KWS Saat SE reaffirmed earnings guidance for the fiscal year 2018. As reported at the end of November, the company grew its net sales slightly year on year by 2.0% in the first quarter of 2017/2018. LBIT was EUR 38.8 million and is negative at this stage of the year due to seasonal reasons. The Executive Board still expects net sales to increase slightly and to post an EBIT margin of between 10% and the previous year's figure (12.2%) at the end of fiscal 2017/2018. Capital spending is expected to rise to more than EUR 100 million as a result of the company's continued growth trajectory and the related expansion of production plants and research and development capacities. Research and development expenditure will also be increased as planned to further enhance the company's innovative strength, resulting in an R&D intensity of above 17% as far as can be seen at present.