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Electronics Production |

Leoni enters next phase of growth

Fiscal 2013 was a year of transition for Leoni, The Company laid the foundation for its next growth phase during the year under report.

Consolidated sales reached a new high of EUR 3.92 billion (2012: EUR 3.81 billion). The sustained heavy demand from the global automotive industry was the reason for these above-budget sales revenues. At EUR 163.1 million earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were, as projected, significantly below the previous year’s amount of EUR 237.9 million, which benefited from the disposal of subsidiary Leoni Studer Hard AG. Among the factors also adversely affecting earnings in fiscal 2013 were restructuring expenses of EUR 21 million, substantial pre-production spending on 16 new wiring system projects as well as the lack of contributions to profit due to the fact that industrial cable plants were not operating at capacity. Consolidated net income amounted to EUR 105.9 million (2012: EUR 157.0 million). The Company intends to pay out a dividend of EUR 1.00 (previous year: EUR 1.50). “Leoni continued to develop its long-term strategy and applied a large number of forward-looking measures in 2013," said Dr Klaus Probst, President and CEO of Leoni AG, at the company's balance sheet press conference. “We succeeded in posting a new sales record despite the weak economy in our home market of Europe. This was possible only because Leoni’s international footprint is growing and our business in the Americas and Asia performed very well.” WSD: growth in business with premium manufacturers The Wiring Systems Division increased its sales by over 5 percent to EUR 2,321.0 million during the year under report (2012: EUR 2,206.4 million). Above all, the demand from the export-heavyweight German car industry, especially so the premium manufacturers, was the key to this growth. There were also significant increases in the sales of cable harnesses and wiring systems that were produced at Chinese plants and mostly supplied to foreign manufacturers based in the country. In the Americas, where the Company up to now served almost exclusively the commercial vehicle market, it made a successful start into the car wiring systems business. The new Business Unit Power Sports was also successfully established. In particular, restructuring expenses of EUR 12.6 million as well as substantial pre-production spending on an above-average, large number of new projects exerted a negative effect on earnings. As expected, the division’s EBIT was down to EUR 116.1 million (2012: EUR 136.4 million). WCS: automotive cable sales up, industrial business down The sales performance of the Wire & Cable Solutions Division was again mixed in the 2013 financial year. The business units that supply the industrial sector with cables and cable systems had to contend with declining demand because their business is still heavily geared towards Europe, where the economy has been weak of late. By contrast, income from the sales of automotive cables was up: while sales were flat in Europe, they rose significantly in Asia and the Americas. Capacity in these two markets was expanded accordingly during the period under report. Overall, the division's external sales remained virtually unchanged at EUR 1,596.9 million (2012: EUR 1,602.6 million). As expected, the division’s EBIT of EUR 47.1 million was substantially below the previous year’s figure of EUR 101.3 million, which was boosted by the non-recurring income of EUR 28.3 million from the sale of subsidiary Leoni Studer Hard AG. Restructuring expenses of EUR 8.9 million, the weak level of capacity utilisation in the industrial segment as well as an unfavourable mix of automotive cable products also adversely affected earnings during the year under report. Forecast: balanced sales by region in the long term In line with its planning, in 2014 Leoni is entering its next phase of growth, which will take the Company to consolidated sales of EUR 5 billion and a 7 percent EBIT margin by 2016. Sales revenues of approx. EUR 4.1 billion and a disproportionately strong increase in earnings before interest and taxes to at least EUR 200 million are projected for the current financial year. The Company has budgeted for capital investment of EUR 200 million. Leoni estimates free cash flow of about EUR 30 million for 2014. The net income expected for the year should mean another increase in equity, thus taking the equity ratio up to about 36 percent. The return on capital employed will probably be about 16 percent. The shift in Leoni’s business by region will continue. While Europe still provided about two thirds of consolidated sales in the year under report, this proportion will likely contract to just under 60 percent by 2018. The long-term aim is to have an even distribution of sales between the economic areas of Europe, Asia and the Americas, while business in the European home market is to continue to grow.

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March 28 2024 10:16 am V22.4.20-1
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