AMBP Ardagh Metal Packaging SA

LUXEMBOURG, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (NYSE: AMBP) today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.

Oliver Graham, CEO of Ardagh Metal Packaging, said

"AMP delivered a year of strong earnings growth, with Adjusted EBITDA increasing by 21% and in excess of plan. This performance demonstrates the resilience of the business in managing unprecedented inflationary pressures and supply chain disruption. The team performed an exceptional job supporting customers and partnering on their growth ambitions. The year finished strongly with global shipments rising by 6% in the quarter. Demand remains strong, backed by sustainability and innovation tailwinds. Confidence in the strength and resilience of AMP's end markets is underpinned by further expanding the customer contracted growth investment program."

• Adjusted EBITDA growth for the quarter of 19% to $165 million at constant currency, driven by a 26% advance in the Americas, where growth reflected higher shipments and a favorable mix. In Europe, Adjusted EBITDA grew by 6% on a constant currency basis, as a strong volume performance in the period was partly offset by input cost inflation.
• Global beverage can shipments grew by 6% in the quarter, despite a strong prior year comparable, with growth of 6% in North America and 11% in Europe. Growth in both regions was broad-based and reflected the diversity of the Group's customer base and end markets.
• Specialty can penetration increased, reflecting our investment program, reaching 48% of shipments in the quarter and 45% for the year.
• Growth investment program continued to advance strongly; Huron (OH) facility commenced ends production in November, our Winston Salem (NC) expansion recently started can production, while our two new high-speed lines in Olive Branch (MS) continued their successful ramp-up. European projects also advanced well, with new capacity commissioning in the United Kingdom and Germany in the first half of 2022, while Brazil can and ends capacity was also increased during the year.
• Strong cash generation in 2021 – with Adjusted free cashflow before Growth Investment capital expenditure for the year of $389 million and liquidity approaching $800 million at year-end. Net leverage was under 3.7x Adjusted EBITDA at December 31, 2021.  
• To enable cash returns to shareholders, in tandem with executing the growth investments, AMP will in future maintain net leverage in the range 3.75 to 4.0x 12-months forward looking Adjusted EBITDA. This range will govern annual cash returns to shareholders.
• • Planned cash return to shareholders of $400 million in calendar 2022, thereafter annual cash returns to shareholders increasing progressively in line with business and cash flow growth.
  • 2022 cash return via three quarterly dividends of $0.10 per share, totaling ~$180 million. The balance of $220 million to be paid before year end as the fourth quarter dividend. AMP to launch a $600 million issue of non-convertible preference shares in the near future.
• 2022 outlook: growth investments underpin mid-to-high teens percentage shipment growth for the year and Adjusted EBITDA in the order of $775 million, after a currency translation headwind of ~$20 million. Q1 2022 Adjusted EBITDA expected to be broadly in line with the prior year constant currency outturn of $144 million.

Group Performance

Fourth Quarter

Group

Revenue of $1,087 million for the fourth quarter increased by $194 million, or 22%, at both actual and constant exchange rates, compared with the same period last year, mainly reflecting strong volume/mix growth and the pass through to customers of higher input costs.

Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $165 million increased by 18% at actual exchange rates compared with the same period last year. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 19%, principally due to favorable volume/mix effects, which includes an impact from the Group's growth investment program.

Americas

Fourth quarter revenue increased by 28% to $632 million, compared with the same period last year, principally reflecting favorable volume/mix effects and the pass through of higher input costs.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter of $111 million increased by 26%, compared with $88 million in the same period last year, due to favorable volume/mix effects, which includes an impact of the Group's growth investment program, and strong cost management.

Europe

Revenue of $455 million increased by 14% in the fourth quarter, compared with the same period last year. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 16%, principally due to favorable volume/mix effects and the pass through of higher input costs.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter of $54 million increased by $2 million, or 4%, at actual exchange rates, and by 6% at constant currency, compared with the same period last year. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was principally due to a strong volume performance, partly offset by input cost inflation.

Full Year

Group

Revenue increased by $604 million, or 18%, to $4,055 million in 2021, compared with $3,451 million in 2020. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 15%, principally due to favorable volume/mix effects, which includes an impact of the Group's growth investment program and the pass through to customers of higher input costs.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $117 million, to $662 million in 2021, compared with $545 million in 2020. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 19%, principally due to favorable volume/mix effects, which includes an impact of the Group's growth investment program and strong cost management.

