Mersen: Record 2023 Sales
February 7, 2024
Mersen has recently reported consolidated sales of €1,211 million for full-year 2023, representing organic growth of 13.2%.
Luc Themelin, Mersen’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Following on from a record year in 2022, sales once again reached an all-time high in 2023, demonstrating the validity of our strategy and our positioning in sustainable development markets. For full-year 2023, Mersen should exceed its initial guidance and achieve an operating margin before non-recurring items of around 11.3%. This result is testament to our teams around the world and their constant commitment to helping Mersen meet the ambitious objectives set in its 2027 growth plan.”
FULL-YEAR 2023 SALES
Mersen’s consolidated sales for full-year 2023 totaled €1,211 million, up by 13.2% on an organic basis versus the same period in 2022. Around 5% of this growth was attributable to price increases.
The unfavorable currency effect, in an amount of €39 million, was mainly due to the depreciation of the Chinese renminbi and the US dollar. The scope effect corresponds to the disposal of a German tantalum anti-corrosion equipment business in August 2023.
| In millions of euros | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | Organic growth | Scope effect | Currency effect | Reported growth |
| Advanced Materials | 669.4 | 621.8 | 13.2% | -1.1% | -3.8% | 7.7% |
| Electrical Power | 541.5 | 493.1 | 13.3% | -3.1% | 9.8% | |
| Europe | 397.2 | 365.5 | 14.2% | -0.9% | -1.5% | 11.4% |
| Asia-Pacific | 310.9 | 320.2 | 4.7% | -0.9% | -6.4% | -2.9% |
| North America | 463.1 | 399.2 | 19.6% | -0.1% | -2.9% | 16.0% |
| Rest of the world | 39.7 | 39.0 | 6.6% | -0.5% | -3.8% | 2.0% |
| Group | 1,210.9 | 1,114.8 | 13.2% | -0.6% | -3.5% | 8.6% |
PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT
Advanced Materials sales totaled €669 million in full-year 2023, an organic increase of 13.2% versus the previous year. Growth was particularly robust in the Si and SiC semiconductor market, with sales reaching more than €150 million. As expected, sales in the renewable energy market were stable compared to the prior year, as the Group chose to allocate less capacity to solar power in China. Lastly, deliveries for the chemicals market increased slightly.
Electrical Power sales came to €542 million for the year, representing organic year-on-year growth of 13.3%. Sales to the US electrical distribution market remained strong. Sales to transportation markets, including aeronautics, rail and electric vehicles, were also buoyant.
PERFORMANCE BY REGION
Europe recorded robust growth in both segments, thanks to the semiconductor, rail and aeronautics markets. In Germany, momentum was very brisk, particularly thanks to the chemicals and semiconductor markets. In France, growth was propelled by the aeronautics market.
In Asia, Group sales were slightly up compared with last year, mainly thanks to China and India. China was driven by the semiconductor and chemicals markets, India by the rail and wind markets. However, sales contracted in the electrical protection market.
In North America, momentum was very brisk in both segments and in a large number of markets, particularly semiconductors and process industries. Electrical distribution remained very active, reaching a record over the year.
Lastly, in the rest of the world, year-on-year sales growth reflected higher deliveries of chemicals contracts in the Middle East, partially offset by lower activity in South Africa and Morocco as major chemicals deliveries in 2022 were not repeated in 2023.
FOURTH-QUARTER 2023 SALES
Mersen reported consolidated sales of €301 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, representing organic growth of 8.6%, from a high comparable base.
The most significant exchange rate fluctuations during the period concerned the depreciation of the Chinese renminbi and the US dollar.
| In millions of euros | Q4 2023 | Q4 2022 | Organic growth | Scope effect | Currency effect | Reported growth |
| Advanced Materials | 168.6 | 161.8 | 12.3% | -3.5% | -3.7% | 4.2% |
| Electrical Power | 132.5 | 131.8 | 4.3% | -3.6% | 0.6% | |
| Europe | 98.1 | 91.4 | 11.1% | -2.5% | -1.0% | 7.3% |
| Asia-Pacific | 82.0 | 81.6 | 10.4% | -3.4% | -5.6% | 0.5% |
| North America | 110.6 | 110.3 | 5.5% | -0.4% | -4.6% | 0.2% |
| Rest of the world | 10.5 | 10.2 | 6.7% | -1.8% | -1.4% | 3.2% |
| Group | 301.1 | 293.6 | 8.6% | -1.9% | -3.6% | 2.6% |
2023 GUIDANCE
Based on 2023 sales, the Group now expects full-year operating margin before non-recurring items to reach around 11.3%, exceeding the initial guidance of 11.0%-11.2%. Net capital expenditure should be in line with the guidance announced in October 2023 (between €175 million to €200 million).
GLOSSARY
Organic growth: determined by comparing sales for the year with sales for the previous year, restated at the current year’s exchange rate, excluding acquisitions and/or disposals.
Scope effect: contribution from companies acquired in the year in relation to sales for the year.
Contribution n-1 from companies divested in the year in relation to sales for the previous year.
Currency effect: calculated by comparing sales for the previous year at the exchange rate of the previous year with sales for the previous year at the exchange rate of the current year.
The sales webcast will be held on January 25, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. CET. To join the webcast, click on the following link: 2023 Full-Year sales
Financial calendar: 2023 full-year results: March 13, 2024, before the markets open
