Corporate News : HolidayCheck Group AG achieves substantial revenue and earnings growth in first quarter of 2017

Munich, Germany, 5 May 2017 - HolidayCheck Group AG can look back on a successful first quarter in the financial year 2017. Both revenue and earnings ended the period significantly higher compared with the first quarter of 2016, exceeding the Management Board's original forecast.

Based on the company's own assessment, providers operating in the online package holiday segment benefitted particularly from a strong recovery in this market in Central Europe.

Against this industry background, HolidayCheck Group AG's first-quarter revenue rose by 11 percent (EUR 3.3 million) year on year from EUR 30.1 million to EUR 33.4 million.

At EUR 4.2 million, EBITDA(earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) ended the period 600 percent (EUR 3.6 million) higher compared with the first-quarter figure of EUR 0.6 million in 2016.

Operating EBITDA (operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) increased by 1,000 percent (EUR 4.0 million) from EUR 0.4 to EUR 4.4 million.

EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) improved from minus EUR 0.7 million in the first quarter of 2016 to EUR 2.8 million, an increase of EUR 3.5 million.

EBT (earnings before tax) rose by EUR 3.5 million from minus EUR 0.7 million in the first quarter of 2016 to EUR 2.8 million in the period under review.

At EUR 1.9 million, consolidated net profit/(loss) from continued operations in the first quarter was up by EUR 2.6 million in 2017 from the corresponding figure of minus EUR 0.7 million in 2016.

Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations rose by EUR 0.04 from minus EUR 0.01 in the first quarter of the previous year to EUR 0.03 in the first quarter of 2017.

Due to the recovery in business activity, the Group's equity ratio as at 31 March 2017 fell back slightly to 83.7 percent compared with the 2016 year-end figure of 86.1 percent.

As at 31 March 2017, cash and cash equivalents stood at EUR 35.4 million, an increase of EUR 1.6 million on the figure of EUR 33.8 million as at 31 March 2016.

Outlook

HolidayCheck Group AG's vision is to become the most holidaymaker-friendly company in the world. Our goal is to expand the HolidayCheck Group and make it the first choice for holidaymakers in the German-speaking area (Germany, Austria and part of Switzerland) and Benelux countries.

To this end, over the rest of 2017, the Management Board plans to make targeted investments in the further development of our existing products and services in the core fields of package holidays and 'hotel only' bookings as well as new products and services in adjoining areas such as cruise brokerage. We will also expand our successful and fast-growing service offering customised travel advice.

In addition, the Management Board plans to increase investment in brand positioning, especially at HolidayCheck.

With the help of these measures, the Management Board aims over the medium term to improve the overall experience for holidaymakers and therefore generate sustainable and faster revenue growth alongside a slower increase in our marketing and personnel costs.

Despite the Group's pleasing first-quarter results, the Management Board has decided for the time being to maintain its revenue and earnings forecasts for 2017 as a whole, mainly in view of its investment plans. Excluding any equity investment acquisitions and disposals of long-term equity investments, the Management Board's forecast for 2017 anticipates a high single-digit percentage increase in Group revenue.

Targeted investments in personnel and marketing are designed to support the sustainable expansion of our portfolio of travel products and advice services. On this basis, the Management Board's forecast for operating EBITDA in financial 2017 is a range between minus EUR 5 million and EUR 0 million.

Note on publication

The German version of the interim report for the first quarter of 2017 will be published during the course of the day on the company's website at www.holidaycheckgroup.com under the heading 'Investor Relations'. The English version will be published shortly thereafter, also at www.holidaycheckgroup.com.

About HolidayCheck Group AG:

HolidayCheck Group AG (ISIN DE005495329), Munich, Germany, is one of Europe's leading digital travel firms for holidaymakers. With a total workforce of around 400, HolidayCheck Group AG comprises HolidayCheck AG (which operates hotel review and travel booking portals by the same name, and the car rental portal MietwagenCheck) and WebAssets B.V. (which operates the Zoover hotel review portals and the MeteoVista/WeerOnline weather portals). HolidayCheck Group's vision is to become the world's most holidaymaker-friendly company in the world.