Annual Results 2016

The Group’s consolidated sales rose by 4.2 % to EUR 2,272.7 million and were thus EUR 91.2 million above the previous year’s amount (2015: EUR 2,181.5 million). This increase is primarily due to the acquisition-related higher business volume at MM Packaging. 

At EUR 213.7 million, operating profit was 6.9 % or EUR 13.8 million higher than in the previous year (2015: EUR 199.9 million). A clear increase in profit in the packaging division 
contrasted with a decline in the cartonboard division. The Group’s operating margin was thus 9.4 % (2015: 9.2 %). The return on capital employed amounted to 15.9 % (2015: 16.1 %). 

With the persistent low euro key interest rate, financial income totaled EUR 3.1 million (2015: EUR 2.2 million) while financial expenses were EUR -6.1 million (2015: EUR -6.3 million). 

Profit before tax increased by 9.8 % to EUR 209.2 million after EUR 190.6 million in the previ-ous year. Income tax expense amounted to EUR 55.8 million (2015: EUR 48.5 million), resulting in an effective Group tax rate of 26.7 % (2015: 25.4 %).

Profit for the year thus rose by 8.0 % to EUR 153.4 million (2015: EUR 142.1 million), with the net profit margin increasing slightly from 6.5 % to 6.7 %.  

Consolidated Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2016, the Group’s total assets amounted to EUR 1,981.9 million and were thus EUR 81.6 million above the figure at the end of 2015. The Group’s total equity increased from EUR 1,144.2 million to EUR 1,259.2 million, with the profit for the year being offset by the dividend for the financial year 2015. Total equity to total assets was therefore 63.5 (December 31, 2015: 60.2 %), and the return on equity was 12.8 % (December 31, 2015: 12.7 %). 
Financial liabilities, principally of a long-term character, decreased from EUR 293.3 million to EUR 260.9 million as a result of loan repayments. Provisions for non-current liabilities and charges relating to accruals for employee benefits rose from EUR 118.1 million to  EUR 129.3 million, primarily due to the low interest level. 

Over the course of the year, total funds available to the Group declined from EUR 258.3 mil-lion to EUR 253.7 million, while net debt was reduced from EUR 35.0 million (December 31, 2015) to EUR 7.2 million at the end of 2016. 

Outlook on the financial year 2017

The general conditions in our main European markets remain challenging. Against the back-drop of weak dynamics in the general economic environment, demand for cartonboard packaging is still restrained. In contrast, there are sufficient supply capacities that are gradually growing as a result of constant optimization. The business climate in our sector is sustainably characterized by intense competition over prices and volumes. At the same time, significantly higher recovered paper prices compared to the beginning of 2016 have further increased tensions.

Nevertheless, the aim for 2017 is to continue the long-term course of success in both car-tonboard production as well as cartonboard processing and to grow further while maintaining margins the best possible. In the cartonboard division, the focus is on volume increases, especially through product optimizations as well as on passing on the higher recovered paper prices. In the packaging division particularly measures to raise productivity are intended to strengthen the profit level of the business with higher throughput. 
We will continue our usual scope of investment activity focusing on reducing direct costs. The special investment project started last year, new gas and steam turbine power station at the cartonboard mill in Frohnleiten, will be completed on schedule in the course of the year and put into operation at the beginning of 2018. Costs will amount to between EUR 40 and 45 million 

Owing to the short-term nature of the business, it is not yet possible to provide a forecast for the result of 2017. However, the record result achieved in 2016 presents a challenging new level for our ambitions. Our growth course applies unchanged in both core business areas, cartonboard and folding cartons, and will be pursued value-oriented, organically as well as through acquisitions. 

Development in the 4^th Quarter 2016

The fourth quarter was marked by continuity in the cartonboard division and a strong develop-ment in the packaging division, particularly as a result of a favorable product mix. 

At 97 %, capacity utilization at MM Karton was at the level of the comparative period of the previous year (4th quarter 2015: 96 %). The division’s operating margin amounted to 5.6 % (4th quarter 2015: 6.2 %).
MM Packaging achieved an operating margin of 11.7 % following 8.8 % in the fourth quarter of 2015. 

Consolidated sales at EUR 558.9 million were slightly below the value of the previous year’s period (4th quarter 2015: EUR 563.8 million). Higher sales in the packaging division contrasted with lower sales in the cartonboard division, primarily caused by the country mix at the end of the year.
The Group’s operating profit totaled EUR 53.5 million (4th quarter 2015: EUR 45.3 million), resulting in an operating margin of 9.6 % (4th quarter 2015: 
8.0 %). 

