DGAP-News: bet-at-home.com AG

Dusseldorf, 6. November 2017. In the first three quarters of the 2017 financial year, the listed online sports betting and gaming provider continued its successful development.
 
Strong earnings development by continuing investments in the bet-at-home.com brand:
Having a value of EUR 25.4 million in the first nine months of 2017, the EBITDA further increased compared to the prior-year equivalent figure (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 21.3 million). The EBITDA in Q3 2017 amounted to EUR 8.0 million. In the first nine months of the 2017 financial year, EBIT amounted to EUR 24.4 million, thus EUR 3.9 million up year-on-year (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 20.5 million), representing an increase of 19.0%. In the first three quarters of 2017, earnings before taxes (EBT) therefore amounted to EUR 24.9 million (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 22.2 million).
 
Increase in gross betting and gaming revenue in the first three quarters of 2017:
By reaching a betting and gaming volume of EUR 2,393.6 million in the first three quarters 2017, the gross betting and gaming revenue amounted to EUR 108.7 million, 8.3% up on the comparable period in the previous year (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 100.4 million). Since July 2017, the Group has been subject to blocking measures in Poland that are considered as a violation of European legislation. Extensive legal action was initiated in this respect. Nevertheless, a gross betting and gaming revenue of EUR 31.9 million was generated in Q3 2017 (Q3 2016: EUR 35.0 million).
 
In the first three quarters of 2017, the betting fees and gambling levies increased to EUR 14.5 million corresponding with the increase in gross betting and gaming revenue (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 11.8 million). The VAT regulations for electronic service providers in the European Union resulted in an expense of EUR 6.8 million in the first nine months of the financial year 2017 (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 6.8 million).
 
The net betting and gaming revenue therefore increased to EUR 87.4 million (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 81.8 million).
 
Strengthening of the popularity of the brand and development of the customer base: 
Total marketing costs amounted to EUR 32.7 million in the first three quarters and are therefore, as planned, below last year's reference level (Q1-Q3 2016: EUR 34.2 million), resulting in an increase to about 4.8 million registered customers (30.09.2016: 4.5 million).
 
Stable asset and capital structure:
Taking account of an equity-reducing dividend payout of EUR 52.6 million, implying EUR 7.50 per share, consolidated equity amounted to a total of EUR 73.2 million as of 30 September 2017 (31.12.2016: EUR 109.6 million).
 
The bet-at-home.com AG Group also held liquid assets and current securities in the amount of EUR 92.8 million as of 30 September 2017 (31.12.2016: EUR 91.8 million).
 
Outlook:
The Management Board still expects gross betting and gaming revenue increasing to EUR 144 million in the 2017 fiscal year. Furthermore, the Management Board assumes EBITDA to reach a level between EUR 34 million and EUR 38 million in 2017.
 
Dividend proposal:
Due to the superior equity position and the current forecast of the development of liquid assets, the Management Board will propose the distribution of a total dividend for the 2017 financial year within the range of EUR 6.00 and EUR 8.00 per share to the Supervisory Board in December 2017. The payment will be effected in May 2018.
 
Report for the first three quarters of 2017:
The detailed quarterly statement can be downloaded on the Company's Investor Relations website at https://www.bet-at-home.ag/en/finance/download.
 
About bet-at-home.com:
The bet-at-home.com AG Group is active in the domain of online gaming and online sports betting. With about 4.8 million registered customers throughout the world, the company (which is listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange) represents, together with its subsidiaries, one of Europe's most successful gaming providers. The varied options offered on www.bet-at-home.com include sports betting, poker, casino, games and virtual sports. bet-at-home.com has companies in Germany, Austria, Malta and Gibraltar. The successful development of the company can be attributed to its 296 employees as at 30 September 2017. The Group holds various licences via its Maltese companies for online sports betting and gaming. The licences allow the company to organise and market online sports betting and online casinos. Since 2009, bet-at-home.com AG has been a part of the Betclic Everest SAS Group, which is a leading French Group in the domain of online gaming and sports betting.