DGAP-Ad hoc: Ahlers AG

DGAP-Adhoc: Ahlers AG: Ahlers' revenue growth of 3.5 percent in Q2 2016 at the upper end of the forecast. Consequently, strong earnings growth in H1 2015/16. The forecast for full 2015/16 remains essentially unchanged.

Ahlers AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results/Forecast

22.06.2016 17:07

Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Ad-hoc announcement pursuant to § 15 WpHG

Ahlers AG, Herford

ISIN DE0005009708 and ISIN DE0005009732

Ahlers' revenue growth of 3.5 percent in Q2 2016 at the upper end of the forecast. Consequently, strong earnings growth in H1 2015/16. The forecast for full 2015/16 remains essentially unchanged, with revenues projected to remain stable and earnings expected to increase notably as a result of declining expenses.

In spite of the discontinuation of the Gin Tonic and private label activities, Ahlers recorded a 3.5 percent increase in sales revenues in Q2 2016. The Management Board had originally projected stable to slightly declining sales revenues. The increase in the second quarter offset the decline in the first three months. Sales revenues for the first six months of 2015/16 amounted to EUR 118.3 million, up EUR 0.2 million or 0.2 percent on the first half of 2014/15 (EUR 118.1 million).

As a result of the higher revenues, earnings also picked up a bit more strongly than expected. In the first half of 2015/16, Ahlers generated EBIT before special effects of EUR 2.2 million, compared to EUR 0.7 million in the prior year period (+214 percent). Earnings after taxes increased from EUR 0.0 million to EUR 0.8 million during the same period. The increased earnings are primarily attributable to cost savings, e.g. as a result of the discontinuation of Gin Tonic.

The revenue trend of the first six months should continue in the second half of 2016, when sales revenues are expected to remain stable. The Management Board had previously projected stable to moderately declining revenues. The fashion company's core business with the remaining segments Premium brands (Pierre Cardin, Baldessarini, Otto Kern) and Jeans, Casual & Workwear should thus grow by about 3 percent, which would offset the discontinued activities. Earnings in the financial year 2015/16 should clearly exceed the prior year results at all levels. The Management Board expects the Group's net income for the year to increase by a high double- digit percentage on the previous year's EUR 1.4 million. The earnings forecast for the full year thus remains unchanged.

All figures are preliminary. The final figures for the first half of 2015/16 will be published on July 14, 2016.

Herford, June 22, 2016

The Management Board

Ahlers AG Elverdisser Str. 313 32052 Herford

22.06.2016 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap.de

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Ahlers AG Elverdisser Straße 313 32052 Herford Germany Phone: +49 (0)5221 979-0 Fax: +49 (0)5221 70058 E-mail: ahlers-ag@ahlers-ag.com Internet: www.ahlers-ag.com ISIN: DE0005009708, DE0005009732 WKN: 500970, 500973 Listed: Regulated Market in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------