ADAMA reports third quarter and nine months 2022 results

Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

• Sales up 18% to $1,359 million (+25% in RMB terms; +24% in CER^[1] terms), driven by 18% higher prices and 6% volume growth

• Improvement of Opex/Sales ratio of 20.1% vs. 22.2% in Q3 2021

• Adjusted operating income up 70% to $100 million (RMB: +79%), representing an improvement of operating income margin from 5.1% in Q3 2021 to 7.4% in Q3 2022

• Adjusted EBITDA up 40% to $171 million (RMB: +48%) vs. Q3 2021, representing an improvement of EBITDA margin from 10.6% in Q3 2021 to 12.5% in Q3 2022

• Adjusted net income of $8 million; Reported net income of $5 million

First Nine Months 2022 Highlights

• Sales up 22% to a nine-month record-high of $4,258 million (+25% in RMB terms; +26% in CER terms), driven by 19% higher prices and 7% volume growth

• Improvement of Opex/Sales ratio of 19.3% vs. 20.6% in the first nine months of 2021

• Adjusted operating income up 43% to $403 million (RMB: +45%), representing an improvement of operating income margin from 8.1% in first nine months of 2021 to 9.5% in the first nine months of 2022

• Adjusted EBITDA up 32% to $611 million (RMB: +34%), vs. the first nine months of 2021 representing an improvement of EBITDA margin from 13.4% in first nine months 2021 to 14.4% in the first nine months of 2022

• Adjusted net income up to $159 million; Reported net income up to $119 million

^[1] CER: Constant Exchange Rates

ADAMA Ltd. (the ″Company″) (SZSE 000553), reported its financial results for the third quarter and nine-month period ended September 30, 2022.

Ignacio Dominguez, President and CEO of ADAMA, said, "ADAMA presents another quarter of strong sales, led by our business in Brazil, reflecting solid demand for crop protection products and positive farmer profitability. Crop commodity prices are expected to maintain historically elevated levels supported by underlying economic fundamentals, continuing to drive the demand for crop protection products.

"We are committed to serving farmers, wherever they may be, despite the many challenges we see in the market today. Food security is increasingly under pressure with extreme weather conditions and disruptions in the global trade of crop commodities. Especially in such times of uncertainty, crop protection remains an invaluable tool for farmers to maximize yields and ADAMA is consistently there to support farmers in feeding the world."

Notes:
″As Reported″ denotes the Company’s financial statements according to the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises and the implementation guidance, interpretations and other relevant provisions issued or revised subsequently by the Chinese Ministry of Finance (the ″MoF) (collectively referred to as ″ASBE″). Note that in the reported financial statements, as a result of recent changes in the ASBE guidelines [IAS 37], certain items as of Q4 2021 (specifically certain transportation costs and certain idleness charges) have been reclassified from Operating Expenses to COGS. Please see the appendix to this release for further information.
Relevant income statement items contained in this release are also presented on an ″Adjusted″ basis, which exclude items that are of a transitory or non-cash/non-operational nature that do not impact the ongoing performance of the business, and reflect the way the Company’s management and the Board of Directors view the performance of the Company internally. The Company believes that excluding the effects of these items from its operating results allows management and investors to effectively compare the true underlying financial performance of its business from period to period and against its global peers. A detailed summary of these adjustments appears in the appendix below.
The number of shares used to calculate both basic and diluted earnings per share in both Q3 and 9M 2021 and 2022 is 2,329.8 million shares.
In this table and all tables in this release numbers may not sum due to rounding.

The general crop protection market environment^[2]

Preliminary projections estimate the global crop protection industry to increase by 14.5% in 2022^[3]. High crop prices incentivized another year of increases in global planted areas, which drove higher crop protection volumes as well as by higher pricing.

Crop prices remain elevated above historic averages despite decreasing somewhat in the last two quarters, after reaching historically high levels in Q1 2022. Prices are expected to remain elevated into 2023, supported by key fundamentals including very low stocks, unfavorable weather conditions in the Americas and parts of Europe and continued supply disruptions exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine as well as the energy crisis in Europe. However, weaker economic conditions and broad-based monetary tightening could weigh on consumer demand, softening prices further.

Farmer profitability continues to face pressures from high production costs, mainly from high fertilizer prices, driven by a surge in energy costs and the application of international economic sanctions to Russia and Belarus (both large fertilizer exporters), as well as supply disruption and tight availability caused by the conflict in Ukraine. Despite this, farming activities are nevertheless still very profitable in most regions.

