EQS-Ad-hoc: PIERER Mobility AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results
PIERER Mobility: 2023 – Strong year in the motorcycle segment –
Restructuring in the bicycle segment underway
29-Jan-2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST
Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the
Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News – a service of EQS
Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Ad hoc announcement pursuant to article 17 Regulation (EU) No 596/2014
(MAR)
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to article 53 LR
Wels, January 29, 2024
PIERER Mobility: 2023 – Strong year in the motorcycle segment –
Restructuring in the bicycle segment underway
• New record sales: EUR 2,661 million (+9%)
• EBIT: EUR 160 million (previous year: EUR 235 million)
• EBIT margin 6%: negatively impacted by the bicycle restructuring
• Outlook 2024: increasing profitability and strengthening the core
business
Preliminary key financial figures for the 2023 financial year
Strong year in the motorcycle segment – restructuring in the bicycle
segment begins
The PIERER Mobility Group increased consolidated sales by around 9% to a
new record of EUR 2,661 million in the 2023 financial year (previous year:
EUR 2,437 million) despite difficult economic conditions and upheaval in
the bicycle industry.
The preliminary operating result (EBIT) fell by around 32% to EUR 160
million (previous year: EUR 235 million), which corresponds to an EBIT
margin of 6.0%. In the motorcycle segment, the EBIT margin is around 9%,
which is within the originally planned range of 8-10%. On the other hand,
the reorganization of the bicycle segment had a significant negative
impact on earnings. At EUR 324 million, the operating result before
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is around 15% below the previous
year’s figure, which corresponds to an EBITDA margin of 12.2%.
In the motorcycle segment, the cost of dealer inventories rose sharply due
to significantly higher interest rates despite good demand. As a result,
extended payment terms and higher discounts had to be granted to dealers
in order to strengthen the dealer structure. Due to the sufficient
liquidity reserves available, PIERER Mobility AG was able to support not
only its dealers but also its suppliers accordingly in order to stabilize
their financial situation and reduce the significantly increased burdens
caused by the rise in interest rates. The associated negative impact on
free cash flow, which totalled EUR -411 million in 2023 (previous year:
EUR -3 million), was therefore consciously accepted. In addition, the
level of investment in the 2023 financial year remained at a high level
(EUR 284 million, +6%). In the past financial year, investments in series
development projects including tools totalled EUR 195 million (+21%).
In the 2023 financial year, the PIERER Mobility Group increased its
workforce by 96 to a total of 6,184 employees. Of these, around 220
apprentices are employed in the training workshop at the Mattighofen site.
Around 1,300 employees work in Research & Development, which corresponds
to around 21% of the total workforce.
Increase in market share in the most important motorcycle
markets – Motorcycle sales: 381,555 (+2%)
With 280,206 KTM motorcycles sold, 67,462 HUSQVARNA motorcycles sold and
29,532 GASGAS motorcycles sold in the 2023 financial year, in addition to
the motorcycles sold by MV Agusta (1,852) and CFMoto (2,503), sales
totalled 381,555 motorcycles (2022: 375,492 units). The motorcycles
segment thus achieved a sales increase of 2 %. In the sales regions of
Europe, sales totalled around 140,000 motorcycles (+15%) and around two
thirds of motorcycles (around 240,000) were sold in markets outside
Europe. Despite a slight decline in sales in North America, the subsidiary
there still managed to sell more than 100,000 motorcycles for the second
time in a row. While sales in South America (-26%) and Asia (-27%)
declined in the past financial year, sales in Australia were up slightly
(+1%) on the previous year with around 19,700 motorcycles sold.
Contrary to the difficult global economic conditions, demand in the core
markets of Europe grew very strongly at +11% (
Bicycle sales: 157,358 (+33%) – inventory adjustment distorts sales increase
The PIERER Mobility Group was also confronted with a sharp fall in market prices due to global overstocks in the bicycle sector. The sales growth of more than 30% in this segment with the HUSQVARNA, R RAYMON, GASGAS and FELT brands was characterized by inventory adjustments and the disposal of the R Raymon brand. In the 2023 financial year, 157,358 bicycles were sold (previous year: 118,465), of which 100,640 were e-bicycles (previous year:
74,479). The DACH region remains the largest sales market for bicycles, accounting for around 60%. The share of sales in the bicycle division in North America will be 10% in 2023.
