- DSM records higher Q1 EBITDA of €311 million (Q1 2012: €306 million)
- Healthy profitability in Life Sciences with Nutrition proving resilience
- Materials Sciences delivered a solid performance
- Integration of acquisitions and realization of synergies on track
- Good progress with implementation of Profit Improvement Program
- Outlook 2013 unchanged, moving towards EBITDA of €1.4 billion

Royal DSM, the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, today reported a first quarter EBITDA of €311 million compared to €306 million in Q1 2012 and €243 million in Q4 2012. The improvement compared to Q1 2012 was realized despite a negative caprolactam effect of €65 million. This was achieved in a context of uncertain global macro-economic conditions as the European economy remained weak, Asia continued to show good levels of growth whilst the US maintained its modest rate of recovery. Life Sciences delivered growth once again, driven by Nutrition, while Materials Sciences performed well, except for caprolactam. During the quarter DSM benefited from the sale of certain DSM Resins & Functional Materials related distribution activities.

Commenting on the results, Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, said:
"In a challenging economic environment, I'm pleased to report a good start to the year with a robust performance. Nutrition, which accounts for about 70% of group EBITDA, has proved the resilience and quality of its broad offering across the value chain, delivering another quarterly improvement in profitability, together with healthy margins."

"Where the last two years were characterized by acquisitions, in 2013 we will fully focus on the operational performance and the integration of acquisitions, with special attention to capturing synergies whilst also ensuring the successful execution of our group-wide profit improvement initiatives. We expect strong EBITDA growth in 2013, moving towards €1.4 billion."

Note: all tables are available in the attached press release-pdf
Additional information

Today DSM will hold a conference call for the media from 07.30 AM to 08.00 AM CET and a conference call for investors and analysts from 09.00 AM to 10.00 AM CET. Details on how to access these calls can be found on the DSM website, www.dsm.com. Also, information regarding DSM's Q1 result 2013 can be found in the Presentation to Investors, which can be downloaded from the Investors section of the DSM website.

Outlook



The challenging macro-economic environment experienced during Q4 2012 has continued into 2013, with low or no growth in Europe. Asia continues to show good levels of economic activity while the US has maintained a modest rate of recovery.

DSM's outlook stays unchanged:

The Profit Improvement Program is fully on track and is expected to deliver structural annual EBITDA benefits of €150 million by 2014 and €200-250 million to be fully achieved by 2015.

Nutrition is expected to show clearly higher results than in 2012 due to organic growth moving towards the target of 2% above GDP and due to the acquisitions made.

Business conditions in Pharma are likely to remain challenging, but DSM is confident that it will be able to deliver substantially better results, notwithstanding the usual uneven delivery patterns between quarters.

Performance Materials is expected to show improved results in 2013, despite the expected negative effects of caprolactam, especially compared to the first half of 2012.

Polymer Intermediates is expected to show lower results than in 2012.

For the Innovation Center the activity level will be in line with 2012, with EBITDA clearly improving following the full year contribution of Kensey Nash.
Overall, based on current economic assumptions, DSM expects a step up in EBITDA during 2013 due to stronger organic growth, supported by DSM's Profit Improvement Program and as the benefits of acquisitions and a more resilient portfolio start to have impact. In 2013 the focus will be on the operational performance and integration of the acquisitions DSM completed in 2012 with special attention to capturing synergies. Overall, based on current economic assumptions, the above will enable DSM to move towards its 2013 EBITDA target of €1.4 billion.