For further information, please contact:
Jonas Wiström, President/CEO +46 (0)70-608 12 20
Jonas Ågrup, CFO +46 (0)70-333 04 95
Viktor Svensson, Director, Corporate +46 (0)70-657 20 26
Information
Second quarter 2009
* Net sales totalled SEK 1,199 million (Q2 2008: 1,174 million)
* Operating profit totalled SEK 100 million (SEK 135 million)
* The operating margin was 8.4 percent (11.5 percent)
* Earnings per share, before dilution: SEK 4.01 (SEK 5.53)
First half 2009
* Net sales totalled SEK 2,407 million (Q1-Q2 2008: SEK 2,238
million)
* Operating profit totalled SEK 206 million (SEK 251 million)
* The operating margin was 8.6 percent (11.2 percent).
* Earnings per share, before dilution: SEK 8.52 (SEK 10.22)
A few words from the President, Jonas Wiström
Little by little the market continued to contract throughout the
second quarter - with the exception of projects and services related
to the business areas of Nuclear Power, Infrastructure Planning and
Energy Efficiency, where demand for services grew.
In all, around 60 ÅF employees were laid off during the quarter,
incurring a cost to the company of SEK 7 million. Right now, for
reasons that have to do with the company's different markets and with
its geographical spread, ÅF is having to put its foot on the brakes
and the accelerator at the same time. Overall growth in the second
quarter was just over 2 percent, but organically the growth rate was
negative.
ÅF's operating margin for the second quarter was 8.4 percent,
compared with 10.7 percent for the corresponding period in 2008
(adjusted to take account of Alecta's reduction in pension premiums).
Capacity utilisation was 72 percent (75 percent).
However, the second quarter of 2009 had two fewer invoiceable days
than the corresponding quarter in 2008, which equates to 3 percent
less invoiceable time. Operating cash flow for the second quarter was
SEK 174 million (Q2 2008: SEK 114 million).
In real terms the economy continues to dwindle, with the shortage of
long-term credits forcing the postponement of a great many industrial
investments. Even so, ÅF has discerned signs of an improved situation
in the Russian market.
ÅF's aim remains unchanged - to continue to deliver levels of
profitability that are among the highest in our industry. The company
has a solid position in the market, long-term relations with its
clients and a strong brand. In the longer perspective the aim is to
continue to expand with year-on-year growth of 15 percent.
"Green" issues are assuming an increasingly central position in ÅF's
offer and the market for these services is growing rapidly. To meet
this demand, a manager will be appointed on 1 September to lead the
work of coordinating and developing this offer within our
Environmental Services.
Important events during Q2 and after the reporting date
The Øresundsbro Consortium signed a major consulting agreement with
ÅF relating to five of a total of six areas of technology and making
ÅF "principal supplier" of technical consulting services for the
Öresund Bridge between Malmö in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark.
Each year the consortium purchases technical consulting services
worth DKK 10 million (EUR 1.35 million). The contract with ÅF runs
for 2 years with an option to extend.
Via its Inspection Division (ÅF-Kontroll), ÅF has established a
subsidiary in Lithuania (UAB AF Inspection LT), primarily to provide
testing and inspection services for the nuclear power industry. The
new company is starting operations with a staff of 30 qualified
co-workers, all of whom have been transferred to ÅF as part of an
agreement with the state-owned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP).
Sales and earnings, Q2 2009
Net sales totalled SEK 1,199 million, a 2 percent increase on the
figure of SEK 1,174 million for the corresponding period in 2008.
Operating profit amounted to SEK 100 million (Q2 2008: SEK 135
million). The operating margin was 8.4 percent (11.5 percent). It is
worth noting, however, that the profit for Q2 2008 was affected by a
pension premium reduction from Alecta, which had a positive impact on
earnings of SEK 9.5 million.
Capacity utilisation was 72 percent (75 percent).
Profit after net financial items amounted to SEK 97 million (SEK 132
million).
The profit margin was 8.0 percent (11.3 percent).
Profit after tax totalled SEK 70 million (SEK 94 million).
Earnings per share, before dilution, were SEK 4.01 (SEK 5.53).
Sales and earnings, Q1-Q2 2009
Net sales totalled SEK 2,407 million, an 8 percent increase on the
first-half figure of SEK 2,238 million in 2008.
Operating profit amounted to SEK 206 million (Q1-Q2 2008: SEK 251
million).
The operating margin was 8.6 percent (11.2 percent). It is worth
noting, however, that the profit for the first six months of 2008 was
affected by a pension premium reduction from Alecta, which had a
positive impact on earnings of SEK 19 million.
