Knorr Bremse AG

XETRA:KBX

Earnings Call Analysis

Strong Overall Performance Amid Challenges

Knorr-Bremse demonstrated resilience in the third quarter of 2024, achieving an order intake of more than EUR 1.9 billion across both divisions. This performance was particularly commendable considering the ongoing challenges in the truck market. The group maintained a book-to-bill ratio of 1.02, indicating a steady influx of orders compared to the turnover, which also exceeded EUR 1.9 billion.

Revenue Breakdown and Growth

The revenue performance varied significantly across divisions. The Rail Vehicle Systems (RVS) division saw a revenue increase of around 7% year-over-year, driven by a robust demand for both Original Equipment (OE) and aftermarket services, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. In contrast, the Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) reported a revenue decline of approximately 9%, reflecting the challenging truck market characterized by a 25% drop in truck production rates in Europe.

Profitability and Margin Improvements

Overall profitability improved, with the operating EBITDA margin rising to 12.3%, an increase of 80 basis points compared to the previous year. The RVS division played a crucial role in this uplift, achieving an operating EBITDA margin of 16%, aided by effective efficiency measures, improved pricing strategies, and a favorable product mix.

Cash Flow and Capital Efficiency

Notably, free cash flow showed significant improvement, amounting to EUR 184 million for the quarter, reflecting a year-over-year enhancement of nearly EUR 200 million in the nine-month period. The increase in cash flow underscores effective capital efficiency measures, including the 'collect' programs aimed at optimizing working capital and reducing inventories.

Guidance Update for 2024

Knorr-Bremse slightly raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of EUR 7.8 billion to EUR 8.1 billion. The operating EBITDA margin is maintained at an expected range of 11.5% to 13%. This guidance includes approximately EUR 100 million in revenues from the recently acquired KB Signaling unit, and acknowledges the integration costs and market uncertainties present in the truck sector.

Diverse Market Dynamics and Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the outlook for RVS remains optimistic, with anticipated mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2025, buoyed by demand in both North America and Europe, despite a forecast of challenging conditions for the truck segment. Current market dynamics suggest that improvements in truck production rates may not materialize until the latter half of 2025, necessitating continued operational agility and cost control measures.

Strategic Initiatives and Investments

Recent strategic actions include the successful issuance of a EUR 1.1 billion dual tranche bond, including the company's first green bond, aimed at financing acquisitions and refinancing maturing liabilities. The market response was strong, with the bond being four times oversubscribed, reflecting confidence in Knorr-Bremse's strategic direction amidst a backdrop of global economic challenges.

Challenges and Action Plans

Despite a robust performance, Knorr-Bremse faces cyclical downturns, particularly in the European and North American truck markets, expected to persist into the first half of 2025. Management has put measures in place to cope with potential challenges, such as workforce flexibility in production facilities and emphasizing aftermarket business which serves as a stabilizing factor.

Market Positioning and Competitive Landscape

In the competitive space, Knorr-Bremse is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable mobility solutions, leveraging innovative technology. Market feedback remains positive, which is essential for future business development as the company seeks to expand its footprint globally while managing dependencies in varying regional markets.

Conclusion and Investor Consideration

Overall, Knorr-Bremse's latest quarter reflects a strong operational performance, with strategic initiatives aimed at long-term growth. Investors should consider the balance of optimistic revenue guidance against potential volatility in the truck sector, while keeping a close eye on the company's robust position and sustainable initiatives, which may positively impact future earnings.

Earnings Call Transcript 2024-Q3

[Operator]

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Q3 2024 Results Call of Knorr-Bremse [Operator Instructions]. Let me now turn the floor over to your host, Head of Investor Relations, Andreas Spitzauer.

[Andreas Spitzauer, executive]

Thank you, operator. Good afternoon as well as good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I hope all of you are very, very fine. My name is Andreas Spitzauer, Head of Investor Relations of Knorr-Bremse, and I want to welcome you to today's conference call regarding the third quarter results of 2024.

Today, Marc Llistosella, our CEO; and Frank Weber, our CFO, will present the results of Knorr-Bremse followed by a Q&A session. The conference call will be recorded and is available on our homepage, www.-knorr-bremse.com in the Investor Relations section. Here, you can find today's presentation and later a transcript of the call. It is now my pleasure to hand over to Marc Llistosella. Please go ahead.

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Thank you, Andreas. Welcome, everybody, to our call for the financial results of the first quarter 2024. Let's start with Page #2. 

As usual, I will start with an overview of the highlights before Frank dives into the details, followed by a Q&A session. First, let's take a look at the key messages from today.

Number one, Knorr-Bremse is in good shape. This is the result of a great team effort. Thank you to all the colleagues worldwide. RVS is progressing very well with ongoing strong order intakes fueled by good demand in all regions and the positive trend continues. CVS shows solid resilience in a weak truck market reflected in its good profitability. Improvement measures show first effects.

