Corporate | 13 August 2015 08:06


AURELIUS: Very positive performance by Group entities in the first half of 2015 and very positive outlook on the full year


AURELIUS AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results

2015-08-13 / 08:06


AURELIUS: Very positive performance by Group entities in the first half of 2015 and very positive outlook on the full year

– Revenues: EUR 932.7 million – consolidated revenues on an annual basis exceed EUR 2 billion for the first time

– Total EBITDA: EUR 108.6 million – operating EBITDA increases considerably to EUR 62.6 million

– Already five promising new acquisitions in the current year

– Net Asset Value rises to EUR 1,193.7 million

– 2015 will be another record year: Total EBITDA and operating EBITDA expected to exceed the previous year’s levels

Munich, August 13, 2015 – The AURELIUS Group (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) increased its total consolidated revenues in the first half of 2015 by 16 percent to EUR 932.7 million (first half of 2014: EUR 804.0 million). Consolidated revenues reached EUR 2,085.5 million on an annual basis – an increase of 28 percent. Thus, consolidated revenues on an annual basis exceeded EUR 2 billion for the first time.

Operating EBITDA increased significantly

At EUR 108.6 million, the AURELIUS Group’s total EBITDA nearly reached the previous year’s very high level (first half of 2014: EUR 111.5 million) in the first half of 2015, although there were no business acquisitions in the first half of 2015 – in contrast to the first half of 2014. In the first half of 2014, the disposal of equity investments over their carrying amounts had delivered a contribution of EUR 32.0 million to EBITDA. The operating performance of Group entities was very positive in the first half of 2015. This is reflected in a 22 percent increase in operating EBITDA to EUR 62.6 million (first half of 2014: EUR 51.2 million). In particular the subsidiaries SECOP, the Berentzen Group, Scholl Footwear, and the Special Chemicals segment contributed to this development.

Already five promising new acquisitions in the current year

Two new acquisitions were successfully completed in the first half of 2015 with the acquisition of the European business of the Tavex Group, a producer of high quality denim fabrics for prestigious jeans manufacturers in Southern and Central Europe, and the solid board and graphic board operations of the Smurfit Kappa Group (today: Solidus Solutions). In June 2015, AURELIUS also acquired the remaining 21.9 percent interest in the international IT consultant Getronics from Dutch Royal KPN, thus expanding its investment in the international IT consulting firm to 100 percent.

Three further acquisitions have already been completed in the current third quarter: The purchase of the leading British recycler of hard plastic waste Regain Polymers, the acquisition of the UK’s leading supplier of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures Transform Medical, and the acquisition of the European Crafts business of the British Coats Group announced in February.

The income from the reversal of negative goodwill resulting from the capital consolidation (“bargain purchase”) from companies acquired in the first half of 2015 amounted to EUR 65.4 million (first half of 2014: EUR 43.6 million). The acquisitions completed in the third quarter are not yet included in this figure. As a result of the reorientation of Group entities, restructuring and non-recurring expenses were incurred in the amount of EUR 19.4 EUR million in the reporting period (first half of 2014: EUR 15.3 million).

The Net Asset Value of the Group entities was increased by 3.8 percent to EUR 1,193.7 million compared to the end of fiscal 2014 (December 31, 2014: EUR 1,150.6 million), despite the distribution of dividends in the amount of EUR 62.8 million since then.

Positive outlook

“Our Group entities performed very positively. Our comprehensive application of the operational reorientation is paying off in full. We have also already completed some very promising transactions in the current year. Our international offices in London, Stockholm, and Madrid contributed in particular to this. The geographical expansion of our business model is also bearing fruit. We are working intensively on further business transactions on the buy and sell side. 2015 will be another record year for AURELIUS”, says AURELIUS CEO Dr. Dirk Markus. “We expect to exceed the previous solid figures from 2014 for both total EBITDA as well as operating EBITDA.” Consolidated revenues are expected to increase to over EUR 1.9 billion for fiscal year 2015.

Key figures (in EUR millions)

1/1 – 6/30/2015 1/1 – 6/30/2014 Change
Total consolidated revenues 932.7 804.0 +16%
Consolidated revenues (annualized) ¹ 2,085.5 1,625.5 +28%
EBITDA, Group total 108.6 111.5 -3%
of which bargain purchase gains
from the capital consolidation 65.4 43.6 +50%
of which restructuring and non-recurring expenses – 19.4 -15.3 +27%
of which income from the disposal of equity investments over the carrying amounts -/- 32.0 -/-
EBITDA, Group operating 62.6 51.2 +22%
Consolidated profit/(loss) 59.8 57.9 +3%
Earnings per share
basic ¹ (in EUR) 1.91 1.79 +7%
diluted ¹ (in EUR) 1.91 1.79 +7%
Cash flows from operating activities ¹ -12.9 39.4 > -100%
Cash flows from investing activities ¹ -32.8 7.0 > -100%
Free cash flow ¹ -45.7 46.4 > -100%
6/30/2015 12/31/2014 Change
Assets 1,661.5 1,454.9 +14%
of which cash and cash equivalents 233.2 328.4 -29%
Liabilities 1,274.1 1,074.4 +19%
of which financial liabilities 214.6 164.4 +31%
Equity ² 387.4 380.5 +2%
Equity as a percentage of assets ² 23 26 -11%
Number of employees at the reporting date 12,955 12,442 +4%

¹ From continuing operations
² Incl. non-controlling interests

Net Asset Value of the AURELIUS Group entities (in EUR millions)

Group entities/units 6/30/2015 12/31/2014
SECOP 248.6 246.7
UK Chemicals 159.6 158.4
Getronics 127.3 128.2
GHOTEL Group 113.5 112.0
German Education Business 70.9 72.5
fidelis HR 57.8 57.4
Scholl Footwear 46.7 46.1
B+P Gerüstbau 38.2 33.5
Berentzen Group 36.8 23.5
LD Didactic 35.9 32.4
brightONE 33.4 34.5
Publicitas 32.4 25.9
ISOCHEM Group 24.7 24.6
HanseYachts 21.7 27.7
EcoPlastics 18.6 3.6
Solidus 15.5 n/a
Tavex 2.0 n/a
Other (incl. net cash funds) 110.1 123.6
Total 1,193.7 1,150.6

ABOUT AURELIUS
AURELIUS is one of the leading European investment groups. From its offices in Munich, London, Stockholm and Madrid, AURELIUS acquires participations with development potential. Once under the AURELIUS umbrella, the acquisitions are given a long-term strategic orientation in order for them to fully develop their potential.

Currently, the AURELIUS Group consists of 22 subsidiaries with locations in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.A. These include numerous traditional consumer brands, services businesses and a number of industrial enterprises. Companies are acquired based on strict investment criteria without focusing on any particular industry. Shares of AURELIUS AG are listed in the m:access segment of the Munich Stock Exchange and are traded on all German stock markets under ISIN DE000A0JK2A8.

To find out more, visit www.aureliusinvest.com

CONTACT
Anke Banaschewski
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Phone +49 (89) 544799 – 0
Fax +49 (89) 544799 – 55
investor@aureliusinvest.de





2015-08-13 Dissemination of a Corporate News, 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


386173  2015-08-13