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Munich, 11.05.2010. The CTS Group maintained its strong growth rate in the first quarter of 2010. CTS EVENTIM AG, listed in the SDAX index (ISIN DE 0005470306), is Europe’s market leader in the ticketing field and the world’s third-biggest provider of live entertainment. In the months from January to March 2010, the CTS Group won additional market shares and achieved significant growth in all of its operating segments.
In the first quarter of 2010, the CTS Group generated EUR 127.8 million in revenue (Q1/2009: EUR 119.0 million, up 7.5%), an EBIT of EUR 22.7 million (Q1/2009: EUR 18.1 million, up 25.3%) and an EBITDA of EUR 25.0 million (Q1/2009: EUR 20.2 million, up 23.8%).
In the Ticketing segment, international expansion and high-margin Internet ticket sales were the growth drivers behind yet another boost in revenue and earnings figures. Between 1 January and 31 March 2010, the CTS Group sold around 3.9 million tickets via the Internet, a year-on-year increase of 21% (Q1/2009: around 3.2 million). During the quarter, the Group’s online portals logged 87 million visitors (Q1/2009: around 78 million). With revenue at EUR 40.3 million before consolidation of segments (Q1/2009: EUR 35.9 million, up 12.2%), an EBIT figure of EUR 12.3 million was generated (Q1/2009: EUR 10.6 million, up 16.1%). EBITDA, at EUR 14.1 million, was 15.6% higher than the EUR 12.2 million figure achieved in Q1/2009.
With a large number of attractive concerts and tours, the Live Entertainment segment generated EUR 89.1 million in revenue (Q1/2009: EUR 83.9 million, up 6.1%). The EBIT figure for the first three months was very encouraging, rising 38.1% to EUR 10.4 million (Q1/2009: EUR 7.5 million), while EBITDA increased 36.2% to EUR 10.9 million (Q1/2009: EUR 8.0 million). This means that the segment achieved its best-ever Q1 results since the IPO.
During the current business year, efforts will be focused on further growing the Internet ticketing operations and on expanding internationally by making further acquisitions.
At the Shareholders’ Meeting on 12 May 2010, the Management Board and Supervisory Board will propose a dividend for the 2009 business year of EUR 0.83 on each of the 24 million no-par bearer shares (2008 dividend: EUR 0.61). Around EUR 19.9 million is to be distributed in total, compared to EUR 14.6 million in 2009. This would be the highest dividend since the IPO in 2000 and the fifth dividend in succession to be paid by the Group.
