EQS-News: Lenzing AG: Lenzing on track for recovery after anticipated difficult start to the financial year

EQS-News: Lenzing AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
Lenzing AG: Lenzing on track for recovery after anticipated difficult start to the
financial year

03.05.2023 / 07:30 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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• Revenue grows to EUR 623.1 mn – fiber sales recovered over the course of the quarter
• EBITDA and net result for the period down compared with the first quarter of 2022
• Cost reduction program of more than EUR 70 mn being implemented according to plan
• Production of TENCEL™ brand modal fibers successfully launched in China
• Lenzing confirms guidance for 2023

Lenzing – The business performance of the Lenzing Group, a leading global supplier of
specialty fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, during the first quarter of
2023 largely reflected market trends. However, after the market environment had
deteriorated significantly in the third and fourth quarters of the previous year, signs
of recovery emerged during the first quarter in terms of demand as well as raw material
and energy costs. Textile fibers recorded moderate but steadily improving demand.
Business with fibers for nonwovens and with dissolving wood pulp performed better than
expected. Raw material and energy costs were still at an elevated albeit decreasing
level.

Revenues increased by 1.3 percent compared to the prior-year quarter to EUR 623.1 mn.
This growth was primarily due to higher pulp revenues, while fiber revenues were down.
As a consequence, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)
decreased by 66.2 percent year-on-year to EUR 29.7 mn in the first quarter of 2023. The
net result for the reporting period amounted to minus EUR 64.9 mn (compared with
EUR 34.1 mn in the first quarter of 2022) and earnings per share amounted to minus
EUR 3.03 (compared with EUR 0.87 in the first quarter of 2022).

Lenzing launched a reorganization and cost-cutting program in the third quarter of 2022
and is fully on track with its implementation. More than EUR 70 mn in annual cost
savings are targeted once the program has been fully implemented. Moreover, further
measures were launched to bolster free cash flow. This amounted to minus EUR 132.3 mn in
the first quarter of 2023 (compared with minus EUR 102.9 mn in the first quarter of
2022), particularly due to the negative result and the completion of strategic
investment projects. In addition to the cost-cutting program, further steps to reduce
working capital are currently being implemented and currency and energy price hedging
are being reorganized. All measures are being implemented against the background of a
solid liquidity reserve of EUR 639.5 mn.

“After the crisis year of 2022, the negative after-effects were still clearly evident in
the first quarter of 2023. However, we noted signs of recovery in terms of demand as
well as energy and raw material costs during the quarter. Lenzing has successfully made
great efforts in relation to both costs and liquidity and is well prepared for an upturn
in demand,” notes Stephan Sielaff, Lenzing Group CEO. “In the medium and long term, we
continue to anticipate a strong growth in demand for Lenzing’s sustainable products. We
are convinced that our two investment projects in China and Indonesia will further
strengthen our positioning in this respect.”

Focus on sustainable specialty fibers

In addition to the continued implementation of the reorganization and cost-cutting
program, the implementation of the “Better Growth” corporate strategy was also advanced
in the first quarter of 2023. The corporate strategy aims to better serve the
structurally strong growth in demand for biodegradable and responsibly produced
specialty fibers under the TENCEL™, LENZING™ ECOVERO™ and VEOCEL™ brands. In accordance
with the strategy and following the successful implementation of the two key projects in
Thailand and Brazil, Lenzing will continue on its profitable growth trajectory, sharpen
its focus on sustainable and high-quality premium textile fibers and nonwoven fibers,
and in parallel further advance the transition from a linear to a circular economy
model.

Since 2021, Lenzing has invested more than EUR 200 mn in production sites in China and
in Indonesia in order to convert existing capacities for generic viscose into capacities
for environmentally responsible specialty fibers.

In Nanjing (China), the conversion of a production line to TENCEL™ brand modal fibers
for textiles and apparel was successfully completed in the first quarter of 2023. For
the first time, Lenzing can thereby also offer locally produced TENCEL™ fibers to its
Chinese customers and consequently serve structurally growing demand on an even better
basis. Due the conversion of the line with a nameplate capacity of 35,000 tonnes per
year, the fiber portfolio of the production site now consists exclusively of
environmentally responsible specialty fibers. Moreover, Lenzing is continuing to work
consistently on the gradual conversion of the Chinese site to green energy in order to
further reduce carbon emissions.

As part of the investments at the site in Purwakarta (Indonesia), Lenzing is creating
additional capacity for LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibers. Lenzing is investing locally in
reducing carbon emissions as well as air and water emissions. The conversion work is
proceeding according to plan, and the site will be converted into a pure specialty
viscose supplier prospectively before the end of the year.

Changes on the Managing Board

Lenzing also recently announced personnel changes on its Managing Board. Robert van de
Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer Fiber and a Managing Board member since 2014, informed
the Supervisory Board that he would not be available for a further extension of his
contract, which runs until December 31, 2023. He will continue to drive forward the
sustainability area, including the Carbon Roadmap, as Chief Sustainability Officer until
the end of his current term of office. CEO Stephan Sielaff will essentially assume
responsibility for sales in the Fibers Division. The Lenzing Managing Board will thereby
be reduced from four to three members as of January 1, 2024.

Outlook

The war in Ukraine and the more restrictive monetary policy pursued by many central
banks in order to combat inflation are expected to continue to influence global economic
activity. The IMF warns that risks remain elevated overall and forecasts growth of 2.8
and 3 percent for 2023 and 2024 respectively. The currency environment is expected to
remain volatile in the regions relevant to Lenzing.

