- Record financial performance with over-proportional Recurring EBIT growth of +25.7% LFL, EPS1 of CHF 3.98, +30% and ROIC of 8.9%
- Record Free Cash Flow2 at CHF 3,264m
- Board proposes 10% increase in dividend to CHF 2.20
- Expansion of Solutions & Products with milestone acquisitions of Firestone, Malarkey and PRB Group
- Outlook 2022: growth momentum to continue in all regions
Performance overview
| Group (in million CHF) | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LFL |
| Net sales | 26,834 | 23,142 | +16.0 | +11.3 |
| Recurring EBIT | 4,612 | 3,676 | +25.5 | +25.7 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 17.2 | 15.9 | ||
| Net income, Group share | 2,298 | 1,697 | +35.4 | |
| Net income before impairment and divestments[3] | 2,448 | 1,900 | +28.8 | |
| EPS in CHF | 3.73 | 2.74 | +36.1 | |
| EPS before impairment and divestments in CHF | 3.98 | 3.07 | +29.6 | |
| Free Cash Flow2 | 3,264 | 3,249 | +0.4 | |
| Net financial debt | 9,977 | 8,483 | +17.6 |
Jan Jenisch, CEO: “2021 was a record year for Holcim, reaching new levels of performance, across our financial and ESG targets. What makes me most proud is how we navigated the COVID pandemic with such extraordinary resilience and agility, working tirelessly to keep our people and communities safe.
“We delivered record financial performance across all our key metrics with net sales of CHF 26.8 billion and over-proportional Recurring EBIT growth of +25.7% LFL, reaching CHF 4.6 billion, and a debt leverage ratio of 1.4x. We achieved these unprecedented results, while accelerating the expansion of Solutions & Products, advancing our vision to become the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions. We successfully welcomed Firestone Building Products into the Group in April and closed the year with double-digit growth. We also made good progress in the acquisitions of Malarkey and PRB Group, as further double-digit growth engines for the company.
“We delivered our Strategy 2022 one year in advance, setting solid foundations for our next era of growth. Putting sustainability at the core of our strategy, we accelerated the deployment of our green building solutions, from ECOPact green concrete and ECOPlanet green cement to smart roofing and energy efficiency systems. My sincere thanks goes to our 70,000 people who made all of this possible while keeping safety top of mind at all times.”
Record Financial Performance
Net Sales of CHF 26,834 million for 2021 were up +11.3% on a like-for-like basis and +16.0% higher in Swiss francs, compared to the prior year. The record growth in net sales was driven by volume growth in all regions and business segments and strong pricing.
Recurring EBIT reached a record CHF 4,612 million for 2021, up +25.7% on a like-for-like basis and +25.5% higher in Swiss francs, compared to 2020. Recurring EBIT has grown over-proportionally in all regions and business segments.
Earnings per share1 increased by +30% to reach CHF 3.98 for 2021 versus CHF 3.07 for 2020.
Free Cash Flow after leases amounted to CHF 3,264 million for 2021 versus CHF 3,249 million in 2020, for a cash conversion of 50%. This is the third consecutive year in which Free Cash Flow after leases has exceeded CHF 3 billion, generating CHF 9.5 billion in total over the last three years.
Net debt amounted to CHF 9,977 million. The company maintained its strong balance sheet with the ratio of net debt to Recurring EBITDA at 1.4 times despite the USD 3.4 billion acquisition of Firestone Building Products.
Return on Invested Capital was 8.9% in 2021, over-achieving Holcim’s Strategy 2022 target of above 8.0%.
Accelerating Expansion of Solutions & Products
With the acquisition of Firestone Building Products (Firestone) closed as of 31 March 2021, net sales in the Solutions & Products segment increased by +90.8% in 2021 compared to the prior year to CHF 3,612 million. The Solutions & Products segment accounted for 13% of Group net sales to external customers in 2021, up from 8% in 2020. The Solutions & Products share of Group net sales to external customers is targeted to reach 30% by 2025 under “Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth”.
