Economic and financial crisis

Based on the knowledge gained as a result of the recent economic and financial crises and/or their effect on the voestalpine Group, additional measures—primarily of a corporate nature—were taken in recent years to minimize the risk exposure, and these measures were consistently implemented in the past business year and will be pursued in the coming years too. In particular, these measures are targeted at

• Minimizing the negative effects that a recessionary economic trend would have on the Company by means of relevant planning precautions (“scenario planning”);
• Maintaining high product quality along with concurrent continual efficiency gains and ongoing cost optimization;
• Ensuring that sufficient financial liquidity is available even in the event of tight financial markets; and
• Securing in-house expertise even more efficiently than before with a view to continuing the long-term expansion of the Group’s quality and technology leadership.

Specific measures to hedge the risks previously identified within the voestalpine Group have been developed and implemented. These measures are aimed at reducing potential losses and/or minimizing the likelihood of losses occurring.

It can be stated that, from today’s perspective, the risks of the voestalpine Group are limited and manageable and that they do not threaten the continuation of the Group as a going concern. There is no indication of any future going-concern risks.