Key Financial Data: Third quarter 2019

Evonik confirms full-year earnings outlook despite ongoing weakness in global economy

- 2019: Adjusted EBITDA to remain at least stable

- Free cash flow outlook for full year confirmed and specified: around EUR700 million

- Q3: Sales and operating earnings below year-ago period

- Stricter cost discipline supports earnings

Essen, Germany. Evonik is sticking to its full-year earnings outlook despite an ongoing weakness in the global economy. The company expects adjusted EBITDA to remain at least stable compared with last year. Sales are now expected to be slightly lower than the previous year because of lower demand. Evonik had expected sales to remain stable. In 2018 Evonik generated - excluding the divested Methacrylates business - sales of
EUR13.3 billion and adjusted EBITDA of EUR2.15 billion.

"We prepared ourselves at an early stage with stricter cost discipline and additional contingency measures for a cooling global economy," said Christian Kullmann, chairman of Evonik's executive board. "We are being very proactive to ensure we meet our full-year outlook."

The 2018 initiated efficiency program to reduce administrative and selling expenses by EUR200 million annually has been accelerated. By end of this year, Evonik will achieve EUR120 million of savings, EUR20 million more than originally planned. A further EUR20 million will be saved with additional contingency measures such as delaying new hires and more restrictive expenditure on external services.

Evonik is specifying its full-year outlook for free cash flow and is now expecting a level of around EUR700 million, a significantly higher free cash flow compared with last year. This is mainly due to lower capex spending, less build-up of net working capital and the partial reimbursement of pension payments from the Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA). The more precise outlook does not include taxes incurred from the carve out of the divested Methacrylates business.

The global economic slowdown continued to impact Evonik's performance in the third quarter. In the months July to September sales fell 3 percent to EUR3.23 billion due to lower volumes and selling prices. Adjusted EBITDA fell 6 percent year-on-year to EUR543 million.

Segment Performance

Resource Efficiency: Segment sales declined 1 percent to EUR1.4 billion in the third quarter. Coatings as well as the adhesive and resins business was affected by the global economic slowdown, especially in the automotive and coatings sector. Sales volumes declined for industry-related silica applications. In contrast, high-performance polymers benefited from solid demand for membranes and from the 3D printing industry. Crosslinkers saw high demand from the wind industry. Adjusted EBITDA dropped 4 percent to EUR322 million.

Nutrition & Care: Sales declined 2 percent to EUR1.14 billion in the third quarter. Demand for essential amino acids for animal nutrition remained high while selling prices declined further. In the Health Care business sales increased, especially due to good demand for pharma and food ingredients. Sales increased significantly for polyurethane-foam additives, mostly on high demand for durable consumer goods and insulation. Adjusted EBITDA at the segment dropped 11 percent to EUR188 million.

Performance Materials: Sales in the third quarter decreased 20 percent to EUR475 million compared with the prior-year quarter. Development at Performance Intermediates was impaired by a lower oil and naphtha price and slightly lower selling prices. Continuing constraints in raw-material supply and technical problems at the C4 plants in Marl and Antwerp weighed on earnings. At Functional Solutions the alkoxides business developed well. Adjusted EBITDA declined 25 percent to EUR47 million at the segment.

Company information
Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik's corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2018, the enterprise with more than 32,000 employees generated sales of EUR13.3 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR2.15 billion from continuing operations.

Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.

Evonik Industries AG
Rellinghauser Straße 1-11
45128 Essen
Germany
Phone +49 201 177-01
Fax +49 201 177-3475
www.evonik.com

Supervisory Board
Bernd Tönjes, Chairman
Executive Board
Christian Kullmann, Chairman
Dr. Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman
Thomas Wessel, Ute Wolf

Registered Office is Essen
Register Court Essen Local Court
Commercial Registry B 19474