Business News

Short cycle orders improve, infrastructure business more challenging

Friday 23. April 2010 - Orders down 19%1 , but base orders indicate negative trends are reversing

Revenues 11 percent lower, reflecting 2009 order declines
EBIT at $709 million, down approximately $150 million
Cash from operations improved by more than $500 million
Zurich, Switzerland, April 22, 2010 – ABB’s orders declined 19 percent in the first quarter of 2010 as a result of lower large orders (above $15 million) compared to a record intake last year, and overall weakness in the power infrastructure business.

Orders in most of ABB’s short-cycle businesses, however, were steady or higher on growing industrial demand. Base orders (below $15 million) showed the strongest increase since the beginning of the global economic crisis in the summer of 2008.

Revenues were 11 percent lower than the year-earlier period, mainly due to order declines in 2009 flowing through to sales in the first quarter.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to $709 million, resulting in an EBIT margin of 10.2 percent. The EBIT margin, excluding mainly gains and losses on derivative transactions as well as restructuring-related costs, was 11.5 percent.2 Savings in the first quarter from the company’s $3-billion cost take-out program were in excess of $300 million.

Cash inflow from operations was $427 million compared to cash used in the same quarter a year earlier of $104 million. The improvement was due primarily to continued net working capital management efforts. Net income amounted to $464 million in the quarter.

“We had a challenging first quarter on the power side while seeing some encouraging signs of growth in our short-cycle businesses, mainly in the automation markets,” said Joe Hogan, ABB’s CEO. “Thanks to the progress we’ve made on our cost-out program, however, our profitability remains within the target range.

“Given the improving global economy, we’re cautiously optimistic that the momentum should continue to build for our short cycle businesses, especially in the emerging markets, driven by increasing industrial production. We expect to see a similar trend in our larger late-cycle business, however, only later in the year,” Hogan said.

1 Management discussion of orders and revenues focuses on local currency changes. U.S. dollar changes are reported in the results tables.
2 Please refer to Appendix I (in English PDF version of the press release)


2010 Q1 key figures

Q1 10
Q1 09
Change
$ millions unless
otherwise indicated
US$
Local
Orders
8,067
9,150
-12%
-19%
Order backlog (end March)
25,454
25,017
2%
-5%
Revenues
6,934
7,209
-4%
-11%
EBIT
709
862
-18%

as % of revenues
10.2%
12.0%

Net income
464
652
-29%

Basic net income per share ($)
0.20
0.29

Cash flow from operating activities
427
-104



Summary of Q1 2010 results

Orders received and revenues
Especially in later cycle businesses driven by utility infrastructure projects and industrial capital expenditures, such as Power Products, Power Systems and Process Automation, customer spending remains cautious, reflecting the still uncertain business environment. Large orders decreased in the quarter by 55 percent in local currencies and accounted for 16 percent of total orders compared to 27 percent in the same period in 2009, which had a record large order intake of more than $2.5 billion.

These declines could not be compensated by demand in many of ABB’s short-cycle industrial markets, such as general industry and construction, that lifted orders in Discrete Automation and Motion and Low-Voltage Products. This is partly reflected in a 5-percent local currency decrease in base orders compared to the same quarter a year earlier and a 15-percent increase versus the fourth quarter of 2009.

Regionally, orders increased in the Americas, the result of higher automation-related orders in both North and South America, and stronger power orders in South America. In Europe, power orders were down significantly compared to the first quarter of 2009, which included a $550-million order for a high-power subsea link. Automation orders were stable in Europe, as an increase in Process Automation offset reductions in Discrete Automation and Motion and Low-Voltage Products.

Orders decreased in Asia, as higher automation orders – led by double-digit order increases in China across all three automation divisions – could not compensate for a reduction in large power orders, driven mainly by declines in power transmission investments in China.

Service orders decreased by 4 percent in local currencies. An increase in maintenance and repair service was offset by lower full-service orders as ABB withdrew from some less profitable longer-term service agreements.

The order backlog at the end of March amounted to $25 billion, a local-currency decrease of 5 percent compared to the end of the first quarter in 2009 and a 5-percent local currency increase compared to the end of the fourth quarter of 2009.

Total revenues decreased primarily as the lower order intake from 2009 flowed through into sales in the first quarter of this year. The shortest cycle division, Low-Voltage Products, reported higher revenues as industrial and construction demand improved. Delays in the execution of some large projects and in customer acceptance of products contributed to the revenue decrease in the two power divisions. Service revenues were 3 percent lower in the quarter in local currencies compared to the first quarter of 2009.

