Johnson Electric reports 9% growth in sales for the half year ended 30th September 2018

Highlights
of 2018/19 Half-Year Results

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• Group sales US$1,678 million — up
  9% compared to first half of the prior financial year. Excluding the impact of
  acquisitions and foreign exchange rate changes, sales increased 7%
• EBITDA increased 5% to US$273
  million or 16.3% of sales (17.0% of sales in prior half year)
• Operating profit US$171 million or
  10.2% of sales (compared to US$170 million or 11.1% of sales in prior half
  year)
• Net profit attributable to
  shareholders US$140 million or 15.76 US cents per share on a fully diluted
  basis (compared to US$140 million or 15.80 US cents per share in prior half
  year)
• Total debt to capital ratio of 19%
  and cash reserves of US$170 million as of 30 September 2018
• Interim dividend 17 HK cents per
  share (2.18 US cents per share) with a scrip dividend alternative

 

HONG KONG, CHINA
- Media OutReach - 7th November 2018 – Johnson Electric Holdings Limited (“Johnson Electric”), a
global leader in electric motors and motion subsystems, today announced its
results for the six months ended 30th September 2018.

 

Total group sales for the
first half of the 2018/19 financial year totalled US$1,678 million, an increase
of 9% over the first half of the prior financial year. Excluding the impact of
acquisitions and foreign exchange rate changes, underlying sales increased 7%.
Net profit attributable to shareholders was essentially unchanged year on year
at US$140 million or 15.76 US cents per share on a fully diluted basis.

 

Johnson Electric continues
to deliver healthy top line growth from both of its Automotive Products and
Industry Products divisions. The long term shifts towards more electrified,
more controllable and more connected end-products underpin demand for our
motion technologies and solutions. Technology leadership combined with a global
manufacturing footprint is a compelling value proposition to the more than
2,000 OEMs, system manufacturers and distributors across the world that
comprise the Group’s diverse and growing customer base.

 

Overview of Financial Results

 

The Automotive Products
Group (“APG”), excluding acquisitions, increased sales by 8% on a constant
currency basis compared to the first half of the prior year. The strongest
business unit performances came from Stackpole International, Powertrain
Cooling and Engine & Transmission Management which are benefiting from the
ramp-up of major customer programmes for a new generation of products.

 

APG’s strong overall sales
performance comes against a subdued picture in terms of global automotive
industry volume growth. North American light vehicle production grew by less
than 1% during the period under review as rising interest rates and higher
vehicle prices have begun to impact demand. In Europe, production volumes rose
by just over 1% and there has recently been a reduction in output following the
introduction of new emissions tests that has caused significant delays to the
launch of new vehicle models. And in China, which has been the world’s largest
and stand-out growth market for automobiles for the past decade, production
growth slowed in the first half to below 3%. This reflected both a slowdown in
domestic economic activity and a degree of natural maturing of a sector that
has been expanding at exceptionally rapid levels.

The Industry Products Group
(“IPG”), which contributed 23% of total Group sales, recorded 4% sales growth
in constant currency terms in the first half. Among IPG’s best performing
segments were medical devices, power tools, ventilation and remote disconnect
metering. All three major geographic regions achieved growth in sales despite
the increasing global trade dispute and tighter financial conditions.

 

Gross profit increased 4% to
US$398 million — which as a percentage of sales represented a decline from
24.9% to 23.8%. This decline in margins was largely due to the combination of
higher material and labour costs, increased depreciation and competitive
pricing pressure. Management is continuing to direct a major programme of
capital investments in automation and business infrastructure to support the
growth in new business awarded, reduce costs and strengthen the long term
competitiveness of Johnson Electric’s business model.

 

Group operating profits
amounted to US$171 million compared to US$170 million in the first half of the
prior financial year. In addition to the factors impacting gross margins noted
above, the year on year comparison of reported operating income reflects the
net effect of a number of positive and negative non-cash items. These include a
valuation gain related to an acquisition in the prior half year period which
was not repeated in the period under review, a mark-to-market liability related
to structured foreign exchange contracts in the prior half year period that
became a gain in the period under review and the revaluation of monetary assets
and liabilities due to the effect of foreign currency movements.

