Pöyry PLC: Business Review 1 January-30 September 2018

Pöyry PLC          Business Review 1 January-30 September 2018, 24 October 2018 at 8:30 a.m. EET

85% improvement in adjusted operating result and strong cash flow

Key figures for January-September 2018

(Figures in brackets, unless otherwise stated, refer to the same period of the previous year.)

• Adjusted operating result increased to EUR 30.1 (16.2) million. Operating result was EUR 44.6 (10.2) million.

• Net sales were EUR 418.6 (387.7) million. Net sales increased by 8% at reported currencies. At comparable currencies the increase was 12%.

• Order stock increased by 29% versus 31 December 2017 and 26% versus 30 September 2017. Order stock was EUR 580.5 (460.4) million.

Key figures for July-September 2018

 (Figures in brackets, unless otherwise stated, refer to the same period of the previous year.)

• Adjusted operating result increased to EUR 11.0 (6.3) million. Operating result was EUR 11.7 (6.5) million.

• Net sales were EUR 136.0 (120.5) million. Net sales increased by 13% at reported currencies. At comparable currencies the increase was 15%.

• Strong cash flow for the quarter enabled net debt of EUR -65 million and gearing of -38.6%

All figures in the accounts have been rounded and consequently, the totals of individual figures can deviate from the presented total figure. Figures in this business review release are not audited.

Martin à Porta, President and CEO:

The third quarter of 2018 continued the streak of improvement and we have now improved quarterly results for 9 quarters in a row. Adjusted operating profit increased by 74% compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Despite the summer period in most of our key markets, order stock increased by 26% compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous year and we are confident that in the fourth quarter order intake will be strong. Cash flow was strong and pushed our net debt to negative EUR 65 million highlighting the strength of our turnaround.  Our next key step is to continue revenue growth, which was at 13% in the third quarter compared with the corresponding period in the previous year.

Demand for our Industry Business Group services continued to be strong especially in Northern Europe and we saw also modest improvement in Latin America though presidential elections in Brazil have created uncertainties in the market. Demand for our energy services were increasing especially in the Middle East and our hydro offering has generated interest in various markets. The Infra, Water and Environment Business Group continues to see strong demand across the markets and we continue to see a steady performance increase especially in Northern Europe. The market for management consulting services remains solid and has led to an improvement in this year, we project this trend to continue.

Our transformation and empowerment programs continue to receive positive engagement and we are now gearing ourselves for next generation Pöyry whilst reinforcing the solid foundation we have laid during the first phase of transformation.

Market outlook 2018

In general market conditions are expected to continue with similar trends to the last 12 months. Growth in the Eurozone has continued, but current volatility in equity markets may impact investment decisions. In Asia the markets relevant to our operations continue to be active and offer opportunities, especially to our energy offering. The Middle East shows continued high demand for desalination and new power capacity. Latin America is mixed, Brazil is waiting for the outcome of the elections and the economy is delicate. We continue to notice an increase in investment activity, however these are yet to materialize as bigger projects. The North American market demand continues to be good but trade barriers set by the USA and potential counter measures to them create uncertainties in global markets.

Our industry business sector has continued to be strong especially in Europe where the activity is expected to remain strong. The outlook for other regions remains mixed. The energy market in Europe continues to provide a few selected opportunities and remains strong for our management consulting services for market design, modelling and due diligence work. Infra, water and environment markets are stable and we see steady flow of projects in our core markets.

Financial outlook for 2018

The Group's adjusted operating result for 2018 is expected to improve clearly (2017: 26.0 MEUR)

Pöyry is an international consulting and engineering company.  We serve clients across power generation, transmission & distribution, forest industry, biorefining & chemicals, mining & metals, infrastructure and water & environment. Together, we deliver smart solutions and work with the latest digital innovations. Pöyry's net sales in 2017 were EUR 522 million. The company's shares are quoted on Nasdaq Helsinki. Approximately 5500 experts. 40 countries. 115 offices.

In 2018 Pöyry is proud to be celebrating its 60th Anniversary, together with employees, clients and partners.