EANS-News: AMAG Austria Metall AG reports higher operating earnings and record cash flow trend in FY 2019

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Annual Reports/Annual Result

Ranshofen -

* Shipments +4 % to 440,300 tonnes
* Revenue at EUR 1,066.0 million, slightly below previous year's EUR 1,101.6
million due to price factors
* EBITDA grows to EUR 143.0 million in challenging market environment (2018: EUR
141.0 million)
* Net income after taxes at EUR 38.6 million compared with EUR 44.5 million in
the previous year
* Records for cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow
* Proposal of a stable dividend of EUR 1.20 per share
* Guidance: too early for earnings forecast due to uncertain market environment

In the 2019 financial year, AMAG Austria Metall AG grew its operating earnings
and posted new records for cash flow from operating activities and free cash
flow.

Gerald Mayer, CEO of AMAG comments: "Our very good operating earnings and cash
flow trends confirm the position we have adopted - with our broadly diversified
product portfolio, a high proportion of specialty products and our focus on
aluminium recycling."

The 2019 financial year was characterised by a challenging market environment.
Trade conflicts, especially between the USA and China, as well as the economic
slowdown and the weakening automotive industry led to lower price levels and, in
some markets, to lower demand than expected. The price of aluminium decreased by
an average of 14 % year-on-year.

AMAG nonetheless grew its shipments by 4 % year-on-year to 440,300 tonnes.
Growth was achieved in all divisions.

In terms of revenue, this volume increase partially offset the lower price
level. As a consequence, revenue reduced only slightly, by 3 % to EUR 1,066.0
million.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew year-
on-year from EUR 141.0 million to EUR 143.0 million. Main reasons for the
increase included lower raw material and energy costs as well as higher shipment
volumes. As a result, the effect on earnings from the lower price level was more
than offset.

With an operating result (EBIT) of EUR 61.1 million, the previous year's result
(2018: EUR 60.6 million) was also slightly exceeded for the reasons already
described. Net income after taxes reduced from EUR 44.5 million to EUR 38.6
million due to a less favourable net financial result as well as higher income
taxes.

Cash flow from operating activities climbed to a record EUR 139.9 million,
representing a 48 % increase compared with the previous year (2018: EUR 94.3
million). Cash flow from investing activities amounted to EUR -76.4 million,
compared with EUR -82.8 million in the previous year. At EUR 63.5 million, free
cash flow also reached a new record in the history of AMAG Austria Metall AG
(2018: EUR 11.5 million).

This positive development also contributed to an improvement in the balance
sheet ratios compared to the previous year. Net financial debt decreased from
EUR 311.3 million at the end of 2018 to EUR 292.9 million, and the gearing ratio
from 50.1 % to 47.3 %. The equity ratio rose from 39.8 % to 41.2 %.

Dividend proposal:
The Management Board will propose to the Shareholders' Annual General Meeting a
year-on-year unchanged dividend of EUR 1.20 per share. This corresponds to a
dividend yield of around 4 % in relation to the year-end closing price of the
AMAG share of EUR 30.50. The Annual General Meeting will take place on April 15,
2020, in Linz. The dividend payment date is April 22, 2020.

Outlook:
According to current estimates by the CRU market research institute, average
growth rates of 2 to 3 % are expected for global demand for primary aluminium
and aluminium rolled products in the coming years. In 2020, the increase should
amount to around 2 % in each case.

Gerald Mayer, CEO of AMAG: "Growth prospects for the coming years are positive,
although the current market environment is challenging. After completion of the
site expansion programme we are very well positioned, can drive our innovative
strength even more and we will be launching a veritable fireworks display of new
products in 2020."

It is still too early to provide an earnings forecast for the 2020 financial
year. In particular, business performance in 2020 will depend on the future
price trends for aluminium and raw materials, the currency situation and the
general economic situation.

Annual Report 2019:
The 2019 annual report is immediately available for downloading from the
investor relations area of the AMAG website. This report is subdivided into a
magazine, which contains the most important information on AMAG and its 2019
business performance, and the financial report.

AMAG - key figures:

_____________________________________________________________________________
|EUR_millions_____|_______________2019|_______________2018|_____________Change|
|Shipments in | 440,300| 424,600| 3.7 %|
|tonnes___________|___________________|___________________|___________________|
|of which external| | | |
|shipments in | 406,600| 397,500| 2.3 %|
|tonnes___________|___________________|___________________|___________________|
|Revenue__________|____________1,066.0|____________1,101.6|_____________-3.2_%|
|EBITDA___________|______________143.0|______________141.0|______________1.4_%|
|EBIT_____________|_______________61.1|_______________60.6|______________0.7_%|
|Net income after | 38.6| 44.5| -13.2 %|
|taxes____________|___________________|___________________|___________________|
|Cash flow from | | | |
|operating | 139.9| 94.3| 48.3 %|
|activities_______|___________________|___________________|___________________|
|Cash flow from | | | |
|investing | -76.4| -82.8| 7.7 %|
|activities_______|___________________|___________________|___________________|
|Employees1)______|______________2,000|______________1,959|______________2.1_%|

______________________________________________________________________________
|EUR_millions|____________31-Dec-19|____________31-Dec-18|_______________Change|
|Equity______|________________619.3|________________620.9|_______________-0.3_%|
|Equity_ratio|_______________41.2_%|_______________39.8_%|____________________-|
|Gearing_____|_______________47.3_%|_______________50.1_%|____________________-|

1) Average number of employees (full-time equivalents) including temporary help
workers and excluding apprentices. The figure includes a 20 percent pro rata
share of the labour force at the Alouette smelter, in line with the equity
holding.

Further inquiry note:
Investor contact:
Felix Demmelhuber
Head of Investor Relations
AMAG Austria Metall AG
Lamprechtshausenerstrasse 61
5282 Ranshofen, Austria
Tel.: +43 (0) 7722-801-2203
Email: investorrelations@amag.at

Press contact:
Dipl.Ing. Leopold Pöcksteiner
Head of Strategy, Communication, Marketing
AMAG Austria Metall AG
Lamprechtshausenerstrasse 61
5282 Ranshofen, Austria
Tel.: +43 (0) 7722-801-2205
Email: publicrelations@amag.at

end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: AMAG Austria Metall AG
Lamprechtshausenerstraße 61
A-5282 Ranshofen
phone: +43 7722 801 0
FAX: +43 7722 809 498
mail: investorrelations@amag.at
WWW: www.amag.at
ISIN: AT00000AMAG3
indexes: VÖNIX, WBI, ATX BI, ATX GP
stockmarkets: Wien
language: English

Additional content: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/100615/4531728
OTS: AMAG Austria Metall AG

Original-Content von: AMAG Austria Metall AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell