First Half of 2021
- Order intake of CHF 975.3 million
- Sales of CHF 400.5 million
- EBIT of CHF 9.0 million and net profit of CHF 5.3 million
- Strategy implementation and crisis management
- Outlook
Rieter posted an order intake of CHF 975.3 million, which corresponds to an increase of 289% compared to the previous year period (first half of 2020: CHF 250.7 million). The recovery is broadly supported globally and is based on a catch-up effect relating to the years 2019 and 2020 and a regional shift in demand. Rieter is benefitting from its innovative product portfolio and the company’s global positioning. The highest order intake was recorded in Turkey.
On June 30, 2021, the company had an order backlog of about CHF 1 135 million (June 30, 2020: about CHF 490 million).
Order Intake by Business Group
In the Business Group Machines & Systems, order intake amounted to CHF 714.8 million (first half of 2020: CHF 129.2 million). In the Business Group Components, order intake rose to CHF 154.9 million (first half of 2020: CHF 76.7 million), and in the Business Group After Sales it increased to CHF 105.6 million (first half of 2020: CHF 44.8 million).
A key driver of growth in the machinery business has been the demand for innovative complete systems in the areas of ring and compact spinning. The successful commercialization of the compacting devices and the piecing robot ROBOspin, launched in 2019, contributed to the increase in the Business Groups Components and After Sales.
Order Intake | January – June 2021 | January – June 2020 | Change | Change IN LOCAL CURRENCY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rieter | 975.3 | 250.7 | 289% | 290% |
| Machines & Systems | 714.8 | 129.2 | 453% | 454% |
| Components | 154.9 | 76.7 | 102% | 101% |
| After Sales | 105.6 | 44.8 | 136% | 140% |
Sales by Business Groups
The Rieter Group recorded sales of CHF 400.5 million (first half of 2020: CHF 254.9 million). Sales significantly increased compared to the previous year period; however, as expected, they were still impacted by the low order intake of the financial year 2020.
In the first half of 2021, the Business Group Machines & Systems realized sales in the amount of CHF 218.9 million, which corresponds to an increase of about 83% compared to the previous year period.
Spinning mills are working at good capacity levels with an increased demand for components as well as spare and wear parts, which is the reason for the positive development in the Business Groups After Sales and Components. In the Business Group Components, sales rose to CHF 112.4 million (+28%), and in the Business Group After Sales to CHF 69.2 million (+46%).
Sales | January – June 2021 | January – June 2020 | Change | Change IN LOCAL CURRENCY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rieter | 400.5 | 254.9 | 57% | 58% |
| Machines & Systems | 218.9 | 119.9 | 83% | 83% |
| Components | 112.4 | 87.7 | 28% | 28% |
| After Sales | 69.2 | 47.3 | 46% | 50% |
Sales by Region
In the Asian countries, Rieter recorded sales of CHF 137.0 million (+57%) for the first half of the financial year 2021. In China, sales rose by 85% to CHF 68.5 million due to spinning mills investing in the improvement of their competitiveness. The recovery of the market in India resulted in a significant increase of 188% to CHF 51.0 million. In Turkey, sales improved slightly to CHF 59.8 million (+17%). Sales increased by 94% to CHF 59.8 million in the region North and South America, driven by a considerable increase in demand in Latin America.
| Sales by Region CHF MILLION | JANUARY ‒ JUNE 2021 | JANUARY ‒ JUNE 2020 | Change | Change IN LOCAL CURRENCY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rieter | 400.5 | 254.9 | 57% | 58% |
| Asian countries1 | 137.0 | 87.4 | 57% | 57% |
| China | 68.5 | 37.0 | 85% | 81% |
| India | 51.0 | 17.7 | 188% | 197% |
| Turkey | 59.8 | 51.1 | 17% | 17% |
| North and South America | 59.8 | 30.9 | 94% | 99% |
| Europe | 18.0 | 23.6 | -24% | -25% |
| Africa | 6.4 | 7.2 | -11% | -10% |
1 Excluding China, India and Turkey
EBIT, Net Profit and Free Cash Flow
In terms of EBIT, Rieter posted a profit of CHF 9.0 million for the first half of 2021 and a net profit of CHF 5.3 million. A one-off effect associated with the reversal of allowances for machinery that was delivered in the first half of 2021 contributed to this development. Free cash flow amounted to CHF 53.2 million, which was considerably influenced by the advance payments received from customers in conjunction with the significantly increased order intake.
Strategy Implementation and Crisis Management
In recent years, Rieter has consistently implemented its strategy based on the cornerstones of innovation leadership, strengthening the components, spare parts and services businesses, and adjusting cost structures.
Crisis management in the pandemic year of 2020 was aimed at protecting employees, fulfilling customer commitments, ensuring liquidity, and also strengthening the market position for the time after the pandemic as well as retaining the ability to benefit from the incipient market recovery.
