STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 23, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Trelleborg:
Profit after financial items (excluding non-comparable items), second quarter on same level as 2001 SEK 280 M (280). Total for the six-month period SEK 453 M (540). See page 2
Earnings per share (excluding non-comparable items) increased during the second quarter to SEK 2.20 (1.95). Total during the six-month period SEK 3.65 (3.80). See page 2
Continued strong operating cash flow: SEK 358 M (172). See page 2
Final agreement covering sale of Metech. See page 6
Group
Net sales and earnings.
Improvements during the second quarter after a weak start to the year.
The Group's net sales for the period amounted to SEK 9,330 M (9,617). Net sales of comparable units, with comparable exchange rates, declined by approximately 5 percent. Net sales during the second quarter amounted to SEK 4,787 M (4,899). The decline in net sales for comparable units with comparable exchange rates was slightly less than 3 percent.
Sales in both Europe and America were lower than in the year-earlier period. However, the decrease in North America was mainly attributable to the Wheel Systems and Engineered Systems Business Areas.
Operating profit, excluding non-comparable items, amounted to SEK 515 M (619). Non-comparable items reduced operating profit during the period by SEK 43 M (increase: SEK 20 M), and were attributable to the divestments of Metech and White Goods.
The Group's net financial expense amounted to SEK 62 M (Neg.79). Boliden shares affected non-comparable items negatively in the amount of SEK 38 M (Neg. 121).
Group profit after financial items amounted to SEK 372 M (439), and to SEK 453 M (540) excluding non-comparable items. For the second quarter, Group profit after financial items, excluding non-comparable items, amounted to SEK 280 M (280).
Balance sheet, cash flow and investments. Continued strong operating cash flow, SEK 358 M (172).
Capital employed by the Group amounted to SEK 10,052 M (11,098) as of June 30, 2002. Net financial debt amounted to SEK 3,261 M (debt: 2,975). Liquid funds include Boliden shares with a book value of SEK 187 M. The book value of the Group's holding of Trenor Holding shares is SEK 210 M.
The debt/equity ratio at the close of the period was 43.4 percent (35.3). The equity/assets ratio was 45.5 percent (44.7). Shareholders' equity per share at the close of the period (based on approximately 87 million shares outstanding) amounted to SEK 85.30 (85.80). The return on shareholders' equity was 6.7 percent (7.1).
The Group's operating cash flow amounted to SEK 358 M (172) and investments totaled SEK 352 M (279). Contributing to the strong cash flow are results of efforts to increase efficiency of capital employed.
The average number of employees during the period amounted to 15,317 (16,672).
Earnings per share, excluding non-comparable items, increased to SEK 2.20 (1.95) during second quarter.
Earnings per share for the period amounted to SEK 2.95 (3.05), and to SEK 3.65 (3.80) excluding non-comparable items. During the second quarter, earnings per share were SEK 1.50 (1.95) and SEK 2.20 (1.95) excluding non-comparable items. (See table on page 8).
Business Area reports
Trelleborg Automotive.
Stronger car production than exepcted in the US, weaker in Europe.
Net sales of the Business Area amounted to SEK 4,911 M (5,117). Operating profit was SEK 322 M (381). The Business Area's operating cash flow for the period was SEK 92 M (215).
The decrease in the Business Area's sales was attributable primarily to the automotive market in Europe and the low level of demand within the Industrial AVS business unit.
The European car market was affected negatively by the general economic situation. Notably, there is a continued low level of demand in the German, Spanish and Italian markets. Car sales in the first six months of the year declined by approximately 5 percent, while car production fell by about 4 percent.
The North American automotive market performed better than expected during the first six months. Due to low inventories at the beginning of 2002 and higher sales than expected, light vehicle production increased by about 4 percent compared with the year-earlier period.
Production of cars increased in both China and India during the period.
In order to make the production structure more efficient and to free up capital, Trelleborg Stanton closed it's Bow facility and transferred production of polyurethane impact protection products to a sister plant in the UK.
The construction of a modern and more efficient production facility for industrial AVS products in Leicester, in the UK, is now largely complete. The transfer and installation of machines and presses is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2002.
A new mixing plant was installed in India to further increase product quality and service to customers.
Integration efforts within the European AVS organization continue, including further reductions in personnel as a result.
