DGAP-News: VTG Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Preliminary Results VTG Aktiengesellschaft: VTG sets a milestone with its result and strategy 23.02.2016 / 07:30 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Release VTG sets a milestone with its result and strategy - Revenue increases by 25.6 percent, EBITDA by 76.2 percent - Railcar Division on course for success - Logistics divisions significantly strengthened - Refinancing successfully completed - Dividend increase to EUR 0.50 proposed - Growth and profitability objectives specified Hamburg, February 23, 2016. VTG Aktiengesellschaft (WKN: VTG999), one of Europe's leading wagon hire and rail logistics companies, considerably increased its result in 2015. Based on preliminary, unaudited figures released today, revenue rose by 25.6 percent to EUR 1,027.5 billion and operating profit (EBITDA) rose by 76.2 percent to EUR 336.5 million. In addition to the successful development of all divisions, the acquisition of Ahaus Alstätter Eisenbahn Holding AG - AAE in 2015 has clearly had a positive impact on VTG revenue and earnings. "VTG opened a completely new chapter in 2015", affirmed Dr. Heiko Fischer, CEO of VTG AG, and added, "We expanded our wagon fleet, successfully developed our business in all divisions and realized the first synergies by way of simplified processes and structures. The substantial headway made in integrating AAE played a considerable role in this progress. Furthermore, the effective, comprehensive refinancing measures we have undertaken represent an important component in achieving our profitability objectives. In this way, we can continue to offer both our shareholders and customers a very attractive overall package". Railcar Division repositions itself Revenue in the Railcar Division increased in 2015 by 55.5 percent from EUR 345.4 million to EUR 537.2 million. EBITDA also rose significantly by 72.5 percent from EUR 194.4 million to EUR 335.4 million. At 90.6 percent, the fleet utilization rate was slightly below the level of the previous year (91.0 percent), but above the level of the previous quarter (89.6 percent). Over the course of the integration with AAE, the Railcar Division pooled together the activities of numerous national subsidiaries into VTG Rail Europe GmbH. The primary objective here was to operate more centrally in regard to procurement, operational management and administration in the future. At the same time, focusing on four strategic fleet segments enables the company to be more sales-oriented in the market and more effectively aligned to customer requirements. Logistics divisions continue to develop positively The Rail Logistics Division has successfully been pursuing the repositioning path which was set in 2015. Revenue has developed positively as a result, increasing by 0.6 percent to EUR 324.0 million (previous year: 322.0 million), despite the continuing tension in Russia and Ukraine and being subject to consistently high competitive pressure. EBITDA rose significantly to EUR 3.4 million, following the slight loss of EUR 0.2 million reported for the previous year. This result demonstrates that the division is once again making a positive contribution to the Group's consolidated earnings. At the end of the year, the remaining 30 percent from the joint venture with Kuehne + Nagel were acquired. VTG has therefore become the sole shareholder of the largest private rail logistics company in Europe, VTG Rail Logistics, whose restructure is swiftly being pursued. The Tank Container Logistics Division recorded a considerable upward trend over the last year. This was primarily attributable to the rise in the US dollar exchange rate and growth in overseas transport volumes, in addition to one-time earnings. Revenue consequently rose by 10.2 percent to EUR 166.3 million (previous year: EUR 150.9 million). EBITDA improved by 6.5 percent to EUR 13.6 million (previous year: EUR 12.8 million). VTG 4.0 is at the heart of development until 2018 For 2016, the VTG AG Executive Board has committed itself to consistently following the route it has already embarked upon. Overall, it anticipates that the business will continue to develop positively. Revenue is expected to reach between EUR 1.03 and 1.07 billion and EBITDA between EUR 345 and 355 million. Moreover, the Board intends to propose the payment of a dividend of EUR 0.50 per share for the 2015 fiscal year at the 2016 Annual General Meeting, which is eleven percent higher than the previous year's figure. The growth and profitability objectives specified in 2015 demonstrate VTG's intention to strengthen its market position in the years ahead. Under the heading VTG 4.0, the company has been actively involved with the topics innovation, digitalization, the simplification of processes and structures and additional selective growth. Due to the current low level of interest rates and improved creditworthiness, significantly better conditions could be concluded as part of the refinancing measures in 2015. The Group's average interest rate has fallen significantly which will consequently lead to noticeable relief in the financial result and increased profitability for the years ahead. By 2018, the Board is striving to generate an overall increase in earnings per share (EPS) to EUR 2.50. About VTG: VTG Aktiengesellschaft is one of Europe's leading wagon hire and rail logistics companies, with a fleet consisting of more than 80,000 railcars. VTG offers a full-range service, providing tank cars, intermodal wagons, standard freight wagons and sliding wall wagons. In addition to the hiring of wagons, the Group offers comprehensive multi-modal logistics services, mainly around rail transport, and global tank container transports. With the combination of its three interlinked divisions Railcar, Rail Logistics and Tank Container Logistics, VTG offers its customers a high-performance platform for international transport of their freight. The Group has many years of experience and specific expertise, in particular in the transport of liquid and sensitive goods. Its customers include numerous well-known companies from almost every industrial sector, for example the chemical, petroleum, automotive, paper and agricultural industries. In the financial year 2015, VTG generated revenue of EUR 1,027.5 billion and operating profit (EBITDA) of EUR 336.5 million. Via its subsidiaries and affiliates the company, which has its head office in Hamburg, is mainly present in Europe, Asia, Russia and North America. As at 31 December 2015, VTG had 1,445 employees worldwide in consolidated companies. VTG AG is listed on the official Prime Standard market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and also on the SDAX (WKN: VTG999). Press contact: Monika Gabler Head of Corporate Communications Telephone: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1341 Fax: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1340 E-mail: [email protected] Investor relations contact: Christoph Marx Head of Investor Relations Telephone: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1351 Fax: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1350 E-mail: [email protected] More information at www.vtg.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23.02.2016 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: VTG Aktiengesellschaft Nagelsweg 34 20097 Hamburg Germany Phone: 040 2354 1351 Fax: 040 2354 1350 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.vtg.de ISIN: DE000VTG9999 WKN: VTG999 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 439269 23.02.2016