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NORMA Group’s sales rise to around EUR 1.02 billion in 2017


• Organic sales growth at 8.6 percent
• Adjusted EBITA margin remains at a high level of 17.2 percent
• Dividend increase of 0.10 EUR to 1.05 EUR per share proposed
• Forecast for 2018 published


Maintal, Germany, March 21, 2018 – NORMA Group achieved sales of over EUR 1 billion for the first time in fiscal year 2017. Group sales rose by 13.7 percent to EUR 1,017.1 million compared to the previous year (2016: EUR 894.9 million). Organic growth at NORMA Group was strong at 8.6 percent. The acquisitions of Autoline, Lifial und Fengfan contributed an additional EUR 57 million to sales. Negative currency effects reduced sales growth by 1.4 percent. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets (adjusted EBITA) rose by 10.8 percent to EUR 174.5 million in 2017 compared to the previous year (2016: EUR 157.5 million). The adjusted EBITA margin declined slightly mainly due to higher commodity prices. At 17.2 percent, the adjusted EBITA margin was in line with the forecast of over 17 percent (2016: 17.6 percent). Net operating cash flow declined by 10.5 percent to EUR 132.9 million (2016: EUR 148.5 million). Adjusted earnings per share rose to EUR 3.29 (2016: EUR 2.96). Tax cuts in the US led to one-time non-cash deferred tax income of EUR 33.9 million. This one-time effect was not included in the adjusted result for the period and therefore not shown in adjusted earnings per share. The unadjusted profit for the period amounted to EUR 119.8 million and is 57.9 percent above the previous year’s level (2016: EUR 75.9 million), in particular due to the aforementioned one-time tax effects. As a result, the unadjusted earnings per share for the year 2017 amounted to EUR 3.76 (2016: EUR 2.38).

“NORMA Group experienced strong growth in all regions in 2017 and surpassed the EUR 1 billion mark in annual sales for the first time ever,” said Bernd Kleinhens, Chairman of the Management Board of NORMA Group. “We will seek to continue on our growth path in the future as well by further diversifying and localizing our business and tapping into the potential that important future markets such as electromobility and water management offers,” he added.

Growth in all three regions

In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), NORMA Group increased its sales by 12.5 percent in 2017 to EUR 485.9 million compared to the previous year (2016: EUR 432.0 million). This can be attributed to strong demand for joining technology in the European automobile industry and the acquisitions of the Autoline business in France and Lifial in Portugal.

The Americas region recorded sales growth of 7.8 percent to EUR 411.3 million compared to the year before (2016: EUR 381.6 million). The US commercial vehicle and agricultural machinery markets recovered strongly, the automotive sector developed well and the Mexican Autoline business that the company acquired in November 2016 contributed to growth as well.

In the Asia-Pacific region, NORMA Group increased its sales to EUR 119.9 million in 2017, an increase of 47.6 percent compared to the previous year (2016: EUR 81.3 million). Stricter emission standards led to high demand for joining technology from the Asian vehicle industry. The acquisitions of Fengfan and the Chinese Autoline business also had a positive effect on sales growth.

Increase of the dividend to EUR 1.05 per share proposed

The Management Board and Supervisory Board of NORMA Group SE will propose a dividend of EUR 1.05 per share for fiscal year 2017 at the Annual General Meeting on May 17, 2018. This equates to an increase of 10.5 percent or EUR 0.10 and a distribution amount of around EUR 33.5 million. The payout ratio would thus be 31.9 percent of adjusted Group earnings in fiscal year 2017 of EUR 105.0 million. “We have consistently pursued our growth strategy since the IPO and are proud to enable our shareholders to participate in our growth with yet another increase in the dividend,” said Dr. Michael Schneider, CFO of NORMA Group. “Our focus is clearly on the sustainable development of the company that will continue to create value in the future.”

Increased equity ratio

Group equity amounted to EUR 534.3 million as of December 31, 2017. This corresponds to an increase of 10.5 percent compared to the end of the previous year (December 31, 2016: EUR 483.6 million). Despite the dividend payment of EUR 30.3 million and negative currency translation differences of EUR 35.8 million, the equity ratio improved to 40.7 percent at the end of 2017 (December 31, 2016: 36.2 percent). Net debt including hedging instruments decreased by 12.5 percent to EUR 344.9 million as of December 31, 2017 (December 31, 2016: EUR 394.2 million).

The number of employees at NORMA Group increased to 7,667, including temporary workers (December 31, 2016: 6,664). The increase resulted in particular from the acquisitions of Fengfan and Lifial and the expansion of the workforce due to organic growth.

Solid organic growth of around 3 to 5 percent expected for 2018

NORMA Group expects the global economy to continue to pick up again in 2018, driven by growth, particularly in China, the US and emerging markets.

For the EMEA region, NORMA Group anticipates solid organic growth in 2018 compared to 2017. This assessment is based in particular on the sound economic environment in the region, the still low key interest rates and the positive growth forecasts for key end markets of NORMA Group, such as the European automobile industry.

For the Americas, NORMA Group expects solid organic sales growth in 2018 compared to the previous year. The positive trend in the US commercial vehicle and agricultural machinery markets is expected to continue and a moderate increase in production figures in the US passenger car market is forecast. In the water management sector, positive catch-up effects are expected as a consequence of the weather-related weak previous year. Massive tax cuts in the US should also have a positive impact on the economy in the short term and further boost growth in the region.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the dynamic development of NORMA Group’s business activities will continue in the current year despite the slightly lower growth forecasts for China. As a result, the Management Board expects double-digit organic growth for the region. Increasing business activities and further localization measures in the region as well as stricter emission regulations for cars and trucks are the main drivers.

Overall, the Management Board of NORMA Group expects solid organic Group sales growth of around 3 to 5 percent for 2018. In addition, revenues from the acquisition of Fengfan in the amount of around EUR 5 million are expected. The Management Board expects as strong as usual net operating cash flow of approx. EUR 140 million in 2018. For 2018, a sustainable adjusted EBITA margin of more than 17 percent (previous year: 17.2 percent, 2016: 17.6 percent, 2015: 17.6 percent) will again be the target. In particular, due to the tax cuts in the US, the Management Board expects a significantly improved tax rate of between 26 and 28 percent for fiscal year 2018 and a strong increase in adjusted earnings per share.

Separate Corporate Responsibility Report pursuant to the “CSR Directive Implementation Act”

NORMA Group has complied with the requirements of the CSR Directive Implementation Act for more transparency on the environmental and social responsibility of companies for reporting on fiscal year 2017. For this purpose, a separate Corporate Responsibility Report (CR Report) was published at the same time as the Annual Report on March 21, 2018. Among the sustainability indicators it mentions are employee and environmental indicators as well as key figures on human rights and supply chain sustainability. More information can be found in the 2017 CR Report.



NORMA Group – 2017 Financial Results


*Adjustment in 2017 for integration costs (EUR 2.9 million), step-up effects from purchase price allocations (EUR 1.1 million) and reimbursement of transaction taxes (EUR -0.5 million) and depreciation on purchase price allocations (EUR 4.2 million); 2016: depreciation on purchase price allocations (EUR 2.3 million) and other expenses mainly related to the acquisition of Autoline (EUR 4.8 million, in particular other operating expenses)
**Net debt including hedging instruments (hedging instruments in the amount of: 2017: EUR 1.4 million; 2016: EUR 2.2 million; 2015: EUR 3.4 million)

The 2017 Annual Report can be downloaded from www.normagroup.com/financial reports. You can download the CR Report from www.normagroup.com/Sustainability Reports Press photos are available from our platform at www.normagroup.com/images.

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