Go to
Newsroom

Annual Results 2014

  • MM Group continues long-time success course
  • Group results reach new peak-level
  • Dividend increase to EUR 2.60 per share

 

The Mayr-Melnhof Group was able to successfully stand up its grounds in the financial year 2014 within a flat overall economic environment, concluding the year with growth in both sales and profit. Both divisions, MM Karton and MM Packaging, had a substantial contribution to this. Despite a lack of impulses from private consumption, the Group succeeded in maintaining capacity utilization at a high level and safeguarding average prices to a large extent in a competitive market. In addition, productivity increases in both divisions together with lower specific costs at MM Karton and significant volume growth at MM Packaging led to an improvement in profit compared to the previous year. The major investment in FOODBOARDTM at the Austrian Frohnleiten cartonboard mill created the industrial basis for a new type of cartonboard that provides optimum protection for food packaged in cartonboard. Expansions at MM Packaging related in particular to locations in Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Vietnam. 

As a result of the positive profit development, a recommendation will be made to the 21st Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2015, to distribute a dividend of EUR 2.60 per share after EUR 2.40 plus an anniversary bonus of EUR 2.40 per share in the previous year.

 

Annual Results 2014

consolidated, in millions of EUR, IFRS

20142013

+/-

Sales2,087.41,999.4+4,4 %
Operating profit180.2165.4+8.9 %
Operating margin (in %)8,6 %8.3% 
Profit before tax171.0156.4+9.3 %
Income tax expense(39.4)(33.5) 
Profit for the year131.6122.9+7.1 %
Net profit margin (in %)6.3 %6.1 % 
Cash earnings219.1204.1+7.3 %
Cash earnings margin (in %)10.5 %10.2 % 
Earnings per share (in EUR)6.546.11 
Employees9,3999,477 
Capital expenditures139.8116.2 
Depreciation and amortization91.789.6 

 

The Group's consolidated sales exceeded the two-billion euro mark for the first time and, at EUR 2,087.4 million, were 4.4 % or EUR 88.0 million above the previous year's value (2013: EUR 1,999.4 million). This rise mainly results from an increase in volume in the packaging division and sales from the Norwegian wood pulp mill acquired in the previous year in the car-tonboard division. 

At EUR 180.2 million, operating profit was 8.9 % or EUR 14.8 million above the previous year's value (2013: EUR 165.4 million). A clear profit increase in the cartonboard division was accompanied by solid profit growth in the packaging division. Thus, the operating margin of the Group reached 8.6 % (2013: 8.3 %). The return on capital employed amounted to 15.5 % (2013: 15.4 %).

Financial income of EUR 1.5 million (2013: EUR 1.6 million) was offset by financial expenses of EUR -5.2 million (2013: EUR -4.0 million).

Profit before tax thus increased by 9.3 % to EUR 171.0 million after EUR 156.4 million in the previous year. Income taxes totaled EUR 39.4 million (2013: EUR 33.5 million), resulting in an effective Group tax rate of 23.0 % (2013: 21.4 %).

Profit for the year thus rose by 7.1 % to EUR 131.6 million (2013: EUR 122.9 million), with the net profit margin increasing slightly from 6.1 % to 6.3 %.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2014, the Group's total assets amounted to EUR 1,787.0 million and were thus EUR 84.5 million above the figure at the end of the previous year. At EUR 1,102.2 million, the Group's total equity remained largely unchanged as the net profit for the year was offset by the dividend payment for the financial year 2013, including the anniversary bonus. Total equity to total assets was therefore 61.7 % (December 31, 2013: 65.3 %), the return on equity was 11.9 % (December 31, 2013: 11.3 %). 

Financial liabilities are principally of a long-term character and increased due to raising of long-term loans from insurance companies in the amount of EUR 110.0 million to EUR 265.9 million (December 31, 2013: EUR 169.6 million). Provisions for non-current liabili-ties and charges relating to accruals for employee benefits rose primarily as a result of the low interest level from EUR 99.1 million to EUR 121.2 million.

