Annual report 2019

Nordecon in

2019

Nordecon in

2019

Nordecon at a glance

Nordecon is one of the largest construction groups in Estonia. In 2019, we celebrated our 30th anniversary. A key feature of our business strategy is a clear focus on general contracting and project management.

We offer our customers complete high-quality service in the construction of commercial, residential, industrial and public buildings as well as infrastructure – roads, utility networks and port facilities. Our entities are also involved in the construction of concrete structures, leasing out heavy construction equipment, and road maintenance.

Nordecon group comprises 11 active companies which operate in Estonia, Sweden, Finland and Ukraine. The shares of Nordecon AS have been listed on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange since 18 May 2006.

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The Group’s significant subsidiaries and associates at 31 December 2019

Nordecon’s strategic agenda for 2019-2022

  • The Group will grow, mostly organically, with a focus on a more efficient use of its existing resources.
  • In Estonia, we will operate, as a market leader, in both the building and infrastructure construction segments.
  • In Sweden, we will focus on general contracting in Stockholm and the surrounding area.
  • In Finland, we will focus on general contracting and concrete works in Helsinki and the surrounding area.
  • In Ukraine, we will focus on general contracting and concrete works, primarily in Kiev and the surrounding area.
  • Improving profitability through more precise planning of our design and construction operations
  • Increasing our design and digitalisation capabilities
  • Simplifying and automating work and decision-making processes
  • Monitoring the balance between the contract portfolios of different business segments
  • Valuing balanced teamwork where youthful energy and drive complement long-term experience
  • Noticing and recognising each employee’s individual contribution and initiative
  • Revenue will grow by at least 10% per year.
  • Foreign markets’ contribution will increase to 20% of revenue.
  • Real estate development revenue will grow to 10% of revenue earned in Estonia.
  • Operating margin will be consistently above 3%.
  • Operating profit per employee will increase to at least 10 thousand euros per year.
  • We will, on average, distribute at least 30% of profit for the year as dividends.

Nordecon’s key figures for 2019

234 MLN €

(2018: 223 mln €)

Revenue

4,7%

(2018: -3%)

Revenue growth, year on year

227 MLN €

(2018: 100 mln €)

Order book at the year-end

306 MLN €

(2018: 134 mln €)

Value of new contracts signed

130

(2018: 122)

Projects delivered to customers

687

(2018: 687)

Employees

19/0

(2018: 17/0)

Accidents at work/Fatal accidents at work (incl. subcontractors)

0

(2018: 0)

Environmental pollution, discrimination and corruption incidents

0.3 MLN €

(2018: 0.3 mln €)

Donations to community projects and charities

234 MLN €

(2018: 223 mln €)

Revenue

4,7%

(2018: -3%)

Revenue growth, year on year

227 MLN €

(2018: 100 mln €)

Order book at the year-end

306 MLN €

(2018: 134 mln €)

Value of new contracts signed

130

(2018: 122)

Projects delivered to customers

687

(2018: 687)

Employees

19/0

(2018: 17/0)

Accidents at work/Fatal accidents at work (incl. subcontractors)

0

(2018: 0)

Environmental pollution, discrimination and corruption incidents

0.3 MLN €

(2018: 0.3 mln €)

Donations to community projects and charities

Construction market

After two years of rapid expansion the Estonian construction market began to slow in 2019. The buildings market was driven by housing construction and work procured by the public sector: mostly different buildings for educational institutions and the central and local government. The infrastructure market contracted while in road construction, which in recent years has accounted for over 90% of the infrastructure market, around a fourth of the available resource was unutilised. Despite that the sector’s employment rate is high and competition is fierce. Rapidly rising wages and materials prices as well as the growing technological complexity of new projects have increased the gap between customers’ price expectations and the actual construction price. Most new projects need to be redesigned to mitigate the rise in construction cost. This holds back wider implementation of energy efficient and green solutions, which are too costly for customers.

