Quarterly Report • Aug 1, 2009
Quarterly Report
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In this report we will inform you of the development of business at Leifheit in the first six months of the
2009 financial year. The condensed financial statements have not been audited or reviewed by an auditor.
| January to June | 2009 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | ||
| domestic € million |
61 | 59 |
| foreign € million |
76 | 78 |
| total € million |
137 | 137 |
| Foreign share | 55% | 57% |
| EBIT € million |
2.8 | 0.9 |
| EBT € million |
1.6 | -0.3 |
| Net result for the period 1) € million |
0.5 | -1.7 |
| Investment in tangible assets € million |
2.9 | 1.9 |
| Cash flow from operating activities € million |
28.5 | -8.5 |
| Employees (annual average) | 1,462 | 1,393 |
| 1) Not including minority interests |
The downturn in the global economy triggered by the international financial crisis slowed in the second quarter of 2009. Following the heavy slide in industrial production and retail volumes in the first quarter, several leading indicators pointed to a weakening in the global recession in the months that followed. The Eurozone also saw indications for the first time that the economy was stabilising. Among other things, experts attributed this to a slight improvement in consumer and investor sentiment in the second quarter. The economy in Germany stabilised at a low level in the spring quarter.
In spite of these initial positive signals, experts are assuming that the global economy will be hesitant in returning to sustainable growth. In particular, falling job demand could significantly depress consumer spending. Also, the high public-sector deficits in all major industrialised nations and the expansive monetary policies of central banks are increasing the risk of inflation. Emerging nations such as China and India will be the only ones to generate any growth impetus in the current year. Overall, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is forecasting that the global economy will shrink by 1.4% in 2009.
A decline in economic output of 4.8% is forecast for the Eurozone. According to the IMF, German gross domestic product will fall by around 6% in 2009 on account of its heavy dependence on exports. Experts are not anticipating a turnaround in growth rate developments around the world until 2010 at the earliest.
In spite of the increasingly weakened general consumer climate, Leifheit's consolidated turnover was stable in the second quarter at € 67 million. The German share of this figure rose slightly from 43% to 45%.
Turnover for the Leifheit Group was also steady yearon-year at € 137 million for the first half of 2009 as a whole.
Leifheit's strongest pillar is the Household Products division, which again posted growth: As against the first half of 2008, the Household Products division increased its turnover from € 100 million to € 104 million.
Turnover was up 4% in the second quarter to around € 52 million (previous year: € 50 million). This growth was mainly generated in Germany and Leifheit's second most important market of France, though the figure for the same period of the previous year did not include the turnover of the French dryer manufacturer Herby.
This was offset by sharp declines in turnover in what had previously been the fastest-growing markets of Eastern Europe as well as the US and Spain, where the economic crisis is already clearly limiting private households. In Germany, growth impetus was generated by rotary washing dryers in particular; the success of the new twist system also exceeded expectations. This shows that Leifheit is on the right path with innovative and winning products.
Turnover in the Bathroom Furnishings division fell to € 33 million in the first half of the year (previous year: € 37 million). Turnover declined 12% in the second quarter to around € 15 million (previous year: € 17 million). This development is mainly due to the markets in Eastern Europe and France.
In the first half 2009, EBIT trebled year-on-year to € 2.8 million (previous year: € 0.9 million), which was mainly due to the weak first quarter in the previous year.
Despite the rise in procurement costs in the Far East in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period of the previous year due to exchange rate effects, the gross margin was down only 0.7 percentage points to 41.7%. However, the decline was more than offset by significant cost reductions.
After a negative figure of € 1.7 million in the same period of the previous year, the Leifheit Group therefore generated a profit again in the first half of 2009: The profit for the period rose to an encouraging positive figure of € 0.4 million.
Total assets declined significantly by € 14.9 million as against the value on the balance sheet date 31 December 2008 to € 206.5 million. Cash and cash equivalents climbed by € 14.9 million to € 21.1 million. This was offset by reductions of € 14.2 million in trade receivables and of € 13.8 million in inventories.
