DGAP-News: UNIWHEELS AG: 9M 2015 financial results - the

DGAP-News: UNIWHEELS AG / Key word(s): 9-month figures/Quarter Results UNIWHEELS AG: 9M 2015 financial results - the growth continues (news with additional features) 12.11.2015 / 07:30 --------------------------------------------------------------------- UNIWHEELS AG 9M 2015 financial results - the growth continues - 5.7 million wheels sold (+7% yoy) - Double-digit increase of revenues yoy to EUR 320 million and EBITDA to EUR 41.6 million - Construction works in Stalowa Wola fully on time Bad Dürkheim, 12th November 2015: Germany-based alloy wheels manufacturer UNIWHEELS AG, who successfully conducted its initial public offering and debuted on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in May 2015, presented its financial results for nine months of 2015. In the period of January-September 2015 UNIWHEELS Group sold 5.7 million wheels in both business areas: Automotive and Accessory (in total an increase of 7% over the nine months of 2014), which is a new record sales volume in the nine months period in Company's history. During nine months of 2015 UNIWHEELS generated EUR 320.2 million in revenues, an increase of 21.6% compared to 9M 2014. EBITDA increased to EUR 41.6 million (+32% yoy) and EBITDA margin improved to 13.0% (from 12.0% for 9M 2014). Net profit rose by almost 76% to EUR 27.8 million. 9M 2015 net profit includes non-recurring income from currency derivative valuation amounting to EUR 1.4 million. "Period of January - September 2015 was again very strong for UNIWHEELS. Despite capacity constraints we've increased sales volume by 7% and have sold a record number of 5.7 mln wheels. Revenues increased significantly by 21.6%, driven by favorable product mix (bigger and more complex surfaces wheels) and aluminum price adjustments. Costs of materials are related directly to production growth. We do not see any fluctuations in our order book. Our priority for now is to getting the demanded wheels produced and delivered to our customers" - says Ralf Schmid, UNIWHEELS AG CEO. "For the whole year 2015 we expect wheels sales growth will range from 7 to 8%. Revenue, influenced by a higher-value product mix and aluminum price adjustments, should grow between 17 and 20%, compared to 2014. Consequently we expect EBITDA to grow between 20 and 22%" - he adds. Construction works of new plant in Stalowa Wola are fully on schedule. New production plant in Stalowa Wola, Poland, will allow to increase the Group's production capacity by approx. 2 million wheels by 2018. After the completion of the new plant in Stalowa Wola, the already world's largest contiguous production site for light-alloy wheels will consist of three adjacent factories with a capacity of up to approx. 9 million wheels annually. "Works have started in July, now construction of hall is completed, and first elements for new painting line - key investment part of new plant, have arrived and are ready for installation. Slow ramp up of operations will start in spring and production will commence in the urgently needed capacity in summer 2016. We are confident that we will reach the total capacity of around 2 million wheels per year very quickly - and it means that our capacity in Stalowa Wola plants will increase by one third" - says Dr. Karsten Obenaus, UNIWHEELS AG CFO. "For the new plant, we are already hiring employees, in total at least 250, mostly directly linked with production" - he adds. Key financial figures of UNIWHEELS Group for 1-3Q 2015*: <pre> (in EUR thousand unless otherwise stated) 1-3Q 2015 1-3Q 2014 +/- Revenue 320,175 263,378 +21.6% Sales volume (thousand pieces) 5,703 5,331 +7,0% EBITDA 41,557 31,486 +32,0% EBITDA margin (% to sales) 13.0% 12.0% +1.0PP EBIT 30,581 20,830 +46.8% EBIT margin (% to sales) 9.6% 7.9% +1.7PP Net profit 27,859 15,855 +75.7% Capital expenditures and investments 29,844 13,508 +120.9% </pre> <pre> as of 30.09.2015 as of 31.12.2014 +/- Equity ratio* 58.9% 31.7% +27.2PP Net debt* 25.3 90.1 -71.9% Personnel (# persons) 2,529 2,366 +6.9% </pre> *Financial position significantly improved as an effect of successful IPO, capital increase and shareholder loan conversion into equity Financial highlights 1-3Q 2015: - Revenues increased by 21.6%, driven by: - wheels sales increase of 7% - higher value added through better product and wheel mix (bigger, more complex surfaces) - aluminum price adjustments - Material costs in line with revenue growth - Personnel costs and other operating expenses growing at a slower pace - Consequently EBITDA increased 32% yoy to 41.6 mln EUR, and EBITDA margin improved by 1 p.p. to 13.0% - Successful IPO and capital increase, with conversion of shareholder loan and redemption of revolving facility part of syndicated loan have significantly rearranged UNIWHEELS financing structure - Interest expenses halved due to new financing structure - Ongoing capex has been financed from cash positions in 3Q 2015 - Reasonable leverage targeted for a long-time expansion / About UNIWHEELS: The UNIWHEELS Group is one of the leading manufacturers of aluminum wheels for cars in Europe and is one of the few technology leaders worldwide in the aluminum wheel industry. UNIWHEELS is the third largest European supplier of OEM wheels for the automotive industry as well as the market-leading manufacturer of alloy wheels for the accessories market (AM) in Europe. Well-known Group brands include ATS, RIAL, ALUTEC and ANZIO. The Group currently has three production plants, two of which are in Poland (Stalowa Wola) and one in Germany (Werdohl).   UNIWHEELS sees itself as one of the leading partners of the automotive industry for the optimum reduction of CO2 emissions by reducing the weight of alloy wheels. As well as weight-optimized construction methods, the following procedures are primarily used: Flow Forming, Lightforming, undercutting and forging. On May 8th, 2015 UNIWHEELS AG went public on Main Market of Warsaw Stock Exchange (IPO). The UNIWHEELS stock is floated under security identification number A13STW, ISIN DE000A13STW4 and ticker symbol UNW. For more information please contact: <pre> Oliver Madsen Head of Investor Relations o.madsen@de.uniwheels.com UNIWHEELS AG Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 10 67098 Bad Dürkheim Germany www.uniwheels.com </pre> +++++ Additional features: Document: http://n.equitystory.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=YIAXSAQEUV Document title: UNIWHEELS PM 9M 2015 E --------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.11.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- 411997 12.11.2015