The automotive supplier Hella has benefited from the high demand in the automotive sector. Sales climbed by around 25 percent to 3.8 billion euros in the first half of the 2022 short financial year, as the company, which operates under the Forvia umbrella brand, announced on Friday. The adjusted operating result (EBIT) increased by almost 30 percent to 202 million euros. Adjusted EBIT margin increased to 5.3 percent from 5.1 percent. “This was mainly due to the higher volumes, the passing on of price increases and our efficient cost management,” explained Hella CEO Michel Favre of the higher profitability. The automotive supplier confirmed the annual forecast.
Nevertheless, there is still rumbling in the Franco-German joint venture: in 2021, Faurecia, a French specialist for seats and interior technology, initiated the takeover of the Lippstadt lighting and electronics specialist Hella for around 5.5 billion euros. Under the common Forvia brand, the groups should provide an example of Franco-German friendship and leverage synergies. Almost 81 percent of the shares in Hella now belong to the French group Faurecia. But there are still deep rifts: The financing of the Hella takeover remains despite the sale of a stake, a capital increase at Faurecia and a announced special dividend
wobbly. A group of Hella shareholders continues to block the complete implementation of the takeover. At the Hella headquarters more and more top people are looking for space – or have already left
.
On the stock exchange, the share of the headlight specialist, which is listed in the MDax, rose only slightly and continued to fluctuate around the 80 euro mark. The two largest areas, lighting and electronics, grew at double-digit rates. In particular, the lighting technology business in China has developed positively, among other things due to higher production volumes after series launches. In the case of electronic components, the increase in sales is due to high demand for body and steering electronics, for example.
The goal is group revenue of 7.1 billion euros
Adjusted for special effects, 202 million euros of the proceeds remained as an operating result (adjusted EBIT), almost 30 percent more than a year earlier. The reason for this is also the weaker increase in expenditure on research and development in relation to sales. The bottom line was a profit of 135 million euros after 104 million a year earlier.
At the turn of the year, Hella changed its fiscal year to the calendar year. The Management Board initially maintained the forecast range for the earlier fiscal year period up to the end of May, but made it more precise. The company wants to achieve currency- and portfolio-adjusted group sales of EUR 7.1 to 7.6 billion. The upper end of the range is now being targeted. Between 5.5 and 7 percent of this value should then remain as adjusted operating profit (EBIT), with management now targeting the lower end of the range. On February 16, the Executive Board intends to present forecasts for the new 2023 financial year from January to the end of December.