DGAP-News

KLÖCKNER & CO SE ON STRONG UPWARD TREND IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2014

DGAP-News: Klöckner & Co. SE / Key word(s): 9-month figures
KLÖCKNER & CO SE ON STRONG UPWARD TREND IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2014

06.11.2014 / 07:00

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- Despite a 1.8% rise in shipments, sales are up by just a marginal 0.1%
to around EUR4.9 billion due to a weaker US dollar in the first half of
the year and a lower price level in Europe

- Focus on higher-margin business lifts gross profit margin from 18.4% to
19.3%

- EBITDA improves by 47% from EUR108 million to EUR160 million and EBIT
more than triples from EUR30 million to EUR92 million

- Positive net income of EUR27 million compared with a net loss of EUR31
million in the prior-year period

- KCO 6.0 and KCO WIN self-help measures contribute EUR39 million to
EBITDA

- EBITDA expected to be between EUR30 million and EUR40 million in the
fourth quarter and EUR190 million to EUR200 million for the whole year
2014

- Resumption of dividend payments planned for fiscal year 2014

Figures relate to first nine months of 2014 relative to first nine months
of prior year.

Duisburg, Germany, November 6, 2014 - Klöckner & Co SE's sales rose in the
first nine months of 2014 by a marginal 0.1% to some EUR4.9 billion. Thus
sales increased to a lesser degree than shipments (up 1.8% to around 5
million tons) due to the weaker US dollar in the first half year and the
lower price level in Europe. The focus on higher-margin business enabled
the gross profit margin to be lifted from 18.4% to 19.3%. Gross profit rose
as a result by 5.3% to EUR952 million (previous year: EUR904 million).
EBITDA improved by 47% from EUR108 million to EUR160 million. The
contributions from the KCO 6.0 and KCO WIN restructuring and optimization
programs, totaling EUR39 million, were the main driver behind the rise in
earnings. EBIT more than tripled, from EUR30 million to EUR92 million. Net
income returned to positive figures and came to EUR27 million, compared
with a loss of EUR31 million in the prior-year period. Basic earnings per
share rose accordingly from a negative EUR0.31 to a positive EUR0.27.

Gisbert Rühl, CEO of Klöckner & Co SE: "It is very satisfying that we
improved our results not only against previous year but also quarter by
quarter throughout the year."

Significant boost to earnings in both segments

Supported by the mild winter in the first quarter and the first-time
consolidation of Swiss acquisition Riedo in the second quarter, sales in