Frauenthal Holding AG

Earnings Release • Mar 11, 2013

Stock exchange announcement pursuant to section 48d(1) Stock Exchange Act

Frauenthal confirms preliminary results for 2012

The main feature of the 2012 financial year for the Frauenthal Group was the sale of its Industrial Honeycombs Division to Japanese technology group IBIDEN. The transaction was completed on 1 June 2012. The previous year's income statement figures have been adjusted for comparative purposes. The results of the remaining Frauenthal Automotive and Wholesale Plumbing Supplies (SHT) divisions are reported as "profit for the year from continuing operations".

• Revenue in the two continuing operations, Frauenthal Automotive and Wholesale Plumbing Supplies, edged down by an overall EUR 4.3m or 0.8% year on year, to EUR 509.9m. Frauenthal Automotive's revenue shrank by 10.7% while Wholesale Plumbing Supplies registered a 7.3% gain.
• Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) from the continuing and discontinued operations totalled EUR 56.3m (2011: EUR 22.5m).
• EBIT from continuing operations dropped by EUR 6.6m year on year to EUR 7.9m. This reflected a decline of EUR 9.2m in the EBIT contribution from Frauenthal Automotive and an increase of EUR 2.1m in that from SHT.
• The combined profit for the year of the continuing and discontinued operations was EUR 39.0m – a year-on-year improvement of 184.7% or EUR 25.3m.
• The group recorded the highest equity in its history, at EUR 127.5m (up by 28.9%), and its best-ever equity ratio of 37.4% (up by 10.3%).

EUR m	2012	Change	2011
Revenue from continuing operations	509.9	-0.8%	514.2
Total EBITDA	68.2	89.4%	36.0
EBITDA from continuing operations	18.3	-25.9%	24.7
Total EBIT	56.3	+150.2%	22.5
EBIT from continuing operations	7.9	-45.5%	14.5
Total profit for the year	39.0	184.7%	13.7
Profit for the year from continuing operations	1.3	-82.9%	7.6
Equity	127.5	+28.9%	98.9
Equity ratio	37.4%	+10.3%	27.1%

Revenue in the Frauenthal Automotive Division was down by 10.7% due to the deterioration in the trading environment. Divisional EBIT slid by EUR 9.2m year on year, to a loss of EUR 1.9m. Earnings were depressed by the downturn in commercial vehicle demand, EUR 3m in restructuring expenses, an unfavourable product mix, sales price reductions and higher material costs.

Revenue in the Wholesale Plumbing Supplies Division grew by 7.3%. EBIT was EUR 12.2m – up by EUR 2.1m on the comparative period.

In 2012 the group pressed ahead with its strategy of growing its existing business divisions by acquisition, acquiring three companies. The Business Development team was strengthened, and a large number of potential acquisition targets were examined. The focus was on extending Frauenthal Automotive's product range and on geographical expansion by the SHT Group into neighbouring markets.

The revenue contribution from the Frauenthal Automotive Division is expected to hold at last year's level in 2013 despite a slight contraction in overall demand in its market. The Wholesale Plumbing Supplies Division anticipates moderate demand growth – mostly in the commercial new build and renovation segments – and further gains in market shares as a result of its strong commitment to outstanding logistics and investment in sales space. The group is also aiming to buy into a new, third line of business.

The 2012 consolidated statement of financial position, income statement and statement of cash flows are posted on the Frauenthal corporate website, under: www.frauenthal.at./Investor Relations/Reports.

The annual report 2012 will be published on 27 March 2013.

Contacts: Martin Sailer m.sailer@frauenthal.at Erika Hochrieser e.hochrieser@frauenthal.at

Frauenthal Holding AG Rooseveltplatz 10 1090 Vienna Tel: +43 (0)1 5054206