Press Release Mülhei an der Ruhr, March 21, 2013 Brenntag once again reports significantly iproved earnings and exceeds iddle of the guidance range Gross profit increased to 1,925.7 illion Growth in operating EBITDA to 706.6 illion Earnings per share up by 21.2% to 6.53, allowing increased dividend of 2.40 per share Outlook for 2013: continuous growth in all relevant key perforance indicators Brenntag (Geran Securities Code Nuber (WKN): A1DAHH), the global arket leader for cheical distribution, is continuing on its growth path and once again significant result increases for the 2012 financial year against a deanding acroeconoic environent. This positive earnings perforance can be attributed to Brenntag s resilient business odel as well as the flexible adjustent to the ore difficult conditions and the successful strategic acquisitions executed ost recently. Free cash flow also enjoyed extreely positive developent, thereby providing the copany with greater financial flexibility. Sales aounted to 9,689.9 illion in the 2012 financial year, an increase of 7.7% on the previous year on a constant currency basis (as : 11.6%). Another key developent was the year-on-year increase in gross profit of 4.6% to 1,925.7 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 8.9%). In the period under review, operating EBITDA rose by 2.2% to 706.6 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 6.9%). Adjusting for extraordinary expenses of around 10 illion in the Europe segent the operating EBITDA aounted to 717 which is in the upper half of the guidance range of 705-725 illion. Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co
Profit after tax increased by 21.1% year-on-year to 338.2 illion. In line with this, the net profit attributable to Brenntag s shareholders aounted to 6.53 per share. The excellent results perit the Board of Manageent and the Supervisory Board to propose the payent of a dividend of 2.40 per share 20% higher than in the previous year to the General Shareholders Meeting on 19 June 2013. This represents a payout ratio of 36.8% of the net profit attributable to Brenntag s shareholders. Steven Holland, CEO of Brenntag: Although the global econoic situation provided ore and ore challenges in the past year, we succeeded in iproving our results once again. In particular, this success can be attributed to our proven strategy, which we are continuously pursuing and systeatically expanding. We are also benefiting fro our special cobination of local presence and global strength, which is soething that sets us apart fro our copetitors. Our broad diversification, the resistance of our business odel and our extensive relationships with suppliers also helped us to achieve our ipressive results for 2012. Business in Europe deonstrates resilience Despite the challenging acroeconoic situation, business in Europe proved to be resilient and saw a convincing developent. The Multisol Group, which was acquired in the previous year, was successfully integrated and ade an excellent contribution to Brenntag s results. In addition, the efficiency easures ipleented in the first half of 2012 started to bear fruit over the course of the year. Their full ipact will be visible in 2013. Operating gross profit* increased by 2.4% year-on-year to 927.9 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 3.3%). Brenntag Europe generated an operating EBITDA of 301.6 illion in 2012. After adjustent for extraordinary expenses of around 10 illion, the operating EBITDA of 312 illion represented a slight increase copared with 2011. Developent in North Aerica reained extreely strong In spite of a ore difficult arket environent, Brenntag reinforced its position in North Aerica and again record results. Operating gross profit* 2 Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co
increased by 4.0% to 742.3 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 12.5%), while operating EBITDA rose by 5.5% year-on-year to 321.5 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 14.0%). Brenntag further expanded its strong position in North Aerica in 2012 with the acquisition of the TER Corporation and the Altivia Corporation. Significant growth in Latin Aerica Although growth on the Latin Aerican arket was slow, with oentu only starting to pick up again in the second half of the year, Brenntag again recorded ipressive growth in the region. Brenntag Latin Aerica increased its operating gross profit* by 7.3% to 169.6 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 12.7%), while its operating EBITDA rose by 5.6% year-on-year to 56.9 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 10.7%). At the end of the year, Brenntag acquired the Delanta Group, a distributor of specialty cheicals that will strengthen its business in the southern part of Latin Aerica in particular. Strong developent in Asia Pacific The Asian econoies saw further growth in industrial production in 2012, albeit at a slower rate than in the previous year. However, oentu picked up again in the second half of the year. Brenntag s operating gross profit* in the Asia Pacific region increased by 26.7% to 111.6 illion on a constant currency basis (as : 35.9%). The region generated operating EBITDA of 49.4 illion, up 25.4% copared with the previous year on a constant currency basis (as : 33.9%). The Zhong Yung Group in China, which was acquired in 2011, significantly contributed to these ipressive results thanks to its strong perforance in the second half of the year. The ISM/Salkat Group, which was acquired in 2012, also ade a contribution. Sharp rise in profit after tax Profit before tax increased by 14.1% to 478.8 illion in the period under review. Profit after tax rose by 21.1% to 338.2 illion, of which 336.2 illion was attributable to Brenntag s shareholders. Accordingly, the net profit 3 Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co
