Bajaj Mobility AG (VIE:BMAG)
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At close: Apr 29, 2026
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Status Update

Jun 17, 2024

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Thank you very much. Good morning to everybody. I'll jump in. Maybe I'll take already Stifel's headline . PIERER Mobility, second profit warning within six months. Yeah? That's related to our guidance release. I think what has changed throughout the last six months? What's clear? We have a very volatile global environment on the market, and what's the most hurting thing is the high interest rate, especially in North America. If you jump in and make a rough look about the different markets globally, if you start in the U.S., the total market by the end of May has a minus of 6.1%. We are slightly behind of that on retail with minus 8%. And that area is, it's the biggest challenge because the high retail financing costs are hurting dealers and us as well.

That means we have to reduce on the supply chain, the working capital, and we have to support our dealers. If you jump to the European Union, which is still our biggest single market, although Europe is in a recession, the retail market is doing very well. We have a plus of 5% by the end of May in total. For sure, some differences between Germany, France, and Great Britain, but it's going okay. We have a plus of 3%, but still, retail financing and the high interest rate is also affecting. If you jump to India, India is, I would say, the most benefiting global economy out of the political situation of the war in Ukraine. Our specific market in the retail is growing at 20%, yeah, which we are already, more or less in line. The total opposite is in China.

By the end of May, we have a minus in the total market in China of -40%. Yes, -40%. Very similar our quantities. Still stable is LATAM, although we have in Argentina, I would say, a very interesting pilot project regarding economy. It's +6%, which we are more or less in line. So overall, still an okay sales market, but very challenging on the supply chain, on the distribution chain. So we have to support our worldwide dealers on the interest rate. Secondly, we are working very, very hard to reduce that supply chain to the dealers. That was the first effect what we also mentioned six months ago. We have reduced our production volume. So and then overall, it takes for sure a certain time that we come down. It will take another 12 months.

But the market is still okay, which is the very positive message on that. Yeah? Based on that, I think we have started already in our announcement in December a real tough cost reduction program, which for that I would like to hand over to Viktor Sigl, my colleague on the board, CFO. Please, Viktor, go ahead.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yes. Also, good morning from my side. Considering this challenging market environment, we also see on the production cost side that due to the fact that we had high wages settlement and increases, and also increasing costs in connection with the regulations and bureaucracy within the European Union, a sharp increase of production costs. This forced us to continue with the cost-cutting program, which we started already with the beginning of this year, and we had to tighten it again, to be competitive in the market. One painful thing is for sure you can imagine that after the last years of significant growth, also our number of employees increased in more or less in the same way. We doubled our headcount number over the last 10 years.

This year, in connection with this cost-cutting program, we started to reduce our workforce. We reduced our workforce already by more than 500 employees since the beginning of this year. By the end of the year, we expect a reduction of our workforce by almost 15%. As I said, this is a painful step. Nevertheless, it's necessary to have a competitive cost structure and to be competitive in the market. In addition to that, we have also to expand our supply chain

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

which is I'll take it over, another challenge in Europe. So I would say the small-sized supply companies are heavily under pressure due to the high energy costs and labor costs. So throughout the last 12 months, we had two or three bankruptcies of very important small-sized suppliers. So we had to transfer the components to other suppliers.

And what we put in place, a tough transferring program, to the supply chain in India and China because, fortunately, due to our strong footholds at China and then our partnership with Bajaj, we are able to do that. But for the European standpoint, it's really sad. So the mid-sized companies, energy-intensive, labor-intensive, yeah, they are trying out, and that's the reason we do it. In addition, we're also transferring R&D activities to China and India, which is helping us to become faster. And secondly, to save costs on our operation here in Europe. Maybe I give you just a comparison on workforce or yearly hours compared to our locations in India and in China. In Austria, we have an average working hours per year of 1,650 hours, 1,650. The same engineer in Hangzhou is working 2,540, and very similar is the same in India.

So that's clear. It's more or less 50%, more than we have. That's a very simple explanation why Chinese companies are faster than we are. And secondly, also the costs are still half of the size what we have in Europe. So that's a challenge. But fortunately, we have two strong footholds in the real future global areas. That's on the supply chain and R&D. On the bicycle division, we are well on track on the restructuring. We started already a year ago. Yeah? So by the end of this year, it gets finished. So that means focusing on the three premium brands what we have on the motorcycle. It's GASGas and Husqvarna, and then the high-end field.

