A START TO THE YEAR
MARKED BY THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19
Sales: €1,454m, -15.6% as reported and -16.5% LFL*
Operating Result from Activity: €18m, vs. €138m in Q1 2019
Net financial debt: €1,840m, vs. €1,997m at 31/12/2019
GENERAL COMMENTS ON GROUP SALES
Against a backdrop of an unprecedented global health and economic crisis, Groupe SEB sales in firstquarter 2020 came out at €1,454 million, down 15.6%, including a 16.5% like-for-like contraction (-€284 million), a currency effect of +0.1% (+€3 million) and a scope effect of +0.8% (+€13 million; Wilbur Curtis for one month and Krampouz for three). This substantial and unseen decrease in turnover can be attributed to:
the Consumer business, down 17.3% LFL, stemming mainly from China, impacted as of January by the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic;
the Professional business, down 9.7% LFL, against demanding 2019 comparatives.
In both cases, the downturn in our sales is closely related to government confinement measures and the restricted movement of people, as well as the closure of non-food stores in most countries. While ecommerce helped softening somewhat the impact, it was however constrained by sanitary limitations, by priority given to essential products and logistical issues.
The entire world is currently facing an economic and health crisis with unprecedented and large-scale consequences. Our number-one objective has been and remains to safeguard the health and safety of our teams. Our second priority has been to satisfy our customers and partners by ensuring service continuity.
The commitment of our employees has been outstanding in this respect, and I would like to express to them my pride and gratitude. Our teams have also deployed their energy and expertise to contribute to the fight against the pandemic. They mobilized to study the design and manufacture of respirators, the distribution of masks to hospitals, and the production of hand sanitizer.
We made a positive start to the first quarter around the world, apart from in China, already impacted by the crisis. At the end of the quarter, most countries introduced confinement measures, while China was on its way to a recovery.
Today, we are preparing for recovery with the authorities of the countries in which we operate, the aim being for the Group to resume activity at its sites in the best possible conditions and as soon as possible. Given today's economic and health environment, the second quarter will also be considerably impacted by the crisis.
We have protected the solidity of our cash situation and our balance sheet. We quickly took measures to adapt in order to limit as much as possible the impacts on our results without hampering the long term. As the situation evolves, we will be able to assess the full economic impact of the crisis, which will be substantial.
Groupe SEB is grounded on a solid and well-balanced business model, one that enables it to look to the future serenely and prepare for the post-crisis period.
Thierry DE LA TOUR D'ARTAISE
Chairman and CEO
Press release
audiocast
Download the presentation
Attachments
Original document
Permalink
Disclaimer
SEB SA published this content on 24 April 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 28 April 2020 15:47:06 UTC
The world leader in Small Household Equipment, SEB S.A. relies on 35 flagship brands (Tefal, Seb, Rowenta, Moulinex, Krups, Lagostina, All-Clad, WMF, Emsa, Supor, etc.) and a broad product portfolio:
- cookware: frying pans, saucepans, pressure cookers, utensils, etc.;
- small culinary appliances: items for electric cooking (deep fryers, rice cookers, pressure cookers, etc.), beverage preparation (coffee makers, kettles, etc.) or food preparation (blenders, food processors, etc.);
- small non-culinary household appliances: linen care equipment (irons, steam generators, steamers, steamers, etc.), vacuum cleaners, fans, and personal care equipment (hairdressing and depilation appliances, etc.).
At the end of 2023, the group operated 41 manufacturing sites worldwide.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Western Europe (34.1%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (15.2%), China (27.9%), Asia (7%), North America (10.9%) and South America (4.9%).
SEB S.A. 