Earnings before interest and taxes and net income
EBIT in the first quarter of 2010 was lower than in the first quarter a year earlier, primarily due to the decrease in revenues.

The EBIT margin declined compared to the same quarter in 2009 as improvements in Discrete Automation and Motion and Low-Voltage Products – driven by a favorable product mix and the impact of cost savings measures taken in 2009 – were more than offset by lower EBIT margins in the longer-cycle divisions as a result of price erosion, project provisions and lower capacity utilization versus the same quarter a year ago.

Included in EBIT is a net negative impact of approximately $80 million from gains and losses on derivatives and foreign exchange movements on receivables and payables. Restructuring-related costs amounted to $7 million in the quarter.

Net income for the quarter developed in line with EBIT and resulted in basic earnings per share of $0.20 compared to $0.29 in the year-earlier period.

Balance sheet and cash flow
Net cash at the end of the first quarter was $7.1 billion, basically unchanged versus the end of the previous quarter. Cash from operating activities increased, despite lower earnings, on a significant improvement in net working capital. Net working capital decreased by approximately $700 million compared to a year earlier.

Compliance
As previously announced, ABB has disclosed to the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission various suspect payments. Also as previously announced, ABB has been cooperating with various antitrust authorities regarding their investigations into certain alleged anti-competitive practices. With respect to these matters, there could be adverse outcomes beyond our provisions.

Cost reductions
ABB is implementing a cost take-out plan to adjust the company’s cost base to rapidly changing market conditions and protect its profitability. The program aims to sustainably reduce ABB’s costs – comprising both cost of sales as well as general and administrative expenses – from end-2008 levels by a total of $3 billion by the end of 2010. The program focuses on optimizing global sourcing, improving internal processes and adjusting ABB’s global manufacturing and engineering footprint to reduce costs, increase our competitiveness and better match shifts in customer demand.

Savings in the first quarter were in excess of $300 million, with the largest contributions coming from global footprint adjustments and global sourcing initiatives. The total cost of the program is expected to amount to approximately $1.1 billion. Costs associated with the program in the first quarter of 2010 were not material but are expected to amount to approximately $500 million for the full year.

Outlook
The growth of base orders from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010, although partly reflecting normal seasonal trends, appears to indicate that ABB has seen the bottom of its short-cycle businesses in most regions. This view is supported by recent increases in GDP and industrial production, particularly in the emerging economies, which are key growth drivers for the company’s short-cycle businesses.

For ABB’s late-cycle businesses, which make up the majority of the portfolio, the outlook for the remainder of 2010 remains mixed.

New and upgraded power infrastructure is needed in all regions, including renewables and smart grids. Increasing energy and commodity prices are driving demand for ABB automation solutions that lower operating costs, improve product and process quality and increase productivity. Stable or increased customer spending in pulp and paper, marine, metals and mining during the first quarter, although improving from a very low level, are further indications that some later cyclical businesses may begin to recover in 2010.

However, restrained utility spending, delays in the award of large power projects and increased competition in the power sector are expected to weigh on demand in the short term.

Therefore, in 2010 management will continue to focus both on adjusting costs and taking advantage of its global footprint, strong balance sheet and leading technologies to tap further opportunities for profitable growth.

Divisional performance Q1 2010

Power Products

Q1 10
Q1 09
Change
$ millions unless otherwise indicated
US$
Local
Orders
2,401
2,960
-19%
-26%
Order backlog (end March)
8,151
8,178
0%
-7%
Revenues
2,319
2,468
-6%
-12%
EBIT
348
442
-21%

as % of revenues
15.0%
17.9%

Cash flow from operating activities
247
97


The need for new and upgraded power transmission and distribution infrastructure remains strong in most regions, but utility spending was restrained during the quarter, while demand related to industry continued at low levels.

As a result, both base and large orders declined in the quarter. Regionally, orders grew by more than 50 percent in local currency terms in Central and Eastern Europe and were higher in South America. These increases were more than offset by order declines in the mature markets. Additionally, the decrease in large orders was a main driver of lower orders in China and the Middle East. Orders were also lower in North America, although the pace of decline slowed significantly compared to the previous two quarters.

Revenues decreased as a result of lower short-cycle sales during the quarter, the impact of order declines from 2009 and delays by customers in accepting product delivery.
EBIT and EBIT margin were lower than the same period a year earlier, reflecting lower revenues, cost underabsorption and increased price pressure.

