HARTMANN GROUP achieves sales growth of 3.7% in the first half of 2019

• Revenues in all segments above previous year’s level – above-averagegrowth in Wound Management and at KNEIPP
• Raw material cost causes expected EBIT decline
• Full year targets for 2019 confirmed – focus on further strengthening of competitive position and customer orientation

The HARTMANN GROUP, one of the leading international suppliers of medical and hygiene products, increased sales revenues by 3.7% to EUR 1.075 billion in the first half of 2019. All segments generated higher sales. The Wound Management segmenthas developed particularly dynamically and was an additional growth factor. With innovative wound care treatment concepts, we were able toexceed the average sales growth achieved by the HARTMANN GROUP. EBIT declined overall to EUR 53.4 million (previous year: EUR 61.1 million), a development attributable in particular to the anticipated rise in the price of important raw materials and exchange rate trend.

“With sales growth of 3.7%, the financial year 2019 got off to a good start. The course has already been set for the second half of the year,” says CEO Britta Fünfstück. “With its use of targeted innovations and digital business models, HARTMANN is pursuing the objective of aligning itself even closer with direct customer added value and enhancing its competitiveness.”

“A good example is the acquisition of Safran Coating, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of silicone coating for healthcare products. With this acquisition we want to be able to offer an even wider and more innovative solution portfolio.”

The non-domestic markets made a significant contribution to the rise in sales: The share of sales outside of Germany increased from 67.4% in the previous year to 67.9%. In other European countries, the increase was 4.5%, driven among other things by double-digit growth in Northern Europe. Sales growth in the regions of Africa, Asia and Oceania exceeded the average sales growth achieved by the HARTMANN GROUP. Continuing price pressure in the hospital business and lower sales because of inventory reductions in pharmaceutical wholesale meant that Germany lagged behind the dynamics seen in non-domestic markets with a growth by 2.2%. The WoundManagement segment achieved a sales growth by 5.9% to EUR242.3 million. This increase was mainly driven by superabsorbent wound dressings and modern wound treatment products as well as the innovative HydroTherapy treatment concept, which achieved high growth rates. In the Incontinence Management segment sales increased to EUR 349.4 million, which corresponds to a change by +0.9%. Among other factors, organic growth by 1.1% was driven by an above average performance of MoliCare®Elastic and Pull-up. The 2.5% increase in sales to EUR 258.9 million in the Infection Management segment is partly attributable to the continued success of Sterillium®Med as the core product for hand disinfection. With customized surgical sets and surgical gloves, the HARTMANN GROUP achieved a solid sales growth in the first half of the year.

Sales in the Other Group Activities segment increased by 7.3% to a total of EUR224.4 million. Organic growth by 7.0% is mainly driven by solid sales of the CMC Group’s private-label products and the KNEIPP Group’s bath and body care products. The KOB Group, global market leader for special medical textiles, also achieved an increase in sales.

Despite the currently high prevailing macroeconomic risks, the outlook for the global healthcare industry remains positive overall. The HARTMANN GROUP expects moderate sales growth and an EBIT of between EUR 102 and 112 million.

The HARTMANN GROUP is one of the leading European providers of professional medical and care products and associated services. Every day, healthcare professionals and patients rely on HARTMANN brands in the segments of Incontinence Management (e.g. MoliCare®), Wound Care (e.g. Zetuvit®, Cosmopor®) and Infection Management (e. g. Sterillium®). This is expressed in our brand promise of “Helps. Cares. Protects.” HARTMANN generated sales of EUR 2.3 billion in the 2023 financial year. Founded in 1818, the Company sells its products and solutions in 130 countries around the world. For the future, the HARTMANN GROUP is currently implementing its strategic Transformation Program with its high-performance, customer-oriented and passionate team.

To learn more about the HARTMANN GROUP, visit www.corporate.hartmann.info.