6-K
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

January 31, 2018

Commission File Number

000-12033

LM ERICSSON TELEPHONE COMPANY

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Torshamnsgatan 21, Kista

SE-164 83, Stockholm, Sweden

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F  ☒ Form 40-F  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ☐

 

 

 

Announcement of LM Ericsson Telephone Company, January 31, 2018 regarding “Ericsson reports fourth quarter and full year results 2017”.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (publ)
By:  

/s/    NINA MACPHERSON        

  Nina Macpherson
  Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer
By:  

/s/    HELENA NORRMAN        

  Helena Norrman
  Senior Vice President
  Corporate Marketing & Communications Officer

Date: January 31, 2018


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LOGO

FOURTH QUARTER AND

FULL-YEAR REPORT 2017

Stockholm, January 31, 2018

 

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

  

See page

   Reported sales decreased by -12%. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency declined by -7% YoY, partly due to lower LTE sales in Mainland China, as expected.    3
   As earlier communicated, write-down of assets was made in the quarter, with a final impact on the result of SEK -14.5 b. In addition, provisions and customer project adjustments amounted to SEK -3.2 b. and restructuring charges amounted to SEK -2.4 (-4.6) b.    4
   Gross margin was 21.0% (26.1%). Adjusted 1) gross margin improved to 29.9% (29.4%) with improved gross margin in Networks, partly offset by lower gross margin in Digital Services.    4
   Networks gross margin was stable QoQ, supported by a higher share of software sales and increased hardware margins. The success of the 5G-ready portfolio continued with several new contract wins.    8
   Operating income was SEK -19.8 (-0.3) b. Adjusted 1) operating income declined to SEK 0.4 (4.4) b. due to lower sales and higher operating expenses. Higher amortization than capitalization of development expenses and higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs had a negative impact of SEK -1.4 (0.8) b.    4
   Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 11.2 (19.4) b. Free cash flow 2) was SEK 10.1 (14.3) b.    16

FULL-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

    
   Reported sales decreased by -10% with a decline in all segments. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency declined by -10%.    5
   IPR licensing revenues amounted to SEK 7.9 (10.0) b. The baseline for current IPR licensing contract portfolio is approximately SEK 7 b. on an annual basis.    6
   Operating income declined to SEK -38.1 (6.3) b., mainly due to write-down of assets as well as provisions and customer project adjustments.    6
   Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 9.6 (14.0) b. Free cash flow 2) amounted to SEK 5.1 (0.3) b. Net cash at year-end was SEK 34.7 (31.2) b.    16
   The Board of Directors will propose a dividend for 2017 of SEK 1.00 (1.00) per share to the AGM.    16

 

REPORTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
    Q4
2016
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
    QoQ
change
    Full-year
2017
    Full-year
2016
 

Net sales

     57.2       65.2       -12     47.8       20     201.3       222.6  

Sales growth adj. for comparable units and currency

     —         —         -7     —         17     -10     -10

Gross margin

     21.0     26.1     —         25.4     —         22.1     29.8

Operating income

     -19.8       -0.3       —         -4.8       —         -38.1       6.3  

Operating margin

     -34.5     -0.4     —         -10.0     —         -18.9     2.8

Net income

     -18.9       -1.6       —         -4.3       —         -35.1       1.9  

EPS diluted, SEK

     -5.68       -0.48       —         -1.34       —         -10.61       0.52  

EPS (non-IFRS), SEK 3)

     -1.19       0.62       —         -0.55       116     -3.99       2.66  

Cash flow from operating activities

     11.2       19.4       -43     0.0       —         9.6       14.0  

Net cash, end of period

     34.7       31.2       11     24.1       44     34.7       31.2  

 

ADJUSTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
adjusted
    Q4
2016
excl. restr.
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
adjusted
    QoQ
change
 

Net sales adjusted for certain items affecting comparability in 2017

     57.3       65.2       -12     47.7       20

Gross margin excluding restructuring charges and adjusted for certain items affecting comparability in 2017

     29.9     29.4     —         30.0     —    

Operating income excluding restructuring charges and adjusted for certain items affecting comparability in 2017

     0.4       4.4       -91     —         —    

Operating margin excluding restructuring charges and adjusted for certain items affecting comparability in 2017

     0.7     6.7     —         -0.1     —    

 

1) Adjusted: the numbers are adjusted for restructuring charges and for certain other items affecting comparability in 2017.
2) Free cash flow: Cash flow from operating activities less net capital expenditures and other investments, see APMs at the end of the report.
3) EPS diluted, excl. amortizations and write-downs of acquired intangible assets, and excluding restructuring charges.

Non-IFRS financial measures are reconciled to the most directly reconcilable line items in the financial statements at the end of this report.

 

1      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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CEO COMMENTS

 

During a challenging 2017, we have developed and started to execute on a focused strategy, strengthening our R&D while at the same time introducing robust measures to reduce cost and commercial risk. We have now laid the foundation for achieving our financial targets. The fourth quarter was in line with our overall expectation, with gradual improving performance in Networks and continued significant losses in Digital Services. The result is however far below our long-term ambition.

In the quarter, sales adjusted for comparable units and currency declined by -7% YoY. For 2018, the Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment market is expected to decline by -2%, compared with estimated -8% in 2017. The Chinese market is expected to continue to decline due to reduced LTE investments, while there is positive momentum in North America.

We further reduced commercial risks, resulting in provisions and adjustments relating to customer projects of SEK -3.2 b. in the quarter. As a consequence of our focused business strategy and as earlier communicated, we have impaired assets, impacting the result by SEK -14.5 b. in the quarter, without impacting cash flow. After concluding this review, we do not see a need for additional adjustments or write-downs.

Adjusted for one-time items and restructuring charges the gross margin was 30% and the operating income was slightly positive in the quarter. When also excluding the negative effect from lower net capitalization of costs, the operating income was SEK 1.8 b.

We continued to execute on efficiency improvements with a net reduction of 10,000 employees and external workforce in the quarter. To date, the annual run-rate effect of cost savings is approximately SEK 6 b. compared with the target of SEK 10 b. for mid-2018. The impact on the results in the quarter is limited, but will be increasingly visible in the first half 2018.

We increased our focus on free cash flow during the year. Following good collections and inventory reductions, free cash flow in Q4 amounted to SEK 10.1 b. The more even distribution of the free cash flow over the year and the full-year number of SEK 5.1 b. mark a clear improvement over 2016. For the first time in five years, the full-year free cash flow exceeded the dividend payout. By raising new debt on favorable terms and extending the average maturity, we have further improved our resilience and financial flexibility.

Segment Networks showed stable performance with the ramp-up of Ericsson Radio System (ERS), representing 71% of radio unit deliveries in the quarter, and efficiency gains in service delivery as key drivers. Networks adjusted gross margin increased to 36% (32%) YoY and the success of our 5G-ready portfolio continues. In the quarter, we made deliveries related to our market share gain in Mainland China and we signed several break-through contracts, including with Verizon and Deutsche Telekom. We have continued to increase our R&D efforts to safeguard a future leading portfolio and to significantly improve our gross margin.

Segment Digital Services had another challenging quarter with significant losses, mainly due to higher costs in ongoing large transformation projects. As previously communicated, our turnaround plan builds on stability, profitability and growth – in that order. The initial focus has been on stabilizing both product roadmaps and challenging customer contracts. We have identified 45 critical or non-strategic customer contracts and the plan is to complete or exit approximately half of these contracts in 2018. The actions to improve profitability in Digital Services are expected to generate positive effects on gross margin in the second half of 2018.

The refocus of Managed Services to improve profitability is underway, with 23 out of the 42 under-performing contracts completed, resulting in an annualized profit improvement of SEK 0.5 b. As a result of these efforts, the underlying gross margin improved slightly QoQ. One-time effects and seasonality in operating expenses impacted operating income negatively.

For our Media Solutions portfolio, reported in segment Other, we have executed on a profit improvement program while continuing to invest in the product offering. This has significantly improved operating performance during the year, thereby improving our strategic flexibility as we have completed our strategic review of the business. We have evaluated various options including partnerships, divestments and continued in-house development, with the objective to maximize shareholder value.

We have decided to partner with One Equity Partners (OEP) to further develop the Media Solutions business through retaining a 49% ownership stake. This allows us to capture the upside of the business while at the same time taking active part in the expected consolidation of the industry.

We have decided to keep Red Bee Media (former Broadcast and Media Services) as the bids received did not reflect the value of the business. We will develop the business as an independent entity within Ericsson, building on the improved operations.

The Board will propose a dividend of SEK 1.00 per share to the AGM. The Board expresses confidence in the ongoing actions to improve profitability, and has the ambition to increase the dividend over time as the financial performance improves.

The focus during 2017 has been on reshaping overall strategy and on improving company structure and performance. 2017 was also the year when 5G went from vision to real business opportunities while we at the same time had good traction for our 4G portfolio. We are fully committed to our plans and our targets and expect to see tangible results of our turnaround in 2018.

Börje Ekholm

President and CEO

 

 

2      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

REPORTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
    Q4
2016
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
    QoQ
change
    Full-year
2017
    Full-year
2016
 

Net sales

     57.2       65.2       -12     47.8       20     201.3       222.6  

Gross income

     12.0       17.0       -29     12.1       -1     44.5       66.4  

Gross margin (%)

     21.0     26.1     —         25.4     —         22.1     29.8

Research and development expenses

     -9.9       -8.9       12     -10.5       -6     -37.9       -31.6  

Selling and administrative expenses

     -8.9       -8.8       1     -6.8       31     -32.7       -28.9  

Other operating income and expenses

     -12.9       0.4       —         0.4       —         -12.1       0.4  

Operating income

     -19.8       -0.3       —         -4.8       —         -38.1       6.3  

Operating margin (%)

     -34.5     -0.4     —         -10.0     —         -18.9     2.8

Financial net

     -0.5       -0.7       -24     -0.3       64     -1.2       -2.3  

Taxes

     1.4       -0.6       —         0.8       84     4.3       -2.1  

Net income

     -18.9       -1.6       —         -4.3       —         -35.1       1.9  

Restructuring charges

     -2.4       -4.6       -48     -2.8       -14     -8.5       -7.6  

 

Q4 2017 RECONCILIATION
OF REPORTED NUMBERS
TO ADJUSTED NUMBERS

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
reported
    Restructuring
charges
    Asset write-
downs
    Provisions and
customer
project
adjustments
    Q4
2017
adjusted
 

Net sales

     57.2       —         —         0.1       57.3  

Cost of sales

     -45.2       2.0       0.7       2.3       -40.1  

Gross income

     12.0       2.0       0.7       2.4       17.1  

Gross margin (%)

     21.0     —         —         —         29.9

Research and development expenses

     -9.9       -0.1       0.6       0.2       -9.3  

Selling and administrative expenses

     -8.9       0.5       0.3       0.7       -7.4  

Other operating income and expenses

     -12.9       —         13.0       —         0.0  

Operating income

     -19.8       2.4       14.5       3.2       0.4  

Operating margin (%)

     -34.5     —         —         —         0.7

ADJUSTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
adjusted
    Q4
2016
excl. restr.
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
    QoQ
change
 

Net sales

     57.3       65.2       -12     47.7       20

Gross income

     17.1       19.2       -11     14.3       20

Gross margin (%)

     29.9     29.4     —         30.0     —    

Research and development expenses

     -9.3       -7.4       27     -8.6       8

Selling and administrative expenses

     -7.4       -7.8       -5     -5.8       28

Other operating income and expenses

     0.0       0.4       -89     0.1       -62

Operating income

     0.4       4.4       -91     0.0       —    

Operating margin (%)

     0.7     6.7     —         -0.1     —    

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

Restructuring charges, write-down of assets as well as provisions and customer project adjustments had a significant negative impact on the reported Q4 2017 results. Numbers excluding these items are referred to in the text as “adjusted”.

Net sales

Sales as reported decreased by -12% YoY. Networks sales declined by -14% YoY, mainly due to lower mobile broadband investments in Mainland China and earlier completion of larger mobile broadband projects in South East Asia & India as well as in the Middle East & Africa.

The YoY sales decline in segments Digital Services and Other was -9% and -18% respectively, mainly due to the continued decline in legacy product sales and related services. Managed Services sales declined by -7%, mainly as a result of the ongoing contract review targeted at improving profitability.

Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -7% YoY

Sequential sales were up 20%, supported by seasonality and higher exchange rate between USD and SEK. The sales

increase was partly offset by lower than normal seasonal sales growth in market area South East Asia & India and in Mainland China. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency increased by 17% QoQ.

IPR licensing revenues

IPR licensing revenues were flat YoY at SEK 2.0 b. and increased QoQ from SEK 1.9 b., supported by currency effects.

Provisions and customer project adjustments

As announced in the Q2 report, 2017, the company identified a risk of further market and customer project adjustments, which would have a negative impact on income. The review of such risks was completed and resulted in total provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK 5.5 b. This exceeds the previous estimate which was at the high end of SEK 3-5 b.

In Q4 2017, SEK 3.2 b. of provisions and customer project adjustments were made, of which SEK 3.0 b. had no impact on a cash outflow. The SEK 3.2 b. relates to provisions for additional project costs, reassessment of trade receivables and customer settlements.

 

 

3      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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Write-down of assets

The impairment testing of assets, according to the new segment structure, resulted in write-downs, impacting the result by SEK -14.5 b. in the quarter, with no impact on cash flow. The difference to the previously announced and estimated write-down effect of SEK -14.2 b. is due to currency translation effects. The results were impacted by write-down of goodwill of SEK -13.0 b., intangible assets of SEK -0.6 b., fixed assets of SEK -0.4 b., deferred costs of SEK -0.3 b. and capitalized development expenses of SEK -0.3 b.

The asset write-down impacted the segments Digital Services by SEK -7.2 b., Other by SEK -6.8 b., Managed Services by SEK -0.3 b. and Networks by SEK -0.2 b. In addition, revaluation of U.S. deferred tax assets following the change in U.S corporate income tax rate, resulted in a charge of SEK -1.0 b. None of the asset write-downs had an impact on cash flow.

Gross margin

Reported gross margin declined to 21.0% (26.1%), negatively impacted by additional provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK -2.4 b. as well as asset write-downs of SEK -0.7 b. Restructuring charges amounted to SEK -2.0 (-2.1) b.

Sequentially, reported gross margin declined due to the additional provisions and customer project adjustments, restructuring charges and write-down of assets made in the quarter.

Adjusted gross margin

Adjusted gross margin increased to 29.9% (29.4%) YoY due to increased gross margin in Networks. The increase was partly offset by lower gross margin in Digital Services.

Higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs and higher amortization than capitalization of software development expenses had a negative effect on gross margin of SEK -0.8 (-0.2) b. For more details, see section Consequences of technology and portfolio shifts.

The adjusted gross margin was flat QoQ with improved gross margin in segment Other offset by a lower gross margin in Digital Services.

Operating expenses

Reported operating expenses increased to SEK 18.9 (17.7) b. YoY, mainly due to additional provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK -0.9 b., write-down of assets of SEK -0.8 b. and higher amortized than capitalized R&D expenses of -0.6 b. Restructuring charges decreased to SEK -0.4 (-2.5) b., including a reversal of SEK 0.3 b. related to the sale of the global ICT center in Montreal.

Reported operating expenses increased sequentially mainly due to seasonality. Additional provisions and customer project adjustments made in the quarter were partly offset by lower restructuring charges of SEK -0.4 (-2.5) b.

Adjusted operating expenses

Adjusted operating expenses increased to SEK 16.8 (15.2) b., due to increased R&D expenses. These expenses amounted to SEK 9.3 (7.4) b. and increased mainly due to higher amortized

than capitalized development expenses with a negative effect of SEK -0.6 (1.0) b. Adjusted selling and administrative expenses declined to SEK 7.4 (7.8) b.

Adjusted operating expenses increased QoQ to SEK 16.8 b. from SEK 14.4 b., mainly due to seasonality and increased R&D investments in Networks. There was no significant impact of higher amortized than capitalized development expenses QoQ. For more details, see section Consequences of technology and portfolio shifts.

Other operating income and expenses

Other operating income and expenses increased both YoY and QoQ due to write-down of goodwill of SEK -13.0 b.

As of Q1 2017, the funding of foreign exchange forecast hedging is managed through foreign exchange loans (USD) instead of foreign exchange derivatives. Therefore the revaluation and realization effects are included in financial expenses instead of in other operating income and expenses. Revaluation and realization effects of currency hedge contracts impacted other operating income and expenses by SEK -0.4 b. in Q4 2016.

Consequences of technology and portfolio shifts

Due to technology and portfolio shifts the company is reducing the capitalization of development expenses for product platforms and software releases and the deferral of hardware costs. As a consequence, higher amortization than capitalization of development expenses and higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs had a negative impact on operating income of SEK -1.4 (0.8) b. in the quarter. For full-year 2017 the impact was SEK -2.9 (3.8) b. and is estimated to be SEK -0.8 (0.3) b. for Q1 2018, SEK -3 (-3.5) b. for full-year 2018 and SEK -1 to -2 b. for full-year 2019.

IMPACT FROM AMORTIZATION AND CAPITALIZATION OF DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES AND FROM RECOGNITION AND DEFERRAL OF HARDWARE COSTS

 

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
     Q4
2016
     Q3
2017
     FY
2017
     FY
2016
 

Cost of sales

     -0.8        -0.2        -0.9        -2.6        -0.5  

R&D expenses

     -0.6        1.0        -0.6        -0.3        4.3  

Total impact

     -1.4        0.8        -1.5        -2.9        3.8  

Adjusted R&D expenses

     -9.3        -7.4        -8.6        -32.7        -28.9  

R&D expenses, net 1)

     -8.7        -8.4        -8.1        -32.3        -33.2  

 

1) Total adjusted R&D expenses excluding impact from amortization and capitalization of development expenses

Restructuring charges

Restructuring charges were SEK -2.4 (-4.6) b. Following the sale of the global ICT center in Montreal, a reversal of SEK 0.3 b. in restructuring charges was made in the quarter. Restructuring charges in Q3 2017 were SEK -2.8 b.

Operating income

Reported operating income decreased YoY to SEK -19.8 (-0.3) b., negatively impacted by write-down of assets of SEK -14.5 b., additional provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK -3.2 b. and lower sales. The decrease was partly offset by lower restructuring charges of SEK -2.4 (-4.6) b. Operating income declined sequentially from SEK -4.8 b., due to write-down of assets and higher additional provisions and customer projects adjustments.

 

 

4      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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Adjusted operating income

Adjusted operating income declined to SEK 0.4 (4.4) b. due to lower sales and higher R&D expenses. Higher amortization than capitalization of development expenses and higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs had a negative impact on operating income of SEK -1.4 (0.8) b. An improved gross margin and lower selling and administrative expenses contributed positively to operating income.

Adjusted operating income improved slightly QoQ, from SEK 0.0 b., due to increased sales, partly offset by seasonally higher operating expenses.

Financial net

Financial net was SEK -0.5 (-0.7) b. The YoY improvement was mainly related to lower negative foreign exchange revaluation effects. Sequentially, financial net declined from SEK -0.3 b. to SEK -0.5 b. The decline was mainly related to revaluation and realization effects of foreign exchange forecast hedging of SEK -0.1 b., compared with SEK 0.2 b. in Q3. The SEK weakened against the USD between Sep 30, 2017 (SEK/USD rate 8.15) and Dec 31, 2017 (SEK/USD rate 8.20). The hedge loan balance is in USD.

Taxes

Taxes were positive in the quarter following the negative income. The positive tax effect was partly offset by non-deductible expenses (mainly goodwill impairment), revaluation of deferred tax assets due to the change in U.S. corporate income tax rate and an allowance related to certain Swedish tax assets.

Net income and EPS

Net income and EPS diluted decreased significantly both YoY and QoQ following the lower operating income. EPS diluted was SEK -5.68 (-0.48) and EPS (non-IFRS) was SEK -1.19 (0.62).

Employees

The number of employees on Dec 31, 2017, was 100,735 – a net reduction of more than 5,100 employees in Q4. In addition, the external workforce was reduced by 5,100 resources in the quarter. The total workforce decrease was mainly a result of the cost and efficiency activities.

Focused strategy execution

The company has so far identified four indicators to measure the progress of strategy execution.

 

Area    Activity    Status Q4 2017
Networks    Transition to new Ericsson Radio System    61% (Q3: 55% YTD) accumulated for full-year 2017 (ERS radio unit deliveries out of total radio unit deliveries)
Digital Services    -Growth in sales of new product portfolio -New KPI: Adressing critical contracts    -Net sales declined by -4% (Q3: -5% 12 months rolling) full-year 2017 -Out of 45 contracts identified, 2 have been completed or exited in Q417
Managed Services    Addressing low-performing contracts    Out of 42 contracts identified, 23 (Q3: 13 YTD ) have been renegotiated to result in an annualized profit improvement of SEK 0.5 b. (Q3: SEK 0.4 b.)

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

Net sales

Reported sales decreased by SEK -21.3 b. or -10%, with a SEK -13.0 b. or -9% decrease in Networks, SEK -4.3 b. or -10% decrease in Digital Services, SEK -3.0 b. or -11% in Managed Services and SEK -1.0 b. or -11% in segment Other. The sales decrease in Networks was mainly due to lower demand for radio access network (RAN) equipment, which was estimated by an external source to decline by -8% for full-year 2017. The sales decrease in segments Digital Services and Other was mainly due to lower sales of legacy products. The sales decline in Managed Services was mainly due to a renewed contract in North America in 2016 that was reduced in scope.

IPR licensing revenues amounted to SEK 7.9 (10.0) b. Sales in 2016 were positively impacted by two signed contracts which included certain one-time items. The baseline for the current IPR licensing contract portfolio is approximately SEK 7 b. on an annual basis.

Currency exchange rates had no material impact on full-year sales. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -10%.

The sales mix by commodity was: software 21% (22%), hardware 34% (33%) and services 45% (45%).

Gross margin

Gross margin declined to 22.1% (29.8%) due to provisions and customer projects adjustments of SEK -10.4 b., write-down of assets of SEK -0.7 b. and lower IPR licensing revenues at SEK 7.9 (10.0) b. In addition, restructuring charges included in the gross margin increased to SEK -5.2 (-3.5) b.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased to SEK 70.6 (60.5) b., mainly as a result of provisions, customer project adjustments and write-down of assets of SEK -7.6 b. In addition, operating expenses increased due to higher amortized than capitalized development expenses with a negative effect on operating expenses of SEK -0.3 (4.3) b. Operating expenses included restructuring charges of SEK -3.3 (-4.1) b. of which the sale of the global ICT center in Montreal generated a restructuring charge of SEK -1.3 b. Operating expenses, excluding write-down of assets, provisions and customer project adjustments as well as restructuring charges were SEK 59.7 (56.4) b.

Other operating income and expenses

Other operating income and expenses were SEK -12.1 (0.4) b., negatively impacted by write-down of goodwill of SEK -13.0 b. In 2017, the power modules business was divested, which resulted in a gain of SEK 0.3 b.

As of 2017, the funding of foreign exchange forecast hedging is managed through foreign exchange loans (USD) instead of foreign exchange derivates. Therefore, revaluation and realization effects are included in financial expenses instead of other operating income and expenses. In 2016, the currency hedge contract effects impacted other operating income and expenses by SEK -0.9 b.

 

 

5      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

Restructuring charges and cost savings

Restructuring charges amounted to SEK 8.5 (7.6) b., to be compared with the earlier estimate of SEK 9-10 b. The restructuring charges mainly relate to cost savings. The ambition is to implement such savings with an annual run rate effect of at least SEK 10 b. by mid-2018. Approximately 30% of the cost savings are targeted at administrative expenses and 70% at cost of sales. By the end of 2017, SEK 6.0 b. in annual run-rate effect of cost savings had been achieved, of which one fourth is in administrative expenses.

Efforts continue in order to reduce costs. Total restructuring charges for 2018 are estimated to be SEK 5-7 b.

Operating income

Operating income decreased to SEK -38.1 (6.3) b., mainly due to write-down of assets of SEK -17.8 b., provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK -13.9 b. and lower sales.

In addition, due to technology and portfolio shifts, the company has reduced the capitalization of development expenses for product platforms and software releases and the deferral of hardware costs. As a consequence, higher amortization than capitalization of development expenses and higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs had a negative impact on operating income of SEK -2.9 (3.8) b. Operating margin was -18.9% (2.8%).

Financial net

The financial net improved to SEK -1.2 (-2.3) b., mainly due to lower negative effects of foreign exchange revaluation. Lower interest rates partly offset the improvement. New borrowings have been signed on more favorable terms and risk reduction, in both currency exchange and interest rates, has been improved in 2017.

The currency hedge effects, which derive from the hedge loan balance in USD, impacted financial net by SEK 0.5 b. The SEK has strengthened against the USD between Dec 31, 2016 (SEK/ USD rate 9.06) and Dec 31, 2017 (SEK/USD rate 8.20).

Taxes

Taxes were SEK 4.3 (-2.1) b. following the negative net income. The effective tax rate was 11%, negatively impacted by non-deductible expenses (mainly goodwill impairment), by revaluation of deferred tax assets due to the change in U.S. corporate income tax rate, and by an allowance related to certain Swedish tax assets.

Net income and EPS

Net income decreased to SEK -35.1 (1.9) b., for the same reasons as for the decrease in operating income. EPS diluted was SEK -10.61 (0.52) and EPS (non-IFRS) was SEK -3.99 (2.66).

Employees

The number of employees on Dec 31, 2017 was 100,735, a net reduction of more than 10,000 employees in 2017.

 

 

PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS GOING FORWARD

 

Market related

 

  In line with previous estimate and that of an external source, the Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment market is estimated to decline by -2% for full-year 2018. The Chinese market is expected to continue to decline due to reduced LTE investments, while there is positive momentum in North America.

Currency exposure

 

  A weakening by 10% of USD to SEK would have a negative impact of approximately -5% on net sales and approximately -1 percentage point on operating margin. For historical rates, see www.ericsson.com/en/investors

Ericsson related

 

  Focusing the business and addressing low-performing operations are expected to reduce full-year sales by up to SEK 10 b. in 2019 compared with 2016.

 

  The baseline for current IPR licensing contract portfolio is approximately SEK 7 b. on an annual basis.

 

  The plan is to implement cost savings with an annual run-rate effect of at least SEK 10 b. by mid-2018 compared with the Q2 2017 annual run rate.
  Actions to improve profitability in Digital Services are expected to generate positive effects on gross margin in second half of 2018.

 

  To further strengthen technology leadership, R&D expenses will increase, primarily in Networks.

 

  Operating expenses typically vary between quarters due to seasonality.

 

  Restructuring charges for full-year 2018 are estimated to be SEK 5-7 b.

 

  Actual and estimated Impact from amortization and capitalization of development expenses and from recognition and deferral of hardware costs:

 

SEK b.

  Q1
2017
Actual
    Q4
2017
Actual
    Q1
2018
Estimate
    FY
2017
Actual
    FY
2018
Estimate
    FY
2019
Estimate
 

Cost of sales

    -0.5       -0.8       -0.3       -2.6       -1    

R&D expenses

    0.7       -0.6       -0.5       -0.3       -2    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact

    0.3       -1.4       -0.8       -2.9       -3       -1 to -2  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

 

6      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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MARKET AREA SALES

 

     Fourth quarter 2017      Change  

SEK b.

   Networks      Digital
Services
     Managed
Services
     Other      Total      YoY     QoQ  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     5.7        1.3        0.6        0.0        7.6        -21     3

North East Asia

     4.4        1.7        0.5        0.0        6.7        -30     21

North America

     11.7        2.0        0.7        0.0        14.5        2     25

Europe and Latin America

     8.4        4.6        3.5        0.1        16.5        -8     24

Middle East and Africa

     4.1        2.6        0.9        -0.1        7.6        -16     22

Other 1)

     1.8        0.5        0.0        1.9        4.3        -9     14
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     36.2        12.9        6.2        2.0        57.2        -12     20
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1)  Market Area “Other” includes licensing revenues, the majority of segment Other business and other businesses.    

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

 

South East Asia, Oceania and India

Sales declined YoY due to lower Networks sales in Vietnam, India and Indonesia and an exit from a Managed Services contract in India. Digital Services sales increased slightly due to growth in Australia and Indonesia.

North East Asia

Sales declined YoY due to lower Networks sales in Mainland China because of reduced LTE investments. Sales in the quarter included deliveries related to the newly signed narrowband IoT contract in Mainland China. Operators in Mainland China and Japan are awaiting results of spectrum allocations, which impacted sales negatively in the quarter.

North America

North America sales grew slightly YoY. Networks sales growth was driven by network expansions to cater for increased data traffic. Digital Services sales declined YoY. Managed Services sales declined.

Europe and Latin America

The sales decline YoY was due to timing of major projects in Mexico, an earlier termination of a large contract in Italy and continued capex pressure among operators across most of Europe. The decline was partially offset by network modernizations in Brazil and increased network sales in Russia and France.

Middle East and Africa

Sales declined YoY, impacted by a continued weak macroeconomic environment with low operator investments, primarily in Networks. This was partly offset by growth in Digital Services.

Other

Sales declined YoY due to a continued sales decline for legacy products in Media Solutions. IPR licensing revenues amounted to SEK 2.0 (2.0) b.

 

 

     Full-year 2017      Change  

SEK b.

   Networks      Digital
Services
     Managed
Services
     Other      Total      YoY  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     22.5        4.9        3.2        0.0        30.6        -6

North East Asia

     16.0        5.7        1.8        0.0        23.5        -14

North America

     38.8        7.5        3.3        0.1        49.6        -5

Europe and Latin America

     29.2        14.1        12.6        0.3        56.2        -10

Middle East and Africa

     14.0        7.3        3.7        0.0        25.1        -11

Other 1)

     7.4        1.5        —          7.4        16.4        -19
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     128.0        41.0        24.5        7.9        201.3        -10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1)  Market Area “Other” includes licensing revenues, the majority of segment Other business and other businesses.

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

 

South East Asia, Oceania and India

Sales declined due to lower mobile broadband investments in Thailand, Indonesia and India. Growth in Digital Services was driven by growth i Australia, Singapore and Indonesia, mainly related to core network solutions.

North East Asia

Sales in Mainland China declined due to reduced LTE investments. Sales in Taiwan declined following a new network deployment for one operator in 2016. The markets in Korea and Japan stabilized and Ericsson increased its market share in Japan.

North America

North America sales declined, due to the earlier communicated rescoped managed services contract. Networks sales increased slightly, driven by network expansions to cater for increased data traffic. Digital Services sales declined slightly.

Europe and Latin America

Sales declined, mainly due to timing of major projects in Mexico and termination of a large contract in Italy. In addition, capex constraints in mobile broadband in Europe impacted sales negatively, as operators focus investments in fixed infrastructure. The decline was partially offset by network modernizations in Brazil.

Middle East and Africa

Sales declined in a challenging macroeconomic environment with cautious investments in broadband. Digital Services sales declined slightly. Managed Services sales declined due to effects of completed contract reviews.

Other

Sales declined due to lower IPR licensing revenues and lower sales in Media Solutions, where sales of legacy products and related services declined. IPR licensing revenues amounted to SEK 7.9 (10.0) b. IPR licensing revenues in 2016 were positively impacted by two signed contracts which included certain onetime items.

 

 

7      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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SEGMENT RESULTS

 

NETWORKS                     

REPORTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
    Q4
2016
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
    QoQ
change
    Full-year
2017
    Full-year
2016
 

Net sales

     36.2       42.1       -14     30.3       19     128.0       141.0  

Of which products

     24.6       28.2       -13     20.2       21     86.1       94.9  

Of which IPR licensing revenues

     1.7       1.7       1     1.6       7     6.5       8.2  

Of which services

     11.6       13.9       -16     10.1       16     41.8       46.1  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency

     —         —         -9     —         17     -10     —    

Gross income

     11.5       12.2       -5     9.8       18     40.6       47.1  

Gross margin (%)

     31.9     29.0     —         32.2     —         31.7     33.4

Operating income

     1.6       3.4       -53     1.5       10     7.6       17.6  

Operating margin (%)

     4.5     8.2     —         4.9     —         6.0     12.5

Restructuring charges

     -1.3       -2.1       -41     -1.4       -11     -4.8       -3.4  

 

Q4 2017 RECONCILIATION

OF REPORTED NUMBERS TO

ADJUSTED NUMBERS

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
reported
    Restructuring
charges
    Asset write-
downs
    Provisions and
customer
project
adjustments
    Q4
2017
adjusted
 

Net sales

     36.2       —         —         0.1       36.3  

Cost of sales

     -24.7       1.1       —         0.3       -23.3  

Gross income

     11.5       1.1       —         0.4       13.0  

Gross margin (%)

     31.9     —         —         —         35.9

Operating income

     1.6       1.3       0.2       1.1       4.2  

Operating margin (%)

     4.5     —         —         —         11.5

ADJUSTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
adjusted
    Q4
2016
excl. restr.
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
adjusted
    QoQ
change
 

Net sales

     36.3       42.1       -14     30.4       19

Gross income

     13.0       13.3       -2     10.9       19

Gross margin (%)

     35.9     31.6     —         35.9     —    

Operating income

     4.2       5.6       -25     4.2       -1

Operating margin (%)

     11.5     13.3     —         13.9     —    

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

 

Restructuring charges, asset write-downs as well as provisions and customer project adjustments had a significant negative impact on the reported Q4 2017 results. Numbers excluding these items are referred to in the text as “adjusted”.  

Net sales

Sales as reported declined by -14% YoY. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency declined by -9%. The YoY decline is mainly due to lower LTE investments in Mainland China and earlier completion of larger projects in South East Asia, Oceania & India as well as in the Middle East & Africa. The decline was partly offset by sales growth in North America, driven by network expansions.

Reported sales increased by 19% QoQ. This is lower than normal seasonality and is mainly due to lower sales in Mainland China and South East Asia, Oceania & India, partly offset by strong sequential sales growth in North America. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency increased by 17% QoQ.

Gross margin

Reported gross margin increased to 31.9% (29.0%) YoY, due to a higher share of software and increased margins of hardware and services, partly driven by cost reductions.

The increase was partly offset by additional provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK -0.4 b. as well as by higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs and higher amortization than capitalization of software development expenses, together amounting to SEK -0.5 (0.0) b.

Gross margin was flat QoQ.

Restructuring charges affecting gross margin were SEK -1.1 (-1.1) b. and SEK -0.4 b. in Q3 2017.

Adjusted gross margin

Adjusted gross margin increased to 36% (32%) due to a higher share of software and increased hardware and services margins, driven by cost reductions. The increase was partly offset by a negative effect from higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs and higher amortization than capitalization of software development expenses, together amounting to SEK -0.5 (0.0) b. as well as by costs related to a specific contract in Mainland China.

Sequentially, adjusted gross margin was flat where effects from increased software sales were offset by negative effect from a specific contract in Mainland China.

 

 

8      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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Operating income

Reported operating income and margin decreased YoY, due to lower sales, additional provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK -1.1 b. as well as write-down of assets of SEK -0.2 b. made in the quarter. Lower restructuring charges and improved gross margin partly offset the YoY sales decrease. Operating income was flat sequentially.

Adjusted operating income

Adjusted operating income decreased to SEK 4.2 (5.6) b., due to lower sales and increased R&D expenses. The decrease was partly offset by increased gross margin. Higher amortization than capitalization of development expenses and higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs together amounted to SEK -0.6 (0.3) b. as a consequence of technology and portfolio shifts. R&D expenses, excluding the effect of lower capitalization of development expenses, increased slightly YoY. This is in line with the communicated focused business strategy.

Adjusted operating income was flat QoQ, as seasonally higher sales were offset by increased operating expenses.

IMPACT FROM AMORTIZATION AND CAPITALIZATION OF DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES AND FROM RECOGNITION AND DEFERRAL OF HARDWARE COSTS

 

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
     Q4
2016
     Q3
2017
     FY
2017
     FY
2016
 

Cost of Sales

     -0.5        —          -0.6        -1.5        0.2  

R&D expenses

     -0.1        0.3        -0.1        —          0.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total impact

     -0.6        0.3        -0.7        -1.5        1.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Strategy execution

As presented at the 2017 Capital Markets Day, the ambition for Networks is to improve the operating margin to 15%-17% in 2020. Two important activities for profitability improvements are to invest in R&D to safeguard a future leading portfolio and to fully transition the radio unit portfolio to Ericsson Radio System (ERS) in order to increase competitiveness.

The ERS, which was introduced to the market in 2016, has proven to be competitive, contributing to both improved earnings and a stronger market position. For the full-year 2017, the ERS accounted for 61% of total radio unit deliveries. The plan is to have fully transitioned the radio unit deliveries to ERS by the end of 2018.

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

Net sales

Sales as reported decreased by -9%. Networks sales declined in all market areas except for North America, where sales grew slightly. The decrease was mainly due to lower operator investments in mobile broadband, both products and services. In addition, the IPR licensing business declined to SEK 6.5 (8.2) b.

Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -10% YoY.

Gross margin

Gross margin decreased to 32% (33%), mainly due to provisions and customer project adjustments made in the year. Higher amortization than capitalization of development expenses and higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs, together amounting to SEK -1.5 (0.2) b., also had a negative impact on gross margin. This is a consequence of technology and portfolio shifts. Gross margin was positively impacted by higher hardware margins.

Operating income

Operating income decreased to SEK 7.6 (17.6) b. due to lower sales with lower IPR licensing revenues, provisions and customer project adjustments, write-down of assets made in the year as well as increased operating expenses. The higher operating expenses are mainly due to the strategic decision to increase investments in R&D. Higher amortization than capitalization of development expenses and higher recognition than deferral of hardware costs together amounted to SEK -1.5 (1.0) b. Restructuring charges were SEK -4.8 (-3.4) b.

 

 

9      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

DIGITAL SERVICES

 

REPORTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
    Q4
2016
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
    QoQ
change
    Full-year
2017
    Full-year
2016
 

Net sales

     12.9       14.1       -9     9.3       38     41.0       45.3  

Of which products

     6.8       7.3       -7     5.1       33     21.7       24.5  

Of which IPR licensing revenues

     0.4       0.4       1     0.3       6     1.4       1.8  

Of which services

     6.1       6.8       -10     4.3       44     19.2       20.8  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency

     —         —         -3     —         35     -9     —    

Gross income

     1.0       4.6       -79     2.5       -61     4.4       16.1  

Gross margin (%)

     7.5     32.4     —         26.5     —         10.6     35.5

Operating income

     -12.4       -2.0       —         -3.9       216     -27.7       -6.7  

Operating margin (%)

     -96.7     -14.4     —         -42.1     —         -67.5     -14.7

Restructuring charges

     -0.7       -1.8       -63     -1.1       -38     -2.5       -3.2  

 

Q4 2017 RECONCILIATION

OF REPORTED NUMBERS

TO ADJUSTED NUMBERS

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
reported
    Restructuring
charges
     Asset write-
downs
     Provisions and
customer
project
adjustments
     Q4
2017
adjusted
 

Net sales

     12.9       —          —          —          12.9  

Cost of sales

     -11.9       0.6        —          1.6        -9.7  

Gross income

     1.0       0.6        —          1.6        3.2  

Gross margin (%)

     7.5     —          —          —          24.8

Operating income

     -12.4       0.7        7.2        1.9        -2.7  

Operating margin (%)

     -96.7     —          —          —          -21.0

 

ADJUSTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
adjusted
    Q4
2016
excl. restr.
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
adjusted
    QoQ
change
 

Net sales

     12.9       14.1       -9     9.3       38

Gross income

     3.2       5.3       -40     2.8       16

Gross margin (%)

     24.8     37.6     —         29.6     —    

Operating income

     -2.7       -0.2       —         -2.8       -3

Operating margin (%)

     -21.0     -1.3     —         -29.9     —    

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

 

Restructuring charges, asset write-downs as well as provisions and customer project adjustments had a significant negative impact on the reported Q4 2017 results. Numbers excluding these items are referred to in the text as “adjusted”.  

Net sales

Sales as reported declined by -9% YoY. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -3% YoY. Due to the ongoing technology shift in the portfolio, sales of legacy portfolio products and related services continued to decline, primarily in OSS, BSS and Packet Core.

