euro adhoc: Semperit AG Holding
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet
Semperit AG
Holding announces preliminary results for 2007: Record sales and
earnings
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
28.02.2008
- Sales up approx. 6% to EUR 608 million
- EBIT rose 26% to EUR 63.9 million
- Continuation of profitable growth path expected in 2008
Vienna, Austria, February 28, 2008 - The Semperit Group was able to continue its successful growth path in the 2007 financial year. During the period under review, consolidated sales climbed by about 6%, to EUR 608 million, with all production sites operating at full capacity. Due to targeted price increases and consistent cost management, Semperit succeeded in increasing its operating profit (EBIT) disproportionately by 26.0%, to EUR 63.9 million.
The Semperit Group has thus improved its consolidated profit for the 17th consecutive year, underlining the sustainability of the company's business strategy.
Earnings before tax rose by 9.8% above the previous year's level, to EUR 59.6 million. This includes the unsatisfactory financial result amounting to minus EUR 4.3 million, which can be attributed to the massive crisis on international capital markets.
| |2006 |2007 preliminary |Change in % | |Sales in EUR million |574.1 |607.8 |+ 5.9 | |Earnings before interest |50.8 |63.9 |+ 26.0 | |and tax (EBIT) in EUR | | | | |million | | | | |Earnings before tax (EBT) |54.3 |59.6 |+ 9.8 | |in EUR million | | | | |Consolidated net profit |40.0 |44.6 |+ 11.5 | |for the year in EUR | | | | |million | | | | |Number of employees |6,689 |7,118 |+ 6.4 | |(annual average) | | | |
The positive business environment, particularly in Europe and Asia, served as the basis for the generally good level of orders throughout 2007. North America was the only market in which Semperit did not achieve any appreciable gains in market share, which is mainly related to the unstable economic situation and the depreciation of the US dollar. Moreover, the company was subject to currency translation losses resulting from the consolidation of its sales in euros. Price increases for raw materials, which were quite substantial for several types of rubber as well as for crude oil based chemicals and fillers, were offset by targeted procurement planning and increases in Semperit's selling prices.
All four divisions increased sales during the period under review. Despite a high share of its business carried out in US dollars, the Sempermed division reported a 4.4% increase in sales, to EUR 219.1 million. The main reason was the particularly favourable business development in Europe and the Middle East. Business in the Semperflex division was satisfactory in all product segments, which is mainly related to the favourable market environment in Europe. Sales of the Semperflex division climbed accordingly by 11.0%, to EUR 161.7 million. There was a slowdown in growth in the Semperform division compared to the previous year, with total sales rising by only 2.6%, to EUR 111.4 million. This can be primarily attributed to a decline in the division's OEM business for handrails and ski membranes, as well as a weakening in demand for cable car rings and seal profiles in the second half of the year. Nevertheless, the development of sales was satisfactory in all other product segments of the Semperform division. The high demand for conveyor belts manufactured by the Sempertrans division continued uninterruptedly. All production facilities operated at full capacity, and achieved good sales growth, particularly in their core markets. As a result, total sales of the Sempertrans division rose by 5.9%, to EUR 115.6 million.
Dividend increase planned
The Management Board of Semperit AG Holding wants its shareholders to participate in the positive business development of the company. Therefore, it will once again propose a dividend increase to the upcoming General Meeting of Shareholders for the 2007 financial year.
Outlook 2008
The Semperit Group expects to continue its growth path in the current 2008 financial year, based on efficiency improvements, rationalisation projects, the even quicker realisation of measures designed as a response to raw material price hikes, as well as the consistent implementation of investment projects.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Semperit AG Holding
Investor Relations
Sybille Bernhardt
Tel.: +43 (1) 79 777-210
E-mail: 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