Dr. Hönle AG: Hönle Group generates operating result of 5.8 million euros

Gräfelfing/München (pta008/15.05.2020/08:00 UTC+2) The Hönle Group's sales in the first six months of the 2019/2020 financial year were Eur 50,853 thousand, 9.2% below the previous year's figure. The operating result fell by 43.2% to Eur 5,786 thousand.
As in the previous year, a lower order volume for a sensor application led to a decline in sales in the adhesives segment in this financial year. However, sales to new customers, primarily from the consumer electronics sector, were able to partially offset the effects. The customer base has been significantly expanded, so that today all major smartphone manufacturers are among the customers of the Hönle Group. In the Glass & Lamps segment, the weakening semiconductor and glass fiber markets led to a temporary decline in sales. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand, especially from the Asian economic area, came to a standstill at times. The Aladin GmbH production site was moved from Rott am Inn to Ilmenau. The relocation of the production facilities associated with the move temporarily impaired the company's production activities, which also had a temporary effect on the development of sales and earnings.
Earnings before taxes (EBT) fell from Eur 10,073 thousand to Eur 5,678 thousand. After income taxes, the consolidated result was Eur 4,393 thousand compared to Eur 7,151 thousand in the previous year, which corresponds to earnings per share of Eur 0.81 (previous year: Eur 1.30). As a result, the return on sales declined from 12.8% to 8.6%.

Outlook
Dr. Hönle AG withdrew its outlook for the 2019/2020 financial year on 27 April 2020. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hönle's business development cannot be reliably assessed at this time. The lockdowns in many countries and the impairment of production processes lead to a significant deterioration of the overall economic outlook. Consequently, the continuing COVID-19 pandemic will probably also impact on the sales and earnings development of Hönle Group in the current financial year.

Adhesives Segment
A lower order volume with a major customer concerning an application in the field of sensor technology will result in a sales decline in the Adhesives segment. However, the revenues generated with new customers in the field of consumer electronics, in particular, will compensate for some of the negative effects.
Within the scope of the revenue growth planned, additional manpower was recruited in the area of sales and development for industrial adhesives. Management expects strong business development in the Adhesives segment over the medium and long term as a consequence of the extension of business relationships and a large number of ongoing projects.

Equipment & Systems Segment
The Hönle Group further extended its business relationships with existing customers from the printing industry and also increased its range of print-related products in order to open sales potential outside of the field of UV drying. Hönle also supplemented its product spectrum in the field of surface disinfection by introducing new technologies. With respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hönle expanded its product range of powerful UVC air- and surface disinfection systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lead to a further postponement of projects and orders. As a consequence, Hönle has initiated or already implemented several cost saving measures.
Overall it is expected that sales and earnings in the Equipment & Systems segment in 2019/2020 will be below the values of the previous year.

Glass & Lamps Segment
The Glass & Lamps segment saw the relocation of the Aladin GmbH site to the premises of UV-Technik Speziallampen GmbH. The newly created lamp development and production centre located in Ilmenau bundles competences and enables more efficient workflows. Furthermore, production capacities were significantly in-creased in order to realise the growth planned for ballast water disinfection. The rise in sales in this field will contribute positively to the business development at UV-Technik Speziallampen GmbH.
A slight recovery of the quartz glass market is expected for the second half of the year 2020. Improved purchasing conditions will probably lead to a perceptible reduction in the cost of materials of Raesch Quarz (Germany).

The full quarterly statement is available at:
https://www.hoenle.com/investor-relation/financial-information

About Hönle
The Dr. Hönle AG is a listed technology company based in Gräfelfing near Munich. With more than 500 employees, the Hönle Group develops innovative solutions for a wide variety of industrial manufacturing processes. A main focus of the business activity is the development and sale of industrial adhesives and sealings. Furthermore, devices for drying inks and coatings, curing adhesives and plastics as well as for surface disinfection and sunlight simulation are manufactured. In addition, the company produces UV lamps for water disinfection and produces tubes and semi-finished products made of quartz glass, which are used in different industries. The Hönle Group supplies technology and world market leaders and is represented in more than 20 countries by own companies and sales partners.

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Emitter:	Dr. Hönle AG Lochhamer Schlag 1 82166 Gräfelfing/München Germany
Contact Person:	Peter Weinert
Phone:	+49 89 85608-173
E-Mail:	peter.weinert@hoenle.de
Website:	www.hoenle.de
ISIN(s):	DE0005157101 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Regulated Market in Frankfurt; Free Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate