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The Navigator Company

Quarterly Report Nov 29, 2016

1900_10-q_2016-11-29_b4678fc6-1fef-40e9-a0c4-3c43f5df7633.pdf

Quarterly Report

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DIRECTORS´ REPORT

CONTENT

0. HIGHLIGHTS 3
1. LEADING INDICATORS 4
2. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS 5
3. MARKET ANALYSIS 9

UWF Paper
9

BEKP Pulp
11

Tissue
11
4. OPERATING INDICATORS 12
5. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT 13
6. COST CUTTING MEASURES 15
7. FINANCIAL 16
8. CAPITAL MARKETS 17
9. OUTLOOK 17
10. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & NOTES 19

Highlights: First 9 months of 2016 (vs. 9 Months 2015)

  • Positive operating performance, with growing sales volumes for paper (up 2%), pulp (up 9%) and tissue (up 27%), counteracting negative trends in pulp and paper prices
  • Turnover hit by drop in power sales due to application of new tariffs and consequent switch to self-consumption as previously announced (cutting € 51.2 million from turnover)
  • Group again records record paper sales in volume and value, at 1,156 thousand tons and € 890 million
  • EBITDA up 2.6% to € 301.5 million, and EBITDA/Sales margin improves to 26.1%
  • Growth in Free Cash Flow, which stood at € 101.1 million at the end of September
  • Restructured debt permits significant improvement in financial results
  • Net debt evolves as expected with Net Debt/EBITDA ratio kept within comfortable levels
  • Pellets Mill starts up in US, moving to continuous operation

Highlights 3rd Quarter 2016 (vs. Q2 2016 )

  • Sales total € 376.8 million (down 4.4%), reflecting slowdown in paper business
  • Quarterly EBITDA of € 106.2 million (up 4.4%)
  • Free Cash Flow improves in the quarter, with growth in working capital
  • Groups cuts net debt by € 70 million and improves Net Debt / Ebitda ratio to 1.8
  • New measures in M2 cost reduction programme
  • 3 rd Sustainability Forum devoted to Forestry Certification
  • Navigator Group co-chairs Forest Solutions Group, global WBCSD platform for strategic collaboration to promote sustainable forestry management
  • Navigator Brand: top preference of European consumers, leading the Brand Equity Index, and regarded as the office paper brand offering the most value to users.
9M 9M % Change (5)
in million euros 2016 2015 9M 16/ 9M 15
Total sales 1 155,4 1 204,3 -4,1%
EBITDA (1) 301,5 294,0 2,6%
Operating profits 178,0 207,7 -14,3%
Financial results - 16,6 - 44,9 -63,0%
Net earnings 134,3 141,9 -5,4%
Cash flow 257,8 228,2 29,6
Free Cash Flow (2) 101,1 18,4 82,7
Capex (6) 100,6 154,1 -53,5
Net debt (3) 723,4 587,1 136,3
EBITDA / Sales (%) 26,1% 24,4% 1,7 pp
ROS 11,6% 11,8% -0,2 pp
ROE 15,1% 13,9% 1,2 pp
ROCE 12,7%
47,6%
15,4%
51,5%
-2,7 pp
-3,9 pp
Equity ratio
Net Debt / EBITDA (4 )
1,82 1,53 1,2
Q3 Q2 % Change (5)
in million euros 2016 2016 Q3 16/Q2 16
Total sales 376.8 394.0 -4.4%
EBITDA (1) 106.2 101.8 4.4%
Operating profits 70.1 51.5 36.1%
Financial results - 3.2 - 10.7 -70.6%
Net earnings 48.8 40.7 19.8%
Cash flow 84.9 91.0 0.9
Free Cash Flow (2) 69.7 13.3 56.5
Capex 25.3 26.3 -0.9
Net debt (3) 723.4 793.2 - 69.7
EBITDA / Sales (%) 28.2% 25.8% 2.4 pp
ROS 13.0% 10.3% 2.6 pp
ROE 17.1% 13.7% 3.4 pp
ROCE 14.8% 10.8% 4.0 pp
Equity ratio
Net Debt / EBITDA (4 )
47.6%
1.82
46.2%
1.98
1.4 pp
0.9

1. SUMMARY OF LEADING INDICATORSIFRS (unaudited figures)

1) Operating profits + depreciation + provisions

(2) Var. Net debt + dividends + purchase of own shares

(3) Interest-bearing net debt – liquid assets

(4) EBITDA corresponding to last 12 months

(5) Variation in figures not rounded up/down

(6) 2015 investment figures include € 41 million for purchase of AMS

2. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

9 Months 2016 vs. 9 Months 2015

The Navigator Company recorded turnover of € 1,155.4 million, as compared to € 1,204.3 million in the first nine months of 2015. The drop in the overall value of sales was due essentially to a reduction in power sales, after review of the tariff paid by the national grid for electricity from the natural gas co-generation plant in Figueira da Foz. In paper business, the Group again achieved strong sales, with UWF at a new record of 1,155.5 thousand tons. Good performance was also recorded in volumes of pulp and tissue.

Despite a significant reduction in capacity in the European paper industry, which permitted an improvement in the capacity utilization rate of 1pp, conditions in the UWF market gradually worsened over the course of 2016, with a reduction in apparent consumption estimated at around 4% while total imports into to the European market climbed by over 25%. Paper imports from Asia increased significantly, in particular in office papers, triggering an overall downwards adjustment in prices. In this difficult environment, Navigator achieved UWF sales of 1,155.5 thousand tons, up by 2.2% in relation to the first nine months of 2015, setting a new record in terms of volume. The Group increased its European sales at the same time as achieving significant growth in sales to international markets. The European A4 copy-B price index performed well (up 1.4%), and Navigator's average price for Europe was in line with the previous year. However, the Group's average price for all markets was down on the previous year due essentially to a less favorable mix in formats. In value, paper sales totalled € 890 million, a new record for the period.

Conditions in the BEKP pulp market remained tough throughout the first nine months of 2016 and benchmark prices for hardwood pulp (PIX – BHKP) were down at the end of September by 15% in euros and 18% in USD. Navigator nonetheless recorded strong operating performance: the volume of pulp placed on the market stood at around 201 thousand tons, up by around 9%, thanks to the capacity expansion at the Cacia mill, which has resulted in increased availability of pulp for the market. The slump in the pulp market was also reflected in the Group's average sale price, and total sales declined in value by 3%.

Major developments in the energy sector in the first nine months of 2016 included the completion of maintenance and repair work on the turbogenerators at the Cacia and Setúbal pulp mills. Other planned maintenance work was carried out, notably at the natural gas cogeneration plant at the Setúbal Industrial Complex and on the Setúbal biomass power station. Total gross power generation in the period was accordingly down by 12.3% in relation to the same period in 2015.

As anticipated, natural gas cogeneration at Figueira da Foz switched in February to an ownconsumption only basis, reducing the volume of power sales to the national grid but also reducing purchases of electricity for one of the paper mills. Power sales decreased in volume (MWh) by 22.4%. The combined effects of reductions in power purchases and sales, and in purchases of fuel, essentially natural gas, brought down EBITDA by approximately € 8.1 million in relation to the same period in 2015.

In the tissue sector, the volume of sales of products and goods from the Vila Velha de Ródão plant (in tons sold) grew by approximately 27% in the first nine months of 2016, thanks to the expansion in production and converting capacity over the course of 2015. The increase in quantities sold, combined with a slight decline in the average sales price, caused by changes in the product mix (increased sales of reels), resulted in tissue sales worth close to € 50 million.

In terms of cost factors, the Group experienced an increase in the average cost of wood purchases. Despite an improvement in specific consumption, increased use of imported wood and the consequent deterioration in the supply mix added to the overall acquisition cost. Wood still needs to be imported from Spain and outside Iberia to make up the shortfall in local supplies; forestry operations were also hit by the fires which occurred during the summer.

As observed in the first half, logistical costs for paper were brought down further thanks essentially to falling oil prices, increased use of ports closer to the mills (Setúbal and Figueira) and improvements and greater efficiency in the Group's commercial operations.

Attention should be drawn to Navigator's efforts to reduce maintenance costs in all of its industrial facilities, which have reflected positively in costs registered at the annual maintenance stoppages. The reduction in maintenance costs recorded in the first nine months

of 2016 is inflated by the changed timing of maintenance stoppages in some of the Group's plants, which in 2015 were carried out and included in the accounts up to September, and in 2016 will only be completed and reflected in the accounts in the 4th quarter.

Personnel costs were up by approximately € 5.2 million in relation to the first nine months of 2015. This increase was only to be expected in view of the expanding workforce: at the end of September employee numbers had risen by 401, to a total of 3,063, as a result of new business ventures and incorporation into the business model of activities which were previously outsourced. Excluding the impact of employees in new business areas and insourcing, and other non-recurrent impacts, personnel expenditure calculated on a comparable basis for 2015 and 2016 would instead have fallen by approximately € 0.8 million, or 1%.

In this context, EBITDA for the first nine months of 2016 totalled 301.5 million, as compared with a figure of € 294 million for the previous year.

In addition to the operating performance mentioned above, EBITDA in the period reflects the impacts of a series of non-recurrent factors, most notably:

  • Revaluation of biological assets in Portugal had a positive impact of around € 10.5 million, resulting essentially from the adjustment of the discount rate;

  • Impairment of biological assets in Mozambique brought down EBITDA by € 3.5 million (the total amount of impairments in Mozambique was approximately €18 million, with the outstanding amount recognised under Depreciation, amortisation and impairments).

  • The fire at the Vila Velha de Ródão tissue mill in May had a negative impact of € 2.4 million;

  • Indemnity payments for the TG3 and TG4 breakdowns in Cacia in 2015 added € 2.3 million to EBITDA.

Without these non-recurrent factors, EBITDA for the first nine months of 2016 would have been largely equivalent to that recorded in the same period in 2015.

Operating cash flow stood at € 257.8 million, up by 13.0% on the same period in the previous

year, whilst free cash flow totalled € 101.1 million (vs. 18.4 million). Free cash flow was kept down by the level of capital expenditure (€ 100.6 million), and working capital improved in relation to the end of the first half, with a reduction in accounts receivable and payable to clients and suppliers, as well as in accounts receivable from the State. As previously reported, the anti-dumping duty applied to paper sales in the United States is not reflected in EBITDA, but continues to have a negative impact on free cash flow, totalling approximately € 8 million in the first nine months.

Operating income totalled € 178 million, as compared to the figure of € 207.7 million recorded in the first nine months of 2015. This reduction is the result of an increase of € 25.7 million in the account for Depreciation and impairment, reflecting essentially upwards adjustment of the depreciation of some of the Group's assets, as a result of reassessment of their useful lives, and also the depreciation, for the first time, of the new capital projects in Cacia and Vila Velha de Ródão. This account also includes a number of non-recurrent adjustments resulting from the write-off of fixed assets as a result of the fire in Vila Velha de Ródão (€ 1.9 million) and the revaluation of assets in Mozambique (€ 14.5 million).

Financial results in the period were negative in the amount of € 16.6 million, comparing very favourably with a negative value of € 44.9 million in the first nine months of 2015. This reflects essentially a significant reduction in interest expense, down by approximately € 11.1 million, despite the increase in average borrowing, as a result of the Group restructuring its debt over the past twelve months. Net financial income also reflects a cost of € 6 million relating to the premium on the call exercised in May 2016 for € 150 million; nonetheless, this cost is approximately € 8.6 million lower than the redemption premium recorded in September 2015 for € 200 million. Stronger figures for net financial income also reflect an improvement of approximately € 4.3 million in the results achieved on exchange rate hedges, as compared to the losses recorded in the previous year, and also a reversal of provisions relating to compensatory interest with a value of € 2.4 million.

Consolidated net income for the period therefore stood at € 134.3 million, as compared with the figure of € 141.9 million recorded in the first nine months of 2015.

3 rd Quarter 2016 vs. 2nd Quarter 2016

Third quarter sales in 2016 were down in value on the previous quarter, in line with the expected seasonal trends for this time of year. The Group recorded a reduction of 4.4% in turnover, reflecting essentially a drop in sales volume for UWF paper and tissue paper, and a downwards adjustment in paper and pulp prices in the 3rd quarter.

The volume of paper sales stood at 380 thousand tons, down by 4.4% from the second quarter, a tough comparison as the second quarter sales volume set a new record for that period. The average sales price also declined, due to an increased volume of sales outside Europe and the US, in non-traditional markets.

Sales of BEKP pulp performed well, growing by over 9% in relation to the volume recorded in the preceding quarter. However, given the downward tendency in prices since the start of the year, the value of pulp sales has not kept up with this growth, and ended the period approximately 3% up from the figure recorded in the first quarter of the year.

In power business, normal production was resumed after the completion of repair work on the turbogenerators at the Cacia and Setúbal mills, and total power generated by the Group rose by 2.3%. The value of sales also evolved positively, increasing by 13.9%.

In this environment, EBITDA for the quarter totalled € 106.2 million, as compared to € 101.8 million in the second quarter; the EBITDA/Sales margin also performed better, rising to 28.2% (from 25.8%). It is important to note that EBITDA in the second quarter was negatively impacted by €2.4 million of losses from the fire at the tissue plant in Vila Velha de Rodão.

3. MARKET ANALYSIS

UWF Paper

Despite a positive start to the year, reflected by rising sales prices and capacity utilization rates, conditions in the UWF paper market deteriorated in the last quarter, especially in July

and September. When compared with the same period in 2015, estimates suggest that apparent UWF consumption dropped by around 4.0% in Europe over the first nine months of 2016. At the same time, estimates point to a significant increase in total imports, up by 25%, and essentially in office paper, where the increase was in excess of 30%, with imports from Asia doubling over the period.

In the US, apparent consumption of UWF paper fell by 3.3% up to May, with a very significant drop in imports, down by around 20%, as a result of anti-dumping measures imposed on Australian, Brazilian, Chinese, Indonesian and Portuguese manufacturers. Even after the closure of significant capacity in the US, the capacity utilisation rate remained at 93%, in line with the figure recorded in the previous year. Just as in other cases where measures have been applied to restrict free trade, a significant part of the reduction in the volume of imports affecting the countries targeted by anti-dumping measures was exploited by other exporters, and not by US manufacturers.

Despite this environment, the Group set a new record for the volume of paper sales in the first nine months of 2015, up by more than 2% on 2015. This growth was sustained by ongoing expansion into new geographical regions, especially in the Middle East and Africa, and sales in markets outside Europe and the US stood at their highest ever level for the first nine months of the year. This growth in countries outside Europe and the USA consisted largely of an increase in the volume of sales of standard products in one-off transactions, altering the share represented by these products in the total volume of paper sales. However, it is important to note that, because of the Group's positioning and interest rate trends, sales of this kind are more interesting that selling equivalent products in Europe. Despite the less advantageous mix of products sold, the Group has maintained its position as leader in the premium segment, with a market share of more than 50% in Europe.

The average sales price for Navigator in Europe stood at the same level as in the previous year, as compared a positive variation of 1.4% in the main benchmark index for UWF (PIX A4- Copy B). As reported above, the Group's average price for all markets was down on the previous year, due essentially to a less advantageous mix of products sold.

BEKP Pulp

After a start to the year when Chinese buyers significantly scaled down their purchases of BEKP, demand for pulp appears to have rallied, with gains of 7.4% (accrued) up to the end of August. The Chinese market has accounted for more than 90% of this increase. The global capacity utilization rate for BEKP has also edged up over the first nine months of the year, from 90% to 91%.

