Table of Contents
(Mark One)
☐
☒
☐
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2017
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20‑‑F
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 001‑‑36130
voxeljet AG
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
Federal Republic of Germany
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Paul‑‑Lenz Straße 1a
86316 Friedberg, Germany
(Address of principal executive offices)
Rudolf Franz, Telephone: (49) 821 7843 100, Facsimile: (49) 821 7843 111,
Address: Paul‑‑Lenz Straße 1a, 86316 Friedberg, Germany
(Name, Telephone, E‑mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class
American Depositary Shares each representing one‑fifth of an ordinary share
Ordinary shares, €1.00 nominal value per share*
Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange LLC
New York Stock Exchange LLC*
* Not for trading purposes, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
Securities registered for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None
(Title of Class)
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well‑known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
3,720,000 ordinary shares
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
☐ Yes ☒ No
☐ Yes ☒ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to
Rule 405 of Regulation S‑T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non‑accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b‑2 of
the Exchange Act. (Check one):
☐ Yes ☐ No
☒ Yes ☐ No
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP ☐
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued
by the International Accounting Standards Board ☒
Non‑accelerated filer ☒
Other ☐
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act).
☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18
☐ Yes ☒ No
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution
of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
☐ Yes ☐ No
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
PART I
ITEM 1.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
ITEM 4.
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 8.
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 16. RESERVED
ITEM 16A.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 16B.
CODE OF ETHICS
ITEM 16C.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 16D.
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
ITEM 16G.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 16H.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
PART III
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
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25
36
36
50
60
62
63
64
74
75
76
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33
78
78
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79
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD‑‑LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 20‑F contains forward‑looking statements concerning our business, operations and financial
performance and condition as well as our plans, objectives and expectations for our business operations and financial performance
and condition. Any statements that are not of historical facts may be deemed to be forward‑looking statements. You can identify
these forward‑looking statements by words such as “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,”
“could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “aims,” or other similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes.
Forward‑looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this annual report and include statements regarding our
intentions, beliefs, assumptions, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, our
intellectual property position, results of operations, cash needs, spending of the proceeds from this offering, financial condition,
liquidity, prospects, growth and strategies, the industry in which we operate and the trends that may affect the industry or us.
By their nature, forward‑looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events, competitive
dynamics and industry change, and depend on economic circumstances that may or may not occur in the future or may occur on
longer or shorter timelines than anticipated. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward‑looking
statement contained in this annual report, we caution you that forward‑looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. All
of our forward‑looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from
our expectations.
Actual results could differ materially from our forward‑looking statements due to a number of factors, including,
without limitation, risks related to:
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
our ability to introduce new 3D printers and related print materials acceptable to the market and to improve the
technology and print materials used in our current 3D printers;
fluctuations in our revenues and operating results;
the long sales cycle for our products, which makes the timing of our production planning and our revenues difficult
to predict;
our ability to adequately increase demand for our products;
our ability to significantly increase the number of materials for use in our 3D printers fast enough to meet our
business plan;
our dependence upon sales to certain industries;
our relationships with suppliers, especially with limited source suppliers of components of and consumables for our
products;
our ability to manage the expansion of our operations effectively in order to achieve our projected levels of growth;
our ability to manage the expansion of our operations effectively in difficult market environments like UK, India
and China;
our ability to attract and retain key management or other key employees;
our ability to raise additional capital on attractive terms, or at all, if needed to meet our growth strategy;
our ability to obtain patent protection for our products or otherwise protect our intellectual property rights;
our ability to protect our trade secrets and intellectual property; and
the other factors listed in “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report.
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Any forward‑looking statements that we make in this annual report speak only as of the date of such statement, and we
undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this annual report or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express
any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.
You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC after the date of this annual report. See “Item 10. Additional Information—H. Documents on
Display.”
You should also read carefully the factors described in the “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” section of this
annual report and elsewhere to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any
forward‑looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward‑looking statements in this annual
report will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward‑looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be
material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward‑looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a
representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified timeframe, or
at all.
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
voxeljet AG is a German stock corporation ( Aktiengesellschaft or AG ), and its registered offices and substantially all of
its assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, most of the members of our management board, our supervisory
board, our senior management and the experts named herein are residents of Germany and jurisdictions other than the United
States. As a result, it may not be possible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these individuals or
upon voxeljet AG or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws
against voxeljet AG in the United States. Awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere are
generally not enforceable in Germany. In addition, actions brought in a German court against voxeljet AG or the members of its
management board and supervisory board, its senior management and the experts named herein to enforce liabilities based on
U.S. federal securities laws may be subject to certain restrictions; in particular, German courts generally do not award punitive
damages. Litigation in Germany is also subject to rules of procedure that differ from the U.S. rules, including with respect to the
taking and admissibility of evidence, the conduct of the proceedings and the allocation of costs. Proceedings in Germany would
have to be conducted in the German language, and all documents submitted to the court would, in principle, have to be translated
into German. For these reasons, it may be difficult for a U.S. investor to bring an original action in a German court predicated
upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us, the members of our management board,
supervisory board and senior management and the experts named in this annual report. In addition, even if a judgment against our
company, the non‑U.S. members of our management board, supervisory board or senior management based on the civil liability
provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws is obtained, a U.S. investor may not be able to enforce it in U.S. or German courts.
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ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
PART I
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
A. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
We present below our selected historical financial and operating data as of and for each of the years in the five‑year
period ended December 31, 2016. The financial data have been derived from our financial statements which have been prepared
in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB and audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). The financial statements as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and for each of the years in the
three‑year period ended December 31, 2016 are included elsewhere in this annual report. Our historical results are not necessarily
indicative of the financial results to be expected in any future periods. You should read this information in conjunction with
“Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” and our financial statements and related notes, each included elsewhere
in this annual report.
Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Data:
Revenues
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Other operating expenses
Other operating income
Operating profit (loss)
Finance expense
Finance income
Financial result
Profit (loss) before income taxes
Income tax expenses (benefit)
Profit (loss)
Other comprehensive (income) loss
Total comprehensive income (loss)
Profit (loss) attributable to:
Owner of the Company
Non-controlling interests
Total comprehensive income (loss)
attributable to:
Owner of the Company
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2016
($ in thousands,
except share and
(1)
per share data)
$
Year Ended December 31,
2014
2015
2016
2013
2012
(€ in thousands, except share and per share data)
24,726
17,085
7,641
5,880
5,051
6,291
4,296
(1,568)
(12,308)
255
(42)
213
(12,520)
2
€ 22,338
15,435
6,903
5,312
4,563
5,683
3,881
(1,417)
(11,119)
230
(38)
192
(11,311)
2
(12,522) € (11,313)
€ (1,111)
(1,230)
(11,293) € (10,202)
€ 24,064
17,147
6,917
6,922
5,178
5,470
888
(2,130)
(9,411)
277
(158)
119
(9,530)
64
€ (9,594)
€ 237
€ (9,831)
€ 16,163
9,838
6,325
3,746
4,026
4,027
101
(1,384)
(4,191)
472
(299)
173
(4,364)
(32)
€ (4,332)
€ 1
€ (4,333)
€ 11,688
7,045
4,643
2,640
1,676
2,651
583
(894)
(2,013)
380
(37)
343
(2,356)
358
€ (2,714)
--
€ (2,714)
€ 8,711
4,957
3,754
1,510
758
1,573
62
(822)
673
363
(18)
345
328
116
€ 212
€ (1)
€ 213
(12,494) € (11,287)
(26)
(12,522) € (11,313)
(29)
€ (9,594)
--
€ (9,594)
€ (4,332)
--
€ (4,332)
€ (2,714)
--
€ (2,714)
€ 212
--
€ 212
(11,264) € (10,176)
€ (9,831)
€ (4,333)
€ (2,714)
€ 213
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Non-controlling interests
Earnings (loss) per share
Weighted average number of ordinary
shares outstanding
Statement of Financial Position Data:
$
$
$
(29)
(26)
(11,293) € (10,202)
--
€ (9,831)
--
€ (4,333)
--
€ (2,714)
--
€ 213
(3.37)
€ (3.04)
€ (2.58)
€ (1.22)
€ (1.21)
€ 0.11
3,720,000 3,720,000 3,720,000 3,555,616 2,252,000 2,000,000
2016
($ in thousands)
(1)
2016
$
Cash and cash equivalents
Inventories
Fixed assets
Current financial assets
Total assets
Total liabilities
Equity
Other Data:
8,274
11,820
24,793
13,260
65,501
11,177
54,324
2015
Year Ended December 31,
2014
(€ in thousands)
€ 8,031
5,247
19,466
41,142
81,095
9,795
71,300
€ 2,086
7,841
21,383
31,746
70,120
8,651
61,469
€ 7,849
11,213
23,521
12,579
62,139
10,603
51,536
2013
2012
€ 33,459
3,641
16,316
744
57,916
12,516
45,400
€ 301
2,806
5,299
108
10,738
9,520
1,218
2016
($ in thousands, except
3D printers sold and
per share data)
$ (9,494)
$ (0.67)
18
(1)
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
(€ in thousands, except 3D printers sold and per share data)
€ (8,577)
€ (0.61)
18
€ (6,429)
€ (0.52)
18
$
€ 2,048
€ (0.24)
14
(520)
€ (0.24)
9
€ 2,016
€ 0.02
6
(2)
EBITDA
Earnings (loss) per ADS
3D printers sold
(4)
(3)
(1) Amounts in this column are not audited and have been converted from euros to U.S. dollars solely for the convenience of the
reader. Balance sheet positions and income statement positions are converted at the exchange rate on December 31, 2016 of
$ 1.0541 and the average exchange rate from January 1 until December 31, 2016 of $ 1.1069 per euro, respectively. See
“Exchange Rate Information” below.
(2) We define EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) as profit (loss) plus income tax expenses
(benefit), financial result and depreciation and amortization. Disclosure in this annual report of EBITDA, which is a
non‑IFRS financial measure, is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented
in accordance with, IFRS. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to profit (loss) or any other performance
measure derived in accordance with IFRS. Our presentation of EBITDA should not be construed to imply that our future
results will be unaffected by unusual or non‑recurring items.
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The following table reconciles profit (loss) to EBITDA for the periods presented:
Profit (loss)
Income tax expenses
(benefit)
Financial result
EBIT
Depreciation and
amortization
EBITDA
2016
($ in thousand)
$ (12,522)
(A)
2
213
(12,308)
2,814
$ (9,494)
Year Ended December 31,
2014
(€ in thousands)
€ (4,332)
€ (9,594)
2015
2016
€ (11,313)
2013
2012
$
(2,714)
€ 212
2
192
(11,119)
2,542
64
119
(9,411)
2,982
(32)
173
(4,191)
2,143
€ (8,577)
€ (6,429)
€ (2,048)
358
343
(2,013)
1,493
€ (520)
116
345
673
1,343
€ 2,016
(A) Amounts in this column are not audited and have been converted from euros to U.S. dollars solely for the convenience of the
reader at an exchange rate of $ 1.1069 per euro, the average exchange rate from January 1 until December 31, 2016. See
“Exchange Rate Information” below.
(3) Each ADS represents one‑fifth of an ordinary share.
(4)
Includes refurbished 3D printers but does not include test machines or 3D printers involved in sale and leaseback
transactions.
Exchange Rate Information
We publish our financial statements in euros. As discussed in this annual report, “euro” or “€” means the single unified
currency that was introduced in the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1999. “U.S. dollar” or “$” means the lawful
currency of the United States of America. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar will affect the
U.S. dollar price of our American depositary shares, or ADSs, on the New York Stock Exchange. The table below shows the
period end, average, high and low exchange rates of U.S. dollars per euro for the periods shown. Average rates are computed by
using the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the euro on the last business day of each month during
the relevant year indicated or each business day during the relevant month indicated. The rates set forth below are provided solely
for your convenience and may differ from the actual rates used in the preparation of our financial statements included in this
annual report and other financial data appearing in this annual report.
Year Ended December 31,
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Month Ended
September 2016
October 2016
November 2016
December 2016
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017 (through March 20, 2017)
High
1.3463
1.3816
1.3927
1.1025
1.1569
High
1.1296
1.1236
1.1095
1.0762
1.0755
1.0808
1.0752
Low
1.2062
1.2774
1.2101
1.0573
1.0364
Low
1.1146
1.0872
1.0548
1.0364
1.0385
1.0513
1.0514
Average
1.2909
1.3303
1.3297
1.1096
1.1069
Average
1.1212
1.1026
1.0799
1.0543
1.0614
1.0643
1.0616
Year end
1.3186
1.3779
1.2101
1.0859
1.0541
Month end
1.1161
1.0946
1.0635
1.0541
1.0755
1.0597
1.0752
The noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the euro on March 20, 2017 was
€ 1.00 = USD 1.0752.
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Solely for the convenience of the reader, unless otherwise indicated, all amounts in U.S. dollars have been converted
from euros into U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of $1.0541 per euro, the exchange rate on December 31, 2016.
B. CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not applicable.
C. REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
D. RISK FACTORS
We may not be able to introduce new 3D printers and related print materials acceptable to the market or to improve the
technology and print materials used in our current 3D printers.
Our revenues are derived from the sale of 3D printers for, and products manufactured using, additive manufacturing. Our
market is subject to innovation and technological change. A variety of technologies compete against one another in our market,
which is, in part, driven by technological advances and end‑user requirements and preferences, as well as the emergence of new
standards and practices. Our ability to compete in the industrial additive manufacturing market depends, in large part, on our
success in enhancing and developing new 3D printers, enhancing and adding to our technology and developing and qualifying
new materials in which we can print. We believe that to remain competitive we must continuously enhance and expand the
functionality and features of our products and technologies. However, we may not be able to:
·
·
·
·
·
·
enhance our existing products and technologies;
continue to leverage advances in industrial printhead technology;
develop new products and technologies that address the increasingly sophisticated and varied needs of prospective
end‑users, particularly with respect to the physical properties of print materials and other consumables;
respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost‑effective and timely
basis;
develop products that are cost effective or that otherwise gain market acceptance; or
adequately protect our intellectual property as we develop new products and technologies.
Even if we successfully enhance our existing 3D printers or create new 3D printers, it is likely that new 3D printers and
technologies that we develop will eventually supplant our existing 3D printers or that our competitors will create 3D printers that
will replace our 3D printers. As a result, any of our products may be rendered obsolete or uneconomical by our or others’
technological advances.
Our revenues and operating results may fluctuate.
Our revenues and operating results may fluctuate from quarter‑to‑quarter and year‑to‑year and are likely to continue to
vary due to a number of factors, many of which are not within our control. A significant portion of our 3D printer orders are
typically received during the second and fourth quarters of the fiscal year as a result of the timing of capital expenditures of our
customers. Our 3D printers typically are shipped between three and nine months after an order is received. Thus, revenues and
operating results for any future period are not predictable with any significant degree of certainty. We also typically experience
weaker demand for our 3D printers in the first and third quarters. For these reasons, comparing our operating results on a
period‑to‑period basis may not be meaningful. Until our business
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grows more significantly, the timing of individual printer sales, because of the cost of our largest printers, can have meaningful
effects on and result in fluctuations in our quarterly results. You should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future
performance.
Fluctuations in our operating results and financial condition may occur due to a number of factors, including, but not
limited to, those listed below and those identified throughout this annual report:
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
the degree of market acceptance of our products;
the mix of products that we sell during any period;
our long sales cycle including our ability to adapt production to demand;
the entry of new competitors into our market;
generally weaker demand for 3D printers in the first and third quarters;
development of new competitive systems or processes by others;
changes in our pricing policies or those of our competitors, including our responses to price competition, impacting
our ability to realize work in progress at expected gross margins;
delays between our expenditures to develop and market new or enhanced 3D printers and products and the
generation of sales from those products;
changes in the amount we spend in our marketing and other efforts;
delays between our expenditures to develop, acquire or license new technologies and processes, and the generation
of sales related thereto;
changes in the cost of satisfying our warranty obligations and servicing our installed base of products;
our level of research and development activities and their associated costs and rates of success;
changes in the size and complexity of our organization, including our operations outside of Europe;
interruptions to or other problems with our website and interactive user interface, information technology systems,
manufacturing processes or other operations;
general economic and industry conditions that affect end‑user demand and end‑user levels of product design and
manufacturing;
changes in accounting rules and tax laws; and
changes in interest rates that affect returns on our cash balances and short‑term investments.
Our margins and EBIT may fluctuate.
Margins in both our Systems and Services segments and our EBIT may fluctuate from quarter‑to‑quarter and
year‑to‑year and are likely to continue to vary due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. To pursue our
growth strategy, we have expanded by establishing operations in different countries. While those subsidiaries are in the start‑up
phase, we may not be able to achieve our desired gross margin and EBIT targets for those subsidiaries. This may lead to a weaker
margin and EBIT contribution from these subsidiaries to us.
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The long sales cycle for our products makes the timing of our revenues difficult to predict.
Generally, our 3D printers have a long sales cycle. Because our 3D printers are complex and typically involve significant
capital investments by prospective purchasers, we and our sales agents generally need to invest a significant amount of time
educating prospective purchasers about the benefits of our products. As a result, before purchasing our products, potential
purchasers may spend a substantial amount of time performing internal assessments before making a purchase. This may cause us
to devote significant effort in advance of a potential sale without any guarantee of receiving any related revenues. Delays in sales
could cause significant variability in our revenues and operating results for any particular period. In addition to that, delays in
sales could lead to an increase in work in progress resulting in an allowance for slow-moving inventories.
Demand for our products may not increase adequately.
The marketplace for industrial manufacturing is dominated by conventional manufacturing methods that do not involve
additive manufacturing technology. We may not be able to develop effective strategies to raise awareness among potential
customers of the benefits of our additive manufacturing technology. If additive manufacturing technology does not gain market
acceptance as an alternative for industrial manufacturing, or if the marketplace adopts additive manufacturing based on a
technology other than our technology, we may not be able to increase or sustain the level of sales of our products and machines
and our results of operations would be adversely affected as a result. If we are not able to manage the conversion from work in
progress to sales, it could lead to an undesirable increase of inventory resulting in allowance for slow-moving inventory.
We may not be able to significantly increase the number of materials for use in our 3D printers fast enough to meet our
business plan, and, if we are successful, we may attract more competitors into our markets, some of which may be much larger
than we are.
Our business plan is dependent in part upon our ability to steadily increase the number of qualified materials in which
our 3D printers can print, since this will increase our addressable market. However, qualifying new materials is a complicated
engineering task, and there is no way to predict whether, or when, any given material will be qualified. If we cannot hire a
sufficient number of skilled people to work on qualifying new materials for printing or if we lack the resources necessary to
create a steady flow of new materials, we will not be able to meet our business goals and a competitor may emerge that is better at
qualifying new materials, either of which would have an adverse effect on our business results.
If, however, we succeed in qualifying a growing number of materials for use in our 3D printers, that should increase our
addressable market, both as to customers and products for customers. However, as we create a larger addressable market, our
market may become more attractive to other 3D printing companies or large companies that are not 3D printing companies but
which may see an economic opportunity in the markets we have created. Similarly, if our focus on selling large 3D printers and
3D printed products to industrial companies proves successful, an increase in the number of competitors in that particular market
is likely to adversely affect our business and financial results.
We are highly dependent upon sales to certain industries.
Our revenues of machines and products are relatively concentrated in companies in the automotive, foundry, film and
entertainment, aerospace and art and architecture industries and those industries’ respective suppliers. To the extent any of these
industries experiences a downturn and we are unable to penetrate and expand into other industries, our results of operations may
be adversely affected. Additionally, if any of these industries or their respective suppliers or other providers of manufacturing
services develop new technologies or alternatives to manufacture the products that are currently manufactured using our 3D
printers, it may adversely affect our results of operations.
If our relationships with suppliers, especially with limited source suppliers of components of and consumables for our
products, were to terminate or our manufacturing arrangements were to be disrupted, our business could be adversely
affected.
We purchase components and certain sub‑assemblies for our systems and consumables that are used in our print
materials from third‑party suppliers. While there are several potential suppliers of most of the components and
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sub‑assemblies for our systems, and for most of the consumables for our print materials, we currently choose to use only a limited
number of suppliers for several of these components and materials. Our reliance on a limited number of vendors involves a
number of risks, including:
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potential shortages of some key components;
product performance shortfalls, if traceable to particular product components, since the supplier of the faulty
component cannot readily be replaced;
discontinuation of a product on which we rely;
potential insolvency of these vendors; and
reduced control over delivery schedules, manufacturing capabilities, quality and costs.
In addition, we require any new supplier to become “qualified” pursuant to our internal procedures. The qualification
process involves evaluations of varying durations, which may cause production delays if we were required to qualify a new
supplier unexpectedly. We generally assemble our systems based on our internal forecasts and the availability of consumables,
assemblies, components and finished goods that are supplied to us by third parties, which are subject to various lead times. If
certain suppliers were to decide to discontinue production of an assembly, component or consumable that we use, the
unanticipated change in the availability of supplies, or unanticipated supply limitations, could cause delays in, or loss of, sales,
increased production or related costs and, consequently, reduced margins, and damage to our reputation. If we are unable to find a
suitable supplier for a particular component, consumable or compound, we could be required to modify our existing products to
accommodate substitute components, consumables or compounds. In addition, because we use a limited number of suppliers,
increases in the prices charged by our suppliers may have an adverse effect on our results of operations, as we may be unable to
find a supplier who can supply us at a lower price. As a result, the loss of a limited source supplier could adversely affect our
relationships with our customers and our results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be able to manage the expansion of our operations effectively in order to achieve our projected levels of growth.
We have expanded our operations significantly in recent periods, including both our German and U.S. operations, and
our business plan calls for further expansion over the next several years, including UK, Asia and North America. After the
restructuring of our UK operation, we still serve the film and entertainment industry without the expensive post production
processes but also address the automotive and aerospace industry. Our expansion in Asia is proceeding through the establishment
of our new subsidiaries in India and China. The legal, market and cultural environment in both India and China represent
challenges for our management. We anticipate that further development of our infrastructure and an increase in the number of our
employees will be required to achieve our planned broadening of our product offerings and client base, improvements in our 3D
printers and materials used in our 3D printers, and our ongoing international growth. In particular, we must increase our
marketing and services staff to support new marketing and service activities and to meet the needs of both new and existing
customers. Our ability to successfully increase our marketing efforts is not guaranteed, and if we are not able to successfully
increase our marketing efforts, we may not be able to grow our business as intended. Our future success will depend in part upon
the ability of our management to manage our growth effectively. If our management is unsuccessful in meeting these challenges,
we may not be able to achieve our anticipated level of growth, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
Our operations could suffer if we are unable to attract and retain key management or other key employees.
Our success depends upon the continued service and performance of our senior management and other key personnel.
Our senior management team is critical to the management of our business and operations, as well as to the development of our
strategy. The loss of the services of any members of our senior management team could delay or prevent the successful
implementation of our growth strategy, or the commercialization of new applications for our 3D printers or other products, or
could otherwise adversely affect our ability to manage our company effectively and carry out our business plan. Members of our
senior management team may resign at any time. High demand exists for senior management and other key personnel in the
additive manufacturing industry, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain such personnel. We do not carry
key‑man insurance on any member of our senior management team.
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Our growth and success will also depend on our ability to attract and retain additional highly‑qualified scientific,
technical, sales, managerial and finance personnel. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience intense competition
for qualified personnel. While we intend to continue to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain key
personnel, some of our competitors for these employees have greater resources and more experience, making it difficult for us to
compete successfully for key personnel. If we cannot attract and retain sufficiently qualified technical employees for our research
and development and manufacturing operations, we may be unable to develop and commercialize new products or new
applications for existing products. Furthermore, possible shortages of key personnel, including engineers, in the regions
surrounding our European facilities could require us to pay more to hire and retain key personnel, thereby increasing our costs.
We may need to raise additional capital from time to time in order to meet our growth strategy and may be unable to do so on
attractive terms, or at all.
We intend to continue to make investments to support the growth of our business and may require additional funds to
respond to business challenges, including the need to implement our growth strategy, increase market share in our current markets
or expand into other markets, or broaden our technology, intellectual property or service capabilities. Accordingly, we may
require additional investments of capital from time to time, and our existing sources of cash and any funds generated from
operations may not provide us with sufficient capital. For various reasons, including any noncompliance with existing or future
lending arrangements, additional financing, including lease financing for sale and leaseback transactions, may not be available
when needed, or may not be available on terms favorable to us. If we fail to obtain adequate capital on a timely basis or if capital
cannot be obtained on terms satisfactory to us, we may not be able to achieve our planned rate of growth, which will adversely
affect our results of operations.
We face significant competition in many aspects of our business, which could cause our revenues and gross profit margins to
decline. Competition could also cause us to reduce sales prices or to incur additional marketing or production costs, which
could result in decreased revenue, increased costs and reduced margins.
We compete for customers with a wide variety of producers of equipment for models, prototypes, other 3D objects and
end‑use parts as well as producers of print materials and services for this equipment. Some of our existing and potential
competitors are researching, designing, developing and marketing other types of competitive equipment, print materials and
services. Many of these competitors have financial, marketing, manufacturing, distribution and other resources that are
substantially greater than ours.
We also expect that future competition may arise from the development of allied or related techniques for equipment and
print materials that are not encompassed by our patents, from the issuance of patents to other companies that may inhibit our
ability to develop certain products, from our entry into new geographic markets and industries and from improvements to existing
print materials and equipment technologies. In addition, a number of companies have announced beginning production of 3D
printers, which will further enhance the competition we face.
We intend to continue to follow a strategy of continuing product development to enhance our position to the extent
practicable. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our current position in the field or continue to compete
successfully against current and future sources of competition. If we do not keep pace with technological change and introduce
new products, our revenues and demand for our products may decrease.
If we are not able to convert our work in progress into sales, it could lead to an undesirable increase of inventory and
consequently to an allowance for slow-moving inventory.
Our operations outside of Germany subject us to various risks, and our failure to manage these risks could adversely affect
our results of operations.
Our business is subject to certain risks associated with doing business globally. Our sales outside of Germany
represented 73%, 71%, and 72% of our total sales in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. We currently have subsidiaries in
China, India, the UK and the United States. One of our growth strategies is to further pursue opportunities for our business in
several areas around the world, both inside and outside of Germany and Europe, any or all of which could be
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adversely affected by the risks set forth below. Accordingly, we face significant operational risks as a result of doing business
internationally, such as:
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fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
potentially longer sales and payment cycles;
potentially greater difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;
potentially adverse tax consequences;
challenges in providing solutions across a significant distance, in different languages and among different cultures;
different, complex and changing laws governing intellectual property rights, sometimes affording reduced protection
of intellectual property rights in certain countries;
difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, particularly in new geographic locations;
restrictions imposed by local labor practices and laws on our business and operations;
rapid changes in government, economic and political policies and conditions, political or civil unrest or instability,
terrorism or epidemics and other similar outbreaks or events;
operating in countries with a higher incidence of corruption and fraudulent business practices;
seasonal reductions in business activity in certain parts of the world, particularly during the summer months in
Europe;
costs and difficulties of customizing products for foreign countries;
compliance with a wide variety of complex foreign laws, treaties and regulations;
transportation delays;
tariffs, trade barriers and other regulatory or contractual limitations on our ability to sell or develop our products in
certain foreign markets; and
becoming subject to the laws, regulations and court systems of multiple jurisdictions.
Our failure to manage the market and operational risks associated with our international operations effectively could
limit the future growth of our business and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our international operations pose currency risks, which may adversely affect our operating results and net income.
Our operating results may be affected by volatility in currency exchange rates and our ability to effectively manage our
currency transaction risks. Currency exchange rate fluctuations have had an impact on our operations because voxeljet AG
provided intercompany loans to its subsidiaries in foreign currency. As we realize upon our strategy to expand internationally, our
exposure to currency risks will increase. We do not manage our foreign currency exposure in a manner that would eliminate the
effects of changes in foreign exchange rates. Therefore, changes in exchange rates between these foreign currencies and the euro
will affect our revenues, cost of goods sold, and operating margins, and could result in exchange losses in any given reporting
period.
We incur currency transaction risks whenever we enter into either a purchase or a sale transaction using a different
currency from the currency in which we report revenues. In such cases we may suffer an exchange loss because we do not
currently engage in currency swaps or other currency hedging strategies to address this risk.
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Given the volatility of exchange rates, we can give no assurance that we will be able to effectively manage our currency
transaction risks or that any volatility in currency exchange rates will not have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We may engage in future acquisitions that could disrupt our business, cause dilution to our shareholders and harm our
financial condition and operating results.
While we currently have no specific plans to acquire any other businesses, we may, in the future, engage in joint
ventures with or make acquisitions of, or investments in, companies that we believe have products or capabilities that are a
strategic or commercial fit with our current business or otherwise offer opportunities for our company. In connection with these
acquisitions or investments, we may:
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issue ADSs or other forms of equity that would dilute our existing shareholders’ percentage of ownership;
incur debt and assume liabilities; and
incur amortization expenses related to intangible assets or incur large and immediate write‑offs.
We may not be able to complete future acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all. If we do complete an additional
acquisition, we cannot assure you that it will ultimately strengthen our competitive position or that it will be viewed positively by
customers, financial markets or investors. Furthermore, future acquisitions could pose numerous additional risks to our
operations, including:
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problems integrating the purchased business, products or technologies;
challenges in achieving strategic objectives, cost savings and other anticipated benefits;
increases to our expenses;
the assumption of significant liabilities that exceed the limitations of any applicable indemnification provisions or
the financial resources of any indemnifying party;
inability to maintain relationships with key customers, vendors and other business partners of the acquired
businesses;
diversion of management’s attention from their day‑to‑day responsibilities;
difficulty in maintaining controls, procedures and policies during the transition and integration;
entrance into marketplaces where we have no or limited prior experience and where competitors have stronger
marketplace positions;
potential loss of key employees, particularly those of the acquired entity; and
that historical financial information may not be representative or indicative of our results as a combined company.
Global economic, political and social conditions have adversely impacted our sales and may continue to do so.
The uncertain direction and relative strength of the global economy, difficulties in the financial services sector and credit
markets, continuing geopolitical uncertainties and other macroeconomic factors all affect spending behavior of potential end users
of our products. The prospects for economic growth in Europe, the United States, India, China and other countries remain
uncertain and may cause end users to further delay or reduce technology purchases. In particular, a substantial portion of our sales
are made to customers in countries in Europe, which has experienced a significant economic crisis beginning in 2007. If global
economic conditions remain volatile for a prolonged period or if European economies experience further disruptions, our results
of operations could be adversely affected.
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Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other applicable anti‑‑corruption legislation could result in
fines, criminal penalties and an adverse effect on our business.
We operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including countries known to have a reputation for
corruption. We are committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti‑corruption laws. We are subject, however, to
the risk that our officers, directors, employees, agents and collaborators may take action determined to be in violation of such
anti‑corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and the European
Union Anti‑Corruption Act, as well as trade sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S.
Department of Commerce. Any such violation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties or
curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, actual or
alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business.
We rely on our information technology systems to manage numerous aspects of our business and customer and supplier
relationships, and a disruption of these systems could adversely affect our results of operations.
We rely on our information technology, or IT, systems to manage numerous aspects of our business and provide
analytical information to management. In 2014, we launched a project to implement a new ERP‑system in the areas of accounting
and controlling, which was completed on January 1, 2015 and enables us to perform our bookkeeping more efficiently and to run
detailed analyses and evaluations regarding our revenues, expenses and profitability. Our IT systems allow us to efficiently
purchase products from our suppliers, provide procurement and logistic services, ship products to our customers on a timely basis,
maintain cost‑effective operations and provide service to our customers. Our IT systems are an essential component of our
business and growth strategies, and a disruption to our IT systems could significantly limit our ability to manage and operate our
business efficiently. Although we take steps to secure our IT systems, including our computer systems, intranet and internet sites,
email and other telecommunications and data networks, the security measures we have implemented may not be effective and our
systems may be vulnerable to, among other things, damage and interruption from power loss, including as a result of natural
disasters, computer system and network failures, loss of telecommunication services, operator negligence, loss of data, security
breaches, computer viruses and other disruptive events. Any such disruption could adversely affect our reputation, brand and
financial condition.
Defects in new products or in enhancements to our existing products that give rise to product returns or warranty or other
claims could result in material expenses, diversion of management time and attention, and damage to our reputation.
Our 3D printing systems may contain undetected defects or errors when first introduced or as enhancements are released
that, despite testing, are not discovered until after a system has been used. This could result in delayed market acceptance of those
systems or claims from sales agents, end‑users or others, which may result in litigation, increased end‑user service and support
costs and warranty claims, damage to our reputation and business, or significant costs to correct the defect or error. We may from
time to time become subject to warranty or product liability claims related to product quality issues that could lead us to incur
significant expenses.
We could face liability if our 3D printers are used by our customers to print dangerous objects.
Customers may use our 3D printers to print parts that could be used in a harmful way or could otherwise be dangerous.
For example, there have been news reports that 3D printers were used to print guns or other weapons. We have little, if any,
control over what objects our customers print using our 3D printers, and it may be difficult, if not impossible, for us to monitor
and prevent customers from printing weapons with our 3D printers. While we have never printed weapons in any of our service
centers, there can be no assurance that we will not be held liable if someone were injured or killed by a weapon printed by a
customer using one of our 3D printers.
A loss of a significant number of our sales agents would impair our ability to sell our products and services and could reduce
our revenues and adversely impact our operating results.
We expect a significant portion of our sales of our products to be made with the assistance of our network of sales
agents. We rely heavily on these sales agents to facilitate sales of our products to end‑users in their respective geographic regions.
Furthermore, we rely on sales agents to service our products. These sales agents are generally not
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precluded from selling our competitors’ products in addition to ours. In addition, they may not be effective in selling our products
or servicing our end‑users. Further, if a significant number of these sales agents were to terminate their relationships with us or
otherwise fail or refuse to facilitate sales of our products, we may not be able to find replacements that are as qualified or as
successful. If these sales agents do not perform as anticipated or if we are unable to find qualified and successful replacements,
our sales will suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating results.
Workplace accidents or environmental damage could result in substantial remedial obligations and damage to our reputation.
Accidents or other incidents that occur at our facilities or involve our personnel or operations could result in claims for
damages against us. In addition, in the event we are found to be financially responsible, as a result of environmental or other laws
or by court order, for environmental damages alleged to have been caused by us or occurring on our premises, we could be
required to pay substantial monetary damages or undertake expensive remedial obligations. The amount of any costs, including
fines or damages payments that we might incur under such circumstances could substantially exceed any insurance we have to
cover such losses. Any of these events, alone or in combination, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations and could adversely affect our reputation.
Our operations are subject to environmental laws and other government regulations which could result in liabilities in the
future.
We are subject to domestic and foreign environmental laws and regulations governing our operations, including, but not
limited to, emissions into the air and water and the use, handling, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances. A certain risk
of environmental liability is inherent in our production activities. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held solely or
jointly and severally responsible, regardless of fault, for the remediation of any hazardous substance contamination at our
facilities and at facilities where our products are used and the respective consequences arising out of human exposure to such
substances or other environmental damage. We may not have been and may not be at all times in complete compliance with
environmental laws, regulations and permits, and the nature of our operations exposes us to the risk of liabilities or claims with
respect to environmental and worker health and safety matters. If we violate or fail to comply with environmental laws,
regulations and permits, we could be subject to penalties, fines, restrictions on operations or other sanctions, and our operations
could be interrupted.
The cost of complying with current and future environmental, health and safety laws applicable to our operations, or the
liabilities arising from past releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances, may result in future expenditures. Any of these
developments, alone or in combination, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
We may not have adequate insurance for potential liabilities, including liabilities arising from litigation.
In the ordinary course of business, we have been, and in the future may be, subject to various product and non‑product
related claims, lawsuits and administrative proceedings seeking damages or other remedies arising out of our commercial
operations, including litigation related to defects in our products. We maintain insurance to cover our potential exposure for most
claims and losses. However, our insurance coverage is subject to various exclusions, self‑retentions and deductibles, may be
inadequate or unavailable to protect us fully, and may be cancelled or otherwise terminated by the insurer. Furthermore, we face
the following additional risks related to our insurance coverage:
· we may not be able to continue to obtain insurance coverage on commercially reasonable terms, or at all;
· we may be faced with types of liabilities that are not covered under our insurance policies, such as environmental
contamination or terrorist attacks, and that exceed any amounts that we may have reserved for such liabilities;
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the amount of any liabilities that we may face may exceed our policy limits; and
· we may incur losses resulting from the interruption of our business that may not be fully covered under our
insurance policies.
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Even a partially uninsured claim of significant size, if successful, could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. However, even if we successfully defend ourselves against any such claim,
we could be forced to spend a substantial amount of money in litigation expenses, our management could be required to spend
valuable time defending these claims and our reputation could suffer, any of which could adversely affect our results of
operations.
