3U HOLDING AG acquires successful ITC system house

  • Founded in 1990, cs Group pursues growth strategy with comprehensive customer support and cloud solutions for medium-sized businesses
  • 3U aims at stronger expansion of managed services portfolio and regional presence
  • Joint activities in product range and sales can be realised quickly

Marburg, 30 August 2023 – 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) is acquiring all shares in cs communication Systems GmbH, based in Pleidelsheim and with locations in Nuremberg and Leipzig, as well as cs network GmbH, also in Pleidelsheim (together “cs Group”, https://www.citrus.tel). A corresponding purchase agreement was signed on 2 August 2023. The final closing conditions have been fully met as of today. The purchase price payment will be made using 3U’s existing financial resources. As usual, the parties have agreed not to disclose the exact terms of the transaction.

The cs Group has been successfully active in the telecommunications technology market since 1990 and, with currently almost 50 employees, specialises in telecommunications systems, cloud solutions, network and fibre optic technology. Today, the main focus is on migrating the telecommunications systems of corporate customers to the cloud and connecting their internal and external communications to Microsoft Teams. The cs group offers its approximately 400 existing customers a comprehensive package of services ranging from consulting and project planning to the sale, rental and brokerage of leasing contracts for telecommunications hardware and software to the installation, maintenance and ongoing support of communications solutions and networks. The cs group addresses the market for medium-sized companies and public clients with 20 to 300 office workplaces. It has already established a sound and promising growth strategy by acquiring new customers and upselling existing customers. The brands and offerings of the cs Group will be continued in the ITC segment of 3U. In the 2022 financial year, the group achieved a revenue of around EUR 8.2 million and is profitable.

“The cs Group is very well established in the market and has well-trained specialists. In our ITC segment, the acquisition will allow us to further expand our comprehensive portfolio of innovative solutions in telecommunications and information technology and in particular our range of managed services, as well as strengthen our presence in southern Germany,” says Uwe Knoke, Member of the Management Board for Strategy and Business Development at 3U HOLDING AG. “The range of services and corporate culture at cs and at 3U are a very good fit – together we will continue the sustainable profitable growth into the future.”

Peter Frohmüller, founder and managing partner of the cs Group, adds: “We are pleased to have found a competent partner and an economically strong new owner, who will continue our many years of successful activity with a high level of commitment and will consistently drive our growth strategy forward. For our employees, customers and our entire setting, we could not have found a better succession arrangement.”

 

Further Information:
Thomas Fritsche
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. For the purpose of increasing value for its shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and all stakeholders, it acquires, operates and sells companies in the three segments 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 and is striving to achieve leading positions in the market, in particular with its e-commerce business area.
3U HOLDING AG’s shares are traded on XETRA, Tradegate and on the German regional stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0005167902; identifier: UUU).

 

“ThermCube – The heat pump all-in-one heating cabinet”: 3U companies launch sales with a product presentation in a live stream

  • Significant time and cost savings for do-it-yourselfers and craftspeople
  • Innovative complete system addresses growing demand for CO2-neutral heating
  • Utility model protection granted; patent applied for
  • Important contribution to achieving climate goals

Marburg and Koblenz, 16 August 2023 – PELIA Gebäudesysteme GmbH and Selfio GmbH, subsidiaries of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902), officially launched the distribution of their ThermCube (https://thermcube.de) on 16 August 2023 with a live event broadcast on YouTube. The modular, prefabricated “Heat Pump Heating Centre in a Rack” enables the quick and cost-effective installation of a complete heat pump system and thus makes it easier for homeowners to switch to CO2-neutral heating, which will soon be required by law.

