2014-04-23 08:00:03 CEST

2014-04-23 08:00:08 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

English Finnish
Efore - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

EFORE GROUP INTERIM REPORT JANUARY 1, 2014 – MARCH 31, 2014


Espoo, Finland, 2014-04-23 08:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EFORE PLC  Interim
Report April 23, 2014  9 a.m. 



As a result of changing Efore's financial year, FY 2013 figures in brackets
have been changed to match with the periods of the financial year 2014.
Furthermore, when comparing the figures it should be noticed that the last year
acquired Roal has been consolidated into Efore Group from the beginning of July
2013. FY 2013 Income Statements figures are shown at the end of this release in
a separate table. 

January - March 2014 in brief:
- Net sales totaled EUR 19.2 million (EUR 15.3 million)
- Results from operating activities amounted to EUR -0.6 million (EUR -1.5
million) 
- Results from operating activities without one-time items were EUR -0.6
million (EUR -1.2 million) 
- Result before taxes was EUR -0.9 million (EUR -1.7 million)
- Result for the period was EUR -0.9  million (EUR -1.7 million)
- Earnings per share were EUR -0.02 (EUR -0.04)

FY 2013 key figures (figures have been changed to match with the periods of the
financial year 2014) 



                                          Q1/201  Q2/201  Q3/201  Q4/201  Q1/201
                                               3       3       3       3       4
EUR million                                                                     
Net sales                                   15,3    13,8    22,0    23,3    19,2
Results from operating activities           -1,2    -1,4    -0,6     0,2    -0,6
 without one-time items                                                         


Financial estimate for the financial year 2014

The Company estimates its net sales of financial year 2014 to be EUR 85-95
million and results from operating activities without one-time items to be EUR
1.5-3.5 million. 

Outlook

As a result of the acquisition the group has expanded into new markets which
creates new opportunities for the growth. LTE (4G) technology is in a key role
in network expansions and Efore has a strong position in this development.
Several large network roll-outs have been published after two slow years
creating base for demand growth. Power supplies for LED lighting,
instrumentation, medical and infrastructure offer several growth areas for
Efore in industrial sector. 

During the last 18 months the group has started several new product development
projects and especially telecom product portfolio is renewing significantly
this year. New products make Efore's product portfolio wider, which is expected
to be visible as sales growth and as a decrease in demand fluctuations. 

Getting new products into volume deliveries as forecasted is essential for the
growth and profitability improvement of the company. 

In the near future, Efore is focusing on introducing new products into volume
production and on necessary profitability improvement actions. Due to the
renewal of product portfolio and streamlining actions financial year 2014
improves towards the end. 

Vesa Vähämöttönen, Efore's President and CEO:

“Efore's first quarter net sales were low but according to forecasts. Sales
margins of the products were on earlier level but decreased volumes reflected
the company's profitability while the relative share of the fixed costs, such
as investment in product development, increased. However, the results of the
cost reduction actions started last year can be seen as a reduction of the cost
base. Due to the renewal of product portfolio financial year 2014 improves
towards the end. 

Efore is in the transformation phase. Due to last year made acquisition the
company is serving new markets and has more businesses to stand on. Efore
continues the transformation work according to its strategy targeting to be a
leading power products company in its selected segments in telecommunications
and industrial markets. Cost base reduction work continues and year 2014 is
expected to be the turn into positive in financial performance. Efore is
progressing first towards its target to reach 6% EBIT at latest at the end of
2015 and further to reach its long term target of 10 % EBIT level via
profitable growth. The target announced together with the acquisition to reach
EUR 1,5 million synergy benefits in material purchases by the next July will be
met. 

Efore's position with its main telecom customers has remained strong.
Reason for the telecom sector sales decline is a result of faster than
forecasted demand decrease of current volume products. Behind this trend which
started already last year is customers' sales concentration for the products
which don't have Efore's power produts. During the last 18 months the company
has started several new product development projects and especially telecom
product portfolio is renewing significantly this year. New products make
Efore's product portfolio wider, which is expected to be visible as sales
growth and as a decrease in demand fluctuations. 


