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Gefran

Quarterly Report Aug 6, 2021

4059_rns_2021-08-06_5850e9bf-170e-4e93-a67a-263720f57437.pdf

Quarterly Report

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GEFRAN GROUP

Half-yearly financial report at 30 June 2021

Corporate Bodies 4
Key consolidated income statement and statement of financial position figures 5
Alternative performance indicators 6
Report on operations 7
Group Structure 8
Gefran Group Activities 9
Gefran consolidated results 9
Investments 21
Results by business area 22
Sensors 23
Automation components 25
Motion control 27
Research and development 29
Human resources 31
Main risks and uncertainties to which the Gefran Group is exposed 32
External Risks 35
Financial Risks 37
Strategic Risks 39
Governance and integrity risks 40
Operating risks and reporting risks 40
Legal and compliance risks 42
Significant events in the first half of 2021 43
Significant events following the end of the first half of 2021 44
Outlook 44
Covid-19 45
Own shares and stock performance 46
Dealings with related parties 48
Disclosure simplification 48
Consolidated financial statements 50
Specific explanatory notes to the accounts 57
Attachments 99
Certification of consolidated financial statements pursuant to Article 81 ter of Consob
regulation No. 11971 dated 14 May 1999, as subsequently amended and added to. 105
External auditors' report on the half-yearly consolidated financial statements 107

Corporate Bodies

Board of Directors

Honorary Chairman Ennio Franceschetti Vice Chairman Andrea Franceschetti Chief Executive Officer Marcello Perini Director Daniele Piccolo (*) Director Monica Vecchiati (*) Director Cristina Mollis (*) Director Giorgio Metta (*)

Chairwoman Maria Chiara Franceschetti Vice Chairwoman Giovanna Franceschetti

(*) Independent directors pursuant to the Consolidated Law on Finance (TUF) and the Corporate Governance Code

Board of Statutory Auditors

Standing auditor Luisa Anselmi

Chairwoman Roberta Dell'Apa Standing auditor Primo Ceppellini Alternate auditor Stefano Guerreschi Alternate auditor Silvia Bonomelli

Control and Risks Committee

  • Monica Vecchiati
  • Daniele Piccolo
  • Giorgio Metta

Appointments and Remuneration Committee

  • Daniele Piccolo
  • Monica Vecchiati
  • Cristina Mollis

Sustainability Committee

  • Giovanna Franceschetti
  • Marcello Perini
  • Cristina Mollis

External auditor

PricewaterhouseCoopers S.p.A.

On 21 April 2016, the ordinary shareholders' meeting of Gefran S.p.A. engaged the external auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers S.p.A. to audit the separate Annual Financial Report of Gefran S.p.A., as well as the Consolidated Annual and Half-yearly Financial Reports of the Gefran Group for a period of nine years until the approval of the financial statements report for 2024, in accordance with Italian Legislative Decree 39/2010.

Key consolidated income statement and statement of financial position figures

The amounts shown below only refer to continuing operations, unless otherwise specified.

Group income statement highlights

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 2Q 2021 2Q 2020
Revenues 79,579 100.0% 62,735 100.0% 42,172 100.0% 31,309 100.0%
EBITDA 14,339 18.0% 7,336 11.7% 7,733 18.3% 4,109 13.1%
EBIT 10,295 12.9% 3,321 5.3% 5,720 13.6% 2,091 6.7%
Profit (loss) before tax 10,355 13.0% 2,214 3.5% 5,638 13.4% 1,649 5.3%
Group net profit (loss) 8,054 10.1% 1,139 1.8% 4,355 10.3% 1,060 3.4%

Group statement of financial position highlights

(Euro /000)
30 June 2021
31 December 2020
Invested capital from operations 81,734 81,902
Net working capital 31,582 29,799
Shareholders' equity 83,414 78,179
Net financial position 1,680 (3,723)
(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
Operating cash flow 13,559 2,951
Investments 2,778 2,927

Alternative performance indicators

In addition to the standard financial schedules and indicators required under IFRS, this document includes reclassified schedules and alternative performance indicators. These are intended to enable a better assessment of the Group's economic and financial management. However, these tables and indicators must not be considered as a substitute for those required under IFRS.

Specifically, the alternative indicators used in the notes to the income statement are:

  • Added value: the direct margin resulting from revenues, including only direct material, gross of other production costs, such as personnel costs, services and other sundry costs;
  • EBITDA: operating result before depreciation, amortisation and write-downs. The purpose of this indicator is to present the Group's operating profitability before the main nonmonetary items;
  • EBIT: operating result before financial management and taxes. The purpose of this indicator is to present the Group's operating profitability.

Alternative indicators used in the notes to the statement of financial position are:

  • Net non-current assets: the algebraic sum of the following items in the statement of financial position:
  • o Goodwill
  • o Intangible assets
  • o Property, plant, machinery and tools
  • o Shareholdings valued at equity
  • o Equity investments in other companies
  • o Receivables and other non-current assets
  • o Deferred tax assets
  • Working capital: the algebraic sum of the following items in the statement of financial position:
  • o Inventories
  • o Trade receivables
  • o Trade payables
  • o Other assets
  • o Tax receivables
  • o Current provisions
  • o Tax payables
  • o Other liabilities
  • Net invested capital: the algebraic sum of fixed assets, operating capital and provisions
  • Net debt (financial position): the algebraic sum of the following items:
  • o Medium/long-term financial payables
    • o Short-term financial payables
    • o Financial liabilities for derivatives
    • o Financial investments for derivatives
    • o Non-current financial assets
    • o Cash and cash equivalents and short-term financial receivables

Report on operations

Group Structure

Gefran Group Activities

The Gefran Group operates in three main business areas: Industrial Sensors, Automation Components and Motion Control for the electronic control of electric motors. For each of them, it carries out design, production and marketing activities through various sales channels.

The Group offers a complete range of products and tailored turnkey solutions in numerous automation sectors. 68% of its revenues are generated abroad.

Sensors

The Sensors business offers a complete range of products for measuring four physical parameters of position, pressure, force and temperature - which are used in many industrial sectors.

Gefran stands out for its technological leadership. It produces primary components internally and boasts a comprehensive product range that is unique worldwide. In certain product families, Gefran is world leader. The Sensors business generates about 80% of its revenues abroad.

Automation components

The electronic components business is divided into three product lines: instrumentation, power controllers and automation platforms (operator interfaces, PLCs and I/O modules). These components are widely used in the control of industrial processes. As well as supplying products, Gefran offers its customers the possibility of designing and supplying tailored turnkey automation solutions through a close strategic partnership during the design and production stages.

Gefran stands out for its expertise in hardware and software acquired in over thirty years of experience. Gefran is one of the main Italian manufacturers in these product lines and generates around 40% of its revenues through exports.

Motion control

The motion control business develops products and solutions to regulate speed and control AC, DC and brushless electric motors. Products (inverters, armature converters and servo drives) guarantee maximum performance in terms of system precision and dynamics. These products are used in a variety of applications, including lift control, cranes, metal rolling lines, and in paper, plastics, glass and metal processing.

Through the integration of advanced capabilities and flexible hardware and software configurations, Gefran provides advantageous solutions for customers and target markets, optimising both technology and costs. The motion control business generates about 65% of its revenues abroad.

Gefran consolidated results

Consolidated income statement of the quarter

The income statement for the second quarter of 2021 is shown below, in comparison with the income statement for the same period in the year 2020.

2Q 2021 2Q 2020 Var. 2021-2020
(Euro /000) Total Total Value %
a Revenues 42,172 31,309 10,863 34.7%
b Increases for internal work 525 459 66 14.4%
c Consumption of materials and products 15,557 11,237 4,320 38.4%
d Added Value (a+b-c) 27,140 20,531 6,609 32.2%
e Other operating costs 6,274 4,681 1,593 34.0%
f Personnel costs 13,133 11,741 1,392 11.9%
g EBITDA (d-e-f) 7,733 4,109 3,624 88.2%
h Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 2,013 2,018 (5) -0.2%
i EBIT (g-h) 5,720 2,091 3,629 173.6%
l Gains (losses) from financial assets/liabilities (83) (439) 356 81.1%
m Gains (losses) from shareholdings valued at equity 1 (3) 4 133.3%
n Profit (loss) before tax (i±l±m) 5,638 1,649 3,989 n.s.
o Taxes (1,283) (589) (694) -117.8%
p Group net profit (loss) (n±o) 4,355 1,060 3,295 n.s.

Revenues in the second quarter of 2021 total 42,172 thousand Euro, as compared to 31,309 thousand Euro in the same period of the previous year, an increase of 10,863 thousand Euro (equal to 34.7%), which would be 11,505 thousand Euro (36.7%) net of the negative effect of changes in exchange rates. the second quarter of 2020 was marked by a contraction in revenues, linked to the limitation of the Group's commercial activities following the spread of Covid-19, while in the quarter just ended, the Group was able to fully take advantage of the signs of the economic recovery in progress, making up for the contraction in revenues recorded in 2020 and achieving higher revenues than in the second quarter of 2019 (+16.7%).

Analysing order collection in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the figure for the same period in 2020, an overall increase (+57.1%) was recorded. Growth was recorded in all lines of business, but particularly in the sensors (+78.7%) and automation components (+90.3%) business units, for which the order intake in the second quarter was higher than in the same period in 2020 by 9,380 thousand Euro and 5,420 thousand Euro, respectively. Order intake in the motion control business unit also improved (+15.7%). The second quarter of 2021 saw an increase in order collection even in comparison with the figure for the same period of 2019 (+32.6%), with double-digit growth in all businesses: sensors (+41.5%), automation components (+25.6%) and motion control (+25.7%).

The table below shows a breakdown of revenues in the second quarter by geographical region:

(Euro /000) 2Q 2021 2Q 2020 Var. 2021-2020
Value % Value % Value %
Italy 14,339 34.0% 10,069 32.2% 4,270 42.4%
European Union 8,719 20.7% 7,366 23.5% 1,353 18.4%
Europe non-EU 1,555 3.7% 1,119 3.6% 436 39.0%
North America 5,326 12.6% 3,787 12.1% 1,539 40.6%
South America 1,134 2.7% 579 1.8% 555 95.9%
Asia 10,967 26.0% 8,268 26.4% 2,699 32.6%
Rest of the world 132 0.3% 121 0.4% 11 9.1%
Total 42,172 100% 31,309 100% 10,863 34.7%

The breakdown of revenues for the quarter by geographical region reveals double-digit growth in all the main geographical regions served by the Group, particularly in Italy (+42.4%) and Asia (+32.6%). Revenues also grew in Europe (+21.1%) and the Americas (+48%), the latter area being partially affected by the effect of foreign currency trends, particularly the US dollar and the Brazilian real.

Below is a breakdown of revenues by business area in the second quarter of 2021 in comparison with the same period in the previous year:

2Q 2021 2Q 2020 Var. 2021-2020
(Euro /000) Value % Value % Value %
Sensors 20,332 48.2% 14,329 45.8% 6,003 41.9%
Automation components 12,241 29.0% 9,371 29.9% 2,870 30.6%
Motion control 11,870 28.1% 9,124 29.1% 2,746 30.1%
Eliminations (2,271) -5.4% (1,515) -4.8% (756) 49.9%
Total 42,172 100% 31,309 100% 10,863 34.7%

Revenues increased in all sectors: revenues from sensor products grew by 41.9%, thanks in particular to strong recovery in all geographical regions, and particularly on Asian markets, while revenues from automation components increased by 30.6%, mostly concentrated in Italy. Motion control also rose by 30.1%, due to higher revenues in Italy and America and related to custom orders, as well as products from the industrial range. It should be noted that for all businesses, revenues recorded in the second quarter of 2021, higher than the same quarter of 2020, are also higher than the figure recorded for the second quarter of 2019.

Increases for internal work in the second quarter of 2021 amounted to 525 thousand Euro, an increase of 66 thousand Euro compared with the same period in the previous year. This item represents the cost of development of new products incurred in the period and capitalised.

Added value in the quarter amounted to 27,140 thousand Euro (20,531 thousand Euro in the same quarter in 2020), corresponding to 64.4% of revenues, lower than the figure in the same period of the previous year (-1.2%). Growth in added value, equal to 6,609 thousand Euro overall, is a result of higher revenues, and is only partially offset by lower margins.

Other operating costs in the second quarter of 2021 amount to 6,274 thousand Euro, and have increased in absolute terms by 1,593 thousand Euro over the figure for the second quarter of 2020, representing 14.9% of revenues (15.0% in the same quarter of the previous year). The increase is a result of higher variable costs, linked to the increase in sales volumes, and commercial costs. Other operating costs were aligned with the figure for the second quarter of 2019.

Personnel costs in the quarter, equal to 13,133 thousand Euro, increased by 1,392 thousand Euro compared with the same period in the previous year, when this item amounted to 11,741 thousand Euro. As a percentage of revenues, the ratio was 31.1% (37.5% in the second quarter of 2020). Personnel costs were in line with the figure for the second quarter of 2019, 13,228 thousand Euro.

Gross Operating Margin (EBITDA) in the second quarter of 2021 is positive by 7,733 thousand Euro (4,109 thousand Euro in the same quarter of 2020), corresponding to 18.3% of revenues (13.1% of revenues in 2020), higher than in the same quarter of the previous year by 3,624 thousand Euro. The improvement in EBITDA is due to increased revenues in the period. This compares with a value of EUR 4.466 thousand recorded in the second quarter of 2019 (12.4% of revenues).

The item depreciation, amortisation and impairment totalled 2,013 thousand Euro in the quarter, as compared with 2,018 thousand Euro in the previous period, a Euro 5 thousand Euro drop.

EBIT in the second quarter of 2021 is positive by 5,720 thousand Euro (13.6% of revenues), as compared with an EBIT of 2,091 thousand Euros in the same period in 2020 (6.7% of revenues), an increase of 3,629 thousand Euro. As in the case of EBITDA, the change is a result of increased sales. The operating result for the quarter was up by 3,322 thousand Euro compared with the figure in the same quarter of 2019, which amounted to 2,398 thousand Euro.

Income from financial assets/liabilities in the second quarter of 2021 totalled 83 thousand Euro (whereas in the second quarter of 2020 costs totalling 439 thousand Euro were entered), and included:

  • financial income totalling 16 thousand Euro (13 thousand Euro in the second quarter of 2020);
  • financial charges linked with the Group's indebtedness, totalling 118 thousand Euro, down over the figure for the second quarter of 2020, when this item totalled 126 thousand Euro;
  • positive differences on currency transactions, amounting to 30 thousand Euro, compared with the result for the second quarter of the previous year, negative by 315 thousand Euro; the change in the exchange rate of the Euro compared with the Swiss Franc, the Indian rupee and the Brazilian real was particularly affected;
  • financial charges on financial debts as a result of application of the new accounting standard IFRS16 totalling 11 thousand Euro, similar to the second quarter of 2020.

Gains from shareholdings valued using the equity method relate to the results achieved by the subsidiary Axel S.r.l. and amounted to 1 thousand Euro. In the second quarter of 2020, charges totalled 3 thousand Euro.

Taxes had a negative balance of 1,283 thousand Euro in the quarter (as compared to a negative balance of 589 thousand in the second quarter of 2020). This item may be broken down as follows:

  • negative current taxes of 1,352 thousand Euro (negative by 166 thousand Euro in the second quarter of 2020); the change reflects the improved results achieved by the Group in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to the same period in the previous year;
  • deferred tax assets and liabilities, on the whole positive by 69 thousand Euro (negative by 423 thousand Euro in the second quarter of the previous year).

Group net profit in the second quarter of 2021 is positive by 4,355 thousand Euro, as compared to a positive result of 1,060 thousand Euro in the same period in the previous year, a 3,295 thousand Euro increase. The net result for the second quarter of 2021 was up compared with the figure for the same period of 2019, 1,481 thousand Euro (4.1% of revenues), both in absolute terms (+2,874 thousand Euro) and as a percentage of revenues (+6.2%).

Progressive Consolidated Income Statement

The Group's results at 30 June 2021 are shown below, compared with those recorded at 30 June 2020.

30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Var. 2021-2020
(Euro /000) Total Total Value %
a Revenues 79,579 62,735 16,844 26.8%
b Increases for internal work 1,019 954 65 6.8%
c Consumption of materials and products 28,807 22,648 6,159 27.2%
d Added Value (a+b-c) 51,791 41,041 10,750 26.2%
e Other operating costs 11,947 10,106 1,841 18.2%
f Personnel costs 25,505 23,599 1,906 8.1%
g EBITDA (d-e-f) 14,339 7,336 7,003 95.5%
h Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 4,044 4,015 29 0.7%
i EBIT (g-h) 10,295 3,321 6,974 n.s.
l Gains (losses) from financial assets/liabilities 54 (1,106) 1,160 104.9%
m Gains (losses) from shareholdings valued at equity 6 (1) 7 n.s.
n Profit (loss) before tax (i±l±m) 10,355 2,214 8,141 n.s.
o Taxes (2,301) (1,075) (1,226) -114.0%
p Group net profit (loss) (n±o) 8,054 1,139 6,915 n.s.

Revenues as of 30 June 2021 total 79,579 thousand Euro, as compared to 62,735 thousand Euro in the same quarter of the previous year, an increase of 16,844 thousand Euro (equal to 26.8%), which would be 18,120 thousand Euro (28.9%) net of the negative effect of changes in exchange rates. The first quarter of 2020 was characterised by the spread of Covid-19, first in Asia and then on other continents, which led the Group to close some plants (partially or totally) and limit travel, with inevitable repercussions on its ability to generate revenue. In contrast to the first three quarters, the fourth quarter of 2020 saw the start of a gradual recovery of the market, with a particular focus on the sensors and automation components business in the Italian and Asian markets. This trend is confirmed by the results recorded in the first quarter of 2021, which saw revenues increase compared to the same period of the previous year in all the Group's businesses, and extended to the main geographical regions served. Technological leadership and knowledge of industrial processes also contributed to the recovery of sales volumes, guaranteeing an adequate level of service to customers, as well as investments and new operating methods launched in 2020, focused on the control of existing markets and the development of new commercial relations, also through the use of digital platforms, making it possible not only to match but to exceed the revenues of the first half of 2019 (+10.4%).

Good performance was also shown by analysing the orders received in the first half of 2021, both compared to the same period in 2020 (revealing an overall increase of 38%), and in relation to the value collected in the first half of 2019 (total increase of 27.3%). Growth was recorded in all business sectors, but particularly in sensors (+58.3% in comparison with the first half of 2020 and +42.1% compared to the first half of 2019) and automation components (+40.9% on 2020 and +8.8% on 2019). Orders received from motion control lines also improved (up 10.5% compared to the first half of 2020 and 22.4% in comparison with the same period of 2019).

The order book at 30 June 2021 was higher compared to both the previous year (+48.8%) and the closing value for the year 2020(+56.7%), confirming the good prospects generated on the market.

The table below shows a breakdown of revenues in the first half by geographical region:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Var. 2021-2020
Value % Value % Value %
Italy 25,454 32.0% 19,768 31.5% 5,686 28.8%
European Union 17,548 22.1% 15,483 24.7% 2,065 13.3%
Europe non-EU 2,880 3.6% 2,603 4.1% 277 10.6%
North America 9,079 11.4% 7,494 11.9% 1,585 21.2%
South America 2,222 2.8% 1,587 2.5% 635 40.0%
Asia 21,948 27.6% 15,433 24.6% 6,515 42.2%
Rest of the world 448 0.6% 367 0.6% 81 22.1%
Total 79,579 100% 62,735 100% 16,844 26.8%

The breakdown of revenues by geographical area shows double-digit growth in all areas served by the Group, particularly in Asia (+42.2%, despite exchange rate trends having a negative effect) and in Italy (28.8%). Revenues also grew in Europe (+12.9% overall) and the Americas (+24.4%), the latter area being partially affected by the effect of foreign currency trends, particularly the US dollar and the Brazilian real.

Below is a breakdown of revenues as of 30 June 2021 by business area and a comparison with the same period in the previous year:

30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Var. 2021-2020
(Euro /000) Value % Value % Value %
Sensors 38,333 48.2% 28,140 44.9% 10,193 36.2%
Automation components 23,193 29.1% 18,412 29.3% 4,781 26.0%
Motion control 22,321 28.0% 18,825 30.0% 3,496 18.6%
Eliminations (4,268) -5.4% (2,642) -4.2% (1,626) 61.5%
Total 79,579 100% 62,735 100% 16,844 26.8%

Revenues increased in all sectors: revenues from sensor products grew by 36.2%, thanks in particular to strong recovery on Asian markets, while revenues from automation components increased by 26%, mostly concentrated in Italy. Revenues from the drives business were also higher than in the same period in 2020, with an overall increase of 18.6%, thanks to the increase in sales of products in the lift range and customised products.

It should be noted that all businesses lines recovered the gap in revenues recorded in the first half of 2020 due to the effects of the spread of Covid-19: sensors performed 23.5% better than the figure for the first half of 2019, as did components and drives, which rose by 4.2% and 2.8% compared to the same period.

Increases for internal work a sat 30 June 2021 amounted to 1,019 thousand Euro, up by 65 thousand Euro compared with the figure for 30 June 2020. This item represents the cost of development of new products incurred in the period and capitalised.

Added value as of 30 June 2021 amounted to 51,791 thousand Euro (41,041 thousand Euro as of 30 June 2020) and represents 65.1 %of revenues, a lower percentage than the figure for the same period in the previous year (-0.3%). Growth in added value, totalling 10,750 thousand Euro, is a result of the increased revenues recorded and is only partially offset by higher costs for the procurement of materials and by the mix of products sold, with lower margins.

Other operating costs for the first half of the year amounted to 11,947 thousand Euro, up 1,841 thousand Euro compared with the figure for the first six months of 2020, representing 15.0% of revenues (16.1% in the same period of 2020). Variable costs linked to higher sales volumes, consulting and maintenance costs increased compared to the first half of 2020. Other operating costs were aligned with the figure for the first half of 2019.

Personnel costs in the first six month of 2021 amounted to 25,505 thousand Euro, as compared to 23,599 thousand Euro in the same period in the previous year, an increase of 1,906 thousand Euro. In fact, in the first half of 2020 action was taken to contain costs, such as reducing the provisions for holidays and M.B.O. bonuses.

As a percentage of revenue, the ratio was 32.0% (37.6% in the first half of 2020).

Personnel costs in 2021 were lower (-0.4%) than the figure for the first half of 2019, when they totalled 25,607 thousand Euro.

Gross Operating Margin (EBITDA) as of 30 June 2021 is positive by 14,339 thousand Euro (7,336 thousand Euro in the same quarter of 2020), corresponding to 18.0% of revenues (11.7% of revenues in 2020), higher than in the same quarter of the previous year by 7,003 thousand Euro. The gross operating margin for the half-year was also higher than the figure for the same period in 2019, both in absolute terms (3,604 thousand Euro) and as a percentage of revenues (+3.1%). The improvement in EBITDA is due to increased revenues in the period.

The item depreciation, amortisation and impairment totalled 4,044 thousand Euro, as compared with 4,015 thousand Euro in the previous period, an increase of 29 thousand Euro.

EBIT as of 30 June 2021 is positive by 10,295 thousand Euro (12.9% of revenues), as compared with an EBIT of 3,321 thousand Euro in the same period in 2020 (5.3% of revenues), an increase of 6,974 thousand Euro. As with the gross operating margin, EBIT for the first half of 2021 was also higher than the figure for the same period in 2019 (which amounted to 5,376 thousand Euro, representing 7.5% of revenues); in this case the change is linked to the increase in sales recorded, as well as to losses in value on assets recorded in the first half of 2019 (1,531 thousand Euro).

Income from financial assets/liabilities in the first half of 2021 totalled 54 thousand Euro (whereas in the first quarter of 2020 costs totalling 1,106 thousand Euro were entered), and included:

  • financial income totalling 33 thousand Euro (aligned with the figure for the first half of 2020);
  • financial charges linked to the Group's indebtedness, amounting to 234 thousand Euro (a slight increase over the 2020 figure);
  • the positive result of differences in foreign currency transactions of 275 thousand Euro, as compared to a negative result of 893 thousand Euro for the first quarter of 2020. The change is primarily a result of the exchange rates in effect between the Euro, the Swiss Franc, the Indian Rupee and the Brazilian Real;
  • financial charges on financial debts as a result of application of the new accounting standard IFRS16 totalling 20 thousand Euro (21 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2020).

Gains from shareholdings valued at equity totalled 6thousand Euro, whereas in the first half of 2020 1 thousand Euro in charges were entered; these figures relate to the results achieved by Axel S.r.l.

in the first six months of 2021, taxes were negative overall and amounted to 2,301 thousand Euro (a negative total of 1075 thousand Euro in the same period of 2020). This item may be broken down as follows:

  • negative current taxes amounting to 2,279 thousand Euro (negative by 419 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020); the change reflects the best results achieved by the Group in the current period, compared with the same period in the previous year, as well as the effect of the release of the first IRAP advance in the first half of 2020;
  • deferred tax assets and liabilities, on the whole negative by 22 thousand Euro (negative by 656 thousand Euro in the first quarter of the previous year).

The taxes for the six-month period were also higher than those recorded in the first half of 2019, amounting to 1,479 thousand Euro, aligned with the previous year in percentage terms.

Group net profit as of 30 June 2021 is positive by 8,054 thousand Euro (10.1% of revenues), as compared to a positive result of 1,139 thousand Euro (1.8% of revenues) in the same period in the previous year, a 6,915 thousand Euro increase. The net result for the first half of 2021 was up compared with the figure for the same period of 2019, 4,029 thousand Euro (5.6% of revenues), both in absolute terms (+4,025 thousand Euro) and as a percentage of revenues (+4.5%).

Reclassified consolidated balance sheet as at 30 June 2021

The Gefran Group's reclassified consolidated statement of financial position as of 30 June 2021 may be broken down as follows:

30 June 2021 31 December 2020
(Euro /000) Value % Value %
Intangible assets 14,975 18.3 14,627 17.9
Tangible fixed assets 44,552 54.5 44,566 54.4
Other non-current assets 6,458 7.9 6,384 7.8
Net non-current assets 65,985 80.7 65,577 80.1
Inventories 24,908 30.5 20,301 24.8
Trade receivables 36,720 44.9 30,059 36.7
Trade payables (30,046) (36.8) (20,561) (25.1)
Other assets/liabilities (8,275) (10.1) (5,776) (7.1)
Working capital 23,307 28.5 24,023 29.3
Provisions for risks and future liabilities (2,364) (2.9) (2,386) (2.9)
Deferred tax provisions (854) (1.0) (833) (1.0)
Employee benefits (4,340) (5.3) (4,479) (5.5)
Net invested capital 81,734 100.0 81,902 100.0
Shareholders' equity 83,414 102.1 78,179 95.5
Non-current financial payables 21,800 26.7 27,441 33.5
Current financial payables 12,754 15.6 15,368 18.8
Financial payables for IFRS 16 leases (current and non-current) 3,266 4.0 2,637 3.2
Financial liabilities for derivatives (current and non-current) 183 0.2 328 0.4
Other non-current financial investments (87) (0.1) (108) (0.1)
Cash and cash equivalents and current financial receivables (39,596) (48.4) (41,943) (51.2)
Net debt relating to operations (1,680) (2.1) 3,723 4.5
Total sources of financing 81,734 100.0 81,902 100.0

Net fixed assets as at 30 June 2021 totalled 65,985 thousand Euro, as compared with 65,577 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020. The main changes were as follows:

  • intangible assets registered an overall increase of 348 thousand Euro. The change includes increases due to capitalisation of development costs (1,008 thousand Euro) and new investment (282 thousand Euro) well as decreases due to amortisation in the period (1,047 thousand Euro). The change in exchange rates had a positive impact on the item amounting to 105 thousand Euro;
  • tangible assets were in line with 31 December 2020. Investments in the first six months of 2021 (1,488 thousand Euro) were partially offset by depreciation of 2,378 thousand Euro and 20 thousand Euro in decreases due to disposals; In addition, the item includes the value of the right to use assets recognised in accordance with IFRS16, which increased by 1,233 thousand Euro in the first half of 2021 following the renewal or signing of new contracts and is offset by depreciation and amortisation totalling 619 thousand Euro and decreases due to advance termination of contracts totalling 4 thousand Euro. Finally, the change in exchange rates had, on the whole, a positive effect of 286 thousand Euro;

  • other fixed assets at 30 June 2021 are worth6,458 thousand Euro (6,384 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020), an increase of 74 thousand Euro.

Working capital as of 30 June 2021 is 23,307 thousand Euro, as compared to 24,023 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020, a total drop of 716 thousand Euro. The main changes were as follows:

  • inventories changed from 20,301 thousand Euro as of 31 December 2020 to 24,908 thousand Euro on 30 June 2021, with a net increase of 4,607 thousand Euro. The increase in inventories, including both raw materials (2,176 thousand Euro) and semi-finished products and finished products (606 thousand Euro and 1,825 thousand Euro respectively), was necessary to meet customer orders received which will be processed in the coming months, with particular regard to stocks of "critical materials", with the goal of mitigating the possible risks of disruption in the supply chain linked to the current situation. The change in exchange rates contributes to an increase in inventories of 286 thousand Euro;
  • trade receivables totalled 36,720 thousand Euro, up 6,661 thousand Euro compared to 31 December 2020, reflecting the increase in revenues in the half-year. The Group conducts an accurate analysis of receivables, taking various factors into account (geographical region, sector, degree of solvency of individual customers), and these checks do not reveal any critical positions that may not be collected;
  • trade payables totalled 30,046 thousand Euro, up 9,485 thousand Euro over 31 December 2020. The change is linked to the higher costs recorded in the period, both for purchases of raw materials, necessary to meet the growth in sales volumes, and service costs; In particular, variable costs increased as a result of growing volumes;
  • Other net assets and liabilities at 30 June 2021 were negative by a total of 8,275 thousand Euro (negative by 5,776 thousand Euro as of 31 December 2020). They include payables to employees and social security institutions and receivables and payables for direct and indirect taxes. The change in this item over 31 December 2020, totalling 2,499 thousand Euro, is primarily a result of increased other tax payables and payables to employees.

Provisions for risks and charges amount to Euro 2,364 thousand Euro overall, in line with the figure at 31 December 2020 (representing a decrease of 22 thousand Euro). The item includes provisions for current legal disputes and various risks, and the change since the end of 2020 is attributable to movements in the product warranty provision and the provision for specific risks.

Employee benefits amount to 4,340 thousand Euro, as compared to 4,479 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020. This item includes the post-employment benefit reserve, as well as payables to certain Group employees who have signed agreements to protect the company against work for its competitors (so-called "Non-competition agreements").

Shareholders' equity at 30 June 2021 amounts to 83,414 thousand Euro, up 5,235 thousand Euro over the end of the year 2020. The positive result of the period of 8,054 thousand Euro was partially absorbed by distribution of 3,737 thousand Euro in dividends in May.

The statement below links the Parent Company's shareholders' equity and annual result with the values appearing in the consolidated financial statement:

30 June 2021 31 December 2020
(Euro /000) Shareholders'
equity
Result for
the period
Shareholders'
equity
Result for
the period
Parent Company shareholders' equity and operating
result
73,348 5,589 71,268 6,280
Shareholders' equity and operating result of the
consolidated companies
53,970 4,366 50,675 (79)
Elimination of the carrying value of consolidated
investments
(46,542) - (46,542) -
Goodwill 3,721 - 3,706 -
Elimination of the effects of transactions conducted
between consolidated companies
(1,083) (1,901) (928) (1,848)
Group share of shareholders' equity and operating
result
83,414 8,054 78,179 4,353
Minorities' share of shareholders' equity and
operating result
- - - -
Shareholders' equity and operating result 83,414 8,054 78,179 4,353

Net financial position as at 30 June 2021 is positive by 1,680 thousand Euro, up 5,403 thousand Euro over the end of 2020, when it was on the whole negative by 3,723 thousand Euro.

Net financial debt comprises short-term cash and cash equivalents of 25,106 thousand Euro and medium/long-term debts of 23,426 thousand Euro.

This item reflects the negative impact of application of accounting standard IFRS16, worth 3,266 thousand Euro at 30 June 2021, of which 1,736 thousand Euro was reclassified in the current part while 1,530 thousand Euro was reclassified in the non-current part (totalling 2,637 thousand Euro at 31 December 2020, including 968 thousand Euro reclassified in the current part and 1,669 thousand Euro included in the medium/long term balance).

During the first half of 2021 the subsidiary Gefran Soluzioni S.r.l. took out a new loan totalling 511 thousand Euro, with the objective of increasing the company's capital base and supporting the growth of international sales. A portion of the loan, equal to 204 thousand Euro, for the Integrated Promotion Fund, was provided as a non-refundable grant under the Temporary Framework, while a second portion, 307 thousand Euro, entered among non-current financial payables.

The loan will be repaid in 8 half-yearly instalments starting at the end of the pre-amortisation period of 2 years. It is subject to the de minimis rule for a value of 0.3 thousand Euro.

The change in net financial position is mainly due to the positive cash flow from typical operations (13,559 thousand Euro), partially mitigated by expenditure on technical investments in the first six months of the year (2,778 thousand Euro), by payment of dividends (3,737 thousand Euro) and by payment of interest, taxes and rental fees (totalling 1,536 thousand Euro).

This item breaks down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December
2020
Change
Cash and cash equivalents and current financial receivables 39,596 41,943 (2,347)
Current financial payables (12,754) (15,368) 2,614
Current financial payables for IFRS 16 leases (1,736) (968) (768)
(Debt)/short-term cash and cash equivalents 25,106 25,607 (501)
Non-current financial payables (21,800) (27,441) 5,641
Non-current financial payables for IFRS 16 leases (1,530) (1,669) 139
Non-current financial liabilities for derivatives (183) (328) 145
Other non-current financial investments 87 108 (21)
(Debt)/medium-/long-term cash and cash equivalents (23,426) (29,330) 5,904
Net financial position 1,680 (3,723) 5,403

Statement of consolidated cash flows as of 30 June 2021

The Gefran Group's consolidated cash flow statement as at 30 June 2021 shows a positive net change in cash at hand of 2,347 thousand Euro, compared to a positive change of 7,589 thousand Euro for 30 June 2020. The change was as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
A) Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period 41,943 24,427
B) Cash flow generated by (used in) operations in the period 13,559 2,951
C) Cash flow generated by (used in) investment activities (2,749) (1,922)
D) Free Cash Flow (B+C) 10,810 1,029
E) Cash flow generated by (used in) financing activities (13,624) 6,698
F) Cash flow from continuing operations (D+E) (2,814) 7,727
G) Exchange rate translation differences on cash at hand 467 (138)
H) Net change in cash at hand (F+G) (2,347) 7,589
I) Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period (A+H) 39,596 32,016

The cash flow from operations in the period was positive by 13,559 thousand Euro; specifically, operations in the first half of 2021, purged of the effect of provisions, amortisation and depreciation, and financial entries, generated 15,393 thousand in cash (7,889 thousand in the first half of 2020), while the net change in other assets and liabilities in the same period drained 703 thousand Euro of resources (524 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020) and management of operating capital absorbed 1,997 thousand Euro in cash (4,875 thousand Euro in the first half of the previous year).

Financial resources to support technical investments amount to 2,778 thousand Euro (2,927 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2020). It should also be noted that during the first six months of 2020, part of the capital in Ensun S.r.l., amounting to 1,000 thousand Euro, was collected.

Free cash flow (operating cash flow excluding investment) was positive by 10,810 thousand Euro, as compared with a negative figure of 1,029 thousand Euro at 30 June 2020.

Financing activities absorbed resources totalling 13,624 thousand Euro, including 5,394 thousand Euro linked to the repayment of non-current financial payables, 3,276 thousand Euro due to the decrease in current financial payables and 3,737 thousand Euro for the payment of dividends. In the first half of 2020 loan activities generated cash totalling 6,698 thousand Euro: the Parent Company's subscription of new loans totalling 11,991 thousand Euro, and the repayment of medium/long-term financial payables with a value of 5,296 thousand Euro were the main developments in the half.

Investments

Gross technical investments made during the first half of 2021 amounted to 2,778 thousand Euro (2,927 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2020) and relate to:

  • production and laboratory plant and equipment in the Group's Italian plants totalling 1,079 thousand Euro (including 568 thousand Euro for production lines in the sensors business unit, 425 thousand Euro in the components business unit and 86 thousand Euro for production lines in the motion control business unit), as well as 76 thousand Euro in the Group's other subsidiaries (in the first half of the year2020 the Group invested 560 thousand Euro in Italy and 17 thousand Euro in its foreign subsidiaries);
  • adjustment of industrial buildings totalling 148 thousand Euro in the Group's Italian plants (in the first halfof2020127 thousand Euro were invested in office buildings in Italy, and 82 thousand Euro in offices abroad);
  • renewal of electronic office machines and IT system equipment, amounting to 75 thousand Euro in the Parent Company and 76 thousand Euro in the Group's subsidiaries (in the first half of 2020, these figures were 71 thousand Euro and 43 thousand Euro, respectively);
  • miscellaneous equipment in the Group's subsidiaries amounting to 34 thousand Euro (9 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020);
  • capitalisation of costs incurred in the period for new product development, totalling 1,009 thousand Euro (948 thousand Euro in the first quarter of 2020);
  • investments in intangible assets in the amount of 281 thousand Euro, mainly relating to management software licences and SAP ERP development (in the first half of 2020, other intangible assets were entered with a value of 1,071 thousand Euro, primarily representing the cost of patents).

Investments are listed below by type and geographical region:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
Intangible assets 1,290 2,019
Tangible assets 1,488 908
Total 2,778 2,927
30 June 2021 30 June 2020
(Euro /000) intangible tangible assets intangible tangible assets
Italy 1,246 1,326 2,012 786
European Union 2 23 1 30
Europe non-EU - 4 6 -
North America - 78 - 11
South America 42 16 - 6
Asia - 41 - 75
Rest of the world - - - -
Total 1,290 1,488 2,019 908

Investments in the first half of 2021 are broken down below by business area:

(Euro /000) Sensors Automation
components
Motion control Total
Intangible assets 349 411 530 1,290
Tangible assets 783 581 124 1,488
Total 1,132 992 654 2,778

Results by business area

The following sections comment on the performance of the individual business areas.

To ensure correct interpretation of figures relating to the individual activities, it should be noted that:

  • the business represents the sum of revenues and related costs of the Parent Company Gefran S.p.A. and of the Group subsidiaries;
  • the figures for each business are provided gross of internal trade between different businesses;
  • the central operations costs, which pertain to Gefran S.p.A., are fully allocated to the businesses, where possible, and quantified according to actual use; they are otherwise divided according to economic-technical criteria.

For an examination of assets by business area, refer to section 18 of the explanatory notes to the consolidated half-yearly report.

Sensors

Summary results

The table below shows the key economic figures.

30 June 30 June Var. 2021 -
2020
Var. 2021 -
2020
(Euro /000) 2021 2020 Value % 2Q 2021 2Q 2020 Value %
Revenues 38,333 28,140 10,193 36.2% 20,332 14,329 6,003 41.9%
EBITDA 11,378 6,072 5,306 87.4% 6,089 3,481 2,608 74.9%
% of revenues 29.7% 21.6% 29.9% 24.3%
EBIT 9,658 4,380 5,278 120.5% 5,233 2,621 2,612 99.7%
% of revenues 25.2% 15.6% 25.7% 18.3%

The breakdown of the sensors business revenues by geographical region is as follows:

30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Var. 2021 - 2020
(Euro /000) Value % Value % Value %
Italy 7,522 19.6% 5,769 20.5% 1,753 30.4%
Europe 11,486 30.0% 9,285 33.0% 2,201 23.7%
America 5,102 13.3% 4,744 16.9% 358 7.5%
Asia 14,085 36.7% 8,218 29.2% 5,867 71.4%
Rest of the world 138 0.4% 124 0.4% 14 11.3%
Total 38,333 100% 28,140 100% 10,193 36.2%

Business performance

Revenues from the business unit as of 30 June 2021amount to 38,333 thousand Euro, up over the figure for 30 June 2020, when this item amounted to 28,140 thousand Euro, an increase of 36.2%, including the effect of exchange rate fluctuation (negative by 832 thousand Euro). The figure for the previous period was penalised by the initial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on international markets, leading to the closure of some of the business unit's production plants. In the first half of 2021, despite the fact that many of the measures for containment of the virus are still in place (e.g., limiting non-essential travel), thanks to investments and the new operating methods introduced, the business unit was able to pick up on the first signs of recovery, especially in Asia, and particularly China, where activities implemented in 2020 to promote increased sales allowed it to take full advantage of the recovery of the local economy. This, in addition to the concrete appearance of commercial opportunities in other areas, especially in Italy and Europe, which began in 2019 and was suspended due to the pandemic, led to a complete recovery in revenues, recording even better performance than the first half of 2019 (+23.5%).

Compared to the first half of 2020, all geographical areas reached by the business unit show increasing revenues in the first half of 2021, particularly Asia (+71.4%), Europe (+23.7%) and Italy (30.4%). Growth in revenues was lower in America (+7.5%), an area also affected by exchange rates, and the only area to perform worse than in the first half of 2019 (-12.7%).

Positive signs were recorded in orders received in the first six months of 2021, totalling 45,670 thousand Euro, a 58.3% increase over the first half of 2020, when orders totalled 29,038 thousand Euro. The order backlog as of 30 June 2021 also increased compared to the figure at 30 June 2020 (+124.7%) and compared to the closing value for the previous year (+70%).

Orders in 2021 were also higher than the 2019 figure (+42.1%), when orders amounted to 32,342 thousand Euro.

In the second quarter of 2021, revenues amounted to 20,332 thousand Euro, up 41.9% over the same period in 2020, when they came to 14,329 thousand Euro.

Gross operating margin (EBITDA) as of 30 June 2021 amounts to 11,378 thousand Euro (29.7% of the business unit's revenues), up by 5,306 thousand Euro over 30 June 2020, when it was 6,072 thousand Euro (21.6% of revenues). The change in EBITDA is due to the growth in sales volumes, only partially affected by higher operating costs as a result of higher volumes of production. In comparison with the figure at 30 June 2019, EBITDA for the six-month period was higher both in absolute terms (3,433 thousand Euro) and as a percentage, increasing from 25.6% in the first half of 2019 to 29.7% in the first half of 2021.

EBIT for the first six months of 2021 amounted to 9,658 thousand Euro, equal to 25.2% of revenues, as compared with an EBIT in the same period of the previous year of 4,380 thousand Euro (15.6% of revenues), an increase of 5,278 thousand Euro. The change in the figure for the first half of 2021compared to the same period of the previous year is mainly due to the increase in revenue.

Comparing the figures by quarter, EBIT in the second quarter of 2021 came to 5,233 thousand Euro (25.7% of revenues), as compared with 2,621 thousand Euro (18.3% of revenues) in the second quarter of 2020.

Also note that the effect of adoption of accounting standard IFRS16 in the sensors business has resulted in reversal of 254 thousand Euro in leasing fees (263 thousand Euro at 30 June 2020) and entry of amortisation of usage rights worth 255 thousand Euro (261 thousand Euro at 30 June 2020).

Investments

Investments in the first six months of 2021 totalled 1,132 thousand Euro, including 349 thousand Euro in investments in intangible assets, 222 thousand Euro of which was for research and development in new products. The remainder is for purchase of software programmes and licences.

Increases in tangible assets totalled 783 thousand Euro, including 656 thousand Euro invested by the Parent Company, primarily for the purchase of production equipment for increasing the capacity and efficiency of production. Investments in the Group's subsidiaries totalled 127 thousand Euro, primarily for the purchase of equipment for the American subsidiary.

Automation components

Summary results

The table below shows the key economic figures.

