2014 preliminary figures for Nabaltec AG show strong revenue and earnings growth over the year before

- Revenues up 7.8% to EUR 143.3 million, EBIT up a strong 21.0%, to EUR 12.7 million;

- Earnings per share more than doubled, to EUR 0.69;

- Positive outlook for 2015.

Schwandorf, 2 March 2015 - According to preliminary data, Nabaltec AG was able to continue the year before's very strong performance in Financial Year 2014, with improvements in key financial performance indicators. Within the year, revenues remained stable at a high level, showing growth over the year before in all four quarters. In all, 2014 revenues were up 7.8%, to EUR 143.3 million, and operating result (EBIT) was up by a strong 21.0%, to EUR 12.7 million. Earnings per share more than doubled, up 109.1% to EUR 0.69, and shareholders' equity climbed by 4.2%, to EUR 52.5 million. The EBIT margin (EBIT as a percentage of total performance) in Financial Year 2014 was 8.9%, based on preliminary data. The forecasts for both revenues and earnings were therefore exceeded.

Johannes Heckmann, Member of the Board of Nabaltec AG: "We were once again able to assert ourselves in a challenging economic environment, with clear growth over the year before in both revenues and earnings. This result once again confirms that our strategy of positioning ourselves in the market based on quality, customized solutions and a high degree of reliability and delivery dependability was exactly right and that we have an extremely solid position in our sales markets."

In general, both business divisions delivered stable performance in 2014, posting revenue growth. The business division "Functional Fillers" had EUR 98.9 million in revenues in Financial Year 2014, up 9.2% from the year before (2013: EUR 90.6 million). This performance, with strong growth as well as strong earnings, was attributable above all to an increase in sales volume, as well as to the continuing focus on high added-value product segments like fine precipitated hydroxides (eco-friendly flame retardant fillers, e.g. for the cable industry). The US subsidiary Nashtec was able to further establish its position in the market, boosting the Group's earnings. The business division "Technical Ceramics" had EUR 44.5 million in revenues in 2014, up from EUR 42.3 million the year before, for a gain of 5.2%, due primarily to an increase in sales volume. Some product segments, e.g. ceramic bodies for ballistics, were unable to realize their full potential due to external factors.
The Group's export ratio increased to 71.6%, up from 69.2% in the year 2013.

EBITDA for both business divisions climbed to a total of EUR 22.4 million, up from EUR 19.8 million in the year before (up 13.1%). The earnings of the business division "Functional Fillers", measured on EBITDA, improved by 29.9% in the reporting year, from EUR 13.4 million to EUR 17.4 million. Key factors were the increase in sales volume over the year before and improvements in the product mix. EBITDA in the business division "Technical Ceramics" fell by 23.4% from the year before, from EUR 6.4 million to EUR 4.9 million, due to changes in the product mix.

The year 2015 got off to a strong start. Gerhard Witzany, Member of the Board of Nabaltec AG, said as follows: "In 2015, we want to keep up our pace of growth and post gains in both revenues and earnings. The outlook in this regard is very promising. It continues to be evident that our markets are fully intact and we are seeing stable growth in demand. Assuming that the economy continues to stabilize, we expect revenue growth in the mid-single digits and an EBIT margin in line with last year's margin."

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 halogen-free flame retardant fillers and eco-friendly 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 replace stabilizers containing heavy metals in PVC processing. Nabaltecalso produces 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 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