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Pin to quick picksSmurfit Kappa Regulatory News (SKG)

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Final Results

8 Feb 2023 07:00

 

Smurfit Kappa Group plc (‘SKG’, 'Smurfit Kappa' or ‘the Group’) today announced results for the full year ending 31 December 2022.

2022 Full Year | Key Financial Performance Measures

€m

FY 2022

FY 2021

Change

H2 2022

H2 2021

Change

H1 2022

Change

Revenue

€12,815

€10,107

27%

€6,430

€5,428

18%

€6,385

1%

EBITDA 1

€2,355

€1,702

38%

€1,181

€921

28%

€1,174

1%

EBITDA Margin 1

18.4%

16.8%

 

18.4%

17.0%

 

18.4%

 

Operating Profit before Exceptional Items 1

€1,662

€1,073

55%

€823

€596

38%

€839

(2%)

Profit before Income Tax

€1,293

€913

42%

€524

€500

5%

€769

(32%)

Basic EPS (cent)

365.3

263.9

38%

143.4

144.0

-

221.9

(35%)

Pre-exceptional Basic EPS (cent) 1

444.1

274.5

62%

222.2

154.6

44%

221.9

-

Free Cash Flow 1

€545

€455

20%

€573

€338

70%

(€28)

 

Return on Capital Employed 1

21.8%

16.0%

 

 

 

 

19.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Debt 1

€2,992

€2,885

4%

 

 

 

€3,309

(10%)

Net Debt to EBITDA (LTM) 1

1.3x

1.7x

 

 

 

 

1.6x

 

Key points:

Revenue growth of 27% to €12,815 millionEBITDA growth of 38% to €2,355 million with an EBITDA margin of 18.4%Return on capital employed of 21.8%Net Debt to EBITDA ratio below 1.3xPre-exceptional EPS growth of 62%Final dividend increased by 12% to 107.6 cent per share

Tony Smurfit, Group CEO, commented:

“Set against a year of extraordinary circumstances, 2022 was another highly successful year for the Smurfit Kappa Group. Our performance reflects the ongoing benefits of our investment programme together with our customer-led innovation and sustainability initiatives. SKG’s integrated model together with our geographic footprint continue to deliver for all stakeholders.

“Revenue for the year was up 27% to €12.8 billion. EBITDA for the full year was €2,355 million, a 38% increase over 2021, with an EBITDA margin of 18.4%, ROCE of 21.8% and a net debt to EBITDA of less than 1.3x. Our balance sheet metrics are the strongest in the Group’s history, providing SKG with significant strategic and financial flexibility.

“For the full year, box volumes for the Group were down less than 2%. The rate and pace of inflation clearly had a negative effect on the demand environment in 2022. As guided by the Group, this coincided with the partial reversal of the unsustainably high demand levels seen through the pandemic period. This slowdown was particularly evidenced in the latter part of the year, especially in the month of December, where we saw stock reductions and downtime taken by customers.

“In our European business, box volumes were down 2% year-on-year. While two of our larger countries, Germany and the UK, performed below our expectations, others, such as Spain and France, were less affected.

“Box volumes in the Americas, excluding acquisitions, were broadly flat year-on-year, with growth in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina offset by a weaker performance in our North American business.

“The year was characterised by unprecedented cost inflation, especially in energy, which moderated in the latter part of the year. As illustrated by our performance in 2022, SKG has successfully navigated this environment.

“In 2022 we invested close to €1 billion to support our customers and capitalise on long-term demand growth drivers. We also continue to make progress towards our sustainability goals with investments to reduce our carbon footprint, reduce our impact on the environment and help our customers achieve their own carbon reduction and sustainability goals.

“The Group continued to expand its geographic footprint and product portfolio through acquisitions in 2022. In Europe, we purchased operations in Spain and the UK, while in the Americas, we acquired operations in Argentina and Brazil.

“We are immensely proud of the work of the Group and its employees in supporting many different social programs across the world. This includes significant support for the Ukrainian people impacted by the war. Additionally, we continue to invest in the communities in which we operate through programs in health, education and environmental protection while our employees devote time and energy to social projects.

“In September, the Group published its first Green Bond Allocation and Impact Report, detailing the use of the proceeds of the €1 billion dual-tranche Green Bonds issued in 2021. Issued with coupons of 0.5% and 1% respectively, for tenors of 8 and 12 years, these coupons are the lowest in the Group’s history.

“Although very early, 2023 has started well. While there are and always will be challenges, SKG has never been in better shape strategically, financially and operationally. We have put ourselves in a position with the steps that we have taken and continue to take, to deliver high quality performance and to take advantage of the many opportunities we see around us.

“Reflecting confidence in the strength, quality and performance of the Smurfit Kappa business, the Board is recommending a 12% increase in the final dividend to 107.6 cent per share.”

About Smurfit Kappa

Smurfit Kappa, a FTSE 100 company, is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with approximately 48,000 employees in over 350 production sites across 36 countries and with revenue of €12.8 billion in 2022. We are located in 23 countries in Europe, and 13 in the Americas. We are the only large‑scale pan-regional player in Latin America. Our products, which are 100% renewable and produced sustainably, improve the environmental footprint of our customers.

With our proactive team, we relentlessly use our extensive experience and expertise, supported by our scale, to open up opportunities for our customers. We collaborate with forward-thinking customers by sharing superior product knowledge, market understanding and insights in packaging trends to ensure business success in their markets. We have an unrivalled portfolio of paper-based packaging solutions, which is constantly updated with our market-leading innovations.

This is enhanced through the benefits of our integration, with optimal paper design, logistics, timeliness of service, and our packaging plants sourcing most of their raw materials from our own paper mills.

We have a proud tradition of supporting social, environmental and community initiatives in the countries where we operate. Through these projects we support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on where we believe we have the greatest impact.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.smurfitkappa.com

Forward Looking Statements

This Announcement contains certain statements that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations of the Group about future events, and involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Although the Group believes that current expectations and assumptions with respect to these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Other than in accordance with legal or regulatory obligations, the Group is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements in this document do not constitute reports or statements published in compliance with any of Regulations 6 to 8 of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007.

Contacts

Ciarán Potts

Smurfit Kappa

T: +353 1 202 71 27

E: ir@smurfitkappa.com

Melanie Farrell

FTI Consulting

T: +353 86 401 5250

E: smurfitkappa@fticonsulting.com

2022 Full Year | Performance Overview

The Group reported EBITDA for the full year of €2,355 million, up 38% on 2021, with higher earnings in both Europe and the Americas. The Group EBITDA margin was 18.4%, up from 16.8% in 2021. This result reflects not only the essential nature of our products but the demand from our customers for the most sustainable, reliable and innovative packaging solutions. The result also demonstrates SKG’s ability to recover significant input cost pressures, the benefits from our investment programmes and the dedication of our 48,000 employees.

In Europe, EBITDA increased by 42% to €1,846 million for the year. The EBITDA margin was 18.6%, up from 16.6% in 2021, reflecting the impact of higher paper and corrugated prices partly offset by higher energy, recovered fibre and other raw material costs. Corrugated box volumes were down 2% in 2022 against a strong prior year comparative, with a slowdown in our German and UK markets in particular, being partly offset by a more robust performance in countries such as France and Spain.

Our European business continued to build on its strong operating platform in 2022 with a number of projects across our paper and corrugated divisions. In our paper division we announced the completion of a large‑scale sustainability project at our Zülpich mill in Germany, which will reduce CO2 emissions annually by 55,000 tonnes, a 2% reduction for the Group. We have also approved projects in our Facture, Nettingsdorf, Parenco, Piteå and Verzuolo mills which will reduce costs, increase efficiencies and improve the Group’s sustainability footprint. In our corrugated division, we are investing across the region in the latest high-tech and energy efficient machinery, including new corrugators, converting machines and facility expansion projects, which will allow us to increase production, reduce our environmental footprint and expand the range of high-value, innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that we offer our customers. The Group also announced an investment in its first Moroccan facility along with the acquisition of a corrugated business in the UK and a bag-in-box plant in Spain.

Pricing for European containerboard continued an upward trend in the first half of the year supported by rising recovered fibre and energy prices and modest corrugated demand growth. In the second half of the year there was a slowdown in demand for containerboard, with little support from export channels, combined with a subsequent sharp decline in recovered fibre prices and a reversal in energy prices in the latter part of the fourth quarter. The price of testliner, having increased by €100 per tonne in the first half of the year, reduced by €160 per tonne from the high of June 2022 to January 2023. The price of kraftliner, having risen by €60 per tonne in the first half of the year, has fallen by €120 per tonne from the high of September 2022 to January 2023. Given the lower levels of demand and the rise in containerboard inventories, the total commercial downtime taken by our European mills was approximately 260,000 tonnes in the second half of 2022.

Compared to 2021, the overall increase in recovered fibre prices in 2022 have cost the Group an additional €74 million while the increase in energy prices have cost the Group an additional €592 million.

In the Americas, EBITDA increased by 25% on 2021 to €553 million. The EBITDA margin was marginally lower at 19.0% in 2022, compared to 19.5% in 2021 with Colombia, Mexico and the US accounting for over 80% of the region’s earnings. Box volumes in the Americas, excluding acquisitions, were broadly flat year‑on‑year, again compared with a very strong prior year comparative.