30 June 30 June Var. 2021-2020 Var. 2021 -
2020
(Euro /000) 2021 2020 Value % 2Q 2021 2Q 2020 Value %
Revenues 23,193 18,412 4,781 26.0% 12,241 9,371 2,870 30.6%
EBITDA 2,656 1,331 1,325 99.6% 1,459 757 702 92.8%
% of revenues 11.5% 7.2% 11.9% 8.1%
EBIT 1,280 75 1,205 1607.3% 765 125 640 512.4%
% of revenues 5.5% 0.4% 6.3% 1.3%

The breakdown of components business revenues by geographic region is as follows:

30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Var. 2021-2020
(Euro /000) Value % Value % Value %
Italy 13,958 60.2% 10,167 55.2% 3,791 37.3%
Europe 5,470 23.6% 4,965 27.0% 505 10.2%
America 1,742 7.5% 1,565 8.5% 177 11.3%
Asia 1,969 8.5% 1,668 9.1% 301 18.0%
Rest of the world 54 0.2% 47 0.3% 7 14.9%
Total 23,193 100% 18,412 100% 4,781 26.0%

Business performance

As of 30 June 2021 the revenues of the business unit amount to 23,193 thousand Euro, up by 26.0% over 30 June 2020. In the first half of 2020, performance was adversely affected by the first effects of the global pandemic, particularly the necessary travel restrictions, which affected the business unit's commercial activities. This made it necessary to review some of the ways in which the sales network approaches customers, including implementation of digital tools. This, in addition to the activities carried out by the technical area for the development of new product families (such as the new SSR static units), as well as new and more modern functions applied to existing products (reduction of energy consumption and of the maintenance operations necessary in the event of machine downtime), allowed the business to pick up the first signs of recovery. The trend of improving revenues began in the last quarter of 2020 and continued in the first half of 2021, with sales returning to pre-pandemic levels (revenues in the first half of 2021 +4.2% over the same period in 2019).

All the main geographical regions covered by the business have seen an increase in revenues compared to the same period in 2020, with particular reference to Italy (+37.3%), Europe (+10.2%), and Asia (+18%). The comparison with the figure for the first half of 2019 shows growth in revenues in Italy (+10.8%) and in the Asian market (+21.1%).

Orders received in the first six months of 2021 amounted to 22,333 thousand Euro, and were overall higher than the figure for the first half of the previous year (+40.9%). The order backlog as of 30 June 2021 also increased both compared to the value on 30 June 2020 (+85.4%), and compared to the value at end of the year 2020 (+58.8%).

In the second quarter of 2021, revenues amounted to 12,241 thousand Euro, up 30.6% over the same period in 2020, when they came to 9,371 thousand Euro.

The gross operating margin (EBITDA) as of 30 June 2021 is positive by 2,656 thousand Euro (equal to 11.5% of revenues), up by 1,325 thousand Euro over the figure recorded on 30 June 2020, which was 1,331 thousand Euro (7.2% of revenues). The increase in sales recorded in the first six months of the year and the higher added value achieved are the variables that determine the improvement in EBITDA compared to the first half of 2020.

EBITDA for the first six months of 2021 was 133 thousand Euro higher than in the first half of 2019, but represented approximately the same percentage of revenues.

EBIT in the first half of 2021 was positive by 1,280 thousand Euro. This compares with a positive EBIT of 75 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020. The 1.205 thousand Euro increase is a result of the dynamics described above: growing volumes of sale and therefore added value, only partially compensated by greater operating costs for ordinary management.

Comparing the figures by quarter, EBIT in the second quarter of 2021 2021 came to 765 thousand Euro (6.3% of revenues), the figure may be compared with the second quarter of 2020, equal to 125 thousand Euro (1.3% of revenues).

Also note that adoption of accounting standard IFRS16 led the automation components business unit to reverse leasing fees of 228 thousand Euro (245 thousand on 30 June 2020) and to enter 230 thousand Euro in amortisation of usage rights (237 thousand Euro on 30 June 2020).

Investments

Investments in the first six months of 2021 totalled 992 thousand Euro. Investments in intangible assets amounted to 411 thousand Euro, of which 288 thousand Euro were to capitalise the cost of development of the new range of regulators and static units. The remainder represented the cost of purchasing software programs and licenses.

Investments in tangible assets amounted to 581 thousand Euro, including 549 thousand Euro invested in improvement of the Group's Italian production factories, plant and machinery and renewal of electronic office machines and equipment for information systems.

Motion control

Summary results

The table below shows the key economic figures.

(Euro /000) 30 June 30 June Var. 2021-2020 2Q 2021 2Q 2020 Var. 2021 -
2020
2021 2020 Value % Value %
Revenues 22,321 18,825 3,496 18.6% 11,870 9,124 2,746 30.1%
EBITDA 305 (67) 372 554.6% 185 (129) 314 243.1%
% of revenues 1.4% -0.4% 1.6% -1.4%
EBIT (643) (1,134) 491 43.3% (278) (655) 377 57.5%
% of revenues -2.9% -6.0% -2.3% -7.2%

The breakdown of motion control business revenues by geographic region is as follows:

30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Var. 2021-2020
(Euro /000) Value % Value % Value %
Italy 7,768 34.8% 6,405 34.0% 1,363 21.3%
Europe 3,751 16.8% 3,776 20.1% (25) -0.7%
America 4,525 20.3% 2,838 15.1% 1,687 59.4%
Asia 6,021 27.0% 5,609 29.8% 412 7.3%
Rest of the world 256 1.1% 197 1.0% 59 29.9%
Total 22,321 100% 18,825 100% 3,496 18.6%

Business performance

Revenues in the first six months of 2021 amount to 22,321 thousand Euro, up by 3,496 thousand Euro (+18.6%) over the figure for the first half of 2020. Almost all geographical areas of interest to the business unit, particularly America (+59.4%) and Italy (+21.3%), improved, even displaying growth over the first half of 2019 (+24% and +25.8%) respectively.

Commercial activities aimed at consolidating the Group's presence in the areas historically covered and the development of new areas, as well as technological development of the products, have made it possible to partially recover the revenue gap caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially as regards the lifting range and customised products.

The order portfolio in the first half of 2021 amounts to 25,496 thousand Euro, up 10.5% over the figure for the same period in the previous year, when this item totalled 23,067 thousand Euro. the backlog as of 30 June 2021 was higher than the end 2020 figure of 39.7%, while in comparison with the figure as of 30 June 2020 there was a decrease of 27.5%.

Orders (+22.4%) and order backlog (+47.5%) even increased over with the first half of 2019.

EBITDA at 30 June 2021 was positive by 305 thousand Euro (1.4% of revenues), compared with the figure at 30 June 2020 which was negative by 67 thousand Euro (1.4% of revenues), revealing an increase of 372 thousand Euro, as a result of greater volumes of sale registered in the first six months of the year; partially eroded by the higher incidence of raw materials costs.

Operating income (EBIT) as of 30 June 2021 is negative by 643 thousand Euro and compares with an EBIT for the second quarter of 2020 which is negative by 1,134 thousand, representing an improvement of 491 thousand Euro, linked to the same dynamics described in reference to the change in EBITDA.

Comparing the figures by quarter, EBIT in the second quarter of 2021 is negative by 278 thousand Euro (2.3% of revenues), the figure is compared with the second quarter of 2020, also negative, by 655 thousand Euro (7.2% of revenues).

Also note that adoption of accounting standard IFRS16 led the motion control business unit to reverse leasing fees of 67 thousand Euro (69 thousand Euro at 30 June 2020) and to enter 68 thousand Euro in amortisation of usage rights (70 thousand Euro as of 30 June 2020).

Investments

Investments in the first six months of 2021 totalled 654 thousand Euro, including 124 thousand Euro invested in tangible assets, primarily for renewal of production equipment and improvement of the efficiency of production.

Increases in intangible assets amounted to 530 thousand Euro and primarily concerned the capitalisation of development costs (498 thousand Euro) relating to new products for the industrial sector and the lifting sector.

Research and development

The Gefran Group invests significant financial and human resources in product research and development. In the first half of 2021, about 5% of sales were invested in these activities, which are considered strategic to maintain high technological and innovative levels in products and ensure the competitiveness required by the market.

Research and development is concentrated in Italy, in the laboratories in Provaglio d'Iseo (BS) and Gerenzano (VA). It is managed by the technical area and includes development of new technologies, evolution of the characteristics of existing products, product certification, and design of custom products at the request of specific customers.

The cost of technical personnel involved in the activities, consultancy and materials used is fully charged to the income statement, except for costs capitalised for the year that meet the requirements of IAS 38. Costs identified for capitalisation according to the above requirements are indirectly suspended by a revenue entry under a specific income statement item, Increases for internal work.

The sensors area focused its research activities in the first half of 2021 on further strengthening Gefran's offer in the certification and connectivity area, focusing on high-end Melt sensors and Magnetostrictive position sensors in the HYPERWAVE range. In addition, the first prototype of Gefran's multivariable position sensor has been created and is now being tested by several customers.

With regard to Melt products, development projects are aimed at expanding the geographical focus of certifications and leveraging IECEx certification, obtained in 2020, necessary to achieve multiple regional certifications. In particular, Factory Mutual (FM) Explosion Proof certification was completed, necessary to compete on the US market, as well as EAC Ex certification for Russia and Kazhakistan. Finally, the process of obtaining PESO certification for the Indian market and Kosha for the Korean market has begun, thus covering key geographical regions for polymer manufacturing.

From the point of view of processes, 2021 began with the completion of the production process of certain Magnetostrictive Sensor lines at the Shanghai site, in order to best support the Asian market. This extension of the geographical scope of production, together with the initiatives completed in 2020 regarding the manufacturing of melt sensors in the United States and China, optimises Gefran's global operations configuration, increasing resilience, efficiency and customer proximity.

Again on the subject of Magnetostrictive sensors, the development of products to implement communication protocols from an Industry 4.0 perspective has continued. In this context, the new series employing the Profinet communication protocol is becoming part of the HYPERWAVE family, joining the IO-Link series already released.

IO-Link is the most economical Smart connectivity solution, offering advantages in terms of cabling, auto-parameterisation and acyclic data generation, indispensable requirements for Industry 4.0. The Profinet series offers superior performance in terms of both primary services and data transfer capacity, and will represent the top end of Gefran's magnetostrictive product range, for use in faster, better-performing machines. These products finalised the last steps of the certification process and are being tested by customers, in view of their upcoming release on the market.

Both protocols may be used in a variety of products on the industrial machinery market, and both of them boast a large and continually growing number of connections: the world had about 16 million IO-Link connections in 2019, a growth rate of +40%, while 32.4 Profinet nodes had been installed, a growth rate of +25%.

Finally, the first half of 2021 saw the production of Gefran's first multivariable position sensor capable of transmitting multiple measures on broad-based digital communications buses in the world of industry and mobile hydraulics. This sensor, based on innovative physical principles of measurement with integrated intelligence, represents a technological turning point for Gefran and the market and lays the foundations for progressive evolution of the Company's product portfolio.

Research and development in the field of automation components focused on the projects described below.

For the instrumentation range, attention was focused on the development of specific functionalities for market sectors such as metals and pharmaceuticals:

  • evolution of 2805T-3805T controllers offering advanced features based on the requirements of the CFR21 standard (chemical/pharmaceutical market);
  • implementation in 1650-1850 controllers of specific HW and SW features required in the metal heat treatment sector.

For the power controller range, work focused mainly on extension of the family of static units launched in 2020 and characterized by development of particularly small size. The evolution of the functions of static groups has been aimed at development of advanced control and diagnostics functions, as well as implementation of protocols enabling integration of static groups into Industry 4.0 architectures. Development work in motion control proceeded in two main directions. On the one hand, the development of products in the standard catalogue, enriched with new Industry 4.0 functionalities for connectivity, safety and security, as well as the necessary functional and technological updating; on the other, implementation of custom products responding to specific ad hoc technical requirements (job orders) requested by important market leaders in industry.

In more detail, the worked carried out in the first half of 2021 by the R&D departments concerned the following projects:

  • renewal of the range of continuous converters that will be equipped with cloud, security and maintenance functions to meet the expectations of the main industry operators;
  • finalisation and field testing of the new inverter line for non-industrial lifting;
  • development to complete the range of hybrid power pump inverters (electricity grid and photovoltaic) for high energy performance applications;
  • development of a new range of converters for lifts with high power, performance and reliability, to order for a specific project;

  • development, again to order, of an inverter for the air conditioning sector (HVAC) offering high level performance, reduced electromagnetic emissions and optimised cost;

Finally, research and development in the motion control business unit assigned even greater importance to work aimed at developing new technologies for improving the performance of products and the possibility of introducing new functions and services, such as remote support and preventive maintenance. These activities were carried out both independently and in collaboration with universities and research centres.

Human resources

Workforce

The Group's workforce as of 30 June 2021 numbered 778 people, a decrease of 9 since the end of 2020 and of 44 since 30 June 2020.

This change marks an overall turnover rate within the Group of 8.8%.

Changes in the first half of 2021 may be broken down as follows:

  • 30 people joined the Group, including 6 manual workers and 24 clerical staff;
  • 39 people left the Group, including 10 manual workers and 29 clerical staff.

Main risks and uncertainties to which the Gefran Group is exposed

In the normal course of its business, the Gefran Group is exposed to various financial and nonfinancial risk factors, which, should they materialise, could have a significant impact on its economic and financial situation. The Group therefore adopts specific procedures to manage the risk factors that could influence its results.

Analysis of risk factors and assessment of their impact and probability of occurrence is the prerequisite for creation of value in the organisation. The ability to respond to risk correctly will help the Company to face corporate and strategic choices with confidence and contribute to prevention of the negative impact on the Company's targets and the Group's business.

The Group adopts specific procedures for management of risk factors that may have an impact on expected results.

The organisational structure of relevance to the internal control and risk management system is set up as follows:

  • the Risk Control Committee (RCC), which has the task of supporting, with adequate preliminary investigation activity, evaluations and decisions of the Board of Directors regarding the internal control and risk management system, as well as of checking the proper application of accounting standards and their consistency for the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements;
  • the Executive Director in charge of the internal control and risk management system, with the task of identifying the main corporate risks, implementing the risk management guidelines and checking their adequacy. In this regard, with the entry into force of the January 2020 edition of the Corporate Governance Code, applicable "from the first financial year beginning after 31 December 2020", this role is held by the Chief Executive Officer (as defined in the document in question);
  • the Executive in charge of the financial reporting, who has direct supervision of the control model pursuant to Law 262/2005 and of the related administrative and accounting procedures, in connection with the constant updating of the same;
  • the Internal Audit function, with the task of checking, both continuously as well as in relation to specific requirements and in compliance with international standards, the operation and appropriateness of the internal control and risk management system, via an audit plan approved by the Board of Directors, which is based on a structured analysis of the main risks.

In recent years Gefran has progressively approached the concepts of Enterprise Risk Management with the aim of developing a process of periodic identification, assessment and management of the main risks. Starting in 2017, Gefran has taken advantage of the occasion to reinforce its governance model and implement Enterprise Risk Management, promoting proactive risk management in support of the company's principal decision-making processes and identifying any areas requiring special attention and focus.

This allows the Board of Directors and Management to consciously assess risk scenarios that could compromise achievement of strategic goals and adopt further instruments capable of mitigating or managing significant exposure to risk, strengthening the Group's Corporate Governance and Internal Auditing System. Enterprise Risk Management is extended to all types of risk/opportunity of potential significance for the Group, represented in the Risk Model - shown in the figure below dividing internal and external risk areas characterising Gefran's business model into eight families:

  • External Risks: risks deriving from factors beyond the company's control, such as macroeconomic context and changes in the regulatory and/or market scenario;
  • Financial Risks: connected with the availability of funding, credit and cash management, and/or volatility of key market variables (e.g. commodity prices, interest rates, exchange rates);
  • Strategic Risks: risks connected with the company's strategic decisions regarding product portfolio, extraordinary operations, innovation, digital transformation, etc. which could influence the Group's performance;
  • Governance and Integrity Risks: risks connected with Group/Company governance or with professionally incorrect behaviour which does not conform to the Company's ethical policy and could expose the Group to possible sanctions, undermining its reputation on the market;
  • Operating Risks and Reporting Risks: risks connected with the efficacy/efficiency of company processes, with negative consequences for the company's performance and operations, and/or connected with the possibility that planning, reporting and control processes may not be sufficient to assist management with strategic decision-making and/or monitoring of the business;
  • Legal and Compliance Risks: risks pertaining to management of legal and contractual aspects and conformity to national, international and industry laws and regulations applicable to the Company;
  • IT Risks: risks connected with the adequacy of information systems for supporting the current and/or future requirements of the business, in terms of infrastructure, integrity, security and availability of data, information and information systems;
  • Human Resources Risks: risks connected with the retention, availability, management and development of the resources and skills necessary to conduct business and management of trade union relations.
1. External Risks 2. Financial Risks
1.01 Macroeconomic context 1.02 Instability in Emerging Economies where the Group
produces or sells its products
2.01 Volatility of raw materials' price / Financial markets 2.02 Business / financial counterparts
1.03 Catastrophic Events / Business Interruption 1.04 Evolution of the lows, regulations and industry
standards
2.03 Exchange rate 2.04 Interest rate
1.05 Competition 1.06 Unexpected changes in demand (including
consumer habits)
2.05 Liquidity 2.06 Availability of capital / debt-reimbursement
capability
3. Strategic Risks 2.07 Quality of the credit
3.01 Sustainability of the Businesses (e.g. Motion /
Automation)
3.02 Investments decisions / M&A 4. Governance and Integrity Risks
3.03 Product portfolio 3.04 Product / process innovation 4.01 Resistance to change 4.02 Integrity of behaviors / frauds
3.05 Effectiveness of medium-long term strategies 3.06 Effectiveness of extraordinary transactions 4.03 Proxies and Powers 4.04 R&R (roles e responsability) / SoD
3.07 Strategic planning 3.08 Effectiveness of crisis management plans 4.05 Management and government of foreing branches
3.09 Dependence on key customers 3.10 Dependence on suppliers / critical subcontractors
3.11 Digital Transformation & Change Management 6. Legal and Compliance Risks
5. Operating and Reporting Risks 6.01 Protection of the exclusiveness of the product 6.02 Litigation
5.01 Adequacy / saturation od production capacity 5.02 Incorrect / inefficient production planning 6.03 Contractual risks 6.04 Adaptation to H&S legislation
5.03 Obsolescence of plants / machineries 5.04 Quality of product / Recall 6.05 Adaptation to environmental legislation 6.06 Adaptation to labor legislation
5.05 Storage obsolescence 5.06 Unavailability of raw materials / semi-finished
products / other goods and extra costs of supplies
6.07 Adaptation to 262 Italian Law / financial reporting 6.08 Adaptation to 231 Italian Law Decree /
Anticorruption
5.07 Reliability of supplier portfolio 5.08 Ineffectiveness of sales channels 6.09 Adaptation to fiscal legislation 6.10 Adaptation to privacy legislation
5.09 Pricing ineffectiveness 5.10 Budget, Planning e Reporting
5.11 Unavailability of data and information 5.12 Transfer Pricing 6.11 Adaptation to industry legislation (ex. ISO) 6.12 Adaptation to customs legislation
5.13 Order execution risk 5.14 Partitioning of suppliers 8. Risks connected to Human resources
5.15 Delays in the execution of investment plans 5.16 Interruptions / Delays in Logistics 8.01 Attraction e Retention 8.02 Professional development and compensation
8.03 Generational change 8.04 Industrial Relations
7. IT Risks 8.05 Deoendence in key figures 8.06 Poor communication between the first managerial
lines
7.01 IT & Data Security (Cybersecurity e SoD) 7.02 Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity 8.07 Timeliness of communications relating to
organizational changes
8.08 Average age of employees
7.03 IT Governance 7.04 IT infrastructure / limits of technological capacity 8.09 Unavailability of personnel 8.10 Climate in the company
7.05 Web domain 8.11 Smart working / remote working management 8.12 Personnels performance

The eight risk families analysed are schematically represented below:

Management involved in the Risk Assessment process must use a clearly defined shared methodology to identify and assess specific risk events in terms of the probability of them actually occurring, their impact and the degree of adequacy of the existing risk management system, according to the following definitions:

  • probability that a certain event may occur within the time horizon of the Plan, measured on the basis of a scale ranging from unlikely/remote (1) to very likely (4);
  • impact: estimate of the average economic and financial impact on EBIT, damage to HSE and image and repercussions for operations within the time horizon under consideration, measured on the basis of a scale from insignificant (1) to critical (4);
  • level of risk management or of maturity and efficiency of existing risk management systems and processes, measured on the basis of a scale from optimal (1) to be initiated (4).

The results of measurement of risk exposure analysed are then represented in the so-called Heat Map, a 4x4 matrix which, combined with the variables in subject, provides an immediate overview of risk events considered particularly significant.

The principal risks detected and assessed through Risk Assessment are described and discussed with all organisations of significance for the purposes of the internal auditing and risk management system and with the Board of Directors. The overview of the risks the Group is exposed to allows the Board of Directors and Management to reflect on propensity for risk and identify risk management strategies to be adopted, or assess which risks and priorities are considered to require implementation, improvement or optimisation actions, or simple monitoring of exposure over time.

Adoption of a certain risk management strategy depends, however, on the nature of the risk event identified, and therefore, in the case of:

  • external risks beyond the Group's control, it will be possible to implement tools supporting assessment of risk scenarios in the event that the risk should arise, defining possible plans of action for mitigation of impact (e.g. ongoing control, stress tests on the business plan, stipulation of insurance policies, disaster recovery plans, etc.);
  • risks that may be partially addressed by the Group, it will be possible to intervene through risk transfer, monitoring of specific risk indicators, hedging, etc.;
  • internal risks that may be addressed by the Group, as these risks are inherent in the Group's business, it will be possible to implement targeted actions for risk prevention and minimisation of impact through implementation of an appropriate internal control system with monitoring and auditing.

The process conducted in 2020 involved 15 company contact people representing the Parent Company and subsidiaries.

External and internal risk factors are analysed below, classified according to the risk families identified above:

  • (a) External risks;
  • (b) Financial risks;
  • (c) Strategic risks;
  • (d) Governance and Integrity risks;
  • (e) Operating risks and Reporting risks;
  • (f) Legal and Compliance risks.

Note that, with reference to IT risk, the risk management processes currently implemented by the Group do not reveal any particular risks relating to the adequacy of information systems, in terms of infrastructure, data integrity and availability and the security of systems and applications used. In particular, a strong focus was placed on cybersecurity, adopting procedures and systems to monitor and prevent attacks on the corporate network, and taking out specific insurance coverage.

Moreover, with reference to human resources risks, there are no specific risks to be reported, thanks to initiatives undertaken since 2017 and still underway.

Lastly, on the basis of economic results and cash flows in recent years, as well as available funds, there is believed to be no significant uncertainty as of that date as to the Company's ability to maintain business continuity.

External Risks

Risks associated with the general economic conditions and market trends

The International Monetary Fund's global growth outlook for 2021, confirmed at the end of July, estimates a global growth outlook of 6% (an improvement over the October 2020 estimate of 5.2% GDP growth), while more modest growth, 4.9%, is expected for 2022.

