DGAP-News: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA: HELLA continues its sales and earnings growth in the third quarter

HELLA continues its sales and earnings growth in
the third quarter

- Currency-adjusted sales increase by 9.3 percent in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2017/2018; reported sales grow by 7.4 percent to EUR 5.1 billion

- Adjusted EBIT improves by 9.5 percent to EUR 408 million; adjusted EBIT margin increases to 8.0 percent

- Significant increase in sales in the segments Automotive (+8.2 percent) and Special Applications (+13.4 percent); Aftermarket sees 3.9 percent increase in sales with external customers

- Positive company outlook confirmed

Lippstadt, Germany, March 22, 2018 In the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2017/2018 (June 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018), lighting and electronics specialist HELLA has continued its profitable growth in raising sales and earnings. The consolidated sales increased over the previous year by 9.3 percent after currency adjustments. Taking negative effects from exchange rates into consideration, reported sales improved by 7.4 percent to EUR 5.1 billion (prior year: EUR 4.8 billion). The adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (adjusted EBIT) increased by 9.5 percent to EUR 408 million (previous year: EUR 373 million); the adjusted EBIT margin thus increased to 8.0 percent (prior year: 7.8 percent). Taking into account special effects, the reported earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved by 16.0 percent to EUR 404 million (prior year: EUR 348 million), the reported EBIT margin is thus 7.9 percent (prior year:
7.3 percent).

"Our innovative product solutions allow us to serve the central market trends in the automotive industry. That is why we are currently enjoying stronger growth than the automotive market", said HELLA CEO Dr. Rolf Breidenbach. "In order to continue our profitable growth path and to strengthen our leading market position, we are making targeted investments in our international network and in the development of advanced technologies."

Automotive segment contributes to Group-wide sales growth

Reported Automotive segment sales increased by 8.2 percent to EUR 3.9 billion (prior year: EUR 3.6 billion) supported by a high number of new production rollouts and high demand for innovative lighting and electronics solutions. In conjunction with ongoing capacity expansions, the construction of new plants as well as investments in future technology, the adjusted EBIT for the segment has increased by 4.4 percent to
EUR 328 million (prior year: EUR 314 million). The adjusted EBIT margin was thus 8.3 percent (prior year: 8.6 percent). The reported EBIT for the segment increased by 4.0 percent to EUR 327 million (prior year: EUR 314 million); the reported EBIT margin was 8.3 percent (previous year: 8.6 percent).

Aftermarket significantly improves profitability

In the Aftermarket segment, sales with external customers increased by 3.9 percent to EUR 897 million (prior year: EUR 864 million) in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Good business development in the independent aftermarket, in business with complex workshop equipment and in wholesale distribution supported the sales growth. In addition, the profitability of the Aftermarket segment saw notable improvement. The segment's EBIT increased by 9.3 percent to EUR 57 million (prior year: EUR 52 million) and the EBIT margin rose to 6.3 percent (prior year: 5.8 percent).

Special Applications segment boasts a substantial increase in sales and earnings

The Special Applications segment continued along its growth path in sales and earnings. Total segments sales increased by 13.4 percent to EUR 314 million (prior year:
EUR 277 million) due to high demand for product solutions for agricultural and construction vehicles, among other things. Segment earnings also improved in this period. The EBIT increased significantly by EUR 23 million to EUR 32 million, while the EBIT margin increased to 10.2 percent (prior year: 3.1 percent).

Positive company outlook confirmed for the entire year

After the first nine months of the current fiscal year, HELLA confirms the positive corporate outlook for the entire fiscal year 2017/2018 (June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018). The company is forecasting currency-adjusted sales growth and an increase in the adjusted EBIT of 5 to 10 percent over the prior year. The forecast value for the adjusted EBIT margin continues to be approximately 8 percent for this period.  

 

Selected key financial indicators in EUR million or as a percentage of sales for the first nine months (June 1 to February 28):

	Fiscal Year 2017/2018	Fiscal Year 2016/2017	Change
Reported consolidated sales	5,130	4,776	+7.4%
Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (adjusted EBIT)	408	373	+9.5%
Reported earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)	404	348	+16.0%
Adjusted EBIT margin	8.0%	7.8%	+0.1 pp
Reported EBIT margin	7.9%	7.3%	+0.6 pp

 

Where sums and percentages have been rounded, differences may arise as a result of commercial rounding.

The financial statement for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2017/2018 is now available on the HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA website.

 

Please note:
This text and corresponding photo material can also be found in our press database at:
www.hella.com/press

HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lippstadt: HELLA is a global, family-owned company, listed on the stock exchange, with more than 40,000 employees at over 125 locations in some 35 countries. The HELLA Group develops and manufactures products for lighting technology and electronics for the automotive industry and also has one of the largest retail organizations for automotive parts, accessories, diagnostics, and services within Europe. With more than 7,000 people working in research and development, HELLA is one of the most important innovation drivers on the market. Furthermore, with sales of 6.6 billion euros in the fiscal year of 2016/2017, the HELLA Group is one of the top 40 automotive parts suppliers in the world and one of the 100 largest German industrial companies.

For additional information please contact:
Dr. Markus Richter
Company spokesman
HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
Rixbecker Strasse 75
59552 Lippstadt, Germany
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2941 38-7545
Fax: +49 (0)2941 38-477545
Markus.Richter@hella.com
www.hella.com