euro adhoc: Semperit AG Holding / other / Semperit AG Holding announces preliminary results for 2008: Further revenue growth

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20.02.2009

. Revenue up 7.8% to EUR 655.3 million

. Difficult business environment expected in the 2009 financial year

For the Semperit Group, the 2008 financial year was characterized by
massive raw material price increases and a rapid downturn in economic
growth in the second half-year. Despite this difficult economic
environment, the company succeeded in raising revenue by 7.8%, to EUR
655.3 million.

| |2007 |2008 |Change in %
|
| | |preliminary |
|
|Revenue in EUR million |607.8 |655.3 |+ 7.8
|
|EBT in EUR million |59.6 |58.1 |- 2.5
|

In spite of repeated price increases, the drastic price rises for raw materials
in 2008 could not be fully compensated for. In particular, price negotiations
carried out with customers in the second half of the year were hardly

successful due to the impending downswing in the real economy.
Accordingly, earnings before tax (EBT) decreased to EUR 58.1 million
(previous year: EUR 59.6 million).

Massive increase in raw material prices

All divisions were faced with the challenge of coping with high raw
material prices in 2008. Starting in the first quarter, there was a
continuous price rise for natural and synthetic rubber. Whereas the
price for natural rubber peaked in August and declined slightly
afterwards, the prices for different types of synthetic rubber
reached record levels at the end of October. Many other raw materials
were also subject to a wave of price increases, such as chemicals,
fillers and wires. As a result, the cost of materials as a percentage
of operating revenues climbed from 55.5% in the previous year to
57.7% in 2008.

Development in the divisions

The Sempermed Division was not impacted by the overall cyclical
development and therefore reported a 10.8% growth in revenue to EUR
242.8 million. Business in the Semperflex Division was quite dynamic
in the first half of 2008, but was confronted with a lower level of
orders in the third quarter and a slump in demand in the final months
of the year. Nevertheless, Semperflex managed to raise revenue for
the year by 2.6%, to EUR 166.0 million. The Semperform Division
increased its total revenue by 6.8%, to EUR 119.0 million, although
sales development varied according to segment. Revenue in the
Sempertrans Division climbed from EUR 115.6 million in the previous
year to EUR 127.5 million (+ 10.2%), which was based on the good
demand for conveyor belts prevailing throughout 2008.

Outlook

The full impact of the global economic crisis is expected to be felt
in 2009. With the exception of the Sempermed Division, which
primarily focuses on products for the medical sector, management
expects a decline in demand in all other segments.

The current state of the global economy will not leave Semperit
unaffected. However, due to the good competitive position and a solid
capital structure with a high equity ratio, the Management Board
expects the company to emerge even stronger from this crisis and gain
market shares. In 2008, the Semperit Group already implemented a
series of measures designed to increase profitability through reduced
fixed costs and further process optimization in its business
operations. In addition, a decrease in raw material prices should
relieve to some extent the tight material cost situation.

The final results will be presented on April 6, 2009.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Semperit AG Holding
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Semperit AG Holding

Mag. Sybille Bernhardt

Investor Relations

Tel.: +43 1 79 777- 210

mailto:sybille.bernhardt@semperit.at

Branche: Synthetics & Plastics
ISIN: AT0000785555
WKN: 870378
Index: WBI, ATX Prime, ViDX
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / stock market
Börse Stuttgart / stock market
Börse Berlin / free trade
Wiener Börse AG / official market