3U HOLDING AG: 3U with significant revenue and earnings growth in financial year 2019

Marburg (pta006/04.03.2020/07:30 UTC+1) _
* Increased revenue and earnings forecast met
* Further strong revenue growth planned for 2020
* Proposed dividend probably EUR 0.04

Marburg, 4 March 2020 - 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) was able to accelerate the positive development of previous years in the 2019 financial year. According to preliminary, unaudited figures, it achieved consolidated sales of around EUR 51.5 million. This corresponds to growth of around 7.3 % (2018: EUR 48.0 million). The main drivers were once again the strategically important business areas of cloud computing and online trading. Together they account for almost half of the Group's revenues (2018: around 40 %). The forecast, as raised in August due to the successful sale of a property, was fully met.

In addition to the revenue forecast, the earnings targets were also met. The expansion of the Group's business activities in conjunction with higher other income compared to the previous year and a lower cost of materials ratio led to a strong improvement in gross profit. Despite the growth-related increase in personnel and other expenses, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) improved to around EUR 10.1 million. This represents an increase of more than 50% compared to the 2018 financial year (EBITDA 2018: EUR 6.7 million). In addition to the operational development and the effects from other income, improvements in the interest result and increased tax expenses also contributed to an increase in the consolidated result (after minorities) by more than 100 %, from EUR 1.9 million to around EUR 4.1 million.

The Management Board expects a strong increase in Group revenue for the 2020 financial year. In 2020, revenues of between EUR 58.0 million and EUR 63.0 million are expected. Income from the sale of assets has also been included in the budget. EBITDA is expected to be between EUR 10.0 million and EUR 12.0 million. Based on current planning, consolidated net income is expected to be between EUR 2.0 million and EUR 3.0 million owing to higher depreciation and amortization and higher tax expenses.

	Forecast of Group key figures for 2020	Preliminary unaudited Group key figures for 2019	Most recent forecast of Group key figures for 2019	Group key figures for 2018
Revenue (in EUR m)	58.0 - 63.0	51.5	51.0 - 55.0	48.0
EBITDA (in EUR million)	10.0 - 12.0	10.1	10.0 - 12.0	6.7
Consolidated net profit (in EUR million)	2.0 - 3.0	4.1	4.0 - 5.0	1.9

As always, the actual business results may deviate from this forecast, for example due to acquisitions of companies in the field of cloud computing or the sale of operating units of the Group.

In view of the continued positive performance of the Group, the Management Board and the Supervisory Board are expected to propose distribution of a dividend of EUR 0.04 to the Annual General Meeting. The dividend will be paid out of the tax deposit account without the deduction of tax.

The Annual Report 2019 will be published on 25 March 2020.

Further information:
Dr Joachim Fleïng
Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG
Tel.: +49 (0) 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 (0) 6421 999-1222
E-mail: IR@3U.net

About 3U:
3U HOLDING AG (www.3U.net) 3U HOLDING AG (www.3U.net) has its headquarters in Marburg, Germany, and was founded in 1997. It is the operating management and investment holding company at the head of the 3U Group. It acquires, operates and sells companies in the three segments of ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology), Renewable Energies and SHAC (Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology). The 3U Group has successful and profitable business models based on megatrends in all three segments. It continues to expand its business activities dynamically, particularly in its strongest growth areas of cloud computing and online trading, in which it is striving to achieve leading positions in the market.
3U HOLDING AG's shares are traded on XETRA, Tradegate and on the German regional stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0005167902; identifier: UUU).

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