Brenntag reports strong growth in financial year 2018 with an all-time high in operating EBITDA

Essen (ots) - Brenntag (WKN A1DAHH), the global market leader in
chemical distribution, posted a good financial year 2018. Its two
KPIs operating gross profit and operating EBITDA both showed a clear
increase due primarily to good organic growth. All Group regions
contributed to the growth. The acquisitions also made the sound
contribution to earnings that had been anticipated.

Sales amounted to 12,550.0 million EUR in financial year 2018, a
year-on-year increase of 10.2% on a constant currency basis (+6.9% as
reported). Operating gross profit rose by 7.5% on a constant currency
basis (+4.2% as reported) to 2,660.9 million EUR. Operating EBITDA
also increased, rising by 8.4% year on year on a constant currency
basis (+4.7% as reported) to 875.5 million EUR. All performance
indicators therefore reached all-time highs.

Profit after tax came to 462.3 million EUR in financial year 2018
and was therefore well above the prior-year figure of 362.0 million
EUR. At 2.98 EUR, earnings per share were at their highest level
since the stock market flotation in 2010. On this basis, the Board of
Management and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of 1.20
EUR per share (2017: 1.10 EUR) at the General Shareholders' Meeting
on June 13, 2019. By increasing the payout by 9.1%, Brenntag is
continuing its policy of paying a higher dividend each year, thereby
allowing shareholders to participate appropriately in the company's
growth.

Steven Holland, CEO Brenntag AG, said, "2018 was a year of good
growth for Brenntag. We grew in all regions and lifted operating
EBITDA to an all-time high. Our large region North America, which
delivered a very good, broad-based performance, is particularly
worthy of note. In the EMEA region, the internal initiatives geared
to increasing efficiency delivered results in financial year 2018. We
also continued to systematically execute our acquisition strategy and
expand our presence and offering in attractive regions and industries
during the past year. This, too, resulted in positive contributions
to earnings."

In a more challenging economic environment, Brenntag expects to
see growth in KPIs operating gross profit and operating EBITDA in
financial year 2019.

Find all figures and details for Financial Year 2018 on Brenntag's
website: https://www.brenntag.com

Contact:
Hubertus Spethmann
Brenntag AG
Corporate Communications
Messeallee 11
45131 Essen Germany
Telephone: +49 (201) 6496-1732
E-Mail: hubertus.spethmann@brenntag.de
https://www.brenntag.com

Original-Content von: Brenntag AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell