Media | 26 February 2015 07:31
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MLP Executive Board proposes dividend increase to 17 cents – Preliminary figures confirmed: Total revenue up 6 percent to EUR 531.1 million, EBIT up 27 percent to EUR 39.0 million – At EUR 27.5 billion, assets under management set new record -2014 the most successful year to date in wealth management – Executive Board proposes dividend of 17 cents per share (2013: 16 cents) – Comprehensive recruiting programme launched – additional investments of EUR 5 million to win over new consultants – Outlook: Despite difficult market conditions and extensive future investments, MLP anticipates a slight increase in EBIT Wiesloch/Frankfurt, February 26, 2015 – The MLP Group ended the financial year 2014 with distinct increases in its key figures. Total revenue rose 6 percent to EUR 531.1 million, while earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 27 percent to EUR 39.0 million. The intensive client support provided paid off, particularly in the fourth quarter, in which revenue was 58 percent above Q3 and 15 percent above the same quarter in the previous year. EBIT increased by 44 percent to EUR 29.6 million in Q4. Following conclusion of the financial year, the Executive Board proposes an increase in the dividend per share to 17 cents (2013: 16 cents). In a market environment that remains very difficult, MLP was also successful in winning market shares in important consulting fields. In the field of old-age provision, MLP increased the brokered premium sum of new business by 14 percent from EUR 3.62 billion to EUR 4.12 billion. This was well ahead of the market, which only recorded a five percent increase during the same period. The private health insurance sector is expected to record a market-wide decline in the number of comprehensive health insurance policy holders for the third year in succession, while MLP’s base remains stable. In the field of wealth management, the MLP Group increased its assets under management on an annual basis from EUR 24.5 billion to EUR 27.5 billion. With this 12 percent increase, the MLP Group is only slightly behind the growth recorded by the market as a whole, which was 13 percent according to the German Association of Investment and Asset Management e. V. (BVI). “With a good fourth quarter, we were able to end 2014 on a high note. At the same time, we continued the process of modernisation at MLP and also set new records in the field of wealth management together with our subsidiary FERI,” explains Chief Executive Officer Dr. Uwe Schroeder-Wildberg. “However, we are still facing extremely difficult terrain in the fields of old-age provision and health insurance. The best response to these tough basic conditions is to win market shares, which is what we were able to achieve in 2014. At the same time, we are keeping our costs under control. So we have a good handle on all things we can influence.”
Total revenue increased to EUR 531.1 million
The revenue breakdown by consulting areas shows that wealth management once again recorded an increase. With revenue of EUR 147.0 million (EUR 138.1 million) and assets under management of EUR 27.5 billion, the MLP Group set new record levels here. The subsidiary FERI made a significant contribution to this positive development – both through investment management and in the field of consulting. In the field of old-age provision, revenue increased from EUR 219.9 million to EUR 239.7 million. In this business field, MLP benefited from a good final quarter, in which revenue rose by 21 percent to EUR 106.6 million (Q4 2013: EUR 88.3 million). MLP also continued its positive development of the last few years in the field of non-life insurance. Here, revenue rose on an annual basis to EUR 34.6 million (2013: EUR 32.5 million). The health insurance business continued to be influenced by public discussions. Although MLP was able to expand its market share, revenue in this segment declined from EUR 47.8 million to EUR 43.5 million due to a lower than anticipated volume of new business. With revenue of EUR 13.6 million (EUR 14.5 million), revenues from loans and mortgages remained slightly below the high level recorded in the previous year. The real estate business launched in April 2014 is reflected in other commission and fees, which reached EUR 8.4 million (4.9 million).
FY 2014: Net profit increased to EUR 29 million
Viewing the fourth quarter in isolation, total revenue increased by 15 percent to EUR 186.4 million (Q4 2013: EUR 162.3 million). EBIT rose by 44 percent to EUR 29.6 million (EUR 20.5 million); net profit was EUR 21.8 million, following EUR 16.0 million in the same period of the previous year. The fourth quarter was also the strongest in the year in terms of customer acquisition. Overall, MLP acquired 27,900 new customers (2013: 26,300) in 2014. The number of consultants increased slightly to 1,952 at the end of the year (September 30, 2014: 1,944).
Proposed dividend of 17 cents per share
Extensive recruiting campaign starts
Outlook: Slight increase in EBIT anticipated
In summary, MLP anticipates a slight increase in EBIT for the financial year 2015. “Following the gains recorded in 2014, our outlook documents our mission to record profitable growth, despite operating in difficult markets and making additional investments,” comments Reinhard Loose. An overview of key figures
*) Previous year’s values adjusted
About MLP:
– MLP Finanzdienstleistungen AG: The dialogue partner for all financial matters – FERI AG: The investment expert for institutional investors and high net-worth individuals – TPC GmbH: The specialist in pension management for companies The views and expectations of our clients always represent the starting point in each of these fields. Building on this, we then present our clients with suitable options in a comprehensible way so that they can make the right financial decisions themselves. For the implementation, we examine the offers of all relevant product providers in the market. Our product ratings are based on scientifically substantiated market and product analyses. Manfred Lautenschläger and Eicke Marschollek founded MLP in 1971. Just under 2,000 client consultants and around 1,500 employees work at MLP. End of Media Release Issuer: MLP AG Key word(s): Finance 2015-02-26 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de |
| Language: | English | |
| Company: | MLP AG | |
| Alte Heerstraße 40 | ||
| 69168 Wiesloch | ||
| Germany | ||
| Phone: | +49 (0)6222-308-1135 | |
| Fax: | +49 (0)6222-308-8351 | |
| E-mail: | investorrelations@mlp.de | |
| Internet: | www.mlp-ag.de | |
| ISIN: | DE0006569908 | |
| WKN: | 656990 | |
| Indices: | SDAX | |
| Listed: | Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Stuttgart; Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich; Terminbörse EUREX | |
| End of News | DGAP-Media |
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