The Group’s net indebtedness is the balance between its financial debts and other financial instruments receivables, and cash and cash equivalents.

In € million

 

2017

 

2016

Financial debts

 

4,226

 

5,426

Other financial instrument receivables

 

(89)

 

(101)

Cash and cash equivalents

 

(992)

 

(969)

Net indebtedness

 

3,146

 

4,356

The decrease in the net indebtedness is due to the strong cash generation and the cashing-in of proceeds from divestments (Acetow and Vinythai).

During 2017 the two leading rating agencies reviewed the Group’s Investment Grade status, with a Baa2/P2 rating (stable outlook) by Moody’s and a BBB/A2 rating (stable outlook) by Standard & Poor’s.

Financial debt: main borrowings

In € million
(except where indicated)

 

2017

2016

Nomi­nal amount

Coupon

Maturity

Secured

Amount at amort­ized cost

Fair value

Amount at amor­tized cost

Fair value

Floating rate € notes

 

Euribor 3m+82 bps

2017

No

 

 

998

1,005

Senior US$ note Cytec Industries Inc (issuance US$ 82.2 million)

 

8.95%

2017

No

 

 

81

80

EMTN € bond (issuance € 500 million)

382

4.625%

2018

No

381

391

496

535

Senior US$ notes (144A;US$ 800 million)

667

3.40%

2020

No

665

681

756

774

Senior € notes

750

1.625%

2022

No

743

788

742

786

Senior US$ note Cytec Industries Inc (issuance US$ 400 million)

163

3.5%

2023

No

156

167

362

369

Senior US$ note Cytec Industries Inc (issuance US$ 250 m)

136

3.95%

2025

No

134

140

233

232

Senior US$ notes (144A;US$ 800 million)

667

4.45%

2025

No

663

708

755

785

Senior € notes

500

2.75%

2027

No

495

560

495

559

Total

 

 

 

 

3,237

3,435

4,916

5,126

Some of the above-mentioned borrowings were partially repaid in 2017 (see below).

There are no instances of default on the above-mentioned financial debts. There are no financial covenants, either on Solvay SA, or on any of the Group’s holding companies.

Other financial instrument receivables

In € million

 

2017

 

2016

Currency swaps

 

4

 

12

Other marketable securities >3 months

 

56

 

32

Other current financial assets

 

28

 

57

Other financial instrument receivables

 

89

 

101

The “Other financial instruments receivables” amount to €89 million at the end of 2017 compared to €101 million at the end of 2016. They include currency swaps, other marketable securities > 3 months (bank drafts), and other current financial assets (mainly margin calls of Solvay Energy Services).

Cash and cash equivalents

In € million

 

2017

 

2016

Cash

 

835

 

773

Term deposits

 

157

 

195

Others

 

 

 

2

Cash and cash equivalents

 

992

 

969

By their nature, the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents is equal or very close to their fair values.

Changes in financial debt and in other financial instrument receivables arising from financing activities

In € million

2016

2017

Total

Cash flows from increase of borrowings

Cash flows from repayment of borrowings

Changes in foreign exchange rates

Changes in other current financial assets

Other in financing cash flows

Transfer from non-current to current

Other

Total

Non-current financial debt

4,087

183

(296)

(257)

 

 

(527)

(8)

3,182

Subordinated loans and bonds

3,837

 

(257)

(241)

 

 

(500)

18

2,856

Other non current debts

200

183

(39)

(11)

 

 

(27)

(24)

282

Long-term finance lease obligations

50

 

 

(5)

 

 

 

(1)

44

Current financial debt

1,338

1,509

(2,288)

(1)

 

(14)

527

(27)

1,044

Short-term financial debt (excluding finance lease obligations)

1,277

1,509

(2,288)

 

 

(14)

527

4

1,015

Currency swaps

59

 

 

(1)

 

 

 

(31)

27

Short-term finance lease obligations

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

Total financial debt

5,425

1,692

(2,584)

(258)

 

(14)

 

(35)

4,226

Currency swaps

(12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

(4)

Other marketable securities >3 months

(32)

 

 

3

(27)

 

 

 

(56)

Other current financial assets

(57)

 

 

 

 

31

 

(2)

(28)

Other financial instrument receivables

(101)

 

 

3

(27)

31

 

6

(89)

Total cash flow

 

1,692

(2,584)

 

(27)

17

 

 

 

In 2017, the financial debt decreased from €5,425 million at the end of 2016 to €4,226 million at the end of 2017.

The net decrease in non-current financial debt from €4,087 million in 2016 to €3,182 million in 2017 is explained mainly by:

  • the partial early repayments of US$204 million of Senior Notes 2023 (out of US$400 million) and of US$87 million of Senior Notes 2025 (out of US$250 million) of Cytec Industries (total € equivalent of €257 million),
  • the transfer to current financial debt of €500 million (EMTN maturity 2018),
  • the changes in foreign exchange rates (€258 million) generated mainly by the US$1,600 million Senior Notes and Senior US$ notes Cytec Industries Inc (US$348 million), and
  • an increase of external financing (reported under other non-current debts) set up for our HPPO joint operation (Saudi Hydrogen Peroxide Co) 50/50 with Sadara in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (€134 million).

The net decrease in current financial debt from €1,338 million in 2016 to €1,044 million in 2017 is explained mainly by:

  • The repayment of the Senior notes of US$82 million maturing in July 2017 (total € equivalent of €75 million),
  • The repayment of the Solvay Floating Rate Notes of €1 billion maturing early December 2017,
  • The transfer from non-current financial debt of €500 million (EMTN maturity 2018), of which €118 million was repaid prematurely during 2017, and
  • The issuances of commercial paper for a net amount of €400 million. The amounts presented in the cash flow statement under “increase in borrowings” and “repayment of borrowings” include the issuance of €1,460 million and the repayment of €1,060 million in 2017.

The €17 million in “Other in financing cash flows” relates to the repayment of margin calls in connection with Solvay Energy Services activities. The cash out for the Rhodia liquidity convention (€(4) million) is not presented as other financial liabilities and explains the difference with the €13 million in the line “Other” in the cash flow from financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.