However, fears persist as to the impact of new production capacity expected to come on line in late 2016 and in the next few years, and the industry's benchmark price, which started the year at a high level, has continued on a sharp downward course, dropping around 15% in USD and 18% in EUR since the start of the year.

The Group's sales have bucked this trend and totalled 201 thousand tons, around 9% up on the same period in the previous year, thanks to the expansion of capacity in 2015

Tissue

Over the first seven months of the year, demand for tissue paper in Western Europe grew by around 2 to 3% in relation to the same period in 2015.

In this context, the Group presented growth of 27.2% in the volume of tissue sales (tons) in comparison with the first 9 months of 2015. This growth occurred in particular in the Away from Home segment, in Portugal and Spain. Sales on the Portuguese market stood at around € 32.3 million, accounting for 65% of total volume. Practically all the Group's other tissue sales were to Spain, totalling approximately € 17.1 million. Total tissue sales in the first nine months of 2016 stood at € 49.9 million, representing growth of 20%.

4. OPERATING INDICATORS

Pulp and paper

(in 000 tons) Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 4Q2015 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016
BEKP output 342.5 346.5 370.1 364.3 370.2 373.4 367.8
BEKP sales 57.3 61.0 66.6 67.7 64.6 65.1 71.2
UWF output 374.5 398.9 371.5 426.4 397.7 397.0 399.9
UWF sales 361.1 386.7 382.3 425.3 377.8 397.7 380.0
FOEX –
BHKP Euros/ton
660 707 724 730 695 613 600
FOEX –
A4- BCopy Euros/ton
814 814 826 832 836 830 820

Tissue

(in 000 tons) Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 4Q2015 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016
Reels Output 7.0 6.6 7.8 11.1 11.0 7.7 13.1
Output of finished goods 8.7 8.3 9.4 9.0 10.1 10.0 10.9
Sales of reels and goods 0.5 0.3 0.8 0.6 1.7 2.2 2.4
Sales of finished products 9.1 9.2 9.7 9.1 9.9 10.9 10.6

Energy

(in 000 tons) Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 4Q2015 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016
Output (GWh) 593.6 580.0 610.9 507.2 508.1 519.7 537.2
Sales (GWh) 518.3 505.5 523.3 413.4 389.5 385.8 425.3

5. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

Over the course of the first nine months of the year, the Group pressed ahead with developing the various opportunities for growth set out in its strategic plan. Investment totalled € 100.6 million, including € 25.4 million in pulp, paper and tissue business, € 7.2 million on the project in Mozambique, and € 67.8 million on the pellets mill in the United States. In Mozambique, besides the € 7.2 million investment in fixed assets, an amount of approximately € 5.5 million was also spent in biological assets.

Pellets

After some initial delays, the Colombo Energy project has started continuous operation and will export its first shipload to Europe during the fourth quarter. Preliminary tests of product quality have yielded positive results, pointing to a premium product with high calorific value.

The company obtained its sustainability certifications in July under the SFI, PEFC (CoC) and FSC (CoC) schemes, and SBP certification is expected at any moment. To complement this, it plans to obtain EN A1 Plus certification (for the European residential market) and PFI (for the US residential market), by the end of November.

Having secured sales corresponding to 40% of the mill's capacity for a period of 10 years, sales efforts are now proceeding both in the industrial market (Europe, and potentially Japan/Korea) and in the residential market (Europe and the United States).

Mozambique

The political and economic situation in Mozambique remains unstable, imposing restrictions on the movement and safety of employees and service providers involved in the project; this has obviously taken its toll on the pace of operations.

Even so, forestation proceeded at a good pace over the first nine months of 2016, during which time around 4,400 hectares were planted in Zambézia province, using essentially saplings from the Luá Forestry Nurseries, which so far this year has supplied more than 5.3

million cloned eucalyptus plants. The total planted area currently stands at 10,800 ha, of which 9,100 ha are located in Zambézia.

Alongside this, year 1 of the Social Development Plan has been successfully completed, which has involved launching a series of schemes to support the families and communities affected by the project. This programme is a key element in the Company's investment plans and commitment to Mozambique. These initiatives involve the funding of a private agricultural extension scheme, for which 180 demonstration fields have been set up, with the participation of around 4,500 households, as well as distribution of seeds for a number of crops, including corn, sesame, cassava and sweet potato

Work has started on an experimental operation to export eucalyptus timber from Zambézia via the port of Nacala. This project will serve essentially to ascertain the legal procedures needed to license the operation, the capabilities of service providers and the reliability of logistics in the country.

Tissue project

In later 2015, the Group announced its intention of implementing a development project in Cacia, consisting of a new production line for tissue paper and the respective converting facilities. The project would create nominal annual capacity of 70 thousand tons and involve total investment of € 121 million. The decision to go ahead with building the new line was conditional on a number of factors, namely obtaining a package of tax breaks and financial incentives, which has currently been concluded. Nevertheless, there are still some issues that need further clarification, namely concerning market conditions, as well as possible limitations in the availability of wood.

Navigator intends to continue developing its existing tissue business and will shortly add two processing lines at the Vila Velha de Ródão plant, increasing its finished product capacity by approximately 9 thousand tons, with total investment of around € 5 million.

The company has also completed preliminary design studies for the project to increase pulp capacity announced in the 2016 first-half report, which conclude in favor of this growth option. With a total estimated investment of € 82 million, the project aim is to expand pulp capacity at the Figueira da Foz production centre, increasing annual capacity by 70 thousand tons, to a total of 650 thousand tons of BEKP pulp. The progression of this investment is still pending clarification of additional conditions, namely the availability and access to raw material.

6. COST CUTTING MEASURES

M2 Programme

It was decided in July to broaden the scope of the M2 programme, so as to include all operational areas that make a positive contribution to the company's results. This marked as new phase in the programme, and a raft of initiatives is currently being planned and budgeted for 2017. For the first time, these will include recurrent measures as well as one-off projects. Another new feature of the programme in 2016/2017 will be the participation and contribution from Navigator Tissue Ródão.

Impressive results already been achieved in 2016, notably from the various projects to improve efficiency in the paper machines in Setúbal and Figueira (€ 2.96 millions) and negotiation of road and maritime shipping contracts and operational efficiency measures (€ 2.0 million). Together, the 95 active projects are planned to have an impact on company results of up to € 15 million.

"Lean System" Programme

The closing sessions were held in September for the first stage in implementing the programme and reflection for subsequent stages in the pilot divisions (ATF Paper Mill in Setúbal, Pulp Division in Figueira da Foz and Technical Assistance and Product Development team). New areas of action emerged from the reflection sessions, identifying a total of 29 improvement projects. The highlights in the programme include a project to optimise packaging materials at the ATF paper mill, which could bring extremely positive results for the organisation.

The Lean System is now being expanded to other areas, and the programme started up at the Vila Velha de Ródão site in September, whilst preparations are under way for the programme to start during 2017 at the Cacia Mill, at the Paper Division in Figueira da Foz and at the Navigator Paper Mill on the Setúbal site.

7. FINANCIAL

At the end of the third quarter, the Group's net debt stood at € 723.4 million, up by € 68.9 million from year-end 2015, reflecting capital expenditure of € 100.6 million and payment of dividends of € 170 million.

As a result of this, the Net Debt / EBITDA ratio stood at 1.8 at the end of September, as compared to 1.68 at year-end 2015, remaining at very comfortable levels.

Gross debt stood at € 775.2 million, up by only € 48.1 million from the figure recorded at the end of the previous year, but reflecting substantial restructuring of the company's debt over the course of this year.

In 2016, Navigator has repaid debt of € 200.1 million, including early repayment in May of the issue of Portucel Senior Notes 5.375%, with a value of 150 million euros, at the same time as taking out new borrowing of € 240 million.

The new financing reflects current market conditions and have made it possible to extend the average maturity of Navigator's debt to 4.8 years and to reduce substantially its average financing costs, which in September stood at approximately 1.7%.

8. CAPITAL MARKETS

The main features of the first nine months of 2016 were severe risk aversion and significant volatility. Most European exchanges closed the period with net losses. The PSI20 was one of the worst performers, down by 13.5%. Prices were hit by the downwards revision of growth forecasts for the Portuguese economy and doubts concerning budget execution. The Spanish index, IBEX 35, also recorded a loss of 8% at the end of September. The London stock exchange once again confounded expectations, with the FTSE index closing the period up 10.5%. On the other side of the Atlantic, shares recorded losses, with both the US DJI and the Brazilian Bovespa index both down on the period.

Pulp and paper sector securities, especially those issued by pulp manufacturers, have continued to be hit very hard in 2016. Brazilian and Iberian companies have seen their listed prices drop by between 35% and 55% since the start of the year.

In this context, Navigator Company shares ended the nine-month period with a loss of 28.8%. At the close of the period, the shares were being traded at near to their lowest level, at 2.56€ /share. One positive aspect which should be highlighted was the increased liquidity of the shares, following Semapa ´s share swap transaction in July 2015, with daily trading significantly higher than the average for 2015 (up 55%).

9. OUTLOOK

The International Monetary Fund's projections for global growth remain pessimistic for the remainder of 2016 and 2017. The scenarios envisaged for the world economy are subject to considerable risks, in particular with the negotiation of the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, the fragility of the banking system and the economic slowdown in China. In the current economic context, where uncertainty and risk are the order of the day, a return to volatility in the financial markets and a consequent increase in risk aversion could have macro-economic impacts, worsening the difficulties faced by banks and postponing investment decisions, with a negative effect on growth.

Some of the pressures felt since the start of the year in the pulp market still remain, in particular the significant growth in supply expected for 2016, 2017 and 2018. However, mention should be made of certain factors which may have a positive effect on the market, in particular possible delays in placing short and long fibre capacity in the market, the widening price differential between short fibre pulp and long fibre pulp, strong pulp purchases in China and ongoing closures of obsolete capacity by the Chinese authorities.

In the Iberian tissue market, tendencies in the wider economy in Portugal and Spain, and their impact on consumption, will be crucial to successful performance in this sector.

As regards paper, European manufacturers have continued to feel the pressure of strong competition from growing imports from the Asian market. This pressure, combined with the falling pulp price and the low prices charged by non-integrated manufacturers, has helped to push down prices across the market. Navigator has also adjusted the prices of its products, the effects of which will be felt essentially as from the 4th quarter. In this adverse context, the Group continues to work on the variables it is able to influence, cutting costs, diversifying and expanding its sales base and promoting diverse multi-channels campaigns to strengthen its mill brands.

Setúbal, 27 October 2016

10. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & NOTES

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

FOR THE NINE MONTHS PERIODS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 AND 2015

Amounts in Euro Notes 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
3rd Quarter 2016 3rd Quarter 2015
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Revenues 3
Sales 1,152,396,501 1,201,264,438 375,754,247 408,247,679
Services rendered 2,997,235 3,053,160 1,069,294 1,146,295
Other operating income 4
Gains on the sale of non-current assets 633,876 98,700 208,913 30,600
Other operating income 22,408,503 15,500,229 6,325,017 4,442,745
Change in the fair value of biological assets 13 10,579,146 (2,124,969) 3,640,900 (1,783,073)
Costs 5
Cost of inventories sold and consumed (499,277,864) (525,685,228) (157,586,123) (174,765,051)
Variation in production 14,991,558 27,740,926 12,721,716 13,650,713
Cost of materials and services consumed (285,838,409) (311,716,788) (100,975,415) (104,943,087)
Payroll costs (106,285,595) (101,048,002) (31,873,552) (30,737,620)
Other costs and losses (11,096,953) (13,078,616) (3,051,561) (5,788,827)
Provisions (2,961,513) 8,563,351 (1,563,089) 2,572,636
Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses 6 (120,518,942) (94,855,771) (34,563,415) (34,014,378)
Operating results 178,027,543 207,711,430 70,106,930 78,058,632
Net financial results 7 (16,619,934) (44,906,875) (3,157,730) (27,059,522)
Profit before tax 161,407,610 162,804,556 66,949,201 50,999,110
Income tax 8 (27,142,575) (21,287,661) (17,933,185) (9,938,816)
Net Income 134,265,035 141,516,895 49,016,016 41,060,294
Non-controlling interests 22,383 404,074 (195,146) 407,036
Net profit for the period 134,287,418 141,920,969 48,820,870 41,467,330
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share, Euro 9 0.192 0.198 0.068 0.072
Diluted earnings per share, Euro 9 0.192 0.198 0.068 0.072

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FOR THE NINE MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015

Valores em Euros Notes 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Non-Current Assets
Goodw ill 377,339,466 377,339,466
Other intangible assets 11 2,207,967 4,931,507
Plant, property and equipment 12 1,316,557,524 1,320,799,086
Investment properties 426,838 426,838
Biological assets 13 127,576,074 116,996,927
Available-for-sale financial assets 14 260,486 229,136
Deferred tax assets 18 46,084,156 50,934,325
1,870,452,511 1,871,657,286
Current Assets
Inventories 241,324,650 212,554,956
Receivable and other current assets 15 210,718,429 215,370,516
State and other public entities 16 63,173,430 57,642,795
Cash and cash equivalents 21 51,786,449 72,657,585
567,002,957 558,225,851
Total Assets 2,437,455,467 2,429,883,137
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Capital and Reserves
Share capital 17 717,500,000 767,500,000
Treasury shares 17 (1,002,084) (96,974,466)
Fair value reserves (9,528,854) (1,869,064)
Other reserves 99,709,036 91,781,112
Currency translation reserves 385,650 5,688,140
Retained earnings 211,954,854 273,081,975
Net profit for the period 134,287,418 196,404,220
Early earnings - (29,971,019)
1,153,306,020 1,205,640,898
Non-controlling interests 6,678,702 8,622,303
1,159,984,723 1,214,263,201
Non-current liabilities
Deferred taxes liabilities 18 82,049,563 88,296,253
Post-retirement benefits 19 907,456 -
Provisions 20 56,323,191 59,205,593
Interest-bearing liabilities 21 753,314,443 686,570,753
Other non-current liabilities 21 39,256,640 38,538,726
Current liabilities 931,851,292 872,611,325
Interest-bearing liabilities 21 21,896,937 40,578,590
Payables and other current liabilities 22 220,211,774 225,084,110
State and other public entities 16 103,510,741 77,345,911
345,619,452 343,008,611
Total liabilities 1,277,470,744 1,215,619,936
Total equity and liabilities 2,437,455,467 2,429,883,137

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE CONSOLIDATED INCOME

FOR THE NINE MONTHS PERIODS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 AND 2015

Amounts in Euro 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Net profit for the period 134,265,035 141,516,895
Itens that can be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Fair value in derivative financial instruments (10,565,228) (1,410,311)
Currency translation differences (5,302,490) 2,074,690
Tax on items above w hen applicable 2,905,438 330,983
(12,962,280) 995,362
Itens that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Share of other comprehensive income of associates (2,194,734) (19,261)
Actuarial gains / (losses) (2,957,138) (12,159,392)
Tax on itens above w hen applicable (424,768) 69,391
(5,576,640) (12,109,262)
(18,538,920) (11,113,900)
Total recognized income and expense for the period 115,726,115 130,402,995
Attributable to:
The Navigator Company's shareholders 117,669,716 123,801,727
Non-controlling interests (1,943,601) 6,601,267
115,726,115 130,402,994

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE NINE MONTHS PERIODS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 AND 2015

