Neo Industrial Plc: Turnover to the clear growth

January-June 2020

• Neo Industrial group's turnover was EUR 55.7 million (49.4 million)
• EBITDA was EUR 3.3 million (2.4 million)
• The operating result was EUR 1.0 million (0.2 million)
• The operating result of the Cable segment was EUR 1.4 million (0.8 million)
• The Group's result for the period was EUR -0.1 million (-0,6 million)

Near-term outlook remains the same: For the financial year 2020, Neo Industrial's net result is expected to be positive, provided that predominant conditions due COVID-19 pandemic will not substantially affect to the company's cable business capability to deliver.

In the main market of cable business there is no instant significant change in the demand.  

The rubber business is expected to have positive EBITDA with prevailing market situation.

MANAGING DIRECTOR JUKKA POUTANEN:

The turnover of Reka Cables Ltd increased clearly from last year, even though COVID -19 pandemic restricted the growth during the second quarter of the year.

The COVID -19 pandemic has not affected to the market demand in the cable business.

The operating result improved even though COVID 19 pandemic caused extra costs and delively delays and price variations of aluminium and copper stressed the operating result. All together these decreased the operating result approximately EUR 1.0 - 1.2 million.

The strong growth employed working capital and affected to the operating cash flow.

As a result of purchase of Reka Rubber, implemented in June, the company will form new business, rubber industry, adjacent to cable industry. This is step from Investment company to an industrial conglomerate. At the preliminary purchase price allocation there is no goodwill. Instead preliminary consolidation had positive EUR 0.2 million impact to the operating result.  

The company has started preparations to change the name of the company to be Reka Industrial.

Green Bond funded projects have been launched and new ones are under preparation. Investments have been made specially to the projects and development relating wind power and decreasing energy comsumption. The first Green Bond investor letter was published in March.

MAJOR EVENTS DURING JANUARY - JUNE

Neo Industrial Plc’s subsidiary Reka Cables Ltd received in January 2020 a substantial contract for underground power cables from Scandinavia. The total value of the contract is approximately EUR 9 million. The deliveries will be made during 2020-2022.

Neo Industrial Plc bought June 2020 all shares of Reka Rubber from the biggest shareholder of Neo Industrial, Reka Ltd. The purchase price, EUR 7.5 million, was paid by cash. According to the third party expert fairness opinion, acquired by the independent committee of the Board of Directors,  the price paid for the shares is fair from financial point of view for Neo Industrial Plc.

On 24th of June 2020, the AGM approved the corporate acquisition of Reka Rubber and the acquisition was implemented after the AGM on 25th of June 2020. The financial figures of Reka Rubber were consolidated to the Group figures as of 30 June 2020 as there was no significant difference between implementation and end of June figures. On the preliminary purchase price allocation, positive difference of EUR 0.4 million was formed and this amount was booked through consolidated income statement in June 2020. The operating result include EU 0.2 million of expenses relating the acquisition.

Via corporate acquisition the company will form new business, rubber industry, adjacent to cable industry. This is step from investment company to an industrial conglomerate.

The new Group is expected to benefit bigger size, different seasons of the businesses and sharing best practices. Different seasons of the businesses lessens the effects of seasonal fluctuations to the result of the company.

Figures in brackets refer to the same period a year earlier, unless otherwise stated. The half year financial report is unaudited.

KEY FIGURES

	1-6/2020	1-6/2019	1-12/2019
Turnover, EUR million	55.7	49.4	97.5
Operating result, EUR million	1.0	0.2	0.5
EBITDA, EUR million	3.3	2.4	4.9
Result for the period, EUR million	-0.1	-0.6	-1.4
Earnings per share, EUR	-0.02	-0.10	-0.24
Net cash provided by operating activities, EUR million	-0.8	1.8	7.8
ROI, %	0.5	2.1	2.4
IAS 19 corrected Equity ratio, %	16.4	19.1	16.8

TURNOVER AND OPERATING RESULT                          

Neo Industrial Group's turnover consisted of the Cable segment's turnover, totalling EUR 55.7 million (49.4).

EBITDA was EUR 3.3 million (2.4) and the operating result was EUR 1.0 million (0.2).

The Group's result for the review period was EUR -0.1 million (-0.6).

BALANCE SHEET AND FINANCING

At the end of the review period, the balance sheet totalled at EUR 76.9 million. On 31 December 2019 the balance sheet totalled at EUR 58.9 million.

Neo Industrial Plc bought June 2020 all shares of Reka Rubber. The purchase price, EUR 7.5 million, was paid by cash. The purchase was funded by EUR 7.5 million bank loan. Reka Rubber was consolidated to the Group figures as of 30 June 2020.

