SURTECO GROUP SE: Publication of the report for the first half year 2018

- Consolidated sales increase by 9 % to EUR 365.2 million in the first half year

- EBIT rises by 22 % to EUR 23.5 million after six months

- Outlook for 2018 adjusted against the background of increasingly difficult framework conditions

Buttenwiesen, 14 August 2018 - SURTECO GROUP SE, holding company of leading national and international brands for surface technology, continues to demonstrate positive development after six months of the year 2018. Consolidated sales rose by 9 % from EUR 334.0 million to EUR 365.2 million during the reporting period. If exchange rates had remained at the year-earlier level, the growth of the company would have been around EUR 10 million higher. The SURTECO Group improved EBIT (earnings before financial result and income tax) by 22 % to EUR 23.5 million (H1 2017: EUR 19.3 million). Between January and June 2018, consolidated net profit grew by as much as 51 % from EUR 10.0 million to EUR 15.1 million thanks to an improved financial result and a lower tax rate. The Board of Management has adjusted the forecast for the full year 2018 against the background of increasingly difficult framework conditions. Now, EBIT is expected to be in the range of slightly to significantly below EUR 49 million. Based on an assessment of the business development in July and August 2018, the planned sales target of EUR 725 to 750 million is also uncertain due to a volatile development of certain customer industries, but also due to continuing unfavourable exchange rates.

"Thanks to a good development in our plastics line, SURTECO has generated robust sales and earnings growth in the first six months of 2018. However, we expect increasingly difficult framework conditions for the second half of the year due to global political tensions. We are countering the significant increase in raw material costs with strict cost discipline", commented Dr. Herbert Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management of SURTECO GROUP SE.

Plastics division grows by 24 %

After six months, the plastics division has reported a dynamic increase in growth of 24 % to EUR 180.6 million (H1 2017: EUR 145.9 million). This was powered by the acquisition of the Probos Group in June of last year and by modest organic growth in skirtings, finish foils and technical extrusions (profiles). EBIT for this business line went up by 44 % from EUR 11.2 million to EUR 16.1 million. By contrast, ongoing high pressure on the raw materials side, negative currency effects and an unfavourable product mix have dominated the picture in the paper segment after the first six months of 2018. As a consequence of this, a drop in sales of around 2 % was posted to EUR 184.6 million (H1 2017: EUR 188.1 million) accompanied by a fall in EBIT from EUR 13.0 million to EUR 10.9 million.

Sustained high quality of the balance sheet

The balance sheet total increased from EUR 842.6 million to EUR 867.6 million on 30 June 2018 compared with year-end 2017. During the reporting period, equity capital at EUR 350.4 million remained largely unchanged by comparison with year-end 2017 (31 December 2017: EUR 349.2 million). As a function of the increased balance sheet total, the equity ratio eased from 41.4 % to 40.4 %. Primarily on account of reduced factoring (sale of receivables) since January 2018, net financial debt increased to EUR 200.5 million after EUR 190.0 million at year-end 2017. Correspondingly, the level of debt was 57 % at the end of March and this was therefore three percentage points above the value at year-end 2017.

You can find the report on the first half year of the business year 2018 and other information about the SURTECO GROUP SE on the Internet at www.surteco-group.com.

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Profile of SURTECO

SURTECO GROUP SE with registered office in Buttenwiesen is a mid-sized holding company with international operations. The company listed on the stock exchange combines leading national and international brands for surface technology under one roof. The comprehensive product portfolio includes papers printed with decor designs, impregnated materials, release papers, decorative flat foils and edgebandings based on specialist technical papers and plastics. This portfolio is complemented by skirtings made of plastics, technical extrusions (profiles) for industry, and roller shutter systems.
The Group has a workforce of more than 3,300 employees at 23 production sites worldwide, generating annual sales of around EUR 690 million (status 2017). 25% of these sales are generated in Germany, 46% in European countries outside Germany and a further 29% in America, Asia and Australia. Customers of the SURTECO Group primarily come from the wood-based, flooring and furniture industries, as well as from interior design.

More information on the company is available at: www.surteco-group.com

The shares in SURTECO GROUP SE are listed on the official market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt and Munich Stock Exchanges under the ticker symbol SUR and ISIN DE0005176903. They are also traded on the stock markets in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This press release may contain statements of future forecasts or expectations and other forward-looking statements and involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. There is therefore no guarantee for the statements and expectations expressed herein. The actual results and developments may differ substantially. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein or to adapt such information to future results or developments.

Important indicators of SURTECO GROUP SE (in Mio. EUR)

(1) Difference to balance of segment earnings due to internal clearing

(2) Based on a number of shares amounting to 15,505,731

(3) Net debt / Equity