May 1, 2019 - Nabaltec AG published its 2018 consolidated financial statements yesterday, in which it confirms its preliminary data for the past Financial Year. The company reported EUR 176.7 million in consolidated revenues, exceeding the previous year's total (2017: EUR 168.6 million) by 4.8%. Operating profit (EBIT) came to EUR 18.5 million in 2018, up from EUR 18.3 million in the year before. The EBIT margin (EBIT as a percentage of total performance) was 10.4%.

Both of Nabaltec AG's product segments, "Functional Fillers" and "Specialty Alumina," contributed to the strong revenues in the past year. Revenues in the "Functional Fillers" product segment amounted to EUR 114.6 million for the year, up 2.1% from the year before (2017: EUR 112.2 million). Revenues in the "Specialty Alumina" product segment increased at a faster pace, with total revenues up 10.1% to EUR 62.1 million (2017: EUR 56.4 million). Growth was driven by price increases and improvements in the product mix in both product segments, in addition to volume effects in the "Specialty Alumina" product segment.

"We have been able to continue the successful performance we have posted in recent years, as well as meeting our revenue and earnings targets," said Johannes Heckmann, CEO of Nabaltec AG. "Our US subsidiary Nashtec resumed production at the end of 2018 and we expect our new subsidiary Naprotec to begin production in the second half of 2019. In light of these circumstances, as well as the company's very strong performance in 2018, the Management and Supervisory Boards intend to recommend an increased dividend of EUR 0.20 per share to the shareholders at the 2019 Annual Meeting."

According to preliminary data, Nabaltec's revenues in the first quarter of 2019 were EUR 48.5 million, up 7.3% from the same quarter of last year (EUR 45.2 million). Revenues in the "Functional Fillers" product segment climbed by 10.9% to EUR 32.5 million, up from EUR 29.3 million in the same period of last year. Revenues in the "Specialty Alumina" product segment came to EUR 15.9 million, which was on par with the same quarter of last year. Operating profit (EBIT) in the first quarter of 2019 came to EUR 5.8 million based on preliminary data, for an EBIT margin (EBIT as a percentage of total performance) of 12.1%. EBITDA in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to EUR 9.0 million based on preliminary data.

The US subsidiary Nashtec will take over full responsibility for supplying US customers as of the second quarter of 2019. Current plans also call for Naprotec LLC to begin production of refined hydroxides in the second half of 2019, with a capacity of about 30,000 tons per year. Nabaltec expects this project to have a positive impact on consolidated earnings one year after the plant goes online. Assuming stable economic performance, Nabaltec expects 2019 revenues to range from EUR 190 million to EUR 195 million and an EBIT margin between 10.0% and 12.0%.