Performance of the Group Divisions

RTL Group

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Breakdown

RTL Group saw a positive business development, further growing its revenues and earnings. Sales rose by 3.5 percent to a new record level of €6.2 billion (previous year: €6.0 billion). This growth was fueled primarily by the fast-growing digital businesses, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and Groupe M6. Operating EBITDA also reached a new high, rising by 3.7 percent to €1.4 billion (previous year: €1.4 billion), driven by Groupe M6 and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. The increase at Groupe M6 was mainly due to a positive effect from the gradual phase-out of the M6 Mobile contract. RTL Group’s overall EBITDA margin was 22.5 percent (previous year: 22.5 percent). Most of the relevant European TV advertising markets developed positively.

Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland once again generated record revenues and operating EBITDA. Higher advertising income from the TV and digital businesses, the expansion of the online video marketing sector and higher platform revenues contributed to this growth. Although UEFA Euro 2016 and the Olympics were aired by public broadcasters, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s family of channels recorded a stable collective audience share of 28.4 percent (previous year: 28.4 percent) in the main target group, simultaneously increasing the company’s lead over the largest commercial competitor to 3.1 percentage points (previous year: 1.7 percentage points).

In France, Groupe M6 increased its revenues primarily through higher income from TV advertising. The flagship channel M6 improved its average audience share to 16.0 percent (previous year: 15.4 percent), boosted among other things by the broadcast of 11 European Soccer Championship matches. RTL Nederland generated higher revenues, largely thanks to increased distribution revenues; operating EBITDA was down due to lower TV advertising revenues and higher costs.

Fremantle Media recorded a slight revenue decline due to negative currency effects, but increased its operating result thanks to higher earnings contributions from Asia and Fremantle Media International. The game show “Family Feud” was a big hit with audiences in the United States.

In 2016, RTL Group continued to invest in its three strategic pillars of broadcasting, content and digital. RTLplus became the most successful channel launch in recent years. In December 2016, the channel already had a market share of 0.9 percent in the target group of viewers aged 14 to 59. Fremantle Media acquired a majority holding in the production company Abot Hameiri and also bought stakes in Eureka Productions, Dr Pluto, Wild Blue Media and Dancing Ledge. The UFA Fiction series “Deutschland 83” continued its international success with audiences and critics, as did the Wildside production “The Young Pope,” which became the most popular premiere for a new series on Sky in Italy and launched on Canal+ as its number-one new international drama of 2016 in France.

Thanks to strong organic and acquisitive growth, the digital businesses for the first time contributed more than 10 percent to RTL Group’s total revenues, having grown their revenues by 32 percent to €670 million. This was primarily due to BroadbandTV, StyleHaul and SpotX – the businesses bundled in the RTL Digital Hub – all of which saw dynamic growth. Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland strengthened its position in the digital advertising sector by acquiring a majority stake in the online video marketer Smartclip.

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Category in percent

Revenues by Category in percent

Penguin Random House

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Breakdown

Penguin Random House delivered a strong bestseller performance in 2016, led by the multimillion-selling Paula Hawkins thriller “The Girl on the Train” and the Jojo Moyes novels “Me Before You” and “After You.” The group’s business performance was impacted by the expected decline in e-book sales in the United States and the United Kingdom due mostly to new retail sales terms.

Including Verlagsgruppe Random House, the German publishing group wholly owned by Bertelsmann, Penguin Random House achieved a turnover of €3.4 billion in 2016 (previous year: €3.7 billion), reflecting a year-on-year decline of 9.6 percent. The revenue decline was mainly due to negative currency effects and portfolio changes, as well as lower sales of print and e-books. It was partly offset by fewer returns and positive developments in the audio formats. The book group’s operating EBITDA fell by 3.6 percent to €537 million (previous year: €557 million); higher savings from the integration process and lower other costs had a positive effect on earnings. The EBITDA margin was increased again to 16.0 percent (previous year: 15.0 percent).

In the United States, Penguin Random House publishers had 585 print and e-book titles in the “New York Times” bestseller lists last year, including 101 at number one. In addition to the novels by Hawkins and Moyes, the year’s biggest sellers across print, audio and digital formats included John Grisham’s “The Whistler,” Colson Whitehead’s “The Underground Railroad” and Paul Kalanithi’s “When Breath Becomes Air.” Multititle Dr. Seuss classics sold more than 11 million copies.

In the United Kingdom, Penguin Random House published 40 percent of all top 10 titles on the “Sunday Times” weekly bestseller lists. Top sellers included Lee Child’s “Night School,” the classic children’s books “The BFG” and “Matilda” by Roald Dahl, Jeff Kinney’s “Wimpy Kid” series and Jamie Oliver’s cookbooks, as well as the Hawkins and Moyes titles.