Americas

Revenue increased by $365 million, or 20%, to $2,217 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $1,852 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. Revenue growth reflected favorable volume/mix effects of 7%, and the pass through of higher input costs.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $85 million, or 29%, to $381 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $296 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. Adjusted EBITDA growth was mainly driven by favorable volume/mix effects, including a positive impact from the Group's growth investment program.

Europe

Revenue increased by $239 million, or 15%, to $1,838 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $1,599 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. On a constant currency basis, the increase in revenue of 9%, principally reflects favorable volume/mix effects of 4% and the pass through of higher input costs.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $32 million, or 13%, to $281 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $249 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. Excluding favorable foreign currency translation effects of $13 million, the increase in Adjusted EBITDA of 7% reflected favorable volume/mix effects, which included a contribution from the Group's growth investment program, as well as operating cost savings.

Sustainability

During 2021, AMP significantly advanced its sustainability agenda. AMP's revised strategy, overseen by the Board Sustainability Committee, commits AMP to achieving science based sustainability targets through the Science-Based Targets initiative, whereby AMP will set specific goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement 2015, under which governments mutually pledged to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5°C. In 2021, Ardagh has, once again, been awarded a Gold sustainability assessment by Ecovadis and Leadership Class ratings by CDP (formally the Carbon Disclosure Project), gaining A- in respect of climate change and A- in respect of water management. Community giving back initiatives were also increased during the year and AMP is re-investing in its people through various training programs.

Earnings Webcast and Conference Call Details

Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (NYSE: AMBP) will hold its fourth quarter 2021 earnings webcast and conference call for investors at 9.00 a.m. EST (2.00 p.m. BST) on February 24, 2022. Please use the following webcast link to register for this call:

Webcast registration and access:

https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1525306&tp_key=d6c5698510

Conference call dial in:

United States/Canada: +1 800 239 9838
International: +44 330 336 9105
Participant pin code: 8922974

Slides

Supplemental slides to accompany this release are available at https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/corporate/investors

About Ardagh Metal Packaging

Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) is a leading global supplier of infinitely recyclable, sustainable, metal beverage cans and ends to brand owners. A subsidiary of sustainable packaging business Ardagh Group, AMP is a leading industry player across Europe and the Americas with innovative production capabilities. AMP operates 24 production facilities in nine countries, employing close to 5,800 employees and had sales of $4.1 billion in 2021.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

This press release may contain certain financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted operating cash flow, Adjusted free cash flow, net debt and ratios relating thereto that are not calculated in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures may be considered in addition to GAAP financial information, but should not be used as substitutes for the corresponding GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures used by AMP may differ from, and not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Related Footnotes

(1) For information related to and including the period prior to April 1, 2021, please refer to the unaudited combined interim financial statements prepared on a carve-out basis from the consolidated financial statements of Ardagh Group S.A., as included in the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of the Group for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, which are available at: https://www.ardaghmetalpackaging.com/corporate/investors 

For information related to the period ended December 31, 2020, please refer to the audited combined financial statements of the AMP Business for the year ended December 31, 2020, as included on pages F–2 to F-60 of Amendment No. 3 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-4 (333-254005) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on June 22, 2021 (the "Form F-4").

(2) For a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measures, see Page 9.

(3) Net debt is comprised of net borrowings, net of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash held in escrow. Net borrowings comprises non-current and current borrowings including lease obligations.

(4) Cash from operations for the three months ended December 31, 2021 is derived from the aggregate of Adjusted EBITDA as presented on Page 9, working capital inflows of $209 million and other exceptional cash outflows of $38 million. Cash from operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 is derived from the aggregate of Adjusted EBITDA as presented on Page 9, working capital inflows of $16 million and other exceptional cash outflows of $67 million.

(5) AMP does not present a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure for Adjusted EBITDA for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020 because such information was historically reported to provide information about reportable segments of the Ardagh Group S.A. and its subsidiaries.

(6) Exceptional operating items for the year ended December 31, 2021 of $272 million is primarily comprised of an expense of $205 million relating to the service for the listing of the Shares upon the completion of the Business Combination on August 4, 2021, $41 million of professional advisory fees in relation to the Business Combination and transactions and other costs related to transformation initiatives, and $30 million start-up related costs incurred for the Group's investment programs.

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SOURCE Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.