Amounts in Euro 1 January 2016 Gains/losses
recognized in the
period
Dividends paid and
reserves
distributed
(Note 7)
Early earnings Treasury shares
(Note 15)
Application of prior
year's net profit
Performance Bonus 30 September
2016
Share capital 767,500,000 - - - (50,000,000) - - 717,500,000
Treasury shares (96,974,466) - - - 95,972,382 - - (1,002,084)
Fair value reserves (1,869,064) (7,659,790) - - - - - (9,528,854)
Other reserves 91,781,112 - - - - 7,927,924 - 99,709,036
Currency translation reserves 5,688,140 (5,302,490) - - - - - 385,650
Retained earnings 273,081,975 (3,655,422) (170,004,594) (29,971,019) (45,972,382) 194,476,296 (6,000,000) 211,954,855
Net profit for the period 196,404,220 134,287,418 - - - (196,404,220) - 134,287,418
Early earnings (29,971,019) - - 29,971,019 - - - -
Total 1,205,640,898 117,669,716 (170,004,594) - - 6,000,000 (6,000,000) 1,153,306,020
Non-controlling interests 8,622,303 (1,943,601) - - - - - 6,678,702
Total 1,214,263,201 115,726,115 (170,004,594) - - 6,000,000 (6,000,000) 1,159,984,722
Amounts in Euro 1 January 2015 Gains/losses
recognized in the
period
Dividends paid and
reserves
distributed
(Note 7)
Early earnings Treasury shares
(Note 15)
Application of prior
year's net profit
Performance Bonus 30 September
2015
Share capital 767,500,000 - - - - - - 767,500,000
Treasury shares (96,974,466) - - - - - - (96,974,466)
Fair value reserves (2,329,120) (1,079,328) - - - - - (3,408,448)
Other reserves 83,644,527 - - - - 8,136,585 - 91,781,112
Currency translation reserves 724,832 2,074,690 - - - - - 2,799,522
Retained earnings 519,395,217 (19,114,604) (310,465,342) - - 176,328,636 (2,998,525) 363,145,382
Net profit for the period 181,466,696 141,920,969 - - - (181,466,696) - 141,920,969
Total 1,453,427,686 123,801,727 (310,465,342) - - 2,998,525 (2,998,525) 1,266,764,071
Non-controlling interests 235,253 6,601,267 - - - - - 6,836,520
Total 1,453,662,938 130,402,994 (310,465,342) - - 2,998,525 (2,998,525) 1,273,600,590

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS PERIODS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 AND 2015

9 months 9 months
Amounts in Euro Notes 30-09-2016 30-09-2015
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Payments from customers 1,221,459,101 1,221,246,375
Payments to suppliers 996,918,018 953,433,018
Payments to employees 81,477,236 83,885,079
Cash flow from operations 143,063,847 183,928,278
Income tax received / (paid) - (8,345,589)
Other receipts / (payments) relating to operating activities 36,836,476 7,799,907
Cash flow from operating activities (1) 179,900,323 183,382,597
INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
Inflows
Financial investments 4,438,520 -
Government grants - 6,631,584
Interest and similar income 3,390,889 323,385
Inflow s from investment activities (A) 7,829,410 6,954,969
Outflows
Investments in associates - 40,949,794
Tangible assets 63,066,594 94,401,840
Outflow s from investment activities (B) 63,066,594 135,351,634
Cash flows from investment activities (2 = A - B) (55,237,184) (128,396,665)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Inflows
Borrow ings 1,047,500,000 200,000,000
Interests and similar expenses - -
Inflow s from financing activities (C) 1,047,500,000 200,000,000
Outflows
Borrow ings 1,002,967,836 354,851,191
Interest and similar costs 20,061,857 36,888,292
Acquisition of treasury shares
Dividends paid and distibuted reserves
7 -
170,004,583
-
310,465,342
Outflow s from financing activities (D) 1,193,034,276 702,204,825
Cash flows from financing activities (3 = C - D) (145,534,276) (502,204,825)
CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (1)+(2)+(3) (20,871,137) (447,218,893)
CHANGE IN CONSOLIDATION SCOPE - 9,739,020
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD 72,657,585 499,552,853
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE PERIOD 19 51,786,449 62,072,980

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of 30 September 2016 and 2015

(In these notes, unless indicated otherwise, all amounts are expressed in Euro.)

The Navigator Group ("Group") comprises The Navigator Company, S.A. (previously designated as Portucel, S.A.) and its subsidiaries.

The Group was created in the mid 1950's, when a group of technicians from "Companhia Portuguesa de Celulose de Cacia" made this company the first in the world to produce bleached eucalyptus sulphate pulp.

In 1976 Portucel EP was created as a result of the nationalization of all of Portugal's cellulose industry. As such, Portucel – Empresa de Celulose e Papel de Portugal, E.P. resulted from the merger with CPC – Companhia de Celulose, S.A.R.L. (Cacia), Socel – Sociedade Industrial de Celulose, S.A.R.L. (Setúbal), Celtejo – Celulose do Tejo, S.A.R.L. (Vila Velha de Ródão), Celnorte – Celulose do Norte, S.A.R.L. (Viana do Castelo) and Celuloses do Guadiana, S.A.R.L. (Mourão), being converted into a mainly public anonymous society by Decree- Law No. 405/90, of 21st December.

Years after, as a result of the restructuring of Portucel – Empresa de Celulose e Papel de Portugal, S.A., which was redenominated to Portucel, SGPS, S.A., towards to its privatization, Portucel S.A. was created, on 31st May 1993, through Decree-law 39/93, with the former assets of the two main companies, based in Cacia and Setúbal.

In 1995, the company was reprivatized, and became a publicly traded company.

Aiming to restructure the paper industry in Portugal, Portucel, S.A. acquired Papeis Inapa, S.A. (Setúbal) in 2000 and Soporcel – Sociedade Portuguesa de Papel, S.A. (Figueira da Foz) in 2001. Those key strategic decisions resulted in the PortucelSoporcel Group (currently The Navigator Company Group), which is the largest European and one of the world's largest producers of bleached pulp. It is also the biggest European producer of uncoated wood-free paper.

In June 2003, the Portuguese State sold a 30% stake of Portucel's equity, which was acquired by Semapa Group. In September 2003, Semapa launched a public acquisition offer tending to assure the Group's control, which was accomplished by guaranteeing a 67.1% stake of Portucel's equity.

In November 2006, the Portuguese State concluded the third and final stage of the sale of Portucel, S.A., by moving Parpublica SGPS, S.A. (formerly Portucel SGPS, S.A.) sell the remaining 25.72% it still held.

From 2009 to July 2015, more than 75% of the company's share equity was held directly and indirectly by Semapa - Sociedade de Investimento e Gestão SGPS, S.A. (excluding treasury shares) having the percentage of voting rights been reduced to 70% following the conclusion of the offer for the acquisition, in the form of an exchange offer, of the ordinary shares of Semapa, SGPS, S.A., in July 2015.

In February 2015, the Group started its activity in the Tissue segment with the acquisition of AMS- BR Star Paper, S.A. (subsequently redenominated to Navigator Tissue Ródão, S.A.) a company that holds and explores a tissue paper mill, located in Vila Velha de Ródão.

In July 2016, the Group expanded its activity to the pellets business, with the construction of an industrial plant in Greenwood, state of South Carolina, United States of America.

The Group's main business is the production and sale of writing and printing paper and related products, and it is present in the whole value added chain, from research and development of forestry and agricultural production, to the purchase of wood and the production and sale of bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp – BEKP and electric and thermal energy, as well as its commercialization.

On February 6th 2016, the Portucel Group changed its corporate brand to The Navigator Company. This new corporate identity represents the union of companies with a history of more than 60 years, aiming to give the Group a more appealing and modern image.

Following this event, and after approval in the General Shareholder's Meeting, held on April 19th 2016, Portucel S.A. changed its designation to The Navigator Company, S.A..

The Navigator Company, S.A. (hereafter referred to as the Company or Navigator) is a publicly traded company with its share capital represented by nominal shares.

Head Office: Mitrena, 2901-861 Setúbal

Share Capital: Euro 717,500,000

Registration No: 503 025 798

These consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 26th October 2016.

The Group's senior management, who are also the members of the Board of Directors that sign this report, declare that, to the best of their knowledge, the information contained herein was prepared in conformity with the applicable accounting standards, providing a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities, the financial position and results of the companies included in the Group's consolidation scope.

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The interim consolidated financial statements for the nine months period ended 30 September 2016 have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 – Interim Financial Reporting.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared on a going concern basis from the accounting books and records of the companies included in the consolidation (Note 27), and under the historic cost convention, except for biological assets, available for sale financial assets and derivative financial instruments, which are recorded at fair value (Notes 13 and 23).

2. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies applied in the preparation of these interim consolidated financial statements are consistent to those used in the preparation of the financial statements as of 31 December 2015 and stated in the respective attached notes.

2.1.1 New standards, changes and interpretations of existing standards

The application of the interpretations and amendments to the standards mentioned below, are mandatory by the European Union, for the financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2016:

Standards and Interpretations that became effective on 1 January 2016 Effective Date *
Annual improvements to IFRSs 2010-2012 1 February 2015
IAS 19 – Employee benefits 1 February 2015
IAS 16 e IAS 38 – Acceptable methods of depreciation / amortisation 1 January 2016
IAS 16 e IAS 41 – Agriculture: bearer plants 1 January 2016
IFRS 11 – Joint arrangements 1 January 2016
IAS 1 – Presentation of financial statements 1 January 2016
IAS 27 – Separate financial statements 1 January 2016
Annual improvements to IFRSs 2012 - 2014 1 January 2016

* Periods beginning on or after

The introduction of the revision to the standards did not have any significant impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.

New standards and interpretations of non-mandatory application in European Union

There are new standards, interpretations and amendments of existing standards that, despite having already been published, are only mandatory for the periods starting after 1 January 2016 and which the Group decided not to early-adopt in the current period, as follows:

Standards and effective changes, on or after 1 January 2016, not yet endorsed by EU Effective Date *
Amendments to IFRS 10, 12 and IAS 28: Investments - applying consolidation exception 1 January 2016
IAS 7 - Cash flow statement 1 January 2017
IAS 12 - Income Taxes 1 January 2017
IFRS 2 – Share-based payment 1 January 2018
IFRS 9 – Financial instruments 1 January 2018
IFRS 15 – Revenue from contracts w ith customers 1 January 2018
Amendments to IFRS 15 – Revenue from contracts w ith customers 1 January 2018
IFRS 16 - Leases 1 January 2019

* Periods beginning on or after

Up to the date of issuing this report, the Group had not yet concluded the analysis of the potential effects of the changes arising from the adoption of these standards, for which it decided not to early-adopt them. However, no material effect is expected in the financial statements as a result of their adoption.

3. SEGMENT INFORMATION

In accordance with the criteria defined in IFRS 8, operational segments should be identified based in the way the internal financial information is organized and reported to management. An operating segment is defined by IFRS 8 as a component of the Group:

(i) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses;

(ii) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the entity's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and

(iii) For which discrete financial information is available.

The Executive Committee is the ultimate operating decision maker, analyzing periodic reports with operational information on segments, using them to monitor the operating performance of its businesses, as well as to decide on the best allocation of resources.

In 2016, the Group has changed its segment reporting. Segment information is presented for business segments identified by the Group, namely:

  • Market Pulp;
  • UWF Paper;
  • Tissue Paper; and
  • Other.

In 2015, the business segment information was:

  • Forestry;
  • Pulp stand alone;
  • Integrated Pulp and Paper;
  • Energy.

In 2016, the segments Forestry and Energy became part of the segment "Other". This segment also includes the pellets business.

Revenues, assets and liabilities of each segment correspond to those directly allocated to them, as well as to those that can be reasonably attributed to those segments.

The group's financial information by operational segment for the nine months period ended 30 September 2016 and 2015 is shown as follows:

ELIMINATIONS/
MARKET PULP
UWF PAPER
TISSUE PAPER
OTHER
TOTAL
UNALLOCATED
REVENUE
Sales and services - external
107,185,601
973,057,681
49,895,528
25,254,926
1,155,393,736
Sales and services - intersegment
22,149,467
-
-
511,565,110
(533,714,577)
-
Total revenue
129,335,068
973,057,681
49,895,528
536,820,036
(533,714,577)
1,155,393,736
Profit/(loss)
Segmental Profit
22,387,700
158,248,296
(3,528,682)
920,230
-
178,027,543
Operating Profit
-
-
-
-
-
178,027,543
Financial costs- net
-
-
-
-
(16,619,934)
(16,619,934)
Income tax
-
-
-
-
(27,142,575)
(27,142,575)
Net profit before non-controling interests
-
-
-
-
-
134,265,035
Non-controling interests
-
-
-
-
22,383
22,383
Net profit
-
-
-
-
-
134,287,418
Other Information
Capital expenditure
3,611,363
13,299,373
381,244
83,266,541
-
100,558,521
Depreciation and impairment losses
(6,600,338)
(77,931,434)
(8,816,861)
(27,170,309)
-
(120,518,942)
Provisions
-
-
-
(2,961,513)
(2,961,513)
Other Information
SEGMENT ASSETS
Plant, property and equipment
127,489,855
721,081,233
64,645,563
403,340,873
-
1,316,557,524
Biological assets
-
-
-
127,576,074
-
127,576,074
Available-for-sale financial assets
-
260,486
-
-
-
260,486
Inventories
19,380,498
153,100,990
9,631,127
59,212,035
-
241,324,650
Receivable and other current assets
14,454,184
118,737,938
17,649,924
33,050,699
-
183,892,745
Other accounts receivable
3,347,431
8,637,811
-
14,840,442
-
26,825,684
Other assets
3,875,902
491,702,891
7,895,184
37,544,329
-
541,018,306
Total assets
168,547,870
1,493,521,349
99,821,798
675,564,451
-
2,437,455,468
SEGMENT LIABILITIES
Interest-bearing liabilities
2,805,080
-
27,150,881
745,255,419
-
775,211,379
Accounts Payable
8,163,875
90,668,763
9,503,332
30,291,213
-
138,627,182
Other payables
8,067,270
21,624,599
777,709
51,115,014
-
81,584,592
Other liabilities
25,305,922
103,629,403
3,757,653
149,354,613
-
282,047,590
Total liabilities
44,342,146
215,922,765
41,189,575
976,016,258
-
1,277,470,744
30-09-2016

The Group's energy sales are reported under different business segments. The amount corresponding to the total energy sales was Euro 107,251,602 in 2016 and Euro 158,516,513 in 2015. Energy sales originated in the cogeneration process, in the amount of Euro 92,865,276, are reported under the "Market Pulp" (Euro 9,432,455) and "UWF Paper" (Euro 83,432,821) segments. Sales of electricity exclusively produced in units dedicated to the production of electricity from biomass are reported under the segment "Other", in the amount of Euro 14,386,326.

The capital expenditure in the "Unallocated" segment includes Euro 82,759,163 related to the investment in the "pellets" factory in the United States of America. The remaining respects to other investments.

In 2016 an impairment loss of Euro 14,478,835 was recorded regarding the investment in Mozambique.

An impairment loss amounting to Euro 1,875,668 was also recognized regarding the tangible fixed assets destroyed in the fire that occurred in the Tissue paper mill in Vila Velha de Ródão.

Property, plant and equipment reported under the segment "Other" include:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016
Forestry Lands 78,850,330
Real estate - manufacturing site of Setúbal 59,051,014
Real estate - manufacturing site of Cacia 12,329,593
Real estate - manufacturing site of Figueira da Foz 54,702,417
Thermoelectric plant biomass 40,356,646
Pellets project - EUA 102,205,861
Mozambique project 37,659,510
Others 18,185,502
403,340,873

Forest land and industrial real estate are reported in the individual financial statements as investment properties (Euro 204,933,354).

