INTERIM REPORT
January - June 1999
Comment by the President
"Operative business is developing favorably. Projects are
progressing according to plan and work on cost rationalization is
proving successful. The phase-out of regional aircraft production
has gone better than planned. Altogether, both sales and income
show a positive trend and are considerably better than in the
same period last year. Operating income for the whole year is
also expected to be better than last year.
Training Systems is maintaining its leading position in its niche. During the period, two new product areas received their first orders - Gamer (Gunnery and Maneuver Exercise System) for the American 7th Army, to which the first delivery has already been made, and the new BT47 small arms simulator for Austria.
Renegotiation of the delivery
contract for the Gripen has enabled FMV to purchase warning and
countermeasures systems, and an initial order valued at SEK 100
million was received in July. The systems are very similar to
those being offered with the export version of Gripen.
The phase-out of regional aircraft production is continuing as
planned and is well within the framework of the allocated
reserves, at the same time as it has been possible to maintain
the value of the existing aircraft fleet on a satisfactory level.
The last regional aircraft were produced during the second
quarter. Now that production has been terminated, it has been
possible to make a more reliable assessment of the costs, which
has enabled reversal of reserves of SEK 174 million in the
financial statements for mid-year. Further structural measures
remain to be made according to plan.
The acquisition of Barracuda Technologies, which works on protection against detection and identification through signature adaptation, will strengthen our competence in countermeasures technology, with applications to several of our other military product areas.
The streamlining of Combitech is continuing and a further three companies have been divested.
The recently acquired Nyge Aero has been combined with Saab Helikopter. Nyge Aero is already making a positive contribution to income, even after acquisition costs.
On 15 June, the Swedish Armed Forces presented their proposals for a new materiel plan. The proposals entail among other things that the role of the Gripen as a cornerstone in a defense based on rapid information and command warfare is confirmed. However, the plan at present allocates no funds to participation in certain related development projects, including the development of the Meteor air-to-air missile, a project which has high priority and has been carried on internationally for several years with Swedish involvement. Following the political process, a final decision will be made by Parliament.
In regard to the export version of Gripen, expenditures for development and adaptation of in-flight refueling, tropicalization and NATO adaptation have increased during the year. As planned, the expenditures have had an effect on income of Military Aerospace.
Cooperation with the Swedish Government has opened up the possibility of leasing Gripen aircraft to export customers, conditional to subsequent purchases of new aircraft. In July, Poland received an offer for the renting of 18 Gripen aircraft and later delivery of 60 new aircraft. As part of the long-term work of marketing Gripen abroad, Saab-BAe has replied to a formal request from Chile for information, while a similar request from the Czech Republic is currently being processed. Since November 1998, final negotiations have been in progress with South Africa, which has decided to negotiate with Saab-BAe on the delivery of 28 aircraft."
Business Areas
Saab is active primarily in the aerospace and defense industry,
and supplies advanced products and systems based on sophisticated
information technology. The business areas are Military
Aerospace, Space, Training Systems, Commercial Aircraft and
Combitech. Regional Aircraft is currently being phased out.
Military Aerospace. During 1999, business unit Gripen has delivered 9 (9) Gripen aircraft, bringing the total to 74 out of the 204 aircraft ordered by the Defence Materiel Administration, FMV. Dynamics' operations comprise high technology products in guided weapons and optronic systems. Avionics, which is owned to 50.1%, develops and builds display, reconnaissance and electronic warfare systems. Order bookings for Military Aerospace during the second quarter amounted to SEK 440 m. and included development orders and spare parts for Gripen.
Space, which is owned to 60 percent by Saab and 40 percent by Ericsson, develops and manufactures onboard computers, antennas and other equipment for the space industry. During the second quarter, order bookings amounted to SEK 172 m. and included computer systems for the unmanned cargo vehicle being developed for the new international space station. Negotiations are in progress for additional systems.
Training Systems leads the world in simulation systems based on laser technology for direct fire weapons. During the second quarter, order bookings amounted to SEK 113 m. and included the first order for the new small arms simulator BT47.
Commercial Aircraft consists of three business units, Collaborative Programs, Customer Support (Saab Aircraft AB) and Saab Aircraft Leasing. During the second quarter, no changes have taken place in the leasing portfolio administered by Saab Aircraft Leasing. At the end of the period, it comprised 314 Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft, compared with 316 at year-end 1998. At the end of the period, six aircraft were not contracted to any operator, compared with eight at year-end. Order bookings for Commercial Aircraft during the second quarter amounted to SEK 204 m.
Combitech's operations comprise products in commercial high technology niches. During the second quarter, Pronesto and Survey Systems have been divested with a positive effect on income and an agreement has been reached with the Norwegian company Kitron on the sale of Combitech Electronics. Marine Electronics has signed a worldwide delivery agreement for radar-based level-gauging systems for oil tanker terminals with one of the world's largest independent tanker terminal companies, van Ommeren. During the second quarter, Combitech's order bookings amounted to SEK 297 m.
Regional Aircraft delivered three Saab 2000 to Crossair and one Saab 340 AEW to FMV during the second quarter. Remaining deliveries for 1999 consist of two completed Saab 340 to Japan Air Commuter.
Sales
Sales of the Group increased 23 percent to SEK 4,810 m. (3,921).
The improvement is related to Dynamics, partly deliveries
of Strix to Switzerland, and Training Systems through
large deliveries of simulators to Germany. Within Combitech, sales
increased mainly in Traffic Systems for the Melbourne project,
and in the software companies Software and Network. Sales also
increased through the consolidation of Avionics in Group
sales from 1999 and the acquisition of Nyge Aero.
Income
Operating income increased 60 percent to SEK 549 m. (344). All
business areas improved their income, except Military
Aerospace as a result of higher planned development costs for
the export version of Gripen. The increases in Space and Training
Systems are mainly the result of higher volumes. The increase in
income of Combitech is mainly due to the fact that Traffic
Systems has had no negative impact on income during the first
half of 1999 as provisions were made already in 1998 for the
anticipated deficit. The performance of Traffic Systems has
however improved compared to last year. Capital gains in
Combitech from divesting operations were lower, SEK 19 m.
compared to SEK 70 m. the previous year. Income for the period
has been improved by SEK 174 m. through reversal of the reserve
for phasing out Regional Aircraft. Other operating income of SEK
86 m. (191) consists mainly of capital gains from divesting
operations, SEK 19 m. (70), reversal of provision corresponding
to the loss in Customer Support, SEK 14 m. (61) and
trading income from Treasury business and exchange rate gains,
etc., SEK 53 m. (60). Project interest on non-utilized advance
payments amounted to SEK 113 m. (115).
Net financial income and expenses amounted to SEK 172 m. (131). In the previous year, the financial net was burdened by a non-recurrent item of SEK 44 m. The average return on liquid funds was 5.17 (5.25) percent. Income after financial income and expenses amounted to SEK 721 m. (475). Current and deferred taxes amounted to SEK -209 m. (-133), corresponding to an effective tax rate of 29 percent on income after financial income and expenses.
Finance and Liquidity
Since January 1, cash and marketable securities, less liabilities
to credit institutions, have decreased by SEK 1,533 m. to SEK
11,458 m. (12,991). The decrease is mainly due to the utilization
of advances as the projects progress within Gripen, phasing out
of Regional Aircraft, large VAT payments and payment of dividend
of SEK 213 m. The Groups financial position is strong and
net liquidity after deduction for provision for pensions amounted
to SEK 9,526 m., compared to SEK 11,026 m.
Orders
Group order bookings during the first six months amounted to SEK
2,565 m. (3,289). The order backlog at the end of the period was
SEK 23,485 m. (25,683).
Capital expenditures
The Groups capital expenditures in property, plant and
equipment, excluding leasing assets, amounted to SEK 294 m.
(223).
Personnel
At the end of the period, the number of employees in the Group
was 8,214, compared with 8,577 at January 1, 1999.
Parent Company
During the first six months, parent company sales amounted to SEK
2,764 m. (3,536). Operating income was SEK 321 m. (217) and
income after financial income and expenses was SEK 463 m. (424).
