Sappi results for 2nd quarter and half-year ended March 2014 reflect significantly improved performance

JOHANNESBURG, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Financial summary for the quarter

• Strong cash flow generation
• Good performance from South African business
• Profit for the period US$32 million (Q2 2013 US$2 million)
• EPS 6 US cents (Q2 2013 0 US cents)
• EBITDA excluding special items US$171 million (Q2 2013 US$126 million)
• Net debt US$2,248 million (Q1 2014 US$2,380 million)

Commenting on the result, Sappi (JSE: SAP) Chief Executive Officer Ralph Boettger said:

"The past quarter saw an improvement in the operating performance of all three of our operating regions, despite tough market conditions overall. The improving trend in operating performance continued for the quarter, with EBITDA excluding special items of US$171 million, operating profit excluding special items of US$95 million and profit for the period of US$32 million. There were no major special items for the quarter.

"Continued emphasis on lowering cost and optimising sales in both the coated paper and dissolving wood pulp markets have enabled us to compete effectively.  Looking forward, we will continue to take actions in North America, Europe and Southern Africa to improve our competitiveness and enable us to reduce debt.

"Our outlook for the year is one of significantly improved performance for the 2014 financial year when compared to 2013."

The quarter under review

Against a backdrop of more challenging dissolving wood pulp markets, the Specialised Cellulose business had another good quarter with strong shipment volumes generating US$82 million in EBITDA excluding special items at an EBITDA margin of 33%. Due to the competitive nature of the market and weak viscose staple fibre pricing, we experienced increased pressure on our prices, leading to a lower average dollar price for our dissolving wood pulp than achieved in the prior quarter.

The graphic paper markets in Europe and North America continue to experience demand declines for most major grades, and sales prices remained under pressure in both markets. These market dynamics were anticipated and we responded by implementing a number of cost cutting initiatives across the group. This, combined with the seasonally stronger second quarter, delivered an improved operating performance in both businesses.

The Southern African paper business continued the trend of improving performance, with increased sales prices offsetting cost pressures.

As a result of the improved operational performance, lower capital expenditure post the completion of the three major conversion projects and stringent working capital management, net cash generated for the quarter was US$132 million compared to net cash utilisation of US$99 million in the equivalent quarter last year. Capital expenditure in the quarter declined to US$62 million compared to US$179 million a year ago, reflecting the completion of the expenditure on the dissolving wood pulp projects.

Net debt of US$2,248 million declined by US$132 million from the prior quarter, as a result of the cash generated from operations and the lower working capital.

Finance costs of US$48 million were in line with the restated equivalent quarter last year.

Earnings per share for the quarter was 6 US cents (including a gain of 1 US cent in respect of special items), compared to 0 US cents (including a gain of 2 US cents in respect of special items) in the restated equivalent quarter last year.

Outlook

Demand in the Specialised Cellulose business remains firm, though pricing pressure continues to be evident.  The Rand/Dollar exchange rate will continue to play a major role in the operating performance of the South African Specialised Cellulose business as well as the Southern African paper business.

Capital expenditure for the full year is expected to be below US$300 million, with positive cash generation for the remainder of the year.  We anticipate net debt levels to end the year close to US$2 billion.

The third quarter is seasonally weaker in both North America and Europe, and scheduled annual maintenance shuts during the quarter in all three regions will also impact the results in the third quarter, leading to a weaker operating performance than the past quarter, though we expect the result to be substantially better than the equivalent quarter in the prior year.  Our outlook for the year is one of significantly improved performance for the 2014 financial year when compared to 2013.

The full results announcement is available at www.sappi.com

There will be a conference call to which investors are invited. Full details are available at www.sappi.com using the links Investor Info; Investor Calendar; 2Q14 Financial Results

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this release that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements that are predictions of or indicate future earnings, savings, synergies, events, trends, plans or objectives. The words "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "assume", "positioned", "will", "may", "should", "risk" and other similar expressions, which are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends and which do not relate to historical matters, and may be used to identify forward-looking statements. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are in some cases beyond our control and may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements (and from past results, performance or achievements). Certain factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to:

• the highly cyclical nature of the pulp and paper industry (and the factors that contribute to such cyclicality, such as levels of demand, production capacity, production, input costs including raw material, energy and employee costs, and pricing);
• the impact on our business of the global economic downturn;
• unanticipated production disruptions (including as a result of planned or unexpected power outages);
• changes in environmental, tax and other laws and regulations;
• adverse changes in the markets for our products;
• the emergence of new technologies and changes in consumer trends including increased preferences for digital media;
• consequences of our leverage, including as a result of adverse changes in credit markets that affect our ability to raise capital when needed;
• adverse changes in the political situation and economy in the countries in which we operate or the effect of governmental efforts to address present or future economic or social problems;
• the impact of restructurings, investments, acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic initiatives (including related financing), any delays, unexpected costs or other problems experienced in connection with dispositions or with integrating acquisitions or implementing restructuring or strategic initiatives (including our announced dissolving wood pulp conversion projects), and achieving expected savings and synergies; and
• currency fluctuations.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise.

For further information

Andre F Oberholzer
Group Head Corporate Affairs
Sappi Limited
Tel +27 (0)11 407 8044
Mobile +27 (0)83 235 2973
[email protected]

Graeme Wild
Group Head Investor Relations and Sustainability
Sappi Limited
Tel +27 (0)11 407 8391
Mobile +27 (0)83 320 8624
[email protected]

Sappi Limited
PO Box 31560
Braamfontein
2017
South Africa

Tel +28 (0)11 407 8111
www.sappi.com

SOURCE Sappi Limited