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Published: 2020-11-05 08:00:00 CET
Nordecon
Quarterly report

2020 III quarter and 9 months consolidated interim report (unaudited)

Compared to the same period last year, the 9 month results of the Group in 2020 are characterised by an increase in sales revenue and operating profit, which was achieved in the context of a slight decline in gross profitability through a reduction in operating costs and an increase in overall efficiency. Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn, the impact on the results of the Group in the 9 months of 2020 is limited. Continuously, the weakening of Ukranian hryvnia and the resulting exchange rate loss affects the net result. The order book has increased year on year as compared to the same period of 2019 from 196 million euros to 215 million euros mainly due to the contracts form the public sector. Estimated two thirds of the order book are works to be performed in 2021 and 2022.
The COVID-19 pandemic has an increasing impact on the construction market and companies operating in the construction sector. The volume of new private orders has fallen considerably in the second and third quarters of 2020 and the start of construction of many objects in the tender phase has been delayed in the future. The pressure on the main contracting companies by demand side has increased as the market volume declines, but the expected decrease in the input prices offered by subcontractors has not occurred significantly. The situation has put the profit margin under pressure and brought into focus the reduction of the Group's costs and the need to contribute more resources to automated digital solutions.

Condensed consolidated interim statement of financial position

EUR ‘00030 September 202031 December 2019
ASSETS  
Current assets  
Cash and cash equivalents7,6407,032
Trade and other receivables61,53237,563
Prepayments4,2081,813
Inventories24,08021,142
Total current assets97,46067,550
Non-current assets  
Investments in equity-accounted investees1,8022,369
Other investments2626
Trade and other receivables8,6158,435
Investment property6,3015,530
Property, plant and equipment18,45119,002
Intangible assets14,92414,736
Total non-current assets50,11950,098
TOTAL ASSETS147,579117,648
   
LIABILITIES  
Current liabilities  
Borrowings19,19611,058
Trade payables60,28640,730
Other payables9,4407,954
Deferred income7,5506,391
Provisions1,156716
Total current liabilities97,62866,849
Non-current liabilities  
Borrowings8,18716,326
Trade payables9898
Other payables2,283177
Provisions1,3391,425
Total non-current liabilities11,90718,026
TOTAL LIABILITIES109,53584,875
   
EQUITY  
Share capital14,37914,379
Own (treasury) shares-660-660
Share premium635635
Statutory capital reserve2,5542,554
Translation reserve2,5441,169
Retained earnings14,91912,383
Total equity attributable to owners of the parent34,37130,460
Non-controlling interests3,6732,313
TOTAL EQUITY38,04432,773
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY147,579117,648

Condensed consolidated interim statement of comprehensive income

EUR ‘000 9M 2020Q3 20209M 2019Q3 20192019
Revenue  217,664 80,866 172,237 71,796 234,071
Cost of sales -208,149-77,358-164,516-67,369-222,302
Gross profit 9,5153,5087,7214,42711,769
       
Marketing and distribution expenses -386-184-635-137-784
Administrative expenses -5,312-1,452-4,668-1,620-6,837
Other operating income 2739512861315
Other operating expenses -138-28-48-28-193
Operating profit 3,9521,9392,4982,7034,270
       
Finance income 270211,2157201,277
Finance costs -2,102-861-1,006-343-1,219
Net finance costs/income -1,832-840209377-58
       
Share of profit of equity-accounted investees  966 487 622 370 585
       
Profit before income tax 3,0861,5863,3293,4504,913
Income tax expense -820-4530-764
Profit for the period 3,0041,5862,8763,4504,149
       
Other comprehensive income:
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
      
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations 1,375557-777-514-823
Total other comprehensive income/expense 1,375557-777-514-823
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 4,3792,1432,0992,9363,326
       
Profit attributable to:      
- Owners of the parent 1,0401,1972,5323,3253,378
- Non-controlling interests 1,964389344125771
Profit for the period 3,0041,5862,8763,4504,149
       
