HELSINKI, April 28, 2016-

Highlights in January–March 2016:

- Net sales decreased by 7.2% and amounted to EUR 103.9 million (111.9).
- Operating profit decreased by 24.0% to EUR 5.5 million (7.3).
- Cash flow from operations increased to EUR 9.1 million (4.5).
- Both financial targets monitored on a quarterly basis, return on invested capital and gearing ratio, surpassed their target levels.
- The execution of the growth investment program focused on the new production line to be built at the Bethune plant.
- Suominen carried out a reverse share split with 5:1 ratio.
- The Annual General Meeting decided to distribute in total EUR 5.0 million as dividends.
-  Suominen repeats its previous estimate, disclosed on 29 January 2016, that for the full year 2016 the company expects its net sales and operating profit excluding non-recurring items to improve from year 2015. In 2015, Suominen’s net sales amounted to EUR 444.0 million and operating profit excluding non-recurring items to EUR 31.2 million. The non-recurring items are explained in the disclosures of this Interim Report.

Nina Kopola, President & CEO, comments on Suominen’s first quarter of 2016:

“In the first quarter of 2016, the consumer confidence index in the euro zone fell short of its level of the first quarter of 2015, but remained above the long-term average. In the United States, the consumer confidence index showed relatively stable development, but remained slightly below the level of the comparison period. Europe and North America are Suominen’s largest market areas.

Suominen’s first-quarter net sales decreased from the comparison period to EUR 103.9 million. As we reported earlier, demand was not at the same level as in the comparison period. This also affected the competitive situation in the markets. However, the situation is believed to be temporary and to have mostly resulted from new capacity that has recently been built in our main market areas. We saw signs of improvement in demand already towards the end of the review period. Overall, we expect demand growth in our target markets to continue in 2016 at the same level as in 2015 on average.

Suominen’s operating profit decreased from the comparison period to EUR 5.5 million. However, the profit for the reporting period remained more or less unchanged, thanks mainly to lower financial expenses. Suominen’s cash flow from operations doubled from the comparison period to EUR 9.1 million.

There’s three financial targets set for Suominen: organic net sales growth, return on invested capital and gearing ratio. The last two are monitored quarterly and organic growth on an annual basis. Of the financial targets monitored on a quarterly basis, return on invested capital was 14.7%, exceeding the target level of over 12%. Our gearing ratio remained below the target range of 40–80%, at 28.6%.

During the reporting period, Suominen’s Annual General Meeting decided to merge Suominen’s shares in a reverse share split using a split ratio of 5 to 1. The purpose of merging the shares is to raise interest in the company’s shares, to facilitate trade in the shares and to increase flexibility in defining the amount of dividend.

The Annual General Meeting also decided that a dividend of EUR 0.02 per share (prior to the reverse share split) was to be paid for the financial year 2015, which means that the shareholders were distributed double the amount of funds compared to the previous financial year.

Suominen continues to consistently implement its strategy. Our product portfolio developed in line with our targets, as the proportion of sales of products with higher added value grew by 3 percentage points. During the reporting period, we also strengthened our R&D team further with three new hires and continued our 60-million-euro growth investment program. Our modernized plants in Alicante and Paulínia have delivered their first orders and now we are focusing on the new production line being built at our plant in Bethune, SC, United States. The goal is for the equipment installations for the investment in Bethune to be completed during the second half of this year, according to the schedule announced earlier.”

NET SALES

In January–March 2016, Suominen’s net sales fell by 7.2% from the comparison period to EUR 103.9 million (111.9). Net sales were affected by both decreased sales volumes and lower sales prices, in approximately equal proportions. The demand was not at the level of the comparison period which also affected the competitive situation. Suominen expects the situation to be temporary and saw signs of improvement in demand already towards the end of the review period. Overall, the growth in the demand in Suominen’s target markets in 2016 is expected to continue, on average, at the pace of 2015. The changes in US dollar exchange rate had no material effect on the net sales during the first quarter.

Suominen has two business areas, Convenience and Care. Convenience business area supplies nonwovens as roll goods for wiping products. Care business area manufactures nonwovens for hygiene products and medical applications. Net sales of the Convenience business area were EUR 95.5 million (102.6) and net sales of the Care business area EUR 8.3 million (8.8).

