Atento Reports Fiscal 2020 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO) reported strong financial results for Q4 and FY 2020, with Q4 revenues increasing 1.6% to $369.6 million, driven by a 6.2% growth in Multisector sales. FY 2020 EBITDA grew 23.1%, reaching $161.2 million, with a margin of 11.4%. Free cash flow generated was $40 million, a significant improvement from 2019. The company successfully refinanced $500 million in debt, extending repayment terms and improving leverage. For FY 2021, Atento expects mid-single digit revenue growth and an EBITDA margin between 12.5% to 13.5%. Net debt decreased by 13% compared to 2019.
- Q4 revenue increased 1.6% to $369.6 million, reflecting solid growth in Multisector sales.
- FY 2020 EBITDA margin improved to 11.4%, driven by operational efficiencies, despite challenges from the pandemic.
- Free cash flow generation of $40 million in 2020, a significant increase from negative $65 million in 2019.
- Successfully refinanced $500 million in debt, extending average debt life to 4.5 years and improving financial flexibility.
- FY 2020 total revenue declined 2.8% year-over-year despite the growth in Multisector revenues.
- Continued decline in revenues from Telefónica, dropping 15.9% for the year, indicating ongoing issues with key client.
NEW YORK, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO) ("Atento" or the "Company"), the largest provider of customer relationship management and business-process outsourcing services in Latin America, and among the top five providers globally, today announced its fourth quarter and full-year operating and financial results for the period ending December 31, 2020. All comparisons in this announcement are year-over-year (YoY) and in constant-currency (CCY), unless noted otherwise.
Solid Q4 and FY 2020 with increased profitability and strong cash flow generation
- Q4 revenues grew
1.6% on a CCY basis with consistent growth in Multisector across all regions driven by Next Generation Services primarily to Brazilian and US clients - Strong Q4 2020 EBITDA growth, with Consolidated EBITDA margin of
14.5% - Brazil:
18.4% ; Americas:14.7% ; EMEA:16.1% - FY Multisector revenues increased
4.9% , reaching68.2% of total revenues, 3.4 percentage points higher than FY 2019 - FY 2020 Consolidated EBITDA growth of
23.1% on a CCY basis, and5.1% on a reported basis, despite the pandemic and a30% BRL devaluation in the period - Solid improvement in Operating Cash Flow during the year, leading to FCF generation of
$40 million in 2020
Enhancing operational efficiencies
- Continued transformation of the cost structure, with approximately
$60 million carry forward effect to 2021 - Delivering operational excellence: Everest star performer and leader in 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant
Successful debt refinancing and healthy balance sheet
- Healthy balance sheet with solid cash position of
$209 million - Net debt reduction of
13% versus Dec 2019, with leverage decreasing 70 basis points to 3.2x - Successfully concluded debt refinancing in Q1 2021, extending average debt life to 4.5 years
Innovation driving growth
- First company in sector globally to be awarded with ISO 56002 Innovation certification
- First company in sector globally to launch a startup accelerator (Atento Next) aimed at creating and developing new capabilities and enriching product portfolio
Introducing Fiscal 2021 Guidance
- Revenue growth of Mid-Single Digit, with EBITDA Margin between
12.5% to13.5% - Leverage improvement to 2.5x - 3.0x range
Summarized Consolidated Financials
($ in millions except EPS) | Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | CCY | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | CCY |
Income Statement (6) | ||||||
Revenue | 369.6 | 417.2 | 1,412.3 | 1,707.3 | - | |
EBITDA (2) | 53.5 | 20.7 | 161.2 | 153.4 | ||
EBITDA Margin | 9.5 p.p. | 2.4 p.p. | ||||
Net Income (3) | (7.9) | (29.6) | - | (46.8) | (80.7) | - |
Recurring Net Income (2) | 4.5 | (13.5) | N.M. | (10.1) | (23.9) | - |
Earnings Per Share in the reverse split basis (2) (3) (5) | ( | ( | - | ( | ( | - |
Recurring EPS in the reverse split basis (2) (5) | 0.32 | (0.97) | N.M. | (0.72) | (1.65) | - |
Cash Flow, Debt and Leverage | ||||||
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities | 60.1 | 49.2 | 128.2 | 46.5 | ||
Cash and Cash Equivalents | 209.0 | 124.7 | ||||
Net Debt (4) | 517.6 | 595.6 | ||||
Net Leverage (4) | 3.2x | 3.9x |
(1) Unless otherwise noted, all results are for Q4 and FY 2020; all revenue growth rates are on a constant currency basis, year-over-year; (2) EBITDA, Recurring Net Income/Recurring Earnings per Share (EPS) are Non-GAAP measures; (3) Reported Net Income and Earnings per Share (EPS) include the impact of non-cash foreign exchange gains/losses on intercompany balances; (4) Includes IFRS 16 impact in Net Debt and Leverage; (5) Earnings per share and Recurring Earnings per share in the reverse split basis is calculated by applying the ratio of conversion of 5.027090466672970 used in the reverse split into the previous weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding. (6) The following selected financial information are preliminary, unaudited and are based on management's initial review of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 and remain subject to the completion of the Company's customary annual closing and review procedures. Final adjustments and other material developments may arise between the date hereof and the filing of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F. |
Message from the CEO and CFO
We are pleased to report that 2020 marked the consolidation of Atento's Three Horizon Plan, which is based on substantially improving our operational efficiency, promoting our next generation services and driving new avenues of growth, even amid the challenging environment imposed by the pandemic. We are incredibly proud of and thankful to our employees who worked very hard to help us overcome the numerous complex challenges arising from the pandemic, allowing us to continue growing and leading Next Generation CX in Latin America.
We are happy to report that our EBITDA grew
On the cost side, we executed a series of initiatives that led to increased operational efficiencies, enabling us to operate with even greater financial discipline. At the end of the year, approximately
The combination of improved revenue mix, operational efficiencies and an enhanced collections effort in the first half of 2020, drove a
The year also marked the resolution of the uncertainty related to our shareholder structure, with HPS, GIC and Farallon independently investing in our company and consequently transforming Atento into a Corporation. This was an important milestone as our Board is now comprised mostly of independent members, solidifying our governance and strengthening the diversity of knowledge and expertise of our Board.
Another key milestone was achieved in February 2021, when we successfully completed our debt refinancing. The new
We are happy to see that the market has recognized our evolution. Our shares multiplied by over 6 times since April 2020, when uncertainties related to potential impacts from the pandemic peaked, while our bond price increased by roughly
We expect for 2021 that global and local brands will continue using new digital channels to improve relationships with end-customers, speeding up the transformation of the industry into the digital age. We also believe that the shift to more digital experiences as a consequence of the pandemic are here to stay, which presents a great opportunity for us to power more and more businesses in the regions where we operate.
We are confident in our ability to continue delivering improved results in 2021. In parallel, we see significant opportunities to continue evolving our value offering into more tech-oriented products, increasing penetration with fast growing verticals and expanding in geographies with higher underlying profitability. While we acknowledge that the recent performance of our shares partially reflects our delivery and evolution, we believe they remain undervalued and we expect that as we continue to deliver, our share price will follow.
Carlos López-Abadía | José Azevedo | ||
Chief Executive Officer | Chief Financial Officer |
Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Consolidated Financial Results
In the fourth quarter, Atento's revenue increased
Multisector revenues reached
Consolidated EBITDA increased
Atento continued to maintain a comfortable level of financial liquidity at year-end, with net debt decreasing
Segment Reporting
Brazil
($ in millions) | Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | CCY growth | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | CCY growth |
Brazil Region | ||||||
Revenue | 156.9 | 194.8 | 609.4 | 827.3 | - | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 28.9 | 29.8 | 81.8 | 111.7 | - | |
Adjusted EBITDA Margin | 3.1 p.p. | -0.1 p.p. | ||||
Profit/(loss) for the period | (0.1) | (4.7) | - | (21.5) | (18.0) |
Notes: |
• Y-o-Y changes are in constant currency |
Revenue in Brazil, Atento's flagship operation, increased
The better revenue mix combined with higher efficiencies boosted EBITDA by
Americas Region
($ in millions) | Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | CCY growth | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | CCY growth |
Americas Region | ||||||
Revenue | 156.1 | 167.0 | 582.2 | 660.1 | - | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 23.0 | (11.2) | N.M. | 66.8 | 32.4 | |
Adjusted EBITDA Margin | - | N.M. | 6.6 p.p. | |||
Profit/(loss) for the period | (2.1) | (16.7) | - | (10.0) | (25.9) | - |
In the Americas, revenue recorded a slight increase of
FY 2020 revenue decreased
The region's Adjusted EBITDA was
EMEA Region
($ in millions) | Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | CCY growth | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | CCY growth |
EMEA Region | ||||||
Revenue | 66.2 | 57.4 | 234.7 | 232.8 | - | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 10.7 | 4.1 | N.M. | 21.3 | 21.8 | - |
Adjusted EBITDA Margin | 9.0 p.p. | -0.3 p.p. | ||||
Profit/(loss) for the period | 6.5 | (22.3) | N.M. | 5.2 | (22.2) | N.M. |
In EMEA, an
EMEA's Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to
Cash Flow
Cashflow Statement ($ in millions) | Q4 2020 | Q4 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 196.6 | 105.5 | 124.7 | 133.5 |
Net Cash from Operating activities | 60.1 | 49.2 | 128.2 | 46.5 |
Net Cash used in Investing activities | (10.9) | (8.3) | (38.2) | (55.9) |
Net Cash (used in)/ provided by Financing activities | (36.4) | (24.7) | (0.3) | 5.0 |
Net (increase/decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 12.8 | 16.2 | 89.8 | (4.4) |
Effect of changes in exchanges rates | (0.4) | 2.9 | (5.5) | (4.5) |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 209.0 | 124.7 | 209.0 | 124.7 |
The combination of higher EBITDA in the period with a positive impact from working capital as a result of the efforts to improve overdue collections was responsible for the improvement in both Operating Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow generation. In 2020, Atento generated
Cash Capex was
Indebtedness & Capital Structure
US$MM | Maturity | Interest Rate | Outstanding |
SSN (1) (USD) | 2022 | 505.6 | |
Super Senior Credit Facility | 2021 | 30.0 | |
Other Revolving Credit Facilities | 2021 | CDI + 4.50 | 32.3 |
Other Borrowings and Leases | 2025 | Variable | 15.2 |
BNDES (BRL) | 2022 | TJLP + | 0.6 |
Debt with Third Parties | 583.7 | ||
Leasing (IFRS 16) | 142.9 | ||
Gross Debt (Debt with Third Parties + IFRS 16) | 726.6 | ||
Cash and Cash Equivalents | 209.0 | ||
Net Debt | 517.6 |
(1) Cross currency swaps cover |
At year-end 2020, gross debt was
Net leverage as of Q4 2020 decreased 0.7x when compared to Q4 2019, as a result of higher EBITDA from better revenue mix and improved efficiencies, and also the phase out of the impact of the impairment in Argentina during Q4 2019. Excluding the impact of the impairment in Argentina during Q4 2019, net leverage remained flat in Q4 2020 YoY, which is a remarkable result considering the challenging environment from the pandemic and the
On February 19, 2021, Atento successfully completed its
The new notes are protected by certain hedging instruments, with the coupons hedged through maturity, while the principal is hedged for a period of 3 years. The instruments consist mainly of cross-currency swaps in BRL, PEN and Euro. As a reference, the BRL cost is approximately
Introducing Fiscal 2021 Guidance
2020 Reported | FY 2021 | |
Revenue growth (in constant currency) | - | Mid-single digit |
EBITDA margin | ||
Leverage (x) | 3.2x | 2.5x-3.0x |
Cash Capex as % of Revenues | 4.0 |
Share Repurchase Program
In the quarter, the Company repurchased 37,364 shares under its Share Repurchase Program, at a cost of
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 10:00 am ET to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing: USA: +1 (866) 807-9684; UK: (+44) 20 3514 3188; Brazil: (+55) 11 4933-0682; or Spain: (+34) 91 414 9260. No passcode is required. Individuals who dial in will be asked to identify themselves and their affiliations The live webcast of the conference call will be available on Atento's Investor Relations website at investors.atento.com (Click here). A web-based archive of the conference call will also be available at the above website.
About Atento
Atento is the largest provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing ("CRM BPO") services in Latin America, and among the top five providers globally. Atento is also a leading provider of nearshoring CRM BPO services to companies that carry out their activities in the United States. Since 1999, the company has developed its business model in 13 countries where it employs approximately 139,800 people. Atento has over 400 clients to whom it offers a wide range of CRM BPO services through multiple channels. Atento's clients are mostly leading multinational corporations in sectors such as telecommunications, banking and financial services, health, retail and public administrations, among others. Atento's shares trade under the symbol ATTO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2019, Atento was named one of the World's 25 Best Multinational Workplaces and one of the Best Multinationals to Work for in Latin America by Great Place to Work®. Also, in 2021 Everest named Atento as a star performer Gartner named the company as a leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant. For more information visit www.atento.com
Investor Relations | Investor Relations | Media Relations |
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "intends," "continue" or similar terminology. These statements reflect only Atento's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance or results. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the potential impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on our business operations, financial results and financial position and on the world economy. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, competition in Atento's highly competitive industries; increases in the cost of voice and data services or significant interruptions in these services; Atento's ability to keep pace with its clients' needs for rapid technological change and systems availability; the continued deployment and adoption of emerging technologies; the loss, financial difficulties or bankruptcy of any key clients; the effects of global economic trends on the businesses of Atento's clients; the non-exclusive nature of Atento's client contracts and the absence of revenue commitments; security and privacy breaches of the systems Atento uses to protect personal data; the cost of pending and future litigation; the cost of defending Atento against intellectual property infringement claims; extensive regulation affecting many of Atento's businesses; Atento's ability to protect its proprietary information or technology; service interruptions to Atento's data and operation centers; Atento's ability to retain key personnel and attract a sufficient number of qualified employees; increases in labor costs and turnover rates; the political, economic and other conditions in the countries where Atento operates; changes in foreign exchange rates; Atento's ability to complete future acquisitions and integrate or achieve the objectives of its recent and future acquisitions; future impairments of our substantial goodwill, intangible assets, or other long-lived assets; and Atento's ability to recover consumer receivables on behalf of its clients. In addition, Atento is subject to risks related to its level of indebtedness. Such risks include Atento's ability to generate sufficient cash to service its indebtedness and fund its other liquidity needs; Atento's ability to comply with covenants contained in its debt instruments; the ability to obtain additional financing; the incurrence of significant additional indebtedness by Atento and its subsidiaries; and the ability of Atento's lenders to fulfill their lending commitments. Atento is also subject to other risk factors described in documents filed by the company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. Atento undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Atento S.A.
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