Construction planning service complements Selfio’s advisory offering

Marburg, 26 November 2020 – Selfio GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902), complements its extensive advisory offering with a professional construction planning service. Under the motto “Do it yourself – but do it right”, the 3U e-commerce in sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology has long distinguished itself from the competition through a variety of “how-to”-media, including currently more than 100 video tutorials on its own YouTube channel Selfio TV.

With regard to the planning services, Selfio focuses on the core areas of the products offered in its online shop. Heating, ventilation and solar thermal systems are professionally planned by the experienced Selfio team. “The new planning services fit in perfectly with Selfio and our philosophy and show once again that we are more than just an online shop”, emphasizes Selfio’s Managing Director Roger Moore.

Customers receive the classic services of a planning office at fixed prices according to their specific requirements: from the necessary calculations and plans for a professional installation to the material recommendations for the implementation of the project. This way, builders and refurbishers receive everything from one single source – without having to call on additional services from third parties. 

“In our strategic focus on online trading, we continue to see great potential for growth and gains in market share, but also for the steady improvement of earnings”, emphasises Michael Schmidt, Speaker of the Management Board of 3U HOLDING AG. “Our 12-point plan for our SHAC segment (sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology) also expressly targets the optimisation of our product range and service offering. With the planning service, we are responding to the growing interest of our customers and further expanding our competitive advantages.”

 

Further Information: 
Dr Joachim Fleing
Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG
Tel.: +49 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 6421 999-1222
E-mail: ir@3u.net

About 3U:
3U HOLDING AG (www.3u.net) has its headquarters in Marburg, Germany, and was founded in 1997. It is the operating management and investment holding company at the head of the 3U Group. It acquires, operates and sells companies in the three segments of ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology), Renewable Energies and SHAC (Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology). The 3U Group has successful and profitable business models based on megatrends in all three segments. It continues to expand its business activities dynamically, particularly in its strongest growth areas of cloud computing and online trading, in which it is striving to achieve leading positions in the market.

3U HOLDING AG’s shares are traded on XETRA, Tradegate and on the German regional stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0005167902; identifier: UUU).

Virtual weclapp sales partner day with more than 100 participants from four countries

  • weclapp introduces new executives: Head of Research and Development (AI) and Head of Partner Management
  • Cooperation with partners meets the needs of increasingly larger medium-sized customers

Marburg, 19 November 2020 – weclapp SE, a subsidiary of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902), held its annual Partner Day for its sales partners for the second time on 12 November 2020. weclapp also used the opportunity to introduce two new executives: Johannes Mehrer, PhD, as Head of Research and Development, and Sebastian Jung, the Head of Partner Management. With well over 100 participants from almost 90 companies, the virtual event reached IT service providers from Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.

The partner companies successfully use the cloud-based ERP platform weclapp themselves in their own operations; they support customer acquisition for weclapp, help the increasingly larger medium-sized customers with onboarding and take over their support for ongoing enquiries. Thanks to the collaboration possibilities of the platform, they work directly in weclapp with the individual customers to ensure that they define and use the optimal processes and functions for them in the growing wealth of possibilities.

The participating partners gained deep insights into various new product features in the areas of human resources, warehousing, and logistics, purchasing and accounting and weclapp mobile. weclapp, recently awarded for the fourth time as “ERP system of the year” by a jury of experts chaired by the University of Potsdam, continues to expand its technological pioneering position with the ongoing expansion of the functional range and improvement of the user experience.

The new head of research and development, Johannes Mehrer, used three current examples to show how efficiency increases are made possible by machine learning and Big Data functionalities which can soon be implemented in practice. With these innovative, future-oriented initiatives, weclapp is also pursuing the goal of providing its customers with noticeable competitive advantages – automation and thus a high increase in efficiency will become a significant benefit of the upcoming digitisation, especially for medium-sized companies.

Partner manager Sebastian Jung, who has been responsible for the expansion and maintenance of the partner network since August, led through the entire Partner Day. “Our partners are active, committed and the network is now becoming increasingly international. I am delighted about so much interaction in our virtual event and the expansion of our network,” summarised Jung.

In his final presentation, founder and CEO Ertan Özdil presented the first steps towards further developing the platform into a comprehensive ecosystem, in which programme extensions developed by the partners can be integrated directly into the platform as add-ons. One of the main goals is to increase the added value for the users and at the same time to give the partners the opportunity to reach more weclapp customers through better integrated solutions. weclapp expects a significant increase in turnover in the coming years through the sustainable strengthening of the partners. 

“Our partners and customers throughout Europe will benefit from everything we have already achieved today and are planning to do even more,” summarises weclapp CEO Ertan Özdil, “I know of no other software company that is gaining new customers with such drive – increasingly, larger companies from a wide range of industries are also appealing to us. It remains our ambition to become the most popular ERP system among medium-sized companies worldwide. Always listening to our customers, fulfilling and exceeding their wishes is a key to success – and our partners are important intermediaries in this process”.