The milestone acquisition of Firestone was followed by the acquisitions of Malarkey Roofing Products and PRB Group. Malarkey Roofing Products is a leading provider of residential roofing solutions in the US and is fully complementary to Firestone Building Products’ leadership in the commercial segment, positioning Holcim as a full roofing provider. This acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2022. PRB Group is the biggest independent specialty building solutions business in France. Its products and solutions are highly complementary to Holcim’s and will expand the company’s reach in the high growth repair & refurbishment market. The acquisition of PRB Group is expected to close in Q2 2022. Both businesses will be part of the Solutions & Products segment.
Holcim continued to expand its aggregates and ready-mix concrete portfolio in mature European and North American markets with twelve bolt-on acquisitions in 2021. Further pursuing its ongoing portfolio optimization, Holcim has divested cement operations in Malawi, Zambia, the Indian Ocean and Northern Ireland and has signed an agreement to divest its business in Brazil.
Further strengthening leadership in sustainability
In 2021, Holcim became the first company in its industry to have its 2050 net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, covering scope 1, 2 and 3 CO2 emissions and cutting across its entire operations and value chain. Holcim also launched the industry’s first sustainability-linked bonds in the Swiss franc market, raising a total of CHF 425 million. This represents a significant step toward the goal announced under “Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth” to link over 40% of financing agreements to the company’s sustainability goals.
Holcim also made solid progress toward three other 2025 sustainability targets announced as part of its new strategy: 25% of ready-mix sales from ECOPact green concrete; 10 million tons of construction & demolition waste (CDW) per year recycled in its products and 75 million tons per year of recycled materials overall; and Green CAPEX of CHF 500 million per year by 2025. Since its global launch, the company has already sold more than 1 million m3 of ECOPact green concrete with a global presence across 24 markets to date, on its way to 25% of ready-mix net sales by 2025. The company is scaling up circular construction, with a +17% increase in recycled materials, reaching 54 million tons in 2021 and 6.6 million tons of CDW recycled into new products.
Change in Executive Committee
The Board of Directors appointed Toufic Tabbara, currently CEO US Cement, as Region Head North America and member of the Group Executive Committee, effective 1 March 2022.
Toufic joined the Group in 1998 as Director Strategy & Development in the US. He has a strong track record of leading Holcim’s ready-mix concrete, aggregates and cement businesses in the United States, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Algeria. With his extensive experience, Toufic is well positioned to ensure profitable and sustainable growth across the North America region.
He succeeds René Thibault, who decided to pursue new opportunities outside of Holcim. The Board and Executive Committee sincerely thank René for his many contributions to the company’s success.
Outlook and Guidance 2022
Holcim expects growth momentum to continue in all regions with:
- Double-digit net sales growth in Solutions & Products
- Accelerated progress towards 2025 sustainability targets
- Growth in net sales of above 6% like-for-like
- Positive growth in Recurring EBIT like-for-like
- Free cash flow2 above CHF 3 billion
In light of the company’s record 2021 financial performance and confidence in the future, the Board of Directors proposes a 10% increase in dividend, equivalent to CHF 2.20 per registered share to be paid out from the foreign capital reserves from tax capital contributions, subject to approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 4 May 2022. The distribution from the foreign capital reserves from tax capital contributions is not subject to Swiss withholding tax.