Total comprehensive income attributable to:      
- Owners of the parent 2,4151,7541,7552,8112,555
- Non-controlling interests 1,964389344125771
Total comprehensive income for the period 4,3792,1432,0992,9363,326
       
Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent:      
Basic earnings per share (EUR) 0.030.040.080.100.11 
Diluted earnings per share (EUR) 0.030.040.080.100.11 

Condensed consolidated interim statement of cash flows

EUR ‘0009M 20209M 2019
Cash flows from operating activities  
Cash receipts from customers267,488193,567
Cash paid to suppliers-238,592-165,291
VAT paid-8,245-4,606
Cash paid to and for employees-20,849-17,332
Income tax paid-81-149
Net cash used in/from operating activities-2796,189
   
Cash flows from investing activities  
Paid on acquisition of property, plant and equipment-184-216
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment246215
Acquisition of intangible assets-20
Acquisition of a subsidiary-20
Cash received on acquisition of a subsidiary3,6050
Loans provided-17-14
Repayment of loans provided439
Dividends received251489
Interest received86
Net cash from investing activities3,948489
   
Cash flows from financing activities  
Proceeds from loans received2,3333,036
Repayment of loans received-1,949-3,245
Lease payments made-2,167-2,400
Interest paid-790-744
Dividends paid-472-2,360
Net cash used in financing activities-3,045-5,713
   
Net cash flow624965
   
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period7,0327,678
Effect of movements in foreign exchange rates-16-13
Increase in cash and cash equivalents624965
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period7,6408,630


Financial review

Financial performance

Nordecon ended the first nine months of 2020 with a gross profit of 9,515 thousand euros (9M 2019: 7,721 thousand euros). Gross margin was 4.4% for nine months (9M 2019: 4.5%) and 4.3% for the third quarter (Q3 2019: 6.2%). In the Buildings segment, gross margin decreased year on year, dropping to 4.7% for nine months and 4.0% for the third quarter (9M 2019: 5.4% and Q3 2019: 5.1%). The decline is mainly attributable to a loss-making housing development project completed in Sweden. In the Infrastructure segment, gross margin improved year on year, rising to 4.6% for nine months and 5.9% for the third quarter (9M 2019: 4.0% and Q3 2019: 9.2%). The segment’s nine-month result was influenced by an earlier start of the road construction season and a strong order book. Despite the fact that market players’ capacity to produce asphalt concrete considerably exceeds market demand, the Group’s asphalt concrete output grew year on year, providing cover for fixed costs, the largest share of which is made up of costs related to the plant and equipment required for asphalt concrete production and laying.
The Group’s administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2020 totalled 5,312 thousand euros. Compared to the same period in 2019, administrative expenses increased by around 14% (9M 2019: 4,668 thousand euros). The rise is attributable to growth in personnel expenses and depreciation as well as the fact that Embach Ehitus OÜ became a subsidiary. The ratio of administrative expenses to revenue (12 months rolling) was 2.7, remaining virtually the same as a year earlier (9M 2019: 2.8%).
The Group’s operating profit for the first nine months of 2020 was 3,952 thousand euros (9M 2019: 2,498 thousand euros). Operating margin improved year on year, rising to 1.8% for the nine months of 2020 (9M 2019: 1.5%). EBITDA amounted to 6,512 thousand euros (9M 2019: 4,732 thousand euros).
Finance income and costs of the period continued to be influenced by exchange rate fluctuations in the Group’s foreign markets, particularly the movements in the exchange rate of the Ukrainian hryvnia, which weakened against the euro by approximately 20%. In contrast to the first nine months of 2019 when the Group earned a foreign exchange gain, in the reporting period the translation of loans provided to the Ukrainian subsidiaries in euros resulted in a foreign exchange loss of 1,255 thousand euros (9M 2019: an exchange gain of 1,040 thousand euros). The Swedish krona weakened against the euro by around 1%. The foreign exchange gain recognised in finance income in connection with the translation of a loan provided to the Swedish subsidiary in euros amounted to 84 thousand euros (9M 2019: a foreign exchange loss of 258 thousand euros).
The Group’s net profit amounted to 3,004 thousand euros (9M 2019: 2,876 thousand euros). The profit attributable to owners of the parent, Nordecon AS, was 1,040 thousand euros (9M 2019: 2,532 thousand euros).