SKG continued to invest in its Americas business in 2022 with significant capacity and sustainability related investments in the corrugated, containerboard and speciality businesses in Central America, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and the US. In our paper division we announced a large scale investment in a biomass boiler at our Cali paper mill in Colombia which will reduce the Group’s CO2 emissions by approximately 6%. In our corrugated division, we are expanding capacity and investing in state-of-the-art converting equipment across the region and in our specialties business we are expanding our portfolio in paper sacks and bag‑in‑box. During the year, we also acquired corrugated packaging plants in Argentina and Brazil, expanding both our footprint and customer offering in these attractive growth markets.

The Group reported free cash flow of €545 million in the full year of 2022, up 20% on the €455 million reported in 2021. The average maturity profile of the Group’s debt was 4.9 years at 31 December 2022 with an average interest rate of 2.89%. Net debt to EBITDA was 1.3x at the year-end versus 1.6x at the half year and 1.7x at the end of December 2021. The Group remains strongly positioned within its BBB-/BBB-/Baa3 credit rating.

2022 Full Year | Financial Performance

Revenue for the full year was €12,815 million, up 27% on the prior year on a reported basis and up 23% on an underlying basis2. Revenue in Europe was up 26%, driven primarily by input cost recovery through progressive box price increases. On an underlying basis, revenue in Europe was up 24%. In the Americas, revenue was up 29% on 2021, or 16% on an underlying basis.

EBITDA for the full year was €2,355 million, up 38% on 2021 and ahead of our stated guidance from the third quarter trading update. On an underlying basis, Group EBITDA was up 34% year‑on‑year, with Europe up 41% and the Americas up 13%.

Operating profit before exceptional items for the full year of 2022 at €1,662 million was 55% higher than €1,073 million in 2021.

Exceptional items charged within operating profit in 2022 amounted to €223 million, of which €128 million related to the impairment of our Russian operations, €56 million and €11 million respectively for the impairment of goodwill in Argentina and Peru, €14 million for redundancy and reorganisation costs across the Americas along with €14 million for the impairment of property, plant and equipment in our North American operations.

There were no exceptional items charged within operating profit in 2021.

There were no exceptional finance items charged in 2022.

Exceptional finance costs of €31 million in 2021 represented a redemption premium of €28 million together with the related accelerated write-off of unamortised debt issue costs of €3 million due to the early redemption of bonds.

Pre-exceptional net finance costs at €149 million were €18 million higher than 2021 primarily due to an increase in cash interest, a higher foreign currency translation net loss on debt, and a negative swing from a fair value gain on financial assets/liabilities in 2021 to a loss in 2022, partly offset by a positive swing from a fair value loss on derivatives in 2021 to a gain in 2022 and a positive swing from a net monetary loss on hyperinflation in 2021 to a net gain in 2022.

With the €589 million increase in operating profit before exceptional items, combined with the €18 million increase in net finance costs, the pre-exceptional profit before income tax was €1,516 million, €572 million higher than in 2021.

After exceptional items of €223 million, the profit before tax for the full year of 2022 was €1,293 million compared to a profit before tax of €913 million in 2021. The income tax expense was €348 million compared to €234 million in 2021, resulting in a profit of €945 million for the year to December 2022 compared to a profit of €679 million in 2021.

Basic EPS for the full year of 2022 was 365.3 cent, compared to 263.9 cent in 2021. On a pre‑exceptional basis, EPS was 444.1 cent in 2022, 62% higher than the 274.5 cent in the full year of 2021.

2022 Full Year | Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow in the full year of 2022 was €545 million compared to €455 million for 2021, an increase of €90 million. EBITDA growth of €653 million, combined with a lower outflow for changes in employee benefits and other provisions, was partly offset by a higher working capital outflow, higher capital outflows, a higher cash interest expense and higher tax payments.

The working capital outflow in 2022 was €358 million compared to €114 million in 2021. The outflow in 2022 was a combination of a significant increase in debtors and stock, partly offset by an increase in creditors. These increases reflect the combination of higher box prices, higher paper prices and considerably higher energy costs along with higher other raw material and recovered fibre costs. Working capital amounted to €1,027 million at December 2022 and represented 8.3% of annualised revenue compared to 5.7% at December 2021.

Capital expenditure in 2022 amounted to €970 million (equating to 155% of depreciation) compared to €693 million (equating to 124% of depreciation) in 2021.

Cash interest amounted to €132 million in 2022 compared to €109 million in 2021, with the increase primarily due to the relative increase in interest rates in currencies where we are in a net debt position compared to those where we are in a net cash position. Additionally, our variable rate borrowings in Latin American countries such as Brazil and Colombia have seen large interest rate increases during the year, leading to a higher cash interest expense.

Tax payments of €321 million in 2022 were €82 million higher than in 2021 with higher payments in Europe and to a lesser extent in the Americas.

2022 Full Year | Capital Structure

Net debt was €2,992 million at the end of December 2022, resulting in a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 1.3x compared to 1.6x at the end of June 2022 and 1.7x at the end of December 2021. With net debt to EBITDA at 1.3x, the lowest in the Group’s history, the strength of the Group’s balance sheet continues to secure long-term strategic and financial flexibility.

In September, the Group published its first Green Bond Allocation and Impact Report, which provides details on the use of the proceeds of its inaugural €1 billion dual-tranche Green Bond issued in September 2021. With interest rates of 0.5% and 1.0% respectively for 8 and 12 year maturities, these coupons were not only the lowest in the Group’s history but also the lowest achieved for a corporate issuer in our rating category.

At 31 December 2022, the Group’s average interest rate was 2.89% compared to 2.63% at 31 December 2021. The increase in our average interest rate is primarily driven by the significant increases in interest rates in certain of our variable rate debt environments, most notably Brazil and Colombia. At 31 December 2022, over 95% of the Group’s gross borrowings were at fixed interest rates.

The Group’s diversified funding base and long-dated maturity profile of 4.9 years (31 December 2021: 5.8 years) provide a stable funding outlook. At 31 December 2022, we had a strong liquidity position of approximately €2.44 billion comprising cash balances of €788 million, undrawn available committed facilities of €1,343 million on our sustainability-linked Revolving Credit Facility (‘RCF’) and €312 million on our sustainability-linked securitisation facilities.

Dividends

The Board is recommending a 12% increase in the final dividend to 107.6 cent per share. It is proposed to pay this dividend on 12 May 2023 to all ordinary shareholders on the share register at the close of business on 14 April 2023, subject to the approval of the shareholders at the AGM.

2022 Full Year | Sustainability

Smurfit Kappa began 2022 strongly with the SBTi validation of its emissions reduction targets being consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and we continued to make strong progress across our sustainability targets throughout the year.

The progress made was built upon the achievements outlined in our 15th annual Sustainable Development Report (‘SDR’) published in April. It highlights the Group’s long-standing objective to drive change and nurture a greener and bluer planet through the three key pillars of Planet, People and Impactful Business.

In the SDR, Smurfit Kappa reported significant progress in reducing our fossil CO2 emission intensity having reduced its emissions by 41.3% by the end of 2021, compared to its baseline year 2005. This marked a 6% improvement year-on-year, leaving the Group well on its way to reach its 2030 target of a 55% reduction, in line with the EU Green Deal and another step forward on our journey to net zero.

Also in April, the Group published a significantly enhanced disclosure consistent with the Task Force on Climate‑related Financial Disclosures (‘TCFD’) recommendations in its 2021 Annual Report, including a comprehensive top-down identification and process review of climate-related risks and opportunities and an evaluation of the potential impact on Smurfit Kappa assets from physical and transition risks under different climate scenarios.

In June, the Group reached another important milestone with the completion of a large-scale sustainability project at its Zülpich paper mill in Germany, which significantly reduces the mill’s CO2 emissions by 55,000 tonnes or 2% of the Group’s emissions each year.

Following on from the €134 million installation of a heat recovery boiler at the Group’s Nettingsdorf paper mill in Austria, which reduced emissions by 40,000 tonnes annually, the mill launched a sustainable district heating project in August. The production process will generate up to 25 megawatts of heat that will save approximately 21,000 tonnes of CO2 while also providing heat to local businesses and schools and benefit 20,000 homes across three communities.

In October, the Group announced a US$100 million investment in a sustainable biomass boiler at its paper mill in Cali, Colombia, which will reduce our global Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2 emissions by approximately 6%. This ambitious project is the latest example of the circularity that permeates every aspect of the company’s operations as we find another use for our own organic waste and transition away from fossil fuels.

Also during the year, SKG was further recognised for its strong ESG credentials and continued improvement by the leading research and analytics company, Sustainalytics. Following an analysis of more than 15,000 companies globally, SKG was named as an Industry Top Rated company where it ranked in the top percentile out of 99 companies, in addition to being awarded Regional Top Rated.

The Group continues to be listed on various environmental, social and governance indices and disclosure programmes, such as FTSE4Good, the Green Economy Mark from the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Vigeo Europe 120, STOXX Global ESG Leaders and Solactive Europe Corporate Social Responsibility index. SKG also performs strongly across a number of third party certification bodies, including MSCI, ISS ESG and Sustainalytics.

