Perlen, 26 February 2016 – Two developments had a particularly strong effect on business at the CPH Group in 2015. The Swiss National Bank’s abolition in January of its previous minimum Swiss franc/euro exchange rate impacted negatively on all three business divisions. CPH generated 60% of its net sales in the Eurozone last year. At the same time, its Chemistry and Packaging Divisions produce partly and its Paper Division entirely in Switzerland. So absorbing an adverse currency movement of more than 10% poses a major challenge for such an export-oriented group.

The second development related only to the Paper Division (though this, at 59%, accounted for the largest share of the group’s net sales). The demand for newsprint and magazine paper has been declining for some years now for structural reasons within the media industry. And the resulting production overcapacities further depressed paper prices last year, a development that tangibly affected the Paper Division’s business performance. While its annual sales volumes were raised to 538 000 tonnes, the division’s net sales for the year declined by more than 20%.

Sales volumes raised in all three divisions
As a result of these two developments, the CHF 420.0 million total net sales which the CPH Group generated in 2015 were a 14.7% decline on the previous year. “If we exclude the exceptional impacts of the strengthened Swiss franc and the fall in paper prices, our net group sales for 2015 were a 1.7% year-on-year improvement,” notes Dr. Peter Schildknecht, CEO of the CPH Group. All three business divisions raised their annual sales volumes and increased their market shares.

Strong franc reduces earnings; Chemistry and Packaging above prior year
Consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the CPH Group amounted to CHF 12.2 million. The decline from the CHF 50.8 million of 2014 was due largely to the difficult market conditions within the paper segment. The stronger Swiss franc and lower paper prices also eroded some CHF 25 million and CHF 30 million respectively from consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the year. As a result, and despite the productivity improvements achieved, consolidated EBIT fell from the CHF 16.0 million of 2014 to CHF –21.8 million. “Our Chemistry and Packaging Divisions were both able to improve their annual EBIT results,” Peter Schildknecht emphasizes, “despite a challenging market environment and despite the strong Swiss franc.”

The financial result of CHF –12.1 million was substantially below the CHF –5.6 million of 2014, owing primarily to the strengthening of the Swiss franc from January onwards. Non- operating income amounted to CHF 2.0 million, and the net result for the year was clearly negative at CHF –33.1 million.

Dividend of CHF 0.60 per share proposed
The Board of Directors will recommend to the Ordinary General Meeting of 23 March 2016 that, as a further confirmation of the CPH Group’s consistent dividend policy, a dividend of CHF 0.60 per share be distributed for the 2015 business year, in the form of a corresponding capital repayment from the capital contribution reserve.

Expansion drive in Asia
Business performance at the CPH Group is strongly influenced by developments in the paper segment and the Swiss franc’s movements against other key currencies. The Group has already taken targeted action to reduce the proportion of its total costs which are incurred in Swiss francs from 70% to around 50%. And to further lessen its dependence on the paper markets and the Swiss-franc currency zone, CPH is investing in new markets and new production capacities outside Switzerland and the paper segment.

The Packaging Division resolved back in 2014 to construct a new coatings factory in Wujian, China. Work on this commenced in spring 2015, and the project is well on track. The new plant should begin production in mid-2016, so its first coated films should be delivered to customers in the Asian pharmaceuticals market in the course of this year.

The Chemistry Division announced the purchase of the Jiangsu ALSIO Technology company, which is based in Jiangsu Province, China, towards the end of 2015. ALSIO is a leading Chinese manufacturer of molecular sieves, and employed 120 personnel at the end of last year. ALSIO well complements the Zeochem product programme, and its acquisition enhances the Chemistry Division’s global competitive credentials. The company and its production facilities will be assimilated into the Zeochem Group in the first quarter of this year.

Outlook for 2016
Following their strong fluctuations in 2015, currency exchange rates have now settled at their new levels. But the Swiss franc remains substantially overvalued compared to the currencies of key trading partners in purchasing power parity terms. The expanded presence of the Chemistry and Packaging Divisions in Asia will help lessen the impact of currency factors and lower the Group’s high production costs.

Once again, however, the operational success of the CPH Group in 2016 will be heavily contingent on developments at its Paper Division. Paper prices are showing signs of slight recovery. “With this and the actions we have already initiated to further improve its efficiency, our Paper Division should be able to deliver a breakeven operating result this year,” says Peter Schildknecht. Efficiency enhancements will also continue to be pursued with undiminished vigour in the other business divisions. “And for 2016,” Peter Schildknecht concludes, “the CPH Group aims to achieve an increase in its consolidated net sales and a return to profit at the operating level.”

Contacts

CPH Chemie + Papier Holding AG
Dr. Peter Schildknecht, CEO, +41 41 455 87 57, investor.relations@cph.ch
Christian Weber, Head of Corporate Communications, +41 41 455 87 51, medien@cph.ch

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