Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for waiting. Welcome to Mills' live conference call to discuss second quarter 2022 results. For those of you who need simultaneous interpretation, we have this feature available on the platform. You just need to click on the interpretation button by clicking on the icon of a globe on the bottom of your screen and choose your preferred language, Portuguese or English. For those of you who are listening to the video conference in English, you have the option to click on Mute Original Audio. We inform that this conference call is being recorded and will be available in the company's IR website, where you can also download the complete earnings release and presentation. During the company's presentation, all participants will have their microphones disabled. After the presentation, we will begin the question and answer session.
We highlight that the statements and information that might be made during this video conference call relative to Mills' business perspectives, projections, they're all based on the expectations of Mills' management regarding the future of the company. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance. They involve macroeconomic conditions, market risks, and other factors. I will now turn the floor to Mr. Sérgio Kariya, CEO of Mills.
Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for attending our results conference call live. We begin our presentation on slide three with the highlights of the quarter. We totaled BRL 248 million in net revenue and net income of BRL 63 million in Q2 2022. A net income that was never achieved in the previous quarter. It was up 44% and 217% respectively year-over-year.
This result shows the success of our trajectory so far. We believe in the rental business and in the capacity and ability of our team. Supported by demand and always seeking to optimize our pricing, we delivered a gross margin before depreciation of 73%, adjusted EBITDA of BRL 112 million and adjusted EBITDA margin of 45% in Q2. Additionally, we achieved an ROIC of 21% in our consolidated results and 25% in the rental business unit. Even in the face of the macroeconomic context and the challenges still faced in the global supply chain, Mills demonstrates its operating and financial strength with consistent results. Our initiatives and the resilience and flexibility of our operating model have contributed to solid results posted.
We believe that our business model, with its long-term vision and discipline in allocation of capital to generate value, helps us mitigate these risks. We continue with our share buyback program, having repurchased up to July thirty-first, 4.7 million shares, and we will continue our strategy of maximizing shareholder return up to the limit of 14.9 million shares as established by the plan. Still exploring all opportunities for the company, we have been evaluating tax opportunities. This quarter, we have already recognized almost BRL 7 million in benefits identified in the recovery of PIS, COFINS credits, INSS, and accelerated depreciation. Last but not least, another relevant delivery this quarter was the publication of our sustainability report, prepared according to the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative or GRI.
We congratulate the team for the initiatives that have been carried out continuously and reaffirm our commitment to generating a positive impact beyond the financial results, fulfilling our social responsibility and ensuring a sustainable future for our company. On the next slide, we explore a bit about our transformation journey. We remain focused and confident in our strong growth agenda with value creation. As we have reiterated in our communications to the market, we entered the Yellow Line equipment business in a hybrid way, combining an M and A move and acquisition with an organic move. On the inorganic side, we acquired Trieng, an excellent company that has a high cultural fit and potential integration with our current business. Added to this movement, we also announced the acquisition of Yellow Line equipment totaling BRL 225 million, aiming at positioning ourselves as a relevant player in this market.
This market is 10 times larger than the market of lifting platforms. It is highly pulverized with no dominant player. Our efforts in this direction were made after a lot of study and work to ensure the right entry move, where we can generate even more value through Mills' strengths while gaining experience and knowledge to become more and more relevant also in this line of equipment. We will explore new avenues of growth through product expansion. Positioning ourselves as a one-stop shop in the machinery and equipment rental market. We seek relevant markets that bring high growth potential. We are also focused with focus on the predictability of our cash flow. Our entry in the Yellow Line segment will help us to balance this with longer contracts that will help us to have greater visibility regarding the future.
Diversification of products also brings with it opportunities to increase penetration and revenue from customers in important sectors of the Brazilian economy, customers that are already in our portfolio. They would benefit from increased services with the quality assurance that only Mills can offer. We are the rental company with the largest footprint in Brazilian territories, serving more than 1,400 cities with a broad customer base. Because they have more than 8,000 customers. We have a robust commercial structure and internationally recognized operating quality. We aim to strengthen Mills' leadership position, offering the best experience to our customers through innovative solutions and differentiated service. We will leverage Mills' competencies gained over the years to win in new markets. We're very happy and confident with everything we have achieved thus far, but we remain optimistic and relentless with all of the opportunities ahead of us.
Now to give more detail about our earnings, I turn the floor over to our Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer, Renata Vaz.
Good afternoon, everyone. Starting on slide six, we present the operating data from the rental business unit. In the last 12 months, we increased our fleet by approximately 1,200 machines, ending the quarter with a fleet of over 9,200 pieces of equipment as a reflection of Mills organic and inorganic growth strategy. The average age of our fleet is 9 years, and replacement value is BRL 2.7 billion. It is worth mentioning that Mills differentiated quality in equipment maintenance has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and on the longer useful life of our rental assets.
