Dear shareholders, business partners and colleagues,
 

The year 2024 was characterized by demanding conditions that presented both our industry and the global markets with considerable challenges. We are therefore all the more proud that we were able to overcome these challenges together and can look back on a successful financial year.

With sales revenue of EUR 476 million and increased earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 42.8 million, we have once again demonstrated our strength as a full-range supplier of flooring systems. The positive earnings trend is particularly pleasing: thanks to targeted measures to increase efficiency, an optimized materials usage ratio and improvements in logistics, we were able to increase our EBIT by 25% compared to the previous year. This progress is the result of hard work and a clear strategic focus that keeps us competitive even in a challenging market environment.

We would like to thank our 1,500 employees around the world, whose commitment, expertise and innovative spirit have made a significant contribution to this success. Their dedication and willingness to continuously adapt to changing conditions are the basis for our company's solid performance last year.

Despite all the successes we have achieved, we are looking to the future with caution. Political and regulatory requirements, particularly in the area of sustainability, will continue to require investment and strategic adjustments. For us, sustainability means doing justice to all stakeholder groups in the long term: customers, investors and employees as well as business partners and society as a whole. Economic, ecological and social responsibility go hand in hand - along the entire value chain. The aim is to anchor sustainability even more firmly in our operating business in future. This is the only way we can achieve long-term improvements: from reducing CO₂ emissions to respecting human rights in the supply chain and increasing trust in digitalization.

What topics are on our agenda for the future?

We want to take the brand experience for our customers to the next level. To do this, we are designing digital, cross-brand communication measures. In addition, we are creating outstanding product experiences for our customers across all six brands, such as the UZIN UTZ Campus, which will take place annually in future and attract hundreds of craftsmen.

In order to further expand our position as a global company, we are on an ambitious growth path. This is prompting us to implement a future-proof organizational model that will meet the requirements of the next decade.

In 2025, we are also ushering in the final strategic year of Passion 2025. We are focusing once again on the goals we have set ourselves and at the same time developing a new vision for the coming years.

The development of innovative products is running at full speed. For example, the new dimension of our leveling compounds, UZIN FusionTec, has made a start. This pioneering binder technology paves the way for further state-of-the-art leveling compounds and thin screeds.  We have also set new standards and made strategic progress across our other product brands. These are all prerequisites for driving forward the profitable future of UZIN UTZ.

We are confident that the expected recovery in the construction industry and the emerging easing of inflation rates and financing conditions will provide positive impetus for our 2025 financial year.

With your trust and support, we look forward to the future and look forward to continuing to shape the success of our company together. 

Best regards

Christian Richter, Julian Utz, Philipp Utz