UPM’s EBITDA and operating cash flow improved in 2011

(UPM, Helsinki, 1 February 2012 at 09.30) – Financial Statements 2011:

October–December 2011:
Earnings per share excluding special items were EUR 0.16 (0.27), and reported EUR 0.20 (0.28)
EBITDA was EUR 301 million, 11.2% of sales (318 million, 13.5% of sales)
Delivery volumes decreased and variable costs remained high
Operating cash flow continued to be strong at EUR 310 million

January–December 2011:
Earnings per share excluding special items were EUR 0.93 (0.99), and reported EUR 0.88 (1.08)
EBITDA was EUR 1,383 million, 13.7% of sales (1,343 million, 15.0% of sales)
Solid cash flow ensured strong balance sheet after the Myllykoski acquisition
Board’s proposal for dividend per share EUR 0.60 (0.55)

EBITDA is operating profit before depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges, excluding the change in value of biological assets, excluding the share of results of associated companies and joint ventures, and special items.

Jussi Pesonen, President and CEO, comments the year:

“During 2011 our EBITDA and operating cash flow improved on 2010 and our strong financial position continued.

Prices of all production inputs increased substantially compared to 2010 but we succeeded in raising prices to cover the cost increases.

However, during the latter part of the year the deterioration of pulp prices and lower demand for paper and wood products had a clear impact on our profitability. In the label market the weak demand was evident in Europe but solid development continued in other markets.

Demand weakened during the fourth quarter, but we were able to maintain stable sales prices in most businesses with the exception of Pulp and Timber. Raw material market prices started to decline towards the end of the year, but our variable costs still remained on a high level during the last quarter of 2011.

The major strategic signpost in 2011 was the Myllykoski acquisition. The transaction, the integration and the restructuring have all proceeded in line with our plans. The consolidation and the consequent restructuring have improved our cost position on the paper markets. Also, our customer offering in paper has been enhanced. Targeted synergy benefits are well on the way to being successfully implemented and this will start to be visible as of the first quarter of 2012.

Although our markets have been affected by the uncertainties in the world economy, UPM’s outlook into the first half of 2012 is fairly stable. We are in a good position to proceed with the next steps in our Biofore strategy,” says Pesonen.


Outlook for 2012

Global economic growth is expected to continue in 2012. In Europe, however, the on-going sovereign debt crisis introduces uncertainty to the economic outlook. Economists estimate that the Euro zone will experience a mild recession in the early part of 2012.

In UPM’s businesses, market conditions are estimated to have stabilised. While the second half of 2011 was characterised by weakening demand, the demand and price outlook for UPM’s products is broadly stable for early 2012 compared with late 2011, taking into account seasonal variations.

Costs are expected to decrease in the early part of 2012 from the fourth quarter of 2011. Raw material market prices started to decrease during the fourth quarter and this is expected to result into slightly lower variable costs in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the fourth quarter of 2011.

Operating profit in the first half of 2012, excluding special items, is expected to be at around the same level as in second half of 2011.

Capital expenditure for 2012 is forecast to be around EUR 350 million.

Dividend for 2011

The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting, to be held on 30 March 2012 that a dividend of EUR 0.60 per share be paid in respect of the 2011 financial year (EUR 0.55). It is proposed that the dividend be paid on 13 April 2012.

Financial information in 2012

The Annual Report for 2011 will be published on the company’s website www.upm.com on 23 February 2012. The printed Annual Report will be available in the week starting on 12 March 2012. The Interim Reports will be published as follows:

Interim Report January–March 2012 on 26 April 2012
Interim Report January–June 2012 on 7 August 2012
Interim Report January–September 2012 on 25 October 2012

For more information please contact:
Mr Jussi Pesonen, President and CEO, UPM, tel. +358 204 15 0001
Mr Tapio Korpeinen, CFO, UPM, tel. +358 204 15 0004
 

Webcast and press conference:

UPM's President and CEO Jussi Pesonen will present the Annual Results 2011 in a conference call and webcast for analysts and investors, held in English language, on 1 February at 13:00 Finnish time (11:00 BST, 06:00 EST).

Later in the afternoon, UPM's President and CEO Jussi Pesonen will present the Annual results 2011 in a press conference held in Finnish language at UPM Group Head Office in Helsinki (main entrance, Eteläesplanadi 2) on 1 February, at 14:30 Finnish time (12:30 GMT, 07:30 EST).

Conference call and webcast details:

The conference call can be joined either by dialling a number in the list below or following the webcast online at www.upm.com. Only participants who wish to ask questions in the conference call need to dial in. All participants can view the webcast presentation online.

We recommend that participants start dialling in 5-10 minutes prior to ensure a timely start to the conference.

Conference call title: UPM Financial Review 2011
Conference ID: 910475

Phone numbers:
Participant - US: +1 334 323 6201     
Participant - Australia LC: +61 (0)28 2239 543       
Participant - Hong Kong LC: +852 300 278 26       
Participant - Japan LC: +81 (3)45 8001 94  
Participant - Malaysia LC: +60 (0)37 7124 471         
Participant - New Zealand LC: +64 (0)99 1924 18
Participant - Singapore LC: +65 6823 2169             
Participant - South Korea LC: +82 (0)23 4831 070
Participant - Taiwan LC: +886 (0)22 1626 701            
Participant - Austria: +43 (0)268 2205 6292                 
Participant - Belgium: +32 (0)2 290 14 07            
Participant - Czech Republic: +420 (2)3900 0635            
Participant - Denmark: +45 3271 4607
Participant - Finland: +358 (0)9 2313 9201                  
Participant - France: +33 (0)1 7099 3208                    
Participant - Germany: +49 (0)695 8999 0507            
Participant - Hungary: +36 (0)618 8932 15           
Participant - Ireland: +353 (0)1 4364 106                     
Participant - Italy: +39 023 0350 9003    
Participant - Luxembourg: +352 270 0073 408            
Participant - Netherlands: +31 (0)20 7965 008            
Participant - Norway: +47 2156 312 0    
Participant - Russia: +7 49 5642 8394    
Participant - Spain: +34 917 889 507     
Participant - Sweden: +46 (0)8 5052 0110           
Participant - Switzerland (Geneva): +41 (0)2 2592 7007                  
Participant - Switzerland (Zurich): +41 (0)434 5692 61                     
Participant - UK: +44 (0)20 7162 0077

The webcast can be replayed at www.upm.com for 12 months.

It should be noted that certain statements herein, which are not historical facts, including, without limitation, those regarding expectations for market growth and developments; expectations for growth and profitability; and statements preceded by “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “foresees”, or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Since these statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, they involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed in such forward- looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (1) operating factors such as continued success of manufacturing activities and the achievement of efficiencies therein including the availability and cost of production inputs, continued success of product development, acceptance of new products or services by the Group’s targeted customers, success of the existing and future collaboration arrangements, changes in business strategy or development plans or targets, changes in the degree of protection created by the Group’s patents and other intellectual property rights, the availability of capital on acceptable terms; (2) industry conditions, such as strength of product demand, intensity of competition, prevailing and future global market prices for the Group’s products and the pricing pressures thereto, financial condition of the customers and the competitors of the Group, the potential introduction of competing products and technologies by competitors; and (3) general economic conditions, such as rates of economic growth in the Group’s principal geographic markets or fluctuations in exchange and interest rates. For more detailed information about risk factors, see pages 86–88 of the company’s annual report 2010.

UPM-Kymmene Corporation
Pirkko Harrela
Executive Vice President,
Corporate Communications

UPM, Corporate Communications
Media Desk, tel. +358 40 588 3284
media@upm.com
www.upm.com