Price Sensitive Archives - Page 2 of 11 - AMG Corporate

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Announces Tantalum Strategic Partnership with Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation

Amsterdam, 22 December 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) announces strategic partnership between AMG Brasil SA, JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation (“JXNMM”) and TANIOBIS GmbH for the production and supply of tantalum concentrate from AMG’s Mibra Mine located in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. JXNMM will invest in the expansion of tantalum concentrate production that is occurring in combination with AMG’s already announced expansion of spodumene capacity. All tantalum pre-concentrate will be processed at Mibra Mine and subsequently sold to TANIOBIS.

This partnership achieves greater vertical integration in tantalum for JXNMM and provides long-term stability in tantalum sales and corresponding by-product credits to lithium production costs for AMG Brasil.

“This agreement strengthens and builds upon the long-standing relationship between AMG Brasil, a renowned producer of conflict-free tantalum ore, and TANIOBIS, a global leading supplier of high-quality tantalum powders. I am excited to partner with JX Nippon Mining and Metals, and I believe this is the first step in the development of other mutually beneficial opportunities,” said Fabiano Costa, President of AMG Brasil SA.

“This partnership in tantalum business will further contribute a stable supply of advanced materials to the market with a transparent supply chain, as well as strengthen the partners’ integral business relationship in tantalum value chain,” said Nobuharu Masaki, Executive Officer, General Manager of Mineral Resources Division of JXNMM.

“Through our strong partnership among AMG Brasil, JXNMM, and TANIOBIS, we can fulfil our mission to enhance the stable supply of tantalum to the market. At the same time, we believe we can develop our overall tantalum relevant market with the steady growth in order to serve for the better world. I am really excited to go for our joint journey together with a great partner such as AMG Brasil,” said Kazuyuki Marukawa, Vice Chairman of TANIOBIS GmbH.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

 

Attachment

Lithium Performance Drives AMG to All-time Record Earnings and Increased Full Year Guidance

Amsterdam, 2 November 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”), a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends, reported third quarter 2022 revenue of $425 million, a 36% increase versus the third quarter of 2021. Third quarter 2022 EBITDA of $103 million was the highest in AMG’s history, and a 210% increase versus the third quarter of 2021.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “This outstanding result was largely driven by AMG Lithium. The continued strength in both lithium demand and our low-cost position led to improved profitability in AMG Lithium in Brazil. The mission of AMG Lithium is to be the number one producer of electric vehicle battery materials in Europe by expanding production of battery-grade hydroxide, vertically integrating its Brazilian spodumene production and pursuing additional mineral resources.”

Outlook

Given the strong performance to date and the visibility into year end, AMG is increasing its EBITDA guidance for the full year 2022 to $320 million or higher, from a previous range of between $280 million and $300 million.

Important parameters for 2023 guidance are first and foremost the startup of the expanded production of lithium concentrate in Brazil in the second half of 2023; the market conditions primarily in lithium; and the ramp-up of the Zanesville refinery to full production. In view of this, AMG’s EBITDA guidance for 2023 is to exceed $400 million. It is important to note that since the increase of spodumene production will occur in the latter half of the year, 2023 EBITDA development will be back-end weighted.

Strategic Highlights

Lithium

  • The project to expand the spodumene production in AMG Brazil is under construction. The objective is to be at full capacity in the second half of 2023.
  • The AMG Lithium refinery in Bitterfeld, Germany, Europe’s first lithium hydroxide refinery, is under construction, and commissioning for the first 20,000-ton module of the battery-grade lithium hydroxide upgrader will commence in the fourth quarter of 2023.
  • AMG Lithium’s battery-grade hydroxide refinery has signed a binding supply agreement with EcoPro, a leading South Korean cathode paste producer, for an initial three-year term to deliver a minimum of 5,000 tons per annum of battery-grade lithium hydroxide to EcoPro’s cathode materials production plant in Debrecen, Hungary.
  • AMG has negotiated a strategic tolling contract for our spodumene production as well as third-party spodumene to supply technical-grade hydroxide to Bitterfeld.
  • AMG has consolidated its lithium value chain under one legal entity and is currently aligning its lithium management and governance structures to further increase the long-term value of its lithium activities. Accordingly, we are preparing a re-segmentation of AMG to be approved by the Supervisory Board in December and become effective on January 1, 2023.

Vanadium

  • The new vanadium spent catalyst recycling facility in Zanesville, Ohio, which started operating on October 29, 2022, is a clear manifestation of AMG’s industry leadership in the recycling of hazardous refinery waste globally. We are extremely pleased about the successful startup of both the roaster and the melt shop, and we expect the ramp-up to full production to take between three to four months.
  • Shell & AMG Recycling B.V. (“SARBV”) and its partner, the United Company for Industry (“UCI”), continue to advance the first project of the Supercenter in conjunction with Saudi Arabian Oil Company (“Aramco”). Plant design optimization, site selection and permitting activities are progressing and the FEL3 partnering with Hatch is expected to begin later this month. The SARBV-UCI-Aramco consortium are also developing a pipeline of projects which will conclude with the deployment of AMG’s LIVA Hybrid Energy Storage System technology.
  • AMG’s innovative lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) for industrial power management applications has successfully started up at our plant in Hauzenberg, Germany.

Financial Highlights

  • Revenue increased by 36% to $425 million in the third quarter of 2022 from $312 million in the third quarter of 2021.
  • EBITDA was a record $103 million in the third quarter of 2022, up 210% versus the third quarter 2021 EBITDA of $33 million.
  • Annualized return on capital employed was 29.5% for the first nine months of 2022, more than double the 10.4% for the same period in 2021.
  • Cash flow from operations was $75 million for the third quarter 2022, driven by the high profitability of AMG Lithium in Brazil.
  • Net income attributable to shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $68 million, yielding $2.09 diluted earnings per share, compared to $0.02 diluted loss per share in the third quarter of 2021.
  • AMG’s liquidity as of September 30, 2022 was $489 million, with $306 million of unrestricted cash and $183 million of revolving credit availability.

Key Figures

In 000’s US dollars
Q3 ‘22 Q3 ‘21 Change
Revenue $424,813 $311,946 36%
Gross profit 112,071 51,083 119%
Gross margin 26.4% 16.4%
Operating profit 121,680 17,346 601%
Operating margin 28.6% 5.6%
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders 68,146 (599) N/A
EPS – Fully diluted 2.09 (0.02) N/A
EBIT (1) 91,536 22,475 307%
EBITDA (2) 102,603 33,051 210%
EBITDA margin 24.2% 10.6%
Cash from operating activities 74,747 17,635 324%

Notes:
(1) EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses and other exceptional items, equity-settled share-based payments, and strategic expenses.
(2) EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.

Operational Review

AMG Clean Energy Materials

Q3 ‘22 Q3 ‘21 Change
Revenue $188,318 $105,308 79%
Gross profit 86,454 20,120 330%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 87,710 21,721 304%
Operating profit 74,888 9,985 650%
EBITDA 83,674 18,029 364%

AMG Clean Energy Materials’ revenue increased 79% compared to the third quarter of 2021, to $188 million, driven mainly by higher prices in vanadium, tantalum and lithium concentrates, as well as increased sales volumes of lithium concentrate. Sales volumes were up due to shipping schedule variances from AMG Brazil. This increase in the third quarter of 2022 includes a catch up from the second quarter as well as additional volumes that shipped in the third quarter that were planned for the fourth quarter.

Gross profit before non-recurring items for the quarter increased 304% compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the increased price environment.

SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were $12 million, 15% higher than the third quarter of 2021, largely due to strategic project costs and higher variable compensation expense in the current quarter.

The third quarter 2022 EBITDA increased 364%, to $84 million, from $18 million in the third quarter of 2021, due to the improved gross profit as noted above.

AMG Critical Minerals

Q3 ‘22 Q3 ‘21 Change
Revenue $84,935 $79,392 7%
Gross profit 674 10,660 (94%)
Gross profit before non-recurring items 12,210 10,843 13%
Operating profit 40,301 4,028 901%
EBITDA 7,327 6,509 13%

AMG Critical Minerals’ revenue increased by $6 million, or 7%, to $85 million, driven by higher sales prices in all three businesses.

Gross profit before non-recurring items of $12 million in the third quarter was 13% higher compared to the third quarter of 2021. The higher revenue was due to the improved price environment, partially offset by increased raw material prices as well as the ongoing rise in energy and shipping costs.

SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2022 slightly increased by 3%, to $7 million, compared to the same period in 2021.

Despite ongoing inflationary pressures, the third quarter 2022 EBITDA increased 13% compared to the same period in 2021.

Effective January 1, 2023, AMG will place its silicon metal plant in Pocking, Germany, on care and maintenance due to external economic factors and will review this decision on a quarterly basis. The overall EBITDA effect, should there be a shutdown longer than one quarter, is immaterial to AMG’s overall projected 2023 results.

Associated with this shutdown, AMG recorded income from the sale of an existing supply contract which positively impacted operating profit for the quarter. This income was offset by a settlement with a major customer and an impairment of existing assets. The future proceeds are also available to offset potential restructuring expenses in the future. The cost associated with retaining current employees for care and maintenance will be recorded as incurred in accordance with accounting standards.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies

Q3 ‘22 Q3 ‘21 Change
Revenue $151,560 $127,246 19%
Gross profit 24,943 20,303 23%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 24,990 20,293 23%
Operating profit 6,491 3,333 95%
EBITDA 11,602 8,513 36%

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ third quarter 2022 revenue increased by $24 million, or 19%, compared to the same period in 2021. This improvement was due to increased titanium alloys sales, as well as higher titanium alloy and chrome metal pricing. Third quarter 2022 gross profit before non-recurring items increased by $5 million, or 23%, to $25 million due to the higher volumes and prices.

SG&A expenses increased by 9% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, mainly driven by higher share-based and variable compensation expense and higher professional fees in the current quarter.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ EBITDA increased to $12 million during the quarter, compared to $9 million in the third quarter of 2021. This was primarily due to higher profitability in chrome metal and titanium alloys.