2022 Full Year | Commercial Offering and Innovation

SKG’s leadership in innovation and unrivalled market offering is a defining characteristic of our business. With over 1,000 designers across the Group, supported by a network of laboratories, design facilities and unique applications, we continued to deliver the most innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for our customers, helping them to increase sales, reduce costs, eliminate plastics and other less sustainable substrates, protect their brand and mitigate risk in their supply chains.

The Group demonstrated this leadership by winning eight WorldStar awards across a host of categories including e-commerce solutions, bag-in-box, transport packaging with plastic replacement and innovative food and beverage packaging, with the winning products originating from the Czech Republic, Poland and Spain.

In February, the Group launched our new Design2Market Factory, which provides customers with a tangible packaging prototype that can be tested with consumers and subsequently refined and honed before moving to large-scale production.

In April, the Group launched the child-proof TopLock Box for detergent pods and capsules, offering a 40% carbon footprint reduction compared to the traditional rigid plastic alternative.

Continuing to innovate for our customers, the Group developed and launched AquaStop™ in May, a sustainable water-resistant paper. Designed to withstand exposure to water without being damaged, it is suitable for more complex and demanding supply chains and can be recycled in the same way as standard paper-based packaging.

During the year, the Group also launched two unique e-commerce portfolios to capitalise on the growth of online flower and wine sales. The eFlower portfolio is a fully customisable collection of nine packaging solutions ideal for shipping bouquets and potted plants, offering full protection for the delicate contents and a unique unboxing experience. The wine sector has also seen a significant increase in online sales since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 and SKG’s new wine multi-pack solution holds Amazon’s coveted ‘Frustration-Free Packaging’ certification, introduced to reduce over-packing, improve the consumer experience and enhance sustainability.

In October, the Group won 21 awards for its creative and innovative packaging solutions at the annual Flexographic Industry Association (‘FIA’) UK awards. Since 2013, Smurfit Kappa has received over 130 FIA awards, consolidating its industry-leading position in the packaging sector.

Furthermore, SKG was recognised as a top employer again in 2022 and achieved various honours for its environmental credentials alongside awards for packaging design, innovation and sustainability, with 74 awards in total in 2022.

The Group continues to experience intense levels of pipeline development across our business as customers strive for more sustainable packaging solutions.

Summary Cash Flow

 

Summary cash flows for the second half and full year are set out in the following table.

 

H2 2022

H2 2021

FY 2022

FY 2021

 

€m

€m

€m

€m

EBITDA

1,181

921

2,355

1,702

Exceptional items

(3)

-

(3)

-

Cash interest expense

(71)

(55)

(132)

(109)

Working capital change

143

81

(358)

(114)

Capital expenditure

(621)

(518)

(970)

(693)

Change in capital creditors

84

66

(24)

(14)

Tax paid

(163)

(117)

(321)

(239)

Change in employee benefits and other provisions

(3)

(38)

(25)

(81)

Other

26

(2)

23

3

Free cash flow

573

338

545

455

 

 

 

 

 

Italian Competition Authority fine

-

(124)

-

(124)

Impairment of cash balances held in Russia

(50)

-

(50)

-

Share buyback

(41)

-

(41)

-

Purchase of own shares (net)

(1)

-

(28)

(22)

Sale of businesses and investments

-

-

-

37

Purchase of businesses, investments and NCI*

(62)

(394)

(110)

(449)

Dividends

(83)

(76)

(333)

(302)

Derivative termination receipts/(payments)

1

(1)

1

9

Premium on early repayment of bonds

-

(28)

-

(28)

Net cash inflow/(outflow)

337

(285)

(16)

(424)

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired net debt

2

(12)

(3)

(25)

Disposed net cash

-

-

-

(1)

Deferred debt issue costs amortised

(3)

(6)

(7)

(10)

Currency translation adjustment

(19)

(33)

(81)

(50)

Decrease/(increase) in net debt

317

(336)

(107)

(510)

* ‘NCI’ refers to non-controlling interests

 

A reconciliation of the Summary Cash Flow to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Cash Generated from Operations are included in sections K and L in Alternative Performance Measures in the Supplementary Financial Information on pages 34 to 37.

Funding and Liquidity

The Group's primary sources of liquidity are cash flow from operations and borrowings under the RCF. The Group's primary uses of cash are for funding day to day operations, capital expenditure, debt service, dividends and other investment activity including acquisitions.

The Group has a €1,350 million RCF with a maturity of January 2026, which incorporates five KPIs spanning the Group’s sustainability objectives regarding climate change, forests, water, waste and people, with the level of KPI achievement linked to the pricing on the facility. Borrowings under the RCF are available to fund the Group's working capital requirements, capital expenditure and other general corporate purposes. At 31 December 2022, the Group’s drawings on this facility were US$8 million, at an interest rate of 5.024%.

At 31 December 2022, the Group had outstanding €250 million 2.75% senior notes due 2025, US$292.3 million 7.50% senior debentures due 2025, €1,000 million 2.875% senior notes due 2026, €750 million 1.5% senior notes due 2027, €500 million 0.5% senior green notes due 2029 and €500 million 1.0% senior green notes due 2033.

Funding and Liquidity (continued)

At 31 December 2022, the Group had outstanding €13 million variable funding notes (‘VFNs’) issued under the €230 million trade receivables securitisation programme maturing in November 2026 and €5 million VFNs issued under the €100 million trade receivables securitisation programme maturing in January 2026.

Both these securitisation programmes incorporate five KPIs spanning the Group’s sustainability objectives regarding climate change, forests, water, waste and people, with the level of KPI achievement linked to the pricing on the programme.

Market Risk and Risk Management Policies

The Group is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations due to its investing and funding activities and its operations in different foreign currencies. Interest rate risk exposure is managed by achieving an appropriate balance of fixed and variable rate funding. At 31 December 2022, the Group had fixed an average of 97% of its interest cost on borrowings over the following 12 months.

The Group’s fixed rate debt comprised €250 million 2.75% senior notes due 2025, US$292.3 million 7.50% senior debentures due 2025, €1,000 million 2.875% senior notes due 2026, €750 million 1.5% senior notes due 2027, €500 million 0.5% senior green notes due 2029 and €500 million 1.0% senior green notes due 2033.

The Group’s earnings are affected by changes in short-term interest rates on its floating rate borrowings and cash balances. If interest rates for these borrowings increased by one percent, the Group’s interest expense would increase, and income before taxes would decrease, by approximately €2 million over the following 12 months. Interest income on the Group’s cash balances would increase by approximately €8 million assuming a one percent increase in interest rates earned on such balances over the following 12 months.

The Group uses foreign currency borrowings, currency swaps and forward contracts in the management of its foreign currency exposures.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Risk assessment and evaluation is an integral part of the management process throughout the Group. Risks are identified, evaluated and appropriate risk management strategies are implemented at each level in the organisation.

The Board in conjunction with senior management identifies major business risks faced by the Group and determines the appropriate course of action to manage these risks.

The Board regularly monitors all of the Group’s risks and appropriate actions are taken to mitigate those risks or address their potential adverse consequences. In addition, emerging risks and the current global uncertainties were also considered as part of the year-end assessment.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group are summarised below.

If the current economic climate were to deteriorate, for example as a result of geopolitical uncertainty, trade tensions and/or a pandemic, it could result in an increased economic slowdown which if sustained over any significant length of time, could adversely affect the Group's financial position and results of operations.The cyclical nature of the packaging industry could result in overcapacity and consequently threaten the Group’s pricing structure.If operations at any of the Group’s facilities (in particular its key mills) were interrupted for any significant length of time, it could adversely affect the Group’s financial position and results of operations.Price fluctuations in energy and raw material costs could adversely affect the Group’s manufacturing costs.The Group is exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuations.The Group may not be able to attract, develop and retain suitably qualified employees as required for its business.Failure to maintain good health, safety and employee wellbeing practices may have an adverse effect on the Group’s business.The Group is subject to a growing number of environmental and climate change laws and regulations, and the cost of compliance or the failure to comply with current and future laws and regulations may negatively affect the Group’s business.The Group is subject to anti-trust and similar legislation in the jurisdictions in which it operates.The Group, similar to other large global companies, is susceptible to cyber-attacks with the threat to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data in its systems.The global impact of climate change in the long-term could adversely affect the Group’s business and results of operations.

The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group, were outlined in our 2021 Annual Report on pages 36 to 38. The Annual Report is available on our website; smurfitkappa.com.