The main application areas for nonwoven materials supplied by Suominen in January–March were baby wipes (accounting for 38% of the sales), personal care wipes (25%), household wipes (18%), wipes for workplace use (10%), and hygiene and medical products (8%). All nonwovens for wiping products belong to the Convenience business area and nonwovens for hygiene and medical products to the Care business area.

The share of baby wipes in the net sales decreased from the corresponding period by three percentage points. Of the products with higher added value, nonwovens for personal care and for household wipes increased their shares in the portfolio. The changes in the portfolio were in line with Suominen’s strategy.

OPERATING PROFIT AND RESULT

Operating profit decreased by 24.0% and amounted to EUR 5.5 million (7.3). Lower sales volumes and decrease in gross profit affected operating profit. There was no material effect of US dollar exchange rate fluctuation on operating profit during the first quarter.

Profit before income taxes was EUR 5.3 million (5.7), and profit for the reporting period was EUR 3.4 million (3.5). Decrease in financial expenses improved the profit for the period.

FINANCING

The Group’s net interest-bearing liabilities amounted to EUR 34.5 million (38.2) at the end of the review period. The gearing ratio was 28.6% (33.2%) and the equity ratio 42.6% (42.1%).

In January–March, net financial expenses were EUR -0.2 million (-1.6), or 0.2% (1.4%) of net sales. Fluctuations in exchange rates decreased the financial items by EUR 0.5 million, while in the comparison period they increased the financial expenses by EUR 0.7 million.

Cash flow from operations was EUR 9.1 million (4.5), representing a cash flow per share of EUR 0.18 (0.09). The improvement in the cash flow from operations was mainly affected by decrease in paid financial items as well as positive change in working capital. The financial items in the cash flow from operations, in total EUR -1.8 million (-5.3), were principally impacted by the interests of the debenture bond paid during the reporting period, while in the corresponding period in the previous year the paid financial items were burdened not only by the paid interests of the debenture bond but also by payments related to currency forward contracts hedging equity. EUR 1.4 million was freed in working capital (in Q1 2015: tied up 0.1).

In accordance with the decision of the Annual General Meeting held on 16 March 2016, a distribution of dividends (EUR 0.02 per share), in total EUR 5.0 million, was paid on 31 March 2016.

In February 2016, in total EUR 0.9 million of accrued interests of the convertible hybrid bond issued by Suominen in February 2014 were capitalized to the bond capital in accordance with the terms of the hybrid bond.

If Suominen distributes dividend before 10 February 2018, the bondholders are entitled to a compensation equaling to the dividend. The compensation will be paid the same date as the dividend, and the paid compensation will be deducted from the interests accrued or to be accrued. The compensation deducted from interests accrued or to be accrued will decrease the amount of interests capitalized as principal of the bond and thus the number of shares to be converted with the bond. In total EUR 0.6 million of interests on hybrid bond were paid in March 2016 in connection with the payment of dividend.

Bondholders of the convertible hybrid bond issued by Suominen are entitled to convert the bond notes and the potential accrued capitalized interest related to the notes into Suominen shares. The conversion rate is EUR 2.50 per share (after the reverse split of the shares), and the conversion period started on 11 February 2014 and will end on 10 February 2018. The number of shares to be converted must be at least 40,000 shares. The number of shares in Suominen may increase in total by maximum of 7,600,320 shares on the basis of the conversion of the remaining bond notes and the potential capitalized interest, if the conversion is carried out by issuing new shares in Suominen.

The hybrid bond capital was EUR 15.6 million on 31 March 2016. Suominen has the right to redeem the bond in whole or in part on 10 February 2018 or thereafter, on each interest payment date, at the nominal value of the bond together with the accrued interest.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

The gross capital expenditure totaled EUR 3.5 million (1.5) and was mainly related to the investment in a new production line at the Bethune, SC, USA plant and to the renewal of ICT systems. Other investments were mainly for maintenance. Depreciation and amortization for the review period amounted to EUR 4.6 million (4.4).

