Semperit reports further growth in Q3

Vienna -- In the first three quarters of the 2007 financial year Semperit Group reported consolidated sales up by 6.3 percent, to EUR 455.1 million, while operating profit (EBIT) climbed by 23.1 percent, to EUR 46.4 million. Earnings before tax (EBT) only rose slightly by 4.9 percent above the previous year's level, to EUR 41.3 million. Semperit blamed it on, "Due to a massive decline in the financial results caused by the crisis on global financial markets." Net profit for the period was up 2.0 percent, to EUR 29.9 million.

The Sempermed division specialising in surgical and examination gloves reported a 3.2% increase in sales to EUR 163.7 million in the first nine months of 2007, although the weak US dollar continued to result in currency translation losses. Earnings before tax improved to EUR 9.1 million, up from EUR 6.0 million during the preceding year.

Sales of the Semperflex division, which primarily focuses on the production of industrial and hydraulic hoses as well as elastomer sheeting, climbed 13.2%, to EUR 123.0 million. Earnings before tax amounted to EUR 16.1 million in the first nine months of 2007, an increase of 17.4% above the previous year's level of EUR 13.7 million.

In the first three quarters of 2007, sales of the Semperform division rose 3.1%, to EUR 85.8 million. Earnings before tax totalled EUR 13.4 million (previous year: EUR 11.9 million). The railway superstructure and seal profiles segments as well as the handrail business in China developed particularly well.

The level of orders for conveyor belts continued to develop favourably in the third quarter as demand remained high. Accordingly, sales of the Sempertrans division rose by 6.7%, to EUR 82.6 million, while earnings before tax rose to EUR 8.8 million, up from EUR 7.1 million in the previous year.

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Press release from Semperit