NovaCast Technologies AB (JSC) 556211-0790 INTERIM REPORT FOR PERIOD JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2010


NovaCast Technologies AB (JSC) 556211-0790

INTERIM REPORT FOR PERIOD JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2010

July- September 2010 

Net sales for the quarter were 24,2 MSEK (19,0) 
Operating loss for the quarter was -12,1 MSEK (-6,8) 
Loss after tax was -12,9 MSEK (-8,0)
Earnings per share -0,64 SEK (-0,59)  
Considerable order intake during period 
Camito/Swepart received new large order from Magna Cosma  
Additional order from Volvo Cars - order value now approximately 35
MSEK 
CGI order from Turkey 

January - September 2010 

Net sales for the period were at 63,2 MSEK (78,3)
Operating loss for the period was -38,7 MSEK (-26,6)
Loss after tax was -41,7 MSEK (-30,1)
Earnings per share before and after dilution were -2,06 SEK (-2,21)
Currency rate effects were -0,6 MSEK (5,5)
Order intake was 107,4 MSEK (83,2) and order backlog was 73,5 MSEK
(36,3)  
Cash flow from operating activities was - 31,5 MSEK (-11,3)
Private placement new share issue provided 40 MSEK
Camito/SwePart approved supplier to Magna Cosma

 

 

 

Events after reporting period

 

New project financing in place through Camito Financial Services

 

 

Group development during reporting period

 Net sales 

Net sales for the group during the first three quarters of 2010 were
63,2 MSEK (78,3). The volume drop was mainly due to low order intake
from the automotive industry during 2009, which resulted in an unusually
weak first six months. Interruptions in production were also caused by a
break in the melting furnace at CTC foundry. A considerable increase in
order intake started during May of 2010 but did not give results in
increased invoicing until the latter months of the period. Net sales
during September 2010 were 11,1 MSEK (8,7). 

Result after tax 

Result after tax for the period was -41,7 MSEK (-30,1). The poor result
was mainly due to volume drop. Of the 35 notices of dismissal given
during the beginning of the year, 10 have been executed. No further
reductions in personnel are planned as a result of improved order
intake. One-off items mainly due to personnel terminations charged the
operating loss with approximately -1,9 MSEK (-1,2). 

Positive currency rate effects of 5,5 MSEK were included in the
corresponding period of the preceding year, while the current year's
result is charged with currency losses of 0,6 MSEK. 

Cash 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of accounting period were 5,4 MSEK
(16,0) including unutilized check credit of 3,5 MSEK (11,4). Accounts
receivable for the group were at 20,9 MSEK (23,1). 

A new project financing facility has been created after the reporting
period. Camito Financial Services has been able, via Sparbanken 1826,
ALMI Skåne, Swedbank and Fouriertransform, to negotiate a credit
facility that will provide 15 MSEK in new cash, as well as 5 MSEK in
other positive liquidity. The facility is connected to the export of
dies and 50% is guaranteed by The Swedish National Export Credits
Guarantee Board, EKN. 

Order intake and order backlog 

A considerable increase in order intake has taken place from May and
order backlog during the whole period was 107,4 MSEK (83,2), of which
93,8 MSEK (68,1) applies to the  Automotive business area and 13,6 MSEK
(15,1) to activities within foundry technology. Outgoing order backlog
was 73,5 MSEK (36,3) of which the Automotive business area reached 71,3
MSEK (34,8) and Foundry Technology reached 2,2 MSEK (1,5). 

Investments 

Expenditure related to investments during the period was 0,9 MSEK
(1,4). 

 Development per business area and market during reporting period

 Automotive 

Net sales for this business area were 51,0 MSEK (64,7). Operating loss
was -34,4 MSEK
(-26,1). Order intake was 93,8 MSEK (68,1) and outgoing order backlog
was 71,3 MSEK (34,8). One-off items charged the operating loss with
XX1,2 MSEK. 

On the whole, the market situation for the Automotive business area
improved considerably during the end of the period but the effects of
increased demand from the automotive sector expressed in higher
production utilization at our production sites have not been noticeable
until the latter month.   

Camito AB 

Marketing activities have continued at a high pace during the period and
the new marketing strategy that was implemented during the first quarter
has given results. This strategy means increased focus on ten top
priority customer groups, of which three are automotive manufacturers
(OEM) and seven are sub-contractors (Tier 1). With these prioritized
customers we will strive towards a closer relationship aimed at
improving advance planning and achieving more even production
utilization at production facilities. 

The effects of good order intake have however not had time to give any
positive effect on the result during the period.   

One of the most important market events for Camito/SwePart during the
period was their being approved as supplier to Magna Heavy Stamping
within Magna-Cosma, one of the largest Tier 1 suppliers in the world. 

During the period Camito's marketing organization finalized orders from
among others Volvo Car Corporation, approx. 35 MSEK, the new Saab
Automotive, approx. 5 MSEK and Magna Heavy Stamping, approx. ca 22 MSEK.
A new customer in Germany has also placed an order for dies worth
approx. 8 MSEK. 

Schweikert GmbH ordered further Camito dies during the period, which is
Schweikert's third order for Camito dies during the last eight months.  

