• HealthCare IT:

    • Strong improvement in profitability

  • Digital Print & Chemicals:

    • Growing ZIRFON business started to contribute to profitability

    • Strong profitability improvement for Digital Print in spite of subdued equipment investment climate

    • Film activities under pressure from macroeconomic conditions and currency impact

  • Radiology Solutions:

    • Direct Radiography: improved profitability in a soft market

    • Medical film: continuing impact from new centralized procurement practices in China and macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions

  • Adjusted EBITDA at 17 million Euro: year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter improvement driven by the growth engines

  • Positive free cash flow of 5 million Euro

  • Net result at minus 15 million Euro

Mortsel (Belgium), November 15, 2023 – Agfa-Gevaert today commented on its results in the third quarter of 2023.  

“I am pleased to see that all growth engines performed well, even in the face of challenging economic and geopolitical conditions as well as adverse currency effects. We considerably improved the profitability of the Digital Print activities and the HealthCare IT division. Sales for our ZIRFON membranes for green hydrogen production continued to grow strongly and this business also started to contribute to profitability. On the back of good operational performance, we have returned to a positive free cash flow in the third quarter,” said Pascal Juéry, President and CEO of the Agfa-Gevaert Group.

Reporting post Offset Solutions

The recent sale of the Offset Solutions division (now rebranded to ECO3) influences the way the Agfa-Gevaert Group reports its results. The numbers from sales to EBITDA present the Agfa-Gevaert Group with Offset Solutions excluded, but with a new division called ‘Contractor Operations & Services former Offset’ or ‘CONOPS’. CONOPS represents the supply of film and chemicals as well as a set of support services delivered by Agfa to the external party ECO3. The turnover represents the supply agreements, with corresponding COGS charges. The income related to the support services will be accounted for as Other Income, while the costs related to those support services are re-presented in the different SG&A lines. The comparative period Q3 ‘22 has been re-presented accordingly. As per IFRS 5, stranded costs related to Offset Solutions have been treated differently in 2023 vs 2022. In Q3 ‘22 stranded costs are reported under CONOPS. In Q3 ‘23 these are absorbed by the three business divisions.

in million Euro Q3 2023 Q3 2022
re-presented		 % change (excl. FX effects) 9M 2023 9M 2022
re-presented		 % change (excl. FX effects)
REVENUE            
HealthCare IT 60 62 -2.2% (3.3%) 180 174 3.4% (5.8%)
Radiology Solutions 103 117 -11.6% (-5.7%) 309 331 -6.7% (-3.3%)
Digital Print & Chemicals 99 96 3.4% (6.8%) 300 273 9.7% (11.7%)
Contractor Operations and Services – former Offset 18 16 11.1% (11.9%) 49 52 -4.6% (-4.5%)
GROUP 280 290 -3.4% (1.3%) 837 829 1.0% (3.5%)
ADJUSTED EBITDA (*)            
HealthCare IT 8.5 5.9 44.3% 15.7 15.8 -0.4%
Radiology Solutions 7.2 9.1 -21.2% 23.5 28.3 -16.8%
Digital Print & Chemicals 4.3 0.0 13.5 8.3 63.0%
Contractor Operations and Services – former Offset (0.2) (3.3) 1.4 (7.2)
Unallocated (2.6) (4.6) (10.5) (13.7)
GROUP 17 7 142.4% 44 32 38.2%

(*)     before restructuring and non-recurring items

Agfa-Gevaert Group

in million Euro Q3 2023 Q3 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)

 9M 2023 9M 2022
re-presented		 % change (excl. FX effects)
Revenue 280 290 -3.4% (1.3%) 837 829 1.0% (3.5%)
Gross profit (*) 85 85 0.5% 259 252 2.8%
% of revenue 30.5% 29.3% 30.9% 30.4%
Adjusted EBITDA (*) 17 7 142.4% 44 32 38.2%
% of revenue 6.1% 2.4% 5.2% 3.8%
Adjusted EBIT (*) 6 (6) 10 (6)
% of revenue 2.1% -2.1% 1.2% -0.7%
Net result (15) (17) (96) (37)
Profit from continuing operations (12) (28) (49) (60)
Profit from discontinued operations (3) 11 (47) 23

(*)     before restructuring and non-recurring items

Third quarter

  • Excluding currency effects, the Agfa-Gevaert Group’s revenue increased by 1.3% versus the third quarter of 2022, driven by the HealthCare IT division, ZIRFON membranes for green hydrogen production and the good performance of the ink product lines in the Digital Print & Chemicals division. Traditional film activities were under pressure from challenging economic conditions (including adverse currency effects and the weakening economy in China) and the current geopolitical circumstances.
  • Driven by the HealthCare IT and Digital Print & Chemicals divisions, the Group’s gross profit margin improved to 30.5%, in spite of adverse effects including cost inflation, adverse currency effects, manufacturing inefficiencies and the weakness in the industrial film markets.
  • Adjusted EBITDA improved strongly from 7 million Euro to 17 million Euro (6.1% of revenue).
  • Restructuring and non-recurring items resulted in a charge of 5 million Euro versus 12 million Euro in Q3 2022.
  • The net finance costs amounted to 7 million Euro.
  • Income tax expenses increased to 6 million Euro versus 5 million Euro in Q3 2022.
  • The Agfa-Gevaert Group posted a net loss of 15 million Euro.