We are also constantly evaluating opportunities in the secondary market for the optimal selling point of our equipment, which is sold today for an average of 30% of the value of a new machine. In relation to the investment approved for the acquisition of new machines, we received 16% of the 1,314 machines, with BRL 38 million already recognized in the result. Due to the bottleneck in the global supply chain, an additional investment of up to $16 million was approved for the acquisition of up to 220 lifting platforms. The new equipment will arrive between 2022 and the first half of 2023. The approved amounts do not consider the amounts to be obtained by the company with the sale of used platforms. The average utilization rate in Q2 2022 was 64%, higher than in Q1 2022.
Even with increase in the fleet, we expect a second half of growth due to the demand forecast in several sectors of the economy, due to the entry into new markets through the opening of branches, and also in view of the perspectives for investments in infrastructure announced by the Brazilian government. In the next slide, we demonstrate the diversification of our revenue, which ensures greater resilience to the negative impacts of economic cycles, since we serve several sectors. In addition to the 33% of revenues that come from the civil construction sector, 14% come from customers in the steel metallurgy sector, 8% from chemicals and petrochemical companies, 7% from services, and so on, as shown in the graph.
From a different perspective, we highlight our diversified customer base, with the top 20 customers accounting for 17% of revenues this quarter, with the top five customers accounting for only 8% of our revenues. On slide 8, we can see how operating performance translates into financial performance in the rental business unit. Net revenue of the rental unit was BRL 216 million, with an important growth of 42% over Q2 2021. This growth is mainly explained by higher rental revenue, which increased 51% in the period. The BRL 66 million increase in rental revenue stemmed from the increase in average ticket and higher volume rented. Sales revenues decreased by 23% year-on-year as a result of the global supply chain bottleneck. In this scenario, Mills readjusted its strategy of selling assets and rescheduled the sale of semi new equipment.
In relation to t he previous quarter, net revenues grew 6%, also due to higher rental revenues and higher sales revenues driven by the sale of new machines. In the quarter, adjusted EBITDA totaled BRL 101 million, up 67.4% over Q2 2021, and up and also higher quarter-on-quarter. EBITDA margin reached 46.9%, a year-on-year increase of 7.2 percentage points. On slide 10, we are now moving to the formwork and shoring unit. In Q2 2022, we had an average rental of 27,000 tons and a utilization rate of 51.4%. We had a 17% increase in rented volume in the annual comparison as a reflection of increased demand in the infrastructure sector. We now turn to the financial results of this business unit on slide 11.
In the second quarter, net revenue grew 59% compared to the previous year, due to higher rental revenue, which increased 63% in the period as a result of higher volume rented and higher average ticket charged. Comparing with Q1 2022, net revenue posted a 2% drop due to lower indemnity revenue, referring to the agreement of judicial collection that produced additional revenue in Q1 2022. Rental revenue recorded growth of 8% in the period. The adjusted EBITDA of the business unit totaled 11 million BRL, seven times higher year-on-year with an EBITDA margin of 34.4%. Now, looking at the consolidated results, we can see on slide 13 important advances in the quarter's results. Net revenue was 44% higher year-on-year and 5% higher quarter-on-quarter, totaling 247.6 million BRL.
This revenue increase reflects the increased demand in several sectors in our initiatives to increase market coverage via organic growth and M and As. It is worth noting that both business units saw increases in rental volume and average ticket. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was BRL 112 million, 81% higher over Q2 2021 with an EBITDA margin of 45%. As you can see on slide 14, we recorded a net income three times higher than in Q2 2021 and 55% higher than Q1 2022. Our commitment is to an efficient operation, and our continuous improvement initiatives have demonstrated cost and expense control, which benefits our bottom line and maximizes the return to our shareholders.
Even in the face of relevant investments, we remain a company with strong cash generation capacity, having recorded an adjusted operating cash flow of BRL 78 million in the quarter and BRL 9.3 million of adjusted free cash flow for the company. On slide 15, we show the company's debt profile in June 30, 2022. Our gross debt amounts to BRL 425 million for the quarter and has an average maturity of 2.6 years with a spread of 2.8% per annum above the CDI, of which 14.5% is due for payment in the short term and 86% is due for payment with a term of more than 12 months until 2027 according to the schedule that can be seen in the chart below.
