'- Consolidated sales increased to TEUR 44,246 (previous year: TEUR 42,621)
- EBITDA TEUR -142 (previous year: TEUR 253)
Munich, 25 September 2014 – Ecommerce Alliance AG, whose shares are listed on the Entry Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN DE000A12UK08 / WKN A12UK0), generated consolidated sales of TEUR 44,246 in the first half of 2014 compared to TEUR 42,621 in the first half of 2013. This is an increase of 4 per cent and is therefore below our expectations.
At the same time, EBITDA in the reporting period went down by TEUR 395 to TEUR -142 (previous year: TEUR 253) due to lower earnings in the Mobile segment compared to the previous reporting period. A temporary strategy change of a major supplier of mobile end devices in the first half of 2014 resulted in lower sales, which led to a loss at Ecommerce Alliance’s subsidiary getmobile.
Half-year profit amounts to TEUR -1,198 (previous year: TEUR 838) and was negatively affected by lower gross profit and increased depreciation compared to the previous year. In the previous year the half-year profit included positive one-time profits from deconsolidation. Earnings per share totalled EUR -0.50 in the reporting period compared to EUR 0.48 in the first half year 2013.
Cash and cash equivalents as at 30 June 2014 increased to TEUR 3,839 (31 December 2013: TEUR 2,869). The equity ratio rose from 61% on 31 December 2013 to 64% as at the end of the first half-year 2014. Ecommerce Alliance AG therefore has a stable equity position for future growth.
Main growth drivers in the first half of the year were the subsidiaries in the Services division. The strategic goal is to continue to strengthen the market position of the Ecommerce Alliance Group in this segment with organic growth and smaller acquisitions in complementary areas.
The Brands segment performed just as positively. The “Shirtinator” mass- customisation online shop for individually printed T-Shirts completed its turnaround with a significant increase in sales and positive operating earnings. “The performance clearly shows that there is great potential in this segment. We will continue our expansion in other European countries,” announced Daniel Wild, CEO of Ecommerce Alliance AG.
Despite the aforementioned negative development that affected profit in the first half-year, the Management Board sees good opportunities for growth in the medium term for the Mobile segment. The second half of the year should be stronger due to a variety of new mobile devices brought to the market by the manufacturers. The Group wants to benefit from positive trends in the important core areas of e-commerce. The expansion of the still young, but fast-growing “internet via satellite” market enjoys high priority at Ecommerce Alliance.
Against this background, the management board is cautiously optimistic about the outlook for 2014 as a whole. “Our focus now lies on significantly improving profit in the Mobile segment. At the same time we will continue to vigorously pursue our growth and internationalisation strategy in the Services and Brands segments,” explained Daniel Wild.