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial benefited from rising e-book sales, a strong new-title list, and net savings from its merger integration. In Spain, the Group grew its market share; in Latin America, the business outperformed the market in a challenging macro-economic environment.

In Germany, Verlagsgruppe Random House maintained its market-leading position. The publishing group had 379 titles on the “Spiegel” bestseller lists, including 17 at number one. Its bestselling authors included Jonas Jonasson, Charlotte Link and Juli Zeh.

Numerous Penguin Random House authors won internationally renowned awards last year, including Pulitzer Prizes for General Nonfiction, History and Autobiography and the National Book Award for Fiction.

Bertelsmann owns 53 percent of shares in Penguin Random House; Pearson 47 percent.

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

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Revenues by Category in percent

Gruner + Jahr

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Breakdown

Despite expenditure on the transformation to digital, Gruner + Jahr achieved an earnings turnaround by improving its operating profit year on year. Revenues dipped 1.9 percent to €1.6 billion (previous year: €1.6 billion), impacted both by the general trend in the print advertising and sales market and by changes to the portfolio, including in Austria and Spain. However, the growth in digital revenues nearly compensated for these organic and portfolio-driven effects. Overall, the digital share of total revenues in the core markets of Germany and France increased strongly. Operating EBITDA improved by 4.6 percent to €137 million (previous year: €131 million), driven mainly by the businesses in Germany. Against this backdrop, the EBITDA margin rose to 8.7 percent (previous year: 8.1 percent).

Thanks to further investments, G+J improved its revenues as well as its results in Germany. Print advertising sales were nearly stable, while sales revenues rose slightly. G+J Germany’s digital revenues saw strong growth. This dynamic development was fueled by significantly higher ad sales for the brand websites, as well as the performance marketer Ligatus. Beyond this, there were in-house developments – such as the AppLike marketing platform – as well as purchases, including Ligatus’s acquisition of the tech company LiquidM. The three largest G+J websites – “Stern,” “Gala” and “Brigitte” – each achieved record reach. G+J Germany also launched the multichannel video network Club of Cooks and expanded its e-commerce activities with the “Schöner Wohnen” shop.

New titles launched during the last two years – including “Barbara” and “Stern Crime” – and the Deutsche Medien- Manufaktur offerings also contributed to the revenue growth. The subsidiary cofounded with the Landwirtschaftsverlag publishing company began its work and successfully launched two new magazines: “Essen & Trinken mit Thermomix” and “Wolf.”

During the reporting period, G+J formed Germany’s largest content communication service provider: Territory. Through investments into ventures such as the Webguerillas digital agency, Territory contributed to G+J Germany’s revenue growth, as did Deutscher Pressevertrieb, which consolidated its market position by acquiring Axel Springer Vertriebsservice. The DDV Media Group also grew its revenues and results as it expanded its new businesses.

G+J EMS teamed up with the RTL subsidiary IP Deutschland to form the Ad Alliance. Under this umbrella, the marketing agents will develop cross-genre concepts, meaning that the two Bertelsmann subsidiaries now reach 99 percent of the German population in high-end journalistic environments with their portfolios.

In France, Prisma Media’s revenues and earnings remained largely stable. Declines in the print division were nearly entirely offset by the digital business, which increased its revenues significantly. By acquiring Groupe Cerise, Prisma Media took over an international digital media company with high growth potential, while also securing the market leadership in terms of video reach among the country’s publishing companies.

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Category in percent

Revenues by Category in percent

BMG

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Breakdown

Bertelsmann’s music subsidiary BMG saw sustained growth in the publishing and recorded music business and continued its internationalization. Revenues rose by 12.2 percent to €416 million (previous year: €371 million), both organic and acquisitive. This development was driven by the publishing business in the United Kingdom, Australia and continental Europe; a strong recorded music business in continental Europe, the United States and the United Kingdom; and the worldwide increase in revenue from streaming offerings. Operating EBITDA rose by 13.1 percent to €95 million (previous year: €84 million), thanks to the development in the United Kingdom and the United States. The EBITDA margin increased to 22.8 percent (previous year: 22.6 percent).

BMG strengthened its international presence, opening branches in Australia and Brazil. In all, BMG now has operations in countries that account for 75 percent of the global music market. Only a few months after its market entry in Australia, BMG concluded its takeover of the music operations of Alberts, one of the country’s foremost music companies. In China, BMG expanded its collaboration with the Alibaba Music Group to make it easier for international artists to access to the country’s digital music platforms.

