Earnings development significantly weaker than expected

Vienna, Austria, 9 October 2017, 13:30 h — In the course of a discussion of results today, the management board came to the conclusion that the operational earnings situation of the Semperit Group will remain below expectations in the second half of 2017. The operating result is mainly burdened by the volatility of raw material prices as well as operational challenges, particularly in the Sempermed and Sempertrans segments.

Compared with the adjusted operational EBIT for the first half of 2017 of EUR 6 million, we do not expect any significant improvement in the operational business for the third and fourth quarters of 2017 on the current basis.

Facing the current situation, the management board decided on a comprehensive analyses and strategy process which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018 and will create ongoing expenses in this period. Subsequently, the resulting transformation process will be started.

Continuous and potentially new measures to increase profitability and to strengthen the balance sheet structure remain at the very top of the agenda of the management board. Therefore, further significant non-recurring charges in addition to already initiated steps and those partially still in implementation cannot be ruled out in the coming quarters.

Due to these developments, the outlook will remain suspended for the coming quarters.

About Semperit:
The publicly listed company Semperit AG Holding is an internationally-oriented group that develops, produces, and sells in more than 100 countries highly specialised rubber products for the medical and industrial sectors: examination and surgical gloves, hydraulic and industrial hoses, conveyor belts, escalator handrails, construction profiles, cable car rings, and products for railway superstructures. The headquarters of this long-standing Austrian company, which was founded in 1824, are located in Vienna. The Semperit Group employs around 6,500 people worldwide, including about 3,500 in Asia and more than 800 in Austria (Vienna and production site in Wimpassing, Lower Austria). The Group has 22 manufacturing facilities worldwide and numerous sales offices in Europe, Asia, Australia and America. In 2016 the group generated revenue of EUR 852 million and an EBITDA of EUR 78 million.