Sales increased by 38% QoQ, driven primarily by growth in the new product portfolio and strong seasonal sales in services and software. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency increased by 35% QoQ.

Gross margin

Reported gross margin declined YoY, mainly due to provisions and customer project adjustments, amounting to SEK -1.6 b. in total. In addition, the margin was negatively

impacted by increased services costs in ongoing large transformation projects and by reduced sales of legacy products including related services.

Reported gross margin declined QoQ, mainly due to provisions and customer project adjustments. In addition, increased restructuring charges of SEK -0.6 b., compared with SEK -0.2 b. in Q3 2017, and lower software margins had a negative impact.

Adjusted gross margin

Adjusted gross margin declined YoY mainly due to increased services costs in ongoing large transformation projects and reduced sales of legacy products and related services. Software margins declined, partly due to write-down of inventory for earlier capitalized customer-specific software development and higher amortized than capitalized software development expenses.

Gross margin decreased QoQ, mainly due to lower software margins.

 

 

10      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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Operating income

Reported operating income declined YoY, mainly due to writedown of assets as well as provisions and customer project adjustments, together amounting to SEK -9.1 b. In addition, reduced gross margin and lower sales had a negative impact. The decline was partly offset by reduced restructuring charges of SEK -0.7 (-1.8) b. Higher amortized than capitalized development expenses had a negative impact of SEK -0.7 (0.4) b. YoY.

Reported operating income declined QoQ, mainly due to writedown of assets as well as provisions and customer project adjustments, together amounting to SEK -9.1 b. in Q4 2017. The decline was partly offset by increased sales and reduced restructuring charges.

Adjusted operating income

Adjusted operating income decreased YoY, impacted by reduced gross margin, mainly in services. Due to technology changes, there was a negative impact of SEK -0.7 (0.4) b. of higher amortized than capitalized development expenses. This was partly offset by cost reductions, impacting both R&D and

selling and administrative expenses.

Adjusted operating income improved QoQ, mainly due to increased sales, partly offset by reduced gross margin.

IMPACT FROM AMORTIZATION AND CAPITALIZATION OF DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

 

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
     Q4
2016
    Q3
2017
    FY
2017
    FY
2016
 

Cost of Sales

     -0.3        -0.2       -0.3       -1.1       -0.7  

R&D expenses

     -0.5        0.6       -0.4       -0.2       2.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total impact

     -0.7        0.4       -0.7       -1.3       2.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Strategy execution

Focus for Digital Services is stability, profitability and growth, in that order. Stability in product roadmaps has improved during the year and several new products were delivered in Q4 2017, as planned.

As presented at the 2017 Capital Markets Day, the ambition for Digital Services is to improve the operating margin to positive low single digits in 2020. A key activity for profitability turnaround is to manage and complete 34 identified critical multi-year customer contracts and to either exit or complete 11 identified non-strategic contracts. These 45 contracts had a significant impact on reported results in 2017. During the year, the governance of contracts has been strengthened and in Q4 2017 two of the 45 contracts were finalized (either completed or exited). A number of contracts are multi-year commitments with strategically important customers. However, the plan is to finalize approximately half of the contracts in 2018.

Sales of the new product portfolio declined by -3% YoY, negatively impacted by currency effects. New product sales grew by 59% QoQ, driven by seasonality and new product introductions. Full-year sales in the new product portfolio declined by -4%.

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

Net sales

Sales as reported decreased by -10% YoY, due to lower sales of legacy products and related services, primarily in OSS, BSS and Packet Core.

IPR and licensing revenues were SEK 1.4 (1.8) b. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -9% YoY.

Gross margin

Gross margin declined, mainly due to write-down of assets as well as provisions and customer project adjustments. In addition, there was a negative impact from higher costs in ongoing large transformation projects and from reduced sales of legacy products including related services.

Operating income Operating income declined, mainly due to write-down of assets as well as provisions and customer project adjustments. In addition, operating income was negatively impacted by lower gross margin and lower sales.

The full-year negative impact of higher amortized than capitalized development expenses was SEK -1.3 (2.1) b. This was partly offset by cost reductions, impacting both R&D and selling and administrative expenses.

 

 

 

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MANAGED SERVICES    

 

REPORTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
    Q4
2016
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
    QoQ
change
    Full-year
2017
    Full-year
2016
 

Net sales

     6.2       6.7       -7     6.1       1     24.5       27.5  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency

     —         —         -3     —         -1     -11     —    

Gross income

     -0.7       -0.1       —         -0.5       64     -1.8       1.1  

Gross margin (%)

     -12.1     -1.0     —         -7.4     —         -7.4     3.9

Operating income

     -1.3       -0.5       165     -0.8       60     -4.3       -0.5  

Operating margin (%)

     -21.1     -7.4     —         -13.2     —         -17.4     -1.8

Restructuring charges

     -0.4       -0.2       53     -0.1       —         -0.7       -0.4  

 

Q4 2017 RECONCILIATION

OF REPORTED NUMBERS

TO ADJUSTED NUMBERS

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
reported
    Restructuring
charges
     Asset write-
downs
     Provisions and
customer
project
adjustments
     Q4
2017
adjusted
 

Net sales

     6.2       —          —          —          6.2  

Cost of sales

     -6.9       0.3        0.3        0.3        -6.0  

Gross income

     -0.7       0.3        0.3        0.3        0.2  

Gross margin (%)

     -12.1     —          —          —          3.7

Operating income

     -1.3       0.4        0.3        0.3        -0.3  

Operating margin (%)

     -21.1     —          —          —          -4.6

 

ADJUSTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
adjusted
    Q4
2016
excl. restr.
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
adjusted
    QoQ
change
 

Net sales

     6.2       6.7       -7     5.9       5

Gross income

     0.2       0.1       72     0.2       18

Gross margin (%)

     3.7     2.0     —         3.3     —    

Operating income

     -0.3       -0.2       16     -0.1       99

Operating margin (%)

     -4.6     -3.7     —         -2.4     —    

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

 

Restructuring charges, asset write-downs as well as provisions and customer project adjustments had a significant negative impact on the reported Q4 2017 results. Numbers excluding these items are referred to in the text as “adjusted”.

Net sales

Sales as reported declined by -7% YoY, as a consequence of contract reviews and reduced variable sales in certain large Managed Services Networks contracts. Sales in Managed Services IT showed good growth. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -3% YoY.

Sales as reported increased by 1% QoQ. Good growth in Managed Services IT and Network Design & Optimization more than offset a decline in Managed Services Networks. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -1% QoQ.

Gross margin

Reported gross margin declined to -12.1% (-1.0%) YoY, mainly due to write-down of assets of SEK -0.3 b. and increased restructuring charges of SEK -0.3 (-0.2) b. Sequentially, gross margin decreased from -7.4%.

Adjusted gross margin

Adjusted gross margin increased both YoY and QoQ driven by positive results of efficiency measures, reviewed and addressed contracts in Managed Services Networks as well as improvements in Managed Services IT and Network Design & Optimization.

The positive development was partly offset by negative development in contracts that are in the process of being exited, renegotiated or transformed.

Operating income

Reported operating income declined to SEK -1.3 (-0.5) b. YoY, due to lower gross margin, lower sales and increased operating expenses. Provisions and customer project adjustments of SEK -0.3 b. and write-down of assets of SEK -0.3 b. were made in the quarter. Restructuring charges were SEK -0.4 (-0.2) b.

Sequentially, reported operating income declined from SEK -0.8 b., mainly due to increased restructuring charges and increased operating expenses. However, temporary costs created significantly higher operating expenses than normal seasonality in Q4.

Adjusted operating income

Adjusted operating income decreased YoY, due to increased operating expenses.

Sequentially, adjusted operating income decreased, driven by seasonally higher operating expenses. In addition, temporary costs impacted operating expenses in Q4, creating a significantly higher than normal seasonality.

 

 

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Strategy execution

 

As part of the focused business strategy, Managed Services has its full attention on turning the business around from the negative result in 2016, addressing low-performing operations and non-strategic contracts.

As presented at the 2017 Capital Markets Day, the ambition for Managed Services is to improve the operating margin to 4%-6% in 2020 from the Q4 2017 level of -5%. In order to focus the business and improve profitability, 42 managed services contracts (out of >300) have been identified for exit, renegotiation or transformation. During 2017, 23 of the 42 contracts have been completed, resulting in an annualized profit improvement of approximately SEK 0.5 b. going forward.

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

Net sales

Sales as reported decreased by -11% YoY, mainly a result of the earlier communicated rescoped Managed Services Networks contract in North America. In addition, sales were negatively impacted by completion of 23 contracts, out of the 42 identified to be exited, renegotiated or transformed. Sales in Managed Services IT showed good growth.

Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -11% YoY.

Gross margin

Gross margin was negatively affected by provisions and customer project adjustments as well as an asset write-down made in the year. In addition, gross margin was negatively impacted by lower sales and negative development in contracts identified to be exited, renegotiated or transformed.

Operating income

Operating income decreased to SEK -4.3 b. (-0.5 b.) due to lower sales, reduced gross margin and increased operating expenses. Restructuring charges amounted to SEK -0.7 b. (-0.4 b.).

 

 

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OTHER (INCLUDES MEDIA SOLUTIONS, RED BEE MEDIA, ICONECTIV AND EMERGING BUSINESS)

 

REPORTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
    Q4
2016
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
    QoQ
change
    Full-year
2017
    Full-year
2016
 

Net sales

     2.0       2.4       -18     2.0       -3     7.9       8.8  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency

                       -14 %               -6 %      -11 %          

Gross income

     0.3       0.3       -13     0.4       -21     1.4       2.1  

Gross margin (%)

     14.4     13.6     —         17.6     —         17.5     24.1

Operating income

     -7.6       -1.2       —         -1.5       —         -13.8       -4.1  

Operating margin (%)

     —         -50.3     —         -75.9     —         -176     -46.5

Restructuring charges

     -0.1       -0.4       -75     -0.2       -50     -0.5       -0.6  

 

Q4 2017 RECONCILIATION

OF REPORTED NUMBERS

TO ADJUSTED NUMBERS

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
reported
    Restructuring
charges
    Asset write-
downs
    Provisions and
customer
project
adjustments
    Q4
2017
adjusted
 

Net sales

     2.0       —         —         —         2.0  

Cost of sales

     -1.7       0.1       0.4       —         -1.3  

Gross income

     0.3       0.1       0.4       —         0.7  

Gross margin (%)

     14.4     —         —         —         35.9

Operating income

     -7.6       0.1       6.8       —         -0.8  

Operating margin (%)

     -389.1     —         —         —         -39.9

ADJUSTED

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
adjusted
    Q4
2016
excl. restr.
    YoY
change
    Q3
2017
adjusted
    QoQ
change
 

Net sales

     2.0       2.4       -18     2.0       -3

Gross income

     0.7       0.5       57     0.4       72

Gross margin (%)

     35.9     18.8     —         20.2     —    

Operating income

     -0.8       -0.8       -1     -1.3       -41

Operating margin (%)

     -39.9     -33.0     —         -65.6     —    

 

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

Restructuring charges, asset write-downs as well as provisions and customer project adjustments had a significant negative impact on the reported Q4 2017 results. Numbers excluding these items are referred to in the text as “adjusted”.

Net sales

Sales as reported declined by -18% YoY, with a continued sales decline in legacy products in Media Solutions. The decline was partly offset by growth in Emerging Business, where particularly IoT platforms showed strong growth YoY. The iconectiv business continued to show sales growth while Red Bee Media (Broadcast and Media Services) sales were stable. Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -14% YoY.

Sales as reported declined by -3% QoQ, due to lower sales in Emerging Business. There is good traction for the Unified Delivery Network (UDN) solution, with a strong pipeline of new customers. In IoT, there is strong customer interest in the Device Connectivity Platform where sales can be volatile between quarters, depending on timing of customer deployment activities.

Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -6% QoQ.

Gross margin

Reported gross margin increased slightly YoY. Write-down of assets related to Red Bee Media of SEK -0.3 b. was more than offset by a higher share of software sales in Media Solutions, reduced costs in both Media Solutions and Red Bee Media and by lower restructuring charges.

Reported gross margin declined QoQ, due to the write-down of assets in Red Bee Media. The decline was partly offset by improved gross margin in Media Solutions, driven by reduced costs and a higher share of software sales.

Adjusted gross margin

Adjusted gross margin improved YoY, driven by a higher share of software sales in Media Solutions and by reduced costs in both Media Solutions and Red Bee Media.

Adjusted gross margin improved QoQ, driven by reduced costs and a higher share of software sales in Media Solutions.

Operating income

Reported operating income declined YoY, due to SEK -6.8 b. in write-down of assets. Restructuring charges were SEK -0.1 (-0.4) b. Excluding write-down of assets and restructuring charges, operating income was stable YoY. Effects of improved gross margin were offset by lower sales and increased operating expenses. Due to technology changes, there was a negative impact of higher amortized than capitalized development expenses of SEK -0.1 (0.2) b. YoY.

 

 

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IMPACT FROM AMORTIZATION AND CAPITALIZATION OF DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

 

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
     Q4
2016
     Q3
2017
     FY
2017
     FY
2016
 

Cost of Sales

     0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0  

R&D expenses

     -0.1        0.2        -0.1        -0.1        0.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total impact

     -0.1        0.2        -0.1        -0.1        0.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Reported operating income declined QoQ, due to SEK -6.8 b. in write-down of assets, mainly goodwill. Operating income, excluding write-down of assets and restructuring charges, improved by SEK 0.5 b. QoQ, driven by improved results in Media Solutions.

Adjusted operating income

Adjusted operating income was stable YoY. Improved gross margin was offset by lower sales and increased operating expenses. There was a negative impact of SEK -0.1 b. from higher amortized than capitalized development expenses. Operating expenses excluding this impact were stable YoY. Results improved in Media Solutions, iconectiv and Red Bee Media YoY, while results in Emerging Business, as planned, was negatively impacted by increased investments.

Full-year adjusted operating income for Red Bee Media was SEK -0.3 b., excluding corporate allocations. Though still negative, the Q4 2017 adjusted operating income, excluding corporate allocations for Red Bee Media, was significantly improved YoY, driven by cost reductions and efficiency improvements.

Adjusted operating income improved by SEK 0.5 b. QoQ, driven by stronger results in Media Solutions.

Strategy execution

A profit improvement program for the Media Solutions portfolio has been carried out during the year, while at the same time investments have been made in the product offering. Together, this has significantly improved operating performance, thereby also improving the strategic flexibility. The outcome of the strategic review is to partner with One Equity Partners (OEP) to further develop the Media Solutions business through retaining a 49% ownership stake. This allows Ericsson to capture the upside of the business while at the same time taking active part in the expected consolidation of the industry.

In addition, the company has decided to keep Red Bee Media (former Broadcast and Media Services) as the bids received did not reflect the value of the business. Red Bee Media will be further developed as an independent entity within Ericsson, building on the improved operations.

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

Net sales

Sales as reported decreased by -11% YoY, due to lower sales in Media Solutions, where sales of legacy products and related services declined. Red Bee Media sales declined by -8% YoY, due to renegotiations and scope changes of contracts. The decline was partly offset by growth in Emerging Business and iconectiv.

Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -11% YoY.

Gross margin

Gross margin declined, mainly due to write-down of assets of SEK -0.4 b. Gross margin excluding asset write-downs was stable YoY.

Operating income

Operating income declined, mainly due to write-down of assets of SEK -8.5 b. Operating income excluding asset write-downs declined, mainly due to increased investments in Emerging Business, higher amortized than capitalized development expenses of SEK -0.8 b. and lower sales. The decline was partly offset by cost reductions in both Media Solutions and Red Bee Media.

 

 

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CASH FLOW

 

SEK b.

   Q4
2017
    Q4
2016
    Q3
2017
    Full year
2017
    Full year
2016
 

Net income reconciled to cash

     -4.5       1.6       -1.9       -16.5       8.0  

Changes in operating net assets

     15.6       17.9       1.9       26.1       6.0  

Cash flow from operating activities

     11.2       19.4       0.0       9.6       14.0  

Cash flow from investing activities

     -3.8       -6.6       3.3       -16.1       -8.3  

Cash flow from financing activities

     2.1       -1.0       1.4       5.5       -11.7  

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     9.7       12.6       4.8       -1.1       -3.3  

Free cash flow: Cash flow from operating activities less net capital expenditures and other investments

     10.1       14.3       -0.5       5.1       0.3  

Cash conversion (%)

     -249     1247     1     -58     175

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

 

Operating activities

Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 11.2 b., driven by good collection and reduction of inventories. Sale of trade receivables were significantly lower than the same period last year. Cash outlays related to restructuring charges were SEK -1.2 (-0.8) b. in the quarter.

Investing activities

Cash flow from investing activities was SEK -3.8 b. Cash flow from investing activities was impacted by investments and sale of property, plant and equipment with a net effect of SEK -0.2 b. Cash flow from capitalized development expenses amounted to SEK -0.1 b. – a significant reduction from SEK -1.3 b. a year earlier. The company received payment for the divested ICT center in Montreal of SEK 0.9 b. in the quarter.

Financing activities

Cash flow from financing activities was positive at SEK 2.1 b., driven by increased borrowings. In the quarter, Ericsson raised credits of USD 220 million from the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and USD 150 million from the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK) of which USD 98 million replaced a credit with the NIB, which was set to mature in 2019.

Net cash was SEK 34.7 b. at the end of Q4 2017, compared with SEK 24.1 b. at the end of Q3 2017.

Free cash flow

Free cash flow was SEK 10.1 b.

 

 

Working capital KPIs, number of days

   Jan-Dec
2017
     Jan-Sep
2017
     Jan-Jun
2017
     Jan-Mar
2017
     Jan-Dec
2016
 

Sales outstanding (target: <90)

     101        112        114        117        95  

Inventory (target: <65)

     64        77        78        73        69  

Payable (target: >60)

     60        60        60        58        56  

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

 

Operating activities

Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 9.6 (14.0) b. The decline was due to lower income and increased cash outlays related to restructuring charges. The cash flow was supported by a reduction of operating assets through good collection and decreased inventory.

Cash outlays related to restructuring charges were SEK -5.3 (-2.4) b. during the year.

Investing activities

Cash flow from investing activities was impacted by investments and sale of property, plant and equipment with a net effect of SEK -2.9 (-5.6) b. In addition, product development decreased by SEK -1.4 (-4.5) b., due to reduced capitalization of product platform development following technology shifts. The cash flow was supported by the sale of Power Modules and the ICT center in Montreal.

Financing activities

Cash flow from financing activities was positive at SEK 5.5 (-11.7) b., due to increased net borrowings of SEK 8.6 b. Borrowings increased through issued Euro bonds as well as credits from Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK). In addition, the company received a payment from Francisco Partners for a 16.7% ownership in Ericsson’s independent subsidiary iconectiv. Due to the structure of the investment, IFRS accounting standards stipulate that the main part of the USD 200 million should be treated as financing, i.e as borrowings and the corresponding cash flow as financing activities.

Dividends of SEK 3.4 (12.3) b. were paid out.

Free cash flow

The increased focus on free cash flow and release of working capital, in combination with low investing activities, resulted in a free cash flow of SEK 5.1 (0.3) b. The more even distribution of cash flow over the year and the amount of free cash flow mark a clear improvement over 2016. For the first time in five years, the full-year free cash flow exceeded dividend payout.

 

 

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FINANCIAL POSITION

 

SEK b.

   Dec 31
2017
    Sep 30
2017
    Jun 30
2017
    Mar 31
2017
    Dec 31
2016
 

+ Cash and cash equivalents

     35.9       26.2       21.4       33.0       37.0  

+ Interest-bearing securities, current

     6.7       6.5       10.8       13.5       13.3  

+ Interest-bearing securities, non-current

     25.1       22.4       22.1       19.1       7.6  

Gross cash

     67.7       55.1       54.3       65.6       57.9  

– Borrowings, current

     2.5       3.0       3.2       9.5       8.0  

– Borrowings, non-current

     30.5       28.0       27.1       27.8       18.7  

Net cash

     34.7       24.1       24.0       28.3       31.2  

Equity

     100.2       115.7       123.8       126.8       140.5  

Total assets

     260.5       267.2       274.9       292.2       283.3  

Capital turnover (times)

     1.2       1.1       1.0       1.0       1.2  

Return on capital employed (%)

     -22.0     -13.6     -14.8     -26.2     3.2

Equity ratio (%)

     38.4     43.3     45.0     43.4     49.6

Return on equity (%)

     -29.4     -17.1     -18.1     -32.8     1.2

 

FOURTH QUARTER COMMENTS

Gross cash increased by SEK 12.6 b. and net cash increased by SEK 10.6 b. in the quarter. Gross cash was SEK 67.7 b. and net cash was SEK 34.7 b.

