DGAP-News: FUCHS increases EBIT to EUR 72.5 million in the first three months of 2012
FUCHS increases EBIT to EUR 72.5 million in the first three months of 2012
- Sales revenues and earnings increased again - Earnings before interest and tax up 7.6% to EUR 72.5 million - Positive outlook for 2012
The first three months 2012 at a glance
(Amounts in EUR million)1-3/20121-3/2011(2) Sales revenues (1)448.4403.8 Europe263.5247.0 Asia-Pacific, Africa118.999.6 North and South America79.868.9 Consolidation-13.8-11.7 Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)72.567.4 Profit after tax51.547.1 Earnings per share in EUR Ordinary share0.720.65 Preference share0.730.66 Gross cash flow53.350.7 Capital expenditures22.36.5 Employees (as at March 31)3,7223,594
(1) By company location (2) The previous years figures have been adjusted for reasons of comparability, see changes in the accounting policies in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Performance The FUCHS PETROLUB Group increased its sales revenues in all regions in the first quarter of 2012. Sales volumes enjoyed a particular increase in North America, Australia and Eastern Europe. Exchange rate movements also resulted in further growth of EUR 9.2 million or 2.3%. In addition to this, all regions recorded price and mix-related increases in sales revenues. This led to organic growth of EUR 35.0 million or 8.7%. Total revenues of EUR 448.4 million (403.8) were recorded, which represents an increase of 11.0% over the same quarter of the previous year.
In the first three months of the year, gross profit increased by EUR 9.6 million or 6.3% to EUR 161.9 million (152.3). The significant increases in raw material prices observed during the course of 2011 were a key contributor to the increases in sales revenues. The material and production costs for our lubricants (cost of sales) increased above-average by 13.9%. The Group was able to compensate for inflation-based increases in personnel and other direct costs, and also managed to cover the additional personal and infrastructure costs caused by its growth initiative. Total expenses for selling, distribution, administration and research and development increased by EUR 6.9 million or 8.1% to EUR 92.2 million (85.3).
Taking into account income from participations, this leads to earnings before interest and taxes of EUR 72.5 million. This represents EUR 5.1 million or 7.6% more than the record set in the first three months of 2011 (67.4). Earnings after taxes rose at a disproportionately high rate of 9.3% to EUR 51.5 million (47.1). Earnings per share increased to EUR 0.72 (0.65) per ordinary share and EUR 0.73 (0.66) per preference share.
Capital expenditures Investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets were EUR 12.2 million (6.5) in the first quarter of 2012. The primary focuses in this regard were the completion of our new research and development center in Mannheim, construction of a new facility in Russia and the modernization of our US production facility in Chicago.
The Group spent a further EUR 10.1 million in its investments in companies consolidated using the equity method. This allowed the acquisition of an automotive lubricants business at the start of 2012 to be partially financed by the Groups joint venture in Turkey.
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DGAP-News: FUCHS increases EBIT to EUR 72.5 million in the first three months of 2012