Outokumpu's Annual Accounts Bulletin 2011 - a y...

FINANCIAL STATEMENT BULLETIN
1 February 2012 at 8.30 am EET
  
Year 2011 highlights

- Underlying operational result some EUR -66 million (2010: some EUR -91 million)
- Operating loss EUR 260 million (2010: EUR -83 million) including raw material-related inventory losses of some EUR 43 million (2010: gains of some EUR 26 million) and net non-recurring items of EUR -151 million (2010: EUR -17 million).
- Strong cash flow at EUR 338 million (2010: EUR -497 million).
- Stainless steel deliveries increased by 6% and totalled 1 391 000 tonnes (2010: 1 315 000 tonnes).
- Significant restructuring actions taken to improve cash flow, profitability and strengthen the balance sheet.
- The Board is proposing that no dividend be paid for 2011 (2010: EUR 0.25).

Fourth-quarter 2011 highlights

Underlying operational result some EUR -34 million (III/2011: EUR -15 million).
Operating loss EUR 71 million (III/2011: EUR -53 million) including raw material-related inventory losses of some EUR 24 million (III/2011: some EUR -38 million) and net non-recurring items of EUR -13 million (III/2011: none).
Financial income and expenses include EUR -33 million expenses from the fair valuation of the Group's stake in Talvivaara Sotkamo and the sale of Nordic Brass.
Strong cash flow at EUR 132 million (III/2011: EUR 282 million).
Stainless steel deliveries at 323 000 tonnes (III/2011: 340 000 tonnes).

The Group's underlying operational result in the fourth quarter weakened to some EUR -34 million primarily as a result of lower delivery volumes and slightly lower base prices. The positive impact of an improved mix was offset by costs being somewhat higher. Operating loss in the fourth quarter was EUR 71 million. Net cash from operating activities in the fourth quarter remained strong and totalled EUR 132 million. The main contributor to this strong cash flow was further reductions in working capital which resulted in the main from reduced inventories and lower metal prices. EUR 161 million of cash was released from working capital in the fourth quarter. Outokumpu's gearing at the end of the year increased to 82.5%. The positive impact of strong cash flow was offset by capital expenditure and the net loss. Net interest-bearing debt was relatively unchanged and totalled EUR 1 720 million at the end of the fourth quarter.

SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK

Following a softening in demand for stainless steel in the fourth quarter of 2011, demand for standard grades began to show signs of improvement in the new-year with distributor purchasing supported by a slight increase in the nickel price. However, no significant change has been seen in underlying demand. Lead times are currently normal at 6-8 weeks. As a result of the destocking that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2011, distributor inventories in Europe are estimated to be below normal levels.

Outokumpu's order intake has been encouraging in the beginning of the year. Based on current levels of order intake, Outokumpu's delivery volumes in the first quarter of 2012 are expected to be clearly above levels seen in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Following the decline in base prices in the fourth quarter, Outokumpu has been able to increase prices slightly in both standard and special grades. The resulting impact on the Group's average base prices will be visible towards the end of the first quarter.

Higher delivery volumes and slightly higher base prices are expected to lead to Outokumpu's underlying operational result^*) being around break-even or slightly positive in the first quarter of 2012. At current metal prices, marginal raw-material related inventory gains are expected.  Outokumpu's operating result in the first quarter of 2012 might be impacted by non-recurring items associated with the Group's ongoing efficiency improvement programmes.

^*) Underlying operational result=operating profit/loss excluding raw material-related inventory gains/losses and non-recurring items.

CEO Mika Seitovirta:

"Outokumpu's business results continued to be unsatisfactory in the last quarter of 2011. The challenging economic environment continued to limit market demand. I am however pleased with the progress we have made in improving our cash flow and restructuring our organisation to enable sustainable profitability. The new management team and organisational structure now in place will accelerate the transformation of Outokumpu during 2012. Our two major investment projects - capacity expansions of ferrochrome and quarto plate are both on time and budget - and will prove the Group with a platform for long term growth."

For further information, please contact:

Ingela Ulfves
VP - Investor Relations and Financial Communications
tel. [phone], mobile [phone]
[e-mail]

Kari Tuutti, SVP - Communications, IR and Marketing
tel. [phone], mobile [phone]
[e-mail]

Esa Lager, CFO
tel. [phone]
[e-mail]

Investor and analyst call today at 10.00 am EET

PLEASE NOTE: The earlier announced combined news conference, conference call and live webcast today at 12.00 EET at restaurant Bank in Helsinki has been cancelled.

Outokumpu will host an investor and analyst conference call and live webcast concerning the transaction and the Outokumpu 2011 annual accounts on 1 February 2012 at 10.00 am EET (8.00 am GMT, 9.00 am CET). To participate, see further details at www.outokumpu.com/Investors.

To participate via conference call, please dial in 5-10 minutes before the beginning of the event:
Finland [phone]
Germany [phone]
UK [phone]       
Sweden [phone]
Participant code 9353419
Password Outokumpu

Outokumpu and ThyssenKrupp joint press conference and live webcast today at 12.00 am EET

Outokumpu and ThyssenKrupp will hold a joint press conference, conference call and live webcast on 1 February  2012 at 12.00 noon EET (5.00 am EST, 10.00 am GMT, 11.00 am CET) at the Hilton Dusseldorf Hotel, address: Georg-Glock-Strasse 20, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany.

To participate via conference call, please dial in 5-10 minutes before the beginning of the event:
Finland [phone]
Germany [phone]
UK [phone]       
Sweden [phone]
Password Outokumpu

If you wish to listen to the conference in English, please use the following confirmation code: 6345244
If you wish to listen to the conference in German, please use the following confirmation code: 4654948

The press conference can be viewed live via Internet at www.outokumpu.com/media or www.thyssenkrupp.com.  An on-demand webcast of the press conference will be available as of 1 February 2012 at www.outokumpu.com/inoxum

Outokumpu contacts

Media interview requests - international
Tel. [phone]

Media interview requests - Finland
Tel. [phone]

Investor and analyst enquiries
Ingela Ulfves - tel. [phone]

ENG Annual Accounts Bulletin 1.2.2012

---

This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients.

The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.

Source: Outokumpu Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE

HUG#1581612