Post-employments benefits were SEK 25.0 b. compared with SEK 26.5 b. on Sep 30, 2017. The decrease was mainly due to the update of all assumptions and, as a result, the duration of the liabilities decreased.

In the quarter, Moody’s downgraded Ericsson’s long-term rating from Ba1 with stable outlook to Ba2 with negative outlook.

Ericsson raised credits of USD 220 million from the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and USD 150 million from the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK) in the quarter. The credit agreements will mature in 2023 and 2025 respectively, and extend Ericsson’s debt maturity profile. Of these new funds, USD 98 million replaced a credit with NIB that was set to mature in 2019. In addition to strengthening Ericsson’s balance sheet and financial flexibility, these new funds support R&D activities in further developing 5G and other mobile innovations.

Debt maturity profile, Parent Company

SEK b.

LOGO

FULL-YEAR COMMENTS

Gross cash increased to SEK 67.7 (57.9) b. and net cash increased to SEK 34.7 (31.2) b.

Post-employments benefits increased by SEK 1.3 b., due to decreased discount rates.

The average maturity of long-term borrowings as of Dec 31, 2017, was 4.4 years, compared with 3.8 years 12 months earlier.

Ericsson has an unutilized Revolving Credit Facility of USD 2.0 b. The facility will expire in 2022.

In 2017, Ericsson concluded the following financing activities to strengthen the balance sheet and extend the average debt maturity profile:

- In Q1, issue of one EUR 500 million 4-year bond

- In Q1, issue of one EUR 500 million 7-year bond

- In Q2, repayment of one EUR 500 million bond at maturity date.

- In Q3 the company received a USD 200 million payment relating to Francisco Partners’ investments for a 16.7% ownership in Ericsson’s independent subsidiary iconectiv. Due to the structure of the investment, IFRS accounting standards stipulate that the main part of the USD 200 million should be treated as borrowings, non-current.

- In Q4, Ericsson raised USD 220 million from the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and USD 150 million from the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK). The credit agreements mature in 2023 and 2025 respectively. Of these new funds, USD 98 million replaced a credit with NIB that was set to mature in 2019.

In 2017, Standard & Poor’s downgraded Ericsson’s long-term rating from BBB with negative outlook to BB+ with stable outlook. Moody’s downgraded Ericsson’s long-term rating from Baa3 with negative outlook to Ba2 with negative outlook.

 

 

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PARENT COMPANY

 

Income after financial items was SEK -2.0 (15.6) b. The decrease was mainly due to lower recognized dividends from subsidiaries of SEK 7.2 (14.2) b. and impairment of investments in subsidiaries of SEK 9.0 (0.1) b.

At the end of the quarter, gross cash: cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, and interest-bearing securities non-current, amounted to SEK 50.3 (42.9) b.

The Parent Company has during the quarter recognized dividends from subsidiaries of SEK 5.2 b.

For full-year 2017, the Parent Company recognized dividends from subsidiaries of SEK 7.2 (14.2) b.

In December, Ericsson raised USD 220 million from the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and USD 150 million from Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK). The credit agreements mature in 2023 and 2025 respectively, and extended Ericsson’s debt maturity profile. Of these new funds, USD 98 million replaced a credit with NIB that was set to mature in 2019. In addition to strengthening Ericsson’s balance sheet and financial flexibility, these new funds support R&D activities to further develop 5G and other mobile innovations.

In accordance with the conditions of the long-term variable compensation program (LTV) for Ericsson employees, 4,192,817 shares from treasury stock were sold or distributed to employees during the fourth quarter. The holding of treasury stock on December 31, 2017, was 50,265,499 Class B shares.

IFRS 9, “Financial instruments”, is effective as from January 1, 2018. The complete version of IFRS 9 replaces most of the guidance in IAS 39, which is applied in the current reporting period ended December 31, 2017. The financial effect of IFRS 9 will be presented in the Annual Report.

 

 

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DIVIDEND, AGM

AND ANNUAL REPORT

 

Dividend proposal

The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting to resolve on a dividend of SEK 1.00 (1.00) per share, representing some SEK 3.3 (3.3) b., and April 3, 2018, as the record date for payment of dividend. The dividend reflects this year’s earnings and balance sheet structure, as well as coming years’ business plans and expected economic development.

Ericsson Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of shareholders will be held on March 28, 2018, 15.00 (CET) at Kistamässan, Stockholm, Sweden.

Annual Report

The annual report will be made available on the Ericsson web-site www.ericsson.com and at the Ericsson headquarters, Torshamnsgatan 21, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden, in the first week of March.

 

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

 

Changes to Ericsson’s Executive Team

On November 7, 2017, Ericsson’s Board of Directors appointed Fredrik Jejdling as Executive Vice President of Ericsson, effective November 7, 2017. This appointment is made in addition to his current role as Head of Business Area Networks and member of the Ericsson Executive Team. The company also announced that Jan Frykhammar and Magnus Mandersson, both Executive Vice Presidents and advisors to the CEO, would leave their roles as Executive Vice Presidents and the Ericsson Executive Team, effective November 7, 2017. Magnus Mandersson left the company at year-end 2017 after leaving his position as chairman of Red Bee Media. Jan Frykhammar will leave the company at the end of Q1 2018.

Capital Markets Day 2017

On November 8, 2017, Ericsson held its Capital Markets Day, giving an overview of its focused business strategy and deep dives in execution in all business segments. Further, the presentations included updates on company strategy, progress in strategy execution and planning assumptions going forward.

Restated segment financials and impairment testing

On December 8, 2017, Ericsson announced the company’s new segment structure, to be effective in the financial reporting as of the fourth quarter 2017. To facilitate year-on-year comparisons, restated financials for full-year 2015, each quarter of 2016 and the three first quarters of 2017 were to be disclosed. Following the restated financials, goodwill re-allocation and impairment testing would begin and be completed in the Q4 closing.

 

 

20      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

 

Ericsson’s operational and financial risk factors and uncertainties are described in our Annual Report 2016.

Risk factors and uncertainties in focus short term for the Parent Company and the Ericsson Group include, but are not limited to:

 

  Potential negative effects on operators’ willingness to invest in network development due to uncertainty in the financial markets and a weak economic business environment, or reduced consumer telecom spending, or increased pressure on us to provide financing, or delayed auctions of spectrums

 

  Uncertainty regarding the financial stability of suppliers, for example due to lack of financing

 

  Effects on gross margins and/or working capital of the business mix in the Networks segment between capacity sales and new coverage build-outs

 

  Effects on gross margins of the business mix in the Networks and Digital Services segments including new network build-outs and new managed services or digital transformation deals with initial transition costs

 

  Effects of the ongoing industry consolidation among our customers as well as between our largest competitors, e.g. with postponed investments and intensified price competition as a consequence

 

  New and ongoing partnerships which may not be successful and expose us to future costs

 

  Changes in foreign exchange rates, in particular USD

 

  Political unrest and uncertainty in certain markets

 

  Effects on production and sales from restrictions with respect to timely and adequate supply of materials, components and production capacity and other vital services on competitive terms
  No guarantees that strategy execution, specific restructuring or cost-savings initiatives, profitability restoring efforts and/or organizational changes will be sufficient, successful or executed in time to deliver any improvements in earnings

 

  Cybersecurity incidents, which may have a material negative impact.

Ericsson stringently monitors the compliance with all relevant trade regulations and trade embargoes applicable to dealings with customers operating in countries where there are trade restrictions or trade restrictions are discussed. Ericsson operates globally in accordance with Group policies and directives for business ethics and conduct and has a dedicated anti-corruption program. However, in some of the countries where the company operates, corruption risks can be high and compliance failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and brand.

Stockholm, January 31, 2018

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson

Board of Directors

Date for next report: April 20, 2018

 

 

21      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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AUDITORS’ REVIEW REPORT

 

Introduction

We have reviewed the condensed interim financial information (interim report) of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) as of December 31, 2017, and the twelve months period then ended. The board of directors and the CEO are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the interim financial report in accordance with IAS 34 and the Swedish Annual Accounts Act. Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on this interim report based on our review.

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with the International Standard on Review Engagements ISRE 2410, Review of Interim Report Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity.

A review consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing, ISA, and other generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. The procedures performed in a review do not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the interim report is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with IAS 34 and the Swedish Annual Accounts Act, regarding the Group, and with the Swedish Annual Accounts Act, regarding the Parent Company.

Stockholm, January 31, 2018

PricewaterhouseCoopers AB

Bo Hjalmarsson

Authorized Public Accountant

Auditor in Charge

Johan Engstam

Authorized Public Accountant

 

 

22      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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EDITOR’S NOTE

 

Ericsson invites media, investors and analysts to a press conference at the Ericsson Studio, Grönlandsgången 4, Stockholm, at 09.00 (CET), January 31, 2018. A conference call for media, investors and analysts will begin at 14.00 (CET).

Live webcasts of the press conference and conference call as well as supporting slides will be available at:

www. ericsson.com/press and

www. ericsson.com/investors

Video material will be published during the day on www.ericsson.com/press

Replay of the conference call will be available approximately one hour after the call has ended and will remain available for seven days.

For further information, please contact:

Helena Norrman, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Phone: +46 10 719 34 72

E-mail: investor.relations@ericsson.com or

media.relations@ericsson.com

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson

Org. number: 556016-0680

Torshamnsgatan 21

SE-164 83 Stockholm

Phone: +46 10 719 00 00

www.ericsson.com

Investors
Peter Nyquist, Vice President,
Head of Investor Relations
Phone:    +46 10 714 64 49, +46 70 575 29 06
E-mail:    peter.nyquist@ericsson.com
Stefan Jelvin, Director,
Investor Relations
Phone:    +46 10 714 20 39, +46 70 986 02 27
E-mail:    stefan.jelvin@ericsson.com
Åsa Konnbjer, Director,
Investor Relations
Phone:    +46 10 713 39 28, +46 73 082 59 28
E-mail:    asa.konnbjer@ericsson.com
Rikard Tunedal, Director,
Investor Relations
Phone:    +46 10 714 54 00, +46 761 005 400
E-mail:    rikard.tunedal@ericsson.com
Media
Ola Rembe, Vice President,
Head of External Communications
Phone:    +46 10 719 97 27, +46 73 024 48 73
E-mail:    media.relations@ericsson.com
Corporate Communications
Phone:    +46 10 719 69 92
E-mail:    media.relations@ericsson.com
 

 

23      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report includes forward-looking statements, including statements reflecting management’s current views relating to the growth of the market, future market conditions, future events, financial condition, and expected operational and financial performance, including, in particular the following:

 

  Our goals, strategies, planning assumptions and operational or financial performance expectations

 

  Industry trends, future characteristics and development of the markets in which we operate

 

  Our future liquidity, capital resources, capital expenditures, cost savings and profitability

 

  The expected demand for our existing and new products and services as well as plans to launch new products and services including research and development expenditures

 

  The ability to deliver on future plans and to realize potential for future growth

 

  The expected operational or financial performance of strategic cooperation activities and joint ventures

 

  The time until acquired entities and businesses will be integrated and accretive to income

 

  Technology and industry trends including the regulatory and standardization environment in which we operate, competition and our customer structure.

The words “believe,” “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “intend,” “likely,” “projects,” “may,” “could,” “plan,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “predict,” “aim,” “ambition,” “seek,” “potential,” “target,” “might,” “continue,” or, in each case, their negative or variations, and similar words or expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. Any statement that refers to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements.

We caution investors that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements.

Important factors that could affect whether and to what extent any of our forward-looking statements materialize include but are not limited to the factors described in the section “Risk Factors”, and in “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report 2016.

These forward-looking statements also represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date that they were made. We expressly disclaim a duty to provide updates to these forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them, after the date of this report, to reflect events or changes in circumstances or changes in expectations or the occurrence of anticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange regulation.

 

 

24      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Contents

  

Financial statements

  

Consolidated income statement

     26  

Statement of comprehensive income

     26  

Consolidated balance sheet

     27  

Consolidated statement of cash flows

     28  

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

     29  

Consolidated income statement – isolated quarters

     29  

Consolidated statement of cash flows – isolated quarters

     30  

Parent Company income statement

     31  

Parent Company statement of comprehensive income

     31  

Parent Company balance sheet

     32  

Additional information

  

Accounting policies

     33  

Net sales by segment by quarter

     36  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency

     37  

Gross income and gross margin by segment by quarter

     37  

Operating income and operating margin by segment by quarter

     38  

EBITA and EBITA margin by segment by quarter

     39  

Net sales by market area by quarter

     40  

Top 5 countries in sales

     41  

Net sales by market area by segment

     41  

IPR licensing revenues by segment by quarter

     41  

Provisions

     42  

Information on investments

     42  

Other information

     43  

Number of employees

     43  

 

Items excluding restructuring charges

  

Restructuring charges by function

     44  

Restructuring charges by segment

     44  

Gross income and gross margin excluding restructuring by segment by quarter

     45  

Operating income and operating margin excluding restructuring by segment by quarter

     46  

Adjusted gross income and gross margin by segment by quarter

     47  

Adjusted operating income and operating margin by segment by quarter

     48  

Alternative performance measures

  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency

     49  

Items excluding restructuring charges

     50  

EBITA and EBITA margin

     51  

Cash conversion

     51  

Gross cash and net cash, end of period

     51  

Capital employed

     52  

Capital turnover

     52  

Return on capital employed

     52  

Equity ratio

     53  

Return on equity

     53  

Earnings per share (non-IFRS)

     53  

Free cash flow

     54  

Items excluding restructuring, write-downs, sales of certain investments as well as provisions and adjustments related to certain customer projects

     55  

 

 

 

25      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 

     Oct–Dec     Jan-Dec  

SEK million

   2017     2016     Change     2017     2016     Change  

Net sales

     57,199       65,215       -12     201,303       222,608       -10

Cost of sales

     -45,160       -48,195       -6     -156,758       -156,243       0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross income

     12,039       17,020       -29     44,545       66,365       -33

Gross margin (%)

     21.0     26.1       22.1     29.8  

Research and development expenses

     -9,934       -8,890       12     -37,887       -31,635       20

Selling and administrative expenses

     -8,929       -8,799       1     -32,676       -28,866       13
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses

     -18,863       -17,689       7     -70,563       -60,501       17

Other operating income and expenses

     -12,927  1)      364         -12,132  1)      404    

Shares in earnings of JV and associated companies

     –5       25         24       31    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     -19,756       -280         -38,126       6,299    

Financial income

     -122       61         -361       -115    

Financial expenses

     -395       -744         -843       -2,158    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income after financial items

     -20,273       -963         -39,330       4,026    

Taxes

     1,409       -634         4,267       -2,131    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     -18,864       -1,597         -35,063       1,895    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to:

            

Stockholders of the Parent Company

     -18,847       -1,604         -35,206       1,716    

Non-controlling interests

     -17       7         143       179    

Other information

            

Average number of shares, basic (million)

     3,283       3,268         3,277       3,263    

Earnings per share, basic (SEK) 2)

     -5.75       -0.49         -10.74       0.53    

Earnings per share, diluted (SEK) 2)

     -5.68       -0.48         -10.61       0.52    
            

 

1) Includes write-down of goodwill of SEK -13.0 billion.
2) Based on Net income attributable to stockholders of the Parent Company.

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

     Oct–Dec      Jan–Dec  

SEK million

   2017      2016      2017      2016  

Net income

     -18,864        -1,597        -35,063        1,895  

Other comprehensive income

           

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

           

Remeasurements of defined benefits pension plans incl. asset ceiling

     2,616        8,024        970        -1,766  

Tax on items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

     -764        -1,886        -547        520  

Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss

           

Available-for-sale financial assets

           

Gains/losses arising during the period

     -10        -7        68        -7  

Reclassification adjustments on gains/losses included in profit or loss

     0        —          5        —    

Revaluation of other investments in shares and participations

           

Fair value remeasurement

     102        2        99        –2  

Changes in cumulative translation adjustments

     1,144        1,867        -3,378        4,235  

Share of other comprehensive income on JV and associated companies

     7        -7        0        -362  

Tax on items that may be reclassified to profit or loss

     1        1        -16        1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax

     3,096        7,994        -2,799        2,619  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

     -15,768        6,397        -37,862        4,514  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income attributable to:

           

Stockholders of the Parent Company

     -15,790        6,406        -37,987        4,285  

Non-controlling interest

     22        -9        125        229  

 

26      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

SEK million

   Dec 31
2017
     Sep 30
2017
     Dec 31
2016
 

ASSETS

        

Non-current assets

        

Intangible assets

        

Capitalized development expenses

     4,593        5,337        8,076  

Goodwill

     27,815        40,200        43,387  

Intellectual property rights, brands and other intangible assets

     4,148        4,776        7,747  

Property, plant and equipment

     12,857        13,884        16,734  

Financial assets

        

Equity in JV and associated companies

     624        627        775  

Other investments in shares and participations

     1,279        1,192        1,179  

Customer finance, non-current

     2,178        1,993        2,128  

Interest-bearing securities, non-current

     25,105        22,405        7,586  

Other financial assets, non-current

     5,897        5,063        4,442  

Deferred tax assets

     21,228        19,275        15,522  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     105,724        114,752        107,576  

Current assets

        

Inventories

     24,960        32,758        30,307  

Trade receivables

     63,210        59,802        68,117  

Customer finance, current

     1,753        1,961        2,625  

Other current receivables

     22,300        25,231        24,431  

Interest-bearing securities, current

     6,713        6,526        13,325  

Cash and cash equivalents

     35,884        26,210        36,966  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     154,820        152,488        175,771  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     260,544        267,240        283,347  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

        

Equity

        

Stockholders’ equity

     99,540        115,072        139,817  

Non-controlling interest in equity of subsidiaries

     636        615        675  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     100,176        115,687        140,492  

Non–current liabilities

        

Post-employment benefits

     25,009        26,534        23,723  

Provisions, non-current

     3,596        3,930        946  

Deferred tax liabilities

     901        1,736        2,147  

Borrowings, non-current

     30,500        28,039        18,653  

Other non-current liabilities

     2,776        2,563        2,621  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     62,782        62,802        48,090  

Current liabilities

        

Provisions, current

     6,350        5,646        5,411  

Borrowings, current

     2,545        3,004        8,033  

Trade payables

     26,321        23,560        25,318  

Other current liabilities

     62,370        56,541        56,003  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     97,586        88,751        94,765  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity and liabilities

     260,544        267,240        283,347  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Of which interest-bearing liabilities

     33,045        31,043        26,686  

Assets pledged as collateral

     5,215        5,215        2,584  

Contingent liabilities

     1,561        1,547        1,186  

 

27      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Oct-Dec      Jan-Dec  

SEK million

   2017      2016      2017      2016  

Operating activities

           

Net income

     -18,864        -1,597        -35,063        1,895  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash

           

Taxes

     -1,908        -300        -9,805        -6,200  

Earnings/dividends in JV and associated companies

     -2        -21        56        58  

Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses

     16,118        2,610        27,892        9,119  

Other

     179        865        440        3,135  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income reconciled to cash

     -4,477        1,557        -16,480        8,007  

Changes in operating net assets

           

Inventories

     8,144        4,286        3,995        -613  

Customer finance, current and non-current

     36        -106        798        -950  

Trade receivables

     -2,591        3,713        1,380        5,933  

Trade payables

     2,565        3,306        2,413        2,775  

Provisions and post-employment benefits

     417        2,772        4,785        3,106  

Other operating assets and liabilities, net

     7,065        3,884        12,710        -4,248  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     15,636        17,855        26,081        6,003  

Cash flow from operating activities

     11,159        19,412        9,601        14,010  

Investing activities

           

Investments in property, plant and equipment

     -1,105        -1,699        -3,877        6,129  

Sales of property, plant and equipment

     898        277        1,016        482  

Acquisitions/divestments of subsidiaries and other operations, net

     -107        -50        276        -622  

Product development

     -138        -1,291        -1,444        -4,483  

Other investing activities

     -573        -2,341        -463        -3,004  

Interest-bearing securities

     -2,772        -1,505        -11,578        5,473  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flow from investing activities