The Business Area's new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)-system was installed in Germany during the period. There are implementation plans for the Business Area's other European plants. The joint ERP system will facilitate continued integration and support the Business Area's organizational structure.
A global APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning)-program was introduced throughout the Business Area. This is being conducted in parallel with today's CIP3 (Continuous Improvement)-program to ensure a uniform approach to quality and processes on a global level.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems. Main part of measures within the restructuring program begun in fourth quarter 2001 completed.
Net sales amounted to SEK 1,592 M (1,680). Operating profit for the period was SEK 63 M (103). Operating profit for the second quarter was SEK 39 M (43). Despite weak markets, the rate of turnover of working capital increased by 2 percentage points, the effects of which included a strong operating cash flow of SEK 64 M (3).
Demand among OEM-suppliers of farm equipment increased by 2 percent, with after-market sales at the same level as the year-earlier period.
The Business Area's broader range of products, including both Pirelli and Trelleborg tires, created success in the agricultural market. The merger of the marketing and sales organizations, which is now complete, contributed to this and is expected to generate further synergies in the future.
The market for industrial tires in North America stabilized during the period and showed a low level of growth at the end of the period. The trend in Europe is following a similar pattern, but stabilization was on a relatively higher level than in North America.
The restructuring program that was begun during the fourth quarter of 2001 is designed to adapt Trelleborg's production capacity for tires and mixing, as well as the termination of production of industrial tires at the Evergem plant in Belgium. The production of light tires in Trelleborg and industrial tires in Evergem is being transferred to low- cost production facilities in Sri Lanka. These measures are largely complete and the new production structure is being brought into shape. It was possible to implement the restructuring program without disruption. The program is expected to generate an effect of approximately SEK 20 M during the second half of 2002 and a further SEK 50 M in 2003.
Trelleborg Engineered Systems.
Improved product mix and higher efficiency generate increased profit.
Net sales during the first six months of the year amounted to SEK 1,686 M (1,682). Operating profit increased to SEK 96 M (89). The Business Area's capital management was successful and contributed to strong operating cash flow of SEK 129 M (31).
The improvement in profit was attributable primarily to cost reductions and a better product portfolio.
Market conditions, particularly for industrial supplies, remained largely unchanged from the first quarter. The weak demand trend that prevailed in the North American market now seems to have reached its lowest point, while demand in Europe remained weak during the period. There was continued favorable demand within the infrastructure and offshore markets.
The sealing systems operations recently acquired from Vredestein were integrated during the period within the business area's Dutch unit, Trelleborg Bakker.
During the second quarter, the orders secured by the Business Area included an attractive infrastructure assignment for a rail construction project in Hong Kong. The product is a system to be laid under the rail track, which is designed to suppress noise. The order is valued at about SEK 14 M.
In addition, the Business Area began production of hoses for a major oil project off the coast of West Africa (the Amenam Nigeria Project), with a total value of approximately SEK 40 M. Delivery of this order will be completed during the third quarter of 2002.
The divestment of the molded-goods business in Trelleborg Industries U.K. Ltd in Skelton, U.K. (White Goods), was completed during the first quarter. The operation had 60 employees and annual sales of approximately GBP 3.1 M.
Trelleborg Building Systems.
Synergies from acquistion of Phoenix Tag resulted in increased profit.
Net sales increased to SEK 891 M (816) and operating profit to SEK 58 M (57). Operating profit for the second quarter rose to SEK 45 M (35). Efficiency measures related to capital employed in the Business Area had a positive effect on the operating cash flow, which climbed to SEK 83 M (6).
The increased sales were attributable primarily to the acquisition of the Danish Phoenix Tag company. The integration process is proceeding according to plan, which is now apparent in both sales and profit figures. Phoenix Tag is expected to achieve full-year results that are in line with the Group's financial goals.
Demand for building profiles in Germany remains weak, but the effects are offset by the business area's customers increasing their deliveries outside Germany. The Nordic market was cautious, but there was a distinct improvement in demand during the latter part of the period.
The business area's successful launch of noise-insulation consumer profiles in the U.S. resulted in a decision to introduce these to about 1,000 of WalMart's stores during the autumn.
