STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 22, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Studsvik AB (publ):
-- Studsvik is in final negotiations for a cooperation in the
DOE market.
-- Net sales for the Group increased by 24 per cent to SEK 243.6
million (196,9).
-- The result before tax amounted to SEK -19.6 million (-36.2).
-- SEK -25.7 million (-10.5) in non-recurring items were charged
to the result.
-- The result per share after tax amounted to SEK -2.62 (-7.04)
-- At March 31, 2002, the equity per share amounted to SEK 63.37
(81.11).
Net Sales
During the first quarter, net sales amounted to SEK 243.6 million (196.9). All of the SBUs account for the increase.
Sales abroad increased and amounted to 70 (49) per cent of net sales.
A breakdown of net sales per geographical market is provided below.
Jan-Mar Jan-Mar Full year
Amounts in SEK million 2002 2001 2001
Sweden 74.0 96.6 306.9
Europe, excluding Sweden 85.6 62.6 310.7
North America 61.4 28.8 196.8
Asia 22.0 7.9 63.2
Other markets 0.6 1.0 5.1
Total 243.6 196.9 882.7
Result
The operating result for the first quarter was SEK -18.9 million (-32.0). SEK 25.7 million (10.5) in non-recurring items, primarily for the arbitration process in the USA, were charged to the result. All of the non-recurring items were charged to administrative expenses. A breakdown of the result is shown below.
Jan-Mar Jan-Mar Full Year
Amounts in SEK million 2002 2001 2001
Operating result -18.9 -32.0 -125.7
Non-recurring items 25.7 10.5 76.8
Adjusted operating profit 6.8 -21.5 -48.9
Amortization of goodwill 2.2 2.5 10.0
Adjusted operating result before
amortization of goodwill 9.0 -19.0 -38.9
The Board of Directors is of the opinion that the operating result is not satisfactory. Measures to improve the operating result are under implementation.
Business
General
Studsvik AB and a major American company are in the final phase of negotiating on co-operation to utilize Studsvik's THOR technology on waste materials which are in the possession of the U S Government including the U S Department of Energy (DOE). The term "DOE market" refers to the waste which has been stored in the USA since the fifties and which originated from nuclear research and development. The DOE is responsible for the treatment of the waste and for decommissioning the facilities.
The arbitration process between Studsvik, Inc. and Metric Duke, concerning the construction of the waste management facility in Erwin has continued. During the quarter, the part of the process involving hearings before the arbitration panel was completed in the allotted time. This will be followed by a phase involving written pleas and, following this, a decision as to the award can be expected. It may take some time to reach a decision and this may not be possible until the third quarter. The preparations for and conduct of the hearings resulted in substantial costs for the hiring of legal counsel. The phase that is now beginning will entail lower costs for legal counsel.
A package, dispatched from Studsvik on December 27, 2001, containing the iridium-192 isotope, showed increased levels of radiation when it was received by the customer in the USA. As a result of the incident, the Swedish Radiation Protection Association (SSI) indicted Studsvik for a breach of the Radiation Protection Act and the Act on the Transport of Hazardous Goods. The prosecutor has not yet started a preliminary investigation.
After the incident, Studsvik together with SSI, initiated a review of the quality system and work procedures. The review, which has largely been completed, has led to certain changes in work procedures and organization. SSI subsequently lifted the temporary ban on radioisotope transport which was introduced after the incident.
Nuclear Technology
Net sales for the SBU increased by 24 per cent to SEK 108.1 million (86.9). Operating profit for the first quarter amounted to SEK 12.9 million (-6.5). The operating result for 2001 includes SEK -5.7 million in non-recurring items.
The guarantee work relating to fuel testing projects for Japanese customers is progressing as planned. Although these projects do not represent a direct burden on costs they use up production resources which limits the reactor production capacity for other projects.
The in-core fuel management code operations conducted by the Studsvik Scandpower group report a substantial increase in sales compared with the previous year. About 60 per cent of the group's income comes from maintenance contracts, code licensing and consulting. This income is evenly distributed over the year. The remaining 40 per cent comes from new sales/ new customers. The sales process is usually long and invoicing can vary considerably from quarter to quarter. Therefore, variations in new sales can have a major impact on financial performance. Consequently, the figures for Quarter 1 do not indicate a change in trend and is normal for the business.
Waste & Decommissioning
During the quarter, net sales for the SBU increased by about 45 per cent to SEK 61.4 million (42.1). The operating result for the first quarter amounted to SEK -22.8 million (-13.1). The operating result includes SEK -29.6 million (-19.9) from the business in Erwin, USA, which includes SEK 25.5 million (4.8) in costs for the arbitration process.
