Fiat, una performance in linea con le attese ... ancipa un utile netto a fine anno di 100 mln euro per effetto di un miglioramento delle vendite (alquanto improbabile). Per il trimestre Q1/2009, perdite nette per 410 mln euro, perdite operative contenute per l'auto, una posizione di liquidità migliorata per effetto delle linea di credito per 1 mld euro ottenuta dalle banche più 500 mln euro per effetto del collocamento di titoli ABS (di CNH, suppongo) per altri 500 mln euro.
Il debito netto passa da 5,9 a 6,6 mld euro in 3 mesi.
APRIL 23, 2009, 7:45 A.M. ET Fiat Swings to Loss, Sees Full-Year Profit Ahead
By
JENNIFER CLARK
MILAN -- Fiat SpA (F.MI) Thursday posted a first-quarter net loss as global auto, construction-equipment and truck sales slumped, but said it expects to generate a full-year net profit of about €100 million ($130 million) as demand is set to recover.
"We expect an improvement in the remainder of the year, as trading conditions stabilize and improve for most of our business," Fiat said, adding that the truck and construction equipment businesses will show "signs of recovery only visible in the fourth quarter."
Fiat, which is in talks with Chrysler LLC and the U.S. government over a partnership that could eventually see it acquire the U.S. auto maker, posted a quarterly net loss of €410 million, compared with a net profit of €405 million in the same period a year earlier. The result was worse than analysts' expectations for a net loss of €300 million. But Fiat's small trading loss of €48 million was better than analysts' hopes, and beat even Fiat's own internal expectations, the company said.
"The group's trading performance was substantially break even as a result of sharply lower volumes offset by rigorous cost containment measures, including prudent reductions in production levels to respond to weaker demand," Fiat said. It posted a trading profit of €766 million a year ago.
The Italian company saw its own auto unit slide to a trading loss of €30 million as revenue fell 18% to €5.6 billion from €6.83 billion. That compared to an operating profit before exceptional items of €193 million the year before.
Analysts had expected a trading loss of €110 million at Fiat Auto, which includes the Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands, but excludes Ferrari and Maserati. But car sales incentives in some European markets and Brazil helped stem the revenue decline.
Overall revenues for the group, which includes truck maker Iveco and agricultural machines producer CNH as well as Fiat Powertrain Technologies and Magneti Marelli, was €11.27 billion, down from €15.08 billion.
Net debt increased to €6.6 billion from €5.9 billion at the end of last year "due to rigorous working capital management and increased discipline in capital expenditures," Fiat said. The closely watched debt figure was in line with expectations.
Liquidity improved to €5.1 billion, up from €3.9 billion, since the group finalized an €1 billion syndicated credit facility and tapped the U.S. asset-backed securities market for €500 million.
The improvement in liquidity helped boost the stock price, with shares up 0.9% to €7.54 at midday in Milan. "The net loss is not a big deal, the market was expecting that," said an analyst at a Milan brokerage. "The market is looking at debt and at cash generation."