Crude oil prices continued to decline in the third quarter of 2022 from the peak levels reached in the first quarter of 2022, mainly due to concerns regarding the global economic outlook. Prices are, however, expected to remain elevated into the fourth quarter of 2022 and beyond, due to low global inventory levels, uncertainty of Russia’s oil exports as well as the OPEC+ decision to further limit oil production.

European gas prices and indirectly Asian spot LNG prices reached record highs in the third quarter of 2022 following the sharp decline in Russian gas flows to Europe and a tight energy market. Meanwhile, prices in the United States reached their highest summer levels since 2008.

Global container freight rates have dropped significantly in the third quarter of 2022, driven by a further weakening in demand in the light of high inflation and slower-than-expected economic growth, easing port congestion. A large amount of scheduled new deliveries of container vessel capacity, starting from the end of 2022, is expected to further soften port congestion and put container shipping rates under pressure.

Prices for raw materials, intermediates and active ingredients reached peak levels towards the end of 2021; however, since then there has been a general softening of prices in China and an increase in prices of such products in other geographies. With strong global crop protection demand, and supply shortages driven by the energy crisis in Europe and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as the ongoing "Zero COVID" policy in China, overall prices are expected to remain above levels in recent years. In China, an increase in production capacity and an ease in logistic disruptions led to softening of prices of many key raw materials, intermediates and active ingredients from China. In other geographies cost inflation, energy prices, supply shortages and logistic challenges are driving procurement prices upward and impacting availability of raw materials and intermediates.

Portfolio Development Update

During the third quarter of 2022 ADAMA continued to register and launch multiple new products in markets across the globe, adding on to its differentiated product portfolio. Differentiated products include a variety of product characteristics and may include products with (i) unique proprietary formulations, (ii) products with more than one mode of action, (iii) recently off-patented active ingredients (AI's) that have been classified as high commercial potential - "Core Leap" AI's and (iv) biologicals. Among these were:

• Launch in Brazil of APRESA^®, pre-emergent dual mode herbicide, powered by ADAMA’s proprietary T.O.V. Formulation Technology, for use in a variety of crops.

• Launch of Nimitz^® in South Africa, an innovative nematicide for potatoes containing proprietary AI Fluensulfone.

^[2] Sources: Rabobank, Agri Commodity Markets Research, Sep 2022; AgbioInvestor-Quarterly-Briefing-Service-PLUS_Q3-2022;
JPM: Global Economic Research, Global Data Watch, September 2022; JPM: Agricultural Markets Weekly, Sep 2022

^[3] Source: AgbioInvestor-Quarterly-Briefing-Service-PLUS_Q3-2022

Financial Highlights

Revenues in the third quarter grew by 18% (+25% in RMB terms; +24% in CER terms) to $1,359 million, driven by a significant 18% increase in prices, a trend which started in the third quarter of 2021. The markedly higher prices were complemented by continued volume growth (+6%), and achieved despite supply challenges in certain markets, and the adverse impact of exchange rate movements in many regions. The Company achieved growth in sales in constant exchange rates across most regions.

The accelerated growth in the quarter brought the first nine months sales to a record-high of $4,258 million, an increase of 22% (+25% in RMB terms; +26% in CER terms) driven by a 19% increase in prices and an 7% growth in volume.

Europe: Increase in sales in the third quarter in constant exchange rate terms attributed mainly to distributors securing inventory for the autumn season in the UK, Czech Republic, France, Romania, Benelux and Baltics. This growth in constant exchange rate terms was achieved despite drought conditions across European countries such as Spain, France, Italy and Germany impacting demand, as well as supply issues, high channel inventories in some countries and a loss of sales due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

North America: In the US Ag market, sales decreased in the third quarter as the Company was negatively impacted by the record low harvest of cotton as farmers abandoned non-irrigated fields due to extreme drought conditions across Texas and other southwest regions. Drought in California continued to impact demand. With the North American market in the midst of harvest season, renewed demand for crop protection is expected in anticipation of the upcoming Q1 2023 planting season.

Very strong growth in sales in Canada enabled by the in-house production of cereal herbicide which supported the cereal season before harvest.

The Consumer & Professional business presented slower sales in the quarter. On the professional side, initial market price reductions, high levels of inventory in the channel and anticipation of decreases in costs of goods led to a slowdown in the market. On the consumer side, inflationary pressures are softening overall market demand.

Latin America: Strong growth in sales in Brazil, driven by prices and volume supporting the anticipated soybean, corn, sugarcane and cotton fourth quarter crop seasons; sales which in 2021 were also included in the fourth quarter.