The Gefran Group serves international markets through its subsidiaries, and although the spread of Covid-19 is worldwide, the timing of outbreaks in different places and the limitations imposed by certain governments to limit the health emergency, have led to different trends in orders and revenues. The subsequent economic recovery also took place at different times and in different ways all over the world: China, for example, had already recovered fully by the second half of 2020, while other countries have not yet fully recovered.

Ever since the first signs of the spread of Covid-19, the Gefran Group has reviewed some organisational methods, also in view of the limitations on the mobility of the sales force, focusing its activities both on monitoring existing markets and launching "marketing automation" projects with the aim of developing contacts with "prospective customers" through digital platforms. This has allowed the Group to reap the benefits of the significant recovery in certain markets (such as China and Southeast Asia) and enabled it to record good performance in the first half of 2021: revenues 26.8% higher than the first half of 2020, and even 10.4% higher than the first half of 2019.

In the first two quarters of 2021, a number of factors, including support for economic policies and implementation of vaccination campaigns, lead to an improvement in the global outlook. However, there are still uncertainties linked to the evolution of the pandemic, the spread of variants and the organisation of vaccination campaigns, which could still have repercussions on markets, as well as criticalities in supply chains.

The possibility that these trends may have a significant impact on the Group's operations and economic and financial situation cannot be ruled out.

Risks associated with the market structure and competitive pressure

Gefran operates on open, unregulated markets that are not protected by any tariff barriers, regulated regime or public concession. The markets are highly competitive in terms of product quality, innovation, price competitiveness, product reliability and customer service to machinery manufacturers.

The Group operates in a very crowded competitive environment: operators which are large groups that may have greater resources or better cost structures, both in terms of economies of scale and factor costs, enabling them to implement aggressive pricing policies.

The success of the Gefran Group's activities derives from its capacity to focus its efforts on specific industrial sectors, concentrating on resolving technological problems and on customer service, thereby providing greater value to customers in the niche markets in which it competes.

The Gefran Group has invested in human resources with the aim of mitigating the impact of this risk, adding specialised personnel with a focus on innovation and innovative trends in technology.

Should the Group prove unable to develop and offer innovative and competitive products and solutions that match those supplied by its main competitors in terms of price, quality, functionality, or should there be delays in such developments, sales volumes could decline, with a negative impact on the Group's economic and financial results.

Although the Gefran Group believes that it can adapt its cost structure if sales volumes or prices decrease, the risk is that such a reduction in the cost structures will not be sufficiently large and quick, thus negatively affecting its economic and financial situation.

Risks associated with changes in the regulatory framework

Since the Group makes and distributes electronic components used in electrical applications, it is subject to numerous legal and regulatory requirements in the various countries in which it operates, to the national and international technical standards applicable to companies operating in the same industry and to the products made and sold by the Group.

Any changes in laws or regulations could entail substantial costs to adapt the product characteristics or even temporary suspension of the sale of some products, which would affect revenues.

In addition, there is the risk of changes or tightening of the regulatory framework by supranational or national governmental bodies in the countries where Gefran operates that could have an impact on the Group's operating results.

The Group also places great importance on the protection of the environment and safety.

Its activities do not include the manufacture or processing of materials or components to an extent that would generate a significant risk of pollution or environmental damage.

The Group has introduced a series of controls and monitoring aimed at identifying and preventing any potential increase in this risk. Furthermore, it has taken out an insurance policy to cover potential liabilities arising from environmental damage to third parties. This does not exclude the possibility of residual environmental risks which are not yet been known and covered.

The enactment of other regulations that apply to the Group or its products, or changes in the regulations currently in force in the sectors in which the Group operates, also internationally, could force the Group to adopt more rigorous standards or limit its freedom of action in its areas of operation. These factors could entail costs relating to adapting the production facilities or product characteristics.

Country risk

A significant portion of the Group's production and sales activities is carried out outside the European Union, particularly in Asia, the US and Brazil. The Group is exposed to risks relating to the global scale of its operations, including those relating to:

  • exposure to local economic and political conditions;
  • the implementation of policies restricting imports and/or exports;
  • operating in multiple tax regimes;
  • the introduction of policies limiting or restricting foreign investment and/or trade.

Unfavourable political and economic developments or those related to the health emergency in the countries in which the Group operates could have a negative impact – the extent of which would vary by country – on the Group's prospects and operations, and its economic and financial results.

Financial Risks

Exchange rate risk

As a global operator, the Gefran Group is exposed to market risks stemming from exchange rate fluctuations in the currencies of the various countries in which it operates.

Exposure to exchange rate risk is linked to the presence of production activities concentrated in Italy and commercial activities in various geographical regions outside the Eurozone. This organisational structure generates flows in currencies other than the currency in the place of production, mainly the US dollar, the Chinese renminbi, the Brazilian real, the Indian rupee, the Swiss franc, the Turkish lira and the UK pound; production areas in the US, Brazil, India, Switzerland and China mainly serve their local markets, with flows in the same currency.

Exchange rate risk arises when future transactions or assets and liabilities already recorded in the statement of financial position are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the company conducting the operation. In order to manage the exchange rate risk resulting from future commercial transactions and the recording of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies, the Group first and foremost exploits so-called natural hedging, seeking to level out the incoming and outgoing flows on all the currencies other than the Group's functional currency; furthermore, Gefran evaluates and if necessary establishes hedging transactions on the main currencies, by means of the Parent Company signing futures contracts. However, since the Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in euros, fluctuations in the exchange rates used to translate subsidiaries' accounting figures, originally expressed in local currency, may affect the Group's results and financial position.

Interest rate risk

Changes in interest rates affect the market value of the Group's financial assets and liabilities, as well as net financial charges. The interest rate risk to which the Group is exposed mainly originates from medium-/long-term financial payables. The Group is exposed almost exclusively to fluctuations in the Euro rate, since the majority of bank loans have been taken out by the Parent Company Gefran S.p.A.

These variable-rate loans expose the Company to a risk associated with interest rate volatility, known as cash flow risk. To limit exposure to this risk, the Parent Company puts in place derivative hedging contracts, specifically Interest Rate Swaps (IRS), which convert the floating rate to a fixed rate, or Interest Rate Caps (CAP), which set the maximum interest rate, thereby reducing the risk originating from interest rate volatility.

The potential rise in interest rates, from the lows reached at present, is a possible risk factor for the next few quarters, although this is limited by hedging contracts.

Risks associated with fluctuations in commodity prices

Since the Group's production mainly involves mechanical, electronic and assembly processes, exposure to energy price fluctuations is very limited.

The Group is exposed to changes in basic commodity prices (e.g. metals) to a small extent, given the product cost component related to these materials is very limited. However, at the moment the market is growing strongly and this leads to a significant price oscillation that affects the overall cost of the product, albeit in a moderate manner.

Risks associated with funding requirements and cash risk

The Gefran Group's financial situation is subject to risks associated with the general economic environment, the achievement of objectives and trends in the sectors in which the Group operates.

Gefran's capital structure is strong; it has own funds of Euro 83.4 million versus overall liabilities of Euro 89.6 million. Most existing loan contracts were negotiated at variable rates, determined by the Euribor plus a fixed spread, which in the last two years was always below 110 bps.

During the first half of 2021 a new loan was taken out by the subsidiary Gefran Soluzioni S.r.l. totalling Euro 0.5 million, with the goal of increasing the capital base and supporting the company's development of foreign sales. A portion of the loan, equal to Euro 0.2 million, relating to the Integrated Promotion Fund, was disbursed as a non-refundable grant under the Temporary Framework, while a second portion, Euro 0.3 million, relates to Fund 394/81 and is entered under non-current financial payables.

The loan will be repaid in 8 half-yearly instalments starting at the end of the pre-amortisation period of 2 years.

To date, none of the loans outstanding includes covenants (for details, please refer to the specific section on "Net Financial Position" in the Explanatory Notes).

Operations in the first half of 2021, only partially affected by capital expenditure, generated a positive free cash flow of 10.8 million Euro.

As of 30 June 2021, net financial position was positive at 1.7 million Euro, an improvement of 5.4 million Euro compared to the end of the previous year, after distributing 3.7 million Euro in dividends.

Credit lines and cash on hand are sufficient for the Group's operations and the expected economic outlook.

Credit risk

The Group has business relations with a large number of customers. Customer concentration is not high, since no customer accounts for more than 10% of total revenues. Supply agreements are normally long-term, because Gefran products form part of the customer's product design, and they are incorporated into the end product and have a significant influence on its performance. In accordance with IFRS 7.3.6a, all amounts presented in the financial statements represent the maximum exposure to credit risk.

The Group grants its customers deferred payment conditions, which vary according to the market practices in individual countries. All customers' solvency is regularly monitored, and any risks are periodically covered by appropriate provisions. Despite these precautions, under current market conditions, it cannot be ruled out that some customers may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow or may lack access to sufficient sources of funding, resulting in payment delays or a failure to honour obligations.

Receivables were adjusted to their estimated realisable value through a specific provision for doubtful receivables, calculated on the basis of an examination of individual debtor positions as required by IFRS 9 and taking into account past experience in each specific line of business and geographical region.

The Group has developed estimates based on the most accurate information available on past events, current economic conditions and forecasts for the future. The analyses conducted to determine the existence of such a risk have been based primarily on three factors:

  • the potential impact of Covid-19 on the economy;
  • the support measures governments have implemented;
  • the collectability of credit resulting in the changed risk of customer defaulting.

With reference to the latter point, the Group has conducted its analyses using a risk matrix that takes into account geographical region, industry, and individual customer solvency.

Management considers the forecasts thus generated to be reasonable and sustainable despite the current climate of uncertainty.

Strategic Risks

Risks associated with the implementation of the Group's strategy

Gefran's ability to improve profitability and achieve the expected profit margins also depend on successful implementation of its strategy. Group strategy is based on sustainable growth, which can be achieved through investment and projects for products, applications and geographical markets, that lead to growth in profitability.

Gefran plans to implement its strategy by concentrating available resources on development of its core industrial business, favouring growth in strategic products that guarantee volumes, and in which the Group is technological and market leader. Gefran continues to make changes to its organisational structure, work processes and staff know-how to increase specialisation in research, marketing and sales by product and by application.

Given the uncertainty regarding the future macroeconomic environment, the operations described could take longer to implement than expected or may not prove fully satisfactory for the Group.

Risks connected with delays in product and process innovation

Gefran operates in a sector that is strongly influenced by technological innovation. The Group's approach to innovation is often customer-driven. Inadequate or delayed product/process/model innovation to anticipate and/or influence customers' demands could have negative repercussions, causing the company to miss opportunities and sacrifice market share or revenues.

The impact of this risk would increase if one or more competitors should propose business models or technologies which are more innovative than Gefran's.

In order to mitigate the impact of this risk, the Gefran Group has invested in software introducing new controls in production and processes, through reorganisation of production flows, and in human resources, with the addition of specialised figures focusing on the areas of innovation and innovative technological trends.

However, if delays occur due to various factors, they could affect the Group's results.

Governance and integrity risks

Ethical risks

The Gefran Group has always been committed to applying and observing rigorous ethical and moral principles when conducting its internal and external activities, in full compliance with the laws in force and market regulations. The adoption of the Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct, the internal procedures put in place to comply with these codes and the controls adopted guarantee a healthy, safe and efficient working environment for employees, and an approach intended to ensure complete respect for external stakeholders. The Group believes that ethics in business management must be pursued alongside financial growth, and the Code is therefore an explicit point of reference for everyone working with the Group.

Respect for people and valorisation of their skills, protection of diversity and equal opportunities are the ethical principles inspiring the Group's HR Policy and expressed in the "Persons in Gefran" policy, which covers the Group as a whole.

Gefran has also effectively adopted an Organisation and Management Model pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 231/2001. The Group believes that this is not only a regulatory obligation but also a source of growth and wealth generation and has therefore fully restructured its activities and internal procedures in order to prevent the offences set out in this regulation from being committed. The Supervisory Board established by the Board of Directors performs its duties constantly and professionally, guaranteed by the presence of a two professionals with excellent knowledge of administration and process control systems.

The Group conducts the bulk of its business with private customers, which do not directly or indirectly belong to government organisations or public agencies, and rarely takes part in public tenders or subsidised projects. This further limits the risks of reputational or economic damage resulting from unacceptable ethical conduct.

Operating risks and reporting risks

Risks associated with relations with suppliers

The Group purchases raw materials and components from a large number of suppliers and depends on services and products supplied by other companies outside the Group. Conversely, electronic components, primarily microprocessors, power semi-conductors and memory chips, are purchased from leading global producers.

Due to the spread of Covid-19 ring in the beginning of 2020, the Group promptly set up a task force to identify the location of the plants of suppliers considered critical and, when they were found to be located in areas where lockdowns had been put in place, direct orders for supplies to plants that were still in operation. The Group's Purchasing Department assessed alternative suppliers to mitigate the risk of interruption of supply, while purchasing the materials necessary to guarantee the business continuity of the Group's plants, which suffered no interruptions due to shortages of materials.

Some of the operating methods developed at the outset of the emergency have turned out to be particularly effective and have therefore been integrated into the Group's standard procedures with the goal of mitigating, wherever possible, some of the risks linked with the possibility of interruption of the supply chain as a result of events outside the Group. These procedures have found immediate application and implementation to address a market situation currently in a difficult structural condition characterised by a shortage of electronic components, resulting in major price increases and significant extension of procurement times.

Risks associated with product development, management and quality

The Group's value chain covers all activities, including R&D, production, marketing, sales and technical support. Defects or errors in these processes may cause product quality problems that could potentially affect the Group's results and financial position.

The quality of the product and of the process underlying its production is of the utmost importance for the Group and this is evident in the quality function which, over the years, has been increasingly endowed with new resources and skills, at a global level, to ensure the proper supervision of this fundamental aspect.

In line with the practices of many operators in the sector, Gefran has taken out insurance policies that it considers sufficient to protect itself from the risks resulting from this liability. Furthermore, it has set up a specific product warranty provision to meet these risks, in line with the volume of activities and the historical occurrence of these phenomena.

However, should the insurance cover and risk provisions prove inadequate, the Group's results could be negatively affected. In addition, the Group's involvement in this type of dispute and any ruling against it therein could expose the Group to reputational damage, which also has potential consequences for the Group's results and financial position.

Risks associated with operations at industrial facilities

Gefran is an industrial group, so it is potentially exposed to the risk of production stoppages at one or more of its plants, due, for example, to machinery breakdowns, revocation or disputes regarding permits or licences from public authorities (e.g. following changes in the law), strikes or manpower unavailability, natural disasters, major disruptions to the supply of raw materials or energy, sabotage or attack.

There have been no significant interruptions of activity in recent years, not even during the pandemic; however, future interruption cannot be ruled out, and if it occurs for lengthy periods, the Group's results and financial position could be negatively affected if the damage exceeds the amount currently covered by insurance policies.

Gefran has implemented a disaster recovery system for restoring the systems, data and infrastructures necessary for the Group's work in the event of an emergency and in order to contain its impact.

To mitigate this risk, Gefran has come up with plans for investment in plant and machinery, aiming for digitalisation, expansion and reorganisation of its productive spaces and hiring of new employees. If necessary, moreover, the company can shift production to another plant thanks to use of the same bill of materials and uniform production processes.

In any case, the possibility of major oscillation of demand, making effective production planning difficult, or demand in excess of its productive capacity, could cause Gefran to miss out on business opportunities or even lose revenues.

Health and safety risks

Risk assessment is essential to protect the health and safety of our workers. Gefran is constantly committed to mapping the operating risks that could be manifested in the various company sectors, to define opportunities and actions to minimise them, where possible.

In response to the spread of Covid-19, Gefran has implemented all the necessary procedures to guarantee the health of its employees, taking into account all the official protocols issued by the governments of the countries in which Gefran operates. By way of example, with no intention of exhaustively listing the health and hygiene measures implemented on the company's premises and for its employees, a number of actions implemented in Group plants are listed below:

  • sanitisation of premises: production facilities in Italy, China and the USA have been subjected to massive sanitisation, and all offices are cleaned and sanitised several times a day;
  • distancing: production flows have been changed where necessary to ensure a safe distance between workers, identifying new premises for use as common areas such as cafeterias, dressing rooms, and access to them, organised on the basis of flexible shifts during the course of the day;
  • distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE): all Group employees and visitors are supplied with PPE at the entrance to company premises and asked to wear it all the time while on site;
  • temperature measurement at the entrance;
  • rules of behaviour: specific procedures have been set forth regulating behaviour and processes in conformity with the requirements of the protocols, and employees have been provided with information and instruction, affixing signs on Gefran premises informing people of the rules of behaviour to be followed while on the premises.

In addition, a process of collecting and sharing information has been implemented to monitor the evolution of the anti-Covid-19 regulations implemented by the various countries in which the Group and its subsidiaries operate: the legal office of the Parent Company takes care of this process, collecting and publishing the necessary updates on the internal corporate network, making them known to all interested parties.

Protecting the health and safety of its stakeholders is essential for Gefran. Confirming the importance of these issues in the year 2020, the company's organisation implemented an integrated "Quality, Safety and Environment" function with expertise at the Group-wide level. In 2020 the "Health, Safety and Environment System Policy" was also signed and distributed throughout the entire Group, for the definition of guiding principles in these areas.

Legal and compliance risks

Legal risks and product liability

Within the scope of Gefran's core business, the manufacture and sale of products may give rise to issues linked to defects and consequent liability in respect of its customers or third parties. The Group is therefore exposed to the risk of product liability actions in the countries in which it operates.

In line with the practices of many operators in the sector, Gefran has taken out insurance policies that it considers sufficient to protect itself from the risks resulting from this liability. It has also set up a specific provision against these risks.

However, should the insurance cover and risk provisions prove inadequate, the Group's results could be negatively affected. In addition, the Group's involvement in this type of dispute and any ruling against it could expose the Group to reputational damage, which also has potential consequences for the Group's results and financial position.

Risks associated with intellectual property rights

Although the Group considers it has adopted an appropriate system to protect its intellectual property rights, it cannot be ruled out that it may encounter difficulties defending these rights.

Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of third parties could inhibit or limit the Group's capacity to introduce new products onto the market. These events could have a negative impact on the development of activities and the Group's results and financial position.

Significant events in the first half of 2021

  • On 10 February 2021, the Gefran S.p.A. Board of Directors examined the preliminary results as of 31 December 2020.
  • On 11 March 2021, the Gefran S.p.A. Board of Directors unanimously approved the financial statements for the year ending on 31 December 2020, the consolidated financial statements and the consolidated non-financial statement.

The Board of Directors also resolved to propose to the Shareholders' Meeting distribution of a dividend of Euro 0.26 per share in circulation (not including own shares), through use of the necessary amount of the net profit for the year, carrying over the residual amount.

During the same meeting, the Board resolved to propose to the Shareholders' Meeting approval of the authorisation to purchase and dispose of, in one or more instalments, a number of ordinary shares in the company up to a maximum of 1,440,000.00 shares, equal to 10% of the company's share capital. The authorisation is requested for a period of 18 months from the date of the shareholders' resolution.

  • On 23 April 2021 Gefran S.p.A. was informed by its majority shareholder of the completion of the acquisition of 45.98% of Fingefran S.r.l. by Ennio Franceschetti (Honorary Chairman of Gefran S.p.A.), who, following the transaction, controls 100% of the voting rights of Fingefran S.r.l. The share of Gefran S.p.A. held by Fingefran S.r.l., post-transaction, amounts to 53.02% of its share capital.
  • On 27 April 2021, the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting of Gefran S.p.A. voted to:
  • o Approve the Financial Statements for the financial year 2020 and to distribute an ordinary dividend, gross of withholding taxes, of 0.26 Euros per eligible share (ex-dividend date 10 May 2021, record date 11 May 2021 and payment date 12 May 2021). The remainder of the annual profit will be allocated to the retained earnings reserve.

  • o Appoint the Board of Statutory Auditors for the 2021- 2023 three-year period: Roberta Dell'Apa, Chair, Primo Ceppellini and Luisa Anselmi The substitute statutory auditors are Stefano Guerreschi and Simona Bonomelli.

  • o Authorise the Board of Directors to purchase up to a maximum of 1,440,000 own shares with a face value of 1 Euro each, within 18 months from the date of the Shareholders' Meeting.

In accordance with art. 123-ter of Italy's Consolidated Finance Act (TUF), the shareholders' meeting held a binding vote approving the Group's 2021 Remuneration Policy and its Remuneration Report for the year 2020.

Significant events following the end of the first half of 2021

Nothing to report.

Outlook

A year after the first signs of the spread of the Covid-19 virus, which largely characterised the 2020 financial year, the crisis caused by the pandemic is still ongoing.

At the close of the first quarter of 2021, a number of factors boosting recovery, such as support with economic and fiscal policies, a change of administration in the United States, and the intensification of vaccination campaigns, have benefited the overall growth outlook.

While uncertainties remain due to the spread of new virus variants, significant progress in vaccination campaigns could lead to an acceleration in economic activity in the second half of 2021, driven by an increase in consumer spending and supported by the favourable stance of monetary policy. Economic recovery will depend not only on the outcome of the race between viruses and vaccines, but also on the effectiveness of the economic policies deployed and the way the economy reacts upon reopening.

In the current scenario, in light of the trends observed during 2020 and in the first half of 2021, the International Monetary Fund recently revised its economic projections: at the global level, it is projecting a growth rate of 6% in 2021 and 4.9% in 2022. For 2021, the global growth estimate published in April is confirmed, but several weightings have been made, partly due to differences in the accessibility of vaccines: growth in emerging markets and developing economies (especially Asia) has been reduced slightly, while expectations for growth in advanced economies have risen, accelerated by the development of the pandemic and changes in the political scenario. On the other hand, projections for the year 2022 have been improved by 0.5% since the estimates made in April.

China stands out in this context, with the IMF projecting growth above the global average, at 8.1% in 2021 (+8.4% in the April estimate) and +5.7% in 2022 (+5.6% in the previous estimate).

In the Eurozone, the International Monetary Fund's projection for the next two years is for recovery, however partial, at a rate of 4.6% (Italy +4.9%) in 2021 and 4.3% (Italy +4.2%) in 2022, representing an improvement over the estimates published at the end of April, when growth was projected at 4.4% in 2021 (Italy +4.2%) and 3.8% in 2022 (Italy +3.6%).