Financial position and cash flow

  • Net financial debt (including IFRS 16) remained stable versus Q2 2023 at 33 million Euro.
  • Trade working capital (CONOPS excluded) evolved from 35% of turnover at the end of Q3 2022 to 31% in Q3 2023. In absolute numbers, trade working capital evolved from 370 million Euro at the end of Q3 2022 to 341 million Euro.
  • In Q3 2023, the Group generated a free cash flow of 5 million Euro.

Outlook

The Agfa-Gevaert Group confirms the outlook that was provided in the Q2 2023 press release. Overall, the Agfa-Gevaert Group expects a recovery in profitability in the full year 2023 versus 2022.

2023 outlook per division:

  • HealthCare IT: Order intake growth continues to be strong. As the portion of own IP in the sales mix is expected to grow, profitability is expected to continue to improve versus the third quarter. This will likely result in a strong end of the year. Impacted by adverse currency effects, full year EBITDA is expected to be slightly below that of last year.
  • Radiology Solutions: For medical film, exchange rate and margin pressure is expected to continue, resulting in a weak performance in the fourth quarter. The progress in Direct Radiography is expected to continue.
  • Digital Print & Chemicals: The division expects to continue to improve profitability, based on pricing, cost improvement actions and positive contributions from digital print and the ZIRFON membranes. The revenue generated by ZIRFON will continue to grow very strongly.

HealthCare IT

in million Euro Q3 2023 Q3 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)

 9M 2023 9M 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)
Revenue 60 62 -2.2% (3.3%) 180 174 3.4% (5.8%)
Adjusted EBITDA (*) 8.5 5.9 44.3% 15.7 15.8 -0.4%
% of revenue 14.0% 9.5% 8.8% 9.1%
Adjusted EBIT (*) 6.7 4.0 66.4% 10.3 10.2 1.4%
% of revenue 11.1% 6.5% 5.8% 5.9%

(*) before restructuring and non-recurring items

Third quarter

  • HealthCare IT’s order book remains at a healthy level. The division recorded a 1.4% growth in the 12 months rolling order intake versus the year before. The division is expecting full year order intake 2023 to be stronger than last year.
  • In new contracts, the portion of managed services is often substantial, which typically implies that revenue recognition is spread over a longer period of time. For the HealthCare IT division, fluctuations between quarters are normal, as a significant portion of revenues and margins are realized when projects reach key milestones.
  • Excluding currency effects, the division’s top line increased by 3.3% versus the third quarter of 2022, which was marked by the revenue recognition from a number of large contracts in North America.
  • Given the increased portion of own IP in the sales mix and improved service contribution, HealthCare IT’s gross profit margin improved strongly from 44.9% in Q3 2022 and 43.5% in Q2 2023 to 48.2%. The adjusted EBITDA margin increased from 9.5% in Q3 2022 to 14.0%, partly due to strict cost management.
  • The division continues to target large health organizations with multiple imaging departments. For example, in the third quarter Nova Scotia Health decided to install Agfa HealthCare’s Enterprise Imaging solution – an upgrade from their previous Agfa HealthCare IMPAX picture archiving and communication system – across its 40 hospital locations.

Radiology Solutions

in million Euro Q3 2023 Q3 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)

 9M 2023 9M 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)
Revenue 103 117 -11.6% (-5.7%) 309 331 -6.7% (-3.3%)
Adjusted EBITDA (*) 7.2 9.1 -21.2% 23.5 28.3 -16.8%
% of revenue 7.0% 7.8% 7.6% 8.5%
Adjusted EBIT (*) 2.5 2.8 -9.4% 9.6 9.8 -1.2%
% of revenue 2.5% 2.4% 3.1% 3.0%

(*) before restructuring and non-recurring items

Third quarter

  • In China, the medical film business was influenced by the gradual implementation of new centralized procurement practices. Furthermore, the current geopolitical situation continued to impact cost levels. In most regions, adverse currency effects strongly impacted the business’ top line and profitability.
  • Agfa continues to manage the market driven top line decline of the Computed Radiography business, maintaining healthy profit margins.
  • The Direct Radiography business posted a revenue decrease due to the geopolitical situation and the financial challenges that many customers and governments are facing. In Europe and North-America, certain customer groups are postponing their investment plans. However, under these tough conditions Agfa continued to attract important new customers for its high-end DR solutions.
  • Agfa implemented actions to increase the business’ agility and to better adapt it to the current market conditions (right-sizing of the organization, relocations, cost control actions, price increases, net working capital actions).
  • The division’s gross profit margin decreased from 30.7% of revenue in Q3 2022 to 29.4%. Although costs are well under control and profitability of the Direct Radiography business improved considerably versus Q3 2022, the division’s adjusted EBITDA margin decreased from 7.8% of revenue to 7.0%.

