Interim report 1 January – 30 September 2021

Third quarter 2021 Order intake increased by 21% to SEK 5,428 million (4,486). For comparable units, it was an increase of 14%. Net sales increased by 15% to SEK 5,290 million (4,599). For comparable units, it was an increase of 8%. EBITA increased by 18% to SEK 810 million (685), corresponding to an EBITA margin of 15.3% (14.9%). Profit for the quarter increased by 20% to SEK 550 million (458), and earnings per share amounted to SEK 1.51 (1.27). Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 671 million (761). 1 January – 30 September 2021 Order intake increased by 19% to SEK 17,181 million (14,491). For comparable units, it was an increase of 15%. Net sales increased by 13% to SEK 15,989 million (14,189). For comparable units, it was an increase of 9%. EBITA increased by 24% to SEK 2,366 million (1,903), corresponding to an EBITA margin of 14.8% (13.4%). Profit for the period increased by 29% to SEK 1,573 million (1,216), and earnings per share amounted to SEK 4.32 (3.36). Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 1,952 million (1,988).

CEO's message
A strong quarter with continued profitable growth and record-high earnings.
 

Third quarter
The market situation remained strong during the third quarter. Order intake amounted to SEK 5.4 billion, an increase of 14% organically, and was 3% higher than net sales. Most of the Group’s companies performed well, with strong growth in all of the major customer segments, such as the engineering industry, medical technology and pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and the process industry. Organic order growth was good for all of the eight business areas. It was strongest, however, for the Industrial Components and Fluids & Mechanical Solutions business areas. Order intake for valves for power generation was also positive and it improved compared to the same period last year.

Sales increased by 8% organically and amounted to SEK 5.3 billion. The strongest performance was in the DACH and Industrial Components business areas, with broad growth and improvements from most of the companies. Net sales were also at a high level in the Flow Technology and Benelux business areas, but the growth was somewhat suppressed due to the strong comparison figures for the corresponding period last year.

Profitability developed positively for the Group and EBITA increased by 18% and amounted to SEK 810 million. The EBITA margin improved to 15.3% (14.9%), which is the highest ever. The result includes several non-recurring items, for instance related to revaluation of contingent earn-out payments which had a positive overall impact of SEK 17 (21) million. Excluding non-recurring items, the EBITA margin amounted to 15.0% (14.4%). The improvement was driven by favourable organic growth along with good profitability among the newly acquired companies.  Several of the business areas strengthened their margins, with the strongest performance reported by the Fluids & Mechanical Solutions and DACH business areas.

Disturbances in supply chains became more prevalent during the quarter, along with component shortages and price increases. It impacted several companies in the form of more challenging delivery and invoicing opportunities. Companies that were most affected were those in the Measurement & Sensor Technology and Industrial Components business areas. Thanks to the quick action and successful pricing efforts of our skilled companies however, the total group effects of this have been significantly mitigated.

Cash flow has remained strong during the quarter, although lower than the corresponding period last year, primarily due to a somewhat higher level of working capital. Working capital efficiency has further improved and the Group’s financial position is stable and strong, with a historically low debt/equity ratio.

Acquisitions
Thus far in 2021, we have welcomed 13 new companies to the Indutrade Group, with combined annual sales of slightly more than SEK 1 billion. During the third quarter, two acquisitions were completed. Indutrade acquired the Swedish company Atlas Industrial Print, which is a niche company working with industrial product marking as well as the UK company, Advance Welding, which manufactures electrofusion welding equipment.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, three additional acquisitions were completed. The Danish company, Alflow, is a niche technical trading company, offering a wide range of flow components to the pharmaceutical, food and industrial markets. The Czech company SILROC designs and produces customised components from liquid silicone rubber in injection moulding presses for many different industries, ranging from medical technology and pharmaceutical production to industrial markets. We also completed our first acquisition in Italy – Italprotec, which offers hoses, connectors, single-use products, valves, fittings and heat exchangers for handling critical fluids in industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and food. An exciting milestone!

We have a solid acquisition strategy that we are continuously developing and adapting to the changes in the world around us. The companies that we acquire must not only be well run and technology-oriented, it is also important that they target customers in sectors that we have assessed as having long-term, sustainable growth potential. Because the restrictions associated with COVID-19 have lightened up in several countries, there are now more possibilities for visiting and evaluating acquisition candidates and we assess our future acquisition opportunities as favourable.

Outlook
The trend in 2021 has been positive, with very good demand that has contributed to our record-strong backlog of orders. However, the challenges in supply chains have resulted in longer delivery times and in some cases, delayed deliveries. Despite some level of uncertainty, our expectation is that the level of demand will remain good during the next quarter, but so too will the disturbances in the supply chains. Gradually, we can see that market activity among the companies is increasing as society continues to open up and the pandemic restrictions ease. 

Indutrade’s strategy and business model is working well and we have a good foundation for continued long-term, sustainable and competitive value creation.

Bo Annvik, President and CEO
 

Note The information in this report is such that Indutrade AB is obligated to make public in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Act. The information was submitted for publication by the agency of the following contact persons on 28 October 2021 at 7.30 a.m. (CEST). Further information For further information, please contact: Bo Annvik, President and CEO, tel.: +46 8 703 03 00, Patrik Johnson, CFO, tel.: +46 70 397 50 30

This report will be commented upon as follows: A webcast of the report will be presented on 28 October at 9.30 a.m. (CEST) via the following link: https://tv.streamfabriken.com/indutrade-q3-2021   To participate in the conference call and to ask questions, please call: SE: +46 8 505 583 53  UK: +44 333 300 92 62 USA: +1 6 467 22 49 57