DGAP-News: Successful fiscal year 2012 for United Internet
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: United Internet AG / Key word(s): Final Results
Successful fiscal year 2012 for United Internet
20.03.2013 / 22:29
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- Record growth of 1.18 million new customer contracts to 11.85 million
- Sales up 14.4% to new all-time high of EUR 2.397 billion
- Strong earnings growth in established business fields
- Heavy investment in new business fields as basis for future growth
- Guidance 2013: approx. 1 million new contracts, approx. 10% sales
growth, rise in EPS to EUR 1.00 - EUR 1.10
Montabaur, March 20, 2013. Figures published today for fiscal 2012 reveal
that United Internet AG continued its growth course as Europe's leading
internet specialist in the past year. In 2012, the company succeeded in
raising both sales and customer contract figures to new record levels and
significantly improved earnings in its established business fields. At the
same time, considerable investments were made in the establishment and
development of new business fields in order to tap further growth potential
for the future.
Development of the Group
In fiscal year 2012, consolidated sales of United Internet AG reached a new
all-time-high of EUR 2.397 billion - representing year-on-year growth of
14.4%.
Sales in established business fields rose by 13.2% to EUR 2.356 billion.
There was particularly strong sales growth of 15.9% to EUR 1.586 billion in
the Access segment. In the Applications segment, sales in established
business fields also rose sharply by EUR 57.3 million to EUR 769.4 million.
In addition, there was revenue from new business fields of EUR 40.8 million
(prior year: EUR 13.7 million) due to the encouraging international growth
of the 1&1 MyWebsite. All in all, sales of the Applications segment rose by
11.6%.
There was also a sharp rise in United Internet's customer contract figures
in fiscal year 2012: with the total addition of 1.18 million new contracts
(Access: +670,000, Applications: +510,000), the strong growth of the
previous year (+910,000 new contracts) was exceeded. In addition to a total
of 11.85 million pay contracts, United Internet had some 31.8 million free
accounts at the end of 2012 (+1.0 million year on year).
As in 2011, earnings in fiscal year 2012 were influenced by various special
items. In 2011, there was a positive effect on earnings at Group level from
the sale of Versatel shares. In the second quarter of 2012, there was a
negative effect on earnings from impairment charges of United Internet's
subsidiary Sedo Holding AG and an - opposing - positive effect on earnings
from the sale of freenet shares in the fourth quarter of 2012.
In its established business fields (without consideration of the above
mentioned special items), United Internet improved earnings significantly
in fiscal year 2012. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA) grew by 17.0%, from EUR 384.5 million previous year
to EUR 450.0 million, while earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)
improved by 21.1%, from EUR 296.7 million previous year to EUR 359.2
million.
As already announced, this strong growth in earnings of the Group's
established business fields was used to invest heavily in the development
of new business fields in the Applications segment. The main focus was
placed on the international marketing campaign for 1&1 MyWebsite with
220,000 new contracts (120,000 in the previous year) and the development of
De-Mail applications. Total EBIT-effective start-up losses of EUR 126.5
million (prior year: EUR 43.7 million) were incurred for these activities
in fiscal year 2012.
As a result of these start-up losses, there was an expected overall decline
in earnings (without the above mentioned special items) of United Internet
AG compared to the comparative figures of the previous year. EBITDA
amounted to EUR 325.9 million (prior year: EUR 341.8 million) and EBIT
totaled EUR 232.7 million (prior year: EUR 253.0 million). Pre-tax earnings
(EBT) stood at EUR 221.4 million (prior year: EUR 231.9 million), while
earnings per share (EPS) reached EUR 0.71 (prior year: EUR 0.72).
Consistently strong free cash flow underlines the entire Group's ability to
generate high levels of cash - while at the same time achieving strong
qualitative growth. Despite high start-up costs in new business fields,
free cash flow reached EUR 214.3 million (without proceeds from the sale of
freenet shares) and was thus 8.9% above the prior-year figure of EUR 196.8
million (without proceeds from the sale of Versatel shares).
Group development (in EUR million) 2012 2011 Change* Without positive special items 2011 (sale of Versatel shares): EBITDA and
Established business fields
Sales 2,355.8 2,080.4 +13.2%
EBITDA* 450.0 384.5 +17.0%
EBIT* 359.2 296.7 +21.1%
New business fields
Sales 40.8 13.7 +197.8%
EBITDA -124.1 -42.7
EBIT -126.5 -43.7
Total
Sales 2,396.6 2,094.1 +14.4%
EBITDA* 325.9 341.8 -4.7%
EBIT* 232.7 253.0 -8.0%
EBIT effect: EUR 24.8 million // Without negative special items 2012 (Sedo
impairments): EBIT effect: EUR -46.3 million // Without positive special
items 2012 (sale of freenet shares): EBITDA and EBIT effect: EUR 17.9
million
'United Internet can look back on a very successful 2012. We achieved our
ambitious targets with strong growth in customers and sales, as well as in
the results of our established business fields,' states Ralph Dommermuth,
CEO of United Internet, in his assessment of the company's fiscal year
2012. 'And thanks to this encouraging progress, we were able to widen the
base for our future growth by investing in the company's new business
fields in 2012.'
Dividend
At the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on May 23, 2013, the Management Board
and Supervisory Board will propose an unchanged dividend of EUR 0.30 per
share.
Outlook
United Internet AG will continue to pursue its policy of sustainable growth
in future.
The number of fee-based customer contracts is expected to grow by approx. 1
million in 2013. Sales growth of approx. 10% is forecast. Strong growth is
also forecast for earnings. EBITDA from established business fields is
expected to improve to around EUR 500 million in 2013. Approximately 20% of
this amount (around EUR 100 million) is to be used to finance start-up
losses from the further expansion of new business fields (1&1 MyWebsite and
De-Mail). EPS is expected to rise strongly to EUR 1.00 - EUR 1.10.
An overview of all key performance indicators can be accessed at
www.united-internet.de in the Investor Relations / Info-Center section. The
annual financial statements 2012 of United Internet AG will be available as
of March 21, 2013 in the Investor Relations / Reports section.
About United Internet
With over 11.8 million fee-based customer contracts and over 31 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 6,250 employees, of which more than 1,750 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 43 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
Indices: TecDAX
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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