In industrial sector Efore focuses on developing power products for LED,
instrumentation, infrastructure and medical markets. Especially power supply
units for LED lighting offer growth opportunities due to fast growth and
development of this market. Efore continues to invest in regional sales
organizations especially in North America and Europe targeting to find new
customers. Several new products like, upgraded series of
electromagnetic-pulse-proof cabinets and new, higher power Intelligent LED
driver series, have been launched for industrial sector.” 

First quarter net sales and financial development

First quarter net sales totaled EUR 19.2 million (EUR 15.3 million) and results
from operating activities amounted to EUR -0.6 million (EUR -1.5 million). 

Efore first quarter net sales were low but according to forecasts. Sales
margins of the products maintained but decrease in volume reflected in the
company's profitability while the relative share of the fixed costs, such as
investment in product development, increased. However, the results of the cost
reduction actions started last year can be seen. Due to the renewal of product
portfolio financial year 2014 improves towards the end. 

Investment in product and technology development during the period under review
was EUR 1.8 million (EUR 1.8 million) representing 9.5 % (11.8 %) of net sales. 

Investments

Group investments in fixed assets during the period under review amounted to
EUR 0.9 million (EUR 0.7 million) of which capitalization of product
development costs were EUR 0.8 million. 

At the end the period under review capitalized product development costs
amounted to EUR 4.8 million (EUR 0.6 million). 

Financial position

Interest-bearing liabilities exceeded the consolidated interest-bearing cash
reserves by EUR 2.8 million (EUR 3.3 million on Dec. 31, 2013) at the end of
the period under review. The consolidated net financial expenses were EUR 0.3
million (EUR 0.2 million). The cash flow from business operations was EUR 1.6
million (EUR -0.4 million). The cash flow after investments was EUR 0.6 million
(EUR -0.6 million). 

The Group's solvency ratio was 40.1 % (41.5 %) and the gearing was 12.6 % (-1.1
%). 

Liquid assets excluding undrawn credit facilities totaled EUR 8.4 million (EUR
9.8 million on Dec. 31, 2013) at the end of the period under review.  The
balance sheet total was EUR 56.0 million (EUR 58.5 million on Dec. 31, 2013). 

Personnel

The number of the Group's own personnel including temporary personnel averaged
885 (803) during the period under review and at the period under review it was
910 (797). 

Share, shares and share holders

At the end of the period under review the number of the Group's own shares was
1.143.753. In addition to this Efore Management Oy, a company belonging to
Efore group owned 2.358.242 pcs of Efore shares. 

The highest share price during the period under review was EUR 0.72 and the
lowest price was EUR 0.62. The average price during the period under review was
EUR 0.69 and the closing price was EUR 0.69. The market capitalization
calculated at the final trading price during the period under review was EUR
36.1 million. 

The total number of Efore shares traded on the Nasdaq OMX Helsinki during the
period under review was 1.6 million pcs and their turnover value was EUR 1.1
million. This accounted for 2.85 % of the total number of shares 55,772,891
pcs. The number of shareholders totaled 3057 (3110) at the end of the period
under review. 

Decisions of the Annual General Meeting

A separate stock exchange bulletin has been issued on resolutions of the Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders and and AGM's authorizations granted for the
Board of Directors as well as resolutions related to the Board of Directors'
organizing on April 11, 2014. 

Accounting policies

The report has been drawn up in accordance with IAS 34 Standard on Interim
Financial Reporting and the Group's accounting principles presented in the 2013
annual report. In addition, Efore Plc has adopted new and or amended
IFRS-standards that have been presented in the previous Financial Statements.
These changes have no any major effect on the report. The information in this
release is unaudited. 

All the figures in the report have been rounded up/down, for which reason the
total of the individual figures when added together may be different from the
total shown. 

