Kirn, 26 October 2022. In the first nine months of the financial year, the SIMONA Group recorded a significant increase in revenue of 38.1 per cent, taking the total to €553.1 million (previous year: €400.4 million). In the third quarter, revenue expanded by 33.7 per cent to €187.8 million (previous year: €140.5 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose by 15.6 per cent to €45.1 million in the first nine months (previous year: €39.0 million). The EBIT margin of 8.2 per cent is at the upper end of the forecast of 6-8 per cent, but below the previous year's level of 9.7 per cent. EBIT for the same period last year had included €4.1 million in COVID-19 government support in the United States. Against the backdrop of a slowdown in business momentum, the Group recorded very solid EBIT of €16.4 million in the third quarter, 35.5 per cent up on the figure posted for the same period of the previous year (€12.1 million). The EBIT margin in the third quarter stood at 8.7 per cent (previous year: 8.6 per cent).

The increase in Group revenue in the first nine months is attributable primarily to price-related effects and the first-time inclusion of revenue generated by newly acquired SIMONA PEAK Pipe Systems, Chesterfield, United Kingdom. SIMONA's sales volume increased only slightly by 2 per cent. In the EMEA region, growth in revenue and sales volumes was attributable primarily to business activities in Western and Northern Europe, while the region comprising Germany, Austria and Switzerland felt the effects of waning momentum. Revenue generated in the Asia-Pacific region was up mainly as a result of more expansive business in South-East Asia. The region encompassing the Americas made a disproportionately large contribution to growth on the back of its consistently solid industrial and aviation business.

All business lines were able to increase their revenues in the first nine months. The Industry business line in EMEA was adversely affected by a slowdown in business within the chemical process industry. The Infrastructure business line achieved an above-average increase in revenue thanks to strong project-related business and the inclusion of revenue generated by the recently acquired entity SIMONA PEAK Pipe Systems in the United Kingdom. The Advertising & Building and Mobility business lines also achieved above-average growth in revenue. The Aquaculture business line, which specialises in equipping land-based fish farms, made a disproportionately large contribution to growth on the back of additional project business.

The SIMONA Group is satisfied with its latest earnings performance. EBIT for the first nine months amounted to €45.1 million and was thus higher up on the figure of €39.0 million posted for the same period last year, which had included support from the "Paycheck Protection Program" in the United States amounting to €4.1 million. The EBIT margin declined from 9.7 to 8.2 per cent due to the more pronounced increase in revenue, mainly as a result of price-related effects. However, this figure was still slightly above the forecast of 8 per cent for the full annual period.

""SIMONA performed well in the first nine months of the year amid a global economic landscape dominated by geopolitical crises, high inflation and a significant decline in the propensity to invest. This was driven by our recent acquisitions, particularly in the pipes and fittings market in the United Kingdom, together with efficiency improvements at our plants and dynamic business in the United States. We see increasing signs of further economic slowdown with declining order intake, particularly in EMEA and recently also within some areas of business in the United States. In view of the favourable course of business in the first nine months and our expectations for the coming three months, we are raising our revenue guidance from previously €650-670 million to €680-700 million and continue to anticipate that we will achieve our earnings guidance of 6-8 per cent at the upper end of the scale," said Matthias Schönberg, CEO of SIMONA.

SIMONA – Global Thermoplastic SolutionsSIMONA AG is one of the leading manufacturers of thermoplastic products, with production facilities and sales offices around the globe, as well as an acknowledged development partner within this field. The company's portfolio includes semi-finished products (sheets, rods, profiles, welding rods), pipes and fittings. SIMONA employs approx. 1,650 people worldwide. The Group manufactures 35,000 products in Germany and abroad, offering best-in-class solutions tailored to a wide range of applications in the fields of industry, infrastructure, mobility, building, advertising and aquaculture. Annual production exceeds 150,000 tonnes. SIMONA AG is a stock corporation listed in the General Standard. The company's registered office is in Kirn, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany). For further information, please refer to www.simona.de.Copy of article appreciated