EANS-Adhoc: Semperit AG Holding
Semperit Increases Revenues and Earnings in
Q1-3 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/quarterly report 17.11.2015 - Stable positive company development with organic growth - Capacity expansion and volume increases in the Industrial Sector - Medical Sector benefits from strong sales and efficiency enhancements - Satisfactory development expected for the entire year 2015 The publicly listed Semperit Group generated positive revenue and earnings in the first three quarters of 2015. Revenue increased by 5.5% to EUR 692.1 million compared with the prior-year period (EUR 655.9 million). The Industrial and Medical Sectors contributed to this growth with a strong sales performance and increases in sales volume. The net result (earnings after tax) increased by 7.9% to EUR 40.1 million (Q1-3 2014: EUR 37.1 million). Earnings per share rose by 7.7% to EUR 1.95 (Q1-3 2014: EUR 1.81). "The positive business development is the result of our consistent activities in the past months. Contrary to the market trend, we increased revenue based on a strong sales performance. Our capacity expansion, an increased global presence and the rapid integration of profile manufacturer Leeser are showing effect. At the same time, we enhanced the profitability of the Medical Sector through immediately effective optimisation measures, so that overall the third quarter of 2015 already showed good results", CEO Thomas Fahnemann comments on the current business development. In the first three quarters of 2015, EBITDA amounted to EUR 80.5 million and EBIT to EUR 59.1 million. Due to changes in the consolidation method in March 2014, the figures are not comparable with the same period of the previous year. The third quarter of 2015 was characterised by organic growth and profitability increases. Semperit increased revenue by 13.6% to EUR 241.3 million(Q3 2014: EUR 212.3). EBIT increased by 18.7% to EUR 20.0 million (Q3 2014: EUR 16.9 million), and the net result (earnings after tax) rose by 24.0% to EUR 14.7 million (Q3 2014: EUR 11.9 million). Accordingly, the EBIT margin improved from 7.9% to 8.3%. Semperit has a solid capital base with an equity ratio of 38.0% at 30 September 2015 (31 December 2014: 53.7%). Despite the payout of a special dividend in May 2015, cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 103.0 million compared to EUR 115.6 million at the end of the year 2014. Semperit CFO Johannes Schmidt-Schultes on this development: "We have high cash-generating power and a solid financing base in the long term. We can afford an attractive dividend policy while at the same time investing roughly 75 million euros this year alone in the expansion and modernisation of our factories. We will continue to pursue our growth strategy as planned." Medical Sector: Positive trend in earnings and profitability The Medical Sector (Sempermed segment) generated higher sales volume through intensified sales activities. This was contrasted by negative price effects resulting from lower raw material prices as well as up-front costs for the new factory in Malaysia. Revenue of the Medical Sector rose by 1.8% to EUR 296.7 million in the first nine months of 2015. The third quarter showed a clearly positive development: The Medical Sector's revenue of EUR 105.2 million was 14.7% higher than in the same period of the previous year. EBIT rose by 54.7% to EUR 6.8 million. The EBIT margin improved to 6.4% in the third quarter (after 3.6% in Q2 and 4.3% in Q1). Industrial Sector: Strong performance in a weak environment The Industrial Sector (Semperflex, Sempertrans and Semperform segments) developed very well in contrast to the market trend. The Semperflex segment's outstanding production and sales performance has been the basis for further revenue growth and high profitability in an overall declining market. At Europe's largest hose factory, in Odry, Czech Republic, the new production capacities are fully utilised. In the Sempertrans segment, the expansion to new markets and segments led to significant increases in revenue and earnings. The new capacities in the conveyor belt plant in Be?chatów, Poland, which were put into operations at the end of the third quarter, are already well utilised. The Semperform segment increased revenue and earnings in the double digit range despite declining demand in important target markets. This is primarily attributable to the successful integration of the profile manufacturer Leeser as well as the beginning recovery of the handrail business in China. Revenue of the Industrial Sector rose by 8.5% to EUR 395.5 million in the first three quarters of 2015. The Sector's EBIT increased by 15.3% to EUR 64.6 million. The EBIT margin rose to 16.3%. The third quarter contributed to this positive development with an increase in revenue by 12.8% to EUR 136.2 million and a 21.5% increment in EBIT to EUR 20.7 million. Outlook 2015 and multi-year targets The Semperit Group continues to have strong order books as a result of intensified sales activities in all segments. Despite an ongoing subdued market development in Western Europe and North America the order intake develops well. A slight recovery is recognisable in Central and Eastern Europe, with the exception of Russia and Ukraine. The difficult demand situation in Asia is expected to continue in the coming months. Semperit anticipates a satisfactory business development for the remaining weeks of the year 2015 in a continued challenging business environment. From today's perspective, revenue and earnings for the year 2015 should be at an attractive level. A strong sales performance, the currently high utilisation of production capacities and successfully implemented projects to increase efficiency and expand capacity, should continue to have a positive impact on earnings in the coming quarters. These positive operating developments are contrasted by the persisting difficult market environment and start-up costs for new production capacities. In the future, Semperit is striving to achieve double-digit growth of sales volumes on average as well as attractive earnings margins. For the time being, the targeted EBITDA margin remains unchanged between 12% and 15% and the EBIT margin between 8% and 11%. The report is now available for download: www.semperitgroup.com/ir --> Reports and Presentations. Photo Download: https://semperitgroup.picturepark.com/Go/C4AhM4cR About Semperit The publicly listed company Semperit AG Holding is an internationally-oriented group that develops, produces, and sells in more than 100 countries highly specialised rubber and plastic products for the medical and industrial sectors: examination and surgical gloves, hydraulic and industrial hoses, conveyor belts, escalator handrails, construction profiles, cable car rings, and products for railway superstructures. The headquarters of this traditional Austrian company, which was founded in 1824, are located in Vienna. The Semperit Group employs about 7,000 people worldwide, including close to 4,100 in Asia and more than 800 in Austria (Vienna and production site in Wimpassing, Lower Austria). The group has 22 manufacturing facilities worldwide and numerous sales offices in Europe, Asia, and America. In 2014 the group generated sales of EUR 858 million and EBITDA of EUR 102 million. Further inquiry note: Martina Büchele Group Head of Communications Tel.: +43 676 8715 8621 martina.buechele@semperitgroup.com www.semperitgroup.com ; Stefan Marin Head of Investor Relations Tel.: +43 676 8715 8210 stefan.marin@semperitgroup.com end of announcement euro adhoc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- issuer: Semperit AG Holding Modecenterstrasse 22 A-1030 Wien phone: +43 1 79 777-210 FAX: +43 1 79 777-602 mail: investor@semperitgroup.com WWW: www.semperitgroup.com sector: Synthetics & Plastics ISIN: AT0000785555 indexes: WBI, ATX Prime, ViDX, Prime Market, ATX Global Players stockmarkets: official market: Wien language: English
Original content of: Semperit AG Holding, transmitted by news aktuell