Key Group figures
| Group Q4 (in million CHF) | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LfL |
| Net sales | 6,992 | 5,994 | +16.7 | +8.6 |
| Recurring EBIT | 1,096 | 1,037 | +5.6 | +1.3 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 15.7 | 17.3 |
| Group Full Year (in million CHF) | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LfL |
| Net sales | 26,834 | 23,142 | +16.0 | +11.3 |
| Recurring EBIT | 4,612 | 3,676 | +25.5 | +25.7 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 17.2 | 15.9 | ||
| Net income, Group share | 2,298 | 1,697 | +35.4 | |
| Net income before impairment and divestments3 | 2,448 | 1,900 | +28.8 | |
| EPS before impairment and divestments (CHF) | 3.98 | 3.07 | +29.6 | |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 5,045 | 4,618 | +9.3 | |
| Free Cash Flow after leases | 3,264 | 3,249 | +0.4 | |
| Net financial debt | 9,977 | 8,483 | +17.6 |
| Group results by segment (in million CHF) | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LfL |
| Sales of cement (mt) | 200.8 | 190.4 | +5.5 | +5.0 |
| Net sales of Cement | 16,399 | 15,043 | +9.0 | +13.3 |
| Recurring EBIT of Cement | 3,587 | 3,112 | +15.3 | +20.3 |
| Recurring EBIT margin of Cement (%) | 21.9 | 20.7 | ||
| Sales of aggregates (mt) | 269.9 | 256.3 | +5.3 | +3.9 |
| Net sales of Aggregates | 4,037 | 3,713 | +8.7 | +6.1 |
| Recurring EBIT of Aggregates | 618 | 432 | +43.0 | +39.8 |
| Recurring EBIT margin of Aggregates (%) | 15.3 | 11.6 | ||
| Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3) | 46.5 | 42.3 | +10.0 | +7.3 |
| Net sales of Ready-Mix Concrete | 5,167 | 4,610 | +12.1 | +8.8 |
| Recurring EBIT of Ready-Mix Concrete | 155 | 32 | +389.0 | +439.2 |
| Recurring EBIT margin of Ready-Mix Concrete (%) | 3.0 | 0.7 | ||
| Net sales of Solutions & Products | 3,612 | 1,893 | +90.8 | +10.1 |
| Recurring EBIT of Solutions & Products | 252 | 100 | +151.1 | +13.8 |
| Recurring EBIT margin of Solutions & Products (%) | 7.0 | 5.3 |
Regional performance
Region Asia Pacific
The Asia Pacific region delivered an excellent performance in 2021, with strong results in India and the successful expansion of the aggregates business in China. The positive price over cost in the region for the full year was partially offset by energy cost inflation in Q4. In India, new production lines opened in Marwar Mundwa and Ametha.
| Asia Pacific | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LFL |
| Sales of cement (mt) | 69.7 | 63.0 | +10.7 | +10.7 |
| Sales of aggregates (mt) | 34.6 | 28.1 | +23.3 | +12.2 |
| Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3) | 7.9 | 7.4 | +6.0 | +6.0 |
| Net sales to external customers (CHFm) | 5,947 | 5,243 | +13.4 | +13.5 |
| Recurring EBIT (CHFm) | 1,330 | 1,103 | +20.5 | +19.9 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 22.4 | 21.0 |
Region Europe
The Europe region delivered higher profitability, with good demand overall in Western Europe and strong growth in Eastern Europe. Strong pricing helped to achieve positive price over cost for the full year and to contain power inflation in Q4. Growth in the region was further fueled by bolt-on acquisitions.
| Europe | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LFL |
| Sales of cement (mt) | 46.0 | 44.6 | +3.3 | +3.3 |
| Sales of aggregates (mt) | 115.9 | 111.9 | +3.5 | +3.6 |
| Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3) | 20.0 | 18.1 | +10.2 | +7.6 |
| Net sales to external customers (CHFm) | 8,032 | 7,061 | +13.8 | +9.2 |
| Recurring EBIT (CHFm) | 1,114 | 927 | +20.2 | +17.7 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 13.7 | 13.0 |
Region Latin America
The Latin America region achieved strong profitable growth on the back of good market demand driven by residential and infrastructure in all key markets. Pricing was strong, with positive price over cost for the year and in Q4. New production lines started in Mexico and Argentina, while the rollout of roofing products continued through the Disensa retail network.
| Latin America | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LFL |
| Sales of cement (mt) | 27.3 | 23.9 | +14.1 | +14.1 |
| Sales of aggregates (mt) | 6.4 | 4.8 | +31.8 | +31.8 |
| Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3) | 4.7 | 4.0 | +19.8 | +19.8 |
| Net sales to external customers (CHFm) | 2,611 | 2,225 | +17.4 | +30.2 |
| Recurring EBIT (CHFm) | 865 | 696 | +24.3 | +38.9 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 32.7 | 31.0 |
Region Middle East Africa
A strong performance in the Middle East Africa region was driven by strong market growth in Nigeria and Kenya. Positive price over cost for the year and in Q4 was driven by good price momentum in the region. Cost management drove improvement in Recurring EBIT margin.
