(LANXESS) -- Lanxess has lifted its full-year guidance for 2011 after achieving record results in the second quarter. The specialty chemicals company now expects EBITDA pre exceptionals to grow about 20 percent year-on-year after previously forecasting a growth of 10-15 percent. EBITDA pre exceptionals in the second quarter rose 26 percent year-on-year to EUR 339 million.
Net debt at the end of the second quarter rose 49 percent from the end of 2010 to about EUR 1.4 billion mainly due to the acquisitions of the EPDM rubber business and Syngenta's material protection business. Operating cash-flow more than tripled to EUR 212 million reflecting the strength of the company's operational business.