Cash flows

In the first nine months of 2020, operating activities produced a net cash outflow of 279 thousand euros (9M 2019: an inflow of 6,189 thousand euros). The key factor that affects operating cash flow is the mismatch between the settlement terms agreed with customers and suppliers. Operating cash flow is also strongly influenced by the fact that the contracts signed with most public and private sector customers do not require them to make advance payments while the Group has to make prepayments to subcontractors and materials suppliers. In 2020, the share of prepayments has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cash inflow is also reduced by contractual retentions, which extend from 5 to 10% of the contract price and are released at the end of the construction period only.
Investing activities resulted in a net cash inflow of 3,948 thousand euros (9M 2019: an inflow of 489 thousand euros). The transaction with the strongest impact was the transformation of Embach Ehitus OÜ from an associate into a subsidiary, which generated cash inflow of 3,605 thousand euros. Cash flow was also influenced by payments made for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment of 184 thousand euros (9M 2019: 216 thousand euros) and proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment of 246 thousand euros (9M 2019: 215 thousand euros). Dividends received amounted to 251 thousand euros (9M 2019: 489 thousand euros).
Financing activities generated a net cash outflow of 3,045 thousand euros (9M 2019: an outflow of 5,713 thousand euros). The largest items were loan and lease payments and dividends paid. Proceeds from loans received totalled 2,333 thousand euros, comprising the use of the overdraft facility and development loans (9M 2019: 3,036 thousand euros). Loan repayments totalled 1,949 thousand euros (9M 2019: 3,245 thousand euros), consisting of regular repayments of long-term investment and development loans. Lease payments totalled 2,167 thousand euros (9M 2019: 2,400 thousand euros). Dividends paid in the first nine months of 2020 amounted to 472 thousand euros (9M 2019: 2,360 thousand euros).
The Group’s cash and cash equivalents totalled 7,640 thousand euros at 30 September 2020 (30 September 2019: 8,630 thousand euros).

Key financial figures and ratios

Figure/ratio9M 20209M 20199M 20182019
Revenue (EUR ‘000)217,664172,237167,588234,071
Revenue change26.4%2.8%-4.2%4.7%
Net profit (EUR ‘000)3,0042,8762,1544,149
Net profit attributable to owners of the parent
(EUR ‘000)
1,0402,5321,9723,378
Weighted average number of shares31,528,58531,528,58530,986,58531,528,585
Earnings per share (EUR)0.030.080.060.11
Administrative expenses to revenue2.4%2.7%3.0%2.9%
Administrative expenses to revenue (rolling)2.7%2.8%2.9%2.9%
EBITDA (EUR ‘000)6,5124,7323,8797,311
EBITDA margin3.0%2.7%2.3%3.1%
Gross margin4.4%4.5%4.0%5.0%
Operating margin1.8%1.5%1.4%1.8%
Operating margin excluding gain on asset sales1.8%1.4%0.8%1.7%
Net margin1.4%1.7%1.3%1.8%
Return on invested capital6.2%5.8%5.4%10.0%
Return on equity8.5%8.8%6.4%12.5%
Equity ratio25.8%25.9%28.6%27.9%
Return on assets2.3%2.5%1.9%3.7%
Gearing30.2%30.0%29.1%33.8%
Current ratio1.000.930.961.01
As at30 Sept 202030 Sept 201930 Sept 201831 Dec 2019
Order book (EUR ‘000)215,494196,493131,953227,545
      

Performance by geographical market

The revenue contribution of the Groups foreign markets increased year on year, rising to approximately 12% of the Group’s total revenue for the first nine months of 2020.

