Based on preliminary and unaudited figures, VAT’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results will be substantially above the previous year’s periods, confirming the positive outlook given last year. The results include a change in accounting policy driven by a decision of the IFRS interpretations committee. Such change is applied retrospectively and consequently, prior period financial statements will be restated (further information on page 2).

In the Valves segment, the business unit Semiconductor reported record results in 2021, as high capital investment in the semiconductor industry continued. Strong order momentum in the Display & Solar business unit confirms that the bottom of the cycle has been reached in this market, while the Advanced Industrials business unit benefited from recovering industrial markets, supported by targeted growth initatives. The Global Service segment also achieved record results driven by its increasing installed base, coupled with the high utilization levels in the semiconductor fabs that drove increased demand for spares and repairs as well as consumables.

Q4 2021 results

VAT recorded preliminary Q4 orders of around CHF 434 million, up 107% compared with the same period a year earlier and 45% higher than the third quarter of 2021. The order pattern seen in the fourth quarter confirms the significant capital investment programs that end customers, especially in the semiconductor industry, plan for 2022. VAT estimates that at least 20% of Q4 orders reflect generally extended lead times, as well as year-end concentration of order activity driven by price increases, last-buy announcements and a high level of advance orders from smaller OEM customers. Preliminary net sales came in slightly above the guidance of CHF 240 to 250 million provided in October 2021, and amounted to approximately CHF 255 million, an increase of 36 % compared with the same quarter a year earlier, and up 11% compared with the third quarter of 2021. This translates to a Q4 book-to-bill ratio of 1.7. At the end of December, the order book amounted to approximately CHF 461 million, 62% higher than at the end of the third quarter of 2021.

Full-year 2021 results

For the full-year 2021, preliminary orders amounted to approximately CHF 1’227 million, up 69% compared to a year earlier while net sales increased by 30% to approximately CHF 901 million. Preliminary figures indicate that VAT achieved a full-year EBITDA margin above 34% (including the impact of changes to IFRS accounting rules, see next page), a strong increase compared to prior year period. This strong performance reflects higher sales volume and operational leverage as well as VAT’s ongoing operational improvements. Despite working capital investments to support the continued growth in 2021, preliminary free cash flow reached a full-year record level of approximately CHF 194 million.

Strong order growth in the fourth quarter and the high order backlog indicate a continued healthy business environment going into 2022. Despite an expected continuation of supply chain constraints across the entire industry, and the ongoing COVID pandemic, VAT expects a solid improvement in its 2022 results. A more detailed update on the outlook for 2022 and VAT’s mid-term targets will be provided with the release of the company’s final full-year 2021 results on March 3, 2022.

Guidance for Q1 2022

VAT expects net sales of CHF 270 - 280 million¹.

¹ At constant foreign exchange rates

¹ Quarter-on-Quarter; ² Year-on-Year

Change in interpretation of accounting standard requires restatement of previously reported numbers

Earlier in 2021, the IFRS Interpretations Committee clarified how implementation costs for cloud-based service costs are to be treated in the company accounts. As a result, costs for VAT’s new ERP system can no longer be capitalized but are expensed through the income statement when they occur.

In accordance with IFRS, this change in accounting policy will be applied retrospectively and consequently, the prior period financial statements will be restated. VAT estimates that the changes will have a small negative impact of about -0.6 percentage points on its reported half-year 2021 EBITDA margin, and about -0.6 percentage points on its full-year 2021 EBITDA margin.

There is a short media and investor conference call today, January 12, 2022, at 10am CEST.

To participate in the call please dial:

+41 58 310 50 00 (CH/Europe)                    +44 207 107 06 13 (UK)                       +1 631 570 56 13 (USA)

A playback of the call can be accessed through our website, www.vatvalve.com, approximately one hour after the call has finished.