28.04.2009
Nabaltec AG / Final Results Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Nabaltec AG: Financial Year 2008 - Consolidated revenues up 9.3% to EUR 96.3 million - EBIT up from EUR 4.0 million to EUR 4.1 million - Weak fourth quarter 2008 kept earnings down despite record revenues - Preparations and investments in the new business unit 'Additives' proceeding according to plan Schwandorf, 28 April 2009 - The Nabaltec AG, a leading supplier of eco-friendly mineral-based flame retardants and raw materials for technical ceramics, reported that consolidated revenues grew 9.3% in 2008, from EUR 88.1 million to EUR 96.3 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose by 10.7%, from EUR 8.4 million to EUR 9.3 million, while operating income (EBIT) increased slightly, from EUR 4.0 million to EUR 4.1 million. Earnings after taxes (and minority interests) fell from EUR 2.4 million to EUR 1.1 million, so that earnings per share dropped to EUR 0.14 in 2008 from EUR 0.30 the year before. Nabaltec has been able to confirm the reported preliminary financial figures. Gerhard Witzany, member of Nabaltec AG's Management Board: 'Needless to say, we imagined that the fourth quarter of 2008 would go a little differently, but the global economic crisis has been responsible for a considerable shift in orders and revenues in our target markets. This trend continued into January and February of 2009. We saw a slight recovery in March, but we cannot say if it will last; at least until mid-year, when we announce our specific forecasts for 2009.' Nabaltec Group expects a gradual improvement in market conditions in the second half of the year, although 2009 revenues and earnings should come in lower than the year before. Nabaltec AG's entry into the market of eco-friendly additives for the plastics industry is going according to plan. The industry has committed to phasing out stabilizers containing heavy metals. To substitute those stabilizers, Nabaltec has developed a patented, eco-friendly and fully mineral-based alternative, which is already being used on a trial basis by key customers. Nabaltec is in the construction of its production facility at its Schwandorf site in preparation for the start of industrial-scale production in the fourth quarter of 2009. Nabaltec invested a total of EUR 20.4 million last year, mostly in new machinery and equipment, especially for the business unit 'Flame Retardants', as well as the new production facility for the business unit 'Additives'. Nabaltec's total investment volume between 2008 and 2010 is around EUR 60 million. Future investments will be backed by equity, an investment grant from the government of Upper Palatinate, business development loans and credit commitments from banks. Nabaltec's complete 2008 Annual Report is available for download at www.nabaltec.de, in the 'Investor Relations' section. 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 ('ATH') and aluminum oxide, as well as other raw materials, on an industrial scale through its 'functional fillers' and 'technical ceramics' divisions. The company's product range includes flame-retardant fillers for the plastics industry, used e.g. in cables, tunnels, airports, high-rise buildings and electronic devices, as well as base materials for use in technical ceramics, the refractory industry and catalysis. Unlike halogenated flame-retardant fillers, the products manufactured by the company's 'functional fillers' division contain no hazardous substances and do not require separate disposal. Rather, the company's flame-retardant fillers 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 consolidate 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 not just the quality leadership, but also the market leadership in each segment. Contact: Heidi Wiendl Nabaltec AG Phone: +49 9431 53-202 Fax: +49 9431 53-260 E-mail: InvestorRelations@nabaltec.de Frank Ostermair Better Orange IR & HV AG Phone: +49 89 8896906-14 Fax: +49 89 8896906-66 E-mail: frank.ostermair@better-orange.de 28.04.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: Nabaltec AG Alustraße 50-52 92421 Schwandorf Deutschland Phone: +49 9431 53-0 Fax: +49 9431 53-260 E-mail: info@nabaltec.de Internet: www.nabaltec.de ISIN: DE000A0KPPR7 WKN: A0KPPR Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart; Entry Standard in Frankfurt End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------