2014-10-23 07:30:00 CEST

2014-10-23 07:31:29 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

English
Huhtamäki Oyj - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

Huhtamäki Oyj's Interim Report January 1 - September 30, 2014: Solid net sales growth


HUHTAMÄKI OYJ INTERIM REPORT 23.10.2014 AT 08:30


Huhtamäki Oyj's Interim Report January 1 - September 30, 2014: Solid net sales
growth

Q3 2014 in brief
  * Net sales were EUR 613 million (EUR 587 million)
  * EBIT was EUR 45 million (EUR 42 million, excluding NRI of EUR -5 million)
  * EPS was EUR 0.29 (EUR 0.31, excluding NRI)
  * Comparable net sales growth was 6% in total and 9% in emerging markets
  * Significant profitability improvement in the Foodservice Europe-Asia-
    Oceania, Molded Fiber and Films business segments
  * While net sales growth was satisfactory, the North America business segment
    did not deliver profitability according to expectations
  * Currency movements had no impact on the Group's net sales
  * Acquisition of Positive Packaging, a flexible packaging company operating in
    India, United Arab Emirates and Africa, was announced in the beginning of
    the quarter

 Q1-Q3 2014 in brief
  * Net sales were EUR 1,805 million (EUR 1,774 million)
  * EBIT was EUR 141 million (EUR 129 million, excluding NRI of EUR -13 million)
  * EPS was EUR 0.93 (EUR 0.89, excluding NRI)
  * Comparable net sales growth was 6% in total and 11% in emerging markets
  * Currency movements had a significant negative impact of EUR 58 million on
    the Group's net sales

 Key figures

 EUR million       |Q3 2014 Q3 2013|Change Q1-Q3 2014 Q1-Q3 2013|Change FY 2013
-------------------+---------------+----------------------------+--------------
                   |               |                            |
                   |               |                            |
 Net sales         |  613.2   586.5|    5%    1,805.1    1,773.8|    2% 2,342.2
                   |               |                            |
 EBITDA*           |   67.8    64.2|    6%      208.1      195.8|    6%   256.4
                   |               |                            |
 EBITDA margin*    |  11.1%   10.9%|            11.5%      11.0%|         10.9%
                   |               |                            |
 EBIT**            |   44.9    42.3|    6%      140.6      128.7|    9%   166.7
                   |               |                            |
 EBIT margin**     |   7.3%    7.2%|             7.8%       7.3%|          7.1%
                   |               |                            |
 EPS**, EUR        |   0.29    0.31|   -6%       0.93       0.89|    4%    1.21
                   |               |                            |
 ROI**             |               |            12.3%      12.1%|         12.1%
                   |               |                            |
 ROE**             |               |            16.0%      15.0%|         15.8%
                   |               |                            |
 Capital           |               |                            |
 expenditure       |   31.6    26.1|   21%       77.2       82.0|   -6%   121.0
                   |               |                            |
 Free cash flow    |   14.7    31.9|  -54%       10.5       37.7|  -72%    56.0


*  Excluding non-recurring items (NRI) of EUR  -3.5 million in Q3 2013, EUR -6.7
million in Q1-Q3 2013 and EUR -23.8 million in FY 2013.
**  Excluding NRI  of EUR  -5.2 million  in Q3  2013, EUR -12.5 million in Q1-Q3
2013 and EUR -30.6 million in FY 2013.

CEO Jukka Moisio:"The  6% comparable net sales growth that  was achieved is a satisfactory result
in  the current economic  climate and shows  that we are  making steady progress
towards   our   growth   targets.  General  economic  uncertainty  is  reflected
particularly in the emerging markets with the pace of growth slowing down to 9%
(12%  in the  previous quarter),  but there  is a  big variation from country to
country.

Our  profitability for the  quarter, however, did  not meet our expectations and
particularly  the  performance  in  the  North  America segment should have been
better.  The growth pace of the segment is good,  but we need to work to get the
profitability  back on track. We are taking  action to improve these results. At
the  same time, distribution costs and  raw material prices are putting pressure
on the segment's margins.