Low productivity has been a challenge for the construction sector for years. There is a lack of both quality and quantity. Insufficient availability of skilled labour is mitigated by using foreign labour but the shortage of qualified construction engineers is much more difficult to overcome. The sector’s attractiveness to the younger generation depends largely on its ability to modernise and improve productivity by increasing digitalisation and reducing labour intensity.

Nordecon contributes to solving the challenges of the construction sector and improving the image of the industry by being a leader in innovation and the first implementer of innovative construction solutions.

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What we do

Our mission is to offer our customers building and infrastructure construction solutions that meet their needs and fit their budget and, thus, help them maintain and increase the value of their assets. The year 2019 was successful for Nordecon in many respects. We achieved our profitability improvement targets, secured a record number of new construction contracts, increased the share of revenue earned outside Estonia and took vigorous steps in digitalising our operations. All this was underpinned by excellent teamwork and our people’s professional expertise and skills.

One of the cornerstones of our strategy is a diversified portfolio – we wishes to be represented in most segments of the Estonian construction market to secure the company’s long-term and balanced growth. We analyse the construction market and our order book as well as the breakdown of projects in progress and revenue between our two segments – Buildings and Infrastructure on a regular basis.

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Revenue by segment
2019
2018
2017
2016
Buildings
70%
72%
74%
73%
Infrastructure
30%
28%
26%
27%

The largest revenue source in the Buildings segment is the commercial buildings subsegment where we had several large projects in 2019, many of which will be completed in 2020. For instance, the reconstruction and extension of the building of Terminal D in the Old City Harbour and the construction of phase I of the Porto Franco commercial and office development next to the Admiralty Basin.

The public buildings subsegment has also grown considerably. In 2019, our portfolio included several industrial and warehouse facilities as well as buildings for educational institutions such as the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and Kohtla-Järve Upper Secondary School. A significant share of Nordecon’s apartment building projects in Estonia is in or near Tallinn. We also continue work on three housing development projects in Sweden.

Revenue breakdown in the Buildings segment
2019
2018
2017
2016
Commercial buildings
36%
35%
25%
16%
Public buildings
29%
25%
19%
30%
Apartment buildings
27%
25%
30%
34%
Industrial and warehouse facilities
8%
15%
26%
20%

In road construction and maintenance, we contributed to building and improving several important traffic routes in Estonia. For example, in 2019 we completed the construction of passing lanes on the Pikknurme-Puurmani section of the Tallinn–Tartu–Võru–Luhamaa road and the Missoküla-Hindsa sections of main road no. 7 Riga-Pskov and began to build the Kernu bypass, the Kernu filling station and the Haiba junction. A major share of the subsegment’s revenue results from forest road improvement services provided to the State Forest Management Centre and road maintenance services delivered in Järva and Hiiu counties and the Kose maintenance area in Harju county.

In the Infrastructure segment, the share of revenue generated by road construction and maintenance decreased for the first time in several years. However, this was mostly due to a few large other engineering projects, the largest of them the completion of the Kiili-Paldiski section of the onshore part of Balticconnector (a gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland).

Revenue breakdown in the Infrastructure segment
2019
2018
2017
2016
Road construction and maintenance
78%
89%
86%
86%
Other engineering
18%
7%
8%
9%
Environmental engineering
3%
4%
6%
5%
Specialist engineering (including hydraulic engineering)
1%
0%
0%
0%

Foreign markets

In addition to Estonia, the companies of Nordecon group operate in Sweden, Finland and Ukraine.

In 2019, the Group’s subsidiary SweNCN AB continued to deliver services under building construction contracts secured as a general contractor. As a result, our operations in Sweden grew year on year. We continue work on three housing development projects in Stockholm area and the foundations for 73 wind turbines in the Nysäter wind farm being built in northern Sweden, near Sundsvall.

In Finland, our business focus is clear: the Group’s subsidiary Nordecon Betoon OÜ and its Finnish subsidiary NOBE Rakennus OY continued to provide subcontracting services in the concrete work segment in Finland. In 2019, our business volumes in Finland grew significantly compared to previous years.

In the past year, our business activity in Ukraine decreased somewhat. We continue to be conservative about projects. We enter into a contract only when it is certain that the risks involved are reasonable given the circumstances. Real estate development activities which require major investments remain suspended to minimise risks until the situation in Ukraine improves.

Social responsibility

As a responsible corporate citizen, Nordecon observes laws and regulations and is honest in its business dealings. However, being a market leader and public company, we also want to be a trend-setter in making the construction industry more sustainable, environmentally friendly, efficient and transparent.

Nordecon’s broader role and responsibility in society is to:

  • Make a positive contribution to the development of society by creating jobs, paying taxes, buying goods and services, delivering capital growth for investors and supporting social initiatives.
  • Operate openly and honestly, ethically and transparently.
  • Collaborate with customers and business partners in an open and professional manner by offering our expertise and advice.
  • Seek continually more efficient operational and engineering solutions through innovation and improved technological capabilities.
  • Build safe high-quality buildings and infrastructure assets.
  • Build sustainably to preserve the natural environment and, where necessary, perform projects that meet the customers’ highest expectations for environmentally friendly buildings.
  • Contribute to the creation of tastefully and completely designed buildings and public space.
  • Create a safe and motivating working environment for employees and encourage employee development.
  • Promote the engineering profession and alleviate the shortage of qualified and skilled labour.

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Social responsibility

As a responsible corporate citizen, Nordecon observes laws and regulations and is honest in its business dealings. However, being a market leader and public company, we also want to be a trend-setter in making the construction industry more sustainable, environmentally friendly, efficient and transparent.

Nordecon’s broader role and responsibility in society is to:

  • Make a positive contribution to the development of society by creating jobs, paying taxes, buying goods and services, delivering capital growth for investors and supporting social initiatives.
  • Operate openly and honestly, ethically and transparently.
  • Collaborate with customers and business partners in an open and professional manner by offering our expertise and advice.
  • Seek continually more efficient operational and engineering solutions through innovation and improved technological capabilities.
  • Build safe high-quality buildings and infrastructure assets.
  • Build sustainably to preserve the natural environment and, where necessary, perform projects that meet the customers’ highest expectations for environmentally friendly buildings.
  • Contribute to the creation of tastefully and completely designed buildings and public space.
  • Create a safe and motivating working environment for employees and encourage employee development.
  • Promote the engineering profession and alleviate the shortage of qualified and skilled labour.

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Quality

In the construction business the best result is achieved when the customer, the architect, the designer, the owner’s engineer and the builder follow the same principles and work together towards the same goal. A successful project is based on open and honest communication between all parties and the quality metrics of a construction company are well managed projects and buildings and infrastructure assets which are delivered on time and to the agreed quality standard.

Responsibility begins from the decisions of each individual. Consistent with engineering ethics, the people of Nordecon Group always strive to come up with the best possible plan and execution to help produce more effective, efficient and sustainable solutions. Successful execution of our construction projects is based on conscious and systematic quality management.

To ensure the compliance of work done and meet our goals, we observe in all projects:

  • The customer’s requirements and project documentation;
  • Construction regulations and standards;
  • The Group’s management system. Our quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management systems are based on the requirements of relevant international standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001/ISO 45001).

At the parent company, Nordecon AS, each completed building or infrastructure asset is assigned a quality coefficient which is calculated on the basis of five indicators:

  • timely completion and delivery to the customer;
  • the number of rectification works at the planned date of completion;
  • customer feedback and satisfaction;
  • accidents and safety incidents at work;
  • findings of technical inspections and their resolution .

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Nordecon’s management system complies with the international quality management standard ISO 9001, the environmental management standard ISO 14001 and the occupational health and safety standard OHSAS 18001. The recertification audit was conducted by DNV GL.

Occupational health and safety

Construction is one of the most accident-prone sectors, which is why it is important for everyone – the employer, the employee, the business partner and the customer that the construction site should be safe and tidy.

