Rautaruukki Oyj Stock exchange release 7 Feb 2007 at 9.01am RAUTARUUKKI POSTS EXCELLENT RESULTS FOR 2006 AND EXPECTS STRONG GROWTH IN EASTERN EUROPE Summary of results for 2006 (comparable figures for 2005) - Earnings per share EUR 3.65* (3.31) - Profit before tax EUR 635 million (612) - Gearing ratio 1.2 per cent (22.8) - Comparable net sales EUR 3,515 million (3,128), up 12 per cent - Comparable operating profit EUR 515 million was on a par with previous year (539) - Operating profit for 2007 expected to markedly exceed the comparable figure last year - Board of Directors to propose a dividend of EUR 1.50 per share, with an additional dividend of EUR 0.50 arising from the profit of Ovako divestment. Key figures 2006 2005 2006 2005 Oct-Dec Oct-Dec Jan-Dec Jan-Dec Net sales, EUR m 1013 889 3682 3654 - comparable 1013 815 3515 3128 Operating profit, EUR m 167 123 529 618 - comparable 167 117 515 539 Operating profit as % of net sales 16.5 13.8 14.4 16.9 - comparable 16.5 14.3 14.7 17.2 Profit before taxes, EUR m 258 121 635 612 Earnings per share, diluted, EUR 1.55 0.68 3.65* 3.31 Comparable figures exclude Ovako and Nordic reinforcing steel business. * share of profit of divestment of Ovako EUR 0.73 Fourth quarter highlights compared to fourth quarter 2005 - Marked growth in comparable net sales and operating profit, operating profit was 16.5 per cent of net sales (14.3%) - Divestment of Ovako was completed, tax-exempt capital gain of EUR 100 million - Major growth in volume of construction deliveries - Engineering customers report strong order books - Good demand for standard and special steel products - Record steel production - Acquisition of AB Omeo Mekaniska Verkstad strengthens capability to deliver boom products President & CEO Sakari Tamminen: Demand held up well in our core market areas throughout 2006, with particularly strong growth in Central Europe, Russia and Ukraine. Construction activity was extremely brisk in commercial and industrial construction in Eastern Europe. Engineering customers reported strong order books. Standard and special steel products continued to be in good demand and prices firmed up towards the end of the year. The company posted excellent results and is almost debt-free. The solutions businesses are accounting for an increasing share of our business and we have divested non-core units. We are expanding our solutions business through additional investments and acquisitions to fast-track organic growth. Growth and specialisation is being supported by investment in the development and production of high-strength steel grades. We are now well placed for profitable growth and intend to strengthen our position in construction on the dynamically growing markets of Central Eastern Europe, Russia and Ukraine. In June 2006, we acquired Ventall, Russias leading steel constructor, to fast-track our expansion on the rapidly growing steel construction market in Russia. In the engineering industry, we are expanding our range of products and services and as a result are growing our customer base across Europe. In November we announced Groups new growth and profitability targets. These new targets better reflect the evolving structure. In the same context, we also redefined our dividend policy. I believe that the growth in the solutions business will be reflected in more stable profitability development. We are well placed for 2007. Comparable net sales in 2007 are expected to be on line with growth targets set. Operating profit for 2007 is anticipated to markedly exceed the comparative figure for last year. FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM Sakari Tamminen, President & CEO, tel. +358 20 592 9075 Mikko Hietanen, CFO, tel. +358 20 592 9030 Press conference Rautaruukki will hold a press conference on the financial statements on 7 February at 10.30am at corporate headquarters, Suolakivenkatu 1, 00810 Helsinki. Webcast and conference call The webcast and conference call in English for investors and analysts can be viewed live on the companys website at www.ruukki.com/investors, today 7 February 2007 starting at 2pm Finnish time. To attend the conference call, please call the following number +44 (0) 20 7162 0025, password: Rautaruukki, around 5-10 minutes before the conference starts. The encore replay can be heard until midnight 10 February 2007 on +44 (0) 20 7031 4064, access code: 734263 The 2006 financial statements bulletin may be viewed on the companys website at www.ruukki.com/investors. This release is unaudited. Rautaruukki Oyj Taina Kyllönen VP, Corporate Communications Rautaruukki supplies metal-based components, systems and integrated systems to the construction and mechanical engineering industries. The company has a wide selection of metal products and services. Rautaruukki has operations in 23 countries and employs 13,000 people. Net sales in 2006 totalled EUR 3.7 billion. The company's share is quoted on the Helsinki Exchanges (Rautaruukki Oyj: RTRKS). The Corporation has used the marketing name Ruukki since 2004. www.ruukki.com DISTRIBUTION Helsinki Exchanges Principal Media www.ruukki.com
RAUTARUUKKI POSTS EXCELLENT RESULTS FOR 2006 AND EXPECTS STRONG GROWTH IN
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