Hexatronic Group Interim Report Q3 January – September 2018

Hexatronic Group AB (publ)

Interim Report July – September 2018

(Reporting period January – September 2018)

The quarter (July-September 2018)

• Net sales amounted to MSEK 403.8 (336.9), which represents 20% (30%) growth during the quarter.
• The operating result before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled MSEK 42.9 (42.9), which corresponds to an EBITDA margin of 10,6% (12.7%).
• The operating result amounted to MSEK 31.3 (35.7).
• Net earnings totalled MSEK 21.8 (26.8).
• Earnings per share after dilution totalled SEK 0.58 (0.71).
• Cash flow from operating activities during the quarter amounted to MSEK 10.1 (54.3)

The period (January-September 2018)

• Net sales amounted to MSEK 1,154.6 (974.4), which represents 18% (34%) growth during the period.
• The operating result before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled MSEK 107.2 (113.1), which corresponds to an EBITDA margin of 9.3% (11.6%). The EBITDA margin on a rolling 12-month basis was 9.8% (11.4%).
• The operating result amounted to MSEK 75.2 (91.9).
• Net earnings totalled MSEK 52.9 (66.7).
• Earnings per share after dilution totalled SEK 1.40 (1.76).
• Cash flow from operating activities during the period amounted to MSEK -36.0 (77.3)

Comments from the CEO

Continued strong international growth and strategic acquisition in Germany

Hexatronic Group’s growth during the quarter was 20%, 32% related to acquisitions and 12% to negative organic growth. The pattern of the previous quarter, with good growth outside of the Nordics and a weak Swedish market, persisted during the third quarter. Growth outside of the Nordics was 135% during the quarter, compared to a 28% decline in the Nordic region. We still believe that the Swedish market for 2018 will be around 20% lower than in 2017. The third quarter last year was very strong in Sweden, which partly explains the negative organic growth.

Outside of Sweden we are continuing to grow, both organically and through acquisitions. Development of our operations in New Zealand remains strong. In the USA our acquisition of Blue Diamond is developing very well, and market forecasts suggest a continued positive trend in the infrastructure market over the next five to six years. Sales of systems are continuing to increase, although from a low level. We still predict stronger system sales in the USA during 2019.

One very positive piece of news during the quarter was that we won a contract worth around MSEK 70 to deliver our FTTH system to a major British operator. This is the first large-scale deal for our FTTH system and a very pleasing development. Deliveries related to this contract increased during the quarter but were lower than planned as our customer started some projects later than estimated.   

We are seeing positive effects from British training company PQMS, a strategic acquisition that we made last quarter. This relates both to higher demand for training, as well as the effect on sales and marketing of our FTTH system, which includes training of operators and their installers. We see training of FTTH installers as a robust growth area, or even a must bearing in mind the investments planned in several major European countries. A lack of qualified installers currently presents a bottleneck in several countries.

With the acquisition of Opternus the Group is now establishing a firm foothold on the German FTTH market, which is growing strongly with far-reaching national investment programs. Opternus is a market leader in the sale of fiber optic fusion splicing and measuring instruments. This is a position that creates a good basis for cross-sales of Hexatronic’s broad offering, thanks to Opternus’ well-established relations with many German network owners and installers. We also believe that Opternus’ current business has excellent potential for growth in the years to come.

We enter the fourth quarter with an order book 24% lower than at the same point in 2017, and on a comparable basis. Last year we had an extensive stock of long-term orders from the Swedish market with good notice; with a weaker Swedish market this year, customers are not ordering anything like as far in advance. We expect to see continued strong development outside of the Nordics during the fourth quarter, and a Swedish market that remains weak compared to 2017.

We still have a highly positive view of the FTTH market, the opportunities 5G will bring in the shape of fiber expansion, and our potential for continued profitable growth moving forward.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Henrik Larsson Lyon

President and CEO of Hexatronic Group AB (publ)

Events during the quarter (July – September 2018))

• Hexatronic signed an agreement with a UK operator totalling 6 MGBP regarding delivery of fibre optic FTTH system. The agreement covers deliveries in 2018.
• Hexatronic received a notice of discontinuance from the High Court of New Zealand regarding an alleged infringement by Hexatronic New Zealand Limited and Hexatronic Cables & Interconnect Systems AB in New Zealand. The lawsuit, which was communicated July 8, 2016, was related to air-blown fiber.

Events since the end of the period                                                                  

• Hexatronic acquired 100% of the German fiber optic company Opternus GmbH. The company is included in the group consolidation from 1 November 2018.

For more information, please contact:

· Henrik Larsson Lyon, CEO Hexatronic Group, +46 706 50 34 00

This is information that Hexatronic Group AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08.00 CET on November 07 2018.

Hexatronic Group AB (publ) is a group that develops, markets and delivers products, components and system solutions with the main focus on the fiber optic market. Hexatronic offers a wide range of innovative system and product solutions mainly for passive fiber optic infrastructure with global trademarks like Ribbonet®, Micronet(TM), Drytech(TM), Lightmate®, FibreHub(TM), Matrix, Viper, Stringray and Wistom®. The Group has its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden and has sales offices and/or subsidiaries in Sweden, Norway, Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, China, New Zealand and the US. The Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker HTRO. For more information, visit .

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