Capacity utilisation was 71 percent (75 percent).
Profit after net financial items amounted to SEK 200 million (SEK 241
million).
The profit margin was 8.3 percent (10.8 percent).
Profit after tax totalled SEK 147 million (SEK 174 million).
Earnings per share, before dilution, were SEK 8.52 (SEK 10.22).
Acquisitions and disposals
ÅF sold its Norwegian subsidiary Brekke & Strand, with a staff of 25,
to Hjellnes Consult AS in Norway. ÅF also sold a shareholding in the
Albanian company ITP-Infra Trans Project Ltd. These disposals
resulted in a capital gain of SEK 7.5 million in the second quarter.
Investments
Gross investment in property, plant and equipment for the period
January to June totalled SEK 23 million (Q1-Q2 2008: SEK 26 million).
Cash flow and financial position
Operating cash flow for the second quarter was SEK 174 million (Q2
2008: SEK 114 million). Total cash flow for the period was negative
at SEK -8 million (SEK +42 million).
Cash flow for the second quarter was affected by the pay-out of a
shareholders' dividend totalling SEK 111 million (SEK 112 million).
The net of borrowing and amortisation of loans also had a negative
effect on cash flow of SEK 50 million (SEK +97 million). The change
in working capital was positive at SEK 103 million for the quarter
(SEK -5 million).
Cash flow for the period January-June overall was SEK -15 million
(SEK -4 million), Acquisitions completed and additional
considerations paid amounted to a total of SEK 32 million (SEK 57
million).
The Group's liquid assets totalled SEK 270 million (SEK 310 million)
at the end of the first half-year.
Equity per share was SEK 100.3 and the equity/assets ratio was 49.9
percent. At the beginning of 2009, equity per share was SEK 99.5 and
the equity/assets ratio was 47.1 percent.
The Group's net loan debt amounted to SEK 146 million (SEK 114
million) at the end of the first half-year.
Number of employees
The total number of employees at the end of the reporting period was
4,333 (Q2 2008: 4,063): 3,139 in Sweden and 1,194 outside Sweden.
Translated into full-time equivalents, this equated to 4,232
employees (3,816).
Divisional performance
Energy Division Sales Q2, SEK 302 million (SEK 237 m)
Operating margin Q2: 9.5% (13.3%)
Sales Q1-Q2, SEK 615 million (SEK 444 m)
Operating margin Q1-Q2: 8.7% (11.4%)
The Energy Division is a front-rank international energy consultant
and a world leader in nuclear power consulting.
In the wake of the general downturn in the economy the market for
energy consulting services contracted, albeit from a high level. A
reduction in the demand for electricity, falling energy prices and a
restrictive credit market combined to reduce the rate of investment.
The reported growth was primarily related to acquisitions and
positive currency effects. While the Energy Division's capacity
utilisation rate rose marginally during the second quarter the
operating margin rose comparing to the first quarter.
The fact that the markets in Finland and the Baltic countries
remained weak has led to some redundancies and to temporary lay-offs
for 18 co-workers.
The Russian consulting company, Lonas Technologia, which was acquired
in 2008, continued to perform according to plan, and the volume of
assignments in Lonas's order books increased following signs during
the second quarter of an improvement in the Russian market. In
Switzerland business continued to develop better than expected, and
the same also applies to the division's environmental consulting
operations in Sweden.
Engineering Division Sales Q2, SEK 343 million (SEK 392 m)
Operating margin Q2: 10.0% (11.5%)
Sales Q1-Q2, SEK 687 million (SEK 761 m)
Operating margin Q1-Q2: 10.3% (11.7%)
The Engineering Division is Northern Europe's leading technical
consultant for industry.
The Engineering Division continued to feel the effects of a faltering
industrial economy in the second quarter. The drop in demand was
particularly noticeable in the manufacturing industry, but this was
offset to some extent by the fact that demand remained strong from
the food, pharmaceutical, energy and nuclear power sectors.
Thanks to the swift and successful redeployment of resources, 40
percent of Engineering's sales currently derive from the energy and
nuclear power industries. Most of the energy projects relate to
biofuel production facilities, new biofuel-fired boilers for
municipal energy companies, the renovation and extension of power
plants, new wind farms, and modernisation and efficiency improvement
projects for the nuclear power industry.
To adapt operations to weaker demand from manufacturing industry a
few members of staff were laid off at a number of units, while sales
and marketing activities were intensified throughout the division.
