SGL Carbon SE : Board of Management and Supervisory Board decide on accelerated growth strategy for the Business Units GMS und CFM as well as on separating the Business Unit PP within SGL Group (Ad hoc)

Ad hoc notification pursuant to § 15 of the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz)

Wiesbaden, July 7, 2015. In today's Supervisory Board Meeting, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of SGL Carbon SE defined the next strategic milestones for ensuring sustainable profitable growth.

On one hand, an accelerated growth strategy was determined for the Business Units Graphite Materials & Systems (GMS) and Carbon Fibers & Materials (CFM). Until 2020, organic sales growth of approximately 50% compared to 2014 is targeted. In addition, the technology and market positions of these businesses are anticipated to be enhanced with selective bolt-on acquisitions.

On the other hand, a strategy change was resolved for the Business Unit Performance Products (PP). This encompasses the organization of this unit in a separate legal structure within SGL Group, which is expected to be completed at the end of the fiscal year 2016 at the latest. Additionally, the business unit will adapt its business model to the changed market conditions especially in graphite electrodes. The repositioning also allows PP to flexibly react to new strategic options, which could emerge in the graphite electrode industry. With these measures, SGL Group is facilitating participation in potential future consolidation scenarios in the graphite electrode industry.

SGL Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of carbon-based products and materials. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite products to carbon fibers and composites. SGL Group's core competencies are its expertise in high-temperature technology as well as its applications and engineering know-how gained over many years. These competencies enable the Company to make full use of its broad material base. SGL Group's carbon-based materials combine several unique properties such as very good electrical and thermal conductivity, heat and corrosion resistance as well as high mechanical strength combined with low weight. Due to industrialization in the growth regions of Asia and Latin America and increased substitution of traditional with innovative materials, there is a growing demand for SGL Group's high-performance materials and products. Products from SGL Group are used predominantly in the steel, aluminum, automotive and chemical industries as well as in the semiconductor, solar and LED sectors and in lithium-ion batteries. Carbon-based materials and products are also being used increasingly in the wind power, aerospace and defense industries.

With 42 production sites in Europe, North America and Asia as well as a service network covering more than 100 countries, SGL Group is a company with a global presence. In 2014, the Company's workforce of around 6,300 employees generated sales of €1,336 million. The Company's head office is located in Wiesbaden.

ISIN: DE0007235301

Listing: Amtlicher Markt / Prime Standard / Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse
(Official Market / Prime Standard / Frankfurt Stock Exchange)
Company's seat: Wiesbaden

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on the information currently available to us and on our current projections and assumptions. By nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as a consequence of which actual developments and results can deviate significantly from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not to be understood as guarantees. Rather, future developments and results depend on a number of factors; they entail various risks and unanticipated circumstances and are based on assumptions which may prove to be inaccurate. These risks and uncertainties include, for example, unforeseeable changes in political, economic, legal, and business conditions, particularly relating to our main customer industries, such as electric steel production, to the competitive environment, to interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations, to technological developments, and to other risks and unanticipated circumstances. Other risks that in our opinion may arise include price developments, unexpected developments connected with acquisitions and subsidiaries, and unforeseen risks associated with ongoing cost savings programs. SGL Group does not intend or assume any responsibility to revise or otherwise update these forward-looking statements.