AMG Engineering signed $93 million in new orders during the third quarter of 2022, driven by strong orders of remelting, induction and heat treatment furnaces, representing a 1.73x book to bill ratio. Order backlog was $211 million as of September 30, 2022, 17% greater than the $181 million as of June 30, 2022.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $39 million in the third quarter of 2022, compared to $10 million in the same period in 2021. This variance was mainly driven by enhanced operating results coupled with movements in the Brazilian real. The effects of the Brazilian real caused a $2 million deferred tax benefit in the third quarter of 2022 (2021: $8 million tax expense). Fluctuations in the Brazilian real exchange rate impact the valuation of the Company’s net deferred tax positions related to our operations in Brazil.

AMG paid taxes of $10 million in the third quarter of 2022, compared to tax payments of $4 million in the third quarter of 2021.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s third quarter 2022 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in the third quarters of 2022 and 2021 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

Q3 ‘22 Q3 ‘21 Change
Gross profit $112,071 $51,083 119%
Restructuring expense 11 261 (96%)
Asset impairment expense (reversal) 11,587 (88) N/A
Strategic project expense 1,241 1,095 13%
Others 506 N/A
Gross profit excluding exceptional items 124,910 52,857 136%

Energy Costs

Total energy costs were $5 million higher in the third quarter of 2022 versus the same period in 2021 due to significant increases in gas and electricity costs during the quarter. The majority of this increase was at our silicon business in Germany, but that business benefited from fully hedged power costs. Other business units benefited from long-term electricity contracts that have no price escalation clauses, and the business units that did experience energy cost increases were able to pass through most of these increased costs to their customers.

SG&A

AMG’s third quarter 2022 SG&A expenses were $37 million compared to $34 million in the third quarter of 2021, with the variance largely driven by higher compensation expense due to higher profitability forecasted for the year and increased professional fees associated with strategic projects.

Net Other Operating Income

AMG recorded a net contract settlement benefit of $46 million associated with the cancellation of a supply contract for AMG Silicon, offset by a settlement with a major customer.

Liquidity

September 30, 2022 December 31, 2021 Change
Senior secured debt $357,685 $371,897 (4%)
Cash & cash equivalents 306,416 337,877 (9%)
Senior secured net debt 51,269 34,020 51%
Other debt 14,926 24,398 (39%)
Net debt excluding municipal bond 66,195 58,418 13%
Municipal bond debt 319,304 319,476 — %
Restricted cash 17,069 93,434 (82%)
Net debt 368,430 284,460 30%

AMG had a net debt position of $368 million as of September 30, 2022. This increase was mainly due to the significant investment in growth initiatives during the quarter.

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the third quarter. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had $306 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $183 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $489 million of total liquidity as of September 30, 2022.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s third quarter 2022 net finance costs were $14 million compared to $8 million in the third quarter of 2021. This increase was mainly driven by foreign exchange losses of $6 million during the quarter primarily due to non-cash intergroup balances.

AMG capitalized $2 million of interest costs in the third quarter of 2022 versus $4 million in the same period in 2021, driven by interest associated with the Company’s tax-exempt municipal bond supporting the vanadium expansion in Ohio. This decrease is due to a portion of the municipal bond interest costs which are no longer being capitalized due to the ramp-up of production at our Zanesville facility.

Profit (loss) for the period to EBITDA reconciliation

Q3 ‘22 Q3 ‘21
Profit (loss) for the period $68,339 ($310)
Income tax expense 38,603 9,904
Net finance cost 13,988 7,543
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 1,386 1,015
Restructuring expense 11 261
Net contract settlements (46,407)
Asset impairment expense (reversal) 11,587 (88)
Strategic project expense (1) 3,282 3,311
Share of loss of associates 750 209
Others (3) 630
EBIT 91,536 22,475
Depreciation and amortization 11,067 10,576
EBITDA 102,603 33,051

(1) The Company is in the initial development and ramp-up phases for several strategic expansion projects, including AMG Vanadium’s expansion project, the joint venture with Shell, Hybrid Lithium Vanadium Redox Flow Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Income Statement
For the quarter ended September 30
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
Unaudited Unaudited
Continuing operations
Revenue 424,813 311,946
Cost of sales (312,742) (260,863)
Gross profit 112,071 51,083
Selling, general and administrative expenses (36,888) (33,750)
Other income, net 46,497 13
Net other operating income 46,497 13
Operating profit 121,680 17,346
Finance income 1,222 357
Finance cost (15,210) (7,900)
Net finance cost (13,988) (7,543)
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures (750) (209)
Profit before income tax 106,942 9,594
Income tax expense (38,603) (9,904)
Profit (loss) for the period 68,339 (310)
Profit (loss) attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company 68,146 (599)
Non-controlling interests 193 289
Profit (loss) for the period 68,339 (310)
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic earnings (loss) per share 2.13 (0.02)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share 2.09 (0.02)
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Income Statement
For the nine months ended September 30
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
Unaudited Unaudited
Continuing operations
Revenue 1,252,770 874,306
Cost of sales (963,265) (727,860)
Gross profit 289,505 146,446
Selling, general and administrative expenses (111,384) (100,075)
Environmental expense (11,711)
Other income, net 46,619 186
Net other operating income (expense) 46,619 (11,525)
Operating profit 224,740 34,846
Finance income 3,602 831
Finance cost (38,720) (21,789)
Net finance cost (35,118) (20,958)
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures (1,250) (834)
Profit before income tax 188,372 13,054
Income tax expense (60,270) (3,414)
Profit for the period 128,102 9,640
Profit attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company 126,892 8,066
Non-controlling interests 1,210 1,574
Profit for the period 128,102 9,640
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share 3.97 0.26
Diluted earnings per share 3.91 0.26

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
In thousands of US dollars September 30, 2022 Unaudited December 31, 2021
Assets
Property, plant and equipment 748,398 693,624
Goodwill and other intangible assets 40,241 44,684
Derivative financial instruments 34,753 95
Other investments 26,218 29,830
Deferred tax assets 32,824 52,937
Restricted cash 11,841 85,023
Other assets 8,709 8,471
Total non-current assets 902,984 914,664
Inventories 273,804 218,320
Derivative financial instruments 5,689 4,056
Trade and other receivables 160,789 145,435
Other assets 123,329 65,066
Current tax assets 8,621 5,888
Restricted cash 5,228 8,411
Cash and cash equivalents 306,416 337,877
Total current assets 883,876 785,053
Total assets 1,786,860 1,699,717
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
(continued)
In thousands of US dollars September 30,2022 Unaudited December 31, 2021
Equity
Issued capital 853 853
Share premium 553,715 553,715
Treasury shares (14,906) (16,596)
Other reserves (54,829) (96,421)
Retained earnings (deficit) (66,832) (173,117)
Equity attributable to shareholders of the Company 418,001 268,434
Non-controlling interests 23,978 25,718
Total equity 441,979 294,152
Liabilities
Loans and borrowings 662,181 675,384
Lease liabilities 39,318 45,692
Employee benefits 105,256 162,628
Provisions 14,031 14,298
Deferred revenue 20,541 22,341
Other liabilities 5,260 11,098
Derivative financial instruments 1,014 2,064
Deferred tax liabilities 16,263 5,617
Total non-current liabilities 863,864 939,122
Loans and borrowings 23,844 27,341
Lease liabilities 4,161 4,857
Short-term bank debt 5,890 13,046
Deferred revenue 22,713 18,478
Other liabilities 67,971 80,672
Trade and other payables 262,143 252,765
Derivative financial instruments 15,749 6,010
Advance payments from customers 40,766 35,091
Current tax liability 26,524 10,586
Provisions 11,256 17,597
Total current liabilities 481,017 466,443
Total liabilities 1,344,881 1,405,565
Total equity and liabilities 1,786,860 1,699,717
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the nine months ended September 30
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
Unaudited Unaudited
Cash from operating activities
Profit for the period 128,102 9,640
Adjustments to reconcile net profit to net cash flows:
Non-cash:
Income tax expense 60,270 3,414
Depreciation and amortization 32,957 32,478
Asset impairment expense (reversal) 11,587 (864)
Net finance cost 35,118 20,958
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures 1,250 834
Loss (gain) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment 12 (96)
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 4,138 3,143
Movement in provisions, pensions, and government grants (7,532) (3,267)
Working capital and deferred revenue adjustments (113,601) 17,908
Cash generated from operating activities 152,301 84,148
Finance costs paid, net (19,014) (14,960)
Income tax paid (22,689) (8,625)
Net cash from operating activities 110,598 60,563
Cash used in investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 151 1,071
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangibles (134,244) (125,366)
Investments in associates and joint ventures (1,250) (1,000)
Change in restricted cash 76,365 94,092
Interest received on restricted cash 179 33
Capitalized borrowing cost (15,307) (15,608)
Other 12 (428)
Net cash used in investing activities (74,094) (47,206)
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(continued)
For the nine months ended September 30
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
Unaudited Unaudited
Cash (used in) from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt 83 2,644
Payment of transaction costs related to debt (390)
Repayment of borrowings (23,948) (8,047)
Net (repurchase of) proceeds from issuance of common shares (1,523) 121,569
Dividends paid (19,885) (7,598)
Payment of lease liabilities (3,738) (3,939)
Contributions by non-controlling interests 648
Net cash (used in) from financing activities (49,011) 104,887
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (12,507) 118,244
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 337,877 207,366
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held (18,954) (6,156)
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30 306,416 319,454

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

AMG Lithium Signs Binding Multiyear Agreement to Supply Battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide with EcoPro, the Holding Company of Cathode Materials Manufacturer EcoPro BM

Amsterdam, 6 September 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) announces its wholly owned subsidiary, AMG Lithium GmbH of Frankfurt (“AMG Lithium”), has signed a binding supply agreement (“Agreement”) with Korean company EcoPro (“EcoPro”), for an initial three-year term. AMG Lithium will supply EcoPro with battery-grade lithium hydroxide from its plant in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, which is recently under construction and scheduled to start commissioning in Q3 2023.

Under the Agreement, AMG Lithium will deliver a minimum of 5,000 tonnes per annum (“tpa”) of battery-grade lithium hydroxide to EcoPro BM’s cathode materials production plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The contract includes an option for additional volumes.

Initial quantities for qualification purposes are scheduled to be delivered in late 2023 – with regular quantities to follow in 2024.