According to the German Heat Pump Association (Bundesverband Wärmepumpe e.V.), more than 200,000 heat pumps were installed in Germany in 2022 alone, and a further increase in demand is expected from next year. Across Europe, the EU Heat Pump Report 2022 estimates demand at a total of 50 million heat pumps by 2030. In view of the shortage of skilled workers, a heating system that is easy and quick to install can effectively help meet this demand and sustainably reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The ThermCube revolutionises heat pump installation

The core element of the ThermCube is a climate-friendly heat pump. All standardised hydraulic modules and control units required for its operation are permanently installed, hydraulically connected, and electrically prewired. The use of the pre-assembled complete system therefore reduces the connection time of the heating system to a fraction of the previous installation time. The ThermCube also drastically reduces the time and effort required for planning, configuration and procurement by builders and craftspeople. The components and assemblies used come from well-known brand manufacturers and are subject to documented quality controls. Installation and operation of the ThermCube are usually eligible for subsidies according to the applicable subsidy guidelines.

The ThermCube is suitable for detached and semi-detached houses with a total heat requirement of 6-11 kW, both in new and existing buildings. The footprint is less than 1 sqm. It can be installed in the house by do-it-yourselfers and also by non-specialist craftspeople. Special knowledge or special tools are not required. Only for the final dismantling and commissioning a specialised company must be commissioned. The German Patent and Trademark Office has already granted utility model protection for the ThermCube. A patent application has been filed.

Craft businesses specialising in plumbing, electrical or heating construction can also procure the ThermCube from the 3U companies. The significantly lower time expenditure enables them to process more orders with the same team of skilled workers. The ThermCube facilitates work on the construction site and ensures better planning and cost control.

“Climate-friendly, CO2-neutral heating is currently one of the most discussed topics in the entire industry. With the introduction of the new cost-efficient and climate-friendly heating centres, we are making a further contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and dependence on fossil fuels such as gas and oil,” emphasises Uwe Knoke, Member of the Management Board for Strategy and Business Development at 3U HOLDING AG. “But it should also prove to be a significant driver for the planned rapid and sustainable growth in sales and earnings in our SHK segment. We expect demand to be good and tend to increase further and have already secured our market entry by prudent stocking of components and parts. With the ThermCube, we are expanding our product range with an innovative, economically interesting system and are tending to open up new market segments, such as the prefabricated house sector. The sales launch of the ThermCube is thus an important milestone in the course of our ‘MISSION 2026’.”

 

Further Information:
Dr. Joachim Fleing
Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG
Tel.: +49 6421 999-2211
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. For the purpose of increasing value for its shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and all stakeholders, it acquires, operates and sells companies in the three segments 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 and is striving to achieve leading positions in the market, in particular with its e-commerce business area.3U HOLDING AG’s shares are traded on XETRA, Tradegate and on the German regional stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0005167902; identifier: UUU).

3U operationally and strategically on track for H1 2023

  • Sales growth in the Renewable Energies and ITC segment
  • SHAC segment gains market share despite sales decline
  • Management Board expects catch-up effects in the SHAC market and reaffirms forecast for 2023

Marburg, August 14, 2023 – Group revenue of 3U HOLDING AG (ISIN DE0005167902) from continued operations of EUR 25.09 million in the first half of 2023 (H1 2023) was at the level of the first half of 2022 (H1 2022: EUR 25.36 million). Revenues in the two high-margin businesses ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology) and Renewable Energies increased further compared to the previous year. Sales in the SHAC (sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology) segment also once again outperformed the German online retail sector as a whole, but suffered a year-on-year decline against the backdrop of the downturn in the construction industry, particularly in the second quarter. This development of the strongest segment in terms of sales in the 3U Group could not be fully compensated by the pleasing growth of the other business units. Consequently, the sales proportions of the segments in the Group also changed slightly. The segment ITC generated 25.2% (H1 2022: 24.0%) of total revenues in the first half of the year, the segment Renewable Energies 17.3% (H1 2022: 16.4%) and SHAC 58.7% (H1 2022: 60.7%).

The interim financial statements as at 30 June 2023 no longer comprise the information of the cloud computing business in the subgroup of weclapp SE which was deconsolidated in the financial year 2022. Consequently, the figures from continued operations from the first half of 2022 respectively the second quarter of 2022 are used for year-on-year comparison.

