Revenues up by 13.2% to € 431.6 million
EBIT: +21.4% to € 25.7 million
Net income higher at € 13.2 million (€ 10.7 million in first quarter 2022)
Free Cash Flow positive for € 39.6 million (€ 43.7 million in first quarter 2022)
Debt before IFRS 16 lower at € 186.9 million (€ 213.4 million at end of March 2022)
Milan, 21 April 2023 – The Board of Directors of Sogefi S.p.A., which met today under the chairmanship of Monica Mondardini, has approved the interim report on operations of the group as of 31 March 2023, presented by Chief Executive Officer Frédéric Sipahi.
Sogefi, a company of the CIR Group, is one
of the main producers at global level of automotive components in the Air and Cooling,
Filtration and Suspensions sectors.
PERFORMANCE OF THE MARKET
In the first quarter of 2023 world vehicle production reported growth of 5.7% compared to the equivalent period of 2022, with progress made in all geographical areas except China, which reported a decline of 7.9%. Growth was particularly buoyant in Europe, +25.6%, and was also significant in NAFTA (+9.8%), Mercosur (+14.2%) and India (+9.4%).
In 2023, S&P Global (IHS), a source commonly used in the sector, forecasts that world production could rise by 3.8% compared to 2022, with growth in all the main geographical areas.
SUMMARY OF SOGEFI’S PERFORMANCE IN FIRST QUARTER 2023
The Group’s consolidated revenues posted double-digit growth on the first quarter of 2022, +13.2%, underpinned by the increase in production volumes (+7.3%) and by the higher selling prices (+5.4%).
Results were positive and showed an improvement:
- EBITDA rose by 7.4% compared to first quarter 2022, to € 53.7 million, thanks to the growth in volumes and the contribution margin holding up well despite the higher energy costs;
- EBIT was up by 21.4% at € 25.7 million and the EBIT margin rose to 6% of revenues versus 5.6% in first quarter 2022;
- The business generated free cash flow of € 39.6 million (€ 43.7 million in first quarter 2022);
- Net debt (before IFRS 16) decreased to € 186.9 million at 31 March 2023, versus € 224.3 million at 31 December 2022.
Commercial activity was positive, with new contracts concluded even for E-mobility platforms (31% of the value of new contracts in first quarter 2023);
- The Filtration division obtained contracts in Europe for the supply of brake circuit filters for trucks and in India for the supply of air filters;
- The Suspensions division signed a contract in India for stabilizer bars with an innovative player who is aspiring to become one of the main producers in the market for electric cars in India, and various contracts in Europe and South America for stabilizer bars and leaf springs;
- The Air and Cooling division signed contracts, in China with customers in the E-mobilitysector, in North America for the supply of thermal management and air ducts, and in Europe for inlet manifolds. 66% of the value of the new contracts obtained in 2023 by the Air and Cooling division are for E-mobility platforms.
Investments in innovations were significant:
- The use of HoloLens Metaverse viewers for augmented reality, which make it possible to visit production sites virtually, supporting workplace safety remotely and giving instructions in real time: the aim is to equip all the group’s production sites with this innovative technology by the end of 2023;
- The ACMA, the association representing Indian car component producers, has given the Suspensions division three awards for its excellence in digitization, designing and developing new products and localization, and has certified it as a sustainable business.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS IN FIRST QUARTER 2023
The revenues for first quarter 2023 came in at € 431.6 million, up by 13.2% compared to the same period of 2022 (+13.1% at constant exchange rates).
Volumes sold rose by 7.3% compared to those of the same period of 2022 and selling prices increased on average by 5.4%, the increase being distributed between the different product lines partly as a function of the evolution of the costs of raw materials and the parts used.
Revenues posted double-digit growth in all geographical areas, with the sole exception of China: +11.9% in Europa, +21.5% in North America (+19.2% at constant exchange rates), +17.6% in South America (+8.8% at constant exchange rates net of inflation in Argentina) and +15.9% in India (+21.3% at constant exchange rates); in China revenues declined by 3% but were stable at constant exchange rates.
Sogefi’s revenue performance was significantly better than that of the market in NAFTA, India and China.
Suspensions reported a rise in revenues of 18.4% (+17.4% at constant exchange rate), with significant growth rates in all the geographical areas in which it operates, with the exception of China on account of the performance of the local market.
Filtration revenues were up by 10.6% (+11.1% at constant exchange rates), thanks to the good performance of business activity in North America and India and of the Aftermarket channel in Europe.
Air and Cooling reported a 10.7% rise in revenues (both at current and constant exchange rates), with particularly significant increases in NAFTA.
EBITDA, totalling € 53.7 million, was up by 7.4% compared to € 50.0 million in first quarter 2022.
The contribution margin increased by 11.3% compared to first quarter 2022, thanks to the higher sales volumes, and the ratio of contribution margin to revenues remained substantially stable at 27.5% (28% in the same period of 2022), absorbing the extra costs generated by energy prices and inflation in general.
The impact of fixed costs on revenues edged down to 14.3%, from 14.6% in first quarter 2022.
Other charges, which refer mainly to exchange rate differences, made a negative contribution to EBITDA of € 2.7 million versus a positive contribution of € 0.9 million in first quarter 2022.
EBIT came in at € 25.7 million, up by 21.4% from € 21.2 million in first quarter 2022. The impact on revenues rose from 5.6% in first quarter 2022 to 6% in first quarter 2023.
Financial expenses, amounting to € 5.7 million, were higher than those of the first quarter of 2022 (€ 4.5 million) because of the higher interest rates on the variable part of the loans.
Tax expense was substantially unchanged at € 6.0 million (€ 5.9 million in the same period of 2022).
The group reported net income of € 13.2 million (€ 10.7 million in the first quarter of 2022).
Free Cash Flow was a positive € 39.6 million (€ 43.7 million in first quarter 2022), also taking into account recourse to factoring.
At 31 March 2023 shareholders’ equity, excluding minority interests, stood at € 240.5 million, up from € 230.7 million at 31 December 2022.
Net financial debt before IFRS 16 totalled € 186.9 million at 31 March 2023, down from € 224.3 million at 31 December 2022 and € 213.4 million at 31 March 2022. Including financial payables for rights of use, in accordance with IFRS 16, net debt at 31 March 2023 stood at € 255.9 million, down from € 294.9 million at 31 December 2022 and € 281.8 million at 31 March 2022.
At 31 March 2023 the Group had committed credit lines in excess of its needs for € 313.0 million.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE 31 MARCH 2023
Since the close of the period, there have been no significant events that could have an impact on the economic, patrimonial or financial information contained in this press release.
OUTLOOK FOR THE YEAR
Visibility as to the performance of the automotive market in 2023 is still limited because of the uncertainties linked to the macroeconomic evolution, the volatility of commodity prices (although less pronounced than in 2022), particularly energy, and to the trend of inflation and interest rates.
For 2023, S&P Global (IHS) is forecasting that world car production will grow by 3.8% on 2022, with Europe posting +8.2%, NAFTA +5.2% and South America +3.6%.
As for raw materials and energy, in the early months of 2023 prices have been trending downwards but they remain very high and very volatile.
Provided there is no serious deterioration in the geopolitical and macroeconomic scenario from today’s levels, in 2023 the Sogefi Group expects to see mid single-digit revenue growth and profitability, excluding non-recurring expense, at least in line with that of 2022.