Consolidated Income StatementFor the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2022

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

Unaudited

 

Audited

 

 

Pre-exceptional

 

Exceptional

 

Total

 

Pre-exceptional

 

Exceptional

 

Total

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

Revenue

 

12,815

 

-

 

12,815

 

10,107

 

-

 

10,107

Cost of sales

 

(8,752)

 

-

 

(8,752)

 

(7,015)

 

-

 

(7,015)

Gross profit

 

4,063

 

-

 

4,063

 

3,092

 

-

 

3,092

Distribution costs

 

(961)

 

-

 

(961)

 

(823)

 

-

 

(823)

Administrative expenses

 

(1,440)

 

-

 

(1,440)

 

(1,196)

 

-

 

(1,196)

Other operating expenses

 

-

 

(223)

 

(223)

 

-

 

-

 

-

Operating profit

 

1,662

 

(223)

 

1,439

 

1,073

 

-

 

1,073

Finance costs

 

(184)

 

-

 

(184)

 

(148)

 

(31)

 

(179)

Finance income

 

35

 

-

 

35

 

17

 

-

 

17

Share of associates’ profit (after tax)

 

3

 

-

 

3

 

2

 

-

 

2

Profit before income tax

 

1,516

 

(223)

 

1,293

 

944

 

(31)

 

913

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

(348)

 

 

 

 

 

(234)

Profit for the financial year

   

 

 

945

 

 

 

 

 

679

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owners of the parent

   

 

 

944

 

 

 

 

 

679

Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

-

Profit for the financial year

   

 

 

945

 

 

 

 

 

679

       

Earnings per share

     

 

 

 

   

 

Basic earnings per share - cent

     

365.3

 

 

   

263.9

Diluted earnings per share - cent

     

361.8

 

 

   

261.1

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive IncomeFor the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2022

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

Unaudited

 

Audited

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial year

 

945

 

679

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments:

 

 

 

 

- Arising in the financial year

 

(63)

 

14

- Recycled to Consolidated Income Statement

 

-

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

- Movement out of reserve

 

-

 

(3)

- Fair value loss on cash flow hedges

 

(5)

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in fair value of cost of hedging:

 

 

 

 

- Movement out of reserve

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

 

(69)

 

11

Items which will not be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

 

 

 

 

Defined benefit pension plans:

 

 

 

 

- Actuarial gain

 

51

 

177

- Related tax

 

(8)

 

(32)

 

 

43

 

145

 

 

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive (expense)/income

 

(26)

 

156

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income for the financial year

 

919

 

835

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

Owners of the parent

 

918

 

835

Non-controlling interests

 

1

 

-

Total comprehensive income for the financial year

 

919

 

835

Consolidated Balance SheetAt 31 December 2022

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

Unaudited

 

Audited

 

 

€m

 

€m

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

4,631

 

4,265

Right-of-use assets

 

345

 

346

Goodwill and intangible assets

 

2,672

 

2,722

Other investments

 

10

 

11

Investment in associates

 

16

 

13

Biological assets

 

100

 

103

Other receivables

 

39

 

26

Employee benefits assets

 

17

 

-

Derivative financial instruments

 

2

 

2

Deferred income tax assets

 

141

 

149

 

 

7,973

 

7,637

Current assets

 

 

 

 

Inventories

 

1,231

 

1,046

Biological assets

 

10

 

10

Trade and other receivables

 

2,399

 

2,137

Derivative financial instruments

 

46

 

8

Restricted cash

 

11

 

14

Cash and cash equivalents

 

777

 

855

 

 

4,474

 

4,070

Assets classified as held for sale

 

35

 

-

 

 

4,509

 

4,070

Total assets

 

12,482

 

11,707

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Capital and reserves attributable to owners of the parent

 

 

 

 

Equity share capital

 

-

 

-

Share premium

 

2,646

 

2,646

Other reserves

 

236

 

260

Retained earnings

 

2,143

 

1,473

Total equity attributable to owners of the parent

 

5,025

 

4,379

Non-controlling interests

 

13

 

13

Total equity

 

5,038

 

4,392

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Borrowings

 

3,600

 

3,589

Employee benefits liabilities

 

534

 

630

Derivative financial instruments

 

4

 

7

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

190

 

175

Non-current income tax liabilities

 

16

 

17

Provisions for liabilities

 

37

 

35

Capital grants

 

26

 

24

Other payables

 

10

 

11

 

 

4,417

 

4,488

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Borrowings

 

180

 

165

Trade and other payables

 

2,642

 

2,563

Current income tax liabilities

 

49

 

27

Derivative financial instruments

 

21

 

14

Provisions for liabilities

 

100

 

58

 

 

2,992

 

2,827

Liabilities associated with assets classified as held for sale

 

35

 

-

 

 

3,027

 

2,827

Total liabilities

 

7,444

 

7,315

Total equity and liabilities

 

12,482

 

11,707

Consolidated Statement of Changes in EquityFor the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2022

 

 

Attributable to owners of the parent

   

 

 

Equitysharecapital

 

Sharepremium

 

Otherreserves

 

Retainedearnings

 

Total

 

Non-controllinginterests

 

Totalequity

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

Unaudited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2022

 

-

 

2,646

 

260

 

1,473

 

4,379

 

13

 

4,392

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial year

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

944

 

944

 

1

 

945

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

-

 

-

 

(63)

 

-

 

(63)

 

-

 

(63)

Defined benefit pension plans

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

43

 

43

 

-

 

43

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

 

-

 

-

 

(5)

 

-

 

(5)

 

-

 

(5)

Changes in fair value of cost of hedging

 

-

 

-

 

(1)

 

-

 

(1)

 

-

 

(1)

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the financial year

 

-

 

-

 

(69)

 

987

 

918

 

1

 

919

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hyperinflation adjustment

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

66

 

66

 

-

 

66

Dividends paid

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(332)

 

(332)

 

(1)

 

(333)

Share‑based payment

 

-

 

-

 

63

 

-

 

63

 

-

 

63

Share buyback

 

-

 

-

 

(41)

 

-

 

(41)

 

-

 

(41)

Share cancellation

 

-

 

-

 

41

 

(41)

 

-

 

-

 

-

Net shares acquired by SKG Employee Trust

 

-

 

-

 

(28)

 

-

 

(28)

 

-

 

(28)

Derecognition of equity instruments

 

-

 

-

 

10

 

(10)

 

-

 

-

 

-

At 31 December 2022

 

-

 

2,646

 

236

 

2,143

 

5,025

 

13

 

5,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2021

 

-

 

2,646

 

207

 

917

 

3,770

 

13

 

3,783

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the financial year

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

679

 

679

 

-

 

679

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

-

 

-

 

15

 

-

 

15

 

-

 

15

Defined benefit pension plans

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

145

 

145

 

-

 

145

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

 

-

 

-

 

(3)

 

-

 

(3)

 

-

 

(3)

Changes in fair value of cost of hedging

 

-

 

-

 

(1)

 

-

 

(1)

 

-

 

(1)

Total comprehensive income for the financial year

 

-

 

-

 

11

 

824

 

835

 

-

 

835

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hyperinflation adjustment

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

34

 

34

 

-

 

34

Dividends paid

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(302)

 

(302)

 

-

 

(302)

Share‑based payment

 

-

 

-

 

64

 

-

 

64

 

-

 

64

Net shares acquired by SKG Employee Trust

 

-

 

-

 

(22)

 

-

 

(22)

 

-

 

(22)

At 31 December 2021

 

-

 

2,646

 

260

 

1,473

 

4,379

 

13

 

4,392

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An analysis of the movements in Other reserves is provided in Note 13.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2022

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

Unaudited

 

Audited

 

 

€m

 

€m

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

Profit before income tax

 

1,293

 

913

 

 

 

 

 

Net finance costs

 

149

 

162

Depreciation charge

 

581

 

513

Impairment of non-current assets

 

66

 

-

Impairment of goodwill

 

85

 

-

Amortisation of intangible assets

 

49

 

40

Amortisation of capital grants

 

(4)

 

(3)

Share‑based payment expense

 

65

 

69

Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment

 

(7)

 

(8)

Lease modifications

 

(3)

 

-

Share of associates’ profit (after tax)

 

(3)

 

(2)

Net movement in working capital

 

(350)

 

(114)

Change in biological assets

 

(2)

 

7

Italian Competition Authority fine

 

-

 

(124)

Change in employee benefits and other provisions

 

(19)

 

(81)

Other (primarily hyperinflation adjustments)

 

8

 

5

Cash generated from operations

 

1,908

 

1,377

Interest paid

 

(135)

 

(152)

Income taxes paid:

 

 

 

 

Irish corporation tax (net of tax refunds) paid

 

(24)

 

(21)

Overseas corporation tax (net of tax refunds) paid

 

(297)

 

(218)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

 

1,452

 

986

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

Interest received

 

9

 

3

Business disposals

 

-

 

33

Additions to property, plant and equipment and biological assets

 

(873)

 

(594)

Additions to intangible assets

 

(17)

 

(21)

Receipt of capital grants

 

6

 

5

Purchase of investments

 

(1)

 

-

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

12

 

16

Dividends received from associates

 

1

 

1

Purchase of subsidiaries (net of acquired cash)

 

(90)

 

(413)

Deferred consideration paid

 

(14)

 

(35)

Net cash outflow from investing activities

 

(967)

 

(1,005)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

Share buyback

 

(41)

 

-

Proceeds from bond issuance

 

-

 

999

Purchase of own shares (net)

 

(28)

 

(22)

Increase/(decrease) in other interest-bearing borrowings

 

8

 

(107)

Repayment of lease liabilities

 

(103)

 

(88)

Repayment of borrowings

 

-

 

(491)

Derivative termination receipts

 

1

 

9

Deferred debt issue costs paid

 

-

 

(12)

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

(332)

 

(302)

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

 

(1)

 

-

Net cash outflow from financing activities

 

(496)

 

(14)

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(11)

 

(33)

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of opening to closing cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

 

841

 

886

Currency translation adjustment

 

(59)

 

(12)

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(11)

 

(33)

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December

 

771

 

841

 

An analysis of the net movement in working capital is provided in Note 11.