Short-term risks and factors of uncertainty

The market typical fluctuation in demand can cause rapid changes in Efore's
business.  Business risks are related to the success of key customers in their
markets and to Efore's delivery capability for the key customers. 

Progress of Efore's product development projects depends on the customers' own
project schedules and the establishment of the whole market. 

Expanding the company's product range to standard products in industrial sector
means growth of product liability risk. It has been recognized that global
economic development may have an effect on Efore's business environment 

A more comprehensive report on risk management is presented on the company's
web-sites. 


TABLES





CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                                  
EUR million                                              Jan/14  Jan/13   Nov/12
                                                         March/  March/   Dec/13
                                                             14      13         
                                                              3       3       14
                                                         months  months   months
Net sales                                                  19,2    15,3     82,5
Change in inventories of                                                        
finished goods and work in progress                         1,0     0,0     -0,9
Work performed for own purposes and                                             
capitalised                                                 0,0     0,0      0,0
Other operating income                                      0,2     0,0      1,4
Materials and services                                    -13,3   -10,9    -56,9
Employee benefits expenses                                 -4,5    -3,6    -17,7
Depreciation                                               -0,9    -0,6     -3,2
Other operating expenses                                   -2,1    -1,8    -10,9
RESULTS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                          -0,6    -1,5     -5,8
%  net sales                                               -2,9    -9,9     -7,0
Financing income                                            0,1     0,3      1,7
Financing expenses                                         -0,5    -0,5     -2,0
RESULT  BEFORE TAX                                         -0,9    -1,7     -6,1
% net sales                                                -4,7   -11,1     -7,3
Tax on income from operations                               0,0     0,0     -0,1
RESULT FOR THE PERIOD                                      -0,9    -1,7     -6,2
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:                                                     
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss                   
Translation differences                                    -0,3     0,4     -0,6
Total comprehensive income                                 -1,2    -1,3     -6,7
NET PROFITT/lOSS ATTRIBUTABLE                                                   
To equity holders of the parent                            -0,9    -1,7     -6,1
To non-controlling interest                                 0,0     0,0     -0,1
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE  INCOME                                                     
ATTRIBUTABLE TO:                 
Equity holders of the parent                               -1,2    -1,3     -6,7
Non-controlling interest                                    0,0     0,0     -0,1
EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATED ON PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO                         
 EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE PARENT:                                                  
Earnings per share, basic,eur                             -0,02   -0,04    -0,15
Earnings per share, diluted, eur                          -0,02   -0,04    -0,15
INFORMATION ABOUT GEOGRAPHICAL                           Jan/14  Jan/13   Nov/12
AREAS, EUR million                                       March/  March/   Dec/13
                                                             14      13         
                                                              3       3       14
                                                         months  months   months
Americas                                                    3,4     0,1      7,5
EMEA                                                        7,9     7,9     40,4
FINLAND                                                     2,8     2,6     10,9
APAC                                                        5,1     4,7     23,7
Total                                                      19,2    15,3     82,5
INFORMATION ABOUT CUSTOMER                               Jan/14  Jan/13   Nov/12
AREAS, EUR million                                       March/  March/   Dec/13
                                                             14      13         
                                                              3       3       14 months  months   months
Telecom                                                     9,7    11,2     48,6
Industrial                                                  9,5     4,1     33,9
Total                                                      19,2    15,3     82,5







CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION                                    
EUR million                                           March 31,  Dec, 31  change
                                                           2014     2013       %
ASSETS                                                                          
NON-CURRENT ASSETS                                                              
Intangible assets                                           7,3      6,9        
Goodwill                                                    1,1      1,1        
Tangible assets                                             7,3      7,8        
Trade receivables and other receivables, non-current        0,0      0,0        
Other long-term investments                                 0,0      0,0        
Deferred tax asset                                          2,3      2,3        
NON-CURRENT ASSETS                                         18,0     18,1    -0,2
CURRENT ASSETS                                                                  
Inventories                                                15,7     14,6        
Trade receivables and other receivables                    13,1     15,2        
Tax receivable, income tax                                  0,8      0,8        
Cash and cash equivalents                                   8,4      9,8        
CURRENT ASSETS                                             37,9     40,4    -6,0
ASSETS                                                     56,0     58,5    -4,2
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                          
EQUITY                                                                          
Share capital                                              15,0     15,0        
Treasury shares                                            -2,4     -2,4        
Other reserves                                             29,0     29,0        
Translation differences                                     1,1      1,4        
Retained earnings                                         -20,8    -19,9        
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent        21,9     23,0        
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests            0,2      0,2        
EQUITY                                                     22,1     23,2    -4,7
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                         
Deferred tax liabilities                                    0,9      0,9        
Interest-bearing liabilities                                3,9      3,9        
Interest-free liabilities                                   0,0      0,0        
Pension liabilities                                         1,7      1,6        
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES                                     6,6      6,4     2,7
CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                             
Interest-bearing liabilities                                7,2      9,2        
Trade payables and other liabilities                       19,8     19,1        
Tax liabilities                                             0,2      0,5        
Provisions                                                  0,0      0,0        
CURRENT LIABILITIES                                        27,3     28,8        
LIABILITIES                                                33,9     35,3        
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                               56,0     58,5    -4,2







GROUP KEY FIGURES, EUR million                  Jan/14    Jan/13     Nov/12
                                              March/14  March/13     Dec/13
                                              3 months  3 months  14 months
Earnings per share, basic,eur                    -0,02     -0,04      -0,15
Earnings per share, diluted, eur                 -0,02     -0,04      -0,15
Equity per share, eur                             0,42      0,46       0,44
Solvency ratio,%                                  40,1      41,5       39,7
Return on equity-%(ROE)                          -16,1      -9,2      -28,1
Return on investment-%(ROI)                       -8,3      -7,8      -17,5
Gearing, %                                        12,6      -1,1       14,3
Net interest-bearing liabilities                   2,8      -0,2        3,3
Investments (intangible and tangible assets)       0,9       0,7        3,6
as percentage of net sales                         4,5       4,5        4,3
Average personnel                                  885       803        836







CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS            Jan/14-   Jan/13  change  Nov/12
EUR million                                    March/14  March/1       %  Dec/13
                                                               3                
Cash flows from operating activities                                            
Cash receipts from customers                       23,5      8,3            95,3
Cash paid to suppliers and employees              -21,4     -8,7           -93,5
Cash generated from operations                      2,0     -0,4             1,8
Interest paid                                      -0,1      0,0            -0,3
Interest received                                   0,0      0,0             0,0
Other financial  items                             -0,1      0,1             0,0
Income taxes paid                                  -0,2     -0,1            -0,2
Net cash from operating activities (A)              1,6     -0,4  -478,5     1,4
Cash flows from investing activities                                            
Purchase of tangible and intangible assets         -1,0     -0,2            -2,9
Proceeds from sale of tangible and intangible       0,0      0,0             0,2
 assets                                                                         
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash                                    -4,1
 acguired                                                                       
Purchase of investments                             0,0      0,0             0,0
Loans granted                                       0,0      0,0             0,0
Additon/deduction of cash equivalents                                        0,0
Income taxes paid                                   0,0      0,0             0,0
Net cash used in investing activities (B)          -1,0     -0,2   338,0    -6,9
Cash flows from financing activities                                            
Proceeds from issue of share capital                                         5,3
Proceedings from short-term borrowings              0,0      0,6             9,8
Repayment of short-term borrowings                 -1,9      0,0            -4,9
Proceeds from long-term borrowings                  0,0      1,6             3,0
Repayment of long-term borrowings                   0,0     -0,3            -2,0
Financial leasing repayment                         0,0      0,0            -0,2
Net cash used in financing activities (C)          -1,9      2,0            11,0
Net increase/decrease in cash and cash                                          
equivalents (A+B+C)                                -1,3      1,3            11,0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of           9,8      5,2             4,5
 period                                                                         
Net increase/decrease in cash and cash             -1,3      1,3             5,5
 equivalents                                                                    
Effects of exchange rate fluctuations on cash      -0,1      0,4            -0,2
 held                                                                           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period          8,4      6,9             9,8
GROUP CONTINGENT LIABILITIES                      March  Dec, 31                
                                                    31,                         
EUR million                                        2014     2013                
Security and contingent liabilities                                             
For others                                                                      
Other contingent liabilities                        0,1      0,1                
Operating lease commitments                                                     
Group as lessee                                                                 
Non-cancellable minimum operating lease                        
payments:                                                                       
Less than 1 year                                    1,0      1,0                
1-5 years                                           0,4      0,4                
Fair values of derivate financial instruments                                   
Currency derivatives, not hedge                                                 
Option contract                                                                 
Nominal amount                                      1,7      2,0                
Negative fair value                                 0,0      0,0                






CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

A Share capital
B Treasury shares
C Unrestricted equity reserve
D Other reserves
E Translation differences
F Retained earnings
G Equity holders of the parent
H Non-controlling interests
I Total




EUR million                     A     B     C    D     E      F     G    H     I
Equity                       15,0  -2,5  18,8  1,0   0,7  -13,7  19,3  0,2  19,5
January 1, 2013                                                                 
Comprehensive income          0,0   0,0   0,0  0,0   0,4   -1,7  -1,3  0,0  -1,3
Equity                       15,0  -2,5  18,8  1,0   1,1  -15,4  18,0  0,2  18,2
March 31, 2013                                                                  
EUR million                     A     B     C    D     E      F     G    H     I
Equity                       15,0  -2,4  28,0  1,0   1,4  -19,9  23,0  0,2  23,2
January 1, 2014                                                                 
Comprehensive income          0,0   0,0   0,0  0,0  -0,3   -0,9  -1,2  0,0  -1,2
Share-based incentive         0,0   0,0   0,0  0,0   0,0    0,1   0,1  0,0   0,1
 programme                                                                      
Other changes                 0,0   0,0   0,0  0,0   0,0    0,0   0,0  0,0   0,0
Equity                       15,0  -2,4  28,0  1,0   1,1  -20,8  21,9  0,2  22,1
March 31, 2014                                                                  







FY 2013 - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF                                             
 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                                                           
EUR million                  Nov/12   Jan/13  April/1  July/13   Oct/13   Nov/12
                                                    3                           
                             Dec/12  March/1  June/13   Sep/13   Dec/13   Dec/13
                                           3                                    
                            2        3        3        3        3        14     
                             months   months   months   months   months   months
Net sales                       8,0     15,3     13,8     22,0     23,3     82,5
Change in inventories of                                                        
finished goods and work in      1,4      0,0     -2,6      2,1     -1,8     -0,9
 progress                                                                       
Work performed for own                                                          
 purposes and                                                                   
capitalised                     0,0      0,0      0,0      0,0      0,0      0,0
Other operating income          0,1      0,0      0,1      0,4      0,8      1,4
Materials and services         -6,9    -10,9     -7,6    -17,3    -14,2    -56,9
Employee benefits expenses     -2,4     -3,6     -3,4     -4,3     -4,0    -17,7
Depreciation                   -0,4     -0,6     -0,4     -1,0     -0,9     -3,2
Other operating expenses       -1,1     -1,8     -1,8     -3,3     -3,0    -10,9
RESULTS FROM OPERATING         -1,2     -1,5     -1,9     -1,3      0,2     -5,8
 ACTIVITIES                                                                     
%  net sales                  -15,5     -9,9    -13,5     -5,9      0,8     -7,0
Financing income                0,2      0,3      0,3      0,5      0,3      1,7
Financing expenses             -0,2     -0,5     -0,2     -0,5     -0,5     -2,0
RESULT  BEFORE TAX             -1,3     -1,7     -1,8     -1,3      0,0     -6,1
% net sales                   -16,0    -11,1    -13,2     -5,7      0,0     -7,3
Tax on income from              0,1      0,0      0,1      0,0     -0,4     -0,1
 operations                                                                     
RESULT FOR THE PERIOD          -1,1     -1,7     -1,7     -1,2     -0,4     -6,2
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE                                                             
 INCOME:                              
Items that may be reclassified                                                  
 subsequently to profit or loss                                                 
Translation differences        -0,2      0,4     -0,2     -0,4     -0,2     -0,6
Total comprehensive income     -1,4     -1,3     -1,9     -1,7     -0,6     -6,7
NET PROFITT/lOSS                                                                
 ATTRIBUTABLE                                                                   
To equity holders of the       -1,1     -1,7     -1,7     -1,2     -0,4     -6,1
 parent                                                                         
To non-controlling              0,0      0,0      0,0      0,0      0,0     -0,1
 interest                                                                       
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE                                                             
 INCOME                                                                         
ATTRIBUTABLE TO:                                                                
Equity holders of the          -1,4     -1,3     -1,8     -1,7     -0,6     -6,7
 parent                                                                         
Non-controlling interest        0,0      0,0      0,0      0,0      0,0     -0,1








