RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2003 COMPARED WITH THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2002
Market overview During the three-month period April through June 2003, light vehicle production dropped by approximately 6% in the Triad (i.e. Western Europe, North America and Japan) compared to the same quarter last year.
In Europe, where Autoliv generates more than half of its revenues, light vehicle production declined by almost 5%. In April, production was expected to be unchanged during the quarter, with significant production cutbacks in the third quarter partly due to an unusual number of launches of new car models. It now turns out that the changeover to new models has started earlier than expected. During the second quarter, Renault introduced its new Scénic and ramped up production for its new Mégane, two vehicles to which Autoliv is the exclusive safety system supplier. At the same time, BMW has launched its new 5-series, to which Autoliv is the leading safety system supplier. BMW has also increased its production for the Mini and Volvo for its XC90, two other vehicles to which Autoliv is the exclusive safety systems supplier. This favorable sales mix was one of the reasons why Autoliv was able to offset the unexpected decline in European light vehicle production.
In North America, which accounts for one third of Autoliv's revenues, light vehicle production dropped by 9%, which was only marginally less than assumed at the beginning of the quarter. The Big 3 (i.e. GM, Ford and Chrysler), to which Autoliv is still more exposed, cut back production by 12%, while the Asian and European transplants increased their production by 2%. Chrysler reduced production by 10%, GM by 12% and Ford by 14%. Production fell by 16% for passenger cars but by only 4% for light trucks.
In Japan, which accounts for a tenth of consolidated sales, light vehicle production decreased by 2% due to a weak domestic market.
In addition to vehicle production, the automotive safety market is driven by new regulations and the rollout of new safety systems, such as curtain airbags which are estimated to reduce head injuries in side impacts by more than 50%. On June 26, the Commerce Committee of the U.S. Senate introduced draft legislation that would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish new regulations to reduce the risk of occupant ejection from motor vehicles. The draft legislation states that "the reduction of such ejections shall be based on the combined ejection-mitigation capabilities of safety technologies, including advanced side glazing, side curtains, and side impact air bags." It is proposed that the new regulation should become effective "no later than December 31, 2008" for all new vehicles weighing up to 5 tons.
Sales Consolidated net sales during the three-month period which ended June 30, 2003, rose by 17% to $1,367 million compared to the corresponding period in 2002. At the beginning of the quarter, sales were expected to increase by 10%, but during the quarter both currency effects and market share gains were stronger than anticipated.
Currency translation effects boosted sales by just over 12%, while the acquisition of the remaining shares in NSK's Asian seat belt operations ("the NSK-acquisition") on April 1 added nearly 3% to revenues. Consequently, organic sales growth (sales excluding currency effects and acquisitions) was close to 2%, despite the 6% drop in light vehicle production in the Triad. Consequently, Autoliv increased its global market share.
Autoliv's organic sales growth was primarily driven by a 52% increase in the sales of the Inflatable Curtain. Sales of electronics rose by 13%.
Sales by Region Sales from Autoliv's European companies rose by 25%, primarily due to a 23% currency effect. The fact that organic sales increased by 2% at the same time as European light vehicle production fell by almost 5% is primarily explained by higher penetration rates for the Inflatable Curtain and by additional market share gains in safety electronics.
Sales from Autoliv's North American companies declined by 8% compared to the 9% decrease in overall light vehicle production in this region. Even in this tough environment Autoliv's sales of side airbags, Inflatable Curtains and electronics continued to grow. Sales of inflators continued to decline, partly due to the phase-out of low-margin gas generators.
Sales from Autoliv's companies in Japan doubled. Close to two-thirds of the increase was due to the NSK-acquisition and 8% to currency effects. Organic sales grew by 26% in the weak Japanese market. The organic growth was spearheaded by the Inflatable Curtain.
Sales from Autoliv companies in theRest of the World jumped by 67%. Excluding currency effects of 9%, sales rose by 58% primarily as a result of new business in Korea, both for seat belts and frontal airbags. The growth rate was particularly high in China, where sales more than doubled compared to last year.
Sales by Product Consolidated sales of airbag products (incl. steering wheels) increased by 12% to $928 million, including an 11% effect from currencies. Since the change in Autoliv's organic sales was an increase of 1%, Autoliv managed to offset the effect of the weak global vehicle production. This was accomplished by increasing the supply value per vehicle, by taking market shares in airbags, electronics and steering wheels, and by new business generated by investments previously made in the Rest of the World, where vehicle production and the demand for frontal airbags is growing rapidly.
Sales of seat belt products (incl. seat sub-systems) rose by 30% to $438 million including currency effects of 17% and a 9% effect of the NSK-acquisition. The organic growth of 4% came from Korea, China and other new markets in Asia, in addition to market share gains in Europe.
Earnings Due to the strong sales performance and better margins, earnings improved on all levels in the income statement.
Gross profit increased by 23% to $265 million. Currency translation contributed 12% to the increase, while currency hedging reduced gross profit by $5 million in 2003 and by $2 million in 2002. Despite a 0.3% negative margin effect from the NSK-acquisition, the gross margin rose to 19.4% from the 18.4% recorded both in the same quarter 2002 and during the first quarter this year. The margin improvement was almost entirely due to lower manufacturing costs in relation to sales.
Operating income improved by 19% to $111 million and operating margin increased to 8.2% from 7.2% during the first quarter and from 8.0% in the year-ago quarter. The improvement over previous year was accomplished despite a 36% increase in R,D&E spending. Research, development and engineering expenses rose to 5.9% of sales from 5.1% during the same quarter 2002. The increase mainly reflects the strong order-intake during the last quarters. It is also due to lower engineering income in relation to sales and stronger currencies in Europe, where Autoliv has the majority of its R,D&E activities.
Net interest expense was reduced by $.8 million to $11.5 million as a result of lower interest rates.
Income before taxes, which improved by 31% to $108 million, was also affected by a one-time gain of $2.9 million reported as Other financial items and another one-time income of $1.5 million reported as Earnings of affiliates. The one-time items mainly relate to the sale of shares in connection to the NSI transactions (see below).
The effective tax rate was reduced to 32% in the quarter from 33% during the same quarter 2002. Previously, the effective tax rate for 2003 was also assumed to be 33%, but is now expected to be 32.5% for the full year.
Net income rose by 36% to $71 million and earnings per share by 42% to 75 cents. The stock-repurchase program has reduced the average number of shares outstanding (assuming dilution) to 95.0 million during this year's second quarter from 98.3 million during last year's second quarter. Adjusting the tax rate in the first quarter to the new 32.5% level anticipated for full year of 2003 has resulted in a one-time catch-up effect of less than one cent in earnings per share. The impact of the stock repurchase program and currency exchange effects (including translation, currency hedging and transaction effects) added two and five cents, respectively, to earnings per share.
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