Our responsibility is to ensure a safe working environment with properly controlled health risks for both our own employees and those of our partners. A safe working environment assumes the commitment of all stakeholders. Nordecon observes all applicable laws and regulations, has appointed people responsible for relevant areas and established procedures for emergency situations, conducts risk analyses, carries out health checks, and trains and informs employees. Everyone is supplied with proper work and personal protection equipment. Risk situations and accidents at work are analysed to prevent their recurrence. Each construction site has a safety plan, which helps the site team ensure all appropriate measures in cooperation with an occupational health and safety specialist.

The Group’s overall occupational health and safety management has four integrated levels:

  • preventing accidents at work and reducing occupational diseases;
  • ensuring safety on construction sites;
  • providing an ergonomic, clean and modern work environment and similar equipment;
  • supporting employees’ physically and mentally healthy lifestyles.

The Group‘s parent, Nordecon AS, and subsidiary Nordecon Betoon OÜ follow the requirements of international occupational health and safety management standard OHSAS 18001.

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2019 Group’s employees
Subcontractors
2018 Group’s employees
Subcontractors
Work safety incidents
5
24
2
19
Minor accidents at work
10
6
8
6
Serious accidents at work
2
1
1
2
Fatal accidents at work
0
0
0
0

Environmental impacts

Environmental aspects are becoming increasingly important in construction. This is due to both changes in regulations and public expectations as well as growing community awareness of environmental matters. Environmental developments influence construction from the design phase and we strive to ensure that our construction teams can implement new, more sustainable solutions.

The most significant environmental aspects of our activities:

  • Materials used and waste generated in the construction process. We use materials sustainably, sort waste and where possible reuse it. Our waste sorting increased in 2019.
  • The risk of polluting soil, wildlife, vegetation, water bodies and groundwater. Similarly to previous years, the companies of Nordecon group did not breach any environmental requirements in 2019.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from asphalt production. Although our two asphalt concrete plants operate on sustainable modern technology, they are the sources of our largest environmental impacts while also offering the biggest opportunities for energy saving.

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Social impacts

Being a large construction company, Nordecon has a significant impact on local communities and society as a whole, mainly through well-planned and safe construction processes and quality end-results.

We contribute to the development of society by sharing the knowledge and experience of our people and raising topics that need public discussion. We are an active partner for professional associations in the construction industry, universities and occupational qualification authorities as well as a permanent sponsor of various cooperation projects.

Nordecon awards the Heinrich Laul scholarship to a lecturer or researcher up to the age of 40 that holds a doctor’s degree in engineering and works for Tallinn University of Technology. In 2019, the scholarship was awarded to Virgo Sulakatko. In addition, every autumn we give a scholarship to an outstanding student in a master’s programme in engineering. Last year, the scholarship was awarded to Kristin Raudla, a student at the Tartu College of Tallinn University of Technology. Nordecon also supports the Peep Sürje Foundation which promotes road engineering.

Besides engineering, Nordecon supports education, culture and sports and the recognition of officers of the Estonian Defence Forces.

The scholarship has allowed me to reduce my workload, which has enabled me to focus more on my master's thesis. My goal is to graduate with honours (cum laude) and I feel that the scholarship has taken me one step closer to fulfilling my dream. Also, the scholarship has increased my motivation. I am even more determined to work hard and get to the top in my field. I think there ought to be more companies that motivate students and I fully respect Nordecon for having done this for many years.

Kristin Raudla

Recipient of Nordecon’s engineering scholarship 2019

Digital construction

Construction is a low-productivity business across the world. Rapidly developing digital construction i.e. various digitalisation solutions help modernise the construction industry, improve its efficiency and make its image more attractive to young people choosing a profession. Nordecon is an active member of the board of the Digital Construction Cluster which enables us to participate in construction and development-related discussions and to support national digitalisation initiatives. Digital solutions, which have been implemented, are becoming standard practice and the opportunities offered by different software going to be harnessed more extensively. In addition to increasing convenience and speed, digitalisation helps make the construction sector more environment-friendly, safer and more transparent.

