PRESS RELEASE |
Boulogne-Billancourt, 27 July 2017 |
Internet revenues : €323 million, +1%1
EBITDA2 : €91 million, -18%1, EBITDA3 to revenue margin of 24%
Outlook for 2017 revised downward :Internet revenue growth : +1% to +3%1
EBITDA2 : ≥ €200 million
As announced, the Internet growth of this last quarter has been impacted negatively by uncertainty related to the financial restructuring of end 2016. Furthermore, the sales order dynamic has been slowed down over recent weeks by a slower adoption of our higher value Search products, which will ultimately make our audiences more profitable. The engaged action plan to foster these new solution adoption by our clients give early positive signs. At the same time, our Digital Marketing offerings continue to be a source of strong growth.
The Board of Directors welcomes the quality of the candidates for the position of SoLocal's CEO and will be able to announce the name of the new CEO at the end of the summer.
Revenues and EBITDA
The Board of Directors approved the Group's consolidated accounts as of 30 June 2017.
In millions of euros
H1 2016
H1 2017
Change
Internet revenues
322
323
+1%
Local Search
243
235
-3%
Number of visits (in million)
1,206
1,256
+4%
ARPA1 (in €)
485
492
+1%
Number of clients (in thousand)
501
477
-5%
Digital Marketing
78
88
+13%
Penetration rate (in number of clients)
23%
24%
+1pt
Print & Voice revenues
83
62
-25%
Revenues
405
386
-5%
1 Average Revenue Per Advertiser
1 In H1 2017 vs H1 2016 (scope : continued activities)
2 Total recurring EBITDA (Internet + Print & Voice)
3 EBITDA to revenue margin : EBITDA / total revenues, before non recurring items
The Group recorded revenues of €386 million in H1 2017, down -5% vs H1 2016.
Internet revenues of €323 million in H1 2017 were up +1% vs H1 2016, the strong Digital Marketing growth being partly offset by short-term decrease of Local Search.Audience growth: a steady audience growth of +4% in H1 2017 vs H1 2016, of which a mobile audience growth of +17%1.
-
Local search revenues: -3% in H1 2017 vs H1 2016 :
- Local Search ARPA3: +1%1, a growth slowdown related to the end of offering upgrade effect and to the impact of financial restructuring on commercial activity in Q4 2016
Client base: -5%1, slowdown of client base decrease reflecting the early improvement of retention
Digital Marketing revenues: +13%1, acceleration of Digital Marketing with great successes of Booster contact and Sites privilèges (high-end websites) offerings. The Digital Marketing revenues represent 27% of Internet revenues this half-year.
In millions of euros
H1 2016
H1 2017
Change
Internet recurring EBITDA
90
81
-9%
EBITDA / revenue margin
28%
25%
-3 pts
Print & Voice recurring EBITDA
22
10
-56%
EBITDA / revenue margin
27%
15%
-11 pts
Recurring EBITDA
112
91
-18%
EBITDA / revenue margin
28%
24%
-4 pts
Note: Table concerning the continued activities
Recurring EBITDA was €91 million in H1 2017, down -18% vs H1 2016 (the EBITDA to revenue margin reached 24% in H1 2017, down by 4 points vs H1 2016), mainly due to the reduction of Print & Voice contribution (EBITDA to revenue margin declined from 27% to 15% for this business line) and the Local Search revenue decrease, leading to a contraction of Internet EBITDA margin from 28% to 25%.1 In H1 2017 vs H1 2016 (scope : continued activities)
2 EBITDA to revenue margin : EBITDA / total revenues, before non recurring items
Net income and financial structure
In millions of euros
H1 2016 1
H1 2017
Change
Recurring EBITDA
112
91
-18%
Depreciation and amortisation 1
(27)
(30)
+11%
Net financial expense before debt restructuring
(37)
(11)
+71%
Corporate income tax 1
(21)
(21)
-2%
Recurring income
27
29
+11%
Contribution to net income from non recurring items
(1)
(2)
+37%
Net gain from debt restructuring
-
278
na
Net income
25
306
na
1 restated for the retrospective application of IAS 20 concerning the CIR
Depreciation and amortisation amounted to -€30 million in H1 2017, up +11% vs H1 2016, mainly related to the launch of new intelligent search engine. The financial result before debt restructuring was -€11 million in H1 2017, an improvement of +71% compared to H1 2016, mainly resulting from debt reduction. Corporate income tax amounted to -€21 million in H1 2017, a decrease of 2% vs H1 2016. Recurring income from continued activities amounted to €29 million in H1 2017, up +11% compared to H1 2016.In H1 2017, the group recorded a net gain of €278 million resulting from the restructuring of its debt. This gain resulted mainly from a positive non-monetary difference of €298 million (without any tax impact) between the carrying amount of the debt converted into equity instruments and the fair value of these instruments in accordance with IFRIC 19.
