• Solid sales and volumes
• Sharp increase in raw material costs at MM Karton weighs on profit
• MM Packaging maintains good level
• Cartonboard price increase is first priority

The Mayr-Melnhof Group was able to sustain overall good capacity utilization in both divisions and to maintain the previous year's sales level in the first quarter of 2017. This was achieved despite restrained demand at the beginning of the year and persistently intense competition. The packaging division recorded a further quarter with high profitability. In contrast, the result of the cartonboard division was weighed by another rise in recovered paper prices.
Accordingly, passing on increased input costs through higher selling prices is now first priority with the aim to keep on long-term profitability in both segments.

GROUP KEY INDICATORS - IFRS

consolidated, in millions of EUR, IFRS 1Q/2017 1Q/2016 +/-
Sales 584.5 576.0 +1.5 %
Operating profit 50.6 55.2 -8.3 %
Operating margin (in %) 8.7 % 9.6 %
Profit before tax 49.2 53.2 -7.5 %
Income tax expense (12.3) (13.8)
Profit for the period 36.9 39.4 -6.3 %
Net profit margin (in %) 6.3 % 6.8 %
Earnings per share (in EUR) 1.84 1.96
Employees 9,906 9,927
Capital expenditures 45.5 31.9
Depreciation and amortization 24.4 25.4

as of December 31, 2016

The Group's consolidated sales increased to EUR 584.5 million and were thus 1.5 % above the comparative figure of the previous year (1Q 2016: EUR 576.0 million). This slight rise primarily results from the packaging division.

Operating profit, at EUR 50.6 million, was 8.3 % or EUR 4.6 million below the comparative figure of the previous year (1Q 2016: EUR 55.2 million). A stable performance at a high level in the packaging division was contrasted by a decline in the cartonboard division. The Group's operating margin reached 8.7 %, following 9.6 % in the first three months of the previous year.

Financial income amounted to EUR 0.8 million (1Q 2016: EUR 0.7 million), financial expenses to EUR -1.4 million (1Q 2016: EUR -1.6 million).

Profit before tax thus totaled EUR 49.2 million (1Q 2016: EUR 53.2 million). Income tax expense was at EUR 12.3 million (1Q 2016: EUR 13.8 million), resulting in an effective Group tax rate of 25.0 % (1Q 2016: 25.9 %).

Profit for the period decreased by 6.3 % to EUR 36.9 million (1Q 2016: EUR 39.4 million), representing 6.3 % of sales (1Q 2016: 6.8 %).

OUTLOOK

Our first priority currently is to pass on the increased raw material costs in a stable European market environment, however lacking impulses. Continuing highly competitive general conditions are sustaining margin pressure, which we are countering with targeted measures to reduce costs and increase business volume. Besides exploiting organic growth opportunities, we continue to focus on expansion through acquisitions.
Due to the strong profit development in the first half of the previous year supported by a favorable product mix in the packaging division, as well as the successive compensation of increased raw material costs, interim results in the first half-year of 2017 will, as in the first quarter, come in below the comparative figure of last year. The target for 2017, however, remains to tie up with the challenging level of 2016 best possible.

DEVELOPMENT IN THE DIVISIONS

MM Karton

in millions of EUR, IFRS 1Q/2017 1Q/2016 +/-
Sales 261.9 263.4 -0.6 %
Operating profit 15.9 20.2 -21.3 %
Operating margin (in %) 6.1% 7.7 %
Tonnage sold (in thousands of tons) 426 427 -0.2 %
Tonnage produced (in thousands of tons) 421 419 +0.5 %

including interdivisional sales

Following a restrained beginning of the year, demand on the European cartonboard market improved slightly over the course of the first quarter of 2017. The average order backlog of MM Karton was around 69,000 tons, following 57,000 tons in the first three months of the previous year. At around 98 % (1Q 2016: 97 %), the capacities of the division were again almost fully utilized.

The major challenge in the first months of the year was the situation on the raw materials markets, which experienced a significant price increase in the strategic raw material of recovered paper as well as in coating chemicals. Prices for recovered paper were driven in particular by strong demand from Asia and stockpiling for new European corrugated base paper machinery.

Therefore, MM Karton currently sets highest priority to passing on the increased input prices.

With 421,000 tons produced and 426,000 tons sold, volumes were similar to the previous year (1Q 2016: 419,000 tons and 427,000 tons respectively). Of this, 78 % was sold to European markets and 22 % to markets outside of Europe (1Q 2016: 81 %; 19 %).

Owing to largely stable average prices, sales, at EUR 261.9 million, remained close to the previous year's level (1Q 2016: EUR 263.4 million). In contrast, operating profit decreased as a result of the strong rise in raw material costs from EUR 20.2 million to EUR 15.9 million. The operating margin came in at 6.1 % following 7.7 % in the previous year's period.

MM Packaging

in millions of EUR, IFRS 1Q/2017 1Q/2016 +/-
Sales 344.6 339.2 +1.6%
Operating profit 34.7 35.0 -0.9 %
Operating margin (in %) 10.1 % 10.3 %
Tonnage processed (in thousands of tons) 190 189 +0.5 %
Sheet equivalend (in millions) 569.9

562.2

+1.4 %

including interdivisional sales

Also demand on the European folding carton market still proceeded without noticeable stimulus in the first three months of the year. Accordingly competition continued with unabated intensity.

Nevertheless MM Packaging was able to solidly maintain its position in this setting with a broad range of sales in various consumer goods sectors and regions as well as with the focus on cost leadership. The good profit-level was held up for another quarter in succession, still with a heterogeneous profit contribution by the individual sites.

There are no signs of a sustained improvement in market dynamics recognizable. Thus, MM Packaging is continuing to focus on maximum efficiency in production as well as on long-term collaboration with successful customers. The success of this approach can also be seen in the first quarter of 2017.

Sales as well as operating profit, at EUR 344.6 million and EUR 34.7 million respectively, were able to match the high standards set in the comparative period of the previous year
(1Q 2016: EUR 339.2 million and EUR 35.0 million). As a result, at 10.1 % the operating margin stayed at a high level (1Q 2016: 10.3 %).

At 190,000 tons, tonnage processed remained almost unchanged at the previous year's level (1Q 2016: 189,000 tons), while the sheet equivalent increased by 1.4 % from 562.2 million to 569.9 Million.

QUARTELY OVERVIEW

Mayr-Melnhof Group

consolidated, in millions of EUR, IFRS 1Q/2016 2Q/2016 3Q/2016 4Q/2016 1Q/2017
Sales 576.0 566.2 571.6 558.9 584.5
EBITDA 80.3 83.6 72.9 77.2 74.8
EBITDA margin (in %) 13.9 % 14.8 % 12.8 % 13,8 % 12.8 %
Operating profit 55.2 55.6 49.4 53.5 50.6
Operating margin (in %) 9.6 % 9.8 % 8.6 % 9.6 % 8.7 %
Profit before tax 53.2 55.7 47.0 53.3 49.2
Income tax expense (13.8) (14.7) (11.9) (15.4) (12.3)
Profit for the period 39.4 41.0 35.1 37.9 36.9
Net profit margin (in %) 6.8 % 7.2 % 6.1 % 6.8 % 6.3 %
Earnings per share (in EUR) 1.96 2.05 1.75 1.91 1.84

DIVISIONEN

MM Karton

in millions of EUR, IFRS 1Q/2016 2Q/2015 63Q/2016 4Q/2015 61Q/2017
Sales 263.4 258.5 255.6 245.5 261.9
Operating profit 20.2 18.9 15.3 13.7 15.9
Operating margin (in %) 7.7 % 7.3 % 6.0% 5.6 % 6.1%
Tonnage sold (in thousands of tons) 427 417 414 413 426
Tonnage produced (in thousands of tons) 419 420 416 414 421

including interdivisional sales

MM Packaging

in millions of EUR, IFRS 1Q/2016 2Q/2016 3Q/2016 4Q/2016 1Q/2017
Sales 339.2 332.1 342.1 339.2 344.6
Operating profit 35.0 36.7 34.1 39.8 34.7
Operating margin (in %) 10.3 % 11.1 % 10.0 % 11.7 % 10.1 %
Tonnage processed (in thousands of tons) 189 191 190 191 190
Sheet equivalent (in millions) 562.2 565.8 561.3 550.8 569.9

including interdivisional sales

Forthcoming Results:
August 17, 2017 Half-Year Results 2017

For further information, please contact:

Stephan Sweerts-Sporck
Investor Relations
Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG

Brahmsplatz 6
A-1040 Vienna
Tel.: +43 1 501 36-91180
Fax: +43 1 501 36-191195
E-Mail: investor.relations@mm-karton.com
Website: www.mayr-melnhof.com

Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG published this content on 18 May 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 18 May 2017 06:08:26 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.mayr-melnhof.com/en/press/press-releases/press-details/article/ergebnisse-zum-1-quartal-2017-1/

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