Bobst Group announces strong sales growth but lower results than in 2017
February 28, 2019Bobst Group achieved in 2018 a strong growth in the corrugated board, label and film business. The Group reached sales of CHF 1.635 billion in 2018, an increase of CHF 106 million, or +6.9% compared to 2017.
The Business Unit Web-fed transformation, the large investments in digitalization and the China strategy for growth reduced significantly the Group results in 2018. The operating result (EBIT) was CHF 87 million (CHF 119 million in 2017), while the net result was CHF 50 million (CHF 107 million in 2017). The return on capital employed (ROCE) decreased to 14.2% compared to 23.2% in 2017 and the shareholders’ equity ratio decreased to 33.4% from 35.6% in the previous year.
The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders the payment of a dividend of CHF 1.50 per share (CHF 2.60 in 2017). In 2019, the Group expects to reach a similar sales level as in 2018. The operating result (EBIT) margin is expected to be in the range of 6% to 7% in 2019 and 2020.