DGAP-News: ROY Ceramics SE / Key word(s): Quarter Results ROY Ceramics SE reports dynamic sales growth in the first quarter of 2015 28.05.2015 / 18:53 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial results Q1 2015 ROY Ceramics SE reports dynamic sales growth in the first quarter of 2015 Frankfurt, 28 May 2015 - Roy Ceramics SE - a dynamically growing manufacturer of ceramics sanitary ware, bathroom amenities and accessories - has continued its growth path in the first quarter of 2015 and reports significantly improved financial results. In the first quarter 2015 ROY Ceramics continued growth in its China home market driven by its progressive marketing campaign and the extension of its distribution network. Especially major projects with property developers and resort projects as well as the appreciation of the RMB against the Euro led to a significant revenue growth of 64 per cent to a total of 30.9 million Euros (Q1 2014: 18.8 million Euros). In RMB terms revenue growth was 36 per cent. Focus on value added non-ceramics accessories Revenues from the non-ceramics accessories segment, accounted for 59.6 per cent of ROY's total revenues, more than tripled to 18.4 million Euros (Q1 2014: 5.8 million Euros). This positive development was due to ROY's strategic decision to shift from lower margin core ceramics products to more value added non-ceramics accessories such as intelligent toilet seats. The second product segment of ROY Ceramics - ceramics products - decreased by 4 per cent to 12.5 million Euros (Q1 2014: 13.0 million Euros) as competitive pricing was necessary in 2015 to retain market share and ceramics products were also offered at discounts as part of package deals to include non-ceramics accessories. Gross profit increased by 40 per cent to 10.8 million Euros (Q1 2014: 7.7 million Euros) with a gross profit margin amounting to 34.8 per cent (Q1 2014: 40.7 per cent). The operating profit (EBIT) increased by 30.0 per cent to 4.9 million Euros (Q1 2014: 3.8 million Euros). This corresponds to an EBIT margin of 15.9 per cent (Q1: 20.0 per cent). The net profit for the period increased by 29.0 per cent to 3.6 million Euros (Q1 2014: 2.8 million Euros), representing a net profit margin of 11.5 per cent (Q1 2014: 14.7 per cent). The decrease in profit margins was due to the toughening market conditions in China, which necessitated ROY to provide discounts on prices in order to continue to increase the sales volume according to the company's strategic plan. Compared to 31 December 2014 the group's equity increased by 14.5 per cent to a total of 260.1 million Euros (as at 31 December 2014: 227.3 million Euros). Correspondingly, the equity ratio remained at a very high level of 95.1 per cent (as at 31 December 2014: 94.6 per cent). Based on this comfortable financial situation ROY Ceramics is well prepared for further growth. Outlook: Management plans to commence sales in Europe and the USA Despite the positive development of ROY Ceramics in Q1 2015, the company is operating in a very competitive market with very price sensitive and quality conscious consumers. Thus, in 2015 ROY will start to strengthen its brand recognition in new international markets. The group also plans to expand its business in Asia beyond the current market focus of China into other attractive markets in the region mainly by opening new flagship stores over the course of the next two years. At the same time the Management will attend trade fairs in these new markets in order to raise the company's international profile and work on strategic alliances in Europe and the USA. Furthermore, ROY Ceramics will continue to develop two to three new series of product lines for 2015/2016. At the same time ROY Ceramics' dedicated research team will continue to further improve the designs and functionality of its current range of products. With regard to the economic development, ROY expects the second, third and fourth quarter of 2015 to reflect the slower growth rate in China and the slowdown in major new property development projects. As a consequence the management of ROY Ceramics plans to commence sales of ROY Ceramics' products in Europe and the USA in the second half of 2015. But the entry into these two markets will cause high investment costs before ROY will be able to generate profits. Consequently ROY expects that the net profit level achievable for the full year 2015 will be on the same level or only slightly better than in 2014. The Q1 2015 report of ROY Ceramics SE is available for download on the company's website under: http://www.royceramics.de/en/investor-relations/publications/financial-rep orts.html About ROY Ceramics SE ROY Ceramics is one of the 10 leading players in the Chinese sanitary ware market. The Group develops, designs, produces and markets high-end quality ceramics sanitary ware bathroom amenities and accessories. Roy Ceramics leverages on German technology and offers product quality unrivalled amongst domestic manufacturers in the PRC. The ROY brand is targeted in particular to luxury hotels, high quality houses, official and commercial buildings, property developers, retail outlets, architects and design houses. ROY Ceramics sells its products via a well-selected distribution network of self owned flagship showrooms, franchised outlets and distributors. ROY Ceramics SE currently acts as an investment holding company whereas the operations are carried out by the company's subsidiaries in China. For further information, please contact: ROY Ceramics SE Tel: +49 (0)69 710455155 Mail: [email protected] Or visit: www.royceramics.de Disclaimer This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities. The offer is made solely by means of and on the basis of a securities prospectus, which was published after approval by the German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). An investment decision regarding the publicly offered securities of the issuer should only be made on basis of the published prospectus. This document is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The shares in ROY Ceramics SE have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are not being and will not be offered or sold in the United States of America. This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "qualified persons"). All securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, qualified persons. Any person who is not a qualified person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 28.05.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 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: English Company: ROY Ceramics SE Bockenheimer Landstr. 17/19 60325 Frankfurt/Main Germany Phone: +49 (0) 69 710455155 Fax: +49 (0)69 710455450 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.royceramics.de ISIN: DE000RYSE888 WKN: RYSE88 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Dusseldorf, Stuttgart; Wien (Dritter Markt (MTF) / Third Market (MTF)) End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 362943 28.05.2015