Ad-Hoc News regarding 3rd Quarter FY 2014/15
voestalpine, at stable sales revenues, increases earnings in the first nine months of business year 2014/15 significantly
The global economic development slowed significantly in the course of the business year 2014/15. Only North America was able to strengthen its growth track and China remained on stable levels. In contrast Europe is still waiting for a recovery, Japan and Brazil stay weak and Russia is in recession.
In an annual comparison voestalpine Group held up well in this environment due to its orientation towards technology and quality.
The Group was able to increase earnings in all reporting categories significantly, where only a part is stemming from positive one-off effects from portfolio optimization measures.
The gearing ratio (net financial debt in relation to equity) increased due to the redemption of the hybrid bond 2007 in October 2014, which was treated as equity in the balance sheet, in the planned amount.
The outlook for the business year 2014/15 remains unchanged: From the current vantage point, it can be anticipated that the operating result (EBITDA) and profit from operations (EBIT) (even excluding the positive one-off effects) of the voestalpine Group will be somewhat higher than the figures of the past business year.