Second-quarter & Half-Year 2013 Results (unaudited)
REPORTED SALES IN THE SECOND QUARTER BROADLY STABLE YEAR-ON-YEAR
RESILIENT PROFITABILITY AND SOLID CASH FLOW
FULL-YEAR OUTLOOK UPDATED
DUE TO CHALLENGING MARKET CONDITIONS IN EUROPE AND IN THE PACIFIC
REPORTED SALES OF €3.3BN IN THE SECOND QUARTER
• Broadly stable (-0.8%) year-on-year on a reported basis
• Down 3.3% year-on-year on a constant and same-day basis with continued sales growth in the US (+3.9%), China (+3.3%) and Brazil (+7.8%)
RESILIENT PROFITABILITY WITH Adj. EBITA MARGIN OF 5.5% IN THE SECOND QUARTER
• Slightly down year-on-year: -20bps (vs. 5.7% in Q2 2012), thanks to ongoing margin discipline and strict cost control
• Up sequentially: +70bps (vs. 4.8% in Q1 2013)
FULL-YEAR OUTLOOK UPDATED DUE TO CHALLENGING MARKET CONDITIONS IN EUROPE AND IN THE PACIFIC
Rudy PROVOOST, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said:
“Rexel’s performance in the second quarter remained very resilient. We posted continued sales growth in the United States, China and Brazil and delivered solid margins and cash-flow. In addition, the implementation of our Energy in Motion strategy resulted in significant growth in key areas, such as Energy Efficiency and International Projects and Customers.
In the second half, we expect market conditions to remain challenging, particularly in Europe and in the Pacific, and assume no rebound in copper prices. Consequently, we have updated our full-year outlook. Despite an expected decrease in organic sales, our profitability will remain robust, thanks to ongoing margin discipline and strict cost control. Moreover, we confirm our full-year free cash flow target. ”