Second, Booz 2026 efforts are continuing. The 3 assets already sold, the next sales process kicked off as well as the closing of the KB signaling deal in North America. We are fully on track and happy about the good dynamics of our program. Efficiency measures of Booz in both divisions are implemented, and we are very confident to reach our targets in 2026. 

Number three, we were able to secure a long-term financing. We issued a dual tranche bond amounting to EUR 1.1 billion, including our first green bond. With the proceeds, we strengthened our position as a trailblazer of sustainability and green mobility for our customers.

We financed the acquisition of KB Signaling, and we will refinance existing liabilities maturing in 2025. The bond was 4x oversubscribed, emphasizing the strong demand and confidence in our company in times of many global challenges. 

Number four, at the recent fairs, IAA Transportation and InnoTrans , Knorr-Bremse could once again more demonstrate its innovation and quality power. Customers, industry and capital market feedback was equally quite positive and encouraging for our people who are shaping the future of sustainable and green mobility. 

Last not least, number five, we slightly increased our guidance for 2024 after closing the deal of KB Signaling in North America. So, let's come to Page #3. Let's have a look on that and our presence at the InnoTrans in Berlin, one of the world's biggest and largest rail fair as well as the IAA in Transportation Hanover, the world's largest fair for trucks. 

Let's start with the rail fair. Rail is and remains the most eco-friendly mode of mass transportation. Given today's clearly defined climate targets, there is an increasingly higher need for sustainable and green transportation of people and freight. Rail is the enabler to achieve these ambitious goals, and this was clearly evident at the trade fair.

The main topics we presented at InnoTrans were zero-step boarding more and more topic to watch. Problem-free boarding and disembarking enables smooth traffic flows, which are necessary to cope with the increasing passenger volumes and to fulfill the operator cycle requirements.

Personal highlight was the demonstration of our electromechanical braking system. The technology provides high efficiency, which strongly supports total cost of ownership for rail operators. Knorr-Bremse is in the driving seat and is the innovator #1 here. 

Looking at the IAA Transportation, where commercial vehicle impressed market and customers with not only a fully sustainable B, but also we are a leading product portfolio. Commercial vehicle fleets must be economical, safe and sustainable, working in close partnership with all our OEMs, CVS has developed the technologies and products required for the necessary electrified autonomous and digital solutions.

We showed a broad range of safety critical solutions in response to transformative industry trends at the fair. This includes zero emission solutions to support e-mobility, redundancy concepts for automatic driving and new products and business models based on digitalization.

Our solution regarding electronic power steering, which supports 2 of the most important developments of the truck industry, electrification and automated driving was remarkable. 

But I also want to mention the introduction of our new electromechanical braking system, EMBS, boosting multiple advantages in terms of installation space, noise, emission and precise control. Plus, it is future-oriented and future proven.

Slide #4. Let's have a quick look at the current market environment. Rail in Europe and North America continues to experience good growth in both OE and aftermarket. Demand for new rail vehicles is unbroken and rail OEMs need innovative modular energy-efficient products that RVS can best provide.

Especially in Europe, we continue to see that no given government budget for rail products is cut or canceled in favor of any other government targets. China's rail market continues to perform quite well this year, particularly in the aftermarket, which benefits from last year's pushouts of maintenance topics and the fact some trains are in the overhaul cycle currently.

The high-speed segment also develops better than expected this year, while metro remains on a stable level. It seems like that the rail market in China experiences a slightly different quarterly development this year as far as we see it impacted by some pull-in effects in quarter 2 and 3 already from the current quarter to come.

For 2025, we expect some normalization of high-speed and aftermarket. Again, globally, order books of rail OEMs are still elevated, underlining robust demand for new rail vehicles and equipment.

The pricing of new contracts in rail remains favorable, which is a clear margin driver for RBS. Ridership levels in financial year full year '24 are expected to be higher versus last year.

Now, to our trucks. Truck production rates, especially in Europe and North America and China in quarter three declined year-over-year as expected. On the other hand, pricing for CVS was supportive year-over-year after the introduction of higher levels last year.

On a full year level, we believe that truck production rates in Europe will be significantly in North America moderately lower year-over-year. The truck market in China should perform better and is expected to stay flat year-over-year, supported by higher export volumes.

We observe the development in the truck market closely. We'll be able to react quickly to all challenges if necessary. In Europe, we implemented short-time work in one plant so far, by the way, in our biggest.

The cyclical downturn in Europe and North America is nothing what we are surprised to see, and it has developed as expected. According to our current assessment, should continue until at least the first half year 2025, but then be over in the second half year 2025.

I would now like to hand over to Frank, who gives you now more insights about the financial results of our quarter number three in 2024. Frank?

[Frank Weber, executive]

Thanks, Marc, and a big welcome also from my side. Let's turn to Slide 5 to discuss the financial highlights of the third quarter.

Order intake was again very strong with more than EUR 1.9 billion, a very good achievement by both divisions, considering a weak truck market overall and ongoing challenges in many economies around the world. Book-to-bill on group level was at 1.02.

