Voestalpine Finalizes Divestment, Affirms Financial Targets

Voestalpine AT0000937503

Austrian steel and technology group Voestalpine AG has reached a definitive agreement to sell its subsidiary BÖHLER Profil GmbH & Co KG to U.S. industrial firm Kadant Inc. This transaction effectively concludes the portfolio streamlining within the company's High Performance Metals division. Crucially for shareholders, the group's financial outlook remains unchanged following the deal.

The sale, which is pending regulatory approvals in Austria, is expected to close no later than the end of March. The business being divested, BÖHLER Profil, reported revenue of 51.5 million euros for the 2024/25 financial year and employs approximately 150 people.

Kadant intends to operate the unit as Kadant Profil GmbH & Co KG following the acquisition, integrating it into its Industrial Processing segment. The U.S. company has stated it will retain the existing workforce and plans to finance the purchase primarily through its revolving credit facility.

Strategic Restructuring Nears Completion

This divestment represents a final step in Voestalpine's ongoing restructuring of its High Performance Metals division. The process has previously included the sale of Buderus Edelstahl, the consolidation of sites outside Austria, and capacity adjustments at voestalpine BÖHLER Bleche. Company management now considers this strategic overhaul effectively complete.

A key question for investors is whether the sale impacts the group's earnings guidance. Voestalpine has confirmed it does not. The company reaffirmed its EBITDA forecast for the 2025/26 financial year, which remains at 1.40 to 1.55 billion euros.

Dividend Policy and Upcoming Financial Calendar

Looking ahead, Voestalpine's dividend framework, introduced in July 2025, stipulates a payout ratio of 30% of earnings per share starting in the 2025/26 fiscal year. This is contingent on the group's net debt-to-EBITDA ratio remaining below 2.0 after the distribution. Regardless of this condition, a minimum dividend of 0.40 euros per share is guaranteed.

The company's immediate reporting schedule includes the release of its third-quarter results on February 11. This will be followed by the annual report on June 3, the Annual General Meeting on July 1, and the dividend payment date on July 14.