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NORMA Group SE starts financial year 2016 with solid growth

• Sales increased by 2.3 percent to EUR 226.6 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same quarter last year
• Adjusted EBITA improved by 2.2 percent to EUR 40.1 million
• Outlook for financial year 2016 confirmed

Maintal, Germany, 4 May 2016 – NORMA Group SE (“NORMA Group”), a global market leader in engineered joining technology, achieved solid growth in the first quarter of financial year 2016. Sales rose by 2.3 percent to EUR 226.6 million compared to the same quarter of the previous year (Q1 2015: EUR 221.5 million). The organic growth amounted to 2.4 percent. Negative currency effects resulted in a 0.1 percent decline. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation of intangible assets (adjusted EBITA) increased by 2.2 percent to EUR 40.1 million (Q1 2015: EUR 39.2 million). The adjusted EBITA margin was 17.7 percent and thus remained at a high level (Q1 2015: 17.7 percent).

“We had a good start in financial year 2016 and managed to increase both our sales and our earnings again in the first quarter,” said Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group. “The EMEA region showed stronger organic growth as we had expected and the Asia-Pacific region continued to develop dynamically. We are confident that we will be able to continue to grow profitably in financial year 2016.”

Stronger growth in the EMEA region and Asia-Pacific

In the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region, NORMA Group managed to increase its sales by 6.1 percent to EUR 112.1 million (Q1 2015: EUR 105.6 million) in the first quarter of 2016. This strong organic growth can be attributed for the most part to the upswing in the euro zone and continued positive development of the European automotive industry.

In the Americas region, NORMA Group generated sales of EUR 96.0 million, a slight 1.8 percent decline (Q1 2015: EUR 97.7 million). This development is mainly due to the weakness in the commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery sectors.

In the Asia-Pacific region, NORMA Group managed to increase its sales by 1.9 percent to EUR 18.6 million (Q1 2015: EUR 18.2 million). Despite the drop in China’s economic growth, the region recorded strong organic growth with offsetting negative currency effects and thus continued its sustained positive development.

Equity ratio increased again

Group equity rose to EUR 437.1 million as of 31 March 2016, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the end of last year (31 December 2015: EUR 429.8 million). The equity ratio improved to 37.5 percent (31 December 2015: 36.8 percent). Net debt including hedging instruments declined to EUR 347.8 million as of 31 March 2016 (31 December 2015: EUR 360.9 million). NORMA Group had 6,322 employees including temporary employees worldwide on 31 March 2016 (31 December 2015: 6,306).

Outlook for financial year 2016 confirmed

NORMA Group has reaffirmed its forecast for financial year 2016. The company expects to see solid organic sales growth of around 2 to 5 percent compared to 2015 and will strive to achieve a sustainable adjusted EBITA margin at the same level of previous years of over 17 percent (2015: 17.6 percent; 2014: 17.5 percent; 2013: 17.7 percent).

NORMA Group SE in figures



Additional information is available from NORMA Group’s Investor Relations section at www.investors.normagroup.com. Please visit www.normagroup.com/Images for press photos.

Other dates
Publication of the financial results for the second quarter of financial year 2016 is scheduled for 3 August 2016.

NORMA Group SE starts financial year 2016 with solid growth.pdf