DGAP-News: Stabilus S.A. releases annual report and final

DGAP-News: Stabilus S.A. / Key word(s): Final Results Stabilus S.A. releases annual report and final figures for record fiscal year 2015 21.12.2015 / 07:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORPORATE NEWS Luxembourg/Koblenz, December 21, 2015 Stabilus S.A. releases annual report and final figures for record fiscal year 2015 - 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 - Consolidated annual profit at EUR 17.0 million after EUR 10.0 million in the previous FY - Management and Supervisory board make decision on dividend proposal Luxembourg/Koblenz, December 21, 2015 - Stabilus S.A. (ISIN: LU1066226637, "Stabilus"), the globally leading developer and producer of gas springs and hydraulic dampers, has confirmed its preliminary figures presented on November 27, 2015 and has once again achieved record results. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, Stabilus increased revenue by 20.5% to EUR 611.3 million (previous year: EUR 507.3 million). Overall Stabilus produced 144 million gas springs and hydraulic dampers in fiscal year 2015 (previous year: 138 million) as well as 3.2 million POWERISE systems (previous year: 2.2 million). 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. Earnings before taxes (EBT) improved significantly from EUR 9.9 million in fiscal year 2014 to EUR 31.1 million in fiscal year 2015. Consolidated annual profit after taxes amounted to EUR 17.0 million in the past fiscal year compared to EUR 10.0 million in the previous year. Value-accretive retention of profits instead of dividend planned for fiscal 2015 The Management and Supervisory Board of Stabilus S.A. have decided not to propose a dividend payout for the fiscal year 2015 to the AGM which is scheduled to take place on February 17, 2016, in Luxembourg. Dietmar Siemssen, CEO of Stabilus, explained: "While consolidated annual profit developed positively in fiscal 2015, it was still impacted by high one-off costs for the refinancing of the high-yield bond and implementation of our new, attractive financing structure. Considering the contemplated dividend payout ratio, the resulting payout per share of only Cents and the costs associated with this payout, the management and supervisory board have, after careful consideration, come to the conclusion that it is preferable to reinvest the capital that was originally reserved for the dividend payout to create additional value." This decision, however, does not change the general intention of the company to pay out dividends for the current and future fiscal years, targeting a dividend ratio of between 20.0% and 40.0% of the consolidated net profit. Revenues of EUR 660 million at stable adjusted EBIT margin guided for FY 2016 For fiscal year 2016, Stabilus S.A. expects to increase its revenue to around EUR 660 million with an adjusted EBIT margin between 12% and 13%. Dietmar Siemssen, CEO of Stabilus, said: "In the past fiscal year, we grew by more than 20 percent and set a new sales record for our company. From this high revenue level, we expect further organic sales growth of 8% in the coming year, which is exceptionally strong compared to the industry. This success is the result of value accretive investments in our business, the rigorous implementation of our strategy and is supported by three megatrends: demographic change, the growing need for comfort, and rising occupational health and safety standards. We will continue to expand our existing market shares and at the same time expand into new areas with innovative new product solutions and a strong product pipeline." Today, products from Stabilus already have a wide range of applications in a large variety of industries. As part of its innovation process, Stabilus is continuously developing new potential applications, such as the first non-tailgate application of POWERISE in the wing doors of the new Tesla Model X and the application of Stabilus hydraulic dampers in solar panels that follow the sun in solar parks and must withstand various weather conditions, thus being dependent on robust and reliable technology. The 2015 annual report can be downloaded from the Stabilus website at www.stabilus.com under Investor Relations. <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. 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.12.2015 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 425209 21.12.2015