The Group arranged the ownership of real estate situating in Keuruu. Neo Industrial Plc bought the real estate by using purchase option of  related sale and lease agreement. Purchase price due purchase option was EUR 1.0 million. Neo Industrial Plc sold the real estate further to Reka pension fund with fair value of EUR 2.2 million. 10 year rental agreement was made with Reka Pension fund relating the real estate. The fair value of the real estate was defined by third party experts. With the funding occurred due arrangements, Neo Industrial paid back its short-term loan EUR 1.2 million. The arrangement did not have significant result effect.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected to the market demand in the cable business. However, COVID-19 pandemic restricted the growth during the second quarter of the year.

COVID-19 has caused additional costs and delivery delays as personnel has been more than usual on sick leave to eliminate the possible infection risk. The additional costs due COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to stress operating result of cable business EUR 0.3 - 0.5 million.

In rubber business the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the customer demand. The volumes of part of the customers have been lower than usual due to whether the market demand of the customer, delivery problems of other suppliers, temporal closing of factories or combination of these factors.

COVID-19 pandemic has not significantly affected to the material procurement of cable nor rubber businesses. So far COVID-19 pandemic has not affected to the payment behaviour of the customers.

BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS

Neo Industrial Plc bought June 2020 all shares of Reka Rubber from the biggest shareholder of Neo Industrial, Reka Ltd. The purchase price, EUR 7.5 million, was paid by cash. On 24th of June 2020, the AGM approved the corporate acquisition of Reka Rubber and the acquisition was implemented after the AGM on 25th of June 2020. The financial figures of Reka Rubber were consolidated to the Group figures as of 30 June 2020 as there was no significant difference between implementation and end of June figures. On the preliminary purchase price allocation, positive difference of EUR 0.4 million was formed and this amount was booked through consolidated income statement in June 2020. The operating result include EU 0.2 million of expenses relating the acquisition.

Reka Rubber is one of the leading European manufacturers of small and medium-sized rubber components to the heavy vehicle and machine building industries. Reka Rubber has manufacturing units in Finland (Aura) and in Poland (subsidiary in Dopiewo). In addition to that the rubber products are manufactured in Asia through the subcontracting network managed by Reka Rubber.

Via corporate acquisition the company will form new business, Rubber industry, adjacent to cable industry.

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTY FACTORS

Neo Industrial’s financial risks include currency, interest rate, commodity, liquidity, credit and investment risks. Financial risks and the related protection measures are described in more detail in notes to the financial statements. The company’s future risk factors are related to the development of its business segments.

In the cable segment, the most significant risks are related to market development, fluctuations of raw material prices and currencies as well as working capital management in various situations. During considerable seasonal changes, suppliers’ terms of payment effect significantly on the ability to ensure competitive delivery times through sufficient inventories. Also, operation models are being developed in order to balance out the effects of seasonal changes on the load rates of factories. In cable business, COVID-19 pandemic has caused extra costs and delively delays. It is difficult to estimate the effect of the pandemic for the future. The additional costs are expected to have also in the second half of the year.

In the cable segment the key raw materials are metals (copper and aluminium) and plastics. In the metals purchases partial price hedging is used with the aid of commodity derivatives. Important with metals are the development of both the dollar-denominated price and the USD / EUR exchange rate. Partial price fixing is used with electricity.

The financial situation in euro area and political uncertainties may have effect on purchase amount of the customers in rubber business as well to the start of new projects. COVID-19 pandemic has affected to the purchase amount of customers and it is difficult to estimate the effect of pandemic for the future. COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have negative effect on purchase amounts of the customers also in the second half of the year. Due COVID-19 pandemic the rubber business got EUR 100 thousand support from Business Finland to develop its products, marketing and competitiveness. The development measures are under way.

The trade sanctions of USA, increase of customs tariffs for the products as well Brexit can have negative effect on customer volumes in rubber industry. Also the increased competition by Asian actors in euro area can have effect on customer´s purchase decisions.

The Group has carried out and is carrying out the simplifications of the Group structure with mergers. Tax authority has questioned the tax neutrality of the subsidiary merge carried out in 2015. Neo Industrial has filed for changes in its tax assessment notice. Neo Industrial has the opinion that the merge is universal succession and therefore tax neutral. The difference of opinion of the Neo Industrial and tax authority is EUR 1.2 million.

MAJOR EVENTS AFTER THE REVIEW PERIOD

There has not been any major events after the review period.

NEAR-TERM OUTLOOK

For the financial year 2020, Neo Industrial's net result is expected to be positive, provided that predominant conditions due COVID-19 pandemic will not substantially affect to the company's cable business capability to deliver.

In the main market are of cable business there is no instant significant change in the demand. 

The rubber business is expected to have positive EBITDA with prevailing market situation.

DISCLOSURE POLICY OF HALF YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT

Neo Industrial discloses relevant information related to its Half Year Financial Report with this Stock Exchange Release. The entire Half Year Report for January–June 2020 is attached to this release and is also available on company's website at www.neoindustrial.fi.

Hyvinkää, 6 August 2020

 

Neo Industrial Plc
Board of Directors

Further information:
Jukka Poutanen, Managing Director, tel. +358 40 833 9007