2016-10-26 07:30:05 CEST

2016-10-26 07:30:05 CEST


REGLAMENTUOJAMA INFORMACIJA

Munksjö Oyj - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

Munksjö Oyj's Interim Report for January-September 2016: All-time high third quarter profitability and cash flow


Helsinki, Finland, 2016-10-26 07:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 
MUNKSJÖ OYJ, INTERIM REPORT, 26 OCTOBER 2016 AT 7:30 AM CEST

Munksjö Oyj's Interim Report for January-September 2016: All-time high third
quarter profitability and cash flow 


Highlights of the third quarter 2016

- Net sales were EUR 269.6 (269.3) million.

- Adjusted EBITDA was EUR 29.5 (20.0) million and the adjusted EBITDA margin
was 10.9% (7.4%). Items affecting comparability (IAC) amounted to EUR 0.0
(-4.9) million. 

- Operating result was EUR 15.5 (1.9) million and net result EUR 8.3 (3.2)
million. 

- Earnings per share (EPS) were EUR 0.16 (0.07).

- Operating cash flow was EUR 32.6 (9.8) million.

- In addition to the annual maintenance and vacation stops the planned
maintenance stop was carried out at the production facility for specialty pulp. 


Highlights of January-September 2016

- Net sales were EUR 860.5 (840.7) million.

- Adjusted EBITDA was EUR 100.6 (71.5) million and the adjusted EBITDA margin
was 11.7% (8.5%). Items affecting comparability (IAC) amounted to EUR 0.0
(-7.3) million. 

- Operating result was EUR 58.5 (24.2) million and net result EUR 31.5 (15.6)
million. 

- Earnings per share (EPS) were EUR 0.62 (0.30).

- Operating cash flow was EUR 73.0 (11.0) million.


KEY FIGURES                   Jul-Sep            Jan-Sep                 Jan-Dec
MEUR                        2016   2015  Chang   2016   2015  Change, %     2015
                                          e, %                                  
                                                                                
Net sales                  269.6  269.3     0%  860.5  840.7         2%  1,130.7
EBITDA (adj.*)              29.5   20.0    48%  100.6   71.5        41%     93.6
EBITDA margin, % (adj.*)    10.9    7.4          11.7    8.5                 8.3
EBITDA                      29.5   15.1    95%  100.6   64.2        57%     86.3
EBITDA margin, %            10.9    5.6          11.7    7.6                 7.6
Operating result (adj.*)    15.5    6.8   128%   58.5   31.5        86%     40.0
Operating margin, %          5.7    2.5           6.8    3.7                 3.5
 (adj.*)                                                                        
Operating result            15.5    1.9   n.m.   58.5   24.2       142%     32.7
Operating margin, %          5.7    0.7           6.8    2.9                 2.9
Net result                   8.3    3.2   159%   31.5   15.6       102%     22.8
Earnings per share (EPS),   0.16   0.07   129%   0.62   0.30       107%     0.44
 EUR                                                                            
Interest-bearing net debt  199.8  264.1   -24%  199.8  264.1       -24%    227.4
                                                                                

* Adjusted for items affecting comparability (IAC)
A change marked as n.m. indicates that the percentage change is not meaningful

Unless otherwise indicated, the figures in parentheses refer to the figures for
the equivalent period in 2015. This financial report is unaudited. It is
published in Swedish, Finnish and English. In case of any discrepancies between
the three versions, the Swedish text shall prevail. 


Comment from Munksjö’s President and CEO, Jan Åström

“Our year has developed positively and according to our ambitious targets. Our
clearly improved profitability was already visible during the first six months.
Our underlying performance was even stronger in the quarter reaching an
all-time high level for a third quarter, even though it was impacted by the
planned maintenance stop at the production facility for specialty pulp, which
reduced EBITDA with approximately EUR 4 million. Last year the maintenance stop
at the facility was made in the second quarter. 

The total EBITDA improvement during the first nine months amounted to EUR 29
million. Approximately half of this improvement was a result of our own actions
related to our profitability improvement plan. The rest was mainly related to
favourable cost conditions. We estimate that the demand situation continues to
be on the current good level also during the last quarter of the year. 

