Mecaplast S.A.M. Business Report FY ended Dec. 2014

Financial Overview

(in millions of EUR)
FY ended Dec. 31, 2014 FY ended Dec. 31, 2013 Rate of
Change (%)
Factors
Overall
Sales 679 * 654 3.8 1)
EBITDA 47.1 38.7 21.7 -

* Figures adjusted, excluding non-recurring items

Factors
1) Sales by Production Areas
<France/Monaco>
-In 2014, the France/Monaco area, with EUR 224 million sales, saw its share in the Company's sales reduced by 11 points in relation to 2012 (36% versus 47% two years earlier).

-In 2014, the Western Europe area, driven by the growth of the Peterlee plant (United Kingdom) which multiplied its activity by 1.8, and Spain, accounted for 22% of the 2014 Company sales, up 3 points in 2 years. MECAPLAST Peterlee is one of the main suppliers for Nissan, which manufactures its best-seller, the Qashqai, in England.

-In 2014, the Eastern Europe/Turkey area experienced a 39% increase from 2012 to 2014, thus gaining 3 points and totalling 18%. A step up in production at its Zrenjanin site in Serbia contributed to the sustained growth of its Czech and Turkish sites.

-In 2014, the Asia area represented 15% of the Company's sales (up 4 points compared to 2012). In spite of difficulties in the Indian market in 2013, the Chennai site grew significantly in 2 years. China experienced sustained growth between 2012 and 2014, with a stepping up of production at the recent Yantai site (2012) and the strong performance of its Shanghai and Wuhan plants which benefited from the growth of DPCA volumes.

-In 2014, the Americas area represented 9% of the Company's sales. Despite difficulties in the Brazilian market in 2014, its Sao Paulo site increased over 2 years. In the same period, the NAFTA area remained stable with slight growth in the Puebla site in Mexico.

Plant Reorganization

-Between 2008 and 2013, MECAPLAST Production saw a 38.5% decrease in turnover. In order to be able to once again position itself at the level of the market prices, MECAPLAST Production reduced its workforce, cutting 65 jobs from a total of 140. This strategic shift was accompanied by the establishment of FOREPLAST, an entity dedicated to markets outside of the automotive sector.

-The Company extended the Peterlee site by a total of 3,400 square meters, including 1,200 square meters in its production space, 1,000 square meters in its storage space and 1,200 square meters in its covered space, to meet the requirements of the manufacturer Nissan. This extension will allow the site to double its turnover.

-The Company reorganized and optimised the Puebla site with aim of improving the production flow and logistics. It added 1,060 square meters in its production surface.

-The Company increased the production capacity of the Gebze site, the largest in terms of turnover and workforce, by 3,600 square meters. It also restructured its logistics center and modernised its layout. Every week, it manufactures 10.000 roof bars, mainly for Toyota and Dacia.

-The Company transferred the Shanghai site to the Shanghai Industrial Park. The move allowed the Company to group the plant and the Technical Centre in the same area for improved industrial integration.

Customer Oriented Organization

-The Company introduced a Customer oriented organization divided in five Business Units:

  • PSA/Volvo Cars and Trucks/Fiat Business Unit
  • Renault-Nissan/Toyota/Honda Business Unit
  • German Customers (GM/BMW/Daimler/Volkswagen/Ford) Business Unit
  • China Business Unit
  • Americas Business Unit

 

New Plants

-The Company is strengthening its position in Mexico, with a second plant undergoing construction in Silao, mid-west of the country. The second plant will manufacture engine parts for Nissan and General Motors. The 9,000-square-meter site will be inaugurated in 2016 and will employ up to 300 individuals.

-The high level of orders and the business potential identified in future vehicles and engines make central Europe a strategic area for the Company. The Company will extend its production capacity through new investments. A new site will be launched in 2016.

-After the development of coastal areas, China is continuing its industrial development inland. Thus, following recent sites in Yantai (2012) and Shenyang (2014), the Company aims to continue its deployment in China with a fifth site by 2017, west of Wuhan.

R&D Structure

-400 engineers in its three Skills Centers and five international Technical Centers work in simultaneous engineering. Three Skills Centers are dedicated to the design and development of parts: Monaco Skills Center, Lens Skills Center and Izernore Skills Center.

R&D Expenditures

-In 2014, the Company invested 3% of its turnover in innovation and/or R&D.

R&D Activities

For smart cars
-Swivel boot floors for easier access to objects stored in the boot
-Vacuum cleaners connected to the engine of the vehicle allowing the interior to be cleaned independently
-Adjustable boot interiors that can be adapted to the items being transported
-Smart trims to assist driving.

For lighter vehicles
-Innovative process allowing a 30% reduction in weight of interior trim parts (collaborative projects: FoamIN, Plume, ARIZONA etc.).

For cleaner engines
-100% recycled air filters

For electric vehicles
-Battery racks made of plastic (OPERA4FEV project)

For "Metal to Plastic"
-plastic oil sumps
-Plastic structural parts

Investments Outside Monaco

-In 2014, the Company announced that Mecaplast Peterlee in UK has completed its expansion works. Additional 1,200 square meters of production space as well as 960 square meters of storage space and 1,188 square meters of covered area were built to serve, among others, the needs of the Japanese automotive manufacturer. Mecaplast Peterlee was indeed awarded in 2011 for the exterior perimeter of the new Nissan Qashqai and started the production end of 2013. The site's workforce also makes a leap as Mecaplast Peterlee today employs 160 people versus 85 in 2012. A fourth Chinese site in Shenyang, Liaoning Province is under construction to serve BMW and General Motors. It will be inaugurated in the last quarter of 2014. (From a press release on April 1, 2014)

Data

Number of Employees

  Dec. 31, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013
Total 6,000 5,600

 

Sales

(in million EUR)
  FY ended Dec. 31, 2014 FY ended Dec. 31, 2013 FY ended Dec. 31, 2012

Overall

679 * 654 663

* Figures adjusted, excluding non-recurring items

Sales by Production Areas

(%)
  FY ended Dec. 31, 2014
Western Europe 49
Eastern Europe 19
China 18
NAFTA 8
India 3
Mercosul 3
Total 100

 

Sales by Product Lines

(%)
  FY ended Dec. 31, 2014
Exterior 42
Engine 33
Interior 25
Total 100