Thus, the measures initiated at the start of the year to reduce working capital have clearly had an effect. Current liabilities were down by € 12.5 million. Equity declined mainly as a result of the dividend distribution by € 2.7 million to € 97.9 million. The equity ratio rose by two percentage points to 47.4%.
The average number of employees in the Group rose by around 5% to 1,462 (previous year: 1,393). As at 31 December 2008, the Group's headcount was 1,530. The rise is essentially due to the acquisition of the Herby companies that were included in consolidation for the first time as at 1 July of the previous year.
Additions to tangible assets amounted to € 2.9 million in the reporting period (previous year: € 1.9 million). The investments are mainly related to tools for new products, logistical infrastructure and software.
For information on the risks and opportunities at Leifheit, please see the detailed description in the consolidated management report as at 31 December 2008. There were no material changes in the reporting period. There are still no identifiable risks to the Company as a going concern.
There were no related party transactions or changes to related party transactions in the reporting period.
There are a growing number of indications that the global recession has bottomed out. Monetary and financial policies stemmed the crisis' progress with an unprecedented vehemence and brought about the knock-on financing needed to master the global crisis of confidence with low interest rates and major stimulus packages around the world. A growing number of economic indicators (Ifo Index, Purchasing Manager Index, GfK Consumer Climate Index) are signalling that an end to the recession phase is at least in sight.
However, hard, real economic data such as incoming orders, industrial production or retail sales must follow the sentiment indicators. Slight positive growth is forecast for Germany in the third quarter, though much hard work will be needed to overcome the extremely low levels that economic output has fallen to. The risk of sliding backwards again is still high: Private consumer spending, which has bolstered the domestic economy so far will weaken if unemployment rises. Redundancies will be inevitable by autumn at the latest for companies where capacity has been left idle or where reduced working hours can no longer be afforded.
The Leifheit Group is well prepared for the coming challenges in the second half of 2009. The measures to optimise the structural organisation and efficiency have been implemented. The individual business areas have been clearly separated from one another so that they can make a significant contribution to the Group's efficiency enhancement with their own business decisions. This way, Leifheit can focus even more strongly on its core competences and increase its speed to market. Nonetheless, Leifheit cannot completely escape the general market trends, where consumer spending propensity still plays an essential role. Reliable forecasts on this are still not possible today, nor are they available from other market participants.
There were no events after the end of the reporting period on 30 June 2009 of particular importance for assessing the assets, financial situation and earnings of the Leifheit Group.
| € 000 | 1 April to 30 June 2009 |
1 April to 30 June 2008 |
1 January to 30 June 2009 |
1 January to 30 June 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | 66,908 | 67.017 | 137,245 | 136,948 |
| Cost of sales | $-39,030$ | $-37,995$ | $-79,966$ | $-78,849$ |
| Gross profit | 27,878 | 29,022 | 57,279 | 58,099 |
| Research and development costs | $-1,617$ | $-1,766$ | $-3,298$ | $-3,642$ |
| Distribution costs | $-20,584$ | $-22,033$ | $-42,036$ | $-43,699$ |
| Administrative costs | $-4,461$ | $-4,414$ | $-9,196$ | $-8,623$ |
| Other operating income, expenses and foreign currency results |
$-925$ | 12 | 173 | $-1,275$ |
| Profit before result from joint ventures and investments |
291 | 821 | 2,922 | 860 |
| Result from joint ventures | $-106$ | $\qquad \qquad -$ | $-103$ | |
| EBIT | 185 | 821 | 2,819 | 860 |
| Net interest income | $-629$ | $-546$ | $-1,243$ | $-1,179$ |
