DGAP-News: Stabilus S.A. continues profitable growth in

DGAP-News: Stabilus S.A. / Key word(s): Preliminary Results Stabilus S.A. continues profitable growth in fiscal year 2015 and increases revenue by 20.5% to EUR 611.3 million according to preliminary figures 27.11.2015 / 07:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORPORATE NEWS Luxembourg/Koblenz, November 27, 2015 Stabilus S.A. continues profitable growth in fiscal year 2015 and increases revenue by 20.5% to EUR 611.3 million according to preliminary figures - Revenue +20.5% to EUR 611.3 million - Adjusted EBITDA +16.0% to EUR 107.3 million - Adjusted EBIT +17.1% to EUR 76.2 million Luxembourg/Koblenz, November 27, 2015 - Stabilus S.A. (ISIN: LU1066226637, "Stabilus"), the globally leading developer and producer of gas springs and hydraulic dampers, has once again presented record figures. According to preliminary figures for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, the company increased revenue by 20.5% to EUR 611.3 million (previous year: EUR 507.3 million). The company, which is listed in the SDAX, has once again demonstrated strong growth in all regions and in all end markets. According to preliminary figures, the European region contributed revenue of EUR 308.5 million to group revenue, an increase of 15.4% compared with EUR 267.3 million in the previous year. In fiscal year 2015, NAFTA turnover grew by 29.7% to EUR 229.3 million compared to EUR 176.8 million in fiscal year 2014. In the Asia/Pacific and RoW (Rest of World) region, Stabilus increased its revenue from EUR 63.2 million in the previous year to EUR 73.5 million in fiscal year 2015 (+16.3%). Besides a positive operating performance, the, in annual comparison, stronger US dollar contributed to the dynamic revenue growth of 20.5% in fiscal year 2015 (previous year: revenue growth of 10.3%). With regard to its end markets, Stabilus achieved the strongest growth in the automotive sector, where revenue was expanded by 27.4% to EUR 434.2 million in fiscal year 2015 compared to EUR 340.8 million in the previous year. In the automotive sector, the strongest driver of growth continued to be the Powerise system, which is used to automatically open and close tailgates - in fiscal year 2015, this system contributed EUR 139.8 million to revenue in the automotive sector (+62.9% compared to revenue of EUR 85.8 million in fiscal year 2014). Turnover with gas springs and hydraulic dampers also increased in the automotive sector by 15.5% to EUR 294.4 million. The markets Industrial (+4.9% to EUR 149.3 million) and Swivel Chair (+14.5% to EUR 27.7 million) also saw solid growth rates. According to preliminary figures, EBITDA (adjusted for non-recurring effects) increased by 16.0% to EUR 107.3 million compared to EUR 92.5 million in the previous year. Adjusted operating profit (adjusted EBIT) increased by 17.1% to EUR 76.2 million compared to EUR 65.1 million in the previous year. At 12.5%, the adjusted EBIT margin was thus within the targeted corridor of 12% and 13% as planned. Dietmar Siemssen, CEO of Stabilus, said: "We are very pleased with the performance of our company in fiscal year 2015. We see an unbroken trend towards increased usage of gas springs, hydraulic dampers and electromechanical drives in a variety of industries. We plan to continue to consistently implement our successful strategy, expand our market shares in existing markets and tap new sales markets through innovative new solutions and a convincing product pipeline. In order to accomplish these goals, we have significantly invested in the expansion of our global production capacities and in the area of research & development in the past fiscal year. Additionally, we will opportunistically scan the market for possible targeted acquisitions in fiscal year 2016 which could further add to our planned organic growth." Mark Wilhelms, CFO of Stabilus, added: "To prepare ourselves for our future growth, we have renewed our setup on the financing side and have created additional leeway in line with our improved profitability. In December 2014, we took advantage of the attractive interest rate environment for a long-term refinancing, which we used to redeem our high yield bond in June 2015. As a result, our interest burden will be reduced by around 13 million euros annually compared to the previous structure. Already in the current fiscal year, the lower interest charges will have a significant positive effect on earnings." For fiscal year 2016, Stabilus S.A. expects to generate revenue of around EUR 660 million with an adjusted EBIT margin between 12% and 13%. Further information and a presentation on the preliminary figures for fiscal year 2015 are available online in the Investor Relations area. Stabilus S.A. will publish the final figures and the annual report for fiscal year 2015 on December 21, 2015. <pre> Press Contact: Investor Relations Contact: Charles Barker Corporate Communications GmbH Andreas Schröder Tobias Eberle Tel.: +352 286 770 21 Tel.: +49 69 794090 24 E-Mail: E-Mail: Tobias.Eberle@charlesbarker.de anschroeder@stabilus.com </pre> About Stabilus As a globally active automotive and industrial supplier, Stabilus develops and produces electromechanical drives (POWERISE) as well as gas springs and hydraulic dampers. Employing approximately 4,000 people worldwide, the company has its operational headquarters in Koblenz. In the fiscal year 2015, Stabilus generated revenue of around EUR 611 million according to preliminary figures. Stabilus operates eleven production plants across nine countries and distributes its products in over 50 countries in Europe, North, Central and South America and Asia Pacific via its regional offices and sales partners. Stabilus has been listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since May 2014 and was taken up in the SDAX index in September 2014. Important Notice This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Stabilus Group management and other information currently available to Stabilus. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27.11.2015 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Stabilus S.A. 2, rue Albert Borschette L-1246 Luxemburg Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Phone: +352 286 770 1 Fax: +352 286 770 99 E-mail: info.lu@stabilus.com Internet: www.stabilus.com ISIN: LU1066226637 WKN: A113Q5 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 418035 27.11.2015