“We have every possibility to recapture our position as one of the most profitable steel companies compared to relevant peers. We enjoy an unrivalled global position within high-strength steels, a segment where there is good future growth potential. We are market leader in heavy plate in North America, which is an attractive growing market, and we have a clear plan to increase profitability in our operations in Europe. Our recent combination with Ruukki will enable us to reduce the cost base structurally in Europe with SEK 1.4 billion. Furthermore, the new SSAB will have better capabilities to grow globally within high-strength steel, and to strengthen its offering on the home markets,” says SSAB’s President and CEO Martin Lindqvist.

SSAB will reduce the cost base by SEK 1.4 billion
The combination with Rautaruukki was completed on July 29, 2014 and the new organization structured into five new divisions - SSAB Special Steels, SSAB Europe, SSAB Americas, Tibnor, and Ruukki Construction - has been in place since September. The appendix shows pro forma quarterly figures for the Group and respective divisions from 2013 and onwards. SSAB’s target is to reduce the cost base by SEK 1.4 billion on an annual basis, with full run rate achieved in mid-2017. The synergies are estimated to amount to around SEK 350 million during 2015, around SEK 800 million in 2016, around SEK 1,200 million in 2017 and around SEK 1,400 million in 2018. The synergy assessment is based on current market conditions. If the market improves, synergies could be lower, but in all scenarios SSAB will capture at least SEK 1.0 billion.

In addition to cost synergies, some strategic and maintenance capital expenditure, equating to a value of SEK 1.4 billion, can be avoided. As a result of the combination, SSAB further expects to tie up less working capital, primarily by lowering the inventory levels. The expected working capital reduction is estimated to result in a positive effect on cash flow of around SEK 500 million, with around half of this being freed up during 2015.

One-off costs that will impact the result for the third quarter this year that directly related to completion of the transaction amount to approximately SEK 325 million. These costs consist primarily of transfer tax, adviser costs and financing costs. In addition, SSAB estimates restructuring costs of approximately SEK 550 million will be required to achieve the synergies. Of these costs, approximately SEK 400 million is cash-cost and the remaining SEK 150 million is non-cash cost due to potential write-downs of assets. Restructuring costs will be impacting the result as the measures are defined.

The balance sheet total of the new company totals SEK 89 billion and net gearing is 51% as at June 30, 2014. The appendix shows the pro forma balance sheet as at June 30, 2014.

SSAB currently owns 95.1% of Rautaruukki Corporation shares. The remaining shares will be acquired through ongoing compulsory redemption proceedings. Since August 1, Rautaruukki has been fully consolidated into SSAB’s result.

Well placed to recapture industry-leading profitability and growth
During the past few years, the market situation for the steel industry has been challenging. Going forward, there are some factors that indicate a potential improvement from the low levels of recent years. In addition, current market trends such as energy efficiency and material efficiency will result in increased demand for high-strength steel.

The new SSAB gains benefits both through cost synergies and potential to increase sales – resulting from cross selling potential, a stronger product offering and through greater resources for application development.

Looking ahead, there are many possibilities to continue work on developing the new company. This includes increasing the presence in the emerging markets, expanding value-added end-user services and aftermarket operations and increasing capacity in the USA.

SSAB sees good potential to improve profitability and to be one of the most profitable steel companies compared to relevant peers in terms of EBITDA margin.

A live webcast of the presentations will begin at 1 pm CET on October 1. Please see the link below:

http://www.media-server.com/m/p/uxwo5ufc

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For further information, please contact

Andreas Koch, Head of Investor Relations, +46 8 45 45 729, [email protected]

SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company. SSAB offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries. SSAB has production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm and has a secondary listing on the NASDAQ OMX in Helsinki. www.ssab.com

 

 

