The shareholders of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) granted full discharge to the Managing Board and Supervisory Board for the 2017 fiscal year with a clear majority of over 99% and over 95% at today’s Annual General Meeting in Kassel. The remaining items on the agenda were also passed with a large majority. More than 250 shareholders attended the 2018 Annual General Meeting of SMA Solar Technology AG, and 89% of those with voting rights were present. The Annual General Meeting followed the suggestion of the Managing Board and Supervisory Board and approved the dividend payout of €0.35 per qualifying bearer share for the 2017 fiscal year.
“SMA again demonstrated its high level of flexibility in the last fiscal year,” said SMA CEO Pierre-Pascal Urbon. “In 2017, despite the regional shift in demand, SMA was able to generate annual net income at the level of the previous year. For SMA’s future success, we will further strengthen our core business with PV inverters while ramping up our activities in the field of energy management. Our shareholders supported this strategy at today’s Annual General Meeting.” In the 2017 fiscal year, SMA generated sales of €891.0 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to €97.3 million. Net income amounted to €30.1 million. With a payout totaling €12.1 million, the payout ratio in relation to net income amounts to 40.2%. The depository banks will begin dividend payments on May 25, 2018.
In light of the development in the first quarter of 2018 and the continued high order backlog, the SMA Managing Board confirms its sales and earnings guidance for the 2018 fiscal year, which forecasts sales of between €900 million and €1,000 million and EBITDA of between €90 million and €110 million. For the first time, EBITDA includes expenses of more than €10 million for setting up the digital business. The Managing Board estimates that depreciation and amortization will amount to approximately €50 million. The future payout rate will be between 30% and 60%.
The presentation and the speech given by the Managing Board at the Annual General Meeting, along with further information, can be found on the internet at www.sma.de/en/investor-relations/annual–general-meeting.
A press picture can be downloaded here .
Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the “Company”) or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the “SMA Group”) nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.
“SMA again demonstrated its high level of flexibility in the last fiscal year,” said SMA CEO Pierre-Pascal Urbon. “In 2017, despite the regional shift in demand, SMA was able to generate annual net income at the level of the previous year. For SMA’s future success, we will further strengthen our core business with PV inverters while ramping up our activities in the field of energy management. Our shareholders supported this strategy at today’s Annual General Meeting.” In the 2017 fiscal year, SMA generated sales of €891.0 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to €97.3 million. Net income amounted to €30.1 million. With a payout totaling €12.1 million, the payout ratio in relation to net income amounts to 40.2%. The depository banks will begin dividend payments on May 25, 2018.
In light of the development in the first quarter of 2018 and the continued high order backlog, the SMA Managing Board confirms its sales and earnings guidance for the 2018 fiscal year, which forecasts sales of between €900 million and €1,000 million and EBITDA of between €90 million and €110 million. For the first time, EBITDA includes expenses of more than €10 million for setting up the digital business. The Managing Board estimates that depreciation and amortization will amount to approximately €50 million. The future payout rate will be between 30% and 60%.
The presentation and the speech given by the Managing Board at the Annual General Meeting, along with further information, can be found on the internet at www.sma.de/en/investor-relations/annual–general-meeting.
A press picture can be downloaded here .
Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the “Company”) or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the “SMA Group”) nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.
