DGAP-News: VTG starts with growth in its core business

DGAP-News: VTG Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Quarter Results/Interim Report VTG starts with growth in its core business 15.05.2014 / 07:30 --------------------------------------------------------------------- VTG starts with growth in its core business - Revenue and EBITDA on previous year level - Positive start to the year for Railcar Division - Upward trend in Tank Container Logistics - Rail Logistics Division faces difficult conditions - EBITDA outlook for 2014 remains unchanged, revenue expectations slightly adjusted Hamburg, May 15, 2014. VTG Aktiengesellschaft (WKN: VTG999), one of Europe's leading wagon hire and logistics companies, showed a mixed picture in its business divisions in the first quarter of 2014. While revenue and operative profit (EBITDA) of the Railcar Division continue to contribute to the positive development of the company, Rail Logistics has however been troubled by the Crimean crisis and the mild winter. Group revenue remained almost constant at EUR 199.6 million compared with the first quarter of 2013 (previous year: EUR 202.1 million). Furthermore, at EUR 44.0 million the EBITDA was just slightly below the previous year's value of EUR 45.0 million. "Our Railcar Division has started the year very successfully and is showing definite growth. We are also looking forward to an upward trend in the Tank Container Logistics Division," says Dr. Heiko Fischer, CEO of VTG Aktiengesellschaft. He adds, "Unfortunately, the political tensions in Russia and the Ukraine have hindered the current development of Rail Logistics. We are however confident that this situation will improve throughout the course of the year." A positive start to the year for the Railcar Division The revenue of the Railcar Division rose by 3.0 percent to EUR 85.4 million (previous year: EUR 83.0 million). Furthermore, the EBITDA also developed positively and increased by 1.9 percent from EUR 43.5 million to EUR 44.4 million. The EBITDA margin was at 51.9 percent just slightly under the previous year's value of 52.5 percent. This positive development was essentially due to the delivery of many new build wagons for the steel and agricultural industries. In addition, the Russian fleet was further strengthened by the delivery of 100 cement wagons built in the Ukraine. As of March 31, 2014 the VTG fleet consists of 52,900 wagons which signifies a slight increase in comparison to the end of 2013 (52,700 wagons). The capacity utilization was 90.1 percent in the first quarter (Q1/2013: 89.9 percent) which represents another increase from the previous quarter (Q4/2013: 89.8 percent). Rail Logistics faces a challenge In the first quarter of 2014, Rail Logistics achieved revenue of EUR 77.0 million and was therefore 3.3 percent under the previous year (EUR 79.6 million). The EBITDA fell by 92.3 percent to EUR 0.1 million (previous year: EUR 1.7 million). The EBITDA margin related to gross profit went down by 2.0 percent from last year's 28.0 percent. One reason for the decline of revenue was the very mild winter in Europe. The moderate temperatures resulted in a decreased demand for the transport of energy materials and fewer replacement transports for inland waterway transportation. Competition within the liquid goods product segment has also increased significantly. This has led to a noticeable decrease in achievable profit margins. Revenue in the industrial goods segment is above the previous year but Rail Logistics has not yet been able to achieve the turnover expected resulting from the takeover of the Kuehne and Nagel activities. On the other hand, expenses have been made for staff and office space. The political tensions between Russia and the Ukraine are making business development particularly difficult and transports there have been almost brought to a standstill. The agricultural goods segment has stabilized and is developing satisfactorily. Tank Container Logistics development trend improves Revenue in the Tank Container Logistics Division accounted to EUR 37.2 million in the first three months of the new financial year. It was therefore 6.0 percent lower than the previous year's EUR 39.5 million. The EBITDA decreased by 16.7 percent to EUR 2.4 million compared to the previous year (EUR 2.9 million). The EBITDA margin related to gross profit went down to 41.8 percent (previous year: 44.4 percent). The decrease in revenue compared to the first quarter of 2013 is mainly due to the decline in transports in North America and Asia. Overall, the first quarter of 2014 has shown a brightened economic outlook after three quarters of falling revenue and earnings figures. In the first quarter of 2014, we have seen an increase in revenue and EBITDA compared to the previous quarter. Revenue increased by 9.0 percent