Corporate News

Hartmann performed well in Q1 2010 with an EBIT margin of 9.8% (2009: 3.2%). As expected, the positive trend witnessed in the latest quarters thus continued in 2010, as the ‘10 in 10’ initiatives implemented took full effect. Hartmann maintains its full-year forecast for 2010.

The year 2009 was a successful year for Hartmann. Despite unfavourable exchange rates at the European markets, we came a step closer to reaching our profit margin target of 10% in 2010. We continue to focus on making progress in Europe and North America through continual efficiency enhancing and optimisation initiatives, strongly supported by our market position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of sustainable moulded-fibre egg packaging.

The Group reported a strong performance for Q3 2009 with significant profit growth. The performance for the nine months ended 30 September 2009 was in line with expectations. Hartmann retains its outlook for 2009 and its ‘10 in 10’ goal.

The Group performed as expected. The sales volume of Egg Packaging Europe was in line with expectations, but revenue remained affected by developments in exchange rates. Automation and efficiency improvement measures continued to have a positive impact on Hartmann's core business. Egg Packaging North America continued to grow, while Industrial Packaging and Hartmann Technology experienced setbacks. Profit for the period improved significantly.

Hartmann has just entered a new research and development partnership with Innventia - a world leader in research and development relating to pulp, paper and packaging. The purpose is to find new combinations and types of renewable and natural fibres that will lead to new business opportunities for Hartmann.

The underlying operations of Egg Packaging Europe continued to improve. However, the division was, as expected, strongly affected by unfavourable fluctuations in several exchange rates. The North American business showed a positive trend, whereas Industrial Packaging saw an expected sharp decline.

Nordic companies having signed UN Caring for Climate met Ban Ki-Moon for interventions and discussions of the fight against climate change yesterday. Hartmann CEO, Peter A. Poulsen, took part.

Hartmann has just renewed it's support to the UN Global Compact initiative for the sixth time. As a member Hartmann needs to follow ten principles and report on them annually.

Hartmann was recently awarded the ’Information Diploma 2008’ for the open and transparent communication about the turnaround process in the annual and interim reports and in the dialogue with investors and analysts during 2008.

For the first time Hartmann Croatia participated in the Central European Environmental Reporting Award (CE ERA)- Green Frog Award and received the third place. So far, this initiative has been exclusively for Hungarian companies and 2008 was the first time that companies in other Central European countries were able to participate.