MTU Aero Engines presents nine-month results and raises earnings forecast

• Operating profit expected to reach around €600 million, net income around €420 million
• Revenue forecast adjusted to around €5.1 billion in line with the U.S. dollar exchange rate

Munich, October 26, 2017 – In the first nine months of 2017, MTU Aero Engines AG saw its revenues increase by 10% to €3,745.4 million (1-9/2016: €3,401.3 million). The group’s operating profit increased by 14% from €393.8 million to €450.6 million, improving the EBIT margin from 11.6% to 12.0%. Earnings after tax rose by 17% to €320.4 million (1-9/2016: €273.4 million).

“Based on these results and the positive effects on earnings that we now expect to derive from our product mix, we are able to raise our earnings forecast for this year,” said Reiner Winkler, CEO of MTU Aero Engines AG. “By year-end, we now expect adjusted EBIT to grow to around €600 million and net income to reach around €420 million.” MTU’s original forecast was adjusted EBIT of around €560 million (2016: €503.0 million) and adjusted net income of around €390 million (2016: €345.4 million). MTU has aligned its revenue forecast to reflect exchange rate changes and now expects to generate revenues of around €5.1 billion instead of around €5.3 billion (2016: €4,732.7 million).

The strongest increase in MTU’s revenues in the period January to September 2017 was attributable to the commercial maintenance business, where revenues grew by 26% from €1,368.3 million to €1,727.5 million. The main source of these revenues was the V2500 engine for the A320 family and the CF34 corporate jet and regional aircraft engine. “Our engine leasing and asset management business also contributed significantly to these revenues—a clear indication that with these we have added the right services to our portfolio,” Chief Program Officer Michael Schreyögg added.

Revenues in the commercial engine business have increased by 5% from €1,738.3 million to €1,821.4 million. “For 2017 as a whole, we expect spare parts revenues to turn out stronger than projected and revenues from commercial engine production to grow slightly less strongly,” Winkler explained. “In the spare parts business, we are looking at a rise of around 10% in U.S. dollar terms, and in series production at an increase in the mid- to high-single-digit range.” MTU had previously forecast high single-digit growth in the spare parts as well as the series production business. The main sources of revenues in the commercial engine business were the V2500, the GEnx for the Boeing 787 and 747-8 and the PW1100G-JM engine for the A320neo.

Revenues in the military engine business decreased by 24%, from €356.8 million to €271.5 million. The EJ200 Eurofighter engine was the main source of these revenues.

At September 30, MTU had an order backlog of €12,129.0 million, compared with €14,172.2 million at December 31, 2016. The majority of these orders relate to the V2500 and the Geared Turbofan™ engines of the PW1000G family, in particular the PW1100G-JM for the A320neo.

Both of MTU’s operating segments reported higher earnings in the first nine months of 2017. In the OEM segment, operating profit climbed 15% to €303.3 million (1-9/2016: €264.5 million), while the EBIT margin gained 1.9 percentage points from 12.6% to 14.5%. “We expect a further increase in deliveries for the Geared Turbofan™ programs in Q4, with a corresponding impact on our margin for the full year,” Winkler added. Earnings in the commercial maintenance business grew by 14% to €146.8 million (1-9/2016: €129.0 million) with an EBIT margin of 8.5% (1-9/2016: 9.4%).

In the nine months to the end of September 2017, MTU spent €162.4 million on research and development (1-9/2016: €157.9 million). These R&D activities mainly focused on the Geared Turbofan™ programs and future enhancements, the GE9X engine for the Boeing 777X long-haul airliner, and various technology studies and R&D projects relating to next-generation engine design. “We have thus positioned MTU to ensure that we will continue to be a technology leader in the programs with the strongest growth,” said Chief Operating Officer Dr. Rainer Martens.

MTU’s free cash flow at the end of September 2017 amounted to €119.1 million (1-9/2016: €75.0 million), which is the level MTU had originally forecast for the full year. “On this basis, we expect a year-end free cash flow in the region of €140 million,” said Winkler.

Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment, at €91.5 million, was on the same level as in the corresponding period in 2016. This item mainly comprises expenditure relating to the ramp-up of the Geared Turbofan™ programs.

MTU had 8,697 employees on its payroll at September 30, 2017, an increase of 4% over the end of 2016 (December 31, 2016: 8,368 employees). Additional personnel were recruited above all at the maintenance sites in Hannover and Ludwigsfelde, and at MTU Aero Engines Polska.

MTU Aero Engines – Key financial data for January through September 2017
(Figures quoted in € million, calculated on a comparable basis. Statements prepared in accordance with IFRSs)