As announced with ArcelorMittal’s (‘the Company’) fourth quarter 2023 financial results, the Company has amended its presentation of reportable segments and EBITDA.
The changes, applied from January 1, 2024, are as follows:
- EBITDA is defined as operating result plus depreciation, impairment items and exceptional items and result from associates, joint ventures and other investments (excluding impairments and exceptional items if any);
- The NAFTA segment has been renamed "North America", a core growth region for the Company;
- ‘India and JVs’ is now reported separately as a segment, reflecting the share of net income of AMNS India, VAMA and AMNS Calvert as well as the other associates, joint ventures and other investments. India is a high growth vector of the Company, with our assets well-positioned to grow with the domestic market;
- A new ‘Sustainable Solutions’ segment is composed of a number of high-growth, niche, capital light businesses, playing an important role in supporting climate action (including renewables, special projects and construction business). Previously reported within the Europe segment, this is a growth vector of the Company and represents businesses employing over 12,000 people at more than 260 commercial and production sites across 60+ countries;
- Following the sale of the Company’s operations in Kazakhstan, the remaining parts of the former ‘ACIS’ segment have been assigned to ‘Others’; there are no changes to the ‘Brazil’ and ‘Mining’ segments.
The following periods: FY 2021, FY 2022 and FY 2023 and all four quarters of 2023 - have been recast in the Company’s published analyst model which can be viewed above.
In addition, the Company has included key reconciliations of net income/ (loss) to EBITDA and adjusted net income and adjusted EPS as well as provided historic key performance indicators for its three key JVs: AMNS India, AMNS Calvert and VAMA.
Key figures for 4Q 2023 (pre new segmentation)
2023 key highlights:
Health and safety focus: Protecting employee health and wellbeing remains an overarching priority of the Company; LTIF2 rate of 0.92x in FY 2023 and 0.70x in FY 2022. Performance in 2023 was severely impacted by the tragic Kostenko mine accident on October 28, 2023. The Company has commissioned dss+ to conduct a comprehensive independent Company-wide safety audit of its operations, to identify gaps and strengthen safety actions, processes and culture to help prevent serious accidents. Key recommendations to be published in September 2024
Healthy EBITDA and Free Cashflow: FY 2023 EBITDA of $7.6bn and EBITDA/tonne of $136/t, reflecting structural improvements to profitability. FY 2023 free cash flow (FCF) of $2.9bn7 ($7.6bn net cash provided by operating activities less $4.6bn capex (which includes $1.4bn strategic growth capex) and $0.2bn minority dividends) with 4Q 2023 FCF of $1.8bn ($3.3bn net cash provided by operating activities less $1.5bn capex)
Net income impacted by non-cash non-recurring items: Net income of $0.9bn includes a negative $2.4bn impact related to the disposal of the Kazakhstan operations6 and a $1.4bn impairment of Acciaierie d'Italia (ADI) in Italy16. Adjusting for these items, FY 2023 adjusted net income9 is $4.9bn. FY 2023 basic EPS of $1.09 (adjusted basic EPS9 of $5.78)
Financial strength: Net debt of $2.9bn at the end of 2023 (gross debt of $10.7bn, and cash and cash equivalents of $7.8bn) as compared to $2.2bn at the end of 2022. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had liquidity of $13.2 billion consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $7.8 billion and $5.4 billion of available credit lines13
Share repurchases driving enhanced value: Repurchased 45.4m shares in 202311, bringing the total reduction in fully diluted shares outstanding to 33% since the end of September 20208. Book value per share4 increased to $66 over the last 12 months ROE3 of 8.9%
Priorities:
Growth: following a period of optimization and strategic investment, the Company is on the cusp of a step change in profitability:
- Strategic investments are estimated to add approximately $1.8bn to EBITDA14,15 growth by the end of 2026. New projects expected to be commissioned in 2024 include: the cold rolling mill complex at Vega, additional capacity at Serra Azul mine and Barra Mansa (all in Brazil); the first phase of new Electrical Steels capacity in Europe; the first iron ore concentrate in Liberia; 1GW of renewable power capacity in India; and the new EAF at AMNS Calvert (US). In addition, the expansion of the AMNS India Hazira plant to ~15Mt capacity (Phase 1A) is progressing well and on track for completion in 2026 with Phase 1B Hazira capacity expansion to 20Mt planned; plans for expansion to 24Mt (including 1.5Mt long capacity) under preparation
- Decarbonized steel solutions: Existing capabilities in low-carbon metallics and EAF steel-making provide a unique competitive advantage as we offer an increasingly broad range of low-carbon intensity steel products to our customers. Our XCarb® recycled and renewably12 produced steel continues to resonate with our customers, most recently exemplified by contracts to supply Vestas and Schneider Electric. Our DRI/EAF projects are progressing through FEED; we have signed contracts for a new 1.1Mt EAF at Gijon which will decarbonize the Long business in Spain, allowing for production of rails and quality wire rods; and a signed Letter of Intent with EDF for a long-term agreement to supply low carbon emissions power for our key French operations
- Progressive capital allocation: The Company’s defined capital allocation and return policy is working well, allowing the Company to develop and significantly grow its earnings capacity whilst consistently rewarding shareholders. The Board proposes to increase the annual base dividend to shareholders from $0.44/sh in FY 2023 to $0.50/sh (to be paid in 2 equal installments in June 2024 and December 2024), subject to the approval of shareholders at the 2024 AGM. In addition, the Company will continue to return a minimum 50% of post-dividend FCF to shareholders through its share buyback programs
Financial highlights (on the basis of IFRS 1,2)
“In October last year we committed to commissioning an independent 3rd party global audit of all our safety related practices and actions. This audit is now underway and I am determined its findings and recommendations, combined with the considerable efforts we are already implementing across the Group, will make us a safer and ultimately accident free company. Every employee in ArcelorMittal is aligned in this goal.
“Turning to our financial performance, our results for the full year reflect the benefits of the structural improvements we have made to our cost base, asset portfolio and balance sheet in recent years. Despite the operating environment becoming increasingly challenging as the year progressed, our profitability per tonne is healthy and well above long-term averages. This highlights the enhanced sustainability we have built into the business, enabling us to generate healthy cash flow to invest for future growth and return attractive levels of capital to our shareholders.
"Looking ahead, there are early signs of a more constructive industry backdrop. This, alongside the progress we are making with our portfolio of strategic growth projects - several of which will complete this year - means the Company will continue to take important steps forward in its drive to be a stronger, more profitable, and of course safer, Company." Mr Aditya Mittal, ArcelorMittal Chief Executive Officer