2017-02-07 07:30:01 CET

2017-02-07 07:30:01 CET


REGULATED INFORMATION

English Finnish
Sanoma Oyj - Financial Statement Release

Sanoma’s 2016 Full-Year Result: Back on Track Faster than Expected


Sanoma Corporation, Stock Exchanget Release, 7 February 2017 at 8:30 CET+1

Fourth quarter

  -- Net sales amounted to EUR 398.1 million (2015: 409.3).
  -- Adjusted for changes in the Group structure, Sanoma’s net sales were
     stable.
  -- Operational EBIT increased to EUR 1.4 million (2015: -8.4).
  -- Operating profit was EUR -23.2 million (2015: -131.3).
  -- Earnings per share were EUR -0.20 (2015: -0.69).
  -- Operational earnings per share were EUR -0.07 (2015: -0.09).
  -- Cash flow from operations was EUR 105.8 million (2015: 68.7).
  -- Items affecting comparability included in the operating profit amounted to
     EUR -24.6 million (2015: -122.9), mainly related to restructuring expenses
     and impairments. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the items were mainly
     related to impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, sales losses and
     restructuring expenses.

2016

  -- Net sales amounted to EUR 1,639.1million (2015: 1,716.7).
  -- Adjusted for changes in the Group structure, Sanoma’s net sales were stable
     (+0.1%).
  -- Operational EBIT improved significantly, to EUR 167.9 million (2015: 83.7).
  -- Operating profit increased to EUR 196.6 million (2015: -123.1)
  -- Earnings per share were EUR 0.65 (2015: -0.91).
  -- Operational earnings per share were EUR 0.51 (2015: 0.13).
  -- Cash flow from operations was EUR 153.5 million (2015: 25.5).
  -- Net debt/adj. EBITDA ratio was 3.2 times (2015: 5.1) after the redemption
     of the hybrid.
  -- The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of EUR 0.20 per share (2015:
     0.10).
  -- Items affecting comparability included in the operating profit amounted to
     EUR 28.7 million (2015: -206.8), mainly related to settlement of the Dutch
     defined benefit pension plans, sales gains as well as restructuring
     expenses and impairments. In 2015, the items were mainly related to
     impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, sales losses and
     restructuring expenses.

Outlook

For 2017, Sanoma expects that the Group’s consolidated net sales adjusted for
structural changes will be stable and the operational EBIT margin will be
around 10%. 

The outlook is based on the assumption of the advertising markets development
in the Netherlands and Finland being in line with that of 2016. 



Key indicators (based on reported figures, not adjusted for structural changes)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                10–12/  10–12/  Change    1–12/    1–12/  Change
EUR million                       2016    2015       %     2016     2015       %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                        398.1   409.3    -2.7  1,639.1  1,716.7    -4.5
Operational EBIT                   1.4    -8.4            167.9     83.7        
% of net sales                     0.3    -2.1             10.2      4.9        
Operating profit                 -23.2  -131.3            196.6   -123.1        
Result for the period            -32.1  -131.4            116.0   -157.7        
                                                                                
Cash flow from operations        105.8    68.7    54.1    153.5     25.5        
                                                                                
Capital expenditure *             12.2    11.5     5.5     34.8     54.7   -36.4
% of net sales                     3.1     2.8              2.1      3.2        
                                                                                
Return on equity (ROE), % **                               10.9    -13.6        
Return on investment (ROI), %                               9.9     -5.3        
 **                                                                             
Equity ratio, %                                            41.0     39.5        
Net gearing, %                                             78.4     77.8        
                                                                                
Number of employees at the end of the period (FTE)        5,227    6,116   -14.5
Average number of employees                               5,384    6,776   -20.5
 (FTE)                                                                          
                                                                                
Earnings/share, EUR              -0.20   -0.69             0.65    -0.91        
Cash flow from                    0.65    0.42    54.2     0.95     0.16        
 operations/share, EUR                                                          
                                                                                
Equity/share, EUR                                          4.39     4.59    -4.2
Dividend/share, EUR ***                                    0.20     0.10        
Market capitalisation                                   1,338.4    633.7        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Including finance leases.
** Rolling 12-month period.
*** Dividend for 2016 is a proposal by the Board of Directors.

Sanoma presents certain financial performance measures (alternative performance
measures or APMs) on a non-IFRS basis. The APMs are provided to reflect the
underlying business performance and to enhance comparability from period to
period. APMs should not be considered as a substitute for measures of
performance in accordance with IFRS. More information is available at
Sanoma.com. 



