DGAP-News: ecotel communication ag: ecotel reports

DGAP-News: ecotel communication ag / Key word(s): Half Year Results ecotel communication ag: ecotel reports profitable growth course in Business Solutions segment 14.08.2013 / 07:56 --------------------------------------------------------------------- - Increased revenue of 6% in B2B segment compared with same quarter last year - EBITDA in first half-year at previous year's level - Half-year earnings per share EUR 0.24 Düsseldorf, 14 August 2013 In the second quarter 2013 ecotel again reported a profitable growth trend in the core segment of Business Solutions. The company was able to increase revenue in the B2B segment in the second quarter of 2013 by 6% compared with the same quarter of the previous year from EUR 9.8 million to EUR 10.4 million, which is also higher than the figure from the second quarter 2011 (EUR 10.3 million). The B2B gross profit was also further increased, totalling EUR 5.1 million in the second quarter 2013 compared with EUR 4.5 million in the same period of the previous year and EUR 4.3 million compared with the same period in 2011. In the first half-year 2013 the expected decline of Wholesale revenue resulted in slightly lower revenue in comparison with the first half-year 2012. Revenue dropped by 8% to EUR 43.8 million (first half-year 2012: EUR 47.6 million). Gross profit on the other hand increased by 6% from EUR 12.3 to EUR 13.0 million. Compared with the same period of the previous year the gross profit margin increased from 26% to 30%. EBITDA in the first six months, despite one-time special expenses due to a key-account project, totalled EUR 3.3 million (previous year: EUR 3.4 million). The EBITDA margin totalled 7.5%. EBIT, at EUR 1.7 million, was also below the previous year's value by EUR 0.2 million. Consolidated profit for the first half-year totalled EUR 0.9 million (previous year: EUR 0.9 million), which corresponds to earnings per share of EUR 0.24. The net debt increased from EUR 1.5 million in the previous quarter to EUR 2.3 million due to planned investments as part of a key-account project. The equity ratio remained unchanged at 45% in the reporting period. ecotel reaffirms the forecast for 2013 with EBITDA of EUR 6.0 - 7.0 million and revenue of EUR 80 - 90 million. Due to the positive business development in the B2B segment, Management continues to expect revenue of EUR 100 million and EBITDA of EUR 10 million in the year 2015. The quarterly report is available for download at the company's website www.ecotel.de. About ecotel communication ag: Listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, ecotel communication ag is a telecommunications company with activities in three business sectors throughout Germany. In the core segment of 'Business Solutions' ecotel provides about 18,000 business customers with an integrated product portfolio consisting of voice, data and mobile communications solutions. This includes nationwide available and convergent bundled products, broadband data access on the basis of DSL and Ethernet technologies, scalable networking of corporate locations (VPNs) as well as housing and hosting services. In the second segment, 'Wholesale Solutions', the ecotel group markets preliminary service products to other telecommunications companies. At the same time, the company achieves high traffic volumes in this segment, enhancing added value for the core segment of Business Solutions. In addition to the international wholesale voice activities of ecotel, mvneco GmbH is also included in this segment. The 'New Business' segment covers new, fast-growing business segments and niches of independently operating subsidiaries. In addition to easybell GmbH, which is aligned to private customer business, nacamar GmbH, which now focuses exclusively on new media activities, is part of this independent business unit. The corporate group, with its main office in Düsseldorf, currently has about 230 employees, including subsidiaries and holdings. Note: This publication is not an offer for the sale nor an invitation for the purchase or subscription of securities. This publication is not a securities brochure. This publication and the information contained therein are not intended for direct or indirect dissemination to or within the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan. PR office: Business and Financial Media Annette Drescher (Assistant to the Managing Director) Phone: +49 (0) 211-55 007-740 Fax: +49 (0) 211-55 007 5 740 E-mail: presse@ecotel.de Business media Bernadette Loosen-Flanz (PR) Phone: +49 (0) 211-55 007-316 Fax: +49 (0) 211-55 007 5 316 E-mail: presse@ecotel.de For more information, please visit us on the web at www.ecotel.de End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 14.08.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's 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: ecotel communication ag Prinzenallee 11 40549 Düsseldorf Germany Phone: +49 (0)211 55 00 70 Fax: +49 (0)211 55 00 7 222 E-mail: info@ecotel.de Internet: http://www.ecotel.de ISIN: DE0005854343 WKN: 585434 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 225668 14.08.2013