Zumtobel Group AG: Zumtobel Group with sound nine-month results

Dornbirn (pta009/08.03.2022/07:30 UTC+1)

The Zumtobel Group continued its good first half-year performance during the third quarter. Group revenues rose by 11.5% to EUR 846.6 million in the first three quarters of the 2021/22 financial year (Q1-Q3 2020/21: EUR 759.2 million), after foreign exchange adjustments the increase equalled 10.3%. The improvement in EBIT after three quarters was even more visible: At EUR 52.2 million, it substantially exceeded the previous year’s figure of EUR 27.3 million. Net profit for the first nine months of 2021/22 more than doubled year-on-year to EUR 32.7 million (Q1-Q3 2020/21: EUR 14.9 million).

"These results underscore the solid position our company has now reached. We weathered the pandemic comparatively well and also came to grips with the difficult raw materials situation," commented Alfred Felder, CEO of the Zumtobel Group. "However, there are still no signs that would justify an all-clear signal. Rising raw material prices and, above all, the semiconductor shortage will potentially have a stronger impact in the fourth quarter."

Strong growth in Components Segment revenues

Revenues in the Lighting Segment rose by 8.2% to EUR 624.5 million in the first three quarters of 2021/22 (Q1-Q3 2020/21: EUR 577.0 million). The Components Segment recorded even stronger growth with a year-on-year increase of 21.3% in revenues to EUR 265.9 million. The general upward trend in the economy was evident in both segments, and the company was able to pass on price increases in part to the market.

In most regions, the Zumtobel Group recorded double-digit growth in revenues over the previous year. Two examples are the core markets of Great Britain and France, which were hard hit by the Covid-19 crisis in the previous year. One exception, however, is the DACH region where the increase in revenues was limited to nearly 4%. Business development in Austria was sound, but only slightly higher than the previous year in Germany and weaker in Switzerland. Revenue declines were recorded in the USA and the United Arab Emirates.

Selling and administrative expenses (incl. research costs) rose by EUR 18.5 million to EUR −231.9 million in the first three quarters of 2021/22 (Q1-Q3 2020/21: EUR −213.4 million). The main reasons included the higher personnel costs which followed the expiration of short-time work as well as rising costs for customs duties in connection with the Brexit and a substantial increase in transport costs.

Earnings per share more than doubled

EBIT recorded by the Zumtobel Group rose from EUR 27.3 million to EUR 52.2 million due to the substantial increase in revenues over the first three quarters of the previous year, and the return on sales improved significantly from 3.6% to 6.2%. Net profit more than doubled to EUR 32.7 million
(Q1-Q3 2020/21: EUR 14.9 million). Earnings per share for the shareholders of the Zumtobel Group (basic EPS based on 43.1 million shares) equalled EUR 0.76 (Q1-Q3 2020/21: EUR 0.34).

The shortage of raw materials, especially in the semiconductor area, had a visible influence on the development of working capital: As of 31 January 2022, working capital totalled EUR 194.0 million and was EUR 28.1 million higher than the prior year level of EUR 165.9 million. The main driver was the EUR 57 million increase in inventories which resulted from the significant increase in raw material prices and higher stocks of raw materials and merchandise. Free cash flow, after the deduction of investments, totalled EUR 1.2 million (Q1-Q3 2020/21: EUR 59.8 million).

The balance sheet structure has remained nearly unchanged since 30 April 2021. The equity ratio improved to 34.2% as of 31 January 2022. Net liabilities rose by EUR 16.0 million over the level at year-end 2020/21 to EUR 113.4 million. The balance sheet total was EUR 28.6 million higher at the end of the first three quarters, above all, due to the increase in inventories.

Raw materials situation remains challenging

The Zumtobel Group welcomes the increase in orders, but this represents a great challenge given the current raw materials situation. The company is still negatively affected by the shortage of raw materials and transport capacity. The rising costs for materials, transport and, in the meantime, also energy can only be passed on in part to customers.

Alfred Felder: "From the company’s viewpoint, the current market environment is almost more challenging than at the beginning of the corona pandemic. Our current priority is, therefore, to protect the delivery capability for our products and the high service quality for our customers."

In order to address the lack of sufficient semiconductors for high-end drivers, the Zumtobel Group started a programme in the first half of 2021/22 to reduce the dependence on individual semiconductor suppliers through appropriate adjustments in product development. That allowed the company to significantly expand the range of suppliers.

Outlook confirmed

The management of the Zumtobel Group expects the raw materials shortage will influence the development of revenues in the fourth quarter. The uncertain situation in the Ukraine conflict also adds further uncertainty. Although the direct risk to Group revenues from sales in Russia and Ukraine is not very high – in total around EUR 8 million – the exact extent is uncertain with regard to the development of the global economy in the coming months.

In view of the sound development of business during the past three quarters, the company confirms its outlook for the 2021/22 financial year. The Zumtobel Group still sees an increase of 4% to 7% in revenues and an EBIT margin of 4% to 5%, whereby – after the first three quarters – management expects results for both indicators will reach the upper end of the given range. These expectations could, however, be exceeded depending on the availability of the required semiconductors.

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Emitter:	Zumtobel Group AG Höchster Straße 8 6850 Dornbirn Austria
Contact Person:	Eric Schmiedchen
Phone:	+43 5572 509 1125
E-Mail:	eric.schmiedchen@zumtobelgroup.com
Website:	z.lighting
ISIN(s):	AT0000837307 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Trade)