compared to the previous quarter and the EBITDA has actually risen by more than two thirds. VTG confirms EBITDA forecast and adjusts the revenue forecast for 2014 The revenue and earnings figures for the first quarter are generally lower than expected. In particular, revenue growth could not be achieved within the Rail Logistics Division as a result of the political tensions between the Ukraine and Russia and because of market developments in the liquid goods segment. The VTG AG Executive Board assumes that these hindering factors will continue for the next few months and has therefore moderately adjusted the revenue forecast for 2014. Group revenue of between EUR 800 - 900 million are expected for the year 2014 (previous forecast: EUR 850 - 950 million). As the Rail Logistics Division has comparatively small margins, the Group EBITDA forecast remains unchanged. However, the Executive Board expects EBITDA to be at the lower end of the forecast range of EUR 188 - 200 million. For the 2013 financial year, the VTG AG Executive Board intends to propose the payment of a dividend of EUR 0.42 per share to the Annual General Meeting on June 5, 2014. This represents a dividend increase of about 14 percent in comparison to last year. Key Figures for the VTG Group <pre> 1.1. - 31.3. 1.1. - 31.3. Change Financial year 2014 2013 in % Revenue in EUR million 199.6 202.1 -1.2 EBITDA in EUR million 44.0 45.0 -2.2 EBIT in EUR million 18.0 18.6 -3.6 EBT in EUR million 5.3 6.6 -19.6 Group profit in EUR million 3.3 4.1 -19.0 Depreciation and amortization in EUR million 26.1 26.4 -1.2 Capital expenditure in EUR million 47.6 47.3 0.6 Operating cash flow in EUR million 30.7 44.2 -30.5 Earnings per share in EUR 0.17 0.18 -5.6 Railcar Division Revenue in EUR million 85.4 83.0 3.0 EBITDA in EUR million 44.4 43.5 1.9 EBITDA margin in % 51.9 52.5 Rail Logistics Division Revenue in EUR million 77.0 79.6 -3.3 EBITDA in EUR million 0.1 1.7 -92.3 EBITDA margin in % 2.0 28.0 Tank Container Logistics Division Revenue in EUR million 37.2 39.5 -6.0 EBITDA in EUR million 2.4 2.9 -16.7 EBITDA margin in % 41.8 44.4 Change 31.03.2014 31.03.2013 in % Number of employees 1,302 1,182 10.2 - in Germany 878 830 5.8 - abroad 424 352 20.5 Change 31.03.2014 31.12.2013 in % Balance sheet total in EUR million 1,598.9 1,550.8 3.1 Non-current assets in EUR million 1,362.2 1,332.2 2.3 Current assets in EUR million 236.7 218.6 8.3 Shareholders equity in EUR million 335.0 321.3 4.3 Liabilities in EUR million 1,263.9 1,229.5 2.8 Equity ratio in % 21.0 20.7 </pre> About VTG: VTG Aktiengesellschaft is one of Europe's leading wagon hire and rail logistics companies. The company has the largest private railcar fleet in Europe. Globally, the fleet consists of some 52,900 railcars, with a focus on tank cars and state-of-the-art high capacity freight cars and flat cars. In addition to the hiring of wagons, the Group offers comprehensive multi-modal logistics services, mainly around rail transport, and global tank container transports. With the combination of its three interlinked divisions Railcar, Rail Logistics and Tank Container Logistics, VTG offers its customers a high-performance platform for international transport of their freight. The Group has many years of experience and specific expertise, in particular in the transport of liquid and sensitive goods. Its customers include numerous well-known companies from almost every industrial sector, for example the chemical, petroleum, automotive, paper and agricultural industries. In the financial year 2013, VTG generated revenue of EUR 783.7 million and operating profit (EBITDA) of EUR 183.8 million. Via its subsidiaries and affiliates the company, which has its head office in Hamburg, is mainly present in Europe, Asia, Russia and North America. As at 31 December 2013, VTG had 1,191 employees worldwide in consolidated companies. Since June 2007, VTG AG has been listed on the official Prime Standard market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (WKN: VTG999). Media contact: Monika Gabler Head of Corporate Communications Phone: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1341 Fax: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1340 Email: monika.gabler@vtg.com Investor Relations contact: Christoph Marx Head of Investor Relations Phone: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1351 Fax: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1350 Email: christoph.marx@vtg.com Further information at www.vtg.com End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.05.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: VTG Aktiengesellschaft Nagelsweg 34 20097 Hamburg Germany Phone: 040 2354 0 Fax: 040 2354 1199 E-mail: info@vtg.de Internet: www.vtg.de ISIN: DE000VTG9999 WKN: VTG999 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 268488 15.05.2014