97% of the debt refers to three debentures issued in 2020 and 2022. As disclosed in an advisory to the market yesterday, S&P Global Ratings published our credit rating at AA- on the national scale, which will enable us to reduce the cost and profile of our debt. This rating represents an important progress, being three notches above our current rating. We continue with our disciplined capital structure management, poised for strong growth in 2022 and beyond. In the next slide, complementing the previous slide, the first chart shows that our gross debt of BRL 425 million is composed of BRL 421 million in principal and BRL 4 million in interest. Considering the BRL 470 million in cash recorded in the Q2 2022 balance sheet, we have obtained a net cash position of BRL 45 million.
As shown in the graphs below, again in this quarter, we have met our covenants. Lastly, on slide 17, we would like to highlight that the company's consolidated ROIC is at 21.4%, a percentage above the company's average cost of debt. Our ROE was 16% in the quarter, up from 3% in Q2 2021. To end, I'd like to stress that we continue on our transformation journey with strong growth and discipline in capital allocation. We are confident and engaged with this new phase of the company. Mills is in a favorable competitive position to capture the opportunities for growth while maximizing value. We remain at the disposal of our shareholders and investors and reinforce our commitment to deliver positive returns to all of those who believe in Mills. We are now available to answer your questions. Thank you very much.
We will now begin the question and answer session. In order to ask a question, please click on the Q&A icon on the bottom of your screen. Write down your name, your company, and language. When your name is called, you will be prompted to enable your microphone. You should then enable your mic to ask a question. Our first question comes from Fernanda Recchia , Sell-side Analyst with XP. Fernanda, we will enable your mic so that you can ask a question. Please, Fernanda, you may proceed.
Hello, everyone. Can you hear me?
Yes, Fernanda, we can hear you.
Congratulations on the results, and thank you for taking our question. We have two questions. First will be about the utilization rate in rental. We see, continue to see an evolution this quarter.
Could you elaborate more on operating initiatives that you have been implementing to keep it at this level? How do you expect this rate to behave in the second half of the year and in 2023? This is our first question. Thank you. Well, Fernanda, thank you for the question. Our utilization rate, as you could see, has expanded quarter-on-quarter. We still have a relatively more compressed utilization rate for heavier equipment, given that heavier constructions haven't been started yet. We see expansion with new branches being opened, the arrival of new equipment and machine. Because we have some profiles of equipment whose utilization profile is quite high. So this equipment is going to these new branches, and this is what we're estimating for the second half of the year and upcoming quarters. An evolution, in other words, in our utilization rate.
Perfect. Thank you very much. My second question is regarding Yellow Line entry. Could you comment on what you expect in terms of impact on average ticket, on the average age of the fleet once the operations are integrated? What is your expected schedule or timeline regarding integration and approval by CADE, the antitrust entity of Brazil? Well, Fernanda, let me start talking about CADE. Our estimates is that by month end or beginning of September, CADE will be approving the acquisition of Trieng by Mills. As you could see in our communications, Trieng has a fleet, average age of two years. We are making an acquisition of practically equal value with new equipment, BRL 225 million.
We are obviously looking to expand not only in agri business, but always in construction, mining, so that we can support our customers by renting this equipment in the mid to long run. We are very optimistic given the pipeline that we've had since this communication. Several customers are knocking on our doors, approaching us. We are sending out a lot of quotes already expecting the arrival of the new equipment and the eventual integration of Trieng with Mills. Super clear. Thank you very much, and congrats on the results. Thank you. All right, next question comes from Carlos Alberto de Souza, TC Investor. Carlos, we'll open the audio so that you can ask your question. Carlos Alberto de Souza from TC. Thank you. Kariya. Well, congratulations and congrats to the whole team. Can you hear me well? Yes. Great. My question is also about the utilization rate.
What are you expecting for the new equipment that will be arriving soon? You have new branches opening, so how can you increase the utilization rate? Because it is a very important factor. I want to know what you expect with the arrival of new equipment. Something that we were expecting to increase utilization rate, could you speak about the Phoenix Project? Is it done? Is there another step to it, another stage? I'll mute my mic now. Hi, Carlos Alberto de Souza . Thank you for the questions. We have received almost 16% of the order that we placed in mid-2021. We should be receiving a greater concentration of equipment along the second half of the year, and that's when we will also concentrate the opening of new branches. We have started operationalizing a number of locations. Demand is there.
It's a little stressed still. The supply chain of lifting platforms is more stressed than other equipment, so we have suffered a little pain with the deliveries, but that will be concentrated in the second half of the year. We have a positive expectation of receiving the equipment, renting it quickly in these new locations. As for Phoenix, almost 90% of the Phoenix Project should be completed in 2022. There should be only 10% left for the first and second quarters of 2023. We have been constantly releasing the equipment according to our schedule. Thank you, Carlos, for your question. Our next question comes from Alexandre Pellaes Nevares, individual investor. Alexandre, we will enable your mic so that you can ask your question. Please go ahead. Well, we will read Mr. Alexandre Pellaes Nevares question, which is: Congratulations on the excellent results.