We have during the first nine months of 2016 been able to show that our
offering of high-quality and sustainable customer solutions have resulted in an
increase in delivery volumes by 4 per cent. The improved financial result has
increased our operating cash flow and has clearly strengthened our balance
sheet. Our net debt is on the lowest level since the company was formed and our
gearing is clearly below our target level, which supports our strategic growth
agenda. 

In September we announced an investment amounting to EUR 14 million in Arches,
France in order to secure our leading position within abrasive backings. The
investment will be made due to an increased customer demand, and includes a
rebuild of a paper machine to allow for new product applications and a more
efficient production. After the rebuild, the paper machine is planned to be
ramped up during the first quarter of 2018. 

Our performance during 2016 has further strengthened the company and I look
positively at our development for the rest of the year and the years to come.” 


Outlook

The demand outlook for the last three months of 2016 for Munksjö’s specialty
paper products is expected to remain stable compared with the current good
level and to reflect the seasonal pattern. 

The seasonal shutdowns at the end of 2016 are expected to be carried out to
about the same extent as in 2015. 

The EBITDA margin in 2016 is expected to further improve compared with 2015
driven by the on-going profitability improvement plan. 

The cash flow effect of capital expenditure for fixed assets for 2016 is
expected to be approximately EUR 40 million. 


Plan to reach profitability target at the end of 2016

Munksjö’s profitability target is to reach an EBITDA margin of 12 per cent at
the end of 2016. The drivers for the profitability improvement include
continued operational efficiency, profitable growth, product and service
quality leadership and utilising the position as a market and innovation
leader. Within operational efficiency, the majority of the planned actions
include measures to adjust our cost structure. 

Of the realised actions in the financial result in January-September 2016, the
majority were related to operational efficiency. Further information on the
actions related to the profitability improvement plan and their effect on the
financial result can be found under the heading Munksjö Group. 


Events after the end of the reporting period

- There are no significant events after the end of the reporting period.


The Munksjö Group

                            Jul-Sep                 Jan-Sep              Jan-Dec
MEUR                      2016   2015   Change,   2016   2015   Change,     2015
                                              %                       %         
                                                                                
Net sales                269.6  269.3        0%  860.5  840.7        2%  1,130.7
EBITDA (adj.*)            29.5   20.0       48%  100.6   71.5       41%     93.6
EBITDA margin, %          10.9    7.4             11.7    8.5                8.3
 (adj.*)                                                                        
EBITDA                    29.5   15.1       95%  100.6   64.2       57%     86.3
EBITDA, margin %          10.9    5.6             11.7    7.6                7.6
Operating result          15.5    6.8      128%   58.5   31.5       86%     40.0
 (adj.*)                                                                        
Operating margin, %        5.7    2.5              6.8    3.7                3.5
 (adj.*)                                                                        
Operating result          15.5    1.9  n.m.       58.5   24.2      142%     32.7
Operating margin, %        5.7    0.7              6.8    2.9                2.9
Net result                 8.3    3.2      159%   31.5   15.6      102%     22.8
Capital expenditure       10.6   10.9       -3%   28.5   30.9       -8%     39.8
Employees, FTE           2,784  2,808       -1%  2,756  2,782       -1%    2,774

* Adjusted for items affecting comparability (IAC)
A change marked as n.m. indicates that the percentage change is not meaningful


Third quarter 2016

Total group delivery volumes increased and were higher than in the
corresponding period last year. The positive volume development in most of the
product segments, especially the Brazilian paper business in Business Area
Release Liners, more than compensated for the lower volume for the specialty
pulp business, which was affected by the maintenance stop at the production
facility. 

Net sales increased to EUR 269.6 (269.3) million, as higher volumes more than
compensated for the lower average price. 

EBITDA adjusted for IAC increased to EUR 29.5 (20.0) million and the adjusted
EBITDA margin was 10.9% (7.4%). The positive result effect of lower variable
costs, driven mainly by operational efficiency related actions, more than
compensated for the negative result effect of the lower average price and
higher fixed costs, which were mainly related to the maintenance stop at the
pulp production facility and accruals for incentive plans. 

