23.03.2017
United Internet AG DE0005089031
DGAP-News: United Internet AG: FY 2016 figures set new records in customer contracts, sales and earnings
DGAP-News: United Internet AG / Key word(s): Final Results/Forecast
United Internet AG: FY 2016 figures set new records in customer contracts,
sales and earnings
23.03.2017 / 07:05
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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- Increase in customer contracts of 1.00 million to 16.97 million
- Sales up 6.3% to EUR 3.949 billion
- EBITDA grows by 11.0% to EUR 840.6 million and EBIT by 19.5% to EUR 647.2
million
- Operating EPS up 23.1% to EUR 2.13
- EPS after Rocket Internet value adjustment: EUR 0.88
- Dividend increased to EUR 0.80 per share
- Guidance 2017: increase of approx. 800,000 in customer contracts, sales
growth of approx. 7%, EBITDA increase of approx. 12%
Montabaur, March 23, 2017. United Internet AG enjoyed further growth in its
fiscal year 2016. The company once again posted strong improvements in
customer contracts, sales, and operating earnings in 2016 and reached its
targets.
At the same time, further heavy investments were made in the expansion of
existing customer relationships and new customer acquisition. This enabled
the company to raise the number of fee-based contracts organically by one
million contracts (comparable prior-year figure: 930,000) and thus exceed
its guidance (940,000 - 960,000 contracts). This customer growth was driven
in particular by the Access segment, in which United Internet generated
920,000 new contracts (830,000 Mobile Internet contracts and 90,000 DSL
contracts). In the Applications segment, a further 80,000 fee-based
contracts and 1.14 million ad-financed free accounts were added.
Despite currency effects - especially from the British pound following the
Brexit decision - consolidated sales rose by 6.3% (currency-adjusted: 6.8%)
from EUR 3.716 billion to the new record amount of EUR 3.949 billion. This
figure was thus within the guidance range (EUR 3.94 - EUR 3.96 billion).
In spite of stronger than planned customer growth and the related increase
in customer acquisition costs, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (EBITDA) rose by 11.0% (currency-adjusted: 11.8%), from EUR
757.2 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 840.6 million. This
figure was also within the expected range (EUR 835 - EUR 845 million).
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 19.5%
(currency-adjusted: 20.5%), from EUR 541.7 million (comparable prior-year
figure) to EUR 647.2 million. The key earnings figures stated above include
one-off costs for major M&A projects in fiscal year 2016, especially the
investment of Warburg Pincus in the Business Applications division and the
takeover of Strato AG.
Group development (in EUR 2015* 2016 Change
million)
Sales 3,715.7 3,948.9 + 6.3% (currency-adjusted:
+ 6.8%)
EBITDA 757.2 840.6 + 11.0% (currency-adjusted:
+ 11.8%)
EBIT 541.7 647.2 + 19.5% (currency-adjusted:
+ 20.5%)
* Key earnings figures 2015 without special items from sale of Goldbach
shares and partial stake in virtual minds (EBITDA, EBIT effect = EUR +14.0
million)
EPS / special items
Operating earnings per share (operating EPS) improved by 23.1%, from EUR
1.73 (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 2.13. Before amortization from
purchase price allocations (PPA), EPS rose by 21.2% from EUR 1.89 to EUR
2.29.
As already stated in the Half-Yearly Financial Report 2016, United Internet
wrote down the value of shares it holds in Rocket Internet SE in its
non-operating business by EUR 254.6 million (EPS effect: EUR -1.25). As a
result, EPS fell in total to EUR 0.88 while EPS before PPA decreased to EUR
1.04. United Internet is still convinced that Rocket Internet has
significant market opportunities. The above mentioned impairment charges do
not impact United Internet's dividend policy nor its guidance, as these are
based on earnings from operating activities.
Dividend
At the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on May 18, 2017, the Management Board
and Supervisory Board will propose an increased dividend of EUR 0.80 per
share (prior year: EUR 0.70).
Outlook 2017
United Internet will include Strato AG (acquired in December 2016) in its
consolidated financial statements for the first time as of April 1, 2017.
United Internet expects opposing special burdens in 2017 from regulatory
topics and the scaling down of the DSL network of pre-service provider
Telefónica.
Taking account of these effects, United Internet plans to achieve sales
growth of approx. 7% in 2017. EBITDA is expected to improve by approx. 12%.
The number of fee-based customer contracts is likely to grow organically by
approx. 800,000 contracts. With the takeover of Strato, approx. 1.8 million
further fee-based customer contracts will be added.
At the same time, the company aims to lay the foundation in 2017 for a
successful anniversary year in 2018 - in March of next year, United Internet
will have been a listed company for 20 years. In 2018, the company expects
over 20 million customer contracts in total. EBITDA is expected to grow by
approx. 10% and thus exceed EUR 1 billion for the first time.
An overview of the key figures and Annual Financial Statements 2016 can be
found at www.united-internet.de.
About United Internet
With 16.97 million fee-based customer contracts and 34.29 million
ad-financed free accounts, United Internet AG is Europe's leading internet
specialist. At the heart of United Internet is a high-performance "Internet
Factory" with approx. 8,100 employees, of which around 2,600 are engaged in
product management, development and data centers. In addition to the high
sales strength of its established brands (1&1, GMX, WEB.DE, united-domains,
Fasthosts, Arsys, home.pl, InterNetX, Sedo, affilinet and 1&1 Versatel),
United Internet stands for outstanding operational excellence with around 51
million customer accounts worldwide.
Contact
Press
United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Strasse 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Tel: +49 2602/96-1616
Fax: +49 2602/96-1013
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.united-internet.de
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23.03.2017 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
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Language: English
Company: United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Straße 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2602 / 96 - 1100
Fax: +49 (0)2602 / 96 - 1013
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.united-internet.de
ISIN: DE0005089031
WKN: 508903
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulated Market in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Regulated Unofficial Market in Dusseldorf, Hamburg,
Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
End of News DGAP News Service
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557287 23.03.2017
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