EANS-News: Semperit AG Holding / Profitable growth in difficult market conditions in 2015

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annual result

- Earnings after tax up 22.6% to EUR 46.4 million - Dividend
proposal: EUR 1.20 dividend per share (after EUR 1.10 excl. special
dividend) - Mostly stable business development expected in 2016 in a
persistently challenging environment

The publicly listed Semperit Group showed a positive revenue and
earnings development in 2015 in spite of an increasingly difficult
market environment. Revenue rose 6.6% year-on-year to EUR 914.7
million. Earnings after tax increased by 22.6% to EUR 46.4 million
following EUR 37.8 million. Revenue per share rose by 22.1% to EUR
2.26 (after EUR 1.85).

This growth in revenue and earnings can be attributed to both the
Industrial and the Medical Sectors with strong distribution
performances and sales growth. In addition, capacity expansion, the
increased global presence and the successful integration of the
German profile manufacturer Leeser acquired in 2015 showed positive
effects. Volume growth more than compensated for negative price
effects related to decreased raw material prices.

"In 2015 we achieved important milestones in implementing our growth
strategy. In the Industrial Sector we clearly outperformed the market
and gained market share. This is even more encouraging since we were
again confronted with a difficult market environment. In the Medical
Sector we increased profitability by introducing optimisation
measures," Semperit CEO Thomas Fahnemann sums up. "We have
strengthened our global presence and have grown profitably by
entering into new markets and customer groups. In addition, we have
set the course for further growth by acquiring the profile
manufacturer Leeser and expanding the capacity in our facilities,"
Fahnemann adds.

Semperit invested a total of EUR 71.8 million in 2015 (2014: EUR 67.4
million) to expand and modernise its production plants. Even after
the optimisation of the capital structure and the related payment of
the special dividend in May 2015, Semperit boasted a sound capital
basis as reflected by its equity ratio of 38.7% at the reporting date
of December 31, 2015 (2014: 53.7%). Cash and cash equivalents
amounted to EUR 126.4 million at the end of 2015 compared to EUR
115.6 million at the end of 2014. "In 2015 we continued to optimise
our financial structure by borrowing capital at highly attractive
conditions. We have a solid balance sheet structure and generate
stable cash flows from our operating business. We are optimally
financed in the long term and well prepared for our further growth
course. Therefore we are able to finance our ongoing investment
programme out of our own resources and at the same time pay an
attractive dividend to our shareholders," states Semperit CFO
Johannes Schmidt-Schultes. The Management Board will therefore
propose a dividend of EUR 1.20 per share for 2015 to the Annual
General Meeting, which is an increase of EUR 0.10 (2014: basic
dividend of EUR 1.10 + special dividend of EUR 4.90/share). The
pay-out ratio is at 53.2% after 59.6% excluding the special dividend
for 2014.

Industrial Sector: Strong performance despite declining total market
The Industrial Sector (the Semperflex, Sempertrans and Semperform
segments) showed a very positive development contrary to the market
trend.

The Semperflex segment generated sales increases and high
profitability thanks to excellent production and sales performances
in a declining market. The new production capacities in Europe's
largest hose factory in Odry, Czech Republic, were well utilised. In
the Sempertrans segment, the global sales initiative led to
significant increases in revenue and earnings in a generally
stagnating market. The new capacities put into operation at the end
of third quarter in the conveyor belt factory in Be?chatów, Poland,
were also well utilised. The Semperform segment showed a double-digit
increase in revenue and earnings despite a difficult market
environment in important target markets. This is primarily due to the
successful acquisition and integration of the German profile
manufacturer Leeser as well as the increase in market share in the
global handrail business.

Revenue of the Industrial Sector rose 9.1% to EUR 521.0 million in
2015. EBITDA climbed 7.8% to EUR 94.9 million. The EBITDA margin
amounted to 18.2% compared to 18.4% in 2014, while the EBIT margin
improved to 15.1% after 13.9% in the previous year.

Medical Sector: Improved profitability in the course of the year The
Medical Sector (Sempermed segment) generated higher sales volumes in
2015 by increasing its sales activities. Process optimisations and
efficiency enhancements led to a significant improvement of
profitability in the course of 2015, which was offset by negative
price effects due to lower raw material prices as well as upfront
costs for the new factory in Malaysia.

Revenue of the Medical Sector rose 3.4% to EUR 393.7 million in 2015.
EBITDA declined by 4.4% to EUR 32.1 million. The EBITDA margin
amounted to 8.1% (after 8.8%), while the EBIT margin rose to 5.1%
compared to 4.6% in 2014.

In summary, the Semperit Group generated EBITDA of EUR 100.6 million
in 2015, down 1.3%. EBIT increased by 11.6% to EUR 71.2 million. The
EBITDA margin of 11.0% (2014: 11.9%) and the EBIT margin of 7.8%
(2014: 7.4%) remained at a solid level.

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 upturn is to be expected. Neither does the industrial
capital investment cycle in China show any signs of an upturn.
However, the demand in the economically insensitive Medical Sector is
expected to develop steadily with a market growth of 5% to 6%.

Nevertheless, Semperit has started 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 and aims at achieving average double-digit volume growth
(quantities sold) and attractive earnings margins. 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. Altogether,
capital investments (CAPEX) of approximately EUR 70 million are
planned for 2016.

The results for the financial year 2015 are available for download at
www.semperitgroup.com/en/ir The Annual Report 2015 and the Annual
Financial Report 2015 will be available at
www.semperitgroup.com/en/ir as of end of March 2016.

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
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 101 million.

Further inquiry note:
Martina Büchele
Group Head of Communications
Tel.: +43 676 8715 8621
martina.buechele@semperitgroup.com
www.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