MUNICH: Mutares SE & Co. KGaA published its figures for the financial year 2021. Net income both on the level of the company itself (“Mutares Holding”) as well as in the Group (“Mutares Group”) registered new record figures.
High net income in Mutares Holding and dividend proposal of EUR 1.50 per share
The revenues of the Mutares Holding, which result from consulting services and management fees from the portfolio companies, increased to EUR 50.5 million in financial year 2021 (previous year: EUR 31.9 million). The 58% increase is due to the high transaction activity with 14 completed acquisitions and the correspondingly larger portfolio. The bottom line was a net income of EUR 50.7 million after EUR 33.4 million in the previous year or EUR 2.46 per share (previous year: EUR 2.16).
The shareholders are to participate in the successful development and the lucrative exit transactions with above-plan ROIC in financial year 2021, above all the sale of the STS Group to the Adler Pelzer Group with a contribution to the net income of the Mutares Holding of EUR 25.4 million, in accordance with the sustainable dividend policy.
The Management Board therefore proposes to distribute a dividend of EUR 1.50 per share for financial year 2021 (previous year: EUR 1.50 per share). Especially in challenging times – in particular against the backdrop of uncertainty due to the armed conflict in Ukraine, ongoing turbulences on the commodity markets and not yet fully overcome restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic – this underlines the robustness of the Mutares business model and the strong commitment of the Management Board to let the shareholders further participate in the success.
Furthermore, the Management will propose to the Annual General Meeting that Raffaela Rein be appointed as a new member to succeed Prof. Dr. Micha Bloching. Due to her education (CFA, Investment Management Certificate), Raffaela Rein has relevant competences in the field of investments and investment management. Due to her many years of experience as an entrepreneur, she is familiar with a large number of topics relevant for Mutares SE & Co. KGaA. Additionally, she has international experience and expertise in the fields of digitalization and sustainability.
“We would like our shareholders to participate in the outstanding success of Mutares also for the financial year 2021. In view of the current overall situation, we consider a dividend policy with a sense of proportion to be appropriate and feel well positioned to continue the Mutares success and growth story. I am very proud of my employees and what we have achieved together in 2021,” says Robin Laik, founder and main shareholder of Mutares SE & Co. KGaA.
Record figures also at Group level
At Group level, Mutares generated consolidated revenues of EUR 2,504.0 million in financial year 2021 (previous year: EUR 1,583.9 million). The significant growth is in particular the result of the sustained high acquisition activity.
Group EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) amounted to EUR 566.5 million in financial year 2021 (previous year: EUR 142.7 million). The increase, almost quadrupling the previous year’s figure, was mainly driven by the very high transaction activity and the bargain purchase gains associated with the extensive acquisitions.
Adjusted EBITDA amounted to EUR -41.3 million (previous year: EUR -28.8 million) and was impacted in particular by price increases on the procurement markets and the still negative earnings contributions from the investments acquired in the past twelve months. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now been ongoing for two years, and major challenges on the procurement markets, key portfolio companies performed well in 2021. Comprehensive operational improvement programs were developed and implemented during 2021, with BEXity, Lacroix + Kress, KICO Group, SABO and Terranor Group, in particular, performing very well.
The restructuring at Lapeyre is also progressing very promisingly to date. Cash and cash equivalents in the Group amounted to EUR 255.1 million as of 31 December 2021 (31 December 2020: EUR 145.3 million). The equity ratio increased to 29% compared to 16% as of 31 December 2020, benefiting from the capital increase and a positive consolidated result for financial year 2021.
High momentum in acquisitions and exits
The financial year 2021 was the most transaction-rich year in the history of Mutares. On the acquisition side, Mutares successfully completed a total of 14 acquisitions in the three segments Automotive & Mobility, Engineering & Technology and Goods & Services. With EXI, Clecim, Repartim, Lapeyre, La Rochette, ADComms, Innomotive Systems Hainichen, Ganter Construction & Interiors, LMS, Asteri and Frigoscandia, Mutares completed eleven platform investments and with Permasteelisa España, Rasche Umformtechnik and NCC Road Services in Denmark three add-on investments for Donges Group, PrimoTECS Group and Terranor Group.
