EANS-News: SHW AG confirms positive outlook for 2012
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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/6-month report
Aalen (euro adhoc) - Groups sales grow by 13.3 percent to EUR 202.0 million in
the first half of 2012
- Group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
climb 22.8 percent to EUR 23.2 million
- Low leverage supports profitable realization of the growth strategy
Aalen, 6 August 2012. SHW AG, one of the leading suppliers of CO2-relevant pumps
and engine components as well as brake discs, continued its success story in the
first half of 2012, when both Group sales and Group net income for the period
reached new record levels.
Group sales improved by 13.3 percent to EUR 202.2 million (previous year: EUR
178.2 million). This growth is mainly attributable to a large number of
production start-ups and the stable demand of SHW customers. Group earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the January to
June 2012 period were up by EUR 4.3 million on the previous year to EUR 23.2
million. At 11.5 percent, the EBITDA margin clearly exceeded the prior year
level of 10.6 percent. Net income for the period rose by 16.2 percent to EUR
11.1 million (previous year: EUR 9.5 million). Earnings per share amounted to
EUR 1.90 (previous year: EUR 1.66).
"The good half-year figures reconfirm our consequent orientation on CO2-relevant
products," said CEO Dr. Wolfgang Krause, who is in charge of the Pumps and
Engine Components business segment. "The European Commission has just presented
much stricter CO2 targets for the year 2020, which will benefit SHW."
Further improved equity ratio; low leverage ratio
At the six-month stage of the financial year 2012, the net assets and financial
position of SHW was again very solid. The equity ratio stood at 34.1 percent on
30 June 2012, compared to 29.1 percent in the previous year.
Due to upcoming production start-ups, investments in the first six months of
2012 climbed from EUR 8.5 million to EUR 8.9 million. "In spite of the high
investments and the dividend distribution of EUR 5.9 million, our leverage ratio
- the relation between net bank debt and EBITDA - stands at a very low 0.44,"
emphasised CFO Oliver Albrecht. "This gives us a high degree of financial
flexibility and is the basis for our ability to invest and the profitable
realization of our growth strategy in the coming years."
Pumps and Engine Components business segment remains main growth driver
First-half sales in the Pumps and Engine Components business segment were up by
19.8 percent on the previous year to EUR 156.1 million (previous year: EUR 130.3
million). Reporting a 25.0 percent increase in sales to EUR 125.7 million, the
Passenger Car division benefited from high demand for variable oil pumps and
start-stop pumps and the production start of an oil/vacuum pump. EBITDA in the
Pumps and Engine Components business segment were up by EUR 3.9 million to EUR
20.6 million in the January to June 2012 period. The EBITDA margin improved from
12.8 percent to 13.2 percent.
Sales in the Brake Discs business segment decreased by 4.3 percent to EUR 45.8
million (previous year: EUR 47.9 million). At EUR 3.1 million, earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were on a par with the
previous year. The EBITDA margin increased from 6.4 percent in the previous year
to 6.9 percent. "The measures initiated to improve our profitability are
increasingly bearing fruit," said Andreas Rydzewski, member of the Management
Board and in charge of the Brake Discs business segment. "An EBIT margin of 4.3
percent in the second quarter of 2012 means that we have come a great deal
closer to our target range."
Guidance confirmed
The risks to the economy - especially for the Eurozone - increased again in the
second quarter as the sovereign debt crisis remains unsolved. According to
industry experts, this will reduce the output of light vehicles (vehicles < 6 t)
in the European Union by about 5 percent. SHW will probably not be able to
isolate itself entirely from such a trend. "But the good first-half figures make
us confident that we will reach the targets we have set ourselves for this
year," said Dr. Wolfgang Krause. "At this stage, we expect to generate Group
sales of between EUR 370 and 385 million." If this sales growth is achieved,
Group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
should grow at a slightly higher rate than sales.
About SHW
The enterprise was established in 1365, making it one of the oldest industrial
enterprises in Germany. Today, the SHW Group is a leading supplier for the
automotive industry with products that contribute to a reduction of fuel
consumption and consequently CO2 emissions. In its Pumps and Engine Components
business segment, the SHW Group develops and produces pumps for passenger
vehicles and truck and off-highway applications, e.g. trucks, farm and
construction vehicles, stationary motors and wind power stations. The Brake
Discs business segment develops and produces monobloc ventilated brake discs
made of cast iron and lightweight brake discs made from a combination of an iron
friction ring and an aluminium pot. Customers of the SHW Group include leading
producers of passenger cars and commercial vehicles with manufacturing
facilities in Europe and North America. The SHW Group has four manufacturing
sites in Germany, located in Bad Schussenried, Aalen-Wasseralfingen,
Tuttlingen-Ludwigstal and Neuhausen ob Eck. Via its 50 percent interest in the
Canadian company STT Technologies Inc., the company also has production sites in
Canada and Mexico. With more than 1,000 employees, the SHW Group generated
approx. EUR 360 million in sales in 2011. Further information is available at:
www.shw.de
Future-oriented statements
This press release contains certain future-oriented statements that are based
upon current assumptions and forecasts made by the management of SHW AG. Various
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may lead to the actual
results, financial position, development or performance of the company deviating
considerably from the appraisals specified here. The company assumes no
obligation to update future-oriented statements of this nature or adapt them to
future events or developments.
Note
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell securities in the United
States of America, Canada, Australia, Japan or any other jurisdictional
territory where offers are subject to statutory restrictions. The securities
named in this announcement may only be sold or offered for sale in the United
States of America following their prior registration in accordance with the
provisions of the version of the US Securities Act of 1933 currently in force
(the "Securities Act") or, without prior registration, only on the basis of an
exemption. Unless provided for by certain exceptions within the Securities Act,
the securities named within this announcement may not be sold or offered for
sale in Australia, Canada or Japan, nor may they be sold or offered for sale to
or for account of residents of Australia, Canada or Japan. No registration of
the offer or sale of the securities named in this announcement will take place,
as stipulated by the relevant statutory provisions in Canada, Australia and
Japan. There is no public solicitation to buy securities in the United States of
America.
Further inquiry note:
Michael Schickling
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
SHW AG
Telephone: +49 (0) 7361 502 462
Email: michael.schickling@shw.de
end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: SHW AG
Wilhelmstrasse 67
D-73433 Aalen
phone: +49 7361 502-1
FAX: +49 7361 502-674
mail: ir@shw.de
WWW: http://www.shw.de
sector: Automotive Equipment
ISIN: DE000A1JBPV9
indexes:
stockmarkets: free trade: Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, regulated dealing/prime
standard: Frankfurt
language: English