Global economic crisis burdens ALTANA

Citation

(2009), "Global economic crisis burdens ALTANA", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 38 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2009.12938eab.036

Global economic crisis burdens ALTANA

Article Type: Industry news From: Pigment & Resin Technology, Volume 38, Issue 5

The specialty chemicals group ALTANA is strongly affected by the worldwide economic crisis and reports significant decreases in sales and earnings. In the first quarter of the business year 2009, sales fell by 30 percent to €251.8 million; in the prior-year period sales had amounted to €357.6 million.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) decreased by 71 percent from €71.7 million in 2008 to €20.8 million. As a consequence, the EBITDA margin was down to 8.3 percent and is therefore significantly lower than the prior-year figure of 20.1 percent.

Sales in the BYK Additives and Instruments division fell by 34 percent from €120.2 million in the first quarter of 2008 to €79.0 million. The ECKART Effect Pigments division recorded a sales decrease of 39 percent to €57.6 million. At ELANTAS Electrical Insulation sales dropped by around 27 percent to €64.5 million. In the ACTEGA Coatings & Sealants division sales remained relatively stable, decreasing by about 8 percent from €55.4 million in the prior year to €50.7 million in the first quarter of 2009.

In late Summer 2008, ALTANA had already introduced a comprehensive program to improve efficiency and cut costs. It comprises, among others, a reduction of personnel costs due to operational shutdown periods and short-time work, the postponement of investment measures and a worldwide qualified hiring freeze. In total, the estimated savings potential for 2009 amounts to approximately €50 million; more than €10 million were realized in the first quarter of the current business year.

“Despite our broad positioning in the market, the worldwide economic crisis has also affected ALTANA,” stated Dr Matthias L. Wolfgruber, CEO of ALTANA AG. “In such difficult times we are in an advantageous position of having a solid financial structure.”

The company’s present focus was on maintaining margins and cash flow as well as on a consistent and successful implementation of the set of measures to reduce costs, said Dr Wolfgruber, adding that ALTANA’s business model was still intact. “We wish to emerge strengthened from this crisis, building on our innovative strength and market position,” continued Dr Wolfgruber.

The general economic conditions for ALTANA are still influenced by very high uncertainty. This is true for almost all customer industries and regions. Against the background of the company’s business performance in the first quarter of 2009 and the present order situation, the company expects the market environment to remain very difficult with a significantly declining sales and earnings development in comparison to 2008 for the business year 2009. Owing to the high uncertainty in the economic environment it is not possible at present to provide any concrete sales and earnings forecast.