LEUVEN, Belgium — (BUSINESS WIRE) — May 4, 2018 — Materialise NV (NASDAQ: MTLS), a leading provider of additive manufacturing software and of sophisticated 3D printing services, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Highlights – First Quarter 2018

• Total revenue increased 37.5% from the first quarter of 2017 to 43,899 kEUR, driven by strong performances in our Materialise Medical segment and in our recently acquired ACTech business within our Materialise Manufacturing segment.
• Total deferred revenue from annual software sales and maintenance contracts increased by 2,116 kEUR to 20,839 kEUR from 18,723 kEUR at the end of 2017.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 85.7% from 2,813 kEUR for the first quarter of 2017 to 5,224 kEUR.
• Net result was (183) kEUR, or 0.00 EUR per diluted share, compared to (816) kEUR, or (0.02) EUR per diluted share, over the same period last year.

Executive Chairman Peter Leys commented, “In the year’s opening quarter, we focused as planned on advancing the many initiatives and collaborations we have implemented in recent years to position Materialise at the heart of the additive manufacturing ecosystem. Our efforts showed particular success in Materialise Medical, where we realized revenue growth of 20% and achieved a record EBITDA margin of 17%. Our recently acquired ACTech business also turned in an excellent performance and is strengthening our multi-faceted business model. We believe we are on track to meet our financial guidance for 2018.”

ACTech

On October 4, 2017, we acquired ACTech, a full-service manufacturer of complex metal parts. As described in more detail below, the acquired business has increased the scope of our Materialise Manufacturing segment's operations and had a significant impact on our results of operations for the first quarter of 2018, resulting in increases to our revenues, operating expenses and net result, among other items.

First Quarter 2018 Results

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2018 increased 37.5% (2.4% excluding ACTech) to 43,899 kEUR (32,702 kEUR excluding ACTech) compared to 31,921 kEUR for the first quarter of 2017. Total deferred revenue from annual software sales and maintenance contracts amounted to 20,839 kEUR at the end of the first quarter of 2018 compared to 18,723 kEUR at the end of 2017. Adjusted EBITDA increased to 5,224 kEUR from 2,813 kEUR primarily as a result of the contribution by ACTech. Excluding ACTech, Adjusted EBITDA decreased to 2,383 kEUR. The Adjusted EBITDA margin (Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenue) in the first quarter was 11.9% (7.3% excluding ACTech) compared to 8.8% in the first quarter of 2017.

Revenue from our Materialise Software segment decreased 2.9% to 8,326 kEUR for the first quarter of 2018 from 8,575 kEUR for the same quarter last year. Including deferred revenues from software sales and maintenance of 1,807 kEUR, the segment’s sales increased 7.5% compared to the prior-year period, reflecting a 26.4% increase of recurrent sales from annual and renewed licenses and maintenance fees. Segment EBITDA decreased to 2,324 kEUR from 2,993 kEUR while the segment EBITDA margin was 27.9% compared to 34.9% in the prior-year period.

Revenue from our Materialise Medical segment increased 20.3% to 11,946 kEUR for the first quarter of 2018 compared to 9,932 kEUR for the same period in 2017. Compared to the same quarter in 2017, revenue from our medical software grew 18.1%, and revenue from medical devices and services grew 21.5%. Segment EBITDA was 2,060 kEUR compared to 314 kEUR while the segment EBITDA margin increased to 17.2% from 3.2% in the first quarter of 2017.

Revenue from our Materialise Manufacturing segment increased 76.3% to 23,632 kEUR for the first quarter of 2018 from 13,407 kEUR for the first quarter of 2017. Segment EBITDA increased to 3,133 kEUR from 1,322 kEUR while the segment EBITDA margin increased to 13.3% from 9.9% for the same quarter in 2017. ACTech contributed revenue of 11,202 kEUR and segment EBITDA of 2,841 kEUR, with a segment EBITDA margin of 25.4%. Excluding ACTech, revenue decreased 7.3% to 12,430 kEUR and segment EBITDA decreased to 292 kEUR.

Gross profit was 23,955 kEUR, or 54.6% of total revenue, for the first quarter of 2018. Excluding ACTech, gross profit was 19,938 kEUR, or 61.0% of total revenue, compared to 18,477 kEUR, or 57.9% of total revenue, for the first quarter of 2017.

Research and development (“R&D”), sales and marketing (“S&M”) and general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses increased, in the aggregate, 19.4% to 23,374 kEUR for the first quarter of 2018 from 19,579 kEUR for the first quarter of 2017. Excluding ACTech, operating expenses increased, in the aggregate, 9.6% to 21,456 kEUR. Excluding ACTech, R&D expenses increased from 4,592 kEUR to 5,610 kEUR while S&M expenses increased from 9,608 kEUR to 9,844 kEUR and G&A expenses increased from 5,379 kEUR to 6,002 kEUR.