 9M 20209M 20199M 20182019
Estonia88%91%94%89%
Sweden6%3%2%5%
Finland5%4%1%4%
Ukraine1%2%3%2%

The revenue contribution of the Swedish market grew significantly year on year. During the period, we provided services under three building construction contracts secured as a general contractor and one concrete works subcontract. Finnish revenues grew somewhat, underpinned by concrete works subcontracts signed in the building construction segment and two general contractor’s contracts signed in the agriculture sector. Revenue generated in the Ukrainian market and its proportionate share in the Group’s total revenue decreased.
Geographical diversification of the revenue base is a consciously deployed strategy by which we mitigate the risks resulting from excessive reliance on one market. However, conditions in some of our chosen foreign markets are also volatile and have a strong effect on our current results. Increasing the contribution of foreign markets is one of Nordecon’s strategic targets.

Performance by business line

Segment revenues

The Group ended the first nine months of 2020 with revenue of 217,664 thousand euros, a roughly 26% improvement on the 172,237 thousand euros generated in the first nine months of 2019. Revenue growth was driven by the strong performance of the Buildings segment, which increased its revenue by 38%. Based on the size of its order book, revenue growth in the Buildings segment was expected. The Infrastructure segment’s revenue, on the other hand, decreased by 2% compared to the same period last year.
The limited volume of infrastructure construction projects, which continues to affect the entire Estonian construction market, is also reflected in our revenue structure. In in the first nine months of 2020, our Buildings and Infrastructure segments generated revenue of 169,439 thousand euros and 48,025 thousand euros, respectively. The corresponding figures for in the first nine months of 2019 were 122,825 thousand euros and 49,138 thousand euros.

Operating segments9M 20209M 20199M 20182019
Buildings75%70%71%70%
Infrastructure25%30%29%30%

Subsegment revenues

In the Buildings segment, all subsegments delivered lesser or greater year-on-year revenue growth. The fastest-growing subsegment was public buildings, which increased its revenue by 78%. It was also the largest revenue contributor, generating approximately a third of total segment revenue. During the period, we completed and delivered on time the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and the University of Tartu Learning Centre in Narva, phase I of Kindluse Kool – a basic school in Järveküla near Tallinn, and the Annelinn upper secondary school in Tartu. The largest projects in progress in the public buildings subsegment are the construction of a storage complex for the defence forces’ base at Tapa, a sports and health centre at Kohtla-Järve, a family health centre in Tartu, and an extension to the building of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service in Rahumäe tee in Tallinn, and the reconstruction of two schools in East Ukraine.
The largest projects of the commercial buildings subsegment that generated revenue in the reporting period are in Tallinn. The construction of a seven-floor commercial building in Rotermann City continues. We completed and delivered on time the building of Terminal D in the Old City Harbour, phase I of the Porto Franco commercial and office development next to the Admiralty Basin, and a multi-storey car park at Sepapaja 1 in Tallinn.
A significant share of our Estonian apartment building projects is located in Tallinn. During the period under review, the largest of them were the design and construction of the first two phases of the Kalaranna quarter, and the design and construction of the Tiskreoja residential area on the western border of Tallinn. Similarly to previous periods, a major share of the subsegment’s revenue came from the construction of apartment buildings in Sweden.
We continue to build our own housing development projects in Tallinn and Tartu (reported in the apartment buildings subsegment). During the period, we completed a five-floor apartment building with 24 apartments at Võidujooksu 8c in Tallinn (www.voidujooksu.ee). Revenue from our own real estate development operations amounted to 2,455 thousand euros (9M 2019: 6,388 thousand euros). In carrying out our own real estate development activities, we monitor closely potential risks in the housing development market.
Although the amount and share of revenue generated by the industrial and warehouse facilities subsegment remained modest compared to other subsegments, its revenue grew more than two times compared to the same period in 2019. Still, the values of projects in progress are small, amounting to 2 million euros on average. Based on the order book, we thus expect that the subsegment’s revenue contribution will remain modest in 2020.