In other LATAM countries the higher sales reflect the strong demand across the region and were achieved despite some adverse weather conditions and inventory in the channel.

Asia-Pacific: The Company's strong growth in Asia Pacific was led by the sales of raw material, intermediates and fine chemicals in China, driven by continued strong demand, in light of the strong global demand for crop protection and achieved despite an ease in fine chemical prices. The sales in China of ADAMA's branded portfolio also continued to grow nicely, despite the strong competition in the market.  

In the wider APAC region, growth in sales in the quarter was also achieved led by strong sales in Asian countries such as Thailand, Korea and Indonesia due to favorable seasonal conditions and with the return of face-to-face business post-COVID. In the Pacific region fungicide sales grew nicely following favorable seasonal conditions. This growth was achieved despite high channel inventories in parts of Asia.

India, Middle East & Africa: Sales in the third quarter were led by India and represent the peak season for sales in this country due to the monsoon season. Despite this, heavy rainfall negatively impacted insecticide and fungicide sales in certain crops and overall sales were also impacted by some supply constraints.

Gross Profit reported in the third quarter was up 12% to $322 million (gross margin of 23.7%) compared to $287 million (gross margin of 25.0%) in the same quarter last year and was up 15% to $1,068 million (gross margin of 25.1%) in the first nine month period compared to $932 million (gross margin of 26.8%) last year^[4].

Adjustments to reported results: The adjusted gross profit includes all idleness costs and excludes transportation costs to third parties and its marketing subsidiaries (classified under operating expenses).

In the reported results, as of Q4 2021, following recent changes in the guidelines in China, the aforementioned transportations costs and OPEX idleness have been reclassified from operating expenses to costs of goods (not impacting the operating results), while these expenses were not recorded in the cost of goods in the third quarter and first nine month period in 2021, but rather in the operating expenses.

Additionally, certain extraordinary charges related largely to a temporary disruption of the production of certain products, were adjusted in the third quarter and first nine months in 2021. These charges have significantly declined since the first quarter of 2022, as the relocation and upgrade of the manufacturing Jingzhou site in China has been completed and is now at a high level of operation.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned extraordinary items, adjusted gross profit in the third quarter was up 19% to $373 million (gross margin of 27.4%) compared to $313 million (gross margin of 27.3%) in the same quarter last year and was up 22% to $1,224 million (gross margin of 28.7%) in the first nine month period compared to $1,000 million (gross margin of 28.8%) last year.

In the quarter and nine month period, the higher gross profit was mainly driven by the markedly higher prices, complemented by continued volume growth, which offset the higher logistic, procurement and production costs, as well as the negative impact of exchange rates.

Due to seasonality, the Company's third quarter is generally characterized by lower profitability.

^[4] In the reported results, as of Q4 2021, following recent changes in the guidelines in China, the aforementioned transportations costs and OPEX idleness have been reclassified from operating expenses to costs of goods.

Operating expenses reported in the third quarter were $226 million (16.7% of sales) and $705 million (16.6% of sales) in the first nine month period, compared to $261 million (22.7% of sales) and $750million (21.6% of sales) in the corresponding periods last year, respectively^[5].

Adjustments to reported results: please refer to the explanation regarding adjustments to the gross profit in respect to certain transportation costs and idleness.

Additionally, the Company recorded certain non-operational charges within its reported operating expenses amounting to $3 million in Q3 2022 in comparison to $6 million in Q3 2021 and $31 million in the first nine months of 2022 in comparison to $32 million in first nine months of 2021. These charges include mainly (i) non-cash amortization charges in respect of Transfer assets received from Syngenta related to the 2017 ChemChina-Syngenta acquisition, (ii) charges related to the non-cash amortization of intangible assets created as part of the Purchase Price Allocation (PPA) on acquisitions, with no impact on the ongoing performance of the companies acquired and (iii) incentive plans - share-based compensation. For further details on these non-operational charges, please see the appendix to this release.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned non-operational charges, adjusted operating expenses in the quarter and nine month period were $273 million (20.1% of sales) and $821 million (19.3% of sales), compared to $254 million (22.2% of sales) and $718 million (20.6% of sales) in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

The higher operating expenses in the quarter and first nine month period reflect the strong growth of the business, higher transportation and logistics costs driven by both an increase in freight costs and volumes transported, an increase in expenses attributed to company success-based employee compensation, the inclusion of a recent acquisition (in the nine month period) and moderated by the positive impact of exchange rates.