Profit before tax amounted to EUR 53.3 million after EUR 43.8 million in the final quarter of 2015. Profit for the period rose to EUR 37.9 million (4th quarter 2015: EUR 33.9 Million.

The situation on the European cartonboard market in 2016 was more restrained than in the previous year for both recycled and virgin fiber-based cartonboard with an increased pressure on prices. Under tougher general conditions, MM Karton focused on a consequent price policy in Europe and on supplying established export markets outside Europe, thus succeeding in keeping volumes at the previous year’s level. While market shares for recycled fiber-based cartonboard were maintained, the general higher level of competition in the area of virgin fiber-based cartonboard was clearly noticeable.

The increasingly short-term nature of the business was shown by a decline of the average order backlog of MM Karton to 47,000 tons after 80,000 tons in the previous year. Nevertheless, the cartonboard division again achieved almost full capacity utilization at 97 % (2015: 98 %) due to a selective sales policy.

On the procurement markets, an overall stable development in energy and chemicals contrasted with a sharp increase in recovered paper prices as of the middle of the year primarily caused by the commissioning of new machinery for corrugated base paper. Accordingly, a price increase for all recycled fiber-based cartonboard products was announced in the fourth quarter, which was initially applied only selectively owing to a generally weak demand and high competitive pressure.

Production as well as tonnage sold, at 1,669,000 tons and 1,671,000 tons, respectively, almost matched the comparative figures of the previous year (2015: 1,677,000 tons and 1,660,000 tons, respectively.

Average prices were a little lower, meaning that sales at EUR 1,023.0 million did not fully reach the value of the previous year (2015: EUR 1,046.7 million). Around 64 % of this was achieved in the markets of Western Europe (2015: 63 %) and 19 % in Eastern Europe (2015: 20 %), with the share of business outside Europe remaining unchanged at 17 % (2015: 17 %). 

Operating profit decreased mainly due to the sharp rise in recovered paper prices from 
EUR 82.6 million to EUR 68.1 million. The operating margin was accordingly at 6.7 % (2015: 7.9 %). 

Market launch of FOODBOARD^TM
FOODBOARDTM, a new cartonboard with a unique functional barrier for safe primary food packaging, was launched in the first quarter of 2016 and is already available in the retail trade in Europe.

Market saturation and overall economic uncertainty characterized the situation on the Europe-an consumer goods market in 2016, resulting in many consumer goods manufacturers continuing to optimize their product and plant portfolio. Accordingly, the general situation on the European folding carton market was characterized by strong competition and decreasing prices. 

However, dynamics varied depending on the market segment and geographical location, thus proving to be an advantage for MM Packaging to produce for various consumer markets in a broad network of sites. Thereby, plant capacity could be utilized at a generally high level, with a still heterogeneous profit contribution by different sites.

Against this background, the primary focus of operating activities was on a continuous im-provement of cost efficiency, safeguarding market shares and developing technological and geographical potentials. The latter clearly appeared in the increased investment program at the production sites in Iran and in Vietnam.

On the whole, MM Packaging succeeded in continuing its long-term course of growth in sales and profit in 2016. A major growth driver was the first full year inclusion of a leading French folding carton producer in the fields of pharmaceutical and luxury goods packaging acquired at the end of October 2015. Integration proceeded according to schedule and met expectations.

Tonnage processed reached 761,000 tons and was thus 4.4 % above the comparative value of the previous year (2015: 729,000 tons). In line with this, the number of printed sheets (sheet equivalent) could be increased by 8.8 % from 2,059.3 million to 2,240.1 million. The sheet equivalent per employee was 303 thousand (2015: 303 thousand).

Sales went up mainly acquisition-related by 9.3 % to EUR 1,352.6 million (2015: 
EUR 1,237.3 million). In geographic terms, 57 % related to Western Europe, 30 % to Eastern Europe and 13 % to business outside Europe (2015: 55 %; 32 %; 13 %), demonstrating a high degree of continuity. 

Due to volume growth, assisted by a favorable product mix, operating profit rose to EUR 145.6 million and was thus 24.1 % higher than in the previous year (2015: EUR 117.3 million). The operating margin totaled 10.8 % (2015: 9.5 %).

The Annual Report 2016 will be available on April 5, 2017.

Forthcoming Results:

May 18, 2017 Results for the 1st quarter of 2017