Revenue breakdown in the Buildings segment9M 20209M 2019 9M 20182019
Public buildings36%28%27%29%
Apartment buildings28%30%22%27%
Commercial buildings25%35%36%36%
Industrial and warehouse facilities11%7%15%8%

Although the largest revenue contributor in the Infrastructure segment is still road construction and maintenance, both the proportion and amount of its revenue have decreased year-on-year. A significant share of its revenue results from road rehabilitation contracts of 2 to 3 million euros each. The largest projects in progress include a contract secured in 2019 for the construction of the Kernu bypass as well as the Kernu filling station and Haiba junctions on the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla road, and a contract signed this year for the construction of the Väo junction on the eastern border of Tallinn. In addition to road construction and maintenance, the subsegment builds infrastructure assets for the defence forces, and improves forest roads under a number of small contracts signed with the State Forest Management Centre. We also continue to provide road maintenance services in Järva and Hiiu counties and the Kose maintenance area in Harju county.
The revenue of the other engineering subsegment is strongly influenced by the construction of foundations for 73 wind turbines in the Nysäter wind farm, which is being built in northern Sweden, near Sundsvall.
During the period, work continued on the construction of a 640-metre waterfront promenade at Sillamäe, which accounts for a significant share of the revenue of the specialist engineering subsegment.

Revenue breakdown in the Infrastructure segment9M 20209M 20199M 20182019
Road construction and maintenance77%81%91%78%
Other engineering18%16%6%18%
Specialist engineering4%0%0%1%
Environmental engineering1%3%3%3%

Order book

The Group’s order book (backlog of contracts signed but not yet performed) stood at 215,494 thousand euros at 30 September 2020, a 10% increase year on year. In the third quarter, we signed new contracts of 87,751 thousand euros (Q3 2019: 69,894 thousand euros).

As at30 Sept 202030 Sept 201930 Sept 201831 Dec 2019
Order book (EUR ‘000)215,494196,493131,953227,545

The breakdown of the order book between the two segments has not changed significantly: the volume of contracts secured by the Buildings segment is still substantially larger, accounting for 79% of the Group’s total order book while contracts secured by the Infrastructure segment account for 21% (30 September 2019: 80% and 20%, respectively). Compared to 30 September 2019, the order books of both segments have increased. The order book of the Buildings segment has grown by around 7% and that of the Infrastructure segment by 20%. Around two thirds of the Group’s order book is made up of projects that will continue in 2021 and 2022.
The order book of the public buildings subsegment accounts for roughly a half of the order book of the Buildings segment. Its growth is mainly attributable to a contract signed at the beginning of the third quarter for the construction of phase III of the Maarjamõisa Medical Campus of the Tartu University Hospital. In phase III, the building complex at L. Puusepa 8 will be added two new blocks: the M Block, which will house a children’s hospital, and the C Block, which will house an ear clinic, a women’s clinic, a family centre, and a day surgery. The cost of the contract is 47.3 million euros. In addition, in the third quarter we signed contracts for the construction of an academic building for an upper secondary school in Kuressaare on the island of Saaremaa and for the design and construction of a barracks for 300 people in the defence forces base at Paldiski. The order books of the apartment buildings and the industrial and warehouse facilities subsegments have remained at the same level as at 30 September 2019. A major share of the order book of the apartment buildings subsegment is made up of a contract of around 40 million euros for the design and construction of the first two phases of the Kalaranna quarter in Tallinn. A significant share of the order book of the industrial and warehouse facilities subsegment is made up of contracts for the construction of a dairy complex for E‑Piim in Paide and two shed complexes in Finland. The order book of the commercial buildings subsegment has decreased substantially year on year. Its largest projects in progress are the construction of a new seven-floor commercial building in Rotermann City in Tallinn and a store building for Lidl Eesti OÜ in Tartu.
Contracts secured by the road construction and maintenance subsegment account for 74% of the order book of the Infrastructure segment. The size of the order book is strongly influenced by a contract secured in the second quarter for the construction of the Väo junction on the eastern border of Tallinn. Nordecon Group continues to provide road maintenance services in three road maintenance areas: Järva, Hiiu and Kose. We have signed a new five-year contract for maintaining national roads in the Järva maintenance area. The contract involves year-round maintenance of around 950 km of national roads in Järva county. Based on the rates for 2020, the total cost of the contract is approximately 10.7 million euros. Other engineering contracts account for 15% of the order book of the Infrastructure segment. A major share of the order book of the other engineering subsegment is made up of a contract secured in 2019 for the construction of foundations for 73 wind turbines in the Nysäter wind farm in northern Sweden, near Sundsvall.
A large part of the contracts signed in the third quarter came from the public sector. The volume of work secured from the private sector has decreased sharply and the commencement of many projects that have been announced has been postponed. Customers are increasingly expecting that general contractors should lower their prices but the input prices charged by subcontractors have not decreased as anticipated. This has put profit margins under strong pressure. In an environment of stiff competition, we have avoided taking unjustified risks whose realisation in the contract performance phase would have an adverse impact on the Group’s results. Our main focus is on cost control and pre-construction and design activities in order to harness our professional competitive advantages.
Between the reporting date (30 September 2020) and the date of release of this report, Group companies have secured additional construction contracts in the region of 16,640 thousand euros.

