Symrise continues growth course in the first half of 2023

Symrise continued its growth course in the first half of 2023 and achieved a sales increase of 6.8 % to € 2,414 million (H1 2022: € 2,260 million). Excluding portfolio and exchange rate effects, sales increased organically by 8.0 %. Both segments contributed to this positive development and grew sales in a tense global economic environment.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to € 446 million (H1 2022: € 486 million). The Group’s profitability (EBITDA margin) was 18.5 % (H1 2022: 21.5 %). Without one-time effects in segment Scent & Care EBITDA came to € 475 million. This was 1.5 % higher than previous year’s EBITDA of € 468 million, normalized by the one-time gain of € 18 million for the sale of Velcorin business in 2022. The normalized EBITDA margin reached 19.7 %, which was below previous year’s normalized EBITDA margin of 20.7 % mainly due to higher raw material, energy and operating costs.

Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, chief executive officer of Symrise, said, “Symrise has a proven and stable business model with comparatively low risk content. The Group is broadly diversified and robustly positioned. However, persistently high inflation has resulted in cost increases. The company has been able to partially offset until now through strict cost management and price increases. Nevertheless, we are starting the second half of the year with confidence. With the expansion of our production capacities and the collaboration with Sunner in China as well as with Swedencare, we are reinforcing our leadership position in the pet food and pet care businesses. Symrise recently inaugurated a new creation hub in Shanghai for Fine Fragrances and a center of expertise in Paris for Cosmetic Ingredients. These measures reflect our ambition to enhance our competitiveness in a sustainable way.”

Group Sales Performance

The Symrise Group achieved organic sales growth of 8.0 % in the first half of 2023. Both segments contributed to this gratifying development. Taking into account portfolio and exchange rate effects, reported sales growth amounted to 6.8 %. The portfolio effects of € 35 million from the acquisitions of Groupe Néroli and Romani as well as Wing Biotechnology contributed positively to increasing sales to € 2,414 million.

Taste, Nutrition & Health segment

Taste, Nutrition & Health achieved organic sales growth of 11.4 % in the first half of 2023. Considering portfolio and exchange rate effects, the segment’s sales amounted to € 1,527 million (H1 2022: € 1,398 million) in the reporting currency and were 9.3 % above the previous year’s figure. The acquisition of Wing Biotechnology contributed around € 21 million to sales growth.

In the Food & Beverage division, demand for sweet and savory products as well as beverage flavorings developed very satisfactorily to deliver double-digit organic growth. Strong growth was recorded in EAME (Europe, Africa, Middle East) and Latin America regions. Business unit Naturals increased sales, particularly in the Asia/Pacific and Latin America regions.

The Pet Food division likewise posted double-digit percentage growth. Sales development was particularly dynamic in France, USA, Mexico, China and Southeast Asia. With the expansion of its production capacities and the joint venture with Sunner, in regard of egg-based proteins in China, Symrise has laid the foundation for further accelerated expansion of the business.

The probiotics business remained below the previous year’s level and recorded a slight decline in sales in the first half of the year. This was particularly attributable to weaker demand in North America and EAME regions.

In the reporting period, EBITDA of the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment amounted to € 335 million (H1 2022: € 315 million), which was 6.4 % above the previous year’s level. The increase was mainly attributable to profitable sales growth, acquisitions and a slight decline in the raw material cost ratio. The EBITDA margin reached 21.9 %, which, normalized for the one-time gain in the previous year from the sale of the Velcorin business, was 0.7 percentage points above the previous year’s figure (EBITDA margin H1 2022 excluding one -time effect: 21.2%).

Consolidated net income, cash flow and net debt

The consolidated net income attributable to the shareholders of Symrise AG for the first six months of 2023 amounted to € 188 million, which was € 41 million lower than the amount of the previous year (H1 2022: € 229 million). The main reasons for this are the one-time effects of € 29 million in the Scent & Care segment and the previous year’s income of € 18 million from the divestment of the Velcorin business. Earnings per share fell to € 1.34 (H1 2022: € 1.64).

At € 144 million, Cash Flow from operating activities for the first half of 2023 was € 92 million higher than in the previous year. The change resulted mainly from a smaller increase in working capital as well as the divestment of the Velcorin business in 2022 and foreign currency effects.

Business Free Cash Flow in the first six months amounted to € 106 million, up € 1 million from the previous year. As a percentage of sales, Business Free Cash Flow was 4.4 % and thus almost on par with the value of 4.6 % in the same period of the previous year.

Net debt increased by € 203 million compared with the reporting date of December 31, 2022, to € 2,435 million. The ratio of net debt including lease liabilities to normalized EBITDA thus amounts to 2.7 times. Including pension obligations and lease liabilities, net debt stood at € 2,916 million (ratio of net debt to normalized EBITDA: 3.2).

Symrise confirms mid-term targets

Symrise confirms its growth and profitability targets and continues to expect to grow faster than the relevant market. The company is targeting organic sales growth of between 5 and 7 % in 2023. Profitability, measured by the normalized EBITDA margin, should be around 20 %.

In the medium term, the company aims to increase its sales to € 5.5 to 6.0 billion by 2025. Annual growth of 5 to 7 % (CAGR) as well as targeted acquisitions are expected to contribute to this. Profitability (EBITDA margin) should meet the target corridor of 20 to 23 % in the mid term.