The acquisition of Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Europe, agreed in the fourth quarter of the financial year 2021, was completed after the balance sheet date in the first quarter of 2022; the company now operates as Balcke-Dürr Energy Solutions. The closing of the acquisition of Sealynx International announced in November 2021 as an add-on acquisition for the SFC Solutions Group, which in turn is allocated to the ESF Industrial Solutions Group in the Automotive & Mobility segment, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022.
The increasing maturity of the investments in the life cycle of the Mutares business model is also reflected in the numerous transactions on the exit side. In total, Mutares was able to transfer six companies into the hands of new owners in financial year 2021. Thus, Balcke-Dürr Rothemühle Germany was successfully sold to Howden Group, Nexive to Poste Italiane and STS Group to Adler Pelzer Group. This was followed by the exits of TréfilUnion, EUPEC and La Meusienne to LiCap and of Cenpa to Accursia Capital. Finally, Donges Group sold its subsidiary Norsilk to Protac.
The closing of the sale of BEXity to Raben Group, which had already been agreed in December, took place after the closing date in February 2022.
Full transaction pipeline with promising acquisition opportunities also for financial year 2022
In the first quarter of 2022, agreements have already been signed for two transactions: the acquisition of Vallourec Bearing Tubes from Vallourec and the ATI Sheffield business from Allegheny Technologies Incorporated as new platform investments for the Engineering & Technology segment. Further material acquisitions are at an advanced stage with revenue volumes approaching EUR 1.0 billion and Mutares is confident to announce additional transactions during the second quarter of 2022.
The current pipeline comprises a revenue volume of more than EUR 11.0 billion and mainly relates to the Automotive & Mobility and Engineering & Technology segments, well-balanced across all active markets. The published medium-term forecast of at least EUR 5 billion in consolidated revenues in financial year 2023 can therefore be confirmed. On the exit side, Mutares continues to evaluate possible options for the exit-ready investments of the portfolio, in particular for the Donges Group, one of Europe’s leading full-service providers of steel bridges, steel structures as well as roof and facade systems, including a possible IPO of the Donges Group or individual parts thereof.
Until a final decision has been made, the Donges Group will continue to focus on implementing its strategy of profitability and growth.
Positive development in the segments
In the Automotive & Mobility segment, revenues increased to EUR 719.9 million in financial year 2021 (previous year: EUR 602.4 million). The main reason for the significant growth is the contribution from the acquisitions of LMS in the financial year 2021 and SFC Solutions in the previous year. The segment’s EBITDA of EUR 86.4 million was higher than the previous year’s figure of EUR 65.7 million due to the gains from bargain purchases of LMS and ISH. Adjusted EBITDA adjusted for special effects amounted to EUR -20.0 million (previous year: EUR -13.3 million) due to higher raw material and energy prices and the still negative earnings contributions from the new acquisitions.
The Engineering & Technology segment recorded an increase in revenues to EUR 871.9 million in the reporting year (previous year: EUR 534.7 million). The main contributors to the increase were the acquisitions from the reporting year and the previous year, including Lacroix + Kress and La Rochette Cartonboard. Segment EBITDA reached EUR 64.3 million in the reporting period (previous year: EUR 59.6 million), benefiting in particular from bargain purchase gains from the acquisitions of Clecim and La Rochette and the exit of Balcke-Dürr Rothemühle. Adjusted EBITDA was EUR -2.0 million, compared to EUR 7.6 million in the previous year, also due to the still negative earnings contributions from the new acquisitions.
Revenues in the Goods & Services segment grew to EUR 912.4 million in financial year 2021 (previous year: EUR 446.7 million). The increase is mainly due to the acquisitions of Lapeyre, Terranor and SABO. Segment EBITDA amounted to EUR 450.8 million (previous year: EUR 29.0 million). Above all, the positive consolidation effects from the acquisition of Lapeyre and the sale of Nexive had a positive impact on this. Adjusted EBITDA was EUR -13.2 million in financial year 2021 (previous year: EUR -17.0 million). The still negative earnings contributions from the new acquisitions more than offset the pleasing restructuring successes at BEXity, Terranor Group and SABO.
Adjusted EBITDA differs significantly along the three phases of value creation that investments usually go through during their affiliation with the Mutares Group (Realignment, Optimization and Harvesting).
Leave a Reply