Siemens Energy AG launched a strategic review of its wind power business as problems with its turbines are expected to cause a €4.5 billion (RM22.53 billion) net loss in one of industrial Germany’s biggest debacles.
The worsening outlook, which compares with a previous roughly €1 billion net loss prediction, marks the latest setback for the German manufacturer in getting to grips with quality flaws and unprofitable contracts weighing on its wind unit. Siemens Energy’s other units are performing well and the company has strong cash reserves.
The quality issues, which can occur in onshore turbines at some rotor blades and main bearings across two platforms, are unlikely to happen again in the same magnitude, Jochen Eickholt, who heads the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy wind unit, said Monday on a call.
The problems centre on the discovery that a main piece on the frame of a wind turbine can move or twist over time, potentially damaging other critical components, people familiar with the matter have said.
The announcement marks the first update from Siemens Energy after it suspended its annual profit guidance in June. At the time, its shares slumped by a record after the company said the technical problems at the Spanish subsidiary could cost more than €1 billion to resolve. The disclosure spooked investors after the company in January had expressed confidence it had uncovered all of Gamesa’s quality issues and shares remained more than 30% lower.
“It has been a very demanding quarter,” Chief Executive Officer Christian Bruch said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. The company is now reviewing different elements in its wind business, he added, as the problems “delay our path to profitability” for the division.
Siemens Energy, where former parent Siemens AG still holds a 32% stake, reversed earlier steep losses to trade up 1.5% at 10.30am in Frankfurt. The move may indicate some short covering with the company one of the most shorted stocks in Europe. Shares out on loan — an indication of short interest — represented about 9.8% of the company’s free float as of Aug 3, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Siemens Energy on Monday (Aug 7) said total costs to fix the flaws in Gamesa’s onshore turbines will cost €1.6 billion. Despite the quality problems in the 4.X and 5.X platforms, the majority of turbines is still performing well and fixes are expected to be made during regular service intervals, Eickholt said. The main part of the repair costs is expected over the next two fiscal years.
In addition, the company detailed issues in its offshore business, where higher product costs and ramp-up challenges incurred charges of €600 million during the fiscal third quarter (3Q) through June. The higher outlays mean Siemens Energy is making a loss on certain contracts if customers take delivery.
While Siemens Energy’s wind power business is beset by internal problems, the industry has for years suffered steep losses after soaring raw materials prices, increased transportation costs and supply chain disruptions. Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s biggest wind turbine maker, earlier this year outlined a surprise first-quarter profit, leading to predictions of better times for manufacturers laboring through a backlog of unprofitable contracts.
Adding to the expected annual net loss is a €700 million writedown of deferred tax assets during the fiscal year through September. Despite the additional charges, Siemens Energy has cash and cash equivalents of around €4.3 billion.
To contain the fallout from its quality problems at Gamesa, Siemens Energy is trying to delay delivery of new wind turbines from its troubled 5.X platform by as much as seven months, people familiar with the matter have said.
The company will give details on its wind business review in November during an investor day, Bloomberg reported.
While the wind turbine problems at Gamesa weigh on earnings and outlook, revenue and profit in the company’s gas turbine and grid technology segments rose.
During the fiscal 3Q through June, revenue gained 8% to €7.5 billion after orders jumped by more than 50%. Net losses ballooned more than five-fold to €2.93 billion as as the costs of fixing issues at its Gamesa units drag on earnings.