     -3,797        -6,609        -16,070        -8,283  

Cash flow before financing activities

     7,362        12,803        -6,469        5,727  

Financing activities

           

Dividends paid

     -1        —          -3,424        -12,263  

Other financing activities

     2,073        -1,039        8,902        521  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flow from financing activities

     2,072        -1,039        5,478        -11,742  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     240        801        -91        2,757  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     9,674        12,565        -1,082        -3,258  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     26,210        24,401        36,966        40,224  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

     35,884        36,966        35,884        36,966  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

28      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT

OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

     Jan-Dec  

SEK million

   2017      2016  

Opening balance

     140,492        147,366  

Total comprehensive income

     -37,862        4,514  

Sale/repurchase of own shares

     -5        -216  

Stock issue (net)

     15        131  

Stock purchase plan

     885        957  

Dividends paid

     -3,424        -12,263  

Transactions with non-controlling interests

     75        3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Closing balance

     100,176        140,492  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

- ISOLATED QUARTERS

 

    2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Net sales

    57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Cost of sales

    -45,160       -35,661       -36,006       -39,931       -48,195       -36,616       -36,613       -34,819  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross income

    12,039       12,135       13,933       6,438       17,020       14,460       17,495       17,390  

Gross margin (%)

    21.0     25.4     27,9     13.9     26.1     28.3     32.3     33.3

Research and development expenses

    -9,934       -10,520       -8,365       -9,068       -8,890       -7,855       -7,405       -7,485  

Selling and administrative expenses

    -8,929       -6,834       -7,052       -9,861       -8,799       -6,238       -7,109       -6,720  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses

    -18,863       -17,354       -15,417       -18,929       -17,689       -14,093       -14,514       -14,205  

Other operating income and expenses

    -12,927  1)      415       239       141       364       -3       -230       273  

Shares in earnings of JV and associated companies

    -5       6       12       11       25       -23       12       17  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    -19,756       -4,798       -1,233       -12,339       -280       341       2,763       3,475  

Financial income

    -122       -135       -22       -82       61       -226       139       -89  

Financial expenses

    -395       -181       83       -350       -744       -371       -666       -377  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income after financial items

    -20,273       -5,114       -1,172       -12,771       -963       -256       2,236       3,009  

Taxes

    1,409       766       176       1,916       -634       76       -670       -903  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

    -18,864       -4,348       -996       -10,855       -1,597       -180       1,566       2,106  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to:

               

Stockholders of the Parent Company

    -18,847       -4,452       -1,010       -10,897       -1,604       -233       1,587       1,966  

Non-controlling interests

    -17       104       14       42       7       53       -21       140  

Other information

               

Average number of shares, basic (million)

    3,283       3,279       3,275       3,272       3,268       3,264       3,261       3,258  

Earnings per share, basic (SEK) 2)

    -5.75       -1.35       -0.31       -3.33       -0.49       -0.07       0.49       0.60  

Earnings per share, diluted (SEK) 2)

    -5.68       -1.34       -0.30       -3.29       -0.48       -0.07       0.48       0.60  

 

1) Includes write-down of goodwill of SEK -13.0 billion.
2) Based on Net income attributable to stockholders of the Parent Company.

 

29      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT

OF CASH FLOWS – ISOLATED QUARTERS

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Operating activities

                       

Net income

     -18,864        -4,348        -996        -10,855        -1,597        -180        1,566        2,106  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash

                       

Taxes

     -1,908        -1,574        -1,978        -4,345        -300        -1,282        -3,410        -1,208  

Earnings/dividends in JV and associated companies

     -2        73        -8        -7        -21        22        73        -16  

Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses

     16,118        4,146        2,197        5,431        2,610        2,308        2,104        2,097  

Other

     179        -218        -48        527        865        630        988        652  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income reconciled to cash

     -4,477        -1,921        -833        -9,249        1,557        1,498        1,321        3,631  

Changes in operating net assets

                       

Inventories

     8,144        582        -1,146        -3,585        4,286        980        -1,667        -4,212  

Customer finance, current and non-current

     36        456        1,140        -834        -106        223        -816        -251  

Trade receivables

     -2,591        1,124        450        2,397        3,713        -624        -564        3,408  

Trade payables

     2,565        -819        41        626        3,306        -2,371        2,457        -617  

Provisions and post-employment benefits

     417        -601        324        4,645        2,772        130        218        -14  

Other operating assets and liabilities, net

     7,065        1,161        25        4,459        3,884        -2,153        -1,662        -4,317  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     15,636        1,903        834        7,708        17,855        -3,815        -2,034        -6,003  

Cash flow from operating activities

     11,159        -18        1        -1,541        19,412        -2,317        -713        -2,372  

Investing activities

                       

Investments in property, plant and equipment

     -1,105        -739        -1,018        -1,015        -1,699        -1,384        -1,572        -1,474  

Sales of property, plant and equipment

     898        12        37        69        277        111        50        44  

Acquisitions/divestments of subsidiaries and other operations, net

     -107        371        9        3        -50        16        -480        -108  

Product development

     -138        -126        -315        -865        -1,291        -885        -1,099        -1,208  

Other investing activities

     -573        42        -42        110        -2,341        -508        -890        735  

Interest-bearing securities

     -2,772        3,756        -676        -11,886        -1,505        610        5,355        1,013  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flow from investing activities

     -3,797        3,316        -2,005        -13,584        -6,609        -2,040        1,364        -998  

Cash flow before financing activities

     7,362        3,298        -2,004        -15,125        12,803        -4,357        651        -3,370  

Financing activities

                       

Dividends paid

     -1        -145        -3,274        -4        —          -163        -12,067        -33  

Other financing activities

     2,073        1,563        -5,636        10,902        -1,039        -1,295        2,761        94  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flow from financing activities

     2,072        1,418        -8,910        10,898        -1,039        -1,458        -9,306        61  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     240        48        -594        215        801        1,285        1,652        -981  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     9,674        4,764        -11,508        -4,012        12,565        -4,530        -7,003        -4,290  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     26,210        21,446        32,954        36,966        24,401        28,931        35,934        40,224  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

     35,884        26,210        21,446        32,954        36,966        24,401        28,931        35,934  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

30      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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PARENT COMPANY INCOME STATEMENT

 

     Oct-Dec      Jan-Dec  

SEK million

   2017      2016      2017      2016  

Net sales

     —          —          —          —    

Cost of sales

     —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross income

     —          —          —          —    

Operating expenses

     -434        -457        -1,294        -1,185  

Other operating income and expenses

     -131        838        1,616        2,698  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     -565        381        322        1,513  

Financial net

     -4,050        1,079        -2,297        14,039  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income after financial items

     -4,615        1,460        -1,975        15,552  

Transfers to (–) / from untaxed reserves

     -120        -1,100        -120        -1,100  

Taxes

     95        43        -53        -206  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

     -4,640        403        -2,148        14,246  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENT

OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

     Oct-Dec      Jan-Dec  

SEK million

   2017      2016      2017      2016  

Net income

     -4,640        403        -2,148        14,246  

Available-for-sale financial assets

           

Gains/losses arising during the period

     -10        -7        68        -7  

Reclassification adjustments on gains/losses included in profit or loss

     —          —          5        —    

Revaluation of other investments in shares and participations

           

Fair value remeasurement

     102        —          102        -5  

Tax on items that may be reclassified to profit or loss

     4        —          -14        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax

     96        -7        161        -12  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

     -4,544        396        -1,987        14,234  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

31      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET

 

SEK million

   Dec 31
2017
     Dec 31
2016
 

ASSETS

     

Fixed assets

     

Intangible assets

     329        547  

Tangible assets

     346        396  

Financial assets*

     119,896        111,981  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     120,571        112,924  

Current assets

     

Inventories

     1        3  

Receivables

     41,173        38,476  

Short-term investments

     6,446        12,991  

Cash and cash equivalents

     18,715        22,311  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     66,335        73,781  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     186,906        186,705  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY, PROVISIONS AND LIABILITIES

     

Equity

     

Restricted equity

     48,164        48,148  

Non-restricted equity

     39,578        44,753  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     87,742        92,901  

Provisions

     602        885  

Non-current liabilities

     60,623        50,428  

Current liabilities

     37,939        42,491  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity, provisions and liabilities

     186,906        186,705  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

*  Of which interest-bearing securities, non-current

     25,105        7,586  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

32      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

THE GROUP

 

This interim report is prepared in accordance with IAS 34. The term “IFRS” used in this document refers to the application of IAS and IFRS as well as interpretations of these standards as issued by IASB’s Standards Interpretation Committee (SIC) and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRIC). The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the annual report for the year ended December 31, 2016, and should be read in conjunction with that annual report.

New or amended standards and interpretations applicable from January 1, 2017

There is no significant difference between IFRS effective as per December 31, 2017 and IFRS as endorsed by the EU.

None of the new or amended standards and interpretations that became effective January 1, 2017, have had a significant impact on the financial result or position of the Company.

Alternative Performance Measures (APM)

Free cash flow has been added as an Alternative Performance Measure (APM). Free cash flow represents the cash generated by operations less net capital expenditures and other investments. Free cash flow can be used to expand the business, pay dividends and reduce debt. Free cash flow is reconciled to IFRS measures, see APMs at the end of the report.

IFRS 15, REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS, AND IFRS 9, FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” are effective from January 1, 2018.

The following table illustrates the estimated impact of the implementation of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 on Equity and other balance sheet items at the transition date of January 1, 2018. IFRS 15 will be applied on a full retrospective basis which means that the comparative financial statements will be restated. IFRS 9 will be applied at January 1, 2018 which means that the opening balances at January 1, 2018 will be adjusted, but the previous periods will not be restated.

 

 

ESTIMATED IMPACT OF IFRS 9 AND IFRS 15 ON

BALANCE SHEET ITEMS

 

SEK billion

   As reported
Dec 31, 2017
     IFRS 15
restatement
     Restated
balance
Dec 31, 2017
     IFRS 9
adjustment
     Adjusted
balance
Jan 1, 2018
 

Assets

              

Non-current assets

              

Deferred tax assets

     21.2        0.8        22.0        0.4        22.4  

Current assets

              

Inventories

     25.0        0.7        25.7        —          25.7  

Contract assets

     —          13.1        13.1        —          13.1  

Trade receivables

     63.2        -15.1        48.1        -1.2        46.9  

Equity and liabilities

              

Equity

     100.2        -2.7        97.5        -1.4        96.1  

Non-current liabilities

              

Borrowings, non-current

     30.5        —          30.5        0.6        31.1  

Current liabilities

              

Contract liabilities

     —          22.4        22.4        —          22.4  

Other current liabilities

     54.5        -20.2        34.3        —          34.3  

 

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IFRS 15 - REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

 

IFRS 15 replaces guidance in IAS 18 and IAS 11. This standard establishes a new principle-based model of recognizing revenue from customer contracts. It introduces a five-step model that requires revenue to be recognized when control over goods and services are transferred to the customer. The Company will adopt the full retrospective method for transition which requires restatement of prior year comparatives and adjustment to equity in the earliest presented comparative period, i.e. January 1, 2016 (‘initial application date’). The Company has completed its assessment of the impact of IFRS 15 to its financial statements for all relevant comparative periods. Additional processes were implemented as part of the quantification exercise to accurately identify material transition impact, thus enabling it to be disclosed as part of the financial reporting process. The estimated impact of IFRS 15 is a net reduction to equity at transition date, January 1, 2018, of SEK 2.7 b. The main impacted areas are as follows:

Discount in a contract

The definition of a contract in IFRS 15 is stricter than standards effective prior to 2018 (previous standards) in that a contract exists only when enforceable rights and obligations are present. The majority of the Company’s business is conducted via frame agreements. Typically, a customer purchase order, together with a frame agreement, creates a firm enforceable commitment. The stricter definition of a contract affects how discounts are accounted for, as discounts shall be applied over the value and duration of a contract. Under the previous standards, the Company considers a broader interpretation of a contract from which it reasonably expects to derive benefit. For a business covered by frame agreement this may result in a longer timeframe for recognition of related discounts as future expected purchases are included in the assessment. The impact of IFRS 15 is that these discounts shall be recognized as a reduction in revenue earlier.

Customized solution contract

Under IFRS 15 revenue for customized solution contracts shall be recognized over time if certain criteria are met. These contracts relate to the construction of assets specifically customized for the customer and with no alternative use to the Company. IFRS 15 also requires the Company to have enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. The Company recognized revenue under previous standards over the duration of these contracts based on defined delivery milestones. No significant changes are expected in the method of measuring progress of completion over the duration of the contract. However, the additional requirement under IFRS 15 will ensure that revenue is recognized for performance completed to date based on enforceable right to payment that exists at that point. The Company has identified ongoing contracts where revenue will be deferred as the performance completed to date is restricted under IFRS 15 to enforceable billing rights under the contracts.

Transfer of control for equipment

Under IFRS 15, revenue shall be recognized when control over the equipment is transferred to the customer at a point in time. This assessment shall be viewed from a customer’s perspective

considering indicators such as transfer of titles and risks, customer acceptance, physical possession, and billing rights. For hardware sale, transfer of control is usually deemed to occur when equipment arrives at the customer site and for software sale, when the licences are made available to the customer. Contractual terms may vary, therefore judgment will be applied when assessing the indicators of transfer of control. The accounting treatment under previous standards focused on a risk and reward assessment. The Company has identified contracts where the transfer of control under IFRS 15 differs from the previous risk and reward assessment. The resulting impact is a delay in revenue recognition on these contracts.

Presentation of contract related balances

The new requirement for classification and presentation of contract related balances under IFRS 15 will result in a separate presentation of the contract asset and contract liability balances. At transition date, contract asset balance, estimated to be SEK 13.1 b. will be presented separately within current assets. Under previous standards these balances have been included within trade receivables as the accounting policy for 2017 states that trade receivables include amounts where risks and rewards have been transferred to the customer but not yet invoiced. Under IFRS 15, these balances will be presented as contract assets as the Company concluded that they relate to contract assets that are conditional on something other than the passage of time. At transition date, contract liability balance, estimated to be SEK 22.4 b. will be presented separately within current liabilities. Under previous standards these balances have been disclosed as deferred revenue within other current liabilities, and the Company concluded that they meet the definition of contract liability under IFRS 15.

The Company has considered the key areas impacted above and implemented the significant changes to the accounting principles, internal processes and internal controls framework to reflect the new revenue recognition model from January 1, 2018. The Company expects to use a number of estimates and judgments in determining the amount and timing of revenue under IFRS 15, particularly when determining the transaction price and its allocation to performance obligations identified under the contract. Transaction price may consist of variable elements such as performance related prices and contract penalties that are estimated at the commencement of the contract (and periodically thereafter). Judgment is used in the estimation process based on historical experience with the type of business and customer.

IFRS 15 also requires revenue to be allocated to each performance obligations by reference to their standalone selling prices. The Company considers that an adjusted market assessment approach should be used to estimate stand-alone selling prices for its products and services for the purposes of allocating transaction price. As the Company will adopt the full retrospective method for IFRS 15 implementation, the impact on equity (at initial application date of January 1, 2016) and on income statement (for years 2016 and 2017) is presented in the tables below:

 

 

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IFRS 15 - ESTIMATED IMPACT ON EQUITY

 

SEK billion

   As reported      Impact of
IFRS 15
     Restated  

Dec. 31, 2015

     147.4        -4.4        143.0  

Dec. 31, 2016

     140.5        -5.2        135.3  

IFRS 15 - ESTIMATED IMPACT ON INCOME

STATEMENT ITEMS

 

SEK billion

   As reported      Impact of
IFRS 15
     Restated  

2017

        

Net sales

     201.3        3.8        205.1  

Cost of sales

     -156.8        -0.6        -157.3  

Gross income

     44.5        3.3        47.8  

Operating income

     -38.1        3.3        -34.9  

Taxes

     4.3        -0.7        3.6  

Net income

     -35.1        2.5        -32.5  

2016

        

Net sales

     222.6        -2.3        220.3  

Cost of sales

     -156.2        1.2        -155.1  

Gross income

     66.4        -1.1        65.2  

Operating income

     6.3        -1.1        5.2  

Taxes

     -2.1        0.2        -1.9  

Net income

     1.9        -0.9        1.0  

IFRS 9 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The complete version of IFRS 9 replaces most of the guidance in IAS 39. IFRS 9 updates the classification, measurement and impairment of financial assets as well as provides new requirements for hedge accounting. The Company will apply IFRS 9 retrospectively on the required effective date, January 1, 2018, and will not restate comparative information. The transition to IFRS 9 is estimated to reduce equity by SEK 1.4 b. on January 1, 2018. The main impact from adopting IFRS 9 will be that impairment losses for trade receivables and contract assets will be calculated based on lifetime expected credit losses (ECL) instead of objective evidence that the Company will not be able to collect, as under the previous standards. This does not represent a change in expected cash flows collected by the Company. Rather, this represents a change in the timing of the recognition of losses, which in most cases is earlier under IFRS 9 compared to the previous standards. At transition, the loss allowance for trade receivables is estimated to increase by SEK 1.2 b. The other changes from implementing IFRS 9 are as follows:

Investments in liquid bonds with low credit risk which are not held for trading were classified as available-for-sale under the previous standards. These instruments are held in a portfolio managed on a fair value basis and will therefore be classified fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL). There will be no change in the valuation of these assets.

Trade receivables are managed in a business model whose objective is achieved through both collection of contractual cash flows and selling of assets. Therefore, trade receivables will be classified as fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI).

Customer finance assets are managed in a business model with the objective to realize cash flows through the sale of assets. Therefore, customer finance will be classified FVTPL. There will be no change in the carrying value of these assets at transition.

Investments in equity instruments, which were classified available-for-sale under previous standards, will be classified as FVTPL with no impact on carrying value.

Notes, bonds, and loans issued by the Parent Company are managed on a fair value basis and will therefore be designated as FVTPL with changes in fair value due to changes in credit risk realized in OCI. As a result, the carrying value of borrowings is estimated to increase by SEK 0.6 b. Fair value hedge accounting will not be applied to any borrowings as from 2018.

 

 

35      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

NET SALES BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER*

 

    2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

    36,185       30,300       31,685       29,796       42,078       31,047       34,108       33,751  

Of which Products

    24,569       20,248       21,316       20,004       28,219       19,812       23,501       23,325  

Of which Services

    11,616       10,052       10,369       9,792       13,859       11,235       10,607       10,426  

Digital Services

    12,865       9,329       10,007       8,780       14,079       11,032       10,794       9,393  

Of which Products

    6,753       5,074       5,476       4,446       7,289       6,102       5,691       5,438  

Of which Services

    6,112       4,255       4,531       4,334       6,790       4,930       5,103       3,955  

Managed Services

    6,185       6,138       6,192       5,979       6,662       6,862       7,015       6,962  

Other

    1,964       2,029       2,055       1,814       2,396       2,135       2,191       2,103  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    2017     2016  

Sequential change, percent

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

    19     -4     6     -29     36     -9     1     —    

Of which Products

    21     -5     7     -29     42     -16     1     —    

Of which Services

    16     -3     6     -29     23     6     2     —    

Digital Services

    38     -7     14     -38     28     2     15     —    

Of which Products

    33     -7     23     -39     19     7     5     —    

Of which Services

    44     -6     5     -36     38     -3     29     —    

Managed Services

    1     -1     4     -10     -3     -2     1     —    

Other

    -3     -1     13     -24     12     -3     4     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    20     -4     8     -29     28     -6     4     -29
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    2017     2016  

Year over year change, percent

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

    -14     -2     -7     -12     —         —         —         —    

Of which Products

    -13     2     -9     -14     —         —         —         —    

Of which Services

    -16     -11     -2     -6     —         —         —         —    

Digital Services

    -9     -15     -7     -7     —         —         —         —    

Of which Products

    -7     -17     -4     -18     —         —         —         —    

Of which Services

    -10     -14     -11     10     —         —         —         —    

Managed Services

    -7     -11     -12     -14     —         —         —         —    

Other

    -18     -5     -6     -14     —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -12     -6     -8     -11     -11     -14     -11     -2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    2017     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

  Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

    127,966       91,781       61,481       29,796       140,984       98,906       67,859       33,751  

Of which Products

    86,137       61,568       41,320       20,004       94,857       66,638       46,826       23,325  

Of which Services

    41,829       30,213       20,161       9,792       46,127       32,268       21,033       10,426  

Digital Services

    40,981       28,116       18,787       8,780       45,298       31,219       20,187       9,393  

Of which Products

    21,749       14,996       9,922       4,446       24,520       17,231       11,129       5,438  

Of which Services

    19,232       13,120       8,865       4,334       20,778       13,988       9,058       3,955  

Managed Services

    24,494       18,309       12,171       5,979       27,501       20,839       13,977       6,962  

Other

    7,862       5,898       3,869       1,814       8,825       6,429       4,294       2,103  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    2017     2016  

Year over year change, percent

  Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

    -9     -7     -9     -12     -11     —         —         —    

Of which Products

    -9     -8     -12     -14     -13     —         —         —    

Of which Services

    -9     -6     -4     -6     -6     —         —         —    

Digital Services

    -10     -10     -7     -7     -8     —         —         —    

Of which Products

    -11     -13     -11     -18     -15     —         —         —    

Of which Services

    -7     -6     -2     10     2     —         —         —    

Managed Services

    -11     -12     -13     -14     -10     —         —         —    

Other

    -11     -8     -10     -14     -3     —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -10     -8     -9     -11     -10     -9     -7     -2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Net sales by segment has been restated for the first three quarters of 2017, each quarter of 2016 and for the full year 2015. Comparisons against isolated quarters in 2015 are not available by segment. Segment Other includes Emerging Business, iconectiv and Media.