Revenues amounted also to over EUR 1.9 billion. Rail saw a very good increase of around 7%, while truck did face an expected decrease of around 9%, whereas an example, the corresponding market in Europe went down roughly by 25%.

Highlight of the quarter was the development of our profitability. Operating EBITDA margin benefited mainly from good operating leverage in RVS, our efficiency measures and better pricing in both divisions. Accordingly, the margin rose to 12.3%, which is 80 basis points higher than a year ago.

Rail contributed to this development with very strong figures, while truck margin decreased as expected. Free cash flow improved further and came in at EUR 184 million. Please keep in mind that this free cash flow development follows a typical pattern throughout the year.

Q1 is always the weakest and Q4 the strongest in terms of our free cash flow generation. The two quarters in between should show a rather sequential improvement.

Let's move to Slide 6, please. CapEx in the past quarter amounted to EUR 80 million, representing 12.2% of revenues, slightly decreasing year-over-year. In the upcoming quarter, CapEx in absolute terms and the ratio should increase significantly, and we expect a CapEx to revenue ratio of 5% to 6% on a full year basis.

Net working capital increased by EUR 169 million year-over-year, driven by the acquisition of KB Signaling, solidly. Without this effect, net working capital even slightly decreased.

As you can see, we continue to take action across all working capital areas, in particular, further reducing inventories, especially safety stock via our optimization program collect, in order to increase our capital efficiency.

Scope of days without KB Signaling also improved year-over-year as a matter of fact. Our free cash flow, as mentioned before, was EUR 184 million in the past quarter. It is a lower figure prior to last year, driven by tougher comps and the fact that we improved this KPI already in quarter one and quarter two of this year.

As a result, on a 9-month level, free cash flow improved by nearly EUR 200 million from EUR 65 million to EUR 248 million, well supported by the before mentioned collect program as well as by better earnings.

We are confident to reach our free cash flow guidance for the full year. As a result of improved EBITDA and the improved capital efficiency, our ROCE increased significantly from 17.8% to 18.6% without KB Signaling even to 19.9%. This figure represents a good development and is already very close to our target of more than 20%.

Let's take a closer look at the divisional performance in the third quarter, starting with RVS on Slide 7. In terms of order intake, RVS recorded more than EUR 1.1 billion in the past quarter, posting a growth rate of around 10% year-over-year, organically almost 13% despite FX headwind.

Growth was particularly strong in the Asia Pacific region. Here, order intake rose especially in India and the OE segment and in the Chinese aftermarket. North America also grew nicely, while Europe declined.

As a reminder, rail is a project business and projects do not follow linear patterns. So, rail OE does not go so well with quarterly. We expect RVS should be able to post an order intake of EUR 1 billion in the current quarter as well.

Book-to-bill ratio stood at 1.13 in quarter three, which means RVS reached a book-to-bill ratio above 1.12 quarters in a row now. We expect a book-to-bill ratio of around one in the current quarter, leading to above one for full year '24. Order backlog remains at a very high level and well above EUR 5 billion.

In organic terms, meaning apples-to-apples, excluding KPI and KB Signaling in the first quarter, the order backlog rose by around 9% year-over-year. The high order backlog provides a strong basis well into 2025 and beyond.

Let's move to Slide 8. Revenues of RVS in the third quarter amounted to EUR 995 million, which represents an increase of almost 7% year-over-year.

Organically, the division even lifted its revenues by a strong 10%. Both OE and aftermarket business grew on group level year-over-year. As a result, our aftermarket revenue share in RVS even reached 52% in the first quarter. From a regional point of view, revenue growth was supported by all major regions. This is an encouraging sign as our growth is based on multiple pillars. 

In Europe, the aftermarket business overcompensated slightly declining OE sales. North America and APAC region recorded strong increases in both segments. China saw growing revenue especially high-speed and aftermarket in particularly benefited from as far as we see it, pull forward effects from the current quarter into the second as well as the third.

In the coming quarters, we therefore expect some normalization in this regard. Operating EBITDA margin recorded an increase of 160 basis points to 16%, driven by operating leverage and efficiency measures of our Boost program. Improved pricing of new contracts and the lower share of legacy business further supported this development. 

In addition, a positive revenue mix driven by a higher aftermarket share impacted the operating margin positively as well. In the running quarter, we expect the profitability of RVS should be lower compared to the third quarter given the project business characteristics of the business itself and some pull-forward effects, as mentioned before.

Let's continue with our Truck division on Chart 9. Order intake in CVS amounted to EUR 823 million, a decline of roughly 14% compared to last year, among others, also driven by negative FX effects.

All regions have had weak truck markets. Weak order intakes from Europe came in as expected, while North America developed slightly better than expected. Book-to-bill reached 0.9 in the past quarter, and the order book with more than EUR 1.8 billion at the end of September remains on a good level and well above the long-term average. 

