SSAB Half-Year Report 2014

The quarter

• Sales of SEK 9,323 (8,894) million
• Operating profit/loss of SEK 260 (-115) million        
• Profit/loss after financial items of SEK 73 (-273) million
• Earnings per share of SEK 0.41 (-0.44)
• Operating cash flow of SEK 528 (796) million
• After the quarter end, approval from the EU and more than 90% of the shares in Rautaruukki were obtained

Comments by the CEO

The positive trend from the first quarter is continuing and we are able to present an operating profit of SEK 260 million for the second quarter of 2014. The operating profit for the second quarter represents an improvement of SEK 234 million compared with the first quarter of 2014, driven primarily by higher prices in Americas and lower production costs in EMEA. Operating cash flow was also positive during the second quarter, at more than SEK 500 million.

The improved demand in North America has continued within several segments and, following the maintenance outage at the plant in Mobile at the beginning of the quarter, we have had full capacity utilization at both of our North American plants. We have also announced two additional price increases during the quarter. The European steel market has continued to recover slowly from low levels. However, shipment volumes for EMEA were slightly lower than in the first quarter, during which the market was driven partially by a small inventory restocking following the winter season. The operations in Asia experienced a weak quarter in terms of earnings, with the market remaining challenging.

We expect our North American operations to continue to develop positively during the second half of 2014, driven by an improved market and positive effects of previous price increases. Demand within EMEA during the second half of the year is expected to be approximately in line with the first half of the year, but we envisage continued uncertainly in Russia and Turkey. Steel prices in EMEA are expected to be stable or slightly weaker, while prices of input goods are demonstrating a downward trend. Customary maintenance outages will be carried out within EMEA during the seasonally weak third quarter. The Asian market remains weak and we do not anticipate any improvement during the second half of the year.

In January this year, SSAB and Rautaruukki announced the ambition to combine. On July 14, approval for the combination was received from the EU Commission. The concessions required by the Commission are in line with what we had anticipated, and will not affect the industrial logic or size of the synergies. The time period for acceptance of the offer by Rautaruukki's shareholders expired on July 22, and we can note that more than 90 percent of Rautaruukki's shareholders have accepted the offer. We will thus be able to complete the combination shortly. Together, we will create an effective and stable steel company enjoying strong positions on our domestic markets and with a clear global leadership within high strength steels. I look forward to creating an even stronger steel company together with all of our employees.

Presentation of the half-year report

SSAB invites to a presentation of the half-year report today July 23, 2014.

The interim report for the second quarter of 2014 will be presented by SSAB’s President and CEO Martin Lindqvist and CFO Håkan Folin.

The press conference will be held in English and live webcasted on SSAB’s website www.ssab.com. It is also possible to participate in the briefing via telephone.

Venue and time of briefing: World Trade Center (WTC) Stockholm, Kungsbron 1, Conference room Manhattan, 09:30 a.m. CET.

Telephone numbers: +46 8 505 564 74 (Sweden), +44 203 364 53 74 (UK), +1 855 753 22 30 (USA).

Link to webcast: Go to webcast

Instructions on how to participate in the webcast are available on SSAB’s website, including presentation material for downloading.

This information is such that SSAB must disclose in accordance with the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication on July 23, 2014 at 07.30 am.

For further information:

Maria Långberg, Executive VP Communications Tel. +46 (0)8 - 45 45 727
Andreas Koch, Director, Investor Relations, Tel. +46 (0)70 - 509 77 61

SSAB is a global leader in value added, high strength steel. SSAB offers products developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 45 countries and operates production facilities in Sweden and the US. SSAB is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange, Stockholm. www.ssab.com.

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