Results after 9 months/3rd quarter of 2015: Feintool increases sales despite negative currency effects

Feintool International Holding AG / Results after 9 months/3rd quarter of 2015: Feintool increases sales despite negative currency effects . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq OMX Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

In the first nine months of the 2015 financial year, Feintool increased its local-currency sales by 5.6 percent* year-on-year to CHF 374.2 million. Growth in the high-volume parts business (+9.5% in local currency) offset the lower sales in the investment goods business (-7.9%).

In spite of the slowdown in China, third-quarter sales in the high-volume parts business grew compared with the first two quarters of the year. In Europe and the USA in particular, Feintool benefited from contracts that were awarded over the last few years and are now reflected in sales. During this period, moreover, Feintool was again selected for new drive-train components that also point to growth in the coming years. The investment goods business with presses and tools was influenced by prolonged decision processes: sales fell 7.9% and orders received were down 5.5%.

Increase in third-quarter sales
Group sales in Q3 2015 increased by 8.2% year-on-year on a local currency basis. The System Parts segment, which manufactures components, lifted its sales by 10.7% in local currency to CHF 112.0 million. This encouraging result is due both to new orders and to the current strength of the automotive market. Whereas the increase in America was nearly 16 percent in local currency, Asia and Europe grew by just over 6 percent. The Fineblanking Technology segment, which operates in the field of investment goods, reported sales (including internal transactions) of CHF 23.7 million - a 8.2% increase from the prior-year figure.

Overall in the first nine months of 2015, Feintool Group sales rose by 5.6% year-on-year in local currency to CHF 374.2 million. Of this figure, 87% was accounted for by the System Parts segment.

Slowdown in orders received in investment goods business
Orders received between 1 July and 30 September 2015 showed a year-on-year decline of 5.3% in local currency to CHF 68.0 million. New orders have slowed noticeably in recent months.

Orders backlog of six months
There was little change in the orders backlog in the investment goods business versus the same stage of the previous year and compared with 31 December 2014. In the Fineblanking Technology segment, Feintool therefore has sufficient work in hand for approximately six months.

Expected order releases in high-volume parts business remain encouraging
Feintool customers expect order releases of CHF 211.4 million for the next six months. This figure is only marginally lower than the prior-year figure.

Cautiously optimistic outlook
Barring any disruptions on our key markets due to political or economic incidents, Feintool is predicting group sales of around CHF 500 million. We anticipate an EBIT margin at the lower end of our guidance (between six and seven percent) due to higher reorganisation and start-up costs for new product programmes in Europe.

*) all figures relate to continuing operations (i.e. excluding the Automation segment sold in June 2014)

Brief profile of Feintool

Feintool is the world's leading technology group specializing in the development of fineblanking systems and the production of ready-to-install fineblanking and forming components, notably for the automotive industry. The Group maintains close partnerships with its customers across the entire fineblanking and forming process - from component design, toolmaking and system construction through to large-scale series parts production. In addition to fineblanking, the Feintool Group also deploys other key processes such as precision forming and orbital technology, and is the world's only supplier of all-round solutions for the cost-effective manufacture of complex precision components.

With its locations in Europe, Japan, China and the USA, the Feintool Group is represented in the world's major automotive markets. Headquartered in Lyss, Switzerland, the Group has a headcount of approximately 2,000. At its various locations, Feintool provides training at any given time for about 80 young people in a number of skills (mainly multi-skill mechanics, design engineers and commercial trades)

Key financial figures in brief

¹⁾ Continuing business

²⁾ Year-on-year basis

Feintool International Holding AG
Industriering 8 - 3250 Lyss
Switzerland
www.feintool.com

Media spokesperson

Karin Labhart
Phone +41 32 387 51 57
Mobile +41 79 609 22 02
karin.labhart@feintool.com

The press release can be downloaded from the following link:

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Feintool International Holding AG
Industriering 8 Lyss Schweiz

ISIN: CH0009320091;