When do you estimate that the infrastructure program through government concessions will be impacting sales of the company? And the second question is it possible to maintain or increase ROIC with the entry in Yellow Line? And what is the impact? Alexandre, thank you very much for the questions. I think that concessions and auctions by the government already have a positive impact on our demand, not only in the business of lifting platforms, but also in our formwork and shoring business. I think we can have more visibility now in our formwork and shoring business. We have been expanding the revenue. We have been improving our prices, and we have a robust backlog for this business. We have 90 million in backlog contracted for formwork and shoring, all due to auctions and concessions by the federal government.
Regarding your question of the return on invested capital, of course, Yellow Line business has a very interesting ROIC, slightly lower than the ROIC of lifting platforms and formwork and shoring. It is a positive delta of ROIC, which is a positive factor. It's quite interesting for us to have this share of Yellow Line. Another very relevant and important fact in Yellow Line is the addressable market. The addressable market is robustly greater than the addressable market of lifting platforms. Our estimates, as we said before, is that this market is estimated to be ten times the size of the lifting platform market. The ROIC is interesting, with a much greater addressable market compared to lifting platforms. Thank you for the answer. Our next question is by Celso Canto Navarro, sell-side analyst of SCRP . Mr.
Canto Navarro, we'll open your mic so you can ask a question. You may proceed, sir. We'll also read the question by Mr. Celso Canto Navarro. The question is: With almost BRL 1 billion in revenues in 2022, what is the share of Mills of the Brazilian market, and what is the expectation of market share for the next three years? What is the size of the estimated Brazilian market, including Yellow Line? Celso, I think it's kind of hard to estimate the size of the rental market of any equipment, generally speaking, in Brazil. What we did in terms of our analysis, when we look at the markets where we are operating now, lifting platforms, Yellow Line, compressors and generators. In 2021, this was a market that amounted to around BRL 40 billion. Last year, Mills had a gross revenue of almost BRL 1 billion.
Now we have a net revenue of 1 billion. What we see in terms of these markets for 2022 is that they're expanding around 10%. It's a market with BRL 44 billion-BRL 45 billion for these sectors. The market is a lot broader than that. We have other types of equipment, but what we have assessed, evaluated, and studied in our estimates are based on the equipment with which we operate.
Thank you for the answer.
As a reminder, if you want to ask a question, you just have to click on the Q&A icon on the bottom of your screen. Please write your name, company and language. When announced, you will be prompted to enable your mic. Then please enable your mic and ask your question.
As a reminder, if you want to ask a question, please click on the Q&A icon on the bottom of your screen. Write your name, your company and language. When we select your question, we will prompt you to enable your mic and ask your question. Our next question is by Pedro Cardoso, sell-side analyst of Eleven Financial. Pedro, we will enable your mic so you can ask your question live. Please, Pedro, go ahead.
Good afternoon, Sérgio Kariya. Congratulations on the results. I have a quick question. You were able to achieve a rental rate of 4%, which is quite positive. Sometimes in the market, we hear the ideal number would be 5%, but that's way ahead. Do you believe that you can continue to increase the rental rate from 4%- 5% since you achieved 4% in 2022 already?
Well, with 4%, Pedro, you can see the ROIC is quite interesting. Of course, we are always trying to improve. We have equipment that has rental rate close to 5%. The 4% is obviously the average of our equipment. Some equipment have a rental rate a little more depressed, but we are being very optimistic looking forward in terms of expanding our prices. In Q2 2022, we were practically flat in terms of prices compared to Q1. In terms of price increases, these were marginal. The average ticket dropped slightly, but due to mix and not price, you could see that the volumes increased. We have some products that are posting very high rental rates and utilization rates, and we are now looking for opportunities to have more and more profit coming from our assets. Yes, I agree.
I think that there's room for us to increase the rental rate for some products to reach perhaps even higher than 5%. Perfect.
As a reminder, if you want to ask a question, just click on the Q&A icon on the bottom of your screen. Write your name, company, and language. We will enable your mic so you can ask a question. The Q&A session is closed. I would like to turn the floor to Mr. Sérgio Kariya for his final statements. Mr. Kariya, you may begin.
Well, I'd like to thank everyone for your interest in our live video conference call. Our investor relations department remains available if you have any additional questions. Thank you very much and have a great day.