 

Net profits attributable to
shareholders totalled US$140.2 million compared to the prior half year’s figure
of US$140.5 million.

 

Interim Dividend with Scrip Dividend Alternative

 

The Board has today declared
an interim dividend to 17 HK cents per share, equivalent to 2.18 US cents per
share (2017 interim: 17 HK cents per share). The interim dividend will be
payable in cash with a scrip alternative where a 4% discount on the
subscription price will be offered to shareholders who elect to subscribe for
shares. Full details of the scrip dividend alternative will be set out in a
circular to shareholders.

The interim dividend will be
payable on 7 January 2019 to shareholders registered on 28 November 2018. The
Board has further been informed that the controlling shareholder of the Company
intends to subscribe for its entire eligible allocation of shares under the
scrip dividend alternative.

 

US-China Tariffs

 

The most significant
negative development impacting global manufacturing businesses over the past
six months has been the escalating trade dispute between the USA and China.

 

Johnson Electric operates a
global manufacturing footprint with over 30 facilities spanning 18 countries
across four continents. Establishing and strengthening this global footprint
has been a key element in our corporate strategy for the past several years and
its intent is to ensure that the Group is effectively positioned to respond
over time to changing customer demands, production and delivery costs, foreign
exchange rate fluctuations, as well as taxes, tariffs and import duties.

 

Our current analysis of the
three tranches of Section 301 tariffs recently imposed on goods imported into
the USA from China indicates that these apply to Johnson Electric products that
in aggregate contribute approximately 5% of the Group’s total annual sales
volume. This estimated direct sales exposure to Section 301 tariffs is not
especially large in the context of the Group’s highly diversified global sales
base. Nonetheless, if a political resolution to this dispute cannot be found in
the near future, we can foresee a period of increasing risk of disruption to
global trade and manufacturing supply chains — with likely higher costs for
businesses and consumers alike.

 

Chairman’s Comments on the Half-Year Results and Outlook

 

Commenting on the results, Dr. Patrick Wang, Chairman
and Chief Executive, said, “Johnson Electric achieved
satisfactory financial results for the six month period ended 30 September 2018
in the context of an increasingly challenging global operating environment”.

Dr. Wang further commented, “Johnson
Electric’s portfolio of innovative products and technology solutions are well
positioned to address the major trends shaping our end markets. And our gains
in market share and growing book of new business wins gives us a high level of
confidence about the underlying strength of our business”.

 

“In the near term, the
indications are that many of the factors that shaped the performance of the
business in the first half of the financial year are set to continue in the
second half — but with an increasing downside risk with respect to the global
economy. Order volumes in China and Europe remain somewhat below anticipated
levels, though the outlook for second half sales for the Group as a whole
currently looks broadly similar to the first half”.

About Johnson Electric Group

The Johnson
Electric Group is a global leader in electric motors, actuators, motion
subsystems and related electro-mechanical components. It serves a broad range
of industries including Automotive, Smart Metering, Medical Devices, Business
Equipment, Home Automation, Ventilation, White Goods, Power Tools, and Lawn
& Garden Equipment. The Group is headquartered in Hong Kong and employs
over 40,000 individuals in more than 20 countries worldwide.  Johnson Electric Holdings Limited is listed
on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 179). For further
information, please visit: www.johnsonelectric.com.

 

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward looking
statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and
business of Johnson Electric and certain plans and objectives of the management
of Johnson Electric.

 

Words such as “outlook”, “expects”, “anticipates”,
“intends”, “plans”, “believe”, “estimates”, “projects”, variations of such
words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements.  Such forward looking
statements involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results or performance of Johnson Electric to be
materially different from any future results or performance expressed or
implied by such forward looking statements. 
Such forward looking statements are based on numerous assumptions
regarding Johnson Electric’s present and future business strategies and the
political and economic environment in which Johnson Electric will operate in
the future.

  

Note to Editors and Securities Analysts: The
full text of the Half-Year Results announcement, including additional financial
information, is available through the Investor Relations section of company’s
website at www.johnsonelectric.com