Financial year 2020: technotrans exceeds expectations, adjusted EBIT margin above previous year’s level

"technotrans has achieved a respectable performance in the 2020 financial year under the difficult framework conditions. The Board of Management is therefore satisfied with the overall business performance despite lower revenue and operating result compared to the previous year," said Michael Finger, Spokesman of the Board of Management of technotrans SE, at the presentation of the Annual Report 2020.

Adjusted for one-time charges totalling € 2.6 million, the group generated an EBIT margin of 4.9 percent, which was above the previous year’s figure of 4.7 percent. The consolidated net profit of € 5 million led to earnings per share (EPS) of € 0.72 (previous year: € 0.88).

The Board of Management consistently pursued measures to optimise the group even in an environment burdened by the pandemic. Under the guiding principle "Future Ready 2025", it set the strategic course for profitable growth in the coming years. The goals include revenue growth through a stronger focus on four selected target markets as well as a uniform group-wide appearance through the creation of the umbrella brand technotrans in order to strengthen the economic and technological clout of the entire group.

Robust segment results despite significant constraints

The Technology segment accounted for € 137.7 million of group revenue – 72 percent of the total. Despite the corona-related 7.2 percent decline in turnover compared to the previous year, a nearly balanced result was achieved. Before one-off effects (€ 2 million), the segment achieved an EBIT of € 1.8 million. This corresponds to an adjusted segment return of 1.3 percent.

The corona pandemic triggered significant travel and visitor restrictions. These had a particularly strong impact on the Services segment. With a decline of around 11 percent, segment revenue of € 52.8 million in the reporting period was significantly below the previous year. The profitability of the segment was robust, as expected, with a decline in the EBIT margin from 13.9 to 13.3 percent. Thus, a segment result (EBIT) of € 7.0 million was realised (previous year: € 8.3 million). Adjusted for one-time effects proportionately attributable to the Services business, the segment achieved a result of € 7.6 million with an earnings margin of 14.4 percent.

Strategic target markets stabilised in the course of the year

After the corona-related slump in the global economy in the first quarter, business in the newly defined strategic target markets of Plastics, Energy Management (including electromobility and data centres), Healthcare & Analytics and Print gradually stabilised over the course of the financial year. Promising contracts with a medium-term character were achieved in particular in the area of electromobility "rail". Here, technotrans substantially expanded its market position. As expected, business in the plastics processing industry was also positive. Revenue in this sector was even above the previous year’s level.

Stable financial situation

The financial situation of the technotrans group remained solid and in order even during the corona crisis. Despite the construction of a completely new production plant in Holzwickede, total assets increased only moderately by 1.4 percent to € 148.1 million. The equity ratio increased to 53.6 percent (previous year: 51.4 percent). Net debt decreased from € 24.2 million to € 21.5 million, mainly due to the very good liquidity situation. The gearing ratio remained comfortable at 1.6 (net debt/EBITDA).

The net cash inflow from operating activities reached € 12.2 million. technotrans was able to limit a stronger decline compared to the previous year’s value of € 16.8 million through consistent working capital management. Thus, after deducting cash outflows from investing activities, the expected positive free cash flow of € 3.9 million was realised (previous year: € 7.6 million).

As part of the structural realignment, the number of employees in the technotrans group decreased by 4.4 percent compared to the previous year to 1,409 employees at the end of 2020.

Outlook: Opportunities in target markets

The corona pandemic will continue to shape economic development in 2021. Therefore, the economic environment remains fragile and is characterised by a high degree of uncertainty. "The Board of Management will continue to consistently implement the adopted strategy ‚Future Ready 2025‘ regardless of this environment. Stability and profitability are particular focal points of the strategic roadmap in the 2021 financial year," emphasises Michael Finger.

Regarding sales, the Board of Management expects continued pressure in the Print and Laser & Machine Tool Industry markets. However, the government economic stimulus programmes that have already been initiated can have a positive effect. This could create additional opportunities for technotrans in the Energy Management and Healthcare & Analytics divisions. Examples include the accelerated electrification of the transport sector and the expansion of healthcare systems.

The Board of Management confirms the guidance for 2021 published in December 2020, which envisages group revenue in a range of € 195 million to € 205 million and group operating profit (EBIT) between € 8.8 million and € 11.3 million. The EBIT margin is expected to range between 4.5 and 5.5 percent. The outlook is subject to the economic environment stabilising in the course of the year and no additional burdens arising from the corona pandemic. The medium-term forecast of a turnover in a range of € 265 to 285 million with an EBIT margin between 9 and 12 percent also remains valid.

Proposal of the appropriation of profit

The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose to the virtual Annual General Meeting of technotrans SE on May 7, 2021 the distribution of a dividend of € 0.36 per share, which is half of the group’s consolidated net profit for the year.

Election of two Supervisory Board members

Two new Supervisory Board members will also be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

The term of office of Dr Höper as a shareholder representative will expire by rotation at the end of this year’s Annual General Meeting. He is no longer available for re-election.

Furthermore, the long-serving Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Mr. Heinz Harling, has notified the Board of Management and Supervisory Board on March 8, 2021 that he was resigning as a member of the Supervisory Board of technotrans SE with effect from the end of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting on May 7, 2021 (reference is made to the corresponding ad hoc announcement dated March 8, 2021). After more than 40 years of service to technotrans, including 13 years as its Supervisory Board Chairman, he is thus personally continuing the replacement of the Supervisory Board already initiated last year in order to take the company’s growth to the next level.

"We owe Mr. Harling an extraordinary debt of gratitude for his enormous contribution to the successful development of technotrans. The Supervisory Board therefore intends to appoint Mr. Harling as its Honorary Chairman after the Annual General Meeting," says Dr Norbert Bröcker, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of technotrans SE and a long-time companion of Mr. Harling.

The Supervisory Board will propose two independent candidates to the Annual General Meeting, Mr. Peter Baumgartner (Dipl.-Ing., independent management consultant) and Dr Gottfried H. Dutiné (Dr-Ing., independent management consultant), both of whom can bring many years of meaningful expertise to the Supervisory Board and will further strengthen the Supervisory Board.

Mr. Harling will also assist the new Supervisory Board members and the entire Board in an advisory capacity.