2022 annual results

9 February 2023 - 7:30 am - Finances - France

· Sharp rise in revenue and earnings
· Record free cash flow
· Lower debt levels
· Highly satisfactory renewal of the order book
· Reduction in CO₂ emissions (scopes 1 & 2)
· Outlook for 2023:
   - Continuing growth in revenue and operating income
   - First solar asset into operation and further developments in renewable energy production by Cobra IS
· Dividend proposed for 2022: €4.0 per share

Key figures

 

Xavier Huillard, VINCI’s Chairman and CEO, made the following comments:

VINCI’s overall performance was of a very high quality in 2022, despite a particularly turbulent geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop. This shows the almost structural resilience of the Group’s business model and the excellent adaptability of its companies.

Strong revenue and earnings growth came along with record free cash flow.

The recovery in VINCI Airports’ passenger numbers accelerated throughout the year. In Portugal, Serbia and several countries in Latin America, they are now higher than they were in 2019. Combined with cost-cutting measures adopted during the Covid-19 crisis, VINCI Airports printed substantial increases in both profit and cash flow to high levels. In addition, the purchase of a near-30% stake in the Mexican airports operator OMA, which handled 23 million passengers in 2022, was completed at the end of the year.

Despite higher fuel prices, VINCI Autoroutes’ traffic levels were higher than pre-pandemic levels for both light and heavy vehicles. VINCI Autoroutes also deployed new initiatives to help decarbonise road mobility.

VINCI Highways continued to build its international footprint. For example, it is currently finalising the purchase of a majority stake in a Brazilian motorway, and it took control in the United States of a company specialising in electronic toll management.

VINCI Energies continued to grow its business and increase its profitability, while further extending its network with around 30 new acquisitions including the IT services business of Kontron AG, which covers 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Another highlight of 2022, in the Energy business, was the successful integration of Cobra IS. It won a number of major contracts linked to energy transition.

Regarding renewable energy production, the Group will enter a new phase in 2023 when its Belmonte solar farm in Brazil, with a capacity of 0.6 GW, comes into operation. New projects adding a further 1.4 GW of capacity are scheduled to enter the construction phase in the coming months, in Spain and Latin America.

VINCI Construction saw very strong business levels and improved its margin, despite higher costs and supply chain difficulties. Its highly selective policy in taking on new business and its new organisation are bearing fruits.

The Group’s order book remains very robust, allowing it to plan ahead with visibility and serenity.

Finally, the ongoing megatrends among global economies and societies - faster energy transition through the production of renewable energy, decarbonisation of transport infrastructure and buildings, digital revolution – will require massive investments.

These developments are all opportunities for VINCI to achieve sustainable growth while delivering on its ambition of achieving an all-round performance.

VINCI’s Board of Directors, chaired by Xavier Huillard, met on 8 February 2023 to finalise the 2022 financial statements, which will be submitted for approval at the Shareholders’ General Meeting on 13 April 2023. The Board approved the payment of a €4.0 dividend with respect to 2022, payable entirely in cash.

 

I. Strong earnings growth and record free cash flow

VINCI’s 2022 financial statements show a sharp rise in revenue and earnings compared with 2021. All business lines posted significant growth in earnings, taking them very close to or above levels achieved before the Covid-19 pandemic. This good momentum came along with record free cash flow.

Consolidated revenue totalled €61.7 billion, up 25% on an actual basis relative to 2021 and up 11% like-for-like. Changes in scope – mainly the integration of Cobra IS, which was acquired in late 2021 – boosted revenue by 12.5%. Exchange rate movements had a positive impact of 1.5%, due to the rise in the US dollar and many other currencies against the euro.

Relative to 2019, the year before the Covid-19 crisis, revenue was up 28%.

For the first time in VINCI’s history, international revenue exceeded that generated in France (55% in 2022 as opposed to 47% in 2021).