AMG Lithium plans to produce an annual amount of 20,000 tpa of battery-grade lithium hydroxide in the first module in Bitterfeld-Wolfen with four additional modules planned to achieve a total annual production capacity of 100,000 tpa.

“We are happy to have reached this Agreement to supply EcoPro’s European cathode materials plant out of our Bitterfeld refinery. We are looking forward to growing our future business with EcoPro with additional quantities and potentially dedicating an entire module on an exclusive basis,” said Stefan Scherer, CEO of AMG Lithium.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.
AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking”. Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward looking statements will not be achieved. These forward looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward looking statement is based.

Attachment

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Announces Interim Dividend

Amsterdam, 28 July 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) declares an interim dividend of €0.30 per ordinary share, from an interim dividend of €0.10 per ordinary share in the prior year.

The interim dividend of €0.30 per ordinary share, in respect of the period from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, is payable on August 10, 2022 to shareholders of record as of August 2, 2022. The ex-dividend date will be August 1, 2022. Dutch withholding tax will be deducted from the dividend at a rate of 15%.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Reports Record Earnings for Second Quarter 2022

Strategic Highlights

  • Construction and commissioning of the new vanadium spent catalyst recycling facility in Zanesville, Ohio is proceeding as planned. The roaster is fully operational, and the entire plant is expected to be at run-rate capacity by the end of the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • The project to expand the spodumene production in AMG Brazil is on time and on budget. The objective is to be in full production in the second half of 2023 or earlier.
  • AMG Lithium has started construction of the first European lithium refinery, and commissioning for the first module of the battery-grade lithium hydroxide upgrader will commence in the second half of 2023.
  • AMG’s first lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) for industrial power management applications is proceeding as planned and the objective is to be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Shell & AMG Recycling B.V. (“SARBV”) and its partner, the United Company for Industry (“UCI”), have signed an agreement with Saudi Arabian Oil Company (“Aramco”). Basic engineering has begun on the first of four projects to build, own and operate a conversion plant of vanadium-containing gasification ash supplied by Aramco into vanadium oxide and vanadium electrolyte.

Financial Highlights

  • Revenue increased by 42% to $424.1 million in the second quarter of 2022 from $298.4 million in the second quarter of 2021.
  • EBITDA was $81.1 million in the second quarter of 2022, up 158% versus the second quarter 2021 EBITDA of $31.4 million, marking the highest six-month and quarterly EBITDA in AMG’s history and its eighth straight quarter of sequential improvement.
  • Annualized return on capital employed was 25.5% for the first six months of 2022, more than double the 10.0% for the same period in 2021.
  • Net income to shareholders for the second quarter of 2022 was $29.6 million, yielding 91 cents diluted earnings per share, compared to $3.6 million of net income to shareholders in the same period in the prior year and 11 cents diluted earnings per share.
  • AMG’s liquidity as of June 30, 2022, was $476 million, with $301 million of unrestricted cash and $175 million of revolving credit availability.
  • AMG declares an interim dividend of €0.30 per ordinary share, to be paid in the third quarter of 2022.

Amsterdam, 28 July 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reported second quarter 2022 revenue of $424.1 million, a 42% increase versus the second quarter of 2021. EBITDA for the second quarter of 2022 was $81.1 million, a 158% increase versus the second quarter of 2021. This also marks the eighth straight quarter of sequential growth after the pandemic low point in the second quarter of 2020.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “AMG generated the highest quarterly EBITDA in our history in the second quarter of 2022. EBITDA for the second quarter of 2022 was $81 million, up 158% from the same period in 2021, and 48% higher than the first quarter of 2022. This outstanding result is mainly driven by our AMG Clean Energy Materials segment, where strong lithium prices lead to improved profitability in AMG Brazil, as well as by increased aerospace activity within our AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment.

“All of AMG’s strategic projects cluster in our AMG Clean Energy Materials segment and all of these projects are proceeding as planned. Each of these projects is oriented toward growing our production of electricity storage materials or increasing our footprint in the circular economy.

  1. Commissioning has started at the Zanesville, Ohio, spent catalyst recycling facility. The roasting plant has reached its design capacity and is presently undergoing the final performance test. The “melt shop” is starting its commissioning process. With this new recycling plant, AMG solidifies its position as the world leader in the recycling of refinery waste. We are pleased to announce that large scale shipments of refinery waste from overseas have started.
  2. The expansion project of AMG Brazil’s lithium concentrate production is proceeding as planned and the production is fully sold at market price via long-term contracts.
  3. AMG Lithium has begun construction of the first European lithium refinery. The first module of the battery-grade lithium hydroxide upgrader will commence commissioning in the second half of 2023.
  4. AMG’s first lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) for industrial power management applications has begun commissioning.
  5. SARBV and UCI recently signed agreements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The joint venture plans to execute four distinct projects under an entity currently being formed, Advanced Circular Materials Company (“ACMC”):
    1. Build, own and operate a conversion plant of vanadium-containing gasification ash into vanadium oxide and vanadium electrolyte for redox flow batteries;
    2. A spent catalyst recycling facility;
    3. A fresh catalyst R&D laboratory;
    4. Mass energy storage facilities (vanadium redox flow battery manufacturing).

Basic engineering for the first project has begun and it will lay the foundation for all other projects with the Supercenter. It will produce and sell high-purity vanadium oxide and vanadium electrolyte. This is the largest such project in the world and is under long-term market-based contracts with Aramco. The materials this project will produce are destined to feed the emerging vanadium redox flow battery market.

“We are extremely pleased to announce the accomplishments of these strategic projects along with the best quarterly results in the history of the Company.”

Key Figures

In 000’s US dollars
Q2 ‘22 Q2 ‘21 Change
Revenue $424,094 $298,374         42%
Gross profit 102,240 48,499         111%
Gross margin         24.1%         16.3%
Operating profit 65,246 3,691         1,668%
Operating margin         15.4%         1.2%
Net income attributable to shareholders 29,631 3,566         731%
EPS – Fully diluted 0.91 0.11         727%
EBIT (1) 69,763 20,462         241%
EBITDA (2) 81,126 31,401         158%
EBITDA margin         19.1%         10.5%
Cash from operating activities 39,505 23,018         72%

Notes:

(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses, equity-settled share-based payments, and strategic expenses.
(2)   EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.

Operational Review

AMG Clean Energy Materials

Q2 ‘22 Q2 ‘21 Change
Revenue $159,762 $90,135         77%
Gross profit 60,821 13,822         340%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 61,654 16,122         282%
Operating profit (loss) 49,704 (7,415) N/A
EBITDA 58,232 12,554         364%

AMG Clean Energy Materials’ revenue increased 77% compared to the second quarter of 2021, to $159.8 million, driven mainly by higher prices in vanadium, tantalum and lithium concentrates. Sales volumes were down due to shipping schedule variances from AMG Brazil and maintenance downtime at our Cambridge facility.

Gross profit before non-recurring items for the quarter increased 282% compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the increased price environment.

SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2022 were $11.1 million, $1.6 million higher than the second quarter of 2021, largely due to higher share-based and variable compensation expense.

The second quarter 2022 EBITDA increased 364%, to $58.2 million, from $12.6 million in the second quarter of 2021, due to the improved gross profit as noted above.

AMG Critical Minerals

Q2 ‘22 Q2 ‘21 Change
Revenue $103,416 $76,793         35%
Gross profit 14,028 13,732         2%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 14,029 13,397         5%
Operating profit 7,086 7,009         1%
EBITDA 9,069 9,220         (2%)

AMG Critical Minerals’ revenue increased by $26.6 million, or 35%, to $103.4 million, driven by strong sales volumes of antimony and graphite as well as higher sales prices in silicon and antimony.

Gross profit before non-recurring items of $14.0 million in the second quarter was $0.6 million higher compared to the second quarter of 2021. The higher revenue was due to the improved pricing and higher sales volumes noted above and was offset by increased raw material prices as well as the ongoing rise in energy and shipping costs.

SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2022 slightly increased by 2%, to $7.0 million, compared to the same period in 2021.

The second quarter 2022 EBITDA was consistent with the same period in the prior year despite ongoing inflationary pressures including energy and shipping cost increases.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies

Q2 ‘22 Q2 ‘21 Change
Revenue $160,916 $131,446         22%
Gross profit 27,391 20,945         31%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 27,431 21,059         30%
Operating profit 8,456 4,097         106%
EBITDA 13,825 9,627         44%

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ second quarter 2022 revenue increased by $29.5 million, or 22%, compared to the same period in 2021. This improvement was due to increased titanium alloys sales, as well as higher chrome metal pricing associated with improving conditions in the aerospace sector. Second quarter 2022 gross profit before non-recurring items increased by $6.4 million, or 30%, to $27.4 million due to the higher volumes and prices.

SG&A expenses increased by $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, mainly driven by higher share-based and variable compensation expense and higher professional fees in the current quarter.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ EBITDA increased to $13.8 million during the quarter, compared to $9.6 million in the second quarter of 2021. This was primarily due to higher profitability in chrome metal and titanium alloys.

AMG Engineering signed $59.8 million in new orders during the second quarter of 2022, driven by strong orders of induction furnaces, representing a 1.10x book to bill ratio. Order backlog was $181.0 million as of June 30, 2022, slightly lower than the $183.5 million as of March 31, 2022.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $23.2 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to an income tax benefit of $5.6 million in the same period in 2021. This variance was mainly driven by higher pre-tax income compared to the prior period and movements in the Brazilian real versus the US dollar. The effects of the Brazilian real caused a $3.8 million non-cash tax expense in the second quarter of 2022 compared to a $12.4 million non-cash tax benefit in the second quarter of 2021. Movements in the Brazilian real exchange rate impact the valuation of the Company’s net deferred tax positions related to our operations in Brazil.

AMG paid taxes of $9.1 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to tax payments of $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2021.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s second quarter 2022 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in the second quarters of 2022 and 2021 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

Q2 ‘22 Q2 ‘21 Change
Gross profit $102,240         $48,499         111%
Inventory cost adjustment         —         1,497 N/A
Restructuring expense         41         334         (88%)
Asset impairment reversal         —         (640) N/A
Strategic project expense 833         888         (6%)
Gross profit excluding exceptional items 103,114 50,578         104%

Energy Costs

Total energy costs were $9.9 million higher in the second quarter of 2022 versus the same period in 2021 due to significant increases in gas and electricity costs during the quarter. The majority of this increase was at our silicon business in Germany, but that business benefited from fully hedged power costs. Other business units benefited from long-term electricity contracts that have no price escalation clauses, and the business units that did experience energy cost increases were able to pass through most of these increased costs to their customers.

