STRONG RESULTS ALONG WITH SOLID ORDER GROWTH IN SERVICE AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
KONECRANES PLC INTERIM REPORT October 25, 2018 at 9:00 am
strong results along with solid order growth IN service and industrial equipment
This release is a summary of Konecranes Plc’s Interim Report January-October 2018. The complete report is attached to this release in pdf format and is also available on Konecranes’ website at www.konecranes.com.
Konecranes applied the full retrospective approach in IFRS 15 transition, and the numbers for the periods in 2017 have been restated. Please refer to note 4 for more details on the implementation of IFRS 15 and other significant accounting policies.
Figures in brackets, unless otherwise stated, refer to the same period a year earlier.
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Service order intake EUR 241.9 million (231.8), +4.4 percent (+4.8 percent on a comparable currency basis)
- Order intake EUR 716.5 million (750.1), -4.5 percent (-3.3 percent on a comparable currency basis). The decline was due to Business Area Port Solutions, partly offset by solid growth in Business Areas Industrial Equipment and Service
- Sales EUR 800.2 million (746.8), +7.2 percent (+7.8 percent on a comparable currency basis), with solid growth in all Business Areas.
- Adjusted EBITA EUR 74.5 million (54.5), 9.3 percent of sales (7.3), reflecting synergy cost-saving measures, higher net sales, improved sales mix, as well as successful delivery execution in Port Solutions
- Operating profit EUR 48.5 million (7.0), 6.1 percent of sales (0.9)
- Earnings per share (diluted) EUR 0.41 (-0.06)
JANUARY-SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
- Service order intake 737.2 million (729.4), +1.1 percent (+5.5 percent on a comparable currency basis)
- Order intake EUR 2,160.5 million (2,274.8), -5.0 percent (-2.1 percent on a comparable currency basis)
- Order book EUR 1,624.6 million (1,656.4) at the end of September, -1.9 percent (-1.2 percent on a comparable currency basis)
- Sales EUR 2,245.2 million (2,227.2), +0.8 percent (+4.0 percent on a comparable currency basis)
- Adjusted EBITA EUR 171.5 million (136.7), 7.6 percent of sales (6.1)
- Operating profit EUR 114.3 million (263.3), 5.1 percent of sales (11.8)
- Earnings per share (diluted) EUR 0.79 (2.63)
- Free cash flow EUR -3.3 million (166.4)
- Net debt EUR 620.5 million (566.4) and gearing 49.9 percent (45.1)
DEMAND OUTLOOK
The demand environment within the industrial customer segments continues to improve in EMEA and the Americas; that said, signs of stabilization are visible. In APAC, the demand environment remains stable. Global container throughput continues at a high level, and the prospects for orders related to container handling remain stable.
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
The sales in 2018 are expected to be approximately on the same level or higher than in 2017. We expect the adjusted EBITA margin to improve in 2018.
KEY FIGURES
| July-September | January-September | |||||||||||||
| 7-9/ 2018 | 7-9/ 2017 | Change % | 1-9/ 2018 | 1-9/ 2017 | Change% | R12M | 2017 | |||||||
| Orders received, MEUR | 716.5 | 750.1 | -4.5 | 2 ,160.5 | 2,274.8 | -5.0 | 2,893.1 | 3,007.4 | ||||||
| Order book at end of period, MEUR | 1,624.6 | 1,656.6 | -1.9 | 1,535.8 | ||||||||||
| Sales total, MEUR | 800.2 | 746.8 | 7.2 | 2,245.2 | 2,227.2 | 0.8 | 3,155.2 | 3,137.2 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA, MEUR 1 | 91.1 | 72.2 | 26.3 | 223.8 | 192.0 | 16.6 | 321.0 | 289.2 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA, % 1 | 11.4 | % | 9.7 | % | 10.0 | % | 8.6 | % | 10.2 | % | 9.2 | % | ||
| Adjusted EBITA, MEUR 2 | 74.5 | 54.5 | 36.5 | 171.5 | 136.7 | 25.5 | 251.5 | 216.6 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITA, % 2 | 9.3 | % | 7.3 | % | 7.6 | % | 6.1 | % | 8.0 | % | 6.9 | % | ||
| Adjusted operating profit, MEUR 1 | 65.1 | 44.8 | 45.3 | 143.4 | 107.4 | 33.6 | 214.1 | 178.0 | ||||||
| Adjusted operating margin, % 1 | 8.1 | % | 6.0 | % | 6.4 | % | 4.8 | % | 6.8 | % | 5.7 | % | ||
| Operating profit, MEUR | 48.5 | 7.0 | 597.8 | 114.3 | 263.3 | -56.6 | 169.7 | 318.7 | ||||||
| Operating margin, % | 6.1 | % | 0.9 | % | 5.1 | % | 11.8 | % | 5.4 | % | 10.2 | % | ||
| Profit before taxes, MEUR | 44.0 | -4.7 | 1,039.7 | 86.8 | 231.4 | -62.5 | 131.5 | 276.0 | ||||||
| Net profit for the period, MEUR | 31.9 | -4.1 | 870.7 | 62.5 | 203.6 | -69.3 | 84.3 | 225.4 | ||||||
| Earnings per share, basic, EUR | 0.41 | -0.06 | 821.1 | 0.79 | 2.63 | -69.7 | 1.06 | 2.89 | ||||||
| Earnings per share, diluted, EUR | 0.41 | -0.06 | 821.1 | 0.79 | 2.63 | -69.7 | 1.06 | 2.89 | ||||||
| Interest-bearing net debt, Equity, % | 49.9 | % | 45.1 | % | 41.1 | % | ||||||||
| Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA, R12M 1 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.8 | |||||||||||
| Return on capital employed, % | 5.9 | % | 23.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted return on capital employed, % 3 | 11.4 | % | 15.4 | % | ||||||||||
| Free cash flow, MEUR | 21.8 | -6.2 | -3.3 | 166.4 | 54.7 | 224.4 | ||||||||
| Average number of personnel during the period | 16,289 | 15,307 | 6.4 | 15,519 | ||||||||||
1 Excluding adjustments, see also note 11 in the summary financial statements
2 Excluding adjustments and purchase price allocation amortization, see also note 11 in the summary financial statement
3 ROCE excluding adjustments, see also note 11 in the summary financial statements
President and CEO Panu Routila:
Progress towards our targets continued according to our plans in the third quarter.