If our manufacturing facility or any of our on‑‑demand parts service centers are disrupted, sales of our products may be
affected, which could result in loss of revenues and unforeseen costs.
We manufacture our machines at our facility in Germany. We currently operate on‑demand parts service centers located
in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, China and plan to operate in other locations in the future. If the
operations of these facilities are materially disrupted, whether by natural disasters, demonstrations, acts of terror, or otherwise, we
would be unable to fulfill customer orders for the period of the disruption, we would not be able to recognize revenues on orders,
we could suffer damage to our reputation, and we might need to modify our standard sales terms to secure the commitment of
new customers during the period of the disruption and perhaps longer. Depending on the cause of the disruption, we could incur
significant costs to remedy the disruption and resume product shipments. Such a disruption could have an adverse effect on our
results of operations.
We may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities which could adversely affect our operating results.
Our future income taxes could be adversely affected by changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles or
interpretations thereof, in jurisdictions around the world. In addition, there is a risk that amounts paid or received in transactions
between us and one of our international subsidiaries could be deemed for transfer pricing purposes to be lower or higher than we
previously recognized or expected to recognize, or that distributions to us from one of our international subsidiaries could be
subject to withholding tax. Our determination of our tax liability is always subject to review by applicable tax authorities. Any
negative outcome of such a review could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. In addition, the
determination of our worldwide provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities requires significant judgment, and there are
many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Although we believe our estimates are
reasonable, the ultimate tax outcome may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and could adversely affect
our operating results.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If we are unable to obtain patent protection for our products or otherwise protect our intellectual property rights, our business
could suffer.
We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, trade secrets and confidentiality agreements and other contractual
arrangements with our employees, end‑users and others to maintain our competitive position. Our success depends, in part, on our
ability to obtain patent protection for or maintain as trade secrets our proprietary products, technologies and inventions and to
maintain the confidentiality of our trade secrets and know‑how, operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others
and prevent others from infringing upon our business proprietary rights.
Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, it is possible that competitors or other unauthorized third parties may
obtain, copy, use or disclose our technologies, inventions, processes or improvements. We cannot assure you that any of our
existing or future patents or other intellectual property rights will be enforceable, will not be challenged, invalidated or
circumvented, or will otherwise provide us with meaningful protection or any competitive advantage. In addition, our pending
patent applications may not be granted, and we may not be able to obtain foreign patents or elect to file applications
corresponding to our U.S. and E.U. patents. The laws of certain countries outside the United States and European Union may not
provide the same level of patent protection as in the United States and the European Union, so even if we assert our patents or
obtain additional patents in countries outside of the United States and the European Union, effective enforcement of such patents
may not be available. If our patents do not adequately protect our technology, our competitors may be able to offer additive
manufacturing systems or other products similar to ours. Our competitors may also be able to develop similar technology
independently or design around our patents, and we may not be able to detect the unauthorized use of our proprietary technology
or take appropriate steps to prevent such use. Any of
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the foregoing events would lead to increased competition and lower revenues or gross margins, which could adversely affect our
operating results.
We may not be able to protect our trade secrets and intellectual property.
While some of our technology is licensed under patents belonging to others or is covered by process patents which are
owned or applied for by us, much of our key technology is not protected by patents. Furthermore, patents are jurisdictional in
nature and therefore only protect us in certain markets, rather than globally. In particular, in fast‑growing markets such as China
and India, our technology is not protected by patents. We have devoted substantial resources to the development of our
technology, trade secrets, know‑how and other unregistered proprietary rights. While we enter into confidentiality and invention
assignment agreements intended to protect such rights, such agreements can be difficult and costly to enforce or may not provide
adequate remedies if violated. Such agreements may be breached and confidential information may be willfully or unintentionally
disclosed, or our competitors or other parties may learn of the information in some other way. Since we cannot legally prevent
one or more other companies from developing similar or identical technology to our unpatented technology, it is likely that, over
time, one or more other companies may be able to replicate our technology, thereby reducing our technological advantages. If we
do not protect our technology or are unable to develop new technology that can be protected by patents or as trade secrets, we
may face increased competition from other companies, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
We enjoy license rights and exclusivity of certain patents and intellectual property and cannot adequately estimate the effects
of their expiration upon the entrance or advancement of competitors into the additive manufacturing industrial market.
We have exclusive and non‑exclusive license rights to certain patents that we utilize in the industrial market. Some of
these patents have already expired, and others will expire within the next one to three years. We cannot adequately estimate the
effect that the expiration of these patents will have upon the entrance or advancement of other additive manufacturing
manufacturers into the industrial market. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Intellectual
Property.”
We may be subject to claims alleging patent infringement.
Our products and technology, including the technology that we license from others, may infringe the intellectual
property rights of third parties. Patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of
time until they are published, and the publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature typically lags actual discoveries
by several months or more. As a result, the nature of claims contained in unpublished patent filings around the world is unknown
to us, and we cannot be certain that we were the first to conceive inventions covered by our patents or patent applications or that
we were the first to file patent applications covering such inventions. Furthermore, it is not possible to know in which countries
patent holders may choose to extend their filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty or other mechanisms. In addition, we may
be subject to intellectual property infringement claims from individuals, vendors and other companies, including those that are in
the business of asserting patents, but are not commercializing products in the field of 3D printing. Any claims that our products or
processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others, regardless of the merit or resolution of such claims, could cause us to
incur significant costs in responding to, defending and resolving such claims, and may prohibit or otherwise impair our ability to
commercialize new or existing products. Any infringement by us or our licensors of the intellectual property rights of third parties
may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Third‑party claims of intellectual property infringement successfully asserted against us may require us to redesign
infringing technology or enter into costly settlement or license agreements on terms that are unfavorable to us, prevent us from
manufacturing or licensing certain of our products, subject us to injunctions restricting our sale of products and use of infringing
technology, cause severe disruptions to our operations or the markets in which we compete, impose costly damage awards or
require indemnification of our sales agents and end‑users. In addition, as a consequence of such claims, we may incur significant
costs in acquiring the necessary third‑party intellectual property rights for use in our products or developing non‑infringing
substitute technology. Any of the foregoing developments could seriously harm our business.
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We may incur substantial costs enforcing or acquiring intellectual property rights and defending against third‑‑party claims as
a result of litigation or other proceedings.
In connection with the enforcement of our intellectual property rights, opposing third parties from obtaining patent rights
or disputes related to the validity or alleged infringement of our or third‑party intellectual property rights, including patent rights,
we have been and may in the future be subject or party to claims, negotiations or complex, protracted litigation. Intellectual
property disputes and litigation, regardless of merit, can be costly and disruptive to our business operations by diverting attention
and energies of management and key technical personnel, and by increasing our costs of doing business. We may not prevail in
any such dispute or litigation, and an adverse decision in any legal action involving intellectual property rights, including any
such action commenced by us, could limit the scope of our intellectual property rights and the value of the related technology. We
have previously been involved in patent litigation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, and Z Corporation, or
Z Corp, which we resolved through a settlement agreement with MIT and Z Corp and by entering into a subsequent license
agreement with Z Corp. While we strive to avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties, we cannot provide any
assurances that we will be able to avoid any infringement claims.
Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, documentary, fee payment
and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated
for non‑‑compliance with these requirements.
Periodic maintenance fees on any issued patent are due to be paid to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO,
and foreign patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime of the patent. The USPTO and various foreign governmental patent
agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other similar provisions during the
patent application process. While an inadvertent lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in
accordance with the applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent
or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Non‑compliance events that
could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official
actions within prescribed time limits, non‑payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. If we or
our exclusive licensors fail to maintain the patents and patent applications covering our products and processes, our competitive
position would be adversely affected.
We may be subject to claims that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former
employers.
Certain of our past and present employees were previously employed at other additive manufacturing companies,
including our competitors or potential competitors. Some of these employees executed proprietary rights, non‑ disclosure and
non‑competition agreements in connection with such previous employment. Although we try to ensure that our employees do not
use the proprietary information or know‑how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these
employees have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such
employee’s former employer. We are not aware of any threatened or pending claims related to these matters, but in the future
litigation may be necessary to defend against such claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary
damages, we may lose valuable personnel or intellectual property rights. Even if we are successful in defending against such
claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management. As we expand our operations into the
United States and elsewhere, we may face similar claims with regard to our future employees in these countries.
Certain of our employees and patents are subject to German law.
The majority of our employees work in Germany and are subject to German employment law. Ideas, developments,
discoveries and inventions made by such employees and consultants are subject to the provisions of the German Act on
Employees’ Inventions ( Gesetz über Arbeitnehmererfindungen ), which regulates the ownership of, and compensation for,
inventions made by employees. We face the risk that disputes can occur between us and our employees or ex‑ employees
pertaining to alleged non‑adherence to the provisions of this act that may be costly to defend and take up our management’s time
and efforts whether we prevail or fail in such dispute. In addition, under the German Act on Employees’ Inventions, certain
employees retained rights to patents they invented or co‑invented prior to 2009. Although most of these employees have
subsequently assigned their interest in these patents to us, there is a risk
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that the compensation we provided to them may be deemed to be insufficient and we may be required under German law to
increase the compensation due to such employees for the use of the patents. In those cases where employees have not assigned
their interests to us, we may need to pay compensation for the use of those patents. If we are required to pay additional
compensation or face other disputes under the German Act on Employees’ Inventions, our results of operations could be
adversely affected.
If we fail to comply with our obligations under our intellectual property- related agreements or if we receive an adverse court
decision in a lawsuit regarding these agreements, we could lose rights that are important to our business or be subject to
restrictions on the conduct of our business.
We
have
license
and
co-ownership
agreements
with
respect
to
certain
intellectual
property
that
is
important
to
our
business
with
both
Z
Corp
and
The
ExOne
Company,
or
ExOne,
respectively,
that
impose
restrictions
on
our
use
of
certain
intellectual
property.
We
are
party
to
other
intellectual
property-related
agreements
that
also
are
important
to
our
business.
Disputes
may
arise
between
the
counterparties
to
these
agreements
and
us
that
could
result
in
termination
of
these
agreements,
costly
litigation
or
arbitration
that
diverts
management’s
attention
and
company
resources,
regulatory
review
or
restrictions
on
the
conduct
of
our
business.
If
we
fail
to
comply
with
our
obligations
under
our
intellectual
property-related
agreements,
or
receive
an
adverse
court
decision
in
a
lawsuit
regarding
these
agreements,
the
counterparties
may
have
the
right
to
terminate
these
agreements
or
sue
us
for
damages
or
equitable
remedies,
including
injunctive
relief.
Termination
of
these
agreements,
the
reduction
or
elimination
of
our
rights
under
these
agreements,
or
the
imposition
of
restrictions
under
these
agreements
may
result
in
our
having
to
negotiate
new
or
reinstated
licenses
with
less
favorable
terms,
or
to
cease
commercialization
of
licensed
technology
and
products.
This
could
materially
adversely
affect
our
business.
The
Company
is
currently
in
discussion
with
ExOne
regarding
the
interpretation
of
some
articles
in
the
co-ownership
agreement.
The
dispute
could
result
in
one
or
more
of
the
risks
discussed
herein.
Certain technologies and patents have been developed with partners and we may face restrictions on this jointly‑‑developed
intellectual property.
We have entered into cooperation agreements with a number of industrial and commercial partners, as well as university
partners. We have, in some cases individually and in other cases along with our partners, filed for patent protection for a number
of technologies developed under these agreements and may in the future file for further intellectual property protection and/or
seek to commercialize such technologies. Under some of these agreements, certain intellectual property developed by us and the
relevant partner may be subject to joint ownership by us and the partner and our commercial use of such intellectual property may
be restricted, or may require written consent from, or a separate agreement with, the partner. In other cases, we may not have any
rights to use intellectual property solely developed and owned by the partner. If we cannot obtain commercial use rights for such
jointly‑owned intellectual property or partner‑owned intellectual property, our future product development and commercialization
plans may be adversely affected.
Risks related to our ADSs
The price of our ADSs may fluctuate significantly.
The stock market generally, including our ADSs, has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often
been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of listed companies. Broad market and industry factors may
negatively affect the market price of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. The market price and liquidity of
the market for our ADSs may fluctuate and may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our
control. These factors include:
·
·
significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of companies in our sector, which is not
necessarily related to the operating performance of these companies;
the mix of products that we sell, and related services that we provide, during any period; delays between our
expenditures to develop and market new products and the generation of sales from those products and the related
risk of obsolete inventory;
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·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
changes in the amount that we spend to develop, acquire or license new products, technologies or businesses;
changes in our expenditures to promote our products and services;
changes in the cost of satisfying our warranty obligations and servicing our installed base of 3D printers;
success or failure of research and development projects of us or our competitors;
announcements of acquisitions by us or one of our competitors;
the general tendency towards volatility in the market prices of shares of companies that rely on technology and
innovation;
changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines;
changes or perceived changes in earnings or variations in operating results;
any shortfall in revenues or net income from levels expected by investors or securities analysts; and
general economic trends and other external factors.
Our principal shareholders and management own a significant percentage of our ordinary shares and will be able to exert
significant influence over matters subject to shareholder approval.
Members of our supervisory and management boards and holders of 5% or more of our ordinary shares currently
beneficially own 31.4% of our ordinary shares (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs). These shareholders have
significant influence over the outcome of all matters requiring shareholder approval. For example, these shareholders may be able
to influence the outcome of elections of members of our supervisory board, amendments of our organizational documents, or
approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transactions. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited
acquisition proposals or offers for our ordinary shares or ADSs that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our
shareholders. The interests of this group of shareholders may not always coincide with your interests or the interests of other
shareholders, and they may act in a manner that advances their best interests and not necessarily those of other shareholders,
including seeking a premium value for their ordinary shares, which might affect the prevailing market price for our ADSs.
Holders of our ADSs may not have the same voting rights as the holders of our ordinary shares and may not receive voting
materials in time to be able to exercise your right to vote.
Except as described in this annual report and the deposit agreement relating to our ADSs, holders of the ADSs will not
be able to exercise voting rights attaching to the ordinary shares evidenced by the ADSs on an individual basis. Under the terms
of the deposit agreement, holders of the ADSs appoint the depositary or its nominee as their representative to exercise the voting
rights attaching to the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs. You may not receive voting materials in time to instruct the
depositary to vote, and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will
not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.
You may not receive distributions on our ordinary shares represented by the ADSs or any value for them.
Under the terms of the deposit agreement relating to our ADSs, the depositary for the ADSs has agreed to pay to you the
cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our ordinary shares or other deposited securities after
deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of our ordinary shares your
ADSs represent. However, in accordance with the limitations set forth in the deposit agreement, it may be unlawful or impractical
to make a distribution available to holders of ADSs. In addition, with respect to distributions of rights to subscribe for additional
ordinary shares or ADSs, such distributions will only be made if we request such rights be made available to holders of the ADSs.
We have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of the ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to
holders of the ADSs. This means that you may
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Table of Contents
not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value from them. These restrictions may have a material
adverse effect on the value of your ADSs.
We have no present intention to pay dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future and, consequently, your only
opportunity to achieve a return on your investment during that time is if the price of our ADSs appreciates.
We have no present intention to pay dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Any recommendation by
our management and supervisory boards to pay dividends will depend on many factors, including our financial condition, results
of operations, legal requirements and other factors. Accordingly, if the price of our ADSs declines in the foreseeable future, you
will incur a loss on your investment, without the likelihood that this loss will be offset in part or at all by potential future cash
dividends.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and are permitted to file less
information with the SEC than U.S. companies. This may limit the information available to holders of ADSs.
We are a “foreign private issuer,” as defined in the SEC rules and regulations, and, consequently, we are not subject to
all of the disclosure requirements applicable to companies organized within the United States. For example, we are exempt from
certain rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that regulate disclosure obligations
and procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations applicable to a security registered
under the Exchange Act. In addition, members of our management board and supervisory board and our principal shareholders
are exempt from the reporting and “short‑swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related rules
with respect to their purchases and sales of our securities. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial
statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. public companies. Accordingly, there may be less publicly‑available
information concerning our company than there is for U.S. public companies.
As a foreign private issuer, we file an annual report on Form 20‑F within four months of the close of each year ended
December 31 and furnish reports on Form 6‑K relating to certain material events promptly after we publicly announce these
events. In addition, under the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, we must submit to the SEC a Form 6-K that
includes interim earnings reports on a semi-annual basis. Although we intend to issue quarterly financial information, because of
the above exemptions for foreign private issuers, we are not required to do so, and, therefore, holders of our ADSs may not be
afforded the same protections or information generally available to investors holding shares in public companies organized in the
United States.
As a foreign private issuer, we are not subject to certain New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules applicable to
U.S. listed companies.
We rely on provisions in the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual that permit us to follow our home
country corporate governance practices with regard to certain aspects of corporate governance. This allows us to follow German
corporate law and the German Corporate Governance Code, which differ in significant respects from the corporate governance
requirements applicable to U.S. companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
In accordance with our New York Stock Exchange listing, our Audit Committee is required to comply with or satisfy an
exemption from the provisions of Section 301 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act and Rule 10A‑3 of the Exchange Act, both of which are
also applicable to listed U.S. companies. Because we are a foreign private issuer, however, we generally are permitted to follow
home country practice in lieu of the corporate governance standards provided in the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company
Manual. In particular, we are not required to comply with the requirements that the members of our Audit Committee satisfy
financial literacy standards, that a majority of the members of our supervisory board must be independent, that our Audit
Committee and Compensation and Nominating Committee adopt written charters and that we adopt and disclose corporate
governance guidelines. If some investors find the ADSs less attractive as a result of these differences, there may be a less active
trading market for the ADSs and the price of the ADSs may be more volatile. See “Item 16G. Corporate Governance.”
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Table of Contents
We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses.
As a foreign private issuer, we are not required to comply with all the periodic disclosure and current reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act and related rules and regulations. The determination of foreign private issuer status is made
annually on the last business day of an issuer’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Accordingly, we will next make a
determination with respect to our foreign private issuer status on June 30, 2017. There is a risk that we will lose our foreign
private issuer status in the future.
We would lose our foreign private issuer status if, for example, more than 50% of our assets are located in the United
States and we continue to fail to meet additional requirements necessary to maintain our foreign private issuer status. As of
December 31, 2016, approximately 8% of our assets were located in the United States, although this may increase as we expand
our operations in the United States. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer
may be significantly greater than the costs we incur as a foreign private issuer. If we are not a foreign private issuer, we will be
required to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed
and extensive in certain respects than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. We would be required under current SEC
rules to prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and modify certain of our policies to comply with
corporate governance practices associated with U.S. domestic issuers. Such conversion and modifications would involve
additional costs. In addition, we may lose our ability to rely upon exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements on
U.S. stock exchanges that are available to foreign private issuers such as the ones described above and exemptions from
procedural requirements related to the solicitation of proxies.
We are an “emerging growth company” and we intend to take advantage of reduced disclosure and governance requirements
applicable to emerging growth companies, which could result in our ADSs being less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act, and we
intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting and governance requirements that are applicable to other
public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the
auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive
compensation in our periodic reports and other public filings. We cannot predict if investors will find the ADSs less attractive
because we will rely on such exemptions. If some investors find the ADSs less attractive as a result, there may be a less active
trading market for the ADSs and the price of the ADSs may be more volatile. We may take advantage of these reporting and
governance exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company, which in certain circumstances could be as late as
the last day of our fiscal year following October 23, 2018, which is the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our
ordinary shares pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting in the future, we may not be able
to accurately report our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, which may adversely affect investor
confidence in us.
The Sarbanes‑Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial
reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. We are required, under Section 404 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, to perform
system and process evaluations and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report annually
on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This assessment requires disclosure of any material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified by our management. A material weakness is a control
deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting that results in more than a
reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a
timely basis. Section 404 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act also generally requires an attestation from our independent registered public
accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, for as long as we remain an
emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of the exemption permitting us not to comply
with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. At the time when we are no longer an emerging
growth company, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not
satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating. Our remediation efforts may not enable us to
avoid a
21
Table of Contents
material weakness in the future.
Our compliance with Section 404 will require that we incur substantial accounting expense and expend significant
management efforts. In May 2016 the company started to implement an internal audit function with a Director-level employee
reporting directly to the responsible management board member. Internal Audit immediately started training the management
with respect to the requirements set by the SEC to fulfill the Sarbanes Oxley Act. Furthermore, we compile the existing system
and process documentation necessary to perform the evaluation needed to comply with Section 404. We may not be able to
complete our evaluation, testing and any required remediation in a timely fashion. During the evaluation and testing process, if we
identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our
internal control over financial reporting is effective. We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or
significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over
financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report our financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered
public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness or significant deficiency in our internal control over financial
reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of the
ADSs could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the New York Stock Exchange, the SEC or other
regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or
maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict our future access to the capital markets.
We have identified a material weakness in the design and operations of controls over financial reporting resulted from the
lack of controls over the valuation of work-in-process inventories.
In
connection
with
the
preparation
of
our
financial
statements
as
of
December
31,
2016,
we
concluded
there
is
a
material
weakness
in
the
design
and
operations
of
controls
over
financial
reporting
resulted
from
the
lack
of
controls
over
the
valuation
of
work-in-process
inventories.
Specifically,
we
did
not
appropriately
account
for
the
effect
of
sales
volume
changes
and
market
demand
on
the
estimation
of
excess
and
obsolete
reserves
of
our
work-in-progress
inventories.
A
significant
addition
to
inventory
reserves
was
recorded
to
the
Company’s
financial
statements
as
of
December
31,
2016.
In
an
effort
to
remediate
our
material
weakness,
we
intend
to
continue
hiring
additional
finance
and
accounting
personnel
with
appropriate
training,
building
our
financial
management
and
reporting
infrastructure,
and
further
developing
and
documenting
our
accounting
policies
and
financial
reporting
procedures.
The
actions
that
we
are
taking
are
subject
to
ongoing
management
board
review,
as
well
as
audit
committee
oversight.
Although
we
plan
to
complete
this
remediation
process
as
quickly
as
possible,
we
cannot
at
this
time
estimate
how
long
it
will
take,
and
our
initiatives
may
not
prove
to
be
successful
in
remediating
this
material
weakness.
If
our
remedial
measures
are
insufficient
to
address
the
material
weakness,
or
if
additional
material
weaknesses
or
significant
deficiencies
in
our
internal
control
over
financial
reporting
are
identified
or
occur
in
the
future,
our
financial
statements
may
contain
material
misstatements
and
we
could
be
required
to
restate
our
financial
results.
In
addition,
if
we
are
unable
to
successfully
remediate
this
material
weakness
and
if
we
are
unable
to
produce
accurate
and
timely
financial
statements,
our
stock
price
may
be
adversely
affected
and
we
may
be
unable
to
maintain
compliance
with
applicable
stock
exchange
listing
requirements.
We
are
not
currently
required
to
comply
with
Section
404(b)
of
the
Sarbanes-Oxley
Act,
and
are
therefore
not
currently
required
to
engage
our
independent
registered
public
accounting
firm
to
audit
the
effectiveness
of
our
internal
control.
We incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a company whose ADSs are publicly traded in the United
States, and our management is required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.
As a company whose ADSs commenced trading in the United States in October 2013, we incur significant legal,
accounting, insurance and other expenses that we did not incur before going public. In addition, the Sarbanes Oxley Act, the
Dodd‑Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and related rules implemented by the SEC and the New York
Stock Exchange have imposed various requirements on public companies, including requiring establishment and maintenance of
effective disclosure and financial controls. These costs will increase at the time when
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we are no longer an emerging growth company eligible to rely on exemptions under the JOBS Act from certain disclosure and
governance requirements. Our management and other personnel must devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance
initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more
time‑consuming and costly. For example, these rules and regulations have made it more difficult and more expensive for us to
obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar
coverage. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult and expensive for us to attract and retain qualified persons
to serve on our supervisory board or its committees or on our management board. Furthermore, if we are unable to satisfy our
obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of the ADSs, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and
potentially civil litigation.
U.S. investors may have difficulty enforcing civil liabilities against our Company or members of our management and
supervisory boards.
The members of our management and supervisory boards are non‑residents of the United States, and all or a substantial
portion of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible, or may be very
difficult, to serve process on such persons or us in the United States or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against them
or us based on civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States. In addition, awards of punitive damages in
actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in Germany. An award for monetary damages under the
U.S. securities laws would be considered punitive if it does not seek to compensate the claimant for loss or damage suffered and
is intended to punish the defendant. The enforceability of any judgment in Germany will depend on the particular facts of the case
as well as the laws and treaties in effect at the time. Litigation in Germany is also subject to rules of procedure that differ from the
U.S. rules, including with respect to the taking and admissibility of evidence, the conduct of the proceedings and the allocation of
costs. Proceedings in Germany would have to be conducted in the German language, and all documents submitted to the court
would, in principle, have to be translated into German. For these reasons, it may be difficult for a U.S. investor to bring an
original action in a German court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and
the members of our management and supervisory boards. The United States and Germany do not currently have a treaty providing
for recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters, though recognition
and enforcement of foreign judgments in Germany is possible in accordance with applicable German laws.
You may be subject to limitations on the transfer of your ADSs.
Your ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its books at any time or
from time to time when it deems doing so expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. The depositary may close
its books from time to time for a number of reasons, including in connection with corporate events such as a rights offering,
during which time the depositary needs to maintain an exact number of ADS holders on its books for a specified period. The
depositary may also close its books in emergencies, and on weekends and public holidays. The depositary may refuse to deliver,
transfer or register transfers of our ADSs generally when our share register or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any
time if we or the depositary thinks that it is advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or
governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason in accordance with the terms of the
deposit agreement. As a result, you may be unable to transfer your ADSs when you wish to.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they or anyone else gives negative
recommendations regarding our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish
about our business. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs would likely
decline. If other individuals, including short sellers, disseminate negative information regarding our business or our ADSs, the
market price for our ADSs may also decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports
on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for our
ADSs to decline.
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Your rights as a shareholder in a German corporation may differ from your rights as a shareholder in a U.S. corporation.
We are organized as a stock corporation ( Aktiengesellschaft ) under the laws of Germany. You should be aware that the
rights of shareholders under German law differ in important respects from those of shareholders in a U.S. corporation. These
differences include, in particular:
· Under German law, certain important resolutions, including, for example, capital decreases, measures under the
German Transformation Act ( Umwandlungsgesetz ), such as mergers, conversions and spin‑offs, the issuance of
convertible bonds or bonds with warrants attached and the dissolution of the German stock corporation apart from
insolvency and certain other proceedings, require the vote of a 75% majority of the capital present or represented at
the relevant shareholders’ meeting. Therefore, the holder or holders of a blocking minority of 25% or, depending on
the attendance level at the shareholders’ meeting, the holder or holders of a smaller percentage of the shares in a
German stock corporation may be able to block any such votes, possibly to our detriment or the detriment of our
other shareholders.
· As a general rule under German law, a shareholder has no direct recourse against the members of the management
board or supervisory board of a German stock corporation in the event that it is alleged that they have breached their
duty of loyalty or duty of care to the German stock corporation. Apart from insolvency or other special
circumstances, only the German stock corporation itself has the right to claim damages from members of either
board. A German stock corporation may waive or settle these damages claims only if at least three years have
passed and the shareholders approve the waiver or settlement at the shareholders’ meeting with a simple majority of
the votes cast, provided that a minority holding, in the aggregate, 10% or more of the German stock corporation’s
share capital does not have its opposition formally noted in the minutes maintained by a German civil law notary.
For more information, we have provided summaries of relevant German corporation law and of our articles of
association under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices” and “Item 10. Additional
Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association.”
Exchange rate fluctuations may reduce the amount of U.S. dollars you receive in respect of any dividends or other
distributions we may pay in the future in connection with your ADSs.
Under German law, the determination of whether we have been sufficiently profitable to pay dividends is made on the
basis of our unconsolidated annual financial statements prepared under the German Commercial Code ( Handelsgesetzbuch ) in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Germany. Exchange rate fluctuations may affect the amount in U.S.
dollars that our shareholders receive upon the payment of cash dividends or other distributions we declare and pay in euro, if any.
Such fluctuations could adversely affect the value of our ADSs and, in turn, the U.S. dollar proceeds that holders receive from the
sale of our ADSs.
In the event we are or become treated as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, U.S. holders of our ADSs could be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
In the event we were treated as a PFIC, U.S. holders (as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—
U.S. Taxation of ADSs”) of our ADSs could be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. These consequences
include the following: (i) if our ADSs are “marketable stock” for purposes of the PFIC rules and a U.S. holder makes a
mark‑to‑market election with respect to its ADSs, the U.S. holder will be required to include annually in its U.S. federal taxable
income an amount reflecting any year‑end increase in the value of its ADSs, (ii) if a U.S. holder does not make a mark‑to‑market
election, it may incur significant additional U.S. federal income taxes on income resulting from distributions on, or any gain from
the disposition of, our ADSs, as such income generally would be allocated over the U.S. holder’s holding period for its ADSs and
subject to tax at the highest rates of U.S. federal income taxation in effect for such years, with an interest charge then imposed on
the resulting taxes in respect of such income, and (iii) dividends paid by us would not be eligible for reduced individual rates of
U.S. federal income tax. In addition, U.S. holders that own an interest in a PFIC are required to file additional U.S. federal tax
information returns.
A U.S. holder may in certain circumstances mitigate adverse tax consequences of the PFIC rules by filing an election to
treat the PFIC as a qualified electing fund, or a QEF. However, in the event that we are or become a PFIC, we
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do not intend to comply with the reporting requirements necessary to permit U.S. holders to elect to treat us as a QEF. See
“Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Additional United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—PFIC Rules.”
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
voxeljet AG is a stock corporation organized under the laws of Germany. The legal predecessor of our company was
founded as Generis GmbH on May 5, 1999.
On October 23, 2013, we sold 5,600,000 ADSs in our initial public offering at a price of $13.00 per ADS, thereby
raising $72.8 million (before underwriting discounts and costs). The ADSs we sold in the initial public offering represented new
shares issued in a capital increase resolved by our shareholders for the purposes of the initial public offering on October 11, 2013.
On April 16, 2014, we completed a follow‑on offering of 3,000,000 ADSs at a public offering price of $15.00 per ADS.
Net proceeds from the follow‑ on offering to the Company were approximately $41.4 million. On April 24, 2014, the
underwriters in the follow‑on offering purchased 450,000 ADSs from certain of the Company’s shareholders (the “Selling
Shareholders”) pursuant to the overallotment option they were granted in the follow‑on offering. The Company did not receive
any proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the Selling Shareholders.
Our website is www.voxeljet.de . This website address is included in this annual report as an inactive textual reference
only. The information and other content appearing on our website are not part of this annual report. Our principal executive
offices are located at Paul‑Lenz‑Straße 1a, 86316 Friedberg, Germany, and our telephone number is +49 821 7483 100. Our agent
for service of process in the United States is Corporation Service Company, located at 1090 Vermont Avenue N.W., Washington,
DC 20005, telephone number (800) 927‑9800.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures, excluding sale and leaseback transactions, amounted to €3.7 million, €1.4 million and
€2.7 million, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. In 2016, our main capital expenditures were
for the
construction
of
a
new
office
building
and
production
facility
located
in
Friedberg,
Germany
for
approximately
€
3.1
million
(€
3.1
million
of
which
was
recognized
as
an
asset
under
construction
since
the
completion
of
the
building
on
the
property
was
not
finished
until
March
31,
2017).
In 2015, our main capital expenditures were for plant and machinery. In 2014,
our main capital expenditures were for licenses and plant and machinery. For further information about the property we purchased
in Friedberg, Germany, see “—D. Property, Plants and Equipment.”
B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Our Company
We are a leading provider of high‑speed, large‑format 3D printers and on‑demand parts services to industrial and
commercial customers. Our 3D printers employ a powder binding, additive manufacturing technology to produce parts using
various material sets, which consist of particulate materials and proprietary chemical binding agents. We offer our customers the
highest volumetric output rate in the industry due to the combination of our large build boxes and print speeds. We provide our
3D printers and on‑demand parts services to industrial and commercial customers serving the automotive, aerospace, film and
entertainment, art and architecture, engineering and consumer product end markets.
We currently offer six different 3D printer platforms, with build boxes that range from 300 × 200 × 150 millimeters to
4,000 × 2,000 × 1,000 millimeters and various print speeds, which produce volumetric output rates ranging from 0.7 liters per
hour to 123.0 liters per hour. All of our platforms support our commercialized material sets,
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sand and plastics, along with their respective proprietary chemical binding agents. We develop our material sets according to the
needs of our industrial and commercial customers, and we are currently in varying stages of developing new material sets,
including shell molding and chromite sands, PMMA‑based plastics, ceramics, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide and cement.
Our business is divided into two principal segments: Systems and Services.
In our Systems segment, we focus on the sale, production and development of 3D printers. In addition, we sell
refurbished 3D printers which were produced for and used in our Services segment and provide printers to customers under
operating lease agreements. We also provide consumables, including particulate materials and proprietary chemical binding
agents, maintenance contracts and spare parts to our customers.
In our Services segment, we print on‑demand parts for our customers. We operate service centers in Germany, the
United Kingdom, the United States and China. At our service centers, we create parts, molds, cores and models based on designs
produced using 3D computer‑aided design, or CAD, software. Furthermore, there are customers who order casted parts directly
from us. In those cases, we provide molds or models to external suppliers who then cast the parts for our customers. We believe
our service center in Germany is one of the largest additive manufacturing service centers in Europe.
We sold our first 3D printer in 2002 and commenced our on‑demand parts services business in 2003. As of
December 31, 2016, we had an installed base of 124 printers worldwide, and we operated service centers in Germany, the United
States, and the United Kingdom. Our service centers in Germany and the United States each have approximately 43,000 square
feet of production space. Our service centers in the United Kingdom and China have approximately 2,600 square feet and
approximately 7,400 square feet of production space, respectively.
Our Additive Manufacturing Technology
Our printers build or print parts from digital designs produced using 3D CAD software by successively depositing thin
layers of particulate materials. A printhead passes over each layer and deposits our proprietary chemical binding agent in the
selected areas where the finished product will be created.
The following is a graphical depiction illustrating our manufacturing process:
Our 3D Printers
We currently produce six 3D printer platforms. Our 3D printers consist of a build box that includes a machine platform
and a controller. Our 3D printers differ based on build box size and print speeds, but all utilize our technology and can support
each of our existing material sets and each of our material sets that are currently in development. As of December 31, 2016, we
had an installed base of 124 printers worldwide, which includes (i) printers in our service centers and (ii) printers which are no
longer commercially available, but which we believe our customers continue to use.
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The following table is a comparison of our 3D printer platforms:
Platform
Build Box (millimeters)
External Dimensions (millimeters)
Print Resolution (dots per inch)
Layer Thickness (micrometers)
Volumetric Output Rate (liters per hour)
Date of Introduction
VX4000
4,000 X 2,000 X 1,000
20,000 X 7,800 X 4,000
200
120 - 300
123
2011
Platform
Build Box/Envelope* (millimeters)
External Dimensions (millimeters)
Print Resolution (dots per inch)
Layer Thickness (micrometers)
Volumetric Output Rate (liters per hour)
Date of Introduction
VXC800
850 X 500 X 8
5,000 X 2,800 X 2,500
200
120 - 300
18
2012
VX2000
2,000 X 1,000 X 1,000
5,000 X 3,000 X 2,300
200, 600
100 - 400
47
2013
VX500
500 X 400 X 300
1,800 X 1,800 X 1,700
200, 600
80 - 150
3
2007
VX1000
1,000 X 600 X 500
3,000 X 2,800 X 2,150
200, 600
100 - 300
23
2011
VX200
300 X 200 X 150
2,100 X 1,500 X 1,400
200, 600
150
0.7
2012
* Build envelope relates to VXC800 only. The third dimension of the VXC800 is theoretically unlimited.
Materials
Our commercialized material sets are comprised of sand and plastic particulate materials and their respective proprietary
chemical binding agents. We believe these material sets are well suited for our commercial and industrial customers because these
materials either (i) are commonly used in their existing manufacturing processes or (ii) match or exceed desired performance
characteristics of existing materials being utilized in their manufacturing processes. Our sand material set offerings include four
types of sands: (i) silica, (ii) kerphalite, (iii) zirconium oxide and (iv) chromite, with furan, inorganic, shell molding and phenol
resins as proprietary chemical binding agents. Our plastics material set offering is based on Poly(methyl methacrylate), or
PMMA, and Polypor B and C as the proprietary chemical binding agents.
