weclapp SE and Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG cooperate

  • The discoverFP customer portal and weclapp ensure more efficiency in everyday business and secure communication and business processes
  • Partners address the same medium-sized customers
  • Start in Germany, future internationalisation possible

Marburg, 8 September 2020 – Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG (ISIN DE000FPH9000), expert for secure mail business and secure digital communication processes (FP), and weclapp SE, a subsidiary of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902), have agreed on a sales cooperation. Under the terms of the agreement, FP will provide its customers with online access to the cloud-based ERP platform weclapp via the portal discoverFP. Initially, all customers of the German FP sales organisation will have this possibility. The agreement can be extended to other FP national companies in the future. FP receives commissions on the sales generated in this way at weclapp SE.

The active marketing is to start shortly.

Ertan Özdil, CEO of weclapp SE, underlines: “Francotyp-Postalia and weclapp address the same medium-sized customer groups: successful companies and service providers who are currently on the road to digitalisation. Also, FP brings weclapp within reach of their broad customer base, and weclapp opens up comprehensive and easy-to-use possibilities for faster, team-oriented work for these companies”.

“For discoverFP, we are constantly looking for attractive offers that make our customers’ everyday office life and their communication and business processes more digital and thus easier and more efficient,” adds Patricius de Gruyter, Chief Sales Officer of Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG. “In our search for an innovative, comprehensive ERP solution for medium-sized businesses, we found what we were looking for at weclapp.

The cloud-based one-stop platform discoverFP represents the convenient way for FP’s customers to enter the new, digital working world. In addition to practical enhancements for reporting cost centres and managing postage rates, which make letter communication with a modern franking machine even more efficient and cost-saving, discoverFP also allows other FP products and offers from partners to be discovered and used. FP customers benefit, for example, from FP Parcel Shipping (parcel shipping solution for the American market) or the process-supporting FP Sign (eSignature workflow solution for every industry). The overall goal is to reduce administrative effort, make processes more efficient and, as a partner, to accompany customers step by step on the path to meaningful digitalisation.

As a cloud-based ERP platform, weclapp enables its enterprise customers to process all business transactions from customer contact to invoicing comprehensively with only one software, independent of location and system. Developed for internal and comprehensive teamwork, weclapp ensures faster workflows and more efficient work. The intuitive user guidance simplifies the introduction of the software, the onboarding of the employees and the daily work. The offer as Software-as-a-Service makes on-site installations – for introduction or updates – obsolete: Users automatically always work with the latest version. With ISO/IEC 27001 certification and data hosting in German data centres, the software meets high data security standards.

 

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

About weclapp:
weclapp SE was founded in 2008 and offers since 2013 the cloud-based platform of the same name. Since market entry it has grown by an average of 50% each year and is operating profitably. With Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) it addresses mainly small and medium-sized companies, especially with the integrated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) functionalities. Customers thus have unlimited access to their business transactions and data from any Internet-capable end device and from any location connected to the Internet. With storage and computing capacities in Germany and Switzerland and the certification according to ISO 27001, weclapp offers a high degree of data security. The platform has repeatedly been awarded the title of ERP system of the year. The weclapp SE is based in Frankfurt am Main with further locations in Marburg and Kitzingen. It is a subsidiary of the 3U HOLDING AG based in Marburg.

About Francotyp-Postalia:
The international, listed FP Group with headquarters in Berlin, Germany, is an expert in secure mailing business and secure digital communication processes (FP = “secure digital communication”). As market leader in Germany and Austria, the FP Group offers digital solutions for companies and authorities as well as products and services for efficient mail processing and the consolidation of business mail in the “Software/Digital”, “Franking and Inserting” and “Mail Services” segments. The Group generated revenue of more than EUR 210 million in 2019. FP has subsidiaries based in ten different countries and is represented by its own trading network in an additional 40 countries. With a company history spanning almost 100 years, FP possesses a unique DNA in the areas of actuating elements, sensor systems, cryptography and connectivity. FP has a more than twelve percent share in the global market for franking systems. In the digital sector, it offers unique, highly secure solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT/IIoT) and for signing documents digitally.

Further information is available at www.fp-francotyp.com.

About 3U:
3U HOLDING AG (www.3u.net) 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).