In the Confindustria Study Centre Reports for the second quarter of 2021, we highlight a definite upswing in Italy's GDP, thanks to extension of vaccinations, which, in addition to the current consolidation of industrial activity, have allowed demand and investment to get going again. The outlook for the second half of 2021 is good, as this recovery is expected to be further strengthened. The redeployment of services is also confirmed, accompanying the gradual easing of anti-Covid measures that began at the end of April and the re-opening of tourism and entertainment-related sectors, and exports, which are back to pre-pandemic levels.

Following the spread of the pandemic, Gefran reviewed certain organisational methods and launched projects aimed at protecting existing markets and developing new areas and sectors, also through the use of digital tools. This enabled the Group to achieve positive results in the first half of 2021, in terms of both sales and margins, and will enable Gefran to take advantage of the full resumption of work in the industrial sectors it serves.

The trend of demand in the last quarter of 2020 was better than in the previous quarters of the same year, and the upward trend continued in the first and second quarter of 2021. Asian countries and Italy continue to lead the way, while other countries also show signs of recovery of demand.

The level of attention to the health and safety of all employees remains high in the Group, with a focus on maintaining a high level of service to the market in the face of significant growth in demand, particularly in some product lines.

The greatest uncertainties regarding the possibility of converting the business opportunities that are gradually arising into revenues come from the supply chain, which remains highly uncertain, both as regards the possibility of receiving all the materials necessary for production, and the actual timing of receipt of these materials.

The overall increase in the purchase price of raw materials is a potential risk factor for the margins that growth in demand could generate.

A number of current and potential market segments show room for growth for those who will be able to guarantee products and services in this context of uncertainty; the Group's concentration on meeting the demands of the market has been maximised in order to seize these opportunities of growth.

Against this background, the Group believes that in 2021, revenues and margins will be achieved in excess of both 2020 and 2019.

Covid-19

The year 2020 saw the global spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19), resulting in the World Health Organisation's declaration of a "global pandemic" in the month of March following the growing number of countries reporting cases of infection.

The global health crisis led the governments of the affected countries to introduce increasingly restrictive measures, including limitation of travel, social isolation and suspension of all non-essential forms of production and commerce, with the primary goal of halting the spread of the virus and safeguarding human health. These exceptional measures have undeniably had a major impact on society and the economy.

The Group responded with prompt introduction of measures aimed at protecting the health and safety of everyone it works with (both employees and other business partners) while ensuring business continuity, compatibly with government directives. This has led to the definition of specific procedures for behaviour and access to company premises, and to preparation of health and safety protocols.

Synergies were set up in the Group to respond to the initial shortage of PPE, ensuring that all employees had access to essential protective devices. In addition, the Group has begun to invest in ensuring the safest possible working conditions for its employees.

A task force was set up to manage the supply chain in order to ensure business continuity, responding to problems with geolocation of suppliers and definition of lockdown zones; there have so far been no interruptions in production attributable to shortages of materials, and all financial commitments to suppliers have been met.

As of the date of publication of this half-yearly financial report, some of the measures already introduced by Gefran in 2020 to ensure human health and business continuity remain in place. The Group's production activities continue at all locations, while office staff work partly in the office and partly from home, in order to ensure the necessary social distancing.

Own shares and stock performance

As of 31 December 2020, Gefran S.p.A. held 27,220 shares (0.19% of the total) with an average carrying value of Euro 5.7246 per share, all purchased in the fourth quarter of 2018.

No own shares were sold in the first half of 2021 and as of the date of this report the situation is unchanged.

Below we summarise the performance of the stock and volumes traded in the last 12 months:

Dealings with related parties

On 12 November 2010, the Gefran S.p.A. Board of Directors approved its "Internal regulations for transactions with related parties" in application of Consob resolution No. 17221 dated 12 March 2010. These regulations have been published in the "Governance" section of the Company's internet site, available at https://www.gefran.com/it/governance, in the "Documents and Procedures" section.

The procedure in question was updated by the Board of Directors on 24 June 2021 to implement the new requirements of the EU Directive 2017/828 (referred to as "Shareholders' Rights II"), introduced into Italian law by means of Legislative Decree No. 49 of 2019, with regard to primary regulations, and by means of Consob Resolution no. 21624 of 10 December 2020, with regard to secondary regulations.

The "Internal Procedure for Transactions with Related Parties" is based, inter alia, on the following general principles:

  • ensuring the essential and procedural transparency and probity of transactions with related parties;
  • providing the Board of Directors and the Board of Statutory Auditors with an appropriate assessment, decision-making and control tool regarding transactions with related parties.

The "Internal Procedure for Transactions with Related Parties" is structured as follows:

  • First section: definitions (related parties, significant and insignificant transactions, transactions of negligible amount, etc.).
  • Second section: procedures to approve significant and insignificant transactions, exemptions.
  • Third section: notification obligations and supervision of compliance with the procedure.

See paragraph 28 of the Notes to the Consolidated Half-yearly Financial Statements for details on transactions among group companies and transactions with related parties.

Disclosure simplification

On 1 October 2012, the Gefran S.p.A. Board of Directors voted to use the option to provide simplified disclosure pursuant to article 70, paragraph 8, and article 71, paragraph 1-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971/1999 as amended.

Consolidated financial statements

Gefran Group 51

Statement of profit/(loss) for the year

(Euro /000) 2Q progress. 30 June
Notes 2021 2020 2021 2020
Revenue from product sales 19 41,798 30,746 78,982 61,849
Other revenues and income 20 374 563 597 886
Increases for internal work 11,12 525 459 1,019 954
TOTAL REVENUES 42,697 31,768 80,598 63,689
Change in inventories 14 2,385 1,210 4,320 649
Costs for raw materials and accessories 21 (17,942) (12,447) (33,127) (23,297)
Service costs 22 (6,132) (4,353) (11,530) (9,552)
of which related parties: 28 (38) (48) (92) (98)
Miscellaneous management costs (236) (225) (478) (454)
Other operating income 29 3 30 3
Personnel costs 23 (13,133) (11,741) (25,505) (23,599)
Impairment/reversal of trade and other receivables 14 65 (106) 31 (103)
Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets 24 (516) (509) (1,047) (978)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible assets 24 (1,183) (1,188) (2,378) (2,399)
Depreciation/amortisation total usage rights 24 (314) (321) (619) (638)
EBIT 5,720 2,091 10,295 3,321
Gains from financial assets 25 225 (37) 760 490
Losses from financial liabilities 25 (308) (402) (706) (1,596)
(Losses) gains from shareholdings valued at equity 1 (3) 6 (1)
PROFIT (LOSS) BEFORE TAX 5,638 1,649 10,355 2,214
Current taxes 26 (1,352) (166) (2,279) (419)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities 26 69 (423) (22) (656)
TOTAL TAXES (1,283) (589) (2,301) (1,075)
NET PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD 4,355 1,060 8,054 1,139
Attributable to:
Group 4,355 1,060 8,054 1,139
Third parties - - - -
Earnings per share progress. 30 June
(Euro) Notes 2021 2020
Basic earnings per ordinary share 17 0.56 0.08
Diluted earnings per ordinary share 17 0.56 0.08

Statement of profit/(loss) and other items of comprehensive income

(Euro /000) 2Q progress. 30 June
Notes 2021 2020 2021 2020
NET PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD 4,355 1,060 8,054 1,139
Items that will not subsequently be reclassified in the
statement of profit/(loss) for the period
- equity investments in other companies 16 147 4 119 (24)
Items that will or could subsequently be reclassified in
the statement of profit/(loss) for the period
- conversion of foreign companies' financial statements 16 504 (408) 687 (225)
- fair value of cash flow hedging derivatives 16 116 (84) 109 (91)
Total changes, net of tax effect 767 (488) 915 (340)
Comprehensive result for the period 5,122 572 8,969 799
Attributable to:
Group 5,122 572 8,969 799
Third parties - - - -

Statement of financial position

(Euro /000) Notes 30 June 2021 31 December 2020
NON-CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Goodwill 10 5,770 5,692
Intangible assets 11 9,205 8,935
Property, plant, machinery and tools 12 41,339 41,961
of which related parties: 28 105 247
Usage rights 13 3,213 2,605
Shareholdings valued at equity 82 76
Equity investments in other companies 2,069 1,949
Receivables and other non-current assets 91 94
Deferred tax assets 26 4,216 4,265
Other non-current financial investments 87 108
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ACTIVITIES 66,072 65,685
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Inventories 14 24,908 20,301
Trade receivables 14 36,720 30,059
of which related parties: 28 - 4
Other receivables and assets 4,750 4,393
Current tax receivables 26 971 581
Cash and cash equivalents 15 39,596 41,943
TOTAL CURRENT ACTIVITIES 106,945 97,277
TOTAL ASSETS 173,017 162,962
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Share capital 16 14,400 14,400
Reserves 16 60,960 59,426
Profit / (Loss) for the year 16 8,054 4,353
Total Group Shareholders' Equity 83,414 78,179
Shareholders' equity of minority interests 16 - -
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 83,414 78,179
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-current financial payables 15 21,800 27,441
Non-current financial payables for IFRS 16 leases 15 1,530 1,669
Non-current financial liabilities for derivatives 15 183 328
Employee benefits 4,340 4,479
Non-current provisions 18 836 924
Deferred tax provisions 26 854 833
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 29,543 35,674
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current financial payables 15 12,754 15,368
Current financial payables for IFRS 16 leases 15 1,736 968
Trade payables 14 30,046 20,561
of which related parties: 28 47 273
Current provisions 18 1,528 1,462
Current tax payables 26 2,355 179
Other payables and liabilities 11,641 10,571
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 60,060 49,109
TOTAL LIABILITIES 89,603 84,783
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 173,017 162,962

Consolidated cash flow statement

(Euro /000) Notes 30 June
2021
30 June
2020
(A) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE START OF THE PERIOD 41,943 24,427
B) CASH FLOW GENERATED BY (USED IN) OPERATIONS IN THE PERIOD
Net profit (loss) for the period 8,054 1,139
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 24 4,044 4,015
Provisions (Releases) 14,18 1,094 1,210
Capital (gains) losses on the sale of non-current assets 11,12 (18) (1)
Net result from financial operations 25 (60) 1,107
Taxes 26 2,279 419
Change in provisions for risks and future liabilities 18 (564) (194)
Change in other assets and liabilities 703 (524)
Change in deferred taxes 26 24 655
Change in trade receivables 14 (6,372) 543
of which related parties: 28 4 -
Change in inventories 14 (5,047) (1,609)
Change in trade payables 14 9,422 (3,809)
of which related parties: 28 (226) (22)
TOTAL 13,559 2,951
C) CASH FLOW GENERATED BY (USED IN) INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
Investments in:
- Property, plant & equipment and intangible assets 11,12 (2,778) (2,927)
of which related parties: 28 (105) (84)
- Equity investments and securities - 1,000
- Financial receivables 3 3
Disposal of non-current assets 11,12 26 2
TOTAL (2,749) (1,922)
D) FREE CASH FLOW (B+C) 10,810 1,029
E) CASH FLOW GENERATED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
New financial payables 15 307 11,991
Repayment of financial debts 15 (5,394) (5,296)
Increase (decrease) in current financial payables 15 (3,276) 1,244
Outgoing cash flow due to IFRS 16 15 (617) (648)
Taxes paid 26 (480) (151)
Interest paid 25 (460) (473)
Interest received 25 33 31
Dividends paid 16 (3,737) -
TOTAL (13,624) 6,698
F) CASH FLOW FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (D+E) (2,814) 7,727
G) Exchange rate translation differences on cash at hand 15 467 (138)
H) NET CHANGE IN CASH AT HAND (F+G) (2,347) 7,589
(I) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE PERIOD (A+H) 39,596 32,016

Statement of changes in shareholders' equity

Overall EC
reserves
(Euro /000) Share capital Capital reserves Consolidation reserve Other reserves Retained profit /(loss) Fair value measurement
reserve
Currency translation reserve Other reserves Profit/(loss) for the year Group Total shareholders'
equity
Shareholders' equity of
minority interests
equity
Total shareholders'
Balance at 1 January
2020
14,400 21,926 5,864 10,099 13,174 (215) 3,364 (610) 7,042 75,044 - 75,044
Destination of profit
2019
- Other reserves and
provisions
- - 820 - 6,222 - - - (7,042) - - -
- Dividends - - - - - - - - - - - -
Income/
(Expenses) recognised
at equity
- - - 10 - 145 - (99) - 56 - 56
Change in translation
reserve
- - - - - - (1,173) - - (1,173) - (1,173)
Other changes - - 58 (2) (157) - - - - (101) - (101)
Profit 2020 - - - - - - - - 4,353 4,353 - 4,353
Balance at 31
December 2020
14,400 21,926 6,742 10,107 19,239 (70) 2,191 (709) 4,353 78,179 - 78,179
Destination of profit
2020
- Other reserves and
provisions
- - (1,927) - 6,280 - - - (4,353) - - -
- Dividends - - - - (3,737) - - - - (3,737) - (3,737)
Income/
(Expenses) recognised
at equity
- - - - - 228 - - - 228 - 228
Change in translation
reserve
- - - - - - 687 - - 687 - 687
Other changes - - 3 - - - - - - 3 - 3
Profit 2021 - - - - - - - - 8,054 8,054 - 8,054
Balance at 30 June
2021
14,400 21,926 4,818 10,107 21,782 158 2,878 (709) 8,054 83,414 - 83,414

Specific explanatory notes to the accounts

1. General information, form and content

Gefran S.p.A. is incorporated and located at Via Sebina 74, Provaglio d'Iseo (BS).

This half-yearly report of the Gefran Group for the period ending on 30 June 2021 was approved, and its publication was authorised, by the Board of Directors on 5 August 2021.

The Group's main activities are described in the Report on Operations.

2. Form and content

The consolidated half-yearly financial statements of the Gefran Group were prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards adopted by the European Union.

They comprise the financial statements of Gefran S.p.A., of its subsidiaries and of the direct and indirect affiliates, approved by their respective Boards of Directors. The consolidated companies adopted international accounting standards, with the exception of a number of companies whose financial statements were restated for the Group's consolidated financial statements to bring them into line with IAS/IFRS standards.

The official audit of the consolidated half-yearly financial statements was carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers S.p.A.

These consolidated half-yearly financial statements are presented in euro (EUR), the functional currency of most Group companies. Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are expressed in thousands of Euro.

For details on the seasonal nature of the Group's operations, please refer to the attached "Consolidated income statement by quarter".

3. Accounting schedules

The Gefran Group has adopted:

  • a statement of financial position, according to which assets and liabilities are separated into current and non-current categories;
  • a statement of profit/(loss) for the year, in which costs are categorised by nature;
  • a statement of profit/(loss) for the year and other items of comprehensive income, which shows income and charges posted directly to shareholders' equity, net of tax effects;
  • a cash flow statement prepared using the indirect method, through which pre-tax profit is shown net of the effects of non-monetary transactions, any deferral or provision of previous or future operating collections or payments, and revenue or cost items relating to cash flows resulting from investments or financial activities.

With reference to Consob resolution 15519 of 27 July 2006, amounts referring to transactions with related parties and non-recurring items are shown separately from the relevant items in the statement of financial position and income statement.

4. Consolidation principles and valuation criteria

The valuation criteria adopted for the preparation of these half-yearly financial statements as at 30 June 2021 are the same as those adopted in preparing the annual financial report for the year ending 31 December 2020.

With reference to Consob Communication DEM/11070007 of 5 August 2011, it is also noted that the Group does not hold in its portfolio any bonds issued by central or local governments or government agencies, and is therefore not exposed to risks generated by market fluctuations. The half-yearly consolidated financial report was prepared using the general historical cost criterion, modification

With reference to Consob Communication 0003907 of 19 January 2015, note 10 "Goodwill and other intangible assets with an indefinite life" includes the required information, and specifically the references to the external information and the sensitivity analysis, as required for assessment of a number of financial instruments.

With reference to Consob Communication 0092543 dated 3 December 2015, it is hereby revealed that in the Report on operations the guidelines of the ESMA (ESMA/2015/1415) were followed with regard to the information aimed at ensuring the comparability, reliability and comprehensibility of the Alternative Performance Indicators.

With reference to Consob Communication 0007780 of 28 January 2016, we note that the impact of market conditions on the information in the financial statements was included in the Directors' Report on Operations. We also note that the application of IFRS 13 "Fair value measurement" does not involve significant changes to items in the financial statements for Gefran.

5. Change in the scope of consolidation

The scope of consolidation as of 30 June 2021 is unchanged from that of 31 December 2020, while it is different from the scope as of 30 June 2020. On 21 December 2020, the process of liquidation of Ensun S.r.l., a company previously 50% owned by Gefran S.p.A. and consolidated using the equity method, was completed.

6. Accounting standards, amendments and interpretations not yet applicable

As of the date of this annual financial report, the process of obtaining EU approval was underway for the following amendments issued by the IASB during 2020, which, once entered into force, could affect the Company's financial statements:

  • Amendment concerning IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment Proceeds before Intended Use, which concerns proceeds from the sale of goods, bringing the asset to the place and condition necessary to enable it to operate in the manner intended by management;
  • Amendment concerning IAS 37, Onerous Contracts Cost of Fulfilling a Contract, aimed at standardising the costs that a company should include for the fulfilment of a contract assessed as "onerous."

These amendments will be applicable only after approval by the EU.

7. Main decisions in the application of accounting standards and uncertainties in making estimates

In drafting the financial statements and the explanatory notes to the accounts, in accordance with the IAS/IFRS principles, the Group makes use of estimates and assumptions to assess certain items. These are based on historical experience and uncertain but realistic assumptions, assessed regularly and, if necessary, updated, with effect on the income statement for the period and for future periods. The uncertainty inherent in these assessment estimates may lead to misalignment between the estimates made and the actual effects of the estimated events on the financial statements.

Below are the processes that require management to perform assessment estimates, and with regard to which a change in the underlying conditions could have a significant impact on the consolidated financial data:

Provision for impairment of inventory

Inventories are stated as the lower between the cost of purchase (measured using the weighted average cost method) and the net realisable value. The provision for impairment of inventory is necessary in order to adjust the value of inventories to the estimated realisable value: inventory composition is analysed for slow-moving stocks, with the aim of assessing a provision that reflects any obsolescence of same.

Provision for doubtful receivables

The provision for doubtful receivables reflects management's estimates regarding the recoverability of receivables from customers. Management's assessment is based on experience and on an analysis of situations with a known or probable risk of non-collection.

Regarding the introduction of IFRS 9, and particularly the new method for impairment of financial investments, the Group adopted the method for determination of the reserve to be used for coverage of losses on receivables, taking into account the losses expected throughout the life of the receivable, as required by the new standard.

Goodwill and intangible assets with a finite life

These are periodically subject to evaluation through the impairment test, with the aim of determining their present value and accounting for any differences in value; for details, see the specific sections of the notes to the financial statements.

Employee benefits and non-competition agreements

The provision for the post-employment benefit reserve and the provision for non-competition agreements are posted to the financial statements and annually reviewed by external actuaries, taking into account assumptions regarding the discount rate, inflation and demographic assumptions; for details, see the specific section of the notes to the financial statements.

Deferred tax assets

The recoverability of deferred tax assets is periodically evaluated, based on the results achieved and on the business plans prepared by management.

Current and non-current provisions

Provisions are made for risks to represent the risk of a negative outcome. The amount of the provisions posted to the financial statements in relation to these risks represents management's best estimate at that time. This estimate entails the adoption of assumptions that depend on factors that may change over time and that could, therefore, have a significant effect on the current estimates made by management in preparing the Group's consolidated financial statements.

8. Financial instruments: supplementary disclosure pursuant to IFRS 7

The Group's activities are exposed to different types of risk: market risk (including exchange rate risks, interest rate risks and price risks), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group's risk management strategy focuses on the market unpredictability and is intended to minimise the potential negative impact on the Group's results. Certain types of risk are mitigated through the use of derivatives. Coordination and monitoring of the main financial risks are centralised in the Group's Finance and Administration Department, as well as in the Purchasing function as regards price risk, in close partnership with the Group's operating units. Risk management policies are approved by the Group's Administration, Finance and Control Department, which provides written guidelines for the management of the risks listed above and the use of financial derivatives and other financial instruments. As part of the sensitivity analyses described below, the effect on the net profit figure and on shareholders' equity is determined gross of the tax effect.

Exchange rate risks

The Group is exposed to exchange rate risk in relation to commercial transactions and cash held in currencies other than the euro, the Group's functional currency. Around 29% of sales are denominated in a different currency. Specifically, the Group is most exposed to the following exchange rates:

  • Euro/USD, about 7%, primarily in relation to the trade of an Italian subsidiary operating in various countries, Gefran Drives and Motion S.r.l., and the foreign subsidiaries Gefran Inc. (operating in the United States), Gefran Siei Drives Technology and Gefran Siei Asia (operating on the Asian market);
  • Euro/RMB, about 13%, referring to Gefran Siei Drives Technology, operating in China;
  • the remainder is divided between Euro/BRL, Euro/GBP, Euro/CHF, Euro/INR and Euro/TRL.

The sensitivity to a hypothetical and unexpected change of the exchange rates of 5% and 10% in the fair value of the financial statement assets and liabilities is shown below:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
-5% +5% -5% +5%
Chinese renminbi 151 (136) 99 (89)
U.S. dollar 55 (45) 56 (47)
Total 206 (181) 155 (136)
(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
-10% +10% -10% +10%
Chinese renminbi 318 (260) 208 (170)
U.S. dollar 115 (86) 118 (89)
Total 433 (346) 326 (259)

The sensitivity to a hypothetical and unexpected change of the most significant exchange rates of 5% and 10% in the fair value of the net profit for the period is shown below:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
-5% +5% -5% +5%
Chinese renminbi 51 (46) (24) 22
U.S. dollar 9 (8) 8 (8)
Total 60 (54) (16) 14
(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
-10% +10% -10% +10%
Chinese renminbi 108 (88) (51) 42
U.S. dollar 20 (16) 18 (14)
Total 128 (104) (33) 28

The sensitivity to a hypothetical and unexpected change of the most significant exchange rates of 5% and 10% in the fair value of the shareholders' equity is shown below:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
-5% +5% -5% +5%
Chinese renminbi 521 (472) 479 (433)
U.S. dollar 385 (348) 376 (341)
Total 906 (820) 855 (774)
(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
-10% +10% -10% +10%
Chinese renminbi 1,101 (901) 1,011 (827)
U.S. dollar 812 (664) 795 (650)
Total 1,913 (1,565) 1,806 (1,477)

Interest rate risk

The interest rate risk to which the Group is exposed mainly originates from medium to long-term financial payables with a variable rate. Variable-rate loans expose the Group to a risk associated with interest rate volatility (cash flow risk). The Group uses derivatives to hedge its exposure to interest rate risk, entering into Interest Rate Swap (IRS) and Interest Rate Cap (CAP) contracts.

