Release Date: October 23, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOF, Financial) reported its fourth consecutive quarter of volume growth, with a 1% increase in Q3 2024.
- The company achieved an adjusted gross margin expansion of 60 basis points in Q3 and 180 basis points year-to-date.
- Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOF) is implementing cost measures, including a reduction of 2,000 positions globally, expected to deliver annualized savings of EUR120 million to EUR150 million.
- The company is focusing on strategic portfolio management, particularly in South Asia, to enhance its market position.
- Despite challenging market conditions, Akzo Nobel NV (AKZOF) maintained pricing discipline, with price mix remaining flat in Q3.
Negative Points
- Adjusted EBITDA growth was impacted by higher-than-expected adverse currency effects.
- Net debt-to-EBITDA ratio increased to 3 times from the prior quarter due to elevated working capital.
- The decorative paints market in China remains weak, affecting overall sales performance.
- Working capital as a percentage of revenue stood at 17.7%, higher than the company's target.
- The automotive market showed a clear slowdown, impacting volumes in the automotive and specialty coatings segment.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Could you unpack the ambition behind the restructuring in Southeast Asia and clarify the expected net debt at year-end?
A: In South Asia, we're evaluating our portfolio to focus on strong businesses with potential for consolidation. In India, we have a premium position but limited market share, and we're exploring partnerships or potential exits. Regarding net debt, we anticipate it to be closer to EUR3.7 billion by year-end. (Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO; Maarten de Vries, CFO)
Q: Why do you expect the car refinish market to soften, and are you interested in acquiring your competitor's Brazilian Deco activities?
A: The car refinish market is slowing due to distribution mergers and a wait-and-see attitude for repairs. Regarding the Brazilian Deco business, we're not looking to deploy additional capital in Latin America Deco, but we acknowledge it's a strong asset. (Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO)
Q: What are the challenges in reducing working capital, and do you foresee any changes in pricing trends?
A: Inventory levels remain high due to mixed demand, but we aim to reduce working capital to 15% by year-end. Pricing trends remain stable, and we expect to implement price increases early next year to reflect cost changes. (Maarten de Vries, CFO; Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO)
Q: How does the current cost-cutting strategy differ from past approaches, and is it a correction to grow earnings?
A: Our cost-cutting is focused on functional areas, not commercial functions, to avoid impacting growth potential. We're simplifying the organization to remove functional overhead without targeting growth-driving areas. (Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO)
Q: Why wasn't the China Deco business included in the strategic review, and what is the strategy for this market?
A: Despite recent challenges, we're number two in the China Deco market and aim to consolidate our position. We're expanding into smaller cities and rebalancing our portfolio to be competitive in the mid-market. (Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO)
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
