EQS News: Egger Holzwerkstoffe GmbH / Key word(s): Half-year results EGGER Group can report stable business development for the first half of the year 12/20/2023 / 1:56 p.m. CET/CEST The issuer/publisher is responsible for the content of the announcement. ═════════════════════════════════════════ ═════════ ════════════════════════ EGGER Group can report stable business development in the first half of the year With consolidated sales of 2.1 billion euros (–7.0% as of previous year), the EGGER Group, headquartered in St. Johann in Tirol (AT), has completed the first half of its 2023/2024 financial year (key date October 31, 2023). The corporate environment was challenging due to persistently high inflation, high interest rates, volatile raw material prices and geopolitical crises. In view of this mixed situation, the wood-based materials manufacturer is satisfied with its stable development in the first half of 2023/2024. Thomas Leissing, spokesman for the EGGER group management and responsible for finance/administration: “The first six months of our financial year demanded a lot from us. The persistently high inflation in many regions, the stricter capital requirements for purchasing homes and the global geopolitical uncertainties caused a general weakness in consumption and a decline in demand in almost all markets. It is thanks to the commitment of our more than 11,000 employees that we can still report group-wide sales, which only declined slightly. We are particularly pleased that we were able to successfully initiate strategically groundbreaking decisions in the first half of 2023/2024, such as the acquisition of our 22nd production site in Markt Bibart (DE) and the EGGER Group’s climate protection commitment to the Net Zero Goal 2050 .” Decline in demand recorded In the first half of 2023/2024, the EGGER Group achieved sales of EUR 2,097.8 million (–7.0% compared to the first half of 2022/2023) and an EBITDA of EUR 299.2 million (– 15.4% compared to the same period last year). The EBITDA margin is 14.3% and the equity ratio is at the high level of 44.9%. This result reflects the highly volatile conditions of the past six months. Declines in sales and earnings disproportionately affect the flooring, OSB and sawn timber product areas. However, the same period last year was still partly characterized by an exceptionally good market environment and margin levels. The products for structural timber construction and flooring are now directly affected by the declining construction industry. Positive effects on sales development in the area of decorative products for furniture and interior design resulted from the first-time inclusion of the Caorso (IT) plant, in which EGGER has held a majority stake since the end of 2022. In addition, the plant in Lexington, NC (US) was able to achieve volume increases through further market expansion in the USA. Overall, these effects led to group-wide sales and earnings slightly below the previous year’s level. Long-term investment strategy It has always been part of the EGGER strategy to continuously develop the group of companies. The wood-based material manufacturer is sticking to this consistently, even in the current volatile market environment, and is continually making investments in existing plants in order to keep them at the cutting edge of technology or to further expand them. In the first half of 2023/2024, investments amounted to EUR 238.6 million (EUR 229.7 million in the same period last year). Focus areas were expanding active backward integration and further increasing sustainability performance. Efforts in the spirit of the circular economy were a key theme here, which EGGER addressed with investments in systems for processing recycled wood and in its own collection sites. For climate protection: The EGGER path to Net Zero In the first half of the year, the foundation was laid for substantial investments in the coming years. The EGGER Group adopted its climate strategy, which sets Net Zero 2050 as its ultimate goal. EGGER is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions that have an impact on the climate in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement. The family business is clearly focused on reduction, not compensation outside of its own value chain. Comprehensive measures in numerous areas of the company are on the strategic agenda, and groundbreaking interim goals for 2030 have been decided. By 2030, the direct emissions from our own plants (Scope 1) will be reduced by at least 30%, the indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2) by at least 40% and the indirect upstream and downstream emissions (Scope 3) by at least 10%. To implement the goals, additional biomass power plants and photovoltaic systems are being planned to further promote the decoupling from fossil energy sources. The details of the climate strategy can be found at (1)to.egger.link/climate-strategy. Further growth: 22nd factory in Markt Bibart (DE) The foundation for another milestone in EGGER’s history was laid by the takeover of the chipboard factory in Markt Bibart (DE). With this additional location in the core market of Germany, the EGGER Group now has 22 plants. On September 8, 2023, the purchase agreement for the plant, which previously belonged to the Rauch Group, was signed. The successful closing followed at the beginning of November, shortly after the end of the first half of the financial year. Outlook for the second half of the year is subject to uncertainty The macroeconomic outlook will continue to be subject to great uncertainty, which is why EGGER is looking forward to the second half of the 2023/2024 financial year with subdued earnings expectations. The wood-based materials manufacturer expects a further decline in demand, also due to seasonal effects. However, EGGER sees itself as well prepared to not only successfully overcome the current overall economic downturn, but also to emerge stronger from it. The family business can rely on the commitment of its more than 11,000 qualified and motivated employees and the continued successful cooperation with its customers and partners worldwide. Together with them, EGGER is convinced that it can fully exploit the advantages of its sustainable business model, its strong financial base and the production advantages of its state-of-the-art factories. The EGGER half-yearly financial report 2023/2024 is now (2) available online. About EGGER The family business, which has existed since 1961, is a leading international wood-based materials manufacturer with over 11,000 employees and 22 production locations worldwide. EGGER is a full-service provider for furniture and interior design, for structural timber construction and for wood-based floors and is therefore a reliable partner for the furniture industry, the wood and flooring trade and hardware stores. In the 2022/2023 financial year, the EGGER Group generated sales of EUR 4.45 billion. The aspect of sustainable management is always the focus at EGGER: 65% of the wood used comes from recycling or by-products. At the end of their long service life, EGGER products are largely recyclable and can be reintroduced into the cycle. With these and many other measures, the family business is constantly working towards its goal of “making more from the valuable resource of wood” and thus enabling sustainable living and working. Half-year balance sheet of the EGGER Group • Sales in the first half of the 2023/2024 financial year: 2.1 billion euros (–7.0% compared to the previous year) • EBITDA was 299.2 million euros (–15.4% compared to the previous year) • Despite Stable development despite challenging situation • Outlook for the second half of the year subdued • Strategic milestones: commitment to Net Zero 2050 and 22nd plant in Markt Bibart (DE) • The EGGER half-year financial report 2023/2024 is now (3) available online. For questions: EGGER Holzwerkstoffe GmbH Katharina Wieser Weiberndorf 20 6380 St. Johann in Tirol Austria T +43 5 0600-10128 (4)katharina.wieser@Egger.com ════════ ═══════════════════════════ 12/20/2023 CET/CEST Publication of a corporate news/financial announcement, transmitted by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
1798607 20.12.2023 CET/CEST
References
Visible links
1. https://eqs-cockpit.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=8ccd22915450cf0bd6ddfccb6de54d37&application_id=1798607&site_id=apa_ots_austria&application_name=news
2. https://eqs-cockpit.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=dc9b744624a9af826dfbcc9c0004472d&application_id=1798607&site_id=apa_ots_austria&application_name=news
3. https://eqs-cockpit.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=dc9b744624a9af826dfbcc9c0004472d&application_id=1798607&site_id=apa_ots_austria&application_name=news
4. Katharina Wieser@egger.com