DGAP-News

Wacker Chemie AG: WACKER RAISES ITS SALES FORECAST AFTER GOOD FIRST QUARTER

DGAP-News: Wacker Chemie AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
Wacker Chemie AG: WACKER RAISES ITS SALES FORECAST AFTER GOOD FIRST
QUARTER

30.04.2015 / 07:14

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- GROUP SALES FOR Q1 2015 REACH EUR1.33 BILLION, UP 15 PERCENT YEAR ON
YEAR AND 12 PERCENT QUARTER ON QUARTER

- ALL DIVISIONS LIFT THEIR SALES THANKS TO ROBUST CUSTOMER DEMAND AND
POSITIVE EXCHANGE-RATE EFFECTS

- AT EUR267 MILLION, FIRST-QUARTER EBITDA DECLINES 6 PERCENT ON Q1 2014,
BUT RISES 53 PERCENT WHEN ADJUSTED FOR NON-RECURRING EFFECTS

- NET INCOME FOR Q1 2015 AMOUNTS TO EUR71 MILLION

- SALES FORECAST RAISED SLIGHTLY: GROUP SALES FOR FULL-YEAR 2015 ARE
EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 10 PERCENT, WITH EBITDA GROWING MODESTLY
WHEN ADJUSTED FOR SPECIAL INCOME

Munich, April 30, 2015 - Wacker Chemie AG has raised its sales forecast for
full-year 2015 following a good performance in the first quarter. The
company generated total sales of EUR1,334.9 million from January through
March 2015 (Q1 2014: EUR1,157.4 million), up by more than 15 percent year
on year and almost 12 percent quarter on quarter (Q4 2014: EUR1,194.5
million). The main reason for this growth was higher volumes than in the
previous year, especially for solar silicon and semiconductor wafers. The
positive effects of a weaker euro were another decisive factor in sales
growth.

WACKER's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) amounted to EUR267.1 million in Q1 2015 (Q1 2014: EUR285.2
million), down about 6 percent from a year ago. The main reason for the
decrease was a non-recurring effect. In Q1 2014, WACKER had restructured
its contractual relationships with a solar-industry customer, as a result
retaining advance payments and receiving damages. That resulted in special
income of EUR114.0 million. The comparable income for the reporting quarter
was EUR4.7 million. Adjusted for this special income, WACKER's EBITDA grew
by about 53 percent year on year. Relative to Q4 2014 (EUR180.1 million),
WACKER's EBITDA was some 48 percent higher. The EBITDA margin for Q1 2015
was 20.0 percent compared with 24.6 percent in the same quarter last year
and 15.1 percent in Q4 2014.

The Group's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) from January through
March 2015 totaled EUR126.3 million (Q1 2014: EUR133.8 million). This was