DGAP-News: freenet AG

DGAP-News: freenet AG: freenet AG confirms preliminary figures for 2015

DGAP-News: freenet AG / Key word(s): Final Results freenet AG: freenet AG confirms preliminary figures for 2015

22.03.2016 / 18:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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freenet AG confirms preliminary figures for 2015

- Group revenue improved by 77.3 million euros to 3.118 billion euros (previous year: 3.041 billion euros)

- Group EBITDA increases to 370.2 million euros (previous year: 365.6 million euros)

- Free cash flow* grows to 284.5 million euros (previous year: 266.6 million euros)

- Customer ownership up by 4.2 per cent to 9.30 million participants (previous year: 8.92 million)

- Stabilisation of postpaid ARPU at 21.4 euros

- Proposed dividend rises to 1.55 euros per share (previous year: 1.50 euros)

Büdelsdorf, 22 March 2016 - Following verification of the annual financial statements of freenet AG [ISIN DE000A0Z2ZZ5] as at 31 December 2015 and approval of the consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2015 by the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board has confirmed the preliminary figures already announced at the beginning of March 2016 in full.

freenet AG has fulfilled or slightly exceeded the business outlook for 2015 that it published in 2014 Group revenue increased in comparison with the previous year by 2.5 per cent to 3.118 billion euros (previous year: 3.041 billion euros). Group EBITDA (earnings before depreciation and amortisation, interest and taxes) improved by 1.3 per cent compared to 2014, totalling 370.2 million euros (previous year: 365.6 million euros). At 284.5 million euros, the free cash flow also exceeded the previous year's level (266.6 million euros) by 6.7 per cent. Due to various effects in deferred and current tax expenses, the Group result decreased by 10.8 per cent to 221.5 million euros (previous year: 248.2 million euros), corresponding to earnings per share of 1.73 euros (previous year: 1.93 euros).

The strategically important number of customer ownership participants increased by 4.2 per cent to 9.30 million participants (31 December 2014: 8.92 million) and therefore developed in accordance with the outlook for 2015. A disproportionately robust upward trend was shown most notably by the portfolio of particularly high-value contract customers (postpaid customers), which was up by 5.0 per cent to 6.31 million (31 December 2014: 6.01 million). Average monthly revenue per contract customer (postpaid ARPU) has stabilised at its previous year's level of 21.4 euros and is thereby in line with the expectations communicated by the Executive Board.

The number of no-frills customers increased slightly in the reporting period from 2.91 million to 2.99 million participants. In the prepaid business, further earnings-neutral terminations of inactive SIM cards by network operators and the declining activation of new customers led to a further fall of 3.81 million in customer numbers as at 31 December 2014, with the figure now at 2.94 million.

"Our positive results in the financial year 2015 validate our successful focus on high-value customer relationships in the mobile communications segment and our systematic strategic focus on being the leading digital lifestyle provider in Germany," says Christoph Vilanek, CEO of freenet AG.

"Our shareholders can also share in the success of the past financial year. The Supervisory Board has agreed with our proposed dividend of 1.55 euros per eligible no-par-value share, representing a dividend payout ratio of around 70 per cent of the free cash flow generated in the financial year 2015," adds Joachim Preisig, CFO of freenet AG. The Executive Board is thereby confirming the existing dividend policy and is also proposing a dividend payout of 1.60 euros for the financial year 2016.

Explanations: The complete annual report 2015 can be downloaded at www.freenet-group.de/investor.

----------------------- *Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities, minus investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, plus proceeds from the disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

Investor Relations Kontakt: freenet Aktiengesellschaft Investor Relations Deelbögenkamp 4c 22297 Hamburg Germany Tel.: 0049 (40) 513 06 778 Fax: 0049 (40) 513 06 970 E-Mail: ir@freenet.ag

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22.03.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Language: English Company: freenet AG Hollerstraße 126 24782 Büdelsdorf Germany Phone: +49 (0)40 51306-778 Fax: +49 (0)40 51306-970 E-mail: ir@freenet.ag Internet: www.freenet-group.de ISIN: DE000A0Z2ZZ5, DE000A1KQXU0 WKN: A0Z2ZZ , A1KQXU Indices: TecDax Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart; Terminbörse EUREX End of News DGAP News Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

447841 22.03.2016