We are currently in varying stages of development of new material sets which include the following particulate
materials:
·
·
·
·
·
·
different types of sands;
different types of ceramics;
silicon carbide;
tungsten carbide;
cement; and
polyamide.
On‑‑demand Parts Services
At our service centers, we create parts, molds, cores and models for a variety of industrial and commercial customers
based on designs produced using 3D CAD software. We receive orders directly from customers and indirectly through our sales
agents.
Our service centers in Germany and the United States each have approximately 43,000 square feet of production space.
Our service centers in the United Kingdom and China have approximately 2,600 square feet and approximately 7,400 square feet
of production space, respectively.
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We help our customers move from the design stage to the production stage by assisting them in evaluating the optimal
design and material sets for their production needs. After printing parts, we employ a thorough cleaning, finishing, quality control
review and packaging and shipping process to ensure the customer receives high‑quality and immediately‑usable parts. Based on
our capacity utilization, the lead time required for us to print a part for a customer ranges from three to 21 days and is typically
five business days. Due to the size of the printers’ build boxes utilized in our German service center, specifically the VX4000
printer, we are able to print more parts simultaneously on one printer than anyone else in the industry, resulting in cost‑effective
and quick turnaround times for our customers’ print jobs and increased revenue and profitability for us.
Our technicians also train customers on operating, maintaining and troubleshooting our 3D printers through hands‑on
experience at our German service center. Additionally, our technicians provide field support to our customers as needed. After the
warranty period, we offer maintenance contracts to our customers. Those contracts include scheduled service visits where we
maintain and clean the 3D printers as well as on demand visits and trouble shooting, in case of sudden problems.
Our Customers
We are an early entrant in the market for industrial part production utilizing additive manufacturing and are one of the
few providers of additive manufacturing solutions to industrial customers, including the foundry, automotive, heavy equipment,
power fluid handling and aerospace industries. We also support the film and entertainment industry through our acquisition of
voxeljet UK. We believe we have a reputation for providing high‑quality systems and services in the marketplace with strong
relationships with a number of leading multinational customers, including Daimler AG, BMW AG, Ford Motor Company, 3D
Systems Corporation, Volkswagen AG and Porsche SE, as well as with other key users of additive manufacturing, and technical
universities such as the University of Rostock, and the Vaal University of Technology. Purchasers of our printers also include
original equipment manufacturers, government agencies and independent service bureaus that provide rapid prototyping and
manufacturing services to their customers. Many of our customers have been customers for over a decade. We also collaborate on
research and development projects with a number of our automotive and technical university customers, including Daimler AG,
BMW AG, Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen AG and the Technical University of Munich. As our customers integrate additive
manufacturing into their production processes, they typically continue to utilize our on‑demand parts service center for a variety
of reasons, including for incremental capacity and for parts printed from different material sets.
We conduct a significant portion of our business with a limited number of customers. Our top five customers represented
24%, 21% and 26% of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. In the year ended
December 31, 2016, there were no customers who accounted for more than 10% of our revenues. These customers primarily
purchased 3D printers. Sales of on‑demand parts and consumables tend to be from repeat customers that may utilize the capability
of our on‑demand parts service centers for one month or longer. Sales of 3D printers are low volume and generate significant
revenues, but the same customers do not necessarily buy printers in each period. Timing of customer purchases is dependent on
the customer’s capital budgeting cycle, which may vary from period to period. The nature of the revenues from 3D printers does
not leave us dependent upon a single or a limited number of customers. Rather, the timing of the sales can have a material effect
on our period‑to‑period financial results.
Sales and Marketing
We sell our 3D printers and related consumables both through our direct sales force and with the assistance of our
network of more than 20 sales agents globally. Our sales organization, including our dedicated sales, service and application
engineers, is responsible for worldwide sales of our 3D printers and on‑demand parts services, as well as for the management and
coordination of our growing sales agent network. Our direct sales force focuses primarily on customers in Europe, North America
and Asia Pacific, while our sales agents are responsible for facilitating sales in other areas of the world where we do not operate
directly. We have entered into partnership agreements with each of our sales agents, which grant the sales agent the right to
market our products in a specified territory on either an exclusive or non‑exclusive basis, depending on the sales agent; however,
all sales contracts for our products are entered into between us and our customers. Certain of these sales agents also provide
maintenance services to customers in their specified territories. Our application engineers provide professional services through
pre‑sales support and assist existing customers so that they can take advantage of our latest consumables and techniques to
improve part quality and machine productivity. This group also leverages our customer contacts to help identify new application
opportunities that utilize
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our proprietary processes. As of December 31, 2016, our worldwide sales staff for systems and parts consisted of 41 employees.
We also expect that our subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific will improve market access through local market
development and allow the targeting of specific customers.
Educating our customers and raising awareness in our target markets about the many uses and benefits of our 3D
printing technology is an important part of our sales process. We believe that customers who experience the efficiency gains,
decreased lead times, increased design flexibility and reduced costs of 3D printing as compared to subtractive manufacturing are
more likely to purchase our 3D printers and utilize our on‑demand parts services. We encourage potential purchasers of our 3D
printers to first utilize our on‑demand parts services so that they can experience firsthand the benefits of our 3D printing
technology. We currently market our brand and our services at industry conferences, trade shows, and across various forms of
digital and traditional media and plan to increasingly expand our marketing efforts in North America in conjunction with our
geographic expansion to that region.
Services and Warranty
Our fully‑trained service technicians perform installations of our 3D printers. For the first year following the purchase of
one of our 3D printers, we provide complimentary service and support under a warranty. We also offer service contracts under
which our customers can purchase maintenance and services beyond the one‑year term of the warranty. These service contracts
contain varying degrees of support services and are priced accordingly. Finally, we sell spare parts which we maintain in stock to
assist in providing service expeditiously to our customers. Historically, we have not experienced a high level of warranty claims.
Manufacturing and Suppliers
Manufacturing
We assemble our 3D printers at our facility in Friedberg, Germany using components sourced from distributors of
standard electrical or mechanical parts, as well as from manufacturers which design custom parts tailored to the proprietary
designs of our machines. We periodically review the quality and performance of our distributors and manufacturers. Upon
completion of the assembly of our 3D printers, we perform tests to ensure that the printer is functioning properly before the
system is shipped and again after the system is installed at the customer’s site.
To provide customers with assurance regarding the quality and consistency of our systems, we obtained ISO 9001:2008
certification for our facility in Germany in 2010. ISO 9001:2008 provides a structure for a quality management system that strives
for customer satisfaction, consistent quality and efficiency. In addition, there are internal benefits such as improved customer
satisfaction, interdepartmental communications, work processes and customer‑ and‑supplier partnerships. The ISO 9000 family of
standards relates to quality management systems and is designed to help organizations ensure that they meet the needs of
customers and other stakeholders.
Inventory and Suppliers
We maintain an inventory of certain parts to facilitate the timely assembly of products required by our production plan.
While most components used in our 3D printers are available from multiple suppliers, certain of these components are only
available from limited sources. We consider our limited‑source suppliers, including the suppliers of our printheads, to be reliable;
however, the loss of one of these suppliers could result in a delay in our operations. This type of delay could require us to find and
re‑qualify components supplied by one or more new vendors. Although we consider our relationships with our suppliers to be
good, we continue to develop risk management plans for these critical suppliers. Regarding inventory we defined targets for raw
materials as well as for work in progress. The strategy includes meeting customer expectation and demand for spare parts, wear
parts as well as 3D printers with an attractive lead time.
Research and Development
We have an ongoing research and development program to develop new 3D printers and material sets and to improve
and expand the capabilities of our existing 3D printers and related material sets. As of December 31, 2016, we had various active
research and development projects in different stages of completion. All research and development costs are charged to expense
as incurred, as the criteria set forth in IAS 38 for capitalizing such costs have not yet been
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met. Our development efforts are augmented by development arrangements with research institutions, customers and suppliers of
material and hardware, among others.
In addition to our internally‑developed technology platforms and the related software, we have licensed the rights to
intellectual property developed by third parties through licensing agreements that may obligate us to pay a license fee or royalty,
typically based upon a dollar amount per unit or a percentage of the revenues generated by such products. The amount of such
royalties represents a considerable portion of our cost of sales regarding 3D printers and therefore has a material impact to our
results of operations or financial position for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Our research and development expenses were € 5.7 million, € 5.5 million, and € 4.0 million for the years ended
December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
A significant portion of our research and development expenditures has been focused upon developing proprietary
systems, processes and materials, including:
·
·
·
·
·
·
the qualification of new print materials, including phenolic resins and inorganic binders, PMMA‑based and other
plastics, ceramics, silicon carbide and cement;
the development of new or enhanced proprietary chemical binding agents;
the development of new or enhanced binding mechanisms;
the mechanics of spreading powders in a build box;
the transfer of digital data through a series of software links to drive a printhead; and
synchronizing all of the above to print ever‑increasing volumes of material per unit time.
We also regularly apply for research and development grants and subsidies under European and German grant rules for
small and medium enterprises. The majority of these grants and subsidies are non‑refundable. We have received grants and
subsidies from different authorities, including the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology ( Bundesministerium
für Wirtschaft und Technologie ), the Bavarian Research Foundation ( Bayerische Forschungsstiftung ) and the German Federal
Foundation Environment ( Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt ).
We expect to continue to invest significantly in research and development in the future.
Intellectual Property
We consider our proprietary technology to be important to the development, manufacture, and sale of our products and
seek to protect such technology through a combination of patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. We also have in place
confidentiality agreements and other contractual arrangements with our employees, consultants, customers and others.
Patents. As of February 28, 2017, we owned or co owned 44 issued U.S. patents and 29 pending U.S. patent
applications. In addition, we own or co‑own patent rights in Europe, Asia, Brazil and Canada. In total, as of February 28, 2017
our patent portfolio consisted of over 320 patents and patent applications. Our currently issued patents will expire at different
times in the future, with the earliest expiring in 2017 and the latest expiring in 2036. Our currently pending applications will
generally remain in effect for 20 years from the date of the initial applications.
These patent assets are complemented by our marketing, business development and applications know‑how and our
ongoing research and development efforts. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that our patents, licenses or other intellectual
property rights will afford us a meaningful competitive advantage in the fast‑paced and innovative field in which we operate.
Trade Secrets. As is true in our industry generally, the development of our products, processes and materials has
involved a considerable amount of experience, manufacturing and processing know‑how and research and
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development techniques. We protect our proprietary processes and technologies with a blend of patent protection and trade secret
protection. As part of our overall intellectual property strategy, we protect our non‑patented proprietary knowledge as trade
secrets through confidentiality controls and through the use of nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements.
Licenses. We are a party to various licenses and other arrangements that allow us to practice and improve our
technology under a range of patents, patent applications and other intellectual property, including license agreements with ExOne,
3D Systems (Z Corp), Bego Medical GmbH, Bego, and Evonik IP GmbH each described in more detail below.
In 2003, we entered into an agreement with Extrude Hone GmbH (now doing business as ExOne) related to patents and
technologies using certain binders, methods and equipment for 3-D printing processes, including sand-based 3-D printing. Under
the terms of this agreement, we granted to ExOne certain rights to exploit these technologies in return for a purchase by ExOne of
an ownership share in certain patents and related technologies and an ongoing obligation to pay royalties to us. The parties also
agreed to share revenues generated from any licenses granted by ExOne. Under this agreement, we are permitted to use machines
and provide services relating to these technologies, but not to make or sell machines utilizing these technologies without ExOne's
consent, although ExOne has an obligation to consent if the machines do not compete with products engineered, manufactured or
sold by ExOne or its affiliates. If we intend to sell any of the intellectual property that is the subject of this agreement, ExOne has
the option to acquire it at fair market value. Similarly, ExOne has a right of first refusal regarding the purchase of any
developments and improvements we make to such intellectual property and a set of six patents (including one U.S. patent) related
to wax technologies, as well as the right to negotiate to receive a license to such developments and improvements. We later
signed an amendment with ExOne specifically allowing us to use the subject patents for our 3D printers working with plastics in
exchange for the payment of a license fee. The obligation of both parties to pay royalties under this agreement extends until the
expiration of the last issued patent included in the list of transferred patent assets.
While our rights are limited regarding use of certain binders and sand-based casting methods in 3D printers under our
agreements with ExOne, we believe these limitations will not materially impact the growth of our business, as we are able to
continue certain activities in compliance with the agreement and we have developed processes which do not rely upon the subject
patent portfolio, associated agreements and related technologies. If needed, we will take steps to protect our ability to continue
such activities including by challenging the validity or enforceability of certain provisions of the agreement, however, the
outcome of any dispute with ExOne is uncertain.
In 2004, we entered into a non-exclusive license and sublicense agreement with Z Corp (acquired by 3D Systems in
2012), which allows us to make, use and sell 3D printing equipment for the fabrication of plastic parts utilizing organic powder
binders under certain Z Corp and MIT patents. In return for these rights, we agreed to pay an initial license fee and ongoing tiered
royalties. We later amended this agreement, expanding our permitted use of the licensed binder-jetting technology to include
inorganic powder, ceramics, and concrete printing in a process that does not require post processing other than oven baking parts
or liquid infiltration, but restricting us to monochromatic color configurations. The agreement extends until the expiration of the
licensed patents; however, the parties may terminate the agreement under certain conditions.
In 2012, we entered into a cross licensing agreement with Bego pursuant to which each party granted to the other certain
exclusive rights regarding each parties’ patents and applications directed to continuous additive manufacturing. We granted to
Bego an exclusive license to market patent covered products in the field of laser sintering and other related technologies, while
Bego granted to us an exclusive license to market patent covered products in the field of binder-jetting technology (other than for
dental applications). We also agreed to pay to Bego a royalty and to pay a participation fee to Bego in the event that we grant any
sublicenses to the technology (which, to date, we have not done). This agreement automatically terminates upon the expiration of
the last patent subject to the agreement.
In March 2015, we entered into a non-exclusive technology license agreement with Evonik IP GmbH, in which voxeljet
acquired a license for a 3D printing process using polymeric materials that we believe offers distinct speed and cost benefits. This
powder bed fusion process allows for production of parts with thermoplastic properties. In return for these rights, we agreed to
pay an upfront payment and ongoing royalties for each royalty period, subject to the payment
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of a fixed minimum annual royalty if higher. The agreement shall remain in force until the expiration of the last to expire patent
of the licensed patents; however, either party may terminate the agreement under certain conditions.
In addition to the foregoing licenses, we have also licensed additional patents that we believe can be used to expand our
material set offerings.
Trademarks. We have secured word and figurative trademarks for voxeljet in Europe and have international (IR)
applications covering the United States, Russia, Mexico and a number of countries in Asia.
Competition
Our principal competitors consist of other developers of 3D printing systems and providers of 3D printing services.
These companies use a variety of additive manufacturing technologies, including:
·
·
·
·
·
fused deposition modeling;
binder jetting;
inkjet;
selective laser sintering; and
stereolithography.
Some of the companies that have developed and use one or more additive manufacturing technologies to compete with
us include: ExOne, 3D Systems Corporation, Stratasys Ltd. and EOS GmbH.
These technologies, which compete for market share in the additive manufacturing industry, possess various competitive
advantages and disadvantages relative to one another within key categories, including resolution, accuracy, surface quality,
variety and properties of the materials they use and produce, capacity, speed, color, transparency and the ability to print multiple
materials. Due to these multiple categories, we believe end users usually make technology purchasing decisions based on the
characteristics that they value most for a particular application. The competitive environment that has developed is therefore
intense and dynamic, as market players often position their technologies to capture multiple vertical markets.
Despite the challenging competitive landscape, we believe that we have several competitive advantages, including the
size of our build platforms, our printing speeds, the volumetric output rate of our 3D printers and the variety of qualified material
sets that we offer to commercial and industrial customers.
We also compete with established subtractive manufacturers in the industrial products market. However, we believe that
we are well positioned to expand our share of the industrial products market as additive manufacturing gains recognition and
increases its cost effectiveness. As our technologies improve and our unit cost of production decreases, we expect to be able to
better compete with subtractive manufacturing on a wide range of products, thereby expanding our addressable market.
Seasonality
Historically, our results of operations have been subject to seasonal factors. Purchases of our 3D printers often follow a
seasonal pattern owing to the capital budgeting cycles of our customers. Generally, 3D printer sales are higher in our second and
fourth fiscal quarters than in our first and third fiscal quarters. Sales in our Services segment generally are not affected by
seasonality. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our revenues and
operating results may fluctuate.”
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Regulatory/Environmental Matters
We are subject to environmental, health and safety regulations in Germany, as well as in the countries where our
products and materials are used or sold.
Germany
Legal Requirements for Manufacturing Sites
Emissions Control Law. We do require a permit granted under the Federal Emissions Control Act ( Bundes‑
Immissionsschutzgesetz , or BImSchG), as we use resins ( Harze ) to create models for customers. Therefore, the permit was
granted to us in December 2013 by the District Administration (Landratsamt) of Aichach- Friedberg. The building permit was
granted under the condition ( Auflage ), that the amount of resins processed by us does not exceed 25 kilograms per hour.
Facilities that are subject to BImSchG are required to comply with the current state of the art ( Stand der Technik ) in emissions
reduction and safety technology. We are therefore supervised by the Landesamt für Umweltschutz (LfU) and as well by the
District Administration of Aichach Friedberg and have regularly give full reports about the emissions in our facilities.
Production, Possession and Handling of Waste and Dangerous Goods. Our business activities result in the generation,
possession and handling of waste, including hazardous waste. Under the German Act on Recycling ( Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz ,
or KrWG), the generation, possession and handling of waste is subject to several obligations, depending, among other things, on
the waste concerned. As the producer ( Erzeuger ) and possessor ( Besitzer ) of waste, we are generally responsible for the proper
handling of this waste.
Section 50 of the KrWG requires producers, possessors, collectors and transporters of waste and disposal firms to verify
to the competent authority proper disposal of hazardous waste ( gefährliche Abfälle ). Whether a certain substance qualifies as
hazardous waste is determined according to the German Ordinance on the European Waste List (Verordnung über das
Europäische Abfallverzeichnis ).
We further comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, which is accepted as an international
guideline for the safe transportation or shipment of dangerous goods or hazardous materials by water.
We also comply with the Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
December 18, 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).
We have entered into an agreement with a third party in Germany to serve as our external risk prevention officer (
Gefahrgutbeauftragter ). The risk prevention officer ensures that we comply with specific regulations and provisions when
dangerous goods are shipped. In addition, we have two internal “Authorized Persons” (Beauftragte Personen), which are equally
responsible for the risk prevention, and who are advised by the external risk prevention officer.
Legal Requirements Related to Products
Product Safety. Our products are used in a wide range of industries. As some of our products may be used directly by
customers, we are subject to the Product Safety Act ( Produktsicherheitsgesetz , or ProdSG), which relates to general product
safety. With the ProdSG of November 8, 2011 and the ninth regulation to the ProdSG as amended ( Neunte Verordnung zum
Produktsicherheitsgesetz ( Maschinenverordnung )), the German legislature transformed, among other European Directives, the
Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 17, 2006 on machinery into German law. The
ProdSG applies whenever products are made available on the market, exhibited or used for the first time in the context of a
commercial activity, but only in the absence of other legal provisions that provide for corresponding or more far‑reaching
provisions.
Under the ProdSG, a product may be made available on the market only if it complies with specific regulations for such
product, or, in the absence of such specific regulations, if its intended or foreseeable use does not put the health and safety of
persons at risk.
In addition to compliance with this safety requirement, if products are made available to consumers,
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manufacturers must provide consumers with the necessary information to enable them to assess the risks inherent in such product
where such risks are not immediately obvious without adequate warnings and to take precautions against those risks. If
manufacturers or distributors of consumer products discover that a product is dangerous, they must notify the competent
authorities and, if necessary, cooperate with them. Under certain circumstances, a product may have to be recalled.
Occupational Health and Safety Requirements. Where the working environment may pose threats to employees,
occupational health and safety laws are applicable. German law on occupational safety is heavily influenced by the requirements
of EU law. The central rules on occupational safety in Germany are contained in the Act on Occupational Safety (
Arbeitsschutzgesetz , or ArbSchG), which requires employers to provide for their employees’ safety. This general obligation is put
into effect through several ordinances ( Rechtsverordnungen ) under the ArbSchG, which are defined in technical guidelines. One
central element is the Workplaces Ordinance ( Arbeitsstättenverordnung ), which contains various regulations on workplace
conditions relating to, for example, ventilation, temperature and illumination.
In addition, we are under surveillance of the employers' liability insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft). All
companies in Germany are obliged to be member of the Berufsgenossenschaft, who is monitoring the companies regarding
compliance with the Health and Safety Requirements.
Potential Liability for Products and Environmental Losses
Our business activities are such that product liability and liability for environmental damage are possible. Under general
rules of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch , or BGB), fault‑based compensation ( Schadensersatz ) is to be paid
for breach of contract or unlawful infringements of legally protected rights. This obligation does not only apply to our own acts
but may extend to behavior of individuals that work or undertake tasks for us under Sections 278, and 831 of BGB.
In addition, we may be strictly liable ( i.e. , liable regardless of our fault), as a Producer under the Product Liability Act (
Produkthaftungsgesetz , or ProdHaftG), for damages caused by a defective product. “Producer” means any participant in the
production process, the importer of the defective product, any person putting a name, trademark or other distinguishing feature on
the product, and any person supplying a product whose actual producer cannot be identified. “Defectiveness” means the lack of
the safety which the general public is entitled to expect when taking into account, among other things, the presentation of the
product and the uses to which it can reasonably be put.
Additionally, in case of damage to persons or property caused by our facility, we may additionally be strictly liable
under the Act on Liability for Environmental Damage ( Umwelthaftungsgesetz ) and under the Environmental Damage Act (
Umweltschadensgesetz ).
Worldwide
Our operations and the activities of our employees, contractors and agents around the world are subject to the laws and
regulations of numerous countries, including the United States. These laws and regulations include data privacy requirements,
labor relations laws, tax laws, anti‑competition regulations, prohibitions on payments to governmental officials, import and trade
restrictions and export requirements. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal sanctions against our
officers, our employees, or us and may result in prohibitions on the conduct of our business. Any such violations could also result
in prohibitions on our ability to offer our products and services in one or more countries and could materially damage our
reputation, our ability to attract and retain employees, our business and our operating results.
Our operations (particularly in those countries with developing economies) are also subject to risks of violations of laws
prohibiting improper payments and bribery, including the European Union Anti‑Corruption Act, U.K. Bribery Act, U.S. Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act and similar regulations in other jurisdictions. Although we have implemented policies and procedures
designed to ensure compliance with these laws, our employees, contractors, and agents may take actions in violation of such
policies. Any such violations, even if prohibited by our policies, could subject us to civil or criminal penalties or otherwise have
an adverse effect on our business and reputation.
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Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may be subject to various claims or legal, arbitral or administrative proceedings that arise in the
ordinary course of our business. We are currently not a party to, and we are not aware of any threat of, any legal, arbitral or
administrative proceedings which, in the opinion of our management, is likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Insurance
We maintain comprehensive business liability insurance coverage ( Betriebshaftpflichtversicherung
“Compact‑Firmenversicherung” ) for our business operations. In addition, we have obtained directors and officers liability
insurance, which covers expenses, capped at a certain amount, that our management and supervisory board members and our
executive managers may incur in connection with their conduct as members of our management and supervisory boards or
executive managers. We also maintain insurance policies on our 3D printers, a group insurance policy for our employees covering
occupational accidents, car insurance policies and a legal expenses insurance policy. We consider the insurance coverage we have
to be adequate in light of the risks we face.
Geographic Information
Our revenues by geographic region for the year ended December 31, 2016 were EMEA 60%, Asia Pacific 22% and
Americas 19%, as compared to EMEA 76%, Asia Pacific 11% and Americas 13% for the same period in 2015. In 2014, our
revenues by geographic region were EMEA 65%, Asia Pacific 27% and Americas 8%. See Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results.”
C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Our corporate structure includes v oxeljet AG (formerly Voxeljet Technology GmbH) and the three wholly-owned
subsidiaries voxeljet America Inc. ( voxeljet America ), voxeljet UK Ltd. ( voxeljet UK ) and voxeljet India Pvt. Ltd ( voxeljet
India ). Additionally it includes voxeljet China Co., Ltd. where we hold a shareholding supermajority of 95.825% interest. On
February 5, 2014, our subsidiary, voxeljet America Inc., was incorporated in Delaware. voxeljet America Inc. is headquartered
near Detroit, Michigan and conducts our North American operations. We began printing on‑demand parts at the facility in the
first quarter of 2015. On October 1, 2014, we completed the acquisition of all outstanding shares of Propshop (Model Makers)
Limited (“Propshop”) which became voxeljet UK Ltd, headquartered in Iver Heath, near London. On November 30, 2015, we
established our subsidiary voxeljet India Pvt. Ltd to pursue opportunities in the industrial 3D printing market in India. voxeljet
India is headquartered in the city of Pune, a large automotive and manufacturing center near Mumbai. voxeljet China was
established on April 11, 2016 and is located in the city of Suzhou, near Shanghai.
D. PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
Primary Usage:
Area (Sq. Feet)
Location
EMEA
Friedberg, Germany
Augsburg, Germany
Iver Heath, UK
Asia Pacific
Pune, India
Suzhou, China
Headquarters, production space, office space
Production space, office space
Production space, office space
Office space
Production space, office space
Americas
Canton, Michigan, USA
Production space, office space
We believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current and foreseeable requirements.
35
77,380
30,000
2,600
1,400
7,400
50,000
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ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction
with the section entitled “Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected Financial Data” and our audited financial statements and the
related notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report. In addition to historical financial information, the following
discussion contains forward‑looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and opinions. Our actual results could differ
materially from those discussed in these forward‑looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences
or cause our actual results or the timing of selected events to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward‑looking
statements include those set forth under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking
Statements” and elsewhere in this annual report.
A. OPERATING RESULTS
Overview
We are a leading provider of high‑speed, large‑format 3D printers and on‑demand parts services to industrial and
commercial customers. Our 3D printers employ a powder binding, additive manufacturing technology to produce parts using
various material sets, which consist of particulate materials and proprietary chemical binding agents. We offer our customers the
highest volumetric output rate in the industry due to the combination of our large build boxes and print speeds. We provide our
3D printers and on‑demand parts services to industrial and commercial customers serving the automotive, aerospace, film and
entertainment, art and architecture, engineering and consumer product end markets.
We currently offer six different 3D printer platforms, with build boxes that range from 300 × 200 × 150 millimeters to
4,000 X 2,000 X 1,000 millimeters and various print speeds, which produce volumetric output rates ranging from 0.7 liters per
hour to 123.0 liters per hour. All of our platforms support our commercialized material sets, sand and plastics, along with their
respective proprietary chemical binding agents. We develop our material sets according to the needs of our industrial and
commercial customers, and we are currently in varying stages of developing new material sets, including shell molding and
chromite sands, PMMA‑based plastics, ceramics, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, wood powder and cement.
We believe that our innovations in 3D printers will continue to increase customer adoption of our additive
manufacturing technology in industrial and commercial applications.
Our business is divided into two segments: Systems and Services.
In our Systems segment, we focus on the development, production and sale of 3D printers. In addition, we sell
refurbished 3D printers which were produced for and used in our Services segment. Before these 3D printers are sold, they are
fully refurbished and a new printhead is installed. We also provide consumables, including particulate materials and proprietary
chemical binding agents, maintenance contracts and spare parts to our customers.
In our Services segment, we print on‑demand custom parts for our customers. At our service centers, we create parts,
molds, cores and models based on designs produced using 3D computer‑aided design, or CAD, software.
We sold our first 3D printer in 2002 and commenced our on‑demand parts services business in 2003. As of
December 31, 2016, we had an installed base of 124 printers worldwide, and we operated service centers in Germany, the United
States, the United Kingdom and China.
Our revenues were € 22.3 million, € 24.1 million, and € 16.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and
2014, respectively.
Our net loss increased by € 1.7 million to a net loss of € 11.3 million in 2016 compared to a loss of € 9.6 million in 2015.
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Seasonality
Historically, our results of operations have been subject to seasonal factors. Purchases of our 3D printers often follow a
seasonal pattern owing to the capital budgeting cycles of our customers. Generally, 3D printer sales are higher in our second and
fourth fiscal quarters than in our first and third fiscal quarters. Sales in our Services segment generally are not affected by
seasonality. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our revenues and
operating results may fluctuate.”
Growth Strategy
Our business strategy focuses on (i) growing our Services segment in order to print more parts for our existing customers
and gain new customers in Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas and (ii) using our knowledge and market position to increase sales
of our 3D printers. Our growth strategy is also dependent in part on continuing our investment in research and development
activities, which should enable us to meet the needs of our target customers through the development of new material sets and 3D
printers with faster print speeds. Expanding our business to realize our growth strategy may require additional investments of
capital from time to time, and our existing sources of cash and any funds generated from operations may not provide us with
sufficient capital. For various reasons additional financing may not be available when required, or may not be available on terms
favorable to us. If we fail to obtain adequate cash sources on a timely basis or if funds cannot be obtained at reasonable costs, we
may not be able to achieve our planned rate of growth, which will adversely affect our results of operations.
We intend to develop our customer base internationally, so that our revenues are not dependent on sales to any one
region. We also seek to grow both our Systems and Services segments so that we are not overly reliant on either segment. We
believe that this strategy will help to offset some of the variability in the Systems segment, which can be more susceptible to
macroeconomic trends.
Outlook
We believe that interest in additive manufacturing is increasing as a result of increased commercialization of 3D printers
and recent media attention worldwide. We occupy a defined space in the additive manufacturing market because of the size of our
machines and their ability to print industrial products from qualified industrial materials. While our 3D printers may differ from
those of many other additive manufacturing companies, we expect an increase in additive manufacturing to generally have a
positive effect on the public’s awareness of our industry.
Furthermore, we believe that additive manufacturing provides several advantages over traditional design and
manufacturing processes, including:
·
Elimination of design constraints;
· Reduced cost of complexity;
· Mass customization;
· Reduced time to market; and
· Cost effective short run production.
There are a number of available additive manufacturing technologies, including powder binding, inkjet, fused deposition
modeling, stereolithography and selective laser sintering. These technologies differ on the basis of accuracy, surface quality,
variety and properties of consumables, capacity, speed, color variety, transparency and the ability to print multiple materials,
among other factors. Our 3D printers employ a powder binding technology to produce parts using various material sets. Powder
binding is a process in which layers of powder are bonded by a liquid agent that is deposited through a printhead. We believe this
process has the fastest build speeds and the lowest materials cost relative to other additive manufacturing technologies.
We believe that our investments in additional capacity in Europe and service centers in the United States, the United
Kingdom, China and India should position us to generate growth in our Services segment in the future.
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Key Measures of Our Business
We use several financial and operating metrics to measure our business. We use these metrics to assess the progress of
our business, make decisions on where to allocate capital, time and technology investments, and assess the longer‑ term
performance of our marketplace. The key metrics are as follows:
Revenues
Our revenues are generated primarily by sales of our 3D printers, consumables and custom 3D printed parts produced at
our service centers. We operate in two segments: Systems and Services. The Systems segment derives its revenues from the sale
of 3D printers and products and services related to our 3D printers, including consumables, which include particulate materials
and proprietary chemical binding agents, maintenance contracts and spare parts. Systems revenue also includes revenues
associated with the leasing of 3D printers to customers; however, revenues related to the leasing of 3D printers is not material.
The Services segment derives its revenues from the on‑demand printing of parts at our service centers.
Our revenues are influenced by:
·
·
·
·
·
·
global macroeconomic conditions;
the adoption rate of our 3D printers and material sets;
our ability to develop new products and technologies that address the increasingly sophisticated and varied needs of
prospective end‑users, particularly with respect to the physical properties of print materials and other consumables;
the capital expenditure budgets of our potential customers;
the amount of design and manufacturing activity; and
the adoption of additive manufacturing technology in various industries.
Sales of our 3D printers, particularly our higher‑priced systems, typically involve long sales cycles, are subject to
seasonality and can be difficult to forecast. Because each of our printers can represent a significant amount of revenues, a delay in
a purchasing decision, our production schedule or the shipment of a printer can have a material impact on our periodic reporting
of revenues.
In the course of our routine activities, we sell to customers 3D printers that we have operated in our service centers.
Before these 3D printers are sold, they are generally fully refurbished, a process which includes the installation of a new
printhead. On average, these refurbished printers have been operating within the service center for 1.5 to 2.5 years prior to their
sale. The proceeds from the sale of such refurbished 3D printers are recognized as Systems revenues.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit and gross profit margin for our Systems and Services segments are mainly influenced by materials,
labor and energy costs. In particular, the gross profit margin in our Systems segment on sales of our 3D printers also depend on
the type and status of the sold products. Our Systems segment sometimes sells refurbished printers manufactured by us and
previously set up in our service centers. The gross profit is lower on refurbished printers, and the number of refurbished printers
sold in a given period affects the gross profit margin of our Systems segment. Inventory reserves also impact our gross profit and
related margin.
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EBITDA
Our EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is mainly influenced by the gross profit
from our Systems segment and Services segment as well as from the operating expenses from the functions research and
development, administration and sales and marketing. In addition, other operating expense and other operating income including
gains and losses from foreign exchange transactions have an impact on EBITDA. The gross profit from our Systems segment is
mainly driven by materials, labor and energy costs as well as inventory reserves. The gross margin drivers for our Services
segment relate to revenues, materials, labor and energy costs as well as facility costs. Costs for the non‑productive function is
influenced primarily by labor. Research and development expenses are partially driven by materials. One of the main drivers of
expenses for the administrative function is legal fees while sales and marketing expenses are also influenced by commissions for
sales agents.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Estimates
Please refer to “Note 3. Summary of significant accounting policies in Item 18.”
Statements of Comprehensive Loss
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015
The following table sets forth certain statements of comprehensive loss data both on an actual basis and as a percentage
of revenues for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2016
Amount
(€ in thousands)
€ 22,338
15,435
6,903
5,312
4,563
5,683
3,881
(1,417)
(11,119)
230
(38)
192
(11,311)
(2)
€ (11,313)
Percentage
of revenues
100%
69.1
30.9
23.8
20.4
25.4
17.4
6.3
49.8
1.0
0.2
0.9
50.6
0.0
50.6%
2015
Amount
(€ in thousands)
€ 24,064
17,147
6,917
6,922
5,178
5,470
888
(2,130)
(9,411)
277
(158)
119
(9,530)
(64)
€ (9,594)
Percentage of
revenues
Period-over-
period change
(€ in thousands)
100%
71.3
28.7
28.8
21.5
22.7
3.7
8.9
39.1
1.2
0.7
0.5
39.6
0.3
39.9%
€ (1,726)
(1,712)
(14)
(1,610)
(615)
213
2,993
713
(1,708)
(47)
120
73
(1,781)
62
€ (1,719)
Revenues
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development
expenses
Other operating expenses
Other operating (income)
Operating loss
Finance expense
Finance (income)
Financial result
Net loss before income taxes
Income taxes
Loss
Summary
Our revenues decreased by € 1.7 million, or 7%, to € 22.3 million in 2016 from € 24.1 million in 2015. This is due to the
decline in revenues from our Services segment amounting to € 3.7 million, mainly due to the restructuring of voxeljet UK. In the
fourth quarter of 2015, we decided to focus
the
remaining
UK
operations
on
selling
on
demand
printing
services
and
to
exclude
the
expensive
post
production
processes
. As a consequence, voxeljet UK’s revenue contribution significantly decreased. This was
partially offset by higher revenue contribution from voxeljet America as well as first revenue contributions from voxeljet China.
In addition to that, revenues from our Systems segment increased by € 2.0 million due to a more favorable product mix regarding
system sales as well as higher revenues from maintenance and consumables business.
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Our gross profit for 2016 remained almost unchanged at € 6.9 million. Although the product mix regarding the sale of
3D printers was more favorable compared to 2015, we were not able to increase gross margin regarding our Systems segment due
to the increase of the reserve for slow-moving inventory of € 1.0 million. Regarding our Services segment, we received higher
gross profit contribution from our subsidiaries voxeljet UK and voxeljet America. The gross profit from voxeljet UK increased
due to the restructuring and the termination of expensive post production processes. Regarding voxeljet America gross profit
improved due to a higher utilization rate of our service center. Our consolidated gross profit margin was 31% in 2016 compared
to 29% in 2015.
Our operating loss increased by € 1.7 million to a loss of € 11.1 million in 2016 from a loss of € 9.4 million in 2015.
This is mainly due to higher other operating expenses amounting to € 3.9 million, which includes € 2.1 million losses from
foreign exchange transactions, € 1.1 million impairment of goodwill related to voxeljet UK and higher inventory reserves by
€ 1.0 million. This was partially offset by reversal of variable compensation accruals of € 0.5 million.
