Royal DSM : DSM reports Q1 2018 results

Highlights

• Continued strong organic sales growth in underlying business estimated at 11%
• Adjusted EBITDA growth of underlying business estimated at 8%, despite significant FX headwind
• ROCE of underlying business estimated at 13.3%, up 200 bps
• Additional temporary vitamin price benefit estimated at €165m on Adjusted EBITDA
• Total Adjusted EBITDA up 56% and Net profit up 122% to €331m
• Cash from operating activities up 58%, amounting to €310m
• Increased full year outlook confirmed

Key figures and indicators¹

^{1 Adjusted EBITDA is an Alternative Performance Measure (APM) that reflects continuing operations.
2) Underlying business is defined in this press release as the performance measures sales and adjusted EBITDA, corrected for DSM's best estimate of the vitamin effect, which is expected to be temporary.}

CEO statement

Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman DSM Managing Board, commented: 'We are very pleased that the strong underlying performance of our business continues, with growth well above market. In addition, we are currently benefitting from substantially higher prices in some vitamins due to exceptional supply disruptions in the industry, which are expected to be temporary and heavily weighted towards the first half of the year. These two combined resulted in a significantly higher outlook for the full year 2018, which we announced with our preliminary Q1 2018 results on 12 April 2018.'

Outlook 2018

DSM confirms its increased full year outlook 2018, as announced on 12 April 2018, and expects an Adjusted EBITDA growth towards 25% and a related higher ROCE growth. This is based on:

• a low double-digit Adjusted EBITDA growth in the underlying business at constant currencies,
• a negative foreign exchange effect on Adjusted EBITDA of about €80 million, and
• an additional Adjusted EBITDA benefit estimated at €250 - 300 million from an exceptional vitamin pricing environment, that is expected to be temporary and heavily weighted towards the first half of the year

Key figures and indicators¹

^{1) Including temporary vitamin effect
2) ROCE from underlying business Q1 2018 is estimated at 13.3%
3) Over Adjusted net taxable result
4) Including result attributed to non-controlling interest
5) Cash, net of customer funding
6) Year-end 2017}

^{In this report:
'Organic sales growth' is the total impact of volume and price/mix;
'Total Working Capital' refers to the total of 'Operating Working Capital' and 'non-Operating Working Capital'}

Review by Cluster

Nutrition

Underlying business

Sales development (underlying business)

Nutrition continues to outperform its Strategy 2018 aspirations with ongoing strong momentum in its underlying business, delivering clearly above-market growth with an increasingly higher-value portfolio of feed and food solutions.

Q1 2018 organic sales growth in the underlying Nutrition business was an estimated 12%, driven by continued strong volume growth of 8%, well above market. Higher prices in the quarter of 4% partly off-set the 11% negative foreign currency effects and higher input costs.

In Q1 2018 DSM deconsolidated the Yantai Andre Pectin business, per 1 January, following developments early January after the refusal of the other shareholders to transfer their shares to DSM despite an earlier agreement. The effect of this deconsolidation on the sales of Nutrition was more than compensated by sales from businesses acquired in 2017.

Q1 2018 Adjusted EBITDA growth in the underlying business was estimated at 8% compared to Q1 2017, despite significant negative foreign exchange effects. The estimated Adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.4%, a further step-up versus 18.4% in Q1 2017.

Temporary vitamin effect

In addition, due to the exceptional supply disruptions in the industry, the first quarter also benefited from an estimated €220 million additional sales effect and an estimated €165 million additional Adjusted EBITDA contribution from an exceptional vitamin price environment, which is expected to be temporary and heavily weighted towards the first half of the year. This temporary vitamin price effect is mainly related to animal nutrition.

Animal Nutrition & Health (underlying business)

Sales development

Q1 2018 organic sales growth in the underlying business was an estimated 18%. Volumes were up 13% mainly due to very strong premix sales. All regions delivered strong underlying volume growth, particularly North America and Asia Pacific. Furthermore, increased focus from customers on security of supply was noticed, amongst others driven by the 'Blue Skies policies' in China (relating to the significantly stricter enforcement of environmental regulations). Finally, in the quarter the volume growth benefitted from the introduction of reformulated forms due to new European regulations, with sales in the order of €15-20 million.