The Group's Administration and Finance Department monitors exposure to interest rate risk and proposes appropriate hedging strategies to contain exposure within the limits defined and agreed in the Group's policies, using derivatives when necessary.

The table below shows a sensitivity analysis of the impact that an interest rate increase/decrease of 100 basis points would have on consolidated net profit/(loss), comparing interest rates at 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2020, while keeping other variables unchanged.

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020
-100 100 -100 100
Euribor 353 (368) 221 (253)
Libor (4) 4 (12) 12
Total 348 (363) 209 (241)

The potential impacts described above have been calculated on the basis of the net liabilities representing the most significant part of the Group's debt as of the date of this Half-yearly Financial Report and calculating, on the basis of this amount, the effect on net financial charges of a change in the annual interest rate.

The net liabilities considered in this analysis include variable-rate financial receivables and payables, cash and cash equivalents, and financial derivatives, the value of which is affected by interest rate fluctuations.

The table below shows the carrying value at 30 June 2021, broken down by maturity, of the Group's financial instruments exposed to the interest rate risk:

(Euro /000) <1 year 1 - 5 years >5 years old Total
Loans due 11,687 21,433 367 33,487
Financial payables due to leasing under IFRS 16 1,736 1,453 77 3,266
Other accounts payable 3 - - 3
Account overdrafts 1,064 - - 1,064
Total liabilities 14,490 22,886 444 37,820
Cash in current accounts 39,552 - - 39,552
Total assets 39,552 - - 39,552
Total variable rate 25,062 (22,886) (444) 1,732

Unlike net financial position figures, the amounts shown in the table above do not include the fair value of derivatives (negative at 183 thousand Euro), cash on hand (positive at 44 thousand Euro) or deferred financial income (positive at 87 thousand Euro).

Liquidity risk

Prudent management of the liquidity risk arising from the Group's normal operations requires an appropriate level of cash on hand and short-term securities to be maintained, as well as the availability of funds obtainable through an appropriate amount of committed credit lines.

The Group's Administration and Finance Department monitors forecasts on the use of the Group's reserves of cash and cash equivalents based on expected cash flows. The table below shows the amount of reserves of cash and cash equivalents available on the reference dates:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Cash and cash equivalents 44 27 17
Cash in bank deposits 39,552 41,916 (2,364)
Total liquidity 39,596 41,943 (2,347)
Multiple mixed credit lines 25,350 23,348 2,002
Cash flexibility credit lines 3,955 3,955 -
Invoice factoring credit lines 8,250 8,250 -
Total credit lines available 37,555 35,553 2,002
Total available liquidity 77,151 77,496 (345)

To complete disclosure on financial risks, the table below shows a reconciliation of financial asset and liability classes, as identified in the Group's statement of financial position, and the types of financial assets and liabilities identified on the basis of IFRS 7 requirements:

(Euro /000) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Available-for-sale assets valued at fair value:
Shareholdings valued at fair value with a
balancing item in other overall
460 - 1,609 2,069
Total assets 460 - 1,609 2,069
Hedging transactions - (183) - (183)
Total liabilities - (183) - (183)

Level 1: Fair values represented by the prices - listed in active markets (unadjusted) - of financial instruments identical to those being valued that may be accessed at the measurement date. These prices are defined as mark-to-market inputs as they provide a fair value measurement based directly on official market prices, therefore without the need for any modification or adjustment. The change compared to the value as of 30 June 2020 relates to the holding Woojin Plaimm Co Ltd, which increased its value by 292 thousand Euro, and the sale of the shares of Ubi Banca S.p.A., which amounted to 46 thousand Euro at the end of June 2020.

Level 2: Fair values determined using evaluation techniques based on variables that may be observed in active markets, which in this case include the evaluation of interest rate hedging and of foreign exchange hedging. As with the Level 1 inputs, the reference value is mark-to-market, i.e. the evaluation method whereby the value of a financial instrument or contract is systematically adjusted according to the current market prices.

Level 3: Fair values determined using evaluation techniques based on variables that may not be observed, and in particular the values of equity investments in other companies that are not listed on international markets, the overall value of which increased by 165 thousand Euro as a result of payment of new capital to the affiliated company Colombera S.p.A.

Below is a reconciliation of the different classes of financial assets and liabilities, as identified in the Group's statement of financial position, and types of financial assets and liabilities identified on the basis of the requirements of IFRS7, as of 30 June 2020:

(Euro /000) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Available-for-sale assets valued at fair value:
Shareholdings valued at fair value with a
balancing item in other overall
214 - 1,444 1,658
Hedging transactions - 1 - 1
Total assets 214 1 1,444 1,659
Hedging transactions - (279) - (279)
Total liabilities - (279) - (279)

Credit risk

The Group grants its customers deferred payment conditions, which vary according to the market practices in individual countries. All customers' solvency is regularly monitored, and any risks are periodically covered by appropriate provisions. Despite these precautions, under current market conditions, it cannot be ruled out that some customers may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow or may lack access to sufficient sources of funding, resulting in payment delays or a failure to honour obligations.

Receivables were adjusted to their estimated realisable value through a specific provision for doubtful receivables, calculated on the basis of an examination of individual debtor positions as required by IFRS 9 and taking into account past experience in each specific line of business and geographical region.

The Group has developed estimates based on the most accurate information available on past events, current economic conditions and forecasts for the future. The analyses conducted to determine the existence of such a risk have been based primarily on three factors:

  • the potential impact of Covid-19 on the economy;
  • the support measures governments have implemented;
  • the collectability of credit resulting in the changed risk of customer defaulting.

With reference to the latter point, the Group has conducted its analyses using a risk matrix that takes into account geographical region, industry, and individual customer solvency.

Management considers the forecasts thus generated to be reasonable and sustainable despite the current climate of uncertainty.

Below are the values of gross trade receivables at 30 June 2021 and 31 December 2020:

(Euro /000) Total
value
Not
overdue
Overdue
by up to
2
months
Overdue
by 2 to 6
months
Overdue
by 6 to
12
months
Overdue
by more
than 12
months
Receivables
individually
written
down
Gross trade receivables at 30 June 2021 38,574 34,033 1,478 911 33 882 1,237
Gross trade receivables at 31 December 2020 32,011 27,606 2,249 124 40 580 1,412

The Gefran Group has established formal procedures for customer credit and credit collection through the credit department and in partnership with leading external law firms. All the procedures put in place are intended to reduce credit risk. Exposure to other forms of credit, such as financial receivables, is constantly monitored and reviewed monthly or at least quarterly, in order to determine any losses or recovery-associated risks.

Risk of change in raw material prices

Since the Group's production mainly involves mechanical, electronic and assembly processes, exposure to energy price fluctuations is very limited. The Group is exposed to changes in basic commodity prices (e.g. metals) to a small extent, given the product cost component related to these materials is very limited.

The purchase costs of the main components are usually set with counterparts for the full year and reflected in the budget. The Group has in place structured and formalised governance systems that allow it to regularly analyse margins earned.

Fair value of financial instruments

All the Group's financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements at fair value. The amount of financial liabilities valued at amortised cost is considered close to the fair value on the reporting date. The table below summarises the Group's net financial position, comparing fair value and carrying value:

carrying value fair value
(Euro /000) 30 June
2021
31 December
2020
30 June 2021 31 December
2020
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents 44 27 44 27
Cash in bank deposits 39,552 41,916 39,552 41,916
Securities held for trading - - - -
Financial investments for derivatives - - - -
Non-current financial investments 87 108 87 108
Total financial assets 39,683 42,051 39,683 42,051
Financial liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt (11,687) (11,079) (11,687) (11,079)
Short-term bank debt (1,064) (4,286) (1,064) (4,286)
Financial liabilities for derivatives (183) (328) (183) (328)
Factoring (3) (3) (3) (3)
Payables due to leasing contracts under IFRS 16 (3,266) (2,637) (3,266) (2,637)
Other financial payables - - - -
Non-current financial debt (21,800) (27,441) (21,800) (27,441)
Total financial liabilities (38,003) (45,774) (38,003) (45,774)
Total net financial position 1,680 (3,723) 1,680 (3,723)

9. Information by business area

Primary segment – sector of activity

The organisational structure of the Gefran Group is divided into three areas of activity: Sensors, Components and Motion control. The economic trends and the main investments are covered in the Report on Operations.

Figures by business area

(Euro /000) Sensors Automation
components
Motion
control
Eliminations Not
Divided
30 June
2021
a Revenues 38,333 23,193 22,321 (4,268) 79,579
b Increases for internal work 231 289 499 - 1,019
c Consumption of materials and products 10,960 9,331 12,784 (4,268) 28,807
d Value Added (a+b-c) 27,604 14,151 10,036 - 51,791
e Other operating costs 5,827 2,906 3,214 - 11,947
f Personnel costs 10,399 8,589 6,518 - 25,505
g EBITDA (d-e-f) 11,378 2,656 305 - 14,339
h Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 1,720 1,376 948 - 4,044
i EBIT (g-h) 9,658 1,280 (643) - 10,295
l Gains (losses) from financial assets/liabilities 54 54
m Gains (losses) from shareholdings valued at
equity
6 6
n Profit (loss) before tax (i±l±m) 9,658 1,280 (643) 60 10,355
o Taxes (2,301) (2,301)
p Group net profit (loss) (n±o) 9,658 1,280 (643) (2,241) 8,054
(Euro /000) Sensors Automation
components
Motion
control
Eliminations Not
Divided
30 June
2020
a Revenues 28,140 18,412 18,825 (2,642) 62,735
b Increases for internal work 234 354 366 - 954
c Consumption of materials and products 7,726 7,185 10,379 (2,642) 22,648
d Value Added (a+b-c) 20,648 11,581 8,812 - 41,041
e Other operating costs 4,912 2,364 2,830 - 10,106
f Personnel costs 9,664 7,886 6,049 - 23,599
g EBITDA (d-e-f) 6,072 1,331 (67) - 7,336
h Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 1,692 1,256 1,067 - 4,015
i EBIT (g-h) 4,380 75 (1,134) - 3,321
l Gains (losses) from financial assets/liabilities (1,106) (1,106)
m Gains (losses) from shareholdings valued at
equity
(1) (1)
n Profit (loss) before tax (i±l±m) 4,380 75 (1,134) (1,107) 2,214
o Taxes (1,075) (1,075)
p Group net profit (loss) (n±o) 4,380 75 (1,134) (2,182) 1,139

Intersegment sales are booked at transfer prices, which are broadly in line with market prices.

(Euro /000) Sensors Automation
components
Motion
control
Not
Divided
30 June
2021
Sensors Automation
components
Motion
control
Not
Divided
31
December
2020
Intangible assets
Tangible fixed
8,782 2,515 3,678 14,975 8,706 2,606 3,315 14,627
assets 16,562 12,810 15,180 44,552 16,914 12,166 15,486 44,566
Other non-current
assets
6,458 6,458 6,384 6,384
Net non-current
assets
25,344 15,325 18,858 6,458 65,985 25,620 14,772 18,801 6,384 65,577
Inventories 7,449 5,675 11,784 24,908 5,616 4,448 10,237 20,301
Trade receivables 14,018 10,027 12,675 36,720 9,490 7,215 13,354 30,059
Trade payables (10,939) (8,821) (10,286) (30,046) (7,582) (6,094) (6,885) (20,561)
Other
assets/liabilities
(3,044) (2,757) (2,499) 25 (8,275) (2,828) (2,286) (2,042) 1,380 (5,776)
Working capital 7,484 4,124 11,674 25 23,307 4,696 3,283 14,664 1,380 24,023
Provisions for
risks and future
liabilities
(1,343) (670) (289) (61) (2,364) (1,350) (645) (321) (70) (2,386)
Deferred tax
provisions
(854) (854) (833) (833)
Employee benefits (1,112) (1,759) (1,469) (4,340) (1,135) (1,765) (1,579) (4,479)
Net invested
capital
30,373 17,020 28,774 5,568 81,734 27,831 15,645 31,565 6,861 81,902
Shareholders'
equity
- - - 83,414 83,414 - - - 78,179 78,179
Non-current
financial payables
21,800 21,800 27,441 27,441
Current financial
payables
12,754 12,754 15,368 15,368
Financial
payables for IFRS
16 leases (current
and non-current)
3,266 3,266 2,637 2,637
Financial liabilities
for derivatives
(current and non
current)
183 183 328 328
Financial assets
for derivatives
(current and non
current)
- - - -
Other non-current
financial
investments
(87) (87) (108) (108)
Cash and cash
equivalents and
current financial
receivables
(39,596) (39,596) (41,943) (41,943)
Net debt relating
to operations
- - - (1,680) (1,680) - - - 3,723 3,723
Total sources of
financing
- - - 81,734 81,734 - - - 81,902 81,902

Statement of financial position figures by business area

Secondary segment - geographical region

Revenues by geographical region

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change %
Italy 24,992 19,374 5,618 29.0%
European Union 17,551 15,077 2,474 16.4%
Europe non-EU 2,880 2,600 280 10.8%
North America 8,989 7,494 1,495 19.9%
South America 2,222 1,587 635 40.0%
Asia 21,900 15,350 6,550 42.7%
Rest of the world 448 367 81 22.1%
Total 78,982 61,849 17,133 27.7%

Investments by geographical region

30 June 2021 30 June 2020
(Euro /000) intangible tangible assets intangible tangible assets
Italy 1,246 1,326 2,012 786
European Union 2 23 1 30
Europe non-EU - 4 6 -
North America - 78 - 11
South America 42 16 - 6
Asia - 41 - 75
Rest of the world - - - -
Total 1,290 1,488 2,019 908

Non-current assets by geographical region

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change %
Italy 48,519 48,392 127 0.3%
European Union 2,534 2,633 (99) -3.8%
Europe non-EU 3,031 3,132 (101) -3.2%
North America 6,917 6,513 404 6.2%
South America 531 484 47 9.7%
Asia 4,540 4,531 9 0.2%
Rest of the world - - - n.s.
Total 66,072 65,685 387 0.6%

10. Goodwill

The item "Goodwill" amounted to 5,770 thousand Euro as of30 June 2021, a 78 thousand Euro increase over 30 June 2020 exclusively attributable to the difference in exchange rates, as described below:

(Euro /000) 31 December
2020
Increases Decreases Exchange rate
differences
30 June 2021
Gefran France SA 1,310 - - - 1,310
Gefran India Private Ltd 36 - - - 36
Gefran Inc. 2,392 - - 78 2,470
Sensormate AG 1,954 - - - 1,954
Total 5,692 - - 78 5,770

The goodwill acquired following business combinations was allocated to specific Cash Generating Units for the purpose of impairment testing.

The carrying values of goodwill are shown below.

(Euro /000) Year Goodwill
France
Goodwill India Goodwill USA Goodwill
Switzerland
Total
Sensors 2021 1,310 - 2,470 1,954 5,734
2020 1,310 - 2,392 1,954 5,656
Motion control 2021 - 36 - - 36
2020 - 36 - - 36
Total 2021 1,310 36 2,470 1,954 5,770
2020 1,310 36 2,392 1,954 5,692

When determining the value in use, Management takes into consideration the specific cash flows deriving from the Group Plan, along with the terminal value, which represents the ability to generate cash flows beyond the explicit forecast time scale.

In preparing the half-yearly financial report, impairment tests are performed on goodwill values in the presence of any impairment indicators.

In examining possible indicators of impairment and forming its assessments, management also took into account, among other things, the relation between the market capitalisation and the carrying value of the Group shareholders' equity, which was very positive as of 30 June 2021 despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The economic results achieved as at 30 June 2021as well as the operating cash flow generated confirm the absence of impairment indicators.

11. Intangible assets

This item exclusively comprises assets with a finite life, and increased from 8,935 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020 to 9,205 thousand Euro on 30 June 2021. The changes during the period are shown below:

Historical cost 31
December
2020
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
(Euro /000)
Development costs 20,299 - - 231 - 20,530
Intellectual property
rights
8,744 140 - 36 28 8,948
Assets in progress and
payments on account
3,419 1,068 - (287) 8 4,208
Other assets 10,667 82 - 20 22 10,791
Total 43,129 1,290 - - 58 44,477
Accumulated
depreciation
31
December
2020
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
(Euro /000)
Development costs 17,514 544 - - - 18,058
Intellectual property
rights
7,282 317 - - 24 7,623
Other assets 9,398 186 - - 7 9,591
Total 34,194 1,047 - - 31 35,272
Net value 31 December 2020 30 June 2021 Change
(Euro /000)
Development costs 2,785 2,472 (313)
Intellectual property rights 1,462 1,325 (137)
Assets in progress and payments on
account
3,419 4,208 789
Other assets 1,269 1,200 (69)
Total 8,935 9,205 270

This is the table of changes in the first six months of 2020:

Historical cost 31 December
2019
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June 2020
(Euro /000)
Development costs 18,867 32 - 437 - 19,336
Intellectual property
rights
7,546 834 - 255 (37) 8,598
Assets in progress
and payments on
account
2,955 1,030 - (751) - 3,234
Other assets 10,416 123 (4) 69 (8) 10,596
Total 39,784 2,019 (4) 10 (45) 41,764
Accumulated
depreciation
31 December
2019
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June 2020
(Euro /000)
Development costs 16,346 573 - - - 16,919
Intellectual property
rights
6,817 192 - - (34) 6,975
Other assets 8,980 213 (4) - (3) 9,186
Total 32,143 978 (4) - (37) 33,080
Net value 31 December 2019 30 June 2020 Change
(Euro /000)
Development costs 2,521 2,417 (104)
Intellectual property rights 729 1,623 894
Assets in progress and payments
on account
2,955 3,234 279
Other assets 1,436 1,410 (26)
Total 7,641 8,684 1,043

The net carrying value of development costs includes capitalisation of costs incurred for the following activities:

  • 794 thousand Euro relating to new lines for mobile hydraulics, pressure transducers (KS KH) and contactless linear position transducers (MK–IK, RK and WP– RK) and melt (I/O LINK);
  • 1,527 thousand Euro for component lines for the new range of regulators and static units, GF Project VX, G Cube Performa and G Cube Fit;
  • 151 thousand Euro relating to the new range of lift inverters.

These assets are estimated to have a useful life of five years.

Intellectual property rights comprise the costs incurred to purchase the company IT system management programs and the use of licences for third-party software, as well as patents. These assets have a useful life of three years.

Assets in progress and payments on account include payments on account made to suppliers to purchase software programs and licences expected to be delivered during the next year, and purchase of patents for technologies currently being developed totalling 283 thousand Euro. This item also includes 3,925 thousand Euro in development costs, which include 502 thousand Euro for the automation components business unit, 748 thousand Euro for the sensors business unit, and 2,675 thousand Euro for the motion control business unit, the benefits of which will appear in the income statement for the following year, so that they have not been amortised.

The item other assets almost entirely represents costs incurred by the Parent Company Gefran S.p.A. to implement ERP SAP/R3, Business Intelligence (BW), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and management software in previous years and in the current year. These assets have a useful life of five years.

The increases in the historic value of "Intangible assets", worth 1,290 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2021, include 1,009 thousand Euro linked with capitalisation of internal costs (948 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020).

12. Property, plant, machinery and tools

This item decreased from 41,961 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020 to 41,339 thousand Euro on 30 June 2021 and shows the following changes:

Historical cost 31
December
2020
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
(Euro /000)
Land 5,171 - - - 18 5,189
Industrial buildings 44,105 2 - 14 235 44,356
Plant and machinery 46,091 113 (1) 303 300 46,806
Industrial and commercial
equipment
20,608 83 (75) 30 44 20,690
Other assets 7,395 116 (139) 1 80 7,453
Assets in progress and
payments on account
951 1,174 (15) (452) 4 1,662
Total 124,321 1,488 (230) (104) 681 126,156
Accumulated
depreciation
31
December
2020
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
(Euro /000)
Industrial buildings 22,047 616 - - 46 22,709
Plant and machinery 35,122 1,208 - (50) 242 36,522
Industrial and commercial
equipment
19,096 343 (75) - 43 19,407
Other assets 6,095 211 (135) (54) 62 6,179
Total 82,360 2,378 (210) (104) 393 84,817
Net value 31 December 2020 30 June 2021 Change
(Euro /000)
Land 5,171 5,189 18
Industrial buildings 22,058 21,647 (411)
Plant and machinery 10,969 10,284 (685)
Industrial and commercial equipment 1,512 1,283 (229)
Other assets 1,300 1,274 (26)
Assets in progress and payments on account 951 1,662 711
Total 41,961 41,339 (622)

Below is the table of changes in the first six months of 2020:

Historical cost 31
December
2019
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2020
(Euro /000)
Land 5,222 - - - 2 5,224
Industrial buildings 42,255 32 - 2,040 (118) 44,209
Plant and machinery 43,514 232 (188) 2,136 (161) 45,533
Industrial and commercial
equipment
19,916 172 (9) 174 (22) 20,231
Other assets 7,436 88 (8) 66 (71) 7,511
Assets in progress and
payments on account
4,988 384 - (4,426) 1 947
Total 123,331 908 (205) (10) (369) 123,655
Accumulated depreciation 31
December
2019
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2020
(Euro /000)
Industrial buildings 20,864 648 - - (68) 21,444
Plant and machinery 33,285 1,195 (188) - (103) 34,189
Industrial and commercial
equipment
18,524 334 (9) - (17) 18,832
Other assets 5,897 222 (7) - (41) 6,071
Total 78,570 2,399 (204) - (229) 80,536
Net value 31 December 2019 30 June 2020 Change
(Euro /000)
Land 5,222 5,224 2
Industrial buildings 21,391 22,765 1,374
Plant and machinery 10,229 11,344 1,115
Industrial and commercial equipment 1,392 1,399 7
Other assets 1,539 1,440 (99)
Assets in progress and payments on account 4,988 947 (4,041)
Total 44,761 43,119 (1,642)

The change in the exchange rate had a positive impact of 288 thousand Euro.

the increase in the historical value of "Property, plant, machinery and equipment," amounting to 1,488 thousand Euro in the first half of 2021. The most significant changes were:

  • investment of 1,079 thousand Euro in production and laboratory plant and equipment in the Group's Italian factories and 76 thousand Euro in other Group subsidiaries;
  • adaptation of industrial buildings housing the Group's Italian plants, totalling 148 thousand Euro;
  • renewal of electronic office machines and IT system equipment, amounting to 75 thousand Euro in the Parent Company and 76 thousand Euro in the Group's subsidiaries;
  • miscellaneous equipment in the Group's subsidiaries amounting to 34 thousand Euro.

