ADAMA sales up 16% to a record-high of $5,570 million in FY2022

Full Year 2022 Highlights:

• Sales up 16% to a record-high of $5,570 million (+20% in RMB terms; +19% in CER  terms), driven by 16% higher prices and 4% volume growth

• Improvement of Opex/Sales ratio of 19.9% vs. 20.5% in 2021; Adjusted operating income up 8% to $458 million (RMB: +11%)

• Adjusted EBITDA up 10% to $740 million (RMB: +14%) vs. $671 million in the full year of 2021

• Adjusted net income amounted to $118 million; Reported net income nearly tripled to $96 million

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights:

• Sales down 2% to $1,312 million (+9% in RMB terms; +1% in CER terms), 6% higher prices and 6% decrease in volume

• Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $129 million vs. $207 million in Q4 2021
  

• Adjusted net loss of $42 million; Reported net loss of $22 million
  

ADAMA Ltd. (the "Company") (SZSE: 000553), reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve-month period ended December 31, 2022.

Ignacio Dominguez, President and CEO of ADAMA, said, "As we enter the year of 2023, we reflect on the remarkable year that was 2022. This was a year in which the crop protection market experienced exceptional growth, both in volumes, and especially in prices largely aimed to offset increases in costs. I am happy to say that ADAMA grew with the market reaching record sales and EBITDA in 2022.

"As 2022 proceeded, crop commodity prices came down from their peak, maintaining historically elevated levels. This has continued into 2023, while fertilizer and energy prices declined at a slower pace, leading to lower but still historically high farmer profitability. With high inventories in the market, we anticipate a gradual return to normalization in the crop protection market towards the second half of 2023.

"We believe that in 2023 farmers will continue to invest in crop protection products that bring them incremental value. In 2022 ADAMA introduced many differentiated products to the market, optimizing its offering to farmers around the globe while maintaining simplicity in doing business, and intends to continue to do so in 2023."

Table 1. Financial Performance Summary

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 Q4 and FY 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

Crop prices reached record levels in May 2022, driven by tight stocks, adverse weather conditions and the Ukraine-Russia conflict which disrupted the supply of commodities. Prices have since declined but are expected to remain above pre-pandemic levels. The high crop prices drove strong farmer income, despite the higher cost environment (fertilizer, chemicals, labor, energy) faced by farmers. As a result, crop protection demand stayed strong in 2022 and farmers were able to absorb crop protection price increases. Going into 2023, crop protection channel inventories in some regions are above average, which may dampen demand in the near future.

The cost environment has improved throughout the second half of 2022, as raw material and active ingredient prices in China continued to decline, logistic prices normalized and energy prices eased. However, costs are still higher than pre-pandemic levels, with some areas still experiencing especially high costs, like European co-formulants and inland transportation.

Sustainability

• Promoting sustainability in agriculture by providing a solution that enables farmers to switch to a crop that requires less water:
  Double Team™ Sorghum Cropping Solution provide farmers with FirstAct™, a post-emergent grass weed control and a herbicide-tolerant DT™ trait hybrid seed, providing them the tools to switch to Sorghum, a drought tolerant crop that requires less water, enabling regenerative farming practices.
  The Double Team™ Sorghum Cropping Solution is a joint effort between ADAMA US and S&W Seed Co.

• Sustainability in Products:
  ADAMA's high-load formulations in Australia have led to substantial savings in energy/water consumption, usage of co-formulants, amount of packaging used, storage and accompanying materials as well as transportation.
  ADAMA's new proprietary high-load formulation technology platform Sesgama™, has been granted a patent.

• Sustainability in manufacturing:
  Carbon footprint reduction of a high-margin leading insecticide by lowering energy usage and reducing CO2 emissions, while increasing production output and capacity.

Portfolio Development Update

Formulation Mastery progress:

• Araddo^®, a dual mode herbicide for use in soybean won the award for "Best Formulation Innovation" in the IHS Markit's 2022 Crop Science Forum & Awards, November 2022. Araddo^® is the first product to combine ACC'ase Inhibition and Auxin herbicidal modes of action, overcoming the chemical degradation between the two active ingredients.
  

• Patent granted for Sesgama™, a proprietary formulation technology platform for high-load and other challenging formulations, enabling less use of co-formulants, transport and packaging materials per acre treated with a resulting improved product sustainability profile. First products expected to be launched in the coming year.