The majority of the assets allocated to each of the individual segments, with the exception of receivables, is located in Portugal. "Other" includes the USA and Mozambique, besides Portugal.

30-09-2015
MARKET PULP UWF PAPER TISSUE PAPER OTHER ELIMINATIONS/
UNALLOCATED
TOTAL
REVENUE
Sales and services - external 64,540,135 684,878,040 27,175,572 18,329,876 794,923,624
Sales and services - intersegment 9,973,657 - - 257,049,613 (267,023,270) -
Total revenue 74,513,792 684,878,040 27,175,572 275,379,489 (267,023,270) 794,923,624
Profit/(loss)
Segmental Profit 15,635,045 178,119,907 2,725,993 11,230,485 - 207,711,430
Operating Profit - - - - - 207,711,430
Financial costs- net - - - - (44,906,875) (44,906,875)
Income tax - - - - (21,287,661) (21,287,661)
Net profit before non-controling interests - - - - - 141,516,894
Non-controling interests - - - - 404,074 404,074
Net profit - - - - - 141,920,968
Other Information
Capital expenditure 44,587,326 29,147,269 30,155,385 14,111,305 73,343,768
Depreciation and impairment (2,978,127) (70,128,368) (2,754,039) (18,995,237) - (60,841,393)
Provisions - - - - 8,563,351 5,990,714
Other Information
SEGMENT ASSETS
Plant, property and equipment 133,763,461 778,034,778 76,442,109 327,054,723 - 1,315,295,072
Biological assets - - - 111,844,454 - 111,844,454
Available-for-sale financial assets - 229,136 - - - 229,136
Inventories 15,148,332 131,359,219 9,888,915 73,764,479 - 230,160,946
Receivable and other current assets 19,796,844 133,206,298 16,207,463 29,210,234 - 198,420,839
Other accounts receivable - 12,302,841 - 5,853,034 - 18,155,875
Other assets 1,412,819 511,182,723 16,399,179 79,064,234 - 608,058,955
Total assets 170,121,457 1,566,314,996 118,937,666 626,791,158 - 2,482,165,276
SEGMENT LIABILITIES
Interest-bearing liabilities
- - 29,587,743 619,566,671 - 649,154,414
Accounts Payable 7,877,886 94,857,664 10,667,455 40,148,746 - 153,551,751
Other payables 23,047,547 63,750,803 2,582,909 32,624,372 - 122,005,631
Other liabilities 14,232,726 70,460,450 3,492,901 195,666,814 - 283,852,892
Total liabilities 45,158,160 229,068,916 46,331,008 888,006,603 - 1,208,564,688

Sales and services rendered by region

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 30-09-2015
PORTUGAL
UWF Paper 48,381,235 50,036,087
Pulp 4,599,276 5,866,916
Tissue 32,314,875 28,784,743
Other 25,254,926 31,258,537
110,550,312 115,946,283
REST OF EUROPE
UWF Paper 574,304,324 544,175,189
Pulp 89,561,151 90,647,499
Tissue 17,360,229 12,474,774
Other - -
681,225,703 647,297,462
NORTH AMERICA
UWF Paper 102,887,752 116,040,520
Pulp - 470,863
102,887,752 116,511,383
OTHER MARKETS
UWF Paper 164,051,548 177,407,444
Pulp 3,592,720 4,132,481
Tissue 220,425 454,337
167,864,693 181,994,261
1,062,528,460 1,061,749,390

The market information above is presented according with the reporting segments shown above.

4. OTHER OPERATING INCOME

Other operating income is detailed as follows for the nine months periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015:

Amounts in Euro 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
Supplementary income 2,537,316 982,916
Grants - CO2 Emission allow ances 2,335,448 2,704,877
Reversal of impairment losses in current assets 430,588 6,438
Gains on the sale of non-current assets 633,876 99,659
Gains in inventories 2,208,184 2,302,252
Gains on disposal of current assets - -
Government grants 299,957 320,773
Ow n w ork capitalised 10,735,731 7,994,121
Other operating income 3,861,279 1,187,894
23,042,379 15,598,929

5. OPERATING EXPENSES

Operating expenses are detailed as follows for the nine months periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015:

9 months 9 months
Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 30-09-2015
Cost of Inventories sold and consumed (499.277.864) (525.685.228)
Variation in production 14.991.558 27.740.926
Cost of services and materials consumed (285.838.409) (311.716.788)
Payroll costs
Remunerations
Statutory bodies - fixed (3.613.641) (3.791.850)
Statutory bodies - variable (3.454.470) (2.484.580)
Other remunerations (73.436.642) (67.641.807)
(80.504.753) (73.918.237)
Social charges and other payroll costs
Pension and retirement bonus - defined benefit plans (1.128.547) 223.185
Pension costs - defined contribution plans (918.762) (1.408.659)
Contributions to social security (15.182.100) (13.912.859)
Other payroll costs (8.551.432) (12.031.432)
(25.780.842) (27.129.764)
(106.285.595) (101.048.002)
Other costs and losses
Membership fees (318.864) (565.294)
Losses in inventories (2.105.484) (1.074.654)
Impairment losses in receivables (304.536) (182.682)
Impairment losses in inventories - -
Indirect taxes (769.457) (762.225)
Shipment costs (3.486.125) (2.056.142)
Water resources charges (1.139.199) (1.460.259)
Cost w ith CO2 emissions (1.383.344) (3.124.169)
Other operating costs (1.589.944) (3.853.191)
(11.096.953) (13.078.616)
Provisions (2.961.513) 8.563.351
(890.468.776) (915.224.357)

6. DEPRECIATION, AMORTIZATION AND IMPAIRMENT LOSSES

For the nine months periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015, depreciation, amortization and impairment losses, net of the effect of investment grants recognized in the period were as follows:

9 months 9 months
Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 30-09-2015
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Land - (11,877)
Buildings (8,038,378) (7,913,671)
Equipments (97,406,462) (86,701,299)
Other tangible assets (3,803,730) (4,793,962)
(109,248,570) (99,420,808)
Investment grants 4,737,050 4,638,019
(104,511,520) (94,782,789)
Impairment losses
CO2 Emission allow ances (1,528,587) (72,982)
Mozambique impairment of lands (14,478,835) -
(16,007,422) (72,982)
(120,518,942) (94,855,771)

The increase in the depreciation of property, plant and equipment mainly results from the beginning of the depreciation of the new investments in Cacia and Vila Velha de Rodão.

7. NET FINANCIAL RESULTS

Financial results are detailed as follows for the nine month periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015:

Amounts in Euro 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
Interest paid on borrow ings (17,870,449) (37,579,114)
Interest earned on investments 2,281,090 203,294
Exchange rate differences (13,594) (2,074,478)
Gains / (losses) on financial instruments - trading 462,002 1,974,471
Gains / (losses) on financial instruments - hedging (1,919,204) (5,132,307)
Guarantees and bank charges (2,145,099) (2,774,389)
Compensatory interest 2,520,197 72,296
Other financial income / (expenses) 65,123 403,353
(16,619,934) (44,906,875)

During the second half of 2015, The Navigator Company restructured its debt, contracting new financing lines and renegotiating the terms and conditions of existing debt. A commercial paper line of Euro 125,000,000 (which already existed) was renegotiated, extending its maturity and reducing its cost, together with the early repayment of the remaining (Euro 200,000,000) of Portucel Senior Notes 5.375% bonds. This restructuring contributed significantly to the reduction of the cost of debt, as the amount of interest paid includes the premium paid for the early repayment of High Yield loan in the amount of Euro 6,046,500.

8. INCOME TAX

Income tax is detailed as follows for the nine month periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015:

Amounts in Euro 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
Current tax (Note 16) 30,621,093 52,005,182
Provision / (reversal) for current tax (3,150,506) (14,249,879)
Deferred tax (Note 18) (328,012) (16,467,642)
27,142,575 21,287,661

As of 30 September 2015, current tax includes Euro 34,150,871 regarding the liability created under the aggregated income tax regime. In 2016 the responsibility respects to the scope of The Navigator Company's taxation group.

In 30 September 2015, the deferred tax mainly comprises the transfer of the assets of the Setúbal pulp mill to the Group's subsidiary Navigator Pulp Setúbal, S.A., (previously named Celset – Celulose de Setúbal, S.A.) (whose sale is reversed in the consolidation process), and is offset by an increase in the current tax.

In the nine months periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015, the reconciliation of the effective income tax rate was as follows:

9 months
Amounts in Euro
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
Profit before tax 161,407,610 162,804,556
Expected tax 21.00% 33,895,598 21.00% 34,188,957
Municipal surcharge 1.71% 2,760,819 2.03% 3,306,888
State surcharge 4.81% 7,760,468 5.50% 8,962,139
Differences (a) (12.80%) (20,665,910) 6.72% 10,937,318
Impairment and reversal of provisions 10.95% 17,667,066 (15.89%) (25,864,875)
Excess tax provision (0.08%) (125,994) (1.41%) (2,289,042)
Tax benefits (8.77%) (14,149,472) (4.89%) (7,953,725)
16.82% 27,142,575 13.08% 21,287,661

(a) This amount is made up essentially of:

9 months 9 months
30-09-2016 30-09-2015
Capital gains / (losses) for tax purposes (31,133,778) 58,538,888
Capital gains / (losses) for accounting purposes (9,112,972) (26,528)
Taxable provisions (13,575,209) (8,542,070)
Tax benefits (1,550,332) (1,469,189)
Effect of pension funds (4,195,542) (8,744,292)
Other (15,580,930) 15,258
(75,148,763) 39,772,067
Tax Effect (27,5%) (20,665,910) 10,937,318

In July 2015, following the conclusion of the offer for the acquisition, in the form of an exchange offer, of the ordinary shares of Semapa, SGPS, S.A., the percentage of equity capital and voting rights held by Semapa was reduced to less than 75%, having the necessary conditions for the maintenance of The Navigator Company in the taxation group (RETGS) led by Semapa, SGPS, S.A., ceased to exist.

All the Semapa group companies, including Navigator group companies, changed their tax reporting period to the year starting 1 July and ending 30 June, under artº8 nº2 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, having the taxable profit of the six months period ended 30 June 2015 been computed under Semapa taxation group.

On 1 July 2015, a new taxation group led by The Navigator Company, S.A. was set up, comprising all the companies located in Portugal in which the Group holds an interest or voting right of at least 75%, for more than a year.

9. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share were determined as follows:

Amounts in Euro 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
Profit attributable to the Company's shareholders 134,287,418 141,920,969
Total number of issued shares 717,500,000 767,500,000
Treasury shares - period average (17,156,640) (50,489,973)
700,343,360 717,010,027
Basic earnings per share 0.192 0.198
Diluted earnings per share 0.192 0.198

Since there is no financial instruments convertible in Group shares, its earnings are undiluted.

The changes in the average number of treasury shares were as follows:

2016 2015
Quantity Quantity
Accumulated
Quantity Quantity
Accumulated
Treasury shares held on January 50,489,973 50,489,973
Acquisitions
January - 50,489,973 - 50,489,973
February - 50,489,973 - 50,489,973
March - 50,489,973 - 50,489,973
April (50,000,000) 489,973 - 50,489,973
May - 489,973 - 50,489,973
June - 489,973 - 50,489,973
July - 489,973 - 50,489,973
August - 489,973 - 50,489,973
September - 489,973 - 50,489,973
Treasury shares held on 30 September 489,973 50,489,973
Remaining quarters -
Treasury shares held on 31 December 50,489,973
Average trasury shares held for the period 17,156,640 50,489,973

10. APPROPRIATION OF PREVIOUS YEARS' PROFIT

The appropriations made in 2016 and 2015 of the profit for the years ended 31 December 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

Amounts in Euro 2015 2014
Distribution of dividends (excluding treasury shares) 173,946,632 150,572,106
Legal reserves 7,927,924 8,136,585
Balance bonus 6,000,000 2,998,525
Net income from prior years 8,529,664 19,759,480
196,404,220 181,466,696

The resolution for the appropriation of the 2015 net profit approved at The Navigator Company's General Meeting held on 19 April 2016, was based on the net profit for the year as defined by the accounting principles generally accepted in Portugal (Portuguese GAAP). The difference in the net profit between the two standards, totaling Euro 37,845,737 (2014: Euro 18,734,999) was transferred to retained earnings.

11. OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Over the nine months periods ended 30 September 2016 and year ended 31 December 2015, the changes in other intangible assets were as follows:

Amounts in Euro Industrial property
CO2 emission
and other rights
licenses
Total
Acquisition costs
Amount as of 1 January 2015 59,979 3,416,269 3,476,248
Change in the consolidation scope - 274,658 274,658
Acquisitions - 5,360,090 5,360,090
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs (58,879) (4,932,511) (4,991,390)
Amount as of 30 September 2015 1,100 4,118,506 4,119,606
Change in the consolidation scope - 13,618 13,618
Acquisitions - 838,500 838,500
Disposals - - -
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs - (13,618) (13,617)
Amount as of 31 December 2015 1,100 4,957,007 4,958,107
Acquisitions 3,300 960,685 963,985
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs - (2,157,043) (2,157,043)
Amount as of 30 September 2016 4,400 3,760,649 3,765,049
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses
Amount as of 1 January 2015 (59,979) - (59,979)
Change in the consolidation scope - - -
Amortizations and impairment losses - (72,982) (72,982)
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs 58,879 72,982 131,861
Amount as of 30 September 2015 (1,100) - (1,100)
Amortizations and impairment losses - (72,015) (72,015)
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs - 46,515 46,515
Amount as of 31 December 2015 (1,100) (25,500) (26,600)
Amortizations and impairment losses (2,204) (1,528,278) (1,530,482)
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs - - -
Amount as of 30 September 2016 (3,304) (1,553,778) (1,557,082)
Net book value as of 1 January 2015 - 3,416,269 3,416,269
Net book value as of 30 September 2015 - 4,118,506 4,118,506
Net book value as of 31 December 2015 - 4,931,507 4,931,507
Net book value as of 30 September 2016 1,096 2,206,871 2,207,967

On 30 September 2016, the Group held 814,046 CO2 emission licenses with a market value as of that date of Euro 4,055,168 (31 December 2015: 475,887 licenses with a market value of Euro 3,942,846).

It also holds contracts for the right to acquire 250,000 CO2 emission licenses that were signed in 2015 and 2016, amounting to Euro 1,132,500 as of 30 September 2016 (31 December 2015: 200,000 licenses with a value of Euro 1,658,000).

12. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The changes in Property, plant and equipment, as well as in the respective accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, were as follows:

Amounts in Euro Land Building and other
constructions
Equipments and
other tangibles
Assets under
construction
Total
Acquisition costs
Amount as of 1 January 2015 117,338,267 500,649,942 3,251,808,956 46,256,597 3,916,053,762
Change in the consolidation scope 349,744 10,138,894 40,488,364 7,482,968 58,459,970
Acquisitions 308,031 56,581 8,141,609 109,495,065 118,001,286
Disposals - - (109,385) - (109,385)
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs (3,445) 1,060,078 93,353,199 (93,789,905) 619,927
Amount as of 30 September 2015 117,992,597 511,905,495 3,393,682,743 69,444,725 4,093,025,560
Change in the consolidation scope 207,212 (420,866) 2,613,194 (2,160,206) 239,334
Acquisitions 2,505,628 - (6,461,649) 34,410,706 30,454,685
Disposals - - (32,029) - (32,029)
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs (132,211) 9,702,261 13,799,572 (23,863,643) (494,021)
Amount as of 31 December 2015 120,573,226 521,186,890 3,403,601,831 77,831,582 4,123,193,529
Change in the consolidation scope 6,446,933 - - 100,558,521 107,005,454
Impairment losses - - - (14,478,835) (14,478,835)
Disposals - - (4,045,227) - (4,045,227)
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs 147,184 (15,231,797) 132,915,616 (107,891,908) 9,939,095
Amount as of 30 September 2016 127,167,343 505,955,093 3,532,472,219 56,019,360 4,221,614,016
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses
Amount as of 1 January 2015
(18,232) (337,474,955) (2,328,209,063) - (2,665,702,251)
Change in the consolidation scope - (1,701,136) (11,261,311) - (12,962,447)
Amortizations and impairment losses (11,877) (7,901,794) (91,507,137) - (99,420,808)
Disposals - - 29,021 - 29,021
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs - (57,615) 383,609 - 325,994
Amount as of 30 September 2015 (30,109) (347,135,500) (2,430,564,881) - (2,777,730,490)
Change in the consolidation scope (75,000) - 1,628 - (73,372)
Amortizations and impairment losses (65,543) (2,758,530) (25,514,484) - (28,338,557)
Disposals - - (34,484) - (34,484)
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs - 4,582,561 (800,100) - 3,782,461
Amount as of 31 December 2015 (170,652) (345,311,469) (2,456,912,321) - (2,802,394,443)
Amortizations and impairment losses - (8,038,378) (101,210,192) - (109,248,570)
Disposals - - 3,641,774 - 3,641,774
Adjustments, transfers and w rite-offs - 4,496,559 (1,551,813) - 2,944,746
Amount as of 30 September 2016 (170,652) (348,853,288) (2,556,032,552) - (2,905,056,493)
Net book value as of 1 January 2015 117,320,035 163,174,988 923,599,892 46,256,597 1,250,351,512
Net book value as of 30 September 2015 117,962,488 164,769,996 963,117,862 69,444,725 1,315,295,071
Net book value as of 31 December 2015 120,402,574 175,875,421 946,689,509 77,831,582 1,320,799,086
Net book value as of 30 September 2016 126,996,691 157,101,805 976,439,667 56,019,360 1,316,557,524

As of 30 September 2016, assets under construction included Euro 26,841,721 related to investments in the Mozambique project, as well as investments on industrial process improvements made in the group's mills located in Setúbal, Cacia and Figueira da Foz.

In the third quarter, Euro 90,214,374.98 related to the investment in the pellets mill located in the United States of America were transferred to fixed assets.

Land includes Euro 117,286,094, classified in the individual financial statements as investment properties, from which Euro 78,850,330 relate to forestry land and Euro 38,435,764 to land located in the industrial sites leased to the Group. It also includes Euro 1,609,030 of land in which the new pellets plant in the USA is located and Euro 4,280,784 of capitalized expenditures with land preparation in Mozambique that is being depreciated over the period of the concession (50 years).

13. BIOLOGICAL ASSETS

Over the nine months period ended 30 September 2016 and the year ended 31 December 2015, changes in biological assets were as follows:

Amounts in Euro 2016 2015
Amount as of January 2016 116,996,927 113,969,423
Logging in the period (17,705,307) (18,471,559)
Grow th 17,090,334 1,416,294
New planted areas and replanting ( at cost ) 1,228,926 2,789,650
Other changes in fair value 9,965,194 12,140,646
10,579,147 (2,124,969)
Amount as of 30 September 127,576,074 111,844,454
Remaining quarters 5,152,473
Amount as of 31 December 116,996,927

In 2016, the amounts shown as other changes in fair value correspond to planned and actual costs of asset management, changes in main assumptions (price and average cost of capital) and changes in expectations:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 30-09-2015
Costs os assets mangement
Forestry 2,319,191 2,954,032
Structure 3,336,749 3,412,328
Fixed and variable rents 7,497,485 5,774,286
Mozambique project - Impairment (3,188,231) -
9,965,194 12,140,646

As of 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, biological assets were detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Eucalyptus (Portugal) 116,354,097 104,896,897
Pine (Portugal) 5,718,735 5,407,458
Cork (Portugal) 1,604,205 1,346,681
Other Species (Portugal) 159,212 74,606
Eucalyptus (Mozambique) 3,739,825 5,271,285
127,576,074 116,996,927

These amounts correspond to management's expectation of the volumes to be extracted from its woodlands as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 30-09-2015
Eucalyptus - m3 ssc'000 11,690 11,409
Pine - w ood - Ton'000 481 496
Pine - cones - Ton'000 n/a n/a
Other species - @'000 626 636
Eucalyptus - m3 ssc'000 (Mozambique) (1) 1,988 406

(1) Only evaluated in areas w ith a year or more as at 31 Dec 2014

Concerning Eucalyptus in Portugal, the most relevant biological asset, for the nine months periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015 the Group extracted 477,233 m3ssc and 469,718 m3ssc of wood from its owned and explored forests, respectively.

14. OTHER FINANCIAL ASSETS AND INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES

14.1 Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss

This caption includes the interest held by the Group in Liaision Technologies, originally acquired in 2005. Until 2012, the Group held a 1.52% interest, having disposed in 2013 a 0.85% interest with a gain of Euro 182,911. The Group intends to sell the remaining interest held in Liaision.

15. RECEIVABLES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, receivables and other current assets were detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Accounts Receivable 183,892,745 182,136,452
Other receivables 21,276,407 18,090,522
Derivative financial instruments (Note 23) 398,893 1,701,467
Accrued income 209,085 1,621,162
Deferred costs 4,941,299 11,820,913
210,718,429 215,370,516

The receivables shown above are net of impairment losses.

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, other receivables were detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Advances to employees 488,091 380,172
Advances to suppliers 2,155,094 240,453
Tax Consolidation (Semapa) - 1,212,515
Capital Subscribers 1,287,529 5,713,991
Department of Commerce (USA) 16,696,108 10,083,233
Other 649,585 460,157
21,276,407 18,090,522

In 2015 the Group was subject to an investigation of alleged dumping practices in UWF imports to the United States of America, and an anti-dumping provisional tax rate was imposed over those sales, of 29.53%. On 11 January 2016, the US Department of Commerce settled the final duty rate at 7.8%. The amount receivable corresponds to the difference between the provisional and final anti-dumping rates over paper sales to the United States.

Although the final rate is substantially lower than the initially determined margin, The Navigator Company disagrees with any antidumping margin and will use all legal resources available to demonstrate that this measure is not justified, as there is no causal link between paper exports to the United States of America and the alleged injury of the local paper industry from August 2015 onwards.

Capital Subscribers include the amount of Portucel Mozambique share equity that was subscribed by IFC - International Finance Corporation but not yet realized.

The amount shown as "Advances to suppliers" refers to advanced payments made to wood suppliers. As a way of ensuring the sustainability of the forest value chain to the industry, the Group advances payments to its suppliers upon presentation of guarantees, for the wood to be bought throughout the year. Those advances are settled as supplies are delivered.

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, accrued income and deferred costs were detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Accrued income
Interest receivable - -
Other 209,085 1,621,162
209,085 1,621,162
Deferred costs
Pensions and other post-employments (Note 19) - 3,755,326
Rents 2,635,632 4,491,494
Insurance 2,256,533 2,013,959
Other 49,134 1,560,134
4,941,299 11,820,913
5,150,384 13,442,075

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, there were overfunded plans, recognized as current assets, as they will allow the Group to reduce its future contributions.

16. STATE AND OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, there were no overdue debts to the State and other public entities.

The open balances with these entities were as follows:

Current Assets

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
State and other public entities
Value added tax - refunds requested 50,663,168 46,758,171
Value added tax - to recover 8,515,034 10,884,624
Pending reimbursement amounts (tax cases decided in favor of the group) 3,995,228 -
63,173,430 57,642,795

As at 30 September 2016, the outstanding VAT refunds requested comprised the following, by month and by company:

Amounts in Euro August 2016 September 2016 Total
Navigator Fine Paper, S.A. 20,618,679 23,098,338 43,717,017
Bosques do Atlântico, S.L. - 6,946,150 6,946,150
20,618,679 30,044,488 50,663,168

Up to the date of issuing this report, Euro 20,618,679 of the amounts to be received as of 30 September 2016, had already been received.

As at 31 December 2015, the outstanding VAT refunds requested comprised the following, by month and by company:

Amounts in Euro November 2015 December 2015 Total
Navigator Fine Paper, S.A. 21,849,656 22,332,360 44,182,016
Bosques do Atlântico, S.L. - 2,576,155 2,576,155
21,849,656 24,908,515 46,758,171

The amounts related to tax proceedings decided in favor of the group, that were pending refunding as of 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015 are presented as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Recoverable VAT 2,281,342 2,281,342
Recoverable real estate transaction tax - 354,043
Other 1,713,886 261,495
3,995,228 2,896,880

As of 31 December 2015 these amounts were deducted from the liability corresponding to the additional tax responsibilities.

Current Liabilities

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
State and other public entities
Corporate income tax 60.433.336 31.065.030
Personal income tax - w itheld on salaries 1.928.420 2.003.600
Value added tax 32.130.894 34.227.978
Social security 2.336.795 2.059.064
Additional liabilities 6.172.592 8.044.968
Other 508.703 (54.730)
103.510.741 77.345.911

As previously mentioned, since 2014 until June 2015, The Navigator Company, S.A. and its subsidiaries were part of the taxation group led by Semapa, SGPS, S.A. Therefore, although each group company calculated its income taxes as if it was taxed independently, the determined liabilities were recognized as due to the leader of the taxation group, by then Semapa, SGPS, S.A., who proceeded with the overall computation and the settlement of the income tax.

From 1 July, 2015, the subsidiaries of The Navigator Group ceased to meet the criteria to integrate the tax group Semapa and a new tax group, led by The Navigator Company, was set up.

The corporate income tax is detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Corporate income tax (Note 8) 30,621,093 65,212,803
Payments on account of corporate income tax (378,178) (1,964,638)
Corporate income tax payable to corporate income tax group Leader (Semapa, SGPS) - (34,150,871)
Corporate Income Tax to pay from 1 July 2015 to 31 Dec 2015 26,625,498 -
Withholding tax (20,855) (6,762)
Other receivables / payables 3,585,778 1,974,498
Final Balance 60,433,336 31,065,030

In 2016, the "Other receivable / payables" relates to the income tax payable by the Group's subsidiary located in Belgium.

The changes in the provision for additional tax liabilities during the nine months period ended 30 September 2016 and the year ended 31 December 2015 were as follows:

Amounts in Euro 2016 2015
As of 1 January 8,044,968 44,041,599
Increase 1,750,498 -
Transfers 2,676,054 -
Decrease (6,298,928) (25,864,875)
As of 30 September 6,172,592 18,176,724
Remaning quarters (10,131,756)
As of 31 December 8,044,968

As of 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015 the additional tax liabilities are detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Group's Special Tax Regime 4,708,435 10,941,848
Adicional assessment 2010 and 2011 - Bosques do Atlantico 1,464,158 -
6,172,592 10,941,848

17. SHARE CAPITAL AND TREASURY SHARES

The Navigator Company is a public company with its shares quoted on the Euronext Lisbon.

As at 30 September 2016, The Navigator Company's share capital was fully subscribed and paid for; it is represented by 717,500,000 shares with nominal value of 1 Euro each, of which 489,973 were held as treasury shares.

These shares were mainly acquired during 2008 and 2012, and the changes in the period were as follows:

2016 2015
Valores em Euros Quantity Value Quantity Value
Treasury shares held in January 50,489,973 96,974,466 50,489,973 96,974,466
Accquisitions
January - - - -
February - - - -
March - - - -
April (50,000,000) (95,972,382) - -
May - - - -
June - - - -
July - - - -
August - - - -
September - - - -
(50,000,000) (95,972,382) - -
Treasury shares held in September 489,973 1,002,084 50,489,973 96,974,466
Remaining quarters - -
Treasury shares held in December 50,489,973 96,974,466

At the General Meeting held on 19 April 2016, a reduction of the Company's share capital from Euro 767,500,000 to Euro 717,500,000 was approved, through the cancellation of 50,000,000 treasury shares held by the Company, amounting to Euro 50,000,000. The acquisition premium, in the amount of Euro 52,259,101 was deducted to reserves.

The market value of the treasury shares held on 30 September 2016 amounted to Euro 1,254,331 (31 December 2015: Euro 181,763,903), corresponding to a unit value of Euro 2.56 (31 December 2015: Euro 3.60) and the market capitalization amounted to Euro 1,836,800,000 compared to an equity, net of non-controlling interests, of Euro 1,153,306,020.

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the shareholders with significant positions in the Company's share capital were as follows:

30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Entity Nr. of shares % Entity Nr. of shares % Entity
Seinpar Investments, BV 241,583,015 33.67% 241,583,015 31.48%
Semapa, SGPS, S.A. 256,033,284 35.68% 256,033,284 33.36%
Other Semapa Group companies 1,000 0.00% 1,000 0.00%
Treasury shares 489,973 0.07% 50,489,973 6.58%
Post-employment benefits - BPI bank 30,412,133 4.24% 36,875,907 4.80%
Norges Bank (the Central Bank of Norw ay) 25,360,219 3.53% 25,360,219 3.30%
Zoom Lux s.a.r.l. 15,349,972 2.14% - 0.00%
Other shareholders 148,270,404 20.66% 157,156,602 20.48%
Total 717,500,000 100.00% 767,500,000 100.00%

Following the conclusion of the offer for the acquisition, in the form of an exchange offer, of the ordinary shares of Semapa, SGPS, S.A., registered in the Securities Market Commission and with the Offer period occurring between 6 July 2015 and 24 July 2015, Semapa delivered as compensation of the 24,864,477 own shares acquired, 84,539,108 shares of The Navigator Company. As a consequence of this exchange offer, Semapa reduced its participation in The Navigator Company to 497,617,299 shares, representative of 69.402% of The Navigator Company's share capital, of which 256,033,284 held by Semapa, SGPS, S.A..

