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Salzgitter AG — Earnings Release 2013
Aug 14, 2013
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Earnings Release
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Corporate | 14 August 2013 07:30
Salzgitter AG: Half-yearly result burdened by structural crisis in the European steel industry – ‘Salzgitter AG 2015’ generates profit potential of EUR 200 million p.a.
Salzgitter AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results
14.08.2013 / 07:30
Salzgitter, August 14, 2013
Salzgitter AG
Investor Relations
38223 Salzgitter
Phone: +49-(0)5341-21-7850
Fax: +49-(0)5341-21-2570
SALZGITTER AG – first half of 2013
Half-yearly result burdened by structural crisis in the European steel industry –
‘Salzgitter AG 2015’ generates profit potential of EUR 200 million p.a.
In the first half of 2013, the performance of the Salzgitter Group was largely determined by the structural crisis in the European steel industry. Severe competition resulting from the ongoing capacity underutilization of numerous producers in southern Europe pushed the selling prices achievable for most rolled steel products below the manufacturing costs. The sectional steel products processed by the construction industry were the hardest hit. Against this backdrop, the Steel Division reported a high loss owing primarily to impairment of the assets of Peiner Träger GmbH (PTG). This impairment had become necessary due to the persistently unsatisfactory earnings outlook of the section business. Additional profit burdens emanated from the dramatic lack of orders in the Tubes Division’s large-diameter pipes business.
Consolidated external sales fell by 7 % to EUR 4,977.3 million (first half of 2012: EUR 5,378.5 million), which was mainly attributable to the unfavorable selling price trend for rolled steel products. The pre-tax result of EUR -298.7 million (first half of 2012: EUR -17.9 million) comprises impairment of EUR 185.0 million on the assets of PTG, as well as EUR 54.2 million in negative after-tax contribution by the 25% holding in Aurubis AG, a participation included at equity (first half of 2012: EUR +34.6 million). The after-tax result stood at EUR -315.2 million (first half of 2012: EUR -22.5 million). As before, an equity ratio of 39% and net financial position of EUR 375 million continues to form a thoroughly sound financial basis for mastering the current challenges.
External sales by Division (EUR million):
| H1 2013 | (H1 2012) | |
| Steel | 1,334.4 | (1,406.8) |
| Trading | 2,031.5 | (2,398.4) |
| Tubes | 820.7 | (790.5) |
| Services | 204.4 | (212.2) |
| Technology | 568.4 | (548.5) |
| Other | 18.0 | (22.0) |
| Group | 4,977.3 | (5,378.5) |
Earnings before tax (EBT) by Division (EUR million):
| H1 2013 | (H1 2012) | |
| Steel | -260.5 | (-97.8) |
| Trading | 19.6 | (27.6) |
| Tubes | -25.0 | (8.3) |
| Services | 4.3 | (10.2) |
| Technology | 5.6 | (2.6) |
| Other | -42.7 | (31.1) |
| Group | -298.7 | (-17.9) |
Negative influences on the result in the accounts of the first half of 2013 and the development of operations anticipated necessitated an adjustment of guidance for the results. With regard to the 2013 financial year, the Salzgitter Group now anticipates slightly lower sales in a year-on-year comparison and a negative pre-tax result of around EUR 400 million. As already announced, additional special, initially burdening, non-recurrent effects may still arise as a consequence of implementing the ‘Salzgitter AG 2015’ Group project.
We make reference to the fact that opportunities and risks from currently unforeseeable trends in selling prices, input material prices and capacity level developments, as well as changes in the currency parity, may considerably affect performance in the second half of the financial year 2013. The resulting fluctuation in the consolidated pre-tax result may be within a considerable range, either to the positive or to the negative. The dimensions of this range become clear if one considers that, with around 6 million tons of steel products sold by the Steel, Trading and Tubes divisions over the remainder of the financial year, an average EUR 20 contraction in the margin per ton is sufficient to cause a variation in the annual result of more than EUR 120 million. Moreover, the accuracy of the company’s planning is restricted by the volatilities and shorter contractual durations, both on the procurement and on the sales side.
‘Salzgitter AG 2015’ program
In order to achieve an acceptable level of performance also under difficult general conditions in the markets and competitive arena, a restructuring program under the name of ‘Salzgitter AG 2015’ was initiated in the fall of 2012. Numerous specific measures geared toward improving the process and organization structures have meanwhile been defined and are now on the verge of implementation or already under way. For instance, Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH is investing EUR 70 million in building a coal injection plant to reduce metallurgy costs. Under the current circumstances, the amortization period will be a mere two years. The overall profit improvement potential identified and backed by projects within the Group amounts to more than EUR 200 million p.a. More than half of this amount is attributable to the further development of technical processes and initiatives in the areas of logistics, procurement and data processing, along with reducing personnel through downsizing more than 1,500 positions. For the purpose of personnel-related measures, a ‘Pact for the Future’ (Zukunftsvertrag) between the company, the Group Works Council and IG Metall has been negotiated as a framework agreement and is due for formal signing in the near future. Along with the necessary adjustments to capacity and streamlining of largely administrative processes, the reorganization is aimed at significantly strengthening the innovation and customer orientation of the Group and its companies.
Disclaimer: Some of the statements made in this report possess the character of forecasts or may be interpreted as such. They are made upon the best of information and belief and by their nature are subject to the proviso that no unforeseeable deterioration occurs in the economy or in the specific market situation pertaining to the division companies, but rather that the underlying bases of plans and outlooks prove to be accurate as expected in terms of their scope and timing. Notwithstanding prevailing statutory provisions and capital market law in particular, the company undertakes no obligation to continuously update any forward-looking statements that are made solely in connection with circumstances prevailing on the day of their publication.
More information can be found in the full press release and interim report published today (please refer to: www.salzgitter-ag.com/en/).
Contact:
Markus Heidler
Deputy Head of Investor Relations
Salzgitter AG
Eisenhüttenstraße 99
38239 Salzgitter
Phone +49 5341 21-6105
Fax +49 5341 21-2570
E-Mail [email protected]
End of Corporate News
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| Language: | English |
| Company: | Salzgitter AG |
| Eisenhüttenstraße 99 | |
| 38239 Salzgitter | |
| Germany | |
| Phone: | +49 5341 21-01 |
| Fax: | +49 5341 21-2727 |
| E-mail: | [email protected] |
| Internet: | www.salzgitter-ag.de |
| ISIN: | DE0006202005 |
| WKN: | 620200 |
| Listed: | Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hannover; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart |
| End of News | DGAP News-Service |
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| 225642 14.08.2013 |