Selfio launches its own water softening system

  • Further step in implementing the own-brand strategy
  • With “Selfio Watersoft” customers receive high-quality water technology at attractive conditions

Marburg, 31 August 2020 – Selfio GmbH (www.selfio.de), a wholly owned subsidiary of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902), has now launched “Selfio Watersoft”, another product under its own brand name. According to Selfio’s specifications, the water softening system are produced in two model sizes by one of the world’s leading suppliers of water treatment technologies in Europe and certified according to European quality standards.

After underfloor heating systems, water softening systems represent the second largest product group in the Selfio range. They account for around 20% of sales. The “Selfio Watersoft” models complement the existing portfolio of products from other brand suppliers. Selfio will also offer its customers attractive additional services related to water softening. With the product launch, Selfio takes another major step in the implementation of its own-brand strategy. Contract manufacturing under its own management is making a significant contribution to reducing the cost of materials in this product segment and should help to further increase the profitability of online trading in the 3U Group.

“In addition to cultivating and intensifying the diverse supplier relationships, the own-brand strategy is a further component with which we are further consolidating and expanding our competitive position,” emphasises Roger Moore, Managing Director of 3U E-Commerce. “Our customers get an excellent price-performance ratio. With ‘Selfio Watersoft’ we are proving this once again. Around these products with high quality technology, easy to install and at a competitive price, we offer our customers consulting services and warranties. In this way, we enable them to improve their quality of living and life safely, personally and sustainably.”

Further information:
Dr. Joachim Fleïng
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).

3U builds new distribution centre

  • 3U HOLDING AG invests extensively in the expansion and optimisation of its logistics capacities at the Mayen-Koblenz site
  • “Ground-breaking ceremony” in the Industrial Area A61, district Mayen-Koblenz
  • Building contractor GOLDBECK commissioned to realise the 14,000 m² hall by the end of March 2021
  • 3U, the district of Mayen-Koblenz and business development are pleased about the creation of up to 120 new jobs

Marburg and Koblenz, August 13, 2020 – With a ceremonial “ground-breaking ceremony”, 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) heralded the start of construction of a new distribution centre on its site in the Industrial Area A61 in the Mayen-Koblenz district. With the start of construction work, 3U is taking another major step towards optimising and expanding its supply chain for its online trading activities.

With its subsidiaries in the SHAC segment (sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology), particularly with the online trading of Selfio GmbH, the 3U Group is successfully active in the megatrend of e-commerce. The 3U online trade in systems and components for DIY and home improvement has doubled its sales volume over the last five years. For the planned further dynamic growth, 3U is now creating future-oriented new capacities and investing around 10 million euros in the construction of the new location.

In the distribution centre with 15,300 m² gross floor space, around 12,000 pallet spaces as well as several block storage and picking areas will be set up. The 3U Group will locate up to 120 workplaces at the site, both for storage and shipping activities and in the administrative area, for which 20 office and four meeting rooms are planned on the mezzanine floor. The distribution centre will be operated by PELIA Gebäudesysteme GmbH, which is responsible for the supply chain in the SHAC segment of the 3U Group.

“The location in the A61 industrial estate near Koblenz with its optimal transport links is very much in line with our planning,” emphasised Michael Schmidt, Spokesman of the Management Board of 3U HOLDING AG, in his speech. “We feel very comfortable in the neighbourhood of logistics experts like Amazon, LIDL and others. The support of the district of Mayen-Koblenz, the economic development of the Middle Rhine region and the participating communities made the decision even easier for us! Dr. Alexander Saftig, County Commissioner of the Mayen-Koblenz district, was pleased that with the start of construction by 3U and GOLDBECK, excavators are now moving in everywhere.

“The planning of the industrial area and its marketing can be seen by the district, the city of Koblenz and the communities of Bassenheim and Kobern-Gondorf as a success of their close cooperation and as a further milestone for the Middle Rhine commercial region,” said the County Commissioner. The Koblenz branch of the construction company GOLDBECK was commissioned with the planning and construction of the distribution centre. The general contractor plans to complete the new distribution centre by the end of March 2021.

The short construction time is made possible by GOLDBECK’s special construction method – elementary construction with system. Branch manager Marco Bayer: “Today’s symbolic ground-breaking ceremony is the first major milestone in the construction progress. We are very much looking forward to further cooperation and are proud that with the realisation of the new distribution centre in Mayen-Koblenz we have been able to create the structural conditions for the further growth of 3U Holding”. GOLDBECK sees itself as a partner both for medium-sized businesses and for large companies, investors, project developers and public clients.

GOLDBECK has been active in the region since 2008 and since then has carried out an impressive series of prominent buildings – including the new building for Mittelrhein-Verlag in Koblenz.Online trade has not only established itself as a high-growth trading segment in Germany. Within this industry, products for do-it-yourselfers and DIY enthusiasts are in particularly high demand. In addition, many people are currently staying longer at home because of the restrictions imposed to combat the corona pandemic, and some are taking the opportunity to improve their living environment.

3U online trading supports customers in this process not only by supplying materials and tools. A key unique selling point is the extensive range of advice available – both online and offline: on the YouTube channel SelfioTV with more than 80 advice videos, but also with individual planning services and personal contact. The range of services meets with broad approval from customers, who have repeatedly voted Selfio into the circle of the “Best Online Shops” with their portal ratings.

In order to maintain and further strengthen customer satisfaction, 3U is expanding and optimizing the supply chain for this service offering. The move to the new distribution centre planned for the first half of 2021 will help to consolidate and expand the leading position among specialised online retailers.

 

Further information:
Dr. Joachim Fleïng
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).

3U Group continues growth course

  • Positive special effects from COVID-19 measures – only selective curtailments
  • Cloud computing grows by 50 %, with high contribution to earnings
  • High demand for telecommunications services
  • Forecast confirmed: 3U expects significant sales and EBITDA growth in financial year 2020

Marburg, 12 August 2020 – 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) continues its growth course within the Group and increased sales and earnings in the first half of 2020. The restrictions introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic have only had a selective impact on business. Instead, there were positive special effects in some business areas. The Management Board confirms the revenue and earnings forecast for fiscal year 2020.
Consolidated sales of 3U HOLDING AG rose by EUR 4.95 million in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year, from EUR 25.46 million to EUR 30.41 million, which corresponds to growth of 19.4 %. All three segments contributed to this development. The Cloud Computing business area in particular was again able to increase its revenues by more than 50%, as planned. The Telecommunications business area also recorded a renewed upturn in business.

Neither 2019 nor 2020 saw significant one-off effects from the sale of assets in the 3U Group in the first half of the year. The half-year financial statements therefore provide a clear insight into the operating business success of the Group and the segments.
The ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology) segment generated 29.7 % (H1/2019: 27.0 %) of consolidated revenues, the Renewable Energies segment 18.0 % (H1/2019: 16.1 %) and the SHAC (Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology) segment 53.0 % (H1/2019: 57.2 %).

The cost of materials increased disproportionately by 14.9 % compared with the prior-year period. The cost of materials ratio (cost of materials as a percentage of revenue) fell from 55.2 % in the first half of 2019 to 53.1 % in the first six months of 2020.
Personnel expenses rose by 16.0 % to EUR 6.45 million (H1/2019: EUR 5.56 million). The personnel expenses ratio (personnel expenses as a percentage of revenues) declined slightly to 21.2 % in the first half of the year (H1/2019: 21.8 %). 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 personnel.

In the first six months of fiscal 2020, the Group generated EBITDA of EUR 4.69 million (H1/2019: EUR 3.47 million). The improvement in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation is attributable to the growth in sales and the consistently lower cost ratios. The EBITDA margin (EBITDA as a percentage of sales) rose from 13.6 % in the same period of the previous year to 15.4 % in the first half of 2020.
In the second quarter of 2020, a slightly negative net result of EUR -0.13 million was recorded due to higher depreciation and taxes (Q2/2019: net result EUR -0.03 million). For the first six months of 2020, a positive consolidated net income of EUR 0.74 million was generated (H1/2019: EUR 0.46 million), an increase of 58.6.

ITC segment (Information and Telecommunications Technology)
In the first half of 2020, business in the area of cloud-based solutions continued to grow by more than 50% compared to the same period of the previous year. As a result, the share of segment revenue attributable to cloud-based solutions rose to more than one third for the first time (H1/2019: around 30%).

