Exel Composites Plc’s January-March Business Review 2018: “Continued growth in revenue and adjusted operating profit in the first quarter of the year”

EXEL COMPOSITES PLC            STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE            9 MAY 2018 at 09:00 EET

Q1 2018 in brief

•  Order intake decreased by 2.3% to EUR 22.0 million (Q1 2017: 22.5).
•  Revenue increased by 6.0% to EUR 21.5 million (20.3).
•  Adjusted operating profit amounted to EUR 1.8 million (1.7), which is 8.3% of revenue (8.2%).
•  Net cash flow from operating activities was EUR -0.2 million (-0.8).
•  Earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.08 (0.09).

Outlook for full year 2018

Exel Composites reiterates its outlook for 2018 published on 23 April 2018 and expects revenue to increase significantly and adjusted operating profit to increase in 2018 compared to 2017.

President and CEO, Riku Kytömäki

Following a very good year 2017, growth continued in revenue and adjusted operating profit in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the corresponding period last year.

In Europe, a stable demand for our solutions together with favorable market fundamentals led to continued revenue growth in the first quarter of 2018. In the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the Nanjing Jianhui business unit contributed to the region’s revenue. The business unit was purchased in April 2017 and therefore was not included in the first quarter 2017 financial figures. The main contributor to revenue growth in the first quarter of 2018 was the Construction & Infrastructure customer segment. In the previous year’s reference period (first quarter of 2017), large individual mid-segment orders in the APAC region and in the Industrial Applications customer segment impacted revenue.

Adjusted operating profit increased in the first quarter of 2018 and the operating margin remained stable, supported by stable profits in Europe and a good contribution from Nanjing Jianhui in the Group. As a result of the closing of production in Australia, we have ramped up the production in China to cater for our Australian customers, and this, together with some other growth related resourcing, impaired profitability in the quarter. It goes without saying that operational efficiency and maintaining a cost structure in line with business volumes and growth remains an important core focus area.

On 23 April 2018 Exel Composites announced the acquisition of Diversified Structural Composites, Inc. (“DSC”) in North America. In connection to the announcement, Exel also revised its outlook for the full year 2018. The acquisition is a significant element in the implementation of our growth strategy, with the ambition to create a truly global footprint. We believe that this bolt on acquisition makes a strong strategic fit to our existing business. DSC has the same focus as Exel by addressing high growth segments such as wind energy and transportation, and it has a high level of complementary, advanced technological expertise for example in aviation applications. We expect the combination to improve our competitiveness through synergies and a broadened and attractive offering to our existing and new customers. The transaction was successfully closed at the end of April and the unit is consolidated into Group accounts as of 1 May 2018. Overall, the acquisition makes Exel Composites the only pultrusion company with significant presence on all three major continents. Going forward, we expect this acquisition to significantly improve our global supply position.

Consolidated key figures

¹ As per the end of the period.
² Revenue by customer segment in Q1 2018 (Q1 2017): Industrial Applications EUR 11.3 million (11.9), Construction & infrastructure EUR 5.6 million (4.1), Other applications EUR 4.7 million (4.4).
³ Excluding material items affecting comparability, such as restructuring costs, impairment losses and reversals, and costs related to planned or realized business acquisitions or disposals. For more information, please refer to the paragraph “Change in Exel Composites’ financial reporting terminology” of the Half-year Financial Report published on 21 July 2016.

Financial results briefing

Exel Composites will hold a financial results briefing regarding the Business Review for investors, analysts and media on Wednesday 9 May 2018 at 12:30 at Scandic Hotel Simonkenttä’s Roba meeting room (address Simonkatu 9, Helsinki, Finland). The related presentation material will be available after the meeting at the company’s website www.exelcomposites.com under Investors > Publications.

Vantaa, 9 May 2018 

Exel Composites Plc

Riku Kytömäki
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Riku Kytömäki, President and CEO
tel. +358 50 511 8288
riku.kytomaki@exelcomposites.com

Mikko Kettunen, CFO
tel. +358 50 347 7462
mikko.kettunen@exelcomposites.com

Distribution

Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Main news media
www.exelcomposites.com

Exel Composites in brief

Exel Composites (www.exelcomposites.com) is a leading composite technology company that designs, manufactures and markets composite products and solutions for demanding applications. Exel Composites provides superior customer experience through continuous innovation, world-class operations and long-term partnerships.

The core of the operations is based on own, internally developed composite technology, product range based on it and strong market position in selected segments with a strong quality and brand image. Profitable growth is pursued by a relentless search for new applications and development in co-operation with customers. The employees' expertise and high level of technology play a major role in Exel Composites’ operations. Exel Composites Plc share is listed in Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.