Ahead of Trelleborg’s capital markets day

?“Trelleborg’s focus on creating leading positions in selected market segments is continuing. The Group now has an increasingly concentrated and profitable operation within demanding industrial segments. We have also upped the pace to further strengthen our presence in emerging geographic markets, and during recent years created a considerably more efficient structure,” says Trelleborg’s CEO Peter Nilsson, ahead of the Group’s capital markets day being held today in Stockholm.

Trelleborg’s long-term strategy is built on products and solutions that seal, damp and protect in selected segments with a need for demanding and complex solutions. Trelleborg is working offensively to increase volume growth and market shares both in established and new markets.
The Group is continuously increasing its value creation for customers and creating leading positions through strong applications know-how and high-technology solutions.

The geographic shift to emerging countries has been considerable in recent years. Since 2005, the number of production units has declined by more than 30 in Western Europe and North America, while more than 15 production units have been substantial upgraded or established outside these regions.

“We have now increased our sales in markets outside Western Europe and North America to about 25 percent of the Group’s total sales. This figure will rise further in the next few years through already realized measures and through continued offensive measures aimed at capitalizing on the growth in these markets,” says Peter Nilsson.

The Trelleborg Group works continuously to improve and enhance the efficiency of the Group’s structure. Combined with cost savings and higher volumes, the improved structure has led to a strong improvement in the EBITDA margin in recent quarters and this is now in line with the Group’s target of
≥ 12 percent.

The Group’s financial targets stand firm. The growth target focuses on organic growth and is set at an average of 5 percent per year over a business cycle. In addition, further growth will occur through complementary acquisitions. The target for the EBITDA margin is ≥ 12 percent and the target for the return on equity is 12 percent.

The Trelleborg Engineered Systems business area’s strategy for creating a structure for profitable growth is producing results. A key component is to continuously enhance positions in such selected segments as offshore oil/gas, infrastructure and selected areas of general industry. The business area has a continued focus on portfolio management and geographic expansion, and in recent years, its activities have included opening three new production facilities in China. A decision was taken recently to invest in a plant for the oil and gas industry in Brazil (see separate press release from November 24, 2010).

Trelleborg Automotive is world-leading within antivibration and damping solutions for vehicles. The business area is continuing its efforts to further strengthen its positions in this area. During 2010, the business area has divested its operations in the Fluid Solutions business unit, thereby taking another major step toward intensified focus on NVH solutions (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). Trelleborg Automotive continues to become even stronger in emerging markets and expands its operations for example in the BRIC countries and Eastern Europe.

Business Area President Roger Johansson will leave his position for a new post outside Trelleborg (see separate press release from November 24, 2010). The new Business Area President will be Jim Law, who is currently in charge of the business unit Antivibration Solutions, which accounts for about 75 percent of Trelleborg Automotive’s operations.