Among the most important clients newly signed to BMG during the fiscal year was Pink Floyd founder and songwriter Roger Waters. BMG now represents Waters’s publishing interests in the Pink Floyd catalog, which includes the titles “Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall” and “Comfortably Numb.” Artists including Pitbull, Jamiroquai and Robin Schulz also chose to have BMG represent their publishing rights going forward. In the recorded music business, BMG signed artists including Blink-182, Nickelback, Rick Astley, A Perfect Circle and Max Giesinger.

Furthermore, BMG strengthened its portfolio through a series of acquisitions and catalog acquisitions. In the United Kingdom, for example, the acquisition of a majority stake in the ARC Music publishing catalog secured the rights to songs by artists including Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys and John Lee Hooker. Here, the company also expanded its business with the acquisition of Blondie’s catalog and acquired a publishing catalog from the BBC. BMG also largely completed the consolidation of its worldwide distribution of digital and physical recorded music.

Many BMG contract partners celebrated creative successes in 2016. In publishing, BMG songwriters helped international artists like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and David Guetta storm the charts. BMG also benefited from the success of its clients, including Frank Ocean, Robbie Williams, DJ Snake, Kings of Leon and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones. The company’s continued expansion of its recorded music business was accompanied by chart-topping releases – BMG went to the top of the UK charts with Rick Astley’s album “50” and to number one in both the United States and Britain with the album “California” by Blink-182.

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Category in percent

Revenues by Category in percent

Arvato

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Breakdown

Arvato recorded a very positive business performance in 2016, with nearly all Solution Groups growing their revenues and results. Arvato’s revenues rose by 1.4 percent to €3.8 billion (previous year: €3.8 billion). Despite economic challenges in a few markets, operating EBITDA increased by 14.7 percent to €359 million (previous year: €313 million); all Solution Groups contributed to this. The EBITDA margin improved to 9.4 percent, after 8.3 percent in the previous year.

Effective January 1, 2016, the printing and replication businesses that were previously part of Arvato were transferred to the newly created Bertelsmann Printing Group. At the same time, the communications agency Medienfabrik was assigned to Gruner + Jahr. The reorganization served to strengthen the focus on services within the Arvato Solution Groups, which first showed an impact in the 2016 reporting year.

Arvato CRM Solutions significantly increased both its revenues and earnings in the 2016 financial year. This growth was fueled mainly by new customer acquisitions in the core business areas of IT/Internet and Tourism and the further internationalization of the business. A service center that can accommodate around 1,400 employees was opened in Gurgaon, India.

Arvato SCM Solutions massively expanded its European logistics network, reflecting its excellent order situation. Among other things, a new distribution center in Gennep, Netherlands, was put into operation, the cornerstone was laid for the building of a new site in Dorsten and the logistics site at the Gütersloh headquarters was expanded. Beyond this, the Solution Group expanded its services businesses in sectors such as e-commerce, fashion & beauty, and healthcare. Moreover, it significantly strengthened its North American business by taking over deliveries to the United States for a major high-tech client.

Arvato Financial Solutions, the financial services businesses arm, also reported positive revenues and earnings. This solid business performance was mainly due to the provision of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services for international customers, the further rollout of the subsidiary AfterPay in Europe and a steadily growing business in the core market of Germany. To further consolidate its power to innovate, Arvato Financial Solutions opened an IT development and innovation center in Tallinn, Estonia, and set up a robotics lab in Dublin, Ireland.

Arvato Systems generated a consistently high demand for IT services and further accelerated its specialization in the core industries of Commerce, Media and Utilities by optimizing the portfolio while also investing in emerging fields such as cloud infrastructure.

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Category in percent

Revenues by Category in percent

Bertelsmann Printing Group

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Breakdown

Since January 1, 2016, all of Bertelsmann’s global offset and gravure printing activities, and several other service and production businesses, have been grouped in the Bertelsmann Printing Group (BPG). The newly created division enjoyed a successful year in an overall challenging market and made progress on key integration issues.

In the 2016 financial year, the Group saw revenues fall by 6.9 percent to €1,624 million (previous year: €1,744 million). This is mainly attributable to the sale of the Spanish printing operations in April 2015 and the closure of Sonopress USA in February 2016. Owing to a persistently declining print market and as a result of divestments, operating EBITDA declined by 4.8 percent to €118 million (previous year: €124 million). At 7.3 percent, the Group’s EBITDA margin remained near the previous year’s level (previous year: 7.1 percent).

BPG’s offset printing business remained virtually stable in financial year 2016, at a good earnings level. Mohn Media renewed important customer contracts in the retail segment during the year. GGP Media, a company that specializes in print solutions for book publishers, maintained its position in a competitive market environment, and Vogel Druck, a BPG subsidiary specializing in magazines and catalogs with small to medium-size print runs, won new reference customers.