So it's a little or an overseeable operation with around, in the future, around EUR 150 million sales and, becoming in the same ratio what we are used to the motorcycle. So finally, the adjustment of the guidance, Viktor, maybe an outlook.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

So, summarizing all these circumstances, we expect for both segments, motorcycle segment and bicycle segment, a decline in sales between 10%-15% for the whole year. Earning-wise, we have to differentiate a little bit. In the motorcycle segment, we expect a more or less, slightly positive EBIT, based on the already started cost-cutting program, as mentioned before. Nevertheless, we have to support in the motorcycle business our dealers, which means especially to reduce dealer stock on their side, meaning that this year we will be able to reduce inventory in our balance sheet.

But for 2025, we have to reduce also the inventory on the dealer side, considering the actual high interest rates. For the bicycle segment, as my colleague Stefan Pierer mentioned before, we started this realignment program already last year. Based on the high inventory in the whole supply chain and especially on the dealer side, we have to consider extraordinary impairment and restructuring costs for this year in the range of EUR 110 million-EUR 130 million, which is more or less also the earnings for the whole year for the bicycle segment. So this was it in a nutshell. And we would be very happy to reply to your questions.

Operator

We will now begin the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on the touch-tone telephone. You will hear a tone to confirm that you have entered a queue. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to use only handsets while asking a question. Anyone with a question may press star and one at this time. The first question comes from Christian Arnold from Stifel Schweiz. Please go ahead.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

Yes. Good morning, gentlemen. I have a question on the impairment, so to say. I mean, you mentioned motorbike, bicycles, we will have a negative EBIT of between EUR 110 and EUR 130. I wonder how much external depreciation or revaluation or impairment you will have, yeah, on the bicycle side as well on group. Group being my first question.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

This is the amount.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

That's the amount.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

We see that's the amount, yes. We have to see the market development for the rest of the year. But this is based on the knowledge we have today. We expect the impairment in that amount, and this should also give us the possibility to cover all the other additional costs come along with it.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

On the motorbike division, do we also have some impairments or devaluation of assets?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

No.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

No. Thank you. Then, maybe on the balance sheet, could you give us an indication what do you expect in terms of Net Debt, how that will develop? I mean, you have to continue to support your dealer network. So what do you think, where will Net Debt be at the end?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

I honestly think at the moment, I expect a more or less same level as we had last year. Why? The inventory we are selling now to the dealers will become irrecoverable. Based on the long payment term, at the moment, we have to give to the dealers because of the high interest rates. We are not in a position to reduce our working capital for the motorcycle division. For the bicycle division, there are outstanding orders we have to take, and this will lead to an increase of the net debt by the year end. But at the end of the day, and this is I mean, this is by the end of 2025, we should come back to a normal course.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

Okay. And maybe last question in terms of interest payment. I mean, having the same amount of net debt, we had last year an increase of interest payments to a level of EUR 67 million -EUR 68 million. Do you expect interest payments to be in the same magnitude or higher?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

For this year, it will be higher due to the fact that we have still a high level of interest rates. And as you mentioned in your report, certain covenants are in place which increase the margin, and this will lead to a higher negative financial result.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

So, high double-digit millions?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yes.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

Something like that, huh? Okay. Thank you very much.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

You're welcome.

Operator

The next question comes from Mark Diethelm from Vontobel, please. Go ahead.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

Thank you. Good morning, gentlemen.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Good morning.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

I have several questions. One, can you quantify the cost related to the relocation of the production and the reduction in workforce? And does it include also restructuring of MV Agusta? I guess, there is some work to be done there as well. Can you quantify which is the cost? So, it's also related to the second question. When you look at the cost base going forward in the motorcycle division, is the 8%-10% margin level still feasible, or has something changed structurally with also the relocation?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

If it jumps in restructuring, labor costs in Austria, fortunately, we have a labor law which is helpful in that. Yeah? You can terminate the contract, without, compared to Germany, to set up big social plans. This, everything is basically written in law. I would say, on average, on blue collar, you have a very short period, a maximum of 1 month, in addition to what you have to pay. I would say on average in white collar is around 3 months that you have to tell officials if you're doing in one step more than 5%, you have to announce that. But the rest, it's an ongoing process month by month.

