DGAP-News: Continental AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Continental Continues Along Successful Path and Se-cures Adjusted EBIT Margin Above 11% as Announced 12.01.2015 / 08:30 --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Automotive supplier publishes preliminary key figures for 2014 fiscal year * Sales grow to around EUR34.5 billion despite negative exchange rate effects * Outlook for 2015: aim to increase sales by approximately 5% Hanover, January 12, 2015. In the 2014 fiscal year, the Continental Corporation secured a margin exceeding 11% for its adjusted EBIT, despite the pronounced weakness of Europe's replacement tire market in fourth quarter. Sales of the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner grew in comparison with the previous year, reaching a figure of approximately EUR34.5 billion. Exchange rate effects amounting to around EUR500 million had a negative impact on sales. "All in all, we systematically continued along our successful path last year despite the weak growth in Europe, Russia, and South America. We achieved this in spite of the further uncertainty added to the already volatile market development as a result of considerable exchange rate fluctuations in some cases or, as seen recently, the drop in the price of oil. The adjusted EBIT exceeding EUR3.8 billion is further proof of the outstanding performance achieved yet again by our more than 190,000 employees," said Chairman of the Continental Executive Board Dr. Elmar Degenhart on Monday during the announcement of preliminary key figures at the motor show in Detroit, U.S.A. "For 2015, we expect global production figures for passenger cars with a gross vehicle weight rating up to 6 metric tons to increase moderately once again, rising from around 87 to roughly 89 million vehicles. We are therefore aiming for sales growth of around 5% to a figure exceeding EUR36 billion. With this, we want to once again securely confirm our double-digit adjusted EBIT margin," added Degenhart, also noting that the consolidation effects from the Veyance acquisition have not been taken into consideration in this outlook. Continental will present its preliminary business figures on March 5, 2015, during its first entirely digital financial press conference. Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated preliminary sales of approximately EUR34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech. Continental employs more than 190,000 people in 49 countries. Contact for journalists ________________________________________ Dr. Felix Gress Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Continental AG Phone: +49 511 938-1485 E-mail: [email protected] Hannes Boekhoff Vice President Media Relations Continental AG Phone: +49 511 938-1278 Cell: +49 (0) 170 762 73 26 E-mail: [email protected] ________________________________________ This press release is available in the following languages: Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovakian, Spanish Links ________________________________________ Online press portal: www.continental-presse.de Financial reports: www.continental-ir.de Media database: www.continental-mediacenter.com Video portal: videoportal.continental-corporation.com ________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.01.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Continental AG Vahrenwalder Straße 9 30165 Hannover Germany Phone: +49 (0)511 938-1068 Fax: +49 (0)511 938-1080 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.conti.de ISIN: DE0005439004 WKN: 543900 Indices: DAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Hannover, Stuttgart; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München; Terminbörse EUREX; Luxemburg, SIX End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 311909 12.01.2015