MELEXIS N.V. Intermediate declaration by the Board of Directors
Ieper, Belgium - February 7th, 2018, 07.00 hrs CET
For the full year 2017, sales were 511.7 million EUR, an increase of 12% compared to the previous year.
The EUR/USD exchange rate evolution had no impact compared to 2016.
Gross margin was 235.4 million EUR, an increase of 13% compared to 2016.
R&D expenses were 13.6% of sales, G&A was at 4.7% of sales and Selling was at 2.3% of sales. The operating result was 132.6 million EUR, an increase of 16% compared to last year.
Net income was 111.0 million EUR, 2.75 EUR per share, an increase of 15% compared to 96.3 million EUR or 2.38 EUR per share in 2016.
Sales for the fourth quarter of 2017 were 132.7 million EUR, an increase of 11% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and an increase of 4% compared to the previous quarter.
The EUR/USD exchange rate evolution had a negative impact of 4% compared to the same quarter of last year and a negative impact of 1% compared to the previous quarter.
Gross margin was 61.1 million EUR, an increase of 11% compared to the same quarter of last year and an increase of 5% compared to the previous quarter.
R&D expenses were 13.5% of sales, G&A was at 4.8% of sales and Selling was at 2.4% of sales.
The operating result was 36.0 million EUR, an increase of 22% compared to the same quarter of last year and an increase of 12% compared to the previous quarter.
Net income was 26.6 million EUR or 0.66 EUR per share, an increase of 6% compared to 25.1 million EUR or 0.62 EUR per share in the fourth quarter of 2016 and a decrease of 5% compared to the previous quarter.
Dividend
The Board of Directors approved on February 2nd, 2018 to propose to the Annual Shareholder meeting to pay out over the result of 2017 a total dividend of 2.10 EUR gross per share. This amount contains an interim dividend of 1.30 EUR per share which was paid in October 2017 and a final dividend of 0.80 EUR per share which will be payable after approval of the Annual Shareholders meeting.
The Melexis shares will start trading ex coupon on April 24, 2018 (opening of the market). The record date is April 25, 2018 (closing of the market) and the dividend will be payable as from April 26, 2018.
Outlook
Melexis expects sales in the first quarter of 2018 to be around the level of 140 million EUR.
For the full year 2018, Melexis expects sales growth to be between 12% and 15%, a gross profit margin around 45% and an operating margin around 25%, all taking into account a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.23.
Business comment - Françoise Chombar, CEO:
"Melexis is pleased to announce a great set of 2017 results, in line with our earlier guidance and despite more than anticipated currency headwinds at the end of the year. According to the latest market data(1), Melexis 2017 sales growth, like in 2016, doubles market growth. The steady and strong growth of Melexis is also reflected in another milestone: we are very proud to announce that every new car in the world now carries on average 10 chips of Melexis.
Our 2017 growth is broadly based: the vast majority of Melexis product lines contributed with double digit sales growth numbers.
Melexis' expertise in developing feature-rich automotive sensors and drivers with high integration, high robustness and high accuracy matches the increased customer requirements as a consequence of the trends towards more electrification, assisted drive and interior differentiation. Our magnetic sensor product lines and motor drivers continue to benefit. The aforementioned trends equally bring forward new applications and new features, such as for thermal management in hybrid and electric vehicles. Also our current and pressure sensor product lines performed above average. More attention to enhancing the user experience in cars is addressed by our ambient light product portfolio and our 3D time-of-flight sensors.
In adjacent markets, we highlight a solid performance in 2017 of our FIR array (Far Infrared) products, addressing applications in smart appliances and smart HVACs.
It is with confidence that we announce our 2018 guidance. Growth drivers for our products further solidify, customer sentiment and order behavior remain strong.
Melexis continues to invest in people, infrastructure and innovation. Today(2), we announced an investment plan to expand our facilities in Sofia, Bulgaria and to setup a probing facility in Corbeil-Essonnes, France. These investments enable us to support continued growth.
Sales to automotive customers represented 89% of total sales, both in the fourth quarter and full year 2017. The portion of standard product (ASSPs) sales represented 63% of total sales in the last quarter of 2017 and 62% of total sales for the full year 2017."
Financial comment - Karen Van Griensven, CFO:
Despite currency headwinds in 2018, we expect sales growth to be between 12% and 15%, while profit margin guidance remains in line with previous year. At constant currency rates versus 2017, sales growth guidance would have been between 16% and 19%.
(1) Source: Strategy Analytics, Jan 2018
(2) Melexis expands European facilities to support and accelerate global growth
The statutory auditors PwC Bedrijfsrevisoren bcvba have confirmed that their audit procedures, which have been substantially completed, have not revealed material adjustments which would have to be made to the accounting information included in this press release.
Financial Calendar
- Annual Shareholders Meeting: April 20, 2018
- Publication Q1 2018 Results: April 20, 2018
- Dividend pay date: April 26th, 2018 (ex coupon on April 24th, 2018)
- Publication Q2/HY1 2018 Results: August 1, 2018
- Publication Q3 2018 Results: October 24, 2018
- Publication FY 2018 Results: February 6, 2019
The company's results will be discussed in a conference call on Wednesday, February 7th, 2018 at 17 hrs CET. The conference call will be in English. You have to register for this conference call in advance. You can register by clicking on the following link and filling out the requested information:
http://emea.directeventreg.com/registration/2864088
Conference ID: 2864088.
After registration, you will receive the conference call number, a participant user pin, conference pin and instructions on how to join the conference call. For security purposes all participants must register individually if they wish to join the call. A replay number for this call is available for 7 days after the end of the conference call. The replay number for this call is +44 14 52 55 00 00, access code: 2864088.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Melexis N.V. via Globenewswire