People

Employees and personnel expenses

In the first nine months of 2020, the Group (the parent and the subsidiaries) employed, on average, 703 people, including 422 engineers and technical personnel (ETP). Headcount increased by around 2% compared with the same period in 2019. The number of engineers and technical personnel grew due to a change in the Group’s structure: Embach Ehitus OÜ became a subsidiary, which increased the group’s workforce by 40 employees.

Average number of employees at Group entities (including the parent and the subsidiaries):

 9M 20209M 20199M 20182019
ETP422413425414
Workers261276272273
Total average703689697687

The Group’s personnel expenses for the first nine months of 2020 including all taxes, totalled 19,476 thousand euros. The figure for the same period in 2019 was 17,772 thousand euros. Personnel expenses grew by around 10% year on year, mainly in connection with Embach Ehitus OÜ becoming a subsidiary and the payment of project-based performance bonuses.
The service fees of the members of the council of Nordecon AS for the first nine months of 2020 amounted to 135 thousand euros and associated social security charges totalled 45 thousand euros (9M 2019: 140 thousand euros and 46 thousand euros, respectively).
The service fees of the members of the board of Nordecon AS amounted to 357 thousand euros and associated social security charges totalled 118 thousand euros (9M 2019: 356 thousand euros and 117 thousand euros, respectively).

Labour productivity and labour cost efficiency

We measure the efficiency of our operating activities using the following productivity and efficiency indicators, which are based on the number of employees and personnel expenses incurred:

 9M 20209M 20199M 20182019
Nominal labour productivity (rolling), (EUR ‘000)400.4335.0318.6340.6
Change against the comparative period, %19.5%5.1%3.4%4.7%
     
Nominal labour cost efficiency (rolling), (EUR)10.39.59.69.2
Change against the comparative period, %8.4%-0.6%-6.7%-5.0%


The Group’s nominal labour productivity and nominal labour cost efficiency have improved year on year, primarily through revenue growth.

Nordecon (www.nordecon.com) is a group of construction companies whose core business is construction project management and general contracting in the buildings and infrastructures segment. Geographically the Group operates in Estonia, Sweden, Finland and Ukraine. The parent of the Group is Nordecon AS, a company registered and located in Tallinn, Estonia. The consolidated revenue of the Group in 2019 was 234 million euros. Currently Nordecon Group employs close to 700 people. Since 18 May 2006 the company's shares have been quoted in the main list of the NASDAQ Tallinn Stock Exchange.

Andri Hõbemägi
Nordecon AS
Head of Investor Relations
Tel: +372 6272 022
Email: andri.hobemagi@nordecon.com
www.nordecon.com

Attachments


NCN investor presentation Q3_2020.pdf
Nordecon_Interim_report_Q3_2020.pdf