DGAP-News

HELLA starts into new fiscal year with a rise in sales and profitability - Seite 2

EBIT margin to 8.4 percent (previous year: 6.9 percent) based on sales with
third parties.

The Aftermarket segment continued on its growth path in the first quarter
of this fiscal year, with a 7.3 percent increase in sales with external
parties to EUR 0.3 billion. The key drivers behind this growth were a
strong wholesale business and positive performance in the business with
workshop equipment. Net operating profit in the segment grew to EUR 20
million in the first quarter. The EBIT margin improved to 6.3 percent
(previous year: 5.8 percent) as a result of a favourable product mix and
higher sales.

Due to the disposal of the Industries and Airport Lighting business areas,
external sales in the Special Applications segment in the first quarter
declined slightly by 2.4 percent year-on-year to about EUR 70 million.
Portfolio adjusted sales grew by 2.6 percent. Subsequent costs arising from
the disposal pushed net operating profit down to EUR 2 million (previous
year: EUR 5 million); the segment's EBIT margin declined accordingly from
7.6 percent in the previous year to 2.6 percent in the first quarter of
this fiscal year.

HELLA business outlook remains positive

HELLA Group generally confirms the guidance for this fiscal year 2016/2017
and its positive business outlook. For fiscal year 2016/2017, the Company
expects sales and adjusted EBIT to grow in the middle single-digit
percentage range and the adjusted EBIT margin to be in line with the
previous year. In the event that the first quarter exchange rate trend
continues, the sales growth for the year as a whole might diminish. Even
so, this should not have any negative implications for adjusted EBIT.

Selected financials (in EUR million or percent of sales respectively):

                                               Q1         Q1         Change
                                               2016/2017  2015/2016
Sales                                          1,553      1,496      +4%
Adjusted net operating profit (adj. EBIT)      118**      101*       +17%
Net operating profit (EBIT)                    117        69         +69%
Adjusted EBIT margin                           7.6%**     6.8%*      +0.9pp
EBIT margin                                    7.5%       4.6%       +2.9pp

Please note that where sums and percentages have been rounded, differences
may arise as a result of commercial rounding.

* Adjusted for restructuring expenses and one-time expenses incurred in
connection with the unexpected loss of a supplier in China in the prior-
year quarter

** Adjusted for restructuring measures in the reporting period