DGAP-News: United Internet AG: Preliminary figures show new records in sales and customer contracts
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: United Internet AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results
United Internet AG: Preliminary figures show new records in sales and
customer contracts
13.03.2012 / 09:10
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- Growth in new customer contracts of 910,000 to 10.67 million
- Sales up 9.8% to EUR 2.094 billion
- Pre-tax earnings rise 16.1% to EUR 250.6 million
- Earnings per share climb 36.2% to EUR 0.79
- Forecast 2012: approx. 15% sales growth
Montabaur, March 13, 2012 - United Internet AG is continuing its growth
path as Europe's leading internet specialist with brands such as 1&1, GMX
and WEB.DE and today announced improvements in sales, earnings and customer
contract figures.
According to preliminary figures, sales rose by 9.8% to EUR 2.094 billion
in fiscal year 2011 (prior year: EUR 1.907 billion). The company's ongoing
investments in the growth markets Mobile Internet and Cloud Computing, as
well as in marketing and international expansion are now paying off: United
Internet added 910,000 new fee-based customer contracts in 2011 - around
50% more than in the same period last year (610,000). As a result, the
total number of customer contracts rose to 10.67 million.
Despite increased marketing expenditure for this contract growth, heavy
smartphone subsidizing, and strong investment in the development of new
products and further international expansion, United Internet also
succeeded in improving earnings. EBITDA grew by 2.0% year on year to EUR
364.8 million (prior year: EUR 357.7 million), while EBIT rose by 1.7% to
EUR 276.0 million (prior year: EUR 271.5 million). Earnings before taxes
(EBT) increased by 16.1% to EUR 250.6 million (prior year: EUR 215.8
million). These earnings include a positive net balance of EUR 18.7 million
resulting from the sale of Versatel shares in the second quarter of 2011,
the valuation of call options received in this connection, and the
at-equity result of Versatel. The resulting positive earnings effect
amounted to EUR 0.07 per share.
All in all, earnings per United Internet share (EPS) grew by 36.2% during
the period under review to EUR 0.79 (prior year: EUR 0.58).
'We set new records in both sales and customer contract figures while also
improving earnings,' says Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet, in his
assessment of the preliminary figures for fiscal year 2011. 'This strong
contract growth has laid the foundation for the company's continued
successful development. We are optimistic about our future prospects.'
Segments
The strong growth in customer contracts had a significant impact on sales
in the company's 'Access' segment: revenue increased by 11.2% in 2011 to
reach EUR 1.368 billion (prior year: EUR 1.230 billion). The number of
Access contracts grew in total by 450,000 contracts in 2011 (prior year:
130,000) to a total of 4.08 million - due mainly to strong demand for 1&1
Mobile Internet products. Segment EBITDA improved by 24.2% to EUR 152.3
million (prior year: EUR 122.6 million). EBIT rose by 32.8% from EUR 92.0
million to EUR 122.2 million - despite a significant increase in costs for
new customer acquisition, especially for smartphone subsidies in the Mobile
Internet business.
In the 'Applications' segment, the number of fee-based contracts rose by
460,000 to 6.59 million in 2011. The high non-German proportion included in
this figure (2.73 million contracts) underlines the growing international
presence of United Internet. At the same time, ad-financed accounts
increased by 2.8 million to 30.8 million. Compared to the previous year,
sales of the 'Applications' segment grew by 7.3% to EUR 725.8 million
(prior year: EUR 676.5 million). Adjusted for currency effects, segment
growth amounted to 8.2%. Business outside Germany grew by 9.9% and
contributed a total of EUR 219.2 million (prior year: EUR 199.5 million) to
segment sales. Key earnings figures in this segment comprise high
expenditure for the development of new Cloud products, the cost of
international expansion, and greatly increased marketing expenses -
especially for the launch of the 1&1 Do-it-Yourself Homepage in 5 foreign
markets. A total of EUR 61.1 million was expensed. As a result of these
burdens, there was an expected year-on-year decline in segment EBITDA of
21.2% to EUR 183.4 million (prior year: EUR 232.7 million) and in segment
EBIT of 29.5% to EUR 125.0 million (prior year: EUR 177.3 million).
'The strong figures for customer growth, sales and earnings in our 'Access'
segment indicate that we have successfully added a new business field,
Mobile Internet, in this segment,' states Ralph Dommermuth. 'We are also
pursuing this path in the 'Applications' segment. With our international
expansion and the development of new cloud and e-business products we
expect to tap further business fields. The investments we are making today
will form the basis for our future success.'
Outlook
In its established business fields, United Internet AG expects an increase
in sales of approx. 15% and strong growth in earnings. United Internet
intends to use this growth in earnings for heavy investment in new business
fields. Depending on market and customer developments, an additional EUR 86
- 124 million (prior year: EUR 61.1 million) is to be invested in the
market entry in Italy, in a year-long international marketing campaign for
the 1&1 Do-It-Yourself Homepage in 7 European nations and the USA, and in
the development and launch of De-Mail applications. In addition to growth
of approx. 900,000 customer contracts in its established business fields,
the company expects that these investments will enable it to gain an
additional 200,000 - 300,000 customer contracts for its 1&1 Do-It-Yourself
Homepage. Depending on the actual size of the investments, consolidated
EBIT in 2012 is expected to reach EUR 243 - 281 million (prior year without
Versatel effect: EUR 253.0 million). This corresponds to an EPS result of
EUR 0.80 - 0.90.
Based on strong customer growth in 2012, United Internet anticipates a
significant improvement in earnings in 2013 - both in its established and
in its new business fields. EPS is expected to then lie between EUR 1.00
and EUR 1.10.
About United Internet
With 10.67 million fee-based customer contracts and over 30 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 over 5,600 employees, of which more than 1,500 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, InterNetX, Sedo and affilinet), United Internet stands for
outstanding operational excellence with around 40 million customer accounts
worldwide. United Internet also holds equity interests in listed companies
and owns numerous investments in young internet companies.
Contact
Marcus Schaps
Head of Press and Public Relations
United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Strasse 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Tel: +49 2602/96-1076
Fax: +49 2602/96-1013
E-mail: mschaps(at)united-internet.de
Internet: www.united-internet.de
End of Corporate News
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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: info(at)united-internet.de
Internet: www.united-internet.de
ISIN: DE0005089031
WKN: 508903
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München,
Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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160282 13.03.2012
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