EANS-News: Semperit AG Holding Semperit Group with stable operational
development in H1 2016
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quarterly report
- Revenue with EUR 438.7 million (-2.7%) slightly below previous year's level
despite market weakness
- Improved EBITDA (+4.8%) and stable EBIT (+/-0.0%)
- Persistently challenging market environment expected for the second half of
2016
The publicly listed Semperit Group generated a stable operational development in
the ongoing difficult market environment of the first half of 2016. Despite the
weak economy, Semperit generated a further increase in revenue with high
profitability in the Industrial Sector. This allowed for largely offsetting the
weaker development of the Medical Sector. Group revenue amounted to EUR 438.7
million in the first half of 2016 and was slightly below the previous year's
figure of EUR 450.8 million. Semperit improved the group's EBITDA by 4.8% to EUR
52.8 million (after EUR 50.3 million). EBIT was stable in comparison with the
previous year at EUR 36.2 million (after EUR 36.2 million). The EBITDA margin
and the EBIT margin improved slightly to 12.0% (after 11.2%) and 8.3% (after
8.0%) respectively.
"Due to our strong sales performance, a capacity utilisation above the industry
average and new capacities in the Industrial Sector, we showed a stable
operational development in the first half of 2016. However, the low demand in
economically sensitive fields and the cost pressure due to rising energy and raw
material prices combined with weak sales prices in the glove business are beyond
our influence. We are taking countermeasures by using a focused sales strategy
and programmes for optimisation and efficiency enhancement as well as by opening
up new markets. This and our new highly efficient production sites make us well
prepared to perform better than the market even in the current environment," CEO
Thomas Fahnemann comments on the half-year results.
In the second quarter of 2016, the Industrial Sector achieved further revenue
growth as opposed to a decrease in revenue and earnings in the Medical Sector.
Corporate revenue decreased to EUR 219.2 million (after EUR 233.4 million) in
the second quarter of 2016. EBITDA declined to EUR 26.1 million (after EUR 28.5
million) and EBIT to EUR 17.6 million (after EUR 21.0 million).
Semperit boasted a sound capital basis as reflected by its equity ratio of 36.7%
at the reporting date of June 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015: 38.7%). Cash and cash
equivalents amounted to EUR 133.0 million on June 30, 2016 compared to EUR 126.4
million at the end of 2015. "Our cash balance has increased again, although we
currently run the largest investment programme in corporate history and we have
paid an attractive dividend in the second quarter. This positive development
shows our high ability to generate cash even in a difficult environment," states
Semperit CFO Johannes Schmidt-Schultes.
Industrial Sector: Increase in revenue and earnings
The Industrial Sector (Semperflex, Sempertrans and Semperform segments) showed a
very satisfying development contrary to the market trend.
The Semperflex segment generated continuing high profitability thanks to
excellent production and sales performances in a declining market. The
Sempertrans segment was able to defend its positioning in core markets and
expand its market position in new regions and market segments. In a weak market
environment, the Semperform segment profited from the successful integration of
the German profile manufacturer Leeser, as well as the increase in market share
in the handrail business.
Revenue of the Industrial Sector rose 3.7% to EUR 269.0 million in the first
half of 2016. EBITDA climbed 2.3% to EUR 52.3 million.
Medical Sector: Difficult market environment
The Medical Sector (Sempermed segment) was impacted by a difficult market
environment. During the reporting period, increased energy and raw material
prices could not be passed on to the market yet due to high competitive and
price pressures. The burdening influences of the cooperation with the joint
venture partner in Thailand continued and increasingly have a negative effect on
the earnings situation of the segment. Additionally, non-recurring costs related
to the ongoing capacity expansion in Malaysia were experienced and more
low-margin trade items were sold.
Revenue of the Medical Sector decreased by 11.4% to EUR 169.7 million in the
first half of 2016 due to heavy price pressure and the focus on high-margin
customer relationships. EBITDA decreased to EUR 7.9 million (after EUR 11.6
million).
Compared to the first half of 2015, when Semperit still entered exceptionally
high foreign currency gains, the foreign currency effects were overall negative
in the first half of 2016. Moreover, interest expenses and income taxes due to
non-recurring effects had increased. In summary, the Semperit Group generated
earnings after taxes amounting to EUR 17.9 million (after EUR 25.3 million) in
the first half of 2016 despite the stable operational results.
Outlook 2016
Semperit expects no significant changes of the market conditions for the second
half of 2016. The generally low demand in the Industrial Sector is expected to
continue due to the current economic situation. Demand in the economically
insensitive Medical Sector is expected to develop steadily with higher raw
material and energy costs and continuing price pressure.
From the current perspective, the Semperit Group is not capable of achieving the
operational results of 2015 due to the unsatisfactory income contribution of the
Sempermed segment. In the Industrial Sector, Semperit refers to a good order
situation for the next months, even though a slowdown is possible in some
business segments. In the Medical Sector, the focus will be on the
implementation of further production capacities in Malaysia. The profitability
shall be improved by continuing process optimisations and efficiency
enhancements as well as realising a cost reduction programme. The burdens due to
the Thai joint venture will probably persist.
The Semperit Group will continue its growth strategy consistently despite
challenging conditions. The focus will be on entering into new markets in the
Industrial Sector and on the expansion and optimisation of existing production
capacities. In the Medical Sector, the focus will be set on the expansion of the
glove production in Malaysia in addition to further production and sales
optimisations as well as efficiency enhancements. Altogether, capital
investments (CAPEX) of approximately EUR 60 million are planned for 2016.
As of now, the report on the first half of 2016 is available at
www.semperitgroup.com/ir.
Photo Download: https://semperitgroup.picturepark.com/Go/wPXX3GzO
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 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 long-standing Austrian company, which
was founded in 1824, are located in Vienna. The Semperit Group employs more than
7,000 people worldwide, including about 4,000 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, Australia and America. In 2015 the group generated sales of EUR 915
million and an EBITDA of EUR 96 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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company: 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