EANS-News: Semperit AG Holding / Semperit in Q1-3 2016 with solid development in a challenging market environment

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quarterly report

- Revenue at EUR 647.6 million (-6.4%) slightly below prior-year
level - Declines in EBITDA (-4.2%) and EBIT (-13.5%) - Confirmation
of updated outlook for 2016

The publicly listed Semperit Group showed a solid business
development in the first three quarters of 2016 in spite of the
ongoing difficult market environment. In the Industrial Sector,
Semperit increased the sales volumes and gained market share despite
the declining development of the sales markets. This development
helped to narrow down the negative effects of the high price pressure
and exceptional factors burdening the Medical Sector. In the first
three quarters of 2016, the Group's revenue was at EUR 647.6 million,
6.4% below the prior-year value of EUR 692.1 million. The Group's
EBITDA decreased by 4.2% to EUR 72.2 million (after EUR 75.4
million). EBIT also developed downward to EUR 46.7 million, compared
with EUR 53.9 million in the previous year. The EBITDA margin (11.1%
after 10.9%) and the EBIT margin (7.2% after 7.8%) remained largely
on the previous year's level. Due to negative foreign currency
effects and higher interest costs, earnings after tax fell from EUR
40.1 million to EUR 23.4 million.

"The weak sector economy in numerous sales markets had as well an
impact on us in the past quarter. We were confronted with declining
demand and high price pressure above all in the Industrial Sector,
especially in the Sempertrans segment. In view of these
circumstances, it is satisfying that we achieved volume growth in all
industrial segments and further expanded our market position. As part
of our globalisation strategy at Semperform, for example, we have
succeeded in entering the US market for window and door profiles.
This way we developed significantly better than the market in the
Industrial Sector and therefore were able to narrow down the negative
effects from the medical business," explains CEO Thomas Fahnemann on
the company development.

In the third quarter of 2016, the Group's revenue decreased to EUR
208.9 million (after EUR 241.3 million) due to a weak market and high
price pressure at the same time. EBITDA was at EUR 19.4 million
(after EUR 25.1 million), while EBIT was EUR 10.4 million (after EUR
17.7 million).

Semperit boasted a sound capital basis as reflected by its equity
ratio of 37.0% (31 December 2015: 38.7%) at the balance sheet date.
Cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 131.7 million on 30
September 2016, compared to EUR 126.4 million at the end of 2015.
"The stable development of our capital structure and the further
increase of cash and cash equivalents show that even under very
challenging conditions we are able to perform well," states
Semperit's CFO Johannes Schmidt-Schultes.

Industrial Sector: solid development in difficult markets The
Industrial Sector (Semperflex, Sempertrans and Semperform segments)
showed an overall solid development contrary to the persisting market
trend. All production sites were well utilised.

The Semperflex segment increased its market share based on a strong
sales performance in all business units, again with high
profitability. The Sempertrans segment showed good capacity
utilisation and further volume growth. However, high price pressure
and a new product mix due to weak demand caused lower shares in
revenue and earnings. The Semperform segment showed a stable
development and recorded a further volume growth thanks to a strong
sales performance and the entry into the US market.

At EUR 389.3 million, revenue of the Sector was almost on the
prior-year level (-1.6%) in the first three quarters of 2016. EBITDA
decreased by 5.1% to EUR 71.7 million.

Medical Sector: focus on core markets The Medical Sector (Sempermed
segment) was burdened by high margin pressure and exceptional
factors. Considering the unsatisfying price situation in the global
glove market and the persisting burdening influence on the
cooperation with the joint venture partner in Thailand, Sempermed now
focuses on the core markets Europe and North America. The overall
focus is on sales of Sempermed brand gloves. This sales strategy,
which was adapted to the current market conditions, is intended to
lead to further cost savings and efficiency enhancements in the
coming quarters. The start-up costs caused by the ongoing capacity
expansion in Malaysia had a negative effect on earnings during the
reporting period.

The revenue of the Sector decreased by 12.9% to EUR 258.3 million in
the first three quarters of the financial year. EBITDA fell to EUR
9.8 million after EUR 19.4 million.

Outlook 2016 For the fourth quarter of 2016, Semperit expects no
significant changes of the market conditions. The generally low
demand in the Industrial Sector is expected to continue due to the
economic situation. In the Medical Sector, which is not cyclically
sensitive, increased raw material and energy prices and continuing
price pressure are to be expected, while demand will develop
steadily.

Semperit confirms the outlook updated on 20 September 2016. Due to
the ongoing difficult situation in the Medical Sector and declining
demand in the Industrial Sector caused by the economic situation, in
particular in the Sempertrans segment, the operational results of
2016 of the Semperit Group will be well below the results of 2015
(restated values). This results in a forecast decline in EBITDA by
approximately 10% and in EBIT by approximately 20% for the overall
financial year of 2016.

The Semperit Group will continue its growth strategy consistently
despite more difficult economic conditions. The focus will be on
entering into new markets in the Industrial Sector and the expansion
and optimisation of existing production capacities. In the Medical
Sector (Sempermed segment), the sales focus remains on the core
markets and on commissioning further production capacities in
Malaysia. Profitability shall be improved by continuing process
optimisation and efficiency enhancements as well as by the
realisation of a cost reduction programme.

The report on the first three quarters of 2016 is available at
www.semperitgroup.com/ir.

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
highly specialised rubber and plastic products in more than 100
countries 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
traditional 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, America and Australia. In 2015, the
group generated sales of EUR 915 million and EBITDA of EUR 96
million.

Further inquiry note:
Martina Büchele
Group Communications Manager
Tel.: +43 676 8715 8621
martina.buechele@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
WWW: www.semperitgroup.com
sector: Synthetics & Plastics
ISIN: AT0000785555
indexes: WBI, ATX Prime, ViDX, Prime Market, ATX GP
stockmarkets: official market: Wien
language: English

Original-Content von: Semperit AG Holding, übermittelt durch news aktuell