2013-08-13 08:00:00 CEST

2013-08-13 08:00:03 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

English Finnish
Cramo Oyj - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

Cramo’s Interim Report 1 January–30 June 2013


Profitability improved in the second quarter

Vantaa, Finland, 2013-08-13 08:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cramo Plc   Interim
Report 13 August 2013, at 9.00 am Finnish time (GMT+2) 

Cramo's Interim Report 1 January-30 June 2013

Profitability improved in the second quarter

1-6/2013 (year-on-year comparison in brackets):

  -- Sales EUR 308.6 (321.4) million, the change was -4.0%. Sales change
     excluding divested operations and restructuring in Russia -1.8%
  -- EBITA EUR 22.9 (24.9) million and EBITA margin 7.4% (7.7%); comparable
     EBITA excluding non-recurring items EUR 23.5 (22.7) million, or 7.6 (7.1)
     per cent of sales
  -- Earnings per share EUR 0.15 (0.16); comparable earnings per share excluding
     the effect of non-recurring items EUR 0.20 (0.10)
  -- Return on equity (rolling 12 months) 8.0% (6.8%) 
  -- Cash flow after investments EUR -10.5 (18.2) million, investment cash flow
     includes acquisitions totalling EUR -26.8 million
  -- Gearing 92.4% (79.8%), EUR 50 million hybrid bond redeemed on 29 April 2013

4-6/2013 (year-on-year comparison in brackets):

  -- Sales EUR 160.1 (161.4) million; the change was -0.8%. Sales change
     excluding divested operations and restructuring in Russia 1.7%
  -- EBITA EUR 16.5 (14.3) million and EBITA margin 10.3% (8.9%)
  -- Earnings per share EUR 0.19 (0.11) 
  -- Cash flow after investments EUR 8.4 (1.1) million

Guidance for 2013 unchanged: Referring to the market outlook, which pictures a
high uncertainty in Cramo's market areas, the Board does not consider it
prudent to give a guidance on Group sales either growing or declining in 2013.
However, the Group's business demonstrates a good continuity over time. In
2013, already implemented and on-going efficiency measures are likely to yield
an improvement in EBITA margin percentage compared with the previous year. 



KEY FIGURES AND RATIOS  4-6/13  4-6/12   Change  1-6/13  1-6/12   Change  1-12/1
 (MEUR)                                       %                        %       2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income statement                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                    160.1   161.4   -0.8 %   308.6   321.4   -4.0 %   688.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                    40.1    39.6    1.4 %    69.9    75.7   -7.8 %   179.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITA 1)                  16.5    14.3   15.3 %    22.9    24.9   -8.0 %    78.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% of sales               10.3%    8.9%             7.4%    7.7%            11.3%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit /        13.5    11.4   18.4 %    15.2    19.0  -20.1 %    64.5
 loss (EBIT)                                                                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit / loss before      10.1     6.1   64.7 %     7.8     8.5   -7.9 %    44.3
 tax (EBT) 2)                                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit / loss for the      7.9     4.7   68.8 %     6.1     6.5   -5.6 %    38.7
 period 2)                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share related                                                                   
 information                                                                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share        0.19    0.11   65.1 %    0.15    0.16   -7.6 %    0.93
 (EPS), EUR                                                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share        0.19    0.11   66.5 %    0.14    0.15   -6.9 %    0.93
 (EPS), diluted, EUR                                                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' equity                              10.97   10.65    3.0 %   11.58
 per share, EUR                                                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other information                                                               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on investment,                             6.8 %   6.9 %            7.3 %
 % 3), 4)                                                                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on equity, %                               8.0 %   6.8 %            7.5 %
 3), 4)                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity ratio, % 3)                               42.2 %  44.5 %           48.6 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gearing, % 3)                                    92.4 %  79.8 %           65.1 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest-bearing                              428.4   392.0    9.3 %   346.9
 liabilities 3)                                                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross capital             21.6    40.8  -47.1 %    67.7    65.1    4.1 %   125.1
 expenditure (incl.                                                             
 acquisitions)                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
of which                  -0.8                     30.4                      0.8
 acquisition/business                                                           
 combinations                                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow after            8.4     1.1  663.6 %   -10.5    18.2             62.2
 investments                                                                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average number of                                 2,457   2,684   -8.5 %   2,664
 personnel (FTE)                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of personnel at                            2,428   2,677   -9.3 %   2,555
 period end (FTE)                                                               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                ----------------
1) EBITA is operating profit before amortisation and impairment                 
 resulting from acquisitions and disposals                                      
----------------------------------------------------------------                
2) Based on revised IAS 19 standard (Employee benefits) actuarial gains and     
 losses resulting from the changes in assumptions used in the valuation of      
 pension liabilities are recognised immediately in other operating income. Due  
 to retrospective application the group finance costs for 1-12/12 have been     
 decreased by eur 209 thousand                                                  
3) Full year 2012 key figures have been calculated before reclassification of   
 Russian business as assets and liabilities to be transferred to joint venture  
 according to IFRS5                                                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 
4) Rolling 12 month                                                             
-----------------------                                                         



CEO VESA KOIVULA'S COMMENT

“After the difficult first months of the year, the demand for equipment rental
picked up in the spring, as expected. At the same time we continued the
implementation of our strategy, that is: the roll-out of a uniform business
model and efficient processes. When combined with cost savings and efficiency
measures completed earlier, this improved our profitability in the second
quarter. 

It has been good to see that our customers have welcomed our revised Rental
Concept warmly and that our staff has been able to achieve many accomplishments
in the challenging market situation. 

After the quiet first months of the year, our fleet utilisation rates started
to improve quickly halfway through the period and rose to a good level towards
the end of the period. However, it is still too early to estimate whether we
reached the low point of the business cycle in our main markets at the end of
the winter season. 