Revenues by Segment
The table below sets forth the change in revenues by segment from 2015 to 2016:
Systems
Services
Total Revenues
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
period-over-
period change
€ 13,081
9,257
€ 22,338
€ 11,113
12,951
€ 24,064
€ 1,968
(3,694)
€ (1,726)
Revenues from the Systems segment for 2016 were € 13.1 million, up 18.0% over 2015. The total number of units sold
remained unchanged with eighteen units and also the number of refurbished system was unchanged with four units.
On average, the 3D printers sold in 2016 were larger systems ( i.e. , VX1000) than in prior years, which also contributed
to higher revenues as the larger systems are generally sold at higher prices. Revenues depend not only on the number of units
sold, but also on the composition of the units sold, with new, larger, higher‑performance printers generating higher revenues per
unit.
Revenues from the Services segment for 2016 were € 9.3 million, which represents a decrease of € 3.7 million or 28.5%
over revenues of € 13.0 million in 2015. The decrease in Services revenues was primarily due to the restructuring of our UK
subsidiary in Q4 2015, when we terminated the unprofitable post finishing business. In 2015 the revenue contribution of voxeljet
UK amounted to € 4.7 million compared to € 0.8 million in 2016. The part of the business of voxeljet UK disposed of in the
course of the restructuring contributed approximately € 3.8 million to 2015 revenues. Our revenues from the Services segment in
2016 also included approximately € 2.0 million from our U.S. subsidiary, voxeljet America compared to € 0.5 million in 2015, an
increase of approximately € 1.5 million. Services revenues from our German operation slightly decreased compared to 2015.
Revenues by Geographic Region
The table below sets forth the change in revenues by geographic region from 2015 to 2016:
EMEA
Asia Pacific
Americas
Total
Year Ended December 31, 2016
Revenues
Percentage
(€ in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Revenues
Percentage
(€ in thousands)
13,364
4,831
4,143
22,338
59.8%
21.6
18.5
100.0%
18,214
2,703
3,147
24,064
75.7%
11.2
13.1
100.0%
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We generated almost 60% of our revenues in the EMEA with a declining relative proportion of our revenues. However,
we achieved a more balanced regional composition of revenues with approximately 10% increased proportion in the Americas
region as well as 5% in Asia Pacific in 2016. Revenues in the Americas increased as we generated higher revenues from our
American subsidiary operating in the U.S. market. voxeljet America could significantly increase revenues within the Services
segment. The increase in revenues in the Asia Pacific region shows the growing market awareness provided by our subsidiaries in
China and India. The increase of revenues regarding Asia Pacific is mainly due to revenues from the Systems segment.
Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margin
Total gross profit for 2016 remained almost unchanged, reflecting lower profitability in our Systems segment, partially
offset by higher profitability in our Services segments in 2016 compared to 2015. Our gross profit margin was 31% in 2016
compared to 29% in 2015.
The table below sets forth gross profit and gross profit margin for our Systems and Services segments for the presented
periods:
Systems
Services
Total
Year Ended December 31, 2016
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Amount
(€ in thousands)
Gross margin as
percentage of relevant
segment revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
Gross margin as
percentage of relevant
segment revenues
Period-over- period
change
(€ in thousands)
€ 3,197
3,706
€ 6,903
24.4%
40.0
30.9%
€ 3,849
3,068
€ 6,917
34.6%
23.7
28.7%
€ (652)
638
€ (14)
Gross profit for our Systems segment decreased to € 3.2 million in 2016 from € 3.8 million in 2015, while the gross
profit margin was also lower, with a decreased by 10.2% to 24.4% in 2016 from 34.6% in 2015. Regarding the Systems segment,
the product mix was more favorable, which led to an improvement of gross profit. However, an increased reserve for slow-
moving inventory of € 1.0 million resulted in an overall decline of gross profit and margin.
Gross profit for our Services segment in 2016 amounted to € 3.7 million, an increase of € 0.6 million compared to 2015.
The gross profit margin increased from 23.7% in 2015 to 40.0% in 2016. The increase is due to the restructuring of voxeljet UK
in 2015, which impacted gross profit margin in this segment by € 1.4 million. In addition to that, the higher utilization rates
regarding voxeljet America improved gross profit margin within this segment.
Operating Expenses
As shown in the table below, total operating expenses increased € 1.7 million to € 18.0 million in 2016 from €
16.3 million in 2015, and increased to 80.7% of revenues compared to 67.9% in 2015. This increase primarily reflected an
increase in other operating expenses mainly due to losses on foreign currency transactions. These losses were partially offset by
decreasing cost in the areas of selling expenses as well as administrative expenses. The decrease of selling expenses and
administrative expenses was mainly due to the restructuring of voxeljet UK, which provided significant cost savings, and a
reversal of accruals regarding variable compensation. Research and development expenses showed a slight increase.
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Operating expenses
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development
expenses
Other operating expenses
Other operating (income)
Total
2016
Amount
(€ in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Percentage
of revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
2015
Percentage
of revenues
Period-over-
period change
(€ in thousands)
€ 5,312
4,563
5,683
3,881
(1,417)
€ 18,022
23.8%
20.4
25.4
17.4
(6.3)
80.7%
€ 6,922
5,178
5,470
888
(2,130)
€ 16,328
28.8%
21.5
22.7
3.7
8.9
67.9%
€ (1,610)
(615)
213
2,993
713
€ 1,694
In 2016, we continued to invest in research and development. Our research and development expenses amounted to
25.4% of our revenues in 2016, reflecting a 3.9 % increase in our research and development expenses compared to 2015. Until
November 30, 2015 research and development expenses included salaries for employees of voxeljet UK, who worked in this
function. Those employees left the company within the restructuring of voxeljet UK. Research and development is a key element
of our strategy to develop new material sets and enhancements to our 3D printers.
Administrative expenses mainly included personnel expenses as well as consulting fees. The majority of our selling
expenses were personnel expenses and distribution expenses like freight and commission for sales agents. Research and
development expenses showed a slight increase and primarily consisted of personnel expenses.
Operating Loss
Operating loss and operating loss as a percentage of total revenues in 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2016
Amount
Percentage
of revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
(€ in thousands)
2015
Percentage
of revenues
Period-over-
period change
(€ in thousands)
Operating loss
€ (11,119)
-49.8%
€ (9,411)
-39.1%
€ (1,708)
We had an operating loss of € 11.1 million in 2016, an increase of € 1.7 million compared to an operating loss of €
9.4 million in 2015 while gross profit remained almost unchanged. Decreases in administrative and selling expenses due to the
restructuring of voxeljet UK and variable compensation, were more than offset by € 2.1 million losses from foreign currency
translation as well as € 1.1 million related to the impairment of goodwill regarding voxeljet UK .
Loss
In 2016 we had a loss of approximately € 11.3 million compared to a loss of € 9.6 million in 2015 resulting from the
higher operating loss in 2016.
42
Table of Contents
Year Ended December 31, 2015 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014
The following table sets forth certain statements of comprehensive loss data both on an actual basis and as a percentage
of revenues for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2015
2014
Percentage
of revenues
Percentage
of revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
€
Revenues
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Other operating expenses
Other operating (income)
Operating loss
Finance expense
Finance (income)
Financial result
Net loss before income taxes
Income taxes
Loss
Revenues
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Other operating expenses
Other operating (income)
Operating loss
Finance expense
Finance (income)
Financial result
Net loss before income taxes
Income taxes
Loss
24,064
17,147
6,917
6,922
5,178
5,470
888
(2,130)
(9,411)
277
(158)
119
(9,530)
(64)
(9,594)
24,064
15,770
8,294
6,542
4,839
5,403
417
(2,130)
(6,777)
248
(158)
90
(6,867)
(64)
(6,931)
Amount
(€ in thousands)
16,163
9,838
6,325
3,746
4,026
4,027
101
(1,384)
(4,191)
472
(299)
173
(4,364)
32
(4,332)
100 % €
71.3
28.7
28.8
21.5
22.7
3.7
8.9
39.1
1.2
0.7
0.5
39.6
0.3
39.9 % €
Amount
(€ in thousands)
16,163
9,838
6,325
3,746
4,026
4,027
101
(1,384)
(4,191)
472
(299)
173
(4,364)
32
(4,332)
100 % €
65.5
34.5
27.2
20.1
22.5
1.7
8.9
28.2
1
0.7
0.4
28.5
0.3
28.8 % €
Period-over-
period change
(€ in thousands)
7,902
7,309
592
3,176
1,152
1,443
787
(746)
(5,220)
(195)
141
(54)
(5,166)
(96)
(5,262)
100 % €
60.9
39.1
23.2
24.9
24.9
0.6
8.6
25.9
2.9
1.8
1.1
27
0.2
26.8 % €
‑‑
over
Period
period change
(€ in thousands)
‑
‑
7,902
5,932
1,969
2,796
813
1,376
316
(746)
(2,586)
(224)
141
(83)
(2,503)
(96)
(2,599)
100 % €
60.9
39.1
23.2
24.9
24.9
0.6
8.6
25.9
2.9
1.8
1.1
27
0.2
26.8 % €
Year Ended December 31,
2015*
2014
Percentage
of revenues
Percentage
of revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
€
€
€
* Figures before restructuring of voxeljet UK
43
Table of Contents
Summary
Following a review of the financial performance of voxeljet UK and its current market environment, we decided in
October 2015 to focus voxeljet UK’s future activities solely on selling high‑speed, large‑format 3D printers and on‑demand parts
services to industrial and commercial customers.
As a result, we entered into an agreement in November 2015 with an investor group that included the founder of
Propshop to sell certain assets supporting certain business lines that serve customers in the film and entertainment industry,
transfer certain employees and contractual arrangements and settle the earnout and employment agreement with the managing
director entered into in connection with the acquisition of voxeljet UK . In addition, we focused the remaining UK operations to
sell our products and perform on demand printing services. The loss from the sale transaction and additional charges from the
restructuring of voxeljet UK amounted to € 2.7 million. The loss includes a loss from the sale of assets and contract termination
and transfer of employees and impairment charges of intangible assets and inventories.
Our revenues increased by € 7.9 million, or 48.9%, to € 24.1 million in 2015 from € 16.2 million in 2014. Revenues for
2015 increased due to an increase in the number of 3D printers sold by our Systems segment and an increase in our printing of
on‑demand parts for our customers by our Services segment. In 2015, we sold eighteen 3D printers compared to fourteen 3D
printers sold in 2014. Revenues from the printing of on‑demand parts for our customers increased 82.3% primarily due to
increased capacity at our service center in Germany as well as the inclusion of results from our subsidiaries in the UK and the
United States.
Our gross profit for 2015 increased by € 0.6 million, or 9.4%, to € 6.9 million from € 6.3 million in 2014. Our higher
gross profit for 2015 resulted primarily from increased sales of 3D printers in 2015 and the higher gross margin contribution from
revenues from our subsidiaries. Our gross profit margin was 28.7% in 2015 compared to 39.1% in 2014. The gross margin in
2015 was significantly impacted by an amount of € 1.4 million related to the restructuring of voxeljet UK. As part of the
restructuring process, we recognized impairment charges of € 1.1 million on inventory and € 0.3 million on impairment of
intangible assets. In addition, the gross margin contributions from our subsidiaries in the UK and U.S. have not yet achieved the
expected targets as they are in the post‑restructuring or start up phase, respectively. Furthermore, gross margin was impacted by
increased cost of sales caused primarily by higher personnel expenses in manufacturing as we increased our headcount to 101 in
2015 from 72 in 2014.
Our operating result declined by € 5.2 million to a loss of € 9.4 million in 2015 from a loss of € 4.2 million in 2014. The
restructuring of voxeljet UK contributed € 2.7 million of the decline. In addition, the ramp‑up of personnel resources to pursue
our growth strategy is reflected in the operating result. Our headcount in all departments increased to 223 in 2015 from 200 in
2014. Additionally, research and development expenses increased by € 1.4 million and selling expenses increased by € 3.2 million
more than offsetting the increase in gross margin. This is due to our growth strategy and our efforts to strengthen our
technological leadership.
Revenues by Segment
The table below sets forth the change in revenues by segment from 2014 to 2015:
Systems
Services
Total Revenues
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
2014
period-over-
period change
(€ in thousands)
€ 11,113 € 9,057 €
12,951
7,106
€ 24,064 € 16,163 €
2,056
5,845
7,901
Revenues from the Systems segment for 2015 were € 11.1 million, up 22.7% over 2014. The total number of units sold
rose 28.6% to eighteen in 2015 in comparison to fourteen in 2014.
On average, the 3D printers sold in 2015 were larger systems ( i.e. , VX1000) than in prior years, which also contributed
to higher revenues as the larger systems are generally sold at higher prices. Revenues depend not only on the number of units
sold, but also on the composition of the units sold, with new, larger, higher‑performance printers generating higher revenues per
unit.
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Table of Contents
Revenues from the Services segment for 2015 were € 13.0 million, which represents an increase of € 5.8 million or
82.3% over revenues of € 7.1 million in 2014. The increase in Services revenues was primarily due to the inclusion of results
from our UK subsidiary, which contributed revenues of € 4.7 million in 2015 compared to € 0.9 million in 2014, as well as
increased capacity at our service center in Germany. The part of the business of voxeljet UK disposed of in the course of the
restructuring contributed approximately € 3.8 million to 2015 revenues. Our revenues from the Services segment in 2015 also
included approximately € 0.5 million from our U.S. subsidiary, voxeljet America Inc., which began printing on‑demand parts in
the first quarter of 2015.
Revenues by Geographic Region
The table below sets forth the change in revenues by geographic region from 2014 to 2015:
EMEA
Asia Pacific
Americas
Total
Year Ended
December 31, 2015
Revenues
(€ in thousands)
Percentage
18,214
2,703
3,147
24,064
75.7 %
11.2
13.1
100.0 %
Revenues
(€ in thousands)
10,571
4,306
1,286
16,163
Year Ended
December 31, 2014
Percentage
65.4 %
26.6
8.0
100.0 %
We generated most of our revenues in the EMEA but achieved significant growth in the Americas region in 2015.
Revenues in the Americas increased as we generated higher revenues from our American subsidiary operating in the U.S. market.
The revenues in the Asia Pacific region were lower due to lower 3D printer sales in this region.
Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margin
Total gross profit for 2015 increased by € 0.6 million, or 9.4%, reflecting higher sales in both our Systems and Services
segments in 2015 compared to 2014. Our gross profit margin was 28.7% in 2015 compared to 39.1% in 2014, to a significant
extent declining as a result of the restructuring of voxeljet UK. In addition, personnel expenses increased because of higher
headcount to pursue our growth strategy.
The table below sets forth gross profit and gross profit margin for our Systems and Services segments for the presented
periods:
Systems
Services
Total
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Year Ended December 31, 2014
Gross margin as
percentage of
relevant segment
revenues
Gross margin as
percentage of
relevant segment
revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
€
3,849
3,068
6,917
€
Amount
(€ in thousands)
3,301
3,024
6,325
34.6 % €
23.7
28.7 % €
Period-over-
period change
(€ in thousands)
548
44
592
36.4 % €
42.6
39.1 % €
Gross profit for our Systems segment increased to € 3.8 million in 2015 from € 3.3 million in 2014, while the gross
profit margin of our Systems segment decreased by 1.8% to 34.6% in 2015 from 36.4% in 2014. This decrease in gross profit
margin resulted primarily from higher cost of sales because of increased personnel expenses associated with increased headcount
related to the pursuit of our growth strategy. Furthermore it reflected the product mix, as we sold more used and refurbished
printers.
Gross profit for our Services segment in 2015 amounted to € 3.1 million, unchanged as compared to 2014. The gross
profit margin decreased from 42.6% in 2014 to 23.7% in 2015. The gross profit margin in this segment was impacted in the
amount of € 1.4 million by the restructuring of the voxeljet UK business which contributed 10.6% to the gross margin decline.
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Table of Contents
Operating Expenses
As shown in the table below, total operating expenses increased by € 5.8 million to € 16.3 million in 2015 from
€ 10.5 million in 2014, and increased to 67.9% of revenues compared to 65.1% in 2014. This increase affected all areas of our
operations.
Operating expenses
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Other operating expenses
Other operating (income)
Total
Year Ended December 31,
2015
2014
Amount
(€ in thousands)
Percentage
of revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
Percentage
of revenues
Period-over-
period change
(€ in thousands)
€
€
6,922
5,178
5,470
888
(2,130)
16,328
28.8 % €
21.5
22.7
3.7
8.9
67.9 % €
3,746
4,026
4,027
101
(1,384)
10,516
23.2 % €
24.9
24.9
0.6
8.6
65.1 % €
3,176
1,152
1,443
787
(746)
5,812
The increase in selling expenses in 2015 was primarily related to increased support for voxeljet UK as well as the
buildup of a sales force for voxeljet America. Furthermore, we experienced higher costs related to our sales agents and attended
more global exhibitions, which increased travel expenses significantly. As a result, our selling expenses increased at a faster rate
than our revenues.
As our business grew in 2015, we continued to invest in research and development. Our research and development
expenses amounted to 22.7% of our revenues in 2015, reflecting a 35.8% increase in our research and development expenses
compared to 2014. Until November 30, 2015 research and development expenses included salaries for employees of voxeljet UK,
who were working in this function. Those employees were transferred within the restructuring of voxeljet UK. Research and
development is a key element of our strategy to develop new material sets and enhancements to our 3D printers.
Our operating expenses are also affected by headcount, which increased to 223 employees in 2015 from 200 employees
in 2014, primarily in our Systems segment.
Operating Loss
Operating loss and operating loss as a percentage of total revenues in 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2015
2014
Operating loss
Percentage
of revenues
Amount
(€ in thousands)
€
(9,411)
Amount
(€ in thousands)
(4,191)
(39.1)% €
Percentage Period
of revenues
over
period change
(€ in thousands)
‑
‑
‑‑
(5,220)
(25.9)% €
We had an operating loss of € 9.4 million in 2015, an increase of € 5.2 million compared to an operating loss of
€ 4.2 million in 2014. This higher operating loss resulted from the restructuring of our subsidiary voxeljet UK , higher headcount
as well as ramp up losses from our U.S. subsidiary, respectively.
We expect our profitability to improve in the coming years as we continue to achieve economies of scale and can further
leverage our fixed expenses. Through the restructuring of our subsidiary voxeljet UK , we expect to be able to increase gross
margins. Additionally, the restructuring provides a lean and efficient administration of the subsidiary. Further steps towards
realizing higher profitability include increasing revenues in order to leverage fixed costs like amortization and depreciation and
rent expense. Those positive effects will be partially offset by expenses related to the ramp up phase of our new subsidiaries in
India and China.
46
Table of Contents
Loss
In 2015 we had a loss of approximately € 9.6 million compared to a loss of € 4.3 million in 2014. The € 5.3 million
increase in loss resulted from charges related the restructuring of voxeljet UK, and increased operating expenses resulting from
additional personnel employed in pursuit of our growth strategy.
Other Financial Information
We believe EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is meaningful to our investors to
enhance their understanding of our financial performance. Although EBITDA is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund
our cash needs, we understand that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure
of financial performance and to compare our performance with the performance of other companies that report EBITDA. Our
calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
We define EBITDA as profit (loss) plus income tax expenses (benefit), financial result and depreciation and
amortization. Disclosure in this annual report of EBITDA, which is a non‑IFRS financial measure, is intended as a supplemental
measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, IFRS. EBITDA should not be considered as
an alternative to profit (loss) or any other performance measure derived in accordance with IFRS. Our presentation of EBITDA
should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non‑recurring items.
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Loss
2016
2015
2014
(€ in thousands)
2013
2012
Profit (loss)
Income taxes
Financial result
Depreciation and Amortization
EBITDA
€ (11,313)
2
192
2,542
€ (8,577)
€ (9,594)
64
119
2,982
€ (6,429)
$
€ (4,332)
(32)
173
2,143
€ (2,048)
(2,714)
358
343
1,493
€ (520)
€ 212
116
345
1,343
€ 2,016
B. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of December 31, 2016, we had cash and cash equivalents of € 7.8 million and held investments in two bond funds of
€ 11.7 million and a note receivable of € 0.9 million, largely as a result of our initial public offering and our subsequent follow‑on
offering. These cash resources are sufficient to finance our near‑term growth strategy, which includes the development of our
service centers in Germany, North America, the UK, China and India.
To meet the demand for our Services business and to increase capacity, we will require investment in additional printers
to be used in our new or expanding Service operations. In 2017, we plan to invest in additional 3D printers at our service centers,
especially voxeljet America as well as voxeljet China and equipment in order to increase printing capacity as well as in our ERP-
system.
Currently, we believe that our existing capital resources will be sufficient to support our business plan. If we anticipated
that our actual results may differ from our business plan, we believe that we have sufficient capabilities to determine cost saving
measures to preserve capital. Further, we might search for sources to raise additional capital to support our growth strategy
through additional debt, equity or other alternatives or a combination of those.
In
2016,
we
concluded
new
loan
agreements
with
Kreissparkasse
Augsburg,
Germany,
to
finance
the
construction
of
new
office
and
production
facilities
in
Friedberg:
(i)
in
May
2016,
we
entered
into
a
€
1.0
million
loan
agreement
due
April
30,
2021.
Interest
is
payable
at
a
fixed
rate
of
2.35%;
(ii)
in
September
2016,
we
entered
into
a
€
2.0
million
loan
agreement
due
May
31,
2038.
Interest
is
payable
at
a
fixed
rate
of
2.47%;
(iii)
In
October
2016,
we
entered
into
a
€
0.7
million
loan
agreement
due
September
30,
2021.
Interest
is
payable
at
a
fixed
rate
of
2.29%;
and
(iv)
in
December
2016,
we
entered
into
a
€
1.0
million
loan
agreement
due
January
31,
2038.
Interest
is
payable
at
a
fixed
rate
of
2.72%.
Among
other
terms,
the
loan
agreements
contain
(i)
certain
covenants,
including
that
we
deposit
€
2.0
million
with
Kreissparkasse
Augsburg
until
we
have
reached
certain
ratio
with
respect
to
its
ability
to
service
the
47
Table of Contents
debt
by
the
end
of
fiscal
year
2019,
and
(ii)
change
of
control
provisions
concerning
the
ownership
of
the
Company
by
our
executive
officers,
Dr.
Ingo
Ederer
and
Rudolf
Franz.
In
case
we
fail
to
meet
that
ratio
by
the
end
of
its
fiscal
year
2019,
we
are
obliged
to
pledge
€
2.0
million
for
the
benefit
of
the
lender.
In
addition,
the
land
owned
by
us
upon
which
the
facilities
will
be
built
as
well
as
three
3D
printers
will
serve
as
collateral
under
the
loan
agreements.
As of December 31, 2016 we had available several lines of credit with three German banks in a total amount of up to
€ 5.2 million. Interest rates across the credit lines varied from 5.45% to 6.15% as of December 2016.
Cash Flow
Our primary sources of cash in 2016 were our revenues and cash reserves. Our primary uses of cash have traditionally
been to finance our assets and our working capital.
The table below sets forth cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for 2014, 2015 and 2016:
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Cash provided (used) in investing activities
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
€ (13,338)
15,466
3,616
€ 5,744
€ (11,950)
7,117
(1,099)
€ (5,932)
€ (5,020)
(47,044)
26,581
€ (25,483)
Our cash and cash equivalents increased from € 2.1 million at December 31, 2015 to € 7.8 million at December 31,
2016, an increase of € 5.7 million. This was primarily due to the sale of bond funds of € 19.2 million as well as financing
activities, partially offset by cash used in the operations and investments into property, plant and equipment mainly for our new
production and office building.
Our cash and cash equivalents decreased from € 8.0 million at December 31, 2014 to € 2.1 million at December 31,
2015, a decrease of € 5.9 million. This was primarily due to our build up in inventory, ramp‑up expenses relating to our new
subsidiaries as well as a net cash outflow of € 0.4 million related to the restructuring of voxeljet UK.
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was € 13.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to cash used in
operating activities of € 11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase in cash used of € 1.4 million. This was
primarily due to increased working capital.
Net cash used in operating activities was € 11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to cash used in
operating activities of € 5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase in cash used of € 3.3 million. This was
primarily due to increased working capital requirements.
Investing Activities
Investing activities consist primarily of financial instrument activity and setting up infrastructure, including equipment
we install and use in our service centers as well as the development of our own use ERP-system. In 2016, we sold bond funds
amounting to € 19.2 million driving the cash flow from investing activities. However, we invested approximately € 3.7 million in
infrastructure, plant and machinery as well as equipment compared to € 1.4 million in 2015.
Financing Activities
In 2016, financing cash flows consisted primarily of the proceeds from long‑term debt amounting to € 4.3 million in
relation to the construction of our new
office
and
production
facilities
in
Friedberg
and the redemption from sale and lease back
transactions amounting to € 0.5 million.
48
Table of Contents
In 2015, financing cash flows consisted primarily of the redemption from sale and lease back transactions amounting to
€ 0.8 million as well as the repayment of long‑term debt amounting to € 0.2 million.
In 2014, financing cash flows consisted principally of the net proceeds we received in our follow‑on offering, which
amounted to € 30.2 million, as well as the repayment of several loans and financing leases.
C. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES
Research and development is a key part of our strategy to develop new material sets and enhancements to our 3D
printers. Our research and development expenses totaled € 5.7 million, € 5.5 million, and € 4.0 million for the years ended
December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. For further information on our policies and practices regarding research and
development, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Research and Development.”
D. TREND INFORMATION
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands,
commitments or events for the year ended December 31, 2016 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our
revenues, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily
indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.
3D printing, which is also referred to as additive manufacturing, is transforming prototype development manufacturing
processes and is displacing (or, in certain cases, complementing) certain segments of traditional, or subtractive, manufacturing
methodologies such as metal extrusion, computer-controlled machining and manual modeling techniques. With respect to product
design and prototype development, 3D printing significantly improves the design process, reduces the time required for product
development and facilitates creativity, while keeping the most or all of the design process in-house. 3D printing also enables the
direct manufacture of parts that are subsequently incorporated into a user’s end product. In addition, manufacturers are
increasingly using 3D printing systems to produce manufacturing tools such as jigs and fixtures, that aid in their production and
assembly processes. While 3D printing has historically been focused on design and manufacturing applications, 3D printing is
beginning to show signs of broader adoption through simplification, with the growth of entry-level desktop 3D printers.
E. OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We are not a party to any off balance sheet arrangements.
49
Table of Contents
F. TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Contractual Obligations
Future contractual payments as of December 31, 2016 consisted of long‑ term debt, operating leases and finance leases,
which are discussed in greater detail below.
December 31, 2016
(€ in thousands)
Total
Less than a year
1-3 years
3-5 years
More than 5
years
6,499
1,018
831
8,348
1,024
457
450
1,931
1,379
520
376
2,275
1,127
41
5
1,173
2,969
--
--
2,969
Bank overdrafts, lines of credit and long-term
debt
Leases:
Operating
Finance
Total
Leases
Operating
We have historically leased various manufacturing facilities, office and warehouse spaces, equipment and vehicles under
operating leases. We expect leases that expire to be renewed or replaced by leases on other properties. Rental expense amounted
to € 0.1 million, € 0.1 million, and € 0.1 million in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
Finance
Our finance leases relate primarily to production machinery. In total, we have entered into sale and leaseback
transactions for 17 self‑produced 3D printers, which were sold to banks and leased back to be used in our Services segment.
G. SAFE HARBOR
See “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” on page 1 of this annual report.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Supervisory Board
The following table sets forth the names and functions of the current members of our supervisory board, their ages, their
terms (which expire on the date of the relevant year’s annual general shareholders’ meeting) and their principal occupations
outside of our company as of March 1, 2017:
Name
Peter G. Nietzer (Chairman)
Dr. Stefan Söhn (Vice Chairman)
Prof. Dr. Joachim Heinzl (Member)
Age
56
62
76
Term Expires
2019
2019
2019
Principal occupation
Managing director of asset management firm
Consultant and lawyer
University professor (retired)
The business address of the members of our supervisory board is the same as our business address: voxeljet AG,
Paul‑Lenz‑Straße 1a, 86316 Friedberg, Germany. Our supervisory board has determined that all members of our supervisory
board are independent under German law and the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.
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The following is a brief summary of the business experience of the members of our supervisory board:
Peter Nietzer , born in 1960 in Heilbronn, Germany, has been the chairman of our supervisory board since July 2, 2013.
Mr. Nietzer has served as owner and managing director of KITES Industriebeteiligungen GmbH, a private investment holding
company, and of M59 Advisory Services, since January 2013 and as Partner and Chief Financial Officer of
GermanCapital GmbH, a private equity company he co‑founded and that specializes in mid‑market buy‑outs, since July 2005.
Mr. Nietzer has served as a Non‑Executive Director of Cognis Credit Opportunities Fund Ltd., Cognis Credit Opportunities
Master Fund Ltd. and Cognis Credit Opportunities Manager (Cayman) Ltd. since September 2013 until December 31, 2016. Since
April 2000, Mr. Nietzer has been an executive board member and Managing Partner of Felicitas GmbH (which was previously
known as GI Ventures AG), a fund management company he helped found. Mr. Nietzer served as a Managing Director in the
private equity unit of PartnersGroup AG from January to October 2011. Mr. Nietzer holds a M.B.A. from Friedrich‑Alexander
University Erlangen‑Nürnberg, Germany. We believe that Mr. Nietzer’s over 13 years of experience in private equity and his
previous roles as a supervisory board member provide him with valuable insight into our business, particularly in the areas of
financing and acquisition opportunities, while his focus on technology companies gives him insight into our operations and
industry. In addition, Mr. Nietzer’s work as a chief financial officer provides the supervisory board with expertise in financial
matters.
Dr. Stefan Söhn , born in 1954 in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been the vice chairman of our supervisory board since
July 2, 2013. Since January 2010, Dr. Söhn has served as a Partner and Managing Director of MBL China Consulting GmbH, as
owner and manager of Söhn Industrial Consulting and as Of Counsel Lawyer and Head of China Desk of Sonntag & Partner
Wirtschaftsprüfer, Steuerberater, Rechtsanwälte in Augsburg and Munich, Germany. Dr. Söhn held executive positions at KUKA
Systems GmbH, an equipment supplier to the automotive industry, from July 2000 to December 2009, serving as its Chief
Financial Officer from July 2000 to December 2006 and as its Chief Executive Officer from January 2007 to December 2009.
During his time at KUKA Systems GmbH, Dr. Söhn led the successful expansion of its business in Asia. Dr. Söhn holds a law
degree from the University of Augsburg, Germany and a Master of Science in Management for the London Business School. We
believe that Dr. Söhn’s business experience in the automotive industry and in expanding corporate operations into Asia will assist
us as we seek to grow our business. In addition, we believe that Dr. Söhn’s various experiences throughout his career, including
his work as an attorney, chief financial officer and member of the supervisory boards of several companies, including public
companies, provides our supervisory board with a broad range of knowledge and insight.
Prof. Dr. Joachim Heinzl , born in 1940 in Aussig in what is now the Czech Republic, has been a member of our
supervisory board since July 2, 2013. Prof. Dr. Heinzl has served as Professor Emeritus at the Technical University of Munich,
Germany since 2005. Prior to becoming Professor Emeritus, Prof. Dr. Heinzl had been the Chair for Precision Engineering and
Micro Technology at the Technical University of Munich since 1978 and served the Technical University of Munich as
Vice‑Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering from 1988 to 1992 and as First Vice President from 1995 to 2002.
Prof. Dr. Heinzl focused a large portion of his research on technology relating to 3D printing while on the faculty of the Technical
University of Munich. From 2006 to 2012, Prof. Dr. Heinzl was the President of the Bavarian Research Foundation. Prof.
Dr. Heinzl has been a foreign associate of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering since 2007. Prof. Dr. Heinzl also
co‑founded our company as Generis GmbH in 1999. Prof. Dr. Heinzl holds a diploma in mechanical engineering and a doctorate
in electroacoustics from the Technical University of Munich. We believe that Prof. Dr. Heinzl’s vast knowledge of technical and
engineering matters, including 3D printing technology, provides our supervisory board with additional insight into the technical
details of our operations and industry.
Management Board
The following table sets forth the names and functions of the current members of our management board, their ages and
their terms as of March 1, 2017:
Name
Dr. Ingo Ederer
Rudolf Franz
Age
Term Ends
June 30, 2021
June 30, 2021
49
49
Position
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer
The business address of the members of our management board is the same as our business address: voxeljet AG,
Paul‑Lenz‑Straße 1a, 86316 Friedberg, Germany.
The following is a brief summary of the business experience of the members of our management board:
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Dr. Ingo Ederer , born in 1967 in Weilheim, Germany, is one of our founders and is the key inventor of our technology.
He has served as our Chief Executive Officer since 2013. Dr. Ederer co‑founded our company as Generis GmbH in 1999 and
served as our Managing Director from our incorporation in 1999 to 2013, building up the company from the start‑up phase to
become a leading provider of 3D printers for industrial and commercial customers. After graduating with a degree in mechanical
engineering from the Technical University of Munich in 1993, Dr. Ederer started his career as researcher at the department of
precision engineering at the Technical University of Munich where he received his Ph.D. in 2000 with a thesis on piezo‑based
micro‑jetting devices. He contributes more than 20 years of experience in the 3D printing equipment market and is a holder of
more than 50 patents in the field of 3D printing.
Rudolf Franz , born in 1967 in Friedberg, Germany, has been one of our shareholders through his venture fund Franz
Industriebeteiligungen AG since 2003. Since 2003 he is focusing as Chief Operation Officer on marketing and sales, finance and
controlling and administration. In addition, he has held the position of Chief Financial Officer since 2013. Mr. Franz has been a
member of the supervisory board of FORUM Media Group GmbH since 2015. Mr. Franz has been the chairman of the
supervisory board of Rettenmeier Holding AG from 2011 until 2014. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Franz served as the Managing
Director of Hama Holding GmbH and was the chairman of the supervisory board of Wavelight AG from 2005 to 2009. In 1995,
Mr. Franz was appointed as investment manager of Technologieholding VC GmbH, an international venture capital fund that
invested in European technologies, and became partner in 1997, where he was responsible for managing the Munich investment
team. After he sold his shares in Technologieholding VC GmbH to 3i Group plc in 2000, Mr. Franz served as Managing Director
of 3i Group plc and was responsible for technology investments in the German‑speaking market from 2000 to 2002. Mr. Franz
studied political economics and industrial engineering at the University of Augsburg and the University of Munich and earned a
master’s degree from the University of Applied Science Munich in 1991.
B. COMPENSATION
Compensation of Management Board Members
We have entered into service agreements with the current members of our management board. These agreements
generally provide for an annual fixed compensation (base salary), an annual performance award (annual bonus) with a target of up
to 30% of the yearly base salary, as well as a long‑term performance award for a three‑business‑year period (long‑term bonus)
with a target of up to 100% of the yearly base salary. The performance targets of the annual and long‑term bonuses are a mixture
of certain financial and non‑financial targets, such as revenue and profitability goals, as well as EBITDA goals. In addition to the
fixed and variable remuneration components, under the terms of their service agreements, the members of our management board
are entitled to additional benefits (including company car arrangements, mobile phone, accident and director and officer liability
insurance) and reimbursement of necessary and reasonable expenses.
We believe that the service agreements between us and the members of our management board provide for payments and
benefits (including upon termination of employment) that are in line with customary market practice for similar companies who
are operating in our industry.
In 2017, the two members of our management board are collectively entitled to receive total compensation of up to
kEUR 1,212, which includes base salary, bonus payments and other compensation as a result of other benefits as described above.
In 2016, the two members of our management board collectively received total compensation of kEUR 644, which included base
salary and other compensation.
Compensation of Supervisory Board Members in the Business Year 2016
In our annual general meeting on May 31, 2016 the following remuneration system was resolved:
· Ordinary members of the supervisory board receive a fixed remuneration in the amount of € 40,000 per annum. The
chairman and vice chairman of the supervisory board shall receive a higher fixed remuneration in the amount of
€ 80,000 per annum and € 60,000 per annum, respectively.
· We do not pay fees for attendance at supervisory board meetings.
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·
The members of the supervisory board are entitled to reimbursement of their reasonable, documented expenses
(including, but not limited to, travel, board and lodging and telecommunication expenses).
This remuneration system will remain in force until it has been amended or terminated by our general shareholders’
meeting.
C. BOARD PRACTICES
Overview
We are a German stock corporation ( Aktiengesellschaft , or AG ) with our registered seat in Germany. We are subject to
German legislation on stock corporations, most importantly the German Stock Corporation Act ( Aktiengesetz, or AktG ). In
accordance with the German Stock Corporation Act ( Aktiengesetz ), our corporate bodies are the management board ( Vorstand ),
the supervisory board ( Aufsichtsrat ) and the general shareholders’ meeting ( Hauptversammlung ). Our management board and
our supervisory board are entirely separate and, as a rule, no individual may simultaneously be a member of both boards.
