2017-07-19 11:30:30 CEST

2017-07-19 11:30:30 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

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KONE Oyj - Half Year financial report

KONE Corporation: Half-year Financial Report 2017


 KONE Corporation, stock exchange release, July 19, 2017 at 12.30 p.m. EEST

KONE Corporation: Half-year Financial Report 2017

KONE's January-June 2017 review: Solid execution helped weather the headwinds

April-June 2017
  * Orders received declined by 0.6% to EUR 2,056 (4-6/2016: 2,068) million. At
    comparable exchange rates, orders grew by 1.1%.
  * Net sales grew by 0.5% to EUR 2,284 (2,273) million. At comparable exchange
    rates, the growth was 1.7%.
  * Operating income (EBIT) was EUR 326.4 (348.6) million or 14.3% (15.3%) of
    net sales.
  * Cash flow from operations (before financing items and taxes) was EUR 320.4
    (393.3) million.


January-June 2017

  * Orders received totaled EUR 3,969 (1-6/2016: 4,010) million. Orders received
    declined by 1.0% at historical exchange rates and were stable at comparable
    exchange rates. The order book stood at EUR 8,905 (June 30,2016: 8,764) at
    the end of June 2017.
  * Net sales grew by 1.8% to EUR 4,095 (4,021) million. At comparable exchange
    rates the growth was 2.4%.
  * Operating income (EBIT) was EUR 544.1 (570.0) million or 13.3% (14.2%) of
    net sales.
  * Cash flow from operations (before financing items and taxes) was EUR 625.7
    (699.0) million.


Business outlook for 2017 (specified)

KONE's net sales is estimated to grow by 1-3% at comparable exchange rates as
compared to 2016. The operating income (EBIT) is expected to be in the range of
EUR 1,200-1,280 million, assuming that translation exchange rates would remain
at approximately the average level of January-June 2017.

KONE previously estimated its net sales to grow by 0-3% at comparable exchange
rates as compared to 2016. The operating income (EBIT) was expected to be in the
range of EUR 1,200-1,290 million, assuming that translation exchange rates would
have remained at approximately the average level of January-March 2017.



                    4-6/     4-6/   Change   1-6/     1-6/   Change  1-12/
Key figures         2017     2016            2017     2016            2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orders       MEUR 2,056.2  2,067.8  -0.6%  3,969.2  4,010.1  -1.0%  7,621.0
received

Order book   MEUR 8,905.1  8,763.6   1.6%  8,905.1  8,763.6   1.6%  8,591.9

Sales        MEUR 2,284.4  2,272.6   0.5%  4,094.7  4,020.9   1.8%  8,784.3

Operating
income       MEUR  326.4    348.6   -6.4%   544.1    570.0   -4.5%  1,293.3
(EBIT)

Operating
income       %      14.3     15.3            13.3     14.2            14.7
(EBIT)
margin

Income       MEUR  337.1    360.8   -6.6%   580.8    603.5   -3.8%  1,330.3
before tax

Net income   MEUR  259.5    276.6   -6.2%   447.2    464.7   -3.8%  1,022.6

Basic
earnings per EUR    0.50     0.54   -6.1%    0.86     0.90   -4.2%    2.00
share

Cash flow
from
operations
(before      MEUR  320.4    393.3           625.7    699.0          1,509.5
financing
items and
taxes)

Interest-
bearing net  MEUR -1,302.1 -1,145.4        -1,302.1 -1,145.4        -1,687.6
debt

Total
equity/total %      42.8     40.2            42.8     40.2            46.8
assets

Return on    %      34.5     39.0            34.5     39.0            38.1
equity

Net working
capital
(including   MEUR -1,015.1 -1,033.4        -1,015.1 -1,033.4        -1,054.8
financial
items and
taxes)

Gearing      %     -54.5    -52.4           -54.5    -52.4           -60.4





Henrik Ehrnrooth, President and CEO:

"I am pleased that our orders received returned to growth at comparable exchange
rates  during the second  quarter. This was  a result of  a solid development in
EMEA and the Americas and a stabilization of our orders received in China. Sales
growth  was again driven by EMEA and the Americas, and the rate of decline eased
in  Asia-Pacific. The service business continued to develop positively, although
the  sales growth was somewhat below trend  in the second quarter. New equipment
sales  was stable year-on-year at comparable exchange rates. As expected, higher
raw  material  prices,  price  pressure  witnessed  in our Chinese new equipment
business  and increased R&D  and IT spend  burdened our operating  income in the
second  quarter. However, we were able  to partly compensate for the intensified
headwinds  with the growth  in our service  business, focused pricing actions as
well  as productivity improvements.  I'm also pleased  that our strong execution
and  healthy business fundamentals  have resulted in  solid cash flow again this
year.  I  would  like  to  thank  all  KONE  employees  for  their good work and
commitment   to   drive   continuous  improvement  in  the  current  challenging
environment.

During  the second  quarter, we  conducted our  annual customer  loyalty survey,
which  showed  good  improvement  in  all  businesses. The results show that the
strategic  actions we have taken are driving us in the right direction. Based on
the  feedback, customers  appreciate the  competence and  service mindset of our
personnel  as well as  the quality of  our products and  services in particular.
This  feedback also reflects the results  of the employee survey which indicated
continued  high level of  engagement. Achieving our  long term strategic targets
would  not be  possible without  satisfied customers  and engaged employees. The
results from both surveys show that we are developing in the right direction.

We  have again specified our  business outlook for 2017. We  now expect sales to
grow by 1-3% at comparable rates, and the operating income to be in the range of
EUR  1,200-1,280 million, assuming that translation  exchange rates would remain
at  the average  level of  January-June 2017. We  will continue  to work hard to
compensate for the profitability headwinds we are facing this year, and keep our
orders received growing."


Operating environment in April-June 2017

The  global  new  equipment  market  declined  slightly in units compared to the
second  quarter  of  2016. In  Asia-Pacific,  the new equipment volumes declined
slightly.  In China,  the new  equipment market  declined slightly in units, and
continued  to decline  year-on-year also  in monetary  value. The impacts of the
govern­ment  housing  restriction  measures  were  visible  in  the  residential
segment,  while  the  commercial  segment  was rather stable. The infrastructure
segment  continued to grow  driven by stimulus  measures. The market declined in
the  higher-tier  cities  due  to  the  housing  restriction measures, while the
development  in the  lower-tier cit­ies  was more  stable. In  the rest of Asia-
Pacific,  the new equipment markets continued to decline. The decline was driven
in  particular  by  the  Indian  market,  which  declined  due  to reforms being
implemented  in the mar­ket. In  the EMEA region, the  new equipment market grew
slightly.  New equipment market in Central and North Europe was stable at a high
level,  while in South Europe, the market  continued to see slight growth from a
low  level. In the Middle  East, the market grew  despite market uncertainty. In
North  America,  the  continued  new  equipment  market growth was driven by the
United States.

Global  service markets developed positively  in most regions. The modernization
market  continued to grow  slightly in North  America and significantly in Asia-
Pacific, whereas the market declined slightly in Central and North Europe from a
strong   comparison  point.  In  South  Europe,  the  modernization  market  was
relatively  stable.  The  maintenance  market  continued  to  see  growth across
regions, with the strongest rate of growth seen in the Asia-Pacific region and a
more stable development in Europe and North America.

Pricing  trends remained varied during the second quarter. In China, competition
remained  intense  in  new  equipment  and  pricing  was  stable compared to the
previous   quarter.  In  services,  the  pricing  environment  continued  to  be
characterized  by strong competition  in the EMEA  region, particularly in South
Europe  and also in  some of the  Central and North  European mar­kets. In North
America, pricing remained rather intense in maintenance but continued to develop
positively in modernization.