Coming to the relocation costs, there are no additional relocation costs from shifting production from Mattighofen to our strategic partner because it's, you know, the assembly lines itself is not so much capital intensive. So from that, the relocation costs are more or less, I would say, the reduction, the cost of the reduction of the labor costs in Austria.

In Austria.

So this is something what we have to consider. This is, as my colleague mentioned, depending on the grace period, one or three months.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

You have to go on. We have a strategic very good position. We have our joint venture in Hangzhou, where we have a state-of-the-art production facility together with CFMOTO. In there, we have a capacity of around, meanwhile, 60,000 units. Currently, we are running on 40,000 together. So the middle-class 790 platform gets produced there. And secondly, the entrance bikes from 125 up to 400 cc is in India on our plant or on the plant of our partner Bajaj. So there are no additional costs if we transfer or define a future volume in China or in India.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

Yeah.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

MV Agusta is on track. Yes, for sure, we have to integrate this company, but this is something we started already one year ago. As you know, we took over the majority by the beginning of this year, and we will continue with this integration process.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

So the total management is led by our employees. So Barbara Kennedy, and another, running the operation. What we also already announced, the R&D center in San Marino, part of the people will come to Varese, and the rest we are joining our, I would say, co-working, design activities together with CFMOTO in the area of Rimini.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

Okay. Just two follow-ups. Again, so MV Agusta right now is not making profit. It's loss-making. That's,

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Mm-hmm.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

The second one is on the.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

New cost structure. When you look into 2025 with this 1,500 reduction in employees, is midterm the 8%-10% on the motorcycle business still realistic for margin?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah. EBIT at the moment, EBIT for this year, we expect, I would say, slightly positive, maybe slightly negative around this. Yeah? This is the first year where we have full control over the company. In regards to the employees, we reduced 500 already. We expect another 300, maybe 400. This means 15% of our overall employees will be reduced by this year.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

Okay. Good. Then I move on to my last one is on CAPEX and free cash flow. I mean, you already mentioned the network and capital. But with the relocation R&D being transferred, will CAPEX be materially different going forward compared to the old structure? So this 3%-5% free cash flow to sales, does that still stand, or is that changed as well?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah. For this year, not really because we have to finalize the projects you started in the R&D area. So it makes no sense to stop a project and because some projects are more or less very close to the SOP. So you have to finalize this. But here, we see a midterm and long-term impact on our CAPEX structure. So the CAPEX structure on R&D, which we have done here, will touch a turning point, will come down. Yeah.

Mark Diethelm
Analyst, Vontobel

Okay. Thanks. Thank you.

Operator

As a reminder, if you wish to register for a question, please press star followed by one. The next question comes from Dominik Feldges on NZZ. Please go ahead.

Dominik Feldges
Analyst, NZZ

Yes. Hello.

Hi.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Good morning.

Dominik Feldges
Analyst, NZZ

I have three questions.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Good morning.

Dominik Feldges
Analyst, NZZ

Regarding if you could maybe just elaborate again a bit more on why Europe is holding up rather well. I mean, what we hear from people is, "Oh, they all say that especially bicycles are available with big discounts because there is still oversupply in the market." What is the situation really like in Europe? And then maybe if you could also elaborate a bit more on these small suppliers in Europe. I mean, do you expect further ones really to disappear? And last question again, MV Agusta—is it now? I just didn't get that. Is it now loss-making still, or is it returning to profits this year? Thank you.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Let's start on the global discussion. Europe is regulating itself to a standstill. That's, I think, is the headline. Secondly, I think, it's also the, the biggest problem in Europe currently is the high energy costs, not the, consolidated industrial strategy. Every country is doing his own. I'm not talking about Switzerland anyway. You're not part of that. But, like in the energy, strategy, Spain and Portugal, anyway, they had, cut off, Scandinavian countries doing different, and, the Central Europeans, are facing, yeah, high energy costs. Secondly, we have a demographic problem. We are running out of, workforce. So 100 are getting retired and 65 are coming, fresh. So that's a, a negative difference. Secondly, the 65, not all of them are really with the right mindset.

And I think, the immigration to Europe didn't work well, although 2015, a very famous, German, chancellor told, "We will do it." So that's the biggest problem. And, instead of exporting to other areas, and especially to China, China is turning around. They have big problems, in China. And so they try to fix it with a very aggressive export strategy, which we are facing in Europe, not just on electric cars. It's every segment. So, that's the reason that small-sized companies in Europe, based on the high labor cost, high energy costs, and, what I've mentioned, will come under pressure or more or less if you don't have any global footprint, you're more or less, yeah, educated to a funeral. So that's my clear message to Europe. Hopefully, we are getting a new government in Brussels with a different, chancellor.

