EANS-News: Semperit AG Holding Successful Start in 2016
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quarterly report
- Semperit slightly increases revenue to EUR 219.5 million in Q1 2016
- EBITDA (+22.3%) and EBIT (+22.2%) significantly higher
- Good order situation despite continuous difficult market environment
The publicly listed Semperit Group showed a positive revenue and earnings
development in the first quarter of 2016 in spite of the ongoing difficult
market environment. Revenue rose slightly by 0.9% to EUR 219.5 million (after
EUR 217.5 million in Q1 2015) despite negative price effects for raw material.
Semperit improved the group's EBITDA by 22.3% to EUR 26.7 million (after EUR
21.8 million). EBIT increased by 22.2% to EUR 18.6 million (after EUR 15.2
million). The EBITDA margin and the EBIT margin rose to 12.2% (after 10.0%) and
8.5% (after 7.0%) respectively.
This growth in earnings can be attributed to both the Industrial and the Medical
Sector. The Industrial Sector achieved further growth in sales and profitability
despite the weak economy. The continuation of the structural and process
optimisation in the Medical Sector had a positive impact on results.
"In the first quarter of 2016 we showed a positive performance contrary to the
weak market. This was due to a continuing improvement of our global presence as
well as the capacity expansion in all segments. Even our additional capacities
are well utilised thanks to our focused sales strategy, which had a positive
effect on our profitability," CEO Thomas Fahnemann summarised.
Semperit boasted a sound capital basis as reflected by its equity ratio of 39.4%
at the reporting date of March 31, 2016 (December 31, 2015: 38.7%). Cash and
cash equivalents amounted to EUR 121.3 million on 31 March 2016 compared to EUR
126.4 million at the end of 2015. "With our good equity ratio and our attractive
cash flow, our future growth activities are financially well secured," states
Semperit CFO Johannes Schmidt-Schultes.
Industrial Sector: Significant 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. In the
Sempertrans segment, the global sales initiative led to significant increases in
revenue and earnings in a generally stagnating market. In a difficult 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 6.0% to EUR 133.6 million in the first
quarter of 2016. EBITDA climbed 13.7% to EUR 25.1 million.
Medical Sector: Improved profitability
In the Medical Sector (Sempermed segment), process optimisations and efficiency
enhancements started in 2015 led to a significant improvement of profitability.
This was offset by negative price effects due to lower raw material prices as
well as partly negative impacts due to the aggravated cooperation with the joint
venture partner in Thailand.
Revenue of the Medical Sector decreased by 6.0% to EUR 85.9 million in the first
quarter of 2016 due to heavy price pressure and the focus on high-margin
customer relationships. EBITDA improved significantly by 27.1% to EUR 6.1
million.
In summary, the Semperit Group generated earnings after tax amounting to EUR
10.1 million (after EUR 12.6 million) in the first quarter of 2016. This decline
compared with the same period of the previous year was primarily due to negative
foreign currency effects as well as higher interest expenses.
Outlook 2016
In 2016, Semperit expects no significant changes of the market conditions
compared to 2015. The generally low demand in the Industrial Sector in 2015 is
expected to continue in 2016 due to the economic situation. In particular in
Eastern Europe and Russia, no economic recovery is to be expected. Neither does
the industrial capital investment cycle show any signs of an upturn, especially
in China. However, demand in the economically insensitive Medical Sector is
expected to develop steadily with a market growth of 5% to 6%.
Nevertheless, Semperit looks at the year 2016 with a certain amount of
confidence and expects a largely stable development in 2016 compared to 2015. In
the first months of 2016 Semperit has seen a continuing good order situation due
to intensive marketing and sales activities in the Industrial Sector. The
Medical Sector will profit from the step-by-step commissioning of new production
capacities in Kamunting, Malaysia, in 2016 and beyond.
The Semperit Group will continue its growth strategy consistently in 2016. The
focus will be on the entering into new markets in the Industrial Sector and 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 optimisations, efficiency
enhancements and marketing activities. Altogether, capital investments (CAPEX)
of approximately EUR 70 million are planned for 2016.
As of now the report on the first quarter of 2016 is available at
www.semperitgroup.com/en/ir.
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 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, 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