Power Systems

Q1 10
Q1 09
Change
$ millions unless otherwise indicated
US$
Local
Orders
1,758
2,279
-23%
-30%
Order backlog (end March)
9,861
8,332
18%
10%
Revenues
1,384
1,417
-2%
-10%
EBIT
-14
83
n/a

as % of revenues
-1.0%
5.9%

Cash flow from operating activities
-37
-150


Orders declined compared to a record first quarter in 2009, which included two orders valued at almost $1 billion. Base orders were lower as both utility and industrial demand was weaker. Project tendering activity in power transmission continued at high levels, however, as the fundamental demand drivers remain intact – new grid capacity and upgrades, regional interconnections and the integration of renewable energies.

Revenues decreased, mainly because of project delays and a lower base order intake in 2009.

In addition to lower revenues, the EBIT decline was due to the negative impact of derivative transactions, equivalent to approximately 4 percentage points of EBIT margin. Execution challenges on a small number of specific projects resulted in additional costs, offsetting the gains from cost reduction measures.

Discrete Automation & Motion

Q1 10
Q1 09
Change
$ millions unless otherwise indicated
US$
Local
Orders
1,408
1,285
10%
2%
Order backlog (end March)
3,162
3,386
-7%
-12%
Revenues
1,213
1,301
-7%
-13%
EBIT
168
165
2%

as % of revenues
13.8%
12.7%

Cash flow from operating activities
59
-18


Orders increased modestly in the quarter as industrial production began to recover from low levels in some mature markets and remained robust in key emerging markets. Base orders improved in short-cycle businesses such as low-voltage motors and drives, more than offsetting a decline in large orders and orders in later-cycle businesses such as machines and power electronics. Robotics orders increased from a low level.

Regionally, orders increased the most in the Americas, led by the U.S., and in Asia, with China orders up more than 30 percent in local currencies. Orders were lower in Europe and the Middle East and Africa.

Revenues declined in the quarter, mainly reflecting the low opening order backlog in machines and robotics. However, the positive impact of cost saving measures combined with a more favorable product mix in the quarter contributed to an increase in EBIT and EBIT margin compared to the same quarter in 2009.

Low-Voltage Products

Q1 10
Q1 09
Change
$ millions unless otherwise indicated
US$
Local
Orders
1,106
1,020
8%
2%
Order backlog (end March)
816
774
5%
1%
Revenues
1,011
933
8%
2%
EBIT
150
127
18%

as % of revenues
14.8%
13.6%

Cash flow from operating activities
76
-18


Orders grew on improved demand from construction and industry customers across most regions during the first quarter, led by double-digit growth in local currencies in Asia and the Middle East and Africa. China orders increased by 13 percent in local currency terms. Orders were also higher in Germany and Italy, the division’s two largest European markets, but Europe orders overall declined 4 percent in local currencies. Orders in the Americas were also higher.

Revenues grew in line with orders, as most sales are booked in the same quarter in which orders are placed. EBIT and EBIT margin increased on higher revenues, a positive product mix and the impact of cost measures taken during 2009.

Process Automation

Q1 10
Q1 091
Change
$ millions unless otherwise indicated
US$
Local
Orders
2,115
2,553
-17%
-24%
Order backlog (end March)
5,729
6,765
-15%
-21%
Revenues
1,735
1,878
-8%
-15%
EBIT
159
146
9%

as % of revenues
9.2%
7.8%

Cash flow from operating activities
137
48

1 Q1 2009 numbers include the instrumentation business transferred to the Process Automation division as part of the previously-announced automation realignment

Demand was steady or stronger in several key end markets in the first quarter, although total orders declined in comparison with the very strong quarter of a year earlier, which included a $490-million order from Algeria. Base orders returned to the high levels of a year ago and have grown at a double-digit pace in local currencies since the middle of 2009.

Orders from the oil, gas and petrochemicals sector declined in the quarter, reflecting the non-recurrence of the large Algerian order in the first quarter of the previous year. Marine orders increased from a very low level, mainly in oil-related segments and in Europe and Asia. Pulp and paper orders also grew, driven by demand for drives and electrification projects. Metals and minerals orders were steady, supported by an increase in metals orders in Asia. Service orders were mixed, with strong growth in oil and gas and turbocharging service offset by measures to reduce ABB’s exposure to a number of less profitable full-service orders.

Revenues declined on the decrease in orders in recent quarters. However, EBIT and EBIT margin improved, reflecting a larger proportion of service and product sales in revenues as well as benefits from the cost take-out program.