SG&A

AMG’s second quarter 2022 SG&A expenses were $37.0 million compared to $33.2 million in the second quarter of 2021, with the variance largely driven by higher compensation expense due to higher profitability forecasted for the year and increased professional fees associated with strategic projects.

Liquidity

June 30, 2022 December 31, 2021 Change
Senior secured debt $365,751 $371,897         (2%)
Cash & cash equivalents 300,758 337,877         (11%)
Senior secured net debt 64,993 34,020         91%
Other debt 22,644 24,398         (7%)
Net debt excluding municipal bond 87,637 58,418         50%
Municipal bond debt 319,363 319,476         —%
Restricted cash 42,182 93,434         (55%)
Net debt 364,818 284,460         28%

AMG had a net debt position of $364.8 million as of June 30, 2022. This increase was mainly due to the significant investment in growth initiatives during the quarter.

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the second quarter. Employee benefit liabilities decreased $55 million during the quarter to $108 million mainly due to rising discount rates. This decrease in employee benefit liabilities combined with AMG’s higher earnings have increased our equity attributable to shareholders to $357 million, a 33% increase over the year-end value.

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $301 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $175 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $476 million of total liquidity as of June 30, 2022.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s second quarter 2022 net finance costs were $12.2 million compared to $4.8 million in the second quarter of 2021. This increase was mainly driven by non-cash intergroup related foreign exchange losses of $7.5 million during the quarter.

AMG capitalized $2.1 million of interest costs in the second quarter of 2022 versus $3.8 million in the same period in 2021, driven by interest associated with the Company’s tax-exempt municipal bond supporting the vanadium expansion in Ohio. This decrease is due to a portion of the municipal bond interest costs which are no longer being capitalized due to the ramp up of production at our Zanesville facility.

Outlook

AMG continues to provide strong and consistent results despite the global economic fallout from the geopolitical turbulence in recent months. We are continuing to focus on the things we can control and are extremely pleased with the noted achievements in our strategic initiatives which will drive long-term value creation. EBITDA was $81.1 million in the second quarter of 2022, the highest quarterly EBITDA in AMG’s history. As mentioned, it was the eighth straight quarter of sequential improvement.

As the year has progressed and more information is available, AMG is increasing its EBITDA guidance for the full year 2022 to a range of between $280 million and $300 million. This range is supported by AMG’s geographic diversification and the strength of the global lithium market.

Net income to EBITDA reconciliation

Q2 ‘22 Q2 ‘21
Net income $29,879 $4,272
Income tax expense (benefit) 23,156 (5,580)
Net finance cost 12,211 4,761
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 1,372 1,194
Restructuring expense 41 334
Inventory cost adjustment 1,497
Asset impairment reversal (640)
Environmental provision 11,651
Strategic project expense (1) 3,107 2,525
Others (3) 448
EBIT 69,763 20,462
Depreciation and amortization 11,363 10,939
EBITDA 81,126 31,401

(1) The Company is in the initial development and ramp-up phases for several strategic expansion projects, including AMG Vanadium’s expansion project, the joint venture with Shell, Hybrid Lithium Vanadium Redox Flow Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Income Statement
For the quarter ended June 30    
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
  Unaudited Unaudited
Continuing operations
Revenue         424,094         298,374
Cost of sales         (321,854)         (249,875)
Gross profit         102,240         48,499
Selling, general and administrative expenses         (37,034)         (33,232)
Environmental expense         —         (11,651)
Other income, net         40         75
Net other operating income (expense)         40         (11,576)
Operating profit         65,246         3,691
Finance income         2,081         264
Finance cost         (14,292)         (5,025)
Net finance cost         (12,211)         (4,761)
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures                  (238)
Profit (loss) before income tax         53,035         (1,308)
Income tax (expense) benefit         (23,156)         5,580
Profit for the period         29,879         4,272
Profit attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company         29,631         3,566
Non-controlling interests         248         706
Profit for the period         29,879         4,272
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share         0.93         0.11
Diluted earnings per share         0.91         0.11

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Income Statement
For the six months ended June 30    
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
  Unaudited Unaudited
Continuing operations
Revenue         827,957         562,360
Cost of sales         (650,523)         (466,997)
Gross profit         177,434         95,363
Selling, general and administrative expenses         (74,496)         (66,325)
Environmental expense         —         (11,711)
Other income, net         122         173
Net other operating income (expense)         122         (11,538)
Operating profit         103,060 17,500
Finance income         2,380         474
Finance cost         (23,510)         (13,889)
Net finance cost         (21,130)         (13,415)
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures         (500)         (625)
Profit before income tax         81,430         3,460
Income tax (expense) benefit         (21,667)         6,490
Profit for the period         59,763         9,950
Profit attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company         58,746         8,665
Non-controlling interests         1,017         1,285
Profit for the period         59,763         9,950
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share         1.84         0.29
Diluted earnings per share         1.81         0.28

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
In thousands of US dollars June 30,2022 Unaudited December 31, 2021
Assets
Property, plant and equipment 739,610 693,624
Goodwill and other intangible assets 41,761 44,684
Derivative financial instruments 22,508 95
Other investments 26,707 29,830
Deferred tax assets 39,953 52,937
Restricted cash 33,682 85,023
Other assets 8,394 8,471
Total non-current assets         912,615         914,664
Inventories         263,273         218,320
Derivative financial instruments         5,854         4,056
Trade and other receivables         194,563         145,435
Other assets         80,641         65,066
Current tax assets         9,093         5,888
Restricted cash         8,500         8,411
Cash and cash equivalents         300,758         337,877
Total current assets         862,682         785,053
Total assets         1,775,297         1,699,717

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
(continued)
In thousands of US dollars June 30, 2022 Unaudited December 31, 2021
Equity
Issued capital         853         853
Share premium         553,715         553,715
Treasury shares (14,906) (16,596)
Other reserves (56,868) (96,421)
Retained earnings (deficit) (126,088) (173,117)
Equity attributable to shareholders of the Company         356,706         268,434
Non-controlling interests         25,052         25,718
Total equity         381,758         294,152
Liabilities
Loans and borrowings         663,781         675,384
Lease liabilities         41,277         45,692
Employee benefits         107,827         162,628
Provisions         14,467         14,298
Deferred revenue         21,105         22,341
Other liabilities         7,116         11,098
Derivative financial instruments         818         2,064
Deferred tax liabilities         5,076         5,617
Total non-current liabilities         861,467         939,122
Loans and borrowings         31,528         27,341
Lease liabilities         4,237         4,857
Short-term bank debt         12,449         13,046
Deferred revenue         20,957         18,478
Other liabilities         83,078         80,672
Trade and other payables         283,443         252,765
Derivative financial instruments         12,518         6,010
Advance payments from customers         49,601         35,091
Current tax liability         18,318         10,586
Provisions         15,943         17,597
Total current liabilities         532,072         466,443
Total liabilities         1,393,539         1,405,565
Total equity and liabilities         1,775,297         1,699,717

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the six months ended June 30
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
  Unaudited Unaudited
Cash from operating activities
Profit for the period         59,763         9,950
Adjustments to reconcile net profit to net cash flows:
Non-cash:
Income tax expense (benefit)         21,667         (6,490)
Depreciation and amortization         21,890         21,902
Asset impairment reversal         —         (776)
Net finance cost         21,130         13,415
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures         500         625
Loss (gain) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment         33         (91)
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions         2,752         2,127
Movement in provisions, pensions, and government grants         (2,917)         2,647
Working capital and deferred revenue adjustments         (63,774)         14,171
Cash generated from operating activities         61,044         57,480
Finance costs paid, net         (12,153)         (10,053)
Income tax paid         (13,040)         (4,499)
Net cash from operating activities         35,851         42,928
Cash used in investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment         93         1,055
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangibles         (82,608)         (78,606)
Investments in associates and joint ventures         (500) (1,000)
Change in restricted cash         51,252         65,562
Interest received on restricted cash         76         25
Capitalized borrowing cost         (8,321)         (7,795)
Other         8         19
Net cash used in investing activities (40,000) (20,740)

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(continued)
For the six months ended June 30
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
Unaudited Unaudited
Cash (used in) from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt         152         2,411
Payment of transaction costs related to debt         —         (390)
Repayment of borrowings         (8,437) (3,127)
Net (repurchase of) proceeds from issuance common shares         (1,523)         121,569
Dividends paid         (10,098)         (3,858)
Payment of lease liabilities         (2,588) (2,608)
Contributions by non-controlling interests         —         648
Net cash (used in) from financing activities         (22,494)         114,645
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents         (26,643)         136,833
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1         337,877         207,366
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held         (10,476)         (3,097)
Cash and cash equivalents at June 30         300,758         341,102

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Announces Results of the Annual General Meeting

Amsterdam, 5 May 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) is pleased to announce that during its Annual General Meeting held virtually on May 5, 2022, shareholders approved all agenda items presented, including the reappointment of Dr. Donatella Ceccarelli as an independent member of the Supervisory Board for a term of two years beginning May 5, 2022.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Russia and Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Announces Final 2021 Dividend

Amsterdam, 5 May 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) is pleased to announce that during the Annual General Meeting, held on May 5, 2022, AMG’s shareholders approved the payment of a dividend of €0.40 per ordinary share over the financial year 2021. The interim dividend of €0.10, paid on August 13, 2021, was deducted from the amount distributed to shareholders. The final dividend per ordinary share therefore amounts to €0.30.

Payment of the final dividend will be completed on May 12, 2022, to shareholders of record on May 10, 2022. The ex-dividend date is May 9, 2022. Dutch withholding tax will be deducted from the dividend at a rate of 15%.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Russia and Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Reports First Quarter 2022 Results

Coronavirus Update

  • We continue to apply all safety measures at our disposal with the highest degree of attention to ensure our employees are working in the lowest risk environment possible. As a result, AMG has zero hospitalizations presently and has not experienced a facility closure or operational interruption.

