21.03.2018
United Internet AG DE0005089031
DGAP-Adhoc: United Internet AG: FY 2017 figures set new records in customer contracts, sales and earnings
DGAP-Ad-hoc: United Internet AG / Key word(s): Final Results/Forecast
United Internet AG: FY 2017 figures set new records in customer contracts,
sales and earnings
21-March-2018 / 21:38 CET/CEST
Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation
(EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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* Customer contracts: + 6.10 million to 22.89 million
* Sales: + 10.5% to EUR 4.206 billion
* EBITDA: + 17.3% to EUR 979.6 million
* Additionally: EUR 273.7 million extraordinary result
* Guidance 2018 (IFRS 15): sales growth to approx. EUR 5.2 billion, EBITDA
increase to approx. EUR 1.2 billion
Montabaur, March 21, 2018. United Internet AG maintained its growth
trajectory in the fiscal year 2017. The company once again posted
improvements in its customer contract figures, sales revenues, and key
earnings ratios, while reaching its guidance. Moreover, the investment of
Warburg Pincus in the Business Applications division (February 2017), the
complete acquisitions of Strato (April 2017) and ProfitBricks (August 2017),
and the merger with Drillisch (September 2017) were successfully closed
during the reporting period. In addition, affilinet GmbH was contributed to
AWIN AG - controlled by Axel Springer - in exchange for 20% of AWIN shares.
As a result, affilinet is no longer included in the sales and earnings
figures.
The number of fee-based customer contracts in current product lines was
raised organically by 0.88 million in the fiscal year 2017. In addition,
there were a further 5.22 million customer contracts from the initial
consolidation of Drillisch and Strato.
Fee-based customer contracts in current Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Chan-
product lines (in million) 2016 2017 ge
Customer contracts, total 16.79 22.89 +
6.10
thereof organic +
0.88
thereof from initial consolidation of + 3.35
Drillisch
thereof from initial consolidation of Strato + 1.87
Apart from the 22.89 million customer contracts in current product lines,
the company holds a further 0.47 million contracts without basic monthly
fees and service provider contracts (volume-based tariffs / MSP tariffs)
from the Drillisch acquisition. In addition, there are 0.11 million DSL
contracts in the phased-out T-DSL / R-DSL product lines.
Consolidated sales grew by 10.5% to EUR 4.206 billion in the fiscal year
2017 (comparable prior-year figure: EUR 3.808 billion). Revenue
contributions from Strato, ProfitBricks and Drillisch were offset in part by
burdens on sales from regulation effects (international roaming /
termination fees) and negative currency effects.
Development of consolidated sales 2016 2017 Change
(in EUR million)
Sales 3,808.1 4,206.3 + 10.5%
thereof from Strato/ProfitBricks consolidation 104.0
thereof from Drillisch consolidation 223.0
thereof negative regulation effects - 44.5
thereof negative currency effects - 8.2
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose
by 17.3% to EUR 979.6 million in the fiscal year 2017 (comparable prior-year
figure: EUR 835.4 million). This figure was impacted by new earnings
contributions from Strato, ProfitBricks and Drillisch, as well as - with an
opposing effect - by regulation effects and costs for the Telefónica DSL
migration, and negative currency effects.
Development of consolidated EBITDA (in EUR million) - 2016 2017 Cha-
without extraordinary result of EUR 273.7 million in nge
2017
EBITDA 835.4 979.6 +
17.-
3%
thereof from Strato/ProfitBricks consolidation 39.7
thereof from Drillisch consolidation 56.8
thereof negative regulation effects / costs for -
Telefónica DSL migration 17.1
thereof negative currency effects - 3.5
In addition, EBITDA was influenced by a positive net extraordinary result of
EUR 273.7 million. This figure results from one-off, non-cash-effective
extraordinary income from the Drillisch acquisition (due to the revaluation
of Drillisch shares acquired before the complete transaction was closed) and
the complete takeover of ProfitBricks (due to the revaluation of previously
held ProfitBricks shares), as well as opposing transaction and restructuring
costs.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose by 9.8% to EUR 705.9 million
in the fiscal year 2017 (comparable prior-year figure: EUR 642.7 million).
