Quarterly Financial Report / 2015

Transcription

1 Quarterly Financial Report / 2015

2 #CO NT ENTS 01 interim status report / General 05 Group Business and Structure 06 Market and Competitive Environment 07 Business Development and Group Situation 15 Risks and Opportunities of Future Business Development 15 Major Events after the Balance Sheet Date 16 Forecast 02 Consolidated Quarterly Accounts / Consolidated Balance Sheets 20 Consolidated Statements of Operations 21 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 22 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity 24 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 26 Notes 03 Further information 35 Events & Contact Information

3 Key Figures of the Sinner Schrader Group Q1 2014/2015 Q1 2013/2014 change Gross revenues 000s 13,493 11, % Net revenues 000s 12,401 10, % EBITDA 000s % EBITA 000s % Relation of the EBITA to net revenues (Operating margin) % % EBIT 000s % Net income 000s % Net income per share, diluted % Shares outstanding 1) number 11,400,869 11,114, % Cash flows from operating activities 000s 4,312 1, % Employees, full-time equivalents number % change Liquid funds and securities 000s 1,358 3, % Shareholders equity 000s 14,220 12, % Balance sheet total 000s 27,316 24, % Shareholders equity rate % % Employees, end of period number % 1) Weighted average shares outstanding

4 Quarterly Financial Report / interim status report /2015 Consolidated Quarterly Accounts /

5 1 general This Interim Status Report of the Sinner Schrader Group ( Sinner Schrader or Group ) as at 30 November 2014 represents the development of the income, financial, and assets status of the Group which is managed by Sinner Schrader Aktiengesellschaft ( Sinner Schrader AG or AG ) in the first quarter of the 2014/2015 financial year from 1 September 2014 to 30 November It deals with the major risks and opportunities and the probable developments in the remainder of the financial year. The consolidated financial statements on which this status report is based were drawn up according to the International Financial Reporting Standards ( IFRS ). The Interim Status Report, particularly Section 7, contains statements and in for mation aimed at the future. These forward-looking statements are based on current knowledge, estimates, and assumptions and therefore entail a number of risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors, many of which are outside Sinner Schrader s sphere of influence, have an impact on the business development and results. These factors mean that the actual future business development of Sinner Schrader and the actual results achieved may differ significantly from the explicit or implicit information in the forward-looking statements. This quarterly financial report should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of Sinner- Schrader AG for the 2013/2014 financial year. 2 group BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE The Sinner Schrader Group is a digital agency group which offers companies in Germany and abroad a comprehensive range of services for the use of digital technologies to optimise and further develop their business. The emphasis is on the use of the Internet for the sale of goods and services (e-commerce), for marketing and communication, and for the acquisition and retention of customers. With more than 500 employees, Sinner Schrader is one of the biggest independent digital agency groups in Germany and performs its services at locations in Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Hanover, Munich and Prague. Sinner- Schrader mainly works for companies based in Germany, but also counts companies from Switzerland, the UK, the Ne ther lands, France, and the Czech Republic among its clients. The consolidation group of the Sinner Schrader Group has changed against the status as at 31 August 2014 through the merger of mediaby GmbH and NEXT AUDIENCE GmbH with a retroactive effect as at 1 September The merging of the hitherto separately managed companies mainly serves to pool forces for consulting advertisers on the management and optimisation of advertising expenditure for digital channels and with respect to the use of the relevant software required, not least of all the NEXT AUDIENCE Platform. Other than that, the consolidation group has not changed in the first quarter of the 2014/2015 financial year in comparison to the status as at 31 August In the quarter of the report, the Sinner Schrader Group thus consisted of Sinner- Schrader AG in addition to Sinner Schrader Deutschland GmbH, Sinner Schrader Mobile GmbH, Sinner Schrader Praha s.r.o., the NEXT AUDIENCE Group, comprising NEXT AUDIENCE GmbH and Sinner Schrader Content GmbH, and the Commerce Plus Group, made up of Commerce Plus GmbH and Commerce Plus Consulting GmbH. Moreover, the operationally inactive companies Sinner Schrader UK Ltd. in London and Sinner Schrader Benelux BV in Rotterdam are still part of the consolidation group. The Sinner Schrader Group continues to structure its business activity in the Interactive Marketing, Interactive Media and Interactive Commerce segments. The Interactive Marketing segment comprises Sinner Schrader Deutschland GmbH, Sinner Schrader Mobile GmbH and Sinner Schrader Praha s.r.o. The Interactive Media segment is formed by the NEXT AUDIENCE Group, and the Interactive Commerce segment by the Commerce Plus Group. 5 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015

