PONSSE PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 17 APRIL 2018, 9:00 a.m.
 
 
PONSSE’S INTERIM REPORT FOR 1 JANUARY – 31 MARCH 2018 
 
– Net sales amounted to EUR 142.1 (129.9) million.

– Operating result totalled EUR 17.1 (14.3) million, equalling 12.0 (11.0) per cent of net sales.

– Profit before taxes was EUR 15.4 (14.5) million.

– Cash flow from business operations was EUR 19.3 (-5.4) million.

– Earnings per share were EUR 0.42 (0.40).

– Equity ratio was 53.2 (52.4) per cent.

– Order books stood at EUR 173.8 (118.6) million.


PRESIDENT AND CEO JUHO NUMMELA: 
Performance for the first quarter was extremely good, and the demand for PONSSE forest machines was strong in all our market areas. Order intake for the first quarter was excellent, and the order books for the period under review showed a result of EUR 173.8 (118.6) million.

The company’s net sales for the first quarter were EUR 142.1 (129.9) million. Growth in net sales compared to the reference period was 9.4 percent. Net sales for after sales services greatly increased, and the net sales for used machines was at the same level as in the reference period. International business operations accounted for 73.9 (72.1) percent of net sales.

The operating result for the past quarter amounted to EUR 17.1 (14.3) million, with growth of 19.2 percent. The operating margin for the period under review was 12.0 (11.0) percent. Cash flow for the first quarter was EUR 19.3 (-5.4) million, an excellent level. The company’s working capital is well under control. Good operating result and the working capital situation reflected both to the company’s strong cash flow.

The Vieremä factory investment is proceeding on schedule. Over the course of the first quarter, we successfully deployed the new warehouse system. The development of warehouse automation and material flow is continuing at the same time as construction of the plant’s production lines begins in the new factory. The new assembly plant will be deployed after the summer holidays.


NET SALES

Consolidated net sales for the period under review amounted to EUR 142.1 (129.9) million, which is 9.4 per cent more than in the comparison period. International business operations accounted for 73.9 (72.1) per cent of net sales.

Net sales were regionally distributed as follows: Northern Europe 41.3 (47.0) per cent, Central and Southern Europe 20.2 (19.0) per cent, Russia and Asia 19.5 (15.8) per cent, North and South America 18.0 (17.8) per cent and other countries 1.0 (0.4) per cent.


PROFIT PERFORMANCE

The operating result amounted to EUR 17.1 (14.3) million. The operating result equalled 12.0 (11.0) per cent of net sales for the period under review. Consolidated return on capital employed (ROCE) stood at 25.3 (27.6) per cent.

Staff costs for the period totalled EUR 20.3 (18.6) million. Other operating expenses stood at EUR 12.8 (11.1) million. The net total of financial income and expenses amounted to EUR -1.7 (0.1) million. Exchange rate gains and losses with a net effect of EUR -0.7 (0.3) million were recognised under financial items for the period. Result for the period under review totalled EUR 11.7 (11.2) million. Diluted and undiluted earnings per share (EPS) came to EUR 0.42 (0.40).


STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES

At the end of the period under review, the total consolidated statements of financial position amounted to EUR 362.3 (313.7) million. Inventories stood at EUR 132.1 (128.6) million. Trade receivables totalled EUR 35.8 (40.4) million, while liquid assets stood at EUR 54.7 (22.3) million. Group shareholders’ equity stood at EUR 186.7 (161.3) million and parent company shareholders’ equity (FAS) at EUR 177.2 (150.1) million. The amount of interest-bearing liabilities was EUR 67.8 (57.9) million. The company has used 0 per cent of its credit facility limit. The parent company's net receivables from other Group companies stood at EUR 84.0 (94.9) million. The parent company’s receivables from subsidiaries mainly consisted of trade receivables. Consolidated net liabilities totalled EUR 13.0 (35.4) million, and the debt-equity ratio (net gearing) was 6.9 (22.0) per cent. The equity ratio stood at 53.2 (52.4) percent at the end of the period under review.

Cash flow from operating activities amounted to EUR 19.3 (-5.4) million. Cash flow from investment activities came to EUR -6.5 (-8.2) million. 

ORDER INTAKE AND ORDER BOOKS

Order intake for the period totalled EUR 192.7 (126.7) million, while period-end order books were valued at EUR 173.8 (118.6) million.


DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

The subsidiaries included in the Ponsse Group are Ponsse AB, Sweden; Ponsse AS, Norway; Ponssé S.A.S., France; Ponsse UK Ltd, the United Kingdom; Ponsse Machines Ireland Ltd, Ireland, Ponsse North America, Inc., the United States; Ponsse Latin America Ltda, Brazil; Ponsse Uruguay S.A., Uruguay; OOO Ponsse, Russia; Ponsse Asia-Pacific Ltd, Hong Kong; Ponsse China Ltd, China and Epec Oy, Finland. The Group includes also the property company OOO Ocean Safety Center, Russia. Sunit Oy, Finland, is an associate in which Ponsse Plc has a holding of 34 per cent.


