R. STAHL publishes the results for the first half of 2015 and reduces expectations for the medium term

R. Stahl AG  / Key word(s): Half Year Results/Change in Forecast06.08.2015 08:39Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmittedby DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.---------------------------------------------------------------------------R. STAHL publishes the results for the first half of 2015 and reducesexpectations for the medium termWaldenburg, 6 August 2015. In the first six months of the current fiscalyear,R. STAHL AG benefited from the record order intake in the previous year andachieved an increase in sales of 12.0%. Compared to the first half of 2014,EBIT increased by 22.8%. However, the low oil price can already be felt inthe order books so that order intake was 1.4% below previous year's level.The Executive Board does not assume that the trend in regard to thenegative external influencing factors on the business will change in theshort term. Due to the continuously low oil price, the propensity of theoil producing companies to invest has declined. While an increase of theoil price could still be expected during the first quarter 2015, its lowlevel was further cemented in the second quarter 2015. During its meetingin June, the OPEC, under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, confirmed itsoutput volumes. Moreover, the opening of the Iranian market for oil exportsputs the price of a barrel of Brent crude under further pressure. Since theagreement in the nuclear dispute in July 2015, the oil price fell by 15%.At the same time, China's weak economy is furthering the downward trend.Increase of the oil prices in the short term is not in sight. For 2016, theExecutive Board expects a sideways trend.Additionally, the crisis in the Ukraine burdens business of R. STAHL Group.After the EU states prolonged their economic sanctions against Russia inJune 2015, no relief for the economic and political situation is currentlyin sight.The economic downturn in Brazil leads to a decline in demand in the local R. STAHL subsidiary and subsequently to significant losses in earnings.Against the background of the macro-economic business conditions, theExecutive Board assumes that the forecast sales corridor of EUR 380 milliontoEUR 390 million and EBIT margin objective of 11% to 12% cannot be achieveduntil 2016. Especially the weak demand of the oil industry, one of themajor customer industries of the company, slows down business development.For 2016, the Executive Board thus expects growth rates in the lowsingle-digit range. The Executive Board is still convinced that a two-digitEBIT margin can be achieved as soon as the market environment will improve.---------------------------------------------------------------------------Information and Explaination of the Issuer to this News:Contacts:R. STAHL AGAm Bahnhof 30, 74638 Waldenburg (Württ. )Bernd Marx (CFO)Tel.: +49 7942 943-1271Nathalie Kamm (Investor Relations)Tel.: +49 7942 943-1395E-Mail: [email protected] The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language:     EnglishCompany:      R. Stahl AG              Am Bahnhof 30              74638 Waldenburg              GermanyPhone:        +49 (7942) 943-0Fax:          +49 (7942) 943-4333E-mail:       [email protected]:     www.stahl.deISIN:         DE000A1PHBB5WKN:          A1PHBBListed:       Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Stuttgart;              Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg,              Munich End of Announcement                             DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------