As a result of the measures taken to combat the COVID 19 pandemic, particularly due to contact restriction measures and the widespread use of home office work in many companies, demand for telecommunications services has risen significantly since the second half of the first quarter. The Telecommunications business area was able to continuously expand its business in the first half of the year. Following the declines of the previous year, this also led to revenue growth in the Voice Retail business area from EUR 1.02 million to EUR 1.19 million. However, the 24.2% growth in the Telecommunications business area is also due to the further increase in revenues from value-added services.
Total revenues in the ITC segment rose by 31.3% to EUR 9.03 million (H1/2019: EUR 6.88 million).

The EBITDA margin rose from 20.4% in the first six months of the 2019 fiscal year to 26.4% in the first half of 2020, corresponding to a segment EBITDA of EUR 2.38 million in the first half of 2020 (H1/2019: EUR 1.40 million).

Renewable Energies Segment
In the Renewable Energies segment, segment sales increased by 34.0 % from EUR 4.09 million in the first half of 2019 to EUR 5.48 million in the reporting period. The Roge wind farm acquired at the beginning of the year contributed EUR 1.24 million to segment sales. Even without this contribution, the segment would still have recorded revenue growth, because after the exceptionally strong wind volume in the first quarter, earnings from wind turbines were significantly lower in the second quarter due to seasonal factors, but remained at a satisfactory level.

The segment EBITDA also improved from EUR 3.26 million in the same period of the previous year to EUR 4.52 million in the first half of 2020. The EBITDA margin in the Renewable Energies segment was 82.5 % in the reporting period (H1/2019: 79.7 %).

SHAC segment (Sanitary, Heating and Air-Conditioning Technology)
While turnover in the SHAC segment was again increased, the earnings trend remains unsatisfactory. Sales in the first half of the year were increased by 10.6 % from EUR 14.57 million (H1/2019) to EUR 16.11 million (H1/2020). In particular, the Online Trade business area showed significant growth. However, the cost of materials ratio in the SHAC segment rose again, from 77.5% to 78.6%. This development is expected to be reversed in the coming quarters with an increased use of private labels in the product range.
EBITDA declined from EUR -0.10 million in the previous year to EUR -0.56 million in the first half of 2020. While the online trading business at the Group company Selfio recorded a slightly positive EBITDA, the expenses for the expansion and optimisation of the supply chain and the two-shift operation to protect employees at the Montabaur site are currently affecting the segment EBITDA.

Summary of second quarter results
The first quarter is regularly stronger in terms of sales and earnings than the second. This also applies to the current financial year. Group sales rose by 16.9 % to EUR 14.42 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the second quarter of 2019 (Q2/2019: EUR 12.34 million) but did not reach the volume of EUR 15.99 million in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The ITC, Renewable Energies and SHAC segments increased their revenues compared to the same quarter of the previous year. With the exception of the SHAC segment, which recorded a decline in earnings for the reasons mentioned above, the operating business areas generated higher earnings than in Q2/2019. A detailed presentation of the segment development can be found in the notes to the half-year financial statements.

Group EBITDA for the second quarter of 2020 reached EUR 1.79 million, exceeding the figure for the same quarter of the previous year (EUR 1.41 million) by 26.8 %.

Financial and asset position
In order to secure liquidity and due to the custodian fees charged by banks for higher credit balances, the 3U Group invested around € 3.0 million in gold holdings as a short-term investment. In addition, the 3U Group has cash and cash equivalents of EUR 17.41 million (31 December 2019: EUR 20.55 million). Cash and cash equivalents thus exceed total current and non-current financial liabilities by EUR 0.44 million (31 December 2019: net assets EUR 2.83 million).

The balance sheet total of EUR 82.97 million as of 30 June 2020 was EUR 2.49 million higher than as of 31 December 2019, when it amounted to EUR 80.48 million. The balance sheet extension is mainly due to the acquisition of a site in Koblenz and the business-related increase in inventories and trade receivables.

Long- and short-term financial liabilities were further reduced. They amounted to EUR 16.97 million as of 30 June 2020 after EUR 17.72 million as of 31 December 2019. At EUR 4.91 million, non-current and current lease liabilities as of June 30, 2020 were EUR 0.58 million higher than at the end of 2019 (31 December 2019: EUR 4.33 million). Provisions in the amount of EUR 1.65 million were only slightly higher at the end of the half-year than at the 2019 balance sheet date (EUR 1.45 million).

