Wienerberger : with revenue and earnings growth in first nine months of 2015

Vienna, November 12, 2015 - Wienerberger AG today announced results for the first nine months of 2015, with an increase in revenues and earnings during this period. From January to September this year, Group revenues rose by 6% to € 2,283 million and operating EBITDA by 18% to € 293 million. Heimo Scheuch, Chief Executive Officer of Wienerberger AG, summarized the first nine months: 'In view of the increasing market volatility during the past three months, we are satisfied with our performance. Sound growth in the first half-year was followed by a certain slowdown in dynamics during the third quarter. The countries that have been characterized by a weak demand level since the start of the year continued to have an unfavorable effect on our business. They include the German-speaking region Switzerland, Austria and Germany as well as France and Italy. We reacted to these developments promptly by increasing our focus on additional measures to optimize our cost structures and strengthen earnings. On the one hand, we are accelerating the integration of our East European clay roof tile business. On the other hand, we are putting a number of performance enhancing measures in certain markets in place. Such proactive measures will lead to costs in the third and fourth quarter.' He also added: 'In addition to improving profitability and optimizing our free cash flow, our focus remains on financial discipline. This also includes the steady reduction of debt. We took a further step in this direction during August 2015 with the redemption of the € 200 million bond issued in 2012.'

Higher revenues and earnings for European brick business from January to September

The Clay Building Materials Europe Division recorded a year-on-year increase of 7% in revenues to € 1,250 million and, despite the costs for the structural adjustments, an increase of 8% in operating EBITDA to € 189 million. Residential construction in Europe was stable to slightly positive with major regional differences during the first nine months. The favourable momentum in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland was contrasted by ongoing weak demand levels in the new residential construction and renovation market in France, Italy, Russia and the German-speaking countries. The price and volume trends from the first half-year continued during the third quarter. Higher average prices, leaner cost structures, efficiency improvement measures and declining energy prices supported growth in this segment.

Q1-Q3: Pipes & Pavers Europe with plus 14% in operating EBITDA
The Pipes & Pavers Europe Division reported a 2% increase in revenues to € 817 million and a sound 14% improvement in operating EBITDA to € 92 million. Additionally, our plastic pipe activities continued its satisfactory development, above all in the Nordic markets. Our international project business was characterized by a positive performance. The earnings improvement was supported by our successful measures to master the raw materials shortage and offset the rising prices for plastic granulate. In this area, the past months have brought a notable easing. Generally stable trends in Europe and higher volumes in the Middle East led to an increase in earnings for the ceramic wastewater pipes business. Semmelrock, our concrete paver activities were supported by steady positioning as a premium supplier and the ongoing cost optimization programs.

Significant improvement in revenues and earnings in North America in first nine months
In a slightly growing North American market, earnings were increased by higher average prices, cost savings, the sale of real estate during the first half-year and positive foreign exchange effects. We recorded volume and price growth in Canada based on stronger demand in our relevant markets which lead to increased revenues and earnings in this region. The North American plastic pipe business also saw a slight strengthening in demand. These developments led to double-digit growth of 20% in revenues to € 210 million and a significant improvement in operating EBITDA from € 7 million in the first nine months of 2014 to € 27 million in 2015.