCI Autoroutes – despite flat traffic – and VINCI Airports, which includes the Grand Ouest airports concession. More than 36% of VINCI’s total revenue was generated outside France in 2011 (42% in Contracting).

Cash flow from operations before tax and financing costs (EBITDA) rose by 6.2% to almost €5.4 billion, equal to 14.5% of revenue. VINCI Autoroutes’ EBITDA margin rose from 68.8% in 2010 to 69.4% in 2011.

Operating income from ordinary activities (EBIT) increased 6.6%, at almost €3.7 billion and represented 9.9% of revenue. Contracting’s operating margin was 4.6% in 2011 compared with 4.5% in 2010.

Net income attributable to owners of the parent increased 7.2% to €1,904 million, representing 5.2% of revenue.

Net financial debt amounted to €12.6 billion at 31 December 2011, down €470 million over a 12-month period. The growth in operating cash flow (+17%) covered the investments made by VINCI Autoroutes, dividends paid and share buy-backs over the year.

VINCI also successfully carried out several significant financial transactions:
   • completion of new concessions’ project financing arrangements amounting to more than €3.9 billion (including €3.1 billion for the Tours–Bordeaux high-speed rail line),
   • renewal of its corporate medium-term bank credit facilities totalling €4.5 billion,
   • bond issues totalling close to €1.7 billion.

These transactions illustrate lenders’ confidence in the Group’s credit quality. VINCI’s investment-grade rating was confirmed by S&P (BBB+) and Moody’s (Baa1). The Group is thus moving into 2012 with a strengthened financial position and the financial resources it needs to meet its future refinancing and growth requirements.

Lastly, 2011 saw good business momentum. Orders won by Contracting business lines reached record levels, both in France and internationally. In Concessions, meanwhile, operations started up under new contracts in the airport and road infrastructure sectors (Nantes-Atlantique, second section of the A86 Duplex), and new projects were won, including the A9 motorway in Germany as well as the Nice and Bordeaux stadiums. These achievements confirm the success of the VINCI’s integrated concession-construction business model.

 

2012 trends

VINCI has started 2012 with an order book of €30.6 billion in Contracting, its highest level ever (up 18% compared with 31 December 2010).

With greater uncertainty surrounding prospects for economic growth in Europe, there could be a downturn in orders in some segments and geographical areas during the year. As far as our French motorways are concerned, their toll revenue should slightly increase.

Against this backdrop, the Group projects that business should be at least flat in 2012. VINCI remains confident and has established as a 2012 objective the maintenance of its operating margins at the good levels achieved in 2011.

Annual results

Revenue growth of more than 10%

VINCI’s 2011 consolidated revenue was just shy of €37 billion⁷, up 10.7% compared with 2010. This increase reflects robust organic growth (+6.4%) and the full year impact (+4.4%) of the acquisitions of Cegelec, Faceo and Tarmac.

Concessions revenue rose 3.9% (+4.1% on a comparable structure basis) to €5.3 billion, of which a 3.5% increase in VINCI Autoroutes’ revenue.

Revenue generated by the Contracting business lines was €31.5 billion, up 11.9% on an actual basis (+6.7% on a comparable structure basis).

In France, revenue totalled €23.6 billion, up 12.6% (+8.7% on a comparable structure basis). Concessions revenue increased 4.3%, while that of Contracting increased 15.2%.

Outside France, revenue rose 7.5% to €13.4 billion (+2.7% on comparable structure and exchange rate bases), representing 36% of total revenue (42% in Contracting).
The breakdown of full-year and fourth-quarter revenue by business line is set out in the appendix.

 

Revenue by business line

 *Excluding concession subsidiaries’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies (IFRIC 12).

Net income growth in excess of 7%

Operating income from ordinary activities (EBIT) for 2011 amounted to €3,660 million, up 6.6% compared with 2010 (€3,434 million).

The operating margin declined from 10.3% in 2010 to 9.9% in 2011, due mainly to a change in the business mix: the Contracting business account for a relatively larger proportion of total EBIT than in 2010.

Operating income from ordinary activities (EBIT) by business line

* Excluding concession subsidiaries’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies (IFRIC 12).

In Concessions, EBIT was €2,149 million, representing 40.6% of revenue, compared with €2,093 million in 2010 (41.1% of revenue). This 2.6% improvement stems mainly from the growth in VINCI Autoroutes’ operating income, attributable to the increase in toll revenue and sound management of operating expenses. At VINCI Concessions, an exceptional charge for about €46 million was taken in relation to mostly Greek concession assets.