The gravure printing activities bundled in the Prinovis Group developed positively overall. Two major new customers were attracted in the United Kingdom. These new orders will contribute to the long-term capacity utilization of the Liverpool site. Despite persistent price pressure, the German Prinovis sites recorded a solid business performance.

BPG’s US printers continued to face an intensely competitive situation in the book printing business. Declines in pocket book production were offset by the acquisition of a major customer in the publishing sector and by expanding the business to new sectors with innovative print products. The US printers’ operating result was above the previous year’s level.

Revenues at Sonopress declined as expected due to the closure of the US site in Weaverville, North Carolina. Meanwhile, at the Gütersloh headquarters, the company bucked the overall market trend by increasing its production volumes, revenues and earnings against the general market trend. In the spring, Sonopress became one of the first companies in the world to introduce fully automated production of UHD Blu-ray discs. By the end of 2016, it had produced more than two million copies of the high-resolution storage media.

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Category in percent

Revenue Breakdown

Bertelsmann Education Group

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Breakdown

Bertelsmann’s education holdings, grouped into the Bertelsmann Education Group, continued their expansion last year. The fully consolidated companies in the Education Group, which has been an independent business division since January 1, 2016, delivered a positive performance, generating a revenue increase of 28.9 percent to €142 million (previous year: €110 million). Operating EBITDA fell to €-17 million (previous year: €-5 million), mainly due to scheduled start-up losses for the further business expansion of the Group’s holdings in the online education services provider HotChalk and the online learning provider Udacity, both acquired in late 2015.

The e-learning provider Relias Learning, currently Bertelsmann’s most profitable education business, recorded significant growth, both organically and through acquisitions. The Bertelsmann subsidiary expanded its customer base from around 4,500 to more than 5,500 institutions, advanced various innovations to improve its products and expanded its business activities to new markets, including the United Kingdom, Germany and China. In addition, Relias made six acquisitions during the reporting period, among other things entering the market for acute care training by fully acquiring the US training companies Swank HealthCare and AHC Media.

Udacity expanded the internationalization of its business and is now active in Brazil, India and Germany. The company introduced five new Nanodegrees during the reporting period, including its program for Self-Driving Car Engineers.

HotChalk continued its partnerships with universities in the United States, supporting them in offering their courses to the digital world. Several thousand students at seven universities are currently enrolled in programs supported by HotChalk.

Alliant International University, which specializes in psychology, recorded rising revenues in the 2016 financial year. The university continued its transformation and began building a range of digital courses.

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Region in percent (without intercompany revenues)

Revenues by Category in percent

Revenues by Category in percent

Bertelsmann Investments

The Group’s four strategic investment funds, forming the division Bertelsmann Investments since January 1, 2016, further expanded their shareholdings in international start-ups during the year. Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI), Bertelsmann Brazil Investments (BBI), Bertelsmann India Investments (BII) and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI) made a total of 43 new investments, so that Bertelsmann held shares in 138 companies through the funds at the end of the year.

Across all countries, the focus was on investments in start-ups with innovative business models, for example, in the Fintech sector. All funds contributed to identifying digital trends that are important for the Group, supporting the portfolio companies with the further development of innovative business models and further strengthening Bertelsmann’s position as an attractive partner. Since 2012, the four investment funds have collectively invested more than €500 million in international start-ups.

The business performance of Bertelsmann Investments is largely measured by EBIT, which increased to €35 million (previous year: €-14 million) in 2016. Capital gains from divestments – above all at BAI – made a positive contribution to Group profit.

In China, BAI made 27 new investments during the reporting period and several follow-up investments in existing portfolio companies. Many of BAI’s portfolio companies provide online services to the country’s growing middle class, including the fitness app Keep, the dating platform Tantan, the bikesharing app Mobike and the Fintech company Yixin Capital. For the first time since the fund was established, the 2016 exit proceeds exceeded the investments during the year.

In India, Bertelsmann also further expanded its activities. BII invested in the fashion network Roposo, the Fintech company Lendingkart and Treebo, a technology-enabled branded budget hotel chain. In addition, BII participated in follow-up investments for existing portfolio companies such as the university services provider iNurture and Pepperfry, an online marketplace for furniture.

In Brazil, BBI further pursued the Group’s entry into the education business with a focus on healthcare. Together with its strategic partner Bozano Investimentos, the fund purchased stakes in NRE Education Group, a network of medical universities, and in Medcel, a provider of online preparatory courses for aspiring residents.

In the financial year 2016, BDMI invested, among other things, in the online video network FloSports. The fund focused on the virtual reality sector, where it invested in US companies such as 8i and Visionary VR, and German start-up Splash.