Concessions revenue totalled €9.2 billion, up 30% on an actual basis compared with 2021 and up 7% relative to 2019, including:
   - VINCI Autoroutes: €6.0 billion, up 8% (up 7% compared with 2019);
   - VINCI Airports: €2.7 billion, more than twice the revenue achieved in 2021 (up 2% relative to 2019);
   - VINCI Highways⁸ : €0.3 billion, 55% more than in 2021 (up 62% compared with 2019).

Revenue at VINCI Energies totalled €16.7 billion, up 11% on an actual basis or 8% like-for-like compared with 2021. Revenue growth accelerated in the fourth quarter of 2022 (up 14% on an actual basis and up 11% like-for-like compared with the fourth quarter of 2021) both in France and abroad. This firm momentum reflects VINCI Energies’ strong position in some particularly buoyant markets – energy and digital transitions– as a result of its wide range of expertise and dense network of companies. The latter continued to expand in 2022, the recent acquisitions⁹ boosted revenue growth by around €260 million.
   - In France (44% of the total), revenue was €7.4 billion, up 10% on an actual basis and up 9% like-for-like.
   - Outside France (56% of the total), revenue came to €9.4 billion, up 12% on an actual basis and up 7% like-for-like. Revenue rose in almost all countries in which VINCI Energies operates.

Revenue at Cobra IS amounted to €5.5 billion, with 45% coming from Spain and 35% from Latin America. Cobra IS was buoyed by good momentum in its flow business – particularly in Spain and Mexico – and in large EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) projects mainly in the renewable energy sector.

Revenue at VINCI Construction totalled €29.3 billion, up 11% on an actual basis and up 8% like-for-like compared with 2021, driven by its international activities.
   - In France (45% of the total), revenue was €13.1 billion, up 2% on an actual basis. Business remained firm in public works for most of the year. In building, it was buoyed by refurbishment works and construction of public buildings and hospitals.
   - Outside France (55% of the total), revenue was €16.2 billion, up 20% on an actual basis and up 14% like-for-like. Business levels were up in the Major Projects Division – reflecting progress with large contracts won previously – and in the Specialty Networks (Soletanche Freyssinet). They were also dynamic in the United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic, North America and Oceania.

VINCI Immobilier’s revenue amounted to €1.5 billion, down 5% relative to 2021. The slight decline resulted from a high base for comparison, but also tougher conditions in the French real estate sector: land prices remain high and technical costs are rising. Higher interest rates are also adversely affecting demand from individuals and institutional investors in the residential and non-residential segments. On the other hand, the managed residences business continues to grow (Ovelia, Student Factory and Bikube) with 37 residences in operation and 22 under construction.

Ebitda rose sharply to €10.2 billion (€7.9 billion in 2021 and €8.5 billion in 2019). It equalled 16.6% of revenue (16.0% in 2021 and 17.7% in 2019).

Operating income from ordinary activities (Ebit) was €6.8 billion, much higher than in previous years (€4.7 billion in 2021 and €5.7 billion in 2019). It included:
   • €4.2 billion from the Concessions business. Ebit has continued to rise at VINCI Autoroutes (€3.1 billion). After two years of losses, VINCI Airports saw Ebit turn strongly positive again (€1.0 billion) due to a strong rebound in passenger numbers and a firm grip on operating costs;
   • €1.1 billion at VINCI Energies, with Ebit margin continuing to rise to 6.8% (up 30 basis points year on year and up 80 basis points relative to 2019);
   • €0.4 billion at Cobra IS, representing Ebit margin of 7.4%, which makes the company one of the best-in-class in its profession;
   • €1.1 billion at VINCI Construction, with Ebit margin rising year on year to 3.8%, its highest level for many years, despite cost inflation.

Consolidated net income attributable to owners of the parent amounted to €4.3 billion giving earnings per share¹⁰ of €7.47. This represents a very sharp increase relative to both 2021 (€2.6 billion¹¹ and €4.51 per share) and 2019 (€3.3 billion and €5.82 per share).

Free cash flow hit a record €5.4 billion (€5.3 billion in 2021, €4.0 billion in 2020 and €4.2 billion in 2019). This was driven by higher Ebitda, a stabilization of the working capital requirement following a high level of cash collection at the end of the year, and a firm grip on operating investments.