Our management board is responsible for the day‑to‑day management of our business in accordance with applicable
laws, our articles of association ( Satzung ) and the management board’s internal rules of procedure ( Geschäftsordnung ). Our
management board represents us in our dealings with third parties.
The principal function of our supervisory board is to supervise our management board. The supervisory board is also
responsible for appointing and removing the members of our management board and representing us in connection with
transactions between a current or former member of the management board and us.
Under German law, members of both boards owe a duty of loyalty and care to us. In carrying out their duties, they are
required to exercise the standard of care of a prudent and diligent businessperson. If they fail to observe the appropriate standard
of care, they may become liable to us.
In carrying out their duties, the members of both boards may take into account a broad range of considerations when
making decisions, including our interests and the interests of our shareholders, employees, creditors and, to a limited extent, the
general public, while respecting the rights of our shareholders to be treated on equal terms. Additionally, the management board is
responsible for implementing an internal monitoring system for risk management purposes.
Our supervisory board has comprehensive monitoring responsibilities. To ensure that our supervisory board can carry
out these functions properly, our management board must, among other things, regularly report to our supervisory board
regarding our current business operations and future business planning (including financial, investment and personnel planning).
In addition, our supervisory board is entitled to request special reports from the management board at any time.
Under German law, our shareholders have no direct recourse against the members of our management board or our
supervisory board if they have breached their duty of loyalty and care to us. Apart from insolvency or other special circumstances,
only the company has the ability to claim damages against the members of our two boards. We may waive these claims to
damages or settle these claims only if at least three years have passed since any violation of a duty occurred and only if our
shareholders approve the waiver or settlement at a shareholders’ meeting with a simple majority of the votes cast; provided that
shareholders who in the aggregate hold one‑tenth or more of our share capital do not oppose the waiver or settlement and have
their opposition formally recorded in the meeting’s minutes by a German civil law notary.
The following description, as far as it relates to our articles of association, is based on the articles of association, as
adopted by our general shareholders’ meeting on May 22, 2015.
Supervisory Board
Our supervisory board currently consists of three members, which is the minimum number of members allowed under
German law. As we grow, our supervisory board may be required to include employee representatives subject to
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the provisions of the German One‑Third Employee Representation Act ( Drittelbeteiligungsgesetz ) the German Codetermination
Act ( Mitbestimmungsgesetz ).
Currently, all of the members of our supervisory board are elected by the general shareholders’ meeting in accordance
with the provisions of the German Stock Corporation Act ( Aktiengesetz ). German law does not require the majority of our
supervisory board members to be independent. The rules of procedure for our supervisory board provide that the supervisory
board should be composed of a majority of independent members, as determined by the supervisory board. Under the supervisory
board’s rules of procedure, a board member is deemed to be independent if such member has no business or personal
relationships with us or the management board that could constitute a conflict of interest.
Under German law, the members of a supervisory board may be elected for a term of up to approximately five years,
depending on the dates of the annual general meeting at which the members of the supervisory board are elected, which is the
standard term of office. Reelection, including repeated reelection, is permissible. The shareholders’ meeting may specify a term
of office for individual members or all of the members of our supervisory board which is shorter than the standard term of office
and, subject to statutory limits, may set different start and end dates for the terms of members of our supervisory board. All
members of our supervisory board were elected by our annual general meeting on May 27, 2014 for a term that ends on the day of
the shareholders’ meeting, which resolves on the discharge of the supervisory board for the business year 2018.
The shareholders’ meeting may, at the same time as it elects the members of the supervisory board, elect one or more
substitute members. The substitute members replace members who cease to be members of our supervisory board and take their
place for the remainder of their respective terms of office. We have not elected any substitute members.
Members of our supervisory board may be dismissed at any time during their term of office by a resolution of the
shareholders’ meeting adopted by a simple majority of the votes cast. In addition, any member of our supervisory board may
resign at any time by giving one month written notice of his or her resignation to the chairperson of our supervisory board (in case
the chairperson resigns, such notice is to be given to the vice chairperson). Our supervisory board may agree upon a shorter notice
period. None of the members of the supervisory board are eligible to receive any benefits upon termination of their service on the
supervisory board.
Our supervisory board elects a chairperson and a vice chairperson from its members. The vice chairperson exercises the
chairperson’s rights and obligations whenever the chairperson is unable to do so. On May 27, 2013, Peter Nietzer, Dr. Stefan
Söhn and Prof. Dr. Joachim Heinzl were appointed as members of our supervisory board. The members of our supervisory board
have elected Peter Nietzer as chairperson and Dr. Stefan Söhn as vice chairperson, each for the term of their respective
membership on our supervisory board.
The supervisory board meets at least twice during the first half and twice during the second half of each calendar year.
Our articles of association and the supervisory board’s rules of procedure provide that a quorum of the supervisory board
members is present if at least half of its members, but in any case no less than three members, participate in the vote. Members of
our supervisory board are deemed present if they participate via telephone or video conference, subject to no other member of the
supervisory board raising any objection to this type of participation. Any absent member may also participate in the voting by
submitting his or her written vote through another member.
Resolutions of our supervisory board are passed by the vote of a simple majority unless otherwise required by law, our
articles of association or the rules of procedure of our supervisory board. In the event of a tie, the chairperson casts the
tie‑breaking vote.
Our supervisory board is not permitted to make management decisions, but, in accordance with German law and in
addition to its statutory responsibilities, it has determined that the following matters, among others, require its prior consent:
·
·
any material changes to our business strategy;
the purchase or sale of real estate or legal entities or the purchase, sale, creation, extension, reduction or termination
of business activities, including tangible or intangible assets, if the relevant price or value, in each case, exceeds
€ 50,000;
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·
·
·
·
·
·
·
the purchase, sale or creation of joint ventures;
the termination of, or amendment to, consulting, advisory or other service agreements, if our costs or obligations
associated with such agreement exceed € 50,000 per year or € 250,000 in the aggregate;
the termination of, or amendment to, operating leases, land leases or rental agreements in relation to real estate,
buildings or similar objects, if our obligations associated with such agreement exceed € 50,000 per year or
€ 250,000 in the aggregate;
expenditures or capital investments exceeding € 50,000 in each case;
any hiring, dismissal or modification of an employment agreement of any executive manager, provided that their
aggregate cash remuneration (including cash bonuses) exceeds € 75,000;
any material change or amendment to our code of conduct; and
the approval of our budget.
Our supervisory board may designate further types of actions requiring its approval.
Section 2(2) of the rules of procedure of our supervisory board provides that a supervisory board member may not
continue to serve on our supervisory board past his or her 75th birthday.
Supervisory Board Practices
Decisions are generally made by our supervisory board as a whole; however, decisions on certain matters may be
delegated to committees of our supervisory board to the extent permitted by law. The chairperson, or if he or she is prevented
from doing so, the vice chairperson, chairs the meetings of the supervisory board and determines the order in which the agenda
items are discussed, the method and order of the voting, any adjournment of the discussion and passing of resolutions on
individual agenda items after a due assessment of the circumstances.
Pursuant to Section 107(3) AktG, the supervisory board may form committees from among its members and charge them
with the performance of specific tasks. The committees’ tasks, authorizations and processes are determined by the supervisory
board. Where permissible by law, important powers of the supervisory board may also be transferred to committees.
Under Article 7 of its internal rules of procedure, the supervisory board has set up and appointed a Compensation and
Nomination Committee and an Audit Committee.
Compensation and Nomination Committee
Pursuant to Article 9 of the rules of procedure of our supervisory board, the Compensation and Nomination Committee
prepares hiring and personnel decisions for approval by the supervisory board and performs the following functions:
·
·
·
preparation of the resolutions of the supervisory board regarding the conclusion, alteration and termination of
service contracts of members of the management board within the framework of the compensation system adopted
by the supervisory board;
preparation of the resolutions of the supervisory board to file an application to the court to reduce the compensation
paid to the management board members under Section 87 para. 2 AktG;
preparation of the resolutions of the supervisory board regarding the framework of the compensation scheme of the
management board, including its essential contractual elements, and providing the supervisory board with
information necessary for it to review this compensation scheme on a regular basis;
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·
·
·
·
representation of the company vis‑à‑vis former members of the management board under Section 112 AktG;
granting consent for secondary occupations and for other activities of management board members under Section 88
AktG;
approval of agreements with supervisory board members under Section 114 AktG; and
proposing suitable candidates as supervisory board members to the general shareholders’ meeting in case of
elections of supervisory board members.
The Compensation and Nomination Committee monitors the management board’s adherence to the rules of procedure of
the management board. The rules of procedure of the management board contain, among other things, obligations for the
management board to provide certain information to the Compensation and Nomination Committee.
All current members of the supervisory board are members of the Compensation and Nomination Committee. Our
supervisory board has determined that each member of the Compensation and Nomination Committee satisfies the independence
requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
Audit Committee
According to Article 10 of the rules of procedure of our supervisory board, our Audit Committee assists the supervisory
board in overseeing the accuracy and integrity of our accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of our financial
statements, the effectiveness of the internal control system and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the
independent auditors’ qualifications and independence and the performance of the independent auditors.
The Audit Committee’s duties and responsibilities to carry out its purposes include, among others:
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
the review of our accounting processes;
the review of the effectiveness of our internal systems of control, risk management and compliance;
the review and the handling of matters and processes related to auditor independence;
the commissioning of the auditors to conduct the audit, agreeing on additional services to be provided by the
auditors under the auditor’s assignment, the establishment of the scope and the main review points of the auditand
agreeing upon a fee with the auditors;
the preparation of the supervisory board’s resolution on our financial statements;
and
the establishment of procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints we receive regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by our
employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Under German law, each member of the supervisory board is obliged to carry out his or her duties and responsibilities
personally, and such duties and responsibilities cannot be generally and permanently delegated to third parties. However, the
supervisory board and its committees, including the Audit Committee, have the right to appoint third party experts for the review
and analysis of specific circumstances in accordance with its control and supervision duties under German law. For example, the
supervisory board could retain an audit firm and/or legal counsel if it wants to investigate potentially illegal activities occurring in
a foreign subsidiary. We will bear the costs for any such independent experts that are retained by the supervisory board or any of
its committees, including the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee consists of three members. The chairman of the Audit Committee shall be independent and shall,
in particular, not be a former member of our management board whose appointment ended less than two years prior to his or her
appointment as chairman of the Audit Committee.
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Furthermore, the chairman of the Audit Committee shall have special knowledge and experience in the application of
accounting principles and internal control procedures and shall therefore qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as
defined under the Exchange Act.
Management Board
Overview
Under German law and the company’s articles of association, the management board must consist of one or more
persons and the supervisory board determines the exact number of members of the management board. The supervisory board
also appoints the chairman and the deputy chairman of the management board, if any. Currently, the management board consists
of two members, with Dr. Ingo Ederer appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Rudolf Franz appointed as Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Opertaing Officer.
Members of our management board conduct the daily business of our company in accordance with applicable laws, our
articles of association and the rules of procedure for the management board. The management board is in general responsible for
the management of our company and for handling our daily business relations with third parties, the internal organization of our
business and communications with our shareholders. In addition, the management board has the responsibility for:
·
·
·
the preparation of our annual financial statements;
the making of a proposal to our shareholders’ meeting on how our profits (if any) should be allocated (such proposal
to be submitted simultaneously to the supervisory board); and
regular reporting to the supervisory board on our current operating and financial performance, our budgeting and
planning processes and our performance under them and on future business planning (including strategic, financial,
investment and personnel planning).
The supervisory board appoints the members of the management board for a maximum term of five years.
Reappointment or extension of the term for up to five years is permissible. The supervisory board may revoke the appointment of
a management board member prior to the expiration of his or her term for good cause only, such as for gross breach of fiduciary
duties or if the shareholders’ meeting passes a vote of no‑confidence with respect to such member, unless the supervisory board
deems the no‑confidence vote to be clearly unreasonable. The supervisory board is also responsible for entering into, amending
and terminating service agreements with the management board members and, in general, for representing us in disputes with the
management board, both in and out of court. The supervisory board may assign these duties to a committee of the supervisory
board, except in certain cases where the approval of the entire supervisory board is required, such as the approval of the
compensation of members of our management board and the reduction of the compensation of members of our management
board upon a deterioration of our situation, which includes, among other things, a bankruptcy or the layoff of a significant number
of employees.
According to our articles of association, as long as there are two or more management board members, either (i) two
management board members or (ii) one management board member acting jointly with an authorized representative ( Prokurist )
have the authority to act on our behalf. The supervisory board may grant any management board member the right to represent us
alone and may release any member of the management board from the restrictions on multiple representations under Section 181,
2nd Case of the German Civil Code ( Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch ).
Under the management board member service agreements and by a special resolution of the supervisory board, all
members of the management board have been granted authority to represent us alone and were released from the restrictions
imposed by Section 181, 2nd Case of the German Civil Code.
The management board has the authority to determine our business areas and operating segments and resolve upon the
internal allocation of responsibility for certain business areas and operating segments among the various members of the
management board by setting up a business responsibility plan ( Geschäftsverteilungsplan ). Since we currently have only two
members of the management board, we do not have a business responsibility plan in place at this time.
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Section 3(7) of the rules of procedure of our supervisory board provides that a management board member shall not
continue to serve on our management board past his or her 65th birthday.
Service Agreements
Dr. Ingo Ederer and Rudolf Franz
By resolution of its supervisory board effective as of July 1, 2016, the current members of the voxeljet AG (“voxeljet”)
management board, Dr. Ingo Ederer and Rudolf Franz, were reappointed as members of the management board for a new 5 year
term from July 1, 2016 until June 30, 2021. Dr. Ingo Ederer and Rudolf Franz have each accepted such new appointment.
Following the reappointment of Dr. Ingo Ederer and Rudolf Franz as members of the management board, the existing
service agreements with Dr. Ingo Ederer and Rudolf Franz originally scheduled to expire in 2017 were mutually terminated and
new five year service agreements were concluded with each member of the management board effective as of July 1, 2016.
The main terms of the service agreements are summarized below. The terms of the service agreements of Dr. Ingo
Ederer and Rudolf Franz are identical unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Each service agreement can be terminated prior to June 30, 2021 only, (i) by the member of the management board
exercising a special termination right (Sonderkündigungsrecht) in case of a change of control of voxeljet (as defined in the service
agreement), if and to the extend such change of control leads to a material change of the position of the member of the
management board, if (ii) the member of the management board is terminated by us for cause or if (iii) the member of the
management board terminates the service agreement for cause.
If a member of the management board terminates the service agreement exercising the special termination right (
Sonderkündigungsrecht ) in case of a change of control, the member of the management board is entitled to a compensation
payment. 50% of such compensation payment consists of the sum of the total remuneration payable to the member of the
management board over the outstanding full term of the service agreement (fixed plus variable remuneration assuming the full
achievement of all bonus targets) and the other 50% consists of a lump sum payment amounting to two annual fixed salaries. The
compensation payment is capped at the amount of € 2.0 million.
Under German law, a contract can be terminated for cause only in exceptional circumstances (i.e., if the continuation of
the contractual relationship is unacceptable for the terminating party). Termination for cause generally requires that a party
repeatedly and severely breaches its contractual duties. To the extent the employment terminates during a business year, the
member of the management board is entitled to a pro rata portion of the bonus that reflects the percentage of the year that the
member of the management board worked for us.
Furthermore, each service agreement contains a covenant pursuant to which each member of the management board has
agreed not to compete with us for a period of two years after the termination of the service agreement. Under German law, a non-
compete covenant is only valid if the employee is compensated during the term of the non-compete obligation. As compensation
for the non-compete covenant, each member of the management board will receive 100% of his fixed salary (but in no event less
than 50% of the total compensation received in the preceding year) for the entire two year term of the non-compete covenant. If
the service agreement of a member of the management board is terminated for cause, we are not obligated to pay the
compensation for the non-compete covenant, so long as we provide the member of the management board with a written
statement disclaiming our obligation to pay this compensation within one month after the termination.
The new service agreements provide for an annual fixed compensation (base salary), an annual performance award
(annual bonus) with a target of up to 30% of the yearly base salary, as well as a long-term performance award for a three-
business-year period (long-term bonus) with a target of up to 100% of the yearly base salary. The performance targets of the
annual and long-term bonuses are a mixture of certain financial and non-financial targets, such as revenue, profitability and
liquidity targets as well as personal goals. In addition to the fixed and variable remuneration components, each member of the
management board is entitled to additional benefits (including company car arrangements, mobile phone, accident and director
and officer liability insurance) and reimbursement of necessary and reasonable expenses.
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German Corporate Governance Code
The German Corporate Governance Code, or Corporate Governance Code, was originally published by the German
Ministry of Justice ( Bundesministerium der Justiz ) in 2002 and was most recently amended on May 5, 2015 and published in the
German Federal Gazette ( Bundesanzeiger ) on June 12, 2015. The Corporate Governance Code contains recommendations (
Empfehlungen) and suggestions ( Anregungen) relating to the management and supervision of German companies that are listed
on a stock exchange. It follows internationally and nationally recognized standards for good and responsible corporate
governance. The purpose of the Corporate Governance Code is to make the German system of corporate governance transparent
for investors. The Corporate Governance Code includes corporate governance recommendations and suggestions with respect to
shareholders and general shareholders’ meetings, the management and supervisory boards, transparency, accounting policies, and
auditing.
There is no obligation to comply with the recommendations or suggestions of the Corporate Governance Code. The
German Stock Corporation Act ( Aktiengesetz ) requires only that the management board and supervisory board of a German
listed company issue an annual declaration that either (i) states that the company has complied with the recommendations of the
Corporate Governance Code or (ii) lists the recommendations that the company has not complied with and explains its reasons for
deviating from the recommendations of the Corporate Governance Code (so called Entsprechenserklärung) . In addition, a listed
company is also required to state in this annual declaration whether it intends to comply with the recommendations or list the
recommendations it does not plan to comply with in the future. The current declaration needs to be published permanently on the
company’s website. In addition, the Corporate Governance Code recommends that the old declarations remain on the website for
five years. If the company changes its policy on certain recommendations between such annual declarations, it must disclose this
fact and explain its reasons for deviating from the recommendations. Non‑compliance with suggestions contained in the
Corporate Governance Code need not be disclosed.
Following our listing on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2013, the Corporate Governance Code applies to us
and we are required to issue the annual declarations described above. On December 31, 2013, we issued and published our first
annual compliance declaration and on December 15, 2014 we published our second annual compliance declaration. Our third and
fourth annual compliance declaration was published on December 16, 2015 and December 14, 2016, respectively
. You can find
our annual compliance declarations on our website at investor.voxeljet.com . This website address is included in this annual report
as an inactive textual reference only.
According to their respective rules of procedure, our management board and the supervisory board are obliged to comply
with the Corporate Governance Code except for such provisions which they have explicitly listed in their annual declaration and
for which they have stated that they do not comply with.
In particular, we adhere to the following significant recommendations of the Corporate Governance Code: (i) the
supervisory board will establish a compensation and nomination committee ( Vergütungs‑und Nominierungsausschuss ) as well
as an audit committee ( Prüfungsausschuss ); (ii) the management board must keep the supervisory board closely informed, in
particular with respect to measures which can fundamentally affect our financial situation; and (iii) significant management
measures are subject to supervisory board approval.
However, we expect to deviate from the recommendations and suggestions of the Corporate Governance Code in various
respects. All deviations from the Corporate Governance Code recommendations will be published in the official annual
declarations, the current declaration was published on December 14, 2016.
D. EMPLOYEES
The majority of our current employees are located in Germany, paid in euros and subject to German labor law. A few of
our employees are members of a labor union; no employee is a party to a collective bargaining agreement. On June 23, 2016, our
employees voted for the first workers council of voxeljet AG. According to the German Betriebsverfassungsgesetz (BetrVG), § 9,
the workers’ council has 9 members. In its inaugural meeting on July 7, 2016, the workers’ council has officially started its work
for the employees of the voxeljet AG. We consider our employee relations to be good and have never experienced a work
stoppage.
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The table below sets forth the number of employees we had as of December 31 of each of the years represented:
December 31,
2016
2015
2014
2
4
56
83
47
41
49
282
2
2
43
63
38
31
44
223
2
2
49
37
35
32
43
200
Management board (Vorstand)
Managing director
Research and development
Systems
Services
Sales and marketing
Financial
Total
E. SHARE OWNERSHIP
Supervisory Board
Supervisory board member Prof. Dr. Joachim Heinzl holds 72,145 of our ordinary shares, which represented 1.9% of our
ordinary shares as of December 31, 2016. None of the other members of the supervisory board held any of our ordinary shares as
of December 31, 2016.
Management Board
Our CEO and founder, Dr. Ingo Ederer, holds 578,695 of our ordinary shares, which represented 15.6% of our ordinary
shares as of December 31, 2016.
Our CFO and COO, Rudolf Franz, holds 259,415 of our ordinary shares through Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG,
which is wholly owned by Mr. Franz and members of his family, which represented 7.0% of our ordinary shares as of
December 31, 2016.
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information, as of March 1, 2017, regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary
shares.
(2)
5% Shareholders and Members of our
Supervisory and Management Boards
Dr. Ingo Ederer
Startkapital-Fonds Augsburg GmbH
Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG
Rudolf Franz
Prof. Dr. Joachim Heinzl
Peter Nietzer
Dr. Stefan Söhn
All Members of our Supervisory and Management Boards as a Group (5 persons):
(5)
(4)
(3)
Number
(1)
Percent
(1)
578,695
259,415
259,415
259,415
72,145
--
--
910,255
15.6%
7.0%
7.0%
7.0%
1.9%
--
--
24.5%
In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have
included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days of December 31, 2016, including through the vesting of
deferred share awards, exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares,
however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the
business address of each such person is c/o voxeljet AG, Paul‑Lenz Straße 1a, 86316 Friedberg, Germany.
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(1) Except as otherwise indicated, the persons named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all
ordinary shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable and to the
information contained in the footnotes to this table.
(2) Prior to our initial public offering on October 23, 2013, Dr. Ingo Ederer was the beneficial owner of 19.6% of our
outstanding ordinary shares.
(3) Marcus Wagner is the managing director of Startkapital‑Fonds Augsburg GmbH and has the sole power to vote, hold and
dispose of shares held by it. The address for Startkapital‑Fonds Augsburg GmbH is Stettenstraße 1, 86150 Augsburg,
Germany. Prior to our initial public offering, Startkapital‑Fonds Augsburg GmbH was the beneficial owner of 8.8% of our
outstanding ordinary shares.
(4) Rudolf Franz and Bärbel Franz are the Managing Directors of Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG and have shared power to
vote, hold and dispose of the shares held by it. Bärbel Franz is the spouse of Rudolf Franz. The address for Franz
Industriebeteiligungen AG is Am Silbermannpark 1b, 86161 Augsburg, Germany. Prior to our initial public offering on
October 23, 2013, Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG was the beneficial owner of 8.8% of our outstanding ordinary shares.
(5) Consists entirely of ordinary shares held by Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG.
As of December 31, 2016, there were eleven holders of record entered in our share register. Citibank, N.A., the
depositary, is a U.S. resident and the holder of record of the ordinary shares that underlie our ADSs. Each ADS represents
one‑fifth of an ordinary share. As of December 31, 2016, Citibank, N.A. held 2,256,845 ordinary shares representing 60.7% of
the issued share capital held at that date. Other than Citibank, N.A., we do not believe that any of our other holders of record is a
U.S. resident. The number of holders of record is based exclusively upon our share register and does not address whether a share
or shares may be held by the holder of record on behalf of more than one person or institution who may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of a share or shares in our company.
None of our shareholders will have different voting rights from other shareholders. We are not aware of any arrangement
that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.
B. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Since January 1, 2016, there has not been, nor is there currently proposed, any material transaction or series of similar
material transactions to which we were or are a party in which any of the members of our supervisory board and management
board, executive officers, holders of more than 10% of any class of our voting securities, or any member of the immediate family
of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than the compensation and
shareholding arrangements we describe where required in “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees,” and the
transactions we describe below.
Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG, Augsburg, Germany, is owned by Mrs. Bärbel Franz, Mr. Simon Franz, Mrs. Lisa
Franz and Mr. Rudolf Franz who has been the Chief Financial Officer of voxeljet AG since 2013. Franz Industriebeteiligungen
AG rents office space in Augsburg, Germany to voxeljet AG . Rental expenses amounted to kEUR 2, in 2016. In addition, Franz
Industriebeteiligungen AG received payments related to the use of certain paintings which are placed in the administrative
building in Friedberg. Associated rental expenses amounted to kEUR 2 in 2016. Such transactions are ongoing and will continue
in 2017.
Further, voxeljet acquired goods amounting to kEUR 15 in 2016 from ‘Schlosserei und Metallbau Ederer’, which is
owned by the brother of Dr. Ingo Ederer, the Chief Executive Officer of voxeljet .
Service Agreements
We have entered into service agreements with the members of our management board. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior
Management and Employees—C. Board Practices.”
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C. INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
See “Item 18. Financial Statements.”
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may be subject to various claims or legal, arbitral or administrative proceedings that arise in the
ordinary course of our business. We are currently not a party to, and we are not aware of any threat of, any legal, arbitral or
administrative proceedings which, in the opinion of our management, is likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Dividend Policy
Neither we nor our legal predecessor, Voxeljet Technology GmbH, have ever declared or paid any cash dividends on our
ordinary shares, and we have no present intention of declaring or paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Any
recommendation by our management and supervisory boards to pay dividends, subject to compliance with applicable law and any
contractual provisions that restrict or limit our ability to pay dividends, including under agreements for indebtedness that we may
incur, will depend on many factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, legal requirements, capital
requirements, business prospects and other factors that our management and supervisory boards deem relevant.
All of our shares represented by ADSs have the same dividend rights as all of our other outstanding shares. Any
distribution of dividends proposed by our management and supervisory boards requires the approval of our shareholders at a
shareholders’ meeting. See “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association,” which incorporates
by reference certain sections of our registration statement on Form F‑1 (Registration No. 333‑191213) that explain in more detail
the procedures we must follow and the German law provisions that determine whether we are entitled to declare a dividend.
For information regarding the German withholding tax applicable to dividends and related United States refund
procedures, see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—German Taxation of ADSs.”
B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
Except as set forth elsewhere in this annual report, no significant changes have occurred since December 31, 2016.
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ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
A. OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
Price History
Our ADSs, each representing one‑fifth of an ordinary share, have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since
October 18, 2013. Our ADSs are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VJET.”
The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the reported high and low sale prices of our ADSs on the New
York Stock Exchange:
Year ended:
December 31, 2013
December 31, 2014
December 31, 2015
December 31, 2016
Quarter ended:
March 31, 2015
June 30, 2015
September 30, 2015
December 31, 2015
March 31, 2016
June 30, 2016
September 30, 2016
December 31, 2016
March 31, 2017(1)
Month ended:
September 2016
October 2016
November 2016
December 2016
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017(2)
High
Low
68.37
47.98
10.40
6.45
10.40
9.15
7.50
6.82
6.10
6.45
4.96
4.75
3.58
4.81
4.75
4.30
3.55
3.58
3.33
2.98
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
28.80
7.29
4.33
2.87
7.34
6.84
4.40
4.33
3.74
4.37
4.03
2.87
2.83
4.11
4.27
3.58
2.87
3.02
2.98
2.83
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
(1) For the period of January 1, 2016 through March 20, 2017.
(2) For the period of March 1, 2016 through March 20, 2017.
B. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Not applicable.
C. MARKETS
Our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VJET.”
D. SELLING SHAREHOLDER
Not applicable.
E. DILUTION
Not applicable.
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F. EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. SHARE CAPITAL
Not applicable.
B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
See the descriptions included in our registration statement on Form F‑1 (Registration No. 333‑191213) under the
headings “Description of Share Capital” and “Description of American Depositary Shares,” which are incorporated herein by
reference.
Registration of the Company with Commercial Register
We are a German stock corporation ( Aktiengesellschaft , or AG ) that is organized under the laws of Germany. On
July 11, 2013, our company was registered in the commercial register of Augsburg, Germany under the number HRB 27999.
C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS
We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those
described elsewhere in “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview,” “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related
Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions,” or elsewhere in this annual report.
D. EXCHANGE CONTROLS
There are currently no legal restrictions in Germany on international capital movements and foreign‑exchange
transactions, except in limited embargo circumstances ( Teilembargo ) relating to certain areas, entities or persons as a result of
applicable resolutions adopted by the United Nations and the European Union. Restrictions currently exist with respect to, among
others, Belarus, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea‑Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Korea,
Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.
For statistical purposes, there are, however, limited notification requirements regarding transactions involving
cross‑border monetary transfers. With some exceptions, every corporation or individual residing in Germany must report to the
German Central Bank ( Deutsche Bundesbank ) (i) any payment received from, or made to, a non‑resident corporation or
individual that exceeds € 12,500 (or the equivalent in a foreign currency) and (ii) any claim against, or liability payable to, a
non‑resident or corporation in excess of € 5 million (or the equivalent in a foreign currency) at the end of any calendar month.
Payments include cash payments made by means of direct debit, checks and bills, remittances denominated in euros and other
currencies made through financial institutions, as well as netting and clearing arrangements.
E. TAXATION
German Taxation
The following discussion describes the material German tax consequences for a holder that is a U.S. person of acquiring,
owning, and disposing of the ADSs. A holder that is a U.S. person, which we refer to as a “U.S. treaty beneficiary,” is a resident
of the United States for purposes of the Agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and United States of America for
the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital as of
June 4, 2008 ( Abkommen zwischen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika zur Vermeidung
der Doppelbesteuerung und zur Verhinderung der Steuerverkürzung auf dem Gebiet der Steuern vom Einkommen und vom
Vermögen und einiger anderer Steuern in der Fassung vom 4. Juni 2008 ), which we refer to as the “Treaty,” who is fully eligible
for benefits under the Treaty.
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A holder will be a U.S. treaty beneficiary entitled to full Treaty benefits in respect of the ADSs if it is, inter alia :
·
·
·
·
the beneficial owner of the ADSs (and the dividends paid with respect thereto);
a citizen or an individual resident of the United States, a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S.
federal income tax purposes created or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the
District of Columbia, an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without regard to its
source, or a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of
the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or the trust
has elected to be treated as a domestic trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
not also a resident of Germany for German tax purposes; and
not subject to the limitation on benefits ( i.e. , anti‑treaty shopping) article of the Treaty that applies in limited
circumstances.
Special rules apply to pension funds and certain other tax‑exempt investors.
This discussion does not address the treatment of ADSs that are (i) held in connection with a permanent establishment or
fixed base through which a U.S. treaty beneficiary carries on business or performs personal services in Germany or (ii) part of
business assets for which a permanent representative in Germany has been appointed.
With the exception of the subsection “—General Rules for the Taxation of Shareholders Tax Resident in Germany”
below, which provides an overview of dividend taxation with regards to the general principles applicable on tax residents in
Germany, this discussion applies only to U.S. treaty beneficiaries that acquired ADSs in the initial offering and hold ADSs as
capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. It does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations
that may be relevant to a decision to purchase ADSs by any particular investor, including tax considerations that arise from rules
of general application to all taxpayers or to certain classes of taxpayers that are generally assumed to be known by investors. In
particular, this discussion does not address tax considerations applicable to a U.S. treaty beneficiary that may be subject to special
tax rules, including, without limitation, a dealer in securities or currencies, a trader in securities that elects to use a
mark‑to‑market method of accounting for securities holdings, banks, thrifts, or other financial institutions, U.S. expatriates, an
insurance company, a tax‑exempt organization, a person that holds ADSs as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion or other
integrated transaction for tax purposes, a person that purchases or sells ordinary shares or ADSs as part of a wash sale for tax
purposes, a person whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar, a person subject to the U.S. alternative
minimum tax, or a person that owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of the company’s voting stock. In addition, the discussion
does not address tax consequences to an entity treated as a partnership (or other pass‑through entity) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes that holds ADSs. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of each partner of the partnership generally will depend upon
the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Prospective purchasers that are partners in a partnership holding
ADSs should consult their own tax advisors.
This discussion is based on German tax laws, including, but not limited to interpretation circulars issued by German tax
authorities, which are not binding on the courts, and the Treaty. It is based upon tax laws in effect at the time of preparation of
this annual report (March 2014). These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. There is no assurance that
German tax authorities will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described in this discussion.
In addition, this discussion is based upon the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related
agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms. It does not purport to be a comprehensive or exhaustive description of
all German or U.S. tax considerations that may be of relevance in the context of acquiring, owning and disposing of ADSs.
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Prospective holders of ADSs should consult their own tax advisors regarding the German tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs in light of their particular circumstances, including the effect of any state, local, or
other foreign or domestic laws or changes in tax law or interpretation.
German Taxation of ADSs
General
As of the date hereof, no published German tax court cases exist as to the German tax treatment of ADRs or ADSs, but
based on the interpretation circular regarding the taxation of ADRs issued by the German Federal Ministry of Finance
(BMF‑Schreiben) (dated May 24, 2013, reference number IV C 1‑S2204/12/10003) (the “ADR Tax Circular”), for German tax
purposes, although it is not free from doubt, the ADSs should represent a beneficial ownership interest in the underlying shares
and qualify as ADRs for the purpose of the ADR Tax Circular. If the ADSs qualify as ADRs under the ADR Tax Circular,
dividends would accordingly be attributable to U.S. treaty beneficiaries of the ADSs for tax purposes, and not to the legal owner
of the ordinary shares ( i.e. , the financial institution on behalf of whom the ordinary shares are stored at a domestic depository for
the ADS holders), and U.S. treaty beneficiaries would be treated as holding an interest in the company’s ordinary shares for
German tax purposes. However, investors should note that interpretation circulars published by the German tax administration
(including the ADR Tax Circular) are not binding on German courts, including German tax courts, and it is unclear whether a
German tax court would follow the ADR Tax Circular in determining the German tax treatment of ADRs or ADSs. For the
purpose of this German tax section it is assumed that the ADSs qualify as ADRs within the meaning of the ADR Tax Circular.
German Taxation of Dividends and Capital Gains
General Rules for the Taxation of Shareholders Tax Resident in Germany
This subsection provides an overview of dividend taxation with regards to the general principles applicable on tax
residents in Germany.
The German dividend and capital gains taxation rules applicable to German tax residents require a distinction between
shares held as private assets ( Kapitalvermögen ) and shares held as business assets ( Gewerbebetrieb ).
In case the shares are held as private assets, dividends and capital gains are taxed as investment income and are
principally subject to 25% German flat income tax on capital income ( Abgeltungsteuer ) (plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge (
Solidaritätszuschlag ) thereon, resulting in an aggregate rate of 26.375%), which is levied in the form of withholding tax (
Kapitalertragsteuer ). The shareholder is taxed on its gross personal investment income, less the saver’s tax‑free allowance of
€ 801 for an individual or € 1,602 for a married couple filing taxes jointly. The deduction of income related expenses actually
incurred is generally not possible. Private investors can apply to have their investment income assessed in accordance with the
general rules on determining an individual’s tax bracket if this would result in a lower tax burden. In this case, the shareholder
will be taxed on gross personal investment income, less the saver’s tax‑free allowance of € 801 (€ 1,602 for married couples
filing jointly), without deduction of income‑related expenses actually incurred. If tax is initially withheld, it will be credited
against the amount of personal income tax assessed against the shareholder.
Losses resulting from the disposal of shares can only be offset by capital gains from the sale of shares. If, however, a
shareholder directly or indirectly held at least 1% of the share capital of the company at any time during the five years preceding
the sale, 60% of any capital gains resulting from the sale are taxable at the shareholder’s personal income tax rate (plus 5.5%
solidarity surcharge thereon). Conversely, 60% of any capital losses are recognized for tax purposes.
In case the shares are held as business assets, the taxation depends on the legal form of the shareholder ( i.e. , whether
the shareholder is a corporation, an individual or a partnership). Irrespective of the legal form of the shareholder, dividends are
also in this business assets scenario subject to the aggregate withholding tax rate of 26.375%. The withholding tax (
Kapitalertragsteuer ) is credited against the respective shareholder’s final (corporate) income tax liability. To the extent the
amount withheld exceeds the (corporate) income tax liability, the withholding tax will be refunded, provided that certain
requirements are met.
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Special rules apply to financial institutions ( Kreditinstitute ), financial services providers (
Finanzdienstleistungsinstitute ), financial enterprises ( Finanzunternehmen ), life insurance and health insurance companies, and
pension funds.
With regard to shareholders in the legal form of a corporation , dividends and capital gains are effectively 95% tax
exempt from corporate income tax (including solidarity surcharge). However, with regards to dividends (not to capital gains)
realized after February 28, 2013, the 95% corporate income tax exemption only applies if the corporation holds at least 10% of
the shares in the company at the beginning of the calendar year.
