Fletcher Building/Announcement
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FBU Trading Update

Earnings Results13 February 2018FBUMaterials

Fletcher Building announces further losses in Building + Interiors while
maintaining earnings guidance for the remaining Fletcher Building Group


- Fletcher Building announces further provisions for expected losses in its Buildings + Interiors business of

$486 million, leading to a total projected B+I EBIT loss of $660 million in FY18

- Expected FY18 EBIT for the Fletcher Building Group excluding B+I remains $680 million to $720 million

- B+I business refocused solely on delivery of remaining projects – bidding for all vertical construction in

New Zealand to cease

- Waiver received from commercial banking syndicate following breach of covenants

- No interim dividend payment for HY18

- Fletcher Building Chairman announces he will step down no later than the 2018 Annual Shareholders Meeting


Auckland, February 14 2018: Following a review of projects in the Building + Interiors (B+I) business of the

Construction Division, Fletcher Building today announced a further provision of $486 million for project losses.


Combined with provisions previously announced in October, as well as overheads and other costs, this leads to a

projected $660 million EBIT loss for B+I in FY18.


Earnings guidance for the Fletcher Building group excluding B+I remains $680 million to $720 million as announced

in October.


Fletcher Building CEO Ross Taylor said the new provisioning was informed by a review of 16 B+I projects, accounting

for approximately 90% of the construction backlog, and incorporating external input from independent construction

experts and KPMG.


“The provisions we have announced today are informed by a considerable amount of further project analysis, and

while we continue to target agreed completion dates across the portfolio, we have factored in significant cost and

timeline contingencies.


“Our absolute focus is finishing our remaining B+I projects within these provisions and to a high quality for our

customers. To achieve this, we are refocussing the entire B+I business on project delivery only, and ceasing all

bidding on vertical construction projects in New Zealand. This will allow us to direct all resources in B+I to the

completion of the current book.


“While our broader construction businesses continue to benefit from favourable market conditions and strong

growth, the B+I market sector remains characterised by high contract risk and low margins. Unless these dynamics

change we will no longer work in this sector.”


The projected B+I EBIT loss has resulted in a breach of Fletcher Building’s financial covenants given to its commercial

banking syndicate and US Private Placement (USPP) noteholders. However, the strength of the broader business and

the phasing of the cash impact of the B+I provisions means the Company remains well capitalised and solvent.

“We have strong and predictable cash flows across the Fletcher Building group. While the B+I provisions are large,
they are phased over a number of years and do not impact our ability to trade with our customers or suppliers or

pay our bills.”


In line with the Company’s Dividend Policy the Board has determined that it will not be declaring an HY18 dividend.


“Our discussions with the banks have been constructive. We have received a waiver from our commercial banking

syndicate for the breach of covenants and they have confirmed the availability of continued funding while we

renegotiate terms. We have also commenced discussions with our USPP noteholders to obtain a similar waiver for

the covenant breach. We are targeting to successfully complete renegotiations with all lenders by the end of

March.”


Commenting on the reasons for the additional provisions, Taylor said there are many nuances by project, but three

core drivers. “Following further project reviews we have taken a more pragmatic view on program delivery and

resulting cost contingencies. While we will pursue our contract entitlements vigorously, we have also taken a less

optimistic view on client claims and variations. And lastly, since October we have seen further material price

escalation across trade finishing costs, which have now been incorporated into cost forecasts.”


In a separate statement made today Fletcher Building Chairman Sir Ralph Norris confirmed he will step down as

Chairman no later than the 2018 Annual Shareholders Meeting, allowing an orderly transition to a new Chairman

and the completion of the Board refresh process already commenced.


#Ends


Further background:


Q. Which 16 projects were reviewed?

A. The Justice and Emergency Services Precinct and the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC)

projects continue to be the main contributors to the losses. In addition to these two projects the Company reviewed

Commercial Bay, Auckland East Prison, Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport Hotel, Wellington Airport Carpark, and

a remaining group of smaller projects.


