LANXESS realigns management towards profitability

12 May '14

2 min read

With a modest start to 2014, LANXESS is currently developing measures to realign the company.

Highlights:

-Decision to increase share capital by 10 percent

-Q1 sales down 2.5 percent to EUR 2 billion

-Q1 EBITDA pre exceptionals increases by 17.8 percent to EUR 205 million

-Q1 net income level with prior year at EUR 25 million

-Q2 guidance: EBITDA pre exceptionals between EUR 220 million and EUR 240 million

-Outlook for FY 2014: EBITDA pre exceptionals between EUR 770 million and EUR 830 million

“We must become significantly more competitive and profitable again,” said Matthias Zachert, LANXESS’ Chairman of the Board of Management. “The focus will therefore be on the business portfolio, our business units, the efficiency of our administration and our production sites.”

Administrative structures are to be optimized and decision-making processes streamlined. Customer and market orientation in the business units are to be improved. The profitability of the sites will be analyzed and consideration given to temporary or permanent shutdowns of plants. LANXESS will also explore options to make its rubber activities more competitive and to balance its business portfolio. Further details on the realignment of the company will most likely be provided during the second half of this year.

The personnel adjustments that were initiated last year as part of the “Advance” program have been completed in line with expectations.

Decision to increase the share capital by 10 percent

The Board of Management of LANXESS AG has decided, with approval from the Supervisory Board, to utilize the existing authorized capital in part and to increase the share capital of the company by 10 percent, excluding the subscription rights of the shareholders. The increase of the share capital by a nominal amount of EUR 8,320,266 is against the issuance of 8,320,266 new, no par-value bearer shares in the company, which carry full dividend rights for the business year 2013.

The new shares will be offered by an international consortium of banks to institutional investors immediately by means of a private placement, using an accelerated bookbuilding process. The placement price and the proceeds from the issue will be made public on May 8, 2014, once the price has been fixed.

This corporate action should help finance upcoming restructuring measures and generally strengthen the financial position of the company as well as its investment grade credit ratings.

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