Order intakes in the fourth quarter are expected to face ongoing challenges, especially in North America and Europe. Although the market in North America is holding up better than in Europe, our expectations are based on lower truck production rates, which many customers also indicate for the fourth quarter.

We assume that the book-to-bill ratio will be well below 1 on a full-year basis. Overall, orders in the current quarter should be only slightly higher compared to the third quarter. However, we are very well prepared to overcome these challenges. Let me walk you through some of the options and measures.

High flexibility of our sites and facilities. For example, temp workers generally represent around 10% to 15% of our workforce in the production plants in Europe, which we can lay off quickly if necessary. Following the weakening market, we reduced temporary workers in CVS by around 10% already year-over-year.

Secondly, all major plants in Europe are prepared and ready to introduce short-term work schemes within weeks. Currently, short-time work is introduced in one German plant, as Marc mentioned before, already since May in Berlin. Compared to many of our customers, we still have higher capacity utilization rates in our plants.

Thirdly, the full-year effects of price increases from last year are fixed, which will be counterbalancing shortfalls of volumes. 

Fourthly, aftermarket business contributes more than 30% of our revenues in Europe and North America and is well supporting our resilience.

Last but not least, our Boost program targets also structural costs and further efficiency measures, which already mitigated some negative impacts. Please bear in mind that we are not in a crisis mode, but we are well prepared and will continue to do so for a likely further negative market development in the months ahead.

Let's move to Chart 10. Revenues declined by 9% to EUR 915 million. This development was as expected and a solid performance in such a challenging environment. OE business in CVS, as expected, decreased in all regions, mostly in Europe, followed by North America. 

Aftermarket business, on the other hand, remained stable in all regions. In the European market, our revenues have experienced a 15% decline due to weak demand in both the truck and the trailer segment with truck production rate declining by 25% in the quarter at the same time.

The stable aftermarket, which generates around 40% of European revenue, and the growth in content per vehicle were the main reasons for the strong outperformance of the market, a clear sign of the division's resilience.

North America held up better with only a mid-single-digit decline. Operating EBIT of our CVS division amounted to EUR 91 million in the past quarter, down around 15% year-over-year, organically around 13%. 

As a result, the operating EBITDA margin declined by 60 basis points to 10%, partially also due to FX headwinds. The good resilience of our EBITDA margin is based on a combination of achieved price increases, good aftermarket business, and positive effects from our efficiency measures.

We continue to expect an operating EBITDA margin only slightly below 10% for the second half of '24, meaning that the quarter 4 could be slightly below the 10% level. With that, I hand over to Marc again.

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Thank you, Frank. So, let's have a look at our guidance for the full year 2024 on Slide 11. Major assumptions are unchanged and outlined on the right side of this chart.

For full year '24, we expect still a revenue range of EUR 7.8 billion to EUR 8.1 billion, and operating EBITDA margin between 11.5% and 13%, and a free cash flow between EUR 550 million and EUR 650 million. 

After closing the deal on heavy Signaling, the guidance now includes roughly EUR 100 million in revenues operating EBITDA margin is unchanged due to ongoing uncertainties in the truck market, integration cost of around EUR 10 million for the M&A transaction and uncertainties regarding the timing of some larger projects in RVS.

Nevertheless, we consider the midpoint of our margin guidance to be very realistic.

Slide 12. Let me finish with our first thoughts on next year on organic level. The overall rail market will be solid in 2025. As a result, RVS should benefit from the positive trend due to its market innovation leading position with an expected revenue growth mid-single digit next year. We are partner of choice for many rail OEMs and operators globally.

In 2025, we expect some positive dynamics, especially in Europe, North America and India. China should continue to be an important market and value contributor to RVS. Nevertheless, '24 is a better than normal year for us in this market, driven by higher demand in high-speed and in the aftermarket business.

By pent-up demands and the fact that many trains are currently in overhaul cycle, in '25, we expect some normalization in China, which should be reflected as well in the local top line.

Besides further execution of our BOOST strategy, including cost and efficiency measures, we focus on our biggest growth markets, Europe, North America and EMEA. We look confident into '25 and expect mid-single-digit revenue and solid operating EBITDA margin growth for RVS.

Truck cycle, on the other hand, should still be challenging in '25. We expect truck production rates in '25, especially the first half of the year to stay on comparable levels, if not slightly below '24 and believe that the second half of the year should be stronger than the first.

Thanks to our operating activities done in the past, efficiency measures done in present and in the past, cost measures we continuously doing as well as increasing aftermarket business operating EBITDA margin should be on a flat level to a slight improvement. Revenues are expected to develop flat to slightly growing next year.

With that, I would like to thank you for your attention. Frank and I are looking forward to answer your questions now.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] The first question is from Sven Weier, UBS.

