HOCHDORF Holding Ltd: Sales and Turnover Figures for 2016 Donnerstag, 26. Januar 2017 - 07:01

HOCHDORF Holding AG / Key word(s): Development of Sales
HOCHDORF Holding Ltd: Sales and Turnover Figures for 2016

26-Jan-2017 / 07:00 CET/CEST
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR

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HOCHDORF Group Press Release: Sales and Turnover Figures for 2016

Sales maintained at last year's level despite low milk price

Hochdorf, 26 January 2017 - The HOCHDORF Group achieved gross sales
revenues of CHF 550.9 million, maintaining sales at the same level as the
previous year (CHF 551.2 million) despite difficult market and milk price
conditions. The company processed 741.8 million kg of milk, whey and
permeate (-2.6%; previous year 761.2 million kg). The volume of products
sold decreased marginally to 237,289 tonnes (-2.3%; previous year 242,821
tonnes). The operational results meet the expectations for the EBIT margin
predicted in the half-yearly report.

The HOCHDORF Group plants processed 741.8 million kg of milk, whey and
permeate in the past year (-2.6% compared to previous year). The difficult
market and milk price conditions meant that significantly reduced liquid
volumes were accepted and processed in the foreign milk plants. However, a
total of 409.1 million kg of milk, whey and permeate was processed in the
Swiss plants. This represented an increase of +5.2% on the previous year's
figure of 388.9 million kg. The growth was largely due to significantly
higher whey quantities processed in the Sulgen plant (+44.9%).

The group processed a reduced quantity of liquid than the previous year,
which was also reflected in the product quantities sold. They were reduced
by -2.3% to 237,289 tonnes (previous year 242,821 tonnes).

Gross sales revenues maintained at last year's level
At CHF 550.9 million, the gross sales revenue of the HOCHDORF Group
remained close to the previous year's level of CHF 551.2 million. "The
gross sales revenue is within the range of CHF 540 to 580 million announced
in the half-yearly report," explained CEO Dr. Thomas Eisenring. Low milk
prices across the year with correspondingly lower product prices in Dairy
Ingredients have had a negative impact on the turnover. The higher sales
volumes in Baby Care had a positive influence on sales revenues.

Significantly higher revenue figures expected
The measures undertaken to increase efficiency and the company's adjusted
strategy are having a positive effect on the operational results. "We have
taken the right path and despite the challenging market in Dairy
Ingredients we are expecting a group-wide EBIT in line with the percentage
range of between 4.0 and 4.2% intimated in the half-yearly report,"
explained Dr Thomas Eisenring. As a result the HOCHDORF Group will still be
in a position to announce good revenue figures despite difficult market
conditions.

The complete company results for 2016 will be published on 13 March 2017.


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End of ad hoc announcement

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Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this News:

The HOCHDORF Group, based in Hochdorf, achieved a consolidated gross sales
revenue of CHF 550.9 million in 2016. It is one of the leading foodstuff
companies in Switzerland, employing 620 staff as of 31.12.2016. Made from
natural ingredients such as milk, wheat germ and oil seeds, HOCHDORF
products have been contributing to our health and wellbeing since 1895 -
from babies to senior citizens. Its customers include the food industry and
the wholesale and retail sectors. Its products are sold in over 90
countries. The shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ISIN
CH0024666528).


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