Consolidated net financial debt at 31 December 2022 was €18.5 billion. This represents a decrease of €1.0 billion relative to 31 December 2021¹² after taking into account financial investments during the period (€2.7 billion), dividend payments (€1.9 billion) and share buy-backs (€1.1 billion).

 

II. Strong operational performance

In 2022, traffic levels at VINCI Autoroutes remained well oriented, growing 6.0% relative to 2021 and 1.7% compared with the pre-pandemic figure in 2019.

Despite higher fuel prices and fuel shortages in the fourth quarter, light vehicle traffic rose 6.7% year on year¹³ (up 1.1% compared with 2019), while heavy vehicle traffic was up 2.0% (up 5.1% relative to 2019) because activity in the French economy and in the e-commerce sector was firm.

The recovery in VINCI Airports’ passenger numbers accelerated throughout the year, despite a geopolitical context that was affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Passenger numbers at airports in Portugal, Belgrade and several Latin America countries are now above 2019 levels. In Asia, the trend improved towards the end of the year as public health restrictions were eased in the area. In Japan, domestic passenger numbers rose back to 2019 levels.

Overall, the network’s airports handled 187 million passengers in 2022¹⁴, 72.5% of the 2019 figure (of which 83% in the fourth quarter of 2022) and more than twice the 2021 level.

In renewable energies, the construction started for the Belmonte solar farm developed by Cobra IS in Brazil. The facility will have a capacity of 570 MW and will start to produce electricity around mid-2023.

Order intake at VINCI Energies, Cobra IS and VINCI Construction totalled €55.7 billion in 2022, up 32% year on year (up 13% excluding Cobra IS). At VINCI Energies, it amounted to a record €17.9 billion (up 12%). Order intake at VINCI Construction (up 13% at €29.8 billion) and Cobra IS (€8.0 billion) also rose sharply, thanks to flow business holding well and the large contracts won in the recent months. It was not held back by the Group’s selective policy regarding new business.

Overall, the order book amounted to €57.3 billion at 31 December 2022. This represents a 9% increase (4% excluding Cobra IS) relative to 31 December 2021 and represents 13 months of average business activity. As a result, VINCI has good visibility, allowing it to continue being selective in terms of new projects. International business made up 69% of the order book, as opposed to 68% at 31 December 2021.

At VINCI Immobilier, the number of housing units reserved in France was 6,059, down 17% compared with 2021, when there was a sharp post-Covid rebound in activity.

 

III. Financial position

VINCI had a large amount of liquidity at 31 December 2022, totalling almost €20 billion and comprising:
   - net cash of €9.2 billion;
   - confirmed bank credit facilities unused by VINCI SA totalling €10.5 billion, including an €8.0 billion facility, due to expire in November 2025 for most of the amount, and another €2.5 billion facility due to expire in July 2024.

At 31 December 2022, the Group’s gross long-term financial debt, before taking into account net cash, totalled €27.8 billion, most of which was owed by VINCI Autoroutes and VINCI Airports. Its average maturity was 6.9 years (7.3 years at 31 December 2021) and its average cost was 2.5% (2.1% in 2021).

Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s confirmed its confidence in the Group’s credit quality by maintaining its A- long-term rating, and Moody’s did likewise by maintaining its A3 rating, both with stable outlook.

The Group carried out several bond issues in 2022:
   - in August, its ASF (Autoroutes du Sud de la France) subsidiary issued €850 million of bonds due to mature in September 2032 with a coupon of 2.75%. The size of the transaction was increased to €925 million after the public issue was completed;
   - in October, VINCI SA issued €650 million of bonds due to mature in October 2032 with a coupon of 3.375%.

In January 2023, ASF issued €700 million of bonds due to mature in January 2033 with a coupon of 3.25%.

These transactions enabled the Group to preserve the average maturity of its debt while taking advantage of terms that are attractive in view of the current market environment.

 

IV. Dividend

On 8 February 2023, the Board of Directors decided to propose a 2022 dividend of €4.0 per share to the Shareholders’ General Meeting on 13 April 2023, reflecting its confidence in the Group’s prospects.

