Q3/2013: Strong growth over the course of the year

Gelsenkirchen, 11 November 2013: During the course of the first nine months of 2013, the business in Masterflex SE high-tech hoses and connector systems has improved dynamically. In Q3/2013 alone, turnover stood at €15.2 million, up around 10.3 percent over the same period over the previous year. For the first nine months of 2013, turnover of €44.2 million corresponds to a growth of 5.1 percent.

Dr. Andreas Bastin, Masterflex CEO, sums up: “Over the last decade, we have never had such good turnover from our high-tech hoses as we had in Q3/2013. After a weak start to the year, our business has increased dynamically. Our international activities in America and Asia have been a significant contributing factor to this. It shows our internationalisation strategy is proving to be effective.”

As planned, operating income (EBIT) has worked out slightly less. The reported EBIT of €4.7 million and resulting EBIT margin of 10.5 percent reflect the – predominantly non-capitalisable – roll-out costs, primarily staff costs, needed for expansion in Asia. “The EBIT slump may now have almost bottomed out yet, looking forward, this will change again", Bastin continues. “Because the first stage in the roll-out of the sales organisation in Asia has now been completed. Thus, for the first time since 2011, the staff cost ratio over the first nine months has slightly dropped in comparison to 37.2 percent over the first half year (37.7 percent, previous year: 35.6 percent). The focus is now on getting all processes running smoothly as quickly as possible.”

In addition, under the second pillar of growth strategy, namely product innovation, continuous further development can be recorded. In September, a new generation of spiral hose, Master-PUR Performance®, was launched. This innovation is a completely seamless smooth, but comparatively very flexible, spiral hose which withstands extremely high mechanical loads, such as the transporting of heavy bulk materials, by virtue of its customised manufacturing process (see Press release of 05.09.2013). The next, major innovative market launch is lined up for the start of 2014.

The press conference on the annual results for the 2013 financial year will take place on 28 March 2014.

Key figures Q3/2013