Corporate press release

GEA delivers very good first-quarter results in a challenging year

15 May 2020

With the coronavirus crisis affecting operating business only to a very minor extent in the first quarter of 2020, technology group GEA began the current financial year with significant increases in both order intake and EBITDA before restructuring measures. These positive developments were achieved largely due to the new group organization introduced in January as well as to operational improvements resulting from measures introduced last year to increase efficiency in the group.

GEA Düsseldorf headquarter

At EUR 1.38 billion, order intake in the first quarter increased by 16.0 percent year on year, setting a new GEA record for first quarter in a financial year. Nearly all divisions posted gains in order intake. Five large orders with a total value of around EUR 140 million – three of them in the dairy processing sector – contributed significantly to the increase. With a 3.5 percent increase to EUR 1.09 billion, revenue also exceeded the prior-year figure. This resulted in a book-to-bill ratio (the ratio of order intake to revenue) of 1.26 for the first three months of 2020, compared to a figure of 1.12 a year earlier. The share contributed by the important service business increased from 32.7 to 34.3 percent. 

In the first quarter, EBITDA before restructuring measures stood at EUR 105 million – an increase of 40.7 percent. This significant increase was primarily the result of substantial operational improvements in the Liquid & Powder Technologies and Refrigeration Technologies divisions. Despite lower revenue, the Farm Technologies division also posted higher earnings – largely due to new machinery business with improved margins and a higher share of service business. 

ROCE (return on capital employed) rose to 12.3 percent (previous year: 12.0 percent). Net working capital stood at EUR 720 million as of March 31, 2020. Expressed as a ratio to revenue, last year’s figure of 17.2 percent was therefore cut significantly to 14.6 percent. The group’s net financial position improved greatly from a net debt of EUR 155 million in the previous year to net liquidity of EUR 10 million in the quarter under review. 

“GEA had a very good start to the 2020 financial year. Even if the duration and, thus, the financial implications of COVID-19 remain difficult to predict, we confirm our outlook for 2020. Even in the current crisis, our customers are working at capacity, especially in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. And, as a reliable partner, we’re on hand to provide them with all the support they need. Especially in these challenging times, GEA stands to benefit from its robust, forward-thinking business model. In addition, the measures we introduced last year mean we’re now much better placed to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19. That said, COVID-19 will undoubtedly have negative consequences for GEA too. Our job is to manage them throughout the course of the remaining year. But GEA is not dealing with a long-term problem here,” said Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft.  

As announced at the start of April, due to COVID-19, GEA has rescheduled the Annual General Meeting originally due to be held in Düsseldorf on April 30, 2020. The new date is November 26, 2020. The company’s proposed dividend of EUR 0.85 per share remains unchanged. Thanks to its robust operating position, on May 6, 2020 – the original dividend date – GEA paid shareholders the maximum possible advance payment of EUR 0.42 per share permitted by law. 

IFRS Key Figures of GEA

(EUR million)Q1 2020Q1 2019Change in %
Results of operations   
Order intake1,376.71,186.316.0
Book-to-bill ratio1.261.12
Order backlog2,628.72,550.73.1
Revenue1,093.81,057.33.5
EBITDA before restructuring measures105.074.640.7
as % of revenue9.67.1
EBITDA96.969.339.8
EBIT before restructuring measures56.427.0> 100
as % of revenue5.22.6
EBIT48.221.7> 100
EBT141.725.762.4
Profit for the period129.830.2–1.2
ROCE in %212.312.0
    
Net assets   
Net working capital (reporting date)719.9833.2–13.6
as % of revenue (LTM)14.617.2
Capital employed (reporting date)2,169.42,687.5–19.3
Equity2,111.42,486.2–15.1
Equity ratio in %37.341.7
Leverage3–0.0 x0.4 x
Net liquidity (+)/Net debt (-)10.1–155.3
    
Financial position   
Cash flow from operating activities23.3–39.0
Cash flow from investing activities–14.2–25.243.8
Free cash flow9.1–64.2
    
GEA Shares   
Earnings per share (EUR)10.170.17–1.2
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (million)180.5180.5
Market capitalization (EUR billion; reporting date)3.44.2–19.8
Employees (FTE; reporting date)18,39218,718–1.7
Total workforce (FTE; reporting date)19,95220,643–3.3

1) 2019 incl. interest income of EUR 26 million due to adjustment of the interest calculation method used to measure provisions for Environmental protection and mining. The interest income is omitted in the amount of EUR 10 million the result from continuing operations and EUR 16 million on the result from discontinued operations.
2) Capital employed excluding goodwill from the acquisition of the former GEA AG by former Metallgesellschaft AG in 1999 (average of the last 4 quarters).
3) Total net debt/cons. EBITDA based on frozen GAAP (covenant concept).

Media Relations

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft

Peter-Müller-Str. 12


40468

Düsseldorf


Germany

+49 211 9136-0

About GEA

GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services.

With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated revenues of about EUR 5.4 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2023 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customer’s production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world“. GEA is listed on the German MDAX the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is among the companies comprising the DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability as well as Dow Jones Sustainability World and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Indices.
 
Receive news from GEA

Stay in touch with GEA innovations and stories by signing up for news from GEA.

Contact us

We are here to help! With just a few details we will be able to respond to your inquiry.