Outokumpu's Annual Accounts Bulletin 2011 - a year of restructuring
FINANCIAL STATEMENT BULLETIN
1 February 2012 at 8.30 am EET
Year 2011 highlights
- Underlying operational result some EUR -66 million (2010: some EUR -91
million)
- Operating loss EUR 260 million (2010: EUR -83 million) including raw material-
related inventory losses of some EUR 43 million (2010: gains of some EUR 26
million) and net non-recurring items of EUR -151 million (2010: EUR -17
million).
- Strong cash flow at EUR 338 million (2010: EUR -497 million).
- Stainless steel deliveries increased by 6% and totalled 1 391 000 tonnes
(2010: 1 315 000 tonnes).
- Significant restructuring actions taken to improve cash flow, profitability
and strengthen the balance sheet.
- The Board is proposing that no dividend be paid for 2011 (2010: EUR 0.25).
Fourth-quarter 2011 highlights
Underlying operational result some EUR -34 million (III/2011: EUR -15 million).
Operating loss EUR 71 million (III/2011: EUR -53 million) including raw
material-related inventory losses of some EUR 24 million (III/2011: some EUR -38
million) and net non-recurring items of EUR -13 million (III/2011: none).
Financial income and expenses include EUR -33 million expenses from the fair
valuation of the Group's stake in Talvivaara Sotkamo and the sale of Nordic
Brass.
Strong cash flow at EUR 132 million (III/2011: EUR 282 million).
Stainless steel deliveries at 323 000 tonnes (III/2011: 340 000 tonnes).
The Group's underlying operational result in the fourth quarter weakened to some
EUR -34 million primarily as a result of lower delivery volumes and slightly
lower base prices. The positive impact of an improved mix was offset by costs
being somewhat higher. Operating loss in the fourth quarter was EUR 71 million.
Net cash from operating activities in the fourth quarter remained strong and
totalled EUR 132 million. The main contributor to this strong cash flow was
further reductions in working capital which resulted in the main from reduced
inventories and lower metal prices. EUR 161 million of cash was released from
working capital in the fourth quarter. Outokumpu's gearing at the end of the
year increased to 82.5%. The positive impact of strong cash flow was offset by
capital expenditure and the net loss. Net interest-bearing debt was relatively
unchanged and totalled EUR 1 720 million at the end of the fourth quarter.
SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK
Following a softening in demand for stainless steel in the fourth quarter of
2011, demand for standard grades began to show signs of improvement in the new-
year with distributor purchasing supported by a slight increase in the nickel
price. However, no significant change has been seen in underlying demand. Lead
times are currently normal at 6-8 weeks. As a result of the destocking that
occurred during the fourth quarter of 2011, distributor inventories in Europe
are estimated to be below normal levels.
Outokumpu's order intake has been encouraging in the beginning of the year.
Based on current levels of order intake, Outokumpu's delivery volumes in the
first quarter of 2012 are expected to be clearly above levels seen in the fourth
quarter of 2011.
Following the decline in base prices in the fourth quarter, Outokumpu has been
able to increase prices slightly in both standard and special grades. The
resulting impact on the Group's average base prices will be visible towards the
end of the first quarter.
Higher delivery volumes and slightly higher base prices are expected to lead to
Outokumpu's underlying operational result(*)) being around break-even or
slightly positive in the first quarter of 2012. At current metal prices,
marginal raw-material related inventory gains are expected. Outokumpu's
operating result in the first quarter of 2012 might be impacted by non-recurring
items associated with the Group's ongoing efficiency improvement programmes.
(*) )Underlying operational result=operating profit/loss excluding raw material-
related inventory gains/losses and non-recurring items.
CEO Mika Seitovirta:
"Outokumpu's business results continued to be unsatisfactory in the last quarter
of 2011. The challenging economic environment continued to limit market demand.
I am however pleased with the progress we have made in improving our cash flow
and restructuring our organisation to enable sustainable profitability. The new
management team and organisational structure now in place will accelerate the
transformation of Outokumpu during 2012. Our two major investment projects -
capacity expansions of ferrochrome and quarto plate are both on time and budget
- and will prove the Group with a platform for long term growth."
For further information, please contact:
Ingela Ulfves
VP - Investor Relations and Financial Communications
tel. +358 9 421 2438, mobile +358 40 515 1531
ingela.ulfves@outokumpu.com
Kari Tuutti, SVP - Communications, IR and Marketing
tel. +358 9 421 2432, mobile +358 40 717 0830
kari.tuutti@outokumpu.com
Esa Lager, CFO
tel. +358 9 421 2516
esa.lager@outokumpu.com
Investor and analyst call today at 10.00 am EET
PLEASE NOTE: The earlier announced combined news conference, conference call and
live webcast today at 12.00 EET at restaurant Bank in Helsinki has been
cancelled.
Outokumpu will host an investor and analyst conference call and live webcast
concerning the transaction and the Outokumpu 2011 annual accounts on 1 February
2012 at 10.00 am EET (8.00 am GMT, 9.00 am CET). To participate, see further
details at www.outokumpu.com/Investors.
To participate via conference call, please dial in 5-10 minutes before the
beginning of the event:
Finland +358 (0)9 2310 1619
Germany +49 (0)69 2999 3285
UK +44 (0)20 3106 7162
Sweden +46 (0) 8 5593 6763
Participant code 9353419
Password Outokumpu
Outokumpu and ThyssenKrupp joint press conference and live webcast today at
12.00 am EET
Outokumpu and ThyssenKrupp will hold a joint press conference, conference call
and live webcast on 1 February 2012 at 12.00 noon EET (5.00 am EST, 10.00 am
GMT, 11.00 am CET) at the Hilton Dusseldorf Hotel, address: Georg-Glock-Strasse
20, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany.
To participate via conference call, please dial in 5-10 minutes before the
beginning of the event:
Finland +358 (0)9 2310 1618
Germany +49 (0)30 3001 90531
UK +44 (0)20 7660 0009
Sweden +46 (0)8 5065 3933
Password Outokumpu
If you wish to listen to the conference in English, please use the following
confirmation code: 6345244
If you wish to listen to the conference in German, please use the following
confirmation code: 4654948
The press conference can be viewed live via Internet at www.outokumpu.com/media
or www.thyssenkrupp.com. An on-demand webcast of the press conference will be
available as of 1 February 2012 at www.outokumpu.com/inoxum
Outokumpu contacts
Media interview requests - international
Tel. +49 (69) 2400 5533
Media interview requests - Finland
Tel. +358 (0)9 421 2432
Investor and analyst enquiries
Ingela Ulfves - tel. +358 (0)40 515 1531