Strategic Highlights

  • The commissioning of AMG Vanadium’s second spent catalyst recycling facility in Zanesville, Ohio is proceeding as planned. We continue our ramp up phase and the plant is forecast to achieve at run rate capacity in the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Shell & AMG Recycling B.V. (SARBV) continues to pursue circular refinery residue opportunities globally.
  • AMG Brazil will increase its spodumene production by 40,000 tons, bringing its production capacity to 130,000 tons per annum. The project is proceeding as planned, construction will begin in the third quarter of 2022; and commissioning will commence in the second quarter of 2023.
  • AMG Lithium has started construction and will celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen Chemical Park on May 11, 2022, for the first European lithium refinery, and commissioning for the first module of the battery grade lithium hydroxide upgrader will commence in the third quarter of 2023.
  • AMG’s first lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) for industrial power management applications is proceeding as planned and commissioning has begun at AMG Graphite located in Hauzenberg, Germany.

Financial Highlights

  • Revenue increased by 53% to $403.9 million in the first quarter of 2022 from $264.0 million in the first quarter of 2021.
  • EBITDA was $54.8 million in the first quarter of 2022, 93% higher than the first quarter 2021 EBITDA of $28.3 million, marking the seventh straight quarter of sequential improvement.
  • Annualized return on capital employed was 19.8% for the first three months of 2022, more than double the 9.4% for the same period in 2021.
  • AMG’s liquidity as of March 31, 2022, was $478 million, with $308 million of unrestricted cash and $170 million of revolving credit availability.
  • The Company has maintained its final 2021 declared dividend of €0.30 to be paid on May 12, 2022 to shareholders of record on May 10, 2022.

Amsterdam, 4 May 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reported first quarter 2022 revenue of $403.9 million, a 53% increase over $264.0 million in the first quarter of 2021. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2022 was $54.8 million, a 93% increase over $28.3 million in the first quarter of 2021. This also marks the seventh straight quarter of sequential growth after the pandemic low point in the second quarter of 2020.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “With regard to COVID, we continue to apply all safety measures at our disposal with the highest degree of attention to ensure our employees are working in the lowest risk environment possible. Nothing is more important to AMG than the safety, health, and well-being of our workers and their families. All injuries and occupational illnesses are preventable, and we firmly believe that there is no job worth doing in an unsafe manner. Safety is understood across business units as our number one priority.

“AMG continued to sequentially improve EBITDA in the first quarter for the seventh time as prices increased and demand remains robust throughout our portfolio. We expect this to continue throughout the year. Our Clean Energy Materials segment continues to deliver strong EBITDA, which more than tripled since the first quarter of 2021, its eighth straight quarter of sequentially increasing EBITDA. The global lithium market has experienced very strong price increases. Ferrovanadium prices have recovered to a level above long-term averages. We have increased EBITDA guidance for 2022 twice since our initial guidance, and in the outlook section of this press release we do so again today.

“AMG’s key strategic projects are all proceeding as planned. The commissioning of the ferrovanadium plant in Zanesville, Ohio, which will essentially double our recycling capacity for refinery residues, is proceeding well and is expected to be producing at run rate capacity in the fourth quarter of 2022. Shell & AMG Recycling B.V. continues to pursue refinery residue opportunities globally to convert refinery waste streams into valuable products, including battery materials that will enable the acceleration of sustainable energy transition goals. AMG Brazil is expanding its lithium concentrate production by 40,000 tons, bringing its production capacity to 130,000 tons per annum. The groundbreaking for our new lithium hydroxide production facility in Germany will take place on May 11, 2022. AMG’s first lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) for industrial power management applications has begun commissioning.”

Key Figures

In 000’s US dollars
Q1 ‘22 Q1 ‘21 Change
Revenue $403,863 $263,986         53%
Gross profit 75,194 46,864         60%
Gross margin         18.6%         17.8%
Operating profit 37,814 13,809         174%
Operating margin         9.4%         5.2%
Net income attributable to shareholders 29,115 5,099         471%
EPS – Fully diluted 0.89 0.18         394%
EBIT (1) 44,233 17,376         155%
EBITDA (2) 54,760 28,339         93%
EBITDA margin         13.6%         10.7%
Cash (used in) from operating activities (3,654) 19,939 N/A

Notes:

(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses, equity-settled share-based payments, and strategic expenses.
(2)   EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.

Operational Review

AMG Clean Energy Materials

Q1 ‘22 Q1 ‘21 Change
Revenue $143,659 $70,627         103%
Gross profit 39,004 13,203         195%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 41,269 13,383         208%
Operating profit 28,219 3,605         683%
EBITDA 37,227 10,286         262%

AMG Clean Energy Materials’ revenue more than doubled compared to the first quarter of 2021, to $143.7 million, driven mainly by higher prices in vanadium, tantalum and lithium concentrates and higher volumes of lithium concentrate.

Gross profit before non-recurring items for the quarter more than tripled compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the increased price environment.

SG&A expenses in the first quarter of 2022 were $10.8 million, $1.2 million higher than the first quarter of 2021, due to an increase in professional fees as a result of higher strategic project costs and higher shared-based and variable compensation expense.

The first quarter 2022 EBITDA increased by $26.9 million, to $37.2 million from $10.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, due to the improved gross profit as noted above.

AMG Critical Minerals

Q1 ‘22 Q1 ‘21 Change
Revenue $106,909 $72,916         47%
Gross profit 13,002 13,154         (1%)
Gross profit before non-recurring items 13,048 13,071         —%
Operating profit 5,647 6,560         (14%)
EBITDA 7,883 9,012         (13%)

AMG Critical Minerals’ revenue increased by $34.0 million, or 47%, to $106.9 million, driven by strong sales volumes of antimony and graphite as well as higher sales prices across all three businesses.

Gross profit before non-recurring items of $13.0 million in the first quarter was in line with the first quarter of 2021. The higher revenue was due to the improved pricing and higher sales volumes noted above was offset by increased raw material prices, as well as the ongoing rise in energy and shipping costs.

SG&A expenses in the first quarter of 2022 slightly increased by $0.8 million, to $7.4 million, primarily due to higher share-based and variable compensation expense in the current quarter.

The first quarter 2022 EBITDA was $1.1 million lower than the same period in the prior year, due to increased SG&A costs.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies

Q1 ‘22 Q1 ‘21 Change
Revenue $153,295 $120,443         27%
Gross profit 23,188 20,507         13%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 23,283 20,569         13%
Operating profit 3,948 3,644         8%
EBITDA 9,650 9,041         7%

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ first quarter 2022 revenue increased by $32.9 million, or 27%, compared to the same period in 2021. This increase was due to increased titanium alloys sales, as well as higher titanium alloy and chrome metal pricing, offset by timing delays in Engineering projects. First quarter 2022 gross profit before non-recurring items increased by $2.7 million, or 13%, to $23.3 million due to the higher volumes and prices.

SG&A expenses increased by $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, driven by an increase in professional fees and higher share-based and variable compensation expense in the current quarter.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ EBITDA increased to $9.7 million during the quarter, compared to $9.0 million in the first quarter of 2021. This was primarily due to higher profitability in chrome metal and titanium alloys.

The Company signed $61.1 million in new orders during the first quarter of 2022, driven by strong orders of remelting and heat treatment furnaces, representing a 1.09x book to bill ratio. Order backlog was $183.5 million as of March 31, 2022, in line with $188.2 million as of December 31, 2021.

Financial Review

Exceptional Items

AMG’s first quarter 2022 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in the first quarters of 2022 and 2021 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

Q1 ‘22 Q1 ‘21 Change
Gross profit $75,194         $46,864         60%
Inventory cost adjustment         —         (333) N/A
Restructuring expense 141         67         110%
Asset impairment reversal         —         (136) N/A
Strategic project expense 2,265         561         304%
Gross profit excluding exceptional items 77,600 47,023         65%

Energy Costs

AMG experienced significant increases in gas and electricity costs in the first quarter of 2022. Total energy costs were $11.9 million higher in the first quarter of 2022 versus the same period in 2021. The majority of this increase was at our silicon business in Germany, but that business benefited from fully hedged power costs and increased silicon prices. Other business units benefited from long-term electricity contracts that have no price escalation clauses, and the business units that did experience energy cost increases were able to pass through most of these increased costs to their customers.

SG&A

AMG’s first quarter 2022 SG&A expenses were $37.5 million compared to $33.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, with the variance driven largely by an increase in professional fees due to higher strategic project costs and higher shared-based and variable compensation expense. The first quarter of 2021 personnel cost was reduced by cost reduction efforts in response to the onset of the pandemic.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s first quarter 2022 net finance costs were $8.9 million compared to $8.7 million in the first quarter of 2021. This slight increase was mainly driven by higher borrowing rates during the quarter, which were partially offset by lower foreign exchange losses versus the prior period.

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax benefit of $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared to $0.9 million in the same period in 2021. This variance was mainly driven by higher pre-tax income compared to the prior period more than offset by movements in the Brazilian real versus the US dollar. The effects of the Brazilian real caused a $14.7 million non-cash deferred tax benefit in the first quarter 2022. Movements in the Brazilian real exchange rate impact the valuation of the Company’s net deferred tax positions related to our operations in Brazil.

AMG paid taxes of $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared to tax payments of $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2021.

Liquidity

March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Change
Senior secured debt $371,323 $371,897         —%
Cash & cash equivalents 308,482 337,877         (9%)
Senior secured net debt 62,841 34,020         85%
Other debt 26,676 24,398         9%
Net debt excluding municipal bond 89,517 58,418         53%
Municipal bond debt 319,419 319,476                 —%
Restricted cash 62,139 93,434         (33%)
Net debt 346,797 284,460         22%

AMG had a net debt position of $346.8 million as of March 31, 2022. This increase was mainly due to the significant investment in growth initiatives during the quarter.

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the first quarter. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had $308 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $170 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $478 million of total liquidity as of March 31, 2022.

In January 2022, AMG Engineering entered into €140 million of long-term bilateral unsecured performance-based guarantee facility agreements. These guarantee arrangements support expected customer advanced payments and replace the existing guarantee arrangements.