So, to set up an industry strategy which can help a little bit, but the turning point is gone. That it doesn't sound very optimistic, but it's reality. And in that, you have to react. We have to take care that our company is doing the right thing, that we are doing immediately restructuring, that we are using our footprints and, yeah, coming out maybe one of the winners, although we are not able to save Europe. So coming back to MV Agusta this year, it's the classic restructuring. As soon as we have taken over management, I think, MV Agusta in the next couple of years will become our luxury brand. So it should achieve higher EBIT margins than we are used to, I would say, classic motorcycle area. What was the third question?

Dominik Feldges
Analyst, NZZ

about the retail market in Europe. I mean, which is.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

That's very interesting that the retail market.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

How they're doing quite well.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah.

Dominik Feldges
Analyst, NZZ

Yeah. Why, why is that? Because we hear that there are all these discounts in the market, you know, and that you can.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah.

Yeah. You have to distinguish between bicycle and motorcycle. In the bicycle industry, you have a classic bullwhip effect. The bicycle and especially the e-bicycle was the big winner in the corona time. Everybody was trapped. So instead of doing vacations, e-bikes were bought. And due to that fact, everybody was ordering in Far East huge quantities, yeah, because they have expected the stays on that level. But after corona, and after getting rid of the lockdown, it came down to a level of 2018, 2019. It's still stable, but you have a huge inventory in the whole supply chain from Far East to the OEMs to the dealer network. And it takes another 12 months, but in some segments already getting better. So the discounts will come down, and then it's running to a normal level.

Secondly, the retail on motorcycle is still doing, oh, well, I would say very good compared to the recession, what we have in Europe. Why? Because all European governments have spent a lot of money, and the high inflation rate led us to huge increases in labor costs, and liquidity on the consumer level is there. Yeah? That's the current status.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah. And in addition to that, for the bicycle segment, you must see the shift in our strategy. I don't want to say from the mass market to the premium segment, but it's more or less this story.

As you know, we had big plans for our bicycle segment, and we had to recognize, especially now after the first post-COVID year, that this market is completely different than the market where we are used to be in, meaning the premium market. And this is the shift towards the premium brands that we have in our portfolio, meaning we have to clean inventory on our side, but also clean inventory on the dealer side, which is not an easy job because you have also to give the dealer a long-term perspective that they can do a very nice business with premium brands in the future.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

And that's our expectation. In the future, the market will split off in a price-wise very competitive mass market and the premium luxury market. The middle class is coming under pressure.

Premium market and, I would say, step-in market. It's also, we see it already because we have a strategic partnership with CFMOTO, our joint venture partner from China, and we take care for the European distribution. We see that that segment is growing very nicely. Yeah?

Dominik Feldges
Analyst, NZZ

Mm-hmm. Can I add one question?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah.

Dominik Feldges
Analyst, NZZ

all, having talked about demographics, obviously, yeah, to a certain age, you can ride a bicycle or a motorcycle. But does that also worry you, you know, that as a society, we are getting older, you know, especially here in Europe, but also in the U.S., and that there might be less of a demand really for bicycles and motorcycles in the future? Or can you make up for this somehow?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

So what we see in the U.S., the U.S. has a very good immigration. I don't talk about the Mexican border and the Latin America, but overall, the average age in the U.S. is still decreasing. Yeah? So and a new segment of motorcycle demand was showing up. It's the price-wise competitive entrance market, single cylinder, 450, 500 cc, which before was just big displacement, Harleys, and those kind of cruisers. Now we are becoming a similar market segment like we are used in Latin America, street bikes, full-fare, naked bikes, especially in Mexico. So that is a positive trend. In Europe, currently, I think, yeah, the average age around is currently between 52 and 55. You're right. It's getting older.

But on the short term, it's very beneficial because those customers are very healthy. Yeah? I don't talk if you're a motorcycle rider and going to maybe a road to northern Italy, and you make a stop at a restaurant, and you see the guys there, then for sure you can see that the average age is around 55-60. Yeah? Right. Right. But it's a very healthy one for the premium market. And hopefully, sooner or later, we are able to make, I would say, an intelligent immigration from the right areas, from India, from Latin America, or maybe from the Philippines. Yeah? Then, they are integrated in our, I would say, economy, and they can buy motorcycles or cars or whatever.