Total funds available to the Group went up to EUR 324.2 million, mainly due to the raising of loans (December 31, 2013: EUR 303.5 million). In contrast, net liquidity fell to EUR 58.3 million, especially as a result of dividend payments and investments 

(December 31, 2013: EUR 133.9 million). 

 

Outlook 2015

The year 2015 began with continuing solid incoming orders in both divisions, thus sufficient capacity utilization can be expected in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, customer plan-ning remains restrained without any noticeable impulses for the demand development. How-ever, we still aim to grow further in 2015 through new business as well as through market share gains.

The focus of our investment programs and ongoing operational measures with regard to effi-ciency and productivity remains on the reduction of our direct costs over the long term. This is intended to further strengthen the Group's competitiveness in a hard-fought environment and to maintain the profit dynamics at a high level.

As current developments on the procurement markets, in particular for recovered paper and energy, indicate no major changes from today's perspective, we will continue to concentrate on optimum price stability.

As a result of the still lasting short-term nature of the business, it is currently not possible to provide any estimate for the result of the current year. The record results achieved in 2014 represent in any case a challenge for 2015.

Besides maintaining organic business growth, a major focus remains on the long-term expan-sion course through acquisitions within and outside of Europe, with vigor, but also with due caution. 

 

Development in the 4th Quarter 2014

The fourth quarter was, on one hand, marked by the seasonal slowdown in incoming orders and, on the other hand, by the downtime due to the conversion of the larger of the two car-tonboard machines at the Frohnleiten mill for the FOODBOARDTM investment and the re-placement of the drive.

At around 92 %, capacity utilization at MM Karton was consequently below the level of the previous year (4th quarter 2013: 95 %). As expected, the operating margin of 6.7 % could not match the preceding quarter (3rd quarter 2014: 7.8 %), but exceeded the corresponding figure of the last year (4th quarter 2013: 5.3 %).

MM Packaging achieved, in particular as a result of the good product mix, an operating mar-gin of 9.1 % following 9.0 % in the third quarter of 2014 and 7.8 % in the fourth quarter of the previous year.

Due to increased volumes in cartonboard processing, consolidated sales of EUR 516.4 million exceeded the figure for the corresponding period of the previous year (4th quarter 2013: EUR 502.3 million). Operating profit amounted to EUR 43.7 million (4th quarter 2013: EUR 35.2 million), so that an operating margin of 8.5 % was achieved (4th quarter 2013: 7.0 %). 

Profit before tax totaled EUR 39.5 million after EUR 34.2 million in the fourth quarter 2013.

As in the fourth quarter of the previous year, tax refunds were also reported in the final quarter of 2014.

Profit for the period amounted to EUR 34.1 million (4th quarter 2013: EUR 30.1 million).

 

Development in the Divisions

MM Karton

in millions of EUR, IFRS

20142013+/-
Sales1)1,002.8964,6+4,0 %
Operating profit74,765.3+14,4 %
Operating margin (in %)7.4 %6.8 % 
Tonnage sold (in thousands of tons)1.5861.599-0,8 %
Tonnage produced (in thousands of tons)1,5851,604-1,2 %

1) including interdivisional sales

 

The year 2014 was still characterized by cautious ordering in all markets and calling off by customers. A noticeable improvement in demand failed to materialize. Consequently, the av-erage order backlog totaled 61,000 tons after 76,000 tons in the previous year. 

However, flexibility in dealing with shorter planning intervals, an optimized product range, and a high level of service helped to strengthen and selectively increase MM Karton's market share. Despite the one-month downtime due to the rebuild of the cartonboard machine 3 in Frohnleiten for the FOODBOARDTM investment, the division's capacity utilization reached 97 % (2013: 98 %). Furthermore, a strict price discipline and a constant market environment made it possible to maintain prices compared to the previous year.

The raw material markets reflected the sales markets by continuing the sideward movement of recent years, especially for the strategic raw material recovered paper. In contrast, energy prices recorded a lower average level than in the previous year.

Production as well as tonnage sold, at 1,585,000 tons and 1,586,000 tons, respectively, were slightly below the comparative values of the previous year due to the investment-related downtime at the Frohnleiten mill (2013: 1,604,000 tons and 1,599,000 tons, respectively). 

