Boskalis 2017 net result in line with expectations

08-03-2018 Papendrecht

HIGHLIGHTS IN 2017
• Revenue: EUR 2.34 billion
• EBITDA: EUR 437 million
• Net profit: EUR 150 million
• Order book: EUR 3.50 billion
• Proposed dividend: EUR 1.00 per share

OUTLOOK
• Mixed market picture to continue
• Reasonable market volume at Dredging & Inland Infra
• Continued supply/demand imbalance at Offshore Energy services
• New opportunities in Offshore Energy contracting
• Stable market volume at Towage

Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) achieved a net profit of EUR 150 million in 2017, in line with expectations. This compares to a net loss of EUR 564 million in 2016 as a result of EUR 840 million of non-cash impairment charges.

Revenue declined by 10 per cent to EUR 2.34 billion (2016: EUR 2.60 billion). Adjusted for consolidation, deconsolidation and currency effects, revenue was down 15 per cent.

EBITDA amounted to EUR 437 million and the operating result (EBIT) was EUR 185 million (2016 EBITDA: EUR 661 million and EBIT: EUR 385 million, both adjusted for impairment charges).

Dredging & Inland Infra had a relatively busy year after an exceptionally weak 2016. Both revenue and the fleet utilization rose, fueled by a number of large projects in progress in Brazil, Indonesia, India and Oman. The results from ongoing dredging projects were lower than in previous years while projects that were technically completed previously once again made a positive contribution to the result.

Revenue and the segment result at Offshore Energy declined further compared to previous years, due in part to the poor market conditions in the oil and gas industry. The various activities nevertheless made a reasonable to good contribution to the result.

The result at Towage & Salvage declined compared to last year, mainly as a result of weak market conditions and one-off charges at Towage. Following a very quiet start to the year, Salvage ended 2017 well with a couple of large emergency response contracts.

Boskalis’ financial position remains strong with a solvency ratio of 63% and a limited net debt of EUR 120 million.

The order book increased to EUR 3.50 billion (end-2016: EUR 2.92 billion).

Peter Berdowski, CEO of Boskalis:
“Despite the difficult market conditions we ended the year quite reasonably, in line with our expectations. Furthermore, in the first year good progress was achieved with the implementation of our 2017-2019 corporate business. This included the acquisition of Gardline, a renowned British player in the marine survey market, in which we aim to build a presence. In addition, we added two modern diving support vessels to our fleet, considerably strengthening our position in the subsea services market. And very recently we took the Bokalift 1 into service, an impressive crane vessel for the offshore installation market, both for oil and gas and for offshore windfarm projects. The vessel’s first project involves the installation of jackets for an offshore windfarm.

In the past period we also adjusted our fleet and organization to the changed market conditions. Following the fleet rationalization program, we optimized the organization at head office in 2017. We made a conscious decision to do this within a short timeframe allowing us to now look ahead at the opportunities still present in the market. To capitalize on these opportunities as one team, we will present ourselves in the market with one face and will therefore in 2018 transition to one strong brand name: Boskalis.

As stated in our corporate business plan we do not yet foresee a fundamental recovery in our markets in the coming years. In the short term we do however expect opportunities for selective growth and a subsequent structural recovery for the period thereafter.”

>>> click here for the full version of the 2017 financial review including all the financial details <<<