The average production in the Erwin facility has been about 2,200 cubic feet per month. During March, maintenance at the facility was conducted during a period of 17 days, which has affected the production volume negatively. The price level remains unchanged at about USD 350-360 per cubic foot.
Studsvik RadWaste AB reports stable production and financial performance.
Industrial Services
During the quarter, the SBU increased its net sales by just over 16 per cent, to SEK 86.4 million (74.1). The operating result for the first quarter amounted to SEK 1.2 million (-0.3).
The SBU's operations are seasonal in nature, with the emphasis on the second and third quarter when the nuclear power industry conduct their annual refueling and maintenance outages. The increase in net sales during the first quarter is attributable to the acquisition of Baumann Nuklear Service GmbH on July 1, 2001, which allows for a more even annual capacity utilization in the German operations. The financial performance of the part of operations in Sweden which target the process industry and other industries has improved. Nuclear Medicine During the first quarter, net sales for the SBU amounted to SEK 4.3 million (3.1). The operating result for the first quarter amounted to SEK -2.0 million (-0.1). The loss is attributable to the BNCT business.
Following the incident involving a transport of iridium-192 in December 2001, the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority issued a temporary transport ban for radioisotopes. The ban was lifted at the end of February, although certain restrictions remained with respect to iridium- 192. In spite of the transport restrictions, isotope operations report an increase in net sales.
The BNCT treatments are progressing. An evaluation of the treatment results for the patients which received BNCT treatment at the beginning of Quarter 2, 2001 is being conducted. The results of these treatments are expected to be reported later this year.
Investments
During the first quarter, investments for the Group amounted to SEK 6.7 million (17.3) and mainly concern re-investments.
Financial Position and Liquidity
Liquid assets amounted to SEK 108.9 million (321.2), which corresponds to 11 per cent of net sales calculated to an annual basis. During the quarter, SEK 110 million in loans in USD were repaid.
Equity amounted to SEK 514.2 million (658.2) and the equity-assets ratio to 44.9 (46.8) per cent.
Interest-bearing liabilities amounted to SEK 214.2 million (299.1). Borrowing is entirely in foreign currency and concerns the investment in the USA as well as the acquisition of SINA Industrieservice.
Cash Flow
In the first quarter, the cash flow from operating activities after investments amounted to SEK -41,0 million (-28.7). Focus will be to establish better cash flow for the whole Group.
Personnel
In the first quarter, the average number of employees amounted to 1,083 (1,111).
Parent Company
In the first quarter, net sales for the parent company amounted to SEK 2.5 million (4.7). The operating result amounted to SEK -8.2 million (- 9.8). The decrease in net sales is related to a modification of procedures for intra-group transactions and has no impact on financial performance.
The Studsvik Share
During the quarter, almost 1.1 million shares were traded, corresponding to just over 13 per cent of the total shares in Studsvik. During the quarter, the maximum quoted share price was SEK 42 and the minimum, SEK 34.
Future Outlook
The Group is expected to show a tangible improvement in financial performance in 2002, which corresponds to the assessment made in the report for the whole of 2001.
The Group's future development continues to be highly dependent on the development on the American market. In the short term the development of the Erwin facility is a dominating factor and in the long term the decisive factor is the possibility to commercialize the THOR technology on the DOE market.
The Nuclear Technology SBU reports a positive profit trend and the impact of the guarantee work on Japanese fuel testing projects on financial performance is expected to decline during 2002.
A material amount of non-recurring items was charged to the result for 2001. In 2002, these items mainly comprise expenses relating to the arbitrary process in the USA.
Changed Accounting Policies
As of 2002, the company is applying the seven new recommendations that enter into force from this year. The changed accounting policies have no impact on the reported financial performance and position. Consequently, the comparative figures for the previous year have not been adjusted.
Facts about Studsvik
Studsvik is a high-tech company with a leading position in nuclear technology. Studsvik develops and markets products and services which contribute to solving customers' environmental, safety and quality problems through the application of primarily nuclear technology as well as other industrial processes. Studsvik's business is international and customers mainly comprise nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel producers as well as industrial companies and organizations in the health care sector. Studsvik comprises four strategic business units (SBU) - Nuclear Technology, Waste & Decommissioning, Industrial Services and Nuclear Medicine.
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net
The following files are available for download:
www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/22/20020422BIT00960/wkr0001.doc The Full Report www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/22/20020422BIT00960/wkr0002.pdf The Full Report