The annual maintenance and vacation shutdowns in the third quarter were carried
out to about the same extent as in 2015. The planned maintenance stop at the
production facility for specialty pulp had a negative EBITDA effect of
approximately EUR 4 million. 

IAC amounted to EUR 0.0 (-4.9) million.

The operating result was EUR 15.5 (1.9) million and net result EUR 8.3 (3.2)
million. 

In the reporting period, the currency hedging result impacting operating profit
amounted to EUR -0.9 (-1.1) million. Exchange losses on financial assets and
liabilities were EUR 0.1 (profit of 4.0) million and are reported in financial
items. 


January-September 2016

Total group delivery volumes increased in all four business areas. The delivery
volume development was particularly strong in the specialty pulp business and
the Brazilian paper business in business area Release Liners. 

Net sales increased to EUR 860.5 (840.7) million, as higher volumes compensated
for the lower average price, mainly driven by the lower sales price for long
fibre specialty pulp and a different product mix compared to corresponding
period last year. 

EBITDA adjusted for IAC increased to EUR 100.6 (71.5) million and the adjusted
EBITDA margin was 11.7% (8.5%). Higher delivery volumes had a positive effect
of EUR 11 million. This was offset by EUR 11 million as an effect of the lower
average price. Lower variable costs, driven mainly by operational efficiency
related actions, the lower energy price and lower raw material prices had a
positive result effect of EUR 41 million. Higher fixed costs had a negative
result effect of EUR 13 million, mainly as a result of accruals for incentive
plans and increased manning related to higher production volumes. 

Out of the total profitability improvement, amounting to EUR 29 million,
approximately half was related to actions related to the plan to reach the
profitability target. 

The annual maintenance and vacation shutdowns in the third quarter were carried
out to about the same extent as in 2015. The maintenance shut down at the pulp
production facility in Aspa, Sweden was carried out in September 2016 and had a
negative EBITDA effect of approximately EUR 4 million in the third quarter. 

IAC amounted to EUR 0.0 (-7.3) million.

The operating result was EUR 58.5 (24.2) million and net result EUR 31.5 (15.6)
million. 

In the reporting period, the currency hedging result impacting operating profit
amounted to EUR -0.9 (-4.7) million. Exchange losses on financial assets and
liabilities were EUR 3.1 (profit of 8.2) million and are reported in financial
items. 


Webcast and conference call

A combined news conference, conference call and live webcast will be arranged
on the publishing day news conference, conference call and live webcast will be
arranged on the publishing day 26 October 2016 at 10:00 a.m. CEST (11:00 a.m.
EEST, 8:00 a.m. GMT) at Munksjö’s headquarters in Stockholm (WTC,
Klarabergsviadukten 70, Elevator D, 5th floor). The report will be presented by
President and CEO Jan Åström. The event will be held in English. 

The conference call and live webcast can be followed on the Internet and an
on-demand version of the webcast will be available on the same webpage later
the same day. To join the conference call, participants are requested to dial
one of the numbers below 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the event. 

Webcast and conference call information

Finnish callers: +358 (0)9 7479 0404
Swedish callers: +46 (0)8 5664 2793
US callers: +1 719 325 2213
UK callers: +44 (0)20 3043 2024

Conference ID: 6795982

Link to the webcast: http://qsb.webcast.fi/m/munksjo/munksjo_2016_1026_q3/


For further information, please contact

Jan Åström, President and CEO, tel. +46 10 250 1001
Pia Aaltonen-Forsell, CFO, tel. +46 10 250 1029




Made by Munksjö - Intelligent paper technology

Munksjö is a world-leading manufacturer of advanced paper products developed
with intelligent paper technology. Munksjö offers customer-specific innovative
design and functionality in areas ranging from flooring, kitchens and
furnishings to release papers, consumer-friendly packaging and energy
transmission. The transition to a sustainable society is a natural driving
force for Munksjö's growth as the products can replace non-renewable materials.
This is what "Made by Munksjö" stands for. Given Munksjö's global presence and
way of integrating with the customers, the company forms a worldwide service
organisation with approximately 2,900 employees and 15 facilities located in
France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil and China. Munksjö's share is
listed on Nasdaq in Helsinki and Stockholm. Read more at www.munksjo.com.