APPENDIX

Financial data for the SSAB Group pro forma including Rautaruukki

Group
SEK million 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 1/14 2/14 FY 2013
Net sales 14 114 14 557 13 800 14 542 14 598 15 208 57 013
EBITDA 828 954 360 614 833 1 179 2 756
EBITDA margin, % 6% 7% 3% 4% 6% 8% 5%
EBIT -105 18 -519 -253 -10 321 -859
EBIT margin, % -1% 0% -4% -2% 0% 2% -2%
Financial items -208 -247 -227 -238 -305 -259 -920
Profit/loss after financial items -313 -229 -746 -491 -315 62 -1 779

 

Net Sales by Division per quarter
SEK million 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 1/14 2/14 FY 2013
SSAB Special Steels 3 430 3 355 2 819 3 243 3 348 3 477 12 847
SSAB Europe 6 262 6 409 5 796 6 199 6 649 6 568 24 666
SSAB Americas 2 647 2 606 2 873 3 004 2 831 3 152 11 130
Tibnor 2 098 2 157 1 871 1 968 2 055 2 077 8 094
Ruukki Construction 1 229 1 731 1 941 1 730 1 224 1 625 6 631
Other -1 552 -1 701 -1 500 -1 602 -1 509 -1 691 -6 355
Net Sales 14 114 14 557 13 800 14 542 14 598 15 208 57 013

 

EBITDA by Division per quarter
SEK million 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 1/14 2/14 FY 2013
SSAB Special Steels 429 383 -125 364 377 471 1 051
SSAB Europe 318 311 104 -21 364 383 712
SSAB Americas 149 76 209 276 194 299 710
Tibnor 62 89 30 17 51 57 198
Ruukki Construction -64 96 187 82 -37 74 301
Other -66 -1 -45 -104 -116 -105 -216
EBITDA 828 954 360 614 833 1 179 2 756

 

EBIT by Division per quarter
SEK million 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 1/14 2/14 FY 2013
SSAB Special Steels 292 246 -262 225 242 338 501
SSAB Europe -62 -78 -280 -402 -16 10 -822
SSAB Americas 33 -40 90 158 74 176 241
Tibnor 39 67 8 -5 29 34 109
Ruukki Construction -128 39 128 8 -92 1 47
Other -78 -10 -52 -114 -123 -113 -254
Depreciation/amortization on surplus values* -201 -206 -151 -123 -124 -125 -681
EBIT -105 18 -519 -253 -10 321 -859

 

Operating cash flow Group
SEK million 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 1/14 2/14 FY 2013
EBIT -105 18 -519 -253 -10 321 -859
Depreciation/amortization 933 936 879 867 843 858 3 615
Change in working capital -38 335 571 1 001 -1 117 84 1 869
Maintenance expenditures -215 -340 -347 -425 -250 -397 -1 327
Other -23 -81 1 44 22 223 -59
Operating cash flow 552 868 585 1 234 -512 1 089 3 239

 

Steel shipments
Thousand tonnes 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 1/14 2/14 FY 2013
SSAB Special Steels 276 287 243 258 291 295 1 065
SSAB Europe 883 909 817 927 984 952 3 535
SSAB Americas 494 466 530 558 496 522 2 047
Total shipments 1 653 1 662 1 590 1 742 1 772 1 768 6 647

 

Balance sheet Group**
SEK million 31 Dec 13 30 Jun 14
Goodwill 23 223 24 141
Other intangible assets 2 485 2 348
Tangible fixed assets 26 071 25 771
Other fixed assets 3 985 3 953
Total fixed assets 55 764 56 213
Inventories 13 739 13 927
Accounts receivable 6 952 8 219
Other current receivables 2 108 2 510
Current investments & cash 2 540 7 779
Total current assets 25 339 32 435
Total assets 81 103 88 648

 

Total equity 40 478 41 739
Total long-term liabilities 23 541 28 264
Accounts payable 7 064 6 806
Other current liabilities 10 020 11 839
Total current liabilities 17 084 18 645
Total equity and liabilities 81 103 88 648
Net debt 20 735 21 467
Net debt equity ratio 51.2% 51.4%

 

*Refering to SSAB Americas
**The purchase price allocation has not been finalized. The total step-up value is included in Goodwill.