Sales increased as a result of the extended product mix, especially due to the inclusion of the wood pulp mill MMK FollaCell acquired in the previous year, and the slightly optimized prices by 4.0 % to EUR 1,002.8 million (2013: EUR 964.6 million). Around 63 % of this was account-ed for by markets in Western Europe, 20 % by Eastern Europe, and 17 % by business outside of Europe (2013: 63 %; 21 %; 16 %). 

At EUR 74.7 million, the operating profit exceeded the previous year's value (2013: EUR 65.3 million) by 14.4 % or EUR 9.4 million, primarily due to productivity- and cost-related factors. The operating margin thus reached 7.4 % (2013: 6.8 %). 

 

MM Packaging

in milions of EUR, IFRS

20142013+/-
Sales1)1,187.71,138.7+4.3 %
Operating profit105.5100.1+5.4 %
Operating margin (in %) 8.9 %8.8 % 
Tonnage processed (in thousands of tons)702671+4.6 %
Sheet equivalent (in milions)1,996.61,873.7+6.6 %

1) including interdivisional sales

 

Sales of consumer goods in Europe were restrained over the entire year. Accordingly, there was still a lack of noticeable impulses for the folding carton market. Only the demand for seasonal products, such as confectionary, picked up in the second half of the year as expected. But also on markets outside of Europe, the weak economic situation was increasingly perceivable. Consequently, the strong competition among suppliers everywhere continued, making it necessary to push volumes in order to maintain profit. 

MM Packaging succeeded in this by increasing volumes significantly both in general packaging as well as in cigarette packaging, enabling the long-established growth course to continue, even under challenging market conditions, by market share gains. The newest sites in Poland and Turkey have already contributed an important share to this, so that a high capacity utilization of the plants could be recorded.

As in the past, a large number of measures in the financial year 2014 were aimed at maintaining the competitiveness and profitability of MM Packaging at a high level and even increasing them further by raising efficiency and productivity. Expansions related in particular to the plants in Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Vietnam. In Gaziantep, in central Eastern Anatolia, MM Packaging put into operation the newly constructed fourth production site in Turkey. At the other plants capacities were increased considerably.

Tonnage processed amounted to 702,000 tons. This corresponds to an increase of 4.6 % compared to the figure of the previous year (2013: 671,000 tons). At the same time, the number of printed sheets (sheet equivalent) could be increased disproportionately by 6.6 % from 1,873.7 million to 1,996.6 million as a result of improved material efficiency in all technologies. 

In parallel to volume, sales at EUR 1,187.7 million were by 4.3 % above the previous year's value (2013: EUR 1,138.7 million). With regard to geographical distribution, business in Western and Eastern Europe at 56 % and 32 %, respectively, as well as business outside of Europe at 12 % showed a high degree of continuity (2013: 56 %; 32 %; 12 %).

Along with growth in volumes, operating profit increased by 5.4 % to EUR 105.5 million (2013: EUR 100.1 million). Thus, the operating margin increased slightly from 8.8 % to 8.9 %. 

 

Quarterly Overview

 

consolidated, in millions of EUR, IFRS

4Q/20131Q/20142Q/20143Q/20144Q/2014
Sales502.3523.9509.2537.9516.4
EBITDA56.768.565.070.164.8
EBITDA margin (in %)11.3 %13.1 %12.8 %13.0 %12.5 %
Operating profit35.246.242.547.843.7
Operating margin (in %)7.0 %8.8 %8.3 %8.9 %8.5 %
Profit before tax34.243.339.448.839.5
Income tax expense(4.1)(11.2)(10.5)(12.3)(5.4)
Profit for the year30.132.128.936.534.1
Net profit margin (in %)6.0 %6.1 %5.7 %6.8 %6.6 %
Cash earnings44.155.352.259.951.7
Cash earnings margin (in %)8.8 %10.6 %10.3 %11.1 %10.0 %
Earnings per share (in EUR)1.491.591.441.831.68

