2013-11-08 08:00:02 CET

2013-11-08 08:00:07 CET


REGULATED INFORMATION

Finnish English
Ramirent - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

RAMIRENT’S INTERIM REPORT JANUARY–SEPTEMBER 2013: STRONG CASH FLOW AND FINANCIAL POSITION


RAMIRENT PLC          COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT           8 NOVEMBER 2013 at 9:00

Vantaa, Finland, 2013-11-08 08:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 





Note! Figures in brackets, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the
corresponding period a year earlier. 

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

- Ramirent net sales EUR 166.2 (185.9) million, down by 10.6% (down by 8.7% at
comparable exchange rates); adjusted for transferred or divested operations,
net sales decreased by 3.3% at comparable exchange rates. 
- EBITA1) EUR 25.9 (31.8) million or 15.6% (17.1%) of net sales
- EBITA1) excluding non-recurring items2) EUR 29.3 (31.8) million or 17.6%
(17.1%) of net sales 
- The non-recurring items include EUR 1.9 million loss from disposal of Hungary
and EUR 1.5 million restructuring provision in Denmark 
- Cash flow after investments EUR 34.4 (23.7) million



JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

- Ramirent net sales EUR 479.8 (519.9) million, down by 7.7% (down by 7.8% at
comparable exchange rates); adjusted for transferred or divested operations,
net sales decreased by 4.0% at comparable exchange rates. 
- EBITA1) EUR 71.2 (70.9) million or 14.8% (13.6%) of net sales
- EBITA1) excluding non-recurring items3) EUR 64.4 (70.9) million or 13.4%
(13.6%) of net sales 
- Net result EUR 40.1 (43.8) million and EPS EUR 0.37 (0.41)
- Gross capital expenditure EUR 91.9 (87.2) million
- Cash flow after investments EUR 48.2 (37.3) million
- Net debt to EBITDA ratio 1.1x (1.2x)



RAMIRENT 2013 OUTLOOK UNCHANGED

Ramirent's 2013 EBITA is expected to be slightly below the 2012 level.



KEY FIGURES (MEUR)        7-9/13  7-9/12  Change  1-9/13  1-9/12  Change  1-12/1
                                                               *              2*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                  166.2   185.9  −10.6%   479.8   519.9   −7.7%   714.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                      52.0    60.3  −13.9%   148.8   153.8   −3.2%   210.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% of net sales             31.3%   32.5%           31.0%   29.6%           29.5%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITA 1)                    25.9    31.8  −18.3%    71.2    70.9    0.4%   100.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% of net sales             15.6%   17.1%           14.8%   13.6%           14.1%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBIT                        24.3    29.7  −18.2%    63.3    64.8   −2.3%    92.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% of net sales             14.6%   16.0%           13.2%   12.5%           13.0%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBT                         20.6    27.9  −26.3%    51.0    58.6  −12.9%    83.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% of net sales             12.4%   15.0%           10.6%   11.3%           11.6%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share          0.16    0.19  −19.9%    0.37    0.41   −8.4%    0.59
 (EPS), (basic and                                                              
 diluted), EUR                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross capital               29.5    27.6    7.0%    91.9    87.2    5.4%   124.0
 expenditure on                                                                 
 non-current assets                                                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross capital              17.8%   14.8%           19.2%   16.8%           17.4%
 expenditure,% of net                                                           
 sales                                                                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow after             34.4    23.7   45.3%    48.2    37.3   29.1%    54.2
 investments                                                                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invested capital at the                            604.1   605.1    0.0%   604.3
 end of period                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on invested                                 17.5%   19.5%           18.9%
 capital (ROI),% 4)                                                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on equity (ROE),%                           16.9%   18.7%           18.6%
 4)                                                                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net debt                                           230.3   256.0  −10.0%   239.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net debt to EBITDA ratio                            1.1x    1.2x            1.1x
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gearing,%                                          63.9%   73.8%           65.8%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity ratio,%                                     45.2%   41.5%           43.7%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of                                2,592   3,027  −14.4%   3,005
 period                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) EBITA is operating result before amortisation and impairment of intangible
assets. 
2) The non-recurring items include EUR 1.9 million loss from disposal of
Hungary and EUR 1.5 million restructuring provision in Denmark. 
3) The non-recurring items include a non-taxable capital gain of EUR 10.1
million from the formation of Fortrent, the EUR 1.9 million loss from disposal
of Hungary and the EUR 1.5 million restructuring provision in Denmark. 
4) The figures are calculated on a rolling twelve month basis.* Retrospective
application of amendment to IAS19 affecting Sweden and Norway segments 



MAGNUS ROSÉN, RAMIRENT CEO:

“Net sales decreased by 3.3% at comparable exchange rates in the third quarter,
adjusted for the transfer of the operations in Russia and Ukraine to Fortrent
as well as the divestment of our Hungarian business. The demand for equipment
rental in the third quarter was influenced by slightly weaker demand in the
construction sector in the Nordic markets except for Denmark, which saw some
pick-up in activity. Demand in the industrial sector remained fairly active in
our Nordic markets. Europe East enjoyed favourable market conditions reflected
in good demand for equipment rental. The integration of Fortrent's business
operations continued according to plan. In Europe Central, market conditions
remained weak and we continued to scale down operations to fit the reduced
demand situation. 

