Following the final loss of control1 and the deconsolidation of the former German subgroup entities2 on
- Lead segment:
Recylex S.A.'s used lead-acid battery recycling business Lead segment:Recylex S.A.'s used lead-acid battery recycling business (Villefranche-sur-Saône and Escaudoeuvres plants), - Plastics segment: C2P S.A.S.'s polypropylene waste recycling business,
- Other activities:
Recylex S.A.'s holding activities, including the equity method accounting for the 50% stake inRecytech S.A.
The consolidated sales published at
In millions of euros | Au 31 décembre 2021 | Au 31 décembre 2020 | Périmètre comparable au 31 décembre 2020 | Variation à données publiées (%) | Variation à données comparables (%) |
Lead | 78.1 | 98.9 | 48.7 | -21% | 60% |
Zinc | 0.0 | 20.6 | 0.0 | -100% | n/a |
Special Metals | 0.0 | 5.5 | 0.0 | -100% | n/a |
Plastic | 9.6 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 9% | 11% |
Other activities | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | n/a | n/a |
Total | 87.9 | 133.9 | 58.1 | -34% | 51% |
IFRS data, unaudited figures. n/a : non applicable
*Rounding effect.
1. Trend in metal prices at
In euros per ton | Average at December 31, 2021 | Average at December 31, 2020 | Change (%) |
Lead price | 1,863 | 1,598 | +17% |
€/$ exchange rate | 1.1836 | 1.1412 | +4% |
Source:
The average lead price for 2021 was €1,863, up +17% compared to the average for the same period in 2020.
Expressed in dollars, the average lead price in 2021 was
2. Breakdown of consolidated sales at
Consolidated sales at
2.1 Lead segment
The Lead segment accounted for 89% of consolidated sales at
Sales reached €78,1 million at
During 2021,
- A first half of 2020 heavily impacted by the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 health crisis, which led the Nordenham smelter (then operated by the former Group subsidiary -
Weser-Metall GmbH ) and the battery recycling sites to shut down their operations3 , which weighed heavily on the volumes of used lead-acid batteries recycled byRecylex S.A. ; - Sustained activity over the last three quarters of 2021, with higher volumes of secondary materials sold than those observed over the last three quarters of 2020. In particular, lead segment sales for the fourth quarter of 2021 amounted to €18.2 million, compared with €13.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2020.
In addition, the sharp rise in the price of lead over the year 2021 has reinforced the growth in sales linked to the volumes recycled and sold.
The Villefranche and Escaudoeuvres used lead-acid battery recycling plants continue to supply the
Despite the efforts made over the past two years,
2.2 Plastic segment
The Plastics segment accounted for 11% of consolidated sales at
Consolidated sales totaled €9.6 million at
While the beginning of 2021 was marked by a favorable context for the recycled raw materials industry due to the increase in virgin polypropylene prices, the recycled polypropylene activity suffered in 2021. Indeed, most of 2021 was impacted by the slowdown in the automotive market, which was disrupted by the shortage of components affecting this sector.
Sales in the Plastics segment in the fourth quarter of 2021 amounted to €2.2 million, down 22% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.
3. Update on the restructuring of Recylex S.A.’s debt
At
- The €16 million loan (€18.2 million including capitalized interest) granted by
Glencore International AG toRecylex S.A. in 2014.Recylex S.A. obtained an extension of the conditional waiver of its right to declare the loan immediately due and payable untilApril 15, 2022 at the latest (previouslyJanuary 31, 2022 )5; - The debt related to the
European Commission's fine for an amount of €25.6 million, including interest on suspended maturities. InSeptember 2020 , the Company temporarily suspended payment of the fine and entered into discussions with theEuropean Commission . Outstanding maturities amount to €2.2 million atDecember 31, 2021 ; - The claw back clause under the 2005-2015 continuation plan for an amount of €4.1 million6. The amounts due under this debt amount to €3.7 million at
December 31, 2021 , withGlencore International AG as the main creditor for an amount of €3.5 million.Recylex S.A. has obtained fromGlencore International AG a conditional waiver untilApril 15, 2022 of its right to declare this debt immediately due and payable on the same terms as the temporary waiver of its right to declare the €16 million loan due and payable, as described above; - The rescheduled debt to
Glencore International AG due in 2026, arising from theRecylex S.A. continuation plan for an amount of €5.1 million.