Infrastructure Division Sales Q2, SEK 442 million (SEK 489 m)
Operating margin Q2: 7.5% (12.2%)
Sales Q1-Q2, SEK 939 million (SEK 940 m)
Operating margin Q1-Q2: 8.4% (12.3%)
The Infrastructure Division holds a leading position in consulting
services for infrastructure development in Scandinavia. It has
clients in industry, the public sector, the defence sector and the
property market.
The market for infrastructure consulting services has, with the
exception of services within the areas of Infrastructure Planning and
Energy Efficiency, contracted during the second quarter.
Measures were put in place to offset this lower level of activity;
sales efforts were intensified, consultants were redeployed within
the division to work in business areas where demand remains good,
some redundancies were made and a general review of costs was
undertaken.
Capital gains from the sale of companies had a positive effect of SEK
7.5 million on the division's second-quarter earnings, while the cost
of redundancies had a negative impact of SEK 4 million.
Infrastructure Planning operations continue to deliver strong
results, first and foremost on the back of large-scale, long-term
investments in Sweden's road and rail networks. ÅF is constantly
capturing new shares of the market for infrastructure planning
services and organic growth remains good.
Inspection Division Sales Q2, SEK 108 million (SEK 96 m)
Operating margin Q2: 8.4% (15.4%)
Sales Q1-Q2, SEK 202 million (SEK 165 m)
Operating margin Q1-Q2: 7.9% (12.2%)
The Inspection Division works with technical inspections, chiefly in
the form of periodic inspections, testing and certification. The
engineering and nuclear power industries are among the division's
major clients.
Demand remained satisfactory in the second quarter, particularly for
services related to testing, and was strongest from the nuclear power
industry.
The fact that the capacity utilisation rate for the division's
Swedish operations was lower than during the corresponding period
last year was chiefly due to a reduction in maintenance activities
among industrial clients in Sweden.
The costs incurred in closing down unprofitable businesses and in
building up a bank of specialist skills to meet the demands of the
nuclear power industry in Sweden and Lithuania also had a negative
impact on earnings. It is anticipated that the results of the
investments that have been made will begin to make themselves felt
from the third quarter onwards.
Operations in the Czech Republic continued to deliver results that
exceeded expectations.
Parent company
Parent company sales - primarily for various intra-group services -
totalled SEK 144 million for the period January-June (Jan-Jun 2008:
SEK 127 million). The parent company reported a loss of SEK 13
million (SEK -17 million) after net financial items.
Cash and cash equivalents totalled SEK 2 million (SEK 1 million), and
gross investment in machinery and equipment for the period January to
June amounted to SEK 4 million (SEK 7 million).
Accounting principles
This interim report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34
("Interim Financial Reporting"). The report has been drawn up in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS),
as well as with statements on interpretation from the International
Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) as approved by
the European Commission for use in the EU, and with the relevant
references to Chapter 9 of the Swedish Annual Accounts Act. The
report has been drawn up using the same accounting principles and
methods of calculation as those in the Annual Report for 2008 (see
Note 1, page 83). The parent company has implemented the Swedish
Financial Reporting Board's Recommendation RFR 2.1 ("Accounting for
Legal Entities"), which means that the parent company in the legal
entity shall apply all the IFRS and related statements approved by
the EU as far as this is possible while continuing to apply the
Swedish Annual Accounts Act in the preparation of the legal entity's
accounts.
Risks and uncertainty factors
The significant risks and uncertainty factors to which the ÅF Group
is exposed include business risks linked to the general economic
situation and the propensity of various markets to invest, the
ability to recruit and retain qualified co-workers, and the effect of
political decisions. In addition, the Group is exposed to a number of
financial risks, including currency risks, interest-rate risks and
credit risks. The risks to which the Group is exposed are described
in detail on pages 56-60 of ÅF's Annual Report for 2008. No
significant risks are considered to have arisen since the publication
of the annual report.
ÅF shares
The ÅF share price at the end of the reporting period was SEK 142.75,
which represents a rise in value of 20 percent since the beginning of
the year. During the same period the Stockholm Stock Exchange
all-share index (OMXSPI index) also rose by 20 percent.
During the first quarter of 2009 a total of 45,000 ÅF shares were
acquired by the company. The purpose of these buy-backs was to
safeguard the company's obligations with regard to the 2008
performance-related share programme.
Next financial report
ÅF's interim report for the period January to September 2009 will be
published on 21 October.
The Board of Directors and the President/CEO confirm that this
interim report gives a true and fair view of the operation,
performance and position of the company and the Group, and describes
the significant risks and uncertainty factors to which the company
and the companies comprising the Group are exposed.
Stockholm, Sweden - 17 July 2009
ÅF AB (publ)
The full report including tables can be downloaded from the following
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