Since an interim dividend of €1.0 per share was paid in November 2022, the final dividend payment on 27 April 2023 will be €3.0 per share, all cash, if approved in the Shareholders’ General Meeting.

 

V. Outlook for 2023

VINCI is going into 2023 with confidence.

At this stage, barring any exceptional events, the Group expects further increase – although more limited than in 2022 - in revenue and operating income in 2023.

Thus, its net income, despite a substantial increase in financial costs, could be slightly higher than the level achieved in 2022.

2023 forecasts for each business line are as follows:
   • VINCI Autoroutes expects over the full year traffic levels to be similar to those seen in 2022;
   • VINCI Airports is forecasting a further recovery in passenger numbers¹⁵ - without overall recovering as early as 2023 their levels of 2019 because the rebound has been longer to materialise in Asia – and a further improvement in its operating earnings;
   • VINCI Energies should see further business growth, driven by continuing positive trends in its markets and the integration of recent acquisitions, while solidifying its operating margin¹⁶;
   • Cobra IS, supported by its robust order book, is expecting revenue growth of at least 10% thanks to the large EPC projects won recently and good momentum in flow business;
   • New projects are likely to be added to the renewable energy portfolio and the total capacity, in operation or under construction, will be at least 2 GW by the end of the year;    • VINCI Construction will remain selective and should see business stabilise while continuing improvement in operating margin¹⁶.

 

VI. Other highlights

· Main recent developments

VINCI Energies completed acquisitions of 31 new companies in 2022, representing full-year revenue of €745 million and including:
   - The majority of the IT services business of German-based group Kontron AG (previously S&T AG). This transaction, completed in late December, will enable VINCI Energies to strengthen its ICT (information and communication technology) business and develop its Axians brand in 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe;
   - Rhön-Montage Group in Germany, in FTTH (fiber to the home) infrastructure services in Germany;
   - TLT-Building and TLT-Connection in Finland, strengthening VINCI Energies’ Nordic presence in energy and telecoms infrastructure.

In January 2023, VINCI Energies announced the acquisition of Norway’s Otera AS, which designs, builds and maintains electricity transmission and distribution networks.

Cobra IS
   - Public-private partnership (PPP) contract in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil, to finance, design and build six 500 kV power transmission lines over a distance of 1,020 km, and then operate and maintain them over a 30-year period.
   - Start of the works in 2022 of the 0.6 GW Belmonte solar farm in Brazil (Pernambuco state). They should end mid-2023.
   - In addition, obtention at year-end 2022 of permits (of which land use permits, environmental authorisations, approvals on grid connections) for some new photovoltaic projects, with a combined capacity of around 1.4 GW: Raois do Parnaiba and Mondo Novo in Brazil (total capacity of 0.6 GW) and a dozen of projects in Spain (total capacity of 0.8 GW). Works should begin in the coming months.
   - Maintenance and upgrade to technical and environmental standards of the facilities of Polo Carmópolis, a cluster of assets acquired from Petrobras in 11 onshore oil and natural gas field concessions, in the Brazilian state of Sergipe (Brazil). The process began in 2021 before VINCI acquired Cobra IS, and a strategic review of this transaction will be carried out in 2023.

VINCI Construction
   - Closing of the acquisition of several Canadian companies specialising in roadworks and the production of asphalt mixes and aggregates in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia from the family-owned Northern Group of Companies.
   - Acquisition of two US companies – Farrell Design-Build in California and Earth Tech in Florida – which specialise in ground improvement and foundation technologies.

In early 2023, VINCI Construction announced the acquisition of HJR Asphalt LP, one of the main roadworks companies in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The transaction allows VINCI Construction to develop a long-term business in this province, which it previously served from Alberta.

These various transactions have strengthened VINCI Construction’s foothold in North America.