The lower percentage growth compared to EBITDA results from increased
purchase price allocation (PPA) amortization from the takeovers of Drillisch
and Strato.
EBIT was also improved by the above mentioned extraordinary result of EUR
273.7 million in total. There was an opposing effect for this item from the
trademark writedowns of a Group subsidiary totaling EUR 20.7 million.
Including all above mentioned extraordinary effects, EBITDA rose to EUR
1,253.3 million and EBIT to EUR 958.9 million.
Operating EPS before PPA amortization, resulting in particular from the
Versatel, Strato and Drillisch takeovers, amounted to EUR 2.34 (comparable
prior-year figure without Rocket impairments: EUR 2.27). In addition, there
was a net positive impact on EPS in the reporting period from the above
mentioned extraordinary result (EPS effect: EUR 1.43) and - with an opposing
effect - from trademark writedowns (EPS effect: EUR -0.07), financing costs
in connection with the total Drillisch transaction (EPS effect: EUR -0.01),
Rocket impairments (EPS effect: EUR -0.10) and one-off tax effects from the
Warburg Pincus investment in the Business Applications division and
Drillisch takeover (EPS effect: EUR -0.21). All in all, EPS from continued
operations rose from EUR 2.27 to EUR 3.38.
Dividend
At the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on May 24, 2018, the Management Board
and Supervisory Board will propose an increase in the dividend, from EUR
0.80 per share in the previous year to EUR 0.85. Based on 199.9 million
shares with dividend rights (as of: December 31, 2017), this would represent
a dividend payout of EUR 169.9 million for the fiscal year 2017.
Outlook 2018
Approximately 1.2 million new DSL and mobile internet contracts are expected
to be added in 2018. Key growth drivers for the Consumer Access business
will be coordinated branding, increased marketing budgets, and much greater
use of subsidized smartphones (mostly without initial additional payment),
also when sold via GMX and WEB.DE, as well as the 1&1 Drillisch discount
brands (smartmobil.de, yourfone, winSIM etc.). This affects both new and
existing customers. Further growth is also anticipated for the Business
Access and Business Applications divisions in 2018.
In May 2014, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) published
the standard IFRS 15 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers". Application is
mandatory in reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018.
Sales of United Internet according to IFRS 15 are expected to reach approx.
EUR 5.2 billion in fiscal year 2018 (prior year: EUR 4.21 billion). In
addition to the planned organic growth and the full-year consolidation of
Strato, ProfitBricks and Drillisch, this revenue growth will result from the
increased usage of subsidized smartphones in connection with earlier
recognition of hardware sales according to IFRS 15 (sales effect: approx.
EUR 200 million).
Consolidated EBITDA of approx. EUR 1.2 billion is anticipated (prior year:
EUR 980 million). This figure includes a burden on earnings of approx. EUR
300 million from additional smartphone subsidies (refinanced via higher
tariff prices) and - with an opposing positive effect - approx. EUR 300
million from accounting according to IFRS 15. EBITDA is also expected to
include approx. EUR 50 million in synergy effects from the merger with
Drillisch, especially via savings in the procurement of wholesale network
services and smartphones. These savings will be offset by approx. EUR 50
million for the increased marketing budget and changes in the ad space
monetization of GMX and WEB.DE.
In addition, the EBITDA forecast includes approx. EUR 50 million one-off
expenses for integration projects.
Contact
United Internet AG
Mathias Brandes / Andreas Maurer
Tel: +49 2602 96-1616
[email protected]
Note
In the interests of clear and transparent reporting, the annual financial
statements and interim statements of United Internet AG, as well as its
ad-hoc announcements pursuant to Art. 17 MAR, contain additional financial
performance indicators to those required under International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS), such as EBITDA, EBITDA margin, EBIT, EBIT margin
and free cash flow. Information on the use, definition and calculation of
these performance measures is provided in the Annual Report of United
Internet AG from page 46 onwards.
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21-March-2018 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory
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Archive at www.dgap.de
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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 Announcement DGAP News Service
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667139 21-March-2018 CET/CEST
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