Novelis Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results

ATLANTA, Aug. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Q1 Fiscal Year 2022 Highlights

• Net income from continuing operations of $303 million, up 597% YoY; net income from continuing operations excluding special items of $260 million versus $22 million in the prior year
• Shipments of 973 kilotonnes, up 26% YoY
• Adjusted EBITDA of $555 million, up 119% YoY; Adjusted EBITDA per ton shipped reached $570 ($522 excluding non-recurring tax litigation benefit), up 75% YoY and up 11% sequentially from Q4FY21
• Reached targeted net leverage ratio of 2.5x, compared to 3.8x in Q1FY21 and 2.9x at fiscal 2021 year end

Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today reported net income attributable to its common shareholder of $240 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared to a net loss of $79 million in the prior year period. Net income from continuing operations increased to $303 million compared to a net loss of $61 million in the prior year, which had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and acquisition-related special items. Excluding special items in both years, first quarter fiscal year 2022 net income from continuing operations of $260 million is up significantly compared to $22 million in the prior year, driven mainly by higher after-tax Adjusted EBITDA.

Net sales increased 59 percent to $3.9 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared to $2.4 billion in the prior year period, primarily driven by a 26 percent increase in shipments, favorable product mix and higher average aluminum prices. Total flat rolled product shipments increased to 973 kilotonnes in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared to 774 kilotonnes in the prior year period, mainly a result of strong demand across end markets in the current year, compared to a soft prior year shipment quarter impacted by temporary customer shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Current year beverage packaging and specialty product shipments benefited from strong market demand, while automotive shipments are more than double the prior year despite some headwinds from the current semiconductor chip shortage impacting the automotive industry.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 119 percent to $555 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared to $253 million in the prior year period. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is primarily due to higher volume and favorable product mix, as well as metal benefits and a $47 million gain related to a favorable decision in a Brazilian tax litigation, partially offset by higher costs resulting from higher production volume and inflationary cost pressures. Novelis achieved an Adjusted EBITDA per ton shipped of $570 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to $327 in the prior year and $514 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. Excluding the non-recurring tax litigation benefit, Adjusted EBITDA per ton equates to $522 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.

"Our strategy to grow a diverse portfolio of sustainable aluminum products utilizing our leading geographic footprint to meet strong demand has again delivered outstanding results in the quarter," said Steve Fisher, President and CEO, Novelis Inc. "With new automotive capacity in the US and China now ramping up and the financial fortitude to continue to invest in growth opportunities aligned with our long-term carbon neutrality goals, we will further expand our leading position in delivering low-carbon, sustainable aluminum solutions across premium end markets worldwide."

Free cash flow from continuing operations was an outflow of $30 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to the prior year period outflow of $146 million. This improvement versus the prior year is driven primarily by higher Adjusted EBITDA and favorable metal price lag, largely offset by higher working capital requirements including rising aluminum prices. The company reached its targeted net leverage ratio (net debt / TTM Adjusted EBITDA) of 2.5x at the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to 3.8x in the prior year period after the close of the Aleris acquisition and 2.9x in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021.

"Novelis has achieved a milestone $2 billion of Adjusted EBITDA on a trailing 12-month basis, driving rapid improvement in our net leverage ratio and providing significant financial flexibility to grow the business within our capital allocation framework," said Devinder Ahuja, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Novelis Inc.

The company continues to maintain a strong total liquidity position of $2.3 billion as of June 30, 2021.

Recognizing the continued steady improvement in Novelis' business and end markets, on July 22, 2021, S&P Global Ratings raised its issuer credit rating on Novelis to 'BB' from 'BB-'. The following week, Novelis launched an offering of $750 million 3.25% Senior Notes due 2026 and $750 million 3.875% Senior Notes due 2031. Proceeds of the offering will be used toward the redemption of all its outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2026.  Novelis expects to close the offering of the Notes on August 11, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 Earnings Conference Call

Novelis will discuss its first quarter fiscal year 2022 results via a live webcast and conference call for investors at 7:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, August 4, 2021. To view slides and listen only, visit https://cc.callinfo.com/r/1vq34fimz85b5&eom. To join by telephone, dial toll-free in North America at 800-908-8951, India toll-free at 18002662122 or the international toll line at +1-212-271-4651. Presentation materials and access information can also be found at novelis.com/investors.

About Novelis

Novelis Inc. is driven by its purpose to shape a sustainable world together. As a global leader in innovative products and services and the world's largest recycler of aluminum, we partner with customers in the aerospace, automotive, beverage can and specialties industries to deliver solutions that maximize the benefits of lightweight aluminum throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, an industry leader in aluminum and copper, and the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai. For more information, visit novelis.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release and the presentation slides for the earnings call contain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC rules. We believe these measures are helpful to investors in measuring our financial performance and liquidity and comparing our performance to our peers. However, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial measures. To the extent we discuss any non-GAAP financial measures on the earnings call, a reconciliation of each measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure will be available in the presentation slides filed as Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the SEC concurrently with the issuance of this news release. In addition, the Form 8-K includes a more detailed description of each of these non-GAAP financial measures, together with a discussion of the usefulness and purpose of such measures.

Attached to this news release are tables showing the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Liquidity, Net Income from continuing operations excluding Special Items, and Segment Information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this news release which describe Novelis' intentions, expectations, beliefs or predictions may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by, or including the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," or similar expressions. Examples of forward looking statements in this news release are statements about our ability to reach our long-term carbon neutrality goals and expand our business. Novelis cautions that, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty and Novelis' actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. We do not intend, and we disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ from the results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, among other things: changes in the prices and availability of aluminum (or premiums associated with such prices) or other materials and raw materials we use; the capacity and effectiveness of our hedging activities; relationships with, and financial and operating conditions of, our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders; fluctuations in the supply of, and prices for, energy in the areas in which we maintain production facilities; our ability to access financing including in connection with potential acquisitions and investments; risks arising out of our acquisition of Aleris Corporation, including uncertainties inherent in the acquisition method of accounting; disruption to our global aluminum production and supply chain as a result of COVID-19; changes in the relative values of various currencies and the effectiveness of our currency hedging activities; factors affecting our operations, such as litigation, environmental remediation and clean-up costs, breakdown of equipment and other events; economic, regulatory and political factors within the countries in which we operate or sell our products, including changes in duties or tariffs; competition from other aluminum rolled products producers as well as from substitute materials such as steel, glass, plastic and composite materials; changes in general economic conditions including deterioration in the global economy; the risks of pandemics or other public health emergencies, including the continued spread and impact of, and the governmental and third party response to, the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak; changes in government regulations, particularly those affecting taxes, derivative instruments, environmental, health or safety compliance; changes in interest rates that have the effect of increasing the amounts we pay under our credit facilities and other financing agreements; and our ability to generate cash. The above list of factors is not exhaustive. Other important risk factors are included under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

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SOURCE Novelis Inc.