                                                                31.3.2014       
CALCULATION OF                                                                  
 KEY                                                                            
FIGURES AND                                                                     
 RATIOS                                                                         
Return on          =  Profit before taxes+interest and other financing     x 100
 investment            expenses /                                               
 (ROI), %             (Equity + interest-bearing liabilities, average )         
Return on Equity   =  Profit/loss for the period / Equity (average )       x 100
 (ROE), %                                                                       
Current ratio      =  Current assets / Current liabilities                      
Solvency ratio, %  =  Equity / (Total assets - advance payments received   x 100
                       - own shares*)                                           
Net                =  Interest-bearing liabilities - financial assets at        
 interest-bearing      fair value through profit or loss - cash and cash        
 liabilities           equivalents                                              
Gearing, %         =  Net interest-bearing liabilities / Equity            x 100
Earnings per       =  Profit or loss attributable to ordinary equity            
 share, diluted        holders of the parent entity/ The weighted average       
                       number of ordinary shares outstanding including          
                       dilutive effect                                          
Dividend per       =  Dividend for the financial year /  The weighted average   
 share                 number of ordinary shares outstanding                    
Dividend payout    =  Dividend per share / Earnings per share           x 100   
 ratio, %                                                                       
Effective          =  Dividend per share /Share price at balance sheet  x 100   
 dividend yield,       date                                                     
 %                                                                              
Equity per share   =  Equity - own shares* /Number of shares at                 
                       balance sheet date                                       
P/E-ratio          =  Share price at balance sheet date / Earnings per          
                       share                                                    
Market             =  Share price at balance sheet date x outstanding           
 capitalization =      number of shares at balance sheet date                   
Average personnel  =  The average number of employees at the end of             
                       each calendar month during the accounting                
                       period                                                   
All share-specific figures are based on the issue-adjusted number of            
 shares.                                                                        
When calculating per share performance measures equity is the equity            
 attributable to the shareholders of the parent company, when                   
 calculating other performance measures equity includes equity                  
 attributable to the shareholders of the parent company and                     
 non-controlling interests.                                                     
* There were own shares held by company March 31, 2014.                         



EFORE PLC
Board of Directors


Further information

For further information please contact Mr.Vesa Vähämöttönen, President and CEO,
on April 23, 2014 at 9 - 11 a.m., tel. +358 9 4784 6312. 

DISTRIBUTION

Nasdaq OMX Helsinki Oy
Principal media

Efore Group

Efore Group is an international company which develops and produces demanding
power products. Efore's head office is based in Finland and its production
units are located in China and Tunis. Sales and marketing operations are
located in Europe, United States and China. In the fiscal year ending in
December 2013, consolidated net sales totaled EUR 82.5 million and the Group's
personnel averaged 836. The company's share is quoted on the Nasdaq OMX
Helsinki Ltd. www.efore.com