Symrise AG accelerated its growth course in the third quarter, achieving overall a considerable increase in sales and earnings for the nine-month period. This positive trend was driven by strong demand across all segments. Symrise increased its sales organically by 6.5% in the first nine months of the year. Organic growth was particularly dynamic in the third quarter with a plus of 9.1%. Taking into account portfolio and exchange rate effects, sales in the first nine months of the year were up 3.9% to € 2,278.4 million (9M 2016: € 2,192.3 million). Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to € 485.2 million (EBITDAN 9M 2016: € 480.3 million). With an EBITDA margin of 21.3%, profitability remained high (EBITDAN margin 9M 2016: 21.9%). “We continued our growth initiatives in the third quarter, which led to a successfully expanded market position,” said Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG. “We consider the strong sales growth as a result of our unique positioning. The targeted investments into the product portfolio, research and development and new markets support our strategy. We are confidently looking ahead to the remaining weeks of the year. Our guidance for 2017 remains in place and we also confirm our long-term targets. We are committed to continue as one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry and to operate highly profitable.”
Continued strong sales growth
Symrise achieved strong organic sales growth of 6.5% in the period from January to September, including a 9.1% increase in the third quarter. Considering portfolio effects – namely the sale of the industrial activities of Pinova in December 2016 and the Nutraceutix and Cobell acquisitions – as well as exchange rate effects sales were up 3.9% to € 2,278.4 million (9M 2016: € 2,192.3 million). Third quarter sales were impacted by an unfavorable exchange rate environment, especially the devaluation of the US dollar against the euro.
Profitability remains high with an EBITDA margin of 21.3%
Symrise continued to operate highly profitable in the first nine months of the year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose by 1.0% to € 485.2 million (EBITDAN 9M 2016: € 480.3 million). The Group’s EBITDA margin was a very satisfactory 21.3% and was thus within the targeted mid-term corridor of 19 to 22% (EBITDAN margin 9M 2016: 21.9%).
Flavour benefits from new business and strong demand
The Flavour segment, which includes taste applications, achieved organic growth of 10.0% in the first nine months. In the third quarter it reached even 12.7% growth. Considering exchange rate effects and the Cobell acquisition, the segment reported a sales plus of 8.6% to € 842.6 million (9M 2016: € 775.9 million). The EAME region was once again the growth driver of the segment, with organic growth rates in the double digits. Important contributions mainly came from the Sweet and Savory business units in Western Europe and North Africa. The Beverages application area showed solid growth in particular in the Middle East, Germany and Austria. In the Asia/Pacific region the sales trend was less dynamic due to the strong results in the previous year. Healthy growth momentum came above all from applications for sweet and savory products in Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The Latin America region continued to perform very well and achieved double-digit growth rates. Growth was particularly strong in the Beverages business unit as a result of new business with vanilla flavourings. The Brazilian market, however, was not quite able to continue the dynamic growth trend of the previous year. In the North America region, Symrise moved ahead with the successful expansion of its existing business and achieved healthy increases in all application areas. EBITDA in the Flavour segment amounted to € 183.4 million in the first nine months. This equals a plus of € 3.8 million or 2.1% compared to the prior-year period (9M 2016: € 179.6 million). The EBITDA margin, at 21.8%, was slightly lower (9M 2016: 23.1%), mainly due to higher research and development expenditures and the consolidation of Cobell as of 1 July 2017.
Nutrition again with strong gains in pet food
The Nutrition segment, which includes the Diana division with applications for food, pet food and baby food as well as probiotics, achieved an organic growth of 7.8% in the first nine months. In the third quarter, organic sales growth amounted to 5.8%. Considering portfolio and exchange rate effects, the segment had a 13.5% increase in sales in the first nine months to € 475.7 million (9M 2016: € 419.2 million). The strongest contributions came from the Pet Food business unit, which posted high single-digit or even double-digit local currency sales increases in all four regions. The Food applications area also performed well and achieved significant sales increases, showing particularly expansive trends in the Latin America and Asia/Pacific regions. In the Probiotics business unit, sales also increased substantially through the acquisition of the US company Nutraceutix. Adjusted for the acquisition effect, the business unit showed a high single-digit increase in sales after the first nine months. Due to a temporary destocking by a major customer, growth was lower in the third quarter. During the reporting period, the Nutrition segment increased its EBITDA by 8.7% to € 105.6 million (9M 2016: € 97.1 million). Despite expenditures due to the capacity expansion of Diana Foods in the USA and regional expansion of the Pet Food footprint, the EBITDA margin remained high, at a level of 22.2% (9M 2016: 23.2%).
Symrise reinforces targets for 2017
Symrise confirms its growth and profitability targets for the current fiscal year. The Group foresees to significantly outperform the relevant market in 2017, which is projected to grow at a rate of about 3%. The company aims to operate highly profitable and achieve an EBITDA margin of over 20% in 2017. Numerous investment projects have been initiated to further enhance the Symrise innovative strength and to expand capacities in order to support organic growth in particular. The medium-term targets set through to the end of the fiscal year 2020 remain fully intact, including a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the 5-7% range and an EBITDA margin between 19 and 22%.
