The Volvo Group has decided to combine a number of actions into a Group-wide
efficiency program. The program encompasses both reduction of white collar
employees and consultants and efficiency enhancements in the global industrial
system.
The actions’ common feature is that they are the result of the implementation of
the Group’s three-year strategies and that they are designed to enhance
efficiency and competitiveness.
It is estimated that the program will entail restructuring costs totaling
approximately SEK 5 billion, whereof approximately SEK 0.5 billion is expected
to have no impact on cash flow. The majority of the restructuring charges are
expected to impact operating income during 2014.
Savings are expected to amount to approximately SEK 4 billion annually, and will
generate results gradually in 2014, with full effect achieved by the end of
2015.
The new strategies that were established for the Group’s trucks business and
other Business Areas last year apply to the 2013–2015 period. Since January this
year, extensive work has been ongoing to identify the measures required to
rationalize and enhance the efficiency of the operations within the framework of
the strategies. In conjunction with the interim report for the second quarter of
2013, the Group announced that during the quarters ahead, it would be entering a
phase in which these measures would begin to be executed.
The identified actions cover a large number of operations and areas, whereof a
majority lies within the truck business area. The actions will be announced
continuously as they are implemented.
“We are currently combining these actions into a comprehensive program, in order
to provide an improved overview of both the effects and the implementation
schedule of our extensive and comprehensive strategy,” says Olof Persson, Chief
Executive Officer of the Volvo Group.
It is estimated that the program will entail restructuring costs totaling
approximately SEK 5 billion, of which a majority will come in 2014.
Approximately SEK 0.5 billion is expected to have no impact on cash flow. The
cost and savings of the earlier announced restructuring of the Group’s truck
sales and aftermarket network in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) is
included in the overall efficiency program. The cost related to the EMEA
restructuring is expected to amount to approximately SEK 800 M, of which
approximately SEK 600M was reserved in 2012. The annualized savings from the
EMEA restructuring program are expected to amount to SEK 600M as from 2015 The
changes will be subject for union negotiations as and when required in effected
locations.
In future quarterly reports, the Volvo Group will provide continuous updates on
costs that were incurred in the preceding quarter, attributable to the
comprehensive efficiency program.
