Rieter : First half of 2020 severely impacted by COVID-19

• Order intake of CHF 250.7 million down 34% on previous year
• Sales of CHF 254.9 million 39% below first half of 2019
• EBIT of CHF -55.0 million, before restructuring charges of CHF -46.9 million
• Implementation of COVID crisis management and restructuring according to plan
• Stronger second half of 2020 expected
• Continuous implementation of the strategy
• Change in the Group Executive Committee

As reported on May 28, 2020, COVID-19 had a major impact on Rieter's business in the first half of 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a market situation where demand for the goods and services of all three business groups decreased significantly. The Business Group Machines & Systems is affected by the deferral by customers of investments and scheduled deliveries. At the same time, the demand for wear & tear and spare parts declined sharply, due to the suspension of production in many spinning mills around the world. This is reflected in the low order intake and sales of the Business Groups Components and After Sales. Hence, this exceptional market situation gave rise to losses in all three business groups in the first half of 2020.

The Rieter Group posted an order intake of CHF 250.7 million. This corresponds to a reduction of 34% (first half year 2019: CHF 378.3 million). Order intake in the Business Group Machines & Systems declined by 34%, it also fell by 34% in the Business Group Components and by 32% in the Business Group After Sales. The order backlog as of June 30, 2020, was around CHF 490 million (June 30, 2019: CHF 295 million). Cancellations were less than 5%.

Sales amounted to CHF 254.9 million (first half year 2019: CHF 416.1 million), which represents a decline of 39% compared to the previous year period. At Machines & Systems, sales decreased by 46%. This was due to the low order intake in the first three quarters of the previous year and deferred deliveries. Sales fell by 29% at Components and by 34% at After Sales.

EBIT, Net Profit, Free Cash Flow and Net Liquidity

The cost cutting measures already implemented contributed among other things to a reduction in Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses of around CHF 10 million. Nevertheless, due to the lower volume, Rieter recorded a loss of CHF -55.0 million (before restructuring charges: CHF -46.9 million) at the EBIT level and a loss of CHF 54.4 million at the net profit level. Due to the buildup of inventories for deliveries in the second half of the year and the loss already mentioned, free cash flow was CHF -95.4 million.

As of June 30, 2020, Rieter had net liquidity of CHF 36.0 million, liquid funds of CHF 253.5 million and undrawn credit lines in the mid three-digit million range.

Regions

CHF million	January ‒ June 2020	January ‒ June 2019	Change	Change in local currencY
Sales	254.9	416.1	-39%	-38%
Asian countries1	87.4	165.4	-47%	-47%
China	37.0	72.6	-49%	-47%
India	17.7	66.7	-73%	-72%
Turkey	51.1	24.5	109%	110%
North and South America	30.9	54.8	-44%	-42%
Europe	23.6	23.1	2%	4%
Africa	7.2	9.0	-20%	-20%

^{1 Excluding China, India and Turkey}

With the exception of Turkey, sales in all regions were marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. In India, sales declined to CHF 17.7 million due to the lockdown, a fall of 73% compared to the first half of 2019. In the Asian countries, China and North and South America, sales decreased by between 44% and 49% compared to the first half of 2019. In Africa, sales declined by 20%. Europe was slightly above the prior year level. With sales of CHF 51.1 million in the first half of 2020, Turkey showed a significant improvement on the previous year's very low level (first half year 2019: CHF 24.5 million). This upswing was also associated with the innovations that Rieter presented at ITMA in Barcelona in June 2019.

Business Groups

CHF million	January ‒ June 2020	January ‒ June 2019	Change	Change in local currency
Order intake	250.7	378.3	-34%	-33%
Machines & Systems	129.2	196.2	-34%	-33%
Components	76.7	115.8	-34%	-32%
After Sales	44.8	66.3	-32%	-31%
Sales	254.9	416.1	-39%	-38%
Machines & Systems	119.9	220.8	-46%	-45%
Components	87.7	123.3	-29%	-27%
After Sales	47.3	72.0	-34%	-33%

Business Groups

Due to the exceptional market situation, Machines & Systems posted an order intake of CHF 129.2 million (first half year 2019: CHF 196.2 million). The sales declined to CHF 119.9 million (first half year 2019: CHF 220.8 million). At the EBIT level before restructuring charges, Machines & Systems recorded a loss of CHF 39.9 million (first half year 2019: CHF -22.7 million), due to the low volume combined with the ongoing innovation program.

At Components, order intake amounted to CHF 76.7 million (first half year 2019: CHF 115.8 million). The sales fell to CHF 87.7 million (first half year 2019: CHF 123.3 million). As a consequence, Components posted a loss before restructuring charges of CHF 1.6 million (first half year 2019: CHF +6.5 million).