6 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report / market AND COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT Unlike the previous year, the first quarter of the 2014/2015 financial year was characterised by emerging, intensifying pessimism about the economy after a prolonged phase of positive expectations for economic development in 2014 and The growth forecasts for the real gross domestic product in Germany were significantly lowered by virtually all the economic experts and by national and international political organisations in October Whereas the forecasts for the two calendar years were previously at around 2 %, they were, for example, reduced to 1.3 % for 2014 and 1.2 % for 2015 in the autumn joint diagnosis of leading economic researchers published on 9 October The Federal government essentially followed the estimation of the joint diagnosis in its most recent economic forecast for 2014 and 2015, reported in mid-october. This pessimism was based on a surprisingly weak development of the gross domestic product adjusted by price, seasonal and calendar effects in the second calendar quarter of 2014, which fell slightly against the first calendar quarter of 2014 and still exceeded the figure for the previous year only by 1 % on a price-adjusted basis, the persistent international crises, not least of all the conflict in Ukraine and the related economic sanctions against Russia, as well as poor production figures for the German industrial sector in summer The ifo business climate index expressed this mood in a clear decline from the peak of points in April 2014 to a low of points in October The scepticism was, however, put into perspective in November 2014, the final month of the quarter of the report. The mood in the German economy improved again with the news from the Federal Statistical Office that the real gross domestic product in the third calendar quarter had grown slightly against the previous quarter, i.e. the German economy had not slipped into recession, and with the realisation that the declining trend in the oil price could boost economic development in The ifo business climate index rose again as a consequence in November and December 2014, mainly on the basis of more optimistic expectations for business. In mid-december the ifo Institute was the first economic research institute to raise its growth forecast for the German gross domestic product from 1.2 % to 1.5 %, upon referring to the development of the oil price and the euro exchange rate. 6

7 4 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GROUP SITUATION After four quarters with high growth rates of up to 44 % over those of the corresponding previous year, the development of business consolidated in the first quarter of 2014/2015. With revenue at 12.4 million, Sinner Schrader was still just under 15 % above the figure for the first quarter of the previous financial year. However, significantly bleaker expectations for the overall economic development in Germany since August 2014 resulted in consolidation that was around 0.5 million more than expected, with markedly more cautious spending behaviour in the current budgets of major existing clients in the Interactive Marketing segment making itself felt. The business volume decreased by just under 8 % against the fourth quarter of 2013/2014. Although it was not possible to compensate for decreases in existing budgets with new business generated in the quarter, demand for the services of the Sinner Schrader Group was obviously hardly affected by the reluctance to spend towards the end of The reduction in revenue in the Interactive Marketing segment, the extent of which had not been expected, resulted in over-capacities in spite of a decrease of around 37 % in external service costs in comparison to the previous quarter. The Group s operating result (EBITA) was thus weak at just under 0.3 million, and fell short of that of the previous quarter and the same quarter of the previous year, with the full decrease in the EBITA against the first quarter of the previous financial year in the amount of a good 0.3 million being incurred in the Interactive Marketing segment. The operating result improved in the Interactive Media and Interactive Commerce segments. The net income was accordingly also weaker than in the previous quarter and the same quarter of the previous year, reaching just under 0.15 million, or 0.01 per share. In line with experiences of the past few financial years, the operating cash flow in the first quarter was substantially negative due to the liquidity arrangements for major companies in the last two months of the year. The effect was enhanced by strong growth in the fourth quarter of 2013/2014. In total, funds amounting to 4.3 million more were tied up in the operating area than as at 31 August The liquidity reserve thus decreased to 1.35 million as at 30 November After the settlement of overdue receivables in December, 4.5 million had already been reached again as at 31 December The following describes the developments of the income, financial, and assets status in the first quarter of 2014/2015 in more detail. 7 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015