Organic Growth, %

                      10–12/2016 vs.         1–12/2016 vs.         1–12/2015 vs.
                          10–12/2015             1–12/2015             1–12/2014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media BeNe                      -2.2                   0.5                  -1.4
Media                            0.8                   0.7                  -4.1
 Finland                                                                        
Learning                        15.9                  -2.5                  -4.0
Group                            0.0                   0.1                  -3.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Susan Duinhoven, President and CEO

“Sanoma’s performance in the fourth quarter of the year was in line with the
significant improvement in results seen in previous quarters. In 2016, our
organic net sales were stable. The benefits from the cost innovation
initiatives, started in the third quarter of 2015, came in faster than
anticipated and our operational EBIT in 2016 doubled to EUR 167.9 million. 

In Media BeNe, all businesses posted improved results in 2016 due to successful
cost innovations. Most of the increase in profits came from the Dutch print and
online brand portfolio. According to a recent study, Sanoma is the leading
local online publisher and our Dutch news site NU.nl reaches 67% of the
population monthly. 

In 2016, Media Finland’s results improved very significantly driven by cost
innovations. In addition, the good development of non-print sales contributed
to increased profitability. Non-print sales amounted to 42% of net sales at the
end of the year (2015: 38%). Nelonen’s share of TV viewing increased throughout
the year and rose in the fourth quarter to 35.8% from 32.6% in the comparable
period last year. Media Finland will be continuing with the implementation of
the over 100 ‘Suunta’ revenue, cost and process improvement initiatives, and
the profitability in 2017 is likely to be affected by related development
costs. 

Also Learning had a good year. Curriculum changes, successes of the digital
learning platform Bingel, as well as the acquisition of De Boeck in Belgium
contributed to 8% increase in sales in the Western European markets in 2016. In
Poland, we were able to increase our market share, but the sharp market decline
influenced Learning’s total net sales negatively. The improved market share
makes Sanoma well positioned to invest in developing new methods to support the
new educational reform beginning in 2017. Profitability in Learning improved
significantly, driven by cost innovations in all businesses. 

Our significantly improved cash flow has enabled us to deleverage our balance
sheet during 2016 considerably. For 2016, the Board proposes a dividend of EUR
0.20 (2015: 0.10). Deleveraging continues to be important also in the coming
years and we have reviewed our long-term financial targets to reflect this. Our
new dividend policy, published today, will also be based on cash flow. From
2017 onwards, we aim to pay an increasing dividend, equal to 40–60% of annual
cash flow from operations less capital expenditure. The improvements in cash
flows and continued deleveraging will have a positive effect on our operational
earnings per share going forward. 

The faster than expected improvement in our results clearly shows the strength
of Sanoma. The strong brands, the good market positions and the great teams
working to serve our customers have been able to get the company back on track
in 2016. We look forward to continue on our transformation path and further
improve our processes and products in 2017.” 



Full-Year Result 2016 webcast

The event for analysts and investors will be held today in English by President
and CEO Susan Duinhoven and CFO Kim Ignatius at 11:00 Finnish time (9:00 UK
time) at Sanomatalo, Töölönlahdenkatu 2, Helsinki. The live webcast can be
viewed on Sanoma’s website at www.sanoma.com/en/investors and on demand after
the event. 

Please join by dialing

Finland: +358 (0)9 7479 0361 / US: +1 719 457 2086 / UK: +44 (0)330 336 9105 /
Netherlands: +31 (0)20 721 9251 

Conference id: 3062306

Financial reporting 2017

-  Interim Report January–March on 26 April 2017, approx. at 8:30

-  Half-Year Report (January–June) on 25 July 2017, approx. at 8:30

-  Interim Report January–September on 25 October 2017, approx. at 8:30.



Additional information

Sanoma's Investor Relations, Anna Tuominen, tel. +358 40 5846944

Sanoma.com

Sanoma

Sanoma is a front running media and learning company impacting the lives of
millions every day. We provide consumers with engaging content, offer unique
marketing solutions to business partners and enable teachers to excel at
developing the talents of every child. 

With companies operating in Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and
Sweden, our net sales totalled EUR 1.6 billion and we employed more than 5,000
professionals in 2016. The Sanoma shares are listed in Nasdaq Helsinki.