Selected Explanatory Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. General Information

Smurfit Kappa Group plc (‘SKG plc’ or ‘the Company’) and its subsidiaries (together ‘SKG’ or ‘the Group’) primarily manufacture, distribute and sell containerboard, corrugated containers and other paper-based packaging products. The Company is a public limited company with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on Euronext Dublin. It is incorporated and domiciled in Ireland. The address of its registered office is Beech Hill, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4, D04 N2R2, Ireland.

2. Basis of Preparation and Accounting Policies

Basis of preparation and accounting policiesThe Consolidated Financial Statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) as adopted by the European Union (‘EU’); and those parts of the Companies Act 2014 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

The financial information in this report has been prepared in accordance with the Group’s accounting policies. Full details of the accounting policies adopted by the Group are contained in the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Group’s Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021 which is available on the Group’s website; smurfitkappa.com. The accounting policies adopted by the Group and the significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions made by management in the preparation of the Group financial information are consistent with those described and applied in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021. The Group reassessed the classification of restricted cash during the year as a result of an agenda decision by the IFRS Interpretations Committee in 2022. Consequently restricted cash is now included as cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The comparative balances for cash and cash equivalents within the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows have increased at 1 January 2021 by €10 million and at 31 December 2021 by €14 million. A number of changes to IFRS became effective in 2022, however, they did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Going concernThe Group is a highly integrated manufacturer of paper-based packaging solutions with leading market positions, quality assets and broad geographic reach. The financial position of the Group, its cash generation, capital resources and liquidity continue to provide a stable financing platform.

The Group’s diversified funding base and long-dated maturity profile of 4.9 years at 31 December 2022 provide a stable funding outlook. At 31 December 2022, the Group had a strong liquidity position of approximately €2.44 billion comprising cash balances of €788 million, undrawn available committed facilities of €1,343 million on its RCF and €312 million on its sustainability-linked securitisation facilities. At 31 December 2022, the strength of the Group’s balance sheet, a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 1.3x (31 December 2021: 1.7x) and its BBB-/BBB-/Baa3 credit rating, continues to secure long-term strategic and financial flexibility.

Having assessed the principal risks facing the Group on page 11, together with the Group’s forecasts and significant financial headroom, the Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage these risks successfully and have a reasonable expectation that the Company, and the Group as a whole, have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Statutory financial statements and audit opinionThe financial information presented in this preliminary release does not constitute full statutory financial statements. The Annual Report and Financial Statements will be approved by the Board of Directors and reported on by the Auditor in due course. Accordingly, the financial information is unaudited. Full statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 have been filed with the Irish Registrar of Companies. The audit report on those statutory financial statements was unqualified.

This preliminary release was approved by the Board of Directors.

3. Segment and Revenue Information

The Group has identified operating segments based on the manner in which reports are reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (‘CODM’). The CODM is determined to be the executive management team responsible for assessing performance, allocating resources and making strategic decisions. The Group has identified two operating segments: 1) Europe and 2) the Americas.

The Europe and the Americas segments are each highly integrated. They include a system of mills and plants that primarily produce a full line of containerboard that is converted into corrugated containers within each segment. In addition, the Europe segment also produces other types of paper, such as solidboard, sack kraft paper and graphic paper; and other paper-based packaging, such as solidboard packaging and folding cartons; and bag-in-box packaging. The Americas segment, which includes a number of Latin American countries and the United States, also comprises forestry; other types of paper, such as boxboard, sack paper and graphic paper; and paper-based packaging, such as folding cartons and paper sacks. Inter-segment revenue is not material. No operating segments have been aggregated for disclosure purposes.

Segment profit is measured based on EBITDA.

 

 

FY 2022

 

FY 2021

 

 

Europe

 

TheAmericas

 

Total

 

Europe

 

TheAmericas

 

Total

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

Revenue and results

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

9,900

 

2,915

 

12,815

 

7,847

 

2,260

 

10,107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

1,846

 

553

 

2,399

 

1,302

 

441

 

1,743

Segment exceptional items

 

(58)

 

(14)

 

(72)

 

-

 

-

 

-

EBITDA after exceptional items

 

1,788

 

539

 

2,327

 

1,302

 

441

 

1,743

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unallocated centre costs

   

 

 

(44)

 

 

 

 

 

(41)

Share-based payment expense

   

 

 

(65)

 

 

 

 

 

(69)

Depreciation and depletion (net)*

   

 

 

(579)

 

 

 

 

 

(520)

Amortisation

 

 

 

 

 

(49)

 

 

 

 

 

(40)

Impairment of non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

(66)

 

 

 

 

 

-

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

 

(85)

 

 

 

 

 

-

Finance costs

 

 

 

 

 

(184)

 

 

 

 

 

(179)

Finance income

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

17

Share of associates’ profit (after tax)

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

2

Profit before income tax

   

 

 

1,293

 

 

 

 

 

913

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

(348)

 

 

 

 

 

(234)

Profit for the financial year

   

 

 

945

 

 

 

 

 

679

 

* Depreciation and depletion is net of fair value adjustments arising on biological assets.

3. Segment and Revenue Information (continued)

 

 

H2 2022

 

H2 2021

 

 

Europe

 

TheAmericas

 

Total

 

Europe

 

TheAmericas

 

Total

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

Revenue and results

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

4,961

 

1,469

 

6,430

 

4,198

 

1,230

 

5,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

920

 

282

 

1,202

 

711

 

230

 

941

Segment exceptional items

 

(58)

 

(14)

 

(72)

 

-

 

-

 

-

EBITDA after exceptional items

 

862

 

268

 

1,130

 

711

 

230

 

941

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unallocated centre costs

   

 

 

(21)

 

 

 

 

 

(20)

Share-based payment expense

   

 

 

(34)

 

 

 

 

 

(41)

Depreciation and depletion (net)*

   

 

 

(300)

 

 

 

 

 

(263)

Amortisation

 

 

 

 

 

(24)

 

 

 

 

 

(21)

Impairment of non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

(66)

 

 

 

 

 

-

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

 

(85)

 

 

 

 

 

-

Finance costs

 

 

 

 

 

(99)

 

 

 

 

 

(106)

Finance income

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

8

Share of associates’ profit (after tax)

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

Profit before income tax

   

 

 

524

 

 

 

 

 

500

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

(153)

 

 

 

 

 

(129)

Profit for the financial period

   

 

 

371

 

 

 

 

 

371

 

* Depreciation and depletion is net of fair value adjustments arising on biological assets.

Revenue information about geographical areas

The Group has a presence in 36 countries worldwide. The following information is a geographical revenue analysis about country of domicile (Ireland) and countries with material revenue.

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

Ireland

 

118

 

109

Germany

 

1,861

 

1,403

France

 

1,521

 

1,094

Mexico

 

1,296

 

992

Other Europe* - eurozone

 

3,787

 

3,071

Other Europe* - non-eurozone

 

2,566

 

2,134

Other Americas*

 

1,666

 

1,304

Total revenue by geographical area

 

12,815

 

10,107

 

* No individual country represents greater than 10% of revenue.

Revenue is derived almost entirely from the sale of goods and is disclosed based on the location of production.

3. Segment and Revenue Information (continued)

Disaggregation of revenue

The Group derives revenue from the following major product lines. The economic factors which affect the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows from the sub categories of both paper and packaging products are similar.

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

Paper

 

Packaging

 

Total

 

Paper

 

Packaging

 

Total

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

Europe

 

1,828

 

8,072

 

9,900

 

1,328

 

6,519

 

7,847

The Americas

 

254

 

2,661

 

2,915

 

213

 

2,047

 

2,260

Total revenue by product

 

2,082

 

10,733

 

12,815

 

1,541

 

8,566

 

10,107

Packaging revenue is derived mainly from the sale of corrugated products. The remainder of packaging revenue is comprised of bag-in-box and other paper-based packaging products.

4. Exceptional Items

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

The following items are regarded as exceptional in nature:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment of assets - Russian operations (including goodwill)

 

128

 

-

Impairment of goodwill

 

67

 

-

Redundancy and reorganisation costs

 

14

 

-

Impairment of non-current assets

 

14

 

-

Exceptional items included in operating profit

 

223

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

Exceptional finance costs

 

-

 

31

Exceptional items included in net finance costs

 

-

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

Total exceptional items

 

223

 

31

Exceptional items charged within operating profit in 2022 amounted to €223 million, of which €128 million related to the impairment of assets in our Russian operations, €56 million and €11 million respectively for the impairment of goodwill in Argentina and Peru, €14 million for redundancy and reorganisation costs in the Americas along with €14 million for the impairment of property, plant and equipment in our North American operations.

There were no exceptional items within operating profit in 2021.

There were no exceptional finance items in 2022.

Exceptional finance costs of €31 million in 2021 represented a redemption premium of €28 million together with the related accelerated write-off of unamortised debt issue costs of €3 million due to the early redemption of bonds.

Operations in RussiaFollowing the announcement by the Group on 1 April 2022 to exit the Russian market in an orderly manner, the Group has now entered into an agreement to sell its Russian operations to local management. At 31 December 2022 completion of the transaction was conditional on regulatory approval being obtained from the Russian authorities.

4. Exceptional Items (continued)

After considering the status of the approval to dispose of its Russian operations including engagement with relevant authorities, the assets and associated liabilities have been presented as held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at 31 December 2022. The results of the operations in Russia, which represented less than 2% of any of the Group’s key performance indicators, have not been presented as a discontinued operation as they do not represent a separate major line of business or geographical location.

