Operating profit increased to 1,915 kEUR from 932 kEUR for the prior-year period. This improvement is the result of a combination of a 12.3% revenue increase and an increase of only 3.6% in operational expenses of R&D, S&M and G&A, partly offset by a 426 kEUR decrease of net other operating income compared to the same quarter last year.

Net financial result was 253 kEUR compared to 356 kEUR for the prior-year period, reflecting smaller variances in the currency exchange rates, primarily on the portion of the company’s IPO proceeds held in U.S. dollars versus the euro.

Net profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 620 kEUR compared to net profit of 2,145 kEUR for the same period in the prior year. The prior-year period contained income tax income of 1,010 kEUR primarily from deferred taxes compared to an expense of 898 kEUR this quarter. The variance of 1,908 kEUR in income tax and a 497 kEUR increase in the share in the loss of a joint venture offset the increase of 983 kEUR in operating profit. Total comprehensive income for the fourth quarter of 2016, which includes exchange differences on translation of foreign operations, was 685 kEUR compared to 2,010 kEUR for the same period in the prior year.

At December 31, 2016, we had cash and equivalents of 55,912 kEUR compared to 50,726 kEUR at December 31, 2015. Cash flow from operating activities in the fourth quarter of 2016 was 4,180kEUR compared to 724 kEUR in the same period last year.

Net shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2016 was 79,033 kEUR compared to 82,955 kEUR at December 31, 2015.

Full Year 2016 Results

Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased 12.2% to 114,477 kEUR compared to 102,035 kEUR for the year ended December 31, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 9,458 kEUR, an increase of 156.5% compared to 3,687 kEUR for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 8.3% for the year ended December 31, 2016 from 3.6% for the year ended December 31, 2015. This increase was primarily the result of the combination of a 12.2% revenue growth, a 14.7% improvement in gross profit and an increase of only 5.4% in operational costs in R&D, S&M and G&A, which was offset in part by a decrease in net other operating income of 890 kEUR.

Revenues from our Materialise Software segment increased 16.8% to 30,122 kEUR for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 25,798 kEUR for the year ended December 31, 2015. This growth was driven by a 24.6% increase in recurrent sales from annual and renewed licenses and maintenance fees. The segment EBITDA margin was 33.6% in 2016, compared to 35.2% in 2015.

Revenues from our Materialise Medical segment grew by 8.8% for the year ended December 31, 2016 to 37,910 kEUR from 34,856 kEUR for the year ended December 31, 2015. Medical software growth was 7.4%, partner sales growth 4.2%, and direct sales growth 45.2%. The segment EBITDA margin increased to 2.4% from 1.2% primarily as a result of the combination of revenue growth of 8.8% and limited increases in operating expenses, partly offset by lower net other operating income, primarily due to lower income from project grants.

Revenues from our Materialise Manufacturing segment increased 12.1% to 46,406 kEUR for the year ended December 31, 2016 from 41,381 kEUR for the year ended December 31, 2015. Revenue from end parts increased by 27.7%. The segment EBITDA margin increased from 4.0% in 2015 to 8.3% in 2016, primarily as a result of steady production efficiency improvements.

Net loss increased from (2,860) kEUR for 2015 to a net loss of (3,019) kEUR for 2016.

2017 Guidance

Mr. Leys concluded, “The additive manufacturing market continues to evolve, particularly in the direction of end part production, and we intend to continue positioning Materialise to benefit from this promising growth market in the coming years. Our strategic priorities for 2017 are to sustain our leadership position in software through continued innovation and strategic partnerships; to drive the next stage of growth in our medical division through our focus on the hospital market; to continue increasing our manufacturing of end parts; and to enable the development of additive manufacturing in specific vertical markets. We anticipate delivering sales and Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion in 2017 while reinvesting efficiency gains in selected business development initiatives.

“For fiscal 2017, we expect to report consolidated revenue between 128,000 - 134,000 kEUR and Adjusted EBITDA between 10,500 - 13,500 kEUR. As the seasonality of our Materialise Manufacturing segment and our software businesses are expected to combine with the effects of the ramp up of the partnerships we entered into in the past months, we expect our financial results to be particularly strong in the third quarter and even stronger in the fourth quarter. We expect the amount of deferred revenue that Materialise generates from annual licenses and maintenance in 2017 to increase by an amount between 4,000 - 5,000 kEUR.”

Non-IFRS Measures

Materialise uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental financial measures of its financial performance. EBITDA is calculated as net profit plus income taxes, financial expenses (less financial income), shares of loss in a joint venture and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is determined by adding non-cash stock-based compensation expenses to EBITDA. Management believes these non-IFRS measures to be important measures as they exclude the effects of items which primarily reflect the impact of long-term investment and financing decisions, rather than the performance of the company's day-to-day operations. As compared to net profit, these measures are limited in that they do not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in the company's business, or the charges associated with impairments. Management evaluates such items through other financial measures such as capital expenditures and cash flow provided by operating activities. The company believes that these measurements are useful to measure a company's ability to grow or as a valuation measurement. The company's calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to net profit or any other performance measure derived in accordance with IFRS. The company's presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed to imply that its future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.