Product Launches & Registrations:

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

Launch of 18 new differentiated products during 2022 in select countries including the following products during the fourth quarter of 2022:

• Launch in Brazil of Protege^®, a microbial based biological nematicide and fungicide (based on a triple microbe combination) for sugarcane and soybean that also increases productivity.

• Launch in Brazil of Emerge^®, a bio-stimulant based on an enriched fermented Seaweed Extract, promoting root/vegetative growth and nutrient uptake in the establishment phase, targeted for Soybean, Cotton and Corn.

• Launch in several central American countries of ADAMA's sustainable offering of biological products including Expert Grow^®.
  Launch in Ecuador of Custodia^® Active, a broad-spectrum dual action systemic fungicide for use in Rice and Corn that also increases productivity.

• Label Extension of Folpan 500 SC^® in Germany a multi-site contact mode-of-action fungicide, for use on Barley against leaf spot diseases. (during Q2 2022 this product was granted "Nationwide emergency registration for FOLPAN^® 500 SC against Ramularia collo-cygni in Barley" allowing it to be used only for this specification.) 
  

• Launch in Panama and El Salvador of Trivor^®, a dual action insecticide for use in Vegetables.  
  

• Launch in several central American countries of Banjo Forte 400 SC^®, a dual mode foliar fungicide for use in Fruit, Vegetables and specialty crops.  
  

• Launch in Russia of Cormoran^®, a dual mode insecticide that includes ADAMA's proprietary AI Novaluron.

• Pre-launch in Paraguay of Araddo^®, an innovative dual mode herbicide and Plethora^®, a broad spectrum, dual mode insecticide that includes ADAMA's proprietary AI Novaluron and Indoxacarb produced in-house.

• Launch in France of Helanov^®, a differentiated herbicide for use in Sugar Beets.

Registration of 10 new differentiated products during 2022 in select countries including the following products during the fourth quarter of 2022:

• Registration in India for "Core Leap" insecticide AI, Chlorantraniliprole (CTPR).
  

• Registration in the USA of Fullscript™, a dual mode herbicide for rice, part of the FullPage^® rice cropping solution, in collaboration with Rice Tech.

• Registration in Paraguay of Apresa^®, a pre-emergent dual mode herbicide, powered by ADAMA's proprietary T.O.V. Formulation Technology.

Financial Highlights

Revenues in the fourth quarter declined by approximately 2% (+9% in RMB terms; +1% in CER terms) to $1,312 million, reflecting an increase of 6% in prices and a decrease of 6% in volumes mainly due to advancement of sales in Brazil from the fourth quarter in 2022 to the third quarter, a decline in raw material, fine chemicals and intermediates sales in China and the depreciation of the Euro in comparison to the US Dollar. Despite the shift of sales in Brazil from the fourth quarter to the third quarter, the Company's sales grew in constant exchange rates across most regions.

In the full year 2022, sales reached a record-high of $5,570 million, an increase of 16% (+20% in RMB terms; +19% in CER terms), driven by a 16% increase in prices and a 4% growth in volume. The increase in sales in the full year period reflected the strong demand in the market for crop protection products, led by sales in Brazil and China.

Table 2. Regional Sales Performance

* As of 2023, the India, Middle East & Africa (IMA) region has been reorganized such that the countries formerly included in this region will now be included in the Europe region (renamed EAME) or in the Asia Pacific region. Proforma regional sales will be provided in the quarterly 2023 financial results press releases.

Europe: Excluding Ukraine based sales, the sales in Europe grew by a double-digit percentage in the fourth quarter and full year period. This growth was achieved by gaining market share over the year in some key countries such as France, Italy, Romania and Greece and was also supported by the introduction of the product Soratel^®, which includes ADAMA's proprietary Asorbital formulation technology. The growth was achieved despite drought mainly in the south of Europe, supply challenges and high channel inventories in some countries.

North America: In the US Ag market, sales increased in the full year period despite adverse weather conditions mainly in the second half of the year, impacting the California Fruit & Vegetable market and the Cotton market across Texas and the southwest regions, both important markets for the Company.

Very strong growth in sales achieved in Canada in the full year period and fourth quarter in all categories: herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. The Company's new in-house production at Huifeng of cereal herbicides supported sales against the backdrop of supply shortages in the market, while broadening of the fungicide portfolio and increased insect pressure drove fungicide and insecticide sales, respectively.

