Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG: MM reports first quarter 2024 results

EQS-News: Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG: MM reports first quarter 2024 results

23.04.2024 / 08:00 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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* Result below previous year as expected

* Significant volume growth at MM Board & Paper

* Continuity at a good level at MM Packaging

* Weak consumption continues to weigh on end markets

* Pressure on margins carries on

* Successful profit & cash protection programme will be continued

* Sales price development decisive for earnings situation in 2024

Group Key indicators - IFRS

    Consolidated, in millions of EUR  1Q/2024  1Q /2023      +/-
                               Sales  1,025.0   1,122.1   -8.7 %
                     Adjusted EBITDA     94.5     133.6  -29.3 %
           Adjusted operating profit     39.6      78.7  -49.6 %
    Adjusted operating margin (in %)    3.9 %     7.0 %  -314 bp
                   Profit before tax     18.0      49.0  -63.2 %
               Profit for the period     10.9      34.9  -68.8 %
         Earnings per share (in EUR)     0.52      1.71

Peter Oswald, MM CEO, comments: "The MM Group recorded a decline in both
Group sales and adjusted operating profit in the 1st quarter of 2024
compared to the previous year's value, due to the earnings performance in
the Board & Paper division. The destocking in the supply chain has been
largely completed, leading to a significant recovery of volumes sold in
Board & Paper. However, pressure on margins continued as expected, as price
increases will only compensate for the recent rise in production costs from
the 2nd quarter onwards. In contrast, the Packaging division recorded a
slight increase in results compared to the previous year, even though the
margin was below the strong level of the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2023.

Against this background, the profit & cash protection programme, which has
already been successfully implemented, and the measures to intensify market
penetration will be systematically continued in 2024.

As consumer spending on everyday goods remains subdued, the end markets
continue to record hardly any growth. In particular, the development of
sales prices will remain decisive for the earnings situation in 2024.",
underlines Oswald.

INCOME STATEMENT
At EUR 1,025.0 million, the Group's consolidated sales were below the
previous year's figure (1Q 2023: EUR 1,122.1 million), primarily due to
price-related declines in both divisions.

Adjusted operating profit decreased by EUR 39.1 million from EUR 78.7
million to EUR 39.6 million. This decrease is primarily due to the recent
increase in production costs in the Board & Paper division, which are to be
offset by higher sales prices from the 2nd quarter onwards. The Group's
adjusted operating margin was therefore 3.9 % (1Q 2023: 7.0 %).

Financial income amounted to EUR 6.6 million (1Q 2023: EUR 1.3 million). The
increase in financial expenses from EUR -10.8 million to EUR -21.4 million
resulted in particular from higher interest rates for variable-interest
loans. "Other financial result - net" changed from EUR -3.1 million to EUR
-6.8 million, mainly owing to currency translations.

Profit before tax thus totalled EUR 18.0 million after EUR 49.0 million in
the previous year. Income tax expense amounted to EUR 7.1 million (1Q 2023:
EUR 14.1 million), resulting in an effective Group tax rate of 39.6 % (1Q
2023: 28.7 %).

Thus, profit for the period decreased from EUR 34.9 million to EUR 10.9
million.

OUTLOOK
Despite significant volume increases compared to the previous year in the
Board & Paper division, there are still hardly any signs of growth on the
consumer goods end markets. Under these conditions, MM is focusing on
margin-conscious market share gains and a consistent continuation of the
profit & cash protection programme, which has been successfully implemented
to date.

The upward trend in production costs is to be compensated by an ongoing
improvement in sales prices. This development in particular will remain
decisive for the profit situation in 2024.

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Please find the detailed Press Release and the Report for the first quarter
of 2024 as well as the CEO Audio-Q&A-Webcast on our website:
https://www.mm.group.


Forthcoming results:
August 22, 2024 Half-Year Results 2024

For further information, please contact:
Stephan Sweerts-Sporck, Investor Relations, Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG
Brahmsplatz 6, A-1040 Vienna
Tel.: +43 1 501 36-91180
E-Mail: investor.relations@mm.group, Website: https://www.mm.group


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23.04.2024 CET/CEST This Corporate News was distributed by EQS Group AG.
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   Language:       English
   Company:        Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG
                   Brahmsplatz 6
                   1040 Wien
                   Austria
   Phone:          0043 1 501 36 91180
   Fax:            0043 1 501 36 91391
   E-mail:         investor.relations@mm.group
   Internet:       www.mm.group
   ISIN:           AT0000938204
   WKN:            93820
   Indices:        ATX
   Listed:         Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Frankfurt (Basic
                   Board), Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; Vienna
                   Stock Exchange (Official Market)
   EQS News ID:    1886225

End of News EQS News Service
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1886225 23.04.2024 CET/CEST