Annual Results: Wirecard AG Reports a Successful 2015 Fiscal Year

MUNICH, April 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

• Consolidated revenue increased by 28.3 percent 
• Transaction volumes up by 31.8 percent 
• Earnings per share: EUR 1.16 
• Proposed dividend of EUR 0.14 per share 

Wirecard has further expanded its position internationally as a driver of innovation for electronic payment solutions.

Consolidated revenue in the Group increased by 28.3 percent from EUR 601.0 million to EUR 771.3 million. Operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 31.4 percent compared to the same period of the previous year to EUR 227.3 million (2014: EUR 172.9 million).

The strategy based principally on organic growth, as well as targeted expansion in global growth markets, was successfully implemented. Scaling potential was exploited, the vertical range of manufacture was further expanded and the internationalisation of the company pushed forward. As a result, it was possible to increase Wirecard AG's EBITDA margin to 29.5 percent in the 2015 fiscal year (2014: 28.8 percent).

The transaction volume processed through the Wirecard platform grew by 31.8 percent from EUR 34.3 billion in the previous year to EUR 45.2 billion. At EUR 11.2 billion (2014: EUR 7.4 billion), the proportion outside of Europe amounted to 24.8 percent of the overall volume (2014: 21.6 percent). This is equivalent to growth of 51.4 percent.

The cash flow from operating activities (adjusted) amounted to EUR 199.7 million (2014: EUR 144,0 million). Earnings after tax increased 32.2 percent to EUR 142.6 million in the 2015 fiscal year (2014: EUR 107.9 million). This is equivalent to EUR 1.16 per share (2014: EUR 0.89 per share). The Management Board will propose to this year's Annual General Meeting that a dividend of EUR 0.14 per share is paid to shareholders.

The Wirecard Group's strong organic growth in the 2015 fiscal year was based on vigorous growth of the e-commerce core business. This is due to market growth and the resulting rise in transaction volumes from our currently 22,000 existing customers, as well as the sales successes achieved with new customers and partners. The expansion of the product portfolio to include, for example, solutions for B2B online shops or new product developments in the area of mobile payment and associated value-added services also contributed to the success.  

Wirecard offers retailers payment processing for all sales channels, whether online, mobile or point-of-sale (POS). Numerous new products, such as mobile wallets, the mPOS solution mobile card reader or mobile payment applications, are already being very successfully deployed via our distribution partners in various international markets.

Outlook 

The e-commerce market continues to offer considerable potential for growth, not least thanks to the ongoing internationalisation of suppliers. At the same time, Internet technologies are increasingly dominating all sales channels.  

"We are achieving sustainable growth through the geographical expansion and networking of our business and our payment innovations." said Wirecard CEO Dr Markus Braun.

Globally active companies require a partner who can guarantee the acceptance of global and national payment methods including connections to local banking networks and who at the same time can minimise fraud and risk for retailers. Wirecard enjoys an international presence with locally networked units and integrates all relevant payment methods in its global platform. The geographical growth strategy is closely linked with the objectives of supporting customers and partners globally in the best way possible through secure payment processing and acceptance and further increasing Wirecard's expertise in the area of risk management.

The Wirecard Group will continue to pursue primarily organic growth in its target markets. Acquisition opportunities will continue to be reviewed according to conservative M&A criteria. The strategy envisages providing customers of Wirecard AG with highest quality technology and service that is made readily available through the company's presence on all continents.

Wirecard AG's Management Board expects operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of between EUR 290 million and EUR 310 million in 2016. This growth forecast is based on the market growth of online transactions in Europe, dynamic development of our global business, particularly in Asia, and our activities in the area of mobile services, as well as on our ability to open up new business areas.

The 2015 Annual Report is available on the company's website at:

ir.wirecard.com/financialreports  

Download Wirecard Magazine:

http://ir.wirecard.com/download/companies/wirecard/Annual%20Reports/magazin_wirecard_GB15_EN.pdf

About Wirecard:  

Wirecard AG is a global technology group that supports companies in accepting payments from all sales channels. As a leading independent supplier, the Wirecard Group offers outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payments. A global platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods with supplementary fraud prevention solutions. With regard to issuing own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, the Wirecard Group provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licences for card and account products. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI). For further information about Wirecard, please visit http://www.wirecard.com or follow us on Twitter @wirecard.

Wirecard media contact:
Iris Stöckl
VP Corp. Comm./IR
Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1424
E-mail: iris.stoeckl@wirecard.com
http://www.wirecard.com
ISIN DE0007472060
Reuters: WDI.GDE
Bloomberg: WDI GY