A circular issued by the Regional Tax Office Frankfurt/Main ( Verfügung der OFD ), dated December 2, 2013, reference
number S 2750a A‑19‑St 52, provides for further comments on the scope of application of the 10% threshold.
Dividends are fully subject to trade tax ( Gewerbesteuer ), unless the shareholder holds at least 15% of the shares in the
company at the beginning of the tax assessment period. In the latter case, effectively 95% of the dividends are also exempt from
trade tax. Capital gains, however, are, irrespective of the size of the shareholding, 95% exempt from trade tax. Losses from the
sale of shares are not tax deductible for corporate income tax and trade tax purposes.
With regards to individuals holding shares as business assets, 60% of dividends and capital gains are taxed at the
individual’s personal income tax rate (plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge thereon). Correspondingly, only 60% of business expenses
related to the dividends and capital gains are principally deductible for income tax purposes.
If shares are held as business assets of a commercial permanent establishment located in Germany, dividends are fully
subject to trade tax, unless the sole proprietor holds at least 15% of the company’s shares at the beginning of the tax assessment
period. In this case dividends are fully tax exempt from trade tax. With regards to capital gains, only 60% of the gains are subject
to trade tax. 60% of any losses from the sale of shares are tax deductible for income tax and trade tax purposes. All or part of the
trade tax is generally credited as a lump sum against the income taxes of the individual.
General rules for the Taxation of Shareholders Not Tax Resident in Germany
Non German resident holders of ADSs are subject to German taxation with respect to German source income (
beschränkte Steuerpflicht ). According to the ADR Tax Circular dated May 24, 2013, income from the shares should be attributed
to the holder of the ADSs for German tax purposes. As a consequence, income from the ADSs should be treated as German
source income ( beschränkte Steuerpflicht ).
The full amount of a dividend distributed by the company to a non German resident shareholder which does not maintain
a permanent establishment or other taxable presence in Germany is subject to (final) German withholding tax (
Kapitalertragsteuer ) at an aggregate rate of 26.375%. The basis for the withholding tax is the approval of the dividend for
distribution by the company’s general shareholder meeting. The amount of the relevant taxable income is based on the gross
amount in euro; any currency differences shall be irrelevant.
German withholding tax is withheld and remitted to the German tax authorities by the disbursing agent ( i.e. , the
German bank, financial services institution, securities trading enterprise or securities trading bank (each as defined in the German
Banking Act ( Kreditwesengesetz ) and in each case including a German branch of a foreign enterprise, but excluding a foreign
branch of a German enterprise) that holds or administers the underlying shares in custody and disburses or credits the dividend
income from the underlying shares or disburses or credits the dividend income from the underlying shares on delivery of the
dividend coupons or disburses such dividend income to a foreign agent or the central securities depository (
Wertpapiersammelbank) in terms of the German Depositary Act ( Depotgesetz )) holding the underlying shares in a collective
deposit, if such central securities depository disburses the dividend income from the underlying shares to a foreign agent,
regardless of whether or not a holder must report the dividend for tax purposes and regardless of whether or not a holder is a
resident of Germany.
Pursuant to the Treaty, the German withholding tax generally may not exceed 15% of the gross dividends received by
U.S. treaty beneficiaries. In case of any U.S. treaty beneficiary qualifying as a not tax transparent corporation and directly holding
at least 10% or more of the company’s voting shares, the German withholding tax is capped at 5% of the gross dividends. The
excess of the total withholding tax, including the solidarity surcharge, over the maximum rate of withholding tax permitted by the
Treaty is refunded to U.S. treaty beneficiaries upon application. For example, for a declared dividend of 100, a U.S. treaty
beneficiary initially receives 73.625 (100 minus the 26.375%
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withholding tax). The U.S. treaty beneficiary is entitled to a partial refund from the German tax authorities in the amount of
11.375% of the gross dividend (of 100). As a result, the U.S. treaty beneficiary ultimately receives a total of 85 (85% of the
declared dividend) following the refund of the excess withholding. However, investors should note that it is unclear how the
German tax administration will apply the refund process to dividends on the ADSs and ADRs. Further, such refund is subject to
the German anti‑avoidance treaty shopping rule (as described below in section “—Withholding Tax Refund for U.S. Treaty
Beneficiaries”).
German Taxation of Capital Gains of the U.S. Treaty Beneficiaries of the ADSs
The capital gains from the disposition of ADSs realized by a non German resident shareholder which does not maintain
a permanent establishment or other taxable presence in Germany would be treated as German source income and subject to
German tax ( beschränkte Steuerpflicht ) if such holder at any time during the five years preceding the disposition, directly or
indirectly, held ADSs that represent 1% or more of the company’s shares. If such holder had acquired the ADSs without
consideration, the previous owner’s holding period and size of the holding would also be taken into account.
However, U.S. treaty beneficiaries are eligible for treaty benefits under the Treaty (as discussed above in the section “—
German Taxation”). Pursuant to the Treaty, U.S. treaty beneficiaries are not subject to German tax even under the circumstances
described in the preceding paragraph.
German statutory law requires the disbursing agent to levy withholding tax on capital gains from the sale of shares or
other securities held in a custodial account in Germany. With regards to the German taxation of capital gains, disbursing agent
means a German bank, a financial services institution, a securities trading enterprise or a securities trading bank (each as defined
in the German Banking Act ( Kreditwesengesetz ) and, in each case including a German branch of a foreign enterprise, but
excluding a foreign branch of a German enterprise) that holds the ADSs in custody or administers the ADSs for the investor or
conducts sales or other dispositions and disburses or credits the income from the ADSs to the holder of the ADSs. The German
statutory law does not explicitly condition the obligation to withhold taxes on capital gains being subject to taxation in Germany
under German statutory law or on an applicable income tax treaty permitting Germany to tax such capital gains.
However, an interpretation circular issued by the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF‑Schreiben) (dated January
18, 2016, reference number IV C 1‑S2252/08/10004:017) provides that taxes need not be withheld when the holder of the custody
account is not a resident of Germany for tax purposes and the income is not subject to German taxation. The interpretation
circular further states that there is no obligation to withhold such tax even if the non‑resident holder owns 1% or more of the
shares of a German company. While interpretation circulars issued by the German Federal Ministry of Finance are only binding
on the tax authorities but not on the tax courts, in practice, the disbursing agents nevertheless typically rely on guidance contained
in such interpretation circulars. Therefore, a disbursing agent would only withhold tax at 26.375% on capital gains derived by a
U.S. treaty beneficiary from the sale of ADSs held in a custodial account in Germany in the unlikely event that the disbursing
agent did not follow this guidance. In this case, the U.S. treaty beneficiary should be entitled to claim a refund of the withholding
tax from the German tax authorities under the Treaty (as described in the section “—Withholding Tax Refund for U.S. Treaty
Beneficiaries”).
Withholding Tax Refund for U.S. Treaty Beneficiaries
U.S. treaty beneficiaries are generally eligible for treaty benefits under the Treaty (as discussed above in Section “—
German Taxation”). Accordingly, U.S. treaty beneficiaries are entitled to claim a refund of the portion of the otherwise applicable
26.375% German withholding tax on dividends that exceeds the applicable Treaty rate. However, as previously discussed,
investors should note that it is unclear how the German tax administration will apply the refund process to dividends on the ADSs
and ADRs. Further, such refund is subject to the German anti‑avoidance treaty shopping rule according to section 50d para. 3 of
the German Income Tax Act ( Einkommensteuergesetz ). Generally, this rule requires that the U.S. treaty beneficiary (in case it is
a non German resident company) maintains its own administrative substance and conducts its own business activities. In
particular, a foreign company has no right to a full or partial refund to the extent persons holding ownership interests in the
company would not be entitled to the refund if they derived the income directly and the gross income realized by the foreign
company is not caused by the business activities of the foreign company, and there are either no economic or other valid reasons
for the interposition of the foreign company, or the foreign company does not participate in general commerce by means of a
business organization with resources appropriate to its business purpose. However, this shall not apply if the foreign company’s
principal class
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of stock is regularly traded in substantial volume on a recognized stock exchange, or if the foreign company is subject to the
provisions of the German Investment Tax Act ( Investmentsteuergesetz ).
Individual claims for refunds may be made on a separate form, which must be filed with the German Federal Central
Tax Office ( Bundeszentralamt für Steuern ), An der Küppe 1, 53225 Bonn, Germany. The form is available at the same address,
on the German Federal Tax Office’s website ( www.bzst.de ) or from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, 2300 M
Street, NW, Washington DC 20037. Generally, the refund claim becomes time‑barred after four years following the calendar year
in which the dividend is received. As part of the individual refund claim, a U.S. treaty beneficiary must submit to the German tax
authorities the original withholding certificate (or a certified copy thereof) issued by the disbursing agent and documenting the tax
withheld, and an official certification of United States tax residency on IRS Form 6166. IRS Form 6166 may be obtained by filing
a properly completed IRS Form 8802 with the Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 71052, Philadelphia, PA 19176‑6052.
Requests for certification must include the U.S. treaty beneficiary’s name, social security number or employer identification
number, the type of U.S. tax return filed, the tax period for which the certification is requested and a user fee of $85. An online
payment option is also available at www.irs.gov . If the online payment option is used, then the completed IRS Form 8802 and all
required attachments should be mailed to Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Philadelphia, PA 19255‑0625.
The Internal Revenue Service will send the certification on IRS Form 6166 to the U.S. treaty beneficiary, who must then submit
the certification with the claim for refund of withholding tax.
Under a simplified refund procedure based on electronic data exchange ( Datenträgerverfahren ) a disbursing agent that
is registered as a participant in the electronic data exchange procedure with the German Federal Central Tax Office (
Bundeszentralamt für Steuern ) may file an electronic collective refund claim on behalf of all of the U.S. treaty beneficiaries for
whom it holds the company’s ADSs in custody. However the simplified refund procedure only allows for a refund up to the
regular tax rate provided in the Treaty. It is not possible to use the simplified refund procedure to claim a further refund, for
example based on special privileges under the Treaty.
Due to the legal structure of the ADSs, only limited guidance of the German tax authorities exists on the practical
application of this procedure with respect to the ADSs.
German Inheritance and Gift Tax ( Erbschaft‑‑und Schenkungsteuer )
It is unclear whether the German inheritance or gift tax applies to the transfer of the ADSs as the ADR Tax Circular does
not refer explicitly to the German Inheritance and Gift Tax Act. However, if German inheritance or gift tax is applicable to ADSs,
then under German domestic law, the transfer of the ordinary shares in the company and, as a consequence, the transfer of the
ADSs would be subject to German gift or inheritance tax if:
(a)
(b)
(c)
the decedent or donor or heir, beneficiary or other transferee (i) maintained his or her residence or a habitual
abode in Germany or had its place of management or registered office in Germany at the time of the transfer, or
(ii) is a German citizen who has spent no more than five consecutive years outside Germany without maintaining
a residence in Germany or (iii) is a German citizen who serves for a German entity established under public law
and is remunerated for his or her service from German public funds (including family members who form part of
such person’s household, if they are German citizens) and is only subject to estate or inheritance tax in his or her
country of residence or habitual abode with respect to assets located in such country (special rules apply to certain
former German citizens who neither maintain a residence nor have their habitual abode in Germany), or
at the time of the transfer, the ADSs are held by the decedent or donor as business assets forming part of a
permanent establishment in Germany or for which a permanent representative in Germany has been appointed, or
the ADSs subject to such transfer form part of a portfolio that represents at the time of the transfer 10% or more
of the registered share capital of the company and that has been held directly or indirectly by the decedent or
donor, either alone or together with related persons.
Under the Agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America for the avoidance of
double taxation with respect to taxes on inheritances and gifts ( Abkommen zwischen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und den
Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika zur Vermeidung der Doppelbesteuerung auf dem Gebiet der
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Nachlass‑, Erbschaft‑ und Schenkungsteuern in der Fassung vom 21. Dezember 2000 ), hereinafter referred to as the “United
States‑Germany Inheritance and Gifts Tax Treaty,” a transfer of ADSs by gift or upon death is not subject to German inheritance
or gift tax if the donor or the transferor is domiciled in the United States, within the meaning of the United States‑Germany
Inheritance and Gift Tax Treaty, and is neither a citizen of Germany nor a former citizen of Germany and, at the time of the
transfer, the ADSs are not held by the decedent or donor as business assets forming part of a permanent establishment in Germany
or for which a permanent representative in Germany has been appointed.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case the heir, transferee or other beneficiary (i) has, at the time of the transfer, his or
her residence or habitual abode in Germany, or (ii) is a German citizen who has spent no more than five (or, in certain
circumstances, ten) consecutive years outside Germany without maintaining a residence in Germany or (iii) is a German citizen
who serves for a German entity established under public law and is remunerated for his or her service from German public funds
(including family members who form part of such person’s household, if they are German citizens) and is only subject to estate or
inheritance tax in his or her country of residence or habitual abode with respect to assets located in such country (or special rules
apply to certain former German citizens who neither maintain a residence nor have their habitual abode in Germany), the
transferred ADSs are subject to German inheritance or gift tax.
If, in this case, Germany levies inheritance or gift tax on the ADSs with reference to the heir’s, transferee’s or other
beneficiary’s residence in Germany or his or her German citizenship, and the United States also levies federal estate tax or federal
gift tax with reference to the decedent’s or donor’s residence (but not with reference to the decedent’s or donor’s citizenship), the
amount of the U.S. federal estate tax or the U.S. federal gift tax, respectively, paid in the United States with respect to the
transferred ADSs is credited against the German inheritance or gift tax liability, provided the U.S. federal estate tax or the U.S.
federal gift tax, as the case may be, does not exceed the part of the German inheritance or gift tax, as computed before the credit is
given, which is attributable to the transferred ADSs. A claim for credit of the U.S. federal estate tax or the U.S. federal gift tax, as
the case may be, may be made within one year of the final determination (administrative or judicial) and payment of the U.S.
federal estate tax or the U.S. federal gift tax, as the case may be, provided that the determination and payment are made within ten
years of the date of death of the decedent or of the date of the making of the gift by the donor. Similarly, U.S. state‑level estate or
gift taxes are also creditable against the German inheritance or gift tax liability to the extent that U.S. federal estate or gift tax is
creditable.
United States Taxation of ADSs and Ordinary Shares
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that are relevant with respect to
the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the ADSs and ordinary shares by a U.S. holder (as defined below) as in effect on the
date of this annual report. The information provided below is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the
Code, Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, rulings and pronouncements, and judicial decisions all as now in effect and all of which
are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary addresses only U.S. federal
income tax considerations of U.S. holders that will hold ADSs or ordinary shares as capital assets. It does not provide a complete
analysis of all potential tax considerations. In particular, this summary does not address all of the tax considerations applicable to
a particular holder of the ADSs or ordinary shares in light of the holder’s circumstances (for example, financial institutions;
insurance companies; dealers or traders in securities; currencies or notional principal contracts; persons that will hold ADSs or
ordinary shares as part of a hedging or conversion transaction or as a position in a straddle or other integrated transactions for
U.S. federal income tax purposes; persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; persons that own (or are
deemed to own) 10% or more (by voting power) of our share capital; regulated investment companies, real estate investment
trusts; tax‑exempt entities; persons who hold ADSs or ordinary shares through partnerships or other pass‑through entities;
tax‑deferred or other retirement accounts; certain former citizens or residents of the United States; or persons deemed to sell
ADSs or ordinary shares under the constructive sale provisions of the Code). Finally, the summary does not describe the effect of
the U.S. federal estate and gift tax laws on U.S. holders or the effects of any applicable foreign, state or local laws.
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of ADSs or ordinary shares that for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, is (1) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a corporation, or an entity treated as
a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state of
the United States, including the District of Columbia, (3) an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source, or (4) a trust, if it (i) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more
U.S. persons or (ii) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S.
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Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. A “non‑U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of the ADSs or ordinary shares,
other than a partnership or entity treaty as a partnership, that is not a U.S. holder.
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement, domestic or foreign, treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income
tax purposes) holds ADSs or ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the
partner and the activities of the partnership. A holder of ADSs or ordinary shares that is a partnership, and partners in such
partnership, should consult their own tax advisors about the U.S federal income and estate tax consequences of purchasing,
owning and disposing of the ADSs or ordinary shares.
Each prospective holder of ADSs should consult its own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state and local or other tax
consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of the company’s ADSs in light of their particular circumstances. U.S.
holders should also review the discussion under “German Taxation of ADSs” for the German tax consequences to a U.S
holder of the ownership of the ADSs.
General
In general, and taking into account the earlier assumptions, a U.S. holder of ADSs is treated as the owner of the ordinary
shares represented by such ADSs. Exchanges of ordinary shares for ADSs, and ADSs for ordinary shares, respectively, generally
will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Distributions
Under the United States federal income tax laws, and subject to the discussion below under “Additional United States
Federal Income Tax Consequences – PFIC Rules,” the gross amount of any distribution that is actually or constructively received
by a U.S. holder with respect to its ordinary shares (including shares deposited in respect of ADSs) will be a dividend includible
in gross income of a U.S. holder as ordinary income to the extent the amount of such distribution is paid out of our current and
accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent the amount of such
distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits as so computed, it will be treated first as a non‑taxable
return of capital to the extent of such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its ADSs or ordinary shares, and to the extent the amount
of such distribution exceeds such adjusted tax basis, will be treated as gain from the sale of the ADSs or ordinary shares. If you
are a non‑corporate U.S. holder, dividends paid to you that constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to you at a
preferential rate (rather than the higher rates of tax generally applicable to items of ordinary income) provided that you hold our
ADSs or ordinary shares for more than 60 days during the 121‑day period beginning 60 days before the ex‑dividend date and
meet other holding period requirements. If we are a passive foreign investment company (as discussed below under “—Additional
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—PFIC Rules”), distributions paid by us with respect ADSs or ordinary shares
will not be eligible for the preferential income tax rate. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the
taxation of distributions under these rules.
You must include any German tax withheld from the dividend payment in this gross amount even though you do not in
fact receive it. The gross amount of the dividend is taxable to you when you receive the dividend, actually or constructively.
Dividends paid on ADSs will not be eligible for the dividends‑received deduction generally available to corporate U.S. holders.
The gross amount of any dividend paid in foreign currency will be included in the gross income of a U.S. holder in an amount
equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date the
dividend distribution is includable in the U.S. holder’s income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S.
dollars. If the foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt by the depositary, in the case of ADSs, or the
U.S. holder, in the case of ordinary shares, a U.S. holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or
loss in respect of the dividend. If the foreign currency received is not converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S.
holder will have a basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Any gain or loss on a
subsequent conversion or other disposition of the foreign currency will be treated as ordinary income or loss, and will generally
be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. The amount of any distribution
of property other than cash will be the fair market value of the property on the date of the distribution, less the sum of any
encumbrance assumed by the U.S. holder.
For foreign tax credit purposes, our dividend distributions will generally constitute income from soureces outside the
United States and be “passive” income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to the U.S.
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holder. The amount of the qualified dividend income, if any, paid to a U.S. holder that is subject to the reduced dividend income
tax rate and that is taken into account for purposes of calculating the U.S. holder’s U.S. foreign tax credit limitation must be
reduced by the rate differential portion of the dividend. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the
implications of the foreign tax credit provisions for them, in light of their particular situation.
U.S. Taxation of Sale or Other Disposition
Subject to the discussion below under “—Additional United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—PFIC Rules,” a
U.S. holder will generally recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the sale or other disposition of
ADSs or ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized from such sale
or other disposition and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. Such gain or loss generally will be capital
gain or loss. Capital gain of a non‑corporate U.S. holder recognized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares
held for more than one year is generally eligible for a reduced rate of taxation. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss
from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
limitations.
A U.S. holder that receives foreign currency on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares will realize an
amount equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency on the date of sale (or, in the case of cash basis and electing accrual
basis taxpayers, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency on the settlement date) provided that the ADSs or ordinary shares, as
the case may be, are treated as being “traded on an established securities market.” If a U.S. holder receives foreign currency upon
a sale or exchange of ADSs or ordinary shares, gain or loss, if any, recognized on the subsequent sale, conversion or disposition
of such foreign currency will be ordinary income or loss, and will generally be income or loss from sources within the United
States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. However, if such foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars on the date
received by the U.S. holder, a cash basis or electing accrual U.S. holder should not recognize any gain or loss on such conversion.
Redemption
A redemption of ADSs or the ordinary shares underlying such ADSs by us will be treated as a sale of the redeemed
ADSs or ordinary shares by the U.S. holder or as a distribution to the U.S. holder (which is taxable as described above under “—
Distributions”).
Additional United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
PFIC Rules. Special adverse U.S. federal income tax rules apply to U.S. holders owning shares of a passive foreign
investment company, or PFIC. In general, if you are a U.S. holder, we will be a PFIC with respect to you if for any taxable year in
which you held our ADSs or ordinary shares: (i) at least 75% of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income (the
“income test”) or (ii) at least 50% of the value, determined on the basis of a quarterly average, of our assets is attributable to
assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). The determination of whether we are a
PFIC will be made annually. Accordingly, it is possible that we may become a PFIC in the current or any future taxable year due
to changes in our asset or income composition. The composition of income and assets will be affected by whether, how, and how
quickly, we spend any cash we currently hold.
Passive income for purposes of the income test generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents (other than certain
rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business), annuities and gains from the disposition of assets that
produce passive income. Any cash we hold generally will be treated as held for the production of passive income for the purpose
of the PFIC test, and any income generated from cash or other liquid assets generally will be treated as passive income for such
purpose. If a foreign corporation owns at least 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, the foreign corporation is treated
for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation, and as receiving directly its
proportionate share of the other corporation’s income.
We believe that we were not a PFIC for our taxable year ending December 31, 2016. However, since the determination
of whether we are a PFIC is based upon such factual matters as our market capitalization and the valuation of our assets and upon
certain assumptions and methodologies in which we have based our analysis, there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree
with our position. Furthermore, because we have valued our goodwill for purposes of the asset test based on the market value of
our equity, a further decline in the value of our equity due to fluctuations in
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the price of our ADSs and ordinary shares could result in us becoming a PFIC for our taxable year ending on December 31, 2016
or for future taxable years.
If we were to be treated as a PFIC, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. holder of the acquisition,
ownership, and disposition of common shares will depend on whether such U.S. holder makes an election to treat us as a
“qualified electing fund” or “QEF” under Section 1295 of the Code (a QEF Election) or a mark-to-market election under
Section 1296 of the Code (a Mark-to-Market Election). A U.S. holder who makes a QEF election will be taxed currently on such
U.S. holder’s pro rata share of our annual ordinary income and capital gains (each separately stated). We do not intend to furnish
holders with the information necessary to make a QEF Election. A US holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election would
include as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of such US holder’s ADSs at year-end over such US holder’s basis
in those ADSs. In addition, any gain recognized upon a sale of ADSs would be taxed as ordinary income in the year of sale.
A U.S. Holder that does not make either a QEF Election or a Mark-to-Market Election (a Non-Electing US Holder)
would be subject to special adverse tax rules with respect to (i) “excess distributions” received on our ADSs or ordinary shares
and (ii) any gain recognized upon a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of our ADSs or ordinary shares. A Non-Electing
U.S. Holder would be treated as if it had realized such gain and certain “excess distributions” ratably over its holding period for
our ADSs or ordinary shares and would be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for each such year to which the gain was
allocated, together with an interest charge in respect of the tax attributable to each such year. Special rules apply for calculating
the amount of the foreign tax credit with respect to “excess distributions” by a PFIC.
With certain exceptions, a Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s ADSs or ordinary shares will be treated as stock in a PFIC if we
were a PFIC at any time during the U.S. holder’s holding period in for its ordinary shares or ADSs, even if we are not currently a
PFIC.
Dividends that a U.S. holder receives from us will not be eligible for the special tax rates applicable to qualified
dividend income if we are treated as a PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year, but instead
will be taxable at rates applicable to ordinary income.
If we are were to be treated as a PFIC, owners of our ADSs (including, potentially, indirect owners) would be required to
file an information report with respect to such interest on their tax returns, subject to certain exceptions. U.S. holders are urged to
consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules to their ownership of the ADSs.
Medicare Tax. Certain U.S. holders who are individuals, estates and trusts will be required to pay an additional 3.8%
tax on some or all of their “net investment income,” which generally includes its dividend income and net gains from the
disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the applicability of this
additional tax on their particular situation.
Information with Respect to Foreign Financial Assets. Owners of “specified foreign financial assets” with an
aggregate value in excess of $50,000 (and in some circumstances, a higher threshold) may be required to file an information
report with respect to such assets on their tax returns. “Specified foreign financial assets” may include financial accounts
maintained by foreign financial institutions, as well as the following, but only if they are not held in accounts maintained by
financial institutions: (i) stocks and securities issued by non‑U.S. persons, (ii) financial instruments and contracts held for
investment that have non‑U.S. issuers or counterparties, and (iii) interests in foreign entities. U.S. holders are urged to consult
their tax advisors regarding the application of this legislation to their ownership of the ADSs and ordinary shares.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. Backup withholding and information reporting requirements will
generally apply to certain payments to U.S. holders of dividends on ADSs or ordinary shares. We, our agent, a broker or any
paying agent, may be required to withhold tax from any payment that is subject to backup withholding unless the U.S. holder
(1) is an exempt payee, or (2) provides the U.S. holder’s correct taxpayer identification number and complies with applicable
certification requirements. Payments made to U.S. holders by a broker upon a sale of our ADSs or ordinary shares will generally
be subject to backup withholding and information
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reporting. If the sale is made through a foreign office of a foreign broker, however, the sale will generally not be subject to either
backup withholding or information reporting. This exception may not apply if the foreign broker is owned or controlled by U.S.
persons, or is engaged in a U.S. trade or business.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. holder of ADSs or
ordinary shares under the backup withholding rules can be credited against any U.S. federal income tax liability of the U.S.
holder, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. A U.S. holder generally may obtain a refund of any
amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceeds the U.S. holder’s income tax liability by filing a refund claim
with the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors as to their qualification and procedure for exemption
from backup withholding.
The above description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to the
purchase, ownership or disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. Investors deciding on whether or not to invest in ADSs
or ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax consequences of their particular situations.
F. DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
Not applicable.
G. STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
Not applicable.
H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
We previously filed with the SEC our registration statements on Form F‑1 (Registration No. 333‑191213 and
333‑194843), as amended, including the prospectuses contained therein, to register our ordinary shares. We have also filed with
the SEC a related registration statement on F‑6 (Registration No. 333‑191526) to register the ADSs.
We are subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange
Act, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually a Form 20‑F
within four months after the end of each fiscal year, which is December 31. Copies of reports and other information, when so
filed, may be inspected without charge and may be obtained at prescribed rates at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain
information regarding the Washington, D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1‑800‑SEC‑0330. The SEC
also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding
registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from
the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers,
directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short‑swing profit recovery provisions contained in
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
I. SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risk from fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates which may
adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. We seek to minimize these risks through regular operating and
financing activities and, when we consider it to be appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments. We do not
purchase, hold or sell derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Interest Rates
We assess our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates as low, as our loans have entirely fixed interest rates.
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Foreign Exchange Rates
We transact business globally and are subject to risks associated with fluctuating foreign exchange rates. The geographic
areas outside of the eurozone to which we sell are generally not considered to be highly inflationary. Approximately 47.0% and
55.1% of our revenues were derived from sales outside of the eurozone region in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Receivables
denominated in a foreign currency are initially recorded at the exchange rate at the transaction date and subsequently remeasured
in euro based on period‑end exchange rates. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations are charged to
income.
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
American Depositary Shares
Fees and Expenses
Citibank, N.A. serves as the depositary for our ADSs. Holders of our ADSs are required to pay the following fees to the
depositary under the terms of our deposit agreement:
Service
(1) Issuance of ADSs upon deposit of shares (excluding
Fees
issuances as a result of distributions of shares
described in (4) below)
(2) Cancellation of ADSs
(3) Distribution of cash dividends or other cash
distributions ( i.e. , sale of rights or other entitlements)
(4) Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends
or other free stock distributions or (ii) exercise of
rights to purchase additional ADSs.
(5) Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to
purchase additional ADSs ( i.e. , spin‑off shares)
(6) ADS Services
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS issued
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS canceled
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held on the applicable record date(s)
established by the depositary
Holders of our ADSs are responsible for paying certain charges such as:
·
·
·
·
·
·
taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;
the registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of ordinary shares on the share register
and applicable to transfers of ordinary shares to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees
upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;
certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses;
the expenses and charges incurred by the depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;
the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations
and other regulatory requirements applicable to ordinary shares, ADSs and ADRs; and
the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary, the custodian, or any nominee in connection with the servicing or
delivery of deposited property.
ADS fees and charges payable upon (i) deposit of ordinary shares against issuance of ADSs and (ii) surrender of ADSs
for cancellation and withdrawal of ordinary shares are charged to the person to whom the ADSs are delivered
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(in the case of ADS issuances) and to the person who delivers the ADSs for cancellation (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the
case of ADSs issued by the depositary into DTC or presented to the depositary via DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees
and charges are charged to the DTC participant(s) receiving the ADSs or the DTC participant(s) surrendering the ADSs for
cancellation, as the case may be, on behalf of the beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the
account(s) of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC participant(s) as in
effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are charged to the holders as of the
applicable ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted
from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, holders as of the
ADS record date will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and
charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee are charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the
procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to
the beneficial owners for whom they hold ADSs.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse
the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made
to the ADS holder.
Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the
depositary. You will receive prior notice of such changes.
The depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program by making
available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we
and the depositary agree from time to time.
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
PART II
None.
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
There have been no material modifications to the rights of security holders for the year ended on December 31, 2016.
ITEM 15 CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of December 31, 2016, the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including
the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a 15(e) under the Exchange Act).
Based upon the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31,
2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to a material weakness in our internal control over financial
reporting, which is described below.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management board and management of the Company are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements in
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accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and
procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and
dispositions of assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation and fair
presentation of financial statements, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with
authorizations of management and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections or any evaluation or effectiveness for future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Company’s management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2016 based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal Control Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). Based on that assessment, management
identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not
be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness identified resulted from the lack of controls over the valuation
of work-in-process inventories. Specifically, we did not appropriately account for the effect of sales volume changes and market
demand on the estimation of excess and obsolete reserves of our work-in-progress inventories. As a result, the Company recorded
an addition of € 1.0 million on inventory reserves as of December 31, 2016.
In addition, notwithstanding the identified material weaknesses, management believes that the financial statements and related
notes thereto included in this annual report on Form 20-F fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows at and for the periods presented in accordance with IFRS.
Remediation Plans
With the oversight of the management board and management of the Company, we have implemented and will continue
to implement measures to remediate the material weakness and to improve our internal controls over financial reporting. In
particular, we
intend
to
continue
hiring
additional
finance
and
accounting
personnel
with
appropriate
training,
building
our
financial
management
and
reporting
infrastructure,
and
further
developing
and
documenting
our
accounting
policies
and
financial
reporting
procedures
.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
This annual report does not include a report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm due to the
Company’s status as an emerging growth company.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In addition to the material weakness and remediation activities described above, during fiscal 2016, the Company
implemented changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the
Exchange Act, that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
As disclosed in Item 15. “Controls and Procedures” of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2015, management previously identified and disclosed a material weakness in our internal control over
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financial reporting in the
design
and
operations
of
controls
over
non-standard
transactions
including
significant
unusual
transactions
which
are
not
reviewed
in
sufficient
detail
by
personnel
with
appropriate
technical
expertise
to
ensure
that
the
accounting
treatment
in
accordance
with
IFRS
is
appropriate.
With the oversight of management and our audit committee, we
have implemented the following remediation actions designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting and to help
address our prior material weakness:
·
Implemented additional SAP accounting modules to manage the procurement activity and support all aspects of
material management from planning to supplier selection, ordering and warehousing to inventory management.
· Hired additional qualified accounting and finance staff, who have good knowledge of IFRS accounting to
·
·
provide more resources to support, design and implement effective internal controls over financial reporting.
Implemented a Matrix Organization which improved the information exchange between different departments
and locations significantly.
Increased internal communications including holding monthly and quarterly management meetings where the
management board as well as Managing Directors/Directors and Managers discuss budget targets and
deviations. In addition to management meetings there are meetings regarding inventory, liquidity, sales and the
production plan.
ITEM 16. RESERVED
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Our supervisory board has determined that the chairman of our Audit Committee, Peter Nietzer, qualifies as an “audit
committee financial expert” within the meaning of this Item 16A. Our supervisory board has determined that Peter Nietzer and
each of the other members of the Audit Committee is independent under the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and
Rule 10A‑3 of the Exchange Act.
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics, or code of conduct, which outlines the principles of
legal and ethical business conduct under which we do business. The code of conduct applies to all of our supervisory board
members, management board members and employees. The full text of the code of conduct is available on our website at
www.voxeljet.de . This website address is included in this annual report as an inactive textual reference only. The information and
other content appearing on our website are not part of this annual report.
No waivers have been granted to the code of conduct since its adoption.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the fees billed to us by our independent auditors during the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2014, 2015, and 2016:
Audit fees
Audit-related fees
Tax fees
All other fees
Total
December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
€ 490
--
68
--
€ 558
€ 308
125
34
--
€ 467
2016
78
€ 542
--
14
--
€ 556
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Audit services include the audit of our financial statements, the review of interim financial information and SEC
registration statements, and statutory audits. Audit‑related services include accounting and reporting consultations. Tax fees are
related to advice regarding the set up of a procedure regarding transactions between us and our subsidiaries.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The advance approval of the Audit Committee or members thereof, to whom approval authority has been delegated, is
required for all audit and non-audit services provided by our auditors. All services provided by the principal auditing firm in 2016
detailed in the table above were approved by the Audit Committee.
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
None.
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
Not applicable.
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
In general, under Section 303A.11 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, foreign private issuers
such as us are permitted to follow home country corporate governance practices instead of certain provisions of the New York
Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual without having to seek individual exemptions from the New York Stock Exchange. A
foreign private issuer making its initial U.S. listing on the New York Stock Exchange and following home country corporate
governance practices in lieu of the corresponding corporate governance provisions of the New York Stock Exchange Listed
Company Manual must disclose in its annual report significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those
followed by U.S. companies under the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual. In addition, we also may qualify for
certain exemptions under the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual as a foreign private issuer that may affect our
corporate governance practices.
The significant differences between the corporate governance practices that we follow and those set forth in the New
York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual are described below:
·
·
·
Section 303A.01 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual requires listed companies to have a
majority of independent directors. There is no requirement under German law that the majority of members of a
supervisory board be independent, and the rules of procedure of our supervisory board provide that the supervisory
board should be composed of a majority of independent members, though this is not a mandatory requirement. All
current members of our supervisory board are independent.
Section 303A.04(b) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual requires all companies listed on the
New York Stock Exchange to have a written nominating committee charter. German law does not require a separate
charter for a nominating committee. Instead, the responsibilities and authority of our Compensation and Nominating
Committee are set forth in the rules of procedure of our supervisory board and in the applicable German laws.
Section 303A.05(b) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual requires all companies listed on the
New York Stock Exchange to have a written compensation committee charter. German law does not require a
separate charter for a compensation committee. Instead, the responsibilities and authority
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Table of Contents
of our Compensation and Nominating Committee are set forth in the rules of procedure of our supervisory board
and in the applicable German laws.
·
·
·
Section 303A.07(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual requires each member of the audit
committee of a listed company to be financially literate and also requires that at least one audit committee member
have accounting or related financial management expertise. German law requires only that one supervisory board
member have knowledge in the areas of accounting or auditing. Accordingly, the rules of procedure of our
supervisory board stipulate that the chairman of our Audit Committee shall have special knowledge and experience
of the application of accounting principles and internal control procedures. The chairman of the Audit Committee,
Peter Nietzer, fulfills these requirements. Although we believe that all members of our Audit Committee are
financially literate, neither German law, nor the rules of procedure of our supervisory board, require all members of
our Audit Committee to be financially literate.
Section 303A.07(b) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual requires all companies listed on the
New York Stock Exchange to have a written audit committee charter. German law does not require a separate
charter for an audit committee. Instead, the responsibilities and authority of our Audit Committee are set forth in the
rules of procedure of our supervisory board and in the applicable German laws.
Section 303A.09 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual requires all listed companies to adopt
and disclose corporate governance guidelines. German law does not require a company to adopt separate corporate
governance guidelines. Instead, we follow the German Corporate Governance Code as described above. In addition,
certain of the subjects to be addressed in the corporate governance guidelines pursuant to Section 303A.09 are
contained in the rules of procedure of our supervisory board.
