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Gurit finished a strong year despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group benefits from its strong positioning in the global wind energy market.

Composite Materials reports net sales of CHF 276.2 million for 2020. This is an increase of 10.7% in reported Swiss francs or 16.2% at constant exchange rates over 2019. The Wind energy market demand was strong across all product groups. Impacted by COVID-19, Marine markets saw weaker sales due to lower yacht building activity.

Net sales of the Business Unit Kitting amounts to CHF 225.6 million, compared to CHF 190.7 million in the previous year period. This is an increase of 18.3% in reported Swiss francs and 25.4% at constant exchange rates. Supported by the positive demand momentum of the Wind market and partially higher converted material prices, the Kitting business is growing strongly. It is strengthening its global footprint and increasing the production capacity.

After a very strong fourth quarter, the Business Unit Tooling reports net sales of CHF 98.7 million for the year 2020, which represents a decrease of -7.0% in reported Swiss francs and -1.7% at constant exchange rates. On the one hand, this was driven by a shift in the product mix. In addition, customers cancelled projects in the first half of the year due to COVID-19. Further, pandemic-related travel restrictions led to a slowdown in new installations.

The Aerospace Business Unit reports net sales of CHF 31.6 million in 2020. This represents a significant decline of -41.0% in reported Swiss francs and -39.3% at constant exchange rates. The Aerospace Business Unit now sees a stabilization at the currently low level of demand, but as of now sees no signs of recovery in the global passenger aircraft market. The site consolidation of Zullwil into Kassel is finished and the production at the Zullwil plant has stopped. The Kassel site undertakes further cost saving measures, as well. Its capacity will be well utilized once the business of the former two plants is combined into one.

Online publication of Annual Report 2020, Media/Analyst conference and Webcast on March 2, 2021
Gurit will report its 2020 full year results on March 2, 2021, by issuing a press release at 07:00 a.m. CET and publishing its Annual Report 2020 online at http://www.gurit.com/Investors/Reports. Management will also discuss the results at a joint media and analyst webcast in Zurich on March 2, 2021, at 09:00 a.m. CET.  Please sign up for the conference by returning the enclosed registration form. The presentations will be held in English and accessible as webcast at http://www.gurit.com/Investors/Webcasts where an archived version will be available.

Forward-looking statements:
To the extent that this announcement contains forward-looking statements, such statements are based on assumptions, planning and forecasts at the time of publication of this announcement. Forward-looking statements always involve uncertainties. Business and economic risks and developments, the conduct of competitors, political decisions and other factors may cause the actual results to be materially different from the assumptions, planning and forecasts at the time of publication of this announcement. Therefore, Gurit Holding AG does not assume any responsibility relating to forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.