First quarter 20211
Eindhoven, the Netherlands – Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today announced the company’s first quarter 2021 results.
“Our first quarter performance demonstrates the execution of our strategy, as we report growth driven by our connected businesses and our growth platforms. The adaptive measures we took in 2020, combined with continued pricing discipline, cost and working capital management, resulted in improvements in our operating margin and free cash flow. Our teams have also begun to execute our new 'Brighter Lives, Better World 2025' sustainability program, which aims to double our positive impact on the environment and society in 2025,” said CEO Eric Rondolat.
“While we see signs of an economic recovery, supply chain performance is being challenged by component shortages, which are impacting the first half, and will, to a lesser extent, impact the second half of the year. We expect the continued vaccination rollouts and easing of lockdowns to drive an upswing in demand for our professional portfolio in the second half of the year. We are therefore aiming for mid-single digit full-year comparable sales growth and further year-on-year operating margin improvements, driven by our digital businesses.”
Brighter Lives, Better World 2025
In the first quarter of the year, Signify made its first steps to achieve the ambitious goals it set for the Brighter Lives, Better World 2025 sustainability program, making progress on all four commitments that contribute to doubling its positive impact on the environment and society. In addition, the CDP Awards 2021 recognized Signify's leadership in Climate action, after the company had achieved carbon neutrality for all its operations in
the world in 2020.
In Q1 2021, the company has started to make progress against its ambition of doubling its positive impact on the
environment and society in 2025:
Outlook
Following the operational performance in the first quarter and based on current visibility, Signify now anticipates comparable sales growth of 3% to 6% for the full year 2021. In addition, Signify expects to achieve an Adjusted EBITA margin of 11.5% to 12.5% and continues to expect free cash flow to exceed 8% of sales for the full year 2021. The company reassesses its medium-term guidance for the period 2021-2023 after each financial
year.
Signify has refinanced EUR 350 million of its long-term debt with short-term loans with a maturity of December 2021 and is therefore fully committed to repaying EUR 350 million of debt in Q4 2021.
Conference call and audio webcast
Eric Rondolat (CEO) and Javier van Engelen (CFO) will host a conference call for analysts and institutional investors at 9:00 a.m. CET to discuss the 2021 first quarter results. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available via the Investor Relations website.
Financial calendar 2021
May 18, 2021: Annual General Meeting
May 20, 2021: Ex-dividend date
May 21, 2021: Dividend record date
June 1, 2021: Dividend payment date
July 23, 2021: Second quarter results 2021
October 29, 2021: Third quarter results 2021
1 This press release contains certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios, such as comparable sales growth, EBITA, adjusted EBITA and free cash flow, and related ratios, which are not recognized measures of financial performance or liquidity under IFRS. For a reconciliation of these non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures, see appendix B, Reconciliation of non-IFRS financial measures, of this press release.
2 2020 includes pro-forma Cooper Lighting for January and February.
Forward-Looking Statements and Risks & Uncertainties
This document and the related oral presentation contain, and responses to questions following the presentation may contain, forward-looking statements that reflect the intentions, beliefs or current expectations and projections of Signify N.V. (the “Company”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), including statements regarding strategy, estimates of sales growth and future operational results.
By their nature, these statements involve risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its Group companies, and a number of important factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement as a result of risks and uncertainties. Such risks, uncertainties and
other important factors include but are not limited to: adverse economic and political developments, the impacts of COVID-19, rapid technological change, competition in the general lighting market, development of lighting systems and services, successful implementation of business transformation programs, impact of acquisitions and other transactions, reputational and adverse effects on business due to activities in Environment, Health & Safety, compliance risks, ability to attract and retain talented personnel, adverse currency effects, pension liabilities, and exposure to international tax laws. Please see “Risk Factors and Risk Management” in Chapter 12 of the Annual Report 2020 for discussion of material risks, uncertainties and other important factors which may have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects of the Group. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors should be read in conjunction with the information included in the Company’s Annual Report 2020.