Thanks to the profit carried forward of EUR 1.54 million and the consolidated net income of EUR 0.74 million, consolidated equity reached EUR 47.79 million (31 December 2019: EUR 46.51 million). The equity ratio was thus almost unchanged at 57.6% at the end of the first half of 2020 (31 December 2019: 57.8%).

Forecast confirmed
After a good first half year, the Management Board reaffirms its forecast and continues to expect a strong increase in revenue despite the ongoing restrictions to combat the COVID 19 pandemic. In 2020, revenues of between EUR 58.0 million and EUR 63.0 million are expected. In addition, income from the sale of assets has been included in the planning. EBITDA of between EUR 10.0 million and EUR 12.0 million is expected. Based on current planning, consolidated earnings will be between EUR 2.0 million and EUR 3.0 million due to higher depreciation and amortisation and higher tax expenses. At present, it is not possible to predict whether and to what extent the economic restrictions will remain in place throughout the year and whether this could necessitate corrections to the forecast in the further course of the year.

“Our strategic focus on cloud computing and online trading has once again proven its worth in the first half of 2020. Even in view of the impairments caused by the measures to combat the pandemic, we are recording high demand throughout the Group, particularly for our telecommunications services,” summarises Michael Schmidt, Speaker of the Management Board of 3U HOLDING AG. “We are tackling the remaining weaknesses; we are consistently expanding our strengths. We continue to see great potential for profitable growth in the second half of the year and beyond”.

Half-year financial report
The interim financial report for the first six months of the 2020 financial year will be published today, 12 August 2020. It can be downloaded from the company’s website (www.3u.net) under “Investor Relations/Reports“.

 

Further information:
Dr. Joachim Fleïng
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).

Social responsibility in times of social distancing

Indian development team of Cloud ERP provider weclapp helps the citizens of Mumbai in the Corona crisis

  • Food packages distributed in the neighbourhood of the Indian office
  • Close collaboration with local aid organisation Sahaara Charitable

Marburg/Frankfurt/Mumbai, July 27, 2020 – weclapp SE, a subsidiary of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN: DE0005167902), is actively committed to safeguarding the health of its India-based employees. Together with its development team, it is supporting the neighbourhood of the office in Navi Mumbai (New Mumbai). On July 24, 2020, the programmers, in cooperation with the Sahaara relief organization, distributed food packages to 200 people over a lockdown period. At its contact point near Turbhe station, the aid organisation advises and provides support mainly for women and children in a district stricken by great poverty.

With more than one million officially confirmed Covid-19 cases, India is one of the three countries in the world most hard hit by the pandemic. While the health system is stretched beyond its limits, the lack of social security of three quarters of the working population is currently plunging many families into increased poverty, famine and hopelessness. Cramped housing conditions make it unfeasible to stock up on food during a lockdown. For families such as these protecting and feeding themselves is virtually impossible.
Ertan Özdil, weclapp SE’s CEO, is mindful of the social responsibility of the German cloud ERP provider for its Indian team: “As a company that benefits from highly qualified IT developers in India, we feel responsible and want to help! Though we can only make a small contribution in such a vast country, we are doing what we can: as an employer operating out of our head office in Frankfurt and with our Indian colleagues on site. Fortunately, our employees in Mumbai are in good health and want to help their fellow citizens to get through the crisis better. In Sahaara, we have found an aid organisation through which we can provide 200 people with food for two weeks. Our colleagues in Mumbai are personally involved in the distribution.”
weclapp employs a team of programmers in Mumbai, India, to accelerate the development of the weclapp cloud-based ERP software platform. Before the outbreak of the crisis, at the beginning of 2020, weclapp had already equipped all employees with notebooks and ensured that its Indian employees  also had health insurance cover, bringing the company benefits for team members there in line with other locations.
“It is our concern to continuously and seamlessly expand our cloud-based platform for corporate software. A team sticks together – through thick and thin. At the moment, we are facing very challenging times, and it is therefore our corporate and personal responsibility to help wherever we can,” Özdil summarizes.
As part of its internationalization strategy, weclapp SE is not only planning to expand its Indian team, but also to establish a new location in the US in order to forge ahead with the research and development of the cloud-based ERP platform weclapp around the clock. weclapp SE builds on a respectful corporate culture which has team orientation, responsibility, reliability and openness as core concepts.

