R. STAHL AG / R. STAHL reports successful financial year 2012: Revenues grow by 20% and earnings before taxes by 62% . Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Explosion protection expert benefits from international expansion and optimisation measures
Waldenburg, 10 April 2013 - R. STAHL today publishes its full and audited results for financial year 2012 and confirms previously published financial highlights:
- Revenues, compared to last year, increased by 19.7% to € 290.9 million (€ 242.9 million).
- Earnings before Taxes (EBT) increased by 61,8% to € 21.1 million (€ 13.1 million). The EBT margin improved from 5.4% to 7.3%.
- Net Profits increased by 59.6% to € 14.3 million (€ 8.9 million). Earnings per share improved to € 2.43 (€ 1.51).
- Board and Management propose an increase in dividends from € 0.70 to € 1.00 per share.
- For 2013, Management anticipates further growth of both revenues and earnings.
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R. STAHL AG's Management is very pleased with the achieved results. "Our consistent expansion strategy has yielded results to the extent that our expectations were clearly surpassed," commented CEO Martin Schomaker.
R. STAHL benefited from the growth initiatives it had engaged upon in the previous years. While the business in Germany, due to an already high level of activity, generated only marginal growth, especially the overseas activities generated significant growth. The Americas showed the strongest performance with a revenue increase of 38.8%. The contribution of non-German business to revenues increased from 75.4% to 79.1%.Â
Even though the global economy saw only moderate growth for 2012, demand from the Company's target sectors developed strongly: production for the chemical industry ran at full capacity, resulting in numerous maintenance and expansion investments. Activities of the pharmaceutical industry remained stable. Investments by the oil & gas industry in new exploration projects resulted in a lively demand for components and system solutions in the area of explosion protection. Activity in plant construction was high, both due to new initiatives and the realisation of planned projects. Even the ship building segment that is relevant for R. STAHL showed an upwards trend (special ships for offshore industry such as LNG tankers, supply ships).
The development of the business is attributable to the continued strong demand from the Company's target sectors and the expansion of the customer-oriented system solutions offering, as well as to the acquisitions made in the previous years. Optimisation of structures in the Asian and American subsidiaries yielded significant results.
Earnings show disproportionate growth
The successful conclusion of the Company's restructuring of its foreign subsidiaries contributed to improved profitability; integration costs for 2012 fell substantially. An additional important factor contributing to earnings growth was the improved productivity of the Company's main plant in Waldenburg. The result was a clear and disproportionate growth of all profitability metrics across the board.
"Our optimisation efforts have yielded more results than improved earnings alone," stated CFO Bernd Marx. "Process improvements in our supply chain have resulted in lower lead-times, increased the speed of delivery and therefore allow for a quicker realisation of backlog. The added result is an increase in customer satisfaction. To offer the best customer service is one of our strategic objectives, as we see this as an important leverage for future growth." As a consequence, further process improvements in production and sales throughout the entire organisation continue to rank number one on the list of priorities for the current financial year.
Increased dividend to € 1.00 per share
In order to let shareholders participate in the growth of the business, the Executive and Supervisory Board have decided to propose an increase in dividend from € 0.70 to € 1.00 per eligible share at the upcoming Annual General Meeting, to be held on 17 May 2013 in Neuenstein. With a payout ratio of 42% of the distribution eligible portion of net profits, the Company continues its shareholder-friendly dividend policy, while at the same time maintaining ample capacity to fund its intended growth.
Outlook - Continued strong growth expected for 2013
R. STAHL targets qualitative growth for the coming years: for instance, customer service is to become the industry benchmark. In order to achieve this, R. STAHL offers technical support and consulting on a global basis, innovative products which exactly meet customer demands with regards to cost/benefits, flexibility in the implementation of customer specific requirements, as well as an excellent delivery track record on all continents. "We are convinced that our customers, who are faced with increasingly strict demands, will therefore come to regard and work with us more like a partner, rather than just a supplier. On the other hand, we will continue to focus on the reduction of processing and production costs, in order to further strengthen our ability to increase earnings," stated Martin Schomaker.
Despite continued strain on the outlook of the general economic environment, the Executive Board anticipates continued growth for the current financial year. Revenues for the first quarter of 2013 showed substantial growth, with even the German activities recording a good performance. The Company saw an especially strong positive development in order intake, which, at over € 80 million, represents a new quarterly record in the history of the Company. This indicates an accelerating development of business for the second half of the current year. "Based on the present situation, we anticipate revenue growth in the high single digit range," stated Bernd Marx. "With regards to earnings, we anticipate growth in proportion to our revenue growth, and from 2014 on a further strengthening of our productivity." In the medium term, the Company sees certain key drivers for future growth, such as the opening up of important regional markets in the Americas, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, for the European ATEX/IEC standard. This should, in the future, lead to a significantly larger addressable market for R. STAHL.
R. STAHL Key Financials
| in € millions | 2012 | 2011 | Change |
| Revenues | 290.9 | 242.9 | +19.7% |
| Germany | 60.9 | 59.7 | + 2.1% |
| Europe excluding Germany | 132.1 | 112.3 | + 17.6% |
| Americas | 45.5 | 32.8 | + 38.8% |
| Asia Pacific | 52.4 | 38.1 | + 37.3% |
| Order intake | 297.1 | 259.4 | + 14.5% |
| Order intake | 70.7 | 65.6 | + 7.8% |
| EBIT | 24.9 | 16.8 | + 48.1% |
| EBIT-margin (%) | 8.6% | 6.9% | n.a. |
| EBT (Earnings before tax) | 21.1 | 13.1 | + 61.8% |
| Net Earnings | 14.3 | 8.9 | + 59.6% |
| Earnings per share (€) | 2.43 | 1.51 | + 60.9% |
| Cashflow from operations | 20.9 | 11.0 | + 90.0% |
| Cash and equivalents | 17.6 | 15.2 | + 15.7% |
| Equity ratio (%) | 44.3% | 44.7% | n.a. |
| Dividend per share (€) | 1.00* | 0.70 | + 42.9% |
| Employees as of 31/12/2012 (excl. apprentices) | 1,658 | 1,544 | +7.4% |
* Dividend proposal for AGM to be held on 17 May 2013.
Full financials for financial year 2012 can be downloaded from the Company's website.
About R. STAHL - www.stahl.de
R. STAHL is one of the world's leading suppliers of electrical and electronic products and systems for explosion protection. These products and systems prevent explosions in risk areas, and contribute to the safety of people, machines and the environment. The portfolio ranges from products used in switching/ distributing, installing, operating/monitoring, lighting and signalling/alarming, up to automation. Typical customers operate in growth industries, such as the oil & gas industry, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and the food industry. In 2012, global revenues of € 290 million were generated with over 1,700 employees.
R. STAHL AG is a public company and is traded on the Regulated Market/Prime Standard of Deutsche Boerse (ISIN DE000A1PHBB5).
For more information:
R. STAHL AG
Am Bahnhof 30, 74638 Waldenburg (Württ.)
Bernd Marx (CFO)
Fon: +49 7942 943-1271, e-mail: investornews@stahl.de
Frank Schwarz (Investor Relations)
Fon: +49 611 1745-39 811, e-mail: frank.schwarz@stahl.de
The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: R. STAHL AG via Thomson Reuters ONE
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R. STAHL AG
Am Bahnhof 30 Waldenburg Germany
WKN: A1PHBB;ISIN: DE000A1PHBB5;
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