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5. Autoneum Holding Ltd. (Formerly Rieter Automotive) Business Report FY ended Dec. 2015

Autoneum Holding Ltd. (Formerly Rieter Automotive) Business Report FY ended Dec. 2015

Factors
1) Net Sales
-In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Company’s net sales increased by 6.7% to CHF 2,085.9 million. All of the Company’s business groups, excluding Business Group SAMEA (South America, Middle East and Africa) contributed to the increase in sales, despite the strength of the Swiss franc.

-Sales in Business Group Europe increased due to the large number of production ramp-ups, while sales in Business Group North America grew due to the supply for high-volume U.S. and Japanese vehicle models. Business Group Asia experienced increased sales through a series of product start-ups for international and local OEMs. Finally, sales in Business Group SAMEA had decreased due to the weakening market conditions in Brazil.

2) Net Profit
-The Company’s net profit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 was CHF 68.7 million, a decrease of 33.2% from the previous year. Despite improved results due to improved capacity utilization in Europe, material efficiency in North America and Asia, and increased productivity, net profit decreased because of non-recurring expenses associated with a penalty payment, increased taxes, and increased capital investments.

Contracts

-In 2015, the Company won several large orders, including the following:

• Carpet systems for a Germany premium automaker
• Textile underbody systems for the U.S. production plants of German and Japanese automakers
• Carpet systems, heatshields, and hoodliners for a Swedish OEM’s expansion program in China

Restructuring

-The Company relocated its plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil in order to modernize operations and improve productivity.

Awards

Outlook

-For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the Company expects to increase its net sales by 4% to 5% excluding foreign currency effects. The Company also expects to exceed its 2015 operating margin in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

-The Company is aiming to achieve sales of CHF 2,600 million by 2020. In addition, by 2020, the Company expects to have emerging markets comprise at least a 20% share of its net sales, and an EBITDA margin of 12%.

-In recent years, the Company’s investment in research and development primarily focused on developing new materials and products, as well as new production technologies. Specific areas of focus include lightweight and acoustically efficient carpets, interior insulation, underbody aerodynamic covers, heatshields, and powertrain encapsulation solutions.

R&D Facilities

Product Development

Engine covers made from fiber-foam material
-The Company has developed multifunctional engine covers made from the fiber-foam material called Theta-FiberCell. Engine covers made from the lightweight material are more than 50% lighter than conventional plastic covers, providing a weight reduction of up to one kilogram per vehicle. Theta-FiberCell can be used in temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius and is highly resistant to engine vibrations, thus providing integrated thermal insulation and improving acoustics within the vehicle. (From a press release on October 22, 2015)

Prime-Light material for inner dashes and floor insulators
-The Company has developed a new technology for inner dashes and floor insulators. Prime-Light is the latest advancement of the Company's Ultra-Light technology. Compared with previous versions of Ultra-Light, Prime-Light components can be pressed into a wide variety of different shapes and sizes. Thanks to a 30% weight reduction compared with previous models, Prime-Light-based inner dashes and floor insulators save more than 2 kilograms of weight on average while providing the same amount of acoustic protection. Prime-Light-based inner dashes and floor insulators consist of thermoplastic cotton felt compounds with a recycled material content of up to 50% depending on the application-specific composition. Prime-Light will be produced in series for models of U.S. OEMs in North America and China as of 2016. (From a press release on June 18, 2015)

Premium carpeting
-The Company is expanding its range of high-quality carpeting by offering premium carpet from luxury class models for compact and medium-class vehicles. The new Clean-Tuft technology provides considerable added value with improved cleanability and more robust durability compared to non-woven carpets usually found in those vehicle classes. (From a press release on January 12, 2015)

Investments Outside Switzerland

-The Company is expanding its local presence in Mexico with a third manufacturing location in the North American growth market. The new 19,000-square-meter plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico will produce carpet systems, inner dashes and floor insulators by the beginning of 2017. The plant will supply U.S. and German OEMs producing locally for the North American market. (From a press release on August 20, 2015)


-In 2015, the Company began production of carpet systems and underbody shields at plants in Jeffersonville, Indiana and Monroe, Ohio. Construction on both plants had completed in 2014.


-The Company completed expansions at its facilities in Taicang, Shengyang, and Guangzhou to increase production capacity. These facilities provide components for European, U.S., and Chinese customers.