[Sven Weier, analyst]

The first one is just on the guidance for 2024, the margin guidance. I mean you just stated that you're very confident to reach the midpoint of the margin target. And I was just wondering, keeping the margin target as it is would seem a bit inconsistent with that confidence because, I guess, to get to the low end, quite a few things that have to go wrong to get to the high end, there's quite a better things have to go right. So, why didn't you just then narrow the margin range if you're so confident with that?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

As you rightfully indicated, we usually give ranges, so to say, by clearly having in mind that the midpoint is what we're usually focusing at once we're doing it. We have risen that range, the midpoint of that range since quarter 2, which we still believe in that we can do better than what we thought around summertime.

This is a given. Yes, you can rightfully argue why, so to say, the goal is that big and that the hurricane is just 5 meter in front of the goal, so to say, it should be easy, so to say, to hit that goal.

But I would say there are still uncertainties out there. And I agree with you, we might be not falling to the lower end of the guidance. We might also not touching the upper end of the guidance.

Please keep in mind, let us focus on some of the midpoint of it with a bit early indication seeing what we said towards RVS business and CVS business in the fourth quarter that it might be a bit weaker in the fourth quarter than in the quarters ahead.

So slightly, maybe slightly below the midpoint is what we are currently seeing, given all the uncertainties that are still out there, let's not, so to say, talk around that. So, that would be my answer, Sven, hopefully, you understand our range still that open.

[Sven Weier, analyst]

No. And I think it's fair that you gave more quantification around the midpoint, and I think we can live with that.

Second point is just if I may, on the 2025 slide, and thanks very much for providing that insight so early, I think that's really helpful in these uncertain markets. The question I just have is on the truck side. I mean, you do assume no revenue headwind here even though, I mean, of course, it's more second half weighted here.

But the thing I'm just wondering about is when I think about your 2026 margin target for CVS, it's still quite a bit to go, and you wouldn't make too much progress next year on that. I don't assume you're really happy with that. So is there anything you can do to accelerate the progress? Anything in your hands you can do on that?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Also a fair question. I think we always kind of mention that given the '26 targets we laid out 1 year ago, nearly 1.5 years ago, we said it's a bit more aspirational, so to say, to go for that truck target margins than going for the rail target margins.

As we outlined also several times since we said that whatever happens, we are very confident that Knorr-Bremse overall will achieve the 14%, above the 14%. But it might be the case that rail maybe delivers more and truck delivers a bit less.

Did we bake in back in the days a lot of growth or support elements from the truck market? No, we didn't. Back in the days, we baked in some 1 percentage point of growth, obviously, on the truck side. I mean, obviously, now things are a bit different.

Markets are significantly down in the 2 major markets for us, but this is not the real explanation because also in '26, you should then see some prebuy effects in North America. So, over in all, I would say, I'm not unhappy with the development of truck at all, but there is a good, so to say, progress that we still expect towards 2026.

And you can be assured that we don't leave any stone unturned in order to get the max out of truck, but it might be below the 13.5%, but expect rail to be more than the 16.5%.

[Sven Weier, analyst]

Is it maybe also that on next year, the first half revenues will be down, obviously, and the operating leverage on the way down is maybe also lower than on the way up in the second half, and that maybe keeps you a bit more restricted on the margin improvement overall next year. Is that maybe also a fair point?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

That's also a clear fair point, understanding the business, how it works, yes.

[Operator]

Next question is from Akash Gupta, JPMorgan.

[Akash Gupta, analyst]

I got 2 as well. The first one is on the truck business. So, when I look at your slide on operating profit bridge and revenue bridge, and then when I calculate your operating leverage or drop-through in the business, I get to around mid-teens percentage points, which is quite remarkable.

The question I have is that, is this something that could be sustainable in Q4? Or was there anything that helped or impacted? So, maybe any comment on the drop-through that we should expect in the business going forward?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Thanks, Akash, for acknowledging this. This is, of course, a big wishful number if we could have this all the way down when things are going sour, that would be fantastic.

Needless to say, as you know, Akash, we have also, so to say, tailwinds due to the massive price adjustments that we made that help us year-over-year to soften such drop-throughs.

It's getting weaker quarter-by-quarter, so to say, just as a mathematical model, as you know, these price support measures. So, maybe not the same amount, maybe a bit weaker that drop-through could be in the fourth quarter.

[Akash Gupta, analyst]

And my second question, which is more of a housekeeping question is for your guidance on 2025 margins. So, you mentioned that there can be solid growth in margins in rail and flat to slight growth in trucks. So, can we read flat to slight as like 0 to 50 bps and solid growth means 50 or more? Like anything that you can help us to quantify how you're defining the slight growth and solid growth?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Yes, yes. It was very important for me once I came here that we have some kind of aligned vocabulary that we're always using. It's exactly right, what you're saying. This is, so to say, our definition of the wording, so to say, up to 50 basis points and above 50 to 150 basis points, so to say, I think that's what we said.

 And also to connect your question a bit with something I forgot to mention with Sven's question, this is organic, so to say, development that we, of course, see. We have not baked in for a specific year of '25 an effect out of a disposal.

