Given an improving order situation and the increasingly positive impact of the Group’s extensive transformation, Heidelberg is confident of returning to profitable growth in financial year 2021/2022 (April 2021 to March 2022). Despite the continuing uncertainties regarding the duration and scope of the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in financial year 2021/2022, the company is expecting sales to climb from €1,913m to at least €2bn.
“The comprehensive transformation Heidelberg initiated before the coronavirus pandemic hit has made the company leaner and more efficient. Given that demand is now also definitely picking up again in most key sales regions, we’re expecting to achieve a far better operating margin this year, including a slightly positive net result after taxes. The considerable growth potential offered by packaging printing, digital business models, business in China and new technologies such as wallboxes is also making us confident about the years ahead,” comments Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO, Heidelberg.
The company predicts that profitability will grow even more strongly than sales. For example, the expected increase in sales, the lower cost base, and the fact that significant restructuring costs of some 5% (including restructuring result) will no longer need to be met means the EBITDA margin is set to increase to between 6 and 7%. After two years of losses, a positive net result after taxes is also likely to be achieved thanks to a sustained improvement in the financial result.