Cash and marketable securities, less liabilities to credit institutions, amounted to SEK 11,160 m., compared with SEK 12,487 m. at year-end. Capital expenditures in property, plant and equipment amounted to SEK 88 m. (89). The number of employees at the end of the period was 4,863.
Ownership
Saab's principal owners are Investor AB, British Aerospace, US
funds, the Wallenberg foundations and AMF.
Accounting Principles
The report has been drawn up in accordance with earlier
accounting principles, but with the exception that Recommendation
No. 8 of the Financial Accounting Standards Council has now been
applied. The change consists of translating integrated foreign
operations in accordance with the monetary method. No restatement
has been made for earlier periods since the effect of the change
of accounting method has been considered immaterial.
Linköping, August 20, 1999
Bengt Halse
President and CEO
We have performed a review of this interim report and thereby followed the recommendations set out by the Swedish Institute of Authorised Public Accountants, FAR. A review is significantly limited in scope compared to an audit. We have found nothing to suggest that this interim report does not comply with the requirements set out in the Exchange and Companies Acts.
Linköping, August 20, 1999
Gunnar Widhagen Caj Nackstad
Authorized Public Accountant Authorized Public Accountant
Dates for financial
information
Interim Report for January - September will be published on
November 9, 1999
The 1999 Report will be published on February 18, 2000
For further information,
please contact
Lars Jagerfelt, Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel +46
13 18 71 65
Agneta Kammeby, Investor Relations, tel +46 13 18 71 25
(President Bengt Halse will be available for questions by phone
today between 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm.)
Income Statement
SEK m. | 6 months 1999 |
6 months 1998 |
Whole year 1998 |
Sales | 4,810 | 3,921 | 8,248 |
Cost of goods sold | -3,573 | -2,876 | -6,105 |
Gross margin | 1,237 | 1,045 | 2,143 |
Marketing expenses | -369 | -436 | -795 |
Administrative expenses | -292 | -284 | -532 |
Research and development costs | -270 | -179 | -378 |
Items affecting comparability | 174 | - | 200 |
Other operating income | 86 | 191 | 206 |
Other operating expenses | -18 | -40 | -34 |
Share in income of associated companies | 1 | 47 | 65 |
Operating income 1) | 549 | 344 | 875 |
Result from financial investments | 172 | 131 | 343 |
Income after financial items | 721 | 475 | 1,218 |
Taxes | -209 | -133 | -279 |
Minority interest | -26 | -10 | -27 |
Net income for the period | 486 | 332 | 912 |
Earnings per share, SEK 2) | 4.57 | 3.11 | 8.55 |
1) Includes depreciation of | -443 | -369 | -773 |
of which depreciation on leasing assets | -237 | -212 | -439 |
2) Number
of shares: 106,459,675 as per June 30, 1999 |
Sales by business area
SEK m. | 6 months 1999 | 6 months 1998 | Whole-year 1998 | 2nd quarter 1999 |
Military Aerospace | 2,876 | 2,261 | 4,572 | 1,703 |
Space | 329 | 278 | 607 | 153 |
Training Systems | 319 | 241 | 621 | 185 |
Commercial Aircraft | 412 | 492 | 908 | 180 |
Combitech | 715 | 519 | 1,057 | 390 |
Internal sales | -148 | -118 | -226 | -92 |
Saab | 4,503 | 3,673 | 7,539 | 2,519 |
Regional Aircraft | 497 | 1,315 | 2,698 | 405 |
Internal sales | -190 | -1,067 | -1,989 | -109 |
Saab Group | 4,810 | 3,921 | 8,248 | 2,815 |
Operating income by business area
SEK m. | 6 months 1999 |
6 months 1998 |
Whole year 1998 |
2nd quarter 1999 |
Military Aerospace 1) | 237 | 286 | 628 | 124 |
Space | 33 | 26 | 59 | 16 |
Training Systems | 61 | 30 | 167 | 38 |
Commercial Aircraft | 0 | 0 | -15 | 0 |
Combitech | 34 | -2 | -166 | 27 |
Corporate | 10 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Saab | 375 | 344 | 675 | 208 |
Regional Aircraft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Saab Aircraft Leasing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Items affecting comparability | 174 | - | 200 | 174 |
Saab Group | 549 | 344 | 875 | 382 |
1) Whole year 1998 includes reversal of loss risk reserve of SEK 100m.
Sales and income per quarter
1999 |
|
1998 |
|||||
SEK m. | 1st Q | 2nd Q | 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | |
Sales | |||||||
Saab | 1,984 | 2,519 | 1,817 | 1,856 | 1,359 | 2,507 | |
Regional Aircraft | 92 | 405 | 572 | 743 | 377 | 1,006 | |
Internal sales | -81 | -109 | -572 | -495 | -369 | -553 | |
1,995 | 2,815 | 1,817 | 2,104 | 1,367 | 2,960 | ||
Operating income | 167 | 382 | 281 | 63 | 56 | 475 | |
of which items affecting comparability | - | 174 | - | - | - | 200 | |
Operating margin excl items affecting comparability | |||||||
before depreciation, percent | 13.1 | 12.6 | 19.8 | 7.6 | 9.9 | 14.5 | |
after depreciation, percent | 8.4 | 8.3 | 15.5 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 11.0 | |
Net financial income | 60 | 112 | 68 | 63 | 84 | 128 | |
Income after financial items | 227 | 494 | 349 | 126 | 140 | 603 | |
Net income | 150 | 336 | 245 | 87 | 95 | 485 | |
Earnings per share, SEK 1) | 1.41 | 3.16 | 2.30 | 0.81 | 0.90 | 4.54 | |
Key ratios
6 months 1999 |
6 months 1998 |
Whole year 1998 |
|
Saab | |||
Operating margin before depreciation | 12.9% | 13.6% | 13.4% |
Operating margin after depreciation | 8.3% | 9.4% | 9.0% |
Equity / assets ratio | 28.0% | 24.9% | 25.2%1) |
Saab Group | |||
Return on capital employed | 24.6% | - | 21.4% |
Return on shareholders equity | 27.7% | - | 25.6% |
Equity / assets ratio | 15.1% | 11.9% | 13.3%1) |
Balance sheet
SEK m. | June 30, 1999 | Jan. 1, 19992) | Dec. 31, 1998 | June 30, 1998 |
Assets | ||||
Goodwill and other intangible assets | 383 | 328 | 108 | 115 |
Property, plant and equipment, etc. | 2,754 | 2,685 | 2,620 | 2,539 |
Lease assets | 8,502 | 8,664 | 8,664 | 7,833 |
Shares | 43 | 44 | 103 | 101 |
Inventories, etc. | 4,174 | 4,849 | 4,285 | 4,800 |
Receivables | 2,702 | 3,201 | 3,062 | 2,692 |
Receivables on Investor AB | - | 0 | 0 | 6,576 |
Cash and marketable securities | 11,747 | 13,270 | 12,946 | 6,231 |
Total assets | 30,305 | 33,041 | 31,788 | 30,887 |
Shareholders equity and liabilities | ||||
Shareholders equity | 4,285 | 4,033 | 4,033 | 3,412 |
Minority interest in subsidiaries | 161 | 148 | 92 | 162 |
Provision for pensions | 1,932 | 1,965 | 1,948 | 2,233 |
Other provisions | 5,502 | 6,226 | 6,226 | 6,774 |
Liabilities to credit institutions | 74 | 69 | 69 | 51 |
Convertible debenture loan | 215 | 210 | 210 | - |
Lease obligations | 4,790 | 4,953 | 4,953 | 5,082 |
Advance payments from customers 1) | 6,911 | 7,799 | 6,989 | 6,732 |
Other liabilities | 6,435 | 7,638 | 7,268 | 6,441 |
Total shareholders equity and liabilities | 30,305 | 33,041 | 31,788 | 30,887 |
1) Of which portion used | 1,945 | 2,608 | 2,108 | 2,164 |
2) Including Ericsson
Saab Avionics, which is consolidated in the Saab Group from
January 1, 1999.
