30. Oct 2015

WashTec AG: Expected strong Q3 and good outlook for the next six months


WashTec AG / Key word(s): 9-month figures

2015-10-30 / 07:00


Press Release

Expected strong Q3 2015 and good outlook for the next six months

- Revenues increased by 13.7% to EUR 245.8m (prior year: EUR 216.2m)

- EBIT of EUR 23.3m nearly doubled (prior year: EUR 11.8m)

- Positive business development in all segments - particularly driven by equipment and service

Augsburg, October 30, 2015 - Revenues of WashTec Group - the leading supplier of innovative solutions for the carwash business worldwide - increased in the first nine months of 2015 by 13.7% respectively EUR 29.6m to EUR 245.8m. The revenues include currency effects in the amount of EUR 6.8m. All segments contributed to the revenue increase.

EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of the group was nearly doubled to EUR 23.3m (prior year: EUR 11.8m). All segments developed positively - especially Core Europe contributed to the group increase in revenues and earnings.

The high order backlog of the commencement of the year continued to develop positively and was therefore significantly higher by September 30, 2015 than the last year's level. Therefore a positive business development can also be expected in the next few months.

Solid balance sheet structure
WashTec's balance sheet structure remains continuously very solid after the dividend payment in May and the share buyback in the third quarter. Net liquidity (bank deposit - long-term and short-term bank debt) was at EUR -8.9m (end of 2014: EUR +15.4m) by September 30, 2015. Net cash flow increased to EUR 17.6m (prior year: EUR 17.0m). The equity ratio decreased to 37.0% (end of 2014: 48.9%).

Positive Outlook for 2015 and Q1 2016
Revenues and earnings increased further due to the strong third quarter in 2015. The recent growth figures from January to September 2015 do not apply for Q4 2015 due to a strong Q4 in 2014. Therefore, WhasTec expects a growth of around ten percent.

The actual EBIT margin per September 2015 of 9.5% will be reached for sure for the full year. In this respect, the following development is expected in the individual segments:

* Core Europe: revenues and earning increasing significantly and thus the forecast is being increased compared to annual report 2014
* Eastern Europe: revenues and earnings increasing significantly
* North America: revenues and earnings increasing significantly
* Asia/Pacific: revenues and earnings increasing significantly

In the medium term, WashTec is aiming to grow organically per year three to five percent and to reach an EBIT margin between eight to eleven percent.

This forecast is uncertain. This press release is a translation for convenience purposes only.

The full Q3 report and additional information about the company can be found on our website: www.washtec.de

Key financial information of the Group for the first three quarters:

in EURm, IFRS Q1-Q3 2015 Q1-Q3 2014
Revenue 245.8 216.2
EBITDA 30.5 19.3
EBIT 23.3 11.8
EBIT margin (in %) 9.5 5.5
EBT 22.9 11.2
Consolidated net income 15.5 7.6
Earnings per share* (in EUR) 1.11 0.55
Net cash flow 17.6 17.0

in EURm, IFRS Sept 30, 2015 Dec 31, 2014
Balance sheet total 191.5 185.8
Equity 70.9 90.9
Equity ratio (in %) 37.0 48.9
Net financial liquidity** -8.9 15.4
Net current assets*** 78.1 71.2
Employees 1.681 1.664

* Average number of shares: 13,904,813 (Sept 30, 2015) or 13,932,312 (Sept 30, 2014)
** Bank deposit - long-term and short-term bank debt (negative sign means debt)
*** Short-term trade receivables plus inventories minus short-term trade payables

In EURm Core Europe CEE North America Asia-Pacific
Umsatz 2015 198.3 8.7 40.0 10.9
Umsatz 2014 178.7 7.7 31.4 8.2
EBIT 2015 21.8 0.1 1.2 0.3
EBIT 2014 11.7 -0.1 0.4 -0.1

About WashTec:

WashTec Group has its registered offices in Augsburg, Germany, and is the leading supplier of innovative solutions for the car wash business worldwide. WashTec has more than 1,600 employees and has its own subsidiaries in all key markets in Europe, North America as well as China and Australia. WashTec also has a broad network of independent sales partners and is thereby represented in a total of about 60 countries.

Contact:
WashTec AG
Corporate Communications
Karoline Kalb
Argonstrasse 7
86153 Augsburg
Tel.: +49 (0)821 - 55 84 - 0
Fax: +49 (0)821 - 55 84 - 1135




Contact:
WashTec AG
Argonstrasse 7
86153 Augsburg

Tel.: +49 (0)821 - 55 84 - 0
Fax: +49 (0)821 - 55 84 - 1135




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