Following a strategic overview started earlier this year, Electrolux announced the beginning of a plan to improve efficiency throughout the Group. Among the main operations that the company will undertaken, there is the outsource parts of its current manufacturing in Hungary and investments in its Nyíregyháza refrigerator plant. The efficiency measures and redundancies related to the outsourcing will lead to restructuring charges in the third quarter 2019 of approximately SEK 1.6 billion. Moreover, Electrolux on January 31 announced an intention to spin off its Professional Products business area as a separate company and communicated a plan to sharpen the consumer organization and accelerate profitable growth by creating four regionally focused business areas and reorganizing key global functions. As the strategic overview related to these activities has progressed, Electrolux has now identified opportunities to improve efficiency in both the consumer and professional organizations. As previously communicated, Electrolux is also currently carrying out a manufacturing investment program, totaling SEK 8 billion during 4-5 years as from 2018, to strengthen competitiveness and drive profitable growth. As part of this, the company has decided to invest approx. EUR 100 million in automation, digitalization and innovation capabilities in its production of high-end refrigerators in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. Furthermore, in the review of the overall competitiveness of the manufacturing operations in Hungary, Electrolux has decided to outsource production of vacuum cleaners from its Jászberény facility, and a significant part of the freestanding refrigerators currently produced there. This is anticipated to impact approximately 800 production employees, and relevant union consultations will take place.
The measures announced today are anticipated to generate additional annual savings of about SEK 500 million, with full effect as from 2022.
