Harju Elekter Group financial results, 1-9/2015 Estonia,

Estonia, 2015-11-04 10:54 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Group’s sales revenue in the accounting quarter was 18.1 (Q3 2014: 15.7) million euros. During the accounting quarter, sales revenue increased by 9% or 1.5 million euros compared to the previous quarter, and 15% or 2.4 million euros in relation to the comparison period. In 9-months, the Group’s sales revenue was 45.6 million euros, increasing by 25% compared to the previous period. The consolidated net profit of the 9M 2015 was 3.2 (9M 2014: 9.5) million euros. When comparing the results of the reporting period to the last year, the following circumstances had the greatest impact: in the financial results of 2014, the operations of Finnkumu Oy (acquired in June 2014) were only represented in the 3rd quarter; also the net profit of the 9 months of 2014 included the consolidated profit of the associated company AS Draka Keila Cables in the amount of 0.8 million euros. The net profit of 2014 was impacted by the extraordinary revenues from the sales of financial investments. This includes the revenue of 1.8 million euros from the sales of the AS Draka Keila Cables minority holding and 4.6 million euros from the sales of the shares of PKC Group Oyj. Not including the extraordinary revenues from the sales of financial investments, the comparable 9-months net profit of 2014 was 3.1 million euros and of the current reporting period, 3.2 million euros.

There has been a growth in sales revenue among almost all products and services. In the reporting quarter, 93% (Q3 2014: 92%) and in 9-months period, 92% (9M 2014: 90%) of sales revenue was earned from the Manufacturing segment, and Real Estate and Unallocated activities contributed 7% and 8% of the consolidated sales volume, respectively. 88% (Q3 2014: 87%) of the reporting quarter sales revenue originated from the sale of electrical equipment. There was 15.9 million euros worth of electrical equipment sold in the reporting quarter, which was 2.2 million euros or 16% more than in the comparison quarter, with sales of equipment growing up to 39.2 (9M 2014: 30.5) million euros in the 9-months period and formed 86% of the total sales revenue. The biggest contribution to the increase of electrical equipment sales volume came from Finnkumu Oy as well as from UAB Rifas. A significant growth came from the sales to the Norwegian market, which was 3.2 (9M 2014: 1.0) million euros.

In nine months, 77% (9M 2014: 70%) of the Group’s products and services were sold in foreign markets, outside Estonia and in the reporting quarter 77% (Q3 2014: 76%). Finland is the biggest market of the Group; accordingly, the sales volumes of the Group are strongly influenced by the events taking place on this market. In nine months, 63% of the Group’s products and services were sold on the Finnish market (9M 2014: 57%). The share of the Finnish market in the consolidated sales revenue has grown 1 percentage point in the accounting quarter and 6 percentage points during the 9-months period when compared to the respective periods of 2014. At the same time, the share of the Estonian market in the consolidated sales decreased during a year by 7 percentage points to 23.5%. The decline was mainly due to decrease in orders for the sales of low-voltage electrical equipment.

Operating expenses increased 16% in the reporting quarter and 23% in the 9-months period compared to the reference periods. Cost of sales increased by 18% up to 14,650 thousand euros in the reporting quarter and by 26% up to 37,406 thousand euros during 9-months period. Distribution costs decreased to 1,961 thousand euros in the 9-months period; the rate of distribution costs to revenue accounted for 4.3% (9M 2014: 5.4%). Administrative expenses increased during nine months by 223,000 euros to 3,088 thousand euros, at the same time the rate of administrative expenses to revenue decreased and accounted for 6.8% (9M 2014: 7.9%).

In Q3 2015, the average 479 (Q3 2014: 471) people worked in the Group and in 9-months period, the average number of employees was 475 (9M 2014: 451). In the third quarter, employee wages and salaries totalled 2,454 (Q3 2014: 2,361) thousand euros and during the first 9 months 7,256 (9M 2014: 6,692) thousand euros. The average wages per employee per month amounted to 1,696 (9M 2014: 1,647) euros.

In the third quarter the gross profit of the Group was 3,441 (Q3 2014: 3,242) thousand euros. The gross profit margin was 19.0% being 1.7 per cent point lower compering to the same period a year before. In the 9-months period, the gross profit of the Group was 8,220 (9M 2014: 6,858) thousand euros and the gross profit margin was 18.0% being 0.8 percent point lower comparing to the reference period.

The Group’s operating profit in the reporting quarter was 1,788 (Q3 2014: 1,527) thousand euros and EBITDA 2,181 (Q3 2014:1,907) thousand euros. Return of sales for the accounting quarter was 9.9% (Q3 2014: 9.7%) and return of sales before depreciation 12.1% being on the same level as a year before.

In 9-months period, EBITDA increased by 1,237 thousand euros to 4,321 (9M 2014: 3,084) thousand euros and operating profit by 1,252 thousand euros to 3,197 (9M 2014: 1,945) thousand euros. Return of sales before depreciation was 9.5% (9M 2014: 8.5%) and return of sales 7.0% (9M 2014: 5.3%).

In April, PKC Group Oyj paid dividends to the shareholders 0.70 euros per share. Dividend income from the shares was 766 (Q2 2014: 906) thousand euros. In total, financial investments yielded a profit of 785 thousand euros during nine months, which was 4,839 thousand euros lower, than in the comparable period. In Q2 2014, 200,000 shares of PKC Group Oyj were sold and the financial income from selling the shares was 4,616 thousand euros.

AS Harju Elekter sold its holding in AS Draka Keila Cables on 9 July 2014. The transaction earned 1,785 thousand euros of financial income and an additional profit of 817,000 euros was consolidated from the company. In total, a revenue of 2,602 thousand euros was made by the associated company in the 9 months of last year.

In Q3 2015, the consolidated net profit was 1,620 (Q3 2014: 3,200) thousand euros, of which the share of the owners of the Company was 1,627 (Q3 2014: 3,102) thousand euros. The net profit margin was established at 9.0% (Q3 2014: 20.4%). EPS in the Q3 was 0.09 (Q3 2014: 0.18) euros.

Overall, the consolidated net profit of the 9-months period was 3,203 (9M 2014: 9,525) thousand euros. The share of the owners of the Company was 3,199 (9M 2014: 9,463) thousand euros. The net profit margin was established at 7.0% (9M 2014: 26.1%). In 9-months period, EPS was 0.18 (9M 2014: 0.54) euros.

During the 9-months period, the Group’s investments to non-current assets totalled 4.7 (9M 2014: 5.8, incl through business combinations 4.9) million euros.

Andres Allikmäe Managing director/ CEO +372 674 7400

For more information: Internal report 1-9/2015

Tiit Atso CFO +372 674 7422