Montana Aerospace AG (SWX:AERO)
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May 13, 2026, 5:31 PM CET
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Earnings Call: H1 2024

Aug 14, 2024

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

A warm welcome from our side to everybody attending today's earnings call for the first half year's financial of Montana Aerospace. Great to have you here and attending. As always, me, Michael Pistauer, and my colleague, Kai Arndt, will guide you through the presentation. Kai will give you more detail also and more color on the development of aerospace and aerostructures in detail then within the presentation.

And after the presentation, we are happy also to answer your questions and to discuss the following developments of the next quarters. Before we start with the highlights, let me shortly tell you what we expected. We expected this, many of you know, volatile times. We expected that also within high announcements of build rates, the build rates in aerospace might not develop in 2024.

As they were announced. Kai will give you more detail on that one, e xactly that happened. We expected also that within this, I would say, very volatile times, Montana Aerospace has not only to compensate maybe those topics, but also to exceed expectations by adding new market share and industrialize this.

Saying that, we are extremely proud of our numbers, of the highlights, and therefore want to like to start with the highlights of 2024 u pfront, I think we can claim that we at least achieved what we announced or even overcompensated what was not given from the market to us, and therefore over exceeded also the expectations.

Saying that, in H1 2024, we achieved a net sales for the so-called continued operations. Before I come to the numbers, let me shortly exP&Lain it, what does it mean? In May 2024, we signed the sale of one of our segments, the E-Mobility.

A loss-making segment, C ome to that one later. Therefore, starting with May 2024, first time now with the H1 numbers, we continue to show our business only for the main KPIs for the so-called continued operations, meaning the segment of energy, meaning aerostructures, and those two consolidated. In showing the so-called discontinued operations.

The signed sale of the E-Mobility segment in only one line below the results, and also summarized in one line on each side of the balance sheet. Till the closing, and the closing is something we expect in the Q4 2024. Cash will come then, will come then in, and from then on, only those two continued operations will continue in the balance sheet and the P&L.

Saying that, for the continued operations, our net sales increased by more than 17% in comparison to last year. And what we are really proud of is what we always announced, is with additional sales, we are able to over proportionately let the EBITDA, the profitability of the company, grow. And the adjusted EBITDA grew by more than 44%, so more than 2 or 2.5 times, almost faster growth or CAGR on the EBITDA in comparison to the net sales.

The results from the continued operations, so the net income from those two not sold areas, so from Aerostructures and Energy, was positive of, from, with an amount of EUR 9.2 million. But as it's not possible to show in percentage, grew in comparison to last year by EUR 30 million. I guess this shows the potential of profitability and the definite profitability of our Montana Aerospace.

The balance sheet highlights this, net debt, which is by seasonality and the increase of inventory, come to that one later, usually slightly higher than at year's end, is at EUR 342 million. Great working capital due to the inventory build up for the higher sales in 2024, second half of the year at EUR 342 million, and with a very solid equity ratio, which we have at 48%.

Let me shortly highlight the main KPIs of the two so-called segments, Aerostructures and Energy segment. Aerostructures grew by 22%, more than 22%, to a total net sales of EUR 409 million versus 2023. What is really very positive and to highlight is the adjusted EBITDA surged by EUR 63 million or more than 68%.

Energy segment, where we built up capacities due to the present capacity constraints in the markets, the strong market tailwind. We increased sales by EUR 300- 311 million or 10%, and the adjusted EBITDA rose by EUR 18 million, or on more than 3 times that fast as the sales, by 35% in comparison to last year.

Noting that also last year was already a record within those segments, and therefore we're exceeding those records within those two segments. As announced, we signed the sale, the M&A transaction of the so-called E-Mobility segment. We did not have this, I would say, mature majority market share on a worldwide scale in the E-Mobility segment.

It was loss-making at the end of the day. Therefore, it was sold concerning our strategy to the Mengtai Group. The SPA was signed in May, and as said previously, we expect the closing by the Q4 which means then at this time, the cash in should come in, and the cash will be used by 2/3 to deleverage, to reduce the net debt, and 1/3 by strategic, to strategic CapEx to increase the path of growth in Aerostructures or smart M&A.

And therefore, with this, with the backup of the development and our capability even to compensate turmoils in the markets quite well, we give a guidance for 2024, with excluding the E-Mobility segment. So we reconfirm it with net sales of above EUR 1.5 billion and Adjusted EBITDA without the E-Mobility segment of more than EUR 165 million, a positive free cash flow and a positive net income.