The increases also include 10 thousand Euro due to capitalisation of internal costs (5 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2020).

13. Usage rights

This item refers to the recording of the value of the assets covered by the lease contracts, according to the accounting standard IFRS16.

The value "Usage rights" at 30 June 2021 amounts to 3,213 thousand Euro, and shows the following changes:

Historical cost 31 December 2020 Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30
June
2021
(Euro /000)
Real estate 2,676 768 - - (1) 3,443
Vehicles 2,007 320 (11) - 13 2,329
Machinery and
equipment
175 145 - - - 320
Total 4,858 1,233 (11) - 12 6,092
Accumulated
depreciation
31 December 2020 Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30
June
2021
(Euro /000)
Real estate 1,051 284 - - 6 1,341
Vehicles 1,083 303 (7) - 8 1,387
Machinery and
equipment
119 32 - - - 151
Total 2,253 619 (7) - 14 2,879
Net value 31 December 2020 30 June 2021 Change
(Euro /000)
Real estate 1,625 2,102 477
Vehicles 924 942 18
Machinery and equipment 56 169 113
Total 2,605 3,213 608

Below is the table of changes in the first six months of 2020:

Historical cost 31
December
2019
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June 2020
(Euro /000)
Real estate 2,233 318 (54) - (1) 2,496
Vehicles 1,801 155 (12) - (26) 1,918
Machinery and
equipment
138 37 - - - 175
Total 4,172 510 (66) - (27) 4,589
Accumulated
depreciation
31
December
2019
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June 2020
(Euro /000)
Real estate 522 297 (16) - (10) 793
Vehicles 507 309 (8) - (10) 798
Machinery and
equipment
54 32 - - 1 87
Total 1,083 638 (24) - (19) 1,678
Net value 31 December 2019 30 June 2020 Change
(Euro /000)
Real estate 1,711 1,703 (8)
Vehicles 1,294 1,120 (174)
Machinery and equipment 84 88 4
Total 3,089 2,911 (178)

As of 1 January 2021 the Group had a total of 180 contracts in place for leasing of vehicles, machinery, industrial equipment and electronic office machinery, as well as for rental of real estate. As required by the IASB, practical expedients were employed such as exclusion of contracts with a residual duration of less than 12 months or contracts for which the fair value of the asset is calculated to fall below the conventional threshold of 5 thousand American dollars (of modest unitary value).

On the basis of their value and duration, of the 180 contracts in effect as of 1 January 2021:

  • 161 fell within the perimeter of application of IFRS 16;
  • 19 were excluded from the perimeter of application of the standard, 12 of which had a term of less than 12 months, while for the 7, the fair value calculated for the asset which is the subject of the contract is of modest unitary value.

The assets analysed here are entered in the Financial Statements:

  • in non-current tangible assets, under "Usage rights";
  • under Net Financial Position, while the corresponding financial payable originates current (payable within the year) or non-current (payable beyond a year) "Financial payables for leasing under IFRS 16".

In assessment of the fair value and useful lifespan of the assets which are the subject of the contracts subject to application of IFRS 16, the following factors were taken into consideration:

  • the amount of the periodic lease or rental fee, as defined in the contract and revalued where applicable;
  • initial accessory costs, if specified in the contract;
  • final restoration costs, if specified in the contract;
  • the number of remaining instalments;
  • implicit interest, where not stated in the contract, is estimated on the basis of the average rates for the Group's debt.

A total of 38 new leasing agreements were signed in the first six months of 2021, 25 of which are subject to application of IFRS 16. The remaining 13 contracts signed are excluded from the perimeter of application of the new accounting standard as they have a duration of less than 12 months.

A total of 33 contracts ended, only 30 of which fell within the perimeter of application of IFRS 16 on the basis of their value and term as specified above; one of these, for vehicle leasing, was terminated in advance of its original expiration date.

Increases in the historic cost of the item "Usage rights" may be summed up as follows:

  • real estate, totalling 768 thousand Euro, representing a 4-year extension of one of the company Elettropiemme S.r.l.'s rental contracts, for an industrial building;
  • vehicles, totalling Euro 320 thousand, representing 15 new vehicle leasing agreements signed by the Group in 2021 upon expiry of 19 previous agreements;
  • machinery and tools, totalling Euro 145 thousand, representing 10 new lift truck leasing agreements signed by the Company in 2021, upon expiry of previous agreements.

As of 30 June 2021 this item had decreased by 11 thousand Euro as a result of termination of vehicle rental agreements in advance of their original expiry date.

14. Net working capital

"Net working capital" totals 31,582 thousand Euro, compared to 29,799 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020, and breaks down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Inventories 24,908 20,301 4,607
Trade receivables 36,720 30,059 6,661
Trade payables (30,046) (20,561) (9,485)
Net amount 31,582 29,799 1,783

Please see the Report on Operations for more details on net working capital.

The value of inventories at 31 June 2021 is equal to 24,908 thousand Euro, up by 4,607 thousand Euro over the figure for 31 December 2020; the change in exchange rates contributes 286 thousand Euro to the increase. The balance breaks down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Raw materials, consumables and supplies 15,841 13,488 2,353
provision for impairment of raw materials (3,952) (3,775) (177)
Work in progress and semi-finished products 9,104 8,201 903
provision for impairment of work in progress (1,932) (1,635) (297)
Finished products and goods for resale 7,751 5,820 1,931
provision for impairment of finished products (1,904) (1,798) (106)
Total 24,908 20,301 4,607

The gross value of inventories was 32,696 thousand Euro, an increase of 5,187 thousand Euro over the end of 2020, while the value of the allowance for doubtful accounts amounted to 24,908 thousand Euro, up by 4,607 thousand Euro over the end of the previous year.

The economic impact of the change in inventories, on the other hand, saw a more limited decrease compared to 31 December 2020 of 4,320 thousand Euro, since the average progressive exchange rate for the year is used for the economic recognition of events.

The provision for obsolescence and slow moving inventories was adjusted according to need in the first six months of 2021 through specific provisions totalling 726 thousand Euro (as compared to 987 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2020).

Movements in the provision in the first six months of 2021 appear below:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2020
Provisions Uses Exchange
Releases
rate
differences
30 June
2021
Provision for impairment of inventory 7,208 726 (234) -
88
7,788

Movements in the provision as of 30 June 2020 appear below:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2019
Provisions Uses Releases Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2020
Provision for impairment of inventory 6,081 987 (100) (28) (89) 6,851

Trade receivables amount to 36,720 thousand Euro, as compared to 30,059 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020, up by 6,661 thousand Euro:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Receivables from customers 38,574 32,011 6,563
Provision for doubtful receivables (1,854) (1,952) 98
Net amount 36,720 30,059 6,661

This includes receivables subject to recourse factoring which the Parent Company has transferred to a leading factoring company for a total amount of 40 thousand Euro (44 thousand Euro as of 31 December 2020).

The change is directly related to higher sales revenues recorded in the first half of 2021.

Receivables were adjusted to their estimated realisable value through a specific provision for doubtful receivables, calculated on the basis of an examination of individual debtor positions and taking into account past experience in each specific line of business and geographical region, as required by IFRS 9. The provision as at 30 June 2021 represents a prudential estimate of the current risk, and registered the following changes:

(Euro /000) 31
December
Provisions
2020
Uses Releases Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
Provision for doubtful receivables 1,952 34 (81) (65) 15 1,854

The table of changes in the first half of 2020 appears below:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2019
Provisions Uses Releases Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2020
Provision for doubtful receivables 2,368 108 (20) (5) (58) 2,393

The value of use of the fund includes amounts covering losses on unrecoverable receivables. The Group monitors the situation of the receivables most at risk and initiates the appropriate legal action. The carrying value of trade receivables is considered to approximate to their fair value.

There is no significant concentration of sales to individual customers: this phenomenon remains below 10% of Group revenues.

Trade payables total 30,046 thousand Euro, as compared with 20,561 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020. This item breaks down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Payables to suppliers 23,412 17,171 6,241
Payables to suppliers for invoices to be received 5,936 2,885 3,051
Advance payments received from customers 698 505 193
Total 30,046 20,561 9,485

Trade payables increased by 9,485 thousand Euro over 31 December 2020. The increase is related to the higher purchases recorded in the period, both of raw materials, necessary to cope with the growth in sales volumes, and for service costs, in particular variable costs related to sales volumes.

15. Net financial position

The table below shows a breakdown of the net financial position:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December
2020
Change
Cash and cash equivalents and current financial receivables 39,596 41,943 (2,347)
Other non-current financial investments 87 108 (21)
Non-current financial payables (21,800) (27,441) 5,641
Non-current financial payables for IFRS 16 leases (1,530) (1,669) 139
Current financial payables (12,754) (15,368) 2,614
Current financial payables for IFRS 16 leases (1,736) (968) (768)
Financial liabilities for derivatives (183) (328) 145
Total 1,680 (3,723) 5,403

The following table breaks down the net financial position by maturity:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December
2020
Change
A. Cash on hand 44 27 17
B. Cash in bank deposits 39,552 41,916 (2,364)
D. Cash and cash equivalents (A) + (B) 39,596 41,943 (2,347)
E. Fair value current hedging derivatives - - -
F. Current portion of long-term debt (11,687) (11,079) (608)
G. Other current financial payables (2,803) (5,257) 2,454
H. Total current financial payables (F) + (G) (14,490) (16,336) 1,846
I. Total current payables (E) + (H) (14,490) (16,336) 1,846
J. Net current financial debt (I) + (D) 25,106 25,607 (501)
Non-current financial liabilities for derivatives
Non-current financial investments for derivatives
K. Fair value non-current hedging derivatives
(183)
-
(183)
(328)
-
(328)
145
-
145
L. Non-current financial debt (23,330) (29,110) 5,780
M. Other non-current financial investments 87 108 (21)
N. Net non-current financial debt (K) + (L) + (M) (23,426) (29,330) 5,904
O. Net financial debt (J) + (N)
of which to minorities:
1,680
1,680
(3,723)
(3,723)
5,403
5,403

Net financial position as at 30 June 2021 is positive and equal to 1,680 thousand Euro, an increase of 5,403 thousand Euro over the end of 2020, when it was on the whole negative by 3,723 thousand Euro.

The change in net financial position is mainly due to the positive cash flow from typical operations (13,559 thousand Euro), partially mitigated by expenditure on technical investments in the first six months of the year (2,778 thousand Euro), by payment of dividends (3,737 thousand Euro) and by payment of interest, taxes and rental fees (totalling 1,536 thousand Euro).

Please see the Report on Operations for further details on changes in financial operations during the period.

The balance of cash and cash equivalents amounts to 39,596 thousand Euro as of 30 June 2021, as compared to 41,943 thousand Euro as of 31 December2020 This item breaks down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Cash in bank deposits 39,552 41,916 (2,364)
Cash 44 27 17
Total 39,596 41,943 (2,347)

The technical forms used as of 30 June 2021 are shown below:

  • maturities: payable on presentation;
  • counterparty risk: deposits are made care of leading banks;
  • country risk: deposits are held in countries in which Group companies have their registered offices.

The balance of current financial payables as of 30 June 2021 is (2,614) thousand Euro lower than at the end of 2020; the balance may be broken down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Current portion of debt 11,687 11,079 608
Current overdrafts 1,064 4,286 (3,222)
Factoring 3 3 -
Total 12,754 15,368 (2,614)

The "factoring" item comprises payables to factoring companies, for the payment extension period from the original maturity of the payable with certain suppliers, for which the Parent Company has accepted non-recourse assignment.

Bank overdrafts as of 30 June 2021 totalled 1,064 thousand Euro, as compared to a balance on 31 December 2020 of 4,286 thousand Euro. This amount mainly relates to the Chinese subsidiary Gefran Siei Drives Technology, for advances from Banca Intesa with a 1-year maturity and interest rates ranging from 2.9%-3-1%.

Non-current financial payables may be broken down as follows:

Bank
(Euro /000)
30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Unicredit 600 1,200 (600)
BNL 500 1,000 (500)
BPER 1,511 2,014 (503)
Mediocredito 3,333 4,444 (1,111)
BNL 4,000 5,000 (1,000)
Unicredit 2,778 3,333 (555)
BNL 3,889 4,667 (778)
Intesa (ex UBI) 1,882 2,628 (746)
Intesa (ex UBI) 3,000 3,000 -
SIMEST 307 - 307
Intesa - 19 (19)
Unicredit S.p.A. - New York Branch - 136 (136)
Total 21,800 27,441 (5,641)

The loans listed in the table are all floating-rate contracts and have the following characteristics:

Bank
(Euro /000)
Amount
disbursed
Signing
date
Balance
at 30
June
2021
Of
which
within
12
months
Of
which
beyond
12
months
Interest
rate
Maturity Repayment
method
entered into by Gefran S.p.A. (IT)
Unicredit 6,000 14/11/17 1,800 1,200 600 Euribor
3m +
0.90%
30/11/22 quarterly
BNL 5,000 23/11/17 1,500 1,000 500 Euribor
3m +
0.85%
23/11/22 quarterly
BPER 5,000 28/11/18 2,513 1,002 1,511 Euribor
3m +
0.75%
30/11/23 quarterly
Mediocredito 10,000 28/03/19 5,555 2,222 3,333 Euribor
3m +
1.05%
31/12/23 quarterly
BNL 10,000 29/04/19 6,000 2,000 4,000 Euribor
3m +
1%
29/04/24 quarterly
Unicredit 5,000 30/04/20 3,889 1,111 2,778 Euribor
6m +
0.95%
31/12/24 half-yearly
BNL 7,000 29/05/20 5,445 1,556 3,889 Euribor
6m +
1.1%
31/12/24 half-yearly
Intesa (ex UBI) 3,000 24/07/20 3,000 1,118 1,882 Fixed
1%
24/07/23 half-yearly
Intesa (ex UBI) 3,000 24/07/20 3,000 - 3,000 Euribor
6m +
1%
24/07/26 half-yearly
entered into by Gefran Soluzioni S.r.l. (IT)
SIMEST 307 21/05/21 307 - 307 Fixed
0.55%
31/12/27 half-yearly
entered into by Elettropiemme S.r.l. (IT)
Intesa 300 29/01/18 57 57 - Euribor
3m +
1.00%
28/01/22 quarterly
entered into by Gefran Inc. (US)
Unicredit S.p.A. - New York Branch 1,780 29/03/19 421 421 - Libor 3m
+ 2.50%
29/03/22 quarterly
Total 33,487 11,687 21,800

During the first half of 2021 the subsidiary Gefran Soluzioni S.r.l. took out a new loan totalling 511 thousand Euro, with the objective of increasing the company's capital base and supporting the growth of international sales. A portion of the loan, equal to 204 thousand Euro, for the Integrated Promotion Fund, was provided as a non-refundable grant under the Temporary Framework, while a second portion, 307 thousand Euro, entered among non-current financial payables.

The loan will be repaid in 8 half-yearly instalments starting at the end of the pre-amortisation period of 2 years. It is subject to the de minimis rule for a value of 0.3 thousand Euro.

None of the loans outstanding as of 30 June 2021 has clauses requiring compliance with economic and financial requirements (covenants).

Management considers that the credit lines currently available, as well as the cash flow generated by current operations, will enable Gefran to meet its financial requirements resulting from investment activities, working capital management and repayment of debt at its natural maturity.

Financial liabilities for derivatives total 183 thousand Euro, owing to the negative fair value of certain IRS contracts, also entered into by the Parent Company to hedge interest rate risks.

To mitigate the financial risk associated with variable rate loans, which could arise in the event of an increase in the Euribor, the Group decided to hedge its variable rate loans through Interest Rate Cap contracts, as set out below:

Bank
(Euro /000)
Notional
principal
Signing
date
Notional
as at 30
June
2021
Derivative Fair
Value as
at 30
June
2021
Long position
rate
Short position
rate
Unicredit 6,000 14/11/17 1,800 CAP - Strike Price 0% Euribor 3m
BNL 5,000 23/11/17 1,500 CAP - Strike Price 0% Euribor 3m
Total financial assets for derivatives –
Interest rate risk
-

The Group has also taken out IRS (Interest Rate Swap) contracts, as set out in the table below:

Bank
(Euro /000)
Notional
principal
Signing
date
Notional
as at 30
June
2021
Derivative Fair
Value as
at 30
June
2021
Long position
rate
Short position
rate
Intesa 10,000 29/03/19 5,555 IRS (31) Fixed -0.00% Euribor 3m
(Floor: -1.05%)
BNL 10,000 29/04/19 6,000 IRS (45) Fixed 0.05% Euribor 3m
(Floor: -1.00%)
Unicredit 5,000 24/06/19 2,513 IRS (11) Fixed -0.10% Euribor 3m
(Floor: -0.75%)
Unicredit 5,000 30/04/20 3,889 IRS (35) Fixed 0.05% Euribor 6m
(Floor: -0.95%)
BNL 7,000 29/05/20 5,445 IRS (32) Fixed -0.12% Euribor 6m
(Floor: -1.10%)
Intesa (ex UBI) 3,000 24/07/20 3,000 IRS (29) Fixed -0.115% Euribor 3m
Total financial liabilities for derivatives–
Interest rate risk
(183)

As of 30 June 2021, no derivatives have been taken out to hedge exchange rate risk.

All the contracts described above are booked at fair value:

as at 30 June 2021 as at 31 December 2020
(Euro /000) Positive fair
value
Negative fair
value
Positive fair
value
Negative fair
value
Interest rate risk - (183) - (328)
Total cash flow hedge - (183) - (328)

As of 30 June 2021 all derivatives had been tested for effectiveness, with positive outcomes.

In order to support its operations, the Group has various credit lines granted by banks and other financial institutions available, mainly in the form of invoice factoring credit lines, cash flexibility and mixed credit lines for a total of 38,612 thousand Euro. Overall use of these lines as of 30 June 2021 totalled 1,057 thousand Euro, with a residual available amount of 37,555 thousand Euro.

No fees are due in the event that these lines are not used.

The balance of financial payables for IFRS 16 leases (current and non-current) as of 30 June 2021 amounts to 3,266 thousand Euro and complies with IFRS16, applied by the Group from 1 January 2019, which requires the recording of financial payables corresponding to the value of the usage rights recorded under non-current assets. Financial liabilities under IFRS 16 leases are classified on the basis of maturity as current liabilities (within one year), amounting to 1,530 thousand Euro, and non-current liabilities (beyond one year), amounting to 1,736 thousand Euro.

Changes in this item in the first six months of 2021 are detailed below:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2020
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
Leasing
payables under
IFRS 16
2,637 1,248 (616) - (3) 3,266
Total 2,637 1,248 (616) - (3) 3,266

Changes in this item in the first six months of 2020 are detailed below:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2019
Increases Decreases Reclassifications Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2020
Leasing
payables under
IFRS 16
3,084 459 (619) - (8) 2,916
Total 3,084 459 (619) - (8) 2,916

16. Shareholders' equity

Consolidated Shareholders' Equity may be broken down as follows:

30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Portion pertaining to the Group 83,414 78,179 5,235
Portion pertaining to minority interests - - -
Net amount 83,414 78,179 5,235

The Group's portion of Shareholders' Equity at 30 June 2021 83,414 thousand Euro, up by 5,235 thousand Euro over the figure for 31 December 2020. The positive result for the first half of 2021 (8,054 thousand Euro) and changes in the translation reserve (positive by 687 thousand Euro) were partly absorbed by the distribution of dividends on the results for 2020 (3,737 thousand Euro).

Share capital was 14,400 thousand Euro, divided into 14,400,000 ordinary shares, with a nominal value of 1 Euro each.

On 31 December 2020 Gefran S.p.A. held 27,220 of its own shares, representing 0.2% of the total; the situation was the same on 31 December 2020 and remains so as of the date of release of this document.

The Company has not issued convertible bonds.

For details of changes in equity reserves during the year, see the schedule showing changes in shareholders' equity.

Changes in the "Reserve for the measurement of securities at fair value" are shown in the table below.

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Balance at 1 January 179 (94) 273
UBI Banca S.p.A. Shares - 157 (157)
Woojin Plaimm Co Ltd Shares 120 140 (20)
Tax effect (1) (24) 23
Net amount 298 179 119

Movements in the "Reserve for the measurement of derivatives at fair value" are shown below:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020 Change
Balance at 1 January (249) (121) (128)
Change in fair value derivatives 145 (168) 313
Tax effect (36) 40 (76)
Net amount (140) (249) 109

17. Earnings per share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are shown in the table below:

30 June 2021 30 June 2020
Basic earnings per share
- Profit (loss) for the period pertaining to the Group (Euro/000) 8,054 1,139
- Average No. of ordinary shares (No./000,000) 14.373 14.373
- Basic earnings per ordinary share 0.560 0.079
Diluted earnings per share
- Profit (loss) for the period pertaining to the Group (Euro/000) 8,054 1,139
- Average No. of ordinary shares (No./000,000) 14.373 14.373
- Basic earnings per ordinary share 0.560 0.079
Average number of ordinary shares 14,372,780 14,372,780

18. Current and non-current provisions

The value of "current and non-current provisions" is essentially unchanged with respect to the figure at 31 December 2020. Specifically, "Non-current provisions" amount to 836 thousand Euro, down 88 thousand Euro in the first half of 2021, and break down as follows:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2020
Provisions Uses Releases Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
Gefran S.p.A. risk provisions
- other provisions 38 10 (30) (10) - 8
Gefran France risk provisions
- for restructuring 5 - - - - 5
Gefran Gmbh risk provisions
- for restructuring 323 24 (95) - - 252
Elettropiemme S.r.l. risk provisions
- for restructuring - 18 - - - 18
- other provisions 553 - - - - 553
Gefran Soluzioni S.r.l. risk provisions
- for restructuring 5 - (5) - - -
Total 924 52 (130) (10) - 836

The balance of "Current provisions" was 1,528 thousand Euro as of 30 June 2021, up by 66 thousand Euro compared with 31 December 2020, and may be broken down as follows:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2020
Provisions Uses Releases Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
FISC 86 (4) - - - 82
Product warranty 1,351 230 (163) - 3 1,421
Other provisions 25 - - - - 25
Total 1,462 226 (163) - 3 1,528

The item refers to envisaged charges for repairs on products under warranty, equal to 1,421 thousand Euro, up by 70 thousand Euro since 31 December 2020; the adequacy of the provision was checked at year-end, with a positive outcome.

