Clariant today announced sales of CHF 1.978 billion in the second quarter 2012, up 6 % compared to CHF 1.870 billion in the previous-year period. Sales in local currencies were 8 % higher as reported and rose 2 % excluding acquisitions. Overall, the performance of the company is as expected at the beginning of the year.

The slow-down in global economic growth and the crisis in Europe did not materially impact the non-cyclical Business Units Catalysis & Energy, Functional Materials, Industrial & Consumer Specialties and Oil & Mining Services. In contrast, the cyclical businesses were impacted by lower volumes, leading to a volume decline of -1 % at the group level. Sequentially volumes grew 2 % compared to the first quarter 2012. The structurally challenged businesses partly recovered from the weakness in the last few quarters and stabilized at low levels, with Textile Chemicals achieving single-digit sales growth in local currencies after the plant in Switzerland has been closed.

At the regional level, Asia/Pacific and Latin America outperformed the other regions with sales growth of 18 % respectively 17 %. North America and Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) grew in the low to mid-single digit range. EMEA growth benefitted from strong growth in MEA while Europe was weak, mainly in the southern part of the continent.

Resulting from lower production costs and sales price increases, the gross margin increased to 28.7 % compared to 27.5 % reported in the prior-year period. The sales price increase of 3 % fully compensated for the 1 % increase in raw material costs year-on-year. Sequentially sales prices were marginally up, while raw material costs rose 3 %.

The EBITDA before exceptional items rose 2 % in local currencies but fell 3 % to CHF 233 million from CHF 241 million in Q2 2011, resulting in an EBITDA margin before exceptionals of 11.8 % compared to 12.9 % in the previous-year period. The lower margin was the result of higher SG&A costs for the Business Units Catalysis & Energy and Functional Materials, higher project-related Corporate Costs as well as the absence of a one-time benefit from a land sale in the previous-year quarter. Restructuring and impairment costs of CHF 33 million versus CHF 15 million were almost exclusively related to the integration of Süd-Chemie and the site closure in Switzerland. Net income rose to CHF 70 million from CHF 40 million in the second quarter of 2011. This reflects a lower negative currency impact on the financial result and lower taxes.

Operating cash flow was minus CHF 3 million in the quarter but improved from the minus CHF 35 million one year-ago. The normal seasonality in cash flow is due to a build-up in inventories in the first half of the year followed by a reduction in inventories and therefore cash flow generation in the second half-year.

Net debt increased to CHF 1.984 billion from CHF 1.740 billion at year-end 2011. The gearing, which reflects net financial debt in relation to equity, increased to 67 % as of 30 June 2012, from 58 % at the end of 2011.

Süd-Chemie integration

As of 2 July 2012 the legal integration of the largest former Süd-Chemie entity - Süd-Chemie AG in Germany - has been completed. The accelerated integration is progressing ahead of schedule, resulting in a headcount reduction at headquarters and also in some production entities. Until end 2013, an EBITDA improvement of CHF 90-115 million from synergies is confirmed. The acquisition is expected to be accretive in 2013, only two years after the acquisition.

Outlook

The European economy continued to weaken during the second quarter, especially in Southern Europe. However, growth in the rest of the world has fully offset the decrease in Europe so far.

In this challenging market environment, profitability in the second half-year will be supported by cost benefits from the finalization of the GANO projects in Switzerland and the UK, the integration of Süd-Chemie, as well as by additional sales from new production capacities in growing segments.

Consequently, Clariant expects further sales growth in local currencies and a sustained profitability for the full-year 2012 compared to 2011, assuming the global economy stabilizes at current levels in the second half-year. Raw material costs are expected to increase in the low-single digit range while exchange rates should remain stable compared to the beginning of the year.

CEO Hariolf Kottmann: "In the first half of 2012 Clariant delivered a solid performance as expected at the beginning of the year, driven by good growth in the non-cyclical part of the portfolio, offsetting lower volumes in the more cyclical businesses. While the future path of the global economy is tainted with a high degree of uncertainty, we continue to implement our strategy. Based on this we confirm our expectation of an increasing profitability in the second half-year compared to the second half of 2011."