After Sales recorded an order intake of CHF 44.8 million (first half year 2019: CHF 66.3 million). The sales declined to CHF 47.3 million (first half year 2019: CHF 72.0 million). This resulted in a loss before restructuring charges of CHF 5.2 million (first half year 2019: CHF +12.4 million).

Implementation of COVID Crisis Management and Restructuring According to Plan

Rieter has implemented comprehensive COVID crisis management. Priority is being given to protecting employees, fulfilling customer commitments and ensuring liquidity. The necessary measures to protect employees have been implemented worldwide and the order backlog is being processed largely as planned.

In January 2020, Rieter reported on structural changes in Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, which are being implemented as planned. Rieter has introduced 40% short-time working in Switzerland and Germany for the third quarter of 2020. Similar measures will be implemented worldwide within the scope of the available legal options.

The decision regarding whether to apply for an extension of short-time working for the fourth quarter of 2020 will be made in September 2020.

Stronger Second Half of 2020 Expected

Rieter noted signs of a market recovery in June 2020. Rieter monitors capacity utilization at more than 600 spinning mills around the world. At the beginning of April 2020, the proportion of producing spinning mills was around 40%. By the end of June 2020, this proportion had improved to around 80%.

Based on the order backlog of approximately CHF 490 million, an improved cost base and the signs of market recovery mentioned above, Rieter expects a stronger second half of 2020 compared to the first half of the year in terms of sales and profitability.

Rieter refrains from providing specific information for the full year 2020 due to the ongoing uncertainty and the still low level of visibility.

Continuous Implementation of the Strategy

In recent years, Rieter has consistently implemented the strategy based on the cornerstones of innovation leadership, strengthening the components, spare parts and services businesses, and adjusting cost structures. The company will forge ahead with the strategy in the coming months, with a view to strengthening its market position for the time after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rieter received the building permit for the CAMPUS project in June 2020. The company plans to build a new Customer and Technology Center and an administration building on an area of 30 000 m² at the current site in Winterthur − the Rieter CAMPUS. The project is a key element of Rieter's innovation strategy. Depending on the market situation, construction work will begin in the first half year of 2021.

Change in the Group Executive Committee

Carsten Liske, Head of the Business Group Machines & Systems and member of the Group Executive Committee since 2015, is to leave the Group Executive Committee in July 2021 to pursue a career opportunity outside the Rieter Group. The Board of Directors wishes to express its gratitude to Carsten Liske in advance for his many years of valuable service and his major contribution to the further development of Rieter. Details about succession arrangements shall be provided in due course.

Key Figures

CHF million	January ‒ June 2020	January ‒ June 2019	Change
Rieter
Order intake	250.7	378.3	-34%
Sales	254.9	416.1	-39%
Operating result before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)	-36.1	18.3
- in % of sales	-14.2%	4.4%
EBIT before restructuring charges	-46.9	-1.6
- in % of sales	-18.4%	-0.4%
Operating result before interest and taxes (EBIT)	-55.0	-1.2
- in % of sales	-21.6%	-0.3%
Net profit	-54.4	-3.8
- in % of sales	-21.3%	-0.9%
Basic earnings per share (CHF)	-12.11	-0.85
Purchase of property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets	13.7	12.0
Free cash flow	-95.4	-23.4
Net liquidity at the end of the reporting period	36.0	97.6
Equity in % of total assets at the end of the reporting period	37.9%	45.7%
Number of employees (excluding temporaries) at the end of the reporting period	4 573	4 743	-4%
Business Group Machines & Systems
Order intake	129.2	196.2	-34%
Sales	119.9	220.8	-46%
EBIT before restructuring charges	-39.9	-22.7
- in % of sales	-33.3%	-10.3%
Operating result before interest and taxes (EBIT)	-40.8	-23.8
- in % of sales	-34.0%	-10.8%
Business Group Components
Order intake	76.7	115.8	-34%
Sales	87.7	123.3	-29%
Total segment sales	113.1	148.4	-24%
EBIT before restructuring charges	-1.6	6.5
- in % of segment sales	-1.4%	4.4%
Operating result before interest and taxes (EBIT)	-8.7	6.4
- in % of segment sales	-7.7%	4.3%
Business Group After Sales
Order intake	44.8	66.3	-32%
Sales	47.3	72.0	-34%
EBIT before restructuring charges	-5.2	12.4
- in % of sales	-11.0%	17.2%
Operating result before interest and taxes (EBIT)	-5.1	12.3
- in % of sales	-10.8%	17.1%