EANS-Adhoc: Semperit AG Holding Strongest first quarter in the company's
history (with attachments)
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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/quarterly report
14.05.2013
* Revenue up 6.6% to 215.2M EUR
* Double-digit increase in EBITDA (+20.4%) and EBIT (+13.5%)
* Significant growth in the Medical Sector through the acquisition of Latexx
Partners
* High profitability in the Industrial Sector despite difficult economic
conditions
* Outlook affected by low visibility, goals 2015 remain unchanged
Vienna, May 14, 2013 - The publicly listed Semperit Group achieved significant
revenue and earnings growth in the first three months of 2013, the strongest
first quarter in the company's history. Revenue rose by 6.6% despite a difficult
market environment, from EUR 201.8 million in the previous year to EUR 215.2
million. The Medical Sector generated significant revenue and earnings growth
due to the rapid integration of Latexx Partners. In the Industrial Sector, the
economic slowdown impacted revenue development negativly. This was successfully
offset by optimisation measures and market share gains. Overall the profit
situation could be further improved.
The Group's consolidated EBITDA at EUR 29.3 million was 20.4% higher than the
previous year's figure of EUR 24.4 million. EBIT rose by 13.5% from EUR 16.5
million to EUR 18.8 million, despite higher depreciation due to investments in
growth. Profitability increased accordingly: the EBITDA margin improved to 13.6%
(compared to 12.1%) and the EBIT margin rose to 8.7% (from 8.2%). Earnings after
taxes (net result) improved by 7.5% from EUR 11.6 million to EUR 12.5 million.
"We have started well in 2013, without any positive support from the market. We
have instead benefited from the successful implementation of strategic measures.
In the glove business, our growth activities in Malaysia and Thailand fully
materialized. We grew sales in all relevant regions, and significantly improved
our earnings despite continued price pressures," said Semperit CEO Thomas
Fahnemann regarding the first quarter of 2013. "In the Industrial Sector, we
succeeded against fierce economic headwinds to achieve double-digit margins and
earnings growth in all segments. We were able to win new customers and
additional market share."
With an equity ratio of 49.3%, unchanged since end of last year, and an increase
to EUR 145.5 million (+9.1%) in available cash and cash equivalents, Semperit is
operating on an excellent financial basis. "Through rigorous capacity and cost
management, we were able to maintain our high level of profitability in the
Industrial Sector and to significantly improve our performance in the Medical
Sector. Together with our solid financial basis, this will support us to grow
the business further," said Semperit CFO Johannes Schmidt-Schultes.
Medical Sector: Growth through the acquisition of Latexx Partners
In the Medical Sector (the Sempermed segment) the integration of Latexx Partners
showed immediate results. Sales were significantly increased in all relevant
regions (Europe, America, and Asia) and the utilisation of production sites in
Malaysia and Thailand was further improved. In addition, the omission of
one-time cost effects in the first quarter of the previous year had a positive
impact on earnings development. This was offset by negative price effects due to
excess capacity and lower raw material prices compared to the first quarter of
2012.
The sector revenue increased by 21.4% to EUR 106.8 million. The sector EBITDA
improved by 87.6% to EUR 12.2 million.
Industrial Sector: High profitability despite weak market conditions
In the Industrial Sector (the Semperflex, Sempertrans, and Semperform segments),
the weak economic environment had a cooling off effect on revenues. However, new
customers and increased market share could be won through ongoing optimisation
measures and a strong sales performance.
In the Semperflex segment, European operations developed positively, while US
operations recovered in the course of the quarter, and Asian business remained
weak. The Sempertrans segment was booked well in the first quarter and continued
to benefit from its focus on higher quality conveyor belts and the expansion of
its regional presence. In the Semperform segment, cyclical commodity price
declines were more than offset by volume increases. In particular, building
profile sales in the high-volume markets of Eastern Europe, and handrail sales
in Asia performed well.
The sector revenue of EUR 108.4 million was slightly below the previous year's
figure of EUR 113.8 million. EBITDA increased from EUR 19.6 million to EUR 20.3
million.
Outlook
Despite limited visibility, the Semperit Group expects that a significant
increase in consolidated revenue in 2013 is possible. This increase will mainly
be driven by the full year consolidation of Latexx Partners.
In the Medical Sector, the focus will remain on the continued integration and
increased capacity utilisation of Latexx Partners. Capacity utilisation in both
Thailand and Malaysia is good, due to increasing orders. However, price pressure
due to overcapacity will continue in the global glove market.
In the Industrial Sector, a continuation of the current business performance
and, with the exception of the Semperflex segment, relatively stable demand is
expected for the next two quarters. The Sempertrans segment in particular will
be very well utilised until the end of the third quarter.
The Semperit Group is sticking to the growth strategy set out in 2011: the Group
is committed to deliver an average double-digit revenue growth, an EBITDA margin
of 12% to 15%, and an EBIT margin of 8% to 11% in the years from 2010 to 2015.
The Report for the 1st Quarter 2013 is available for download at:
www.semperitgroup.com/en/ir
About Semperit
The publicly listed Semperit AG Holding company is an internationally-oriented
group that develops, produces, and sells 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 long-standing Austrian company, which
was founded in 1824, are located in Vienna, and the global R & D centre is in
Wimpassing, Lower Austria. The Semperit Group employs more than 10,000 people
worldwide, including more than 7,000 in Asia and more than 700 in Austria. The
group has 22 manufacturing facilities worldwide and numerous sales offices in
Europe, Asia, and America. In fiscal 2012, the group generated revenue of EUR
829 million and an EBITDA of EUR 109 million.
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Further inquiry note:
Martina Büchele
Head of Group Communications
Tel.: +43 676 8715 8621
martina.buechele@semperitgroup.comwww.semperitgroup.com
Clemens Taschée
Head of Group Accounting
Tel.: +43 (1)79 777-230
clemens.taschee@semperitgroup.com
Stefan Marin
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, ViDX, Prime Market
stockmarkets: free trade: Berlin, official market: Wien, stock market: Stuttgart,
Frankfurt
language: English