The Consumer & Professional business grew nicely over the full year period following robust demand, while in the second half of the year there was a slowdown in this growth due to inflationary pressure on consumer demand and a slowdown in the professional market mostly due high levels of inventory in the channel and expectation for price decreases.

Latin America: In the full year period the Company achieved very strong growth in sales in Brazil, driven by prices, volume and new innovative formulation product launches, such as fungicide ARMERO^® and herbicide ARADDO^®. Slowdown in sales in Brazil in the fourth quarter was due to advancement of sales from the fourth quarter in 2022 to the third quarter.

In other LATAM countries higher sales were achieved in the full year period despite adverse weather conditions. In the fourth quarter the sales remained stable. During 2022 the Company continued with the rollout of biological products in this region, which is a key market for Fruit & Vegetable crops for export.

Asia-Pacific (APAC): During the full year period of 2022 the Company's significant growth in Asia Pacific was led by the strong sales of raw material, intermediates and fine chemicals in China. In the fourth quarter, a decline was recorded in such sales following the softening of demand in the Chinese market and an overall decline in market prices. The sales in China of ADAMA's branded portfolio also continued to grow nicely during the full year period despite the strong competition in the market, and also included the contribution of a company acquired in 2021.

In the wider APAC region growth in sales in the full year period was supported by the positive impact of a rare 3rd consecutive year of La Niña and despite strong competition from China. In the fourth quarter, sales were negatively impacted by excessive rain and flooding in some key areas of the region. The slowdown in sales in the fourth quarter in the Pacific region was also due to advancement of sales from the fourth quarter in 2022 to the third quarter.

India, Middle East & Africa: Sales grew moderately in USD terms and nicely in constant exchange rates in 2022 and in the fourth quarter. In the full year period the growth was led by Middle Eastern countries, as 2021 was a very strong year in India. In the fourth quarter the sales in India also grew nicely due to positive weather conditions.  

Gross Profit reported in the fourth quarter declined by 11% to $304 million (gross margin of 23.2%) compared to $343 million (gross margin of 25.6%) in the same quarter last year and increased by 19% to $1,403 million (gross margin of 25.1%) in the full year of 2022 compared to $1,183 million (gross margin of 24.6%) in 2021.

Adjustments to reported results: The adjusted gross profit includes all idleness costs, inventory impairment and taxes and surcharge and excludes certain transportation costs (classified under operating expenses).

Additionally, in the fourth quarter and full year of 2021 certain extraordinary charges related largely to a temporary disruption of the production of certain products were adjusted. 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 fourth quarter was down 17% to $341 million (gross margin of 26.0%) compared to $412 million (gross margin of 30.8%) in the same quarter last year and was up 11% to $1,565 million (gross margin of 28.1%) in the full year of 2022 compared to $1,412 million (gross margin of 29.3%) in 2021.

The decline in gross profit in the fourth quarter was due to the decline in sales, as described above, exchange rates and higher procurement, production and logistics costs, which were impacted amongst other factors by higher inflation. Likewise, during the quarter, the Company recorded certain non-recurring expenses attributed to implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices.

For the full year period, the higher gross profit was mainly driven by the markedly higher prices, complemented by volume growth, which offset the higher logistic, procurement and production costs, as well as the negative impact of exchange rates.

Operating expenses reported in the fourth quarter were $278 million (21.2% of sales) and $1,013 million (18.2% of sales) in the full year of 2022, compared to $233 million (17.4% of sales) and $892 million (18.5% of sales) in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

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

Additionally, the Company recorded certain non-operational charges within its reported operating expenses amounting to $26 million in Q4 2022 in comparison to $1 million in Q4 2021 and $57 million in the full year of 2022 in comparison to $33 million in 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, (iii) provision for asset impairment in one of its subsidiaries and (iv) 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 fourth quarter and full year of 2022 were $286 million (21.8% of sales) and $1,107 million (19.9% of sales), compared to $269 million (20.1% of sales) and $986 million (20.5% of sales) in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

The higher operating expenses in the fourth quarter reflected inflationary pressures. In the full year of 2022, the higher operating expenses also reflected the strong growth of the business, which included higher transportation and logistics costs, an increase in expenses attributed to company success-based employee compensation, the contribution of a company acquired in 2021, a doubtful debt provision for trade receivables in Ukraine moderated by the positive impact of exchange rates.