 

36      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

SALES GROWTH ADJUSTED FOR COMPARABLE UNITS AND CURRENCY*

 

     2017     2016  

Sequential change, percent

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     17     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Digital Services

     35     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Managed Services

     -1     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other

     -6     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     17     1     9     -29     23     -9     6     -28
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2017     2016  

Isolated quarter, year over year change, percent

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     -9     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Digital Services

     -3     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Managed Services

     -3     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other

     -14     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -7     -3     -13     -16     -15     -14     -7     -1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2017     2016  

Year to date, year over year change, percent

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     -10     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Digital Services

     -9     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Managed Services

     -11     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other

     -11     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -10     -11     -15     -16     -10     -8     -4     -1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency has not been restated by segment for the first three quarters of 2017 and quarters in 2016.

GROSS INCOME AND GROSS MARGIN BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER

 

Isolated quarters,    2017     2016  

SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     11,534       9,765       10,644       8,679       12,194       9,750       12,196       12,959  

Digital Services

     971       2,469       2,940       -2,019       4,564       3,975       4,074       3,468  

Managed Services

     -748       -456       -65       -547       -64       233       599       294  

Other

     282       357       414       325       326       502       626       669  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     12,039       12,135       13,933       6,438       17,020       14,460       17,495       17,390  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Isolated quarters,    2017     2016  

As percentage of net sales

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     31.9     32.2     33.6     29.1     29.0     31.4     35.8     38.4

Digital Services

     7.5     26.5     29.4     -23.0     32.4     36.0     37.7     36.9

Managed Services

     -12.1     -7.4     -1.0     -9.1     -1.0     3.4     8.5     4.2

Other

     14.4     17.6     20.1     17.9     13.6     23.5     28.6     31.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     21.0     25.4     27.9     13.9     26.1     28.3     32.3     33.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date,    2017     2016  

SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     40,622       29,088       19,323       8,679       47,099       34,905       25,155       12,959  

Digital Services

     4,361       3,390       921       -2,019       16,081       11,517       7,542       3,468  

Managed Services

     -1,816       -1,068       -612       -547       1,062       1,126       893       294  

Other

     1,378       1,096       739       325       2,123       1,797       1,295       669  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     44,545       32,506       20,371       6,438       66,365       49,345       34,885       17,390  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date,    2017     2016  

As percentage of net sales

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     31.7     31.7     31.4     29.1     33.4     35.3     37.1     38.4

Digital Services

     10.6     12.1     4.9     -23.0     35.5     36.9     37.4     36.9

Managed Services

     -7.4     -5.8     -5.0     -9.1     3.9     5.4     6.4     4.2

Other

     17.5     18.6     19.1     17.9     24.1     28.0     30.2     31.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     22.1     22.6     21.2     13.9     29.8     31.4     32.8     33.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

37      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

OPERATING INCOME AND OPERATING MARGIN BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER

 

Isolated quarters,   2017     2016  

SEK million

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

    1,627       1,485       3,173       1,359       3,447       3,136       4,908       6,079  

Digital Services

    -12,440       -3,931       -2,590       -8,711       -2,029       -1,479       -1,416       -1,739  

Managed Services

    -1,302       -813       -337       -1,822       -492       -177       182       -20  

Other

    -7,641       -1,539       -1,479       -3,165       -1,206       -1,139       -911       -845  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -19,756       -4,798       -1,233       -12,339       -280       341       2,763       3,475  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Isolated quarters,   2017     2016  

As percentage of net sales

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

    4.5     4.9     10.0     4.6     8.2     10.1     14.4     18.0

Digital Services

    -96.7     -42.1     -25.9     -99.2     -14.4     -13.4     -13.1     -18.5

Managed Services

    -21.1     -13.2     -5.4     -30.5     -7.4     -2.6     2.6     -0.3

Other

    -389.1     -75.9     -72.0     -174.5     -50.3     -53.3     -41.6     -40.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -34.5     -10.0     -2.5     -26.6     -0.4     0.7     5.1     6.7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date,   2017     2016  

SEK million

  Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

    7,644       6,017       4,532       1,359       17,570       14,123       10,987       6,079  

Digital Services

    -27,672       -15,232       -11,301       -8,711       -6,663       -4,634       -3,155       -1,739  

Managed Services

    -4,274       -2,972       -2,159       -1,822       -507       -15       162       -20  

Other

    -13,824       -6,183       -4,644       -3,165       -4,101       -2,895       -1,756       -845  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -38,126       -18,370       -13,572       -12,339       6,299       6,579       6,238       3,475  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date   2017     2016  

As percentage of net sales

  Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

    6.0     6.6     7.4     4.6     12.5     14.3     16.2     18.0

Digital Services

    -67.5     -54.2     -60.2     -99.2     -14.7     -14.8     -15.6     -18.5

Managed Services

    -17.4     -16.2     -17.7     -30.5     -1.8     -0.1     1.2     -0.3

Other

    -175.8     -104.8     -120.0     -174.5     -46.5     -45.0     -40.9     -40.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -18.9     -12.7     -14.1     -26.6     2.8     4.2     5.9     6.7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

38      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

EBITA AND EBITA MARGIN BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER    

 

Isolated quarters,   2017     2016  

SEK million

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

    1,714       1,570       3,258       1,540       3,647       3,334       5,107       6,282  

Digital Services

    -5,059       -3,738       -2,387       -7,953       -1,784       -1,184       -1,177       -1,478  

Managed Services

    -1,295       -812       -338       -1,818       -488       -174       185       -16  

Other

    -1,163       -1,439       -1,321       -2,233       -1,015       -944       -717       -629  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -5,803       -4,419       -788       -10,464       360       1,032       3,398       4,159  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Isolated quarters   2017     2016  

As percentage of net sales

  Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

    4.7     5.2     10.3     5.2     8.7     10.7     15.0     18.6

Digital Services

    -39.3     -40.1     -23.9     -90.6     -12.7     -10.7     -10.9     -15.7

Managed Services

    -20.9     -13.2     -5.5     -30.4     -7.3     -2.5     2.6     -0.2

Other

    -59.2     -70.9     -64.3     -123.1     -42.4     -44.2     -32.7     -29.9
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -10.1     -9.2     -1.6     -22.6     0.6     2.0     6.3     8.0
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date,   2017     2016  

SEK million

  Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

    8,082       6,368       4,798       1,540       18,370       14,723       11,389       6,282  

Digital Services

    -19,137       -14,078       -10,340       -7,953       -5,623       -3,839       -2,655       -1,478  

Managed Services

    -4,263       -2,968       -2,156       -1,818       -493       -5       169       -16  

Other

    -6,156       -4,993       -3,554       -2,233       -3,305       -2,290       -1,346       -629  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -21,474       -15,671       -11,252       -10,464       8,949       8,589       7,557       4,159  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date   2017     2016  

As a percentage of net sales

  Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

    6.3     6.9     7.8     5.2     13.0     14.9     16.8     18.6

Digital Services

    -46.7     -50.1     -55.0     -90.6     -12.4     -12.3     -13.2     -15.7

Managed Services

    -17.4     -16.2     -17.7     -30.4     -1.8 %     0.0     1.2     -0.2

Other

    -78.3     -84.7     -91.9     -123.1     -37.5     -35.6     -31.3     -29.9
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    -10.7     -10.9     -11.7     -22.6     4.0     5.5     7.1     8.0
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

39      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

NET SALES

BY MARKET AREA BY QUARTER*

 

     2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     7,634       7,391       7,608       7,935       9,607       7,548       7,620       7,822  

North East Asia

     6,664       5,517       5,811       5,514       9,566       6,079       6,006       5,534  

North America

     14,486       11,597       12,022       11,516       14,245       12,571       12,645       12,542  

Europe and Latin America 1) 2)

     16,545       13,334       14,381       11,915       18,020       14,209       16,152       14,162  

Middle East and Africa

     7,578       6,189       5,971       5,335       9,047       6,241       7,208       5,608  

Other 1) 2)

     4,292       3,768       4,146       4,154       4,730       4,428       4,477       6,541  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

1) Of which in Sweden

     795       568       701       925       843       690       477       1,113  

2) Of which in EU

     10,534       8,459       8,840       8,239       11,154       8,507       9,635       9,229  
     2017     2016  

Sequential change, percent

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     3     -3     -4     -17     27     -1     -3     —    

North East Asia

     21     -5     5     -42     57     1     9     —    

North America

     25     -4     4     -19     13     -1     1     —    

Europe and Latin America 1) 2)

     24     -7     21     -34     27     -12     14     —    

Middle East and Africa

     22     4     12     -41     45     -13     29     —    

Other 1) 2)

     14     -9     0     -12     7     -1     -32     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     20     -4     8     -29     28     -6     4     -29
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

1) Of which in Sweden

     40     -19     -24     10     22     45     -57     15

2) Of which in EU

     25     -4     7     -26     31     -12     4     -27
     2017     2016  

Year-over-year change, percent

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     -21     -2     0     1     —         —         —         —    

North East Asia

     -30     -9     -3     0     —         —         —         —    

North America

     2     -8     -5     -8     —         —         —         —    

Europe and Latin America 1) 2)

     -8     -6     -11     -16     —         —         —         —    

Middle East and Africa

     -16     -1     -17     -5     —         —         —         —    

Other 1) 2)

     -9     -15     -7     -36     —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -12     -6     -8     -11     -11     -14     -11     -2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

1) Of which in Sweden

     -6     -18     47     -17     -13     -39     -20     2

2) Of which in EU

     -6     -1     -8     -11     -12     -20     -16     -15
     2017     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     30,568       22,934       15,543       7,935       32,597       22,990       15,442       7,822  

North East Asia

     23,506       16,842       11,325       5,514       27,185       17,619       11,540       5,534  

North America

     49,621       35,135       23,538       11,516       52,003       37,758       25,187       12,542  

Europe and Latin America 1) 2)

     56,175       39,630       26,296       11,915       62,543       44,523       30,314       14,162  

Middle East and Africa

     25,073       17,495       11,306       5,335       28,104       19,057       12,816       5,608  

Other 1) 2)

     16,360       12,068       8,300       4,154       20,176       15,446       11,018       6,541  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

1) Of which in Sweden

     2,989       2,194       1,626       925       3,123       2,280       1,590       1,113  

2) Of which in EU

     36,072       25,538       17,079       8,239       38,525       27,371       18,864       9,229  
     2017     2016  

Year to date, year-over-year change, percent

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     -6     0     1     1     1     —         —         —    

North East Asia

     -14     -4     -2     0     -3     —         —         —    

North America

     -5     -7     -7     -8     -6     —         —         —    

Europe and Latin America 1) 2)

     -10     -11     -13     -16     -15     —         —         —    

Middle East and Africa

     -11     -8     -12     -5     -15     —         —         —    

Other 1) 2)

     -19     -22     -25     -36     -19     —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -10     -8     -9     -11     -10     -9     -7     -2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

1) Of which in Sweden

     -4     -4     2     -17     -18     -19     -6     2

2) Of which in EU

     -6     -7     -9     -11     -15     -17     -16     -15

 

* Net sales by geographical area has been restated. Media and Emerging Business, previously reported per geographical area, are reported in Other. All changes have been applied retrospectively to ensure valid comparisons between periods.
  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

40      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

TOP 5 COUNTRIES IN SALES

 

Country    Q4     Jan-Dec  

Percentage of Net sales

   2017     2016     2017     2016  

United States

     26     23     26     25

China

     7     9     7     9

India

     4     5     5     5

Japan

     4     4     4     3

Australia

     3     3     4     3

NET SALES BY MARKET AREA BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER

 

     Q4 2017     Jan-Dec 2017  

SEK million

   Networks     Digital
Services
    Managed
Services
    Other     Total     Networks     Digital
Services
    Managed
Services
    Other     Total  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     5,665       1,340       623       6       7,634       22,512       4,878       3,171       7       30,568  

North East Asia

     4,435       1,716       510       3       6,664       16,000       5,717       1,776       13       23,506  

North America

     11,716       2,045       687       38       14,486       38,769       7,492       3,253       107       49,621  

Europe and Latin America

     8,389       4,619       3,460       77       16,545       29,211       14,100       12,599       265       56,175  

Middle East and Africa

     4,139       2,623       905       -89       7,578       14,033       7,305       3,695       40       25,073  

Other

     1,841       522       —         1,929       4,292       7,441       1,489       —         7,430       16,360  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     36,185       12,865       6,185       1,964       57,199       127,966       40,981       24,494       7,862       201,303  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share of total

     63     23     11     3     100     64     20     12     4     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Q4 2017  

Sequential change, percent

   Networks     Digital
Services
    Managed
Services
    Other     Total  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     6     28     39     —         3

North East Asia

     21     20     19     -57     21

North America

     29     19     -12     46     25

Europe and Latin America

     20     45     15     -37     24

Middle East and Africa

     18     54     0     -262     22

Other

     7     120     —         6     14
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     19     38     1     -3     20
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Q4 2017     Jan-Dec 2017  

Year over year change, percent

   Networks     Digital
Services
    Managed
Services
    Other     Total     Networks     Digital
Services
    Managed
Services
    Other     Total  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     -25     2     -17     500     -21     -9     9     -5     17     -6

North East Asia

     -34     -28     2     50     -30     -14     -20     18     44     -14

North America

     6     -8     -23     19     2     2     -2     -47     26     -5

Europe and Latin America

     -8     -15     2     75     -8     -13     -13     0     89     -10

Middle East and Africa

     -28     20     -19     -990     -16     -16     -1     -7     -52     -11

Other

     -2     -3     —         -16     -9     -20     -37     —         -13     -19
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -14     -9     -7     -18     -12     -9     -10     -11     -11     -10
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

IPR LICENSING REVENUES BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Networks

     1,668        1,564        1,601        1,649        1,653        1,649        1,768        3,141  

Digital Services

     366        344        351        362        363        363        388        689  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2,034        1,908        1,952        2,011        2,016        2,012        2,156        3,830  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

Networks

     6,482        4,814        3,250        1,649        8,211        6,558        4,909        3,141  

Digital Services

     1,423        1,057        713        362        1,803        1,440        1,077        689  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     7,905        5,871        3,963        2,011        10,014        7,998        5,986        3,830  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

41      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

PROVISIONS

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Opening balance

     9,576        10,412        10,560        6,357        3,245        3,387        3,532        3,838  

Additions

     2,769        1,942        1,403        6,365        4,349        666        839        492  

Utilization/Cash out

     -2,186        -2,626        -1,324        -2,085        -976        -716        -794        -667  

Of which restructuring

     -1,204        -1,461        -1,075        -1,586        -785        -529        -639        -487  

Reversal of excess amounts

     -199        -32        -65        -66        -253        -129        -240        -67  

Reclassification, translation difference and other

     -14        -120        -162        -11        -8        37        50        -64  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Closing balance

     9,946        9,576        10,412        10,560        6,357        3,245        3,387        3,532  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Of which restructuring

     4,043        3,458        4,003        4,059        4,163        1,190        1,173        1,237  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

Opening balance

     6,357        6,357        6,357        6,357        3,838        3,838        3,838        3,838  

Additions

     12,479        9,710        7,768        6,365        6,346        1,997        1,331        492  

Utilization/Cash out

     -8,221        -6,035        -3,409        -2,085        -3,153        -2,177        -1,461        -667  

Of which restructuring

     -5,326        -4,122        -2,661        -1,586        -2,440        -1,655        -1,126        -487  

Reversal of excess amounts

     -362        -163        -131        -66        -689        -436        -307        -67  

Reclassification, translation difference and other

     -307        -293        -173        -11        15        23        -14        -64  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Closing balance

     9,946        9,576        10,412        10,560        6,357        3,245        3,387        3,532  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Of which restructuring

     4,043        3,458        4,003        4,059        4,163        1,190        1,173        1,237  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

INFORMATION ON INVESTMENTS

Investments in assets subject to depreciation, amortization, impairment and write-downs

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Additions

                       

Property, plant and equipment

     1,105        739        1,018        1,015        1,699        1,384        1,572        1,474  

Capitalized development expenses 1)

     138        126        315        865        1,291        885        1,099        1,208  

Goodwill, IPR, brands and other intangible assets

     315        1        19        1        0        -4        13        5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,558        866        1,352        1,881        2,990        2,265        2,684        2,687  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses

                       

Property, plant and equipment

     1,284        2,894        1,061        1,075        1,318        1,106        1,083        1,062  

Capitalized development expenses

     881        874        690        2,481        652        511        386        351  

Goodwill, IPR, brands and other intangible assets

     13,953        378        446        1,875        640        691        635        684  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     16,118        4,146        2,197        5,431        2,610        2,308        2,104        2,097  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1) Including reclassification

 

     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

Additions

                       

Property, plant and equipment

     3,877        2,772        2,033        1,015        6,129        4,430        3,046        1,474  

Capitalized development expenses 1)

     1,444        1,306        1,180        865        4,483        3,192        2,307        1,208  

Goodwill, IPR, brands and other intangible assets

     336        21        20        1        14        14        18        5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     5,657        4,099        3,233        1,881        10,626        7,636        5,371        2,687  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses

                       

Property, plant and equipment

     6,314        5,030        2,136        1,075        4,569        3,251        2,145        1,062  

Capitalized development expenses

     4,926        4,045        3,171        2,481        1,900        1,248        737        351  

Goodwill, IPR, brands and other intangible assets

     16,652        2,699        2,321        1,875        2,650        2,010        1,319        684  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     27,892        11,774        7,628        5,431        9,119        6,509        4,201        2,097  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1) Including reclassification

 

42      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

OTHER INFORMATION

 

     Oct-Dec     Jan-Dec  

SEK million

   2017     2016     2017     2016  

Number of shares and earnings per share

        

Number of shares, end of period (million)

     3,334       3,331       3,334       3,331  

Of which class A-shares (million)

     262       262       262       262  

Of which class B-shares (million)

     3,072       3,069       3,072       3,069  

Number of treasury shares, end of period (million)

     50       62       50       62  

Number of shares outstanding, basic, end of period (million)

     3,284       3,269       3,284       3,269  

Numbers of shares outstanding, diluted, end of period (million)

     3,324       3,309       3,324       3,309  

Average number of treasury shares (million)

     52       63       56       60  

Average number of shares outstanding, basic (million)

     3,283       3,268       3,277       3,263  

Average number of shares outstanding, diluted (million) 1)

     3,322       3,308       3,317       3,303  

Earnings per share, basic (SEK)

     -5.75       -0.49       -10.74       0.53  

Earnings per share, diluted (SEK) 1)

     -5.68       -0.48       -10.61       0.52  

Earnings per share (Non-IFRS), diluted (SEK) 2)

     -1.19       0.62       -3.99       2.66  

Ratios

        