This market environment continues to weigh on the consumer climate and on sentiment in
the industries relevant to Lenzing. However, the outlook has brightened somewhat
recently.

Demand picked up tangibly after the Chinese New Year. As a consequence, capacity
utilization improved and stocks were further reduced both at viscose producers and at
downstream stages of the value chain.

In the trend-setting market for cotton, signs are emerging of a further buildup of
stocks in the current 2022/23 crop season. Initial forecasts for 2023/24 anticipate a
more balanced relationship between supply and demand.

However, despite signs of recovery in both demand and raw material and energy costs,
earnings visibility remains limited overall.

Lenzing is fully on track with the implementation of the reorganization and cost
reduction program. These and other measures are aimed at positioning Lenzing in the best
possible way for the expected market recovery.

Structurally, Lenzing continues to anticipate growth in demand for environmentally
responsible fibers for the textile and clothing industry as well as for the hygiene and
medical sectors. As a consequence, Lenzing is very well positioned with its “Better
Growth” strategy and plans to continue driving growth with specialty fibers as well as
its sustainability goals, including the transformation from a linear to a circular
economy model.

The successful implementation of the key projects in Thailand and Brazil as well as the
investment projects in China and Indonesia will further strengthen Lenzing’s positioning
in this respect.

Taking into account the aforementioned factors and assuming a further market recovery in
the current financial year, the Lenzing Group continues to expect EBITDA in a range
between EUR 320 mn and EUR 420 mn for 2023.

Selected indicators of the Lenzing Group
EUR mn 01-03/2023 01-03/2022
Revenue 623.1 615.0
EBITDA (operating profit before depreciation and amortization) 29.7 88.0
EBITDA margin 4.8 % 14.3 %
Net profit or loss for the period -64.9 34.1
Earnings per share in EUR -3.03 0.87
Cash flow from operating activities -47.7 79.7
CAPEX^1 84.7 182.7

 

  31/03/2023 31/12/2022
Net financial debt 1,986.2 1,869.0
Adjusted equity ratio^2 37.1 % 37.8 %
Number of employees (headcount) 8,225 8,301

1) Capital expenditures: Investments in intangible assets, property, plant and equipment
and in biological assets as per the consolidated statement of cash flows

2) Ratio of adjusted equity to total assets in percent

Photo download:
[1] https://mediadb.lenzing.com/pinaccess/showpin.do?pinCode=U4hxFdYQHFnw
PIN: U4hxFdYQHFnw

Your contact for  
Public Relations: Investor Relations:
   
Dominic Köfner Sébastien Knus
Vice President Corporate Communications & Public Vice President Capital Markets
Affairs Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft
Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft Werkstraße 2, 4860 Lenzing, Austria
Werkstraße 2, 4860 Lenzing, Austria  
  Phone +43 664 8281576
Phone +43 7672 701 2743 E-mail   [4]s.knus@lenzing.com
E-mail  [2]media@lenzing.com Web    [5] www.lenzing.com
Web    [3] www.lenzing.com  

 

About the Lenzing Group
 
The Lenzing Group stands for the ecologically responsible production of specialty fibers
made from the renewable raw material wood. As an innovation leader, Lenzing is a partner
to global textile and nonwoven manufacturers and drives many new technological
developments. The Lenzing Group’s high-quality fibers form the basis for a variety of
textile applications ranging from elegant clothing to versatile denims and
high-performance sports clothing. Due to their consistent high quality, biodegradability
and compostability, Lenzing fibers are also highly suitable for hygiene products and
agricultural applications.
 
The Lenzing Group’s business model extends far beyond that of a traditional fiber
producer. Together with its customers and partners, Lenzing develops innovative products
along the value chain and creates added value for consumers. The Lenzing Group strives
for the efficient utilization and processing of all raw materials and offers solutions
to help redirect the textile sector towards a closed loop economy. In order to slow the
rate of global warming and to accomplish the climate targets of the Paris Agreement and
the EU Commission’s “Green Deal”, Lenzing has a clear vision: namely to make a
zero-carbon future come true.
 
Lenzing Group facts & figures 2022
Revenue: EUR 2.57 bn
Nominal capacity (fibers): 1,145,000 tonnes
Employees: 8,301
 
TENCEL™, VEOCEL™, LENZING™, REFIBRA™, ECOVERO™, LENZING MODAL™, LENZING VISCOSE™,
MICROMODAL™ and PROMODAL™ are trademarks of Lenzing AG.
 
Disclaimer: The above key financial indicators are derived primarily from the condensed
consolidated interim financial statements and the consolidated financial statements of
the previous year of the Lenzing Group. Additional details are provided in “Notes on the
Financial Performance Indicators of the Lenzing Group”, available at the following link
[6] https://www.lenzing.com/notes-financial-performance-indicators-lenzing-group-2023-q1,
and in the condensed consolidated interim consolidated financial statements and the
Lenzing Group’s consolidated financial statements of the previous year. Rounding
differences may occur in the presentation of rounded amounts and percentages.

 

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03.05.2023 CET/CEST This Corporate News was distributed by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com

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Language: English
Company: Lenzing AG
4860 Lenzing
Austria
Phone: +43 7672-701-0
Fax: +43 7672-96301
E-mail: office@lenzing.com
Internet: www.lenzing.com
ISIN: AT0000644505
Indices: ATX
Listed: Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Market)
EQS News ID: 1622617

 
End of News EQS News Service

1622617  03.05.2023 CET/CEST

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