Scout24 AG: Scout24 preliminary results 2016: Continued revenue and profit growth

Scout24 preliminary results 2016: Continued revenue and profit growth

• Strong operating performance in line with expectations
• Robust topline growth with revenues up 12.3% to EUR 442.1 million
• Surge in profitability with ordinary operating EBITDA up to EUR 224.5 million yielding a margin of 50.8%

Berlin / Munich, 13 February 2017 - Scout24 AG ("Scout24" or "the Group"), the leading operator of digital marketplaces specialising in the real estate and automotive sectors in Germany and other selected European countries, continues on its growth path based on preliminary results for the full year 2016.

Preliminary Group revenues of EUR 442.1 million (2015: EUR 393.6 million) for the full year 2016 are up 12.3 % year-over-year, mainly driven by the strong performance of AutoScout24 (AS24) and consumer monetization initiatives under the umbrella of Scout24 Media.

"In September 2015, we introduced Scout24 Media as a Group-wide function pooling our display advertising activities as well as the activities in the field of consumer services. Looking at the 2016 financials, we can already see an increasing impact through product innovation driven by Scout24 Media" said Greg Ellis, CEO of Scout24 AG.

Scout24 expects to achieve an ordinary operating EBITDA of EUR 224.5 million for the full year 2016 (2015: EUR 189.6 million), a 2.6 percentage points improvement in ordinary operating EBITDA margin to 50.8% and thus slightly above guidance given in August 2016. Furthermore, cash contribution (ordinary operating EBITDA reduced by investments) increased strongly by 20.4%, underpinning the Group's ability to swiftly delever its balance sheet. The leverage ratio of net debt to ordinary operating EBITDA is expected to come in at 2.84x and therefore well underway to reach the target level of 2.50x ahead of time.

"2016 has been another record breaking year following our IPO in 2015. Our growth was further fuelled by the acquisition of the Dutch company European Autotrader B.V. which has already been successfully integrated into our AS24 business", said Christian Gisy, CFO of Scout24 AG and added: "Besides the high top and bottom-line growth, I am especially pleased with our strong cash generation which helps us to reduce debt more quickly."

Preliminary Group EBITDA is expected to come in at EUR 206.8 million (2015: EUR 166.9 million), affected by non-operating items of EUR 17.8 million, slightly higher than expected, relating mainly to the reorganisation of the sales force and IT teams. Capital expenditures were EUR 19.5 million.

Net profit is expected at EUR 66.9 million (2015: EUR 56.9 million) being affected by a one-time effect of EUR 14.4 million for the amortisation of debt issuance cost caused by the refinancing and prepayments of the previous syndicated loan. Preliminary earnings per share amount to EUR 0.62 (2015: 0.56 EUR).

Fourth quarter

For the fourth quarter 2016, Scout24 achieved preliminary Group revenues of EUR 115.8 million, an increase of 10.1% compared to the same period last year (EUR 105.2 million) and preliminary ordinary operating EBITDA of EUR 57.0 million, up 26.7% compared to EUR 45.0 million achieved in the fourth quarter 2015. Ordinary operating EBITDA margin came in at 49.2% compared to 42.7% in the fourth quarter 2015. Though being down year-over year driven by churn and shifts to the professional pay-per-ad model in the first six months of the year, as well as some agents leaving the market due to the introduction of the 'Bestellerprinzip' regulation in June 2015 and market conditions in Germany, the number of core agents at IS24 stabilized in the fourth quarter and was up sequentially from the previous quarter to 17,411 core customers (Q3/2016: 17,369; Q4/2015: 19,355).

All figures reported herein are preliminary and unaudited. Full financial disclosure for financial year 2016, together with management guidance for the financial year 2017, will be published on 29 March 2017.

Next events and reportings

The Annual Report for the full financial year 2016 will be published on Wednesday, 29 March 2017 together with a conference call and webcast for financial analysts and investors.

About Scout24

Scout24 operates leading digital marketplaces in Germany and other selected European countries. ImmobilienScout24 and AutoScout24 are the main operations under the Scout24 brand. ImmobilienScout24 is the leading digital real estate classifieds platform in Germany, based on consumer traffic and time spent as well as customer numbers and listings. AutoScout24 is a leading automotive digital classifieds platform in Europe, in terms of unique monthly visitors and listings. With our digital marketplaces we are inspiring people's best decisions. Our purpose is to connect people with cars and homes.
More than 1,000 employees in Germany and across Europe work on offering value to our consumers and customers. Scout24 AG is a listed company included in the SDAX Index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A12DM80, Ticker: G24). For more information please visit www.scout24.com.

Investor Relations

Britta Schmidt
Vice President Investor Relations & Treasury
Fon: +49 89 44456 3278
Email: [email protected]

Media Relations

Marie Fabiunke
Head of Corporate Communications & PR
Fon: +49 30 24301 1427
Email: [email protected]

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