Days sales outstanding

     —         —         101       95  

Inventory turnover days

     58       61       64       69  

Payable days

     50       44       60       56  

Alternative Performance Measures (APMs)

        

Equity ratio (%)

     —         —         38.4     49.6

Return on equity (%)

     -70.3     -4.7     -29.4     1.2

Return on capital employed (%)

     -48.0     -0.5     -22.0     3.2

Capital turnover (times)

     1.4       1.4       1.2       1.2  

Free cash flow

     10,134       14,308       5,109       254  

Cash conversion (%)

     -249.3     1246.80     -58.3     175.0

Exchange rates used in the consolidation

        

SEK/EUR- closing rate

     —         —         9.83       9.56  

SEK/USD- closing rate

     —         —         8.20       9.06  

Other

        

Regional inventory, end of period

     13,893       16,231       13,893       16,231  

Export sales from Sweden

     23,415       33,396       86,812       107,036  

 

1) Potential ordinary shares are not considered when their conversion to ordinary shares would increase earnings per share.
2) Excluding amortizations and write-downs of acquired intangibles and restructuring charges.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

 

     2017      2016  

End of period

   Dec 31      Sep 30      Jun 30      Mar 31      Dec 31      Sep 30      Jun 30      Mar 31  

South East Asia, Oceania and India

     24,495        26,396        26,748        27,221        26,570        26,453        26,725        26,602  

North East Asia

     12,456        12,945        12,972        12,962        13,042        13,434        13,547        13,623  

North America

     10,009        10,665        11,073        11,253        11,547        12,229        13,838        14,081  

Europe and Latin America 1)

     49,231        50,832        53,173        54,194        54,873        56,035        56,477        55,009  

Middle East and Africa

     4,544        5,014        5,161        5,268        5,432        5,646        5,920        5,985  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     100,735        105,852        109,127        110,898        111,464        113,797        116,507        115,300  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

1) Of which in Sweden

     13,864        14,195        14,483        14,712        15,303        15,872        16,190        16,290  

 

43      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

ITEMS EXCLUDING RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

RESTRUCTURING CHARGES BY FUNCTION

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Cost of sales

     -2,038        -817        -927        -1,460        -2,140        -546        -461        -328  

Research and development expenses

     147        -1,896        -344        -214        -1,531        -529        -422        -257  

Selling and administrative expenses

     -534        -106        -243        -69        -978        -190        -138        -47  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     -2,425        -2,819        -1,514        -1,743        -4,649        -1,265        -1,021        -632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

Cost of sales

     -5,242        -3,204        -2,387        -1,460        -3,475        -1,335        -789        -328  

Research and development expenses

     -2,307        -2,454        -558        -214        -2,739        -1,208        -679        -257  

Selling and administrative expenses

     -952        -418        -312        -69        -1,353        -375        -185        -47  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     -8,501        -6,076        -3,257        -1,743        -7,567        -2,918        -1,653        -632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

RESTRUCTURING CHARGES BY SEGMENT

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Networks

     -1,260        -1,409        -816        -1,343        -2,139        -492        -380        -402  

of which cost of sales

     -1,052        -430        -512        -1,153        -1,096        -325        -275        -228  

of which operating expenses

     -208        -979        -304        -190        -1,043        -167        -105        -174  

Digital Services

     -686        -1,103        -454        -270        -1,849        -598        -529        -200  

of which cost of sales

     -609        -241        -242        -195        -724        -84        -136        -76  

of which operating expenses

     -77        -862        -212        -75        -1,125        -514        -393        -124  

Managed Services

     -376        -99        -115        -85        -246        -71        -41        -24  

of which cost of sales

     -326        -94        -113        -83        -196        -65        -37        -23  

of which operating expenses

     -50        -5        -2        -2        -50        -6        -4        -1  

Other

     -103        -208        -129        -45        -415        -104        -71        -6  

of which cost of sales

     -51        -52        -60        -29        -124        -72        -13        -1  

of which operating expenses

     -52        -156        -69        -16        -291        -32        -58        -5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     -2,425        -2,819        -1,514        -1,743        -4,649        -1,265        -1,021        -632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

Networks

     -4,828        -3,568        -2,159        -1,343        -3,413        -1,274        -782        -402  

of which cost of sales

     -3,147        -2,095        -1,665        -1,153        -1,924        -828        -503        -228  

of which operating expenses

     -1,681        -1,473        -494        -190        -1,489        -446        -279        -174  

Digital Services

     -2,513        -1,827        -724        -270        -3,176        -1,327        -729        -200  

of which cost of sales

     -1,287        -678        -437        -195        -1,020        -296        -212        -76  

of which operating expenses

     -1,226        -1,149        -287        -75        -2,156        -1,031        -517        -124  

Managed Services

     -675        -299        -200        -85        -382        -136        -65        -24  

of which cost of sales

     -616        -290        -196        -83        -321        -125        -60        -23  

of which operating expenses

     -59        -9        -4        -2        -61        -11        -5        -1  

Other

     -485        -382        -174        -45        -596        -181        -77        -6  

of which cost of sales

     -192        -141        -89        -29        -210        -86        -14        -1  

of which operating expenses

     -293        -241        -85        -16        -386        -95        -63        -5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     -8,501        -6,076        -3,257        -1,743        -7,567        -2,918        -1,653        -632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

44      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

GROSS INCOME AND GROSS MARGIN

EXCLUDING RESTRUCTURING BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER

 

Isolated quarters,    2017     2016  

SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     12,586       10,195       11,156       9,832       13,290       10,075       12,471       13,187  

Digital Services

     1,580       2,710       3,182       -1,824       5,288       4,059       4,210       3,544  

Managed Services

     -422       -362       48       -464       132       298       636       317  

Other

     333       409       474       354       450       574       639       670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     14,077       12,952       14,860       7,898       19,160       15,006       17,956       17,718  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Isolated quarters,

As percentage of net sales

   2017     2016  
   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     34.8     33.6     35.2     33.0     31.6     32.5     36.6     39.1

Digital Services

     12.3     29.0     31.8     -20.8     37.6     36.8     39.0     37.7

Managed Services

     -6.8     -5.9     0.8     -7.8     2.0     4.3     9.1     4.6

Other

     17.0     20.2     23.1     19.5     18.8     26.9     29.2     31.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     24.6     27.1     29.8     17.0     29.4     29.4     33.2     33.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year to date,

SEK million

   2017     2016  
   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     43,769       31,183       20,988       9,832       49,023       35,733       25,658       13,187  

Digital Services

     5,648       4,068       1,358       -1,824       17,101       11,813       7,754       3,544  

Managed Services

     -1,200       -778       -416       -464       1,383       1,251       953       317  

Other

     1,570       1,237       828       354       2,333       1,883       1,309       670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     49,787       35,710       22,758       7,898       69,840       50,680       35,674       17,718  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year to date,

As percentage of net sales

   2017     2016  
   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     34.2     34.0     34.1     33.0     34.8     36.1     37.8     39.1

Digital Services

     13.8     14.5     7.2     -20.8     37.8     37.8     38.4     37.7

Managed Services

     -4.9     -4.2     -3.4     -7.8     5.0     6.0     6.8     4.6

Other

     20.0     21.0     21.4     19.5     26.4     29.3     30.5     31.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     24.7     24.8     23.6     17.0     31.4     32.2     33.6     33.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

45      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

OPERATING INCOME AND OPERATING MARGIN

EXCLUDING RESTRUCTURING BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER

 

Isolated quarters,    2017     2016  

SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     2,887       2,894       3,989       2,702       5,586       3,628       5,288       6,481  

Digital Services

     -11,754       -2,828       -2,136       -8,441       -180       -881       -887       -1,539  

Managed Services

     -926       -714       -222       -1,737       -246       -106       223       4  

Other

     -7,538       -1,331       -1,350       -3,120       -791       -1,035       -840       -839  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -17,331       -1,979       281       -10,596       4,369       1,606       3,784       4,107  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Isolated quarters,    2017     2016  

As percentage of net sales

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     8.0     9.6     12.6     9.1     13.3     11.7     15.5     19.2

Digital Services

     -91.4     -30.3     -21.3     -96.1     -1.3     -8.0     -8.2     -16.4

Managed Services

     -15.0     -11.6     -3.6     -29.1     -3.7     -1.5     3.2     0.1

Other

     -383.8     -65.6     -65.7     -172.0     -33.0     -48.5     -38.3     -39.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -30.3     -4.1     0.6     -22.9     6.7     3.1     7.0     7.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date,    2017     2016  

SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     12,472       9,585       6,691       2,702       20,983       15,397       11,769       6,481  

Digital Services

     -25,159       -13,405       -10,577       -8,441       -3,487       -3,307       -2,426       -1,539  

Managed Services

     -3,599       -2,673       -1,959       -1,737       -125       121       227       4  

Other

     -13,339       -5,801       -4,470       -3,120       -3,505       -2,714       -1,679       -839  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -29,625       -12,294       -10,315       -10,596       13,866       9,497       7,891       4,107  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Year to date,    2017     2016  

As percentage of net sales

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     9.7     10.4     10.9     9.1     14.9     15.6     17.3     19.2

Digital Services

     -61.4     -47.7     -56.3     -96.1     -7.7     -10.6     -12.0     -16.4

Managed Services

     -14.7     -14.6     -16.1     -29.1     -0.5     0.6     1.6     0.1

Other

     -169.7     -98.4     -115.5     -172.0     -39.7     -42.2     -39.1     -39.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     -14.7     -8.5     -10.7     -22.9     6.2     6.0     7.4     7.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

46      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME AND GROSS MARGIN BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER*

* Excluding restructuring charges and certain other items affecting comparability in 2017. See 2017 quarterly earnings reports for more details.

 

Isolated quarters,

SEK million

   2017     2016  
   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     13,010       10,924       11,156       11,466       13,290       10,075       12,471       13,187  

Digital Services

     3,194       2,758       3,182       2,825       5,288       4,059       4,210       3,544  

Managed Services

     227       193       48       -64       132       298       636       317  

Other

     705       409       474       368       450       574       639       670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     17,136       14,284       14,860       14,595       19,160       15,006       17,956       17,718  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Isolated quarters,

As percentage of net sales

   2017     2016  
   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     35.9     35.9     35.2     36.9     31.6     32.5     36.6     39.1

Digital Services

     24.8     29.6     31.8     31.8     37.6     36.8     39.0     37.7

Managed Services

     3.7     3.3     0.8     -1.1     2.0     4.3     9.1     4.6

Other

     35.9     20.2     23.1     20.2     18.8     26.9     29.2     31.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     29.9     30.0     29.8     30.5     29.4     29.4     33.2     33.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year to date,

SEK million

   2017*     2016  
   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     46,556       33,546       22,622       11,466       49,023       35,733       25,658       13,187  

Digital Services

     11,959       8,765       6,007       2,825       17,101       11,813       7,754       3,544  

Managed Services

     404       177       -16       -64       1,383       1,251       953       317  

Other

     1,956       1,251       842       368       2,333       1,883       1,309       670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     60,875       43,739       29,455       14,595       69,840       50,680       35,674       17,718  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year to date,

As percentage of net sales

   2017*     2016  
   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     36.0     36.0     36.0     36.9     34.8     36.1     37.8     39.1

Digital Services

     29.1     31.1     31.8     31.8     37.8     37.8     38.4     37.7

Managed Services

     1.7     1.0     -0.1     -1.1     5.0     6.0     6.8     4.6

Other

     24.8     21.2     21.7     20.2     26.4     29.3     30.5     31.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     30.0     30.1     30.1     30.5     31.4     32.2     33.6     33.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Q1 figures are adjusted to exclude the asset write-downs, provisions and adjustments related to the March 28 announcement. Q3 and Q4 figures are adjusted to exclude the market and customer project adjustments announced in the Q2 report and originally estimated at SEK 3-5 billion. The Q2 figures do not include any adjustments. Year to date figures presented are a sum of the adjusted individual quarters and do not necessarily represent adjustments calculated on a full year basis.

 

47      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME AND OPERATING MARGIN BY SEGMENT BY QUARTER*

* Excluding restructuring charges and certain other items affecting comparability in 2017. See 2017 quarterly earnings reports for more details.

 

Isolated quarters,

SEK million

   2017     2016  
   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     4,172       4,226       3,989       4,777       5,586       3,628       5,288       6,481  

Digital Services

     -2,703       -2,791       -2,136       -1,927       -180       -881       -887       -1,539  

Managed Services

     -286       -144       -222       -386       -246       -106       223       4  

Other

     -783       -1,331       -1,350       -1,371       -791       -1,035       -840       -839  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     400       -40       281       1,093       4,369       1,606       3,784       4,107  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Isolated quarters,

As percentage of net sales

   2017     2016  
   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Networks

     11.5     13.9     12.6     15.4     13.3     11.7     15.5     19.2

Digital Services

     -21.0     -29.9     -21.3     -21.7     -1.3     -8.0     -8.2     -16.4

Managed Services

     -4.6     -2.4     -3.6     -6.5     -3.7     -1.5     3.2     0.1

Other

     -39.9     -65.6     -65.7     -75.1     -33.0     -48.5     -38.3     -39.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     0.7     -0.1     0.6     2.3     6.7     3.1     7.0     7.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year to date,

SEK million

   2017*     2016  
   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     17,164       12,992       8,766       4,777       20,983       15,397       11,769       6,481  

Digital Services

     -9,557       -6,854       -4,063       -1,927       -3,487       -3,307       -2,426       -1,539  

Managed Services

     -1,038       -752       -608       -386       -125       121       227       4  

Other

     -4,835       -4,052       -2,721       -1,371       -3,505       -2,714       -1,679       -839  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,734       1,334       1,374       1,093       13,866       9,497       7,891       4,107  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year to date,

As percentage of net sales

   2017*     2016  
   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Networks

     13.3     13.9     14.0     15.4     14.9     15.6     17.3     19.2

Digital Services

     -23.3     -24.3     -21.5     -21.7     -7.7     -10.6     -12.0     -16.4

Managed Services

     -4.3     -4.2     -5.0     -6.5     -0.5     0.6     1.6     0.1

Other

     -61.4     -68.6     -70.1     -75.1     -39.7     -42.2     -39.1     -39.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     0.9     0.9     1.4     2.3     6.2     6.0     7.4     7.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Q1 figures are adjusted to exclude the asset write-downs, provisions and adjustments related to the March 28 announcement. Q3 and Q4 figures are adjusted to exclude the market and customer project adjustments announced in the Q2 report and originally estimated at SEK 3-5 billion. The Q2 figures do not include any adjustments. Year to date figures presented are a sum of the adjusted individual quarters and do not necessarily represent adjustments calculated on a full year basis.

 

48      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

This section includes a reconciliation of certain Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) to the most directly reconcilable line items in the financial statements. The presentation of APMs has limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for related financial measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

APMs are presented to enhance an investor’s evaluation of ongoing operating results, to aid in forecasting future periods and to facilitate meaningful comparison of results between periods.

Management uses these APMs to, among other things, evaluate ongoing operations in relation to historical results, for internal planning and forecasting purposes and in the calculation of certain performance-based compensation.

The APMs presented in this report may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.

For additional information, see Alternative Performance Measures in the Ericsson Annual Report 2016.

 

 

SALES GROWTH ADJUSTED FOR

COMPARABLE UNITS AND CURRENCY

Sales growth adjusted for the impact of acquisitions and divestments as well as the effects of foreign currency fluctuations.

 

     2017     2016  

Isolated quarter, sequential change

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Reported net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Acquired/divested business

     —         —         —         —         —         -63       -35       —    

Net FX impact

     -1,178       2,860       509       234       -2,446       -1,924       1,221       766  

Comparable net sales, excluding FX impact

     56,021       50,656       50,448       46,603       62,769       49,089       55,294       52,975  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency (%)

     17     1     9     -29     23     -9     6     -28
     2017     2016  

Isolated quarter, year over year change

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Reported net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Acquired/divested business

     —         —         —         —         -49       -96       -95       -73  

Net FX impact

     3,374       1,761       -3,006       -2,435       -2,528       -200       2,329       655  

Comparable net sales, excluding FX impact

     60,573       49,557       46,933       43,934       62,638       50,780       56,342       52,791  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency (%)

     -7     -3     -13     -16     -15     -14     -7     -1
     2017     2016  

Year to date, year over year change

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Reported net sales

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Acquired/divested business

     —         —         —         —         -313       -264       -168       -73  

Net FX impact

     -306       -3,680       -5,441       -2,435       254       2,783       2,983       655  

Comparable net sales, excluding FX impact

     200,997       140,424       90,867       43,934       222,549       159,912       109,132       52,791  

Sales growth adjusted for comparable units and currency (%)

     -10     -11     -15     -16     -10     -8     -4     -1

 

49      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

ITEMS EXCLUDING RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

Gross income, operating expenses, and operating income are presented excluding restructuring charges and, for certain measures, as a percentage of net sales.

 

     2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Gross income

     12,039       12,135       13,933       6,438       17,020       14,460       17,495       17,390  

Net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Gross margin (%)

     21.0     25.4     27.9     13.9     26.1     28.3     32.3     33.3

Gross income

     12,039       12,135       13,933       6,438       17,020       14,460       17,495       17,390  

Restructuring charges included in cost of sales

     2,038       817       927       1,460       2,140       546       461       328  

Gross income, excluding restructuring charges

     14,077       12,952       14,860       7,898       19,160       15,006       17,956       17,718  

Net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Gross margin, excluding restructuring charges (%)

     24.6     27.1     29.8     17.0     29.4     29.4     33.2     33.9

Operating expenses

     -18,863       -17,354       -15,417       -18,929       -17,689       -14,093       -14,514       -14,205  

Restructuring charges included in R&D expenses

     -147       1,896       344       214       1,531       529       422       257  

Restructuring charges included in selling and administrative expenses

     534       106       243       69       978       190       138       47  

Operating expenses, excluding restructuring charges

     -18,476       -15,352       -14,830       -18,646       -15,180       -13,374       -13,954       -13,901  

Operating income

     -19,756       -4,798       -1,233       -12,339       -280       341       2,763       3,475  

Net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Operating margin (%)

     -34.5     -10.0     -2.5     -26.6     -0.4     0.7     5.1     6.7

Operating income

     -19,756       -4,798       -1,233       -12,339       -280       341       2,763       3,475  

Total restructuring charges

     2,425       2,819       1,514       1,743       4,649       1,265       1,021       632  

Operating income, excluding restructuring charges

     -17,331       -1,979       281       -10,596       4,369       1,606       3,784       4,107  

Net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Operating margin, excluding restructuring charges (%)

     -30.3     -4.1     0.6     -22.9     6.7     3.1     7.0     7.9
     2017     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Gross income

     44,545       32,506       20,371       6,438       66,365       49,345       34,885       17,390  

Net sales

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Gross margin (%)

     22.1     22.6     21.2     13.9     29.8     31.4     32.8     33.3

Gross income

     44,545       32,506       20,371       6,438       66,365       49,345       34,885       17,390  

Restructuring charges included in cost of sales

     5,242       3,204       2,387       1,460       3,475       1,335       789       328  

Gross income, excluding restructuring charges

     49,787       35,710       22,758       7,898       69,840       50,680       35,674       17,718  

Net sales

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Gross margin, excluding restructuring charges (%)

     24.7     24.8     23.6     17.0     31.4     32.2     33.6     33.9

Operating expenses

     -70,563       -51,700       -34,346       -18,929       -60,501       -42,812       -28,719       -14,205  

Restructuring charges included in R&D expenses

     2,307       2,454       558       214       2,739       1,208       679       257  

Restructuring charges included in selling and administrative expenses

     952       418       312       69       1,353       375       185       47  

Operating expenses, excluding restructuring charges

     -67,304       -48,828       -33,476       -18,646       -56,409       -41,229       -27,855       -13,901  

Operating income

     -38,126       -18,370       -13,572       -12,339       6,299       6,579       6,238       3,475  

Net sales

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Operating margin (%)

     -18.9     -12.7     -14.1     -26.6     2.8     4.2     5.9     6.7

Operating income

     -38,126       -18,370       -13,572       -12,339       6,299       6,579       6,238       3,475  

Total restructuring charges

     8,501       6,076       3,257       1,743       7,567       2,918       1,653       632  

Operating income, excluding restructuring charges

     -29,625       -12,294       -10,315       -10,596       13,866       9,497       7,891       4,107  

Net sales

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Operating margin, excluding restructuring charges (%)

     -14.7     -8.5     -10.7     -22.9     6.2     6.0     7.4     7.9

 

50      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

EBITA AND EBITA MARGIN

Earnings before interest, taxes, amortization and write-downs of acquired intangibles, also expressed as a percentage of net sales.