| EBT | $-444$ | 275 | 1,576 | $-319$ |
| Income taxes | $-557$ | $-926$ | $-1.130$ | $-1,410$ |
| Net result for the period | $-1,001$ | $-651$ | 446 | $-1,729$ |
| Of which minority interests | $-1$ | 11 | $-12$ | $-12$ |
| Of which parent Company shareholders | $-1,000$ | $-662$ | 458 | $-1,717$ |
| Earnings per share (diluted and undiluted) | €-0.21 | €-0.14 | € 0.10 | $\epsilon$ -0.36 |
| € 000 | 30 June 2009 | 31 Dec. 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||
| Current assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 21,070 | 6,208 |
| Trade receivables | 55,865 | 70,077 |
| Inventories | 47,458 | 61,300 |
| Income tax receivables | 925 | 760 |
| Other current assets | 2,801 | 3,373 |
| Total current assets | 128,119 | 141,718 |
| Noncurrent assets | ||
| Financial assets | 601 | 599 |
| Shares in joint ventures | 879 | 908 |
| Tangible assets | 46,865 | 47,767 |
| Intangible assets | 19,684 | 20,026 |
| Deferred tax assets | 4,788 | 4,959 |
| Other noncurrent assets | 5,525 | 5,388 |
| Total noncurrent assets | 78,342 | 79,647 |
| Total assets | 206,461 | 221,365 |
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | ||
| Short-term debt | ||
| Trade accounts payable and other liabilities | 48,719 | 52,093 |
| Derivative financial instruments | 388 | 532 |
| Income tax liabilities | 579 | 777 |
| Provisions | 3,632 | 4,839 |
| Short-term borrowing | 119 | 7,672 |
| Total short-term debt | 53,437 | 65,913 |
| Long-term debt | ||
| Provisions | 3,425 | 3,482 |
| Employee benefit obligations | 43,558 | 43,141 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 2,993 | 3,113 |
| Other long-term debt | 5,163 | 5,166 |
| Total long-term debt | 55,139 | 54,902 |
| Equity | ||
| Subscribed capital | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Capital surplus | 16,934 | 16,934 |
| Treasury shares | -7,685 | -7,686 |
| Appropriated surplus | 70,604 | 72,996 |
| Translation reserve | 2,949 | 3,211 |
| Minority interests | 83 | 95 |
| Total equity | 97,885 | 100,550 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 206,461 | 221,365 |
The changes in equity attributable to the parent Company shareholders were as follows:
| € 000 | Subscribed capital |
Capital surplus |
Treasury shares |
Appro priated surplus |
Translation reserve |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As at 1 January 2008 | 15,000 | 16,934 | -7,618 | 72,577 | 1,571 | 98,464 |
| Net result for the period | – | – | – | -1,717 | – | -1,717 |
| Differences from foreign currency translation |
– | – | – | – | 1,270 | 1,270 |
| As at 30 June 2008 | 15,000 | 16,934 | -7,618 | 70,860 | 2,841 | 98,017 |
| As at 1 January 2009 | 15,000 | 16,934 | -7,686 | 72,996 | 3,211 | 100,455 |
| Dividends | – | – | – | -2,850 | – | -2,850 |
| Issue of treasury shares | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Net result for the period | – | – | – | 458 | – | 458 |
| Differences from foreign currency translation |
– | – | – | – | -262 | -262 |
| As at 30 June 2009 | 15,000 | 16,934 | -7,685 | 70,604 | 2,949 | 97,802 |
The changes in Group equity were as follows:
| € 000 | Parent Company shareholders |
Minority interests |
Total equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| As at 1 January 2008 | 98,464 | 70 | 98,534 |
| Net result for the period | -1,717 | -12 | -1,729 |
| Differences from foreign currency translation |
1,270 | – | 1,270 |
| As at 30 June 2008 | 98,017 | 58 | 98,075 |
| As at 1 January 2009 | 100,455 | 95 | 100,550 |
| Dividends | -2,850 | – | -2,850 |
| Issue of treasury shares | 1 | – | 1 |
| Net result for the period | 458 | -12 | 446 |
| Differences from foreign currency translation |
-262 | – | -262 |
| As at 30 June 2009 | 97,802 | 83 | 97,885 |
The key figures by division in the reporting period were as follows:
| Key figures by division as at 30 June 2009 |
Household Products |
Bathroom Furnishings |
Non allocable |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | € million | 104 | 33 | – | 137 |
| EBIT | € million | 2.5 | 1.9 | -1.6 | 2.8 |
| Investments | € million | 2.8 | 0.4 | – | 3.2 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | € million | 3.5 | 0.7 | – | 4.2 |