Q. Which projects did KPMG review?

A. In the latest review KPMG focused solely on B+I projects, including the two previously reviewed – NZICC and

Commercial Bay – as well as the Christchurch Airport Hotel, Auckland East Prison and Auckland Airport projects.


Q. Does this mean Commercial Bay is now loss making?

A. We continue to target a profitable completion of this project, however given it has a long way to go we have

provisioned for contingencies.


Q. Are the timelines for NZICC or Commercial Bay impacted by this announcement?

A. We continue to target the completion dates we have agreed with our customers, but we have provisioned for

significant cost and timeline contingencies.


Q. When will the Justice Precinct complete?

A. The project is 99% complete and the client is occupying the building. We expect practical completion to be

awarded at the end of February.


Q. Does the end of bidding on vertical construction projects mean the Fletcher Construction Company will close?

A. No. The Fletcher Construction Company includes four businesses – B+I, Infrastructure, Higgins and South Pacific.

The only business impacted by this announcement is B+I.


Q. Will Fletcher Building ever consider bidding on a vertical construction project in the future?

A. We have made the decision to refocus B+I solely on project completion, to ensure our resources are completely

focused on this task. While the B+I market sector remains characterised by high contract risk and low margins we

will no longer participate. If these market dynamics change in the future we would reconsider our position.


Q. Does this change impact residential construction or infrastructure?
A. No. Our Residential Division will continue to operate as it does today. Likewise, our Infrastructure business will

continue to complete existing projects and bid for new ones. The infrastructure sector benefits from more

appropriate margins, better contract conditions, and alliance models that reduce risk. As our B+I projects complete

we will redeploy key talent to these growth opportunities.


Q. How is Fletcher Building’s debt structured?

A. Funding facilities are: capital notes ($622m), US Private Placement ($1.13b) a commercial banking syndicate

($1.27b) and other loans ($103m).


Q. Which of these debt structures has FB breached covenants on?

A. USPP and the commercial banking syndicate.


Q. Which specific metrics have been breached?

A. Senior Net Debt to EBITDA, EBIT to Senior Interest, EBIT to Total Interest and Guaranteeing Group EBITDA.


Q. What happens if you do not agree new terms with your lenders by March 31 2018?

A. In consideration of the waiver, we have agreed to negotiate changes to our agreements with our lenders by 31

March. If we do not agree new terms by 31 March, we would then be in breach of the terms of our waiver. This

would be an event of default with our commercial banking syndicate. However, the banks have moved quickly to

grant us the waiver and we expect discussions to continue to be constructive.


Q. Which banks are included in the commercial banking syndicate?

A. ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, Bank of New Zealand, Commonwealth

Bank of Australia, Citibank N.A., The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Westpac New Zealand

Limited, Bank of China and China Construction Bank.


Teleconference:


Fletcher Building CEO Ross Taylor will host a teleconference call for investors and analysts at 1.00pm NZT today

(11.00am AEST) to provide more detail on this announcement. Dial in details are set out below.


Passcode: 766358


Australia Toll Free: 1 800 558 698 Hong Kong: 800 966 806

Australia Local: +61 2 9007 3187 Japan: 0053 116 1281

New Zealand Toll Free: 0800 453 055 Singapore: 800 101 2785

NZ Local (Auckland): +64 9 929 1687 UAE: 8000 3570 2705

NZ Local (Wellington): +64 4 974 7738 United Kingdom: 0800 051 8245

NZ Local (Christchurch): +64 3 974 2632 United States: (855) 881 1339


A replay is available using the following details:


Australia: 1800 265 784

Australia Local: +61 7 3107 6325

New Zealand: 0800 886 078

Hong Kong: 800 930 639

Singapore: 800 101 3223

UK: 0800 031 4295

US/Canada: 1855 883 1031

Replay Pin: 3810#

For further information please contact:

Leela Gantman Rodney Deacon

Head of Communications Head of Investor Relations

+64 27 541 6338 +64 21 631 074

Leela.gantman@fbu.com Rodney.deacon@fbu.com

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*Outside of these key projects there is a $13m reduction in forecasted EBIT for profitable projects

**Included in Feb 18 estimate is some projects moving from profit to loss


















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