Operator

The next question comes from Christian Braun from Finanz und Wirtschaft. Please go ahead.

Christian Braun
Analyst, Finanz und Wirtschaft

Good morning, gentlemen. I want to go back to the profit warning. This has been quite massive, and I don't get rid of the impression that at least part of it is company-specific, because if I look at the competition, for example, BMW Motorrad, they had a fairly well first quarter. They had less sales. They had less revenue. They had less profit. But, but still, it was quite a good quarter. Looking at the car market, which has also some similarities in that it is also dependent on economy and financing, interest rates, and so on, car market is also holding well, holding up quite well relatively. But I think the problem with, we have here with this profit warning is mainly dealers. So, have my, my question is now, have you pushed too many motorcycles on dealers' lots?

So they are choking now, and you have to save them. And have you some learnings about this?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah, absolutely. You're right. I think it's coming out of a 10-year growth story where you're overmotivated, and you think, as long as the dealer is taking it and also in the same mood, it works. But as soon as you recognize you have to turn around. So, you're right. A certain part is also homemade. But I think what we are standing for, and that's the reason, and I am the major shareholder, and I am now on the forefront, we have to react immediately. And the restructuring a company, if you look on my CV, I think that I've learned and I'm done. And you can trust me. I'll do it. Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

I think what you mentioned is completely right. You also see the seasonality. We are pretty much off-road driven, meaning in the second half of the year. And due to the fact that the interest rates are still high and dealer stock is still high, we had to put out volumes, meaning put out pressure on the dealer floor. And this is what Stefan Pierer mentioned. We reacted immediately. The learning curve for sure is that we took out volumes from production. And yes, you are right. We were overmotivated over the last year, but also the dealers were overmotivated. Why? Because money costs nothing at more or less for a decade. Yeah? And this was the reason why inventory is now high.

If you see a dealer margin, I would say average dealer earns EBIT margin of between 5%-6%, and if you have to take this money to pay your inventory, therefore the dealers need to support what we mentioned in our press release.

Mm-hmm.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

You have to distinguish the retail is currently still running like in the we have the same same retail or increase of markets slightly better than the European car market, I think. But if you look into on the supply and dealer chain, then it's too high. It's clear. But I can tell you, let's sit together in six months, Mr. Braun, and then we can talk the similar situation on the car industry because I have a very good insight. You can trust me, and that will come at least in the fourth quarter. We have the same situation, overfilled pipeline.

Christian Braun
Analyst, Finanz und Wirtschaft

Mm-hmm. Okay. But coming back to your motorcycle business, is there a danger that it will take the same path as your bicycle business? The direction is the same already, but will it be the same huge problems?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

No, no, no, no, it's not comparable because in the end segment, we are 30 years in. We have 4 brands. We know what the brands are standing for and what we have to do. No. That's.

Okay.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

You must see that, during the COVID crisis, the lead time from the supplier was up to two years. And this is the reason why we are suffering in the bicycle business with the high inventory and the high stock in the whole supply chain. So this is.

Mm-hmm.

This is something you cannot compare with the motorcycle segment. The motorcycle segment, we had in the past a normal lead time for the past. But in the COVID crisis, for the bicycle segment, this increased tremendously. And this was the reason now for the high inventory.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Mr. Braun, it's totally a different thing. On the motorcycle, yeah, you have to clean up the pipeline. It's clear it takes time. It costs money based on the high interest rates. But restructuring in the sense that we are using our strategic footprints in India and China and back on track. That is back to 8% and 10%. And with MV Agusta, more than that. Yeah? It takes this year, it's clear. Maybe in 2025, one other thing. But back on track. That's the thing that I'm on the forefront. You can trust me. And we did it for.

Christian Braun
Analyst, Finanz und Wirtschaft

How long will it take? How long will it take to get back on track in the motorcycle business?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

I would say on a motorcycle, for sure, it takes a year. Yeah?

Mm-hmm.

Till the end of next year. That's my opinion. And for sure, on the bicycle, next year, we'll see a positive result.

Mm-hmm.

That's my experience after. If you're doing very fast within a year, but at least within two years, you have to finalize the restructuring. Otherwise, you're doing something wrong.

Mm-hmm.

