Stabilus GmbH: Stabilus planning IPO in 2014

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PRESS RELEASE
25/04/2014
 

NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN OR AUSTRALIA.
 

Stabilus planning IPO in 2014

• Global market leader in gas springs aims for listing on the regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
• Stabilus has strong growth prospects due to the rising comfort and safety requirements worldwide
• Leading technology and global presence form the basis for long-term market leadership
• Commerzbank and J.P. Morgan are managing the IPO as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners

The globally active automotive and industrial supplier Stabilus targets to be listed on the regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The issuer will be the Luxembourg-based holding Stabilus S.A. ¹. It is envisaged to partially place shares held by the current owner Triton as well as new shares from a capital increase in the amount of EUR 65m. Stabilus plans to use the expected net proceeds from the capital increase to reduce its debt, thereby increasing the group's financial flexibility. The IPO is planned for 2014.

Stabilus develops and produces electromechanical drives, gas springs and dampers. The company is headquartered in Koblenz and employs around 4,000 people worldwide. Funds advised by the European private equity firm Triton acquired Stabilus in early 2010.

Dietmar Siemssen, CEO of Stabilus, says: "With our innovative products we are meeting the growing requirements for comfort, ergonomics and safety worldwide, thus serving one of the megatrends of our time. The planned IPO is a sensible step and comes at a time when our finances and our organisation are very well set up for a successful, independent future."

Peder Prahl, Director of the "General Partner" for the Triton funds, adds: "Over the past four years we have worked with the Stabilus management and employees to develop the company into a global market leader with an outstanding and now even broader product portfolio. The expansion of its international presence means Stabilus is now a genuine global player with a considerable lead over its market competitors."

Stabilus products in the automotive segment are used in a broad range of applications such as tailgates, hoods, doors and convertible tops. Stabilus supplies over 100 automotive clients and, by its own estimates, has approximately 70% market share for gas springs worldwide. In addition, Stabilus supplies around 2,500 industrial customers, for example in medical and rehab technology (operating tables, hospital beds, wheelchairs), transportation and traffic (flaps and lids for luggage, loading and maintenance), furniture (cabinet lids, beds, tables) and house and building technology (skylights, smoke exhaust vents, awnings). Stabilus estimates that it has a global market share of around 35% in the industrial segment.

Strong global market growth thanks to rising comfort and safety requirements
Stabilus is active in markets with great growth potential. The requirements for safety, ergonomics and comfort in the industrial nations and in emerging markets such as Asia and South America are constantly rising. Furthermore, life expectancy of the global population is increasing, which reinforces this trend and offers additional sales potential in areas such as medical and rehab technology. In automotive production this trend is reflected in the greater demand for more comfortable vehicles, which leads to a greater number of gas springs, dampers and automatic drive systems being used. There is an increasing demand for the latter not only for luxury vehicles, but also in the mid-range segment resulting in higher sales potential for Stabilus.

Global market leader with a high level of innovation
Stabilus has closely aligned its business with customer requirements in recent years, transforming from a manufacturer of individual components into a systems supplier for electromechanical drives. Stabilus has increased its sales from Powerise systems, which allow tailgates to be operated automatically, by more than ten times in the last four years. According to the company's own estimates, Stabilus now has a global market share of around 22% for these systems. Stabilus anticipates an average annual growth of around 15% in the market for electromechanical opening and closing systems up to 2015.

Leading technology and global presence
Stabilus operates eleven plants in Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico and Asia. This global presence enables Stabilus to produce "in the region for the region" and to build relationships with both locally and globally operating customers. Stabilus develops and produces all of the key manufacturing technologies and machines for its worldwide plants at its headquarters in Koblenz. By this means, Stabilus ensures a similar high level of productivity and product quality across all its plants and creates high market entry barriers for competitors.

In the 2012/2013 fiscal year, Stabilus generated sales of approximately EUR 460m and EBIT, adjusted for non-recurring effects, of around EUR 59m. Over the last four years, sales and adjusted EBIT have risen by an average of 8.6% and 17.6% respectively. This trend has continued in the current business year: in the first half of 2013/2014 sales amounted to around EUR 246m. Compared to the prior-year period this is an increase of approximately 12%. Adjusted EBIT rose to around EUR 30m, approximately 16% up on the prior-year period.

Commerzbank and J.P. Morgan will manage the IPO as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners; Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking and UniCredit Bank have been mandated as Co-Lead Managers.

¹⁾ Currently Servus HoldCo S.à r.l., a Luxembourg-based limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée) located at 26-28 rue Edward Steichen, L-2540 Luxembourg, listed in the Luxembourg Commercial and Companies Register under number B.151.589. The company will change its legal form to a Luxembourg public limited company (société anonyme) and will be renamed before the IPO.
 

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