DGAP-News: Exyte remains on strong growth path in Q1 2019

Exyte remains on strong growth path in Q1 2019

- YOY sales up again (+13% on Q1 2018)

- Increase of adjusted EBIT (+17% on Q1 2018)

- Advanced Technology Facilities (esp. semiconductors) remains the strongest business segment

- Significant growth in the Asia-Pacific and Europe regions

- Exyte confirms forecast for the current financial year

Stuttgart, May 22, 2019 - Exyte AG ("Exyte"), a global leader in the design, engineering and construction of high-tech facilities, plants and factories, achieved sales of EUR 852 million in the first three months of 2019. This corresponded to year-on-year growth of 13%. The company thus succeeded in outperforming what was already a strong first quarter in 2018.

At EUR 42 million, the adjusted EBIT figure for Q1/2019 rose at an even faster rate than sales, up 17% on the prior-year value. The EBIT margin increased to 4.9% (Q1/2018: 4.8%).

Following a 24% average increase per annum in the order intake since 2015, this figure declined as expected in the first three months of 2019 compared with the previous year (Q1/2019: EUR 1.2 billion), as a major project with an exceptionally big volume was booked in Q1/2018. Exyte's order books remain well-filled, however, with an order backlog of EUR 3.3 billion.

"We are very satisfied with business performance over the first three months of the current financial year," commented Exyte CEO Dr. Wolfgang Büchele. "This growth path underlines once again the huge potential of our company and confirms that our strategic business segment realignment to focus on Advanced Technology Facilities (ATF), Life Sciences & Chemicals (LSC) and Data Center (DTC), as well as the various strategic initiatives we have kicked off, are yielding the desired results."

ATF remains the strongest business segment

ATF, which serves Exyte's customers in the semiconductor industry, remains the company's strongest business segment with sales of EUR 722 million (+26% on Q1 2018). As in the LSC and DTC segments, Exyte continues to capitalize here on global megatrends like digitalization, Industry 4.0 and the ever-expanding global population. These trends will accelerate demand for Exyte's unique solutions.

Significant growth in the Asia-Pacific and Europe regions

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Europe (EMEA) regions in particular performed excellently in the first three months of the current financial year. In the APAC region, where Exyte spearheads the semiconductor market, sales increased by just under 10% (Q1/2019: EUR 499 million). Exceptional growth in EMEA meanwhile saw the sales figure increase by 77% (Q1/2019: EUR 262 million).

"Our impressive growth in both Asia-Pacific and Europe demonstrates yet again the strong global reach of our company," according to Exyte CFO Wolfgang Homey. "We will continue to drive our ambitious growth plans across our strategic core markets and strengthen our market positions further."

Forecast for the year confirmed

Exyte confirms its forecast for the current financial year and expects to generate more sales than the previous year (2018: EUR 3.5 billion), an order intake slightly below the record level of 2018 (2018: EUR 4.4 billion) and a moderate rise in adjusted EBIT (2018: EUR 170 million).

For more information, see www.ir.exyte.net.