The item FISC primarily represents existing contractual treatments in the German subsidiary Siei Areg.

19. Revenues from product sales

Revenues from product sales as of 30 June 2021 amounted to 78,982 thousand Euro, up 27.7% compared to the figure recorded on 30 June 2020, which had been affected by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The following table provides a breakdown of sales and service revenues by business:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change %
Sensors 37,975 27,786 10,189 36.7%
Automation components 19,272 15,993 3,279 20.5%
Motion control 21,735 18,070 3,665 20.3%
Total 78,982 61,849 17,133 27.7%

The amount shown under total revenues includes revenues from services totalling 1,625 thousand Euro (1,272 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020); see the Report on Operations for comments on the performance of the various businesses and geographical regions.

20. Other revenues and income

"Other operating revenues and income" total 597 thousand Euro, as compared with revenues of 886 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020, as shown in the following table:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change %
Recovery of company canteen expenses 19 13 6 46.2%
Insurance reimbursements 13 10 3 30.0%
Rental income 126 126 0 0.0%
Fees 0 6 (6) -100.0%
Government grants 251 483 (232) -48.0%
Other income 188 248 (60) -24.2%
Total 597 886 (289) -32.6%

Other proceeds amount to 188 thousand Euro and include chargeback for R&D specifically requested by customers.

The item "Government contributions," down by 60 thousand Euro compared to the figure for the first half of 2020, includes grants collected from Simest in May 2021 by the subsidiary Gefran Soluzioni S.r.l. (204 thousand Euro). In the first half of 2020 contributions were received for the purchase of PPE and for investment in the Group's premises to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (205 thousand Euro), as well as contributions to the I-Mec development project acknowledged under the EU Horizon 2020 project and co-financed by MIUR, concluded in May 2020.

21. Costs of raw materials and accessories

"Costs of raw materials and accessories" amount to 33,127 thousand Euro, as compared to 23,297 thousand Euro at 30 June 2020. They break down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Raw materials and accessories 33,127 23,297 9,830
Total 33,127 23,297 9,830

The increase in the item reflects the need for more raw materials, in order to meet the higher production volumes associated with increased sales.

22. Service costs

"Service costs" amount to 11,530 thousand Euro, 1,978 thousand Euro higher than the figure for 30 June 2020, when they amounted to Euro 9,552 thousand. They may be broken down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Services 11,107 9,077 2,030
Use of third-party assets 423 475 (52)
Total 11,530 9,552 1,978

Lease fees no longer allocated to the income statement under operating costs due to implementation of the new accounting standard amount to 617 thousand Euro (648 thousand Euro on 30 June 2020). Contracts excluded from adoption of IFRS 16 on the basis of the provisions of the standard, for which lease fees continue to be entered in the income statement, resulted in entry of 423 thousand Euro in costs for use of third-party assets in the first half of 2021 (as compared to 475 thousand Euro in the same period in 2020).

With reference to the item "Services", other than the rental fees described above, the item increased by 2,030 thousand Euro in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period of the previous year; in particular, variable costs (outsourced processing and third-party services) have increased, and their trend is linked to the growth in revenue volumes.

23. Personnel costs

"Personnel costs" amounted to 25,505 thousand Euro, with an increase of 1.906 thousand Euro compared to the value as at 30 June 2020 and are broken down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Salaries and wages 19,387 17,871 1,516
Social security contributions 4,854 4,450 404
Post-employment benefit reserve 1,051 1,099 (48)
Other costs 213 179 34
Total 25,505 23,599 1,906

The change is mainly due to higher costs for wages and salaries, compared to the first six months of 2020, when cost containment actions, such as reduction of provisions for holidays and M.B.O. bonuses, were implemented as soon as the first signs of the spread of the Covid-19 virus appeared.

"Social security contributions" includes costs for defined contribution benefit plans for management (Previndai pension plan) of 28 thousand Euro (29 thousand Euro as of 30 June 2020).

The item "Other costs", up by 34 thousand Euro, includes, among other items, restructuring costs resulting from reorganisation of Group companies.

The average number of Group employees in the first half of 2021, as compared with the same period in 2020, was as follows:

30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Managers 17 18 (1)
Clerical staff 507 524 (17)
Manual workers 259 279 (20)
Total 783 821 (38)

The average number of employees decreased by 38 compared to the first six months of 2020 the number of employees as of 30 June 2021 is 778, down from 31 December 2020 by 9 employees, a result of 39 exits and 30 new appointments in the year 2021, and also a decrease compared to the precise figure as of 30 June 2020, which was 811 employees.

24. Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

This item totals 4,044 thousand Euro, as compared to 4,015 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020. These items include:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Intangible assets 1,047 978 69
Tangible assets 2,378 2,399 (21)
Usage rights 619 638 (19)
Total 4,044 4,015 29

Since 1 January 2019, this item includes amortisation of usage rights in accordance with accounting standard IFRS16; its value as of 30 June 2021 totals 619 thousand Euro (638 thousand Euro as of 30 June 2020).

The breakdown of the item "Depreciation, amortisation and impairment" by business unit is shown in the table below:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Sensors 1,720 1,692 28
Automation components 1,376 1,256 120
Motion control 948 1,067 (119)
Total 4,044 4,015 29

25. Gains (losses) from financial assets/liabilities

The item had a positive balance of 61 thousand Euro; this compares with a negative balance of 1,106 thousand Euro on 30 June 2020, and breaks down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Cash management
Income from cash management 12 17 (5)
Other financial income 21 14 7
Medium-/long-term interest (177) (186) 9
Short-term interest (33) (19) (14)
Factoring interest and fees (9) (12) 3
Other financial charges (15) (6) (9)
Total income (charges) from cash management (201) (192) (9)
Currency transactions
Exchange gains 126 128 (2)
Positive currency valuation differences 601 331 270
Exchange losses (403) (303) (100)
Negative currency valuation differences (49) (1,049) 1,000
Total other income (charges) from currency transactions 275 (893) 1,168
Other
Interest on financial payables due to leasing under IFRS (20) (21) 1
Total other financial income (charges) (20) (21) 1
Gains (losses) from financial assets/liabilities 54 (1,106) 1,160

The item "Liquidity management charges" is broadly aligned with the balance at 30 June 2020.

The balance of the differences on currency transactions presented a positive value of 275 thousand Euro, compared with a negative value of 893 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020. The change is a result of the dynamics of the Euro in relation to the other currencies used by the Group.

The item "Other financial charges" includes financial charges on financial payables resulting from application of the new accounting standard IFRS 16, worth 20 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2021 (21 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020).

26. Income tax, deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities

The "Taxes" item was negative by 2,301 thousand Euro; this compares with a negative balance of 1,075 thousand Euro in the first half of 2020, and breaks down as follows:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 30 June 2020 Change
Current taxes
IRES (corporate income tax) (1,386) (155) (1,231)
IRAP (regional production tax) (440) 18 (458)
Foreign taxes (453) (282) (171)
Total current taxes (2,279) (419) (1,860)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities 5 11 (6)
Deferred tax assets (27) (667) 640
Total deferred tax assets and liabilities (22) (656) 634
Total taxes (2,301) (1,075) (1,226)

Current taxes were on the whole down by 1,860 thousand Euro compared to the figure for the first half of 2020. The change was due to the better results achieved in the first six months of 2021 by the Parent Company and its subsidiaries, as well as the effect of the release of the first IRAP advance in the first half of 2020.

Deferred taxes, which were on the whole negative by 22 thousand Euro, mainly originated out of use of advance taxes entered on prior tax losses of the Parent Company and its subsidiary Elettropiemme S.r.l.

See the Report on Operations for more details on deferred tax assets and liabilities.

The table below shows a breakdown of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities for the first half of 2021:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2020
Posted to
the
income
statement
Recognised
in
shareholders'
equity
Change in
scope of
consolidation
Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2021
Deferred tax assets
Impairment of inventories 1,218 106 - - 1,324
Impairment of trade
receivables
294 (12) - - 282
Impairment of assets 535 - - - 535
Deductible losses to be
brought forward
1,074 (191) - 13 896
Exchange rate balance 1 (1) - - -
Elimination of unrealised
margins on inventories
436 63 - - 499
Provision for product
warranty risk
327 30 - - 357
Provision for miscellaneous
risks
301 (22) - - - 279
Fair value hedging 79 - (35) - - 44
Total deferred tax assets 4,265 (27) (35) - 13 4,216
Deferred tax liabilities
Exchange valuation
differences
(2) (9) (1) - (12)
Other deferred tax liabilities (831) 14 (25) (842)
Total deferred taxes (833) 5 (1) - (25) (854)
Net total 3,432 (22) (36) - (12) 3,362

The table below shows a breakdown of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities for the first six months of 2020:

(Euro /000) 31
December
2019
Posted to
the
income
statement
Recognised
in
shareholders'
equity
Change in
scope of
consolidation
Exchange
rate
differences
30 June
2020
Deferred tax assets
Impairment of inventories 1,316 153 - (5) 1,464
Impairment of trade
receivables
345 (39) - - 306
Impairment of assets 535 - - - 535
Deductible losses to be
brought forward
3,058 (754) - (20) 2,284
Exchange rate balance 3 (3) - - -
Elimination of unrealised
margins on inventories
570 (20) - - 550
Provision for product
warranty risk
322 28 - - 350
Provision for miscellaneous
risks
343 (32) - - - 311
Fair value hedging 64 - 38 - - 102
Total deferred tax assets 6,556 (667) 38 - (25) 5,902
Deferred tax liabilities
Exchange valuation
differences
- (3) - - (3)
Other deferred tax liabilities (647) 14 (1) (634)
Total deferred taxes (647) 11 - - (1) (637)
Net total 5,909 (656) 38 - (26) 5,265

27. Guarantees granted, commitments and other contingent liabilities

a) Guarantees granted

As of 30 June 2021, the Group had granted guarantees on payables or commitments of third parties or subsidiaries totalling 95 thousand Euro, down from the figure for 31 December 2020. These are summarised in the table below:

(Euro /000) 30 June 2021 31 December 2020
Sandrini Costruzioni 66 66
Sandrini Costruzioni 29 29
Total 95 95

The two sureties issued in favour of Sandrini Costruzioni refer to the guarantee for the rental of the industrial building where Elettropiemme S.r.l. conducts its business.

b) Legal proceedings and disputes

The Parent Company and certain subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings and disputes. It is, however, considered unlikely that the resolution of these disputes will generate significant liabilities for which provisions have not already been made.

c) Commitments

The Group has stipulated contracts for rental of buildings and leasing of equipment, electronic machinery and company vehicles. With application of accounting standard IFRS 16, the amount of lease fees remaining payable appears in the financial statement under the items "Usage rights" and "Financial payables for leasing under IFRS16", and so the reader is referred to the notes on these topics for more information.

As required under the new accounting standard, some residual existing contracts have been excluded from the perimeter of application as they met the requirements for exclusion; leasing costs for these contracts entered in the income statement amount to 423 thousand Euro for the first half 2021 (475 thousand Euro in the first six months of 2020).

As of 30 June 2021, the total value of the Group's commitments was 976 thousand Euro, for leasing and rental contracts expiring within the next five years, which do not fall within the scope of application of IFRS 16 (equal to 1,237 thousand Euro on 30 June 2020 and 898 thousand Euro on 31 December 2020). This value mainly refers to the share of ancillary services pertaining to contracts subject to IFRS16, as well as contracts for which, based on their value and duration, the above standard has not been applied.

28. Transactions with related parties

The following information on Group companies' transactions with related parties in the first half of 2021 and 2020 is provided in accordance with IAS 24.

In compliance with Consob resolution no. 17221 of 12 March 2010, the Gefran S.p.A. Board of Directors has adopted the Regulations governing transactions with related parties, the current version of which was approved on 24 June 2021 to implement the new regulations of EU Directive 2017/828, known as 'Shareholders' Rights II', and can be viewed in the "Laws, Regulations and Procedures" section on the website https://www.gefran.com/it/governance.

Transactions with related parties are part of normal operations and the typical business of each entity involved and are carried out under normal market conditions. There were no atypical or unusual transactions.

Noting that the economic and equity effects of consolidated infragroup transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process, the most significant dealings with related parties are listed below. These dealings have no material impact on the Group's economic and financial structure. They are summarised in the following tables:

(Euro /000) Climat S.r.l. Total
Service costs
2020 (98) (98)
2021 (92) (92)
(Euro /000) Climat S.r.l. Marfran S.r.l. Total
Property, plant, machinery and tools
2020 247 - 247
2021 105 - 105
Trade receivables
2020 - 4 4
2021 - - -
Trade payables
2020 257 16 273
2021 47 - 47

In accordance with internal regulations, transactions with related parties of an amount below Euro 50 thousand are not reported, since this amount was determined as the threshold for identifying material transactions.

In relations with its subsidiaries, the Parent Company Gefran S.p.A. has provided technical and administrative/management services and paid royalties on behalf of the Group's operative subsidiaries totalling 1.9 million Euro under specific contracts (1.6 million Euro as of 30 June 2020).

Gefran S.p.A. provides a Group cash pooling service, partly through a "Zero Balance" service, which involves all the European subsidiaries and the Singapore subsidiary.

None of the subsidiaries holds shares of the Parent Company or held them during the period.

In the first half of 2021, the Parent Company Gefran S.p.A. recognised dividends from subsidiaries amounting to 1.7 thousand Euro (2.2 million Euro in the first half of 2020).

Persons of strategic importance have been identified as members of the executive Board of Directors of Gefran S.p.A. and other Group companies, as well as executives with strategic responsibilities, identified as the General Manager of Gefran S.p.A., the General Manager of the Drives and Motion Control Business Unit, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief People & Organisation Officer, and the Group's Chief Technology Officer.

Provaglio d'Iseo, 05 August 2021

For the Board of Directors

Chairwoman

Chief Executive Officer

Maria Chiara Franceschetti

Marcello Perini

Attachments

a) Consolidated income statement by quarter

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOT Q1 Q2 TOT
(Euro /000) 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2021 2021 2021
a Revenues 31,426 31,309 31,186 35,724 129,645 37,407 42,172 79,579
b Increases for internal work 495 459 508 751 2,213 494 525 1,019
c Consumption of materials and
products
11,411 11,237 11,585 13,805 48,038 13,250 15,557 28,807
d Value Added (a+b-c) 20,510 20,531 20,109 22,670 83,820 24,651 27,140 51,791
e Other operating costs 5,425 4,681 4,869 5,178 20,153 5,673 6,274 11,947
f Personnel costs 11,858 11,741 10,641 11,878 46,118 12,372 13,133 25,505
g EBITDA (d-e-f) 3,227 4,109 4,599 5,614 17,549 6,606 7,733 14,339
h Depreciation, amortisation and
impairment
1,997 2,018 2,055 2,081 8,151 2,031 2,013 4,044
i EBIT (g-h) 1,230 2,091 2,544 3,533 9,398 4,575 5,720 10,295
l Gains (losses) from financial
assets/liabilities
(667) (439) (467) (240) (1,813) 137 (83) 54
m Gains (losses) from shareholdings
valued at equity
2 (3) 2 (3) (2) 5 1 6
n Profit (loss) before tax (i±l±m) 565 1,649 2,079 3,290 7,583 4,717 5,638 10,355
o Taxes (486) (589) (532) (1,623) (3,230) (1,018) (1,283) (2,301)
p Result from operational activities
(n±o)
79 1,060 1,547 1,667 4,353 3,699 4,355 8,054
q Net income from assets available
for sale
- - - - - - - -
p Group net profit (loss) (n±o) 79 1,060 1,547 1,667 4,353 3,699 4,355 8,054

b) Exchange rates used to translate the financial statements of foreign companies

End-of-period exchange rates

Currency 30 June 2021 31 dicembre 2020
Swiss franc 1.0980 1.0802
Pound sterling 0.8581 0.8990
U.S. dollar 1.1884 1.2271
Brazilian real 5.9050 6.3735
Chinese renminbi 7.6742 8.0225
Indian rupee 88.3240 89.6605
Turkish lira 10.3210 9.1131

Average exchange rates in the period

Currency 2021 2020 2Q 2021 2Q 2020
Swiss franc 1.0943 1.0703 1.0980 1.0611
Pound sterling 0.8684 0.8892 0.8622 0.8870
U.S. dollar 1.2057 1.1413 1.2057 1.1006
Brazilian real 6.4917 5.8900 6.3907 5.9228
Chinese renminbi 7.7981 7.8708 7.7851 7.8025
Indian rupee 88.4487 84.5795 88.9893 83.5021
Turkish lira 9.5126 8.0436 10.1203 7.5650

c) List of subsidiaries included in the scope of consolidation

Registered Currenc Share % of
direct
Name office Nation y capital Parent company ownershi
p
Gefran UK Ltd Warrington United
Kingdom
GBP 4,096,000 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Gefran Deutschland GmbH Seligenstadt Germania EUR 365,000 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Siei Areg Gmbh Pleidelsheim Germania EUR 150,000 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Gefran France SA Saint-Priest France EUR 800,000 Gefran S.p.A. 99.99
Gefran Benelux NV Geel Belgium EUR 344,000 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
United
Gefran Inc North Andover States USD 1,900,070 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Gefran Brasil Elettroel. Ltda Sao Paolo Brazil BRL 450,000 Gefran S.p.A. 99.90
Sensormate AG 0.10
Gefran India Private Ltd Pune India INR 100,000,00 Gefran S.p.A. 95.00
0 Sensormate AG 5.00
Gefran Siei Asia Pte Ltd Singapore Singapore EUR 3,359,369 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Gefran Siei Drives Tech. Co China
Ltd Shanghai (PRC) RMB 28,940,000 Gefran Siei Asia 100.00
Gefran Siei Electric Pte Ltd Shanghai China
(PRC)
RMB 1,005,625 Gefran Siei Asia 100.00
Switzerlan
Sensormate AG Aadorf d CHF 100,000 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Gefran Middle East Ltd Sti Istanbul Turkey TRY 1,030,000 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Gefran Soluzioni S.r.l. Provaglio
d'Iseo
Italy EUR 100,000 Gefran S.p.A. 100.00
Gefran Drives and Motion S.r.l. Gerenzano Italy EUR 10,000 Gefran S.p.A.
Gefran Soluzioni
100.00
Elettropiemme S.r.l. Trento Italy EUR 70,000 S.r.l. 100.00

d) List of companies consolidated at equity

Name Registered
office
Nation Currency Share
capital
Parent
company
% of
direct
ownership
Axel S.r.l. Crosio della Valle Italy EUR 26,008 Gefran S.p.A. 15

e) List of other subsidiaries

Name Registered
office
Nation Currency Share capital Parent
company
% of
direct
ownership
Colombera S.p.A. Iseo Italy EUR 8,098,958 Gefran S.p.A. 17
Woojin Plaimm Co Ltd Seoul South Korea WON 3,200,000,000 Gefran S.p.A. 2

Certification of consolidated financial statements pursuant to Article 81 ter of Consob regulation No. 11971 dated 14 May 1999, as subsequently amended and added to.

The undersigned Marcello Perini, in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer, and Fausta Coffano, in her capacity as Executive in charge of financial reporting of Gefran S.p.A. hereby certify, with due regard for the provisions of Article 154-bis, paragraphs 3 and 4, of Legislative Decree no. 58 of 24 February 1998:

  • the adequacy, with respect to the Company's characteristics,

and

  • the effective application of the administrative and accounting procedures applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in the first half of 2021.

There are no significant events to report in this regard.

They further certify that:

    1. the Condensed half-yearly consolidated financial statements:
  • were prepared in accordance with applicable international accounting standards recognised in the European Union pursuant to Regulation (EC) no. 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 2002;
  • correspond to entries made in accounting ledgers and records;
  • provide a true and accurate representation of the financial situation of the issuer and all companies included in the scope of consolidation.
    1. the Report on operations contains a reliable analysis of operating performance and results and of the condition of the issuer and all companies included in the scope of consolidation, together with a description of the main risks and uncertainties to which they are exposed.

Provaglio d'Iseo, 05 August 2021

Chief Executive Officer Executive in charge

of financial reporting

Marcello Perini Fausta Coffano

External auditors' report on the halfyearly consolidated financial statements

REVIEW REPORT ON CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED INTERIM FINANCIALDCBA STATEMENTS

To thè shareholders of GEFRAN SpA

Foreword

We bave reviewed thè accompanying Consolidated condensed interim financial statements of GEFRAN SpA and its subsidiaries (thè GEFRAN Group) as of 30 dune 2021, comprising thè statement of profit/(loss) for thè period, thè statement of profit/(loss) for thè period and other items of comprehensive income, thè statement of financial position, thè Consolidated cash flow statement, thè statement of changes in shareholders' equity and related notes. The directors of GEFRAN SpA are responsible for thè preparation of thè Consolidated condensed interim financial statements in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 applicable to interim financial reporting (IAS 34) as adopted by thè European Union. Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on these Consolidated condensed interim financial statements based on our review.

Scope of review

We conducted our work in accordance with thè criteria for a review recommended by Consob in Resolution No. 10867 °f 31 Juty 1997- A review of Consolidated condensed interim financial statements consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than a fullscope audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA Italia) and, consequently, does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion on thè Consolidated condensed interim financial statements.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that thè accompanying Consolidated condensed interim financial statements ofthè GEFRAN Group as of 30 dune 2021 are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 applicable to interim financial reporting (IAS 34) as adopted by thè European Union.

Brescia, 6 August 2021

PricewaterhouseCoopers SpA

Signed by

Alessandro Mazzetti (Partner)

This report has been translated into Englishfrom thè Italian originaisolelyfor thè convenience of international readers

PriceivaterhouseCoopers SpA

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