8 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015 Net Revenues, EBITA And Net revenue margin by quarter in million and % % 0.6 Q1 2013/ revenues % 0.9 Q2 2013/ % Q3 2013/2014 In the first quarter of the 2014/2015 financial year, Sinner Schrader earned net revenues of 12.4 million. The business volume of the Group exceeded the comparable value of the previous year by 1.6 million, which corresponds to a growth rate of 14.6 %. In comparison to the preceding strong fourth quarter of the 2013/2014 financial year, the net revenue nevertheless decreased by just under 1.1 million, or 7.9 %, thus falling short of expectations by around 0.5 million. The comparison with the same period of the previous year is mainly characterised by the organic growth steps in the financial year just completed, in which a number of important new clients were gained and long-standing relationships with existing clients significantly increased. Even if the peak volume of the preceding fourth quarter was not reached again, the Interactive Marketing segment exceeded the figure for the previous year by 14.9 %, with a volume of just under 9.0 million in the quarter of the report. It was also possible to compensate for the weak mobile business conducted by the segment in the first quarter of 2014/2015. In the quarter of the report, the Interactive Marketing segment fell short of the business volume of the fourth quarter of 2013/2014 by 1.25 million, or 12.2 %. Even though a certain level of consolidation had been expected, this decrease was greater than planned. This was mainly due to the fact that, particularly in relationships with major existing clients, expenses were cut as at the end of the year, with the probable main reason being the economic scepticism which arose in summer Over and above this, the organisational merger of the E-Plus Group, for which Sinner Schrader had implemented many projects in the 2013/2014 financial year, and the O2 Group in Germany following the completion of the takeover of the E-Plus Group by Telefónica in autumn 2014, contributed to the reduced business volume. This decrease and the decrease resulting from the end of major individual projects and the transfer of these projects to the maintenance phase were within the forecast scope. In the quarter of the report, it was not yet possible to compensate for the unexpected budget reductions, which mainly took effect in the final month of the quarter of the report, with business with new clients. During the course of the quarter of the report, Sinner Schrader commenced, among other things, work on a project to establish a new digital payment platform and on the kick-off campaign for the business model for TUI Connect, the new TUI mobile service business % Q4 2013/ % 0.3 Q1 2014/2015

9 Net Revenues by Segment in million for Q1 2014/2015 in comparison to Q1 2013/ Interactive marketing 1.0 Interactive commerce Measured in terms of incoming project enquiries, overall demand in the Interactive Marketing segment does not appear to be strongly influenced by the worsening economic prospects. The Interactive Media segment clearly increased its revenue in the first quarter of 2014/2015 by 0.5 million to 1.5 million in comparison to the previous quarter. The increase is mainly based on content marketing business, which was still being established in the same quarter of the previous year. NEXT AUDIENCE business, which has also included the business conducted by mediaby GmbH since the merger which took effect as at 1 September 2014, developed steadily in comparison to the same period of the previous year. Sales of the NEXT AUDIENCE Platform started after the dmexco trade fair in September Two contracts with small or medium sized volumes have already been concluded with advertisers. The NEXT AUDIENCE Platform will be implemented at these clients in the first few months of Apart from this, the sales pipeline filled up satisfactorily during the course of the quarter. The NEXT AUDIENCE Platform has been operated successfully at the pilot client BASE in the E-Plus Group since its completion at the end of August The Interactive Media segment maintained the level it had achieved in the previous quarter. 1.5 Interactive media Business developed according to plan in the Interactive Commerce segment in the first quarter of 2014/2015, with revenue in the amount of 2.1 million. As expected, this figure fell slightly short of the revenue for the previous year by 5.9 %, as the closure of the office in Berlin in the previous quarter resulted in a contraction of some of the revenue items. However, the segment increased its revenue by 10.5 % over that of the fourth quarter of 2014/2015, mainly on the basis of dynamic business with new clients. At 25 %, the new-client rate for the segment i.e. the share of revenue generated with clients with which no business relationship existed in the comparable period of the previous year was particularly high. The new-client rate, aggregated for all the segments, was 16 %, corresponding to revenue of around 2 million generated with clients acquired since the end of the first quarter of 2013/2014. The rate was thus at around the same level as in the same quarter of the previous year HOlding/ Consolid. sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015

10 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015 Net Revenues by sector in % for Q1 2014/ (previous year: 5.2) Media & Entertainment 16.1 (previous year: 20.2) Retail & Consumer goods 22.8 (previous year: 20.1) Financial Services Previous year = 2013/2014 financial year Q1 2014/ (previous year: 33.6) Telecommunications & Technology 19.6 (previous year: 17.3) Transport & Tourism 4.8 (previous year: 3.6) Other The development towards greater commitment to individual clients and/or groups of clients was continued in the first quarter of 2014/2015, with the exception of the top position. The biggest client accounted for 15.0 % of the net revenue of the Sinner Schrader Group, the five biggest clients for 52.9 %, and the ten biggest clients for 74.3 %. These figures were 21.0 %, 49.9 % and 70.8 %, respectively, in the previous year as a whole. With slight shifts, the figures for the first quarter confirm the important trends in the previous year, also with a view to the sector mix: the considerably greater significance of the Telecommunications & Technology and Transport & Tourism sectors, and the decrease in the share of the Retail & Consumer Goods and Financial Services sectors, which is against the trend. At the same time, the latter again increased its share in the revenue by a number of percentage points in comparison to its share for the previous year as a whole. Telecommunications & Technology remains the most important sector, with a share of 31.8 %, against 33.6 % in the previous year as a whole. The Financial Services sector moved forward again, to second place. Its share in the total revenue of the Group increased from 20.1 % in the 2013/2014 financial year to 22.8 % in the quarter of the report. The share of the Transport & Tourism sector also increased. It is now ranked third at 19.6 % after 17.3 % in the 2013/2014 financial year. The Retail & Consumer Goods sector dropped down to fourth place. The sector only accounted for 16.1 % in the first quarter of 2014/2015, in comparison to a share of 20.2 % of the revenues in the previous year. Clients in the Media & Entertainment sector (4.9 % in the quarter of the report against 5.2 % in the previous year) and the other clients (4.8 % against 3.6 % in the previous year) together essentially continue to account for a comparatively minor share of the total revenue of the Group. 10

