Dr. Hönle AG: Hönle Group generates operating profit of EUR 8.1 million

Gräfelfing/München (pta009/02.12.2020/07:40 UTC+1) From spring 2020, the business development of the Hönle Group was increasingly influenced by the effects of the global corona pandemic. According to preliminary figures, sales in the 2019/2020 financial year were therefore Eur 93.9 million and below the previous year's figure of Eur 107.7 million. The operating result fell from Eur 17.0 million to Eur 8.1 million. The main factors behind the decline in earnings were the Adhesives and Glass & Lamps segments: Sales and earnings here were clearly below those of the previous year. In addition to the weak economic situation, a significantly lower turnover with an adhesive application in the sensor technology area was the main reason for the decrease in earnings. The pre-tax result (EBT) of Eur 7.8 million was 53.5% and the consolidated result of Eur 5.6 million was 54.8% below the previous year's figures.

Outlook
The Hönle Group used the last financial year to strengthen its position in the life science market. To this end, it has developed powerful devices for disinfecting air, water and surfaces. In addition, Hönle further expanded its market position through acquisitions and the foundation of a company. Five new companies have recently joined the Hönle Group. Sterilsystems GmbH, based in Austria, is a company that has specialized in UVC disinfection of air and surfaces in the food industry. UV Technik Meyer GmbH sells medium-pressure lamps, ballasts as well as sensors and was merged with UV-Technik Speziallampen GmbH with effect from October 1, 2020. Umex GmbH is a company with a wide range of products in the field of water disinfection. Luminez GmbH develops, produces and sells microwave-excited sulfur lamps for plant cultivation. The cannabis market in the USA and Canada particularly are promising sales markets.
Technigraf GmbH is a specialist in conveyor belts with UV radiation modules for use in production and for test systems in laboratories. Additionally the high degree of vertical integration enables the company to manufacture special systems for the Hönle Group in future.

Hönle opens up a new business area with air disinfection
The corona pandemic led to strong demand for air sterilization solutions. The SARS-CoV-2 viruses and other pathogens contained in the aerosols can be inactivated easily, safely and effectively with UVC radiation. Both the Equipment & Systems segment and the Glass & Lamps segment will benefit from the expected strong business development in the field of air and surface disinfection. In addition to the new SteriWhite Air 115, Hönle will shortly be offering two further, more powerful air disinfection systems. The accompanying marketing activities include TV spots, print and online advertising as well as social media. Marketing is currently taking place in Germany. The European market and the US market will soon be entered using suitable sales and marketing measures. Dr. Hönle AG has built up both internal and external production capacities to meet the high demand for air disinfection devices. Based on the future development of demand, production capacity will be increased further. In addition, the product range of the newly acquired Sterilsystems GmbH is marketed via the global sales network of the Hönle Group.
The Management Board expects the air disinfection business area to strongly contribute to earnings in the Hönle Group in the future.

In the Adhesives segment, the Management Board expects business development to be stable in the short term due to the impact of the corona pandemic. In the medium to long term a strong business development is anticipated. Current customer projects and the enlarged customer base will contribute to this. All major smartphone manufacturers are now using adhesives from the Hönle Group. In order to follow the planned growth, both the development and sales capacities in the adhesives segment have been increased. In addition, the spatial capacities will be expanded. In Steinbach near Frankfurt a new company building with 6000 square meters of usable space is built, which will be completed and occupied in a few weeks.
Also a new building complex is currently being built in Gilching near Munich, which will represent the Hönle Group's headquarters. The logistics area was already occupied in October 2020, while the completion of the office and production building is planned for autumn 2021.

The business development of the Hönle Group for 2020/2021 is difficult to predict due to the corona pandemic and its effects on the different segments.

While the dampening effects of the Corona crisis will continue to be felt in individual areas such as the printing press market and the quartz glass market in the 2020/2021 financial year, the Management Board expects a very good business development with systems and UV lamps for the disinfection of air and surfaces. Although the Management Board assumes that the positive effects will clearly predominate, especially due to the demand for air disinfection systems, no specific forecast can be made for the 2020/2021 financial year at the current time.

The 2019/2020 annual report will be published on January 28, 2021 and can then be viewed on the Internet at https://www.hoenle.de/investoren/finanzinformation.

About Hönle
Dr. Hönle AG is a listed technology company with its registered office in Gräfelfing near Munich. The Hönle Group with its about 600 employees develops innovative solutions for a wide range of industrial manufacturing processes. One focus of its business activities is the development and sale of industrial adhesives and casting compounds. In addition, equipment for drying inks and coatings, curing adhesives and plastics, as well as the disinfection of air, water and surfaces. In addition, the Group produces UV lamps and manufactures tubes and semi-finished products made of quartz glass, which are used in various branches of industry. The Hönle Group supplies technology and world market leaders worldwide and is represented in over 20 countries by its own companies or partner companies.

(end)

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