DGAP-News: asknet with high customer demand and double-digit sales growth in the first half of 2018

asknet with high customer demand and double-digit sales growth in the first half of 2018

July 16, 2018, Karlsruhe (Germany) - asknet AG, a subsidiary of the Swiss-listed integrated e-commerce services and marketplaces company The Native SA, recorded high customer demand and a strong performance in the online shops it operates in the first half of 2018. According to preliminary calculations, consolidated 1H 2018 sales revenues rose by 18% compared to the same period of 2017 and amounted to 40.3 million euros.

In the eCommerce Solutions business unit, the large number of new customers gained in the first six months of 2018 contributed to the good performance. In addition, new online shops that had been launched in the second half of 2017 were further ramped up, which led to a significant increase in sales revenues and consequently to rising gross profits. In the Academics business unit asknet AG welcomed further new customers and expanded its geographic footprint, with the most recent new client example being a new framework agreement signed by asknet AG for the distribution of software to state and state-accredited universities and colleges of the German federal state of Saxony. The agreement became effective as of May 2018 for a period of three years and will already noticeably contribute to the results in the second half of 2018.

After a fundamental transformation in the past three years, the company is now moving into a strong growth stage of its business development. To sustain and expand this growth, asknet is investing continuously in new sales resources. In the Academics business unit additional employees were hired in the beginning of 2018 to support the new sales partnership with ANSYS Inc., the global leader in simulation software. As the eCommerce Solutions business unit aims at further internationalizing its operations, new sales resources are being installed in the United States currently. The new operating headquarter of The Native SA in New York City will further contribute to the expansion of asknet's market position in North America.

Additional investments were aimed at strengthening the technological basis. For example, in May, the eCommerce Solutions business unit launched a new version of its eCommerce suite.

In connection with the new growth path, asknet recently also implemented a new governance structure for its second level of management. This included the establishment of the position of the head of business development and marketing in person of Aston Fallen, reflecting the increased focus on sales and key account management in the asknet group.

The investments in technology, sales and marketing as well as customer support will likely continue in the course of the year.

"We are firmly on the path to transform asknet AG into a fast growing international e-commerce services player and our preliminary 1H 2018 results are the first and clear evidence to that", commented Sergey Skatershchikov, CEO of asknet AG.

The publication of the final interim consolidated financial statements is scheduled for September 28, 2018.
 

About asknet AG
asknet AG is the 51% owned subsidiary of the Swiss-listed integrated eCommerce Services company The Native SA. Based in Karlsruhe and listed in Frankfurt, asknet AG is an e-commerce services company with 22 years of experience in the industry. Its business is comprised of global payment processing, tax management, digital marketing and customer support services to vendors of predominantly digital goods and services, and software distribution services to the European academic institutions, students and alumni.

For more information: www.asknet.com and www.thenative.ch

Press Contact
Anna-Lena Mayer, Florian Kirchmann
Phone: +49 221 9140-97 0
eMail: investorrelations@asknet.de