So that's, that's clear. That's how it works in restructuring. Now, in one or the other segment, we are a little bit ahead on the other, we in between. But that we are doing back on track. That's the headline.

Okay.

That's what you have to do.

Christian Braun
Analyst, Finanz und Wirtschaft

Thank you. Thank you.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah.

Operator

The next question comes from Alexander Burgansky from Research Partners. Please go ahead.

Alexander Burgansky
Analyst, Research Partners

Yes. Good morning. Thank you very much for the call. I have four questions, if I may.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah, please.

Alexander Burgansky
Analyst, Research Partners

So firstly, on the bicycles, can you untangle a little bit the 10%-15% reduction? What part of it comes from the inventory? What part of it comes from the fact that you stopped selling the traditional bikes, and the restructuring that you announced at the end of last year? Because I think you mentioned at the last call, at one of the last calls, that non-e-bikes accounted for about 30% of your sales. So, I was expecting your bicycles to decline a bit more this year. Yeah, so if you can talk a little bit how that plays out. The second question I have is on China. You mentioned a 40% reduction in Chinese motorcycle market. So can you talk a little bit about what is going on there and how you expect that to change maybe next year?

The third question is on financial covenants for your debt. If you can elaborate what those covenants are and how they could affect you? And lastly, I want to get a confirmation on dividends. And, given that you are forecasting losses for 2024, do you still have plans to pay dividend for 2024 in 2025? Thank you.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Let's start on the global discussion, China. The latest information what we have, it's in some segment, it's getting much better. That means in twin cylinder around between 400 and 500 cc. That's the fastest growing segment currently. Our CFMOTO thinks that by the end of the year, it will get stabilized on that. So for 2025, they expect a quantity which is more or less similar to 2023. That's what they are telling us. So the second thing was regarding the loss from the non, from the bio.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

The reduction in sales in bicycles. You must see that we have to clean inventory this year and next year. Meaning, cleaning the inventory is pushing sales. As we mentioned, there is a shift in the strategy towards more premium brands. Meaning, in the midterm perspective, sales will be, I would say, on the level where we are now, but with a completely different mix. Saying what is coming from the mix this year is quite difficult because of the cleaning of the inventory in the whole supply chain. Regarding the covenants, we have, you know, there is a promissory note loan in place. So this is publicly known. There is a margin grid included, and this will impact our P&L this year.

Regarding dividends, there is no decision made until now.

No default.

We have in the covenants, no default covenants, as also already mentioned in previous calls.

Alexander Burgansky
Analyst, Research Partners

Mm-hmm. And, just on this clearing of inventory, I mean, I think both of you mentioned that the situation could last until the end of next year. So what does that mean with the sales outlook for 2025?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah. Look, that for the bicycle business, I expect maybe depends on how we are able to clean the inventory, but it should be on the level of this year, maybe slightly higher. In motorcycles.

Mm-hmm.

Motorcycles, we will see. We will see the market conditions.

Alexander Burgansky
Analyst, Research Partners

But the supply chain and motorcycles will not be cleared until the end of 2024. Is that correct? So it could be expected that it will last.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yeah, we have cleared it already on our production volume and cleaned it up on our level internally. But the dealer level, we expect it will take middle of end next year. So but already on our side, it's working. But we have to see the whole line. And anyway, we are financing our dealer network.

Alexander Burgansky
Analyst, Research Partners

Mm-hmm. Thank you.

Operator

The next question comes from Mark Possa from VV Vermögensverwaltung . Please go ahead.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Yes. Good morning, gentlemen. I would have a specification question concerning that dealer destocking. I mean, as far as I understand, you will never go as far as we've seen with the watch industry in Switzerland when dealers had to be bought out and, kind of, merchandise had to be taken back by the producing company. This will not be the case for PIERER Mobility. No?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

No. No. No.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Okay. So it's just not having the possibility to further deliver, further sale into the dealer net into the dealers since they have full inventory, and still will have to kind of sale, or sell those stocks before they come up with new orders. So the only exposure you have is a financial exposure since you're trying to help them out.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yes. Yes.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

You prolong payment terms.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Yes. Yes. You have to see our front end is a dealer. It's an entrepreneur. He is depending on your product line. You're sitting in the same boat. So it doesn't help if you push a lot of inventory in, and then you have to finance it together with him. I think we are. It's part of our company, more or less. So we have to find the best way to clean up that. Yeah?

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Okay.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

In the past, you know, for the dealer, it was convenient to be available with finished products. Because the costs for that were close to zero. Now this changed over the last two years, and therefore we have to help them.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Can you remind us of your innovation cycles? I mean, is it a two-year cycle when you come out with new kind of motorbikes or bicycles? Is that correct?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

yeah.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Are you, are those inventories going to be obsolete for one or the other reason, and you have to participate in kind of big rebate, kind of actions?

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

You have, on the street side, you have a 3 years, 3, 4 years with some facelift.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Okay.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

And in off-road is 2-3 years. So 1 and a or 2 years or less.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Okay. Then another question. There was an article today in the newspapers here in Switzerland, saying that the electrified MINIs would be taxed with 31%-38.1% when they were coming from China, where they are produced, to Europe, i.e., imported in Europe. Is that something that CFMOTO could face as well or you with CFMOTO since you are the dealer in Europe?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

You have to, you have to distinguish. We have currently electric motorcycles for kids, yeah, which are produced here. Yeah? And also.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Okay.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

The Freeride, which is produced here. The only product which is already coming from our strategic partner, CFMOTO, is a scooter, a high-performance scooter with 11 kW under the brand name ZEEHO, which we just recently launched in Europe. That's a final product. So far, about two-wheelers, I don't see any information that is, would be covered on the same system what the stupid European Commission is doing with the electric cars.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Okay. And then as a last question.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

And then between, yeah? Please?

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Yes, sorry.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Please? Yeah?

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Yes. As a last question, looking at the balance sheet and the current economic environment, the covenants, and so on, I mean, wouldn't it make sense to consider maybe a capital increase to give you the full flexibility in terms of potential M&A that could always come up, thinking of Ducati and other opportunities in that luxury high-end segment?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

I think first.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

What are your thoughts there?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

No, we have enough brands. The acquisition with MV Agusta gives us that strategy to grow up in the luxury segment and also taking one or the other percentage from Ducati. It's clear that's our competitor. I think we have four brands. It's enough. The liquidity and the financing, it's enough. So far, in my opinion, we don't need a capital increase for some acquisition. Now, in the short term, the next 12 months, we have to do our homework, back on track, back on that margins what we are used to. And I can tell you, based on very tough circumstances, if you're doing it right, it's named consolidation. Maybe one or the other thing is showing up.

Marc Possa
Analyst, VV Vermögensverwaltung AG

Okay. Thank you very much. Good luck.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Thank you.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Thank you.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

What was it again?

Operator

The last question for today's calls come from Christian Arnold, from Stifel. Please go ahead.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

Yes. Just a follow-up question. I mean, you showed us how, yeah, drastically you react on the motorbikes side in terms of supply chain. So working closer to with your strategic partners in China and in India, and you're also more based on suppliers from that area. Now, on the bicycle side, you have a Maxcom, your partner in Bulgaria. And actually, you aimed to have the supply chain moved from Asia to Europe. I mean, this goal, is that still valid, or do you also think that you maybe have to base more again on Asian suppliers when it comes to your e-bicycle business?

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

I think due to the fact that we are focusing on the premium segment, where we have not huge quantities, hundreds, thousands, and then we are talking about 30, 40, maximum 50,000 units, we are focusing on strategic component partners. As we similar what we have with Maxcom on the assembly, we agreed on shifting and other things with SRAM. We have a strategic relation with SRAM, which is a very strong competitor to Shimano. Then, for Husqvarna, as a European brand and urban mobility brand, we have agreed on Bosch powertrain. So that's basically we have some standard, long-term partnerships for that. The only thing which is still in Far East is clear is the frame because a carbon frame to get on a competitive level in Europe so far is not possible.

The only thing which could happen is aluminum, which are some activities in Portugal. But currently, we have still for the frame, supply chain from Far East.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

Thank you.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

The assembly we have in Bulgaria.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

The assembly anyway is in Europe. Yeah? So in Bulgaria in Plovdiv.

Christian Arnold
Analyst, Stifel

Thank you.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, that was the last question. I would now like to turn the conference back over to the management for any closing remarks.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Thank you very much for.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Thank you very much.

Let's do the work.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Let's do the work. Yeah.

Stefan Pierer
CEO, PIERER Mobility AG

Thank you.

Viktor Sigl
CFO, PIERER Mobility AG

Thank you. Bye-bye.

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