| Middle East Africa | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LFL |
| Sales of cement (mt) | 36.2 | 33.3 | +8.7 | +4.1 |
| Sales of aggregates (mt) | 4.2 | 3.5 | +21.9 | +23.2 |
| Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3) | 3.5 | 2.7 | +28.8 | +8.5 |
| Net sales to external customers (CHFm) | 2,430 | 2,349 | +3.5 | +14.0 |
| Recurring EBIT (CHFm) | 388 | 330 | +17.4 | +37.9 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 15.2 | 13.8 |
Region North America
North America achieved an outstanding performance in Q4. Good market growth in the region supported volume growth across all business segments. Price over cost remained positive in Q4, with strong margin expansion across all business segments and a full order book for 2022.
| North America | 2021 | 2020 | ±% | ±%LFL |
| Sales of cement (mt) | 20.6 | 19.8 | +3.8 | +3.8 |
| Sales of aggregates (mt) | 108.8 | 108.0 | +0.8 | +0.1 |
| Sales of ready-mix concrete (m m3) | 10.4 | 10.0 | +3.6 | +2.6 |
| Net sales to external customers (CHFm) | 7,316 | 5,749 | +27.3 | +4.6 |
| Recurring EBIT (CHFm) | 1,333 | 1,033 | +29.1 | +16.5 |
| Recurring EBIT margin (%) | 18.1 | 18.0 |
Other Profit & Loss Items
Restructuring, litigation and other non-recurring costs stood at CHF 194 million, compared to CHF 89 million in 2020.
Net financial expenses for 2021 showed double-digit improvement this year, at CHF 556 million versus CHF 623 million in the prior year.
The income tax rate excluding impairment and divestments was 25%, stable compared to 2020.
Net income (Group share) increased by +35.4% to CHF 2,298 million and EPS, excluding impairment and divestments, was up +30% to CHF 3.98 for 2021.
Net capital expenditure for 2021 was CHF 1.4 billion. Free Cash Flow after leases stood at CHF 3,264 million, up +0.4% compared to 2020. This led to a ratio of cash conversion, defined as Free Cash Flow after leases relative to Recurring EBITDA after leases, of 50% in 2021.
Reconciliation to Group accounts
Reconciling measures of profit and loss to the Holcim’ Group’s consolidated statement of income:
| In million CHF | 2021 | 2020 |
| Net sales | 26,834 | 23,142 |
| Recurring operating costs | (20,747) | (17,974) |
| Share of profit of joint ventures | 474 | 448 |
| Recurring EBITDA after leases | 6,562 | 5,616 |
| Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment, intangible and long-term assets | (1,949) | (1,940) |
| Recurring EBIT | 4,612 | 3,676 |
| Restructuring, litigation and other non-recurring costs | (194) | (89) |
| Impairment of operating assets | (17) | (215) |
| Operating profit | 4,401 | 3,371 |
| In million CHF | 2021 | 2020 |
| Recurring EBITDA after leases | 6,562 | 5,616 |
| Depreciation of right-of-use assets | 370 | 360 |
| Recurring EBITDA | 6,932 | 5,976 |
| In million CHF | 2021 | 2020 |
| Net income | 2,681 | 2,002 |
| Impairment of goodwill and long-term assets* | (14) | (203) |
| Loss on disposals of Group companies* | (135) | (14) |
| Net income before impairment and divestments | 2,830 | 2,218 |
| Net income before impairment and divestments, Non-controlling interests | 382 | 318 |
| Net income before impairment and divestments, Group share | 2,448 | 1,900 |
| EPS before impairment and divestments in CHF | 3.98 | 3.07 |
| *Adjustments disclosed net of taxation. |
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow after leases to the Holcim Group’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
| In million CHF | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 5,045 | 4,618 |
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (1,532) | (1,114) |
| Disposal of property, plant and equipment | 112 | 88 |
| Repayment of long-term lease liabilities | (362) | (342) |
| Free Cash Flow after leases | 3,264 | 3,249 |
Reconciliation of Net financial debt to the Holcim Group’s consolidated statement of financial position:
| In million CHF | 2021 | 2020 |
| Current financial liabilities | 2,391 | 2,064 |
| Long-term financial liabilities | 14,514 | 11,710 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | (6,682) | (5,190) |
| Short-term derivative assets | (186) | (30) |
| Long-term derivative assets | (59) | (70) |
| Net financial debt | 9,977 | 8,483 |