18. DEFERRED TAXES

As at 2016 and 2015, the changes in assets and liabilities as a result of deferred taxes were as follows:

Income Statement
Change in the
Amounts in Euro 1 January 2016 Increases Decreases Equity Other Liabilities consolidation scope 30 September 2016
Temporary differences originating deferred tax assets
Taxed provisions 257,908 1,118,830 (46,469) - - - 1,330,268
Adjustments in fixed assets 99,675,505 - (16,443,097) - - - 83,232,408
Financial instruments 2,263,058 - - 10,647,681 - - 12,910,739
Deferred accounting gains on inter-group transactions 25,439,698 28,444,272 (7,421,269) - - - 46,462,702
Valuation of biological assets 1,275,824 - (1,275,824) - - - -
Government grants - Investment incentives 10,766,964 - (1,094,170) - - - 9,672,795
139,678,958 29,563,102 (26,280,829) 10,647,681 - - 153,608,911
Temporary differences originating deferred tax liabilities
Revaluation of fixed assets (6,748,157) 6,707,407 - - - - (40,750)
Retirement benefits (2,137,958) 8,978,370 (295) (6,866,710) - - (26,593)
Derivative Financial Instruments at fair value (234,446) - - (82,453) - - (316,900)
Valuation of biological assets - - (11,727,296) - - - (11,727,296)
Government grants (11,991,792) - - 186,977 - - (11,804,815)
Extension of useful lives of tangible fixed assets (299,964,933) 35,219,869 (9,700,625) - - - (274,445,689)
Fair value of biological assets - - - - - - -
(321,077,287) 50,905,646 (21,428,216) (6,762,186) - - (298,362,043)
Amounts as presented on Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Deferred tax assets 38,411,713 8,129,853 (7,227,228) 2,928,112 - - 42,242,451
Tax Incentives for Investment 12,522,612 - (8,680,906) - - - 3,841,706
50,934,325 8,129,853 (15,908,134) 2,928,112 - - 46,084,156
Deferred tax liabilities (88,296,253) 13,999,053 (5,892,760) (1,859,601) - - (82,049,564)
(88,296,253) 13,999,053 (5,892,760) (1,859,601) - - (82,049,564)
Income Statement
Change in the
Amounts in Euro 1 January 2015 Increases Decreases Equity Other liabilities consolidation scope 31 December 2015
Temporary differences originating deferred tax assets
Prejuízos fiscais reportáveis 1.155.104 - (1.155.104) - - - -
Taxed provisions 6.079.638 - (5.821.730) - - - 257.908
Adjustments in fixed assets 42.172.563 69.095.053 (11.592.110) - - - 99.675.505
Financial instruments 3.093.055 - - (829.997) - - 2.263.058
Deferred accounting gains on inter-group transactions 20.432.177 7.962.925 (2.955.405) - - - 25.439.698
Valuation of biological assets - 1.275.824 - - - - 1.275.824
Government grants - Investment incentives 12.225.910 - (1.458.946) - - - 10.766.964
85.158.448 78.333.803 (22.983.296) (829.997) - - 139.678.958
Temporary differences originating deferred tax liabilities
Revaluation of fixed assets (7.462.129) 713.971 - - - - (6.748.157)
Retirement benefits (1.110.760) 74.934 (7.929.697) 6.827.564 - - (2.137.958)
Derivative Financial Instruments at fair value (144.728) - - (89.718) - - (234.446)
Deferred accounting losses on inter-group transactions (3.068.885) (358.958) 3.747.934 (320.092) - - -
Government grants - - - - - (11.991.792) (11.991.792)
Extension of useful lives of tangible fixed assets (336.438.878) (25.094.311) 65.321.140 (3.752.884) - - (299.964.933)
Fair value of biological assets (477.515) - 477.515 - - - -
(348.702.895) (24.664.363) 61.616.893 2.664.870 - (11.991.792) (321.077.287)
Amounts as presented on Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Deferred tax assets 23.418.573 21.541.796 (6.320.406) (228.249) - - 38.411.713
Tax Incentives for Investment - - (773.715) - 13.296.327 - 12.522.612
23.418.573 21.541.796 (7.094.121) (228.249) 13.296.327 - 50.934.325
Deferred tax liabilities (95.893.297) (6.782.700) 16.944.647 732.839 - (3.297.743) (88.296.253)
(95.893.297) (6.782.700) 16.944.647 732.839 - (3.297.743) (88.296.253)

In the measurement of the deferred taxes as at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the corporate income tax rate used was 27.5%.

19. PENSIONS AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

19.1 Introduction

Until 2013, several retirement and survivor plans together with retirement bonus, coexisted within the Group. For certain categories of active employees, in addition to the plans described below, additional plans also existed, financed through independent funds assigned to cover those additional responsibilities.

Under the prevailing Social Benefits Regulation, permanent employees of The Navigator Company that chose not to move to the defined contribution plan, together with the retired employees as of the transition date (1 January 2009) and from 1 January 2014, the former employees of Navigator Paper Figueira, Navigator Forest Portugal, RAIZ, Empremédia and Navigator Lusa, are entitled, after retirement in case of disability, to a monthly retirement pension or disability supplement. This is calculated according to a formula, which considers the beneficiary's gross monthly remuneration updated to the work category at the date of retirement and the number of years of service, up to a limit of 30 (limit of 25 to Navigator Paper Figueira, Navigator Forest Portugal, Empremédia, Navigator Lusa and RAIZ), including a survivor pension to the spouse and direct descendants.

To cover this liability, externally managed pension funds were set up, and the funds' assets are apportioned between each of the companies.

In 2010 and 2013, the Group completed the necessary procedures to convert the defined benefit plans of its subsidiaries The Navigator Company, Navigator Paper Figueira, Navigator Forest Portugal, Empremédia, RAIZ and Navigator Lusa, to defined contribution plans for the current employees, keeping the acquired benefits of former employees as defined benefit plans. The acquired rights attributable to former employees and retirees in case they leave the company or in case of a job change or retirement remains unchanged.

Notwithstanding, following a negotiation process with its employees as a result of the aforementioned changes to the pension plans, Navigator Paper Figueira allowed its active employees as of 1 January 2014 to choose, until 16 January 2015, between the following alternatives:

  • i) Alternative A Benefit safeguard plan, or;
  • ii) Alternative B Pure defined contribution plan.

This possibility to choose between these two alternatives was granted to the employees in early 2015, with reference to the situation as of 31 December 2013, in order to overcome the changes that had been made to the Navigator Paper Figueira pension plan, by simulating that the option had been granted as of 1 January 2014, by the time of the conversion of the defined benefit plan into a defined contribution plan.

Alternative A – Benefit safeguard plan

In general terms, employees that chose alternative A retain the option, as of the retirement date, of the defined benefit plan in force until 31 December 2013 based on the employee's seniority as of that date. They also benefit from a defined contribution plan until they reach 25 year seniority in the Company.

In practical terms, this alternative allows the employees to benefit from two autonomous accounts:

  • I. Account 1: which includes an initial contribution corresponding to the amounts delivered to the pension fund under the previous defined benefit plan, in the amount of the liabilities for past services computed as of 31 December 2013, together with the monthly contributions made by the Company during 2014 to the defined contribution plan; and,
  • II. Account 2: including the future monthly contributions to be made by the Company until the employees complete 25 years of service in Navigator Paper Figueira, amounting to 2% of the pensionable salary.

The balance of the Account 1 will be assigned to cover the liabilities associated to a defined benefit (resulting in receiving a pension corresponding to the existing liabilities in the previous defined benefit plan computed as of 31 December 2013), as the employees that chose Alternative A trigger the Safeguard Clause.

Employees that choose to trigger the Safeguard Clause also benefit from a life rent, acquired from an insurance company with the funds accumulated in Account 2.

Employees that do not trigger the Safeguard Clause will benefit from the life rent acquired from the insurance company with the funds accumulated in Accounts 1 and 2.

This means that the benefits awarded by the employees that chose not to trigger the Safeguard Clause will correspond to those that would result in a defined contribution plan, with the corresponding contributions being computed as the sum of the "deposited" contributions in Accounts 1 and 2 (without any adjustment / actuarial update).

Alternative B – Pure defined contribution plan

Employees that chose Alternative B will have access to a defined contribution plan, under which the Company will perform monthly contributions corresponding to 4% of their pensionable salary until the date of retirement or termination of employment contract, with no limitations.

Thus, under this alternative, employees benefit from a single account, which will be composed by the accumulated balance of the following contributions:

  • initial contribution, corresponding to past service liabilities, computed with reference to 31 December 2013 under the previous defined benefit plan, with a 25% premium;
  • contributions made by Navigator Paper Figueira during 2014; and
  • future contributions to be made by Navigator Paper Figueira at a 4% rate.

The benefit to be awarded by employees, who, until 16 January 2015, had chosen this alternative, will correspond to the value of the life rent that can be acquired from an insurance company with the total accumulated contributions of each employee as of the date of retirement.

In conclusion,

Given these changes, at the end of 2015, the defined benefit plan showed a deficit resulting, amongst other factors, from the changes on the actuarial and financial assumptions, namely from the review on the discount rates used in computing the actuarial liabilities.

Thus, in order to finance the net liabilities, the Group carried out additional contributions to the defined benefit plan in 2015.

The Group also holds liabilities related to post-employment defined benefit plans regarding The Navigator Company employees that chose not to accept the conversion to defined contribution plan (13 employees), together with former employees, retirees or, when applicable, with granted rights.

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015 the coverage of the companies' liabilities by the assets of the funds was as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Past service liabilities
- Active Employees 58,339,013 59,309,768
- Former Employees 18,904,578 16,865,214
- Retired Employees 63,832,442 63,137,380
Market value of the pension funds (140,168,576) (143,067,688)
907,456 (3,755,326)
Insufficient funds/ overfunding 907,456 (3,755,326)

The number of active employees that benefit from pension funds as at 30 September 2016 is 546 (31 December 2015: 604).

19.2 Assumptions used in the valuation of the liabilities

The actuarial studies carried out by an independent entity for the purpose of determining the accumulated liabilities as at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015 were based on the following assumptions:

Real Outcome
30-09-2016 31-12-2015 2016 2015
Disability Table EKV 80 EKV 80 - -
Mortality Table TV 88/90 TV 88/90 - -
Wage grow th rate 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
Technical interest rate 2.50% 2.50% - -
Return rate on plan assets 2.50% 2.50% 2.40% 2.40%
Pensions grow th rate 0.75% 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%

The discount rates used in this study were selected over the return rates of a bonds' portfolio, namely Markit iBoxx Eur Corporates AA 10+. From the portfolio, bonds with adequate maturity and rating were selected according to the amount and period cash outflows that will occur in regard to the payment of the benefits to employees.

The following table presents the five-year historical information on the present value of liabilities, the market value of the funds, nonfinanced liabilities and net actuarial gains/ (losses). This information from 2011 to 2016 was as follows:

Amounts in Euro 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 09-2016
Present value of liabilities 121,323,084 122,365,002 65,657,042 70,188,472 139,312,363 141,076,032
Fair value of plan assets 104,716,904 117,050,324 69,558,535 71,666,181 143,067,688 140,168,576
Surplus/(deficit) (16,606,180) (5,314,678) 3,901,493 1,477,709 3,755,326 (907,456)

19.3 Retirement and pension supplements

The movements in liabilities with retirement and pension plans in 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

Amounts in Euro 2016 2015
Opening balance 139,312,363 70,188,472
Changes in assumptions - 11,523,925
Actuarial gains/(losses) (difference betw een actual and expected returns) 776,047 -
Curtailment - (1,238,358)
Costs recognised in the Income Statement 4,099,256 1,861,576
Pensions paid (3,111,633) (2,921,617)
As of 30 September 141,076,033 79,413,997
Remaining quarters 59,898,366
As of 31 December 139,312,363

The funds set up to cover the above mentioned liabilities had the following movement in 2016 and 2015:

Amount in Euro 2016 2015
Opening balance 143,067,688 71,666,181
Contributions made in the period - 9,454,123
Expected return in the period 2,645,227 1,939,611
Actuarial gains/(losses) (difference betw een actual and expected returns) (2,432,706) (635,466)
Pensions paid (3,111,633) (3,216,506)
As of 30 September 140,168,576 79,207,943
Remaining quarters 63,859,745
As of 31 December 143,067,688

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the effect in the income statement of these plans was as follows:

Amounts in Euro 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
Defined Benefit Plans
Current services 1,576,204 70,760
Interest expenses 2,523,052 1,790,817
Return of the plan assets (2,645,227) (1,939,610)
Remission - 911,203
Other (324,912) (1,056,355)
1,129,116 (223,185)
Defined Contribution Plans
Contribution to the plan 918,762 1,405,818
918,762 1,405,818
Costs for the period 2,047,878 1,182,633

20. PROVISIONS

At 2016 and 2015, changes in provisions were as follows:

Amounts in Euro Legal Claims
Tax Claims
Other Total
Amount as of 1 January 2015 2,943,469 24,107,664 14,097,671 41,148,804
Increases 19,910 - - 19,910
Reversals (52,236) - (8,531,025) (8,583,261)
Transfers 1,281 12,131,149 - 12,132,430
Amount as of 30 September 2015 2,912,424 36,238,813 5,566,646 44,717,883
Increases 1,281 - - 1,281
Reversals - - (6,000,285) (6,000,285)
Transfers (287,657) 19,975,781 798,590 20,486,714
Amount as of 31 December 2015 2,626,049 56,214,594 364,951 59,205,593
Increases 1,627,448 - 1,334,065 2,961,513
Reversals - - - -
Transfers - (5,843,914) - (5,843,914)
Amount as of 30 September 2016 4,253,497 50,370,680 1,699,016 56,323,191

The amount shown as "Others" relates to provisions for multiple risks, which may originate cash outflows in the future.

The amount of provisions stated as "Tax claims" results from the Group's judgement at the date, about the potential disagreement with tax authorities, considering most recent updates about this events.

21. INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES AND OTHER LIABILITIES

21.1 Interest-bearing liabilities

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, non-current interest-bearing debt comprised the following:

30-09-2016
Amounts in Euro Available amount Outstanding amount Maturity Interest rate Current Non-current
Bond loans
Portucel 2015-2023 200,000,000 200,000,000 September 2023 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 200,000,000
Portucel 2016-2021 100,000,000 100,000,000 May 2021 Fixed rate - 100,000,000
Portucel 2016-2021 45,000,000 45,000,000 August 2021 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 45,000,000
Charges (2,279,656) (2,279,656)
European Investment Bank
EIB Loan Ambiente A 23,214,286 23,214,286 Dezembro 2018 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 9,285,714 13,928,572
EIB Loan Ambiente B 16,666,667 16,666,667 Junho 2021 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 3,333,333 13,333,333
EIB Loan Energy 60,208,333 60,208,333 Dezembro 2024 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 7,083,333 53,125,000
EIB Loan Cacia 25,000,000 25,000,000 Maio 2028 Fixed rate - 25,000,000
Commercial Paper Programme
Commercial Paper 125M 125,000,000 125,000,000 Maio 2020 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 125,000,000
Commercial Paper 75M 75,000,000 75,000,000 Julho 2020 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 75,000,000
Commercial Paper 50M 50,000,000 30,000,000 Julho 2020 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 30,000,000
Commercial Paper 70M 70,000,000 70,000,000 Maio 2021 Fixed rate - 70,000,000
Commercial Paper 100M 100,000,000 - Variable rate indexed to Euribor - -
Charges (531,830) (531,830)
Bank lines
Short-term line 20M 20,450,714 2,194,556 2,194,556 -
Reimbursable subsidies
Reimbursable subsidies - 5,739,023 5,739,023
775,211,380 21,896,937 753,314,443
31-12-2015
Amounts in Euro Available amount Outstanding amount Maturity Interest rate Current Non-current
Bond loans
Portucel Senior Notes 5.375% 2020 150,000,000 150,000,000 May 2016 Fixed rate - 150,000,000
Portucel 2015-2023 200,000,000 200,000,000 September 2023 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 200,000,000
Charges (4,264,228) (4,264,228)
Bank loans
Bank loan - NTR 19,423,085 19,423,085 July 2021 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 3,249,996 16,173,089
Bank loan - NTR 3,833,333 3,833,333 July 2021 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 666,667 3,166,667
Bank loan - NTR 1,959,546 1,959,546 January 2016 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 1,959,546 -
Bank loan - 15M 15,000,000 15,000,000 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 15,000,000 -
European Investment Bank
EIB Loan Ambiente A 27,857,143 27,857,143 December 2018 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 9,285,714 18,571,429
EIB Loan Ambiente B 18,333,333 18,333,333 June 2021 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 3,333,333 15,000,000
EIB Loan Energy 63,750,000 63,750,000 December 2024 Variable rate indexed to Euribor 7,083,333 56,666,667
Commercial Papel Programme
Commercial paper 125M 125,000,000 125,000,000 May 2020 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 125,000,000
Commercial paper 75M 75,000,000 75,000,000 July 2020 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 75,000,000
Commercial paper 50M 50,000,000 25,000,000 July 2020 Variable rate indexed to Euribor - 25,000,000
Charges (531,266) (531,266)
Reimbursable subsidies
Reimbursable subsidies - 6,788,396 - 6,788,396
727,149,343 40,578,590 686,570,753

On 13 May 2016, The Navigator Company paid out the remaining Portucel Senior Notes 5.375% bonds, anticipating its maturity from 2020, and amounting to Euro 150,000,000, in addition to the Euro 200,000,000 already repaid in September 2015. Simultaneously, the company contracted new financing lines, namely a bond loan of Euro 100,000,000 and a commercial paper of Euro 70,000,000, both with a maturity of five years, and contracted a loan with the European Investment Bank amounting to Euro 25,000,000, which matures in 2028. In the third quarter, the company contracted a new bond loan amounting to Euro 45 million for a period of 5 years.

On 30 September 2016, the average cost of debt, considering interest rate, annual fees and hedging operations, was 1.7% (31 December 2015: 2.5%).

The repayment terms for the loans recorded as non-current are detailed as follows:

Amount in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Non-current
1 to 2 yeas 19,702,382 23,619,051
2 to 3 years 15,059,524 23,619,048
3 to 4 years 243,194,445 14,333,334
4 to 5 years 233,933,466 389,333,334
More than 5 years 244,236,111 240,461,480
756,125,928 691,366,247
Charges (2,811,486) (4,795,494)
753,314,443 686,570,753

On 30 September 2016 the Group had commercial paper programs and credit lines available but not used of Euro 138,256,158 (31 December 2015: Euro 145,450,714).

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, current interest-bearing debt was as follows:

Amount in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Interest-bearing liabilities
Non-current 753,314,443 686,570,753
Current 21,896,937 40,578,590
775,211,380 727,149,343
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash 82,428 79,355
Short term bank deposits 11,876,357 35,024,398
Other 39,827,664 37,553,832
51,786,449 72,657,585
Interest-bearing net debt 723,424,932 654,491,758

The Group has a strict policy of approval of its financial counterparts, limiting its exposure according to an individual risk analysis and previously approved plafonds. Beyond these limits, there is also a diversification policy applied to the number of the Group's counterparties. On 30 September 2016 the Group had no short term deposits in financial institutions. The amount of Euro 38,827,664 shown as other cash investments is invested in a portfolio of bonds from issuers with adequate rating.

The evolution of the Group's net debt in the nine months periods ended 30 September 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

Amount in Euro 9 months
30-09-2016
9 months
30-09-2015
Remaining
quarters
31-12-2015
As of 1 January 654,491,758 273,640,542 - 273,640,542
Variation in the consolidation scope - 17,146,601 - 17,146,601
Expenses w ith the issue of bond loans 2,811,486 1,908,000 - 1,908,000
Interest paid 20,061,857 36,888,292 5,000,956 41,889,248
Interest received (3,390,889) (323,385) (910,000) (1,233,385)
Dividens paid and reserves distributed 170,004,583 310,465,342 129,993,918 440,459,260
Acquisition of treasury shares - - - -
Receipts related to investment activities (4,438,520) (6,631,584) (7,481,543) (14,113,127)
Payments related to acquisition of subsidiaries - 40,949,794 - 40,949,794
Payments related to investment activities 63,066,594 94,401,840 59,448,135 153,849,975
Accumulated exchange rate diferences 718,386 2,018,589 2,846,120 4,864,709
Dividend receipts - - - -
Net receipts of operating activities (179,900,323) (183,382,597) (121,487,261) (304,869,858)
68,933,173 313,440,892 67,410,325 380,851,216
Closing Balance 723,424,931 587,081,434 67,410,325 654,491,758

Also, the movements in the Group's net debt in 30 September 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

9 months 9 months Remaining
Amount in Euro 30-09-2016 30-09-2015 quarters 31-12-2015
Net profit for the year 134,265,035 141,516,895 55,248,627 196,765,522
Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses 120,518,942 94,855,771 26,860,164 121,715,935
Net changes in provisions 2,961,513 (8,563,351) (5,999,004) (14,562,355)
257,745,490 227,809,315 76,109,787 303,919,102
Change in w orking capital (8,355,748) (46,085,274) 12,265,320 (33,819,954)
Variation in the consolidation scope - (19,851,832) - (19,851,832)
Acquisitions of tangible fixed assets (114,748,793) (159,726,350) (32,292,163) (192,018,513)
Dividens paid and reserves distributed (170,004,583) (310,465,342) (129,993,918) (440,459,260)
Acquisition of treasury shares - - - -
Net changes in post-employment benefits (4,150,360) (1,683,766) 3,448,961 1,765,195
Other changes in equity (18,538,920) (11,113,900) 15,407,898 4,293,998
Expenses w ith the issue of bond loans 1,984,008 1,257,225 429,503 1,686,728
Other (12,864,266) 6,419,032 (12,785,713) (6,366,681)
Change in net debt (Free Cash Flow ) (68,933,172) (313,440,892) (67,410,324) (380,851,216)

21.2 Other Liabilities

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the other non-current liabilities were as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Non-current
Grants 36,936,267 37,215,981
Equipment 2,320,373 1,322,745
39,256,640 38,538,726

Financial leases – IFRIC 4

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the Group showed the following equipment under finance lease plans recognized under IFRIC 4:

30-09-2016
Acquisition Accumulated Net book
Amounts in Euro Value depreciation value
Equipment - Omya 14,000,000 (10,594,595) 3,405,405
14,000,000 (10,594,595) 3,405,405
31-12-2015
Acquisition Accumulated Net book
Amounts in Euro Value depreciation value
Equipment - Omya 14,000,000 (9,459,460) 4,540,540
14,000,000 (9,459,460) 4,540,540

The non-current and current liabilities related to that equipment are recorded under "Other liabilities" and "Payables and other current liabilities", respectively, and are detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Non-current
Equipment 2,320,373 1,322,745
Current 2,968,920 3,995,996
5,289,293 5,318,741

In 2009, with the launch of the new paper mill in Setubal, the Group recognized as a finance lease the cost of the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate production unit, installed by Omya, S.A. at the industry site in Setúbal for the exclusive use of the new mill. This contract foresees the transfer of the assets' ownership to About The Future, S.A., upon its termination, in 2019.

22. PAYABLES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, "Payables and other current liabilities" were detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Accounts payable to suppliers 138,629,313 139,127,591
Accounts payable to fixed assets suppliers 3,747,125 2,945,204
Accounts payable to fixed assets suppliers - leases (Note 21) 2,968,920 3,995,996
Accounts payable - Related parties (Note 24) - 1,260,933
Derivative financial instruments (Note 23) 10,279,571 646,872
Other creditors - CO2 emissions 2,979,736 6,855,147
Sales comissions 154,418 137,740
Other creditors 1,492,519 2,778,493
Accrued costs 57,616,799 61,100,959
Deferred income 2,346,232 6,235,175
220,211,774 225,084,110

On 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, accrued costs and deferred income were detailed as follow:

Amount in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Accrued costs
Payroll expenses - Annual Performance Bonus 12,003,490 15,688,962
Payroll expenses - Other 23,127,935 18,855,256
Interests payable, including compensatory interest 3,741,294 8,533,687
Other 18,744,080 18,023,054
57,616,799 61,100,959
Deferred income
Government grants 1,718,298 6,274,879
Grants - CO2 emission licenses 602,480 (26,680)
Other 25,454 (13,024)
2,346,232 6,235,175

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, deferred income on government grants was detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
AICEP investment contracts
The Navigator Company, S.A. - 10,668,532
Enerpulp, S.A. 9,183,471 -
Navigator Pulp Cacia, S.A. 15,682,982 17,424,719
Navigator Pulp Setúbal, S.A. 920,518 1,456,647
Navigator Pulp Figueira da Foz, S.A. 9,673,174 10,767,344
Navigator Parques Industriais, S.A. 2,181,262 2,225,779
Navigator Paper Figueira da Foz, S.A. 348,137 564,192
37,989,543 43,107,213
Other
Raiz 34,238 72,883
Viveiros Aliança, S.A. 630,783 711,342
665,021 784,225
38,654,564 43,891,438

During 2016 and 2015, the movements in Grants – CO2 emissions were as follows:

Amount in Euro 2016 2015
Grants - CO2 emissions
Opening balance - -
Increase 2,849,117 3,197,487
Utilization (2,246,637) (2,336,372)
Closing balance September 602,480 861,115
Remaining quarters (861,115)
Closing balance December -

This amount regards the CO2 emission allowances granted for free to several group companies (2016: 504,595 and 498,008 for 2015).

23. FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

23.1 Financial instruments held for trading

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the fair value of derivative financial instruments was as follows:

30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Amounts in Euro Notional Positive Negative Net Net
Trading
CO2 emissions 1,931,000 - (675,077) (675,077) 57,667
Foreign Exchange Forw ards 90,830,000 468,578 (424,013) 44,565 (417,437)
92,761,000 468,578 (1,099,090) (630,512) (359,770)

The Group has a currency exposure on sales invoiced in foreign currencies, namely US dollars (USD) and pounds sterling (GBP). As the Group's financial statements are translated into Euro, it runs an economic risk on the conversion of these currency flows to the Euro. The Group is also obliged, albeit to a lesser degree, to make certain payments in those same currencies which, for currency exposure purposes, act as a natural hedge. Thus, the hedge is aimed at safeguarding the net value of items in the statement of financial position denominated in foreign currencies against the respective currency fluctuations.

The hedging instruments used in this operation are foreign exchange forward contracts covering the net exposure to the foreign currencies at the time the invoices are issued, for the same maturity dates and the same amounts of these documents in such a way as to fix the exchange rate associated with the sales. The nature of the risk hedged is change in the carrying amount of on sales and purchases expressed in foreign currencies due to foreign currency fluctuations. At the end of each month, customer and suppliers' balances expressed in foreign currency are updated, with the gain or loss offset against the fair value change of the forwards negotiated.

The net fair value of trading instruments – forwards – as at 30 September 2016 is Euro 630,512 (31 December 2015: Euro 359,770).

In 2015, the Group proceeded to the purchase of 200,000 licenses for CO2 allowances for delivery in 2017-2018. In 2016 an additional purchase of over 50,000 licenses of CO2 was made, with the same maturity.

23.2 Derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the fair value of derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments was as follows:

31-12-2015
Amounts in Euro Notional Positive Negative Net Net
Hedging
Interest rate sw ap for: 325,000,000 - (10,129,518) (10,129,518) 870,372
Commercial Paper issued 125,000,000 - (1,721,784) (1,721,784) 515,041
Bond loan 200,000,000 - (8,407,734) (8,407,734) 355,331
Foreign Exchange Forw ards (net investment) 22,444,225 - (150,053) (150,053) 543,992
Foreign Exchange Forw ards (future sales)* 175,800,000 82,453 - 82,453 -
523,244,225 82,453 (10,279,571) (10,197,118) 1,414,364

* Amount in USD

Net investment

The Group hedges the economic risk associated with exposure to the exchange rate of its participation in PortucelSoporcel North America. To this end, the Group has entered into a foreign exchange forward maturing in November 2016, with a notional outstanding of USD 25,050,000.

This instrument is designated as an hedging of the investment in the North America subsidiary of the Group, with fair value changes recognized in comprehensive income. As at 30 September 2016, the fair value reserve associated with this coverage was Euro 3,954,490 (31 December 2015: Euro 3,260,446).

Cash flow hedge – Exchange rate risk EUR/USD

The Group makes use of derivative financial instruments in order to limit the net exchange risk associated with sales and future purchases estimated at USD.

In this context, throughout 2016, the Group contracted several financial structures in order to partially hedge its exposure to foreign currency on the estimated sales in USD for 2016. Derivative financial instruments contracted were options, globally amounting to USD 175.8 million, which reach their maturity on 31 January 2017.

Cash flow hedge – Interest Rate

The Group hedges future interest payments associated with commercial paper issues by hiring an interest rate swap, which pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate. This instrument is designated as hedges of cash flows from the commercial paper program and the bond loan. The credit risk is not part of the hedging relationship.

This hedge is designated for the entire life of the hedging instruments.

23.3 Credit and receivables

These amounts are initially recognized at fair value, and subsequently measured at amortized cost less any impairment losses identified during the course of the credit risk analysis of the credit portfolios held.

23.4 Other financial liabilities

These items are recognized at their amortized cost, corresponding to the value of the respective cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate associated with each of the liabilities.

23.5 Net gains on financial assets and liabilities

The effect in net income of the period of the financial assets and liabilities held is detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 30-09-2015
Gain/ (loss) on loans and receivables (13,594) (2,074,478)
Gains / (losses) on financial instruments - hedging (1,919,204) (5,132,307)
Gains / (losses) on financial instruments - trading
Interest Income:
462,002 1,974,471
From deposits and other receivables
Interest expense:
2,281,090 203,294
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost (17,870,449) (37,579,114)
Other 440,221 (2,298,740)
(16,619,934) (44,906,874)

The fair value of derivative financial instruments is included in "Receivables and other current assets" (Note 15) and "Payables and other current liabilities" (Note 22).

The movement in the balances recognized in the statement of financial position (Notes 15 and 22) related with financial instruments was as follows:

Change in fair
value (Trading)
Change in fair
value (Hedging)
Total
Amount as of 1 January 2015 (1,342,225) (2,842,640) (4,184,865)
Maturity 1,974,471 (5,132,307) (3,157,836)
Increase/decrease in fair value - 6,835,632 6,835,632
Amount as of 30 September 2015 632,246 (1,139,315) (507,069)
Maturity (1,049,683) (2,822,418) (3,872,101)
Increase/decrease in fair value 57,667 5,376,098 5,433,765
Amount as of 1 January 2016 (359,770) 1,414,365 1,054,596
Maturity 462,002 (1,919,204) (1,457,202)
Increase/decrease in fair value (732,744) (9,692,279) (10,425,023)
Amount as of 30 September 2016 (630,512) (10,197,118) (10,827,629)

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the derivative financial instruments previously summarized had the following maturities:

30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Nominal value Maturity Type Fair Value Fair Value
Exchange rate forw ards USD 77,250,000 31-jan-17 Trading (424,013) (646,872)
GBP 13,580,000 13-fev-17 Trading 468,578 229,435
Future purchase of C02 emission licences EUR 1,931,000 15-mar-18 Trading (675,077) 57,667
(630,512) (359,770)
Foreign Exchange forw ards - Net Equity USD 25,050,000 27-nov-16 Hedging (150,053) 543,992
Hedging for future sales USD 175,800,000 31-jan-17 Hedging 82,453 -
Interest rate sw ap for comercial Paper issued EUR 125,000,000 26-mai-20 Hedging (1,721,784) 515,041
Interest rate sw ap for loans EUR 200,000,000 22-set-23 Hedging (8,407,734) 355,331
(10,197,118) 1,414,364
(10,827,630) 1,054,594

24. BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

The following is a breakdown of related parties' balances as at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015:

30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Assets Liabilities Assets
Amounts in Euro Other debtors
Customers
(fiscal consolidation)
Payables Other debtors
Customers
(fiscal consolidation)
Payables
Semapa - Soc. De Investimento e Gestão, SGPS, S.A. - - - - 1.212.515 1.192.989
Secil - Companhia Geral Cal e Cimento, S.A. 14.760 - 265 15.265 - 297
Secil Britas, S.A. - - 10.765 - - 9.132
Enermontijo, S.A. 363.683 - - 433.951 - 4.982
Enerpar, SGPS, Lda. - - - - - 46.694
Cimilonga - Imobiliária, S.A. - - (13.700) - - 6.839
378.443 - (2.670) 449.216 1.212.515 1.260.933

On 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, transactions with related parties were as follows:

30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Amounts in Euro Sales
and services
rendered
Interest
received
Cosumed
materials
and services
Sales
and services
rendered
Interest
received
Cosumed
materials
and services
Semapa - Soc. De Investimento e Gestão, SGPS, S.A. 571 -
5.962.341
2.218 - 7.741.519
Secil - Companhia Geral Cal e Cimento, S.A. 54.000 -
1.119
72.740 - 1.946
Secil Britas, S.A. - -
39.597
- - 31.162
Enermontijo, S.A. 609.093 -
211.101
983.993 - 267.508
Enerpar, SGPS, Lda. - -
223.748
- - 1.919.589
Cimilonga - Imobiliária, S.A. - -
205.988
- - 66.856
663.665 -
6.643.893
1.058.951 - 10.028.580

On 1 February 2013, a contract to render administrative and management services was signed between Semapa - Sociedade de Investimentos e Gestão, SGPS, S.A. and Navigator Group, establishing a remuneration system based in equal criteria for both parties in the continuous cooperation and assistance relationships, that meets the rules applicable to commercial relationships between group companies.

