Corporate | 11 August 2016 07:30


AURELIUS Equity Opportunities with consistently strong growth in the first half of 2016

DGAP-News: AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA / Key word(s): Half Year Results

2016-08-11 / 07:30
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.


AURELIUS Equity Opportunities with consistently strong growth in the first half of 2016

– Consolidated revenues up 50 percent to EUR 1,346.7 million – consolidated revenues of more than EUR 3 billion on an annualized basis

– Six new acquisitions and three successful company disposals in the first half of 2016

– Total EBITDA EUR 99.7 million – Cash inflow from disposals of around EUR 80 million

– Net Asset Value rises to EUR 1,318.5 million

Munich, August 11, 2016 – AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) continued its growth trend in the first half of 2016 and increased its consolidated revenues by 50 percent to EUR 1,346.7 million (H1 2015: EUR 898.2 million). Consolidated revenues reached EUR 3,022.4 million on an annualized basis – an increase of 68 percent. In particular, the new acquisitions over the past few months contributed to this result.

Successful corporate transactions characterized the first half of 2016

Six new Group entities were acquired in the first half of 2016 alone. Reuss-Seiffert & Hammerl, a manufacturer of consumables for the concrete construction industry, and Conaxess Trade, an exclusive distributor for consumer goods in the large-scale retail business, have belonged to the AURELIUS Group since January 1, 2016. With the acquisition of the CMC (Colt Managed Cloud) cloud business of Colt Group S.A., a leading provider of cloud and hosting services in Europe, and Calumet, a multi-channel retail group for all things related to photography as well as Working Links, the leading provider of professional and social rehabilitation services, AURELIUS UK positioned itself three times as a partner in complex acquisition opportunities in the United Kingdom. At the end of the first half of 2016, the commercial activities of the Abelan Group, a provider of packaging solutions for the European food sector, were acquired in Germany and the Netherlands.

“We see an uninterrupted growth trend and numerous opportunities for our business model”, says Dr. Dirk Markus, Chairman of the Executive Board of AURELIUS Equity Opportunities. “All new subsidiaries have one thing in common: They command an expandable competitive position in fundamentally promising markets.”

In addition to the sale of fidelis HR, a provider for the outsourcing of personnel administration services, to strategic buyer SD Worx, the Tavex Group was sold to a Spanish consortium of investors. AURELIUS Equity Opportunities also sold a significant portion of the interest in its subsidiary Berentzen Group AG in the past half-year. In total, AURELIUS received over EUR 80 million for these sales. The income from disposals in excess of the carrying amount amounted to EUR 3.6 million in the first half of 2016. Whereas the sale of fidelis HR generated a positive income, the Tavex Group was sold below its carrying amount. In both transactions, a very high cash multiple was realized on the capital employed (just under 10x for Tavex; around 40x for fidelis HR).

Key earnings figures reflect brisk transaction activity and solid operating development

Operating EBITDA reached EUR 47.7 million despite the sale of several profitable Group subsidiaries and shows the continuing positive performance of the existing Group entities (H1 2015: EUR 62.6 million). Income from the reversal of negative goodwill resulting from capital consolidation (“bargain purchase”) from companies acquired in the first half of 2016 amounted to EUR 77.3 million (H1 2015: EUR 65.4 million). As a result of the reorientation of Group entities, restructuring and non-recurring expenses were incurred in the amount of EUR 28.9 million (H1 2015: EUR 19.4 million). Total EBITDA of the AURELIUS Group reached EUR 99.7 million (H1 2015: EUR 108.6 million).

The net asset value of Group entities increased as of June 30, 2016, to EUR 1,318.5 million, an increase of five percent compared to the end of fiscal year 2015 (December 31, 2015: EUR 1,252.7 million).