At the top of the industry in terms of ESG risk rating
In January 2024, PIERER Mobility AG received the update of its ESG risk assessment by Sustainalytics. The company was classified as having a low risk of material financial impact from ESG factors (score: 10.0). With this ESG risk rating, the company thus achieved the 1^st place in the automotive sector assessed by Sustainalytics. In addition, PIERER Mobility AG was again recognized by Sustainalytics as an “ESG Regional Top Rated” and “ESG Industry Top Rated” company in 2024.
Outlook 2024: increasing profitability and strengthening the core business
In the 2024 financial year, PIERER Mobility AG will focus on strengthening its core business “Powered-Two-Wheelers (motorcycles and e-bicycles)” with the brands KTM, Husqvarna, GASGAS and MV Agusta. In order to secure the Group’s profitability, the management is implementing cost-cutting measures in the double-digit million range in the current year of consolidation. A key focus will be on streamlining product development cycles and a clear alignment of the product programs.
In the motorcycle segment, parts of production for individual mid-range models and certain R&D activities are being transferred to strategic partner Bajaj Auto, India, and CFMOTO, China. This affects products (road motorcycles) in very price- and competition-intensive markets. The model range previously produced by Bajaj (between 125 and 390 cubic centimetres) will be expanded. Road motorcycles between 790 and 950 cubic centimetres will be assembled by the Chinese partner CFMOTO. Among other things, this is intended to exploit cost advantages in these regions and accelerate development and industrialization processes.
These measures will be accompanied by a reduction in the number of employees by up to 300 in Mattighofen and Munderfing, in particular through the removal of temporary workers and employees leaving the company through natural fluctuation.
Against the backdrop of difficult economic developments worldwide, the Executive Board expects sales to remain virtually unchanged and the EBIT margin to be between 5% and 7% in the 2024 financial year.
Preliminary key figures 2023 of the PIERER Mobility Group (consolidated)
MOST SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: Earnings figures 2022 2023 Chg. Sales mEUR 2,437.2 2,661.2 9.2% EBITDA mEUR 381.1 323.5 -15.1% EBITDA margin 15.6% 12.2% EBIT mEUR 235.3 160.0 -32.0% EBIT margin 9.7% 6.0% FURTHER FINANCIAL KEY FIGURES: Earnings and cash flow indicators 2022 2023 Chg. Earnings before taxes (EBT) mEUR 215.9 92.1 -57.3% Free Cash Flow mEUR -2.8 -411.1 100% Gearing 28.0% 85.3% Other 2022 2023 Chg. Capex^1^) mEUR 267.5 284.0 6.2% Employees Headcount 6,088 6,184 1.6%
^
^1) Excluding lease additions (IFRS 16) in the amount of mEUR 32.5
The annual financial report and the sustainability report for the 2023 financial year will be published on 27 March 2024 and will be available on the company’s website www.pierermobility.com under the following links
(1) https://www.pierermobility.com/investor-relations/publikationen
(2) https://www.pierermobility.com/nachhaltigkeit/publikationen
About the Group
PIERER Mobility AG is the holding company of Europe’s leading manufacturer of powered two-wheelers, producing a full range of premium brands including KTM, GASGAS, Husqvarna and und MV Agusta Motorcycles. With its innovative strength, PIERER Mobility is a pioneering technology leader in two-wheeled e-mobility through its motorcycle brands. Husqvarna and GASGAS E-Bicycles complement the two-wheeler range. The premium brand range also includes high-performance components under the WP brand and special KTM X-BOW high-performance sports cars.
Legal disclaimer
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE SECURITIES OF PIERER MOBILITY AG. IT IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, TRANSMISSION OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
Contact:
Investor Relations
Melinda Busáné Bellér
Tel: +43 (0) 1 533 1 433 – 70
Email: ir@pierermobility.com
Website: (3) www.pierermobility.com
ISIN: AT0000KTMI02; Swiss Valor Number (Switzerland): 41860974; Ticker Symbol: PKTM; Bloomberg: PKTM SW, PKTM AV; Reuters: PKTM.S; PKTM.VI
End of Inside Information
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29-Jan-2024 CET/CEST News transmitted by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com
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Language: English
Company: PIERER Mobility AG
Edisonstrasse 1
4600 catfish
Austria
Phone: +43 (0) 7242 69 402
E-mail: ir@pierermobility.com
Internet: www.pierermobility.com
ISIN: AT0000KTMI02
WKN: A2JKHY
Listed: SIX, Vienna Stock Exchange
EQS News ID: 1824525
Securities number (Switzerland): 41860974 Securities code: PKTM Bloomberg: PKTM SW; PKTM AV Reuters: PKTM.S; PKTM.VI
End of Announcement EQS News Service
1824525 29-Jan-2024 CET/CEST
References
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