DGAP-News

paragon AG Continues Growing in Third Quarter - Seite 2

more orders for battery systems, also for use in hybrid buses, came in from
Linz, Austria, and Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Revenue in the Sensors division rose to EUR 26.4 million (prior year: EUR
25.1 million), mainly due to growth in take-rates of paragon products in
current vehicle models. Revenue in the Acoustics division increased to EUR
12.9 million (prior year: EUR 11.9 million). This was primarily due to the
boost in output quantity for the current version of the premium hands-free
microphone. In the Cockpit division, revenue grew to EUR 25.2 million
(prior year: EUR 24.0 million) as serial production of a new generation of
cockpit instruments was launched for a long-standing customer. With a
decrease in revenue to EUR 2.3 million (prior year: EUR 2.9 million), the
Body Kinematics division continued to be strongly influenced by a number of
series production developments for the 2017 fiscal year that ran parallel
to each other. Prominent among the development activities were freely
adjustable rear spoilers for optimized aerodynamics, which will enter pre-
serial production in the fourth quarter.

"Our technological innovations serve the increasing demand for modern
solutions in the areas of health, connectivity, safety, comfort and
electrification," says Dr. Stefan Schwehr, Chief Technology Officer. "Here,
we are adapting to the constantly shrinking innovation cycles in the
automotive sector with the intensification of our agile project
management."

Consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization) increased 11.5 percent to EUR 10.2 million in the first nine
months (prior year: EUR 9.1 million), despite a rise in personnel expenses
resulting from the expansion of the business, which corresponds to an
EBITDA margin of 13.8 percent (prior year: 13.5 percent).

With increased depreciation and amortization of EUR 5.0 million (prior
year: EUR 4.5 million) and other operating expenses remaining on par with
the prior year, consolidated EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes)
amounted to EUR 5.1 million (prior year: EUR 4.6 million). This corresponds
to an EBIT margin of 6.9 percent (prior year: 6.8 percent).

With net finance costs of EUR -2.4 million (prior year: EUR -1.7 million)
and a higher income tax burden of EUR 1.9 million (prior year: EUR 1.0
million), consolidated net income dropped to EUR 0.8 million (prior year:
EUR 1.8 million). This corresponds to earnings per share of EUR 0.20 (prior
year: EUR 0.45).

Total assets increased to EUR 99.9 million (prior year: EUR 86.4 million)