In our everyday work , digital construction finds reflection mainly in three aspects:

  1. Use of BIM or 3D models in almost all of our design projects. It helps prevent and avoid mistakes on the construction site. The first customers have started to demand BIM execution models at the end of the project.
  2. All documents related to a construction project are generated and signed in a digital environment. Most projects have no documents signed on paper.
  3. Digitalisation of other stages of work (software for budgeters, augmented reality solutions, etc.).

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Digital construction

Construction is a low-productivity business across the world. Rapidly developing digital construction i.e. various digitalisation solutions help modernise the construction industry, improve its efficiency and make its image more attractive to young people choosing a profession. Nordecon is an active member of the board of the Digital Construction Cluster which enables us to participate in construction and development-related discussions and to support national digitalisation initiatives. Digital solutions, which have been implemented, are becoming standard practice and the opportunities offered by different software going to be harnessed more extensively. In addition to increasing convenience and speed, digitalisation helps make the construction sector more environment-friendly, safer and more transparent.

In our everyday work , digital construction finds reflection mainly in three aspects:

  1. Use of BIM or 3D models in almost all of our design projects. It helps prevent and avoid mistakes on the construction site. The first customers have started to demand BIM execution models at the end of the project.
  2. All documents related to a construction project are generated and signed in a digital environment. Most projects have no documents signed on paper.
  3. Digitalisation of other stages of work (software for budgeters, augmented reality solutions, etc.).

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Our people

Nordecon wishes to offer its employees a modern and professional work environment and opportunities for personal development, a rewarding work experience, and meaningful and effective work. In 2019, the Group employed, on average, 687 people, of whom 84% were male and 16% female. On average, our people have been with us for almost 7 years. Besides having an open and inclusive organisational culture, we carry out annual employee engagement and satisfaction surveys. In 2019, our employee satisfaction was record-high – 91% of employees said they are willing to recommend Nordecon as an employer.

The key developments in 2019 were:

  • Investment in a modern work environment: a new office for the parent company and Tariston.
  • Better in-house communication: more active internal communication, a new intranet, implementation of MS Teams.
  • Healthy lifestyles: supporting employees’ sports activities through SportID, a joint activity programme Healthy Nordecon.
  • Flexible work arrangement: extensive application of teleworking and home office policies .
  • Broad-based training: in 2019 our engineers and technical personnel and workers received 18 hours and 3.9 hours of training per person on average, respectively. We continued working with universities to support employee development. For example, in partnership with Tallinn University of Technology we offer our employees further training in heating, ventilation, water, wastewater and cooling systems. We also support our employees’ studies at higher education institutions and their participation in professional lecture cycles offered by universities.

Future talent

  • To make sure that we will have specialists also in the future, we invest in promoting the engineering profession and improving the quality of education. Our Estonian entities had a total of 40 interns from Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn University of Applied Sciences, Järva County Vocational Education Centre, the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Tallinn Construction School in 2019. We invited students to open tours of Nordecon’s office and our construction sites.

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Awards and public recognition

Awards and public recognition

Nordecon AS achieved the third place in the most competitive construction companies survey conducted by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Nordecon AS is an attractive employer for technology and engineering students. In an employer reputation survey conducted by Instar EBC, technology students rated the company as the seventh and engineering students as the second most attractive employer.

The Estonian Concrete Association awarded the main building of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, completed by Nordecon AS in 2019, the title of Estonian Concrete Building of the Year.

The Estonian Road Administration presented Nordecon AS with the Best Road Builder 2018 award.

Nordecon AS achieved the third place in the most competitive construction companies survey conducted by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Nordecon AS is an attractive employer for technology and engineering students. In an employer reputation survey conducted by Instar EBC, technology students rated the company as the seventh and engineering students as the second most attractive employer.

The Estonian Concrete Association awarded the main building of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, completed by Nordecon AS in 2019, the title of Estonian Concrete Building of the Year.

The Estonian Road Administration presented Nordecon AS with the Best Road Builder 2018 award.