DGAP-News: Hapag-Lloyd AG: Disappointing rate development

DGAP-News: Hapag-Lloyd AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results Hapag-Lloyd AG: Disappointing rate development affects results in first half of 2016 10.08.2016 / 07:59 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transport volume stable / Rates decline further / Transport expenses significantly reduced thanks to synergies and efficiency programs / Focus in second half on further cost savings, revenue recovery and preparations for the merger with UASC Subdued economic growth in many parts of the world, persistently tough competition in the liner shipping industry and further declines in freight rates have marked the first half of the 2016 business year. While transport volume remained stable in the first six months at 3.7 million TEU (-0.4 % compared to the prior year period), the average freight rate fell by USD 254 year on year to 1,042 USD/TEU, or almost 20 percent. Revenue reached EUR 3.8 billion in the first half of the year (prior year period: EUR 4.7 billion). It was possible to reduce year on year transport expenses by approximately EUR 600 million, or almost 16 percent. Aside from lower bunker prices and consumption than in the previous year, this development was also attributable to synergies realized as a result of the integration of the container business of CSAV and ongoing cost savings and efficiency programs. Bunker prices started to go up in the second quarter of 2016 while freight rates remained at a low level. This led to an additional negative impact on earnings. In the first half of the current business year, Hapag-Lloyd achieved an EBITDA of EUR 196.7 million (prior year period: EUR 493.3 million) and an operating result (EBIT) of EUR -39.7 million (prior year period: EUR 267.7 million). The Group net result stood at EUR -142.1 million (prior year period EUR 157.2 million). "The first-half result is disappointing," said Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd. "Our cost saving measures and efficiency programs are on track and the synergies from the merger with CSAV are being realized on schedule. But this isn't enough to completely compensate for the significant drop in the average freight rate. Even though freight rates have finally gone back up towards the peak season in various trades this rebound is coming later than anticipated and more is needed going forward." "In the second half of the year, our main focus will be to further improve our cost base and to do whatever we can to get freight rates back to a more sustainable level," Habben Jansen added. "In this difficult competitive environment, it is very important to complete the transaction with UASC as quickly as possible and to start the integration of UASC immediately after the completion of all pre-closing conditions. The integration will bring us annual net synergies of at least USD 400 million, some of which should already take effect next year." During the period under review, Hapag-Lloyd invested EUR 178.8 million in vessels. With an equity ratio of 44.4 percent and liquidity reserves of EUR 774.9 million (both as of 30.6.2016), the company is well positioned compared to its international competitors. SUMMARY OF HAPAG-LLOYD KEY FIGURES <pre> H1 2016 H1 2015 Transport volume (TTEU) 3,703 3,719 Freight rate (USD/TEU) 1,042 1,296 Revenue (million EUR) 3,786 4,669 EBITDA (million EUR) 196.7 493.3 EBIT (million EUR) -39.7 267.7 EBITDA margin 5.2% 10.6% EBIT margin -1.0% 5.7% </pre> About Hapag-Lloyd With a fleet of 170 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 952,000 TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world's leading liner shipping companies. The Company has around 9,300 employees at 365 sites in 120 countries. Hapag-Lloyd has a container capacity of 1.5 million TEU - including one of the largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers. A total of 128 liner services worldwide ensure fast, reliable connections between all the continents. Hapag-Lloyd is one of the leading operators in the Transatlantic, Latin America and Intra-America trades. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.08.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Hapag-Lloyd AG Ballindamm 25 20095 Hamburg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 40 3001 - 2896 Fax: +49 (0) 40 3001 - 72896 E-mail: ir@hlag.com Internet: www.hapag-lloyd.com ISIN: DE000HLAG475, USD33048AA36 WKN: HLAG47, A1E8QB Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg; Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 491035 10.08.2016