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
PART III
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
See the following items starting at page F‑1:
(a) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(b) Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
(c) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years 2016, 2015, and 2014
(d) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years 2016, 2015, and 2014
(e) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years 2016, 2015, and 2014
(f) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Table of Contents
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
1.1 Articles of Association of voxeljet AG, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s
Form 6‑K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on April 11, 2014).
1.2 Rules of Procedure of the Supervisory Board of voxeljet AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on October 7, 2013).
1.3 Rules of Procedure of the Management Board of voxeljet AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on October 7, 2013).
2.1 Form of specimen of ordinary registered share certificate and English translation (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on
October 11, 2013).
2.2 Form of Deposit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99‑a to the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form F‑6 (No. 333‑191526), filed with the Commission on October 15, 2013).
2.3 Form of American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 2.2).
4.1† Cross License Agreement between voxeljet AG (formerly known as Voxeljet Technology GmbH) and BEGO
Medical GmbH, dated August 21, 2012 (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on October 7, 2013).
4.2† Nonexclusive Patent License and Sublicense Agreement between Z Corporation and voxeljet AG (formerly known
as Voxeljet Technology GmbH), dated August 16, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on October 7, 2013).
4.3 First Amendment to the Nonexclusive Patent License and Sublicense Agreement between Z Corporation and
voxeljet AG (formerly known as Voxeljet Technology GmbH), dated March 31, 2011 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on
October 7, 2013).
4.4† Patent and Know‑How Transfer Agreement between voxeljet AG (formerly known as Generis GmbH) and The
ExOne Company (formerly known as Extrude Hone GmbH) , dated June 27, 2003 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on
October 7, 2013).
4.5† Amendment to Patent and Know‑How Transfer Agreement between voxeljet AG (formerly known as Voxeljet
Technology GmbH) and Prometal RCT GmbH, dated July 14, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form F‑1 (No. 333‑191213), filed with the Commission on October 7, 2013).
8.1* Subsidiaries of voxeljet AG.
12.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002.
12.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002.
13.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of
13.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002.
the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002.
* Filed herewith.
† Confidential treatment has been granted with respect to certain portions of this exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed
separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20‑F and that it has duly caused
and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
SIGNATURE
Date: March 30, 2017
VOXELJET AG
/s/ Rudolf Franz
Name: Rudolf Franz
Title: Chief Financial Officer
82
Table of Contents
voxeljet AG
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Financial Statements of voxeljet AG:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-1
Table of Contents
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Supervisory Board
voxeljet AG:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of voxeljet AG and subsidiaries (the “
Company ”) as of 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in equity, and cash
flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2016. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial
statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of voxeljet AG and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with International Financial
Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
/s/ KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Munich, Germany
March 30, 2017
F-2
voxeljet AG
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Table of Contents
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Financial assets
Trade receivables
Inventories
Income tax receivables
Other assets
Non-current assets
Financial assets
Intangible assets
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment
Other assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Deferred income
Trade payables
Financial liabilities
Other liabilities and provisions
Non-current liabilities
Deferred income
Deferred tax liabilities
Financial liabilities
Other liabilities and provisions
Equity
Subscribed capital
Capital reserves
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Equity attributable to the owners of the company
Non-controlling interests
Total equity and liabilities
F-3
Notes
12
6
7
12
9
9
10
Notes
12
11
12
11
24
24
December 31,
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
37,506
7,849
12,579
4,133
11,213
8
1,724
24,633
211
842
--
23,521
59
62,139
December 31,
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
5,517
332
1,765
1,297
2,123
5,086
177
1
4,817
91
51,536
3,720
75,827
(28,971)
873
51,449
87
62,139
46,550
2,086
31,746
3,348
7,841
54
1,475
23,570
206
627
1,273
21,383
81
70,120
6,402
472
1,759
1,150
3,021
2,249
397
1
1,291
560
61,469
3,720
75,671
(17,684)
(238)
61,469
---
70,120
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voxeljet AG
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Revenues
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Other operating expenses
Other operating income
Operating loss
Finance expense
Finance income
Financial result
Loss before income taxes
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive loss
Loss attributable to:
Owner of the Company
Non-controlling interests
Total comprehensive loss attributable to:
Owner of the Company
Non-controlling interests
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding
Loss per share - basic/ diluted (EUR)
Notes
18
13
14
14
15
15
15
16
F-4
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2014
2015
(€ in thousands, except share and share data)
22,338
(15,435)
6,903
(5,312)
(4,563)
(5,683)
(3,881)
1,417
(11,119)
(230)
38
(192)
(11,311)
(2)
(11,313)
1,111
(10,202)
(11,287)
(26)
(11,313)
(10,176)
(26)
(10,202)
3,720,000
(3.04)
24,064
(17,147)
6,917
(6,922)
(5,178)
(5,470)
(888)
2,130
(9,411)
(277)
158
(119)
(9,530)
(64)
(9,594)
(237)
(9,831)
(9,594)
--
(9,594)
(9,831)
--
(9,831)
16,163
(9,838)
6,325
(3,746)
(4,026)
(4,027)
(101)
1,384
(4,191)
(472)
299
(173)
(4,364)
32
(4,332)
(1)
(4,333)
(4,332)
--
(4,332)
(4,333)
--
(4,333)
3,720,000
(2.58)
3,555,616
(1.22)
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voxeljet AG
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(€ in thousands)
Attributable to the owners of the company
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
gain (loss)
Accumulated
deficit
Capital
reserves
Subscribed
capital
Total
Non-
controlling
interests
Total
equity
Balance at January 1, 2014
Loss for the period
Follow-on public offering
Net changes in fair value of available for sale financial assets
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2014
Balance at January 1, 2015
Loss for the period
Net changes in fair value of available for sale financial assets
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2015
Balance at January 1, 2016
Establishment of subsidiary with non-controlling interests
Loss for the period
Net changes in fair value of available for sale financial assets
Foreign currency translations
Equity-settled share-based payment transaction in relation to
the establishment of a subsidiary with non-controlling
interest
Balance at December 31, 2016
--
--
--
3,120 46,038
--
600 29,633
--
--
3,720 75,671
3,720 75,671
--
--
--
3,720 75,671
3,720 75,671
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
(3,758)
(4,332)
--
--
--
(8,090)
(8,090)
(9,594)
--
--
(17,684)
(17,684)
--
(11,287)
--
--
-- 45,400
-- (4,332)
-- 30,233
(47)
(47)
46
46
(1) 71,300
(1) 71,300
-- (9,594)
(213)
(213)
(24)
(24)
(238) 61,469
(238) 61,469
--
--
-- (11,287)
50
50
1,061 1,061
-- 45,400
-- (4,332)
-- 30,233
(47)
--
--
46
-- 71,300
-- 71,300
-- (9,594)
(213)
--
--
(24)
-- 61,469
-- 61,469
113
113
(26) (11,313)
--
50
-- 1,061
--
156
--
--
156
--
156
3,720 75,827
(28,971)
873 51,449
87 51,536
F-5
Table of Contents
voxeljet AG
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
Cash Flow from operating activities
Loss for the period
Depreciation and amortization
Foreign currency exchange differences on loans to subsidiaries
Impairment losses on goodwill and intangible assets
Equity-settled share-based payment transaction in relation to the
establishment of a subsidiary with non-controlling interest
Impairment losses on trade receivables
Impairment losses on inventories
Non-cash sale to customer in exchange for customer loans
Proceeds from customer loans
Changes in deferred income taxes
Loss on disposal of assets
Change in working capital
Trade and other receivables, inventories and current assets
Trade payables
Other liabilities and provisions and deferred income
Income tax payable/receivables
Total
Cash Flow from investing activities
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible
assets
Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Net proceeds from disposal of (payments to acquire) financial assets
Business combination, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired
Total
Cash Flow from financing activities
Repayment from bank overdrafts and lines of credit
Repayment of sale and leaseback obligation
Repayment of finance lease obligation
Proceeds (repayment) of long-term debt
Proceeds from borrowings
Proceeds from issuance of shares
Total
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Changes to cash due to consolidation items
Changes to cash and equivalents due to foreign exchanges rates
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Interest paid
Interest received
Income taxes paid
Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets added under finance
lease
F-6
(11,313)
2,542
1,092
1,130
256
367
954
--
10
--
46
(8,422)
(6,784)
(27)
(1,657)
46
(13,338)
14
(3,700)
19,152
--
15,466
(159)
(535)
(36)
4,346
--
--
3,616
5,744
2,086
--
19
7,849
201
39
2
57
(9,594)
2,982
(24)
818
--
--
1,118
--
1,091
(67)
71
(8,369)
(8,494)
(584)
698
11
(11,974)
427
(1,402)
8,156
--
7,181
(64)
(816)
(16)
(203)
--
--
(1,099)
(5,892)
8,031
--
(53)
2,086
250
123
--
43
(4,332)
2,143
--
--
--
--
--
(931)
191
--
183
(2,274)
(3,050)
823
(33)
(14)
(5,020)
--
(2,684)
(43,395)
(965)
(47,044)
(308)
--
(1,419)
(2,725)
800
30,233
26,581
(25,483)
33,459
2
53
8,029
227
270
--
--
Table of Contents
Basis of preparation
1. The reporting entity
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
voxeljet AG (in the following referred to as ‘ voxeljet’ , ‘Group’, or the ‘Company’) is a high‑tech company
headquartered in Friedberg, Germany. The Company consists of voxeljet AG (formerly Voxeljet Technology GmbH), voxeljet
America Inc. ( voxeljet America ), voxeljet UK Ltd. ( voxeljet UK ), voxeljet India Pvt. Ltd ( voxeljet India ) and voxeljet China
Co., Ltd. (established in April 2016). voxeljet AG owns 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of voxeljet America , voxeljet
UK , voxeljet India and 95.83% of voxeljet China. As a manufacturer of three‑dimensional (“3D”) printing systems, voxeljet
specializes in the development, production and distribution of industrial printing machines and the sale of customized printed
products to industrial customers. The Company operates in two business divisions: Systems and Services. The voxeljet Systems
business division develops, manufactures and sells innovative 3D printers. Today, voxeljet has a product range that reaches from
smaller entry models to large‑format machines, and therefore offers 3D printer systems for a wide range of application areas.
Through its Services business division, the Company also offers customized printed products such as sand molds and
plastic models based on CAD data through its ‘on‑demand production’ service centers. In addition, the Company offers casting
services to its customers. In those cases, the casting process is performed by external suppliers supported by voxeljet’s molds and
models. Small‑batch and prototype manufacturers utilize the Company’s machines for the automatic, patternless manufacture of
their casting molds and 3D models. The Company’s customer base includes automotive manufacturers, foundries and suppliers as
well as companies from the arts and design industries.
2. Preparation of financial statements
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS) as set forth by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and interpretations of the IFRS
Interpretations Committee (IFRIC). The designation IFRS also includes all valid IAS; the designation IFRIC also includes all
valid interpretations of the Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC).
The consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Management Board on March 30, 2017.
These consolidated financial statements were prepared on the basis of historical cost except for the following items,
which are measured on an alternative basis on each reporting date.
Available-for-sale financial assets
Liabilities for cash-settled share-based payment arrangements
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies
Fair value
Fair value
Translated at period-end exchange rates
The consolidated financial statements are presented in thousands of Euros (kEUR) except where otherwise stated. Due to
rounding, numbers presented throughout these notes may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not
precisely reflect the absolute figures.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the assumption that the Group will continue as a going
concern.
3. Summary of significant accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These
policies have been consistently applied to all years presented.
Business combinations
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method as at the acquisition date when control is
transferred to the Group. Consideration paid is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with any excess amount
recorded as goodwill.
F-7
Table of Contents
Consolidation
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to,
variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.
The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control
commences until the date that control ceases.
Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Recognition of income and expenses
Revenues
Revenue from the sale of new or refurbished 3D printers is recognized upon the transfer of risks and rewards of
ownership to the buyer, which is upon completion of the installation of the 3D printers at the customer site and evidenced through
final acceptance by the customer. The Company also recognizes revenue from printers, which are provided to customers under
operating leases. Deferred revenue from those transactions is recognized monthly on a straight‑line basis. Revenue from the sale
of custom‑ordered printed products, consumables, or spare parts and other machine parts is recognized upon transfer of title,
generally upon shipment. Revenue for all deliverables in sales arrangements is recognized to the extent that it is probable that the
economic benefit arising from the ordinary activities of the business will flow to the Company and provided that the amount of
revenue and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the sale can be measured reliably. Revenue is measured at the fair
value of the consideration received or receivable, which is fixed at the time of recognition of revenue. In instances where revenue
recognition criteria are not met, amounts are recorded as deferred income in the accompanying statements of financial position.
The Group provides customers with a standard warranty agreement on all machines for up to one year. The warranty is
not treated as a separate service because the warranty is an integral part of the sale of the machine.
After the initial one year warranty period, the Group offers its customers optional maintenance contracts. Maintenance
contracts are provided for a period of twelve months and automatically extended for another twelve months if not cancelled on a
timely basis. Maintenance service revenue is recognized on a straight‑line basis under the contractual term.
Shipping, packaging and handling costs billed to customers for machine sales and sales of printed products and
consumables are included in revenue in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Costs incurred by the Company
associated with shipping, packaging and handling are included in selling expenses in the consolidated statements of
comprehensive loss.
The Company’s terms of sale generally require payment within 30 to 60 days after shipment of a product, although the
Company also recognizes that longer payment periods are customary in some countries where it transacts business. To reduce
credit risk in connection with machine sales, the Company may, depending upon the circumstances, require deposits prior to
shipment. In some circumstances, the Company may require payment in full for its products prior to shipment and may require
international customers to furnish letters of credit. These deposits are reported as customer deposits included in other liabilities
and provisions in the accompanying statements of financial position. Services under maintenance contracts are billed to customers
in advance on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, depending on the contract and are included in deferred income in the
statements of financial position.
In the course of the Company’s ordinary business activities refurbished 3D printers, which were operating in the
Services segment on average for 1.5 to 2.5 years, are routinely sold to customers. These 3D printers were operated in the
production of manufacturing products ordered by customers. Prior to their sale, these 3D printers are generally fully refurbished,
which includes setting up a new printhead. Proceeds from the sale of such refurbished 3D printers are recognized as revenue. The
incurred costs and revenues are reported within the Systems segment.
Sales agents are used in connection with the sale of 3D printers. These sales agents receive a sales commission which are
included in the selling expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss based on a percentage of the sale price for
each sale initiated by them. Generally, the commission is paid only after the customer has paid the final invoice.
F-8
Table of Contents
Research and development expenses
The Company is continuously involved in the research and development of new methods and technologies relating to its
products. All research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.
Government grants
Government grants awarded for project funding are recorded within other operating income in the consolidated
statement of comprehensive loss if the related research and development costs have been incurred and provided that the
conditions for the funding have been met. Until then, amounts received under government grants are recorded as deferred income
in the statements of financial position.
Leases
Finance leases consist primarily of borrowings associated with sale and leaseback transactions involving 3D printers that
were manufactured and used within the Services segment. Additionally, the Company has entered into finance lease agreements
for 3D printers manufactured by others. Maturities of the finance leases extend to 2020. Leased assets are recognized at the lower
of fair value or the present value of minimum lease payments and depreciated over the asset’s estimated useful life. Assets under
finance leases are included in “Property, plant and equipment” in the statement of financial position. Gains on sale and leaseback
transactions are recorded as deferred income in the statement of financial position and recognized as “Other operating income”
over the respective lease term.
Operating leases consist of various lease agreements for the rental of manufacturing facilities, office and warehouse
space, vehicles, and office and IT equipment, expiring in various years through 2020. Rent expense under operating leases is
charged to profit or loss on a straight‑line basis over the term of the lease. voxeljet also rents one of its 3D printers to a customer
under operating leases.
In 2016, voxeljet leased one 3D printer (2015: five 3D printers and 2014: three 3D printers) to a customer under
operating leases. Rental income is recognized on a straight‑line basis over the term of the lease as revenue and is reported within
the Systems segment.
Long Term Cash Incentive Plan
voxeljet
has
a
Long-Term
Cash
Incentive
Plan
("LTCIP"),
a
cash-settled
share-based
payment
arrangement,
that
provides
for
cash
awards
to
non-executive
employees.
Compensation
cost
is
determined
based
on
the
grant-date
fair
value
of
the
awards
and
recognized,
net
of
estimated
forfeitures
due
to
termination
of
employment,
on
a
straight-line
basis
over
the
requisite
service
period
of
the
award
and
depending
on
the
evaluation
of
certain
performance
and
market
conditions.
The
requisite
service
period
is
generally
the
vesting
period
stated
in
the
award.
The
liability
for
these
awards
is
measured
at
fair
value
at
each
reporting
date
until
settlement
and
is
classified
within
"other
liabilities
and
provisions
in
the
consolidated
statement
of
financial
position.
Foreign currencies
The financial statements are presented in Euros, the functional currency of voxeljet AG .
Monetary transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated to Euros at the exchange rates prevailing on the
transaction date.
The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated using the concept of the functional currency in accordance
with IAS 21. The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at the spot rate at the end of the period, while their
income statement items are translated at average exchange rates for the respective periods. All resulting exchange differences are
recognized in other comprehensive income. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are shown within other operating
income and other operating expenses, respectively, in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.
F-9
Table of Contents
The loans provided to voxeljet AG ’s subsidiaries voxeljet UK and voxeljet America are not considered as net investments
in foreign operations. Consequently, gains or losses from foreign exchange differences thereon are recognized in other operating
income or expenses.
The exchange rates that are most relevant for voxeljet’s consolidated financial statements are as follows:
Average exchange rates to Euro
December 31,
2016
2015
2014
Year end exchange rates to Euro
December 31,
2016
2015
Income Tax
Average Rate
USD
GBP
INR
CNY
1.1069
1.1096
1.2329
0.8195
0.7258
0.8064
74.3717
71.1956
81.0406
7.3522
6.9733
8.1857
Year End Rate
USD
GBP
INR
CNY
1.0541
1.0859
0.8562
0.7340
71.5935
72.0215
7.3202
7.0608
Income tax expense (benefit) consists of current and deferred tax expense and benefit in accordance with IAS 12.
Current income tax expense (benefit) is based on taxable profit (loss) for the year. Taxable profit (loss) differs from
profit (loss) as reported in the statements of comprehensive income (loss) because it excludes items of income or expense that are
taxable or deductible in other years and further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. Current income tax expense
(benefit) is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the respective reporting
period.
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) is recognized on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets
and liabilities in the statement of financial position and the corresponding tax basis used in the computation of taxable profit
(loss).
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets, including
for carry forward losses to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary
differences can be utilized. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced
to the extent that it is no longer more probable than not that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or a part of the
assets to be recovered.
Deferred tax expense (benefit) is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods when the liability is
settled or the asset is realized, based on tax rates (and tax regulations) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end
of the reporting period. The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow
from the manner in which the Company expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its
assets and liabilities. Deferred tax expense (benefit) is charged or credited to profit or loss, except when it relates to items charged
or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred taxation is also recorded to equity.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off tax assets against tax
liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Company intends to settle its current
tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.
F-10
Table of Contents
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets, including software, licenses and customer relationships, that are acquired by the Company and have a
finite useful life are measured at cost less accumulated amortization and any impairment losses. Amortization for intangible assets
with finite useful lives is recognized on a straight‑line basis over their useful lives. The amortization for the customer list and
digital library arising from the purchase price allocation related to the acquisition of our subsidiary voxeljet UK , was presented
within selling expenses and cost of sales, respectively. Goodwill arising from the acquisition of subsidiaries is not amortized and
is measured at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment.
The estimated useful economic lives of acquired intangible assets are presented in the following table:
USEFUL LIFE OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Software
Licenses
Customer list
Digital library
3-5 years
6-8 years
3 years
3 years
An intangible asset is derecognized upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected to arise from the
continued use of the asset. Any gain or loss arising on derecognition of the asset (calculated as the difference between the net
disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the item) is included in profit or loss in the period in which the item is
derecognized.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is carried at acquisition or manufacturing cost (for internally manufactured printers used
in the Services segment) and depreciated on a straight‑line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, taking into
account estimated residual values. Realized gains and losses are recognized upon disposal or retirement of the related assets and
are reflected within other operating income or other operating expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.
Subsequent expenditures are capitalized only if it is probable that voxeljet will receive additional economic benefits from the
particular asset associated with these expenditures, and the costs can be determined reliably. Repair and maintenance expenditures
are expensed as incurred. Leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their useful lives unless it is
reasonably certain that the Company will obtain ownership by the end of the lease term. Land is not depreciated. Additions to
property, plant and equipment relating to self‑constructed 3D printers are considered non‑cash transactions.
The estimated useful economic lives of items of property, plant and equipment are as follows:
USEFUL LIFE OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Leasehold improvements
Buildings
Plant and machinery
Printers leased to customers under operating lease
Other facilities, machinery and factory equipment
Office equipment
6-9 years
33 years
7-8 years
7-8 years
2-20 years
3-12 years
Useful lives, depreciation methods and residual values are reviewed at least annually and, in case they change
significantly, depreciation charges for current and future periods are adjusted accordingly.
Inventories
Raw materials
Raw materials are measured at the lower of acquisition cost, as determined on the weighted average costs method, and
net realizable value. Obsolete inventories are written off directly into cost of sales.
F-11
Table of Contents
Work in progress and finished goods
Work in progress and finished goods are measured at the lower of manufacturing cost and net realizable value.
Manufacturing costs comprise all costs that are directly attributable to the manufacturing process, such as direct material and
labor, and production related overheads (based on normal operating capacity and normal consumption of material, labor and other
production costs), including depreciation charges. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling price in the ordinary
course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. For purposes of
determining net realizable value, selling expenses include all costs expected to be incurred to make the sale, primarily shipping,
packaging and handling as well as commissions.
We also use our own printers in our service centers. Unfinished printers are generally available to be sold if a customer
requests a product which specification could still be met by one of the products in progress. Accordingly, we classify printers as
inventory until we remove a finished printer from our manufacturing warehouse to use it in a service center. The reclassification
as property, plant and equipment, as a non-cash transaction, occurs at cost and depreciation starts at inception of service.
Impairment of non‑‑financial assets
The Company assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is an indication that a non‑financial asset may
be impaired. The asset is tested for impairment if there are indicators that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An
impairment loss is recognized in the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The
recoverable amount is defined as the higher of an asset’s fair value less cost to sell and its value in use. As the individual assets do
not generate largely independent cash flows, the impairment test was performed at cash generating unit level.
If the fair value less cost to sell cannot be determined, or if it is lower than the carrying amount, the value in use is
calculated. The value in use is calculated by discounting the future expected cash flows at a risk‑adequate pre‑tax interest rate,
current and expected future cash flows are taken into account, together with technological, economic and general development
trends, on the basis of approved and adjusted financial plans.
Financial instruments
Non‑derivative financial assets and liabilities
The Company classifies non‑derivative financial assets into the following categories: financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss, held‑to‑maturity financial assets, loans and receivables and available‑for‑sale financial assets.
Available‑for‑sale financial assets are initially measured at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs.
Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at fair value and changes therein, other than impairment losses and foreign
currency differences on debt instruments, are recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the fair value
reserve. When these assets are derecognized, the gain or loss accumulated in equity is reclassified to profit or loss in other
operating income or expense.
Loans and receivables are financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market.
Such assets are recognized initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, loans and receivables are measured at
amortized cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.
Non‑derivative financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value less any directly attributable transaction costs.
Subsequent to initial recognition, these liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The
Company does not elect to measure financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.
Impairment
Financial assets not classified as at fair value through profit or loss are assessed at each reporting date to determine
whether there is objective evidence of impairment.
F-12
Table of Contents
For financial assets measured at amortized cost, an impairment loss is calculated as the difference between an asset’s
carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate.
Losses are recognized in profit or loss and reflected in an allowance account. When the Group considers that there are no realistic
prospects of recovery of the asset, the relevant amounts are written off. If the amount of impairment loss subsequently decreases
and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, then the previously
recognized impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss.
Impairment losses on available‑for‑sale financial assets are recognized by reclassifying the losses accumulated in the
fair value reserve to profit or loss. The amount reclassified is the difference between the acquisition cost (net of any principal
repayment and amortization) and the current fair value, less any impairment loss previously recognized in profit or loss.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are short‑term bank deposits and are not subject to a significant risk of change in value.
Deferred income
Deferred income from sale and leaseback
Gains resulting from deferred income from 3D printers sold and leased back under finance leases are recognized within
other operating income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss over the respective lease term.
Deferred income from extended warranty and maintenance contracts
Extended warranty contract and maintenance contract revenues are recognized on a straight‑line basis per month as the
costs of providing services incurred under the contracts generally do not vary significantly over the contract term.
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing profit (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary
shares outstanding. There are no dilutive instruments issued and outstanding.
4. New standards and interpretations not yet adopted
The IASB issued a number of new IFRS standards which are required to be adopted in annual periods beginning after
December 31, 2016.
Standard
IAS 12
IAS 7
Improvements to IFRS
(2014 - 2016)
IFRS 15
IFRS 9
IFRS 2
IFRS 4
IAS 40
IFRIC 22
Improvements to IFRS
(2014 - 2016)
IFRS 16
IFRS 10, IAS 28
Effective
date
01/2017
01/2017
01/2017
01/2018
01/2018
01/2018
01/2018
01/2018
01/2018
01/2018
01/2019
indefinite
Descriptions
Amendments Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses
Amendments Disclosure Initiative
IFRS 12
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Financial Instruments
Amendments Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment
Transactions
Amendments Applying IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with IFRS 4
Insurance Contracts
Amendment Transfers of Investment Property
Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration
IFRS 1, IAS 28
Leases
Amendment Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its
Associate or Joint Venture
F-13
Table of Contents
IFRS 15 establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether, how much and when revenue is recognized. It
replaces existing revenue recognition guidance, including IAS 18 Revenue , IAS 11 Construction Contracts and IFRIC 13
Customer Loyalty Programmes . IFRS 15 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with early
adoption permitted. The Company has developed a project plan to analyze the potential impact IFRS 15 will have on its
consolidated financial statements and related disclosures as well as its business processes, systems and controls. This includes
reviewing revenue contracts across all revenue streams and evaluating potential differences that would result from applying the
requirements under the new guidance. Based on the analysis conducted to date, the Company is currently evaluating the impact of
the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and the method of adoption.
Regarding further new standards, amendments or interpretations the Company has not yet determined what impact the
new standards, will have on the financial statements.
5. Critical accounting judgment and key sources of estimation and uncertainty
In the process of applying the Company’ s accounting policies, Management is required to make judgments, estimates
and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. These
estimates and associated assumptions are based on the knowledge available as of the preparation date of the financial statements
and historical experiences as well as other factors that are considered to be relevant. The estimates and underlying assumptions
are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Developments outside Management’s control may cause actual amounts to differ from the original estimates. In that
case, the underlying assumptions and, if necessary, the carrying amounts of the pertinent assets and liabilities are adjusted
accordingly. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects
only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods, if the revision affects both current and future periods.
The assumptions and estimates refer primarily to the recognition of revenue, the determination of useful lives of
property, plant and equipment, the application of the criteria for recognizing finance leases, the realization of receivables, and
measurement and recoverability of inventory.
The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the end of the reporting
period, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next
financial year are discussed below.
Revenue recognition
Revenue on sales of machines is recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to the
customer, the amount of revenue and cost incurred or to be incurred can be measured reliably and it is probable that the economic
benefits associated with the sale will flow to the Company. Generally this is the case, when the machine is installed and finally
accepted by the customer. On occasion, we grant a loan for a portion or all of the purchase price of a machine to a customer. We
recognize revenue on such sales when it is probable that we will obtain the economic benefits from the transaction. In these
situations, we analyze the credit risk associated with the customer based on all available information and the outstanding balance
to determine the risk. The amount of revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received, including future payments
under the loan agreement. We typically retain legal title to our machines until receipt of all consideration to protect the
collectability of any outstanding balances due, which does not preclude a conclusion that the significant risks and rewards of
ownership have transferred.
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment
The estimated useful lives and amortization or depreciation methods for property, plant and equipment are based on the
experience of the Company with similar assets that are used in a similar way. Additional amortization or depreciation, as
applicable, is recorded if the estimated useful lives and/or the residual values are different from the previous estimation.
F-14
Table of Contents
Criteria for classifying leases
A finance lease is an arrangement that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incident to ownership of an asset
to the lessee. Whether a lease is a finance lease or an operating lease depends on the substance of the transaction rather than the
form of the contract. The criteria to classify a lease as a finance lease are as follows (one criterion is sufficient to meet the
classification as a finance lease):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
the lease transfers ownership of the asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term;
the lessee has a bargain purchase option and it is reasonably certain at the date of inception that the option will
be exercised;
the lease term is for the major part of the economic life of the asset even if title is not transferred;
at the inception of the lease the present value of the minimum lease payments amounts to substantially all of the
fair value of the leased asset;
the leased asset is of such a specialized nature that only the lessee can use it without major modifications;
gains or losses from the fluctuation in the fair value of the residual accrue to the lessee;
the lessee has the ability to continue the lease for a secondary period at a rent that is substantially lower than
market rent; and
if the lessee can cancel the lease, our associated losses are borne by the lessee.
All of our leaseback arrangements for 3D printers transfer ownership of the asset to the Company at the end of the lease
term, therefore, these leases are accounted for as finance leases.
Trade receivables
The Company evaluates customer accounts with past‑due outstanding balances or specific accounts for which it has
information that the customer may be unable to meet its financial obligations. Based upon a review of these accounts and
Management’s analysis and judgment, the Company estimates the future cash flows expected to be recovered from these
receivables. The amount of the impairment on doubtful receivables is measured individually and recorded as a specific allowance
against that customer’s receivable balance so as to equal the amount expected to be recovered. The allowance is re‑evaluated and
adjusted periodically as additional information is received.
Inventories
We evaluate the adequacy of our inventory reserves on a periodic basis. Our determination of our inventory reserve is subject to
change because it is based on management’s current estimates. In determining the need for an inventory reserve on our printers in
progress or finished stage, we consider the inventory at hand per product and expected sales. In that context, we consider order
backlog on hand, budgeted sales and market opportunities by product type. We lowered our revenue guidance in 2016 and have
recorded inventory reserves within cost of sales to respond to the more extended reach of certain items in inventory.
6. Trade receivables
Credit terms provided to customers are determined individually and are dependent on already existing customer
relationships and the customer’s payment history. The aging of trade receivables was as follows at each reporting date:
F-15
Table of Contents
AGING STRUCTURE OF TRADE RECEIVABLES
Not due at the end of the reporting period
Amount past due for the following time ranges
Less than 3 months
Between 3 and 6 months
Between 6 and 9 months
Between 9 and 12 months
More than 12 months
Total
The change in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows:
Change in the allowance for doubtful accounts
Balance at beginning of period
Charges
Release to income
Balance at end of period
7. Inventories
December 31,
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
2,812
946
180
151
12
32
4,133
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
57
367
(88)
336
Inventories consisted of the following for the years reported:
INVENTORIES BY CATEGORY
Raw materials and merchandise
Work in progress
Finished goods
Total
December 31,
2016
(€ in thousands)
2015
1,850
9,363
--
11,213
2,108
1,191
44
1
4
--
3,348
94
52
(89)
57
621
6,095
1,125
7,841
In 2016 a reserve for slow-moving inventory regarding work in progress amounting to € 1.0 million was established. The
reserve is reported in cost of sales. As a result of the restructuring of the voxeljet UK business, an impairment of raw materials
and work in progress in the amount of € 1.1 million was recognized in 2015.
8. voxeljet UK
Restructuring of voxeljet UK
Following a review of the financial performance of voxeljet UK and its current market environment, Management
decided in October 2015 to focus voxeljet UK’s activities in the future solely on selling high‑speed, large‑format 3D printers and
on‑demand parts services to industrial and commercial customers.
As a result, the Company entered into an agreement in November 2015 with an investor group that includes the founder
of Propshop to sell certain assets supporting certain business lines that serve customers in the film and
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Table of Contents
entertainment industry (the DPM business), transfer certain employees and contractual arrangements and settle the earnout and
employment agreement with the managing director entered into in connection with the acquisition of voxeljet UK in exchange for
net cash consideration of kEUR 365.
The charges from the restructuring of voxeljet UK amounted to € 2.7 million and include a loss from the sale of fixed
assets, the impairments of certain intangible assets separately identified in the business acquisition and inventories as well as
payments for early termination of contracts and the transfer of employees. The following table summarizes the amounts relating
to the restructuring charges.
Components of restructuring charges
Write-off digital library
Impairment of inventories
Write
off customer list
Separation and breach of contract
Legal consulting
Settlement of rent agreements
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Transfer of employees
Derecognition of goodwill due to disposed business
Settlement of loan agreements
‑
Line items in statement of comprehensive loss
Cost of sales
Cost of sales
Selling expense
Administrative expenses
Administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Other operating expense
Other operating expense
Other operating expense
Finance expense
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
309
1,068
380
260
79
67
67
275
129
29
With respect to the remaining goodwill arising from the acquisition of voxeljet UK of kEUR 1,273, an impairment test
was triggered by the sale of the DPM business. voxeljet UK is considered as one cash‑generating unit (CGU), which forms part of
the Services segment.
The recoverable amount of this CGU was based on its value in use, determined by discounting the future expected cash
flows to be generated from the continuing use of the CGU. The recoverable amount of the CGU of kGBP 2,975 was higher than
its carrying amount of kGBP 2,263.
The key assumptions used in the estimation of the recoverable amount are set out below. The key assumptions represent
Management’s assessment of future trends in the relevant industries and have been based on historical data from both external
and internal sources. Further, the recoverable amount is particularly sensitive to the achievement of the forecasted revenue.
In percent
WACC
Terminal value growth rate
2015
10.1%
2.0%
The discount rate was a pre‑tax measure based on the rate of 10‑year UK government bonds, adjusted for a risk
premium to reflect both the increased risk of investing in equities generally and the systematic risk of the specific CGU.
Five years of cash flows were included in the discounted cash flow model. A long‑term growth rate into perpetuity has
been determined with the comparable nominal gross domestic product (GDP) rates in the UK.
The forecasted projection on free cash flow was estimated taking into account past experience in the UK and the
Company’s service centers in Germany and the United States.
The estimated recoverable amount of the CGU exceeded its carrying amount by kGBP 712. Management has identified
that a reasonably possible change in either the WACC or the revenue forecast could result in an impairment. In order to capture
the sensitivity in revenues, the estimated revenue for the last year of the plan (2020) was adjusted, while keeping the assumed
growth rate in terminal value unchanged. The following table shows the amount by which these assumptions would need to
change individually for the estimated recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying amount.
WACC
Revenue the last year of the plan
F-17
2015
2.5%
kGBP 200
Table of Contents
Impairment charges 2016
In October 7, 2016 voxeljet UK’s most significant customer went into bankruptcy administration. Considering that development,
voxeljet assessed the recoverability of the assets as of September 30, 2016, which resulted in a full impairment of trade
receivables due from that customer of kEUR 293 and the goodwill for the CGU related to voxeljet UK.
The carrying amount of the CGU exceeded its recoverable amount of kEUR 1,471 (or kGBP 1,266) and consequently an
impairment loss of kEUR 1,130 (or kGBP 907) covering the entire balance of goodwill was recognized in other operating
expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.
The recoverable amount of the CGU was based on its value in use. The value in use was determined by discounting the future
cash flows expected to be generated from the continued use of the CGU.
The projections of cash flows cover the remainder of the year 2016 (forecast) and the financial years 2017 to 2021 (terminal
value). The projected cash flows were estimated taking into account the cease of operations of the CGU’s most significant
customer, management’s experience in the UK marketplace and from the Company's other service centers in Germany and the
United States.
The cost of capital (weighted average cost of capital, WACC) and the terminal value growth rate are other assumptions used in
the estimation of the value in use:
WACC
Terminal value growth rate
2016
15.41%
1.00%
The parameters of the WACC are based on market observations as at September 30, 2016 (risk-free rate, spread, market risk
premium, beta factor, leverage) and reflect the specific risks of voxeljet UK. The terminal value growth rate was determined on
the basis of the expected long term development of prices in the UK and the relevant market for the CGU’s services.
Im
v
v
Imfffff
9.
Intangible assets and goodwill
Software
Licenses
Prepayments made on intangible assets
Total
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
2015
515
162
165
842
279
189
159
627
The increase in software occurred as a result of the purchase of software licenses in connection with our new ERP
system as well as related capitalized customizing cost.
Goodwill
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
--
2015
1,273
On October 7, 2016 voxeljet UK’s most significant customer went into bankruptcy administration. Considering that
development, voxeljet assessed the recoverability of the assets as of September 30, 2016, which resulted in an impairment
goodwill for the CGU related to voxeljet UK. (refer to Note 8).
