Preliminary key figures for first half of 2018 and adjustment of expectations for full year 2018

Bobst Group SA expects to achieve sales of CHF 763 million in the first half year of 2018 compared to CHF 643 million in the same period in 2017. The 2018 first half year results will not develop in line with sales, but are expected to be 10-15% below the levels in first half of 2017, when the Group achieved CHF 40 million operating profit (EBIT) and CHF 28 million net result.

Based on strong sales growth and a good overall market situation, the Group has accelerated some measures to:

• Invest in quality upgrades on some new products launched in recent years;
• Launch a range of digital printing products;
• Strengthen its activities in Internet-of-Things (IoT);
• Increase its sales and service network, and capabilities in growing markets.

All these measures, combined with an unfavorable product mix in Business Unit Web-fed, and higher than expected restructuring efforts at one of our German entities, have a significant negative impact on the Group’s 2018 profitability.

For the full year 2018, the Group expects to improve its sales compared to 2017 by 5-7% (sales 2017: CHF 1 529 million), which is at the higher end of the guidance issued at the end of February 2018.
The guidance for the full year operating result (EBIT), which was “slightly higher than previous year (CHF 119 million)“, has to be reduced due to the aforementioned reasons. The Group expects to achieve an operating result (EBIT) of higher than CHF 90 million for the full year 2018.

The Group will communicate the detailed half year financial results on July 25th 2018.

Bobst Group SA, Mex, Switzerland

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Forward looking statements are subject to uncertainties and risk. Actual future results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Some of these uncertainties and risks relate to factors that are beyond BOBST’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as, in particular, future market conditions, currency fluctuations, or behavior of other market participants. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward looking statements, which speak only of the date of this communication. BOBST disclaims any intention or obligation to update and revise any forward looking statements constantly, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.