[Akash Gupta, analyst]

And maybe just lastly, a quick follow-up on your disposal plan in CVS. Given the weakness in truck market, are you waiting for some kind of recovery in the market, so you may get some better price and that could be a reason behind some delays that might be intentional? Or is this not something you are considering?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

First of all thank you, Akash. First of all, we are not having any delays in the progress. It's rather the opposite. I think we are a bit ahead of the plan when it comes to the execution of our active portfolio management.

So very clear, no delays here. We are not waiting here for the one or the other million, so to say, let's say, small talking about smaller numbers. It's also important for us that we are able as a company to focus on the right things.

And there, it doesn't, in the end, we believe, strategically matter whether we make EUR 1 million or EUR 500,000 of proceeds more by waiting for the next months to come as we are using a lot of capacities and skillful people in managing, observing and restructuring businesses.

That's of utmost importance for us to focus everything that we have in this company on the businesses, so to say, that perform best and where we can get the best margin out. And that's why we are not delaying anything or waiting for better market conditions in order to get a bit more out of the proceeds.

[Operator]

The next question is from Gael de Bray, Deutsche Bank.

[Gael de-Bray, analyst]

Can I ask firstly about RVS and about the size currently of your Chinese rail business? Is it about EUR 650 million or EUR 700 million, something like this? And more importantly, what has been the growth rate so far in your Chinese RVS business in 2024? That's question number one, and maybe I'll go one after the other.

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Yes, Gael, thanks for your question. I mentioned also already, I think, over the last month, several times that we are a bit better doing than what we told you all strategically what we expect from the Chinese market when we did lay out our plan. I think it was in quarter 2 of 2022, where we indicated that maybe EUR 650 million would be the low point somewhere in time and then recover somehow towards EUR 700 million for Mainland China revenues.

We are a bit better than that. We are above EUR 700 million. And I think this is showing that clearly, the worst is behind us. in China, and we are benefiting right as we speak a bit, of course, from very good demand out there on the high-speed train.

The high-speed train, so to say, focus is clearly mentioned in the five year plan of China. We see a good demand here currently of high-speed trains being built. And we see very good as one of the only countries in the world, we see ridership levels that are significantly above the 2019 levels already, which is supporting our aftermarket. And there just looking at the order situation, we do identify that there must be some pull head effects already happening since around summertime.

So, that's supporting us. should be coming back to a bit of a normalization going into the next months to come. I think here it's a bit annoying. Okay. So, it's a good level above EUR 700 million that we are currently having given all those aspects that I mentioned, Gael.

[Frank Weber, executive]

To be very precise, in China, we are targeting EUR 790 million of revenues. So, the dooming messages, which eventually were said about China in 2022, they don't come through or they don't realize. Also, you can see it in the mix of the business between OE business and aftersales business. We see also in the OE business that we are more and more considered by the metros, and we are still considered very heavily by the high speed.

So, it seems to be that our unique selling proposition in China is succeeding. And it seems also that in the next years to come, there is no indication that China is contracting. What is important for you is that our dependency from China also for rail is significantly lower than it was in the past. So, we are going down from something which was in the range of 46%, now in the range in the 30-ish, which is, I think, for you more important because that shows that our dependency cluster, so the so-called clustering is now getting more and more global.

This is the reason why we are massively expanding into the American business. And please keep in mind the number that Marc mentioned as a target, so to say, is including also export business. It's not the Mainland China figure alone. But the Mainland China figure is also above EUR 700 million, as I said before.

[Gael de-Bray, analyst]

And the second question is about CVS and with volumes obviously being under severe pressure now, could you talk a bit about the pricing environment for new orders?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Yes. As you can imagine, Gael, I mean, and that is the reason also why we did the waves of price negotiations the way we did it. We planned them to be concluded before the first signals of market downswing occurred. It's more difficult, of course, to ask for price increases in a situation where markets are going down.

So, we concluded everything already towards the end of 2023 that we would be ready, so to say, to harvest it. Of course, the one or the other customer is now aiming to gain a bit back what he gave to us as price adjustments, but you can be assured that we will not be easily giving away any kind of prices that we have negotiated very hard over a certain period of time.

But it's, of course, a bit tougher than it used to be over the last two years. That's pretty clear. But we have not increased the prices to a strange amount. We have gotten our inflation back, so to say. And why should there be any reasons if inflation is not, so to say, turning negative, why should we easily give back any price point. So, we will be pretty stiff, as you know, from Knorr-Bremse. I can't guarantee anything exactly, but we will be very stiff on giving back anything.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] The next question is from Vivek Midha of Citi.

[Vivek Midha, analyst]

My main question is a follow-up on the rail business. So, on Slide 12, you say that you expect stronger growth in the aftermarket than equipment. At the same time, you've highlighted that aftermarket was one of the contributors to that pull-forward effect in China. So, that would appear to imply quite a strong growth in the aftermarket outside of China. What is it that's giving you that visibility and that confidence that the aftermarket is going to exceed OE growth? Is it certain projects or overhaul timing?

[Frank Weber, executive]

Thanks. First of all, I think what we mentioned in regards to the pull-ahead effects regarding quarter two, quarter three should give you a bit a better understanding of the year '24 itself, how this is functioning, where usually the pattern is more that the Chinese aftermarket business is a quarter four centric one with very good, so to say, demand in the fourth quarter.

This time around, it looks like a bit more in the second quarter, third quarter. So, this kind of pull-ahead effect is something that is really important to understand the dynamics of '24.

Looking at the overall year-over-year then going into '25, we, of course, so to say, do think that aftermarket should grow. We have already nowadays a very bigger growth in aftermarket than in OE. We understand basically in our databases where our brakes in the past have been built into all the vehicles. We know exactly, so to say, when to expect them for, let's say, given empirical evidence for repair work, for maintenance and when the overall cycles kick in.

And giving that knowledge, database knowledge of our projections of the usage of these trains, we are pretty happy with that development that we see into '25 also in aftermarket. And that makes us confident given that empirical evidences and the projections out of the real usage of these trains.

[Vivek Midha, analyst]

And my second question, just a quick clarification. You mentioned around EUR 10 million cost integration costs for KB Signaling, if I heard you correctly. Has any of this already been booked? Or will all of this be booked in the fourth quarter?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

No, thanks for the question. A bit is already, of course, sitting in the quarter 3 numbers and the rest to become in quarter 4, but also a bit maybe in '25. We just started the PMI end of August officially. We kicked it off beginning of September.

And the PMI phase will take up to a year so also integration costs in '25 might be occurring. And whether it will be exactly EUR 10 million or EUR 15 million or EUR 8 million, not so sure at this point in time, we think about roughly EUR 10 million, but maybe potentially spread over quite some time. A lot IT based, by the way.

[Operator]

Currently, the last question comes from Tore Fangmann, Bank of America.

[Tore Fangmann, analyst]

I got 2 questions left. First, just one more on the signaling integration. Could you just give us a quick update, how is it going? And maybe any phasing of synergies, how you currently see this coming through?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Thanks for that question. I think we found a the day after closing kind of highly motivated, a very skillful management team, nice plants, efficient plants, very well organized, systematically working team, so to say. So, we're pretty happy with the deal.

No significant issues that we have seen so far. So, it looks pretty good. We're pretty happy with that deal. It was never a synergetic case, if you remember and if you read through our old, so to say, explanations about the strategy and signaling that we are having. 

We might find synergies along the way, though, but this is not the reason why we got hold of the Alstom signaling business. It was a strategic move that we made. Yes, we might find synergies along the way, looking at their plants. They have 5 sites these days that they're operating in North America.

We do have 5 sites as well in rail, whether we run with 10 plants then into the future, this is, I think, of course, needs to be questioned. I don't think so. But these synergetic moves won't move the needle. It's a strategic deal that we have made here. And I think that --

[Tore Fangmann, analyst]

Then my last question would be more like a clarification or a bit more color on the CVS side of your business. Could you maybe speak about during Q3, was it just like overall a weak quarter? Or did you saw like a sequential worsening from July to September?

And then as a bit of an add-on here, I think you spoke about in H1, you would see basically further headwinds. But then in H2, you would see the truck side for you growing again. So, what would be the picture for the overall '25 year concluded for you?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

I think I'm just taking notes. '24 within the third quarter, there was not a specific pattern between the months, July, August and September, somehow similar. I mean, August, maybe a bit weaker. This is in the nature of the game. Usually, you have plant closures with the customers.

You usually have, that's the best way to kill fixed cost, of course, if you're an OEM to have longer plant closures than just wiping out some one or the other shift kind of needless to say, that's why August is always a kind of awful month. usually, but not a spectacular pattern besides that in the third quarter. 

Coming to '25, I mean, that is just a technical thing. Quarter 1 and quarter 2 in '24, the comps, which are the comps were at still quite okay-ish markets in Europe and North America. And if we talk about now what's the full year expectation for '25 and if we say what we said somehow flattish development of the markets going from '24 full year into '25 full year, then it's quite logical.

Then the first half year compared to the first half year of '24 is more on the negative side in terms of half year over half year. And the second is market related, then maybe a bit better than the half year of '24. That's how we see '25. 

So, roughly speaking, for the full year, markets somehow plus/minus a bit, somehow flattish. But then quarter-over-quarter, quarter 1 and quarter 2, rather minus in terms of growth and quarter 3 and quarter 4, rather plus. So, that's the way we see things at this point in time.

[Frank Weber, executive]

Yes. And overall, Mr. Fangmann, it's more important to get the fixed cost now under control because that's the time to do it. Now the first quarter was good. The second quarter is bad and the first quarter of 2025 looks not so promising. But that's normal cyclicality. If you don't use the cyclicality to raise your level of profitability, then you have wasted a chance.