 

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

3U HOLDING AG sells the externally leased parts of the Adelebsen site

Marburg, 1 July 2020 – 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) is selling the parts of its property in Adelebsen, Lower Saxony, including the existing buildings. An agreement to this effect was signed on 30 June 2020.

As reported, income from the sale of assets has also been included in the 2020 planning. The sales proceeds will result in earnings as expected of EUR 1.5 million for 3U HOLDING AG and a net cash inflow of EUR 5.0 million. Those parts of the site that are currently held by 3U for operating a solar park will remain with the company and be used for this purpose. The roof areas still required for this will be leased back after the sale.

“Our strategic focus is and will remain cloud computing and online trading,” emphasises Michael Schmidt, Speaker of the Management Board of 3U HOLDING AG. “Focusing thereon includes divesting ourselves of peripheral activities to the extent that we can create value for our shareholders. We are terminating the letting of space and buildings at the Adelebsen location, but will continue to generate electricity with our solar park, which will continue to generate pleasing and sustainable sales and earnings for us”.

 

Further information:
Dr. Joachim Fleïng
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).

3U subsidiaries weclapp and Selfio prepared for tax rate reduction

Marburg, 30 June 2020 – When the reduction of the sales tax rates decided by the Federal Government comes into force on 1 July 2020, Selfio GmbH and weclapp SE, both subsidiaries of 3U HOLDING AG [ISIN: DE0005167902], will be well prepared for the changeover.

Selfio, the building services online shop for do-it-yourselfers and self-builders, sees a great potential for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts in the reduction. “Who handles larger projects at the house in the second half of the year, does well to take along the tax saving from the tax rate change – which we pass on of course – with the purchase of larger plants , advises Dominik Schmucki, managing director of the Selfio GmbH. “For these customers, the reduction of the value-added tax is equivalent to a discount.” The building services Onlineshop addresses do-it-yourselfers with its already favorable final prices and installation recommendations and tricks.

Meanwhile weclapp SE creates with the cloud based ERP system the conditions for its customers to show the value added tax correctly on all trading places. The ERP software, designed as a SaaS platform, can be operated via any internet-capable browser and can therefore be used without maintenance. “Internationally, we already map different tax rates – this change is nothing different. In addition, we can react to every change and carry out updates at any time”, says Ertan Özdil, founder and CEO of weclapp SE. He knows that his customers – especially now – wish to concentrate on their products and services.

“With our business models in cloud computing and e-commerce, we are prepared for the future: Being independent of location, autonomy, speed of reaction – these are the strengths that are even more important in the new everyday life”, says Michael Schmidt, founder and CEO of 3U HOLDING AG.

 

Further information:
Dr. Joachim Fleïng
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).

“Selfio powered by WOLF” – new sales cooperation

  • Leading supplier of heating and air-conditioning systems relies on Selfio’s online sales strength
  • Long-standing cooperation is further strengthened and expanded

Marburg, 16 June 2020 – WOLF GmbH (www.wolf.eu), one of the world’s leading suppliers of heating and air conditioning systems with ten subsidiaries and 60 distribution partners in over 50 countries, has concluded an agreement with Selfio GmbH (www.selfio.de), a wholly owned subsidiary of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN: DE0005167902), for the extended online marketing of selected WOLF products. The partners will initially take the opportunity to sell ventilation systems of the Comfort Domestic Ventilation CWL series under the brand “Selfio powered by WOLF” in Selfio’s online shop.

The previous collaboration between the two partners has already been characterised by high and steadily increasing sales volumes. With this new step, WOLF is taking account of the reliability of the partnership and the sales strength of Selfio. In addition to the high quality of WOLF’s products, the success of the cooperation has already been based on the nationwide use of Selfio’s own logistics as well as on the online marketing and consulting expertise, which represents a significant competitive advantage for one of Germany’s leading specialist online retailers.

For Selfio, the cooperation at mutually advantageous conditions is an approach to expanding the share of own brands in the product range. In addition, Selfio strengthens its market positioning in the heating and air-conditioning technology sector and opens up additional economic potential. The start with the current ventilation system will soon be followed by a whole series of other products, initially the associated duct system. The expansion of the joint product range will further increase planning reliability for both sides.

