Outlook, risk report and opportunity report

Outlook

Forward-looking statements

The forward-looking statements and information given below are based on the Company’s current expectations and assessments. Consequently, they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors, several of which are beyond the control of the KION Group, affect the Group’s business activities and profitability. Any unexpected developments in the global economy would result in the KION Group’s performance and profits differing significantly from those forecast below. The KION Group does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. Furthermore, the KION Group cannot guarantee that future performance and actual profits generated will be consistent with the stated assumptions and estimates and can accept no liability in this regard.

Actual business performance may deviate from the forecasts due, among other factors, to the opportunities and risks described in the 2014 group management report. Performance particularly depends on macroeconomic and industry-specific conditions and may be negatively affected by increasing uncertainty or a worsening of the economic and political situation.

Expected business performance

Given its positive performance in the first quarter of 2015, the KION Group is confirming its forecast for 2015 as a whole that was published in the 2014 group management report. By continuing with the implementation of its Strategy 2020, the Group intends to achieve even better results than the record figures reported for 2014.

Based on the forecasts for market conditions, the KION Group expects both order intake and consolidated revenue to be slightly higher than in 2014. The growth in consolidated revenue will continue to be underpinned by a strong contribution from the service business in western Europe and the emerging markets in 2015.

The KION Group also expects a slight year-on-year rise in adjusted EBIT for the current year. Costs resulting from implementation of the Strategy 2020 will have to be factored in, which should lead to a sustained improvement in the EBIT margin in subsequent years. For this reason, the Group expects the adjusted EBIT margin for 2015 to remain at the record level reached in 2014. The forecast is based on the assumption that material prices will remain stable.

The KION Group expects free cash flow to be slightly below the very high level achieved in 2014. This is due to increased capital expenditure on the one hand and to higher anticipated tax payments on the other.

In the current year, the KION Group plans to use free cash flow to lower its net debt still further.

Opportunity and risk report

The KION Group’s overall risk and opportunity situation has not changed significantly compared with the description in the 2014 group management report. As things stand at present, there are no indications of any risks that could jeopardise the Company’s continuation as a going concern.