Contracting posted a 14.2% increase in EBIT to €1,435 million (€1,257 million in 2010) and improved its operating margin to 4.6% (4.5% in 2010).

VINCI Energies’EBIT increased 24.8% to €483 million (€387 million in 2010) and includes a strong improvement at Cegelec. The already high operating margin further improved to 5.6% in 2011 (5.4% in 2010).

Eurovia’s EBIT amounted to €322 million, up 12.9% compared with 2010 (€285 million). Its operating margin improved to 3.7% in 2011 (3.6% in 2010).

VINCI Construction’s operating income from ordinary activities was €630 million, up almost 8% compared with 2010 (€584 million). Its operating margin, 4.5% overall in 2011 and 2010, improved or stabilised at high levels across most divisions, both in France and internationally.

Finally, the profit-sharing bonus (‘Sarkozy’s dividend bonus’) introduced in 2011 resulted in an expense of about €34 million for the Group.

After taking account of share-based payment expense (IFRS 2), goodwill impairment expense and the share of the profit or loss of companies accounted for under the equity method, operating income was €3,601 million or 9.7% of revenue in 2011, representing a 5.0% increase on 2010 (€3,429 million; 10.3% of revenue).

The cost of net financial debt increased €11 million to €647 million (€636 million in 2010), attributable mainly to a slight rise in interest rates. The average cost of gross debt at 31 December 2011 remains well managed and was 3.93% (3.71% at 31 December 2010).

Other financial income and expense amounted to net income of €25 million (compared with a net expense of €45 million in 2010).

Income tax expense totalled €984 million, an increase of €136 million relative to the 2010 figure of €847 million. The effective tax rate was 33.6% (31.6% in 2010). This change includes the impact of the exceptional tax payment of 5% applicable in 2011 and 2012 on the income tax due by French subsidiaries.

Consolidated net income attributable to owners of the parent amounted to €1,904 million in 2011, up 7.2% compared with 2010 (€1,776 million) and represented 5.2% of revenue.

Diluted earnings per share rose 5.4% to €3.48 (€3.30 per share in 2010).

Net income by business line

 

Cash flow and balance sheet items

Cash flow from operations before tax and financing costs (EBITDA) increased 6.2% to €5,366 million in 2011, compared with 2011 (€5,052 million in 2010). It represented 14.5% of revenue for the period.

In the Concessions business, EBITDA increased 5.3% to €3,366 million or 63.6% of revenue (€3,197 million and 62.7% of revenue in 2010). VINCI Autoroutes’ EBITDA increased 4.4% to €3,058 million (€2,929 million in 2010) and its EBITDA margin improved to 69.4% (68.8% in 2010).

Contracting’s EBITDA grew 6.4% to €1,880 million (€1,766 million in 2010). The EBITDA margin was 6.0% (6.3% in 2010).

The net change in operating working capital requirement and current provisions improved substantially in the second half of the year, and resulted in an inflow of €93 million for all of 2011, compared with an outflow of €78 million in 2010.

After accounting for interest, tax and operating investments (net of disposals) of €668 million (€595 million in 2010), operating cash flow⁸ was €3,270 million (€2,790 million in 2010).

Growth investments in concessions totalled €1,135 million (€871 million in 2010). They include €1,017 million invested by VINCI Autoroutes in France under the motorway operators’ master plans and the green motorway package.

Free cash flow amounted to €2,134 million (€1,919 million in 2010), including €766 million generated by Concessions and €1,130 million by Contracting (€908 million and €903 million respectively in 2010).

Financial investments net of disposals, including the net debt of acquired companies, represented €172 million (€2.4 billion in 2010, including €1.6 billion for the acquisition of Cegelec).

Dividends paid in 2011 amounted to €1,036 million.

To limit the dilutive effect from capital increases reserved for Group employees, which amounted to €394 million in 2011, VINCI pursued its share buy-back programme. Over the year, it purchased 15.2 million shares on the market for a total of €628 million.

As a result of these cash flows, there was a €470 million reduction in net financial debt during the year ending 31 December 2011.

Consolidated capital employed was €28.0 billion at 31 December 2011, little changed compared to 31 December 2010. Concessions accounted for 90% of capital employed.

The Group’s equity, including minority interests, was up to €13.6 billion at 31 December 2011 (€13.0 billion at 31 December 2010).

Consolidated net financial debt was €12.6 billion at 31 December 2011. For the Concessions business, including holding companies, net debt stood at €18.9 billion (€17.5 billion at 31 December 2010). The Contracting business and holding companies posted a net cash surplus of €6.3 billion (versus €4.4 billion at 31 December 2010).