EBITDA

In the first half of 2022, 3U HOLDING still recorded other operating income of EUR 9.01 million, mainly from the InnoHubs property development project. In the current reporting period, this income was significantly lower at EUR 0.84 million. The cost of materials ratio (cost of materials as a percentage of sales) was slightly lower than in the first half of 2022 at 62.8%, while the personnel expense ratio was slightly higher at 16.7%. Despite increased maintenance expenses due to the repair of a wind turbine in Roge in the first quarter of 2023, the ratio of other operating expenses to sales was now significantly lower than in the previous year at 14.3% (H1 2022: 33.2%), largely due to the costs incurred at the time in connection with the sale of InnoHubs space in the comparable period of the previous year.

Against this backdrop, Group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased to EUR 2.59 million in the first half of the 2023 financial year (H1 2022: EUR 5.99 million). As a result, the EBITDA margin at Group level reached 10.3% after 23.6% in the first six months of the previous year.

Group result

At EUR 1.69 million, depreciation and amortisation in the first half of 2023 was at the same level as in the corresponding period of the previous year (H1 2022: EUR 1.67 million). As expected, 3U recorded a positive financial result of EUR 1.44 million in the first six months of 2023 (H1 2022: EUR -0.14 million).

The consolidated result attributable to the shareholders of the parent company amounted to EUR 1.60 million in the first half of 2023 (H1 2022: EUR 2.47 million). Earnings per share were EUR 0.04 (basic and diluted) in the reporting period.

Segment results

The ITC segment posted revenue growth of 4.2% in the reporting period. In the first six months of 2023, segment revenue of EUR 6.33 million was achieved (H1 2022: EUR 6.08 million). The Data Center & Managed Services business was able to significantly increase its revenue by more than 46%. Due to internal efficiency improvements and thanks to increasing service revenues, the segment’s EBITDA increased by 13.9%. It reached EUR 1.80 million after EUR 1.58 million in the first half of 2022. The EBITDA margin of the ITC segment was thus 28.5% (H1 2022: 26.1%).

Wind yield and solar radiation were around 15% lower in the first half of 2023 than in the same period of the previous year, when wind and sun were strong. In addition, the temporary standstill of a wind turbine at the Roge wind farm in the first quarter of 2023 had a negative impact on sales. In contrast, the improved delivery conditions from the electricity supply contracts agreed for 2023 for the Klostermoor and Roge wind farms made a significant contribution to the revenue growth of the Renewable Energies Segment. Revenue increased by a total of 4.6% to EUR 4.34 million (H1 2022: EUR 4.15 million). Against the backdrop of the repair costs for the turbine in Roge, the segment EBITDA reached a total of EUR 3.21 million, which corresponds to a slight decline of 1.8% (H1 2022: EUR 3.27 million).

The Management continues to believe that the prospects for the SHAC segment, with its focus on the megatrends of e-commerce and climate-friendly or CO2-neutral heating systems, are excellent in the medium to long term. In the reporting period, however, the current business was not able to decouple itself from the overall economic environment. According to the Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel (BEVH), sales in the German online trade industry shrank by 12% in the second quarter of 2023, while the number of building permits issued for residential buildings nationwide slumped by 36%, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Thus, although business in the SHAC segment again outperformed the industry environment, it still recorded a decline in revenue and earnings. At EUR 14.72 million, segment revenue in the first half of 2023 was 4.4% lower than in the same period of the previous year (H1 2022: EUR 15.40 million). EBITDA declined from EUR -0.06 million in the same period of the previous year to EUR -0.44 million in the first half of 2023 due to lower contribution margins.

Cash flow and financials

Cash flow from operating activities amounted to EUR 0.03 million in the first six months (H1 2022: EUR 2.18 million), which, in addition to a lower result, is mainly due to a significantly lower increase in current trade payables and the change in other liabilities. Investing activities in the reporting period resulted in a cash outflow of EUR 3.74 million (H1 2022: cash outflow of EUR 3.52 million). Investments in investment property relate to the acquisition of office space in the InnoHubs building in Würzburg originally used by the former Group company weclapp, which is now intended for letting to third parties. Investments in tangible assets mainly comprise the acquisition of a plot of land for the construction of a new company headquarters in Marburg.