So, that's exactly what we don't want to do. And this is why we focus very, very much now in lowering the fixed cost. And to your question in the terms of the quarter, if you really want to know it, July was strong, August was weak and September was strong. So, there is no downward trend in the quarter. So, we could say September was much better than August.

[Operator]

And then we also have a follow-up question of Gael de-Bray, Deutsche Bank.

[Gael de-Bray, analyst]

I just wanted to get a bit of clarification, maybe if you could elaborate on the supply chain problems with the specialist suppliers for the rail industry are currently not being yet over.

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Yes. Thanks. I mean it's gotten better. I think since months, gotten better, but not yet on that good level like you would have with, so to say, the bigger slot kind of suppliers. We still have with some of the specialists, some issues that lead to the fact that we are sitting on a bit more inventory that usually would be needed also for some electronic stuff.

Usually, you have to place some last time buy orders, so to say, in order to get at all the supply security over time. So, there are a bit more difficulties in that business than we are having on the truck side, but it hasn't worsened on the opposite side, it's gotten a bit better, but we wait for the time until we significantly can move it into also inventory reductions on our side.

Nothing to dramatically worry about. It's getting better, but not on that good level like we see already on the truck side, the supply chain.

[Gael de-Bray, analyst]

But is this mainly about electronics? Or is there any specific component as well, which...

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

No. It goes across the floor, I would say. We have B parts affected, C parts affected, even some rubber parts at times. So it's basically of everything a bit.

[Operator]

We have more questions in the Q&A session. The next one is from Holger Schmidt of DZ Bank AG.

[Holger Schmidt, analyst]

The first one is on Alstom Signaling. As far as I remember, you are in negotiation about a larger project. I think the amount is something like USD 600 million to USD 700 million. What is the probability that you will get it? And how many competitors are in the bidding process? And, yes, that's the first question.

And the second question is on the truck side. One of your key competitors in the truck business that are free continues to struggle. Do you see any change in their behavior? And what are the chances for you?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Thanks, Holger. First of all, I know that we before mentioned the bigger project on the Alstom or KB Signaling side. It's indeed a bigger project. Revenue dimension is around USD 600 million to USD 700 million over certain years, needless to say, not a one-off kind of but over spread over several years.

The process is still ongoing. As you know, it's always municipalities. And in that case, seeing just the pure dimension, you understand it's even more than just one municipality dealing with that. It's still in the works. Nothing concluded that. In the beginning, it was or, let's say, right from the start when we were in the due diligence of KB Signaling, it was mentioned that around winter time, there should be first conclusions in regards to the tender being made.

At this point in time, we don't know exactly when this will happen with larger municipalities, you never exactly know can easily be also only around spring time or summer of next year. We don't have a clear indication yet when exactly a decision will be made.

To how many, so to say, other parties are involved in that tender, we can't give you details. We know it's one or two others that are involved in that. We should be in a preferred position in the tender process, but the outcome, we don't know at this point in time.

On the truck side, the major competitor, ZF has not over the last years since they were acquired since WABCO was acquired by ZF. They have not acted irrational, and we don't see that these days as well. So it's all very rational what's going on in the market, how we understand things and negotiations and contacts with our OEMs, nothing spectacular that happened recently.

[Operator]

And now we are also having a follow-up from Akash Gupta, JPMorgan.

[Akash Gupta, analyst]

And that is basically your U.S. business. Can you share some light on your U.S. business manufacturing and how much of the business is relying on imports? And let's say, if we see a scenario where there may be a flat tariff on all the imports coming in the U.S., does that give you a relative competitive advantage? Or does that give you a competitive risk, so to speak, by looking at your competitors' production base in the U.S.?

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Yes. Akash, let me start with the latter end of your question. I mean, we are true believers in a decentral organization, a decentral entrepreneurially steered organization of Knorr-Bremse.

We rely on and we strategically believe in high local content in the respective market, which gave us a competitive edge during the times of supply chain problems during the last recent years with Russian war over Ukraine, et cetera, you name it. So, we believe in that we have very high localization rates in U.S., by law, have to reach at least 62.5%, if I'm not mistaken.

We are needless to say, fulfilling that and are even far beyond this 62.5% of localization. So, we can easily adapt from 70% to 75% in case it's opportunistic at times depending on what regulations might come out, but we will not shy away from that general pattern of being in the market and for the market and drive the business entrepreneurially decentralized, no reason to shy away from that.

So Frank, are we prepared for [indiscernible]?

[Frank Weber, executive]

Yes.

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Yes. If not, who else?

[Operator]

Thank you very much also from my side. With that, I would like to close the Q&A session since there are no more questions in the queue, and I'm handing the floor back over to you.

[Marc Llistosella Y Bischoff, executive]

Thank you all for attending. Thank you. Yes. Bye-bye.

[Frank Weber, executive]

Yes. Buy guys. Also and a lovely pre-Christmas time. Thank you. Goodbye.