Financial-Management Principles and Goals

Our key financial-management goal is to secure WACKER’s financial strength over the long term. The central task is to sufficiently cover the financial needs of our operations and investment projects. Financial management at WACKER comprises capital-structure management, cash and liquidity management, and the management of market-price risk (currencies, interest rates). Capital-structure management involves shaping the capital structure of the Group and its subsidiaries.

In liquidity management, WACKER continuously monitors cash flows from operations and from financial business. WACKER covers the resulting liquidity needs via suitable instruments, such as intra-Group financing through borrowings, or through external loans from local banks.

WACKER pursues a careful financing policy that targets a balanced financing portfolio, a diversified maturity portfolio and a comfortable liquidity buffer. Our aim is to maintain our corporate financial structures so that the Group’s credit rating remains – at a minimum – in the investment-grade range.

WACKER’s key source of liquidity is the operations of its Group companies and the resulting incoming payments. This centralized system of internal transfers reduces our interest expense and the need for debt financing. The purpose of managing market-price risks is to limit the effects of fluctuations in exchange rates and interest rates on the Group’s bottom line.

Financing Measures in 2019

In Q1 2019, WACKER took out bilateral loans with three banks totaling €200 million, €100 million of which matures in three years and the remaining €100 million in five.

Financial Analysis

The Group’s cash flow is a key instrument of liquidity management. Net cash flow serves as the internal indicator for measuring the liquidity of operating activities.