13
Caverion Annual Review 2021
December. Net
debt amounted
to EUR
140.7 (118.6)
million at
the end
of
December and
the net
debt/EBITDA ratio was 1.1x
(-0.2x ).
Group strategy and
financial targets
Caverion’s Fit for Growth strategy
and the financial targets
launched on 4
November 2019 remained
valid in 2021. Caverion builds on several sources of growth. A
very strong customer base and long-
term customer partnerships are the first foundation for
growth. A second source is
the accelerated
need for digitalisation which can be seen across all of Caverion’s customer segments and countries.
Supporting
customers
on
their
digitalisation
journey
while
improving
efficiency
and
long-term
sustainable outcomes,
provides great
opportunities for
Caverion.
The
company’s digital
solutions
such
as
Caverion
SmartView,
Remote
Services
and
IoT
solutions
differentiate
Caverion
from
its
competitors already
today and will
also be a foundation
for future growth.
Caverion has also
invested
in building expertise in selected Smart Technologies such as Building Automation, Refrigeration and
Security. Those solutions require regular maintenance which links to Caverion’s core competence
of
supporting customers throughout the
lifecycle of
their built environments.
This is
delivered by our
more than 14,000
highly skilled and
dedicated employees. Caverion seeks growth
both organically
and inorganically through
acquisitions.
In 2021, Caverion
continued the
work on its
new strategy that
will guide the
company up until
the
year 2025 and expects
to finalise this work during the first half of 2022.
The new growth strategy is
built around core
future capabilities that
will allow Caverion
to differentiate
and focus in a
market full
of opportunities.
It will deliver
on Caverion’s purpose
of enabling performance
and people’s wellbeing
in smart and sustainable built environments. Climate change continues to be the biggest threat our
earth is facing. Especially urban
environments are a
major source of carbon emissions,
and solutions
to
change
the
trajectory
are
urgent
and
in
high
demand.
This
impacts
the
strategic
choices
of
customers in all segments. Caverion is
contributing to a carbon-neutral society through its energy-
efficient and sustainable solutions and
will continue developing them in
accordance with customer
demands. The
Group’s strategic themes
continue to
be the
focus on
people, customer experience,
sustainability and
digitalisation.
Caverion
expects
market
demand
to
pick
up
and
all
trends
and
regulations to drive demand
for the solutions and expertise
Caverion can
deliver.
In 2022, Caverion will report for
the first time its EU
taxonomy eligibility levels for 2021,
which,
together
with
the
sustainability
targets,
KPIs
and
actions,
are
described
in
more
detail
under
“Disclosure regarding non-financial information”.
Over the longer term, Caverion’s target by 2030 is
to create sustainable impact
through its solutions,
with a positive
carbon handprint 10 times
greater
than its own carbon footprint
(Scope 1-2).
Financial targets
Caverion
continues
to
prioritise
cash
flow
generation.
Organic
growth
is
supported
by
bolt-on
acquisitions in selected growth areas and complementary capabilities. In the Services business, the
target
is
to
boost
profitable
growth.
In
the
Projects
business,
the
improving
performance
has
gradually opened profitable
growth opportunities.
Sustainably strong
cash conversion,
adjusted EBITA
as well as organic
revenue growth
have been
the Group’s most important
financial targets in
the Fit for Growth
strategy, supported
by a moderate
debt leverage level.
The following table presents
the Group’s financial targets
and the progress in
them during 2021.
Financial targets (mid-term)
Progress in 2021
Cash conversion
= Operating cash flow before financial
and tax items / EBITDA > 100%
- Cash conversion
91.2 (158.5)% in 2021
- Operating
cash flow EUR 103.8 (157.6) million in
2021
Profitability
> 5.5% of revenue
- Adjusted EBITA
margin amounted to 4.1 (2.8)% in
2021
Debt leverage
: Net debt/EBITDA** < 2.5x
- At
the level of 1.1x (-0.2x) as per 12/2021
Growth
:
- Organic
revenue growth > 4% p.a. over the cycle.
Supported by bolt-on acquisitions in selected growth
areas and complementary capabilities.
- Services
revenue growth > market growth
- Services
revenue > 2/3 of Group revenue
- Organic
revenue growth -2.0% in 2021
- Services
business revenue growth 2.7% in 2021
- The share
of Services continued to grow to 65.5
(63.3) percent of revenue in 2021
Dividend policy
: distribute at least 50% of the result for
the year after taxes, however, taking profitability and
leverage level into account.
Dividend distribution
:
The Board of Directors proposes
to the Annual General Meeting to be held on 28 March
2022 that a dividend of EUR 0.17 per share will be paid
for the year 2021.
* EBITA is defined as Operating profit
+ amortization and impairment on intangible assets. Adjustments according to defined
Items
affecting comparability (IAC).
**Based
on
calculation
principles
confirmed
with
the
lending
parties,
containing
certain
agreed
adjustments.
The
calculation
principles take into account the
impacts of the IFRS 16 standard as of
Q4/2021, while prior to this period
IFRS 16 standard impacts
were not applicable.