INFORMATION ON SHARES AND SHARE CAPITAL

Share capital

After the reverse share split, the number of Suominen’s registered shares was 51,216,232 shares on 31 March 2016, equaling to a share capital of EUR 11,860,056.00.

Reverse share split

The Annual General Meeting of Suominen Corporation held on 16 March 2016 decided to reduce the number of shares in the company without reducing share capital in a reverse share split procedure pursuant to the Chapter 15, Section 9 of the Limited Liability Companies Act (624/2005) so that each five (5) shares shall be merged as one (1) share.

Before the reverse share split, Suominen Corporation had in total 252,425,616 shares. After the reverse share split, the total number of shares in Suominen Corporation is 51,216,232. The new number of shares was registered with the Trade Register on 22 March 2016 and trading with the merged shares commenced on the same day. The reverse split did not have an impact on the treasury shares held by Suominen (913,886 shares). In accordance with the Limited Liability Companies Act, treasury shares do not entitle to shareholder rights, such as right to receive dividend or other distribution of funds or right to attend General Meeting.

The purpose of merging the shares is to increase the interest for the company’s shares, facilitate the trade in the shares and to increase flexibility in defining the amount of dividend.

Share trading and price

The number of Suominen Corporation shares traded on Nasdaq Helsinki from 1 January to 31 March 2016 was 3,576,585 shares, accounting for 7.1% of the average number of shares (excluding treasury shares). The highest price was EUR 6.20, the lowest EUR 4.00 and the volume-weighted average price EUR 4.90. The closing price at the end of review period was EUR 4.04. The market capitalization (excluding treasury shares) was EUR 203.2 million on 31 March 2016.

Treasury shares

On 31 March 2016, Suominen Corporation held 913,866 treasury shares.

Hybrid bond

In February 2014, Suominen Corporation issued a convertible hybrid bond of EUR 17.5 million. The holders of the bond notes are entitled to convert the notes and the potential accrued capitalized interest related to the notes into Suominen shares. The conversion period started on 11 February 2014 and will end on 10 February 2018.

The number of shares in Suominen may increase in total by maximum of 7,600,320 shares on the basis of the conversion of the remaining bond notes and the potential capitalized interest, if the conversion is carried out by issuing new shares in Suominen.

The portion of the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors which shall be paid in shares

The Annual General Meeting held on 16 March 2016 resolved to maintain the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors unchanged. In 2016, the Chair of the Board of Directors will be paid an annual fee of EUR 50,000, Deputy Chair of the Board an annual fee of EUR 37,500 and other Board members an annual fee of EUR 28,000. Further, the members of the Board will receive a fee of EUR 500 for each meeting held in the home country of respective member and a fee of EUR 1,000 per each meeting held elsewhere than in the home country of respective member. 60% of the annual remuneration is paid in cash and 40% in Suominen Corporation’s shares.

The number of shares forming the above-mentioned remuneration portion payable in shares will be determined based on the share value in the stock exchange trading maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd, calculated as the trade volume-weighted average quotation of the share during the one month period immediately following the date on which the interim report of January–March 2016 of the company is published. The shares will be given out of the treasury shares held by the company by the decision of the Board of Directors by 3 June 2016 at the latest.

Share-based incentive plans for the management and key employees

The Group management and key employees participate the company’s share-based incentive plan. The share-based incentive plan is divided into Performance Share Plan and Matching Share Plan. The plans are described in detail in the Financial Statements 2015 and in the Remuneration Statement 2015 of Suominen Corporation, available on the company’s website, www.suominen.fi > Investors > Corporate Governance.

Due to the reverse share split carried out in the review period, the terms and conditions of the share-based incentive plans have been technically adjusted.


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Suominen Corporation was held on 16 March 2016. The AGM decided that a dividend or EUR 0.02 per share will be paid for the financial year 2015.

The AGM adopted the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2015 and discharged the members of the Board of Directors and the President & CEO from liability.

The AGM confirmed the number of members of the Board of Directors to be six (6). The AGM re-elected Mr. Andreas Ahlström, Mr. Risto Anttonen, Mr. Jorma Eloranta, Mr. Hannu Kasurinen, Ms. Laura Raitio and Ms. Jaana Tuominen as members of the Board of Directors for the next term of office, expiring at the end of the first Annual General Meeting following their election. The remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors was resolved to remain unchanged. The resolutions were in accordance with the proposals submitted by the Nomination Board of shareholders of Suominen.

