DGAP-Adhoc: Ahlers AG: Ahlers reports strong sales growth of 7.9 percent and clearly double-digit growth in all earnings figures for the nine-month period 2013/14. Earnings forecast for the full year 2013/14 raised.


Ahlers AG  / Key word(s): 9-month figures/Change in Forecast

23.09.2014 15:37

Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted
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Ad-hoc-announcement pursuant to § 15 WpHG

Ahlers AG, Herford

ISIN DE0005009708 and ISIN DE0005009732

Ahlers reports strong sales growth of 7.9 percent and clearly double-digit
growth in all earnings figures for the nine-month period 2013/14. Earnings
forecast for the full year 2013/14 raised: 5 - 10 percent increase in
consolidated net income expected (2012/13: EUR 5.6 million).

The Ahlers Group's strong growth of the first half-year continued in the
third quarter of 2014, when sales revenues rose by 8.6 percent. On the one
hand, this was due to both increased pre-sales and very positive,
higher-than-expected stock sales. On the other hand, winter apparel was
delivered earlier this year, which means that sales revenues were brought
forward from the fourth quarter. Nine-month sales 2013/14 climbed 7.9
percent to EUR 197.9 million (previous year: EUR 183.4 million). Due to the
increase in sales revenues, preliminary EBIT before special effects rose by
64 percent to EUR 13.8 million, while preliminary earnings after taxes
climbed 23 percent to EUR 7.5 million. The final figures will be published
on October 14, 2014.

At the end of June 2014, the Management Board of Ahlers decided to close
the Sindelfingen plant and to integrate Gin Tonic into the Herford
headquarters following a successful reorganisation. A social plan for the
employees affected was negotiated and signed with the staff council in the
third quarter of 2014. The related costs are already reflected in the
result of Q3 2014.

For the full fiscal year, the Management Board projects a 5 to 6 percent
increase in sales revenues and a strong double-digit increase in EBIT
before special effects. In spite of high extraordinary expenses far in
excess of EUR 2 million, consolidated net income after taxes should also
pick up moderately. From today's point of view, the company projects an
increase of approx. 5 to 10 percent in net income (2012/13 consolidated net
income: EUR 5.6 million). The Management Board had previously expected
consolidated net income to remain stable.

Herford, September 23, 2014

The Management Board

Ahlers AG
Elverdisser Str. 313
32052 Herford


23.09.2014 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
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Language:     English
Company:      Ahlers AG
              Elverdisser Straße 313
              32052 Herford
              Germany
Phone:        +49 (0)5221 979-0
Fax:          +49 (0)5221 70058
E-mail:       ahlers-ag@ahlers-ag.com
Internet:     www.ahlers-ag.com
ISIN:         DE0005009708, DE0005009732
WKN:          500970, 500973
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
              Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart
 
End of Announcement                             DGAP News-Service
 
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