Rümlang, 7 March 2023 – dormakaba achieved strong organic sales growth in the first half of the financial year 2022/23, mainly driven by pricing. The adjusted EBITDA margin was lower than in the previous year, however in line with the guidance given in late August 2022. All business segments contributed to the strong organic sales growth, despite a challenging operating environment with continued supply chain constraints, inflationary pressure, and disruptions related to Covid-19 restrictions in China. Profitability declined, as positive growth effects were offset by the product mix, an increase in functional costs – mainly due to strategic investments in profitable growth initiatives with a payback in the future – and slower volume growth due to a reduction in customer inventories.

Jim-Heng Lee, CEO dormakaba, says: “dormakaba has consequently continued on its path toward sequential improvements. We exceeded our growth targets, and our profitability was in line with our expectations, despite a challenging macroeconomic environment. While this is a good result, there is still much work to be done. We are strongly committed to improving our margins and will focus on measures in the second half of the financial year 2022/23 to reduce the cost base across the organization, drive efficiency and improve our operational performance.”

Net sales, profitability and net profit

dormakaba increased net sales by 5.2% to CHF 1,419.8 million year-on-year (previous year: CHF 1,349.6 million). Organic sales growth, contributed most to the overall increase with 8.0%, 6.5% of which reflects price measures.

Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes items affecting comparability, declined by 4.6% to CHF 184.6 million (previous year: CHF 193.5 million).

The adjusted EBITDA margin was in line with guidance at 13.0% (previous year: 14.3%). There were strong price realizations and further improvements in operational efficiency. However, margins were reduced by a negative product mix, an increase of functional costs – mainly due to strategic investments in growth and profitability initiatives –, and a slower volume growth than expected due to inventory destocking on the customer side. In addition, inflation, including higher raw material, freight, labor, and energy costs and the effect of foreign currencies had a negative impact on margins.

The half-year figures contain items affecting comparability of CHF 14.0 million on EBITDA level, which include costs related to the implementation of Shape4Growth such as reorganization and restructuring.

dormakaba closed the first half of the financial year 2022/23 with a net profit of CHF 84.9 million (previous year: CHF 100.6 million)due to a lower EBITDA contribution and higher financial expenses.

Cash flow and balance sheet

Cash flow from operations increased to CHF 137.6 million (previous year: CHF 87.7 million) due to a sequential improvement in net working capital. The operating cash flow margin (net cash flow from operating activities as a percentage of sales) improved by 3.6 percentage points.

Free cash flow improved from CHF -53.9 million to CHF 50.1 million, benefiting from a lower M&A volume versus the previous year.

Net cash from operating activities doubled to CHF 103.9 million (previous year: CHF 49.3 million), representing an operating cash flow margin of 7.3% (previous year: 3.7%). In total, net debt increased to CHF 736.7 million (previous year: CHF 708.3 million).Financial leverage, defined as net debt relative to adjusted EBITDA, was 2.0x (31 December 2021: 1.9x).

Performance by business segment

dormakaba experienced stable demand, with some variation in individual markets. All business segments contributed positively to organic growth in the first half of the 2022/23 financial year.

Region Americas

Organic sales in Region Americas increased by 8.2% to CHF 389.8 million in the first half of the financial year 2022/23, driven by higher sales prices, steady US commercial construction activity, robust growth in multifamily housing demand, and the positive performance in Latin America. The adjusted EBITDA increased to CHF 68.7 million (previous year: CHF 66.9 million), while the adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 17.6% (previous year: 18.3%). ​ This reduction was mainly due to an unfavorable product mix, along with higher raw materials and freight costs that have not yet been fully compensated by price increases.

Region Asia Pacific

Organic sales inRegion Asia Pacific grew by 5.1% to CHF 305.2 million year-on-year, driven by both higher sales prices and volume gains, despite the challenging Covid-related environment in China. The adjusted EBITDA increased to CHF 49.1 million (previous year: CHF 41.2 million), with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.1% (previous year: 14.5%). This increase was largely due to market price and product mix developments, rigorous cost management, and efficiency improvements.

Region Europe & Africa

Organic sales for Region Europe & Africa grew by 7.1% to CHF 566.7 million year-on-year, mainly due to price increases to compensate for inflationary pressure. The adjusted EBITDA decreased to CHF 106.7 million (previous year: CHF 125.3 million), which represents an adjusted EBITDA margin of 18.8% (previous year: 22.1%). The adjusted EBITDA margin was affected by lower sales for access door hardware products particularly door closers, which led to a lower contribution from the manufacturing sites. Further effects included continued cost and labor inflation as well as investments in specification.

Key & Wall Solutions

Organic sales inKey & Wall Solutions grew by 14.3% to CHF 196.0 million year-on-year. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.4% (previous year: 12.7%). This increase was driven by a favorable product mix, with higher sales prices and volumes that more than compensated for inflationary impacts.

Sustainability progress

dormakaba is committed to an industry-leading framework for sustainability, with over 30 ambitious ESG targets as part of its Shape4Growth strategy. The company showed positive performance in these key indicators during the period under review.

In November 2022, dormakaba achieved Prime Status in the ESG ratings of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), making it eligible as a responsible investment for ISS’s over 3,000 institutional investor clients. End of 2022, the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) raised dormakaba’s ranking from B to A- placing it well above the global average of more than 18,700 assessed companies. Being part of the leadership band means dormakaba is recognized as implementing current best practices for addressing climate issues. The EURO Baubeschlag-Handel, Europe’s largest association of wholesalers and distributors in the construction hardware and fittings industry, awarded dormakaba its “Best Sustainability Program 2022” prize. Finally, EcoVadis, the world’s largest provider of corporate sustainability ratings, awarded dormakaba a gold medal beginning of 2023. This result places dormakaba among the top five percent of more than 100,000 organizations assessed worldwide.

Outlook

The global macroeconomic and geopolitical situation is characterized by limited visibility and uncertainty. dormakaba's customers in the commercial property and construction industries remain exposed to the twin pressures of price inflation and higher interest rates as well as supply chain disruptions. ​

With these caveats, dormakaba expects a sequential improvement to a slightly higher adjusted EBITDA margin for the full financial year and continued organic growth above its mid-term target range of 3-5%.

Board of Directors continues accelerated staggered renewal

As part of the renewal of the Board of Directors, Riet Cadonau will step down as Chairman and member of the Board as of 30 April 2023. The Board and the Executive Committee greatly appreciate his valuable contribution to the development of dormakaba and his tireless commitment over so many years and wish him every success in his future endeavors. Svein Richard Brandtzæg, currently Lead Independent Director and Vice-Chair of the Board, will take over as Chairman, with Thomas Aebischer, Chair of the Audit Committee, assuming also the role as Vice-Chair.

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