Our aim is to improve profitability in all of our markets but especially in
Norway, Denmark and Central Europe. Development during the first months of the
year shows that we are on the right track,” says Vesa Koivula, President and
CEO of Cramo Group. 



SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN JANUARY-JUNE 2013

In January-June 2013, Cramo Group's consolidated sales were EUR 308.6 (321.4)
million, showing a decrease of 4.0 per cent. In local currencies, sales
decreased by 5.9 per cent. Sales for the second quarter were EUR 160.1 (161.4)
million, showing a change of -0.8 per cent. 

Sales were weakened by the divestment of Cramo's modular space production and
customised space rental businesses in Finland in March 2012 as well as by the
transfer of the Russian operations to a joint venture on 1 March 2013. The
change in sales for January-June excluding divested operations and
restructuring in Russia was -1.8 per cent. After the difficult first quarter,
demand for rental services picked up in the second quarter. In the second
quarter, sales excluding divested operations and restructuring in Russia
increased 1.7 per cent. 

EBITA for January-June was EUR 22.9 (24.9) million, or 7.4 (7.7) per cent of
sales. Comparable EBITA excluding non-recurring items was EUR 23.5 (22.7)
million, or 7.6 (7.1) per cent of sales. In the second quarter, profitability
improved year-on-year and EBITA was EUR 16.5 (14.3) million, or 10.3 (8.9) per
cent of sales. The effect of cost savings and other efficiency measures
improved the result. The implementation of Cramo's strategy has also improved
operational efficiency. 

EBITDA for January-June was EUR 69.9 (75.7) million, or 22.6 (23.6) per cent of
sales. In January-June, earnings per share were EUR 0.15 (0.16) and comparable
earnings per share excluding the effect of non-recurring items EUR 0.20 (0.10).
Earnings per share for the second quarter improved and were EUR 0.19 (0.11). 

During the second quarter, profitability improved in almost all business
segments. In Finland and Sweden, the result improved from the beginning of the
year and fleet utilisation rates rose to a good level towards the end of the
period under review. Profitability continued to develop favourably in Norway
and Denmark. After the difficult first months of the year, profitability
improved in the second quarter in Central Europe, too, where Cramo's transition
programme proceeded as planned. In Eastern Europe, the result developed
favourably especially in the Baltic countries, but the result of the Russian
joint venture Fortrent had a negative impact on the profitability of the
business segment. Fortrent's result is expected to improve during the second
half of the year. In the modular space business, demand has continued at a high
level in all Nordic countries. 

In January-June, cash flow from operating activities was EUR 43.1 (53.4)
million, gross capital expenditure was EUR 67.7 (65.1) million and net cash
flow from investing activities EUR -53.6 (-35.2) million. Gross capital
expenditure includes acquisitions and business combinations amounting to EUR
30.4 million, which had EUR -26.8 million cash flow effect. Cash flow after
investments was EUR -10.5 (18.2) million. In the second quarter, cash flow
after investments improved and was EUR 8.4 (1.1) million. 

The Group's gearing was 92.4 (79.8) per cent at the end of June. Gearing was
affected by the acquisitions completed during the first quarter and the
redemption of the EUR 50 million hybrid bond in April. 



MARKET OUTLOOK

The economic uncertainty in Europe continues. However, market-specific
differences in construction activity and demand for rental services are
considerable. Despite the economic uncertainty, construction activity and
demand for equipment rental services improved in most of Cramo's market areas
in the second quarter. 

In its June forecast, the construction market analyst Euroconstruct estimates
that construction activity will decline by approximately one per cent from the
previous year in Finland in 2013, whereas the Confederation of Finnish
Construction Industries RT estimates the decline to be three per cent.
Euroconstruct forecasts construction activity in Sweden to decline by
approximately one per cent, but the Swedish Construction Federation (Svensk
Byggindustrier) forecasts a decline of three per cent. Construction activity is
also estimated to decrease in Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
According to Euroconstruct, growth can be expected this year in Norway,
Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. 

The equipment rental market normally grows faster than the underlying
construction market, but changes in demand follow those in construction with a
small delay and may be strong. According to the forecast published by European
Rental Association (ERA) in May, equipment rental will increase in 2013 in all
of Cramo's main market areas. 

In spite of an improvement in the equipment rental market after the difficult
first months of the year, Cramo is still taking a cautious approach on 2013.
The economic situation is believed to improve towards the end of the year in
Cramo's main markets. 

(All construction market forecasts presented in this review are estimates by
Euroconstruct, unless otherwise stated.) 



BRIEFING

Cramo will hold a briefing and a live webcast at Kämp Kansallissali, address:
Aleksanterinkatu 44 A, 2nd floor, Helsinki, on Tuesday, 13 August 2013 at 11:00
am. The briefing will be in English. 

To watch the briefing live on the Internet, go to www.cramo.com. A replay of
the webcast will be available at www.cramo.com from 13 August 2013 in the
afternoon. 



PUBLICATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION 2013

Cramo will publish one more Interim Report in 2013.

The January-September Interim Report will be published on Wednesday, 30 October
2013. 



FURTHER INFORMATION

Vesa Koivula
President and CEO, tel. +358 10 661 10, +358 40 510 5710



Martti Ala-Härkönen
CFO, tel. +358 10 661 10, +358 40 737 6633



DISTRIBUTION

NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd
Principal media
www.cramo.com




Cramo is one of the largest equipment rental service companies in Europe,
specialising in construction machinery and equipment rental and rental-related
services as well as the rental of modular space. Cramo operates in fifteen
countries with close to 400 depots. With a group staff around 2.550, Cramo'sconsolidated sales in 2012 was EUR 690 million. Cramo shares are listed on the
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. Further information: www.cramo.com