Business News

Sappi results for 1st quarter in line with expectations.

Wednesday 05. February 2014 - Financial summary for the quarter -- Profit for the period US$18 million (Q1 2013 US$12 million) -- EPS excluding special items 2 US cents (Q1 2013 3 US cents) -- EBITDA excluding special items US$147 million (Q1 2013 US$159 million) -- Net debt US$2,348 million (Q1 2013 US$2,095 million)

Commenting on the result, Sappi (JSE: SAP) Chief Executive Officer Ralph Boettger said:
“The group returned to positive earnings in the quarter with an EBITDA excluding special items of US$147 million, an operating profit excluding special items of US$60 million and a profit for the period of US$18 million.
“We continue to generate good returns in the Specialised Cellulose business and the dissolving wood pulp market experienced strong demand in an increasingly competitive market. Conditions are generally difficult in the global graphic paper markets, in line with our expectations in Europe and more challenging than anticipated in North America.
“The past year has reinforced the importance of our strategy to reposition Sappi for growth, higher margins, improved profitability, and with less reliance on graphic paper. The two major dissolving wood pulp conversion projects are both now contributing to earnings and profitability, whilst the paper businesses, although dealing with difficult market conditions, continue to generate cash that will enable us to reduce debt.
“Capital expenditure for the full year is expected to be less than US$300 million and, along with the expected improvement in profitability when compared to the prior year, should allow the group to reduce debt levels to approximately US$2 billion by the end of the fiscal year.
“Our outlook for the year continues to be one of improved profitability for the 2014 financial year when compared to 2013.”
The quarter under review
The group has benefited from the strategic decision to invest in and grow the Specialised Cellulose business, with 286kt of dissolving wood pulp sold during the quarter (an increase of 63% over the equivalent quarter last year), generating US$74 million in EBITDA excluding special items at an EBITDA margin of 30%. We continue to benefit from our low cost position at each of our dissolving wood pulp mills and the weaker Rand/Dollar exchange rate during the quarter.
The South African business had another good quarter, benefiting from additional sales volumes in the Specialised Cellulose business from the Ngodwana Mill, the weaker Rand/Dollar exchange rate and a gradual improvement in the paper business. The European business returned to a small operating profit after three quarters of losses, with a reduction in fixed cost offsetting lower selling prices. The North American business experienced a difficult quarter, with volume and price declines in the paper segment as well as increased variable costs leading to a small operating loss.
NBSK paper pulp list prices, to which most of our dissolving wood pulp sales are linked, increased during the quarter, reaching its highest levels in two years. Due to the competitive nature of the market and weak viscose pricing, we expect increased pressure on our NBSK linked prices going forward.
Net debt of US$2,348 million is up, compared both to the prior quarter, US$2,214 million, and the equivalent quarter last year, US$2,095 million, as a result of the seasonal increase in cash utilisation, and the past year’s capital expenditure respectively.
The strategic actions to reduce costs and improve our profitability enabled the European business to return to an operating profit this quarter. The paper market remains tough, with demand continuing to decline and pricing under pressure, particularly in a strong Euro/Dollar exchange rate environment. The Alfeld PM2 conversion to speciality paper has been completed with successful trial runs and customer quality acceptance.
The North American business experienced a challenging quarter, and the graphic paper business was particularly difficult with lower sales volumes and prices in very competitive markets. Domestic coated freesheet paper demand in North America declined some 5% compared to the prior year, and whilst our sales declined by less than this, the loss of volume and a decline in coated web pricing over the past year had a significant impact. Higher cost purchased fibre also impacted paper costs compared to the prior year.
Dissolving wood pulp production and sales volumes were close to full capacity with excellent quality. In optimising the global Specialised Cellulose business we have seen lower average pricing and higher logistics costs in our North American operation, resulting in lower average returns for the business in North America.
The Southern African Specialised Cellulose business continues to perform well, and this quarter included sales from the recently converted Ngodwana Mill for the first time. Average net selling prices for dissolving wood pulp were flat compared to the prior quarter, but significantly higher than for the equivalent quarter in the prior year due to higher NBSK reference prices as well as a weaker Rand/Dollar exchange rate. The South African paper business returned to profitability, aided by the weaker Rand/Dollar exchange rate. However, the local graphic paper market remains weak, with continued cost pressure and a competitive import market. The domestic packaging market, though seasonally weaker in this quarter, continues to see good demand levels and improved pricing.
There were no major special items for the quarter. The gain of US$10 million included a positive plantation fair value price adjustment of US$8 million and an asset impairment reversal of US$2 million. Finance costs of US$48 million were in line with the restated equivalent quarter last year. Earnings per share for the quarter was 3 US cents (including a gain of 1 US cent in respect of special items), compared to 2 US cents (including a charge of 1 US cent in respect of special items) in the equivalent quarter last year.
Outlook
Both the European and South African paper businesses returned to profitability during the quarter and we expect to see further improvement in the performance of these paper businesses. Plans are in place to return the North American paper business to previous profitability levels.
Paper markets are expected to remain challenging for the remainder of the year and we continue to focus on costs across all our regions, with each of them striving to ensure they are amongst the lowest cost producers in their respective markets.
Demand in the Specialised Cellulose business is expected to remain firm, but with continued pressure on pricing. Currency, particularly the Rand/Dollar exchange rate will continue to remain a factor in the overall profitability of this business.