2016-10-28 08:00:51 CEST

2016-10-28 08:00:51 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

English Finnish
Rapala VMC - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

RAPALA VMC CORPORATION'S TRADING REPORT JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 2016: STRONGER THIRD QUARTER IN THE US, BUT CUMULATIVE SALES STILL BEHIND LAST YEAR


Rapala VMC Corporation
Trading report
October 28, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.


RAPALA VMC CORPORATION'S TRADING REPORT JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 2016: STRONGER
THIRD QUARTER IN THE US, BUT CUMULATIVE SALES STILL BEHIND LAST YEAR

January-September in brief:

  * Nine months net sales were 202.5 MEUR, down 7% from previous year (218.6).
    With comparable exchange rates sales down 6%.
  * Leverage ratio (net debt to EBITDA) continues to be high and the Group is
    taking measures to decrease it. The Group expects to be compliant with its
    loan agreements at the year-end.
  * Changes and appointments in management organization effective September
    1(st) 2016.
  * Full year (FY) guidance unchanged from H1/2016: Full year net sales and
    comparable operating profit are expected to be below 2015 levels.



President  and CEO Jussi Ristimäki: "The positive highlight of the third quarter
was  the improved sales in our biggest market in the USA. The US market has been
under  some turmoil this year and a merger  between two of our big customers was
just  finally announced early  October. In Russia,  which used to  be our second
biggest  market globally just  a few years  back, the situation  continues to be
very  challenging. Overall trading conditions continued  to be difficult in many
of our main markets and 2016 will be a challenging year. Weather conditions will
be  an  uncertain  factor  during  fourth  quarter, which can potentially affect
winter product sales.

Following  the changes in  our management organization  during this quarter, the
key task of the entire management is now to turn the company's financial trends,
which have been in downturn in the past few years. We are taking a fresh look at
the  strategy and working on a plan of  actions, which are needed to get us back
to  growth track, restore the profitability  and improve the capital efficiency.
We  are confident  that with  our strong  brand portfolio, truly global presence
through  our own distribution  network and solid  manufacturing platform for our
core products we have all the necessary building blocks needed to succeed in the
future."



Helsinki, October 28, 2016

Board of Directors of Rapala VMC Corporation

For further information, please contact:

Jussi Ristimäki, President and Chief Executive Officer, +358 9 7562 540
Olli Aho, Investor Relations, +358 9 7562 540





Market environment

Year  2016 sales  remain  behind  last  year  as trading conditions in the third
quarter continued to be challenging. Sales for the quarter in the biggest market
in the US were above last year's levels. The sales were also improving in Spain,
South  Africa and Chile  supported by expansion  into new business segments. The
struggling  market situation in  Russia continued to  strongly affect the sales.
The  sales  in  France  were  also  down,  burdened by tightened competition and
reserved  consumer market  sentiment. Several  markets both  in Europe  and Asia
witnessed  changes and uncertainties, causing retailers to be careful with their
purchasing.

Favorable  late summer and early fall weathers  were good for the summer fishing
tackle  sales, but not enough  to offset the slower  sales in early summer. Last
winter's  poor sales left  a lot of  winter fishing and  winter sports equipment
stock  at retail,  which has  had a  negative impact  on the  winter fishing and
winter sports presales.



Business Review January-September 2016

The  Group's net sales for the nine  months were down 7%. Changes in translation
exchange  rates decreased sales  by approximately 4.0 MEUR  for the nine months.
Correspondingly  with comparable translation exchange  rates net sales were down
6% from last year for the nine months.

North America

North  American sales  for the  nine months  and third  quarter were  below last
year's  levels, although the sales for the  third quarter in the Group's biggest
market,  the US  were above  last year,  supported by  fill in  orders of summer
fishing  products and earlier timing of ice fishing sales. While consumer demand
for Group's products was good, US retail scene witnessed some turmoil during the
nine  months of the year impacting the Group, as well as the competition. During
the  third quarter summer products, especially lure  sales were up, while in the
nine  month  period  retailers'  destocking  and  changes in purchasing behavior
caused  slowdown  in  Group's  sales  especially  on  Group  branded lures. Weak
economic  situation continued in Canada, which caused the overall North American
third quarter sales to decline from last year.

Nordic

In  the Nordic countries the nine months  and third quarter sales decreased from
last  year. In Finland  the third quarter  sales were below  last year driven by
slower  winter sports and outdoor sales. The sales in Sweden, Norway and Denmark
improved from last year's levels on the third quarter and for the nine months of
the  year. In Denmark and Sweden the  sales were supported by recovering hunting
sales.   Export   sales  from  the  Group's  manufacturing  units  to  non-Group
distribution  channels were  down compared  to last  year. Valuation of currency
nominated  accounts receivable had a notable positive impact on last year's nine
month  sales. Excluding these valuations, Nordic  nine month sales were slightly
above last year's level.

