euro adhoc: Lenzing AG / Financial Figures/Balance Sheet / Lenzing 2008: The Group extends its position as world market leader in cellulose fibers

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05.03.2009

Lenzing 2008: The Group extends
its position as world market leader
in cellulose fibers

? Consolidated sales up by 5.4% to EUR 1.33 bill.
? EBIT down by 19.7% to EUR 130.3 mill.
? Expected: Significant decline in 2009 results due to global economic
development

The Lenzing Group made good use of business year 2008, a year
characterized by volatility and the deepening financial crisis, to
further extend its position as world market leader in cellulose
fibers.

According to preliminary figures, consolidated sales rose by 5.4% to
EUR 1.33 bill. (2007: EUR 1.26 bill.), EBITDA declined by 12.4% to
EUR 200.8 mill. (2007: EUR 229.3 mill.) and EBIT fell by 19.7% to EUR
130.3 mill. (2007: EUR 162.3 mill.). Net income declined by 33.1% to
EUR 77.7 mill. (2007: EUR 109.6 mill.). In view of the uncertain
economic development in the current business year, the management
board will decide on a dividend proposal at a later date.

Peter Untersperger, chairman of the management board and head of
finance comments: "We made optimum use of business year 2008 despite
the difficult economic environment with its very different conditions
and achieved the second-best EBIT result in our corporate history. In
the first two quarters the company benefited from the very good
market situation created by the 2007 fiber boom. In the third
quarter, the global economy clouded over and affected our business
development. We countered this trend with innovative products,
quality service to our fiber customers second to none and by our lead
in cost efficiency". . Segment Fibers - the biggest segment of the
Lenzing Group with a share in sales of over 80% - raised sales by
3.6% to EUR 1,107.9 mill. (2007: EUR 1,069.5 mill.) Segment EBIT
declined to EUR 118.1 mill. (2007: EUR 148.4 mill.). The segment's
fiber production came to 540.300 tons (2007: 523.100 tons).

Friedrich Weninger, member of the management board, on the current
development of the company's key fiber segment: "Lenzing in 2008
further expanded its position as the global market leader in
cellulose fibers by increasing production and by further optimizing
its product portfolio with a high share of up-market and top-market
fibers, such as Lenzing Modal®, TENCEL®, Lenzing FR® and other
special fibers."

According to Friedrich Weninger, Lenzing's products enjoy very high
market acceptance because of the company's delivery reliability and
its lead in product quality, especially in difficult times. The
ecological excellence of TENCEL® and Lenzing Modal® opened new
opportunities of cooperation with producers of global brands and the
quality of Lenzing's fibers for home textiles enabled cooperation
with global retail trade partners. The markets recognize Lenzing´s
cellulose fibers also as excellent products in terms of
sustainability. They are therefore prepared to pay premiums.
Lenzing's flame retardant fibers (Lenzing FR®) for protective wear
for the crude oil and plastics industry and uniforms for the US Armed
Forces met with increasing success.

In Nonwovens, the company improved its market position by
implementing its segment strategy of creating an organizational
structure closer to its markets. Moreover, its nonwovens applications
benefited from the general consumer trend towards ecological
products. To add, products such as fibers for hybrid drive electronic
components made this segment an important supplier to niche
industries with strong growth potential.

Segment Plastics in 2008 focused on integrating the acquisitions made
in 2007. A new segment strategy adapted segment structure to the
strong growth in sales volume and to market conditions. Sales by
segment reporting improved from EUR 133.1 mill. to EUR 182.2 mill.
which was mainly due to the first full-year consolidation of its 2007
acquisitions. Segment EBIT came to EUR 7.3 mill. (2007: EUR 9.0
mill.). The product focus of the segment is on thermoplastics, PTFE
(polytetrafluoroethylene) fibers and yarns, filaments and carbon
precursor. Lenzing Plastics operates a total of six production sites
in Europa and the USA.

The business environment of Segment Engineering continued to be
positive over long stretches of the year. The high readiness of the
pulp and fiber industry to invest enabled a good volume of order
bookings from the Lenzing Group itself, as well as from external
customers. Total sales fell to EUR 110.9 mill. (2007: EUR 119.0
mill.) of which EUR 51.3 mill. (2007: EUR 68.7 mill.) were generated
by external sales. EBIT by segment reporting came to EUR 10.0 mill.
(2007: EUR 6.2 mill.).

The majority of shares in Business Unit Paper and control of the
business were transferred at the beginning of March 2008.

Outlook

For the time being, the deepening recession, general excess supply of
fibers and continuing weak consumer demand in western industrialized
economies will prevent any effective recovery of the global fiber
market. After the strong decline in quantity demand in the fourth
quarter of 2008 as well as probably in the first half of 2009, first
signs of stabilization are, however, expected for the second half of
2009. The current economic environment for Lenzing Plastics is
equally unsatisfactory, although the currently lower raw material
prices will have a stimulating effect. Comprehensive public
investment in infrastructure is hopefully expected to have positive
impact on the construction industry from which Lenzing Plastics will
eventually benefit.

Peter Untersperger emphasizes: "Especially in the current difficult
situation we will maintain our position as a solid and reliable
supplier, make use of new opportunities and enhance our market
position". The company aims to further improve its position with
customers by maximizing capacity utilization. Lenzing Plastics will
flexibly adjust production capacity to market demand, while
simultaneously increasing its activities in marketing, distribution
and sales.

Moreover, in 2009 all sites will realize further savings and cost
efficiency measures in production, distribution and administration.

A significant decline in the results for 2009 is to be expected,
however, despite these comprehensive countermeasures. The company's
excellent market position, its technology lead and its product
portfolio, as well as good liquidity and a solid balance sheet
structure are the basis for realizing market opportunities even in
the current situation. Peter Untersperger: "We will also master this
difficult situation and we are ready to make optimum use of the
opportunities offered by the next economic upturn".

Consolidated company key figures (IFRS)
(EUR mill.) 2008 (prel.) 2007
Sales 1329.1 1,260.5
EBITDA 200.8 229.3
EBIT 130.3 162.3
Net income attributable to
shareholders of Lenzing AG 77.7 109.6
EBITDA margin % 15.1 18.2
EBIT margin % 9.8 12.9
Equity ration* % 42.7 44.8
Staff 5,945 6,043
Capital expenditure
intangibles, property,
plant and equipment and
financial assets) 165.9 266.8
Operating cash flow 50.4 223.8

*Equity incl. government grants less prop. deferred taxes

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

Further inquiry note:

Lenzing AG

Mag. Angelika Guldt

Tel.: +43 (0) 7672-701-2713

Fax: +43 (0) 07672-96301

mailto:a.guldt@lenzing.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: AT0000644505
WKN: 852927
Index: WBI
Börsen: Börse Berlin / free trade
Wiener Börse AG / official dealing