ICTSI 1Q2020 Reduction in Net Income Reflects Impact of COVID-19; Down 18% to USD59.6M

7 May 2020

ICTSI 1Q2020 reduction in net income reflects impact of COVID-19 -- Down 18% to USD59.6M
Throughput slightly grew 1% to 2.5 million TEUs
Revenues decreased 2% to USD375.8 million
EBITDA declined 5% to USD212.2 million

Enrique K. Razon Jr., ICTSI Chairman and President said: “For many people around the world, livelihoods have been severely impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. This pandemic is having, and will continue to have, devastating effects on our societies and it will take a significant amount of combined effort from organizations, governments and individuals to bring back some degree of normality. We have witnessed extraordinary efforts from our frontline workers, particularly those in healthcare, emergency services and our very own people who ensure medical supplies, food and other basic necessities reach communities across the world. On behalf of the Board, I want to express my deepest gratitude and respect. Our hearts go out to everyone who is suffering at this time.”

“During the first quarter, we took immediate action, and our response to COVID-19 focused on four key areas: protecting our people, continuing to provide excellent services to our customers, living by our deeply embedded values of caring for host communities and ensuring ICTSI continues to be financially strong. The effect of the virus was felt in the latter part of the first quarter, and our volumes compared to the previous year were largely flat. Regions are at different stages of the viral outbreak, which is reflected in our portfolio performance: Asia delivered lower volumes compared to the previous year while the EMEA and Americas segments both still registered positive volume growth for the quarter. However, the latter two regions showed signs of weakness in March.”

“We have taken significant measures, which include reducing our cost base and capital expenditure while seeking ways to increase our market share in certain markets. We continue to monitor the situation carefully so we can adapt our responses. ICTSI is an agile business and able to act swiftly to ensure the business remains robust during these uncertain times.”

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) today reported unaudited consolidated financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 posting revenue from port operations of USD375.8 million, a decrease of two percent over the USD383.8 million reported for the same period last year; Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of USD212.2 million, five percent lower than the USD222.5 million generated in the first quarter of 2019; and net income attributable to equity holders of USD59.6 million, 18 percent less than the USD72.4 million earned in the same period last year due to the lower operating income, increase in interest on concession rights payable and COVID-19 related expenses; partially tapered by decrease in equity in net loss of joint ventures and an associate. Equity in net loss of joint ventures and an associate decreased by 10 percent to USD5.5 million in the first quarter of 2020 from USD6.1 million for the same period in 2019 due to the increase in the Company’s share in the net income of Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI) from 34.83 percent to 50 percent in April 2019 and a decrease in the Company’s share in net loss at Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce S.A. (SPIA), its joint venture container terminal project with PSA International Pte Ltd. (PSA) in Buenaventura, Colombia.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 2,508,986 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, one percent more than the 2,478,672 TEUs handled in the same period in 2019. The slight increase in volume was primarily due to the contribution of a new terminal in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and new services at certain terminals; tapered by a decline in trade activities due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global trade. Excluding the contribution of ICTSI Rio, consolidated organic volume would have decreased by one percent in the first quarter of 2020.

Gross revenues from port operations for the quarter-ended March 31, 2020 decreased by two percent to USD375.8 million from the USD383.8 million reported in the same period in 2019 as trade activities declined due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions; lower revenues from storage; partially tapered by the contribution of the new terminal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; tariff adjustments and new services at certain terminals. Excluding the contribution of ICTSI Rio, consolidated organic gross revenues would have decreased by five percent in the first quarter of 2020.

Consolidated cash operating expenses in the first quarter of 2020 was six percent higher at USD119.0 million compared to USD112.0 million in the same period in 2019. The increase in cash operating expenses was mainly due to the contribution of a new terminal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; government-mandated and contracted salary rate adjustments at certain terminals; increase in information technology-related expenses; and unfavorable translation impact of Philippine Peso (PHP)-based expenses at the various terminals in the Philippines. The increase was partially tapered by continuous cost optimization measures; and favorable translation impact of Brazilian Reais (BRL) based expenses in Suape, Brazil; Australian Dollar (AUD) based expenses in Melbourne, Australia; Mexican Peso (MXN) based expenses in Manzanillo, Mexico; and Pakistan Rupee (PKR) based expenses in Karachi, Pakistan.

Consolidated EBITDA for the first quarter of 2020 decreased five percent to USD12.2 million from USD222.5 million in 2019 mainly due to lower operating revenues, partially tapered by the positive contribution of a new terminal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Consequently, EBITDA margin decreased to 56 percent in the first quarter of 2020 from 58 percent in the same period in 2019.

Consolidated financing charges and other expenses for the quarter increased 17 percent from USD28.3 million in 2019 to USD33.2 million in 2020 primarily due to COVID19-related expenses and the absence of capitalized borrowing cost related to the Phase 2 expansion project in Basra, Iraq in 2019.

Capital expenditures, excluding capitalized borrowing costs, amounted to USD59.7 million for the first quarter of 2020. The capital expenditures for the first three months of 2020 were mainly for the ongoing expansions at Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in Manila, Philippines; Contecon Manzanillo S.A. (CMSA) in Mexico; and ICTSI DR Congo (IDRC) in Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo. Amid the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global trade, the Group has reduced its capital expenditure plan for the rest of the year to approximately USD100 million, which will be utilized mainly to complete the ongoing expansion projects.

ICTSI is a leading global developer, manager and operator of container terminals in the 50,000 to three million TEU/year range. ICTSI operates in six continents and continues to pursue container terminal opportunities around the world.