In advance of classifying the Russian disposal group as held for sale, the recoverable value was reassessed based on the terms of the sales agreement entered into, applying the fair value less costs to sell method. As a result the Group has recorded an exceptional impairment charge of €128 million in relation to its Russian operations. The Russian operations form part of the Europe segment.

The Group has made a number of judgements in arriving at the exceptional charges recognised relating to its Russian operations. In determining the exceptional impairment charges the Group had regard to; the continuing war in Ukraine and the significant sanctions regime in place which is expected to continue for some time. Judgements taken, which are not deemed significant judgements in the context of the scale of the Group, will be reassessed on an ongoing basis in light of restrictions in place at reporting dates as required.

The major classes of assets and liabilities reclassified as held for sale at 31 December 2022 comprise trade receivables of €26 million and trade and other payables of €30 million (2021: nil).

5. Finance Costs and Income

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

Finance costs:

 

 

 

 

Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts

 

49

 

25

Interest payable on leases

 

10

 

10

Interest payable on other borrowings

 

91

 

86

Exceptional finance costs associated with debt restructuring

 

-

 

31

Foreign currency translation loss on debt

 

24

 

15

Fair value loss on derivatives not designated as hedges

 

-

 

2

Fair value loss on financial assets

 

2

 

-

Interest cost on net pension liability

 

8

 

7

Net monetary loss - hyperinflation

 

-

 

3

Total finance costs

 

184

 

179

 

 

 

 

 

Finance income:

 

 

 

 

Other interest receivable

 

(9)

 

(3)

Foreign currency translation gain on debt

 

(13)

 

(12)

Fair value gain on derivatives not designated as hedges

 

(4)

 

-

Fair value gain on financial assets/liabilities

 

-

 

(2)

Net monetary gain - hyperinflation

 

(9)

 

-

Total finance income

 

(35)

 

(17)

Net finance cost

 

149

 

162

6. Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

Current tax:

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

249

 

189

The Americas

 

100

 

76

 

 

349

 

265

Deferred tax

 

(1)

 

(31)

Income tax expense

 

348

 

234

 

 

 

 

 

Current tax is analysed as follows:

 

 

 

 

Ireland

 

31

 

28

Foreign

 

318

 

237

 

 

349

 

265

Income tax recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

Arising on defined benefit pension plans

 

8

 

32

The income tax expense for the financial year 2022 is €114 million higher than in the comparable period in 2021, primarily due to higher profitability.

There is a €30 million reduction in the deferred tax credit compared to the prior year. The movement is largely due to the reversal of timing differences on which deferred tax was previously recognised, offset by the recognition of other tax benefits and credits.

In 2022, there is a tax credit of €20 million on exceptional items compared to a €4 million tax credit in the prior year.

7. Employee Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans

The table below sets out the components of the defined benefit cost for the year:

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

Current service cost

 

39

 

37

Actuarial gain arising on other long-term employee benefits

 

(4)

 

(1)

Past service cost

 

-

 

(4)

Gain on settlement

 

-

 

(3)

Net interest cost on net pension liability

 

8

 

7

Defined benefit cost

 

43

 

36

Analysis of actuarial gains/(losses) recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income:

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

Return on plan assets (excluding interest income)

 

(660)

 

110

Actuarial (loss)/gain due to experience adjustments

 

(41)

 

6

Actuarial gain due to changes in financial assumptions

 

746

 

54

Actuarial gain due to changes in demographic assumptions

 

6

 

7

Total gain recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 

51

 

177

The amounts recognised in the Consolidated Balance Sheet were as follows:

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

Present value of funded or partially funded obligations

 

(1,713)

 

(2,384)

Fair value of plan assets

 

1,608

 

2,276

Deficit in funded or partially funded plans

 

(105)

 

(108)

Present value of wholly unfunded obligations

 

(410)

 

(520)

Amounts not recognised as assets due to asset ceiling

 

(2)

 

(2)

Net pension liability

 

(517)

 

(630)

Reconciliation to the Consolidated Balance Sheet:

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

Employee benefit assets

 

17

 

-

Employee benefit liabilities

 

(534)

 

(630)

Net pension liability

 

(517)

 

(630)

8. Earnings per Share (‘EPS’)

BasicBasic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to owners of the parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year less own shares.

 

 

2022

 

2021

Profit attributable to owners of the parent (€ million)

 

944

 

679

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (million)

 

258

 

257

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS (cent)

 

365.3

 

263.9

DilutedDiluted EPS is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. These comprise deferred and performance shares issued under the Group’s long-term incentive plans. Where the conditions governing exercisability and vesting of these shares have been satisfied as at the end of the reporting period, they are included in the computation of diluted earnings per ordinary share.

 

 

2022

 

2021

Profit attributable to owners of the parent (€ million)

 

944

 

679

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (million)

 

258

 

257

Potential dilutive ordinary shares assumed (million)

 

3

 

3

Diluted weighted average ordinary shares (million)

 

261

 

260

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS (cent)

 

361.8

 

261.1

Pre-exceptional

 

 

2022

 

2021

Profit attributable to owners of the parent (€ million)

 

944

 

679

Exceptional items included in profit before income tax (€ million)

 

223

 

31

Income tax on exceptional items (€ million)

 

(20)

 

(4)

Pre-exceptional profit attributable to owners of the parent (€ million)

 

1,147

 

706

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (million)

 

258

 

257

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-exceptional basic EPS (cent)

 

444.1

 

274.5

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average ordinary shares (million)

 

261

 

260

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-exceptional diluted EPS (cent)

 

439.8

 

271.6

9. Dividends

The following dividends were declared and paid by the Group.

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

Final: paid 96.1 cent per ordinary share on 6 May 2022 (2021: paid 87.4 cent per ordinary share on 7 May 2021)

 

250

 

226

Interim: paid 31.6 cent per ordinary share on 28 October 2022 (2021: paid 29.3 cent per ordinary share on 22 October 2021)

 

82

 

76

 

 

332

 

302

The Board is recommending a 12% increase in the final dividend to 107.6 cent per share (approximately €280 million). It is proposed to pay this dividend on 12 May 2023 to all ordinary shareholders on the share register at the close of business on 14 April 2023, subject to the approval of the shareholders at the AGM.

10. Property, Plant and Equipment

 

 

Land andbuildings

 

Plant andequipment

 

Total

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

Financial year ended 31 December 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening net book amount

 

1,175

 

3,090

 

4,265

Reclassifications

 

115

 

(112)

 

3

Additions

 

21

 

817

 

838

Acquisitions

 

43

 

15

 

58

Depreciation charge

 

(62)

 

(421)

 

(483)

Impairments

 

(25)

 

(37)

 

(62)

Retirements and disposals

 

(1)

 

(2)

 

(3)

Hyperinflation adjustment

 

8

 

36

 

44

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

(5)

 

(24)

 

(29)

At 31 December 2022

 

1,269

 

3,362

 

4,631

 

Financial year ended 31 December 2021

      

Opening net book amount

 

1,090

 

2,749

 

3,839

Reclassifications

 

63

 

(64)

 

(1)

Additions

 

1

 

570

 

571

Acquisitions

 

73

 

186

 

259

Depreciation charge

 

(56)

 

(369)

 

(425)

Retirements and disposals

 

(9)

 

(17)

 

(26)

Hyperinflation adjustment

 

4

 

10

 

14

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

9

 

25

 

34

At 31 December 2021

 

1,175

 

3,090

 

4,265

11. Net Movement in Working Capital

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

Change in inventories

 

(187)

 

(246)

Change in trade and other receivables

 

(238)

 

(492)

Change in trade and other payables

 

75

 

624

Net movement in working capital

 

(350)

 

(114)

12. Analysis of Net Debt

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

€m

 

€m

Revolving credit facility – interest at relevant interbank rate + 0.64% (1)

 

4

 

2

US$292.3 million 7.5% senior debentures due 2025 (including accrued interest)

 

276

 

260

Bank loans and overdrafts

 

110

 

101

€100 million receivables securitisation VFNs due 2026 (including accrued interest) (2)

 

4

 

4

€230 million receivables securitisation VFNs due 2026 (3)

 

11

 

11

€250 million 2.75% senior notes due 2025 (including accrued interest)

 

252

 

251

€1,000 million 2.875% senior notes due 2026 (including accrued interest)

 

1,008

 

1,007

€750 million 1.5% senior notes due 2027 (including accrued interest)

 

748

 

747

€500 million 0.5% senior green notes due 2029 (including accrued interest)

 

496

 

495

€500 million 1.0% senior green notes due 2033 (including accrued interest)

 

497

 

496

Gross debt before leases

 

3,406

 

3,374

Leases

 

374

 

380

Gross debt including leases

 

3,780

 

3,754

Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash)

 

(788)

 

(869)

Net debt including leases

 

2,992

 

2,885

(1)

 

The Group’s RCF has a maturity of January 2026. At 31 December 2022, the following amounts were drawn under this facility:

 

(a) Revolver loans – €7 million

 

(b) Drawn under ancillary facilities and facilities supported by letters of credit – nil

 

(c) Other operational facilities including letters of credit – nil

(2)

 

At 31 December 2022, the amount drawn under this facility was €5 million.

(3)

 

At 31 December 2022, the amount drawn under this facility was €13 million.

