Symrise AG started successfully into the fiscal year 2017. The Group seamlessly continued its strong performance from the previous year and again significantly increased sales and earnings in the first three months. Contributing to this development was strong demand in all segments.
In the first quarter, Symrise increased its sales by 4.6% to € 765.2 million (Q1 2016: € 731.8 million). Adjusted for portfolio and exchange rate effects, the Group achieved organic growth of 5.3%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were up by 4.4% to € 165.5 million (Q1 2016 EBITDAN: € 158.5 million). With an EBITDA margin of 21.6%, Symrise continued to operate highly profitable (Q1 2016 EBITDAN margin: 21.7%).
“The targeted investments to expand our portfolio, the further development of our customer relationships, and the efforts to build our market presence continued to pay off in the first quarter. We seamlessly maintained our strong performance into the first months of 2017, expanded our existing business in all segments, and also gained new customer projects. There is therefore every reason to feel confident as we look forward to the coming months. We plan to continue pushing ahead with our growth initiatives and to keep expanding our market position. For 2017 we are planning a number of projects. These will include gaining broad access to natural, sustainable raw materials and the expansion of our capacities in Holzminden as well as internationally,” said Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG.
Strong Sales Growth
The Symrise Group generated sales of € 765.2 million in the first quarter (Q1 2016: € 731.8 million). This represents an increase of 4.6% in reporting currency compared to the first quarter of 2016. Adjusted for portfolio effects, in particular the sale of Pinova Inc. in December 2016, and for exchange rate effects, Group sales increased organically by 5.3%.
Profitability remains high with an EBITDA margin of 21.6%.
Earnings development was satisfactory in the first quarter. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were up by 4.4% to € 165.5 million (Q1 2016 EBITDAN: € 158.5 million). This includes a one-time gain from a purchase price adjustment of € 4.7 million related to the sale of Pinova Inc. The Group's EBITDA margin amounted to 21.6% and thus remained at a high level (Q1 2016 EBITDAN margin: 21.7%).
Flavor Benefits from New Business
The Flavor segment, which includes aroma applications, generated sales of € 270.2 million (Q1 2016: € 250.2 million). This represents an increase of 8.0% as compared to the prior-year quarter. Organic growth stood at 8.8%. All application areas achieved significant sales increases in the first quarter.
Among the regions, the main growth driver was EAME, which achieved a double-digit sales increase. Important contributions to growth came especially from the Sweet and Savory Business Units in the national markets of Germany and France as well as North Africa. Beverages also showed solid growth, especially in Germany as well as the Near and Middle East.
In the Asia/Pacific region, sales in applications for sweets were up substantially in the national markets of Japan, India and the Philippines, but increased only moderately in Indonesia.
The region Latin America performed generally well, benefiting especially from double-digit growth rates in Beverages in Argentina. In Brazil, demand in that area was generally more restrained in the first three months of the year.
In the region North America, Symrise continued with the successful expansion of its existing business. In addition, demand grew due to product launches.
EBITDA in the Flavor segment amounted to € 56.9 million in the first quarter. This represents an increase of € 2.5 million, or 4.7%, over the same quarter a year earlier (Q1 2016: € 54.4 million). The EBITDA margin, at 21.1%, was down slightly (Q1 2016: 21.7%). This was mainly the result of higher prices for some natural raw materials and increased expenditures for research and development.
Strong Gains in Pet Food
The Nutrition segment, which includes the Diana division, with applications for foods, pet food and baby food as well as probiotics, achieved strong growth and a 17.8% increase in sales to € 161.8 million (Q1 2016: € 137.3 million). Excluding portfolio effects, the segment experienced an organic sales increase of 9.6%.
Strongest growth rates were achieved with applications for pet food, with double-digit gains. At the regional level, the largest increases in sales were seen in Latin America, with the national markets of Argentina, Mexico and Columbia, followed by the EAME region.
Sales in applications for food ingredients also showed a very satisfactory development due to strong demand in North and Latin America. Strong organic growth was achieved in both of those regions. In addition, important projects with global and regional customers were successfully implemented.
In Probiotics, Symrise increased sales through the acquisition of the US company Nutraceutix. The application area achieved double-digit growth even after the acquisition effects, especially in the regions North America and EAME.
During the reporting period, the Nutrition segment increased its EBITDA by 16.1% to € 36.7 million (Q1 2016: € 31.6 million). The EBITDA margin reached an again outstanding 22.7% (Q1 2016: 23.0%).
Symrise Looks Ahead to 2017 with Confidence
After a good start to the year, Symrise is confirming its growth and profitability targets for the current fiscal year. The Group remains confident that it will continue to achieve growth on a sustainable basis in 2017, and aims to substantially outperform the relevant market – which is projected to grow at a rate of about 3%. The various investment projects to increase capacity in Holzminden as well as internationally, especially in growth markets, will continue to facilitate organic growth. Moreover, Symrise aims to be highly profitable, with an EBITDA margin of approximately 20%.
The medium-term targets through to the end of the 2020 fiscal year remain in effect, including a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5-7% and an EBITDA margin of 19-22%.