“The WOLF Comfort Domestic Ventilation system, like other WOLF products, is an integral part of our product range”, emphasises Dominik Schmucki, Managing Director of Selfio GmbH: “Around the new brand we have created a range of attractive additional services for our customers, from which we expect a high level of acceptance and thus further growth”.

Details about the current ventilation product can be found at YouTube.

 

Further information:
Dr. Joachim Fleïng
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).

Despite COVID-19: 3U on course for success with a strong first quarter of 2020

  • Group revenues rise by 21.8 %, EBITDA increases by 40.9 %
  • All three segments report growth; telecommunications also stronger; logistics optimisation in the SHAC segment is being continued
  • Debts further reduced, equity ratio 58.4 %
  • Forecast for the 2020 financial year confirmed

Marburg, 13 May 2020 – In the first quarter of 2020, 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) has strongly increased its consolidated revenues. At EUR 15.99 million, it came in 21.8 % higher than in the same quarter of the previous year (Q1 2019: EUR 13.12 million). Above-average growth was recorded by the Cloud Computing business area, which increased by 56.2 %, but the e-commerce business area also grew by 16.0 % from a significantly higher starting level. Even the Telecommunications business area was able to expand its business again for the first time in the first quarter. Favourable weather conditions and the first-time inclusion of the newly acquired Roge wind farm led to a noticeable increase in revenue in the Renewable Energies segment. Wind and solar energy also made a pleasing contribution to the Group’s EBITDA. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation rose disproportionately by 40.9 % to EUR 2.90 million (Q1 2019: EUR 2.06 million). Consolidated net income rose by 75.2% to EUR 0.86 million (Q1 2019: EUR 0.49 million).

Segment results

The ITC (information and telecommunications technology) segment recorded a 26.4 % increase in sales from EUR 3.44 million to EUR 4.35 million in the first quarter of 2020, the first quarter of a year-on-year increase for several periods. In the course of the measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to the spread of work from the home office and measures to restrict contact, demand for telecommunication services rose significantly in the second half of the quarter. Following the declines of the previous quarters, this also led to revenue growth in the Voice Retail segment from EUR 0.55 million to EUR 0.57 million. However, the 14.7 % growth in the Telecommunications business area overall is also attributable to the already expected increase in revenues from value-added services. The cloud computing business at the subsidiary weclapp grew by 56.2 % compared with the first quarter of 2019. Its EBITDA margin rose from around 24.8 % to around 32.5 % due to lower staff growth. In view of the difficult economic situation associated with the measures to combat the COVID 19 pandemic, changes in the group of existing and potential customers could possibly have an adverse effect on the cloud computing business. The ITC segment’s EBITDA improved by 52.1 % to EUR 1.16 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 (Q1 2019: EUR 0.76 million). Also thanks to the low depreciation and amortization in this business area, the segment result increased by 35.1 % to EUR 0.75 million (Q1 2019: EUR 0.55 million).

The Renewable Energies segment achieved with EUR 3.49 million the highest quarterly sales in the last fiscal years. Compared to the first quarter of 2019 (Q1 2019: EUR 2.41 million), sales increased by 44.4 %. The Roge wind farm, acquired at the turn of the year, contributed EUR 0.84 million to this increase. However, even without this acquisition, the very good wind yield combined with high solar irradiation would have increased segment revenues by 9.4 % to EUR 2.64 million compared to the already good first quarter of 2019. Segment EBITDA rose by 43.4 % to EUR 2.86 million compared to EUR 1.99 million in the first three months of 2019. After depreciation and amortization on the wind projects and interest expenses for the loans used there declined relative to revenues, segment earnings reached EUR 1.32 million, an increase of 64.1 % (Q1 2019: EUR 0.80 million).

