Semperit Holding continues growth into Q3

Vienna -- The Semperit industrial group said it continued to grow in the first three quarters of 2005. According to the third quarter report just released, consolidated sales increased year-on-year in the first nine months of 2005 by 5.4 percent to € 384.6 million. The profit before tax (PBT) rose by 0.6 percent to € 40.3 million. EBIT for the first three quarters topped the 2004 figure by 2.9 percent to total € 38.8 million while the financial result fell short of the previous year's. Consolidated net profit totaled € 26.3 million as of 30 September 2005, a figure 9.4 percent higher than one year before.

The company said the overall result was affected by increases in raw materials and energy costs.

Although the overall economic climate remains difficult for the Semperit Group, further growth in sales value and volume is expected for 2005 as a whole. The Managing Board anticipates the profit before tax figure will be at the same level as last year and expects another increase in the consolidated net profit.

The earnings situation will depend in large part on how raw material costs continue to develop in the short term and on whether these increases can be passed on in the selling prices. Rising purchase prices, especially for oil-based products and for natural rubber and latex, could put a damper on these expectations, as could the highly volatile foreign exchange parities, particularly between the US dollar and the euro.