CURRENT NEWS

Vienna, 23 November 2007

PRESS RELEASE NO. 8/2007

SEMPERIT: CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2007

• Sales: + 6.3% to EUR 455.1 million
• Above-average rise in EBIT: +23.1% to EUR 46.4 million
• Positive outlook for 2007

Vienna, November 23, 2007 – Semperit Group continued its successful development in the third quarter of 2007. In the first three quarters of the 2007 financial year, consolidated sales increased by 6.3%, to EUR 455.1 million, while operating profit (EBIT) climbed disproportionately by 23.1%, to EUR 46.4 million. Due to a massive decline in the financial results caused by the crisis on global financial markets, earnings before tax (EBT) only rose slightly by 4.9% above the previous year’s level, to EUR 41.3 million. Net profit for the period was up 2.0%, to EUR 29.9 million. 

Despite price increases for several raw materials, Semperit improved its earnings compared to the same period of the previous year. As a result of productivity increases in all segments, targeted rises in sales prices and consistent cost management, the EBIT margin climbed to 10.1%, up from 8.7% in the first three quarters of 2006.

GROWTH IN ALL SEGMENTS

The Sempermed segment specialising in surgical and examination gloves reported a 3.2% increase in sales to EUR 163.7 million in the first nine months of 2007, although the weak US dollar continued to result in currency translation losses. Earnings before tax improved to EUR 9.1 million, up from EUR 6.0 million during the preceding year.

Sales of the Semperflex segment, which primarily focuses on the production of industrial and hydraulic hoses as well as elastomer sheeting, climbed 13.2%, to EUR 123.0 million. Earnings before tax amounted to EUR 16.1 million in the first nine months of 2007, an increase of 17.4% above the previous year’s level of EUR 13.7 million.

In the first three quarters of 2007, sales of the Semperform segment rose 3.1%, to EUR 85.8 million. Earnings before tax totalled EUR 13.4 million (previous year: EUR 11.9 million). The railway superstructure and seal profiles segments as well as the handrail business in China developed particularly well. 

The level of orders for conveyor belts continued to develop favourably in the third quarter as demand remained high. Accordingly, sales of the Sempertrans segment rose by 6.7%, to EUR 82.6 million, while earnings before tax rose to EUR 8.8 million, up from EUR 7.1 million in the previous year. 

SALES AND EARNINGS GROWTH EXPECTED FOR 2007

Semperit Group expects the positive development of sales and earnings during the first three quarters to continue for the year 2007 as a whole. The high level of volatility relating to some raw materials and the uncertainty surrounding the currency exchange rates of the US dollar and the Thai baht continue to be major risk factors facing Semperit. The ongoing increase in oil prices is expected to lead to further price increases for several types of synthetic rubber. 

Please direct any inquiries to:

Semperit AG Holding
Investor Relations
Sybille Bernhardt
Tel.: +43 (1) 79 777-210
E-mail: sybille.bernhardt(at)semperit.at