Ernst & Young Oy, accountant firm, was elected as auditor of Suominen Corporation, with Ms. Kristina Sandin, Authorized Public Accountant, as the principal auditor.

Constitutive meeting and permanent committees of the Board of Directors

In its constitutive meeting held after the Annual General Meeting on 16 March 2016, the Board of Directors elected from among its members a Chair and Deputy Chair as well as members for the Audit Committee and Personnel and Remuneration Committee.

The Board of Directors re-elected Jorma Eloranta as Chair and Risto Anttonen as Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the recommendation by the Nomination Board of Suominen’s shareholders.

Hannu Kasurinen was re-elected as Chair of the Audit Committee. Andreas Ahlström was re-elected and Jaana Tuominen elected as members of the Audit Committee. Jorma Eloranta was re-elected as Chair of the Personnel and Remuneration Committee. Risto Anttonen was re-elected and Laura Raitio elected as members.

Authorizations of the Board of Directors

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 16 March 2016 authorized the Board of Directors to repurchase a maximum of 400,000 of the company’s own shares. The shares shall be repurchased to be used in company’s share-based incentive programs, in order to disburse the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors, for use as consideration in acquisitions related to the company’s business, or to be held by the company, to be conveyed by other means or to be cancelled. The company’s own shares shall be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the holdings of the shareholders by using the non-restricted equity through trading on regulated market organized by Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd at the market price prevailing at the time of acquisition. The repurchase authorization is valid until 30 June 2017.

The AGM held on 16 March 2016 authorized the Board of Directors to decide on issuing new shares and/or conveying the company’s own shares held by the company and/or granting special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act. New shares may be issued and/or company’s own shares held by the company or its group company may be conveyed at the maximum amount of 5,000,000 shares in aggregate. The maximum number of new shares that may be subscribed and own shares held by the company that may be conveyed by virtue of the options and other special rights granted by the company is 5,000,000 shares in total which number is included in the maximum number stated earlier. The authorization is valid until 30 June 2019.

NOTIFICATIONS UNDER CHAPTER 9, SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES MARKET ACT

During the review period Suominen received no notifications under Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Securities Market Act.

BUSINESS RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The estimate on the development of Suominen’s net sales is partially based on forecasts and delivery plans received from the company’s customers. Changes in these forecasts and plans, resulting from changes in the market conditions or in customers’ inventory levels, may affect Suominen’s net sales. Due to the continued uncertainty in the general economic situation and the cautious consumer purchasing habits, the forecasts include uncertainty.

Suominen’s customer base is fairly concentrated, which adds to the customer-specific risk. Long-term contracts are preferred in the case of the largest customers. In practice, the customer relationships are long-term and last for several years. 

The relevance of the United States in Suominen’s business operations increases the significance of the exchange rate risk related to USD in the Group’s total exchange risk position. Suominen hedges this foreign exchange position in accordance with its hedging policy.

The risks that are characteristic to South American region, including significant changes in business environment or exchange rates, could have an impact on Suominen’s operations in Brazil.

Suominen purchases significant amounts of pulp- and oil-based raw materials annually. Raw materials are the largest cost item for operations. Rapid changes in the global market prices of raw materials have an impact on the company’s profitability. The price fluctuations affect Suominen’s financial result quickly, as the company’s stocks equal to two to four weeks’ consumption and passing the price changes on to the prices Suominen charges its contract customers takes between two to five months. 


Extended interruptions in the supply of Suominen’s main raw materials could disrupt production and have a negative impact on the Group’s overall business operations. As Suominen sources its raw materials from a number of major international suppliers, significant interruptions are unlikely.

Suominen has numerous regional, national and international competitors in its different product groups. There is currently oversupply in several product groups, particularly in Europe. If Suominen is not able to compete through an attractive product offering, it may lose some of its market share, and the competition may lead to increased pricing pressure on the company’s products.

The Group’s damage risks are insured in order to guarantee the continuity of operations. Suominen has valid damage and business interruption insurance according to which it is estimated that the damages can be covered and the financial losses caused by an interruption compensated.