Camito has also received an interesting long-term order from a leading
global customer in the industry. The order includes completion and
adjustment of stamping dies to one of the leading truck manufacturers in
the world. Discussions that have been taking place continuously
regarding deeper cooperation have resulted in several smaller orders
during the period. 

Camito Technology Center AB (CTC) 

Production volumes have been low during the whole period, partly due to
weak order flow during a large part of the period, as well as a two-week
standstill of the melting furnace at the beginning of the year and to
production development of new products. This has mostly disrupted
production of castings to the wind power industry within the framework
agreement with Enercon. Production of castings for wind power increased
during the end of the period and reached the expected annual pace and at
the same time production of die shoe castings increased during
September. 

Parts of the completion process at the foundry have been made more
efficient, resulting in lower staff requirements. Personnel have been
reduced with six persons to 24 due to notices of dismissal as well as
various resignations during the period. 

Swepart Verktyg AB  

Apart from September, production volumes were very low during the
period. Future delivery capacity has been prioritized as a result of the
good order intake from May 2010 and of the notices of dismissal given at
the beginning of the year only  4 have been executed, which has resulted
in lower personnel costs of approximately 1,0 MSEK (approx. 7%) on a
quarterly basis. Increased production at sub-contractors, in combination
with the projects for increasing efficiency that were conducted, will
allow SwePart to retain or raise their delivery capacity before the
expected demand increase in the coming years. 

Foundry Technology (including Graphyte product area) 

NovaCast Foundry Solutions AB  

Net sales for the business area during the period were 12,2 MSEK (13,6).
Operating loss was -4,3 MSEK (-0,5), including one-off items that
charged the loss with approximately  -0,7 MSEK. A program of measures
has been decided on and has commenced. 

Demand and invoicing have been low during the whole period but a certain
increase has taken place in September. 

An order for the ATAS process control system was received from American
Casting LLC, Oklahoma, USA and for the NovaFlow&Solid and NovaStress
simulation packages from Olazabal y Huarte SA, Spain. 

The total customer base increased to 473 customers (438) and the
installed licence base to 684 (662). The number of Technology Partner
Agreements, TPA, which generate annual income to the company, is 178
(203). 

Current CGI projects within the Graphyte business area are proceeding
with good results and a definite increase in marketing activities has
been noted.   

Parent company 

Income in the parent company consists mainly of sales of services within
the group.

Net sales were 7,1 MSEK (7,7) during the period, of which intra group
sales were 7,1 MSEK (7,7). Operating loss was -1,2 MSEK (-0,2). 

Risks and uncertainty factors 

After a very weak six-month period we were able to get several important
orders during the third quarter. This means that we now have an
interesting backlog of orders and it is very important that we produce
this backlog with high quality, delivery precision, improved production
efficiency and thereby profitability. We continue to adapt our fixed
costs in order to quickly achieve balance between income and expenses
for the group. 

The expansion we can expect also demands access to project financing.
This depends primarily on the fact that the market still tends to see
sub-contractors as financiers within the die area. 

For further information about the group's operational and financial
risks, risk management and risk exposure, please see NovaCast
Technologies' annual report on
www.novacast.se (http://www.novacast.se). 

Contingent assets and (contingent) liabilities 

No considerable change has taken place in the group's or parent
company's contingent assets or liabilities since the end of the last
fiscal year. 

Related party transactions 

No related party transactions relevant for understanding changes in the
group's or parent company's financial standing and development since the
end of the last fiscal year have taken place other than the private
placement new share issue to Fouriertransform during the first quarter
of 2010. 

Future developments 

As in previous years, NovaCast Technologies does not give any prognoses,
mainly since business activities are still in the construction phase,
where individual orders or business deals can create significant swings
in these activities.  

The Board and management focus on adapting business activities according
to current market conditions, liquidity and cash flow, as well as on
creating a platform for expansion.

 

Board signatures 

Tyringe October 29, 2010

 

Hans Golteus  Jan Erik Dantoft          Hans Wikman

Chairman of the Board             Board member          Board member 

Lars-Olof Strand         Monica Svenner         Sten Thunberg

Board member            Board member            Board member

Hans Svensson

Group CEO and CEO

 For further information contact Hans Svensson, CEO NovaCast
Technologies AB, +46 705 652 250.

 

Review report

 We have reviewed this report for the period 1 January 2010 to 30
September 2010 for NovaCast Technologies AB (publ). The board of
directors and the CEO are responsible for the preparation and
presentation of this interim report in accordance with IAS 34 and the
Swedish Annual Accounts Act. Our responsibility is to express a
conclusion on this interim report based on our review. 

We conducted our review in accordance with the Swedish Standard on
Review Engagements SÖG 2410, Review of Interim Report Performed by the
Independent Auditor of the Entity. A review consists of making
inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting
matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review
is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance
with Standards on Auditing in Sweden, RS, and other generally accepted
auditing standards in Sweden. The procedures performed in a review do
not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all
significant matters that might be identified in an audit.  Accordingly,
we do not express an audit opinion. 

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to
believe that the interim report is not prepared, in all material
respects, in accordance with IAS 34 and the Swedish Annual Accounts Act,
regarding the Group, and with the Swedish Annual Accounts Act, regarding
the Parent Company. 

 

Tyringe, 29 October 2010

Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers

Claes Thimfors
Authorised Public Accountant

See attached file for complete report.

Attachments

10282348.pdf