Operative cash-flow also increased from the previous year. EBITDA amounted to Euro 318.4 million and was 2% higher, compared to the same period last year. The EBITDA margin was kept stable at 14.1%, which was the same as the previous year. The EGGER Group underlines its good credit rating once again with an improved equity ratio of 40%.
“Our 17 manufacturing sites operated to a high capacity during the last financial year. Our plants in Western Europe have developed well during the past twelve months. Supported by stable raw materials markets, we were able to exploit positive demand developments in Great Britain, Germany as well as Central and Southern Europe to expand our market share.
“Despite a difficult market environment, our French team managed to expand its volumes and profitability by means of market share increases and additional sales in Spain, Italy, Germany and Benelux. Development is also stable in Eastern Europe, with setbacks in the Ukraine being countered by gains in almost all the other markets,” says Thomas Leissing, spokesperson for the Group Management and responsible for Finance, Administration and Logistics.
A negative influence on regional business came from the political and currency-related crisis in Russia, as well as difficult market environments in the building products and flooring business divisions.
“Overcapacities in the laminate flooring and OSB sectors, as well as currency factors, have led to slight downturns in specific markets. Overall the positive development clearly shows that the EGGER Group is on the right course with its strategic decisions on investment and growth, as well as with product developments and innovations,” comments Thomas Leissing on future challenging developments.