The cash outflow from financing activities came to EUR 117.97 million in the reporting period (H1 2022: EUR 0.57 million) and is mainly due to the distribution of the dividend for the 2022 financial year in the amount of EUR 3.20 per share. In total, cash and cash equivalents decreased as expected by EUR 121.68 million (H1 2022: decrease of EUR 1.91 million). Cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 68.03 million on 30 June 2023 (31 December 2022: EUR 189.70 million and 30 June 2022: EUR 10.80 million).

The almost complete distribution of the balance sheet profit of 3U HOLDING AG to the shareholders is also reflected in the Group’s equity. As of 31 December 2022, the consolidated net income was mainly increased by the sale of weclapp SE and amounted to EUR 159.0 million. The profit carried forward as of 30 June 2023 totalled EUR 45.74 million. As debt was also EUR 3.40 million lower as of 30 June 2023 than as of 31 December 2022, the consolidated balance sheet continues to show a very solid equity ratio of 76.9% (31 December 2022: 86.7%).

 

“At the half-year 2023, we are very satisfied with the development of our segments ITC and Renewable Energies,” affirms Uwe Knoke, member of 3U HOLDING AG’s management board. “However, the fact that many do-it-yourselfers and homeowners were irritated by the political debates about the so-called heating law hampered us in the SHAC segment in the second quarter and left its mark on the half-year results. However, the sharp downturn in the sector leads us to expect catch-up effects in the coming months. With the imminent launch of our innovative ThermCube, ‘the all-in-one cabinet-housed heat pump heating system’, we are very well positioned for this.”

The Management Board affirms its guidance announced in March and anticipates strong organic growth in 2023. Revenue in 2023 is expected in a range of between EUR 55.0 million and EUR 60.0 million. In view of the lower level of other income in line with expectations and the significantly higher proportion of lower margin retail business, the Management Board anticipates EBITDA of EUR 6.0 million to EUR 8.0 million. Net profit of the 3U Group is therefore expected in a range of between EUR 2.5 million and EUR 3.5 million.

The actual operating result may be higher or lower than forecast here due to the acquisition or sale of the Group’s operating units. The resulting effects can only be planned for to limited extent, however. The 3U Group remains true to its corporate purpose of creating value in the interest of its shareholders and all stakeholders and will continue to pursue its strategic course of expanding successful parts of the business successfully in the long term and, given the relevant demand, of selling them at attractive conditions.

In harmony with the corporate strategy, the Management Board is addressing a series of investment undertakings. Along with purchasing companies or customer bases in the financial year 2023 this pertains notably to repowering the Langendorf wind farm. Options for further very promising investments are meticulously assessed on a running basis.

Uwe Knoke explains further: “The medium- and long-term perspectives of 3U, as we presented them in our MISSION 2026, remain favourable, and we continue to work consistently on the implementation of our strategic measures. Temporary downturns in the industry environment can be balanced out by us as a diversified management and investment holding company. They strengthen us in our operating activities in the intact megatrends of digitalization, e-commerce and renewable energies, and in our aspiration to increase value in the interests of all stakeholders.”

Half-year financial report

The interim statement on the first half of the 2023 financial year will be published on today, 14 August 2023. The report can be downloaded from the company’s website (www.3U.net) under the “Investor Relations/Publications” heading.

 

For further information:
Thomas Fritsche
Investor Relations
3U HOLDING AG
Tel.: +49 (0)6421 999-1200
Fax: +49 (0)6421 999-1222
email: IR@3U.net

About 3U:
Founded in 1997, 3U HOLDING AG (www.3U.net) has its headquarters in Marburg, Germany. It heads up the 3U Group as the operating management and investment holding company. With the aim of enhancing value for the shareholders, the employees, customers, suppliers and all stakeholders, 3U acquires, operates and sells companies in the three segments of ITC (Information and Telecommunications Technology), Renewable Energies and SHAC (Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning). The 3U Group operates successfully and profitably in megatrends through its business models in all three segments and strives to achieve leading positions in the various markets, especially with its e-commerce business model. 3U HOLDING AG shares are traded on XETRA, Tradegate and on German regional stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0005167902; stock symbol: UUU).