Good start for BASF in 2018

In the fourth quarter of 2017, BASF Group posted sales of €16.1 billion, which represents growth of 8% compared with the same quarter of 2016. Prices rose by 9%. BASF’s sales volumes increased by 4%; this was driven by all segments with the exception of Oil & Gas. By contrast, negative currency effects were significantly higher and reduced sales by 5%. Income from operations (EBIT) before special items in the fourth quarter was €1.9 billion, up by 58% from the same period of the prior year. The significantly higher earnings in the Chemicals, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas segments as well as in Other compensated for lower earnings in the Functional Materials & Solutions and Performance Products segments.

Economic activity picked up in many countries worldwide in 2017. “We took advantage of this upturn and markedly increased our full-year 2017 sales and earnings compared with the previous year,” said Bock. Thanks to good demand, BASF sold greater volumes in all divisions and considerably increased its profitability. Higher prices, especially in the Chemicals segment, also contributed to this. Overall, BASF’s sales grew by 12% to €64.5 billion. One contributing factor was the Chemetall business acquired at the end of 2016, which offers tailor-made solutions for metals surface treatment.

BASF’s earnings rose even more sharply, by around one-third. The company achieved EBIT before special items of €8.3 billion, with a significant contribution coming from the Chemicals segment. Higher margins and volumes in the basic chemicals and intermediates businesses more than offset the lower margins in some of BASF’s specialties businesses. Earnings in the chemicals business – which comprises the Chemicals, Performance Products and Functional Materials & Solutions segments – were significantly higher than in the previous year. EBIT before special items in this business was €7.3 billion, up by 26% versus the
prior-year figure.

Earnings per share increased from €4.42 to €6.62, equivalent to a rise of 50%. Adjusted for special items and amortization of intangible assets, earnings per share amounted to €6.44, compared with €4.83 in the previous year.

Improved operating cash flow

Cash provided by operating activities improved by €1.1 billion year-on-year to €8.8 billion in 2017. This was due to the 50% increase in net income to €6.1 billion. In contrast with the previous year, the change in net working capital reduced cash flow. This was largely attributable to the higher level of cash tied up in inventories and trade accounts receivable for operational reasons.

Cash used in investing activities amounted to €4 billion in 2017 compared with €6.5 billion in 2016. Payments made for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets amounted to €4 billion, below the prior-year figure (€4.1 billion). At €4.8 billion, free cash flow was 34% above the level of the previous year. The equity ratio was 44.1% (2016: 42.6%). Net debt declined by €2.9 billion to €11.5 billion.

Proposed dividend of €3.10

BASF will propose to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting a dividend of €3.10 per share, €0.10 higher than in the previous year. The BASF share would thus once more offer an attractive dividend yield of 3.4% based on the 2017 year-end share price of €91.74. In total, €2.8 billion would be paid out to BASF SE shareholders.

Business development in the regions

With regard to the development in the regions, Bock said: “We were particularly pleased with our strong growth in Asia, where our investments in recent years have paid off. Thanks to higher margins and increased volumes, we were able to double our earnings in Asia to €2.2 billion, making it the most profitable region for BASF.”

In Europe, economic growth gathered steam. EBIT here grew by 31% to reach €4.7 billion. This was chiefly attributable to higher earnings in the Chemicals and Oil & Gas segments. Although growth in the United States was initially subdued at the beginning of 2017, it improved over the course of the year. In North America, BASF increased EBIT from €1.1 billion to €1.2 billion. BASF’s EBIT in South America, Africa and the Middle East fell from €432 million to €335 million.

Development of BASF’s portfolio

In the past year BASF made important decisions to add fast-growing, cyclically resilient businesses to its portfolio. In 2018, the Agricultural Solutions segment will be strengthened with the acquisition of significant parts of Bayer’s seed and herbicide businesses. Bock: “These will be an excellent complement to our well-established and successful crop protection business and our biotechnology activities. And we will be entering into the seed business with proprietary assets in key agricultural markets, which will also allow us to more quickly implement the results of our seed research.”

BASF wants to acquire Solvay’s global polyamide business this year. This will expand BASF’s range of engineering plastics for the transportation, construction and consumer goods industries and will strengthen its access to raw materials. Furthermore, the company expects to improve access to important growth markets in Asia and South America.

“However, we also divest businesses when we believe they could be more successful in a different constellation,” said Bock. For example, BASF transferred its business with leather chemicals to the Stahl group, a leading producer of process chemicals for leather products, at the end of September 2017. In return, BASF now holds a 16% share in the Stahl group.

BASF has announced fundamental changes for its oil and gas activities. It is planned that BASF and the LetterOne group will merge their respective oil and gas activities in a joint venture called Wintershall DEA. The new company would be one of the largest independent exploration and production companies in Europe, with excellent growth prospects. In the medium term, the intent is to list the joint venture on the stock exchange.

Outlook for the year 2018

For 2018, BASF expects the global economy and chemical production to grow at roughly the same pace as in 2017. Further growth is expected in all regions and BASF anticipates a continuation of the recovery already underway in Brazil and Russia. In addition to these generally positive baseline conditions, however, BASF also sees increased market volatility. Furthermore, the U.S. dollar is having a negative impact on sales and earnings.

“In this environment, we want to continue to grow profitably and achieve a slight increase in BASF Group’s sales and EBIT before special items in 2018,” said Bock. The rise in sales should result chiefly from volumes growth. The increase in earnings will mainly be driven by significant contributions from the Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions and Oil & Gas segments. After a strong result in 2017, the company expects considerably lower EBIT before special items in the Chemicals segment, primarily as a result of lower margins.

The forecast for 2018 takes into account the agreed acquisition of significant parts of Bayer’s seed and non-selective herbicide businesses, which is expected to close in the first half of 2018. Based on the timing of the acquisition, the seasonality of the businesses to be taken over and the anticipated integration costs, this is likely to have a positive impact on sales and a negative impact on earnings for the Agricultural Solutions segment and the BASF Group in 2018.

The forecast does not take into account the intended merger of the oil and gas activities of BASF and LetterOne. On signature of the transaction agreements, the Oil & Gas segment’s earnings would no longer be included in sales and EBIT for the BASF Group – retroactively as of January 1, 2018 and with the prior-year figures restated. Rather, this would be presented in the income before minority interests of the BASF Group as a separate item, “income from discontinued operations.” From the transaction closing date, BASF’s share of income generated by the joint venture – Wintershall DEA – would presumably be accounted for using the equity method and included in EBIT for the BASF Group.