NORMA Group concludes a successful first year as a listed company

NORMA Group AG ("NORMA Group"), a global market and technology leader for engineered joining technology, looks back over a successful first year as a listed company." The IPO has been an important milestone for NORMA Group. Taking our company public and subsequently refinancing NORMA Group laid the foundations for future growth," says Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group. The shares of NORMA Group started trading in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt stock exchange on 8 April 2011. In spite of a volatile capital market environment, 16 million shares were issued primarily to German and international institutional investors during the IPO at an issuing price of EUR 21. Only two months later, i.e. in June 2011, the company was included in the SDAX equity index.

NORMA Group achieved its objective of continued growth after the IPO. 2011 was a record year for the company with growth across all regions and business areas. Sales increased by 18.5 per cent to EUR 581.4 million in fiscal year 2011. Adjusted operating earnings (adjusted EBITA) grew by 20.2 per cent to EUR 102.7 million. "The record results show that we can grow strongly and remain profitable. Our investments in 2011 focused particularly on the growth markets of Asia, Eastern Europe and South America in order to participate in the growth of those markets," Deggim stresses.

In spite of the positive business development, the stock was not immune to the negative financial market trend that started late in the summer of 2011. The publication of record numbers for the third quarter 2011 in mid-November 2011 further built trust in the stability and continuity of the business model and thus in the shares of NORMA Group, which could recover substantially and establish themselves in the capital market. Since the numbers for the third quarter were published on 15 November 2011 the shares have climbed by around 38 per cent. In comparison, the SDAX climbed by approximately 16 per cent. Free float currently amounts to 56.2 per cent. As a result, NORMA Group has a market capitalisation of more than EUR 590 million, placing it in the upper quarter of the SDAX. With its daily trading volume of approximately 70,000 shares, the company ranks number 14 among all SDAX listed companies.