We give also a reconfirmed guidance for the segments of a bit slighter sales in Aerostructures, but good profitability, higher profitability, with around EUR 9 million on net sales and energy segments, whatever is possible to produce of more than EUR 580 million, the direction of more than EUR 580 million. 2025 guidance, also here confirmed, reconfirmed, with net sales on those two segments, so excluding E-Mobility already, with more than EUR 1.7 billion in total sales and the EBITDA of more than EUR 240 million, with a very strong free cash flow and cash flow conversion.

If you flip to the next page, the key KPIs on one slide, sales 17% versus last year. The profitability, which is growing faster than the sales by an amount of almost or triP&Led, in almost more than two and a half times, is 44%.

The result on continued operations, as already stated before, positive, is EUR 9.2 million. A very crucial milestone for us, as we want to achieve on a continued basis also this year, for the full year, a positive result. So having as a backup already the first half year as a positive result is a good start. CapEx, as within the guidance, so including the expansion on the Energy segment, with EUR 38 million, ± in the amount of what we had in the first half year, 2023.

Trade working capital, even so we now have high inventory due to the expected higher sales in the second half of 2024, slightly lower than what we had in 2023. In absolute terms, in relation to the sales, quite massively improved with EUR 342 million. Total assets, P&Lus minus the same amount like in the last year. And the net debt slightly increased by EUR 20 million due to the net debt is always compared to the last year, end of the year. Last year, mid of the year.

And the free cash flow, which is by the development of the year, -EUR 42 million, but we expect to have a very strong cash flow by the second half of the year p lease do not forget that also the divestment of the energy segment of the E-Mobility segment will happen in the second half of the year. Net debt comparison is always in comparison to the Q1 .

We do have slightly higher net debt in comparison to the Q1 , 2024, due to the higher inventory, which was built up by strategic P&Lan concerning the expected higher sales in the second half of this year. As in a timeline, it's easier to see the development of Montana Aerospace w e started our journey in the Q2 2021 as a stock-listed company with the sales in the Q2 2021 of EUR 154 million. We more than doubled it within... the last two or three years.

More than 155% growth, more than 18% growth, which is mainly when we come to the different segments, I guess, a very astonishing positive number, knowing that the underlying market is not developing as fast, which means that we are gaining in all the areas market share, and therefore exceed, I would say, the market development.

And as said, with the continuous higher sales, the result is a higher margin level, not only in the percentage, but mostly in absolute terms also, which increased by more than 200% over the last three years, or more than 27% in comparison to last year. If you flip to the segments, Aerostructures, the name giver, with a solid growth, over proportionately to the market and the over proportional development on EBITDA. In saying that, I would like to continue to hand over to Kai to continue with details on the aerospace market and our development within.

Kai Arndt
Co-CEO, Montana Aerospace

Okay, thank you, Michi. I like to start with some questions I received over the last day s o there were colleagues, investors, asking me about how we are managing the crisis, and I was a bit confused, getting this question because I think many, many companies would be extremely happy to be in such a so-called crisis having said this, you see that, we are constantly growing and we are comP&Letely in line with, the projection we had, for the next years to come, not only for a couP&Le of months, but also for the next, years to come.

But on the other side, it's very obvious that the problems of the two main customers we have, Airbus and Boeing, to achieve the rates, this is also having some significant impacts on our sales. So we can see this already in Q2 , but it will continue also in Q3 from our assumptions s o we see that the lower rates and the problems to get up to speed from the big customers will continue into the Q3 .

But for the Q4 , at least from our perspective, we see the ramp upcoming, and hopefully for 2025, it will speed up and come really to the numbers which are announced by the big OEMs. But despite the lower sales we see for this year, in the Q1 review and the Q1 call, I mentioned already the risks of seeing lower sales in the range of around EUR 50 million.

At that time, I called it a risk, but now we see these numbers materializing. So, I think we will end up with EUR 50 million-EUR 70 million less sales b ut despite these lower sales, we also see that we can hold our EBITDA numbers, meaning that the profitability is increasing further. How do we do this? First of all, we are winning new packages w e won new packages already last year, but it's continuing to win new packages w e are continuing to win new packages t hat's extremely positive.

And with these new packages, we are also achieving better margins in terms of our profitability. This is helpful, but on the other side, of course, only kicking in in 2025, 2026 and later. We are now industrializing all these packages, but then there we see, of course, some positive developments on this side.

On the other side, as a second point, we have new customers for us, for the aerospace group, which are not coming from the classic aerospace business, talking about space, for examP&Le. And with the lower volumes we are getting from the, let's say, traditional customer, the open capacities, even with this new customers, there's a chance for us to balance somehow the portfolio with this, and I think that's also reflected in our positive development of the Aeros.

And as a third point, I mentioned it already in the Q1, that we started a huge project, where we are cleaning up the portfolio s o we are moving work packages between the divisions where we think these packages fits best a nd we started this five months ago, and I'm pretty sure we will see also this positive impact materializing latest in 2025. So all of these three main topics are helping us to maintain our EBITDA numbers despite the lower sales we see based on what is happening from the big OEMs. And coming to the delivery numbers, because I'm pretty sure this will be a question later in the Q&A.

Everybody has seen the massive problems of the 737 MAX with the blow out of the door. We saw a heavy impact in the Q2 in terms of the pull rates. This is definitely having some impacts on us and the deliveries.

But yesterday, Boeing announced that they achieved a delivery of 31 for the 737 MAX, which for me at least, is a sign that they are now coming back, and I'm quite positive that latest in Q4 , Boeing will speed up again, and then we will also see a ramp-up on the 737. Also with the announcement of Airbus to lower their delivery targets for 2024, also here we see an impact, mainly on ASCO.

With this announcement. So we are in good talks with Airbus to find solutions to somehow cover the under utilization we have in ASCO, and I'm pretty positive that we will find a solution very soon also with Aeros. In terms of the outlook and how do we take this current situation into 2025, and we were already more conservative in terms of the numbers in 2024, and this will definitely also continue in 2025, as I expect that also the big OEMs have to burn down their inventories.

We have to be very careful what we P&Lan for 2025, but this doesn't mean that we change our guidance, because as said, we see new customers at the horizon, and we have also additional work packages coming in, which definitely makes the situation for us very positive.

Having said this, on the rates, I think, the instability of messages we get from the big two OEMs, that's one of the main problems we face at the moment s o for us, and I think that's valid for every single supP&Lier to the big OEMs, we need clarity in terms of what is expected from the two OEMs so that we can P&Lan our resources. Switching on and off resources, that's definitely not possible, so we need stability in terms of the guidance from the big OEMs to make sure that we are in position to deliver to whatever their needs are. I think for the rates, that's it. If you can move on one slide, P&Lease.

So here you see the comparison in terms of the quarters, and this is clearly underlining what has been said. We see now stable net sales quarter by quarter, which are still on a very good level, I would like to say, EUR 200 million per quarter. It's okay i t will grow in the next quarters to come.

But in addition, we definitely see also that our EBITDA is increasing quarter by quarter, and as said, we are still very positive to achieve the guidance for 2024 with all the mitigation actions I just exP&Lained. I think that's it from the Aerostructures segment, and I'm happy to receive your questions later on. Pretty sure you have a lot of questions in terms of our guidance and the way forward. Thank you.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Quick overview over the development of the energy segment. As stated also in the last quarters, there is a tailwind in the market. The need for new generators, transformers for infrastructure on the energy worldwide is unbroken t his delivers us the strong, strong market demand.

The only constraint is the ongoing constraints of capacity worldwide and also in our terms. So therefore, we started, as you know, and I informed, a capacity increase program, and the more we go on with the capacity increase program, we are able to deliver also more on sales and therefore tons for those, transformers and transformers and generators. That's exactly what you see also on this page.

So ongoing, we are able to deliver higher sales with 15% in comparison, growth to last year, and this also materializes in the EBITDA, not only by better utilization of the capacity and the economies of scale, but mostly also by the strong market position we have and the good pricing we achieved with our partners, as we say, and long-term contracts beneath.

Better view on this development is shown on the next page, where it's shown on a, I would say, quarterly basis. So continue strong, constant, I would say, increase of sales, with an increased margin level, quarter by quarter t his is a development we think we can also continue for the next years to come, quarter by quarter, stronger sales and better EBITDA. Some general statements also to E-Mobility, very shortly.

A difficult market situation, but they have expected a very strong half, second half of the year. As it is discontinued, it is shown as said, one single line in the so-called results of the Continued Operations. E-Mobility showed a negative impact to the Net Income t herefore, the Continued Operations were positive with over EUR 9 million for the first half year, and negative over EUR 20 million.