Operating income reported in the fourth quarter amounted to $26 million (2.0% of sales) compared to $110 million (8.2% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 34% to $389 million (7.0% of sales) in the full year of 2022 compared to $291 million (6.0% of sales) last year.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned non-operational items, adjusted operating income in the fourth quarter amounted to $55 million (4.2% of sales) compared to $143 million (10.7% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 8% to $458 million (8.2% of sales) in the full year of 2022 compared to $425 million (8.8% of sales) in 2021.

EBITDA reported in the fourth quarter amounted to $127 million (9.6% of sales) compared to $188 million (14.1% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 23% to $731 million (13.1% of sales) in the full year of 2022 compared to $593 million (12.3% of sales) last year.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned non-operational items, adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter amounted to $129 million (9.8% of sales) compared to $207 million (15.5% of sales) in the same quarter last year and was up 10% to $740 million (13.3% of sales) in the full year of 2022 compared to $671 million (13.9% of sales) in 2021.

Financial expenses reported amounted to $47 million in the fourth quarter and $271 million in the full year of 2022, compared to $63 million and $207 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

Adjustments to reported results: The adjusted financial expenses have been adjusted for a non-recurring, non-cash, income due to revaluation of put options attributed to minority stakes.

Adjusted financial expenses were $94 million in the fourth quarter and $314 million in the full year of 2022, compared to $62 million and $206 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively. The higher financial expenses were mainly driven by (i) the net effect of the high Israeli CPI on the ILS-denominated, CPI-linked bonds and (ii) higher hedging costs on exchange rates mainly due to volatility in the ILS/Dollar exchange rate. In the full year period, these expenses also included put options attributed to minority stakes acquired in 2021.  

Adjusted Taxes on income in the fourth quarter were $3 million and $26 million in the full year of 2022, compared to $27 million and $79 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

In the fourth quarter of 2022 the taxes were significantly lower due to recording a loss before tax in comparison to a profit before tax in the fourth quarter of 2021 and due to the impact of the stronger BRL that led to lower tax expenses; impacts which were moderated by a one-time tax expense electing to apply for temporary relief available in 2022 and reducing tax exposure in Israel going forward.

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

Net income attributable to the shareholders of the Company, in the fourth quarter the Company reported a net loss of $22 million and in the full year of 2022 a net income of $96 million (1.7% of sales), compared to a net income of $25 million (1.9% of sales) and a net income of $25 million (0.5% of sales) in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

Excluding the impact of the abovementioned extraordinary and non-operational charges, adjusted net income (loss) in the fourth quarter was a loss of $42 million and an income of $118 million (2.1% of sales) in the full year of 2022, compared to an income of $54 million (4.0% of sales) and $139 million (2.9% of sales) in the corresponding periods last year, respectively.

Trade working capital as of December 31, 2022, was $2,634 million compared to $2,210 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 the sales in light of supply shortages, logistic challenges and inventory costs increases. In the fourth quarter the procurement of inventory declined in comparison to the third quarter of 2022. The increase in inventory levels was moderated by higher trade payables. Trade receivables increased slightly despite the strong growth in sales, reflecting good collections across the board.

Cash Flow: Operating cash flow of $352 million was generated in the fourth quarter and $106 million generated in the full year of 2022, compared to $372 million and $710 million generated in the corresponding periods last year, respectively. The lower cash flow generated in the full year of 2022 was primarily due to higher payments to suppliers to support the procurement of inventory.

Net cash used in investing activities was $96 million in the fourth quarter and $396 million in the full year of 2022, compared to $136 million and $525 million in the corresponding periods last year, respectively. The cash used in investing activities in the fourth quarter of 2022 largely related to investments new production facilities in ADAMA Anpon and investments in intangible assets relating to ADAMA's global registrations. In the full year of 2022, cash was also used for investing in "Core Leap" manufacturing capabilities in Israel and Brazil (Multi-Purpose Production Site).

In the full year of 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 $204 million was generated in the fourth quarter and $417 million consumed in full year of 2022 compared to $190 million generated and $75 million generated in the corresponding periods last year, respectively, reflecting the aforementioned operating and investing cash flow dynamics.

Table 3. Revenues by operating segment

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. Numbers may not sum due to rounding.