ad pepper media International N.V. achieves turnaround in 2015

Successful strategic realignment with record sales and operating profitability

Nuremberg, February 1, 2016- ad pepper media International N.V. concluded the 2015 financial year with record sales of EUR 56,009k (2014: EUR 47,281k) and positive EBITDA of EUR 539k (2014: EUR -3,729k). Listed in the Prime Standard, the ad pepper Group not only achieved its planned turnaround but can also report on one of the most successful financial years in its history. What’s more, for the first time ever all of the Group’s operating companies – ad pepper media, ad agents, and Webgains – generated positive EBITDA in 2015.

“2015 was the moment of truth for the ad pepper Group. In the restructuring process over the past 2 years we have sold many of our companies, such as Emediate, Crystal Semantics, and Globase, closed down several companies, and cut our costs throughout the Group and especially on holding level. In a group-wide strategy process we have in parallel to this provided the core business with a decentralized structure and programmed it to generate profitable growth”, comments Dr. Ulrike Handel, CEO and Chairman of ad pepper media International N.V. “Out of 16 marketing and ad-tech companies in 10 countries and with a wide variety of business models, we have now created a high-growth performance marketing group with a clear alignment.”

Today, the ad pepper Group comprises the business segments of ad pepper media in Germany and Spain, the ad agents performance marketing agency, and the British affiliate network Webgains. The key growth driver is Webgains. Founded in 2006 and taken over by ad pepper in the same year, this company contributed 73% – and thus by far the largest share – of the Group’s total sales. With sales growth of 33%, it is also one of the fastest-growing international affiliate marketing networks anywhere.

Dr. Ulrike Handel has also provided a positive outlook for 2016: “We expect digital advertising budgets to grow further in 2016 and that we will benefit from this accordingly in all of our companies and countries. Our target is to generate double-digit growth with our existing business in 2016 as well. To boost this organic growth, we will continue investing in our companies. Given that we are debt-free and have sufficient liquidity, we will also be on the lookout for suitable companies and react flexibly to any acquisition opportunities.”

ad pepper media International N.V. is the holding company of what is one of the leading international performance marketing groups. It was founded in 1999 and has been listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since its IPO in 2000. With seven companies in four European countries and the USA, the ad pepper media Group offers global performance marketing solutions to customers such as Samsung, Nike, net-a-porter, ERGO, Nestlé, and Opel. ad pepper media International N.V. comprises ad pepper media (lead generation), ad agents (performance marketing agency), and Webgains (affiliate marketing network).  A total of 170 employees work at the Group’s holding and operating companies.

Press contact:
ad pepper media International N.V.
Dr. Ulrike Handel
E-Mail: pr@adpepper.com