Digital Print & Chemicals

in million Euro Q3 2023 Q3 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)

 9M 2023 9M 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)
Revenue 99 96 3.4% (6.8%) 300 273 9.7% (11.7%)
Adjusted EBITDA (*) 4.3 0.0 13.5 8.3 63.0%
% of revenue 4.3% 0.0% 4.5% 3.0%
Adjusted EBIT (*) 0.2 (3.6) 1.5 (0.8)
% of revenue 0.2% -3.7% 0.5% -0.3%

(*) before restructuring and non-recurring items

Third quarter

  • In Digital Print, the ink product ranges for sign & display and industrial applications as well as the high end equipment business continued to perform strongly, but the top line was impacted by the fact that print companies started to postpone investments in lower and mid end equipment due to the adverse macroeconomic conditions and in anticipation of the introduction of new technologies. Agfa expects equipment sales to recover towards the end of the year. Agfa is on track with the conversion of printers of the acquired Inca company to its own ink sets.
    The development of the SpeedSet 1060 single-pass packaging printer is proceeding as planned, with a customer unveiling in December 2023. The beta launch of this digital press with water based inks – which will be the fastest printer in its category – will happen as planned in 2024 and the full commercial launch is planned for 2025. In the third quarter, four of Agfa’s inkjet printing solutions have been honored with a Pinnacle Product Award from PRINTING United Alliance. The Pinnacle Product Awards recognize outstanding products that drive advancements in quality, capability and productivity within the printing industry. PRINTING United Alliance is the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in the United States.
  • Sales figures for the ZIRFON membranes for advanced alkaline electrolysis continued to grow strongly. Agfa is improving the profitability of the business through measures to increase manufacturing efficiency and price increases. As a result, the business started to contribute to the division’s profitability.
    January 1, 2024 Agfa will be joining the Hydrogen Council, a global initiative that brings together preeminent companies with a united vision to help foster the hydrogen clean energy transition.
    Earlier this year, Agfa’s project to build a new industrial unit for ZIRFON membranes at its Mortsel site in Belgium was selected for an EU Innovation Fund Grant. The preparation of the grant agreement is proceeding according to plan. The signing of the grant agreement is expected to take place towards the end of the year. The new plant will allow the Group to meet the booming customer demand.
  • The weakness in the electronics industry continued to impact volumes of the ORGACON conductive materials and the products for the production of printed circuit boards.
  • Price increase actions and cost improvements to mitigate cost inflation impacts started to bear fruit. The gross profit margin improved from 25.6% of revenue in Q3 2022 to 27.7%.

Contractor Operations and Services – former Offset

in million Euro Q3 2023 Q3 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)

 9M 2023 9M 2022
re-presented		 % change

(excl. FX effects)
Revenue 18 16 11.1% (11.9%) 49 52 -4.6% (-4.5%)
Adjusted EBITDA (*) (0.2) (3.3) 1.4 (7.2)
% of revenue -1.3% -21.2% 2.9% -14.0%
Adjusted EBIT (*) (0.9) (4.7) (0.8) (11.3)
% of revenue -5.2% -29.6% -1.6% -21.9%

(*) before restructuring and non-recurring items

  • Early April, the Agfa-Gevaert Group completed the sale of its Offset Solutions division to Aurelius Group. The new division contains results related to supply and manufacturing agreements that the Agfa-Gevaert Group signed with its former division, now rebranded as ECO3.
  • The comparative period Q3 ‘22 has been re-presented accordingly. As per IFRS 5 rules, stranded costs related to Offset Solutions have been treated differently in 2023 vs 2022. In Q3 ‘22 stranded costs are reported under CONOPS. In Q3 ‘23 these are absorbed by the three business divisions.

End of message

Management Certification of Financial Statements and Quarterly Report

This statement is made in order to comply with new European transparency regulation enforced by the Belgian Royal Decree of November 14, 2007 and in effect as of 2008.
“The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Agfa-Gevaert NV, represented by Mr. Frank Aranzana, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Pascal Juéry, President and CEO, and Mr. Dirk De Man, CFO, jointly certify that, to the best of their knowledge, the consolidated financial statements included in the report and based on the relevant accounting standards, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of Agfa-Gevaert NV, including its consolidated subsidiaries. Based on our knowledge, the report includes all information that is required to be included in such document and does not omit to state all necessary material facts.”

Statement of risk

This statement is made in order to comply with new European transparency regulation enforced by the Belgian Royal Decree of November 14, 2007 and in effect as of 2008.
“As with any company, Agfa is continually confronted with – but not exclusively – a number of market and competition risks or more specific risks related to the cost of raw materials, product liability, environmental matters, proprietary technology or litigation.”
Key risk management data is provided in the annual report available on www.agfa.com.

Contact:
Viviane Dictus
Director Corporate Communication
Septestraat 27
2640 Mortsel – Belgium
T +32 (0) 3 444 71 24
E viviane.dictus@agfa.com

Click here for Agfa’s consolidated statements.