In addition, the Company's net financial debt will be potentially impacted and aggravated by the decision of the
At
As a reminder,
The amounts and maturities of these debts and liabilities are disproportionate to the current scope of the Group's activities. Despite the current favorable context of lead prices and the sustained demand for secondary materials from the Nordenham smelter for the treatment of used lead-acid batteries, the Group's capacity to generate cash remains incompatible with the repayment of these debts and liabilities.
Following discussions with the Group’s main creditors, namely
The progress of the ongoing processes highlights the following aspects:
Recylex S.A. has received expressions of interest from several players operating in businesses related to the recycling of used lead-acid batteries and polypropylene. The Company is pursuing discussions with these interested parties as part of a competitive and structured disposal process, with a view to a partial or total takeover of the recycling business. Nevertheless, in view of the level of indicative offers already received to date, it is clear that most of the existing debt will have to be waived by the creditors in very significant amounts.Recylex S.A. has also received expressions of interest from investors regarding its 50% stake inRecytech S.A. As the level of offers received at this stage is well below the value of the commitments given byRecylex S.A. toGlencore International AG under the first and second-ranking pledges ofRecytech S.A. 9 shares, it is clear that any proceeds from the sale of the shares will be fully absorbed by these commitments, which amount to €61 million atDecember 31, 2021 . Thus, without significant debt waivers byGlencore International AG , the question of restructuring the debt of the other creditors would remain unresolved.Recylex S.A. has also initiated a process to sell the Estaque site, which has been the subject of an environmental rehabilitation program for several years. In view of the indicative offers received to date, a possible sale of the site with a third-party claimant mechanism (“mécanisme de tiers demandeur”)10 would enable a significant portion of the remaining remediation costs to be transferred to the buyer, but would not enable the company to participate in the repayment of the debt.
It should also be noted that the Company's heavy dependence on its almost sole customer,
For these reasons, the Company will not be in a position, in the short term, to close its annual and consolidated accounts as at
4. Changes in the composition of the Board of Directors of
The Board of Directors of
5. Forecasted financial agenda
- The Company will keep its shareholders informed of the dates of upcoming publications.
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APPENDIX
Quarterly evolution of metal prices averages
In euros per ton | First quarter 2021 | Second quarter 2021 | Third quarter 2021 | Fourth quarter 2021 | First quarter 2020 | Second quarter 2020 | Third quarter 2020 | Fourth quarter 2020 |
Lead | 1,674 | 1,765 | 1,985 | 2,027 | 1,675 | 1,518 | 1,603 | 1,594 |
Source :
Consolidated sales by quarter and segment
In million of euros | First quarter 2021 | Second quarter 2021 | Third quarter 2021 | Fourth quarter 2021 | First quarter 2020 | Second quarter 2020 | Third quarter 2020 | Fourth quarter 2020 |
Lead | 14.4 | 22.4 | 23.0 | 18.2 | 54.0 | 18.1 | 13.9 | 13.0 |
Zinc | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Special Metals | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Plastic | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
Other activities | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
Total | 17.4 | 24.7 | 25.4 | 20.4 | 77.9 | 24.1 | 16.1 | 15.8 |
IFRS data, unaudited figures.
Recylex S.A.’s sales
In million of euros | At 31/12/2021 | At 31/12/2020 | Change (%) |
Lead segment | 79.5 | 50.2 | +58% |
Services to Group companies | 1.5 | 0.9 | +71% |
Total sales | 81.0 | 51.1 | +59% |
IFRS data, unaudited figures.
***
1 See press releases dated
2 Namely:
3 See press release of
4 See press releases of
5 The maturity of this waiver may, however, be shortened by
6 The nominal amount of the financial recovery clause is
7 See press release of
8 See press release of
9 See Note 30 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements at
10 Article L. 512-21 du code de l’environnement.
***
Disclaimer: This press release is a non-official translation into English of the press release of the same date issued in French language and is provided solely for the convenience of English-speaking users. This press release should be read in conjunction with and construed in accordance with French law. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements that constitute either trends or objectives and should not be construed as forecasts of results or any other performance indicator. This information is by its nature subject to risks and uncertainties, as described in the Company's Annual Report available on its website (www.recylex.fr). More detailed information on Recylex can be found on its website (www.recylex.eu).
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Raw materials from urban mines
For more information about the
***
Press & Investor contact: T +33 (0)158 47 29 91 | E info@recylex.eu
Administrative office: 79 rue
Attachment
- 20220131
Recylex S.A. Financial information atDecember 31 2021 and update on the restructuring ofRecylex S.A. 's debt
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