 

New in the management team of weclapp SE

Sebastian Jung (born 1990)
has been partner manager of weclapp SE since August 2020 and is responsible for the coordination and support of partner sales. The studied sports manager comes from the Gießen 46ers, where he worked for almost seven years as sales manager of the basketball team. Since his school days, Jung has been actively involved in social, political and sports networks as an organiser and spokesperson.

Johannes Mehrer, PhD (born 1987)
has been working as head of research and development at weclapp since September 2020. Neuroscientist and psychologist, Johannes recently completed his doctorate on methods of machine learning in Cambridge. Thanks to stations in Burkina-Faso, Hamburg, Philadelphia, and Maastricht, Mehrer is internationally networked.

 

Further Information: 
Dr Joachim Fleing
Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG
Tel.: +49 (0) 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 (0) 6421 999-1222
E-mail: ir@3u.net

About 3U:
3U HOLDING AG (www.3u.net) has its headquarters in Marburg, Germany, and was founded in 1997. It is the operating management and investment holding company at the head of the 3U Group. It acquires, operates and sells companies in the three segments of ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology), Renewable Energies and SHAC (Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology). The 3U Group has successful and profitable business models based on megatrends in all three segments. It continues to expand its business activities dynamically, particularly in its strongest growth areas of cloud computing and online trading, in which it is striving to achieve leading positions in the market. 3U HOLDING AG’s shares are traded on XETRA, Tradegate and on the German regional stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0005167902; identifier: UUU).

3U HOLDING AG successfully stays the course and increases Group revenue and earnings

  • Strongest organic growth with cloud computing and telephony
  • Cash on hand and equity ratio at high Level
  • Construction progress of the new distribution centre

Marburg, 11 November 2020 – 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) once again increased consolidated revenues and earnings in the third quarter of the 2020 financial year compared with the same period of the previous year, thus continuing its growth course in the first nine months. The restrictions introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic only had a selective impact on business. The Management Board confirms the revenue and earnings forecast for the 2020 financial year.

Consolidated revenue of 3U HOLDING AG rose by EUR 6.28 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year, from EUR 38.21 million to EUR 44.49 million, which corresponds to growth of 16.4 %.

All three segments contributed to this development with the ITC (information and telecommunications technology) segment expanding its share of Group sales to over 30 % with growth of 33.9 %.

The ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology) segment generated 33.1 % (9M/2019: 27.1 %) of consolidated revenues, the Renewable Energies segment 16.0 % (9M/2019: 14.4 %) and the SHAC (Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology) segment 53.8 % (9M/2019: 58.9 %).

As neither 2019 nor 2020 saw any major mergers and acquisitions activities recognised in the balance sheet in the first nine months – with the exception of the acquisition of the Roge wind farm –, the changes in the income statement are largely attributable to the operating activities in the segments. Effects from the sale of the externally leased parts of the Adelebsen property, which was agreed at the end of the second quarter, may eventually be recognised in the fourth quarter of 2020 when ownership is transferred to the buyer.

The cost of materials increased at a disproportionately low rate of 11.1 % compared with the same period a year ago. The cost of materials ratio (cost of materials as a percentage of revenue) fell from 56.2 % in the first nine months of 2019 to 53.6 % in the first nine months of 2020. This development is mainly attributable to the growth of cloud computing and the telephony business in the ITC segment as well as the relatively lower share of the goods intensive SHAC segment.

Personnel expenses also rose disproportionately by 14.2 % to EUR 9.78 million (9M/2019: EUR 8.56 million). While as of 30 September 2020 a total of 233 persons were employed at 3U Group, seven more than a year ago (30 September 2019: 226 persons), the personnel expense ratio (personnel expenses as a percentage of revenue) declined slightly in the first nine months to 22.0 % (9M/2019: 22.4 %). In contrast, the personnel expenses ratio in the SHAC segment rose – mainly due to the temporary, extensive use of temporary staff at the distribution centre in Montabaur. In order to protect employees from possible infections, work was carried out there in two shifts, which could only be carried out with additional staff. This measure was reintroduced in the course of the fourth quarter.

In the first nine months of the 2020 financial year, the Group generated EBITDA of EUR 6.43 million (9M/2019: EUR 4.42 million). The improvement in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation is due to the consistently lower cost ratios. The EBITDA margin (EBITDA as a percentage of revenues) rose from 11.6 % in the same period of the previous year to 14.5 % in the first nine months of 2020.

Loss carryforwards, which were used in the past, have now been partially exhausted. As expected, tax expense therefore rose from EUR 0.05 million to EUR 0.81 million in the first nine months of 2020. The consolidated net profit for the period (after minorities) was EUR 0.60 million, around four times as high as in the same period of the previous year (9M/2019: EUR 0.14 million).

ITC segment (Information and Telecommunications Technology)

The ITC segment increased revenues by 33.9 % to EUR 13.86 million (9M/2020: EUR 10.35 million) and generated an EBITDA of EUR 3.66 million, 90.1 % higher than in the same period of the previous year (9M/2019: EUR 1.92 million). The EBITDA margin rose from 18.6 % in the first nine months of fiscal 2019 to 26.4 % in the first nine months of 2020. As a result of the measures taken against the COVID 19 pandemic, demand for telecommunications services has risen significantly since the second half of the first quarter, as reported. Although this effect levelled off again in the third quarter, the Telecommunications business area was able to expand its business by 26.5 % in the first nine months. Rising sales of value-added services also contributed significantly to this growth.