In November 2021, AMG entered into a new $350 million 7-year senior secured term loan B facility (“term loan”) and a $200 million 5-year senior secured revolving credit facility (“revolver”). The total facility amount of $550 million replaced AMG’s prior credit facility and extended the term loan maturity from 2025 to 2028 and revolver maturity from 2023 to 2026. Further strengthening AMG’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), annual CO2 intensity reduction targets were built into the Revolving Credit Facility, making it a Sustainability Linked Loan. In conjunction with this loan, AMG entered into a 5-year swap agreement through 2026, which fixed interest rates for the entire term loan at the prevailing low interest rates in November 2021.

Outlook

AMG was able to deliver strong results despite the continuing impact of COVID-19 and the fallout from the geopolitical turbulence in recent months. EBITDA was $54.8 million in the first quarter of 2022, 93% higher than the first quarter 2021 EBITDA of $28.3 million, and 25% higher than the fourth quarter of 2021. As mentioned, it was the seventh straight quarter of sequential improvement and we expect this trend to continue.

In December 2021, AMG increased its 2022 EBITDA guidance from “$150 million or more” to “$175 – $200 million.”

In February 2022, we further increased our EBITDA guidance for the full year 2022 to “$225 million or more.”

Given the improved market conditions within our portfolio, especially the lithium and also the vanadium markets, the new guidance is that 2022 EBITDA will be in the range of $260 to $290 million.

The last long-term EBITDA guidance was given in 2019, prior to the COVID period. In 2019, we said “we will reach an EBITDA of $350 million, or more, in 5 years, or earlier.”

Being now much closer to the year 2023, and despite the global disruption from the coronavirus and the geopolitical turbulence, we strongly reaffirm that guidance.

As to a new long-term EBITDA guidance, we will reach an EBITDA of $500 million, or more, in 5 years or earlier.

Net income to EBITDA reconciliation

Q1 ‘22 Q1 ‘21
Net income $29,884 $5,678
Income tax benefit (1,489) (910)
Net finance cost 8,919 8,654
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 1,380 1,114
Restructuring expense 141 67
Inventory cost adjustment (333)
Strategic project expense (1) 4,796 2,552
Share of loss of associates 500 387
Others 102 167
EBIT 44,233 17,376
Depreciation and amortization 10,527 10,963
EBITDA 54,760 28,339

(1) The Company is in the ramp-up phase for several strategic expansion projects, including AMG Vanadium’s expansion project, the joint venture with Shell, Hybrid Lithium Vanadium Redox Flow Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Income Statement
For the quarter ended March 31    
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
  Unaudited Unaudited
Continuing operations
Revenue         403,863         263,986
Cost of sales         (328,669)         (217,122)
Gross profit         75,194         46,864
Selling, general and administrative expenses         (37,462)         (33,093)
Other income, net         82         38
Net other operating income         82         38
Operating profit         37,814 13,809
Finance income         299         210
Finance cost         (9,218)         (8,864)
Net finance cost         (8,919)         (8,654)
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures         (500)         (387)
Profit before income tax         28,395         4,768
Income tax benefit         1,489         910
Profit for the period         29,884         5,678
Profit attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company         29,115         5,099
Non-controlling interests         769         579
Profit for the period         29,884         5,678
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share         0.91         0.18
Diluted earnings per share         0.89         0.18

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
In thousands of US dollars March 31,2022 Unaudited December 31, 2021
Assets
Property, plant and equipment 719,054 693,624
Goodwill and other intangible assets 43,541 44,684
Derivative financial instruments 16,772 95
Other investments 29,212 29,830
Deferred tax assets 67,036 52,937
Restricted cash 53,728 85,023
Other assets 8,754 8,471
Total non-current assets         938,097         914,664
Inventories         246,037         218,320
Derivative financial instruments         3,721         4,056
Trade and other receivables         198,397         145,435
Other assets         67,691         65,066
Current tax assets         6,619         5,888
Restricted cash         8,411         8,411
Cash and cash equivalents         308,482         337,877
Total current assets         839,358         785,053
Total assets         1,777,455         1,699,717

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
(continued)
In thousands of US dollars March 31,2022 Unaudited December 31, 2021
Equity
Issued capital         853         853
Share premium         553,715         553,715
Treasury shares (14,919) (16,596)
Other reserves (81,096) (96,421)
Retained earnings (deficit) (146,466) (173,117)
Equity attributable to shareholders of the Company         312,087         268,434
Non-controlling interests         25,268         25,718
Total equity         337,355         294,152
Liabilities
Loans and borrowings         665,806         675,384
Lease liabilities         44,306         45,692
Employee benefits         159,590         162,628
Provisions         14,787         14,298
Deferred revenue         21,736         22,341
Other liabilities         9,388         11,098
Derivative financial instruments         769         2,064
Deferred tax liabilities         5,901         5,617
Total non-current liabilities         922,283         939,122
Loans and borrowings         36,847         27,341
Lease liabilities         4,844         4,857
Short-term bank debt         14,765         13,046
Deferred revenue         20,510         18,478
Other liabilities         81,203         80,672
Trade and other payables         266,860         252,765
Derivative financial instruments         6,090         6,010
Advance payments from customers         49,983         35,091
Current tax liability         19,671         10,586
Provisions         17,044         17,597
Total current liabilities         517,817         466,443
Total liabilities         1,440,100         1,405,565
Total equity and liabilities         1,777,455         1,699,717

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the quarter ended March 31
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
  Unaudited Unaudited
Cash (used in) from operating activities
Profit for the period         29,884         5,678
Adjustments to reconcile net profit to net cash flows:
Non-cash:
Income tax benefit         (1,489)         (910)
Depreciation and amortization         10,527         10,963
Asset impairment reversal         —         (136)
Net finance cost         8,919         8,654
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures         500         387
(Gain) loss on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment         (55)         9
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions         1,380         1,088
Movement in provisions, pensions, and government grants         (1,685)         (3,796)
Working capital and deferred revenue adjustments         (41,819)         4,748
Cash generated from operating activities         6,162         26,685
Finance costs paid, net         (5,917)         (4,749)
Income tax paid         (3,899)         (1,997)
Net cash (used in) from operating activities         (3,654)         19,939
Cash used in investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment         59         171
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangibles         (43,763)         (35,583)
Investments in associates and joint ventures         (500) (1,000)
Change in restricted cash         31,295         33,878
Interest received on restricted cash         9         15
Capitalized borrowing cost         (7,886)         (7,722)
Other         8         13
Net cash used in investing activities (20,778) (10,228)

 

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(continued)
For the quarter ended March 31
In thousands of US dollars 2022 2021
Unaudited Unaudited
Cash used in financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt         1,835         1,481
Payment of transaction costs related to debt         —         (390)
Repayment of borrowings         (1,718) (1,510)
Net (repurchase of) proceeds from issuance common shares         (1,523)         176
Payment of lease liabilities         (1,291) (1,283)
Contributions by non-controlling interests         —         244
Net cash used in financing activities         (2,697) (1,282)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents         (27,129)         8,429
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1         337,877         207,366
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held         (2,266)         (4,716)
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31         308,482         211,079

 

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Russia and Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

 

Attachment

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results

Coronavirus Update

  • We continue to apply all safety measures at our disposal with the highest degree of attention in order to ensure our employees are working in the lowest risk environment possible. Hospitalizations remain at a very low level and presently AMG has zero hospitalizations. AMG has not experienced a facility closure or operational interruption.

Strategic Highlights

  • Our Enabling CO2 Reduction Portfolio (ECO2RP) in 2021 enabled 79.0 million tons of CO2 reduction, 40% more than the 56.6 million tons of enabled CO2 reduction in 2020.
  • AMG today announces a 2030 commitment to reduce direct CO2 emissions as well as commitment to increase its ECO2RP portfolio over the same time period.
  • The construction of AMG Vanadium’s second spent catalyst recycling facility in Zanesville, Ohio is proceeding as planned. Commissioning has begun and the plant is forecast to achieve full run rate capacity in the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Shell & AMG Recycling B.V. (SARBV) continues to pursue circular refinery residue opportunities globally.
  • AMG Brazil will increase its spodumene production by 40,000 tons, bringing its production capacity to 130,000 tons per annum. The project is currently in detailed engineering, with construction planned to commence at the beginning of the second half of 2022, and mechanical completion at the end of the first quarter of 2023.
  • Site preparation and building site facilities have started in Bitterfeld, Germany and commissioning for the first module of the battery grade lithium hydroxide upgrader will commence in the third quarter of 2023.
  • AMG’s first lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) for industrial power management applications is proceeding as planned.
  • In December, AMG announced that it will bring its lithium value chain under one new corporate entity to further increase the long-term value of AMG’s lithium activities. AMG Lithium activities are comprised of AMG’s Brazilian mining and processing plants as well as the German hydroxide project and include the Lithium solid-state battery research and development activities in Frankfurt.

Financial Highlights

  • Revenue increased by 30% to $330.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 from $253.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
  • EBITDA was $43.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, 95% higher than the fourth quarter 2020 EBITDA of $22.5 million, marking the sixth straight quarter of sequential improvement. On a full-year basis, EBITDA in 2021 of $136.7 was more than double full year 2020 EBITDA.
  • Cash from operating activities was $30.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, and $90.8 million on a year-to-date basis, compared to $19.6 for full year 2020.
  • AMG’s liquidity as of December 31, 2021, was $508 million, with $338 million of unrestricted cash and $170 million of revolving credit availability.
  • The total 2021 dividend proposed is €0.40 per ordinary share, including the interim dividend of €0.10, paid on August 13, 2021.
  • In November, AMG entered into a new $350 million 7-year senior secured term loan B facility and a $200 million 5-year senior secured revolving credit facility, which together replaced AMG’s prior credit facility and extended the term loan maturity from 2025 to 2028 and revolver maturity from 2023 to 2026. Further strengthening AMG’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), annual CO2 intensity reduction targets were built into the Revolving Credit Facility, making it a Sustainability Linked Loan.

Amsterdam, 23 February 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reported fourth quarter 2021 revenue of $330.4 million, a 30% increase over $253.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $43.9 million, a 95% increase over $22.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. This also marks the sixth straight quarter of sequential growth after the pandemic low point in the second quarter of 2020.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “With regard to COVID, we continue to apply all safety measures at our disposal with the highest degree of attention in order to ensure our employees are working in the lowest risk environment possible.