Additional risks currently not known to the Group or that the Group has not considered material as of the date of this document could also prove to be important and may have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects of the Group or could cause the forward-looking events discussed in this document not to occur. The Group undertakes no duty to and will not necessarily update any of the forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Market and Industry Information
All references to market share, market data, industry statistics and industry forecasts in this document consist of estimates compiled by industry professionals, competitors, organizations or analysts, of publicly available information or of the Group’s own assessment of its sales and markets. Rankings are based on sales unless otherwise stated.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
Certain parts of this document contain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios, such as comparable sales growth, adjusted gross margin, EBITA, adjusted EBITA, and free cash flow, and other related ratios, which are not recognized measures of financial performance or liquidity under IFRS. The non-IFRS financial measures presented are measures used by management to monitor the underlying performance of the Group’s business and operations and, accordingly, they have not been audited or reviewed. Not all companies calculate non-IFRS financial measures in the same manner or on a consistent basis and these measures and ratios may not be comparable to measures used by other companies under the same or similar names. A reconciliation of these non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures is contained in this document. For further information on non-IFRS financial measures, see “Chapter 18 Reconciliation of non-IFRS measures” in the Annual Report 2020.
Change in reporting segments
Effective Q2 2020, to further adapt to the industry transition and strengthen customer centricity, Signify changed the organizational structure, which included changing the previously four business groups (BG’s) to three divisions. Division Digital Solutions (formerly BG Professional, including Cooper Lighting Solutions) offers luminaires, lighting systems and services for the Internet of Things to the customers in the professional segment; Division Digital Products (combines BG LED and BG Home). This division offers LED lamps, LED luminaires and connected products, including Hue and Wiz, and LED electronics to professional customers, OEM partners and consumers. By bringing together its entire consumer LED portfolio, Signify can better manage this lighting category for its channel partners; and Division Conventional Products (formerly BG Lamps) continues to focus on conventional lamps and electronics for professional customers, OEM partners and consumers. It is organized separately to bring a clear distinction between conventional and digital offerings.
In line with this change, effective Q2 2020, Signify's operating segments are Digital Solutions, Digital Products, and Conventional Products. The segments are organized based on the nature of the products and services. ‘Other’ represents amounts not allocated to the operating segments and includes certain costs related to central R&D activities to drive innovation as well as group enabling functions.
Presentation
All amounts are in millions of euros unless otherwise stated. Due to rounding, amounts may not add up to totals provided. All reported data are unaudited. Unless otherwise indicated, financial information has been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies as stated in the Annual Report 2020.
Market Abuse Regulation
This press release contains information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.
Signify Investor Relations
Thelke Gerdes
Tel: + 31 6 1801 7131
E-mail: thelke.gerdes@signify.com
Signify Corporate Communications
Elco van Groningen
Tel: +31 6 1086 5519
E-mail: elco.van.groningen@signify.com
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is wereldleider in verlichting voor professionals en consumenten en verlichting voor het Internet of Things. Onze Philips producten, Interact systemen en dataverzamelingsservices bieden bedrijfswaarde, transformeren het leven van mensen in huizen, gebouwen en publieke ruimtes. Met een omzet in 2023 van EUR 6.7 miljard, ongeveer 32,000 medewerkers en een aanwezigheid in meer dan 70 landen, benutten we de buitengewone mogelijkheden van licht om de kwaliteit van het leven van mensen te verrijken voor een duurzame wereld. Sinds onze beursgang staan we al zeven jaar op rij in de Dow Jones Sustainability World Index en hebben we vier jaar op rij de EcoVadis Platinum -rating behaald, waarmee Signify in de top één procent van de beoordeelde bedrijven staat. Nieuws over Signify is te vinden op onze Newsroom, en op X, LinkedIn and Instagram. Informatie voor investeerders kan worden gevonden op onze Investor Relations pagina.