In addition, in the first quarter of 2022 the Company recorded a doubtful debt provision for trade receivables in Ukraine.

Operating income reported in the third quarter was up 269% to $96 million (7.1% of sales) compared to $26 million (2.3% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 100% to $363 million (8.5% of sales) in the first nine month period compared to $182 million (5.2% of sales) last year.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned non-operational items, adjusted operating income in the third quarter amounted to $100 million (7.4% of sales) compared to $59 million (5.1% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 43% to $403 million (9.5% of sales) in the first nine month period compared to $282 million (8.1% of sales) in the same period last year.

EBITDA reported in the third quarter was up 72% to $177 million (13.0% of sales) compared to $103 million (9.0% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 49% to $605 million (14.2% of sales) in the first nine month period compared to $405 million (11.6% of sales) last year.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned non-operational items, adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter was up 40% to $171 million (12.5% of sales) compared to $122 million (10.6% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 32% to $611 million (14.4% of sales) in the first nine month period compared to $464 million (13.4% of sales) last year.

^[5] In the reported results, as of Q4 2021, following recent changes in the guidelines in China, the aforementioned transportations costs and OPEX idleness have been reclassified from operating expenses to costs of goods.

Financial expenses and investment income were $86 million in the third quarter and $220 million in the first nine month period, compared to $53 million and $144 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively. The higher financial expenses were mainly driven by the net effect of the high Israeli CPI on the ILS-denominated, CPI-linked bonds and higher hedging costs on exchange rates. In the nine month period in 2022, these expenses also included the valuation of put options attributed to minority stakes of a subsidiary fully consolidated from Q3 2021.  

Taxes on income in the third quarter were $6 million and $23 million in the first nine month period, compared to $36 million and $52 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

In 2022, the company recognized a higher deferred tax asset, related to inter-group sales, that led to a decline in the tax on income.

The significantly higher tax expenses in the third quarter of 2021 reflected the high growth in end-market sales, which incur higher tax rates, as well as the impact of a significantly weaker BRL on non-monetary tax assets.

Net income attributable to the shareholders of the Company reported in the third quarter was $5 million (0.4% of sales) and $119 million (2.8% of sales) in the first nine month period, compared to a net loss of $57 million and a loss of $1 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned extraordinary and non-operational charges, adjusted net income in the third quarter was $8 million (0.6% of sales) and $159 million (3.7% of sales) in the first nine month period, compared to a loss of $30 million and an income of $85 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

Trade working capital as of September 30, 2022, was $2,832 million compared to $2,489 million at the same point last year. The increase in working capital was due to an increase in the value and levels of inventory held by the Company to support expected future sales, in light of anticipated supply shortages, logistic challenges and inventory costs increases. This increase in inventory levels was moderated by higher trade payables. Trade receivables reflect good collections across the board.

The trade capital/last twelve months sales ratio of 51% as of September 30, 2022, in comparison to 54%, as of September 30, 2021, demonstrates the improved efficiency in the Company's management of its working capital.

Cash Flow: Operating cash flow of $31 million was consumed in the quarter and $246 million consumed in the first nine month period, compared to $107 million and $338 million generated in the corresponding periods last year, respectively. The cash flow consumed in the quarter and nine month period was primarily due to an increase in payments for goods procured in previous quarters supporting the increase in inventory levels.

Net cash used in investing activities was $102 million in the quarter and $299 million in the first nine month period, compared to $96 million and $388 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively. The cash used in investing activities in the third quarter of 2022 is largely related to investments in "Core Leap" manufacturing capabilities in Israel, investments in intangible assets relating to ADAMA's global registrations as well as the new production facilities in ADAMA Anpon. In the first nine month period in 2022, cash was also used for investing in manufacturing capabilities in Brazil.

In the third quarter of 2021, investments were attributed to Israel and China based manufacturing sites.  In the nine month period in 2021, cash was also used for the completion of the payment and acquisition of Huifeng’s domestic commercial crop protection business and manufacturing site, as well as for the relocation and upgrade of the manufacturing Sanonda Jingzhou site, both completed towards the end of the second quarter of 2021.

Free cash flow of $154 million was consumed in the third quarter and $623 million consumed in the first nine month period compared to $1 million generated and $115 million consumed in the corresponding periods last year, respectively, reflecting the aforementioned operating and investing cash flow dynamics.

Note: the sales split by product category is provided for convenience purposes only and is not representative of the way the Company is managed or in which it makes its operational decisions.