Wacker Chemie AG Deep Dive | REFOCUS Strategy
Investor Snapshot
- COMPANY
- Wacker Chemie AG
- FORMAT
- Deep Dive
- SPEAKER
- Joerg Hoffmann
- ROLE
- Head of Investor Relations
- DURATION
- 06:45
- PUBLISHED
- September 2026
- LANGUAGE
- English
In 60 Seconds
Joerg Hoffmann explains WACKER Chemie’s REFOCUS strategy, portfolio priorities and targets for margins, growth and ROCE after CMD 2026.
September 29, 2026
06:45 
Wacker Chemie AG Deep Dive: Key Takeaways
In this seat11a Deep Dive, Joerg Hoffmann, CFA, Senior Vice President Investor Relations at WACKER Chemie AG, presents a concise recap of the company’s 2026 Capital Markets Day and explains how its new REFOCUS strategy is intended to strengthen profitability, cash generation and returns.
WACKER’s Four Business Segments
WACKER operates through four segments: Silicones, Polymers, Biosolutions and Polysilicon. Each combines differentiated technology with leading or highly specialised market positions. In 2025, the group generated sales of approximately €5.5 billion, serving markets ranging from construction and coatings to electronics, mobility, energy, healthcare and wellbeing.
REFOCUS Strategy and Capital Allocation
The central change introduced through REFOCUS is that WACKER will no longer manage every business according to the same strategic priorities. Individual portfolio units are assigned one of four roles: Accelerate Growth, Optimise Return, Maximise Cash or Turnaround. These roles define the relevant performance indicators and determine how resources and capital are allocated.
Accelerate Growth Through Innovation and Commercialisation
In its Accelerate Growth businesses, WACKER is directing innovation towards markets in which the company believes it has a clear competitive advantage. Examples include battery safety, thermal management and sensor protection for semiconductor applications, optical encapsulants for Mini- and Micro-LEDs, transdermal active-delivery patches and plant-based taurine. The emphasis is on accelerating commercialisation rather than simply increasing research expenditure.
Optimise Return Across Established Businesses
The Optimise Return portfolio includes established businesses in which WACKER already holds strong market positions. Priorities include automation and yield improvements in semiconductor-grade polysilicon, pricing discipline in dispersible polymer powders and greater flexibility in specialty silicones production.
Tailored Strategies for Silicones, Polymers, Biosolutions and Polysilicon
Each of WACKER’s four segments consequently receives a tailored strategy. Silicones is focused on asset-light downstream expansion, while Polymers combines market and technology leadership with cost, capital and portfolio discipline. Biosolutions is concentrating on technology-led growth and stronger commercial execution. Polysilicon aims to extend its global leadership in semiconductor applications while maintaining strategic optionality in the US solar market.
PACE Programme and Structural Cost Savings
WACKER enters this strategic phase with strong liquidity, low leverage and a high equity ratio. Its profitability ambitions are supported by selective growth, improved portfolio mix and structural cost measures. The PACE programme is expected to generate more than €300 million of annual gross cost savings by 2028, with more than half retained in EBITDA.
Long-Term EBITDA Margin and ROCE Ambitions
WACKER’s structural financial ambitions are to achieve growth above GDP, an EBITDA margin of 15% plus or minus two percentage points, and ROCE sustainably above 10% and above the company’s cost of capital. These targets form the framework against which the execution of REFOCUS and the company’s future value creation will be assessed.
- WACKER CMD 2026: REFOCUS to unlock full potential
- WACKER has leading market positions in all segments
- Serving diverse global markets through four segments
- WACKER introduces portfolio roles to steer businesses
- Differentiated steering directs innovation to “Accelerate Growth”
- Focused to strengthen strong performance in “Optimize Return”
- Segment strategies reflect individual portfolio roles
- Maintained solid financials & improved resilience
- Going forward: Pull levers to drive EBITDA margin to 15% ± 2pp
- Road to value creation – WACKER structural financial ambitions
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