Brembo financial results for the first quarter of 2021 11.05.2021: RECORD Q1 REVENUES, UP 17.2% TO €675.1 MILLION (+20.9% ON A LIKE-FOR-LIKE EXCHANGE RATE BASIS). EBITDA AT €135.6 MILLION (EBITDA MARGIN: 20.1%), NET PROFIT AT €61.4 MILLION Compared to Q1 2020:

RECORD Q1 REVENUES, UP 17.2% TO €675.1 MILLION (+20.9% ON A LIKE-FOR-LIKE EXCHANGE RATE BASIS). EBITDA AT €135.6 MILLION (EBITDA MARGIN: 20.1%),  NET PROFIT AT €61.4 MILLION


Compared to Q1 2020:


•    Revenues at €675.1 million (+17.2% or +20.9% on a like-for-like exchange rate basis); +1.2% compared to Q1 2019


•    EBITDA margin at 20.1% to €135.6 million; EBIT margin at 12.4% to €83.7 million


•    Net investments for the quarter at €48.3 million


•    Net financial debt at €438.9 million (€229.2 million prior to the application of IFRS 16), up €54.2 million compared to 31 December 2020





Brembo Chairman Alberto Bombassei stated: “We have begun Brembo’s 60th year with particularly encouraging results. The figures for the first quarter of 2021 approved by the Board of Directors today indicate a robust recovery and point to a continuation of the trend witnessed in the final three months of 2020.


Never before in Brembo’s history had we seen revenues this high in the first quarter, up not only on the same period of 2020 but also, and above all, on 2019. Our results were driven by the positive performance of all segments and geographical areas in which we operate. Although the market scenario continues to be marked by uncertainties, these results allow us to look to the coming months with confidence.



We remain focused on the innovation of our solutions thanks to an increasingly integrated and sustainability-oriented product portfolio which has been expanded through the acquisition of SBS Friction in Denmark and will be further enhanced by the recently announced acquisition of J.Juan in Spain.”



Results for the First Quarter of 2021



Brembo’s Board of Directors chaired by Alberto Bombassei examined and approved the Group’s quarterly results at 31 March 2021.


In the first quarter of 2021, net consolidated revenues amounted to €675.1 million, up 17.2% (+20.9% on a like-for-like exchange rate basis) compared to the first quarter of the previous year.


On a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis, as a result of the inclusion into the consolidation scope of the Danish company SBS Friction, acquired effective 1 January 2021 — the increase was 20.2%.


Compared to the first quarter of 2019 — a more homogeneous comparison in light of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic — revenues for the first quarter of 2021 grew by 1.2%.


In the reporting quarter, all segments in which the Group operates reported growth: the car segment rose by 13.1%, motorbike applications by 40.5% (+33.4% on a like-for-like consolidation basis), applications for commercial vehicles by 31.6% and those for racing vehicles by 3.3% compared to the same quarter of 2020.


At geographical level, sales increased by 20.9% in Italy, by 6.1% in Germany, by 27.6% in France and by 6.2% in the United Kingdom (+8.0% on a like-for-like exchange rate basis).


India grew by 31.2% (+44.3% on a like-for-like exchange rate basis), China by 97.4% (+100.9% on a like-for-like exchange rate basis; +39.6% compared to the first quarter of 2019) and Japan by 20.0% (+20.9% on a like-for-like exchange rate basis).


The North American market (USA, Mexico and Canada) rose by 5.9% (+14.4% on a like-for-like exchange rate basis), whereas the South American market (Brazil and Argentina) declined by 21.1%, but with a 3.3% increase on a like-forlike exchange rate basis.


In the first quarter of 2021, the cost of sales and other net operating costs amounted to €419.7 million, with a 62.2% ratio to sales, down slightly in percentage terms compared to €364.7 million (63.3% of sales) for the same period of the previous year.


Personnel expenses amounted to €123.9 million, with an 18.4% ratio to sales, decreasing compared to the same period of the previous year (19.2% of sales). At 31 March 2021, workforce numbered 11,408 (of which 98 from the newly acquired SBS Friction), compared to 11,039 at 31 December 2020 and 11,022 at 31 March 2020.


EBITDA for Q1 2021 amounted to €135.6 million (EBITDA margin: 20.1%), compared to €102.0 million for Q1 2020 (EBITDA margin: 17.7%).

EBIT was €83.7 million (EBIT margin: 12.4%) compared to €50.3 million (EBIT margin: 8.7%) for Q1 2020.



Net interest expense for the quarter amounted to €2.7 million (€7.8 million in Q1 2020); this item includes interest expense amounting to €2.8 million (€2.9 million in Q1 2020) and net exchange gains of €0.1 million (net exchange losses of €4.9 million in Q1 2020).


Pre-tax profit was €81.1 million (12.0% of sales) compared to €42.5 million (7.4% of sales) for Q1 2020.


Based on the tax rates applicable under current tax regulations in force in each country, estimated taxes amounted to €19.5 million (€13.0 million in Q1 2020), with a tax rate of 24.0% compared to 30.5% for the same period of 2020.


The period ended with a net profit of €61.4 million (9.1% of sales) compared to €29.8 million for the same period of the previous year.


Net financial debt at 31 March 2021 amounted to €438.9 million, up by €54.2 million compared to 31 December 2020. Without the impact of IFRS 16, net financial debt would have been €229.2 million, up €53.4 million compared to 31 December 2020.




Significant Events After 31 March 2021



On 28 April 2021, Brembo signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 100% stake in the J.Juan Group, a Spanish company specialising in the development and production of motorbike braking systems.


The consideration for the transaction is estimated at €70 million, to be paid using available cash.


The final price will be subject to the usual adjustment mechanisms envisaged for similar transactions. The Enterprise Value is €73 million. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the Antitrust authorities, following which the closing is expected to occur in the second half of 2021. This transaction will enable the Group to complete its range of solutions for the motorbike braking system and to expand its brand family for the growing motorbike sector.



Foreseeable Evolution


Order levels confirm that the year has begun on a positive note. The Group is closely monitoring the impacts of the shortage of electronic components on its clients’ supply chains, although they are difficult to estimate at present.


The manager in charge of the Company’s financial reports Andrea Pazzi, declares, pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 154- bis of Italy's Consolidated Law on Finance, that the accounting information contained in this press release corresponds to the documented results, books and accounting records.





Roberto Cattaneo, Dagmar Klein- photo Brembo