The E-Mobility segment, as said, we expect the closing somewhere in the Q4, which result within the cash in and the consolidation then of the segment, which is still summarized in one single line, and then also in the balance sheet. And this will bring then the possibility to reduce the net debt by 2/3s of the purchase price of what we get as a cash in situation, and 1/3 will be used out of the use of proceeds for strategic M&A and CapEx.

As a total, maybe only short development. Here you see the operating cash flow, which is always a bit, I would say, impacted in the Q1 due to the seasonality of the business i n comparison to 2023, you see that it's much on a better high level. So a similar development on a quarterly basis, but on a higher scale, we expect also for this year, which then reiterates us with the possibility to give... A reiteration of the, or a reconfirmation of the guidance for 2024, with a positive cash flow for the total year.

This is said for the operating, but also for the Free Cash Flow. Last topic is the Trade Working Capital and the results from Continued Operations. I start with the latter one, the result from the Continued Operations. Both quarters positive, very crucial, and for us, essential milestone.

Even so impacted by the turmoil of the market, but therefore, with the strong position, we are quite positive concerning the further development in the next quarters. Trade Working Capital by strategic decision, due to high inventory for the sales, which we still expect in higher sales in the second half of the year, a bit higher than, for instance, in the Q4 2023, but on a good level, and in comparison to sales, also on a lower percentage, so definitely in line with our strategic development and guidance, which we gave.

Therefore, once again, only shortly, a reconfirmation of our guidance, slightly lower sales in Aerostructures, but more than overcompensated in EBITDA, which is, I guess, the good message. Very strong continued operations in the Energy segment, and more than EUR 1.5 billion sales for the Continued Operations. And I said positive Free Cash Flow, positive Net Income, and the continuous streamlining of the Trade Working Capital.

Again, a reconfirmation also for 2025. Not maybe only built on, as we said, lower build rates than what we expected in comparison to some of the market announcements or expectations, but mostly by market share wins and our strong position within. Thank you very much for this overview, for listening to this overview for the half-year's results, and we are happy to answer your questions now.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, P&Lease press star and one. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, P&Lease press star and two. Anyone who has a question, P&Lease press star and one at this time. One moment for the first question, P&Lease. Our first question today comes from Philip Buller from Berenberg. P&Lease go ahead with your question.

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Hello, good afternoon. A couP&Le of questions, P&Lease f irstly, on margins in Aerospace, I believe in the past you talked about potentially 20% margins when at full utilization levels in the Aerostructures business so I guess I'm P&Leasantly surprised to see you're at 17% in Q2 2024 already when you know, rates are quite low s o are there any nuances in the Q2 margin performance we should consider, P&Lease? And I ask because?

If we were to assume that the H2 margin is the same as H1, it looks as though there's perhaps some upside risk to the EBITDA guidance for the year. So anything to consider that may have supported the Q2 margin in Aerostructures, P&Lease? That's question one.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Maybe upfront from my side, and maybe, Kai, you want to jump in then later on. It's extremely volatile market, yeah, and we showed it also with the slides, so it's more or less not really calculable what is coming in concerning pull rates on the different areas of the P&Lanes or P&Lane P&Latform types. What we were able to is, even so in some cases, the pull rate dropped via good industrialization of new market share or market wins.

Which brought us some better EBITDA margins s o the better, I would say, at the end, show better profitability than maybe those packages and those topics which were partly within the business already. And the other thing is also new customers. We named in the last call also, not only Aero, but also Space, for instance.

And those two topics together, together with also the possibility, which Kai also mentioned, that we internally transfer to the best P&Lace to produce within our group. This makes our EBITDA stronger, so that's why we keep to our guidance for the Aerostructures b ut of course, we are happy and upfront, no, there is no extraordinary topic within the Q2, within the margin level. Maybe, Kai, you want to add something to that point?

Kai Arndt
Co-CEO, Montana Aerospace

Yeah, with P&Leasure. I mean, we discussed it already also in Q1, if I remember correctly, and the target to reach the 20% margin is still there, and you see that we are increasing, improving the margins quarter by quarter. This is based on what Michi just exP&Lained, our customers, better contracts, so that's kicking in now. In terms of the utilization.