“The market for corporate transactions posted a positive surge in 2016. Economic as well as political developments are changing the operating environment in Europe. The recent BREXIT referendum in the United Kingdom is only the most prominent source of discontinuity. AURELIUS Equity Opportunities benefits from this environment. Regardless of whether it’s family businesses or major corporations, in the United Kingdom or continental Europe, the players must react and we are there to help them. We are well-prepared for this with more than EUR 400 million in liquid funds”, says Dr. Dirk Markus and adds: “At the same time, we will work in the coming months to fully utilize the inherent potential of our existing subsidiaries and permanently increase the value of the equity through efficiency and growth. The prospects for the second half of 2016 are promising.”

Key figures (in EUR millions)

1/1 – 6/30/2016 1/1 – 6/30/2015 Change in
Total consolidated revenues 1,346.7 898.2 + 50%
Consolidated revenues (annualized) ¹ 3,022.4 1,796.4 + 68%
EBITDA, Group total 99.7 108.6 – 8%
of which negative goodwill
from capital consolidation (“bargain purchase”) 77.3 65.4 + 18%
of which restructuring and non-recurring expenses – 28.9 – 19.4 + 49%
of which income from the disposal of equity investments over the carrying amounts 3.6 – / – > 100%
EBITDA, Group operating activities 47.7 62.6 – 24%
Consolidated profit or loss 33.3 59.8 – 44%
Earnings per share
basic (in EUR) 1.06 1.91 – 45 %
diluted (in EUR) 1.01 1.91 – 47 %
Cash flows from operating activities ¹ 18.9 47.7 – 60%
Cash flows from investing activities ¹ 1.9 – 93.8 > 100%
Free cash flow ¹ 20.8 – 46.1 > 100%
6/30/2016 12/31/2015 Change in
Assets 1,794.2 1,921.4 – 7%
of which cash and cash equivalents 414.8 548.9 – 24%
Liabilities 1,335.6 1,384.3 – 4%
of which financial liabilities 326.8 345.4 – 5%
Equity ² 458.7 537.1 – 15%
Equity as a percentage of assets ² 26 28 – 8%
Number of employees at the reporting date 22,832 22,898 0%

¹ From continuing operations
² Incl. non-controlling interests

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

Group entities/units 6/30/2016
SECOP 255.6
UK Chemicals 151.3
IT Services 178.4
German Education Business 66.9
GHOTEL Group 48.9
ISOCHEM Group 22.2
Scholl Footwear 50.6
HanseYachts 30.5
SOLIDUS 51.3
Berentzen Group 13.0
LD Didactic 19.6
Publicitas 10.5
UK Healthcare 39.0
B+P Gerüstbau 29.5
UK Polymers 19.6
MEZ 20.2
Reuss-Seifert 12.7
Conaxess Trade Group 32.8
Calumet Photographic 4.6
Working Links 8.0
Other (incl. net financial resources) 253.3
Total 1,318.5

ABOUT AURELIUS

AURELIUS Group is a pan-European asset manager with offices in Munich, London, Stockholm and Madrid. Over the last ten years AURELIUS has grown from a local turnaround investor to an international multi-asset manager investing in a wide range of sectors and across the capital structure.

AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8, Ticker Symbol: AR4) represents the listed entity within the AURELIUS Group that focusses on investing in Special Situations and MidMarket transaction opportunities. AURELIUS Equity Opportunities currently has 25 portfolio companies located across Europe which employ around 23,000 people and generate annual revenues of approximately EUR 3.0 billion. The shares of AURELIUS Equity Opportunities are traded on all German stock exchanges with a market capitalisation of c. EUR 1.7 billion as of July 2016.

With its group charity AURELIUS Refugee Initiative, AURELIUS provides comprehensive support for refugees on their way towards a better life.

To find out more, visit www.aureliusinvest.com

CONTACT

AURELIUS Group

Anke Banaschewski
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 (89) 544799-0
Fax: +49 (89) 544799-55
E-Mail: investor@aureliusinvest.de



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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Language: English
Company: AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA
Ludwig-Ganghofer-Straße 6
82031 Grünwald
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 544 799-0
Fax: +49 (0)89 544 799-55
E-mail: info@aureliusinvest.de
Internet: www.aureliusinvest.de
ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8
WKN: A0JK2A
Listed: Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; Open Market in Frankfurt
End of News DGAP News Service

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