F-18
Table of Contents
10. Property, plant and equipment
Land, buildings and leasehold improvements
Plant and machinery (includes assets under finance lease)
Other facilities, factory and office equipment
Assets under construction and prepayments made
Total
Thereof pledged assets of Property, Plant and Equipment
Leased assets included in Property, Plant and Equipment:
Printers
Printers leased to customers under operating lease
Other factory equipment
December 31,
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
12,020
6,730
1,522
3,249
23,521
6,446
1,208
964
141
103
12,167
7,702
1,413
101
21,383
592
2,059
1,490
500
69
The pledged assets consist of the new office building and the new production hall, which are currently built up, four 3D
printers that serve as collateral for certain credit lines and loan agreements. Amounts added to plant and machinery relating to
self‑constructed 3D printers are considered non‑cash transactions, which totaled to kEUR 1,012 and kEUR 3,943 in the years
2016 and 2015, respectively. During 2016, the Group acquired equipment with a carrying amount of kEUR 41 (2015: kEUR 39)
under a finance lease.
The following table presents the composition of, and annual movement in, intangible assets and property, plant and
equipment for the years 2016 and 2015, respectively:
2016
Intangible assets
Software
Licenses
Order backlog
Customer list
Digital library
Prepayments made on
intangible assets
Goodwill
Total
Property, plant and
equipment
Land, buildings and leasehold
improvements
Plant and machinery
Other facilities, factory and
office equipment
Assets under construction and
prepayments made
Subtotal
Leased products
Total
Acquisition and manufacturing cost
Depreciation and amortization
(€ in thousands)
Carrying
amount
01/01/2016 Additions Disposals Adjustment Transfer FX 12/31/2016 01/01/2016
Current
year
Disposals Impairment Transfer
FX 12/31/2016 12/31/2016
461
245
103
622
464
159
1,273
3,328
229
--
--
--
155
--
384
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
109
--
--
--
(1)
--
--
--
(109)
--
--
(143)
(144)
798
245
103
622
464
205
1,130
3,567
12,751
12,822
155
1,332
1,249
553
42
(298)
12,948
13,160
2,727
548
34
35
(48)
3,228
101
28,402
2,800
31,202
3,186
5,221
41
5,262
35
1,318
1,318
--
--
(3)
585
(585)
--
(304)
2
(302)
3,249
32,585
2,258
34,843
182
56
103
622
464
--
--
1,427
584
6,610
1,383
0
8,577
1,241
9,818
101
27
--
--
--
--
--
128
341
1,294
395
2,030
384
2,414
--
--
--
40
--
40
753
15
768
768
--
--
--
--
1,130
1,130
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
393
28
421
(421)
--
283
83
103
622
464
40
1,130
2,725
--
--
--
--
--
--
515
162
--
--
--
165
--
842
3
(115)
928
7,429
12,020
5,731
(29)
1,762
1,466
(141)
(1)
(142)
0
10,119
1,203
11,322
3,249
22,466
1,055
23,521
F-19
Table of Contents
2015
Acquisition and manufacturing cost
Depreciation and amortization
(€ in thousands)
Carrying
amount
01/01/2015 Additions Disposals Adjustment Transfer FX 12/31/2015 01/01/2015
Current
year
Disposals Impairment Transfer FX 12/31/2015 12/31/2015
Intangible assets
Software
Licenses
Order backlog
Customer list
Digital library
Prepayments made on
intangible assets
Goodwill
Total
Property, plant and
equipment
Land, buildings and leasehold
improvements
Plant and machinery
Other facilities, factory and
office equipment
Assets under construction and
prepayments made
Subtotal
Leased products
Total
183
36
103
655
494
187
1,558
3,217
124
209
--
--
--
119
0
452
11,485
10,833
761
4,337
2,114
694
528
24,960
3,290
28,250
96
5,888
--
5,888
--
--
--
--
--
--
274
274
--
1,931
738
--
2,670
503
3,173
--
--
--
(33)
(30)
--
--
(63)
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
154
--
--
--
--
(147)
--
7
--
--
--
--
--
--
(11)
(11)
461
245
103
622
464
159
1,273
3,328
109
36
103
55
41
--
--
344
74
20
0
187
113
--
--
394
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
491
(612)
14
195
12,751
12,822
273
6,630
288
1,221
--
1,009
625
32
2,727
875
672
468
(524)
(20)
13
(7)
1
242
--
242
101
28,402
2,800
31,202
--
7,778
1,007
8,785
--
2,181
407
2,588
--
1,477
142
1,619
--
--
--
380
309
--
--
689
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
23
(284)
293
--
32
(32)
--
(1)
--
--
--
1
--
--
--
--
52
11
--
63
1
64
182
56
103
622
464
--
--
1,427
584
6,610
1,383
--
8,577
1,241
9,818
279
189
--
--
--
159
1,273
1,900
12,167
6,212
1,344
101
19,824
1,559
21,383
The Company entered into sale and leaseback transactions for self‑produced 3D printers, which were sold to banks and
leased back with the intention to be used in the Services segment for the purpose of producing custom‑ordered printed products
and ultimately to sell them to customers as used printers. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had five and six
active leasing contracts, one contract expired in 2016 and the 3D printer was repurchased from the lessor and is used for research
and development purposes. Four of the leased 3D printers are used in the Services segment and one was subleased to a customer
under an operating lease.
In 2016, 2015 and 2014, there were no new sale and leaseback transactions. Sale and Lease back transactions of 3D
printers are non-cash transactions for purposes of the cash flow statement.
In 2016 no early termination of a sale and leaseback transaction occurred. In connection with the sale of refurbished 3D
printers to customers, the Company early terminated one finance lease in 2015 and three in 2014 and repurchased the applicable
3D printer from the lessor. Three and four other refurbished printers that had been carried as property, plant and equipment were
sold to customers in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
11. Other liabilities and provisions
Customer deposits
Liabilities from VAT
Employee bonus
Accruals for vacation and overtime
Accruals for licenses
Accruals for LTCIP
Liabilities from payroll
Accruals for commissions
Accruals for compensation of Supervisory board
Accrual for warranty
Others
Total
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
2015
183
174
143
170
258
--
211
190
180
400
305
2,214
1,300
32
729
110
183
478
216
50
135
59
289
3,581
voxeljet has a Long‑Term Cash Incentive Plan (“LTCIP”) that provides for cash awards to non‑executive employees.
Under the plan, which was announced on October 2, 2013, the Company may grant individual award units of EUR 5,000 each up
to a total maximum amount of 10% of the net proceeds received by the Company upon closing of its initial public offering. An
initial grant of 684 award units was made to participants on October 2, 2013. The vesting of the awards occurs during three
separate performance periods, with 20% of the awards vesting in performance period 1 ended December 31, 2013, 40% of the
awards vesting in performance period 2 ended December 31, 2015, and the remaining 40% vesting in performance period 3
ending December 31, 2017. Vesting of the awards during performance period 1 was subject to a revenue growth target and the
successful completion of the initial public offering. Both
F-20
Table of Contents
conditions for performance period 1 were met as of December 31, 2013. Therefore the awards regarding performance period 2
were paid in 2014.
On September 30, 2015, Management granted an additional 131 award units to eligible employees. At grant date the fair
value measurement of the liability regarding performance period 2 included the assumption, that both the revenue growth as well
as the share price target would be achieved. Furthermore, Management expected that the eligible employees would not leave the
Company before the settlement of performance period 2.
In November 2015, Management decided to reduce the targets for performance periods 2 and 3 of the LTCIP granted
awarded in October 2013 which were no longer probable of being achievable based on market conditions at the time of the
modification. Although the targets for performance period 2 were adjusted, those targets were not achieved. Therefore there was
no payment related to the LTCIP for performance period 2.
Vesting of the award during performance period 3 is subject to performance and market conditions, including revenue
growth and market capitalization as of December 31, 2017. In determining the fair value of the liability for the third period of the
LTCIP, the Company originally estimated an 80% probability of achievement for each target and an employee turnover rate of
5.8% based on the past experience (2014: 5.0%). However, in 2016, management updated its assessment and estimated that the
achievement of the underlying targets on the third performance period of LTCIP would no longer be probable, resulting in a gain
of kEUR 478 to the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. The following table shows the development of the accrual
regarding the LTCIP.
(€ in thousands)
Accrual for LTCIP
478
--
--
(478)
--
January 1, 2016
Usage
Addition
Reversal
December 31,
2016
12. Financial instruments
Fair value is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction
between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy defines the following levels:
·
·
·
Level 1: Quoted prices of the respective financial asset or financial liability in active markets
Level 2: Other directly observable input parameters which contribute to establishing the fair value based on a
valuation model
Level 3: Input parameters not based on observable market data
Under IAS 39 there are the following categories:
(I) A financial asset or financial liability at fair value through profit or loss
(II) Held‑to‑maturity investments
(III) Available‑for‑sale financial assets
(IV) Loans and receivables
(V) Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost
F-21
Table of Contents
The following tables list the carrying values and fair values of all financial instruments held by voxeljet :
12/31/2016
Assets
Non-current assets
Restricted cash
Equity securities
Current assets
Bond funds
Note receivable
Cash and cash equivalents
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligation
Current liabilities
Bank overdraft
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligation
12/31/2015
Assets
Non-current assets
Restricted cash
Current assets
Customer loan
Bond funds
Note receivable
Cash and cash equivalents
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligation
Current liabilities
Bank overdraft
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligation
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Fair Value
Level
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
5
11,657
922
--
206
--
--
--
7,849
--
--
--
--
--
206
5
11,657
922
7,849
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
4448
369
224
651
422
3770
354
224
644
416
Level 1
Level 3
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2
Level 2
Level 2
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Fair Value
Level
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
30,661
1,075
--
206
10
--
--
2,086
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
545
746
384
207
559
206
Level 1
10
30,661
1,075
2,086
Level 2
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
520
701
384
206
589
Level 2
Level 2
Level 2
Level 2
The financial assets with a carrying amount of € 12.8 million reported on the Company’s statement of financial position
at December 31, 2016 were comprised of investments in two bond funds (kEUR 11,657) and a note receivable (kEUR 922), all
reported as current financial assets, and restricted cash (kEUR 206) and equity securities (kEUR 5) reported as a noncurrent asset.
As of December 31, 2015 the financial assets with a carrying amount of € 32.0 million were comprised of investments in
three bond funds (kEUR 30,661), a note receivable (kEUR 1,075) as well as the remaining unpaid interest from a customer loan
(kEUR 10), all reported as current financial assets, and restricted cash (kEUR 206) reported as a noncurrent asset.
F-22
Table of Contents
The fair value of the Company’s investments in the bond funds was determined based on the unit prices quoted by the
respective fund management company. The funds pursue the goal of daily liquidity and invest in short‑term notes. The funds are
open‑ended; the units can be redeemed to the fund on a daily basis. Unit prices updated by the fund management company on a
daily basis represent a quoted price in an active market.
The fair value of the note receivable due March 2017 was based on the secondary market price quoted by a broker.
The fair value of long‑term debt was determined using discounted cash flow models based on the relevant forward
interest rate yield curves. The fair value of finance lease obligations was determined using discounted cash flow models based on
market interest rates available to the Company for similar transactions at the relevant date.
Due to the short maturity and the current low level of interest rates, the carrying amount of credit lines and bank
overdrafts and customer loan at December 31, 2016 approximate fair value.
13. Cost of sales
Cost of sales includes personnel expenses, cost of material, purchased services, cost for finished goods and allocated
indirect costs related to production.
COST OF SALES
Personnel expenses
Material costs
Depreciation
Other expenses
Allowance for slow-moving inventory
Total
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
(3,570)
(6,837)
(1,562)
(2,512)
(954)
(15,435)
(5,386)
(7,645)
(1,890)
(2,226)
--
(17,147)
(4,287)
(3,440)
(1,692)
(419)
--
(9,838)
In 2016 other expenses consisted of rental expenses (kEUR 644), license fees (kEUR 421), travel expenses (kEUR 414)
and tooling kits (kEUR 198). In 2015 other expenses consisted of rental expenses (kEUR 736), license fees (kEUR 440), travel
expenses (kEUR 394) and tooling kits (kEUR 211). In 2014, other expenses primarily consisted of rental expenses for
manufacturing space.
14. Other operating income and expense
Other operating income includes primarily gains from foreign exchange transactions, the recognition of the gain on sale
and leaseback transactions upon release from deferred income and government grants received for ongoing research and
development projects.
The details of other operating income are presented for the years reported in the table below:
OTHER OPERATING INCOME
Government grant income
Amortization of gain on sale and leaseback transactions
Recognition of deferred income due to early termination of sale and leaseback
transactions
Reimbursement of transaction costs
Gains from foreign exchange transactions
Income from realized other comprehensive income
Other
Total
F-23
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
322
310
75
283
--
127
645
--
287
1,417
216
108
863
76
235
2,130
2014
208
399
401
86
290
--
--
1,384
Table of Contents
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
Impairment loss on trade receivables
Restructuring of business in UK
Expenses related to initial and secondary public offering
Losses from foreign exchange transactions
Impairment of Goodwill
Equity-settled share-based payment transaction in relation to the establishment of a
subsidiary with non-controlling interest
Other
Total
379
--
--
2,077
1,130
256
39
3,881
--
471
--
210
--
--
207
888
--
--
101
--
--
--
--
101
15. Financial result
For the periods 2016, 2015 and 2014, the financial result was mainly driven by interest expense on finance leases, bank
overdrafts and drawings under credit lines and long‑term debt.
Interest expense
Finance lease obligations
Bank overdrafts and lines of credit
Long-term debt
Other
Interest income
Payout of bond funds
Customer loans
Other
Financial result
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
(230)
(57)
(1)
(68)
(104)
38
35
--
3
(192)
(277)
(201)
(5)
(41)
(30)
158
116
7
35
(119)
(472)
(114)
(37)
(195)
(126)
299
201
50
48
(173)
16. Income taxes
Income taxes consist of the following for the years reported:
Income tax (expense) benefit
Current tax expense
Deferred tax (expense) benefit
Total
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
(2)
--
(2)
--
(64)
(64)
--
32
32
In 2016 current tax expenses relate to income taxes for the years 2011 and 2012. 2015 deferred tax (expense) benefit
resulted from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities on temporary differences.
F-24
Table of Contents
Deferred tax assets and liabilities
The components of net deferred income taxes at the end of the respective reporting periods were as follows:
SOURCES OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
2015
Deferred tax
liabilities
Deferred tax assets
--
--
299
Trade receivables
Other receivables and current assets
Property, Plant & Equipment
Non-current other assets
Current deferred income
Trade liabilites
Current financial liabilities
Current financial assets
Other current liabilities and provisions
Non-current deferred income
Non-current financial liabilities
Non-current financial assets
Non-current liabilities and provisions
Intangible assets
Tax losses carried forward
Valuation allowance
Tax assets (liabilities)
Set off of tax
Net tax
Deferred tax assets
9
--
279
198
58
45
195
--
7
33
91
--
1
23
9
(286)
661
(661)
--
(6)
(43)
(484)
--
--
(1)
(13)
--
(13)
--
(99)
--
--
(3)
--
--
(662)
661
(1)
Deferred tax
liabilities
(14)
--
(704)
--
(1)
--
(3)
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
(722)
721
(1)
170
--
--
--
28
--
356
--
--
--
--
(132)
721
(721)
--
At December 31, 2016 voxeljet had gross loss carry‑forwards for corporation tax and trade tax losses of kEUR 16,317
and kEUR 4,023, respectively, for which no deferred taxes have been recognized. These tax losses can be carried forward without
restriction for future offset against taxable profits. In addition, there are foreign tax loss carry‑forwards of kEUR 11,578.
Reconciliation of profit before income taxes to income tax
The reconciliation between profit before income taxes and income tax benefit (expense) for the reporting periods
presented was as follows:
RECONCILIATION OF INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE)
Loss before tax
Tax expense at prevailing statutory rate (28%)
Non-deductible expenses
Non-taxable income
Tax-rate related differences
Unrecognized temporary differences and tax losses
Income tax benefit (expense)
17. Personnel expenses
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
(11,311)
3,167
(170)
116
(128)
(2,987)
(2)
(9,530)
2,668
(47)
--
(259)
(2,426)
(64)
(4,364)
1,222
(25)
--
(44)
(1,121)
32
Personnel expenses included in cost of sales, research and development, and selling and administrative expenses are
comprised of the following:
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Table of Contents
PERSONNEL EXPENSES
Wages and salaries
LTCIP
Social security contributions
Total
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
9,772
(478)
1,799
11,093
9,866
(274)
1,732
11,324
5,505
412
1,050
6,967
voxeljet AG offers to its employees a defined contribution plan called “MetallRente”. The contributions paid by the
Company amounted to kEUR 57, kEUR 41 and kEUR 30 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
The employer’s contribution into the mandatory German state plan amounted to kEUR 697, kEUR 511 and kEUR 389 for the
years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
18. Segment reporting
voxeljet operates in two reportable segments—Systems and Services—which reflect the internal organizational and
management structure according to the distinct nature of the two businesses. The Systems business derives its revenues from the
manufacture and sale of 3D printers, from the sale of consumables as well as lease and maintenance agreements with customers,
while the Services business provides custom‑ordered printed product to customers.
The measurement principles used by voxeljet in preparing this segment reporting are also the basis for segment
performance assessment. The Chief Executive Officer of voxeljet acts as a chief operating decision maker. As a performance
indicator, the chief operating decision maker mainly monitors the Company’s revenues and gross profit.
The following table summarizes segment reporting for each of the reporting periods ended December 31. As
Management’s controlling instruments are mainly revenue‑based, the reporting information does not include a detailed
breakdown of all assets and liabilities by category. The sum of the amounts for the two segments equals the total for the Company
for each of the years presented.
SEGMENT REPORTING
Revenues
Gross profit
Gross profit in %
PPE
Trade receivables
Trade payables
Depreciation and amortization
(excl. Intangible assets)
Allowance for slow-moving inventory
Loss on disposal of DPM business
Impairment of goodwill
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
SYSTEMS SERVICES SYSTEMS SERVICES SYSTEMS
13,081
3,197
24.4%
9,936
2,566
833
747
954
--
--
9,257
3,706
40.0%
13,585
1,567
932
1,667
--
--
1,130
11,113
3,849
34.6%
9,002
1,639
984
775
--
--
--
12,951
3,068
23.7%
12,381
1,709
775
1,813
--
2,663
--
9,057
3,301
36.4%
7,322
1,055
1,031
425
--
--
--
SERVICES
7,106
3,024
42.6%
12,144
2,093
1,295
1,503
--
--
--
Systems revenues include revenues from the sales of used 3D printers of kEUR 1,235, kEUR 1,224, and kEUR 393 for
the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
F-26
Table of Contents
Geographic information
REVENUES BY GEOGRAPHICAL REGION
voxeljet’s revenues and non‑current assets are presented below by geographic region. For purposes of this presentation,
revenues are based on the geographic location of customers and assets are based on their geographic location.
voxeljet’s revenues were generated in the following geographical regions for the years reported:
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
EMEA
Germany
France
Great Britain
Others
Asia Pacific
South Korea
Others
Americas
United States
Others
Total
NON‑‑CURRENT ASSETS BY GEOGRAPHICAL REGION
EMEA
Germany
Great Britain
Asia Pacific
Americas
United States
Total
19. Financial risk management
13,364
6,132
2,725
1,135
3,372
4,831
1,680
3,151
4,143
4,107
36
22,338
18,214
6,984
1,711
4,464
5,055
2,703
1,277
1,426
3,147
3,110
37
24,064
2015
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
20,657
19,533
1,124
218
3,758
3,758
24,633
10,571
4,587
1,593
2,276
2,115
4,306
2,042
2,264
1,286
893
393
16,163
20,748
19,017
1,731
--
2,822
2,822
23,570
The Company’s Management Board is responsible for implementing the finance policy and for ongoing financial risk
management. Therefore the Management Board has established a Risk Management Committee, which is responsible for
developing and monitoring of the Group’s risk management policies especially regarding financial risks. Generally the committee
provides an overview of financial risks on a quarterly basis to the Management Board as part of the Company’s quarterly
management reporting procedures.
The Company’s principal financial instruments are comprised of short‑term bank deposits at commercial institutions,
bond funds, a note receivable, lease obligations and long‑term debt. The main purpose of the financial asset instruments is to
provide a return on investments with minimal risk. The main purpose of the financial liability instruments is to help fund the
Company’s operations. The Company has various other financial assets and liabilities including trade receivables and trade
payables, which arise directly from its operations.
The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are foreign exchange risk and credit risk. The measures
taken by Management to manage each of these risks are summarized below.
Transactions related to activities in the area of financial instruments require the prior approval of the Chief Financial
Officer. The Company did not enter into any derivative financial instruments for hedging purposes in 2016.
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Table of Contents
Management receives a weekly reporting of the current liquidity of the Group by entity. Furthermore, a monthly cash
flow plan meeting has been established, where Management reviews the cash forecasts and the future development of flows of
funds on an ongoing basis.
Foreign exchange risk
The Company is exposed to foreign exchange risk to the extent that there is a mismatch between the currencies in which
sales, purchases and borrowings are denominated and the respective functional currencies of subsidiaries of the Group. The
functional currencies of the parent company voxeljet AG and its subsidiaries are Euro, US Dollars, British Pound Sterling, Indian
rupee and Chinese yuan renminbi. The majority of the sale, purchase and borrowing transactions are denominated in the
functional currency of the parent company or its subsidiaries. Foreign exchange risk is primarily derived from the intercompany
loans made to subsidiaries and a note receivable denoted in GBP, as summarized below.
voxeljet has provided intercompany loans to its subsidiaries to finance their operations. The loans were granted in the
local currency of the subsidiaries. Gains and losses from movements in exchange rates are recorded within other operating
income or expense in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss. As of December 31, 2016 the amount borrowed to
voxeljet UK totaled GBP 6.6 million (€ 7.7 million). A relative increase in the value of the Euro against British Pound Sterling of
10% would lead to a loss of € 0.7 million. The amount of loans granted to voxeljet America totaled to USD 5.2 million
(€ 4.9 million) as of December 31, 2016. A relative increase in the value of the Euro against US Dollars of 10% would lead to a
loss of € 0.4 million.
voxeljet’s financial assets include one note receivable denominated in British Pound Sterling in the amount of GBP
0.8 million (€ 0.9 million). A relative increase in the value of the Euro against British Pound Sterling of 10% would lead to a loss
of € 0.1 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, voxeljet generated 47.01% of its revenues in the eurozone. Additionally, the
majority of the Company’s sourcing transactions are also transacted in Euros in that zone.
The Company invoiced 84% in 2016, 75% in 2015 and 90% in 2014 of total revenues in Euro. As revenues in foreign
currency usually correspond to costs which are incurred in the same currency, we consider the risk as minor.
The significant exchange rates which have been applied during the years presented are disclosed in Note 3.
Interest rate risk
voxeljet’s principal interest‑bearing positions are liabilities for bank borrowings and finance lease obligations. These
liabilities are entirely at a fixed interest rate. As such, changes in market interest rates have no effect on future interest expenses.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of the Company suffering a financial loss as the result of its counterparties being unable to perform
their obligations. The Company is exposed to credit risk from its operating activities (mainly trade receivables) and from its
financing activities, including deposits and investments with financial institutions. Therefore, the carrying amount of cash and
cash equivalents, financial assets, and trade receivables represents the maximum credit exposure of € 24.6 million (2015:
€ 37.4 million).
The Company’s exposure to credit risk is influenced by the individual characteristics of each customer. However,
Management also considers factors that influence the credit risk of its customer base, including the default risk of the industry and
the country in which the customer operates. voxeljet seeks to minimize such risk by entering into transactions with counterparties
that are believed to be creditworthy business partners or with financial institutions which meet high credit rating requirements. In
addition, the portfolio of receivables and customer advances is monitored on a continuous basis. Credit risk is limited to a
specified amount with regard to individual receivables. As of December 31, 2016 there was no customer loan outstanding. As of
December 31, 2015 there was only one customer loan, with only the current year interest payment unpaid and outstanding. The
interest was fully settled in January 2016.
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The Group limits its exposure to credit risk by investing only in bond funds and note receivables which are fully
guaranteed by the financial institutions and therefore represents short term credit rating of A‑3 based on Standard & Poor’s or P‑2
based on Moody’s.
The bank deposit are held with financial institutions, which are rated BBB to A2 based on Standard & Poor’s and
Moody’s.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that voxeljet might not have sufficient cash to meet its payment obligations associated with its
financial liabilities that are settled by delivering cash or another financial asset. The Company’s approach to managing liquidity is
to ensure, as far as possible, that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when they are due, under both normal and
stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the reputation of the Company . Liquidity risk is
countered by systematic, day‑by‑day liquidity management whose fundamental requirement is that solvency must be guaranteed
at all times. A major responsibility of management is to monitor the cash balances and to set up and update cash planning on a
monthly basis to ensure liquidity. At all times cash and cash equivalents are projected on the basis of a regular financial and
liquidity planning. The monitoring includes the expected cash inflows on trade and other receivables together with expected cash
outflows from trade and other payables.
In 2016, voxeljet concluded new loan agreements with Kreissparkasse Augsburg, Germany, to finance the construction
of new office and production facilities in Friedberg: (i) in May 2016, the Company entered into a € 1.0 million loan agreement
due April 30, 2021. Interest is payable at a fixed rate of 2.35%; (ii) in September 2016, the Company entered into a € 2.0 million
loan agreement due May 31, 2038. Interest is payable at a fixed rate of 2.47%; (iii) In October 2016, the Company entered into a
€ 0.7 million loan agreement due September 30, 2021. Interest is payable at a fixed rate of 2.29%; and (iv) in December 2016, the
Company entered into a € 1.0 million loan agreement due January 31, 2038. Interest is payable at a fixed rate of 2.72%. Among
other terms, the loan agreements contain (i) certain covenants, including that voxeljet deposit € 2.0 million with Kreissparkasse
Augsburg until it has reached certain ratio with respect to its ability to service the debt by the end of fiscal year 2019, and (ii)
change of control provisions concerning the ownership of the Company by its executive officers, Dr. Ingo Ederer and Rudolf
Franz. In case voxeljet fails to meet that ratio by the end of its fiscal year 2019, voxeljet is obliged to pledge € 2.0 million for the
benefit of the lender. In addition, the land owned by voxeljet upon which the facilities will be built as well as three 3D printers
will serve as collateral under the loan agreements.
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Table of Contents
The following are the remaining contractual maturities of financial liabilities and trade payables at the reporting date.
The amounts are gross and undiscounted and include contractual interest payments.
December 31,
2016
(€ in thousands)
Contractual cash flow
Bank overdrafts and lines of credit
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligations
Trade payables
Total
carrying amount
Total
224
5,099
791
1,765
7,879
(224)
(6,275)
(831)
(1,765)
(9,095)
2 months or
less
2-12
months
(34)
(115)
(78)
(1,765)
(1,992)
(190)
(685)
(372)
--
(1,247)
December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
years
1-3 years 3-5 years More than 5
--
(2,969)
--
--
(2,969)
--
(1,127)
(5)
--
(1,132)
--
(1,379)
(376)
--
(1,755)
Contractual cash flow
Bank overdrafts and lines of credit
Long-term debt
Finance lease obligations
Trade payables
Total
carrying amount
Total
384
752
1,305
1,759
4,200
(384)
(807)
(1,389)
(1,759)
(4,339)
2 months or
less
2-12
months
(36)
(25)
(95)
(1,759)
(1,915)
(348)
(206)
(513)
--
(1,067)
years
1-3 years 3-5 years More than 5
--
--
--
--
--
--
(355)
(704)
--
(1,059)
--
(221)
(77)
--
(298)
In spite of the significant cash outflow in the last years, the Company’s short and mid term liquidity needs are currently
covered. The mid-term business plan includes the raising of additional capital through additional debt, equity or other alternatives
to ensure the cash requirements of the Company. As the cash position of the Company is still sufficient, mid term liquidity risk is
considered as minor.
20. Capital management
Management’s aim is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to
sustain future development of the business.
Equity is monitored by the Company using financial ratios. The equity used as a basis for determining the equity ratio
corresponds to the equity disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
Part of the capital management strategy is to reduce the number of sale and leaseback transactions for 3D printing
equipment used in the production of printed products for customers. As a result of the Company’s increased liquidity from its
public equity offerings, certain lease contracts will be terminated prior to their scheduled maturity.
voxeljet’s capital structure as of the end of the reporting periods 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Equity
Share of total equity and liabilities
Current financial liabilities
Non-current financial liabilities
Total financial liabilities
Share of total equity and liabilities
Total equity and liabilities
2015
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
51,536
82.9%
1,297
4,817
6,114
9.8%
62,139
61,469
87.7%
1,150
1,291
2,441
3.5%
70,120
F-30
Table of Contents
21. Leases
Finance leases
Lessee
Future minimum lease payments under financing lease arrangements at the end of the considered reporting periods were
as follows:
PRESENT VALUE OF MINIMUM LEASE PAYMENTS
December 31, 2016
(€ in thousands)
Minimum future lease
payments obligation
Unamortized interest expense
Present value of minimum
future lease payments
obligation
450
381
--
831
(28)
(12)
--
(40)
422
369
--
791
December 31, 2015
(€ in thousands)
Minimum future lease
payments obligation
Unamortized interest expense
Present value of minimum
future lease payments
obligation
608
781
--
1,389
(49)
(35)
--
(84)
due within 1 year
due between 1 and 5 years
due in more than 5 years
Total
due within 1 year
due between 1 and 5 years
due in more than 5 years
Total
Operating Leases
Lessee
follows:
The estimated payment schedule regarding operating leases at the end of the considered reporting periods was as
OPERATING LEASE OBLIGATIONS
Less than 1 year
1 to 5 years
Over five years
Total
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
2015
457
561
--
1,018
Operating lease expenses were kEUR 630, kEUR 813, and kEUR 348 in the financial years 2016, 2015, and 2014,
respectively. Operating lease expenses are primarily related to the rental agreements for real estate regarding our foreign
operations and a new rented building at our German headquarters put in service in 2015.
F-31
559
746
--
1,305
507
857
--
1,364
Table of Contents
Lessor
voxeljet leased one of its self‑produced 3D printers to a customer. Under the lease contract, voxeljet bears a majority of
the substantial risks and rewards of the underlying assets.
Operating lease payments receivable for subleases
Less than 1 year
1 to 5 years
Over five years
Total
2016
December 31,
(€ in thousands)
2015
75
6
--
81
89
94
--
183
The operating lease income was kEUR 89, kEUR 225 and kEUR 169 in the financial years 2016, 2015, and 2014,
respectively.
22. Commitments, contingent assets and liabilities
In connection with the enforcement of voxeljet’s intellectual property rights, the acquisition of third‑party intellectual
property rights, or disputes related to the validity or alleged infringement of the Company ’s or a third‑party’s intellectual
property rights, including patent rights, voxeljet has been and may in the future be subject or party to claims, negotiations or
complex, protracted litigation.
On December 1, 2015, the Company signed a definitive agreement to form an equity joint venture with Suzhou Meimai
Fast Manufacturing Technology Co., Ltd. (“Meimai”) to pursue opportunities in the industrial 3D printing market in China.
voxeljet AG is committed to make a capital contribution of RMB 19.2 million (€ 2.6 million) as part of its joint venture
arrangement with Meimai of which RMB 9.5 million (€ 1.3 million) were already injected. The first capital injection from
voxeljet AG occurred on April 11, 2016 amounting to RMB 6.5 million (€ 0.9 million) in cash. At the same time Meimai
contributed assets to the joint company. Further capital injection followed by voxeljet AG on August 24, 2016 amounting to
RMB 1.4 million (€ 0.2 million) as well as on November 10, 2016 amounting to RMB 1.6 million (€ 0.2 million). Additional
contractual capital injections by voxeljet AG are scheduled for the business years 2017 and 2018 amounting to a total of
RMB 9.7 million (€ 1.3 million).
23. Related party transactions
Related party transactions at voxeljet mainly consist of transactions with individuals on the Management Board and
Supervisory Board.
Key management is defined as those individuals having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and
controlling the activities of the Company within their function and within the interest of the Company .
The following table presents the amount and components of Management Board compensation:
MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
Fixed compensation
Variable compensation
Total
2016
Year Ended December 31,
2015
(€ in thousands)
2014
644
--
644
506
--
506
504
56
560
Management Board remuneration currently consists of a fixed monetary remuneration, other fixed benefits (including
Company car allowances and contributions to a defined contribution plan), and a variable bonus.
F-32
Table of Contents
At December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 amounts of kEUR 0, kEUR 0 and kEUR 276 were accrued for Management
Board compensation, respectively
.
Transactions with related parties
A related party relationship could have an effect on the profit and loss and financial position of the Company . Defined
as related parties are individuals or other third parties with whom voxeljet has common control relationships.
OTHER RELATED PARTIES
Name
Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG, Augsburg
Schlosserei und Metallbau Ederer, Dießen
Nature of relationship
Lessor
Supplier
Duration of relationship
10/01/2003-Current
05/01/1999-Current
Transactions with Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG comprise the rental of office space in Augsburg, Germany. Rental
expenses amounted to kEUR 2, in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014. In addition, Franz Industriebeteiligungen AG received payments
related to the use of certain paintings which are placed in the administrative building in Friedberg. Associated rental expenses
amount to kEUR 2 in each of 2016, 2015, and 2014.
Further, voxeljet acquired goods amounting to kEUR 15, kEUR 38, and kEUR 29 in 2016, 2015 and 2014 from
‘Schlosserei und Metallbau Ederer’, which is owned by the brother of Dr. Ingo Ederer, the Chief Executive Officer of voxeljet .
24. Equity
On April 16, 2014, the Company completed an offering of 3,000,000 ADSs at a public offering price of USD 15.00 per
ADS. Net proceeds from the offering to the Company were approximately USD 41.4 million. On April 24, 2014, the underwriters
in the offering purchased 450,000 ADSs from the Selling Shareholders pursuant to the overallotment option they were granted in
the offering. The net proceeds to the Selling Shareholders were approximately USD 6.4 million, or approximately € 4.6 million.
The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the Selling Shareholders.
At December 31, 2015, 3,720,000 no‑par value ordinary shares were issued and outstanding. There is only a single class
of ordinary shares with the same rights, preferences and restrictions. Each share entitles the holder to one vote at the shareholders’
meeting. Shareholders participate in the profits according to their share in the share capital, based on their number of shares held.
The general shareholders’ meeting resolves the appropriation of the balance sheet profit established in the annual financial
statements and the dividends.
The Articles of Association authorize the Management Board, subject to the consent of the Supervisory Board, to
increase the Company’s registered share capital in one or more tranches by up to kEUR 1,860 new no par value ordinary shares
against contribution in cash or in kind until May 26, 2019.
F-33
Exhibit 8.1
Business-Entity
voxeljet America Inc.
voxeljet UK Ltd.
voxeljet India Pvt. Ltd.
voxeljet China Pvt. Ltd.
Subsidiaries of voxeljet AG
First consolidation date
Shares
February 5, 2014
October 1, 2014
January 21, 2016
April 11, 2016
Exhibit 8.1
100,00%
100,00%
100,00%
95,83%
Exhibit 12.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES‑‑OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Dr. Ingo Ederer, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 20‑F of voxeljet AG;
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a‑15(e) and 15d‑15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a‑15(f) and 15d‑15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or cause such internal control over financial reporting to be designed
under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions
about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on
such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or other persons performing the
equivalent functions):
(a)
(b)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ DR. INGO EDERER
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Ingo Ederer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: March 30, 2017
Exhibit 12.2
Exhibit 12.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES‑‑OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Rudolf Franz, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 20‑F of voxeljet AG;
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a‑15(e) and 15d‑15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a‑15(f) and 15d‑15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or cause such internal control over financial reporting to be designed
under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions
about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on
such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or other persons performing the
equivalent functions):
(a)
(b)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ RUDOLF FRANZ
Chief Financial Officer
Rudolf Franz
(Principal Financial Officer)
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Dated: March 30, 2017
Exhibit 13.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES‑‑OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 20‑F of voxeljet AG (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2016 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Dr. Ingo Ederer, Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:
(1)
(2)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company.
Exhibit 13.1
Chief Executive Officer
/s/ DR. INGO EDERER
(Principal Executive Officer)
Dr. Ingo Ederer
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: March 30, 2017
Exhibit 13.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES‑‑OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 20‑F of voxeljet AG (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2016 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Rudolf Franz, Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:
(1)
(2)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company.
Exhibit 13.2
/s/ RUDOLF FRANZ
Chief Financial Officer
Rudolf Franz
(Principal Financial Officer)
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Dated: March 30, 2017