EANS-Adhoc: Semperit AG Holding
Continuous growth in the first quarter of 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- quarterly report 15.05.2012 - Revenue up 4.2% to EUR 201.8 million - Industrial sector achieves significant rise in earnings, Medical sector burdened by high competitive pressure and energy costs - Net profit for the period increases by 3.3% to EUR 11.6 million - EBIT decline of 8.3% to EUR 16.5 million Vienna, May 15, 2012 - The first three months of 2012 proceeded satisfactorily for the Semperit Group. Despite a difficult economic environment, the company continued on its growth path, increasing revenue by 4.2% to EUR 201.8 million, compared to EUR 193.7 million in the prior-year period. The first quarter of 2012 was the third strongest in terms of revenue in the company's history, and helped Semperit to achieve market share gains, both in the Sempermed segment (gloves) and the Semperflex segment (hoses). In the Industrial sector, all segments made a positive contribution to earnings. In contrast, tougher competitive conditions, higher energy costs and the start-up phase for the new plant in Surat Thani, Thailand, burdened earnings in the Medical sector. EBITDA (Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) amounted to EUR 24.4 million, down slightly by 3.7% from EUR 25.3 million in the previous year. The operating result (EBIT) declined by 8.3%, from EUR 18.0 million to EUR 16.5 million. The net profit for the period improved by 3.3% to EUR 11.6 million compared to EUR 11.2 million in the previous year. As a consequence, earnings per share for the first quarter of 2012 totaled EUR 0.56, compared to EUR 0.54 in the prior- year quarter. The positive revenue development was related to the volume increase for examination gloves in the Sempermed segment and the hydraulic hose business of Semperflex. In contrast, volumes dropped in the other segments. Semperit carried out upward selling price adjustments in all segments, which was necessitated by significantly higher raw material prices. Moreover, in the Sempertrans segment the portfolio shift from standard textile-reinforced conveyor belts to higher quality steel-reinforced products had a positive effect on selling prices. First-quarter investments in tangible and intangible assets amounted to EUR 8.6 million, compared to EUR 9.5 million in the first three months of 2011. These investments mainly related to replacement and expansion investments in the Semperflex segment at the sites in the Czech Republic, Thailand and China as well as the new glove production plant in Thailand. Equity of the Semperit Group amounted to EUR 387.6 million, a rise of EUR 15.1 million from the level at the end of 2011. Cash and cash equivalents were up to EUR 116.8 million (December 31, 2011: EUR 97.9 million). Outlook Semperit expects a slow but steady improvement of the overall economic environment in 2012 and a more dynamic development of the global economy starting in 2013. In the Sempermed segment, previously initiated production and sales optimisation efforts should enable an earnings improvement as of the second quarter of 2012. However, Sempermed expects ongoing excess production capacity for examination gloves and aggressive competition. The current steady business development is anticipated to continue in the Industrial sector. The new Semperflex production units for hydraulic hoses in the Czech Republic, Thailand and China will commence operations in the second half of 2012, and benefit from an impetus for sales growth on the Asian and Latin American markets as well as in the energy sector, the manufacturing of agricultural products and the raw material sector. The Semperit Group confirms its mid-term growth objectives. On average, a double-digit revenue increase should take place in the years up to and including 2015 while maintaining a profitability level (EBIT margin) of about 10%. In the short term the markets continue to feature limited visibility, in particular with respect to raw material price developments. For this reason, it is not possible to make a well founded outlook regarding revenue and earnings trends for the 2012 fiscal year at the present time. The Report for the 1st Quarter 2012 is available for download at: http://www.semperit.at/ir Further inquiry note: Martina Büchele Head of Group Communications Tel.: +43 676 8715 8621 martina.buechele@semperit.at Clemens Taschée Head of Group Accounting Tel.: +43 (1)79 777-230 clemens.taschee@semperit.at Stefan Marin Investor Relations Tel.: +43 (1)79 777-210 stefan.marin@semperit.at end of announcement euro adhoc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- issuer: Semperit AG Holding Modecenterstrasse 22 A-1030 Wien phone: +43 1 79 777-230 FAX: +43 1 79 777-602 mail: investors@semperit.at WWW: www.semperit.at sector: Synthetics & Plastics ISIN: AT0000785555 indexes: WBI, ViDX, Prime Market stockmarkets: free trade: Berlin, official market: Wien, stock market: Stuttgart, Frankfurt language: English
Original content of: Semperit AG Holding, transmitted by news aktuell