The Group’s liquidity remained high at €12.8 billion at 31 December 2011, with €6.1 billion in net cash managed and €6.7 billion in unused confirmed credit facilities, including the new credit facilities negotiated by Cofiroute in February and by VINCI in June (combined total of €4.5 billion), expiring in 2016.

Although credit market conditions were difficult and volatile in the second half of 2011, the Group had good access to a diverse range of funding sources. In 2011, it secured almost €3.9 billion of project financing in France, the UK and Germany for new concessions, including €3.1 billion for the Tours-Bordeaux high-speed rail line. In addition, ASF and VINCI raised about €1.7 billion of financing through bond placements. In December 2011, VINCI issued successfully €750 million of bonds maturing in February 2017 with a coupon of 4.125%. In January 2012, this borrowing was supplemented by additional issues totalling €500 million. As a result, on 30 January 2012, VINCI was able to repay in advance the €1.75 billion of debt arranged in 2006 to finance the acquisition of ASF. With its investment grade credit ratings confirmed (BBB+ from S&P and Baa1 from Moody's, both with stable outlook), VINCI can continue to meet comfortably its refinancing needs terms.

Parent company results
The parent company’s net income was €2,997 million in 2011, compared with €1,849 million in 2010.

Dividend
The Board of Directors has decided to propose to the next Shareholders’ General Meeting that the amount of the dividend for 2011 be set at €1.77 per share, representing an increase of 6.0% compared with 2010 (€1.67 per share).

Since an interim dividend of €0.55 per share was paid in December 2011, the final dividend payment on 24 May 2012 would be €1.22 per share. This dividend would be paid exclusively in cash. The ex date is would be for 21 May 2012.

 

Diary
Analysts meeting
08.30 am on Wednesday, 8 February: Pavillon Ledoyen, 1 avenue Dutuit, 75008 Paris.
Press conference
11.00 on Wednesday, 8 February: Pavillon Ledoyen, 1 avenue Dutuit, 75008 Paris.

(5) The consolidated financial statements have been audited, and the certification report will be issued before the registration document (document de référence) is filed.
(6) Excluding concession subsidiaries’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies (IFRIC 12).
(7) Operating cash flow = cash flow from operations adjusted for changes in operating working capital requirement and current provisions, interest paid, income taxes paid, dividends received from companies accounted for under the equity method, and net investments in operating assets.

 

APPENDIXES

 

INCOME STATEMENT

(1) In application of IFRIC 12, Service Concession Arrangements.
(2) % calculated on revenue excluding concession subsidiaries' works revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies.
(3) After taking dilutive instruments into account.
(4) Dividend proposed to the Shareholders' Meeting of 12 April 2012.

 

SIMPLIFIED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

CASH FLOW STATEMENT

* Including the payment in VINCI shares for the acquisition of Cegelec: €1,385 million.

APPENDIXES BY BUSINESS LINE

2011 revenue by business line

Concessions: €5,297 million (+3.9% actual; +4.1% on a comparable structure basis)

VINCI Autoroutes (ASF, Escota, Cofiroute and Arcour): revenue rose 3.5% to €4,409 million. Toll revenue increased 3.6%, reflecting 0.6% growth in traffic on a stable network basis (light vehicles: +0.6%; heavy vehicles: +0.1%), the impact of the complete opening of the A86 Duplex (+0.5%) and higher toll prices.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, traffic rose by 1.6% on a stable network basis due to firm growth in light vehicles (+2.5%) partly offset by a decline in heavy vehicles (-3.3%). Toll revenue rose by 4.0% in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The VINCI Concessions business line generated revenue of €888 million, up 5.9% (+7.3% on a comparable structure basis), attributable to sharp growth at VINCI Airports (+65%: operation of Nantes-Atlantique airport since 1 January 2011; brisk traffic at Cambodian Airports) and to the resilience of VINCI Park, which generated revenue of €599 million (+1.9% on a comparable structure basis, of which +1.5% in France and 3.0% outside France).

 

Contracting: €31,495 million (+11.9% actual; +6.7% on a comparable structure basis)

In the fourth quarter of 2011, Contracting business levels continued to rise both in France and internationally. Growth was driven in particular by mild weather conditions through the end of the year. Fourth-quarter revenue was €8,643 million, up 8.1% on an actual basis (+7.0% on a comparable structure basis).