In March 2015, The Navigator Company celebrated an agreement with Enerpar SGPS, Lda. under which paid a fee related to the promotion of its pellets project located in the United States of America, in particular for having defined and deepened several studies and initiatives including, amongst others, market analysis, real estate prospection, public entities negotiation, tax and corporate planning, projection of manufacturing facilities, equipment commissioning and customer acquisition, coordinating all these aspects in a single project.

Under the same agreement, Enerpar SGPS, Lda. will also render technical advisory services including engineering project support, coordination of work, equipment commissioning, factory ramp up, guaranteeing quality in the final product, supporting commercial contract management and training to be provided to the sales team that will be responsible to manage the customers they obtained.

Enerpar SGPS, Lda. is a company that manages holdings in the renewable energy sector, holding the full equity capital of Enermontijo, SA, which has been dedicated to the productions of forest-based wood pellets for about nine years, annually producing Tons 80,000 and to whom the Group sells biomass. Enerpar SGPS, Lda. is a related party as its shareholders have family relations with a nonexecutive Board Member of the Group.

It was also celebrated a lease agreement between Navigator Paper Figueira, S.A. and Cimilonga - Imobiliária, S.A. under which an office was leased in Semapa headquarters' building, in Lisbon.

In the identification of the Group's related parties for the purpose of this report, the members of the Group's statutory bodies were considered as related parties.

25. COMMITMENTS

25.1 Commitments towards third-parties

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the Group had presented the following bank guarantees to the following entities:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
Customs clearence 1.835.250 2.723.960
Simria 338.829 327.775
IAPMEI 5.381.948 6.573.110
Spanish tax authorities 1.033.204 -
Other 664.968 605.540
9.254.199 10.230.385

The guarantees in favor of IAPMEI were provided under the investment contracts celebrated between the Portuguese State and Navigator Pulp Cacia, S.A. (Euro 2,438,132) and Navigator Tissue Ródão, S.A. (Euro 2,943,816), as per the terms and conditions defined in the Payment Standard applicable to projects approved under QREN Incentive Systems.

25.2 Purchase commitments

In addition to the commitments described in the preceding Note, purchase commitments assumed with suppliers at 30 September 2016 amounted to Euro 69,276,648 and referred to capital expenditure on Property, plant and equipment. In 31 December 2015 these commitments amounted to Euro 23,107,821.

On 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the commitments relating to operating lease contracts comprised the following:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
2016 422.014 1.506.712
2017 1.540.578 1.202.577
2018 1.144.827 810.035
2019 765.906 434.663
2020 350.425 52.956
4.223.750 4.006.943

As at 30 September 2016 and 31 December 2015, the undiscounted commitments relating to external group forestry land rents comprised the following:

Amounts in Euro 30-09-2016 31-12-2015
2016 1.518.782 4.583.742
2017 4.433.392 4.426.222
2018 4.280.986 4.149.697
2019 4.032.784 3.980.008
2020 3.714.805 3.657.728
Later 48.174.726 47.542.248
66.155.475 68.339.646

26. CONTINGENT ASSETS

26.1 Tax matters

26.1.1 Public Debt Settlement Fund

According to Decree-Law no. 36/93 of 13 February, the tax debts of privatized companies relating to periods prior to the privatization date (in the case of The Navigator Company, 25 November 2006) are the responsibility of the Public Debt Settlement Fund. The Navigator Company submitted an application to the Public Debt Settlement Fund on 16 April 2008 requesting the payment by the State of the tax debts raised by the tax authorities for periods before that date. On 13 December 2010, The Navigator Company presented a new application requesting the payment of debts settled by the tax authorities regarding 2006 and 2003. This application was supplemented on 13 October 2011, with the amounts already paid and uncontested regarding these debts, as well as with expenses directly related to them, pursuant to court ruling dated 24 May 2011 (Case No. 0993A/02), which confirmed the company's position regarding the enforceability of such expenses. In this context, the aforementioned Fund is liable for Euro 30,375,727, detailed as follows:

Amounts in Euro Period Requested
amounts
1st Refund Decrease due to
RERD
Processes
decided in favour
of the Group
Outstanding
The Navigator Company, S.A.
VAT - Germany 1998-2004 5.850.000 (5.850.000) - - -
Corporate Income Tax 2001 314.340 - - (314.340) -
Corporate Income Tax 2002 625.033 (625.033) - - -
VAT 2002 2.697 (2.697) - - -
Corporate Income Tax 2003 1.573.165 (1.573.165) - - -
Corporate Income Tax 2003 182.230 (157.915) - (24.315) -
Corporate Income Tax (Withheld) 2004 3.324 - - - 3.324
Corporate Income Tax 2004 766.395 - - (139.023) 627.372
Corporate Income Tax (Withheld) 2005 1.736 (1.736) - - -
Corporate Income Tax 2005 11.754.680 - (1.360.294) - 10.394.386
Corporate Income Tax 2006 11.890.071 - (1.108.178) - 10.781.893
Expenses 314.957 - - - 314.957
33.278.628 (8.210.546) (2.468.472) (477.678) 22.121.932
Navigator Paper Figueira, S.A.
Corporate Income Tax 2002 18.923 - - - 18.923
Corporate Income Tax 2003 5.725.771 - - - 5.725.771
VAT 2003 2.509.101 - - - 2.509.101
Stamp duty 2004 497.669 - - (497.669) -
8.751.464 - - (497.669) 8.253.795
42.030.092 (8.210.546) (2.468.472) (975.347) 30.375.727

26.1.2 Taxes paid in litigation

At 30 September 2016, the additional tax assessments that are paid and disputed by the group are summarized as follows:

Amounts in Euro
Aggregate corporate income tax 2005 10,394,386
Aggregate corporate income tax 2006 8,150,146
Aggregate corporate income tax - result of the income tax calculation - 2010 4,860,281
Aggregate corporate income tax - result of the income tax calculation - 2011 2,208,268
Aggregate corporate income tax 2012 6,876,545
32,489,626

i) Group corporate income tax 2005 and 2006

Following the tax inspection to the 2005 tax year, in which the aggregate tax loss declared amounted to Euro 30,381,815, a correction to the taxable income amounting to Euro 74,478,109 was included in the final inspection report.

From the total amount corrected, Euro 73,453,776 regard losses on disposal of financial investments, including additional equity contributions, considered as equity by the tax authorities under the article 23 nº5 of Portuguese Corporate Tax Law as it was in place as of that date.

The Group's understanding is different, in which it is supported by its advisors and lawyers, and is based both in the opinion of renowned teachers of accounting and law and in the letter of the law, especially in the wording introduced by the 2006 State Budget to article 42 of the

Portuguese Corporate Income Tax Law, and in the prohibition of irrefutable presumptions as stated in Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, in particular in its article 103, in what concerns article 23, nº5 and nº6 of the Portuguese Corporate Income Tax Law.

Following the adjustments made by the tax authorities to the 2005 taxable income, tax losses of Euro 30,381,815 reported by the group in 2005, which were used in 2006, could no longer be considered. As a consequence, the 2006 taxable income was corrected in that amount by the tax authorities. The Group has disputed this correction.

ii) Aggregate corporate income tax 2010 and 2011 – result of liquidation

In 2010, the Group deducted the available RFAI tax incentive up to 25% of the tax collection as permitted by the legislation that approved the tax regime. However, article 92 of the Portuguese Corporate Income Tax Law limits the utilization of tax benefits to 10% of the tax collection, conflicting with the 25% mentioned in RFAI. The deduction of this tax benefit in 2010 resulted in an additional income tax settlement of Euro 4,448,387, having the Group paid and disputed the mentioned amount.

The same situation occurred in 2011, having the Company paid the additional income tax settlement and disputed in the Arbitration Court. On 5 May 2015 the Court decided against the Group, having the Group appealed to the Constitutional Court, in particular regarding the deduction in 2011 of the RFAI tax incentive of 2009 and 2010, when the limit established in Article 92 of the Portuguese Income Tax Law was only 25% and not 10%.

iii) Group corporate income tax 2012

Part of the investment considered relevant for the purpose of the RFAI tax incentive, included in Law 10/209 of 10 March, regards the biomass plants acquired by Navigator. In the context of a request for binding information interposed by Navigator regarding the possibility of taking advantage of this benefit, the tax authorities found that Navigator could not benefit from the RFAI in respect of those plants, as the main activity of the company was not the production of energy. In that sense, the tax authorities corrected the amount of income tax to pay determined by the Group in 2012, in the part related to the use of that tax benefit.

The debt was paid and is now in discussion in the arbitral court. The Group has already been granted a favorable decision in a similar proceeding regarding 2011.

26.2 Non-tax matters

26.2.1 Public Debt Settlement Fund

In addition to the tax matters described above, a second request to the Public Debt Settlement Fund was submitted on 2 June 2010, which called for the reimbursement of various amounts, totaling Euro 136,243,939. These amounts regard adjustments in the financial statements of the group after its privatization that had not been considered in formulating the price of its privatization as they were not included in the documentation made available for consultation by the bidders.

On 24 May 2014 the Court denied the Group's proposal to present testimony evidence, alternatively proposing written submissions. On 30 June 2014 Group appealed against this decision, but continuously presented written evidence. The Court subsequently confirmed the Group's views on this matter.

26.2.2 Infrastructure enhancement and maintenance fee

Under the licensing process nº 408/04 related to the new paper mill project, the Setubal City Council issued a settlement note to The Navigator Company regarding an infrastructure enhancement and maintenance fee ("TMUE ") amounting to Euro 1,199,560, with which the company disagrees.

This situation regards the amount collected under this levy in the licensing process mentioned above, for the construction of a new paper mill in the industrial site of Mitrena, Setúbal. The Navigator Company disagrees with the amount charged and filled an administrative claim against it on 25 February 2008 (request 2485/08), followed by an appeal to Court against the rejection of the claim on 28 October 2008. At 3 October 2012 this claim had an adverse decision, and in 13 November 2012, The Navigator Company appealed. This lawsuit is awaiting the decision of TCA since 4 July 2013.

27. COMPANIES INCLUDED IN CONSOLIDATION

Share equity owned
Company Head office Directly Indirectly Total
Parent-Company:
The Navigator Company, S. A. Setúbal - - -
Subsidiaries:
Navigator Paper Figueira, S.A. Figueira da Foz 100,00 - 100,00
Portucel Florestal, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
Navigator Parques Industriais, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
Enerpulp – Cogeração Energética de Pasta, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
About Balance - SGPS, S.A. Lisboa 100,00 - 100,00
Navigator Fine Paper , S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Tissue Cacia, S.A. Aveiro - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Internacional Holding SGPS, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
Portucel Moçambique - Sociedade de Desenvolvimento Florestal e Industrial, Lda Moçambique 20,05 60,15 80,20
Portucel Florestal Brasil - Gestão de Participações, Lda Brasil 25,00 75,00 100,00
Colombo Energy Inc. EUA - 100,00 100,00
Portucel Finance, Zoo Polónia 25,00 75,00 100,00
Navigator Africa, SRL Itália - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Floresta, SGPS, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
Sociedade de Vinhos da Herdade de Espirra - Produção e Comercialização de Vinhos, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Gavião - Sociedade de Caça e Turismo, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 100,00
Navigator Forest Portugal, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Afocelca - Agrupamento complementar de empresas para protecção contra incêndios, ACE Portugal - 64,80 64,80
Viveiros Aliança - Empresa Produtora de Plantas, S.A. Palmela - 100,00 100,00
Atlantic Forests, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Raiz - Instituto de Investigação da Floresta e Papel Aveiro - 94,00 94,00
Bosques do Atlantico, SL Espanha - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Pulp Holding ,SGPS, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
Navigator Pulp Figueira, S.A. Figueira da Foz - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Pulp Setúbal, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Pulp Cacia, S.A. Aveiro - 100,00 100,00
Portucel International GmbH Alemanha - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Paper Holding ,SGPS, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
About the Future - Empresa Produtora de Papel, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Paper Setúbal, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Portucel Soporcel North America Inc. EUA - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Sales & Marketing, S.A. Bélgica 25,00 75,00 100,00
Navigator Lusa, Lda Figueira da Foz - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Sw itzerland Ltd. Suiça 25,00 75,00 100,00
PortucelSoporcel Afrique du Nord Marrocos - 100,00 100,00
PortucelSoporcel España, S.A. Espanha - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Netherlands, BV Holanda - 100,00 100,00
PortucelSoporcel France, EURL França - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Paper Company UK, Ltd Reino Unido - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Italia, SRL Itália - 100,00 100,00
PortucelSoporcel Deutschland, GmbH Alemanha - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Paper Austria, GmbH Austria - 100,00 100,00
PortucelSoporcel Poland SP Z o o Polónia - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Eurasia Turquia - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Rus Company, LLC Russia - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Participações Holding ,SGPS, S.A. Setúbal 100,00 - 100,00
Arboser – Serviços Agro-Industriais, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
EMA21 - Engenharia e Manutenção Industrial Século XXI, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Ema Cacia - Engenharia e Manutenção Industrial, ACE Aveiro - 91,15 91,15
Ema Setúbal - Engenharia e Manutenção Industrial, ACE Setúbal - 92,56 92,56
Ema Figueira da Foz- Engenharia e Manutenção Industrial, ACE Figueira da Foz - 91,47 91,47
Empremédia - Corretores de Seguros, S.A. Lisboa - 100,00 100,00
EucaliptusLand, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Headbox - Operação e Contolo Industrial, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Added Value, S.A. Setúbal - 100,00 100,00
Navigator Abastecimento de Madeira, ACE Setúbal - 100,00 100,00

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pedro Mendonça de Queiroz Pereira Chairman

Diogo António Rodrigues da Silveira Vice President/CEO

Luis Alberto Caldeira Deslandes Vice President

João Nuno de Sottomayor Pinto de Castello Branco Vice President

António José Pereira Redondo

José Fernando Morais Carreira de Araújo

Nuno Miguel Moreira de Araújo Santos

João Paulo Araújo Oliveira

Adriano Augusto da Silva Silveira

Manuel Soares Ferreira Regalado

Paulo Miguel Garcês Ventura

José Miguel Pereira Gens Paredes

Ricardo Miguel dos Santos Pacheco Pires

Vitor Manuel Galvão Rocha Novais Gonçalves

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