Wacker Chemie AG: WACKER ends 2017 with substantial sales and earnings growth

As stipulated by IFRS 5 (Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations), WACKER is retrospectively reporting the net income of Siltronic AG and its subsidiaries for 2016 as "Income from discontinued operations." Since March 15, 2017, WACKER's stake in Siltronic has been accounted for using the equity method. Where applicable, the figures for Q4 2016 and full-year 2016 given in this press release have been adjusted accordingly and are therefore comparable with the latest figures.
 

- FULL-YEAR 2017 GROUP SALES CLIMB 6 PERCENT TO EUR4.92 BILLION

- EBITDA OF EUR1.015 BILLION COMES IN 6 PERCENT HIGHER YEAR OVER YEAR (NOT INCLUDING PAYMENTS FROM INSURERS FOR THE INCIDENT AT THE TENNESSEE SITE)

- SALES FOR Q4 2017 GROW TO EUR1.18 BILLION, 3 PERCENT MORE VERSUS A YEAR EARLIER

- FINAL-QUARTER EBITDA CLIMBS 6 PERCENT TO EUR235 MILLION

- EBIT INCREASES 24 PERCENT TO EUR420 MILLION IN 2017

- INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS CLIMBS 40 PERCENT TO EUR250 MILLION, WITH NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR TOTALING EUR885 MILLION

- NET CASH FLOW REACHES ABOUT EUR360 MILLION IN 2017

Munich, February 8, 2018 - Following a good fourth quarter, Wacker Chemie AG achieved its sales and earnings targets for full-year 2017. According to preliminary figures, the Munich-based chemical group's reporting-year sales came in at EUR4.92 billion (2016: EUR4.63 billion), up some 6 percent versus 2016. The increase was primarily due to higher volumes. Sales grew at both chemicals and polysilicon businesses compared to the previous year. The rise was particularly strong for silicones.

The Group's preliminary EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) reached EUR1.015 billion in 2017 (2016: EUR956 million), 6 percent more than the year before. In addition to the strong business trend, the increase was supported by WACKER's equity-accounted investment in Siltronic AG. In the past fiscal year, WACKER did not yet receive any significant payments from insurers for the incident at the Charleston site. EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) came in at EUR420 million (2016: EUR338 million), a year-over-year rise of 24 percent. A further positive effect here was the continued decline of depreciation, to about EUR590 million in 2017 (2016: EUR618 million).

Income from continuing operations climbed 40 percent to about EUR250 million in 2017 (2016: EUR178 million). WACKER posted preliminary net income for the year of EUR885 million (2016: EUR189 million). It included income of EUR635 million from discontinued operations from Q1 2017. This amount comprises the gain from deconsolidation of Siltronic as a WACKER Group segment and Siltronic AG's net income in the first quarter of 2017.

"Thanks to very robust customer demand at both our chemical and polysilicon businesses, we continued to expand sales and earnings in 2017," said Group CEO Rudolf Staudigl in Munich on Thursday. "We more than compensated for the marked headwinds caused by higher raw-material prices and by the euro's strength in the second half-year. Looking back at the full year, we met or surpassed our projections for every performance indicator."

Investments, Net Cash Flow and Net Financial Debt

WACKER's capital expenditures amounted to EUR325 million in 2017 (2016: EUR338 million) according to preliminary figures, a decline of 4 percent. Investment projects included new facilities for downstream silicone products in South Korea and Brazil, the expansion of silicon-metal production at the Holla plant in Norway, construction of a new pyrogenic silica plant at the Charleston site in the USA, and production-capacity expansion for dispersions and dispersible polymer powders at the Burghausen and Nanjing sites.

Net cash flow from continuing operations totaled around EUR360 million in 2017 (2016: EUR361 million), thus matching last year's level. Net financial debt dropped substantially as expected. It amounted to EUR455 million as of December 31, 2017 (Dec. 31, 2016: EUR993 million).

Business Performance in Q4 2017

WACKER closed the fourth quarter of 2017 with gains in sales and EBITDA. Group sales from October through December 2017 totaled around EUR1.18 billion (Q4 2016: EUR1.15 billion). That was 3 percent higher, despite the euro being clearly stronger toward year-end. EBITDA reached EUR235 million in Q4 2017 (Q4 2016: EUR221 million), a rise of 6 percent.

WACKER's business in the final quarter was mainly spurred by robust customer demand for silicones and polymer products. WACKER SILICONES grew its Q4 2017 sales to EUR535 million (Q4 2016: EUR492 million), surpassing the prior-year figure by 9 percent. WACKER POLYMERS posted sales of EUR285 million (Q4 2016: EUR275 million). That was an increase of 4 percent. At WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS, Q4 2017 sales of EUR50 million matched the prior-year level (Q4 2016: EUR50 million).

On balance, EBITDA at the chemical divisions also grew in Q4 2017. It was positively influenced by higher volumes, by better prices for silicone products and by ongoing efficiency programs. WACKER SILICONES posted EBITDA of EUR100 million in the final quarter of 2017 (Q4 2016: EUR79 million). That was a gain of 27 percent. EBITDA at WACKER POLYMERS was EUR35 million (Q4 2016: EUR45 million). The main factor behind the 22 percent decline was a significant year-over-year rise in prices for the raw materials vinyl acetate monomer and ethylene. WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS reported EBITDA of EUR8 million in Q4 2017 (Q4 2016: EUR7 million).

From October through December 2017, WACKER POLYSILICON generated sales of EUR270 million (Q4 2016: EUR297 million). The prime cause of this 9-percent drop was lower volumes. The division had less polysilicon available for sale in Q4 2017 than a year earlier due to the production shutdown at Charleston in the USA.

WACKER POLYSILICON's year-over-year EBITDA decreased 25 percent to EUR65 million (Q4 2016: EUR87 million). In Q4 2016, EBITDA included special income of EUR13 million from advance payments retained and damages received from solar-sector customers. No such special income occurred in the final quarter of 2017. The division's fourth-quarter EBITDA did not yet include any significant payments from insurers for the incident at the Charleston site.

WACKER's Preliminary Key Figures

¹ EBITDA is EBIT before depreciation and amortization.

² Margins are calculated based on sales.

³ EBIT is the result from continuing operations for the period before interest and other financial results, and income taxes.

⁴ Sum of cash flow from operating activities (excluding changes in advance payments) and cash flow from long-term investing activities (before securities), including changes arising from finance leases.

⁵ Adjusted in accordance with IFRS 5 (Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations).

The Q4 2017 and fiscal 2017 figures and business trends in this press release are preliminary. Wacker Chemie AG will publish its Q4 Report and Annual Report 2017 on March 13, 2018.

For further information, please contact:
Wacker Chemie AG
Media Relations & Information
Christof Bachmair
Tel. +49 89 6279-1830
christof.bachmair@wacker.com