VINCI Energies: €8,666 million (+22% actual; +5.5% on a comparable structure basis)

In France, 2011 revenue was €5,507 million (+24.1% actual; +8.1% on a comparable structure basis). Growth was particularly high in the industrial sector, and especially in infrastructure for power generation and transmission – notably photovoltaic – and telecommunications. VINCI Facilities’ revenue increased 5.5%.

Revenue generated outside France amounted to €3,160 million (+18.6% actual; +1.1% on a comparable structure basis). The situation varied geographically: the strong performance of VINCI Energies in Germany, the Benelux and Central Europe and of Cegelec in major projects and Morocco partially offset the decline in business in Spain and the fall, and the fall associated with a greater focus on project selection and the reorganisation initiated at Cegelec, mainly in Belgium and Germany.

VINCI Energies’ order book totalled €6.4 billion at 31 December 2011, up 2% over the year and represented about nine months of average business activity for the business line. Nearly two-thirds of the orders are to be completed in 2012.

Eurovia: €8,722 million (+10.0% actual; +7.7% on a comparable structure basis)

In France, 2011 revenue was €5,098 million, up 11.6% on an actual basis (+10.4% on a comparable structure basis). The business line benefited from mild weather conditions until the end of December and from a favourable base for comparison. As a result, revenue hit record levels in the fourth quarter (+18.3% on a comparable structure basis). In 2011 as a whole, business was generally sluggish in traditional roadworks markets but buoyant in urban transport and rail infrastructure.

Outside France, revenue totalled €3,624 million (+7.8% actual; +4.1% on a comparable structure basis). In the fourth quarter, revenue rose by 4.9% (+5.7% excluding exchange-rate and structure effects). Overall in 2011, performance varied from country to country: strong growth in Poland, Germany, Chile and Slovakia; contraction in the Czech Republic, United States and United Kingdom.

Eurovia's order book amounted to €5.8 billion at 31 December 2011, up almost 13% over 12 months, and represented eight months of average business activity for the business line. More than half of the order book is for work to be performed in 2012.

VINCI Construction: €14,107 million (+7.5% actual; +6.9% on a comparable structure basis)

In France, revenue amounted to €7,729 million (+12.0% actual; +11.1% on a comparable structure basis). Growth accelerated again in the fourth quarter (+8.7% on a comparable structure basis), confirming the positive trend observed in the French market since the second half of 2010. In 2011, business was particularly robust in the residential and private non-residential building segments and it improved in civil engineering and earthworks.

Outside France, revenue was €6,378 million (+2.6% actual, +2.3% on a comparable structure basis), and business levels were stable in the fourth quarter on a comparable structure basis. Performance differed among companies. Soletanche Freyssinet, Sogea Satom and VINCI plc in the United Kingdom posted sound growth. However, after an exceptional year in 2010, Entrepose Contracting was affected firstly by poor weather conditions in Papua New Guinea, which limited progress on its major pipeline construction project, and secondly, by the disruptions caused by events in North Africa. These events, along with weak activity in Greece, explain the slight drop in revenue for VINCI Construction Grands Projets.

VINCI Construction’s order book at 31 December 2011 totalled €18.3 billion, up almost 27% relative to 1 January 2011 and represented more than 15 months of average business activity for the business line. About 55% of the order book is for work to be performed in 2012.

VINCI Immobilier: revenue is up 15.7% at €698 million. Business remained steady in the residential sector (+8.9%), with almost 3,900 units launched in 2011, while the office building sector benefited from the return of major programmes in the Paris region.

 

Consolidated revenue

 

Revenue* by geographical area

(1) Excluding concession subsidiaries’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies (IFRIC 12).

 

Consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter

 

 

ORDER BOOK

* The figure includes €4.0 billion relating to the contract to build the South Europe Atlantic high-speed rail line between Tours and Bordeaux, consisting of €3.2 billion for VINCI Construction, €0.6 billion for Eurovia and €0.2 billion for VINCI Energies.

 

VINCI Autoroutes 2011 revenue

* A86 Duplex

 

Total traffic on motorway concessions (excluding A86 Duplex)
(in millions of km travelled)

 

Cash flow from operations before tax and financing costs (EBITDA) by business line

* Excluding concession subsidiaries’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies (IFRIC 12).

 

Net financial debt by business line

* Including debt of ASF Holding and Cofiroute Holding (€2,247 million at 31 December 2011; €1,911 million at 31 December 2010).

 

 

About VINCI
VINCI is a global player in concessions, energy and construction, employing 280,000 people in more than 120 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, we are committed to operating in an environmentally, socially responsible and ethical manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. Based on that approach, VINCI’s ambition is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, partners and society in general.