Rest of Europe

The sales were below last year's level for the nine months and the third quarter
of  the year, following slowdown  in sales especially in  big markets Russia and
France. Currency exchange rate changes, especially Russian Ruble, had a negative
impact  on the  regions sales.  The instability  and uncertainties in Russia and
Ukraine   continued  to  impact  sales  volumes  in  the  respective  countries.
Consumers'  reduced purchasing power further slowed  down the sales in Russia in
the third quarter. Excluding Russia and Ukraine the sales decreased 4% from last
year  with comparable rates for  the nine months and  decreased 6% for the third
quarter. In France the reserved market sentiment and tightened price competition
continued  to burden the sales. In Poland the strong sales for the third quarter
were  boosted by closeout sales of a  third party category. The nine month sales
in Spain were above last year's level supported partly by increased export sales
to Latin America.

Rest of the World

The region's sales for the nine months and third quarter of the year were behind
last  year. Currency exchange rate changes, especially South African Rand, had a
negative  impact on  the regions  sales. The  sales were  burdened by struggling
Asian  markets,  especially  in  Southeast  Asia  where the Group's distribution
organization  is being restructured. The sales  in South Africa continued strong
and  were supported by new outdoor and hunting business. The sales in Chile were
stronger  than  last  year  with  growth  in  hunting products and group-branded
fishing  tackle. Export sales from the  Group's manufacturing units to non-Group
distribution  channels were  down compared  to last  year. Valuation of currency
nominated  accounts receivable had  a positive impact  on last year's nine month
and quarterly sales.

External Net Sales by Area

------------------------------------------------------
                   Q1-Q3 Q1-Q3 change comparable    FY

 MEUR               2016  2015      %   change %  2015
------------------------------------------------------
 North America      67.7  73.4    -8%        -8%  99.2

 Nordic             44.2  45.6    -3%        -2%  56.2

 Rest of Europe     66.8  73.1    -9%        -5%  86.9

 Rest of the World  23.8  26.5   -10%        -5%  35.9

 Total             202.5 218.6    -7%        -6% 278.2
------------------------------------------------------



------------------------------------------------------
                      Q3    Q3 change comparable    FY

 MEUR               2016  2015      %   change %  2015
------------------------------------------------------
 North America      21.3  21.8    -2%        -2%  99.2

 Nordic             10.9  11.4    -4%        -4%  56.2

 Rest of Europe     18.7  21.7   -14%       -11%  86.9

 Rest of the World   8.5   9.7   -12%       -11%  35.9

 Total              59.4  64.5    -8%        -7% 278.2
------------------------------------------------------






Segment Review

Group Products

The  Group products sales were  below last year's levels  for the nine months in
nearly all categories. In the third quarter the sales of fishing lures were well
above  last year's level in the US, and  at last year's level for the Group. The
third quarter fishing accessory sales were below last year's level. The sales of
Group Products for the nine months were above last year's levels in Spain, Chile
and South Africa.

Third Party Products

The  sales of Third  Party Products for  the nine months  and third quarter were
below  last year's level.  The economic situation  in Russia continued to reduce
the  Third Party Fishing products sales in the region. Also the difficult market
situation  in France affected  negatively the Third  Party Products sales. Third
Party  Hunting sales  were up  from last  year for  the nine  months in  the new
hunting  distribution countries  and for  the third  quarter in Nordic. Currency
fluctuations  had major negative impact on nine month sales especially in Russia
and South Africa.



Net Sales by Segment

---------------------------------------------------------
                      Q1-Q3 Q1-Q3 change comparable    FY

 MEUR                  2016  2015      %   change %  2015
---------------------------------------------------------
 Group Products       132.9 144.5   -8 %        -7% 184.7

 Third Party Products  69.6  74.0   -6 %        -3%  93.5

 Eliminations                                         0.0

 Total                202.5 218.6   -7 %        -6% 278.2
---------------------------------------------------------



---------------------------------------------------------
                         Q3    Q3 change comparable    FY

 MEUR                  2016  2015      %   change %  2015
---------------------------------------------------------
 Group Products        37.9  41.0    -8%        -7% 184.7

 Third Party Products  21.5  23.6    -9%        -7%  93.5

 Eliminations                                         0.0

 Total                 59.4  64.5    -8%        -7% 278.2
---------------------------------------------------------







[]