Sales in the SHAC segment (sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology) were 13.3 % higher at EUR 8.25 million (Q1 2019: EUR 7.29 million). The strategically important e-commerce business of the subsidiary Selfio grew disproportionately in this segment by 16.0 %. Higher cost of materials following the loss of a supplier and increased selling expenses in the wake of the measures taken against the COVID 19 pandemic led to a decline in EBITDA. In the SHAC segment as a whole, the cost of materials ratio also rose to 79.1 % (Q1 2019: 76.8 %). The further implementation of the own brand strategy will help to improve this ratio again in the future. The segment EBITDA was additionally burdened by expenses in connection with the optimisation and expansion of logistics capacities in the run-up to the construction of the new distribution centre and was negative at EUR -0.36 million (Q1 2019: EUR 0.03 million). The segment result declined to EUR -0.46 million (Q1 2019: EUR -0.05 million).

Increase of cash position and shareholders’ equity

The cash inflow from operating activities developed favourably and reached EUR 1.73 million (Q1 2019: cash inflow of EUR 1.68 million). As the cash outflows from investing and financing activities were significantly lower than in the first quarter of 2019, a clearly positive addition to financial resources of EUR 1.08 million was generated (Q1 2019: EUR 0.09 million). Accordingly, cash and cash equivalents increased to EUR 18.54 million (31 December 2019: EUR 17.46 million). Free cash flow reached EUR 1.48 million in the first three months of fiscal year 2020 (Q1 2019: EUR 1.20 million).

Total assets increased to EUR 84.34 million as of 31 March 2020 (31 December 2019: EUR 80.48 million). The balance sheet extension is mainly due to the business-related increase in current assets. Inventories rose to EUR 8.03 million (31 December 2019: EUR 7.80 million), while trade receivables increased to EUR 4.90 million (31 December 2019: EUR 3.91 million). Non-current assets for the first time include the Roge wind farm, which was acquired at the turn of the year.

The key financial ratios were again improved as of 31 March 2020. Scheduled repayments led to a decline in non-current and current financial liabilities to EUR 17.34 million (31 December 2019: EUR 17.72 million). The gearing ratio declined from 73.0 % to 71.3 %. Net cash (cash and cash equivalents minus financial liabilities) rose to EUR 4.29 million (31 December 2019: EUR 2.83 million). Equity reached EUR 49.23 million (31 December 2019: EUR 46.51 million) thanks to the pleasing consolidated net income and the positive result carried forward. Despite the balance sheet extension, the equity ratio therefore increased to 58.4 % (31 December 2019: 57.8 %).

Forecast for the 2020 financial year confirmed

Following the good first quarter, the Management Board is reiterating its forecast and expects a strong increase in sales. In 2020, revenues of between EUR 58.0 million and EUR 63.0 million are expected. Income from the sale of assets has also been included in the planning. EBITDA of between EUR 10.0 million and EUR 12.0 million is expected. Based on current planning, consolidated earnings will be between EUR 2.0 million and EUR 3.0 million due to higher depreciation and amortisation and higher tax expenses. At present, it is not possible to predict whether and to what extent the economic restrictions will remain in place throughout the year and whether this could necessitate corrections to the forecast in the course of the year.

“The restrictions imposed to combat the COVID 19 pandemic are exposing the economy in Germany, Europe and worldwide to considerable distortions. We took the necessary measures to protect all employees in the 3U Group at an early stage. Our business models are helping to overcome the crisis – like telecommunications and online trading – or are not affected by it – like power generation from renewable energies. We are very pleased that our strategically most important business units, Cloud Computing and Online Trading, performed well in the first quarter as planned. However, we do not underestimate the risks resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic. Furthermore, we expect the digitalisation of business processes to intensify worldwide once the pandemic has abated and are ideally positioned for this with our Cloud Computing division”, emphasises Michael Schmidt, Speaker of the Management Board of 3U HOLDING AG. “Especially now it is becoming clear that the diversification with our three segments is able to contribute significantly to the stability of the 3U Group as a whole. Beyond the current economic situation, we therefore see ourselves well positioned at all levels to continue our course of profitable growth.

Quarterly announcement

The quarterly report for the first quarter of the 2020 financial year will be published today, 13 May 2020. It can be downloaded from the company’s website (www.3u.net) under “Investor Relations/Publications“. Under “Investor Relations/Annual General Meeting“, the speech manuscript of Michael Schmidt, Spokesman of the Management Board of 3U HOLDING AG, for the virtual Annual General Meeting on 20 May 2020 can also be found there.

 

Further information:
Dr. Joachim Fleïng
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).