Interim report January – March 2012
First quarter 2012 – Continued high growth, with strong and improved margins
- Sales rose 20 per cent to 2,142 MSEK (1,786).
- Operating profit increased strongly by 30 per cent to 272 MSEK (210).
- Operating margin improved to 12.7 per cent (11.8).
- Profit after tax increased strongly to 181 MSEK (139).
- Earnings per share rose to 5.26 SEK (4.72). This was an increase of 30 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2011 (4.04 SEK), based on the actual number of shares following the rights issue in March 2011.
- Operating cash flow was strong and amounted to 240 MSEK (143).
- The acquisition of the German TPE Compounding company, Müller Kunststoffe, has been finalised. The company is consolidated as of 1 January and the operation has performed better than plan.
President’s comments
“The first quarter of 2012 was the best quarter so far for the HEXPOL Group. Growth remained high and we increased sales by 20 per cent to 2,142 MSEK (1,786), while improving the operating margin. Sales in NAFTA remained strong, where particularly our operations in Mexico displayed strong sales increases. The picture in Europe was more diverse, but the focus of our sales was is in Central and Eastern Europe, where sales were strong. Operating profit improved significantly to 272 MSEK (210), up 30 per cent. Our operating cash flow rose 68 per cent to 240 MSEK (143). Earnings per share amounted to 5.26 SEK (4.72). This was an increase of 30 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2011 (4.04 SEK), based on the actual number of shares following the rights issue in March 2011.
Early in the quarter, we finalised the acquisition of the German TPE Compounding company, Müller Kunststoffe. The company has been integrated into the HEXPOL organisation and its performance has been better than plan.”
Georg Brunstam, President and CEO
For further information, contact:
Georg Brunstam, President and CEO
Tel: 46 708 55 12 51
Urban Ottosson, CFO/ Investor Relations
Tel: 46 767 85 51 44
HEXPOL is a world-leading polymers group with strong global positions in advanced rubber compounds (Compounding), gaskets for plate heat exchangers (Gaskets) and wheels made of plastic and rubber materials for truck and castor wheel application (Wheels).Customers are primarily OEM manufacturers of plate heat exchangers and trucks, global systems suppliers to the automotive industry- and engineering industry and the medical technology industry. The Group is organised in two business areas, HEXPOL Compounding and HEXPOL Engineered Products. HEXPOL's sales in 2011 amounted to 7,197 MSEK. The HEXPOL Group has approximately 3,100 employees in ten countries. Read more at www.hexpol.com.
Tags: