Gasum Group Financial result Q4 2019 – Positive outlook for the gas market
Key financial indicators January 1 to December 31, 2019*
- The Gasum Group’s revenue was down 4.2% year on year, totaling €1,127.6 million (1–12/2018: €1,177.4 million)
- The Group’s operating profit totaled €141.4 million, up 13.9% year on year (€124.2 million).
- Capital expenditure increased the balance sheet total to €1,648.3 million (December 31, 2018: €1,526.6 million).
- The Gasum Group’s financial position remained strong in the reporting period, with the equity ratio being 44.7% (December 31, 2018: 43.7%).
KEY FIGURES*
€ million | 2019 | 2018 | Change |
Revenue | 1,127.6 | 1,177.4 | -4.2% |
Operating profit | 141.4 | 124.2 | 13.9% |
Operating profit (%) | 12.5% | 10.5% | |
Equity ratio (%) | 44.7% | 43.7% | |
Return on equity (%) | 13.6% | 13.3% | |
Return on investment (%) | 9.7% | 9.2% | |
Balance sheet total | 1,648.3 | 1 526.6 | 8.0% |
Net interest-bearing debt | 615.0 | 562.7 | 9.3% |
Gearing ratio (%) | 83.4% | 84.7% | |
Net debt/EBITDA | 3.0 | 2.9 | |
Personnel at the end of period | 373 | 434 | -14.1% |
*Include continuing and discontinued operations.
CEO Johanna Lamminen comments on 2019:
“In 2019, we took purposeful steps to advance our strategy and developed the Nordic gas market, enabling an even broader offering of low-emission energy solutions in response to growing demand among industrial as well as road and maritime transport customers.
Our Group’s financial performance developed in line with our expectations. The Group’s revenue totaled €1,128 million, down 4.2% year on year (€1,177 million). The decline in revenue was caused primarily by the development in the sales price of gas. Our operating profit was €141.4 million, up 13.9% year on year (€124.2 million).
At the turn of the year, the Finnish pipeline gas market was opened up to competition and the unbundling of Gasum’s transmission business was completed as a new company, Gasgrid Finland Oy, commenced its operations on January 1, 2020. Gasum has prepared for the opening up of the gas market and the broadening competition by developing products and services. Our company has decades of expertise in gas and in the provision of com-prehensive energy solutions and energy market services.
Another important step in the development of the Nordic gas market was taken by us when we signed the deal on the acquisition AGA’s Clean Energy business and Nauticor’s Marine Bunkering business from Linde AG. The transaction promotes our strategy by further expanding our supply of energy solutions for industrial as well as road and maritime transport needs. It also speeds up the implementation of Gasum’s growth strategy focusing on cleaner transport solutions in the Nordic countries. The acquisition is awaiting approval by the competition authorities and anticipated to be completed during 2020.
We expanded our Nordic gas filling station network by 13 new stations. The opening of the new stations supports national emission reduction targets by facilitating a switch in Nordic transport to cleaner fuel solutions. Gas is a cost-efficient fuel that can be used to replace conventional fuels and make significant emission cuts rapidly.
We are continuing to increase the biogas market and biogas production capacity. Biogas business development supports our efforts to increase the size of the transport market, which is a key element of our strategy for road as well as maritime transport. As a low-emission fuel, gas will gain a bigger role in the future as action against climate change requires a transition to cleaner solutions.”
Read more about Gasum Group Financial result Q4 2019 >
For more information please contact:
Johanna Lamminen, Chief Executive Officer, Gasum
(Henna Walker, Executive Assistant, henna.walker@gasum.com)
Olga Väisänen, Vice President, Communications, Gasum
Phone: +358 40 55 40 578, firstname.surname(a)gasum.com
The energy company Gasum is a Nordic gas sector and energymarket expert. Together with its partners, Gasum is building a bridge towards a carbon-neutral society on land and at sea. www.gasum.com.
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