saf-holland sa (SFQ) Snapshot

Saf-Holland SA has announced the opening of its Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Mexico, Quer-taro City. In addition, sales offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in Bogot-, Colombia and in Lima, Peru have also been opened. SAF-HOLLAND is thus moving forward with the goal of expanding its global distribution and service network in the Aftermarket business. With the successful opening of the PDC SAF-HOLLAND continues to strengthen its market position in Central and South America. Customers benefit from reduced delivery times, an even better availability of parts and a simplified order process. Just a few weeks after the official commissioning in March 2013, the PDC with its 1,300 m2 is now fully in operation and provides clients in the Aftermarket business segment in Mexico with spare parts and services.

Saf-Holland SA announced group earnings for the first quarter of the financial year 2013. For the quarter, the company generated group sales of EUR 210.1 million compared to EUR 216.6 million a year ago. The group’s gross profit reached to EUR 39.2 million compared to EUR 39.4 million a year ago. The adjusted EBIT amounted to EUR 13.8 million compared to EUR 14.4 million a year ago. On the earnings side, the company profited noticeably from the optimization of corporate financing in the previous year. The adjusted result for the period rose by 43.3% to EUR 8.6 million against EUR 6.0 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share improved to EUR 0.19 compared to EUR 0.14 a year ago. Cash flow from operating activities before income tax payments increased in the first quarter to EUR 11.1 million compared to EUR 6.1 million a year ago. Some customers, however, moved their payments forward in December 2011 resulting in a reduced cash inflow of approximately EUR 6.0 million in the first quarter of 2012. The company continues to expect business development to proceed according to plan and confirms its sales and earnings goals for full-year 2013. In terms of earnings, the company continues to pursue an increase in adjusted EBIT of more than EUR 60 million for 2013, leading to a stable or increasing EBIT margin. The company expects a rather reserved first half of the year 2013 due to the current market situation and a stronger business development in the second half of the year 2013. The company anticipates a somewhat restrained first half of the year in 2013 and sales increases in the second half of the year 2013. The company continues to stick to its goal of achieving sales of EUR 1 billion and an adjusted EBIT margin of 10% in financial year 2015.

SAF-HOLLAND SA announced group earnings results for the year ended December 31, 2012. The group sales increase EUR 28.3 million to EUR 859.6 million. About 55% of group sales were provided by the Trailer Systems Business Unit, which generated EUR 473.5 million. Adjusted EBIT for the period was EUR 58.2 million against EUR 58.0 million in the same period a year ago. Net profit was EUR 156.2 million against EUR 148.8 million in the same period a year ago. The adjusted result increased further, reaching EUR 28.4 million compared to EUR 24.2 million reported a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were EUR 0.68 against EUR 0.66 in the same period a year ago. It has improved despite the significantly higher average number of shares outstanding. Cash flow from operating activities before income tax payments was EUR 59.5 million against EUR 46.5 million in the same period a year ago. Net debt was EUR 141.8 million against EUR 159.7 million as at December 31, 2011. The company is assuming that the European economy recovers slightly as forecast, group sales of between EUR 875 million and EUR 900 million are targeted for the full-year 2013. The sales growth should be accompanied by an adjusted EBIT of above EUR 60 million which would result in a stable or increasing adjusted EBIT margin. Furthermore, no major one-time negative effects on earnings in fiscal year 2013 are anticipated. As a consequence a significant improvement in the actual result for 2013 is expected.