Operating environment in January-June 2017

The  global new equipment market was rather stable compared to the first half of
2016. The  new equipment market  volumes in Asia-Pacific  were rather stable. In
China,  the  market  was  rather  stable  in units, but declined year-on-year in
monetary  value. Also in the rest of Asia- Pacific the market declined driven by
India  in  particu­lar.  In  the  EMEA  region,  market volumes grew slightly in
Central and North Europe compared to the previous year. The new equipment market
developed  positively in South Europe and the Middle East. In North America, the
new equipment market continued to grow from a high level.

Global  service  markets  continued  to  develop posi­tively. The large European
modernization  market was  rather stable  in Central  and North  Europe and grew
slightly  in South Europe. In North America, the modern­ization market continued
to  see slight  growth, and  also the  smaller Asia-Pacific  market continued to
grow.  The maintenance markets continued to grow globally, with the fastest rate
of growth seen in the developing Asia- Pacific markets.

The pricing environment was varied and remained challenging in many markets.


Market outlook 2017

In  new equipment, the market  in China is expected  to decline by 0-5% in units
ordered  and also  the competition  to continue  intense. In  the rest  of Asia-
Pacific,  the market is expected  to grow slightly. The  market in North America
and Europe, Middle East and Africa region is expected to grow slightly.

The  modernization market is  expected to grow  slightly in Europe  and in North
America, and to develop strongly in Asia-Pacific.

Maintenance  markets  are  expected  to  see  the strongest growth rate in Asia-
Pacific, and to grow slightly also in other regions.


Business outlook 2017 (specified)

KONE's  net sales is estimated to grow  by 1-3% at compa­rable exchange rates as
compared to 2016.
The  operating income (EBIT) is expected to  be in the range of EUR 1,200-1,280
million,  assuming that translation exchange rates would remain at approximately
the average level of January-June 2017.

The  sales outlook is based on KONE's maintenance base and order book as well as
the market outlook.

KONE's  operating income outlook is based on the current sales forecast combined
with  factors impacting profitability. In  2017, profitability is expected to be
impacted  by  factors  such  as  improved  quality and productivity, pricing and
business mix, a slight decrease in the margin of orders received in 2016 as well
as  cost pressures resulting from increased material costs and R&D and IT spend.
The operating income outlook includes around EUR 10 million negative impact from
translation exchange rates compared to 2016.

Previous business outlook

KONE's  net sales was estimated to grow  by 0-3% at comparable exchange rates as
compared to 2016.

The operating income (EBIT) was expected to be in the range of EUR 1,200-1,290
million, assuming that translation exchange rates would have remained at
approximately the average level of January-March 2017.

The previous operating income outlook included around EUR 10 million positive
impact from translation exchange rates.


Press and analyst meetings

A meeting for the press, conducted in Finnish, will be held on Wednesday, July
19, 2017 at 2:15 p.m. EEST.

A meeting for analysts, conducted in English, will begin at 3:45 p.m. EEST and
will be available as a live webcast on www.kone.com. An on-demand version of the
webcast will be available on www.kone.com later the same day. The meeting can
also be joined via a telephone conference.

US: +1 719 325 4759
UK: +44 (0)330 336 9411
Finland: +358 (0)9 7479 0404
Participant code: KONE

Both meetings will take place in KONE Building, located at Keilasatama 3, Espoo,
Finland.

For further information, please contact:
Sanna Kaje, Vice President, Investor Relations, tel. +358 204 75 4705

Sender:

KONE Corporation

Henrik Ehrnrooth
President and CEO

Ilkka Hara
CFO

About KONE

At KONE, our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. As a global leader in
the elevator and escalator industry, KONE provides elevators, escalators and
automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization
to add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Through more effective
People Flow®, we make people's journeys safe, convenient and reliable, in
taller, smarter buildings. In 2016, KONE had annual net sales of EUR 8.8
billion, and at the end of the year over 52,000 employees. KONE class B shares
are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.

www.kone.com


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