During the second quarter, the Business Area entered a cooperation agreement on marketing and sales with JPS Elastomerics of the U.S., a division of the Nasdaq-listed JPS Industries, Inc. The primary effect of the agreement is that Trelleborg will gain an initial complement of approximately SEK 25 M to the business area's offering in the European market, since Trelleborg will have access to JPS Elastomerics TPO products for both roof and ground coverage. At the same time, the agreement involves an intensification of marketing and sales activities for some of Building Systems' products in the U.S. market through JPS Elastomerics' organization.
Other operations
Trenor (49%).
Trelleborg's participation (49 percent) in pre-tax earnings of the Trenor Group - the former Trelleborg Distribution sector - amounted to SEK 52 M (61). Participation in the pre-tax earnings for the second quarter totaled SEK 38 M (33).
Metech.
During the period a final agreement was reached covering the sale of the operations in Metech International Inc., the American metal-recycling company. The buyer - through its American subsidiary - is Viking, an investment company listed in South Africa. The takeover is expected to be implemented during the third quarter. The sale of the Metech operations resulted in a loss of SEK 30 M, which was charged to the earnings of the Trelleborg Group during the second quarter and will have a positive cash flow effect of approximately SEK 120 M during the third quarter.
Boliden.
The Group sold 1.9 million Boliden AB shares during the period. Trelleborg's holding now amounts to 5.2 million shares (approximately 6 percent).
Valuation of the shareholding in Boliden, at end of period stock exchange closing share-price, had a negative effect on earnings of SEK 38 M (Neg: 121) during the period.
Strengthened long term financing.
During the second quarter, the Trelleborg Group strengthened its long- term financing by raising a new syndicated loan of USD 600 M (approximately SEK 5.9 billion), with a duration of five years. The financing was oversubscribed and the loan was increased from the original amount of USD 500 M to USD 600 M.
Reclassification of Series A-shares.
The principal owner, Dunker Funds and Foundations, reclassified 2.5 million of its 12 million Series A shares to Series B shares. In accordance with what was stated when the buy-back program was started, this measure will restore Dunker Funds and Foundations' voting rights to the level prevailing prior to the commencement of the buy-back program. Following the reclassification, the remaining Series A shares will correspond to 53.9 percent of the voting rights of the current 90.6 million shares and 52.4 percent after full dilution (after convertible debentures and warrants).
Parent company
The profit after financial income and expenses in Trelleborg AB, the parent company of the Trelleborg Group, amounted to SEK 99 M (99). No sales occurred. Investments amounted to SEK 1 M (0) and the average number of employees was 64 (59).
Outlook
The American automotive industry has recovered more quickly than expected and light vehicle production in North America increased by 4 percent during the first six months, compared with the year-earlier period. Revised full-year estimates now show production increases in North America of 2-4 percent, compared with the previous assessment of unchanged production. It is expected that European light vehicle production will decline and the full-year reduction is now estimated at about 4-5 percent compared with 2001. The previous assessment was 2-4 percent.
Conditions in most of the market segments for the other Business Areas have leveled off and there are also indications of certain improvements during the end of the second quarter. The assessment remains that there will be a gradual improvement in market conditions during the second half of the year.
The work of integrating acquisitions in the Automotive Business Area, including further reductions in personnel, is proceeding according to plan. The restructuring program that was approved for the Wheel Systems Business Area has now been largely implemented and the Business Area is expected to increase its profits during the second half of the year compared with the same period in 2001.
To cope with a weak market development, the Group has continued to focus on improvements in efficiency, on cash flow and on lower costs. Implemented and planned rationalization and cost-efficiency measures mean that the earlier assessment of a reduction in the number of employees by approximately 1,000 during the year remains.
Trelleborg, July 23, 2002
Fredrik Arp President and CEO
This interim report has been prepared in accordance with the Swedish Financial Accounting Standards Councils's recommendation. The same accounting principles have been used as in our latest annual report. This Interim Report has not been audited by the Company's auditors.
This Report and other Information about the Trelleborg Group, including the magazine T-TIME, are also available on the Internet at the following address: www.trelleborg.com.
The interim report for the first nine months of 2002 will be published on November 5, 2002. The Year-end-report for 2002 will be published on February 5, 2003.
For further information, contact Trelleborg AB's Chief Financial Officer Jan Bjorck, telephone: +46 410 670 28 (mobile telephone: +46 708 46 02 07), or Senior Vice President Corporate Communications Mikael Bystrom, telephone: +46 410 670 37 (mobile telephone: +46 708 55 21 69).
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