The  results of the restructuring actions  taken in the Foodservice Europe-Asia-
Oceania  segment during 2013 are visible  in the segment's profitability. Strong
performance  continued also in the Molded Fiber segment, while the profitability
of  the  Flexible  Packaging  segment  was  negatively impacted by increased raw
material costs and continued strong competition in emerging markets.

It  is pleasing to see the strong net sales growth and profitability improvement
in  the Films segment, even though the  segment's future as part of Huhtamaki is
being evaluated as a result of our growing focus on consumer food packaging.

Our  financial position  remains solid.  While we  invest heavily to support our
customers'  growth in  emerging markets,  we also  continue to  focus on working
capital  management in order to optimize our  cash flows. This combined with the
actions  we are taking to improve the  performance of our North America segment,
allows  us to progress well towards our strategic targets and mid-term financial
ambitions."

Financial review Q3 2014

The  Group's comparable net  sales growth was  6% during the quarter. The growth
was  strongest in Molded Fiber, Films  and Flexible Packaging business segments.
Comparable growth in the emerging markets was 9%. The growth in emerging markets
was  driven by  good volume  development especially  in Eastern Europe and South
Asia,  whereas  net  sales  development  in  China  turned negative. The Group's
reported  net sales were EUR 613 million  (EUR 587 million). There was no impact
on  the Group's  net sales  from foreign  currency translations  compared to the
2013 exchange rates.


NET SALES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
 EUR million                     Q3 2014 Q3 2013 Change Of Group in Q3 2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania   160.1   160.0   0.1%                 26%

 North America                     191.2   182.7   4.7%                 31%

 Flexible Packaging                155.3   145.2   7.0%                 25%

 Molded Fiber                       60.5    56.4   7.3%                 10%

 Films                              52.3    47.9   9.2%                  8%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excluding internal sales eliminations of EUR -6.2 million in Q3 2014 and EUR
-5.7 million in Q3 2013.

COMPARABLE GROWTH BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
                                 Q3 2014 Q2 2014 Q1 2014 Q4 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------


 Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania      4%      5%      3%      3%

 North America                        4%     10%      3%      6%

 Flexible Packaging                   6%      4%      7%      9%

 Molded Fiber                         9%     10%     10%     10%

 Films                                9%     10%      9%      2%
----------------------------------------------------------------
 Group                                6%      7%      5%      6%


The Group's earnings development in constant currencies continued strong, with
particularly strong performance by the Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania and Films
business segments. In the North America business segment earnings developed
negatively. In constant currencies the earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)
grew by 7%. The Group's EBIT was EUR 45 million (EUR 42 million, excluding NRI
of EUR -5 million).

EBIT BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
 EUR million                     Q3 2014 Q3 2013 Change Of Group in Q3 2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania    16.0    11.5  39.1%                 34%

 North America                       7.8    10.6 -26.4%                 17%

 Flexible Packaging                 10.8    10.7   0.9%                 23%

 Molded Fiber                        7.4     6.3  17.5%                 16%

 Films                               4.7     2.6  80.8%                 10%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excluding Other activities EBIT EUR -1.8 million in Q3 2014 and EUR 0.6 million
in Q3 2013. Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania EBIT excluding NRI of EUR -5.2
million in Q3 2013.

Net financial expenses were EUR 8 million (EUR 7 million). Tax expense was EUR
6 million (EUR 3 million).

Profit for the period was EUR 31 million (EUR 27 million). There were no NRI
reported during the quarter, whereas profit for the third quarter of 2013
includes NRI of EUR -5 million. Earnings per share (EPS) were EUR 0.29 (EUR
0.31 excluding NRI or EUR 0.26 reported).

Financial review Q1-Q3 2014

The Group's comparable net sales growth was 6% during the period. In the
emerging markets comparable growth was 11%, with Eastern European markets
continuing to show fastest growth. The Group's reported net sales were EUR
1,805 million (EUR 1,774 million). The negative foreign currency translation
impact on Group's net sales, related to currency movements during the first half
of the year, was EUR 58 million compared to the 2013 exchange rates. The largest
negative impact came from the US dollar, Russian ruble and Indian rupee.

