Annual General Meeting of R. STAHL AG approves a dividend of EUR 0.60 per share

Annual General Meeting of R. STAHL AG approves a dividend of EUR 0.60 per share

Waldenburg, 3 June 2016 - The 23^rd Annual General Meeting, which was held in Neunstein today, approved a dividend distribution of EUR 0.60 (previous year: EUR 0.80) per share for fiscal year 2015. Total distribution thus amounts to EUR 3.9 m (previous year: EUR 5.2 m). With a dividend distribution of EUR 0.60 per share, Executive Board and Supervisory Board send a clear signal of strength and confidence.

Request for special audit rejected
The request for the appointment of a special auditor, which has been made prior to the Annual General Meeting, has been rejected by the majority of the shareholders after an intensive discussion. Executive Board and Supervisory Board answered the questions of the shareholders regarding the failed takeover attempt of Weidmüller Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH in 2014 and the acquisition and the disposal of own shares. The majority of the shareholders that took part in the vote on agenda item 6 saw no reason to question the policy of the Management nor to have it examined by a special auditor.

Start to the new fiscal year as planned
R. STAHL Group concluded the past fiscal year with a slight increase in sales by 1.4 % to EUR 312.9 m (previous year: EUR 308.5 m) and a decline of the EBIT to EUR 3.9 m (previous year: EUR 18.3 m). The operating EBIT amounted to EUR 11.4 m (adjusted by one-off expenses caused by the restructuring programme). The company reacted consequently to the challenges of the low oil price and initiated appropriate measures to secure the competitiveness of the company in autumn 2015. The main measures were realised by the end of 2015. With an improved cost structure, the Executive Board expects an increase of profitability in fiscal year 2016 despite a decline in revenue compared to the previous year. The results for the first quarter of 2016 confirm this plan: In the first three months of the current fiscal year, sales amounted to EUR 71.1 m and EBIT margin increased to
4.6 %. With an eye to the further course of the year, CEO Martin Schomaker comments: "In the third and fourth quarter of 2016, we expect positive effects from our initiatives to reduce the production costs. We are well positioned due to our package of measures. However, the forecast uncertainty is higher due to the challenging market environment, as the external factors that influence the business of R. STAHL Group may change within a very short time." For the total fiscal year 2016, the company anticipates sales of EUR 280 m to EUR 290 m and an increase in the operating EBIT margin to 5 % to 7%.

About R. STAHL - www.stahl.de
R. STAHL is the world's leading supplier of electrical and electronic products and systems for explosion protection. These products and systems prevent explosions in hazardous areas and contribute to the safety of people, machines and the environment. The portfolio ranges from products used in switching/distributing, installing, operating/monitoring, lighting and signalling/alarming up to automation. Typical customers operate in growth industries, such as the oil & gas industry, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and the food industry. In 2015, global sales amounting to EUR 312.9 million were generated by about 1,894 employees.

The shares of R. STAHL AG are traded on the Regulated Market/Prime Standard of Deutsche Boerse (ISIN DE000A1PHBB5).

Contacts:
R. STAHL AG
Am Bahnhof 30, 74638 Waldenburg (Württ.)

Bernd Marx (CFO)
Phone: +49 7942 943 1271

Nathalie Kamm (Investor Relations)
Phone: +49 7942 943 1395

E-mail: [email protected]