Speakers, please go ahead. Your line is now open. Thank you very much. Good morning, and welcome to this presentation of the results for the Q1 2022 of Nordic Paper. My name is Henrik Essén, and presenting today will be Anita Sjölander, CEO of Nordic Paper, and Niclas Eriksson, CFO. I now leave the word to Anita. Please go ahead. Thank you, Henrik, and thank you all for listening in to our presentation of the report. I would like to start this presentation by saying that despite the extremely tragic events in our surrounding world, we are very happy to report a strong start of the year. There is a structural growing need for specialty paper, both kraft paper and greaseproof paper, and the need comes from both existing end use, such as kraft paper for grocery bags, where, for example, we see customers investing in more converting lines. We can see growth for greaseproof papers in current application for food handling, but we also see increasing demand for new applications where, for example, our kraft paper and natural greaseproof paper are combined in food containers. The strong market situation has continued in this quarter, driven by an increased demand for both kraft paper and greaseproof paper for all product groups and for all our customers across our geographies. We have worked hard implementing product price increases, and the result is that we have succeeded to more than compensate for the cost inflation in this quarter, leading to an improved EBITDA margin of 22.6%. The strong market and the price increases have resulted in a new record level for net sales, a very good improvement by 36% compared to Q1 last year. This is also our Q1 working together with our new colleagues in Québec, our Canadian greaseproof production unit, and the numbers are now added in the result contributing to net sales and the EBITDA. The new record level for net sales is SEK 1,052 million, an improvement by 36% compared to Q1 2021. Of course, we have the addition of net sales from the new asset Québec in the numbers, but even without that contribution of SEK 73 million, we would have had a new record. EBITDA is SEK 237 million, approximately SEK 100 million higher than Q1 last year. As you can see from the development of the EBITDA margin, our product price increases have been able to more than compensate for the cost inflation. Product price increases have been implemented in both our segments, and we are reporting an EBITDA margin of 22.6% for the quarter. For rolling twelve months, we are on the level of 16%, and our work to reach our target of 20% EBITDA margin over the medium term continues. As a result of adding Québec, the strong market and supported by good volume output in operations, we also have a new quarterly record for sales volume. It's easy to attribute the new sales volume record to the added sales volume from the Québec plant, but underlying, there's also a good improvement in addition to that volume. In the bar chart, we can see volumes by quarters, and please let me remind you that we have managed to get rid of an unwanted seasonality effect in the Q1. There used to be lower volumes transported to customers the last weeks of December, and these volumes showed up in January instead. In our last quarterly report, we talked about this and the good improvement work done in logistics planning to reduce this effect. When we're comparing quarter one this year with quarter one 2021, we are not boosted with these extra volume passing over to the quarter. Considering this, we're pleased with the volume development. From the start of this year, we have, through the acquisition, added more customers located in the, for the greaseproof paper important market North America. This is giving us an increase in net sales in America from 11%-17%. The global imbalance of containers and increasing fuel prices is continuing to affect availability and price for transport of goods. To mitigate increasing freight costs this year, we have actively worked to redirect and move some sales back to customers closer in the strong European market. Something that has not had a large impact on Nordic Paper, but has made us take some decisions, is the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We have decided to stop our sales to Russia. Since these were no significant volumes, it has been easy to redirect these volumes to other customers. We don't have any supplier relationships in Ukraine or Russia, and to secure that we comply to all updates on sanction lists, we have increased the controls of our customer and supplier list. From the segment kraft paper, we are supplying our customers with unbleached kraft paper produced from our own pulp, papers for both industrial end use and consumer products, such as wet strength paper, strong paper for bags, smooth protective paper for sensitive surfaces, and absorbent paper for specialty applications. From all our paper grades, we are experiencing a strong demand. From the historically high product price level last quarter, we have implemented further price increases, with also further push through some annual contract renewal beginning of this year. Compared to quarter one last year, the product price increase is 26%. The impact from cost inflation is limited in the kraft paper segment, as we are generating part of the needed electricity ourselves, and thereby reducing our exposure to the global high energy price, and the wood price has been on a stable level. As we can see in the graph, a fantastic development with very good net sales for the quarter, SEK 575 million, and a very good EBITDA margin, 39%. The rolling twelve months EBITDA margin for kraft paper is 28%. Our other segment, Natural Greaseproof, supplying the market with greaseproof paper used by professional bakers and us home bakers, so that we can enjoy great baking products in baking cups and the convenience of high quality baking paper. This paper is also used in other applications in professional food handling, in restaurants, and for takeaway food. In this segment, we have now, through the acquisition, added new products in our portfolio, such as bacon layout paper for bacon manufacturers, paper for tube winding for the automotive industry. The demand for this specialty paper, greaseproof paper, is also continuing to be very strong, and the results from the underlying long-term growing demand, combined with increased demand from reopening of restaurants and return to travels. From the bar chart, you can see development in net sales and the improvement in EBITDA margin. Net sales are up to SEK 494 million, out of which our Canadian assets is contributing with SEK 73 million. We continue our work to improve the EBITDA margin. We are this quarter on 7%, and our focus remains to improve the profitability of this business through further price increases. We have been working with our new colleagues for three months now, mainly on the customer and product mix, and the integration is proceeding according to plan. Price increases have been implemented, which has more than compensated for the cost inflation in the quarter. Costs