R&D AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Group’s R&D expenses during the period under review totalled EUR 4.0 (3.3) million, of which EUR 0.9 (0.8) million was capitalised.

Capital expenditure totalled EUR 6.5 (8.3) million. It consisted in addition to capitalised R&D expenses of investments in buildings and ordinary maintenance and replacement investments for machinery and equipment.


MANAGEMENT

The following persons were members of the Management Team: Juho Nummela, President and CEO, acting as the chairman; Petri Härkönen, CFO; Juha Inberg, Technology and R&D Director; Tapio Mertanen, Service Director; Paula Oksman, HR Director; Tommi Väänänen, Director of Delivery Chain Process and Jarmo Vidgrén, Deputy CEO, Sales and Marketing Director. The company management has regular management liability insurance.

The area director organisation of sales is led by Jarmo Vidgrén, the Group's sales and marketing director, and Tapio Mertanen, service director. Area directors and managing directors of subsidiaries report to Jarmo Vidgrén, Ponsse Plc's sales and marketing director.

The geographical distribution and the responsible persons are presented below:
Northern Europe:
Jani Liukkonen (Finland),
Carl-Henrik Hammar (Sweden and Denmark),
Jussi Hentunen (the Baltic countries) and
Sigurd Skotte (Norway),

Central and Southern Europe:
Tuomo Moilanen (Germany and Austria),
Clément Puybaret (France),
Janne Tarvainen (Spain and Portugal),
Dean Robson (the United Kingdom),
Gary Glendinning (Ireland, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia) and
Jussi Hentunen (Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia).

Russia and Asia:
Jaakko Laurila (Russia and Belarus),
Janne Tarvainen (Australia and South Africa) and
Risto Kääriäinen (China and Japan),

North and South America:
Pekka Ruuskanen (the United States),
Eero Lukkarinen (Canada),
Marko Mattila (Brazil) and
Martin Toledo (Uruguay, Chile and Argentina).


PERSONNEL

The Group had an average staff of 1,573 (1,459) during the period and employed 1,589 (1,463) people at period-end.


SHARE PERFORMANCE

The company’s registered share capital consists of 28,000,000 shares. The trading volume of Ponsse Plc shares for 1 January – 31 March 2018 totalled 468,357, accounting for 1.7 per cent of the total number of shares. Share turnover amounted to EUR 12.7 million, with the period’s lowest and highest share prices amounting to EUR 24.15 and EUR 28.85, respectively.

At the end of the period, shares closed at EUR 28.65, and market capitalisation totalled EUR 802.2 million.

At the end of the period under review, the company held 33,092 treasury shares.


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A separate release was issued on 9 April 2018 regarding the authorizations given to the Board of Directors and other resolutions at the AGM. 
 
 
GOVERNANCE

In its decision-making and administration, the company observes the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act, other regulations governing publicly listed companies and the company’s Articles of Association. The company’s Board of Directors has adopted the Code of Governance that complies with the Finnish Corporate Governance Code approved by the Board of the Securities Market Association in 2015. The purpose of the code is to ensure that the company is professionally managed and that its business principles and practices are of a high ethical and professional standard.

The Code of Governance is available on Ponsse’s website in the Investors section.


RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk management is based on the company’s values, as well as strategic and financial objectives. Risk management aims to support the achievement of the objectives specified in the company’s strategy, as well as to ensure the financial development of the company and the continuity of its business.

Furthermore, risk management aims to identify, assess and monitor business-related risks which may influence the achievement of the company’s strategic and financial goals or the continuity of its business. Decisions on the necessary measures to anticipate risks and react to observed risks are made on the basis of this information.

Risk management is a part of regular daily business, and it is also included in the management system. Risk management is controlled by the risk management policy approved by the Board.

A risk is any event that may prevent the company from reaching its objectives or that threatens the continuity of business. On the other hand, a risk may also be a positive event, in which case the risk is treated as an opportunity. Each risk is assessed on the basis of its impact and probability. Methods of risk management include avoiding, mitigating and transferring risks. Risks can also be managed by controlling and minimising their impact.


SHORT-TERM RISK MANAGEMENT

The insecurity in the world economy may result in a decline in the demand for forest machines. The uncertainty may be increased by the volatility of developing countries’ foreign exchange markets. The geopolitical situation, in particular, will increase the uncertainty through financial market operations and sanctions. Changes taking place in the fiscal and customs legislation in countries to which Ponsse exports may hamper the company’s export trade or its profitability. The risks in the supplier network may cause problems in material availability.

The parent company monitors the changes in the Group’s internal and external trade receivables and the associated risk of impairment.

The key objective of the company’s financial risk management policy is to manage liquidity, interest and currency risks. The company ensures its liquidity through credit limit facilities agreed with a number of financial institutions. The effect of adverse changes in interest rates is minimised by utilising credit linked to different reference rates and by concluding interest rate swaps. The effects of currency rate fluctuations are mitigated through derivative contracts.


OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE

The Group's euro-denominated operating profit is expected to be at the same level in 2018 as it was in 2017.

Ponsse's updated and competitive product range and service solutions have had a significant impact on the company's growth. The market situation has continued to be favourable.

Our investments are focused on developing the level of service and capacity of the supply chain and spare part logistics and developing the service network in Finland and abroad. Expansion of the Vieremä factory is progressing in schedule. The investment in the factory is related to the development of safety, productivity, product quality and flexibility of the Vieremä factory. The start-up of the new factory will take place during the first six months of 2018. The added benefits of the expansion will begin to be realised as planned in the second half of 2018.


PONSSE GROUP


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (EUR 1,000)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (EUR 1,000)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (EUR 1,000)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (EUR 1,000)

*) As a result of the new consolidation system, the company is now able to present, from the beginning of the financial year 2018, all exchange rate differences on equity in the translation difference. Exchange differences for previously accrued retained earnings are presented within the profits. The change has no effect on previously reported key figures.

FORMULAE FOR FINANCIAL INDICATORS

Return on capital employed, %:
Result before tax + financial expenses
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder´s equity + interest-bearing financial liabilities (average during the year) * 100

Average number of employees:
Average of the number of personnel at the end of each month. The calculation has been adjusted for part-time employees.

Net gearing, %:
Interest-bearing financial liabilities – cash and cash equivalents
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders’ equity * 100

Equity ratio, %:
Shareholders’ equity + Non-controlling interests
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance sheet total - advance payments received * 100
 
 
Earnings per share:
Net result for the period - Non-controlling interests
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average number of shares during the accounting period, adjusted for share issues

Equity per share:
Shareholders’ equity
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of shares on the balance sheet date, adjusted for share issues

The stock exchange release for the interim report has been prepared observing the recognition and valuation principles of IFRS standards, but the requirements of IAS 34 have not been complied with. The same accounting principles were observed for the interim report as for the annual financial statements dated 31 December 2016, with the exception of the new standards introduced on 1 January 2018. These standards are IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and IFRS 9, Financial Instruments as Amended.

The Group´s assessment of the impact of the new standards IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”, IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and IFRS 16 “Leases” are described in the annual financial statements dated 31 December 2017 and the assessment has not changed during the financial period.

The group has adopted the standard IFRS 9, Financial Instruments as Amended. With regard to possible decline in value of financial assets, an expected credit loss model will be applied. The standard amendment is not expected to have any significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. Expected credit losses will be recorded customer-specifically, based on predetermined criteria.

The IFRS 15 standard has not had any significant effect on the time when net sales are recognised, or the amount of net sales recognized, and therefore on the consolidated income statement or balance sheet. However, IFRS 15 will have a minor impact on the time when net sales are recognised and liabilities based on agreements, for example regarding the service-based component of warranties provided for new machines and any options provided for customers to acquire additional services with a discount. In addition, the new standard will have an impact on financial statements as a result of new requirements regarding notes. A standard transition method has been applied in implementing the standard. The effects on the comparability of financial periods and the profit and loss account and balance sheet of the reporting period are minor.

The impact of the IFRS 16 “Leases” are described in the annual financial statements dated 31 December 2017 and the assessment has not changed during the financial period.

The above figures have not been audited.

The above figures have been rounded and may therefore differ from those given in the official financial statements.

This communication includes future-oriented statements that are based on the assumptions currently made by the company’s management and its current decisions and plans. Although the management believes that the future expectations are well founded, there is no certainty that these expectations will prove to be correct. This is why the results may significantly deviate from the assumptions included in the future-oriented statements as a result of, among other things, changes in the economy, markets, competitive conditions, legislation or currency exchange rates.


Vieremä, 17 April 2018

PONSSE PLC


Juho Nummela
President and CEO


FURTHER INFORMATION
Juho Nummela, President and CEO, tel. +358 400 495 690
Petri Härkönen, CFO, tel. +358 50 409 8362

DISTRIBUTION
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd
Principal media
www.ponsse.com


Ponsse Plc is a company specialising in the sales, manufacture, servicing and technology of cut-to-length method forest machines and is driven by genuine interest in its customers and their business. Ponsse develops and manufactures sustainable and innovative harvesting solutions based on customers’ needs.

The company was established by forest machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén in 1970, and it has been a leader in timber harvesting solutions based on the cut-to-length method ever since. Ponsse is headquartered in Vieremä, Finland. The company’s shares are quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic List.