 

in millions of EUR, IFRS

4Q/20131Q/20142Q/20143Q/20144Q/2014
Sales1)238.4259.4252.0256.5234.9
Operating profit12.718.820.219.915.8
Operating margin (in %)5.3 %7.2 %8.0 %7.8 %6.7 %
Tonnage sold (in thousands of tons)386408398412368
Tonnage produced (in thousands of tons)392401404408372

1) including interdivisional sales

 

in millions of EUR, IFRS

4Q/20131Q/20142Q/20143Q/20144Q/2014
Sales 1)289.2290.4282.6309.0305.7
Operating profit22.527.422.327.927.9
Operating margin (in %)7.8 %9.4 %7.9 %9.0 %9.1 %
Tonnage processed (in thousands of tons)169178173179172
Sheet equivalent (in millions)472.9501.8484.8527.6482.4

1) including interdivisional sales

 

The press release is available on the internet under www.mayr-melnhof.com.

The Annual Report 2014 will be available on April 8, 2015.

Forthcoming Results:

May 19, 2015 Results for the first Quarter of 2015 

Publication Mailing

To keep you regularly updated about company reports and press releases, we offer the subscription to our publication mailing for shareholders and stakeholders.

 

Get in contact with our press department!

We look forward to your message and always seek a prompt answer.

Contact Us
To the main navigation
Cookie settings

We use cookies to provide you with an optimal website experience. These include cookies that are necessary to operate the site, as well as those that are only used for anonymous statistical purposes, for convenience settings or to display personalized content. You can decide for yourself which categories you would like to allow and reset your selection at any time. Please note that depending on your settings, not all functionalities of the site may be available.

For more information, please see our privacy policy.

Notice regarding the transfer of your data collected on this website to third countries:

By clicking on "Confirm All" or "Statistics" and "Confirm Selection" you consent that your data collected on this website will also be processed in the USA in accordance with Article 49 (1) (a) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In the USA GDPR does not apply and currently neither an adequate decision pursuant to Article 45 (3) GDPR nor appropriate safeguards according to Article 46 GDPR, including binding corporate rules exist. For example, Google processes this data in the USA. The European Court of Justice assesses the USA as a country with an insufficient level of data protection according to EU standards. In particular, there is a risk that U.S. authorities will process your data for control and monitoring purposes, possibly without any legal remedy. Nevertheless, if you do not select "Statistics" and click "Confirm selection", the transfer described above will not take place.

Technically necessary

These cookies are necessary for the functionality of our website (e.g. technical or security-related aspects). They serve as the operation of the website and make it functionally usable for you. This mainly includes basic functions such as navigation on the website. We cannot run the website correctly without using these cookies. Therefore, their use base upon our legitimate interest, because otherwise we cannot offer a properly functioning website.

The legal basis for the processing of such cookies is Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

Statistics

We use these cookies to improve our offers and our website. For instance, with the help of these cookies we can determine the number of visitors and the effect of certain pages of our website, create statistics and analyses and subsequently optimize our content. Statistics Cookies collect information about how websites are used in order to improve their attractiveness, content and functionality. We use them only with your consent, which you can revoke or reset at any time.

The legal basis for the processing of such cookies is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

Personalization

We use these cookies to show you personalized content that matches your interests. This includes in particular the videos embedded on our website. We use them only with your consent, which you can revoke or reset at any time.

The legal basis for the processing of such cookies is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

Explanation of cookies:

Cookies are text files that are stored on your end device, such as a PC, tablet or smartphone, when you visit a website with the help of your browser. Cookies consist of technical information that identifies you as a user. So-called session cookies, which are automatically deleted after closing the browser, differ from temporary or permanent cookies, which are stored on your end device for a longer or unlimited period. Cookies ensure that our website is able to identify and recognize the website users when visiting the website with the same device again. Cookies make sure that certain settings and data is provided automatically. Therefore, the information stored in cookies is transmitted either to the website visited ("first party cookie") or to another website to which the cookie set is assigned ("third party cookie").

However, you can select the browser settings to prevent the storage of statistics and personalization cookies. In this case, we will ask you each time when visiting the website whether you agree to the setting of cookies or not. In addition, you can revoke or reset the cookie settings at any time with future effect by reopening the cookie banner on our website or by using your browser settings. To do this, use the help function of your browser and follow the instructions.