Masterflex SE: Masterflex SE remains very successful in Q3/2014

Gelsenkirchen/Germany (pta006/14.11.2014/08:00 UTC+1) * Revenue rises by 8.9%
* EBIT grows by a good 14% to Eur 5.3 million
* Pro rata net profit for the year now at Eur 2.8 million
* Product innovation FireFlex(TM) launched on US market

Masterflex SE continued to grow at nearly the same rate in the 2014 financial year. Revenue with high-tech hoses and connection systems increased by 8.9% in the first nine months of the year from Eur 44.2 million to Eur 48.1 million. Dr Andreas Bastin, CEO of the Masterflex Group: "Our situation is better than the generally subdued mood now perceptible everywhere. We are growing much more rapidly than the global economy. One reason for this is our broadly positioned customer portfolio, which is therefore comparatively resilient to cyclical effects, in addition to our extensive sales and marketing efforts. Furthermore, we are pursuing our strategic growth course consistently."

Operating earnings improved even more significantly than revenue. EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) rose by 14.1% to Eur 5.3 million due to greater capacity utilisation, leading to a stable double-digit EBIT margin of 11.0%. Due to the good operating earnings and a further improvement in net finance costs (Eur -0.9 million vs. Eur -1.1 million), net profit for the year increased by an even greater 33.9% to Eur 2.8 million (previous year: Eur 2.1 million). Therefore, the publicly traded company is currently confident that it will again meet its forecast for the 2014 financial year - as it has done in previous years - despite months of increasing economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

In addition, innovation remains an important part of the Masterflex Group's growth strategy. Recently, the company launched its high-temperature exhaust hose FireFlex(TM) on the US market, with which fire departments in the US can check and perform maintenance on their heavy-duty engines quickly and efficiently without risk to life or limb. The case study conducted with fire departments impressively confirmed that FireFlex(TM) excellently assists fire services in their work with their heavy-duty diesel fleets and satisfies the stringent requirements of the US environmental authorities.

CEO Bastin: "In line with our long-term growth strategy, we are continually focussing on innovative products. In addition, we intend to grow from increasingly international business, because the drivers for momentum are constantly shifting between continents. Therefore, we are sticking rigorously to our long-term, profitable growth course."

The figures for the 2014 financial year will be published on 30 March 2015.

Key figures Q3/2014	30.09.2014	30.09.2013	Change
Consolidated revenue (kEur)	48,079	44,153	8.90%
EBITDA (kEur)	7,434	6,563	13.30%
EBIT (kEur)	5,312	4,655	14.10%
EBT (kEur)	4,428	3,515	26.00%
Consolidated earnings from continued business units (kEur)	2,876	2,246	28.00%
Consolidated earnings from discontinued business units (kEur)	-37	-29	27.60%
Consolidated net income/loss (kEur)*	2,794	2,087	33.90%
Earnings per share from continued business units (Eur)	0.32	0.24	33.30%
Earnings per share from discontinued business units (Eur)	0	0
Earnings per share (Eur)	0.32	0.24	33.30%
EBIT margin	11.00%	10.50%
Employees	579	529	9.50%
	30.09.2014	31.12.2013	Change
Consolidated equity (kEur)	26,216	23,023	13.90%
Consolidated total assets (kEur)	57,370	53,690	6.90%
Consolidated equity ratio (%)	45.70%	42.90%

* without minority interests

The Masterflex Group is the listed specialist in the development and manufacture of sophisticated hose and connection systems. With 13 operational units in Europe, America and Asia, the Group is represented almost everywhere in the world. Internationalisation and innovation are the drivers for growth.

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