First, we continued to track slightly ahead of our synergy savings plan, with EUR 98 million run-rate savings reached in Q3. Following our good progress, we now expect the run-rate savings to reach EUR 105-110 million by the year-end, which is at the higher end of our previous target range.
Second, Q3 was a solid quarter for Business Area Service. Net sales grew 8.2 percent from the year-ago quarter, on the back of the increased order backlog year-to-date. While orders in Q3 grew at a slightly lower rate compared to Q2, this was due to slower modernization activity in the quarter. That said, field services and parts continued to record solid growth. On a comparable currency basis, order intake in Service increased by 4.8 percent and the value of the agreement base by 3.2 percent to EUR 242 million. Compared to the year-end 2017, the annualized growth of the agreement base value was approximately 6 percent.
Third, Business Area Industrial Equipment recorded solid constant currency growth of 5.5 percent in external orders in Q3, compared to the year-ago period. The growth was strongest for components and continued to accelerate from the first half of the year. In addition, order intake for standard cranes grew for the first time during the current economic upcycle; by solid double-digit percentage in the Americas and continuing the growth in EMEA, which began in Q2. Being late-cyclical, the improved performance in Q3 puts Industrial Equipment in a good position when entering the last quarter of the year.
While order intake in Ports Solutions was still relatively weak in Q3, this was largely due to the timing of projects. After the end of the reporting period, we announced an order for 54 Automated Rail Mounted Gantry cranes by Abu Dhabi Terminals for the expansion of its container terminal in Khalifa Port. The order is the second largest ever received by Konecranes and a testimony to our proven technology, delivery expertise and service support. The order is booked in Q4.
Overall, the demand environment for container handling products and services continues at a good level. Despite the slow order intake in the first nine months of the year, we expect the full year order intake in Ports Solutions to be around the same level or even slightly higher than in 2017.
On a comparable currency basis, Group sales increased by 7.8 percent from the year-ago period, with all Business Areas recording solid sales growth. Higher net sales, along with the EUR 14 million of P&L level cost synergies delivered in the quarter, helped to improve the Group’s adjusted EBITA margin to 9.3 percent in Q3. In Port Solutions, profitability continued to benefit from good project execution and favorable project mix. We expect the margin performance in Port Solutions to be somewhat lower in the coming quarters, given our current orderbook and project pipeline.
Activity in the world’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in Q3. However, the growth came at a slowing pace, reflecting the reduced predictability in the global economy, as worries about trade wars and tariffs continued. We, too, have seen certain cases where customers’ decision-making is taking slightly longer. So far, however, the cases have been isolated and have had only a limited impact on us. Changes in trade policies also require us to adjust our own operations. With a global supply chain and manufacturing network, we are in a good position to do so, when needed.
Despite the increased uncertainty in the world economy, our own demand environment within the industrial customer segments continues to improve in EMEA and the Americas. That said, signs of stabilization have become visible. The two cornerstones of our medium-term strategy; growth in Service and capturing MHPS acquisition related cost synergies, are progressing well and according to our plans. Our confidence in reaching our target of EUR 140 million run-rate cost synergies by the end of 2019 continues to be strong, and we have reiterated our financial guidance for full year 2018.
Analyst and press briefing
An analyst and press conference will be held at the restaurant Savoy’s Salikabinetti (address: Eteläesplanadi 14) on October 25, 2018 at 11.00 a.m. Finnish time. The Q3 interim report will be presented by the Konecranes’ President and CEO Panu Routila and CFO Teo Ottola.
A live webcast of the conference will begin at 11.00 a.m. at www.konecranes.com. Please see the stock exchange release dated October 11, 2018 for the conference call details.
KONECRANES PLC
Eero Tuulos President, Investor Relations
FURTHER INFORMATION
Mr. Panu Routila, President and CEO, tel. +358 20 427 2000
Mr. Teo Ottola, Chief Financial Officer, tel. +358 20 427 2040
Mr. Eero Tuulos, Vice President, Investor Relations, tel. +358 20 427 2050
Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment of all makes. In 2017, Group sales totaled EUR 3,136 million. The Group has 16,400 employees at 600 locations in 50 countries. Konecranes shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).
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www.konecranes.com