“AMG continued to sequentially improve EBITDA in the fourth quarter and on a full-year basis 2021 EBITDA more than doubled 2020 EBITDA. AMG continues to see price increases and strong volumes throughout our portfolio. Our Clean Energy Materials segment continues to deliver strong EBITDA, which more than tripled since the fourth quarter of 2020, its seventh straight quarter of sequentially increasing EBITDA.

“We are pleased to announce our Enabling CO2 Reduction Portfolio (ECO2RP) in 2021 enabled 79.0 million tons of CO2 reduction, 40% more than the 56.6 million tons of enabled CO2 reduction in 2020.

“As regard to our key strategic projects, the construction of the ferrovanadium plant in Zanesville, Ohio, which will essentially double our recycling capacity for refinery residues, is nearly complete. Shell & AMG Recycling B.V. continues to pursue circular refinery residue opportunities globally; this project advances the goals of a circular economy and is essential in achieving societal benefits of reducing global CO2 emissions. AMG Brazil will increase its spodumene production by 40,000 tons, bringing its production capacity to 130,000 tons per annum. We have begun site preparation for our new lithium hydroxide production facility in Germany and the groundbreaking ceremony will take place on May 11th. AMG’s first lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) for industrial power management applications is proceeding as planned.

“During AMG’s Capital Markets Day on January 11th we explained our strategy to further develop our lithium value chain activities and commented on the strategic options.”

Key Figures

In 000’s US dollars
Q4 ‘21 Q4 ‘20 Change FY ‘21 FY ‘20 Change
Revenue $330,360 $253,476 30% $1,204,666 $937,116         29%
Gross profit 61,797 28,103 120% 208,243 112,653         85%
Gross margin 18.7% 11.1%          17.3% 12.0%
Operating profit (loss) 22,295 (2,184)         N/A 57,141 (9,235)       N/A
Operating margin 6.7%       (0.9%)         4.7%         (1.0%)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders 5,705 (2,839)         N/A 13,771 (41,692)       N/A
EPS – Fully diluted 0.18 (0.10)         N/A 0.44 (1.47)       N/A
EBIT (1) 32,678 11,059 195% 92,991 23,106         302%
EBITDA (2) 43,885 22,539 95% 136,676 66,767         105%
EBITDA margin 13.3% 8.9% 11.3% 7.1%
Cash from operating activities 30,225 11,358 166% 90,788 19,619         363%

Notes:

(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses, equity-settled share-based payments, and strategic expenses. Beginning January 1, 2021, AMG has altered its calculation of adjusted EBIT to no longer include the impact of foreign exchange. This alteration was made in consideration of a change in the Company’s hedging policy and to better align the reported adjusted EBITDA with the calculation for our bank covenant calculations. Starting January 2021, the Company is no longer hedging European cash pool intergroup balance sheet exposures which will result in higher volatility in our financial results from foreign exchange which we believe is not representative of our operating performance. Foreign exchange loss in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $2.8 million. Because of this hedging policy change, we did not retroactively apply this change to the prior year figures, otherwise it would have resulted in a decrease to the prior period EBIT of $1.1 million.
(2)   EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.

Operational Review

AMG Clean Energy Materials

Q4 ‘21 Q4 ‘20 Change FY ‘21 FY ‘20 Change
Revenue $115,405 $66,995         72% $381,475 $245,664         55%
Gross profit 27,950 6,004         366% 75,095 11,994         526%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 29,038 8,562         239% 80,264 21,261         278%
Operating profit (loss) 16,301 (5,118) N/A 22,476 (24,522) N/A
EBITDA 25,753 7,081         264% 66,622 10,580         530%

AMG Clean Energy Materials’ revenue increased by $48.4 million, or 72%, to $115.4 million, driven mainly by higher prices in vanadium, tantalum and lithium concentrates offset by lower volumes in each product.

Gross profit before non-recurring items for the quarter increased by $20.5 million compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the increased price environment.

SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $11.7 million, $4.6 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2020 due to higher strategic project costs and increased shared-based and variable compensation expense.

The fourth quarter 2021 EBITDA increased by $18.7 million, to $25.8 million from $7.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, due to the improved gross profit as noted above.

AMG Critical Minerals

Q4 ‘21 Q4 ‘20 Change FY ‘21 FY ‘20 Change
Revenue $79,422 $55,483         43% $308,523 $213,318         45%
Gross profit 11,189 10,557         6% 48,735 35,629         37%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 11,379 11,651         (2%) 48,690 36,806         32%
Operating profit 2,584 5,279         (51%) 20,181 14,167         42%
EBITDA 6,459 8,871         (27%) 31,200 25,888         21%

AMG Critical Minerals’ revenue increased by $23.9 million, or 43%, to $79.4 million, driven by very strong sales volumes of antimony and improved sales prices across all three businesses.

Gross profit before non-recurring items decreased by 2% in the fourth quarter due to the continuing rise in energy and shipping costs, which were only partially passed on to customers.

SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by $3.4 million, to $8.7 million, primarily due to higher share-based and variable compensation expense in the current quarter.

The fourth quarter 2021 EBITDA was $2.4 million lower than the same period in the prior year, due to higher SG&A costs as well as lower profitability driven by higher energy and shipping costs.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies

Q4 ‘21 Q4 ‘20 Change FY ‘21 FY ‘20 Change
Revenue $135,533 $130,998         3% $514,668 $478,134         8%
Gross profit 22,658 11,542         96% 84,413 65,030         30%
Gross profit before non-recurring items 22,388 15,303         46% 84,309 70,386         20%
Operating profit (loss) 3,410 (2,345) N/A 14,484 1,120         1,193%
EBITDA 11,673 6,587         77% 38,854 30,299         28%

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ fourth quarter 2021 revenue increased by $4.5 million, or 3% compared to the same period in 2020. This increase was due to higher sales volumes of titanium alloys and higher prices of titanium alloys and chrome metal driven by stronger demand from our aerospace customers. Therefore, fourth quarter 2021 gross profit before non-recurring items increased by $7.1 million, or 46%, to $22.4 million.

SG&A expenses increased by $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, due to higher share-based and variable compensation expense in the current quarter.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ EBITDA increased to $11.7 million during the quarter, compared to $6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. This was primarily due to higher profitability in chrome metal and titanium alloys.

The Company signed $84.9 million in new orders during the fourth quarter of 2021, driven by strong orders of remelting, induction, and heat treatment furnaces in China, representing a 1.61x book to bill ratio. Order backlog was $188.2 million as of December 31, 2021, 21% higher than $155.1 million as of September 30, 2021, due largely to strong orders of remelting, heat treatment, and induction furnaces. On a full year basis, the Company signed $227.5 million in new orders, representing a balanced 1.00x book to bill ratio.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $8.7 million in 2021, compared to $11.2 in 2020. This variance was mainly driven by improved financial performance offset by movements in the Brazilian real versus the US dollar. The effects of the Brazilian real caused a $3.5 million non-cash deferred tax benefit in 2021. Movements in the Brazilian real exchange rate impact the valuation of the Company’s net deferred tax positions related to our operations in Brazil.

AMG paid taxes of $9.9 million in 2021, comprised of $12.9M of cash tax payments net of $3.0 million of refunds. In 2020 AMG paid $8.6 million in taxes, comprised of $18.5 million cash payments net of $9.9 million of refunds. The higher cash payments in 2020 were largely a result of payments of taxes owed from profitable prior years, and the refunds in both years resulted from overpayment in prior years.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s fourth quarter and full year 2021 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in 2021 and 2020 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

Q4 ‘21 Q4 ‘20 Change FY ‘21 FY ‘20 Change
Gross profit $61,797 $28,103         120% $208,243 $112,653         85%
Inventory cost adjustment         —         2,160         (100%)         1,164         6,219         (81%)
Restructuring (reversal) expense (140)         4,374        N/A         522         5,700         (91%)
Asset impairment expense (reversal) 153         566         (73%)         (711)         664        N/A
Strategic project expense 1,501         313         380%         4,045         3,217         26%
Others (506)         —        N/A         —         —        N/A
Gross profit excluding exceptional items 62,805 35,516         77% 213,263 128,453         66%

Liquidity

December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Change
Senior secured debt $371,897 $364,640         2%
Cash & cash equivalents 337,877 207,366         63%
Senior secured net debt 34,020 157,274         (78%)
Other debt 24,398 19,876         23%
Net debt excluding municipal bond 58,418 177,150         (67%)
Municipal bond debt 319,476 319,699         —
Restricted cash 93,434 208,919         (55%)
Net debt 284,460 287,930         (1%)

AMG had a net debt position of $284.5 million as of December 31, 2021.

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the fourth quarter. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $338 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $170 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $508 million of total liquidity as of December 31, 2021.

In January 2022, AMG entered into €140 million of long-term bilateral unsecured performance-based guarantee facility agreements. These guarantee arrangements support expected customer advanced payments and replace the existing guarantee arrangements.

In November, AMG entered into a new $350 million 7-year senior secured term loan B facility and a $200 million 5-year senior secured revolving credit facility, which together replaced AMG’s prior credit facility and extended the term loan maturity from 2025 to 2028 and revolver maturity from 2023 to 2026. Further strengthening AMG’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance, annual CO2 intensity reduction targets were built into the Revolving Credit Facility, making it a Sustainability Linked Loan.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s fourth quarter 2021 net finance costs were $12.6 million compared to $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. This increase was mainly driven by the write-off of prior unamortized debt issuance fees during the quarter associated with the refinancing noted above and foreign exchange losses during the quarter.

AMG capitalized $3.8 million of interest costs in the fourth quarter of 2021, in line with $3.8 million in the same period in 2020, driven by interest associated with the Company’s tax-exempt municipal bond supporting the vanadium expansion in Ohio.

SG&A

AMG’s fourth quarter 2021 SG&A expenses were $39.5 million compared to $26.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, with the variance driven largely by increased strategic project costs and higher shared-based and variable compensation expense.

Full year 2021 SG&A expenses were $139.6 million, an increase of $21.8 million, or 19%, versus the prior year. SG&A expenses for 2021 included $89.9 million in personnel costs compared to $68.0 million in 2020. The 2021 personnel costs were increased due to higher share-based and variable compensation expense associated with our profitability during the year, and the 2020 personnel cost was reduced by cost reduction efforts in response to the onset of the pandemic.