Subdivided summary of income statement, January - June 1999
SEK m. | Saab | Regional Aircraft | SAL | Elimi-nations | Group |
Sales | 4,503 | 497 | -190 | 4,810 | |
Cost of goods sold | -3,266 | -906 | 599 | -3,573 | |
Gross margin | 1,237 | -409 | 409 | 1,237 | |
Operating expenses | -863 | -59 | 59 | -863 | |
Share in income of associated companies | 1 | 1 | |||
Settle of termination reserve | 409 | 59 | -468 | 0 | |
Total | 375 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 375 |
Reversal of termination reserve | 174 | 174 | |||
Operating income | 375 | 174 | 0 | 0 | 549 |
Income from financial items | 137 | 35 | 172 | ||
Income after financial items | 512 | 174 | 35 | 0 | 721 |
Subdivided summary of balance sheet, June 30 1999
SEK m. | Saab | Regional Aircraft | SAL | Elimi-nations | Group |
Assets | |||||
Fixed assets | 4,679 | 1 | -1,500 | 3,180 | |
Lease assets | 8,502 | 8,502 | |||
Deferred tax receivables | 188 | 789 | -492 | 485 | |
Inventories, etc. | 4,031 | 143 | 4,174 | ||
Receivables | 1,250 | 11 | 956 | 2,217 | |
Cash and marketable securities | 6,932 | 3,304 | 1,511 | 11,747 | |
Total assets | 17,080 | 4,247 | 10,970 | -1,992 | 30,305 |
Shareholders equity and liabilities | |||||
Shareholders equity | 4,238 | 1,547 | -1,500 | 4,285 | |
Minority interest in subsidiaries | 148 | 13 | 161 | ||
Provision for pensions | 1,932 | 1,932 | |||
Other provisions | 70 | 2,819 | 3,105 | -492 | 5,502 |
Liabilities to credit institutions | 74 | 74 | |||
Convertible debenture loan | 215 | 215 | |||
Lease obligations | 44 | 4,746 | 4,790 | ||
Advance payments from customers | 6,871 | 40 | 6,911 | ||
Other liabilities | 3,488 | 1,388 | 1,559 | 6,435 | |
Total shareholders equity and liabilities | 17,080 | 4,247 | 10,970 | -1,992 | 30,305 |
Summary of cash flow statement
SEK m. | 6 months 19991) | 6 months 1998 | Whole year 1998 |
Cash flow from operating activities | |||
Income after
financial items excl. Share in income of associated companies |
720 | 428 | 1,154 |
Depreciation and write-down charged to income | 443 | 369 | 773 |
Items affecting comparability | -174 | - | -200 |
Tax | 15 | -3 | -95 |
Cash flow
from operating activities before changes in working capital |
1,004 | 794 | 1,632 |
Working capital | |||
Inventories etc. | 675 | 196 | 711 |
Receivables | 294 | 341 | -35 |
Advance payments from customers | -888 | -806 | -549 |
Other liabilities | -1,203 | -286 | 541 |
Lease obligations | -163 | -125 | -254 |
Provisions | -550 | -94 | -442 |
Change in working capital | -1,835 | -774 | -28 |
Cash flow from operating activities | -831 | 20 | 1,604 |
Investments in intangible fixed assets | -80 | 12 | 12 |
Investments in tangible fixed assets | -248 | -109 | -348 |
Investments in lease assets | -74 | -1,126 | -2,184 |
Change in long-term receivables | -29 | -173 | -189 |
Cash flow from investments | -431 | -1,396 | -2,709 |
Operating cash flow | -1,262 | -1,376 | -1,105 |
1) From January 1 to June 30.
Subdivided summary of cash flow statement, January- June 1999
SEK m. | Saab | Regional Aircraft | SAL | Group |
Cash flow
from operating activities before changes in working capital |
732 | 272 | 1,004 | |
Change in working capital | -1,347 | -267 | -221 | -1,835 |
Cash flow from operating activities | -615 | -267 | 51 | -831 |
Investment activities | -361 | 4 | -74 | -431 |
Operating cash flow | -976 | -263 | -23 | -1,262 |
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