| Employees (annual average) | 1,134 | 328 | – | 1,462 |
The figures for the same period of the previous year were as follows:
| Key figures by division as at 30 June 2008 |
Household Products |
Bathroom Furnishings |
Non allocable |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | € million | 100 | 37 | – | 137 |
| EBIT | € million | 0.5 | 2.3 | -1.9 | 0.9 |
| Investments | € million | 1.7 | 0.5 | – | 2.2 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | € million | 3.1 | 0.7 | – | 3.8 |
| Employees (annual average) | 1,070 | 323 | – | 1,393 |
| € 000 | 1 January to 30 June 2009 |
1 January to 30 June 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Net result for the period | 446 | -1,729 |
| Adjustment for | ||
| expense for the issue employee shares | 1 | – |
| depreciation and amortisation | 4,151 | 3,815 |
| Decrease/increase in provisions | -847 | 77 |
| Gain/loss on disposal of noncurrent assets | -3 | 15 |
| Decrease/increase in inventories, trade receivables and other assets not classified as investment or financial activities |
28,495 | -6,566 |
| Decrease in trade payables and other liabilities not classified as investment or financial activities |
-3,695 | -4,160 |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 28,548 | -8,548 |
| Acquisition of tangible and intangible assets | -3,178 | -2,176 |
| Investments in financial assets | -2 | – |
| Proceeds from the disposal of noncurrent assets | 433 | 72 |
| Cash flow from investment activities | -2,747 | -2,104 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | -10,547 | 3,495 |
| Effects of exchange rate differences | -392 | -127 |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 14,862 | -7,284 |
| Current funds at the start of the period under review | 6,208 | 10,138 |
| Current funds at the end of the period under review | 21,070 | 2,854 |
The financial report for the half year ending 30 June 2009 was prepared in line with the provisions of IAS 34. The same accounting policies were applied as in the consolidated financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2008.
There were no changes in the Group of consolidated companies in the first half of 2009.
The Herby companies were acquired as at 1 July 2008 and therefore were not included in the comparative prior-year figures of the income statement.
Turnover was on par with the previous year's figures for both the second quarter and the first half of the year – in spite of the economic downswing and the weaker consumer climate in Europe.
The gross margin declined in the second quarter as against the same period of the previous year due in particular to the rise in procurement costs in the Far East on account of the stronger US dollar.
Both research and development costs and distribution costs were significantly reduced again in the second quarter. In the first half of the year, research and development costs were down by € 0.3 million year-on-year to € 3.3 million. Distribution costs fell by € 1.7 million to € 42.0 million. Administrative expenses rose by € 0.6 million on account of consulting projects in particular.
While currency losses were incurred in the same period of the previous year, currency gains were reported in the first half of 2009. Among other things, this is due to gains and losses on realised currency forwards.
The slight decline in the gross margin was more than offset by lower costs.
EBIT rose from € 0.9 million to € 2.8 million. The net result for the period amounted to € 0.4 million, marking a return to positive territory after a loss of € 1.7 million in the same period of the previous year.
Working capital was down by € 24.7 million as against the balance sheet date of 31 December 2008. The cash flow from operating activities was € 28.5 million.
Cash and cash equivalents therefore climbed by € 14.9 million to € 21.1 million. At the same time, a dividend of almost € 2.9 million was distributed and the liabilities to banks were reduced by € 7.6 million, which means that they have almost been completely repaid.
Trade receivables declined by € 14.2 million. Inventories were reduced by € 13.8 million, trade payables by € 3.4 million.
