DGAP-News: UNIWHEELS AG

UNIWHEELS AG financial results for 9 months 2017 -
double digit growth of revenues and EBITDA

- Wheel sales volume grows by +12.1% yoy to 7.2 mln wheels

- Revenues up by 21 % to EUR 405.3 mln

- EBITDA grows by 15.9% to EUR 59.7 mln

- Net profit for the period - EUR 42.3 mln, comparable yoy

- Outlook for 2017: guidance confirmed - sales volume growth of 10-15%, revenue growth of 14-19% and EBITDA growth of 15-20%

- Superior transaction - integration in progress, delisting process under way

Bad Dürkheim, November 28th, 2017: Germany-based alloy wheels manufacturer UNIWHEELS AG, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, presented its financial results for the nine months of 2017.

During 9 months 2017 UNIWHEELS Group sold 7.156 million wheels in both segments: Automotive and Accessory (in total an increase of 12.1% y/y).

In 1-3Q 2017 UNIWHEELS generated EUR 405.3 mln in revenues, an increase of 21% yoy. In the Automotive segment, revenues grew by 20.1% yoy to EUR 326.5 mln, the Accessory business saw a revenue increase of 20.9% yoy to EUR 69.9 mln.

The main reason of revenue growth is in the 12.1% increase in wheel sales volume. In addition, the improved product mix with larger diameter wheels and a more complex surface wheels as well as rising aluminium prices in the wake of the quarterly price adjustments.

In the Automotive segment UNIWHEELS sold in 1-3Q 2017 5.867 mln wheels and - wheel sales volume increased by 10.7% compared to the same period of the prior year. This was primarily driven by a sustained rise in demand from European automobile manufacturers. In the Accessory division 1.289 mln wheels were sold. Unit volume rose by 18.8%. This was due to the new designs placed on the market in 2016, which were warmly received by consumers and provided further growth.

Since 4Q 2016, LME aluminum price increased and influenced cost of material level in 9 months of 2017, which rose 32.3% in that period. Personnel expenses grew in line with revenues and decelerated in Q3. Significant increase in personnel is related to new plant in Stalowa Wola, which went into operation in June 2016. Other operating costs were influenced by higher consulting and legal fees.

In total EBITDA grew in 1-3Q2017 by 15.9% to EUR 59.7 mln. Net profit decreased slightly by 2.7% to EUR 42.3 mln. Earnings performance in the analyzed period has been influenced also by very strong second quarter of 2016.

UNIWHEELS confirms the guidance for 2017, that has been published together with the 2016 results. Wheels sales are expected to increase in 2017 between 10% - 15% yoy. Group revenues are forecasted to grow between 14% and 19% yoy, taking the aluminium price development into account. And an EBITDA increase by 15% to 20% yoy is expected.

Superior Industries currently owns 93.2% of UNIWHEELS AG shares after public tender offer and a delisting tender offer. Delisting process from Warsaw Stock Exchange is under way. On October 23^rd the CEO of the company submitted an application to execute the delisting to the financial authorities in Poland.

Key financial figures of UNIWHEELS Group for 1-3Q 2017:

Financial highlights 1-3Q 2017:

- Revenues increased by 21%, influenced by:

- wheels sales increase of 12.1%

- product mix with higher value added

- higher aluminum price components

- Material costs rose by 32.3%, reflecting higher LME aluminum prices and energy costs

- Personnel costs (+20,3%) in line with revenues and decelerated in Q3

- EBITDA increased by 15.9% to EUR 59.7 mln

- EBIT up by 7.4% to EUR 42.2 mln

- Net profit (-2.7%) amounts to EUR 42.3 mln

- Finance: net debt at EUR 63.1 mln, equity ratio: 66.0%

About UNIWHEELS:

The UNIWHEELS Group is one of the leading manufacturers of aluminum wheels for cars in Europe and is one of the few technology leaders worldwide in the aluminum wheel industry.

UNIWHEELS is the third largest European supplier of OEM wheels for the automotive industry as well as the market-leading manufacturer of alloy wheels for the accessories market (AM) in Europe. Well-known Group brands include ATS, RIAL, ALUTEC and ANZIO. The Group currently has four production plants, three of which are in Poland (Stalowa Wola) and one in Germany (Werdohl).

In 2016 UNIWHEELS Group had with a sales volume of 8.8 million wheels EUR 464.1 million of revenues and an EBITDA of EUR 70.2 million. 2,918 employees worked for the Group.

UNIWHEELS sees itself as one of the leading partners of the automotive industry for the optimum reduction of CO2 emissions by reducing the weight of alloy wheels. As well as weight-optimized construction methods, the following procedures are primarily used: Flow Forming, Lightforming, undercutting and forging.

Since 2015, UNIWHEELS AG is publicly listed on Main Market of Warsaw Stock Exchange. The UNIWHEELS stock is floated under security identification number A13STW, ISIN DE000A13STW4 and ticker symbol UNW.

Since May 2017 the US aluminium wheel manufacturer, Superior Industries International, Inc., has been the majority shareholder of UNIWHEELS.

For more information please contact:
Oliver Madsen
Head of Investor Relations
Email: o.madsen@de.uniwheels.com
UNIWHEELS AG
Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 10
67098 Bad Dürkheim, Germany