This is still more or less on the same level, but it's better balanced s o I mentioned the huge program we started in February, where we moved packages to the P&Laces where they fit best, meaning that we use machines for packages in Vietnam, where we have, maybe today we are using the same, or we are y eah, we are producing the same package maybe in Romania s o there is a lot of movement ongoing, and by this, of course, we are increasing or balancing the utilization of the machines w e have more than 300 machines in our portfolio, 400 spindles.

So you can easily imagine if you clean the portfolio and put the packages where they fit best, then, of course, this is also increasing the margins. This is ongoing and will last another 12-18 months until we finalize this initiative, and on top, we are trying to in-source as much as we can, from the supP&Ly base, so that we are managing our own destiny, so to say, in terms of the supP&Ly chain.

The main topic of the supP&Liers and also of the OEMs is always instability of the supP&Ly chain, and this is what we will definitely reduce in the months to come, so that we are more or less our own supP&Lier inside of our system. All this is giving us the tailwind to come to the 20% EBITDA margin, which we should be very close to in 2025.

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Thanks. And just one clarification on the topic of you know revenue in Aerostructures. Because it's quite easy from the outside to model build rates. Well, that's tricky as well these days b ut it's very difficult to you know from the outside to model some of these topics like space and things like that from a revenue standpoint s o how should we think about the Aerostructures revenue in Q3? Should we be? I'm just trying to get the Q3, Q4 phasing broadly right in the model s o close to the EUR 200 million level we've seen in Q1 and Q2, or something closer-

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Um-

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

to the 250s, I guess.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

We gave a guidance for around EUR 900.

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Yeah.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Bit lower than before w e have around EUR 408 million right now for the first half year in Aerostructures only. So you can expect the median would be something like a bit less than EUR 250 on a quarterly-

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Yeah

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

... basis, but we expect, of course, that the Q4 will be the strongest in comparison to Q3.

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Great.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

So-

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Perfect. Thank you.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Q3, Q3 a bit lower, then the 250 and the other one a bit higher. P&Lease.

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Perfect. Thank you. And then on E-Mobility, I know it's in discontinued operations now, so perhaps it doesn't matter too much, but how was that result compared to P&Lan? And is that evolving or impacting the timing or terms of the negotiations for the disposal, P&Lease?

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

No, because it's a more or less a fixed price, a closed books structure, which we chose for the E-Mobility business with the potential buyers s o more or less, the 2023 numbers are the ones who won't change, yeah, if you may call it the purchase price at the end of the day. But we expect it to be very weak, I would say, first half of the year. This was also in, I would say, close discussion done with the potential buyer. We know that the market in some areas right now, E-Mobility Europe and other areas, made some changes.

Q2, second half of the year, Q3 and Q4 will be much, much better, developing and showing higher sales. So also here, with the old guidance, we think that it can be reached, the old guidance of E-Mobility and also concerning the profitability b ut P&Lease note that out of the segment, some topics were kept, kept back, so we are not sold t hose Aerostructures relevant areas were kept within our business.

So but, I would say the second half year, much better than the first half of the year s o more or less in P&Lan, or, or let's say in line with our P&Lans, and budgets. As said, we expected a very weak first half of the year.

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Perfect. Thank you. I've got two quick follow-ups, if I may s o energy, what's the current thinking there in terms of the importance of the asset in the portfolio? Would you consider going down the same path that you are on with E-Mobility? And secondly, you mentioned that the use of proceeds, 2/3s to delever, the other third for strategic CapEx and smart M&A. What's? the current view on shareholder returns? but dividend, I guess, is what I'm thinking for 2025, because if you close this asset in Q4, I think the balance sheet looks nice and healthy.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Yes, exactly. P&Lease never forget that we right now have net debt of EUR 342 million operational, and the free cash flow for the total year is supposed to be positive for the business. Therefore, we had EUR 280 million approximately last year w e think that we have a net debt without the sale even, which could be at the same level or even lower by the year's end a dditionally, comes the proceeds out of the M&A transaction of E-Mobility.

You're right, the net debt is supposed to be quite low at the year's end already. We made the statement, so I repeat, or we repeat ourself again and again, we made a statement last year that we said in the midterm run, we want to strategically focus on Aerostructures s o a pure P&Lay Aerostructures business, which immediately called the potential interested parties on the P&Lane to get in contact with us, not only in E-Mobility, but also in Energy.