The Group's net income totalled €306 million in H1 2017, compared to net income of €25 million in H1 2016.
Net debt3 totalled €355 million as of 30 June 2017. The financial leverage covenant was 1.71x at this date.The Group's net cash flow from continued activities was -€46 million in H1 2017, -€14m excluding 2016 interests related to the debt before financial restructuring (€32 million), down €48m reflecting an increase of corporate income tax paid, the decrease of EBITDA and a temporarily higher deterioration of working capital needs related to the product mix evolution.
As of 30 June 2017, the Group had a net cash position of €48 million4.1 Net debt is the gross financial debt plus or minus the fair net asset value of asset and/or liability derivative instruments used for cash flow hedging purposes, minus cash and cash equivalents.
3 Net debt is the gross financial debt plus or minus the fair net asset value of asset and/or liability derivative instruments used for cash flow hedging purposes, minus cash and cash equivalents.
4 Net of bank overdrafts
Outlook
The sales order trend slowed down in Q2 2017. Indeed, the upgrade of our customers' Search offerings towards higher value products, which will ultimately make our audiences more profitable, takes longer than originally planned. Expenses and investments are managed accordingly.
Therefore, the Group revised downward its outlook for 2017 :
2016 2017 former new outlook outlookInternet revenue growth : | +1% | +3% to +5% | +1% to +3% |
EBITDA1 : | €229m | €210 to 225m | ≥ €200m |
The multi-year plan has not been updated at this stage and the potential impacts in subsequent years have not been assessed.
The Board of Directors welcomes the quality of the candidates for the position of SoLocal's CEO and will be able to announce the name of the new CEO at the end of the summer.
1 Total recurring EBITDA (Internet + Print & Voice)
About SoLocal GroupSoLocal Group, European leader in local online communication, reveals local know-how, and boosts local revenues of businesses. The Internet activities of the Group are structured around two business lines: Local Search and Digital Marketing. With Local Search, the Group offers digital services and solutions to clients which enable them to enhance their visibility and develop their local contacts. Thanks to its expertise, SoLocal Group earned the trust of some 490,000 clients of those services and over 2.4 billions of visits via its 4 flagship brands (PagesJaunes, Mappy, Ooreka and A Vendre A Louer) but also through its partnerships. With Digital Marketing, SoLocal Group creates and provides the best local and customised content about professionals. With over 4,400 employees, including a new orders force of 1,900 local communication advisors specialised in five verticals (Home, Services, Retail, Health & Public, BtoB) and Internationally (France, Spain, Austria, United Kingdom), the Group generated in 2016 revenues of 812 millions euros, of which 80% on Internet and ranks amongst the first European players in terms of Internet advertising revenues. SoLocal Group is listed on Euronext Paris (LOCAL). More information may be obtained at www.solocalgroup.com.
Contacts
Press Delphine Penalva +33 (0)1 46 23 35 31 dpenalva@solocal.com Edwige Druon +33 (0)1 46 23 37 56 edruon@solocal.com | Investors Emmanuelle Vinel +33 (0)1 46 99 41 80 evinel@solocal.com Sébastien Nony +33 (0) 1 46 23 49 03 snony@solocal.com |
Alexandra Kunysz
+33 (0)1 46 23 47 45
akunysz@solocal.com
Solocal Group SA published this content on 27 July 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
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