The 5% higher prices in the quarter were driven by price initiatives to mitigate higher input costs and the impact of negative exchange rate developments, led by the weaker US dollar and the Brazilian real. Furthermore, prices were supported by the effects of 'Blue Skies policies'.

Human Nutrition & Health (underlying business)

Sales development

Q1 2018 organic sales growth in the underlying business was an estimated 8%. Volumes were up 5%, with good growth across all regions and market segments, well above the market. Volume growth was specifically strong in premix sales as well as in the i-Health business.

Prices were up 3% resulting from a combination of a favorable mix due to strong growth in premix and i-Health, as well as benefits from higher prices for premix and advanced formulations, supported by the effects of the 'Blue Skies policies' in China. Exchange rates had a 11% negative impact in Q1 2018, led by the weaker US dollar.

Food Specialties

Q1 2018 sales volumes were stable as growth in especially enzymes was off-set by lower volumes in savory due to production interruptions.

Materials

Sales development

Materials delivered another very strong quarter, continuing its excellent progress since the start of Strategy 2018. DSM's materials portfolio maintained its momentum driven by strong demand for more sustainable, innovative lightweight, environmentally friendlier, safer, and high-performing solutions.

Q1 2018 organic sales growth was 11% resulting from 7% higher volumes and 4% higher prices, driven by the implementation of price increases to off-set higher input costs.

All businesses delivered strong above-market volume growth in Q1 2018.

• DSM Engineering Plastics continued to successfully shift its portfolio toward higher-value, sustainable, specialty materials for the electrics & electronics and automotive industries. Strong growth was supported by the launch of new applications, as well as clean energy initiatives.
• DSM Resins & Functional Materials showed strong growth in specialty resins and functional materials. Growth was supported by continued healthy demand from global building & construction markets as well as strong demand in China for environmentally-friendly specialty resins solutions.
• DSM Dyneema delivered good growth in personal protection, commercial marine as well as high-performance textiles.

Q1 2018 Adjusted EBITDA was up 12% compared to Q1 2017, driven by good volume growth and price increases despite weaker currencies and higher input costs. The Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.1%, versus 16.1% in Q1 2017, positively influenced by strong growth in specialties.

Innovation Center

Q1 2018 sales were impacted by significant negative foreign currency effects as several businesses are predominantly in US dollars. Volumes were up, but prices were overall down largely due to sales mix effects in Biomedical. Q1 Adjusted EBITDA was impacted by the negative currency effects and higher costs due to the timing of R&D activities.

Corporate Activities

Q1 2018 Adjusted EBITDA was slightly below Q1 2017, mainly due to higher insurance claims at DSM's captive insurance company.

Joint Ventures and Associates

Financial overview of DSM's key joint ventures and associates

• DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals (50% DSM) showed improved results compared to Q1 2017 despite significantly weaker currencies, driven by increased recognition of its best in class manufacturing activities.
• ChemicaInvest (35% DSM) reported improved results compared to Q1 2017 driven by higher caprolactam prices, despite weaker currencies.

Net result contribution of joint ventures / associates

^{1) DSM completed the divestment of its share in Patheon on 29 August 2017.
2) DSM does not recognize losses below zero equity value as DSM has no obligation to fund beyond its net interest.}

Condensed Cash Flow Statement and (Operating) Working Capital

Cash flow from operating activities amounted to €310 million in Q1 2018 showing an improvement of €114 million (+58%) compared to Q1 2017. Included in this figure is a cash outflow from changes in working capital of €233 million (Q1 2017 €109 million) related to higher sales.

Total Working Capital amounted to €1,616 million at the end of Q1 2018 compared to €1,574 million at the end of Q1 2017. Working capital as a percentage of sales amounted to 16.6%, being an improvement of 1.6% compared to Q1 2017 and well ahead of our aspiration of lower than 20%. Working capital at year-end 2017 amounted to €1,499 million, being 17.2% as a percentage of sales.