Equity declined by almost € 2.9 million to € 97.9 million, largely as a result of dividend distribution in June. On account of the drop in total assets – essentially as a result of the reduction in working capital and liabilities to banks – the equity ratio rose by two percentage points to 47.4%.
Leifheit AG's net profit for the 2008 financial year amounted to € 13,000,000.
On 18 June 2009, Leifheit AG paid a dividend of € 0.60 per no-par-value share – of which there are 4,749,856 – totalling € 2,849,913.60 to the shareholders from its net profit for the 2008 financial year.
Leifheit did not acquire any treasury shares in the reporting period. Ten shares were issued to staff as long-service bonuses in the period under review.
Including the treasury shares acquired and issued in previous years, we therefore held 250,144 shares (5.0% of the share capital) with a value of € 7,685 thousand on 30 June 2009. There are no subscription rights for members of the executive bodies and employees in accordance with section 160 para 1 no. 2 of the German Stock Corp Act (AktG).
The companies of the Group have not entered into any contingent liabilities.
There are lease agreements for business premises, IT and telephone equipment, vehicles and similar assets and licensing agreements with a remaining expense for 2009 of around € 1.5 million. These obligations total approximately € 3.2 million during the non-cancellable remaining terms until 2013. As at 30 June 2009 there were purchase commitments totalling € 1.3 million. The lease agreements constitute operating leases as defined by IAS 17.
Furthermore, there are obligations from currency forwards to hedge exchange rates of USD 21.0 million (or € 15.5 million) with a fair value on the balance sheet date of € 14.8 million.
There are also obligations from currency forwards to hedge exchange rates of CZK 109.6 million (or € 3.9 million) with a fair value on the balance sheet date of € 4.2 million.
On 17 June 2009 the Annual General Meeting reelected the current members to the Supervisory Board:
The employee representatives in the Supervisory Board were elected on 14 May 2009. These are Mr. Thomas Standke, Scheidt, toolmaker at the Nassau location, who also sat on the last Supervisory Board and Mr. Dieter Metz, Schweighausen, head of returns, also at the Nassau location. Mr. Joachim Barnert left the Supervisory Board as of the end of the Annual General Meeting on 17 June 2009.
As previously, the Supervisory Board elected Mr. Helmut Zahn as its Chairman and Dr. Robert Schuler-Voith as its Deputy Chairman.
There were no further personnel changes in the Group's organs in the first half of 2009.
The Board of Management declares that, to the best of its knowledge, and in accordance with the applicable reporting principles for interim reporting, the interim financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, earnings and financial position of the Group, and the interim management report presents
a true and fair view of the business and situation of the Group, together with the principal risks and opportunities associated with the expected development of the Group for the remaining months of the financial year.
Nassau/Lahn, August 2009
Leifheit Aktiengesellschaft The Board of Management
Denis Schrey Ernst Kraft Dr. Claus-O. Zacharias
This financial report for the first half year contains forward-looking statements which are based on management's current estimates regarding future developments. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which are beyond Leifheit's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as statements on the future market environment and economic conditions, the behaviour of other market participants and government measures.
If one of these uncertain or unforeseeable factors occurs or the assumptions on which these statements are based prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from the results cited explicitly or contained implicitly in these statements. Leifheit neither intends to nor accepts any specific obligation to update forward-looking statements in line with events or developments after the date of this report.
Technical factors (e. g. conversion of electronic formats) may lead to discrepancies between the financial statements in this financial report for the first half year and those submitted to the electronic Federal Gazette. In this case the version submitted to the electronic Federal Gazette is binding.
In the event of any discrepancies between the English translation of this financial report for the first half year and the German version, the German version takes priority over the English translation.
W Quarterly financial report for the period ending 30 September 2009 13 November 2009
P.O. Box 11 65 D-56371 Nassau/Lahn Germany Phone: +49 (0) 26 04 / 977-0 Fax: +49 (0) 26 04 / 977-300 Internet: www.leifheit.com E-mail: [email protected]
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