Revenue in second half year 2012 stabilized despite challenging market environment

In the business year 2012, the Elma Group achieved a total revenue of CHF 111.1 million, a decrease of 5.6% compared to the previous year. Adjusted for currency translation effects, sales fell by 8.6%. The order income of CHF 110.8 million was slightly down 1.4%. Adjusted for currency translation effects, revenue declined by 4.5%. All three regions fell short of expectations due to subdued demand.

Revenue in the Americas region decreased by 1.2%; adjusted for currency translation effects sales dropped by 6.7% to USD 61.4 million. The Europe region declined its sales by 8.2% to CHF 47.5 million; adjusted for currency translation effects, sales decreased by 8.1%. In the Asia region, revenue fell by 21.1% to CHF 6.3 million; adjusted for currency translation effects a decrease of 25.5% was reported.

While order income in the Americas region with an increase of 3.1% in Swiss Francs was positive, it dropped in local currency by 2.6% to USD 61.8 million. In the Europe region, order income decreased by 3.5% to CHF 47.0 million; adjusted for currency translation effects it declined by 3.3%. In Asia, order income remained slow due to low demand from the Chinese railway business and fell by 21.4% to CHF 6.1 million; adjusted for currency translation effects it was down 25.8%.

Due to the difficult economic environment and a weak demand in 2012, Elma has made great efforts to improve the profitability compared to the first half year. Thanks to the initiated operational measures, the EBIT margin developed positively in the second half of 2012 and will consequently close higher than in the first half of 2012.

Detailed information, the full annual statements and the Annual Report of 2012 will be published on March 21, 2013. On the same day, the year end results will be presented at the media and financial analysts’ meeting in Zurich. The company’s Annual General Meeting will take place on April 25, 2013.