VINCI Highways
   - Olympia Odos – which is 29.9%-owned by VINCI Concessions and holds the concession for the motorway connecting Corinth and Patras – signed a concession extension with the Greek authorities in late March 2022. The extension relates to a new 75 km section of the motorway, extending it to the city of Pyrgos in the north-west Peloponnese. VINCI Concessions and its partners will be responsible for designing, financing and building this new section, and then operating it until 2044.
   - In Canada, acquisition of OMERS Infrastructure’s 65.1% interest in Strait Crossing Development Inc. (SCDI), which holds the concession for the Confederation Bridge connecting the Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick until 2032. VINCI Highways is a long-standing shareholder of SCDI, and the transaction increased its stake from 19.9% to 85%.
   - In Greece, a deal to increase VINCI Highways’ stake in the company holding the concession for the Rion–Antirion bridge from 57.4% to 72.3%.
   - Transaction to take full control of US company TollPlus, which specialises in operating electronic toll systems.
   - In Portugal, an increase in its stake in Lusoponte, which holds concessions for two bridges over the Tagus river in Lisbon until 2030, from 41.0% to 49.5%.

In December 2022, VINCI Highways formed an agreement to acquire a 55% stake in Entrevias – which holds concessions for two toll motorway sections in Brazil, covering a total distance of 570 km in São Paulo state until 2047 – from Brazil’s Patria investment fund. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2023.
VINCI Airports
   - In December 2022, completion of the purchase of a 29.99% stake in OMA, which holds concessions for 13 airports in Northern and Central Mexico until 2048, from the Mexican investment firm Fintech. The airports handled 23 million passengers in 2022, of which 11 million at Monterrey, the industrial capital of the country. OMA is fully consolidated in the Group’s financial statements.
   - In July 2022, VINCI Airports and its Portuguese subsidiary ANA signed a 40-year concession contract to operate the seven airports in the Cape Verde archipelago, which handled 2.8 million passengers in 2019. These airports’ operations will be transferred to the new concession company once the transaction has closed, which should take place in 2023.

 

· Main contract wins in the second half of 2022

VINCI Energies
   - EPC power supply contract for a ferry operator’s terminal in the port of Rotterdam.
   - Management of the city of Lisbon’s public transport network, including smart ticketing systems and a leading-edge IoT (internet of things) architecture, which will control the network’s components remotely.
   - Turnkey construction of several electrical installations in Kuwait, forming part of the project to interconnect the power systems of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and its extension to Iraq.
   - Rural electrification contracts in Rwanda, financed by the World Bank and the Agence Française de Développement.

Cobra IS
   - Design-build contract for Germany’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal at the mouth of the Elbe on the North Sea.
   - In Brazil, in addition to the aforementioned PPP contract, a contract to design and build 1,000 km of high-voltage transmission lines in the state of Minas Gerais.
   - Contract to design, build and install two offshore windfarm energy converter platforms in the North Sea for Amprion Offshore, with total capacity of 2 GW, in association with Siemens Energy.

In January 2023, Cobra IS also announced that it had won a design-build-install contract for two further converter platforms in the North Sea with total capacity of 4 GW, also for Amprion Offshore and in association with Siemens Energy.

VINCI Construction
   - Contract to build a section of the new subway Ontario Line in Toronto, Canada.
   - Groundworks contract for a major property development on Hong Kong’s new seafront.
   - Design-build contract relating to drinking water supply infrastructure in Uganda.
   - Construction of non-motorised mobility and climate-resilient infrastructure in the port of Wellington, New Zealand.

 

· Corporate governance
At the upcoming Shareholders’ General Meeting, to be held on 13 April 2023, resolutions will be put to the vote to:
   - renew the term of office of Caroline Grégoire Sainte Marie as Director;
   - appoint Carlos F. Aguilar and Annette Messemer as Directors, with the understanding that the terms of office of Robert Castaigne, Ana Paula Pessoa and Pascale Sourisse as Directors will end at the close of this same meeting.

It should be noted that Dominique Muller’s term of office as Director will also end at the close of the Shareholders’ General Meeting of 13 April 2023. She will be replaced by a new Director representing employee shareholders, who will be appointed by vote of the shareholders at the meeting, in accordance with the procedure specified in Article 11.2 of VINCI’s Articles of Association.

