DGAP-News: Nabaltec AG posts revenues of EUR 91.8 million in the first half of 2018 and confirms forecast for 2018 as a whole

Nabaltec AG posts revenues of EUR 91.8 million in the first half of 2018 and confirms forecast for 2018 as a whole

• First-half revenues up 3.5% from the year before, to EUR 91.8 million
• EBIT of EUR 9.7 million in the first six months of the year with an EBIT margin of 10.7%
• Forecast confirmed: revenue growth in the mid-single digits; EBIT margin in the high single digits

Schwandorf, 23 August 2018 - Nabaltec AG once again reported revenue growth in the first half of 2018, with revenues climbing 3.5% to a record high of EUR 91.8 million, up from EUR 88.7 million the year before. Second-quarter revenues were up 3.1% from the same period of last year, to EUR 46.5 million (up from EUR 45.1 million).

Operating profit (EBIT) was EUR 9.7 million in the first six months of the year, on par with the year before. The EBIT margin (EBIT as a percentage of total performance) was 10.7% in the first half of 2018. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to EUR 15.6 million, up 1.3% from the value of EUR 15.4 million which was posted in the same period of last year.

"Our customers' demand remains strong and the market drivers remain intact. At the same time, we have been able to shift our product mix in the first half of 2018 towards higher-margin and more refined products. The commissioning of the production line of Nashtec has started in August, and we will be gradually ramping up production volume and resuming direct supply of our customers in the US," said Johannes Heckmann, CEO of Nabaltec AG.

Revenues in the "Functional Fillers" product segment were EUR 30.7 million in the second quarter of 2018, which was even with the year before. As was the case in the first quarter of 2018 as well, revenues in the "Specialty Alumina" product segment grew at a strong pace, climbing 10.4% to EUR 15.9 million (same quarter of last year: EUR 14.4 million). This growth was particularly attributable to an improved product mix, as well as price effects.

"Despite the considerable burden posed by Nashtec, we were able to post double-digit EBIT margin growth in the second quarter of 2018 thanks to strong boehmite revenues and a stronger US dollar," reported Günther Spitzer, CFO of Nabaltec AG. "Nevertheless, we continue to expect Nashtec's resumption of operations to weigh down our earnings in the second half of 2018. Accordingly, we have retained our previous forecast for 2018 as a whole. We expect an EBIT margin in the high single digits." Nabaltec AG also confirms its forecast calling for revenue growth in the mid-single digits.

Note: Nabaltec AG's quarterly report for the second quarter of 2018 will be available for download as of 23 August 2018 in the Investor Relations section of www.nabaltec.de.

About Nabaltec AG:
Nabaltec AG, with registered office in Schwandorf, a chemicals business which has received multiple awards for innovativeness, manufactures, develops and distributes highly specialized products based on aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide on an industrial scale through its two product segments, "Functional Fillers" and "Specialty Alumina." The company's product range includes halogen-free flame retardant fillers and functional additives for the plastics industry. Flame retardant fillers are used e.g. in cables in tunnels, airports, high-rise buildings and electronic devices, while additives have applications in catalysis and in electric vehicles. Nabaltec also produces specialty oxides for use in technical ceramics and the refractory industry. Unlike halogenated flame retardants, flame retardant fillers contain no hazardous substances and do not require separate disposal. Rather, they actually decrease the development of fumes hazardous to human health and the environment in the event of fire. Nabaltec maintains production sites in Germany and the US and plans to continue to develop its market position by expanding capacity, further optimizing processes and quality and making strategic extensions to its product range. On the strength of its specialty products, the company strives to attain the market leadership in each segment.

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