Tipp24 once again posts record earnings
Mar 26, 2007 12:21 PM
Tipp24 AG / Final Results Release of a Corporate-announcement, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Press release Fiscal year 2006 Tipp24 once again posts record earnings Consolidated earnings more than doubled – steep increase in customer figures – market leadership extended – strong progress despite difficult situation on German gaming market (Hamburg, March 26, 2007) The Tipp24 Group added a new chapter to its success story in 2006. There was a strong increase of 448 thousand in the number of registered customers to 1,770 (prior year: 1,322) thousand, due largely to a favorable jackpot situation in the second half of the year. Billings – consisting mainly of brokered lottery tickets – grew to € 264.2 (204.7) million, an increase of 29.1 percent. With growth of 32.6 percent to € 34.6 (26.1) million, Tipp24’s revenue was within the forecast range. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved by 20.0 percent to € 7.2 (6.0) million. The EBIT margin amounted to 21.0 (23.2) percent. The slight year-on-year decline of 2.2 percentage points resulted from three special items: first and foremost, above-average marketing expenses during the record jackpot period, as well as the omission of the 'ExtraLotto' New Year’s Eve lottery and additional costs for lobbying activities. Consolidated net profit was well above expectations, increasing by 124.2 percent to € 7.4 (3.3) million. Tipp24 continued to expand the dominant position it enjoys in its core German market. The company previously held a market share of 40 to 50 percent, ahead of the online services of state lottery companies and other private suppliers. Toward the end of fiscal 2006, however, Tipp24’s market share grew to over 60 percent as Germany’s state lottery companies – with the exception of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia – temporarily discontinued their online activities in connection with regulatory discussions. The proportion of revenue generated outside Germany grew by 4.2 percentage points to 12.7 (8.5) percent. With a contribution to earnings of € -83 (-952) thousand, the Group’s foreign subsidiaries almost reached break-even in the period under review. The fact that the Group’s Spanish subsidiary is now operating profitably proves that Tipp24’s model can be successfully transferred to other national markets. Dr. Hans Cornehl, CFO of Tipp24 AG: 'Our company continued to display stable and sustainable growth in 2006 despite adverse market conditions caused by ongoing political and legal discussions about Germany’s gaming market.' Easing of legislative pressure – promising market changes On March 22, 2007, the EU Commission censured the current Draft State Gaming Treaty in Germany, and in particular its prohibition of online gaming brokerage. Tipp24 now believes that significant amendments will have to be made to the German draft treaty. With the announcement of the Placanica verdict by the European Court of Justice on March 6, 2007, the EU has sent a strong signal in favor of deregulating the European gaming market. Jens Schumann, CEO and founder of Tipp24 AG: 'Despite all the short-term risks currently being discussed, we expect deregulation in Europe to add additional impetus to our European growth.' The Executive Board believes that Tipp24 is well positioned to actively exploit this potential. This is underlined by the share buy-back program launched in February 2007, which is primarily intended to provide shares for use as an acquisition currency. Positive outlook With annual growth forecasts of 27 percent world-wide, the online lottery market offers tremendous sustained growth potential. The company plans to stabilize its market share in this dynamic environment and expects billings and revenues to continue to grow at around 30% – assuming its activities in Germany remain legally permissible. In addition to growth in Tipp24’s core market of Germany, further products are also to be added to the company’s portfolio. Tipp24 expects to gain 300,000 to 400,000 new registered customers in 2007. Due to the scalability of its business model, the Executive Board of Tipp24 AG expects a correspondingly strong increase in EBIT. About Tipp24 AG: Tipp24 was established in 1999 and is now the market leader for lottery products in the Internet on the basis of billings. The company has succeeded in achieving impressive growth rates right from the start. Almost all state lottery products are supplied. It only takes a few mouse clicks to buy a lottery ticket – round the clock, quickly and anonymously. The ticket receipt is kept safely, winners are notified about their prizes automatically by text message and e-mail and prizes are credited automatically. Subsidiaries of Tipp24 (www.tipp24.de) are Ventura24 in Spain (www.ventura24.es) and Puntogioco24 (www.puntogioco24.it) in Italy. Key figures for Q.IV 2006Q.IV 2006 2005 Change Billings € million 77.9 55.6 + 40.1% - Germany € million 72.0 52.5 + 37.1% - Abroad € million 5.9 3.1 + 90.3% Revenue € million 10.2 7.4 + 37.8% - Germany € million 8.9 6.6 + 34.8% - Abroad € million 1.4 0.7 + 100.0% Operating expenses € million 7.9 5.4 + 46.3% EBITDA € million 2.3 2.0 + 15.0% EBIT € million 2.1 1.8 + 16.7% EBT € million 2.6 2.1 + 23.8% Net profit € million 1.7 1.0 + 70.0%Key figures for FY2006Fiscal year Q.I-IV 2006 2005 Change Billings € million 264.2 204.7 + 29.1% - Germany € million 246.9 196.0 + 26.0% - Abroad € million 17.3 8.7 + 98.9% Revenue € million 34.6 26.1 + 32.6% - Germany € million 30.2 23.9 + 26.4% - Abroad € million 4.4 2.2 + 100.0% Operating expenses € million 26.6 19.4 + 37.1% EBITDA € million 8.0 6.7 + 19.4% EBIT € million 7.2 6.0 + 20.0% EBT € million 8.4 6.5 + 29.2% Net profit € million 7.4 3.3 + 124.2% Registered customers at year- end in thousands. 1,770 1,322 + 33.9%(Rounding differences due to disclosure in € million) Press contact: Tipp24 AG Andrea Fratini Head of Media and Public Relations Tel.: +49 40 32 55 33-660 E-mail: presse@tipp24.de Internet: www.tipp24.de/presse/ DGAP 26.03.2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: Tipp24 AG Straßenbahnring 11-13 20251 Hamburg Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)40 325533-0 Fax: +49 (0)40 325533-77 E-mail: office@tipp24.de www: www.tipp24-ag.de ISIN: DE0007847147 WKN: 784714 Indices: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------