In the third quarter, Ramirent Group's EBITA margin excluding non-recurring
items improved to 17.6% (17.1%). Finland and Norway were the best performing
countries. Cash flow was strong for the first nine months, showing an
improvement of 29.1% despite an increase in capital expenditure. Our financial
position strengthened further during the third quarter. Profitability was in
line with our expectations in all segments except for Denmark, where we have
initiated measures to improve profitability. 

During the review period, we finalised the divestment of our Hungarian
operation in accordance with our strategy to focus on higher growth
opportunities in our core markets in the Baltic Sea region. 

The near-term market outlook continues to be uncertain. We are however
well-positioned to manage changes in market conditions. At the same time, we
continue to develop our common Ramirent platform to realise higher operational
synergies throughout the Group. 

We are also strengthening our long-term competitiveness by continuously working
to expand our customer value proposition and developing our customer care model
to improve customer experience in all our customer sectors. We have increased
emphasis on developing the knowledge and skill set of our workforce.” 



MARKET OUTLOOK 2013

According to a forecast published by Confederation of Finnish Construction
Industries (RT) in October 2013, the Finnish construction market is expected to
decrease by 3.0% in 2013. Both residential and non-residential construction,
are forecasted to decrease in 2013. However, renovation is estimated to
increase in residential and non-residential sectors during this year. The
market situation in infrastructure construction is predicted to weaken. 

According to a forecast published by Swedish Construction Federation in October
2013, the Swedish construction market is expected to decrease by 1.0% in 2013.
Residential construction is estimated to increase from the previous year's
level. Non-residential construction is expected to decrease in 2013, whilst the
renovation market is forecasted to be steady in all construction sectors in
2013. 

The growth in Norwegian construction market is expected to decelerate slightly
in 2013. According to a forecast published by Prognosesenteret in October 2013,
the Norwegian construction market is forecasted to grow by 3.9% in 2013. Market
activity is estimated to remain good in residential and infrastructure
construction. The renovation sector is also growing, although at a slower pace
than new construction. Demand in the oil and gas sector is expected to remain
at a good level. 

The Danish construction market started to recover slowly during the third
quarter. According to Danish Construction Industry, the construction market
will decrease by 0.8% in 2013. Demand in the renovation market is expected to
grow. Residential construction is expected to remain at a low level in 2013.
Non-residential construction is estimated to decrease this year. 

In the Baltic States, the market situation is expected to remain at a healthy
level. Recovery of the Baltic construction market is estimated to continue in
the fourth quarter of 2013. According to the Euroconstruct forecast in June
2013, the construction market in the Baltic States is expected to grow at a
moderate rate, about 2−4% in 2013. 

The market outlook for Russia is positive in the longer term, but decelerating
economic growth is impacting also the construction sector. In 2013, the
construction market is estimated to increase by 3% in Russia according to the
Euroconstruct forecast published in June 2013. Equipment rental is expected to
grow more than the construction activity in 2013. In Ukraine, the market
situation is still challenging. 

Ramirent is not expecting a recovery in the Europe Central markets in 2013.
According to the Euroconstruct forecast in June 2013, the construction market
in Poland is estimated to decline by 5.6% in 2013. Construction volumes are
expected to decrease by 6.0% in Czech Republic and by 2.0% in Slovakia in 2013. 



ANALYST AND PRESS BRIEFING

A briefing for investment analysts and the press will be arranged on Friday 8
November 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Finnish time at the Event Arena Bank, Wall Street
Cabinet 22, Unioninkatu 22, Helsinki. 



WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL

You can participate in the analyst briefing on Friday 8 November 2013 at 11:00
a.m. Finnish time (EET) through a live webcast at www.ramirent.com and
conference call. Dial-in numbers are: +358 9 8171 0461 (FI), +46 8 5055 6477
(SE), +44 20 3194 0544 (UK) ja +1 855 269 2605 (US). Recording of the webcast
will be available at www.ramirent.com later the same day. 



FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2013-2014

Ramirent observes a silent period during 21 days prior to the publication of
annual and interim financial results. 



Capital Markets Day 2013                     28 November 2013 at 8:30 a.m

Financial statements 2013                   17 February 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

Annual Report 2013                              28 February 2014

Annual General Meeting                       26 March 2014

Interim report January-March             8 May 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

Interim report January-June               29 July 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

Interim report January-September     6 November 2014 at 9:00 a.m

The financial information in this stock exchange release has not been audited.



Vantaa, 8 November 2013



RAMIRENT PLC
Board of Directors



FURTHER INFORMATION
Group President and CEO Magnus Rosén, tel.+358 20 750 2845,
magnus.rosen@ramirent.com 

CFO and EVP Corporate Functions Jonas Söderkvist, tel.+358 20 750 3248,
jonas.soderkvist@ramirent.com 

SVP, Marketing, Communications and IR Franciska Janzon, tel.+358 20 750 2859,
franciska.janzon@ramirent.com 



DISTRIBUTION
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Main news media
www.ramirent.com

Ramirent is a leading equipment rental group delivering Dynamic Rental
Solutions™ that simplify business. We serve a broad range of customers,
including construction and process industries, shipyards, the public sector and
households. In 2012, the Group's net sales totalled EUR 714 million. The Group
has 2,600 employees at 306 customer centres in 10 countries in the Nordic
countries and in Central and Eastern Europe. Ramirent is listed on the NASDAQ
OMX Helsinki Ltd.