 

     2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Net income

     -18,864       -4,348       -996       -10,855       -1,597       -180       1,566       2,106  

Taxes

     -1,409       -766       -176       -1,916       634       -76       670       903  

Financial income and expenses

     517       316       -61       432       683       597       527       466  

Amortization and write-downs of acquired intangibles

     13,953       379       445       1,875       640       691       635       684  

EBITA

     -5,803       -4,419       -788       -10,464       360       1,032       3,398       4,159  

Net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

EBITA margin (%)

     -10     -9     -2     -23     1     2     6     8
     2017     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Net income

     -35,063       -16,199       -11,851       -10,855       1,895       3,492       3,672       2,106  

Taxes

     -4,267       -2,858       -2,092       -1,916       2,131       1,497       1,573       903  

Financial income and expenses

     1,204       687       371       432       2,273       1,590       993       466  

Amortization and write-downs of acquired intangibles

     16,652       2,699       2,320       1,875       2,650       2,010       1,319       684  

EBITA

     -21,474       -15,671       -11,252       -10,464       8,949       8,589       7,557       4,159  

Net sales

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

EBITA margin (%)

     -11     -11     -12     -23     4     5     7     8

CASH CONVERSION

Cash flow from operating activities divided by the sum of net income and adjustments to reconcile net income to cash, expressed as a percentage.

 

     2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Net income

     -18,864       -4,348       -996       -10,855       -1,597       -180       1,566       2,106  

Net income reconciled to cash

     -4,477       -1,921       -833       -9,249       1,557       1,498       1,321       3,631  

Cash flow from operating activities

     11,159       -18       1       -1,541       19,412       -2,317       -713       -2,372  

Cash conversion (%)

     -249.3     0.9     -0.1     16.7     1,246.8     -154.7     -54.0     -65.3
     2017     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Net income

     -35,063       -16,199       -11,851       -10,855       1,895       3,492       3,672       2,106  

Net income reconciled to cash

     -16,480       -12,003       -10,082       -9,249       8,007       6,450       4,952       3,631  

Cash flow from operating activities

     9,601       -1,558       -1,540       -1,541       14,010       -5,402       -3,085       -2,372  

Cash conversion (%)

     -58.3     13.0     15.3     16.7     175.0     -83.8     -62.3     -65.3

GROSS CASH AND NET CASH, END OF PERIOD

Gross cash: Cash and cash equivalents plus interest-bearing securities (current and non-current).

Net cash: Cash and cash equivalents plus interest-bearing securities (current and non-current) less interest-bearing liabilities (which include: non-current borrowings and current borrowings).

 

     2017      2016  

SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Cash and cash equivalents

     35,884        26,210        21,446        32,954        36,966        24,401        28,931        35,934  

+ Interest-bearing securities, current

     6,713        6,526        10,754        13,548        13,325        18,663        19,846        25,077  

+ Interest-bearing securities, non-current

     25,105        22,405        22,122        19,124        7,586        540        —          —    

Gross cash, end of period

     67,702        55,141        54,322        65,626        57,877        43,604        48,777        61,011  

- Borrowings, current

     2,545        3,004        3,230        9,514        8,033        9,007        9,653        2,414  

- Borrowings, non-current

     30,500        28,039        27,100        27,823        18,653        18,283        18,164        22,110  

Net cash, end of period

     34,657        24,098        23,992        28,289        31,191        16,314        20,960        36,487  

 

51      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

CAPITAL EMPLOYED

Total assets less non-interest-bearing provisions and liabilities.

 

     2017      2016  

SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Total assets

     260,544        267,240        274,931        292,207        283,347        275,718        277,387        280,325  

Non-interest-bearing provisions and liabilities

                       

Provisions, non-current

     3,596        3,930        4,794        4,867        946        170        245        158  

Deferred tax liabilities

     901        1,736        1,838        1,888        2,147        2,052        2,036        2,098  

Other non-current liabilities

     2,776        2,563        2,602        2,699        2,621        2,127        2,030        1,834  

Provisions, current

     6,350        5,646        5,618        5,694        5,411        3,075        3,142        3,374  

Trade payables

     26,321        23,560        25,025        25,814        25,318        21,633        23,709        21,549  

Other current liabilities

     62,370        56,541        57,345        63,293        56,003        52,896        54,394        55,429  

Capital employed

     158,230        173,264        177,709        187,952        190,901        193,765        191,831        195,883  

CAPITAL TURNOVER

Annualized net sales divided by average capital employed.

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Net sales

     57,199        47,796        49,939        46,369        65,215        51,076        54,108        52,209  

Annualized net sales

     228,796        191,184        199,756        185,476        260,860        204,304        216,432        208,836  

Average capital employed

                       

Capital employed at beginning of period

     173,264        177,709        187,952        190,901        193,765        191,831        195,883        195,150  

Capital employed at end of period

     158,230        173,264        177,709        187,952        190,901        193,765        191,831        195,883  

Average capital employed

     165,747        175,487        182,831        189,427        192,333        192,798        193,857        195,517  

Capital turnover (times)

     1.4        1.1        1.1        1.0        1.4        1.1        1.1        1.1  
     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

Net sales

     201,303        144,104        96,308        46,369        222,608        157,393        106,317        52,209  

Annualized net sales

     201,303        192,139        192,616        185,476        222,608        209,857        212,634        208,836  

Average capital employed

                       

Capital employed at beginning of period

     190,901        190,901        190,901        190,901        195,150        195,150        195,150        195,150  

Capital employed at end of period

     158,230        173,264        177,709        187,952        190,901        193,765        191,831        195,883  

Average capital employed

     174,566        182,083        184,305        189,427        193,026        194,458        193,491        195,517  

Capital turnover (times)

     1.2        1.1        1.0        1.0        1.2        1.1        1.1        1.1  

RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYED

The annualized total of operating income plus financial income as a percentage of average capital employed.

 

     2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Operating income

     -19,756       -4,798       -1,233       -12,339       -280       341       2,763       3,475  

Financial income

     -122       -135       -22       -82       61       -226       139       -89  

Annualized operating income + financial income

     -79,512       -19,732       -5,020       -49,684       -876       460       11,608       13,540  

Average capital employed

                

Capital employed at beginning of period

     173,264       177,709       187,952       190,901       193,765       191,831       195,883       195,150  

Capital employed at end of period

     158,230       173,264       177,709       187,952       190,901       193,765       191,831       195,883  

Average capital employed

     165,747       175,487       182,831       189,427       192,333       192,798       193,857       195,517  

Return on capital employed (%)

     -48.0     -11.2     -2.7     -26.2     -0.5     0.2     6.0     6.9
     2017     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Operating income

     -38,126       -18,370       -13,572       -12,339       6,299       6,579       6,238       3,475  

Financial income

     -361       -239       -104       -82       -115       -176       50       -89  

Annualized operating income + financial income

     -38,487       -24,812       -27,352       -49,684       6,184       8,537       12,576       13,540  

Average capital employed

                

Capital employed at beginning of period

     190,901       190,901       190,901       190,901       195,150       195,150       195,150       195,150  

Capital employed at end of period

     158,230       173,264       177,709       187,952       190,901       193,765       191,831       195,883  

Average capital employed

     174,566       182,083       184,305       189,427       193,026       194,458       193,491       195,517  

Return on capital employed (%)

     -22.0     -13.6     -14.8     -26.2     3.2     4.4     6.5     6.9

 

52      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

EQUITY RATIO

Equity, expressed as a percentage of total assets.

 

     2017     2016  

SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Total equity

     100,176       115,687       123,755       126,841       140,492       134,012       136,691       145,644  

Total assets

     260,544       267,240       274,931       292,207       283,347       275,718       277,387       280,325  

Equity ratio (%)

     38.4     43.3     45.0     43.4     49.6     48.6     49.3     52.0

RETURN ON EQUITY

Annualized net income attributable to stockholders of the Parent Company as a percentage of average Stockholders’ equity.

 

     2017     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Net income attributable to stockholders of the parent company

     -18,847       -4,452       -1,010       -10,897       -1,604       -233       1,587       1,966  

Annualized

     -75,388       -17,808       -4,040       -43,588       -6,416       -932       6,348       7,864  

Average stockholders’ equity

                

Stockholders’ equity, beginning of period

     115,072       123,045       126,105       139,817       133,138       135,746       144,699       146,525  

Stockholders’ equity, end of period

     99,540       115,072       123,045       126,105       139,817       133,138       135,746       144,699  

Average stockholders’ equity

     107,306       119,059       124,575       132,961       136,478       134,442       140,223       145,612  

Return on equity (%)

     -70.3     -15.0     -3.2     -32.8     -4.7     -0.7     4.5     5.4
     2017     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Net income attributable to stockholders of the parent company

     -35,206       -16,359       -11,907       -10,897       1,716       3,320       3,553       1,966  

Annualized

     -35,206       -21,812       -23,814       -43,588       1,716       4,427       7,106       7,864  

Average stockholders’ equity

                

Stockholders’ equity, beginning of period

     139,817       139,817       139,817       139,817       146,525       146,525       146,525       146,525  

Stockholders’ equity, end of period

     99,540       115,072       123,045       126,105       139,817       133,138       135,746       144,699  

Average stockholders’ equity

     119,679       127,445       131,431       132,961       143,171       139,832       141,136       145,612  

Return on equity (%)

     -29.4     -17.1     -18.1     -32.8     1.2     3.2     5.0     5.4

EARNINGS PER SHARE (NON-IFRS)

EPS, diluted, excluding amortizations and write-down of acquired intangible assets and excluding restructuring charges.

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

EPS diluted

     -5.68        -1.34        -0.30        -3.29        -0.48        -0.07        0.48        0.60  

Restructuring charges

     0.37        0.71        0.38        0.45        0.97        0.27        0.22        0.13  

Amortization and write-downs of acquired intangibles

     4.12        0.08        0.09        0.42        0.13        0.14        0.13        0.14  

EPS (Non-IFRS)

     -1.19        -0.55        0.17        -2.42        0.62        0.34        0.83        0.87  
     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

EPS diluted

     -10.61        -4.93        -3.59        -3.29        0.52        1.01        1.08        0.60  

Restructuring charges

     1.91        1.54        0.83        0.45        1.59        0.62        0.35        0.13  

Amortization and write-downs of acquired intangibles

     4.71        0.59        0.51        0.42        0.55        0.41        0.27        0.14  

EPS (Non-IFRS)

     -3.99        -2.80        -2.25        -2.42        2.66        2.04        1.70        0.87  

 

53      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

FREE CASH FLOW

Cash flow from operating activities less net capital expenditures and other investments.

 

     2017      2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1  

Cash flow from operating activities

     11,159        -18        1        -1,541        19,412        -2,317        -713        -2,372  

Net capital expenditures and other investments

                       

Investments in property, plant and equipment

     -1,105        -739        -1,018        -1,015        -1,699        -1,384        -1,572        -1,474  

Sales of property, plant and equipment

     898        12        37        69        277        111        50        44  

Acquisitions/divestments of subsidiaries and other operations, net

     -107        371        9        3        -50        16        -480        -108  

Product development

     -138        -126        -315        -865        -1,291        -885        -1,099        -1,208  

Other investing activities

     -573        42        -42        110        -2,341        -508        -890        735  

Free cash flow

     10,134        -458        -1,328        -3,239        14,308        -4,967        -4,704        -4,383  
     2017      2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar      Jan-Dec      Jan-Sep      Jan-Jun      Jan-Mar  

Cash flow from operating activities

     9,601        -1,558        -1,540        -1,541        14,010        -5,402        -3,085        -2,372  

Net capital expenditures and other investments

                       

Investments in property, plant and equipment

     -3,877        -2,772        -2,033        -1,015        -6,129        -4,430        -3,046        -1,474  

Sales of property, plant and equipment

     1,016        118        106        69        482        205        94        44  

Acquisitions/divestments of subsidiaries and other operations, net

     276        383        12        3        -622        -572        -588        -108  

Product development

     -1,444        -1,306        -1,180        -865        -4,483        -3,192        -2,307        -1,208  

Other investing activities

     -463        110        68        110        -3,004        -663        -155        735  

Free cash flow

     5,109        -5,025        -4,567        -3,239        254        -14,054        -9,087        -4,383  

 

54      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

ITEMS EXCLUDING RESTRUCTURING, WRITE-DOWNS, SALES OF CERTAIN INVESTMENTS AS WELL AS PROVISIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS RELATED TO CERTAIN CUSTOMER PROJECTS

Net sales, gross income, research and development expenses, selling and administrative expenses, other operating income and expenses and operating income are presented excluding restructuring charges, write-down of assets, gains/losses on sales of certain investments and operations as well as provisions and adjustments related to certain customer projects. Numbers excluding these items are referred to as “adjusted”. Certain measures are also expressed as a percentage of adjusted net sales.

 

     2017*     2016  

Isolated quarters, SEK million

   Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1  

Net sales

     57,199       47,796       49,939       46,369       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Adjustments related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     —         —         —         1,420       —         —         —         —    

Adjustments related to certain market and customer project announced in Q2

     75       -132       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted net sales

     57,274       47,664       49,939       47,789       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Gross income

     12,039       12,135       13,933       6,438       17,020       14,460       17,495       17,390  

Restructuring charges

     2,038       817       927       1,460       2,140       546       461       328  

Write-down of assets

     694       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     —         —         —         6,697       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     2,365       1,332       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted gross income

     17,136       14,284       14,860       14,595       19,160       15,006       17,956       17,718  

Adjusted net sales

     57,274       47,664       49,939       47,789       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Adjusted gross margin (%)

     29.9     30.0     29.8     30.5     29.4     29.4     33.2     33.9

Research and development expenses

     -9,934       -10,520       -8,365       -9,068       -8,890       -7,855       -7,405       -7,485  

Restructuring charges

     -147       1,896       344       214       1,531       529       422       257  

Write-down of assets

     561       —         —         1,934       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     —         —         —         217       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     194       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted research and development expenses

     -9,326       -8,624       -8,021       -6,703       -7,359       -7,326       -6,983       -7,228  

Selling and administrative expenses

     -8,929       -6,834       -7,052       -9,861       -8,799       -6,238       -7,109       -6,720  

Restructuring charges

     534       106       243       69       978       190       138       47  

Write-down of assets

     263       —         —         1,362       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     —         —         —         1,479       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     688       920       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted selling and administrative expenses

     -7,444       -5,808       -6,809       -6,951       -7,821       -6,048       -6,971       -6,673  

Other operating income and expenses

     -12,927       415       239       141       364       -3       -230       273  

Write-down of assets

     12,966       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Gains/losses on sales of certain investments and operations

     —         -313       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted other operating income and expenses

     39       102       239       141       364       -3       -230       273  

Operating income

     -19,756       -4,798       -1,233       -12,339       -280       341       2,763       3,475  

Total restructuring charges

     2,425       2,819       1,514       1,743       4,649       1,265       1,021       632  

Total write-down of assets

     14,484       —         —         3,296       —         —         —         —    

Total gains/losses on sales of certain investments and operations

     —         -313       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Total provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     —         —         —         8,393       —         —         —         —    

Total provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     3,247       2,252       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted operating income

     400       -40       281       1,093       4,369       1,606       3,784       4,107  

Adjusted net sales

     57,274       47,664       49,939       47,789       65,215       51,076       54,108       52,209  

Adjusted operating margin (%)

     0.7     -0.1     0.6     2.3     6.7     3.1     7.0     7.9

 

* Q1 figures are adjusted to exclude the asset write-downs, provisions and adjustments related to the March 28 announcement. Q3 and Q4 figures are adjusted to exclude the market and customer project adjustments announced in the Q2 report and originally estimated at SEK 3-5 billion. The Q2 figures do not include any adjustments. Year to date figures presented are a sum of the adjusted individual quarters and do not necessarily represent adjustments calculated on a full year basis.

 

55      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017


Table of Contents

ITEMS EXCLUDING RESTRUCTURING, WRITE-DOWNS, SALES OF CERTAIN INVESTMENTS AS WELL AS PROVISIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS RELATED TO CERTAIN CUSTOMER PROJECTS

Net sales, gross income, research and development expenses, selling and administrative expenses, other operating income and expenses and operating income are presented excluding restructuring charges, write-down of assets, gains/losses on sales of certain investments and operations as well as provisions and adjustments related to certain customer projects. Numbers excluding these items are referred to as “adjusted”. Certain measures are also expressed as a percentage of adjusted net sales.

 

     2017*     2016  

Year to date, SEK million

   Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar     Jan-Dec     Jan-Sep     Jan-Jun     Jan-Mar  

Net sales

     201,303       144,104       96,308       46,369       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Adjustments related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     1,420       1,420       1,420       1,420       —         —         —         —    

Adjustments related to certain market and customer project announced in Q2

     -57       -132       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted net sales

     202,666       145,392       97,728       47,789       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Gross income

     44,545       32,506       20,371       6,438       66,365       49,345       34,885       17,390  

Restructuring charges

     5,242       3,204       2,387       1,460       3,475       1,335       789       328  

Write-down of assets

     694                

Provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     6,697       6,697       6,697       6,697       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     3,697       1,332       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted gross income

     60,875       43,739       29,455       14,595       69,840       50,680       35,674       17,718  

Adjusted net sales

     202,666       145,392       97,728       47,789       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Adjusted gross margin (%)

     30.0     30.1     30.1     30.5     31.4     32.2     33.6     33.9

Research and development expenses

     -37,887       -27,953       -17,433       -9,068       -31,635       -22,745       -14,890       -7,485  

Restructuring charges

     2,307       2,454       558       214       2,739       1,208       679       257  

Write-down of assets

     2,495       1,934       1,934       1,934       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     217       217       217       217       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     194       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted research and development expenses

     -32,674       -23,348       -14,724       -6,703       -28,896       -21,537       -14,211       -7,228  

Selling and administrative expenses

     -32,676       -23,747       -16,913       -9,861       -28,866       -20,067       -13,829       -6,720  

Restructuring charges

     952       418       312       69       1,353       375       185       47  

Write-down of assets

     1,625       1,362       1,362       1,362       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     1,479       1,479       1,479       1,479       —         —         —         —    

Provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     1,608       920       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted selling and administrative expenses

     -27,012       -19,568       -13,760       -6,951       -27,513       -19,692       -13,644       -6,673  

Other operating income and expenses

     -12,132       795       380       141       404       40       43       273  

Write-down of assets

     12,966       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Gains/losses on sales of certain investments and operations

     -313       -313       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted other operating income and expenses

     521       482       380       141       404       40       43       273  

Operating income

     -38,126       -18,370       -13,572       -12,339       6,299       6,579       6,238       3,475  

Total restructuring charges

     8,501       6,076       3,257       1,743       7,567       2,918       1,653       632  

Total write-down of assets

     17,780       3,296       3,296       3,296       —         —         —         —    

Total gains/losses on sales of certain investments and operations

     -313       -313       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Total provisions and adj. related to certain customer projects announced March 28

     8,393       8,393       8,393       8,393       —         —         —         —    

Total provisions and adj. related to certain market and customer projects announced in Q2

     5,499       2,252       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Adjusted operating income

     1,734       1,334       1,374       1,093       13,866       9,497       7,891       4,107  

Adjusted net sales

     202,666       145,392       97,728       47,789       222,608       157,393       106,317       52,209  

Adjusted operating margin (%)

     0.9     0.9     1.4     2.3     6.2     6.0     7.4     7.9

 

* Q1 figures are adjusted to exclude the asset write-downs, provisions and adjustments related to the March 28 announcement. Q3 and Q4 figures are adjusted to exclude the market and customer project adjustments announced in the Q2 report and originally estimated at SEK 3-5 billion. The Q2 figures do not include any adjustments. Year to date figures presented are a sum of the adjusted individual quarters and do not necessarily represent adjustments calculated on a full year basis.

 

56      Ericsson  |  Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Report 2017