NEOS 2016-2020 Program: a customer-centric transformation strategy - Confidence in growth outlook
Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO of Air Liquide, said:
“The Group has acquired a new dimension following the acquisition of Airgas and thus enters a new phase of its development. Our strategy for profitable growth over the long term is that of a customer-centric transformation. It will be based on operational excellence and the quality of our investments, on open innovation and the network organization already implemented by the Group worldwide. Our ambition is to lead our industry, deliver long-term performance and contribute to sustainability.
With strong fundamentals and a disciplined model of development and management, the Group is well positioned to perform in various economic environments and leverage the underlying trends, i.e., the energy and environment transition, changes in the world of healthcare, and digitization.
Thus, we are confident in the ability of Air Liquide and its 68,000 employees to implement NEOS, the Group's new corporate program for the period 2016-2020, and to collectively create, notably through digitization, additional value for all its stakeholders.”
On the occasion of its Capital Markets Day on July 6, 2016, Air Liquide has presented its vision of the evolution of its markets, its strategy, its growth prospects, and its new corporate program NEOS, which marks a new step in the development of the Group.
The environment is characterized by moderate global growth and major changes related to scientific and technological advances, and new usages and consumption patterns that impact the needs of the Group's customers.
Air Liquide has identified three major trends, which are sources of growth for all of its businesses. These trends are energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare, and digitization. The latter touches new ways of working, the managing of assets, and the transactional sphere. To address these key challenges and this new market potential, Air Liquide can rely on its leading positions in the major industrial basins worldwide, its proprietary technologies, its capacity for innovation, its solutions and services, its operational excellence, and its network organization.
In this context, the preponderant path to growth will involve innovation, supported by the major trends identified, in addition to external growth. This innovation at the service of customers, within an open ecosystem, is centered on usages and supported by technologies.
With the acquisition of Airgas in the United States, completed in May 2016, the Group has changed in size with sales of Gas & Services increased by +30%. The Group has strengthened its global leadership by rebalancing its European and American positions. The acquisition of Airgas positions Air Liquide optimally in the United States, the world's largest and most advanced in innovation and digitization industrial gas market. Through its multi-channel distribution network in the United States, Airgas has a close relationship with its customers and a head start in e-commerce.
In light of these factors, Air Liquide, as part of its NEOS Program, is aiming for revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR), over the 2016-2020 period, of +6% to +8%. The Group intends to generate substantial recurrent efficiency gains of more than 300 million euros on average per year, in addition to synergies related to Airgas for a total amount above 300 million US dollars. The Group is targeting a return on capital employed (ROCE) in excess of 10% after 5 to 6 years. Lastly, maintaining its S&P ‘A’ range rating thanks to the strength of its balance sheet remains a priority.
As for responsibility, which lies at the heart of its ambition alongside performance, the Group will reinforce its actions aimed at improving the air quality for better environment and health. Air Liquide will pursue an active dialogue with its stakeholders to contribute to a more sustainable world.
The executive leadership team working from the Base (Paris) and the Hubs (Houston, Frankfurt, Shanghai and Dubai), and the cluster managers (groups of countries or entities) based in the different regions, will be working collaboratively within a network to roll out NEOS and achieve the objectives that have been set for the 2016-2020 period.
With NEOS, the Group will be able to deliver a long-term performance and will be more connected to its stakeholders as well as more innovative.
