EANS-Adhoc: Semperit AG Holding Semperit Increases Revenues and Earnings in
Q1-3 2015
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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.comwww.semperitgroup.com
Stefan Marin
Head of Investor Relations
Tel.: +43 676 8715 8210
stefan.marin@semperitgroup.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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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