PRESS RELEASE : HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA: HELLA significantly improves earnings in a challenging industry environment

DGAP-News: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA / Key word(s): 9 Month figures/9 Month figures 
HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA: HELLA significantly improves earnings in a challenging industry environment 
2021-04-14 / 07:00 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
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HELLA significantly improves earnings in a challenging industry environment 
- Coronavirus pandemic and bottlenecks in global supply and logistics chains hamper industry development 
- Currency and portfolio-adjusted consolidated sales decrease slightly by 0.3 percent to EUR 4.7 billion in the first 
nine months of the current fiscal year 
- Thanks to consistent cost management, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes increase by 10.1 percent to EUR 373 
million; adjusted EBIT margin rises to 8.0 percent 
- At EUR 312 million, reported EBIT stands at the prior-year level; reported EBIT margin comes to 6.7 percent 
- Automotive segment achieves slight growth in the third quarter; Aftermarket sees significant rise in profitability; 
Special Applications returns to sales growth due to strong agricultural machinery business 
- Company outlook substantiated to the upper half of the forecast ranges raised in December despite increasing market 
uncertainties 
Lippstadt, 14 April 2021. International automotive supplier HELLA has developed well in a challenging industry 
environment that is still suffering from the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and bottlenecks in the global 
supply and logistics chains. In the first nine months of fiscal year 2020/2021 (1 June 2020 to 28 February 2021), the 
HELLA Group's currency and portfolio-adjusted sales fell only slightly by 0.3 percent to EUR 4.7 billion (prior year: EUR 
4.8 billion). Despite the challenging market environment, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (adjusted EBIT) 
improved significantly by 10.1 percent to EUR 373 million thanks to ongoing consistent cost management (prior year: EUR 339 
million). The adjusted EBIT margin therefore increased to 8.0 percent (prior year: 7.1 percent). 
At EUR 312 million, the reported EBIT stands at the prior-year level; the reported EBIT margin comes to 6.7 percent 
(prior year: 6.4 percent). This figure firstly takes into account additional income of EUR 121 million from the sale of 
the business activities with front camera software completed in the third quarter and provisions of EUR 169 million for 
the ongoing programme in Germany aimed at increasing competitiveness over the long term. 
"The entire automotive industry is currently facing massive challenges. The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread 
and the entire sector is being impacted by the consequences of the huge shortage of components especially on the 
semiconductor market. In light of these specific circumstances, our business development in the first nine months gives 
us reason to be very satisfied overall," says HELLA CEO Dr. Rolf Breidenbach. "All segments developed well in this 
demanding environment. One of the most pleasing aspects is that our consistent cost management continues to prove 
effective and is allowing us to further improve our competitive position over the medium and long term." 
Automotive segment achieves slight growth in the third quarter 
On account of the negative industry environment, sales in the Automotive segment declined by 2.7 percent to EUR 4.0 
billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (prior year: EUR 4.2 billion). A slight increase in sales was 
seen again in the third quarter in the wake of a certain market recovery after the segment had already grown in the 
second quarter. Positive business development in China and Europe made the biggest contribution to this rise. As a 
result of the ongoing stringent cost management activities, the segment's EBIT increased to EUR 295 million (prior year: 
EUR 279 million). The EBIT margin consequently improved to 7.3 percent (prior year: 6.7 percent). 
Aftermarket sees significant rise in profitability 
Sales in the Aftermarket segment declined only slightly by 1.3 percent to EUR 369 million in the nine-month period (prior 
year: EUR 374 million). Due to a fall in investing activities on the part of workshops, the workshop business in 
particular weakened somewhat. In contrast, the independent aftermarket business recovered again in important national 
markets. In addition, the business development in the segment was bolstered by the increasing momentum of the 
e-commerce business in Germany. The profitability of the segment improved appreciably with earnings before interest and 
taxes (EBIT) rising to EUR 48 million (prior year: EUR 35 million). The EBIT margin therefore comes to 13.0 percent (prior 
year: 9.5 percent). This development was mainly due to improved efficiency in the areas of administration and logistics 
and the increased share of business involving software licences. 
Special Applications returns to sales growth due to strong agricultural machinery business 
The Special Applications segment increased its sales by 3.3 percent to EUR 258 million over the nine-month period (prior 
year: EUR 250 million). The key factor behind this development was the strong business for agricultural machinery and 
small-volume manufacturers. Thanks to higher business volumes and stringent cost management, the segment's EBIT 
improved to EUR 28 million (prior year: EUR 27 million), equating to an EBIT margin of 10.8 percent (prior year: 10.7 
percent). 
Company outlook substantiated to the upper half of the forecast ranges raised in December despite increasing market 
uncertainties 
The company outlook for the current fiscal year 2020/2021 (1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021) remains in line with the 
forecast raised on 7 December 2020. In light of the business development to date and taking the present market 
environment into account, HELLA is assuming that currency and portfolio-adjusted consolidated sales will be in the 
upper half of the given forecast range of EUR 6.1 billion to EUR 6.6 billion. With regard to the EBIT margin adjusted for 
restructuring measures and portfolio effects, HELLA is also anticipating a value in the upper half of the forecast 
range of 6.0 percent to 8.0 percent. 
The company outlook is based on the assumption that no significant interruptions to production will occur in the fourth 
quarter at HELLA as a result of the coronavirus pandemic or due to interruptions within the global supply and logistics 
chains. "The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. The same also applies to the lack of market availability of 
semiconductors and other components. We are assuming that this situation will continue to intensify even further over 
the next few months," says HELLA CEO Dr. Rolf Breidenbach. "For HELLA, this will involve considerable negative 
implications and also additional expenditure. Nevertheless, we remain on course overall and are confident that we will 
bring the fiscal year to a successful close." 
Selected key financial figures in EUR millions or as a percentage of sales for the first nine months (1 June 2020 to 28 
February 2021): 
                                                            Fiscal year Fiscal year Change 
                                                             2020/2021   2019/2020 
Sales                                                          4,743       4,758    -0.3% 
currency and portfolio-adjusted 
Sales                                                          4,646       4,848    -4.2% 
reported 
Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (adjusted EBIT)     373         339     +10.1% 
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)                       312         312      0.0% 
Adjusted EBIT margin                                           8.0%        7.1%     +0.9pp 
EBIT margin                                                    6.7%        6.4%     +0.3pp 

Where sums and percentages have been rounded, differences may arise as a result of commercial rounding.

The financial statement on the first nine months of fiscal year 2020/2021 can now be downloaded from the website of HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA.

Please note: This text and corresponding photo material can also be found in our press database at www.hella.com/ press HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lippstadt: HELLA is a global, family-owned company, listed on the stock exchange, with over 125 locations in some 35 countries. With sales of EUR 5.8 billion in the fiscal year 2019/2020 and 36,000 employees, HELLA is one of the leading automotive suppliers. HELLA specialises in innovative lighting systems and vehicle electronics and has been an important partner to the automotive industry and aftermarket for more than a century. Furthermore, in its Special Applications segment, HELLA develops, manufactures and sells lighting and electronic products for specialist vehicles.

For more information, please contact: Dr. Markus Richter Company spokesman HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Rixbecker Strasse 75 59552 Lippstadt Germany Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] [e-mail] www.hella.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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