ANDRITZ GROUP: Solid business development in 2016

The results of the business year in detail:

• Sales amounted to 6,039.0 MEUR and thus remained 5.3% below the all-time high of the previous year (2015: 6,377.2 MEUR). All four business areas noted a project-related decline in sales in the capital segment. Service business saw very positive development, rising to a share of 32% of total sales (2015: 30%) – with increases in all four business areas.
• Order intake amounted to 5,568.8 MEUR and was thus below the figure for the previous year’s reference period (-7.5% versus 2015: 6,017.7 MEUR). While the METALS business area was able to increase its order intake compared to the previous year, order intake in the HYDRO and PULP & PAPER business areas declined.
• The order backlog at the end of 2016 amounted to 6,789.2 MEUR (-7.3% compared to the end of 2015: 7,324.2 MEUR).
• In spite of the decline in sales, the EBITA increased to 442.1 MEUR (+3.1% versus 2015: 429.0 MEUR) and reached the highest figure in the company’s history, as did the EBITA margin, which rose to 7.3% (2015: 6.7%).
• Net income (without non-controlling interests) increased to 274.6 MEUR (2015: 267.7 MEUR).
• The net worth position and capital structure as of December 31, 2016 remained solid. Total assets amounted to 6,198.6 MEUR (December 31, 2015: 5,778.0 MEUR) and the equity ratio to 21.7% (December 31, 2015: 21.0%). Net liquidity amounted to 945.3 MEUR (December 31, 2015: 984.0 MEUR).
• At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on March 28, 2017, the Executive Board will propose a significant dividend increase to 1.50 EUR per share (2015: 1.35 EUR) in view of the positive business development. This is equal to a payout ratio of around 56% (2015: around 52%).

For the 2017 business year, ANDRITZ assumes that project activity will remain unchanged compared to the previous year and expects, from today’s perspective, good business development. Wolfgang Leitner, President and CEO of ANDRITZ AG: “All in all, we are confident for 2017 and expect to achieve at least the same levels of sales and profitability as in the previous year. Our central focus this year will be on creating the prerequisites to continue ANDRITZ’s profitable growth in the long term, based on acquisition of complementary product areas and on internal growth”.

– End –

The ANDRITZ GROUP
ANDRITZ is a globally leading supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the metalworking and steel industries, and for solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors. The publicly listed technology Group is headquartered in Graz, Austria, and has a staff of approximately 25,200 employees. ANDRITZ operates over 250 sites worldwide.

Annual and financial reports
Annual and Financial reports are available for download at the ANDRITZ web site www.andritz.com, and printed editions can be requested free of charge by e-mail to investors@andritz.com.

Disclaimer
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements”. These statements, which contain the words “believe”, “intend”, “expect”, and words of a similar meaning, reflect the Executive Board’s beliefs and expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any obligation to publicly announce the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made herein, except where it would be required to do so under applicable law.