per share attributable to Brenntag s shareholders increased by 21.2% to 6.53 (previous year: 5.39). Significant growth in free cash flow In the year under review, free cash flow increased significantly by 13.1% yearon-year to 578.9 illion. This was priarily due to the positive developent of EBITDA. At 33.0 illion, the increase in working capital was also lower than in the previous year, while investents in non-current assets (capex) increased only oderately to 94.7 illion. Brenntag looks to the future with confidence The global econoy is expected to continue to grow in 2013, with growth rates reaining around the level seen in 2012. Brenntag believes to be extreely well positioned to overcoe the challenging arket conditions once again in 2013. The copany is looking to the future with confidence and is forecasting growth in all relevant perforance indicators. We believe in our strategy and the robustness of our business odel, and will continue on the path we have adopted. In addition to further organic growth, we intend to benefit fro suitable acquisitions and offer our custoers and suppliers continuously iproved service coents CEO Steven Holland. Brenntag will continue to pursue its strategy of adjusting its product range to reflect developents on the local arkets, particularly in its focus industries, while expanding its business with national and international key accounts. The ongoing optiisation of warehouse and transport logistics, supporting suppliers in iproving their distribution activities and expanding service activities in areas such as copounds and forulations will reain key areas. All in all, the copany expects the arket for cheical distribution to enjoy long-ter growth. 4 Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co
Consolidated incoe stateent Sales Gross profit Operating EBITDA Operating EBITDA / Gross profit EBITDA Profit before tax Profit after tax Attributable to Brenntag s shareholders 2012 2011 9,689.9 8,679.3 11.6% 7.7% 1,925.7 1,768.0 8.9% 4.6% 706.6 660.9 6.9% 2.2% % 36.7 37.4 706.6 658.8 7.3% 2.5% 478.8 419.5 14.1% 338.2 279.3 21.1% 336.2 277.4 21.2% Earnings per share 6.53 5.39 21.2% Consolidated balance sheet 31 Dec. 2012 31 Dec. 2011 Total assets 5,710.5 5,575.6 Equity 1,991.2 1,761.3 Working capital 1,018.6 961.1 Net financial liabilities 1,482.9 1,493.6 Consolidated cash flow 31 Dec. 2012 31 Dec. 2011 Cash provided by operating activities 433.0 349.6 Investents in non-current assets (capex) -94.7-86.0 Free cash flow 578.9 511.8 5 Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co
Europe 2012 2011 Sales 4,549.0 4,295.3 5.9% 5.3% Operating gross profit* 927.9 898.0 3.3% 2.4% Operating EBITDA 301.6 303.9-0.8% -1.8% North Aerica 2012 2011 Sales Operating gross profit* Operating EBITDA Latin Aerica 2012 2011 Sales Operating gross profit* Operating EBITDA Asia Pacific 2012 2011 Sales Operating gross profit* Operating EBITDA 3,065.2 2,725.7 12.5% 3.9% 742.3 659.7 12.5% 4.0% 321.5 282.1 14.0% 5.5% 919.0 806.9 13.9% 8.5% 169.6 150.5 12.7% 7.3% 56.9 51.4 10.7% 5.6% 707.6 415.4 70.3% 58.4% 111.6 82.1 35.9% 26.7% 49.4 36.9 33.9% 25.4% *Brenntag reports operating gross profit at the level of its individual segents and gross profit at Group level. Operating gross profit is defined as sales less the cost of goods sold. Gross profit is defined as operating gross profit less production/ixing and blending costs. 6 Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co
About Brenntag: Brenntag is the global arket leader in full-line cheical distribution. Linking cheical anufacturers and cheical users, Brenntag provides business-tobusiness distribution solutions for industrial and specialty cheicals globally. With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to ore than 170,000 custoers. The value-added services include just-in-tie delivery, product ixing, forulation, repackaging, inventory anageent, dru return handling as well as extensive technical support. Headquartered in Mülhei an der Ruhr, Gerany, the copany operates a global network with ore than 450 locations in ore than 70 countries. In 2012 the copany realized global sales of 9.7 billion (USD 12.5 billion) with nearly 13,000 eployees. This press release ay contain forward-looking stateents based on current assuptions and forecasts ade by Brenntag AG and other inforation currently available to the copany. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to aterial differences between the actual future results, financial situation, developent or perforance of the copany and the estiates given here. Brenntag AG does not intend, and does not assue any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking stateents or to adjust the to reflect future events or developents. 7 Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co
Press contact: Financial edia: Hubertus Spethann Thoas Langer Brenntag AG Brenntag AG Corporate Counications Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Stinnes-Platz 1 Stinnes-Platz 1 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr Gerany Gerany Tel.: +49 (208) 7828-7701 Tel.: +49 (208) 7828-7653 Fax: +49 (208) 7828-7220 Fax: +49 (208) 7828-7755 E-ail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de E-ail: thoas.langer@brenntag.de http://www.brenntag.co http://www.brenntag.co Investor contact: Thoas Langer, Diana Alester, Sabrina Roes Brenntag AG Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Stinnes-Platz 1 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr Gerany Tel.: +49 (208) 7828-7653 Fax: +49 (208) 7828-7755 E-ail: IR@Brenntag.de http://www.brenntag.co 8 Unternehenskounikation Stinnes-Platz 1 Fax +49(0)208/78 28-7220 Corporate Counications 45472 Mülhei an der Ruhr E-Mail: hubertus.spethann@brenntag.de Hubertus Spethann Gerany www.brenntag.co