ZF meets annual targets, boosts competitiveness

German Tier-1 major, ZF, achieved its financial targets set for 2023. In the midst of a highly volatile global economy, the company increased its sales by 6.5 percent to Euro 46.6 billion (2022: Euro 43.8 billion). Adjusted EBIT amounted to Euro 2.4 billion (2022: Euro 2.0 billion); the adjusted EBIT margin was 5.1 percent (2022: 4.7 percent). Based on a positive development of free cash flow in the second half of the year, ZF has repaid liabilities of around Euro 2 billion and reduced net debt by Euro 400 million to below Euro 10 billion.

“2023 was a year of wide-ranging decisions for ZF: We have realigned the company’s transformation course and focused on competitiveness and profitability,” said ZF’s CEO Dr. Holger Klein when presenting the balance sheet in Friedrichshafen on Thursday. “Thanks to the great commitment of the entire ZF team, we have achieved our financial targets. We will now continue on this path. 2024 will be a year of implementation and we will set the course for more focus, efficiency and competitiveness.”

As Klein mentioned, some important decisions were made in 2023. One of them was the preparation of the merger between the Car Chassis Technology Division and the Active Safety Systems Division into the new Chassis Solutions Division, which took place on January 1 of this year. Additionally, the carve-out of the Passive Safety Systems Division was started. “The Passive Safety Systems Division carve-out is progressing well,” Klein said. “We are looking into options for its future development, which could include a complete or partial sale or an IPO.” Another major step was the founding of a joint venture for passenger car chassis systems, ZF Chassis Modules GmbH, with Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer.

The decision to refrain from building autonomous shuttles and instead focus as a premium supplier of autonomous driving technologies and engineering services was also groundbreaking for the Group’s long-term orientation. “This kind of decision enables ZF to act from a sound position and continue to implement its strategy,” explained Klein. “Our widespread portfolio allows us to specifically invest in profitable growth areas and electric mobility – depending on customer demand – to supply products for all-electric, hybrid and conventional drives.”

To become more competitive worldwide and respond to weak markets, ZF will use performance programs and focus even more strongly on improving its cost situation and structures. By the end of 2025, the cost basis is to be reduced Group-wide by Euro 6 billion. Five core areas will contribute their measures to this target. They include the generation of price effects in material purchasing, increasing productivity, and improving research and development costs as well as the cost structure in the corporate functions and a detailed review of investments for their targeted use. “This leaner cost base will give us a position of strength to address the further transformation towards electric mobility in the second half of this decade and beyond,” Klein said.

Group deleveraged – newly issued bonds in demand

In fiscal year 2023, ZF achieved Group sales of Euro 46.6 billion (2022: Euro 43.8 billion), an increase of 6.5 percent compared to the previous year's value. Organic growth amounted to 9 percent, the difference mainly due to currency effects. With organic sales growth of around 20 percent to Euro 8.7 billion (2022: Euro 7.5 billion), the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Division outperformed the overall commercial vehicle market, which grew by 15 percent in the previous year. The top-selling region was again Europe with a share of 44 percent, followed by North America with 28 percent and the region of Asia-Pacific with 24 percent.

The adjusted EBIT of the ZF Group totaled Euro 2,367 million (2022: Euro 2,038 million), which corresponds to an adjusted EBIT margin of 5.1 percent (2022: 4.7 percent). Free cash flow adjusted for M&A activities was Euro 1,382 million (2022: Euro 544 million). Net liabilities amounted to Euro 9,982 million (2022: Euro 10,378 million) at the end of last year; the equity ratio decreased from 22.1 to 19.7 percent compared to the previous year mainly due to negative currency and valuation effects.

In the 2023 fiscal year, ZF repaid liabilities totaling approximately Euro 2 billion. “Our priority is to systematically tackle debt reduction and refinancing,” emphasized Chief Financial Officer Michael Frick. Based on the ZF Green Finance Framework, three bond issues were made: In February 2023, ZF issued a fixed-interest green euro bond in the amount of Euro 650 million under the Debt Issuance Program (DIP). In April 2023, ZF successfully re-entered the US bond market with a volume of $1.2 billion. Another green euro bond was placed on the market in September 2023 with a fixed-interest individual tranche of Euro 650 million. “These issues were all in great demand. Markets continue to believe in ZF and our power to manage the transformation,” Frick said. “We have already drawn on these successful issues this year to ensure a stable and long-term orientation of our maturity profile, even under changed financial market conditions.” A green bond placed on the market at the end of January with a volume of Euro 800 million (five-year term, coupon 4.75 percent) was eight times oversubscribed.

In the area of Research and Development (R&D), ZF has expanded its activities: At Euro 3.5 billion, research and development expenses were slightly above the previous year’s figure of Euro 3.4 billion. The R&D ratio was 7.6 percent (2022: 7.8 percent). Investments in property, plant and equipment amounted to Euro 2.2 billion (2022: Euro 1.9 billion), which corresponds to an investment ratio of 4.8 percent (2022: 4.3 percent).

As of December 31, 2023, ZF had a global workforce of 168,738 employees (2022: 164,869).

Outlook for the FY2024

The outlook for fiscal year 2024 remains cautious. Prospects are still characterized by a weak economic environment with inflation and geopolitical conflicts. Given stable exchange rates and considering planned corporate transactions, ZF expects Group sales of more than Euro 45 billion in 2024. This corresponds to organic growth of 5 percent. With the expected development of the sales and procurement markets in conjunction with a corresponding control of the cost structures, ZF considers an adjusted EBIT margin between 4.9 and 5.4 percent to be attainable. Free cash flow adjusted for company transactions is expected to exceed Euro 800 million.

Billions of investments towards safe and clean mobility

Klein confirmed ZF’s plan to make global investments in the future of almost Euro 18 billion by the end of 2026. Of this, approximately Euro 10.6 billion is to be spent on research and development and more than Euro 7 billion is to be invested in property, plant and equipment. With increased competitiveness, the German ZF locations are to receive up to 30 percent of these investments. Klein explained this in the context of the ongoing performance programs: “We see the many advantages of Germany as a location, but we are aware of its disadvantages in international competition. We want to work on these in a targeted manner with our performance programs. To be back in pole position, ZF is moving forward with initiative, innovative strength and the will to succeed. We are prepared to invest heavily in Germany if the general conditions are opportune and we improve our cost base here.”