for pulp and energy continue to be in high levels, which is impacting this segment the most. We are hedging a large part of our electricity demand, but the amount that we have exposed to the spot market gives a large negative impact. I would like to hand over to Niclas for some more financial presentations. Thank you, Anita. We come to the net sales bridge, and the acquisition, Nordic Paper Québec, is from now included in our analysis. In the net sales bridge, we have chosen to have separate information on Québec. The increase in net sales is 36% compared to Q1 last year. Mix gives a positive effect, mainly because higher sales of paper and lower sales of pulp. Volume reduced the sales in the quarter following the good work in supply chains in December before the Christmas holidays, and we did not have the increased inventory to be delivered in Q1. The main effect is from price increases in both kraft paper and Natural Greaseproof. In kraft, we see an increase of 26% or approximately SEK 150 million, and in Natural Greaseproof, 17%, approximately SEK 60 million. Our invoicing currencies, euro, US dollars, and British pounds, have all been stronger this quarter compared to last year, giving us a positive effect to the net sales. Finally, Nordic Paper Québec is included in the profit and loss from January, first of January, and contributes with net sales of SEK 73 million. In the EBITDA bridge, we have included the effects from Québec in volume and product mix, in raw material, and in fixed costs. The increase in EBITDA is SEK 103 million compared to Q1 last year. Volume and product mix is SEK 62 million, including the net sales effect from Québec. Price gives the positive effect of SEK 172 million that we recognize from the net sales increase. Cost for raw material has increased compared to last year. The main effect we see is the cost of pulp, where the closing of Säffle pulp mill in December means that we have replaced wood with pulp. The yearly pulp production in Säffle pulp mill was approximately 20,000 tons per year. The pulp price has increased. The market price is 35% higher compared to Q1 last year. Another cost component that have increased is, of course, the energy cost, and especially electricity. Nordic Paper Québec is, as I mentioned, included in all deviations and is the main reason for the increase of fixed costs. We keep the focus on fixed costs to limit increases. Currency gives on EBITDA level a neutral effect. The positive effect in net sales is partly set off by raw material costs in US dollar and euro, and we have had negative effect of currency derivatives of SEK 15 million. Other effects are mainly related to changing stock in finished goods. Q1 is normally a quarter with low activities in CapEx, but this year our investments for the restructuring of the Säffle plant and for the pre-project related to Bäckhammar 2026 adds on to the CapEx. Total CapEx was SEK 37 million in the quarter, and because of the strategic initiatives, the CapEx in relation to net sales is 6% on a rolling twelve month basis, but 3.5% in the quarter. The large increase of the net sales has affected the cash flow and the working capital for the quarter. Accounts receivable and inventory have increased 13%-15% compared to Q4, which is lower than the increase on net sales, but gives a decreasing effect to the cash flow. The accounts payable are lower compared to Q4 2021, which also give a significant effect to the cash flow for the quarter. Working capital in relation to net sales on rolling twelve-month basis has decreased to 12.2% in this quarter. Nordic Paper Québec is included in the balance sheet as from December 31. The net debt was stable in the quarter, but increased EBITDA on rolling twelve-month basis, including the addition of Nordic Paper Québec, have changed the net debt relation from 3.7 at the end of 2021 to 2.8 at the end of Q1. We estimate to be below the target level of 2.5% in the coming quarters. Then I hand over the word back to Anita. Thank you, Niclas. To increase Nordic Paper's ability to meet the increasing demand of kraft paper and greaseproof paper, we have been and are driving some strategic initiatives. Last year, the restructuring of the greaseproof mill in Säffle started, and through this, we will increase the production capacity by 10% in this plant, starting from quarter two. Most of the project work is done, a great work done by the organization. Since beginning of this year, we are successfully running the production on 100% bale pulp. There are some finalization to be done during this year. Like Niclas, previously said, this has given cash flow effect in Q1, and there will also be some in Q2. The preparations for a program in Bäckhammar to give the prerequisites for an expansion in the mill is ongoing. The first step is to secure an updated production permit, and in this quarter, the authority has given our permit application the status of being official. Our previous expectations remain that the earliest possible time to achieve a new permit is Q1 2023, and by that time, we should have also done the necessary pre-projects for the required upgrades in the production. This week, we published our annual report, including the sustainability report for 2021. We just want to highlight that we have extended our reporting of data this year to include, for example, also Scope 3 for carbon dioxide emissions. Please have a look in the report published on the web. Relating back to the strategic initiative in Säffle, one important part of the achievements through the restructuring of the plant is that we are also improving our environmental performance. For quarter one this year, we have reduced the average carbon dioxide emissions, Scope 1 and 2, about 70% compared to the quarterly average level in Säffle last year. This is also a substantial step to achieve our company goal to reduce our climate impact. Going forward, our outlook for quarter two is optimistic as we see no signs of weakening demand in the market. We believe that the strong market conditions will continue. This gives us the possibility to continue to work with further product price increases, and we expect to further improve the EBITDA margin despite that it is likely that we will experience some cost inflation during the quarter. With that, we would like to thank you for listening, and we are now happy to answer your questions. Operator, do we have any questions? Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad and wait for your name to be announced. Once again, if you have questions, please press star one on your telephone keypad. There are no further questions at this time. Please continue. Okay. If no questions, we conclude this presentation. Thank you for listening in. We look forward to meeting you on our annual general meeting, which will be on May 19th Karlstad. Our next interim report will be published during the summer on July 20th. Looking forward to meeting you then. Thank you for today, and goodbye. This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.
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