Gurit Holding AG : Gurit grows net sales for the full year 2011 by 23% on a currency-adjusted basis and expects an EBIT margin close to 9%

Zurich/Switzerland, January 31, 2012. Based on un-audited figures, Gurit achieved net sales of CHF 344.7 million for the full year 2011. In reported Swiss Francs this is an increase of 10.6%. At constant December 2011 translation rates a plus of 23.1%. On a currency and acquisition adjusted basis net sales grew by 19.2%. The Group EBIT margin is expected close to 9% and the operating EBIT margin excluding one-time effects close to 8%.

Wind Energy sales grew by 39.7% on a currency adjusted basis. The anticipated growth momentum for the second half of 2011 materialized in the prepreg business in Europe and the Americas and more than compensated the significant market contraction in China during that same period.

Tooling sales grew by 11.9% on a currency adjusted basis. The recorded growth was mostly due to the internationalization of the customer base as evidenced by sales to India, the USA and Africa. The domestic market in China recorded weak sales with the exception of the second quarter 2011.  

Transportation sales grew by 0.9% on a currency adjusted basis. Sales for rail applications in China and revenues generated with smaller Aerospace customers suffered from delays during the year under review while sales recorded with key aerospace accounts rose in the upper single digit percentage range.

Marine sales grew by 8.1% on a currency adjusted basis, mainly backed by growth generated in the USA and Europe while sales in Australia declined because of the exchange rate development of the Australian Dollar.

Publication Annual Report; Media/Analyst conference: March 16, 2012
Gurit will publish its full annual results on March 16, 2012 at 07:00 a.m. CET in an internationally distributed media release and with the publication of its Annual Report in the investor relations section on www.gurit.com. Later that same day, Gurit Management will discuss the results in further detail at a joint media and analyst conference in Zurich at 09:30 a.m. The conference will take place at SIX Swiss Exchange's Convention Point, Selnau Strasse 30, CH-8021 Zurich. The presentations will be held in English and will also be accessible as a webcast on www.gurit.com where an archived version will later be available for download. Please sign up for the live event by returning the enclosed registration form.

Financial Calendar 2012
April 23, 2012	16.30CET	Annual General Meeting: Seedamm Plaza, Pfäffikon SZ
	After trading hours	Sales Q1 2012, AGM resolutions
August 30, 2012	Before trading hours	Half-year results 2012, Media release, publication of Half-year report on www.gurit.com
	09:30 CET	Media/Analyst conference and webcast
October 26, 2012	After trading hours	Sales Q3 2012

Please consult the regularly updated financial calendar in the Investor Relations section on www.gurit.com.

For further information: Rudolf Hadorn, CEO Gurit Holding AG
Tel + 41 44 316 1560; Mobile: [phone]; [e-mail]  

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On Gurit: The companies of Gurit Holding AG, Wattwil/Switzerland, (SIX Swiss Ex-change: GUR) are specialised on the development and manufacture of advanced com-posite materials and related technologies featuring bespoke physical and chemical characteristics. The comprehensive product range comprises fibre reinforced prepregs, structural core products (man-made materials and balsa wood), gel coats, adhesives, resins and consumables as well as certain finished parts. Gurit supplies growth markets in Wind Energy, Tooling, Transportation, Marine, and Engineered Structures. The international Group has production sites and offices in Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Canada, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Ecuador, India and China.