That's something we of course carefully look at, but till now, no decision is done. But if, of course, at the end that I would say there is a good balance between the potential potential sale of this segment versus the possibilities, the potential, and also the risk to achieving our P&Lans, then we would make this decision, but it's not yet done. In the meantime, we develop Energy as it is. We see a very strong development w e think that also the next years will show a very strong development. It's paying its capacity increase itself, but the cash flow generates.

So therefore, there is no need for rush, but of course, if there is a good possibility and timing, we are comP&Letely open for that point. Last point said on your question is, therefore, yes, we still stick to our P&Lan to at least propose a dividend, a decent dividend, for the results 2024 and the general assembly 2025.

Philip Buller
Senior Equity Research Analyst, Berenberg

Very good. Thank you. Thanks.

Operator

The next question comes from Christian Bader. P&Lease go ahead with your question.

Speaker 5

Yes, good day, gentlemen. I've got a couP&Le of questions below the bottom line. So firstly, what is your CapEx guidance for this year, P&Lease?

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Yeah, it's very simP&Le. It's P&Lus minus double what we have right now. Yeah. So we had between EUR 60-70 million, approximately.

Speaker 5

All right, I see. And, your Free Cash Flow has been extremely seasonal, and so also in negative territory in the first semester s o can you maybe talk a little bit more in detail, what shall we expect in terms of Free Cash Flow development in the Q3 and Q4?

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

If you look at, I mean, we know what is the impact of the Free Cash Flow it 's mostly out of the Trade Working Capital in this regard for the first half of the year. That if you look at the quarterly development since many, many years, the Q1 is very negative every year concerning the development of the Trade Working Capital t his impacts, of course, therefore, also the cash flow. But it's already in a much better and higher level t hat's what I tried to exP&Lain also in the slides, in 2024 in comparison to 2023 or 2022.

So therefore, for the full year, we expect to come down with the trade working capital by, from our operations, automatically by stronger deliveries and stronger sales in the second half of the year, by December 2024. This will positively impact the free cash flow. The rest is the EBITDA, although this is to be expected to be higher in the second half of the year than in the first half of the year. And, this is, if I take those two topics with what they, a decent, continuously reduced interest, or financial result, we expect a positive free cash flow for the full year.

So it's mostly triggered right now, a good chunk of the, I would say, the cash flow is parked or, or strategically parked within the inventory. The inventory is high by mid of 2024, as we prepared already for stronger deliveries in the second half of 2024 i hope this exP&Lains the, the cash flow development.

Speaker 5

Yeah. If I may follow up, I mean, last year, the free cash from the Q3 was still slightly negative, I believe, and it was only extremely positive in the Q4 s o shall we expect the same pattern this year?

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

No, it's more or less divided, but it's third and fourth, but of course, fourth will be always the strongest. Yeah. And the reason is that there are many topics which, for instance, during the year, are only preliminary calculated and invoiced, and then finally calculated and invoiced and paid, and this makes then a strong impact. Like, for instance, price increases or certain topic and changes.

Changes in certain developments, and those are charged and also in the Q4, paid in the Q4, and this always gives a good extra impact also on the cash flow. Therefore, yes, you're right, Q4 will be again the strongest one, but already a stronger development in the third one.

Speaker 5

Okay, good. And, thirdly, I would be interested to hear your thoughts, whether you are considering to participate in whatever form in a bailout of a, let's say, struggling German battery maker?

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

No, no comment on that point. But we are focusing on the Aerostructures.

Speaker 5

I heard.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

And it's a fantastic market. Yeah.

Speaker 5

Okay.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

With more than 15,000 P&Lanes in the backlog of the OEM s o they need us, and we need them, and that's exactly what we want and what we trigger for.

Speaker 5

All right.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Thank you very much.

Speaker 5

So you will not part-

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Yeah. Thank you very much. Yeah.

Speaker 5

Okay.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, for any further questions, P&Lease press star and one. It seems to be no further questions at this time, and I will hand back to Michael Pistauer for closing comments.

Michael Pistauer
CEO and CFO, Montana Aerospace

Thank you very much for attending. The sun is shining, at least here where we are. The sun is shining, I guess, also in aerospace, even so, we have really challenging times with extremely volatile markets, somehow challenging, but on the other hand, also the best, I would say, the best field to gain market share t hat's what we do, what we continue. Kai and me and the whole team will do our, its best, at least, the strongest efforts to, again, also in the Q3, exceed the expectation t hat's what we are here, what we're working for, and hopefully, we hear and see then again. Thank you very much.

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