DSM Updates Market on Strategy 2018

HEERLEN, The Netherlands, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Royal DSM, a global science company active in health, nutrition and materials, today updates investors on its progress on Strategy 2018, "Driving Profitable Growth" at its annual Investor Event in The Hague (Netherlands):

• EBITDA and ROCE outlook for 2017 confirmed
• DSM aims to continue to deliver against its strategic targets in 2018
• DSM brings forward its regular strategic review process for the period beyond 2018 and expects to share the conclusions before the summer of 2018

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Feike Sijbesma, CEO and Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, commented: "DSM is successfully executing its Strategy 2018, "Driving Profitable Growth", announced in 2015. We have significantly improved operational and financial performance, with all businesses delivering on their ambitious growth initiatives and we are well on track with our cost-reduction and efficiency improvement programs.  

Furthermore, we have successfully divested Patheon ahead of schedule, realizing total proceeds of approximately €2 billion and we are making good progress with our focused innovation program. 

With all of these developments ahead of plan we decided to bring forward our regular strategic review process for the period beyond 2018 and anticipate communicating the results before the summer of 2018." 

Highlights of today's investor updates

• DSM will address the attractive growth profile of all its businesses, highlighting:
• The strong alignment with long term market-trends.
• How the businesses can continue to outperform markets, through ambitious growth initiatives, including the development of new markets as well as the creation of new innovative sustainable products and solutions.
• How the combination of focus on higher margin growth opportunities and the continued execution of operational excellence programs, will further enhance margins and profitability in coming years.
  
• DSM confirms its EBITDA and ROCE outlook for 2017 as communicated with the Q2 financial results despite today's slightly less favorable exchange rates: "DSM expects to deliver full-year 2017 results above the targets set out in its Strategy 2018, with an EBITDA growth for the year moving slightly up from high single-digit to double digit, and with a ROCE increase moving from double digit basis points to over 100 basis points."
  
• DSM aims to continue to deliver in 2018 against its Strategy 2018 "Driving Profitable Growth", with full commitment to its growth initiatives as well as its cost-reduction and efficiency improvement programs.
  
• Given the implementation of Strategy 2018 progressing well, and the delivery of financial results significantly ahead of the strategic targets, as well as the cash proceeds from Patheon coming earlier than expected, DSM will bring forward its regular strategic review process for the period beyond 2018 and aims to communicate the conclusions before the summer of 2018.  
  

Today's presentations will be published at 14.15 CET and there will be an audio webcast of the event from 14.15 - 19.15 CET. More information is available on http://www.dsm.com. Presentations will be available on the DSM website today as from 14.15 CET.

DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™ 

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in life sciences and materials sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 25,000 employees. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at http://www.dsm.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading.

For more information:
DSM Corporate Communications
Herman Betten
tel. +31(0)45-5782017        
e-mail [email protected]

DSM Investor Relations
Dave Huizing
tel. +31(0)45-5782864
e-mail [email protected]