13. Other Reserves

Other reserves included in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity are comprised of the following:

 

 

Reverseacquisitionreserve

 

Cashflowhedgingreserve

 

Cost ofhedgingreserve

 

Foreigncurrencytranslationreserve

 

Share-basedpaymentreserve

 

Ownshares

 

FVOCIreserve

 

 

 

Total

 

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

€m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2022

 

575

 

1

 

1

 

(541)

 

293

 

(59)

 

(10)

 

260

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(63)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(63)

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

 

-

 

(5)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(5)

Changes in fair value of cost of hedging

 

-

 

-

 

(1)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(1)

Total other comprehensive expense

 

-

 

(5)

 

(1)

 

(63)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(69)

Share‑based payment

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

63

 

-

 

-

 

63

Net shares acquired by SKG Employee Trust

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(28)

 

-

 

(28)

Shares distributed by SKG Employee Trust

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(22)

 

22

 

-

 

-

Share buyback

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(41)

 

-

 

(41)

Share cancellation

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

41

 

-

 

41

Derecognition of equity instruments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

10

 

10

At 31 December 2022

 

575

 

(4)

 

-

 

(604)

 

334

 

(65)

 

-

 

236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2021

 

575

 

4

 

2

 

(556)

 

241

 

(49)

 

(10)

 

207

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

15

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

15

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

 

-

 

(3)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(3)

Changes in fair value of cost of hedging

 

-

 

-

 

(1)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(1)

Total other comprehensive (expense)/income

 

-

 

(3)

 

(1)

 

15

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

11

Share‑based payment

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

64

 

-

 

-

 

64

Net shares acquired by SKG Employee Trust

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(22)

 

-

 

(22)

Shares distributed by SKG Employee Trust

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(12)

 

12

 

-

 

-

At 31 December 2021

 

575

 

1

 

1

 

(541)

 

293

 

(59)

 

(10)

 

260

14. Business Combinations

The acquisitions completed by the Group during the year, together with percentages acquired and completion dates were as follows:

Argencraft, (100%, 1 April 2022) a corrugated facility in Argentina;Atlas Packaging, (100%, 29 April 2022), a corrugated packaging company in the UK;PaperBox (100%, 3 October 2022) a packaging plant in Brazil; andPusa Pack (100%, 31 October 2022) a bag-in-box packaging plant in Spain.

The table below reflects the provisional fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired in respect of the acquisitions completed during the year. Any amendments to fair values will be made within the twelve month period from the date of acquisition, as permitted by IFRS 3, Business Combinations and disclosed in the 2023 Annual Report. None of the business combinations completed during the year were considered sufficiently material to warrant separate disclosure of the fair values attributable to those combinations.

 

 

Total*

 

 

€m

Non-current assets

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

58

Right-of-use assets

 

4

Intangible Assets

 

37

Current assets

 

 

Inventories

 

7

Trade and other receivables

 

21

Cash and cash equivalents

 

6

Non-current liabilities

 

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

(23)

Provisions

 

(2)

Borrowings

 

(1)

Current liabilities

 

 

Borrowings

 

(8)

Trade and other payables

 

(15)

Current income tax liability

 

(2)

Net assets acquired

 

82

Goodwill

 

22

Consideration

 

104

 

 

 

Settled by:

 

 

Cash

 

96

Deferred consideration

 

8

 

 

104

* In addition to the 2022 acquisitions, the amounts also include fair value adjustments in relation to 2021 acquisitions.

During 2022 the Group made an amendment to the fair values assigned to the Verzuolo acquisition completed in late 2021. Given the proximity of the transaction to the year-end, the accounting treatment for the acquisition at 31 December 2021 was provisional, and on completion of the fair value exercise in 2022 the Group identified adjustments that were required as outlined below. The adjustments were not of a material nature and therefore have been recognised as movements within 2022 acquisitions in the 2022 financial statements.

 

 

2022

 

 

€m

Increase in property, plant and equipment

 

26

Increase in intangible assets

 

21

Increase in deferred tax liability

 

(12)

Other

 

(1)

Increase in net assets

 

34

 

 

 

Decrease in purchase price

 

1

Decrease in goodwill

 

35

14. Business Combinations (continued)

The principal factors contributing to the recognition of goodwill are the realisation of cost savings and other synergies with existing entities in the Group which do not qualify for separate recognition as intangible assets.

None of the goodwill arising on business combinations completed in the year is expected to be deductible for tax purposes as at 31 December 2022.

Net cash outflow arising on acquisition

 

€m

Cash consideration

 

96

Less cash & cash equivalents acquired

 

(6)

Total

 

90

The gross contractual value of trade and other receivables as at the respective dates of acquisition amounted to €21 million. The fair value of these receivables is estimated at €21 million (all of which is expected to be recoverable).

Acquisition-related costs of €1 million were incurred and are included within administrative expenses in the Consolidated Income Statement.

The Group’s acquisitions in 2022 have contributed €84 million to revenue and €14 million to profit after tax. The proforma revenue and profit after tax of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2022 would have been €12,855 million and €951 million respectively, had the acquisitions taken place at the start of the reporting period.

There have been no acquisitions completed subsequent to the balance sheet date which would be individually material to the Group, thereby requiring disclosure under either IFRS 3 or IAS 10, Events after the Balance Sheet Date.

Supplementary Financial Information

Alternative Performance Measures

The Group uses certain financial measures as set out below in order to evaluate the Group’s financial performance. These Alternative Performance Measures (‘APMs’) are not defined under IFRS and are presented because we believe that they, and similar measures, provide both SKG management and users of the Consolidated Financial Statements with useful additional financial information when evaluating the Group’s operating and financial performance.

These measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies, and are not measurements under IFRS or other generally accepted accounting principles, and they should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for the information contained in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Please note where referenced ‘CIS’ refers to Consolidated Income Statement, ‘CBS’ refers to Consolidated Balance Sheet and ‘CSCF’ refers to Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

The principal APMs used by the Group, together with reconciliations where the non-IFRS measures are not readily identifiable from the Consolidated Financial Statements, are as follows:

A. EBITDADefinitionEBITDA is earnings before exceptional items, share-based payment expense, share of associates’ profit (after tax), net finance costs, income tax expense, depreciation and depletion (net) and intangible assets amortisation. It is an appropriate and useful measure used to compare recurring financial performance between periods.

Reconciliation of Profit to EBITDA

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Profit for the financial year

 

CIS

 

945

 

679

Income tax expense (after exceptional items)

 

CIS

 

348

 

234

Exceptional items charged in operating profit

 

CIS

 

223

 

-

Net finance costs (after exceptional items)

 

Note 5

 

149

 

162

Share of associates’ profit (after tax)

 

CIS

 

(3)

 

(2)

Share-based payment expense

 

Note 3

 

65

 

69

Depreciation, depletion (net) and amortisation

 

Note 3

 

628

 

560

EBITDA

 

 

 

2,355

 

1,702

B. EBITDA marginDefinitionEBITDA margin is a measure of profitability by taking our EBITDA divided by revenue.

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

EBITDA

 

A

 

2,355

 

1,702

Revenue

 

CIS

 

12,815

 

10,107

EBITDA margin

 

 

 

18.4%

 

16.8%

Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

C. Operating profit before exceptional itemsDefinitionOperating profit before exceptional items represents operating profit as reported in the Consolidated Income Statement before exceptional items. Exceptional items are excluded in order to assess the underlying financial performance of our operations.

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Operating profit

 

CIS

 

1,439

 

1,073

Exceptional items

 

CIS

 

223

 

-

Operating profit before exceptional items

 

CIS

 

1,662

 

1,073

D. Pre-exceptional basic earnings per shareDefinitionPre-exceptional basic EPS serves as an effective indicator of our profitability as it excludes exceptional one‑off items and, in conjunction with other metrics such as ROCE, is a measure of our financial strength. Pre‑exceptional basic EPS is calculated by dividing profit attributable to owners of the parent, adjusted for exceptional items included in profit before income tax and income tax on exceptional items, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue. The calculation of pre-exceptional basic EPS is shown in Note 8.

E. Underlying EBITDA and revenueDefinitionUnderlying EBITDA and revenue are arrived at by excluding the incremental EBITDA and revenue contributions from current and prior year acquisitions and disposals and the impact of currency translation, hyperinflation and any non-recurring items.

The Group uses underlying EBITDA and underlying revenue as additional performance indicators to assess performance on a like-for-like basis each year.

 

 

Europe

2022

 

 

The Americas

2022

 

 

Total

2022

 

 

Europe

2021

 

 

The Americas

2021

 

 

Total

2021

 

EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency

 

-

 

7%

 

2%

 

1%

 

(2%)

 

-

Acquisitions/disposals

 

1%

 

5%

 

2%

 

(1%)

 

1%

 

-

Underlying EBITDA change

 

41%

 

13%

 

34%

 

10%

 

20%

 

13%

Reported EBITDA change

 

42%

 

25%

 

38%

 

10%

 

19%

 

13%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency

 

-

 

7%

 

2%

 

-

 

(3%)

 

-

Hyperinflation

 

-

 

2%

 

-

 

-

 

1%

 

-

Acquisitions/disposals

 

2%

 

4%

 

2%

 

1%

 

1%

 

-

Underlying revenue change

 

24%

 

16%

 

23%

 

17%

 

21%

 

18%

Reported revenue change

 

26%

 

29%

 

27%

 

18%

 

20%

 

18%

Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

F. Net debtDefinitionNet debt comprises borrowings net of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. We believe that this measure highlights the overall movement resulting from our operating and financial performance.

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Borrowings

 

Note 12

 

3,780

 

3,754

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash

 

CBS

 

(11)

 

(14)

Cash and cash equivalents

 

CBS

 

(777)

 

(855)

Net debt

 

 

 

2,992

 

2,885

G. Net debt to EBITDADefinitionLeverage (ratio of net debt to EBITDA) is an important measure of our overall financial position.

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Net debt

 

F

 

2,992

 

2,885

EBITDA

 

A

 

2,355

 

1,702

Net debt to EBITDA (times)

 

 

 

1.3

 

1.7

H. Return on capital employed (‘ROCE’)DefinitionROCE measures profit from capital employed. It is calculated as operating profit before exceptional items plus share of associates’ profit (after tax) divided by the average capital employed (where average capital employed is the average of total equity and net debt at the current and prior year-end).

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Operating profit before exceptional items

 

C

 

1,662

 

1,073

Share of associates’ profit (after tax)

 

CIS

 

3

 

2

Operating profit before exceptional items plus share of associates’ profit (after tax)

 

 

 

1,665

 

1,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity – current year-end

 

CBS

 

5,038

 

4,392

Net debt – current year-end

 

F

 

2,992

 

2,885

Capital employed – current year-end

 

 

 

8,030

 

7,277

Total equity – prior year-end

 

CBS

 

4,392

 

3,783

Net debt – prior year-end

 

F

 

2,885

 

2,375

Capital employed – prior year-end

 

 

 

7,277

 

6,158

Average capital employed

 

 

 

7,654

 

6,718

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on capital employed

 

 

 

21.8%

 

16.0%

Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

I. Working capitalDefinitionWorking capital represents total inventories, trade and other receivables and trade and other payables.

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Inventories

 

CBS

 

1,231

 

1,046

Trade and other receivables (current and non-current)

 

CBS

 

2,438

 

2,163

Trade and other payables

 

CBS

 

(2,642)

 

(2,563)

Working capital

 

 

 

1,027

 

646

J. Working capital as a percentage of salesDefinitionWorking capital as a percentage of sales represents working capital as defined above shown as a percentage of annualised quarterly revenue.

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Working capital

 

I

 

1,027

 

646

Annualised quarterly revenue

 

 

 

12,361

 

11,281

Working capital as a percentage of sales

 

 

 

8.3%

 

5.7%

Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

K. Summary cash flowDefinitionThe summary cash flow is prepared on a different basis to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and as such the reconciling items between EBITDA and increase in net debt may differ from amounts presented in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The summary cash flow details movements in net debt. The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows details movements in cash and cash equivalents.

Reconciliation of the Summary Cash Flow to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

 

Reference

 

€m

 

€m

EBITDA

 

A

 

2,355

 

1,702

Exceptional items

 

K.1

 

(3)

 

-

Cash interest expense

 

K.2

 

(132)

 

(109)

Working capital change

 

K.3

 

(358)

 

(114)

Capital expenditure

 

K.4

 

(970)

 

(693)

Change in capital creditors

 

K.4

 

(24)

 

(14)

Tax paid

 

CSCF

 

(321)

 

(239)

Change in employee benefits and other provisions

 

K.6

 

(25)

 

(81)

Other

 

K.7

 

23

 

3

Free cash flow

 

L

 

545

 

455

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italian Competition Authority fine

 

CSCF

 

-

 

(124)

Impairment of cash balances held in Russia

 

L

 

(50)

 

-

Share buyback

 

CSCF

 

(41)

 

-

Purchase of own shares (net)

 

CSCF

 

(28)

 

(22)

Sale of businesses and investments

 

K.8

 

-

 

37

Purchase of businesses, investments and NCI

 

K.9

 

(110)

 

(449)

Dividends

 

CSCF

 

(333)

 

(302)

Derivative termination receipts

 

CSCF

 

1

 

9

Premium on early repayment of bonds

 

K.2

 

-

 

(28)

Net cash outflow

 

 

 

(16)

 

(424)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired net debt

 

K.10

 

(3)

 

(25)

Disposed net cash

 

K.11

 

-

 

(1)

Deferred debt issue costs amortised

 

 

 

(7)

 

(10)

Currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

(81)

 

(50)

Increase in net debt

 

 

 

(107)

 

(510)

K.1 Exceptional items

 

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Redundancy and reorganisation costs - paid

 

(3)

 

-

Per summary cash flow

 

(3)

 

-

Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

K.2 Cash interest expense

 

 

Reference

 

2022

€m

 

2021

€m

Interest paid

 

CSCF

 

(135)

 

(152)

Interest received

 

CSCF

 

9

 

3

Move in accrued interest

 

 

 

(6)

 

3

Initial cost of bonds repaid

 

 

 

-

 

9

Premium on early repayment of bonds

 

K

 

-

 

28

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

(132)

 

(109)

K.3 Working capital change

 

 

Reference

 

2022

€m

 

2021

€m

Net movement in working capital

 

CSCF

 

(350)

 

(114)

Impairment loss on Russian trade receivables

 

L

 

(8)

 

-

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

(358)

 

(114)

K.4 Capital expenditure

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Additions to property, plant and equipment and biological assets

 

CSCF

 

(873)

 

(594)

Additions to intangible assets

 

CSCF

 

(17)

 

(21)

Additions to right-of-use assets

 

 

 

(104)

 

(92)

Change in capital creditors

 

K

 

24

 

14

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

(970)

 

(693)

K.5 Capital expenditure as a percentage of depreciation

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Capital expenditure

 

K.4

 

970

 

693

Depreciation, depletion (net) and amortisation

 

A

 

628

 

560

Capital expenditure as a percentage of depreciation

 

 

 

155%

 

124%

Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

K.6 Change in employee benefits and other provisions

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Change in employee benefits and other provisions

 

CSCF

 

(19)

 

(81)

Reorganisation and restructuring costs - unpaid

 

K.6.1

 

(11)

 

-

Right-of-use asset retirement obligation

 

 

 

5

 

-

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

(25)

 

(81)

K.6.1 Reorganisation and restructuring costsThe change in the provision relating to exceptional reorganisation and restructuring costs is not included in the summary cash flow as it is not within EBITDA. Exceptional reorganisation and restructuring costs which were paid in 2022 are shown as a separate line item within ‘Exceptional items’ in the summary cash flow.

K.7 Other

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Other within the summary cash flow comprises the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortisation of capital grants

 

CSCF

 

(4)

 

(3)

Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment

 

CSCF

 

(7)

 

(8)

Other (primarily hyperinflation adjustments)

 

CSCF

 

8

 

5

Receipt of capital grants

 

CSCF

 

6

 

5

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

CSCF

 

12

 

16

Dividends received from associates

 

CSCF

 

1

 

1

Right-of-use asset terminations/modifications

 

L

 

7

 

(13)

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

23

 

3

K.8 Sale of businesses and investments

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Disposal of subsidiaries (net of disposed cash)

 

CSCF

 

-

 

33

Disposed cash and cash equivalents

 

K.11

 

-

 

4

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

-

 

37

K.9 Purchase of businesses, investments and NCI

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Purchase of subsidiaries (net of acquired cash)

 

CSCF

 

(90)

 

(413)

Deferred consideration paid

 

CSCF

 

(14)

 

(35)

Acquired cash and cash equivalents

 

K.10

 

(6)

 

(1)

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

(110)

 

(449)

Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

K.10 Acquired net debt

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Acquired debt

 

 

 

(9)

 

(26)

Acquired cash and cash equivalents

 

K.9

 

6

 

1

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

(3)

 

(25)

K.11 Disposed net cash

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Disposed debt

 

 

 

-

 

3

Disposed cash and cash equivalents

 

K.8

 

-

 

(4)

Per summary cash flow

 

 

 

-

 

(1)

L. Free cash flow (‘FCF’)DefinitionFCF is the result of the cash inflows and outflows from our operating activities, and is before those arising from acquisition and disposal of businesses. We use FCF to assess and understand the total operating performance of the business and to identify underlying trends.

Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Cash Generated from Operations

 

 

Reference

 

2022€m

 

2021€m

Free cash flow

 

K

 

545

 

455

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash interest expense

 

K.2

 

132

 

109

Capital expenditure (net of change in capital creditors)

 

K.4

 

994

 

707

Tax payments

 

CSCF

 

321

 

239

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

CSCF

 

(12)

 

(16)

Right-of-use asset terminations/modifications

 

K.7

 

(7)

 

13

Receipt of capital grants

 

CSCF

 

(6)

 

(5)

Dividends received from associates

 

CSCF

 

(1)

 

(1)

Italian Competition Authority fine

 

CSCF

 

-

 

(124)

Impairment loss on Russian trade receivables

 

K.3

 

(8)

 

-

Impairment of cash balances held in Russia

 

K

 

(50)

 

-

Cash generated from operations

 

CSCF

 

1,908

 

1,377

_________________________________1 Additional information in relation to these Alternative Performance Measures is set out in Supplementary Financial Information on pages 30 to 37.2 Additional information on underlying performance is set out within Supplementary Financial Information on pages 30 to 37.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230207006154/en/

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