Kloeckner : Klöckner & Co SE delivers successful start to fiscal year 2018

- Operating income (EBITDA) of EUR56 million, slightly above projected range of between EUR45 million and EUR55 million

- Sales via digital channels further raised to 19% at end of quarter

- Significantly higher EBITDA expected for second quarter and forecast raised for full year
 

Duisburg, Germany, April 25, 2018 - Klöckner & Co reports mainly price-driven sales growth of 1.6% to EUR1.6 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Operating income (EBITDA), at EUR56 million, was slightly above the guidance range of EUR45 million to EUR55 million but below the EUR77 million recorded in the first quarter of 2017. The decrease relative to the prior-year quarter is mainly due to less pronounced price effects and a weaker US dollar. At EUR21 million, net income was once again well into positive figures, compared with EUR36 million in the prior-year quarter. Earnings per share consequently came to EUR0.21 (Q1 2017: EUR0.36).

Klöckner & Co has continued to make good progress in its digital transformation, which is a key element of the Klöckner & Co 2022 strategy. In this connection, the Company further increased the proportion of sales generated through digital channels to 19% at the end of the quarter. The open industrial platform XOM Metals also went live. Initial transactions have already been successfully completed on the platform.

Gisbert Rühl, CEO of Klöckner & Co SE: "In going live with XOM Metals, we have taken the next major step in our wide-ranging digitalization strategy, once again placing customer benefit center stage."

In a positive overall market environment, Klöckner & Co expects significantly higher EBITDA of EUR65 million to EUR75 million for the second quarter. Due to the increase in steel demand and internal optimization measures, operating income for the full year is now expected to be slightly above its prior-year level. Should the current trend toward higher steel prices persist throughout the year, this would result in a further increase in earnings.

About Klöckner & Co:
Klöckner & Co is one of the largest producer-independent distributors of steel and metal products and one of the leading steel service center companies worldwide. Based on its distribution and service network of around 170 locations in 13 countries, the Group supplies around 120,000 customers. As a pioneer of the digital transformation in the steel industry, Klöckner & Co's target is to fully digitalize its supply and service chain and to support the launch of an independent open industry platform, which shall become the dominant vertical platform of the steel and metals industry. Currently Klöckner & Co has around 8,600 employees. The Group had sales of around EUR6.3 billion in fiscal 2017.

The shares of Klöckner & Co SE are admitted to trading on the regulated market segment (Regulierter Markt) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse) with further post-admission obligations (Prime Standard). Klöckner & Co shares are listed in the SDAX^(R)-Index of Deutsche Börse.

ISIN: DE000KC01000; WKN: KC0100; Common Code: 025808576.

Contact person Klöckner & Co SE:

Press
Christian Pokropp - Press Spokesperson
Head of Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 (0)203 307 2050
Email: christian.pokropp@kloeckner.com

Investors
Christina Kolbeck
Head of Investor Relations & Sustainability
Phone: +49 (0)203 307 2122
Email: christina.kolbeck@kloeckner.com