DGAP-Ad hoc: Deutsche Lufthansa AG

DGAP-Adhoc: Deutsche Lufthansa AG: Lufthansa reports Adj. EBIT of EUR 529m in the first half of 2016 (previous year: EUR 468m). Due to increasing political and economic uncertainties the Executive Board reduces forecast for the Adj. EBIT 2016 to 'below previous year'

Deutsche Lufthansa AG / Key word(s): Change in Forecast

20.07.2016 20:20

Disclosure of an inside information according to Article 17 MAR, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Based on preliminary figures, Deutsche Lufthansa AG generated revenues of EUR 15.0bn in the first half of 2016 (prior-year period: EUR 15.4bn). The Adjusted EBIT came to EUR 529m (prior-year period: EUR 468m). The Passenger Airline Group business segment achieved an Adjusted EBIT of EUR 441m (prior-year period: EUR 249m). Unit revenues at constant currency decreased by 5.2 per cent on the same period of the previous year. Unit costs excluding fuel and currency effects were down year-on-year by 1.3 per cent. Not included in the half-year figures are the effects on the balance sheet and the income statement of the tariff settlement with the UFO flight attendants' union, which is still subject to approval. Cumulative Adjusted EBIT for the other business segments (including consolidation and reconciliation) came to EUR 88m (prior-year period: EUR 219m).

At the end of the first half-year net debt decreased to EUR 2.5bn (year-end 2015: EUR 3.3bn). Nevertheless, the Lufthansa Group's IFRS equity ratio decreased to 10.4 per cent (year-end 2015: 18.0 per cent) due to the lower discount rate for pension obligations, which decreased to 1.6 per cent (year-end 2015: 2.8 per cent).

Advance bookings, especially on long-haul routes to Europe, have declined significantly, in particular due to repeated terrorist attacks in Europe and to greater political and economic uncertainty since the original forecast was made in March. As of today, the Executive Board regards a complete recovery as not likely anymore. At its meeting today, the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG therefore decided to lower the full year forecast for the Adjusted EBIT from "slightly above previous year" to "below previous year", despite an earnings performance above previous year in the first six months.

In particular in the third quarter, the Executive Board expects unit revenues at the Passenger Airline Group business segment to develop significantly weaker. The Executive Board now expects that unit revenues at constant currency will fall by 8 to 9 per cent in the second half-year. Planned capacity growth at the passenger airlines has been cut from 6.0 to 5.4 per cent for the full year. The Executive Board reiterates its forecast of declining unit costs excluding fuel and currency effects of about -2 to -3 per cent in the second half-year. On current projections, fuel costs will decrease by about EUR 350m in the second half-year. The other business segments are expecting cumulative earnings on par with the same period last year in the second half-year. Restructuring costs are already included in the figures mentioned above.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG will publish its detailed results for the first half of 2016 on 2 August 2016 at 7.30 a.m. CET, on www.lufthansagroup.com/investor-relations.

Note: 'Adjusted EBIT' is not a financial term according to IFRS. Information regarding the calculation of the Adjusted EBIT can be found in the Annual Report 2015 of Deutsche Lufthansa AG from p. 13.

20.07.2016 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Deutsche Lufthansa AG Von-Gablenz-Straße 2-6 50679 Köln Germany Phone: +49 (0)69 696 28000 Fax: +49 (0)69 696 90990 E-mail: investor.relations@dlh.de Internet: www.lufthansagroup.com/investor-relations ISIN: DE0008232125, DE0008232125 WKN: 823212 Indices: DAX Listed: Regulated Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart; Regulated Unofficial Market in Tradegate Exchange; Terminbörse EUREX End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------