2016-08-18 07:01:16 CEST

2016-08-18 07:01:16 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

Finnish English
Lehto Group Oyj - Half Year financial report

Lehto Group Plc's half year financial report January-June 2016


Lehto Group Plc's half year financial report January-June 2016

Lehto Group Plc Stock Exchange release 18 August 2016, 8:00 a.m. EET

Net sales increased by 44.6%, operating profit came to 9.9% of net sales

Summary

 GROUP                            4-6/2016 4-6/2015 1-6/2016 1-6/2015 1-12/2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net sales, EUR million               78.3     46.7    140.5     97.2     275.6

 Change in net sales, %              67.5%    45.7%    44.6%    33.1%     61.1%

 Operating profit, EUR million        10.0      1.8     14.0      6.1      27.2

 Operating profit, % of net sales    12.7%     3.9%     9.9%     6.3%      9.9%

 Profit for the period, EUR            8.0      1.2     11.0      4.2      21.2
 million



 Order backlog at period end, EUR    237.2    184.1    237.2    184.1     195.0
 million

 Earnings per share, EUR              0.16     0.02     0.22     0.09      0.52

 Cash and other liquid assets,        74.1      9.5     74.1      9.5      24.6
 EUR million

 Interest-bearing liabilities,        18.9     19.4     18.9     19.4      17.0
 EUR million

 Equity ratio, %                     63.1%    21.9%    63.1%    21.9%     37.2%

 Net gearing ratio, %               -58.4%    64.1%   -58.4%    64.1%    -22.9%



Group net sales during the first half-year grew by 44.6%, compared to the
previous year's corresponding period, to EUR 140.5 (97.2) million. The Group's
profitability remained at a good level and operating profit was EUR 14.0 (6.1)
million, i.e. 9.9% (6.3%) of net sales. Net sales grew in all service areas. The
strongest growth was experienced in the Housing service area, where net sales
more than doubled compared to those of the corresponding period in the previous
year. In the review period, the number of completed construction sites included
9 housing premises, 10 business premises and 14 social care and educational
premises. The Group's cash and other liquid assets grew to EUR 74.1 million,
mainly due to the successful listing.

After the beginning of the year, the order backlog increased to EUR 237.2
million at the end of the review period (EUR 195.0 million on 31 December
2015). Growth in the order backlog was generated by new business premises orders
in particular, as well as by new orders received in the Social care and
educational premises service area.

 Net sales by service area, EUR million 1-6/2016 1-6/2015 Change   1-12/2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Business premises                          49.0     45.4   7.9%       109.8

 Housing                                    53.2     25.3 110.0%        69.5

 Social care and educational premises       24.4     16.2  50.2%        38.4

 Building renovation                        14.0     10.2  36.5%        58.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Total                                     140.5     97.2  44.6%       275.6



Lehto's CEO Hannu Lehto:

"A major effort in the first half-year involved the company's listing on the
stock exchange. Upon the listing, we gained around 4,600 new shareholders and
trading in the shares on the prelist of the Helsinki Stock Exchange commenced on
28 April 2016. The listing was a heavy but rewarding project that helped us to
clarify our strategy and sharpen our competitiveness. I want to use this
opportunity to thank all of you who invested in our company, as well as all
those who participated in our listing project. The funds received at the IPO
will enable continuous development of our operations and secure capital demanded
for growth.

Our business developed positively in the first half of 2016. Our net sales grew
by 44.6% and all service areas were growing. The operating profit was at the
expected level, i.e. 9.9% of net sales. During the review period, the number of
completed projects included 9 residential buildings, 10 business premises
projects, 14 social care and educational premises projects, and several building
renovation projects.

We continued the development of modular solutions and concepts, and our new
building component factory, which is being built in Oulainen, reached its roof
height. Production in the new factory will be started during the third quarter
of the year and will provide increased capacity, particularly in our housing
service area. In addition, we believe that factorymade modules and components
improve the quality of building, reduce costs and speed up the construction site
phase during building.

Our business is growing and expanding. In circumstances like this, supply of
skilled labour becomes more important and we must therefore aim at making Lehto
ever more attractive as a working place for building professionals."

Outlook for 2016

For the strategy period 2016-2020, Lehto's target for average annual growth in
net sales is around 10-15%.

It is estimated that growth in net sales in 2016 will be at least in accordance
with the average growth target and operating profit will be around 8-10% of net
sales. In the second half-year 2016, net sales and operating profit, in euros,
are expected to be higher than in the first half-year.

Key factors affecting net sales and operating profit are the recognition based
on delivery of developer contracting housing production, the number of
apartments sold, as well as starts and sales of social care and educational
premises and other business premises projects.

Invitation to press conference

Lehto will arrange a press conference on its first half-year review 2016 for the
press, analysts and institutional investors on Thursday 18 August 2016 at 10 am
in the company office in Vantaa, address Äyritie 12 B. The press conference can
be viewed via a direct webcast at lehto.fi/en/investors. The direct webcast will
start at 10 am Finnish time.

You can also participate through a telephone conference, which will begin at 10
am on 18 August. To participate, please call five minutes before the conference
begins, using one of the following numbers.

  * 09 2319 5437 (from Finland)
  * +46 (0) 8 50520424 (from Sweden)
  * +44 (0) 20 3003 2666 (from the UK, Standard International Access)
  * Participation password: Lehto

For more information:

Veli-Pekka Paloranta, CFO

+358 400 944 074

veli-pekka.paloranta@lehto.fi

Lehto Group in brief

Lehto Group is a Finnish construction and real estate group focusing on
economically driven construction. The company's mission is to be an innovative
reformer of the construction industry. The company has divided its operations
into four service areas: Business Premises, Housing, Social Care and Educational
Premises and Building Renovation. Lehto Group currently operates in Finland and
is geographically concentrated in growth centres which form a significant part
of the construction volume. The company's headquarters are located in Kempele.
The company's net sales in financial year 2015 was approx. EUR 276 million and
the company employed 423 people at the end of the financial year 2015.

www.lehto.fi


[HUG#2035846]