NET SALES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
                                                              Of Group in Q1-Q3
 EUR million                 Q1-Q3 2014 Q1-Q3 2013 Change                  2014
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Foodservice Europe-Asia-
 Oceania                          464.8      477.0  -2.6%                   26%

 North America                    563.7      544.3   3.6%                   31%

 Flexible Packaging               458.2      447.2   2.5%                   25%

 Molded Fiber                     183.8      176.0   4.4%                   10%

 Films                            154.4      143.6   7.5%                    8%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excluding internal sales eliminations of EUR -19.8 million in Q1-Q3 2014 and EUR
-14.3 million in Q1-Q3 2013.


The Group's earnings development in constant currencies was strong, with all
business segments except North America contributing to the earnings growth.
Earnings growth was strongest in the Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania, Films and
Molded Fiber business segments. Main reasons for the positive development were
volume growth, disciplined cost containment and the positive effect of
successful restructuring activities taken during 2013. EBIT in constant
currencies grew by 10%. The Group's EBIT was EUR 141 million (EUR 129 million,
excluding NRI of EUR -13 million). Negative foreign currency translation impact
on Group's EBIT, resulting from currency movements during the first half of the
year, was EUR 4 million.


EBIT BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

                                                              Of Group in Q1-Q3
 EUR million                 Q1-Q3 2014 Q1-Q3 2013 Change                  2014
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Foodservice Europe-Asia-
 Oceania                           44.4       34.7  28.0%                   31%

 North America                     29.8       33.4 -10.8%                   21%

 Flexible Packaging                33.1       33.9  -2.4%                   23%

 Molded Fiber                      25.0       20.7  20.8%                   17%

 Films                             11.0        6.2  77.4%                    8%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excluding Other activities EBIT EUR -2.7 million in Q1-Q3 2014 and EUR -0.2
million in Q1-Q3 2013. Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania EBIT excluding NRI of EUR
-12.5 million in Q1-Q3 2013.

Net financial expenses increased and were EUR 23 million (EUR 21 million). The
increase was due to a higher amount of external debt compared to the previous
year as a result of the fixed rate unsecured bond issued in the second quarter
of 2013. Tax expense was EUR 19 million (EUR 13 million). The corresponding tax
rate was 16% (14%).


Profit for the period was EUR 99 million (EUR 82 million). There were no NRI
reported during the period, whereas the profit for the corresponding period in
2013 includes NRI of EUR -13 million. EPS was EUR 0.93 (EUR 0.89 excluding NRI
or EUR 0.77 reported).

Outlook for 2014

The Group's trading conditions are expected to remain relatively stable during
2014. The good financial position and ability to generate a positive cash flow
will enable the Group to continue to address profitable growth opportunities.
Capital expenditure is expected to be at the same level as in 2013. A
significant part of the investments are expected to be directed to enhance
growth in the emerging markets.

Financial reporting in 2015

Results 2014 will be published on February 12, 2015.

Additionally, Huhtamaki will publish the following interim reports during the
course of the year:
Interim Report January 1 - March 31, 2015                          April
21, 2015
Interim Report January 1 - June 30, 2015                            July
24, 2015
Interim Report January 1 - September 30, 2015                   October 22, 2015

Huhtamäki Oyj's Annual General Meeting is planned to be held on April 21, 2015.

This is a summary of Huhtamäki Oyj's Interim Report January 1 - September
30, 2014. The complete report is attached to this release and is also available
at the company website at www.huhtamaki.com.


For further information, please contact:
Jukka Moisio, CEO, tel. +358 10 686 7801
Thomas Geust, CFO, tel. +358 686 7880

HUHTAMÄKI OYJ
Group Communications


Huhtamaki Group is a leading manufacturer of consumer and specialty packaging
with 2013 net sales totaling EUR 2.3 billion. Foodservice and consumer goods
markets are served by approximately 14,700 people in 62 manufacturing units and
several sales offices in 30 countries. The parent company, Huhtamäki Oyj, has
its head office in Espoo, Finland and its share is quoted on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Ltd. Additional information is available at www.huhtamaki.com.

[HUG#1864942]