The focus for 2021 remains on the implementation of this strategy. The measures for crisis management relating to the protection of employees and fulfilling customer commitments are still in effect in countries that continue to be affected by the pandemic.
The Rieter Board of Directors has approved the implementation of the CAMPUS project. The Rieter CAMPUS comprises a customer and technology center as well as an administration building at the Winterthur location. It will make an important contribution to the implementation of the innovation strategy and to the enhancement of Rieter’s technology leadership position.
Outlook
As already announced, the first half of 2021 has been characterized by a strong market recovery in combination with a regional shift in demand for new machinery and systems. Rieter anticipates a normalization of the demand for new systems in the coming months. The company assumes that spinning mills will continue to work at high-capacity levels.
For the full year, Rieter expects sales to be above CHF 900 million.
The realization of sales from the order backlog continues to be associated with risks in light of bottlenecks in material deliveries and freight capacities as well as the ongoing pandemic in key markets for Rieter.
Key Figures
| CHF MILLION | JANUARY ‒ JUNE 2021 | JANUARY ‒ JUNE 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rieter | |||
| Order intake | 975.3 | 250.7 | 289% |
| Sales | 400.5 | 254.9 | 57% |
| Operating result before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) | 27.1 | -36.1 | |
| - in % of sales | 6.8% | -14.2% | |
| EBIT before restructuring charges | 9.7 | -46.9 | |
| - in % of sales | 2.4% | -18.4% | |
| EBIT | 9.0 | -55.0 | |
| - in % of sales | 2.2% | -21.6% | |
| Net profit | 5.3 | -54.4 | |
| - in % of sales | 1.3% | -21.3% | |
| Basic earnings per share (CHF) | 1.19 | -12.11 | |
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets | 10.1 | 13.7 | |
| Free cash flow | 53.2 | -95.4 | |
| Net liquidity at the end of the reporting period | 98.8 | 36.0 | |
| Equity in % of total assets at the end of the reporting period | 35.3% | 37.9% | |
| Number of employees (excluding temporaries) at the end of the reporting period | 4 385 | 4 573 | |
| Business Group Machines & Systems | |||
| Order intake | 714.8 | 129.2 | 453% |
| Sales | 218.9 | 119.9 | 83% |
| EBIT before restructuring charges | -12.2 | -39.9 | |
| - in % of sales | -5.6% | -33.3% | |
| EBIT | -12.2 | -40.8 | |
| - in % of sales | -5.6% | -34.0% | |
| Business Group Components | |||
| Order intake | 154.9 | 76.7 | 102% |
| Sales | 112.4 | 87.7 | 28% |
| Total segment sales | 154.1 | 113.1 | 36% |
| EBIT before restructuring charges | 13.4 | -1.6 | |
| - in % of segment sales | 8.7% | -1.4% | |
| EBIT | 13.4 | -8.7 | |
| - in % of segment sales | 8.7% | -7.7% | |
| Business Group After Sales | |||
| Order intake | 105.6 | 44.8 | 136% |
| Sales | 69.2 | 47.3 | 46% |
| EBIT before restructuring charges | 9.8 | -5.2 | |
| - in % of sales | 14.2% | -11.0% | |
| EBIT | 9.1 | -5.1 | |
| - in % of sales | 13.2% | -10.8% |
Alternative Performance Measures (APM)
The definitions of the APM used are contained in the Annual Report 2020.
Telephone Conference for Media and Investors
The media and investor conference call will be held today, July 15, 2021, at 9:00 am (CEST).
Dial-in details:
Europe: +41 58 310 50 00
UK: +44 207 107 06 13
USA: +1 631 570 56 13
China: +86 400 120 23 19
India: +91 446 688 60 46
Forthcoming Dates
Trading Update 2021: October 22, 2021
Publication of sales 2021: January 26, 2022
Deadline for proposals regarding the agenda of the Annual General Meeting: February 18, 2022
Results press conference 2022: March 9, 2022
Annual General Meeting 2022: April 7, 2022
Relindis Wieser
Head Group Marketing & Communication, Member of the Extended Group Executive Committee8406 Winterthur
Switzerland
About Rieter
Rieter is the world’s leading supplier of systems for short-staple fiber spinning. Based in Winterthur (Switzerland), the company develops and manufactures machinery, systems and components used to convert natural and manmade fibers and their blends into yarns. Rieter is the only supplier worldwide to cover both spinning preparation processes and all four end spinning processes currently established on the market. Furthermore, Rieter is a leader in the field of precision winding machines. With 15 manufacturing locations in ten countries, the company employs a global workforce of some 4 390, about 20% of whom are based in Switzerland. Rieter is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under ticker symbol RIEN. www.rieter.com
Disclaimer
All statements in this report which do not refer to historical facts are forecasts which offer no guarantee whatsoever with respect to future performance; they embody risks and uncertainties which include – but are not confined to – future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors which are outside the company’s control. This text is a translation of the original German text.