Net Income to Shareholders

Net income to shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $5.7 million compared to a loss of $2.8 million in 2020. Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2021 were impacted (net of tax) by three large non-cash charges: first, a $3.7 million write-off of unamortized financing expenses from the 2018 financing; second, a $4.7 million charge related to 2019 share-based compensation awards which were not expected to vest at the end of the prior year, however, due to higher than anticipated profitability in the current year the awards are now expected to vest; third, a $2.0 million foreign exchange charge due primarily to intercompany debt balances. Excluding these non-cash charges, AMG would have net income to shareholders of $16.1 million, or $0.50 diluted earnings per share, in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Final Dividend Proposed

AMG intends to declare a dividend of €0.40 per ordinary share over the financial year 2021. The interim dividend of €0.10, paid on August 13, 2021, will be deducted from the amount to be distributed to shareholders. The proposed final dividend per ordinary share therefore amounts to €0.30.

A proposal to resolve upon the final dividend distribution will be included on the agenda for the Annual General Meeting to be held on May 5th, 2022.

Outlook

Previously, AMG increased its EBITDA guidance for full year 2022 to $225 million or higher based on significantly improved market conditions in lithium and we reaffirm this guidance.

AMG anticipates the Company will increase overall staffing from about 3,300 at the end of 2021 by 5 to 10% due to the hiring associated with the ramp-up of the vanadium expansion in Ohio and the lithium expansion in Germany.

Capital expenditures for 2022 are expected to be between $175 million and $200 million mainly driven by the finalization of construction for the vanadium expansion in Ohio and expenditures related to the construction of the lithium hydroxide plant in Germany.

With regard to financing in 2022, AMG has recently finalized its debt refinancing and although we look to consistently optimize our financial structure, our current liquidity can fully fund all of the approved capital expansion projects mentioned above.

In addition, AMG is pleased to announce a two-pronged commitment to reduce our CO2 emissions and increase our enabled CO2 savings through 2030:

  1. AMG commits to reduce its direct CO2 emissions by 20% by 2030 from a baseline of 2019 (i.e., pre COVID) adjusted for the startup of our Zanesville facility. This is a total reduction of 125,000 tons of CO2.
  2. AMG commits to increase its enabled CO2 reduction by 10% per annum from 2021 levels of 79.0 million through 2030.

Net income (loss) to EBITDA reconciliation

Q4 ‘21 Q4 ‘20 FY ‘21 FY ‘20
Net income (loss) $4,139 ($2,613) $13,779 ($42,460)
Income tax expense (benefit) 5,293 (4,950) 8,707 11,184
Net finance cost (1) 12,644 5,956 33,602 23,524
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions (2) 6,883 (2,164) 10,206 3,792
Restructuring (reversal) expense (140) 4,374 522 5,700
Inventory cost adjustment 2,160 1,164 6,219
Asset impairment expense (reversal) 153 566 (711) 664
Environmental provision 230 4,287 11,941 4,342
Strategic project expense (3) 3,769 2,529 12,157 7,085
Non-recurring legal expense (35) 44 1,353
Share of loss of associates 219 518 1,053 947
Others (512) 431 527 756
EBIT 32,678 11,059 92,991 23,106
Depreciation and amortization 11,207 11,480 43,685 43,661
EBITDA 43,885 22,539 136,676 66,767

(1) See note (1) to the Key Figures table.

(2) Amount includes variable compensation expense which settled in shares in 2021.

(3) The Company is in the ramp-up phase for several strategic expansion projects, including AMG Vanadium’s expansion project, the joint venture with Shell, Hybrid Lithium Vanadium Redox Flow Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Consolidated Income Statement
For the quarter ended December 31    
In thousands of US dollars 2021 2020
  Unaudited
Continuing operations
Revenue         330,360         253,476
Cost of sales         (268,563)         (225,373)
Gross profit         61,797         28,103
Selling, general and administrative expenses         (39,501)         (26,065)
Environmental expense         (230)         (4,287)
Other income, net         229         65
Net other operating expense         (1)         (4,222)
Operating profit (loss)         22,295 (2,184)
Finance income         1,107         2,311
Finance cost         (13,751)         (7,172)
Net finance cost         (12,644)         (4,861)
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures         (219)         (518)
Profit (loss) before income tax         9,432         (7,563)
Income tax (expense) benefit         (5,293)         4,950
Profit (loss) for the period 4,139         (2,613)
Profit (loss) attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company         5,705         (2,839)
Non-controlling interests         (1,566)         226
Profit (loss) for the period         4,139         (2,613)
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic earnings (loss) per share         0.18         (0.10)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share         0.18         (0.10)
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Consolidated Income Statement
For the year ended December 31
In thousands of US dollars 2021 2020
Unaudited
Continuing operations
Revenue         1,204,666         937,116
Cost of sales         (996,423)         (824,463)
Gross profit         208,243         112,653
Selling, general and administrative expenses         (139,576)         (117,780)
Environmental expense         (11,941)         (4,342)
Other income, net         415         234
Net other operating expense         (11,526)         (4,108)
Operating profit (loss)         57,141         (9,235)
Finance income         1,938         4,757
Finance cost         (35,540)         (25,851)
Net finance cost         (33,602)         (21,094)
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures         (1,053)         (947)
Profit (loss) before income tax         22,486         (31,276)
Income tax expense         (8,707)         (11,184)
Profit (loss) for the year         13,779         (42,460)
Profit (loss) attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company         13,771         (41,692)
Non-controlling interests         8         (768)
Profit (loss) for the year         13,779         (42,460)
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic earnings (loss) per share         0.44         (1.47)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share         0.44         (1.47)
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
In thousands of US dollars December 31,
2021
Unaudited
December 31, 2020
Assets
Property, plant and equipment         693,624         551,926
Goodwill and other intangible assets         44,684         43,207
Derivative financial instruments         95         1,894
Other investments         29,830         27,527
Deferred tax assets         52,937         58,081
Restricted cash         85,023         208,919
Other assets         8,471         8,496
Total non-current assets         914,664         900,050
Inventories         218,320         152,306
Derivative financial instruments         4,056         5,961
Trade and other receivables         145,435         122,369
Other assets         65,066         44,821
Current tax assets         5,888         5,108
Restricted cash         8,411         —
Cash and cash equivalents         337,877         207,366
Assets held for sale         —         1,005
Total current assets         785,053         538,936
Total assets         1,699,717         1,438,986
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
(continued)
In thousands of US dollars December 31,
2021
Unaudited
December 31, 2020
Equity
Issued capital         853         831
Share premium         553,715         489,546
Treasury shares (16,596) (80,165)
Other reserves (96,421) (110,593)
Retained earnings (deficit) (173,117) (184,139)
Equity attributable to shareholders of the Company         268,434         115,480
Non-controlling interests         25,718         25,790
Total equity         294,152         141,270
Liabilities
Loans and borrowings         675,384         673,262
Lease liabilities         45,692         47,092
Employee benefits         162,628         197,158
Provisions         14,298         15,322
Deferred revenue         22,341         4,361
Other liabilities         11,098         8,237
Derivative financial instruments         2,064         4,389
Deferred tax liabilities         5,617         5,398
Total non-current liabilities         939,122         955,219
Loans and borrowings         27,341         23,392
Lease liabilities         4,857         4,789
Short-term bank debt         13,046         7,561
Deferred revenue         18,478         1,623
Other liabilities         80,672         66,182
Trade and other payables         252,765         164,999
Derivative financial instruments         6,010         10,264
Advance payments from customers         35,091         29,885
Current tax liability         10,586         7,480
Provisions         17,597         26,322
Total current liabilities         466,443         342,497
Total liabilities         1,405,565         1,297,716
Total equity and liabilities         1,699,717         1,438,986
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 31
In thousands of US dollars 2021 2020
  Unaudited
Cash from operating activities
Profit (loss) for the period         13,779         (42,460)
Adjustments to reconcile net profit (loss) to net cash flows:
Non-cash:
Income tax expense         8,707         11,184
Depreciation and amortization         43,685         43,661
Asset impairment (reversal) expense (711)         664
Net finance cost         33,602         21,094
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures         1,053         947
(Gain) loss on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment (65)         358
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions         10,028         1,429
Movement in provisions, pensions, and government grants         (10,184)         (121)
Working capital and deferred revenue adjustments         22,747         10,829
Cash generated from operating activities         122,641         47,585
Finance costs paid, net (21,950) (19,410)
Income tax paid (9,903)         (8,556)
Net cash from operating activities         90,788         19,619
Cash used in investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment         1,029         71
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangibles         (162,240)         (123,695)
Acquisitions of subsidiaries         (458)         —
Investments in associates and joint ventures (1,000) (1,000)
Change in restricted cash         115,485         100,662
Interest received on restricted cash         39         1,120
Capitalized borrowing cost         (15,838)         (15,150)
Other         30         76
Net cash used in investing activities (62,953) (37,916)
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(continued)
For the year ended December 31
In thousands of US dollars 2021 2020
  Unaudited
Cash from (used in) financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt         352,152         9,190
Payment of transaction costs related to debt (7,630)         —
Repayment of borrowings         (342,781) (4,072)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares         123,627         —
Net repurchase of common shares         (2,058)         (638)
Dividends paid (7,598) (9,513)
Payment of lease liabilities (5,313) (4,738)
Contributions by non-controlling interests         667         597
Net cash from (used in) financing activities         111,066 (9,174)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents         138,901 (27,471)
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1         207,366         226,218
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held (8,390)         8,619
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31         337,877         207,366

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,300 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Russia and Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. Increases EBITDA Guidance for 2022

Amsterdam, 1 February 2022 (Regulated Information) AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM) is pleased to increase its EBITDA guidance for 2022. In December 2021 AMG increased its EBITDA guidance for the full year 2022 to a range of between $175 million and $200 million. Since then, lithium market conditions have significantly improved. As a result, AMG is increasing its EBITDA guidance for 2022 to $225 million or higher.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG is a global critical materials company at the forefront of CO2 reduction trends. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metals and mineral products and provides related vacuum furnace systems and services to the transportation, infrastructure, energy, and specialty metals & chemicals end markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines our recycling and mining operations producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines our leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of our mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,000 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Russia and Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment