CEVA makes further progress in second quarter 2018

Revenue in Freight Management increased by 8.1% in the second quarter 2018, year on year; in constant currency, revenue growth was 5.4%.

CEVA had good volume growth in Ocean, up 8.3% in the second quarter and ahead of market growth. Air volumes were softer, as in Q1, mainly from the earlier loss of certain customers. However, the implementation of important new contracts which were won during the spring tender season will drive volume growth going forward.

Freight Management EBITDA increased by $7 million year on year to $27 million driven by improved yields in Air, increased productivity and progress in reducing losses in other FM activities. Profits were adversely impacted by increased cost in our US Ground business due to driver shortages, the impact of which is expected to reduce in coming quarters as we take mitigating actions. EBITDA margin improved by 70 bps to 3.2%.

For the first half year 2018, revenue in Freight Management increased by 7.0% year on year in constant currency and EBITDA was $42 million, up $12 million year on year.

Revenue in Contract Logistics increased by 6.8% in the second quarter 2018 year on year; in constant currency, revenue increased by 4.7%.

The acceleration of revenue growth was driven by good volumes in existing contracts as well as the implementation of new business won previously; we had important contract start-ups in consumer/retail, automotive spare parts, technology and e-commerce.

Contract Logistics EBITDA was stable at $39 million. Improvements in productivity at many of the large, focus contracts were offset by issues in a limited number of operations in Italy and in the US. The issues have now been largely addressed and are expected to have a reduced impact over the second half of 2018. Our low margin contract initiative is also gaining traction. As such, we anticipate margins to trend upwards in the second half of 2018.

For the first half year 2018, revenue in Contract Logistics increased by 3.8% year on year in constant currency and EBITDA was $77 million, up $4 million year on year in constant currency. EBITDA margin improved by 10 bps year on year in constant currency.

We continue to see good momentum in business development. CEVA has won more business across all business lines the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year with total new business wins approximately 10% higher. We have won or extended a number of important contracts in automotive, industrials, technology, consumer and e-commerce.

The IPO is already showing a positive impact on business development, and the tone of conversation with many of our existing and prospective clients has shifted markedly. We have already secured the first wins and contract renewals which would not have happened without the IPO.

The second quarter of 2018 shows the progress CEVA is making in its transformation with continued good revenue growth and improved EBITDA.

Revenue in the second quarter 2018 was $1,848 million, up 7.3% year on year or 5.1% in constant currency. For the first six months of 2018, revenue was up 5.2% year on year in constant currency. Increased volume in existing contracts as well as new business implementations accounted for the growth despite certain contract losses. Revenue grew well across most sectors, particularly in industrials and healthcare but also in consumer/retail/
e-commerce and automotive.

Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter 2018 was $77 million, up $7 million year on year. EBITDA margin was 3.6% in the second quarter 2018, an improvement of 30 basis points in constant currency. For the first six months of 2018, Adjusted EBITDA was $143 million up $19 million or 15% year on year.

CMA CGM has obtained all regulatory approvals for its investment in CEVA. We expect that the CMA CGM securities will be converted into registered shares by no later than 13 August 2018.

Both companies have worked closely together over the past weeks to exploit partnership opportunities in a number of areas, particularly to offer integrated end-to-end solutions and expand geographic coverage. The first contracts have been concluded, where CEVA was introduced to clients from CMA CGM, and further discussions are ongoing.

While CEVA will seek to exploit the opportunities from this partnership, all dealings with CMA CGM will be structured at arm's length and CEVA will continue to work closely with all its ocean carriers in the interest of its clients.

CEVA has used a substantial part of the proceeds from the IPO on SIX Swiss Exchange and the concurrent private placement to CMA CGM in May to repay debt. As a consequence, net debt as of 30 June 2018 was reduced to $1,132 million compared to $2,228 million as of 31 March 2018.

The Company is currently in the process of raising new facilities to refinance the majority of our existing debt at lower interest rates and longer maturities. We have successfully placed a new $475 million Term Loan (TLB; at L+375bps with leverage step-down to L+350bps) and a new $585 million Revolving Credit and Ancillary Facility (at L+237.5bps). We have upsized the TLB in view of strong demand to provide the Company with even more headroom. CEVA has also announced a private offering of EUR300 million of senior secured notes. The refinancing is expected to complete early August, subject to market conditions.

Following the deleveraging from the IPO proceeds and refinancing, CEVA expects to reduce its finance charges by more than $100 million annually, subject to prevailing interest rates and currency drawings.

The Company is committed to further deleveraging with a target of 1.5x-2.0x net debt/adjusted EBITDA in the medium-term.

CEVA is expecting good growth and continued margin progression in the second half of 2018; management is confident to meet expectations, subject to no changes in market conditions.

Medium-term, CEVA is confirming its targets to grow revenue above market and to increase EBITDA margins from the 3.3% achieved in 2017 to at least 4%; this should result in an additional approximately $100 million in Adjusted EBITDA.