 

· Environmental ambition

A highlight of the year was the continuing implementation of actions and initiatives relating to the Group’s environmental strategy, focused on its three pillars: climate change, circular economy and preservation of natural environments.

The Group’s target, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in early 2022, is to reduce its scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions¹⁷ by 40% by 2030 compared with 2018 levels and its scope 3 GHG emissions10 by 20% by 2030 compared with 2019 levels.

In 2022, the Group accelerated the deployment of its energy conservation plan, following the international tensions on the supply chain of gas and electricity.

At 31 December 2022, the Group had reduced its direct GHG emissions by 13% compared with 2018 levels, and is thus on track to meet its 2030 target.

 

· Share capital

On 21 December 2022, pursuant to the authorisation given by shareholders in the Combined Shareholders’ General Meeting of 12 April 2022, the Board of Directors decided to reduce VINCI’s share capital by cancelling 8.6 million shares repurchased in the market in 2022 and held in treasury.

At 31 December 2022, therefore, VINCI’s capital consisted of 589.4 million shares, including 25.8 million treasury shares (4.4% of the capital at that date).

In addition, as part of its share buy-back programme, VINCI signed a share purchase agreement with an investment services provider on 3 January 2023. Under that agreement, which runs from 4 January until 29 March 2023, the provider will purchase up to €250 million of VINCI shares on VINCI’s behalf. The price paid for those shares may not exceed the limit set at VINCI’s Combined Shareholders’ General Meeting of 12 April 2022.

 

¹ 2019, benchmark year preceding the health crisis.
² Excluding concession subsidiaries’ revenue derived from works carried out by non-Group companies (see glossary).
³ Non-recurring changes in deferred tax in the United Kingdom had a €200 million negative impact on net income attributable to owners of the parent in 2021.
⁴ At 31 December.
⁵ Figures adjusted compared to published financial statements as part of the final purchase price allocation for Cobra IS’ acquisition.
⁶ Net cash managed and confirmed bank credit facilities unused by VINCI SA at year-end.
⁷ Of which Cobra IS: order intake of €8.0 billion in 2022; order book of €11.1 billion at 31 December 2022 and €8.3 billion at 31 December 2021.
⁸ Figures at 100% including passenger numbers at all managed airports over the full period, excluding Skavsta airport in Sweden, which was sold in May 2022. The 13 Mexican airports operated by OMA joined VINCI Airports on 8 December 2022.
⁹ Motorways outside France and management of electronic toll activities.
¹⁰ 31 acquisitions were completed in 2022 and 29 in 2021.
¹¹ After taking account of dilutive instruments.
¹² €2.8 billion excluding the non-recurring deferred tax expense in the United Kingdom that was recognised in 2021.
¹³ Net financial debt at 31 December 2021 adjusted compared to published financial statements as part of the final purchase price allocation for Cobra IS’ acquisition .
¹⁴ Several types of restrictions on movement were in force in Europe in the first half of 2021: France saw a curfew until 20 June 2021, a lockdown from 3 April to 3 May 2021 including a ban on travelling more than 10 km from the home, the closure of many public spaces and restrictions on travel between countries.
¹⁵ Figures at 100% including passenger numbers at all managed airports over the full period, excluding Skavsta airport in Sweden, which was sold in May 2022, and excluding the 13 Mexican airports operated by OMA, which joined VINCI Airports on 8 December 2022. The traffic levels of OMA are above their pre-Covid 19 levels since July and equivalent for the full year 2022 – 23 million of passengers handled– to the level of 2019.
¹⁶Figures at 100% including passenger numbers at all managed airports over the full period.
¹⁷ Ebit / revenue.
¹⁸ Scopes 1 and 2 refer to the direct emissions from the Group’s business activities, while scope 3 corresponds to indirect emissions, including both upstream emissions, mainly from the materials used by the Group, and downstream emissions, primarily from the operation of buildings delivered by VINCI and the use of transport infrastructure managed by VINCI.

 

 

 

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.