Suominen performs goodwill impairment testing annually. In impairment testing the recoverable amounts are determined as the value in use, which comprises of the discounted projected future cash flows. Actual cash flows can differ from the discounted projected future cash flows. Uncertainties related to the projected future cash flows include, among others, the long economic useful life of the assets as well as the changes in the forecasted sales prices of Suominen’s products, production costs as well as discount rates used in testing. Due to the uncertainty inherent in the future, it is possible that Suominen’s recoverable amounts will be insufficient to cover the carrying amounts of assets, particularly goodwill. If this happens, it will be necessary to recognize an impairment loss, which, when implemented, will weaken the result and equity.

The Group’s financial risks consist of foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, counterparty, liquidity and commodity risks. Due to the international scope of the business, the Group has risks arising from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The effect of changes in interest rate levels on Group result represent an interest rate risk. Credit and counterparty risks arise mainly from risks associated with the payment period granted to customers and, in the case of loan receivables, from the ability of the counterparty to repay the loans. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group’s negotiated credit facilities are insufficient to cover the financial needs of the business or that obtaining new funding for these needs will cause a significant increase in financing costs.

General risks related to business operations are described in the Report of the Board of Directors 2015.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Suominen’s nonwovens are, for the most part, used in daily consumer goods, such as wet wipes as well as hygiene and medical products. In these target markets of Suominen, the general economic situation determines the development of consumer demand, even though the demand for consumer goods is not very cyclical in nature. North America and Europe are the largest market areas for Suominen. At these market areas, the growth in the demand for nonwovens has typically exceeded the growth of gross domestic product by a couple of percentage points. Moreover, Suominen has operated in the growing South American markets since 2014.

In the first quarter of 2016, the consumer confidence index in the euro zone fell short of its level of the first quarter of 2015, but remained above the long-term average. In the United States, the consumer confidence index showed relatively stable development, but remained slightly below the level of the comparison period.

Suominen assesses the trend in the demand for its products on the basis of both the general market situation and, above all, on the basis of the framework agreements drawn up with its customers. As Suominen disclosed earlier, the demand was not at the level of the comparison period which also affected the competitive situation. However, the company expects the situation to be temporary and saw signs of improvement in demand already towards the end of the review period. At large, the growth in the demand in Suominen’s target markets in 2016 is expected to continue, on average, at the pace of 2015.

OUTLOOK FOR 2016

Suominen repeats its previous estimate, disclosed on 29 January 2016, that for the full year 2016 the company expects its net sales and operating profit excluding non-recurring items to improve from year 2015.

In 2015, Suominen’s net sales amounted to EUR 444.0 million and operating profit excluding non-recurring items to EUR 31.2 million. The non-recurring items are explained in the disclosures of this Interim Report.

ANALYST AND PRESS CONFERENCE

Nina Kopola, President & CEO, and Tapio Engström, CFO, will present Suominen’s financial result for Q1 2016 in Finnish at an analyst and press conference in Helsinki today on 28 April at 11:00 am (EEST). The conference will take place at Suominen’s Helsinki office, address Itämerentori 2. The presentation material will be available after the analyst and press conference at www.suominen.fi.

A teleconference and a webcast on the Q1 2016 financial result will be held today on 28 April at 3:00 pm (EEST). The conference can be attended by phone at +44 20 3059 8125 (password: Suominen) and it is held in English. The conference can be accessed also at www.suominen.fi (Investors > Materials > Webcasts). 

A replay of the conference can be accessed shortly after the conference has ended at www.suominen.fi or by phone at +44 121 260 4861, using access code 3070045#.

NEXT INTERIM REPORT

Suominen Corporation will publish its Interim report for January–June 2016 on Tuesday, 9 August 2016 approximately at 12:00 noon (EEST).

SUOMINEN GROUP 1 JANUARY–31 MARCH 2016

This interim report has been prepared in accordance with the principles defined in IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. The principles for preparing the interim report are the same as those used for preparing the consolidated financial statements for 2015. Changes to published accounting standards and interpretations, together with the new accounting standards that came into force on 1 January 2016, are presented in the consolidated financial statements for 2015.
 

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