The activities of weclapp SE, i.e. the Cloud Computing business area, were also increased in the first nine months of 2020 with revenue growing by 52.7 % compared to the same period of the previous year. As an individual company, it generated an EBITDA margin of around 35 %.

Renewable Energies Segment

In the Renewable Energies segment, segment revenue increased by 29.1 % from EUR 5.52 million in the first nine months of 2019 to EUR 7.12 million in the reporting period. The Roge wind farm acquired at the beginning of the year contributed EUR 1.51 million to segment revenue. Earnings from wind and photovoltaic systems are barely at a satisfactory level as wind yield was slack in the third quarter. Segment EBITDA improved from EUR 4.35 million in the same period of the previous year to EUR 5.61 million in the first nine months of 2020. The EBITDA margin in the Renewable Energies segment was 78.7 % as in the same period of the previous year.

SHAC segment (Sanitary, Heating and Air-Conditioning Technology)

In the first nine months of 2020, revenue in the SHAC segment rose by 6.5 % from EUR 22.49 million (9M/2019) to EUR 23.95 million (9M/2020). The e-commerce business area grew significantly by 10.7 %. The cost of materials ratio in the SHAC segment remained constant at 77.4 % in a nine-month comparison. The twelve-point plan for improving earnings in the SHAC segment, which was launched at the beginning of the second quarter of 2020 by the Management Board in conjunction with the management teams in the e-commerce business area, provides for the increased use of private labels in the product range as well as measures in purchasing, product mix and marketing.

Segment EBITDA fell from EUR –0.14 million in the same period of the previous year to EUR –0.38 million in the first nine months of 2020. While the e-commerce business in the Group company Selfio again recorded a slightly positive EBITDA, the expenses for the expansion and optimisation of the supply chain as well as measures to protect the employees at the Montabaur site against infection impacted the segment EBITDA. While the SHAC segment almost broke even in the third quarter of the 2020 financial year, the first nine months of 2020 again produced a negative segment result (9M/2019: EUR –0.47 million; 9M/2020: EUR –0.84 million).

Financial position

Compared to 31 December 2019, financial funds as of 30 September 2020 have hardly changed and amounted to EUR 17.52 million at the end of the third quarter of 2020. Including restricted cash deposits, liquid funds as of 30 September 2020 amount to EUR 20.06 million.

The start of construction of the distribution centre also affects the changes in key balance sheet items. The increase in property, plant and equipment already reflects the progress of construction work and corresponds to the increase in financial liabilities on the liabilities side. Nevertheless, the 3U Group reports a net cash position (cash and cash equivalents minus current and non-current financial liabilities) of EUR 0.94 million and positive working capital of EUR 26.15 million. In contrast, the gearing ratio was increased to 76.0 % as of 30 September 2020 (31 December 2019: 73.0 %).

3U HOLDING AG continues to have a solid equity ratio of 56.8 % (31 December 2019: 57.8 %).

Outlook

After the good performance during the 2020 financial year to date, the Management Board reaffirms its forecast and expects a strong increase in revenue. In 2020, revenues of between EUR 58.0 million and EUR 63.0 million are expected. Including income from the sale of assets, EBITDA is expected to be between EUR 10.0 million and EUR 12.0 million. Due to higher depreciation and amortisation and higher tax expenses, consolidated net income is expected to be between EUR 2.0 million and EUR 3.0 million according to the annual planning. The Management Board assumes that the economic restrictions in the course of the measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020 financial year will   have no significant negative impact on business performance. However, the extent to which targets will be achieved depends on the successful transfer of assets sold to the buyers in the course of the fourth quarter.

“The whole course of business to date shows: We are on a good course for 2020 and have also shown that we are well positioned to meet the challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic. The key figures in our strategic focus areas of online trading and cloud computing are developing as planned and better,” says a pleased Michael Schmidt, Speaker of the Management Board of 3U HOLDING AG. “It is already becoming apparent that we will enter the coming financial year with great momentum and that we can continue our success in megatrends.”

Quarterly Announcement

The complete quarterly Announcement for the first nine months of the 2020 financial year will be published today, 11 November 2020. It can be downloaded from the company’s website (www.3u.net) under “Investor Relations/Reports”.

 

Further Information: 
Dr Joachim Fleing
Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG
Tel.: +49 (0) 6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 (0) 6421 999-1222
E-mail: ir@3u.net

About 3U:
3U HOLDING AG (www.3u.net) has its headquarters in Marburg, Germany, and was founded in 1997. It is the operating management and investment holding company at the head of the 3U Group. It acquires, operates and sells companies in the three segments of ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology), Renewable Energies and SHAC (Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology). The 3U Group has successful and profitable business models based on megatrends in all three segments. It continues to expand its business activities dynamically, particularly in its strongest growth areas of cloud computing and online trading, in which it is striving to achieve leading positions in the market. 3U HOLDING AG’s shares are traded on XETRA, Tradegate and on the German regional stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0005167902; identifier: UUU).