9M 2015 figures set new records in customer contracts, sales and earnings
- Sales up 26.9% to EUR 2.755 billion
- EBITDA grows 46.1% to EUR 555.0 million, EBIT up 25.0% to EUR 392.0 million
- EPS improves 24.1% to EUR 1.34, EPS before PPA up 31.5% to EUR 1.46
Montabaur, November 17, 2015. United Internet AG continued its growth trajectory in the first nine months of 2015. The company posted further strong improvements in customer contract figures, sales, and key earnings ratios.
In the first nine months of 2015, United Internet once again invested heavily in new customer relationships. As a result, the number of fee-based customer contracts was raised by 650,000 in the reporting period to 15.43 million as of September 30, 2015.
“This customer growth was driven by our Access segment which recorded its highest ever increase,” comments Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet, with reference to the strong customer growth.
Thanks to the further significant year-on-year rise in customer figures – as well as the consolidation of Versatel GmbH, acquired on October 1, 2014 – consolidated sales set a new record figure of EUR 2.755 billion, corresponding to growth of 26.9% over the first nine months of the previous year.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose by 46.1%, from EUR 379.8 million to EUR 555.0 million. This figure includes two special items affecting EBITDA: one-off income of EUR 5.6 million from the sale of shares in Goldbach Group AG and an amount of EUR 8.1 million from selling part of the company’s shareholding in virtual minds AG.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 25.0%, from EUR 313.7 million to EUR 392.0 million. Earnings per share (EPS) improved by 24.1%, from EUR 1.08 last year to EUR 1.34. Before amortization from purchase price allocations (PPA), which mainly relate to the Versatel acquisition, EPS rose by 31.5%, from EUR 1.11 to EUR 1.46.
| Group development (in EUR million) | Jan.-Sept. 2014 (1) | Jan.-Sept. 2015 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 2,170.9 | 2,754.8 | +26.9 % |
| EBITDA | 379.8 | 555.0 | +46.1 % |
| EBIT | 313.7 | 392.0 | +25.0 % |
| EPS (in EUR) | 1.08 | 1.34 | +24.1 % |
| EPS before PPA (in EUR) | 1.11 | 1.46 | +31.5 % |
(1) 9M 2014 without one-off income (EBITDA and EBIT effect: EUR +71.5 million; EPS effect: EUR +0.36) from the contribution of Global Founders Capital investments to Rocket Internet
“With the figures achieved for customer contracts, sales and earnings in the first nine months of 2015, we are well on track to meet our targets once again in 2015,” says Ralph Dommermuth in his summary of the fiscal year so far.