11 EBITA by Segment in million for Q1 2014/2015 in comparison to Q1 2013/ Interactive marketing 4.2 OPERATING RESULT (EBITA) Interactive media The operating result (EBITA) of the Sinner Schrader Group amounted to just under 0.3 million in the first quarter of 2014/2015. It thus fell clearly short of the EBITA for the first quarter of 2013/2014 in the amount of 0.6 million and of that of the preceding fourth quarter of 2013/2014 in the amount of 0.95 million. The weak earnings are mainly due to the cautious spending behaviour of major existing clients in the Interactive Marketing segment at the end of the calendar year, the extent of which had not been anticipated. In addition, in the quarter of the report, the Sinner Schrader agency was in the process of converting its productive capacity from freelancers to its own employees as planned. The two developments resulted in over-capacities and considerable losses in earnings in the Interactive Marketing segment, particularly in November. The EBITA for the Interactive Marketing segment decreased overall by around 0.8 million, to 0.5 million in the quarter of the report against the same period of the previous year. Sinner Schrader also reported a weak quarter for its mobile business in Berlin. In contrast, the operating profits in the Interactive Media and Interactive Commerce segments improved by 0.3 million and just under 0.1 million, respectively. The rise in the operating profit of the Interactive Media segment is mainly due to content marketing business, which was still being established in the same quarter of the previous year. The operating result for NEXT AUDIENCE business, which has also included the mediaby business since 1 September 2014, also de veloped positively, with the negative effects against the previous year, incurred as planned through depreciating the cap italised development services and the elimination of the capitalisation of development services, being more than offset. The increase in the EBITA of the Interactive Commerce segment mainly resulted from the elimination of the negative effects of allowances, with the development of business generally stable. The costs remaining at the holding level for Sinner Schrader AG in the first quarter of 2014/2015 were just 0.1 million below those of the same period of the previous year. In the quarter of the report, the excess capacity situation in the Interactive Marketing segment had the effect of a disproportionately high increase in the cost of revenues in comparison to the growth in revenue, by 21.2 % over those of the previous year. Increases in personnel costs and expenses for services of 20.8 % and 28.6 %, respectively, against those of the first quarter of 2013/2014 caused the rise in the cost of revenues Interactive commerce HOlding/ Consolid. sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015

12 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015 Development of costs by function Q1 2014/2015 Q1 2013/2014 change IN 000s IN % 1) IN 000s IN % 1) IN % Cost of revenues 9, , thereof amortisation expenditure Costs of marketing thereof amortisation expenditure General and administrative costs 1, , Research and development costs Development of costs by cost type Q1 2014/2015 Q1 2013/2014 change IN 000s IN % 1) IN 000s IN % 1) IN % Personnel expenses 7, , Costs of materials and services 2, , Other operating expenses 1, , Depreciation Amortisation expenses ) As a percentage of net revenues This rise in costs shows that it was not possible to complete the conversion from a high proportion of freelancers, which had become temporarily necessary in the last year, to recruiting the Company s own employees as pushed forward intensively in the quarter of the report. In the first quarter of 2014/2015, the capacity of Sinner Schrader s own personnel increased by 16.7 % over that of the previous year, from 417 to 487 full-time employees. However, the real net output per employee decreased initially from just under 83,000 to 79,000. The depreciation of the capitalised own work performed on the development of the NEXT AUDIENCE Platform was commenced in the quarter of the report and shown in the disproportionately high increase in revenue costs in the amount of just under 0.1 million. The marketing costs and the general and administrative costs increased at a disproportionately low rate in comparison to the previous year. They accounted for 7.8 % and 10.9 %, respectively, of revenue in the quarter of the report, after 8.6 % and 11.3 %, respectively, in the previous year. The research and development costs also increased in relation to the revenue, unlike the marketing and general and administrative costs. The increase of 0.1 million, or 0.8 percentage points, in relation to the revenue occurred because development costs for the NEXT AUDIENCE Platform have had to be reported in the running costs again since the beginning of the 2014/2015 financial year. 12

13 4.3 NET INCOME The development of the net income essentially followed the development of the EBITA. At a good 0.1 million, or 0.01 per share, it was also reduced below the 0.25 million, or 0.02 per share, for the previous year. However, the drop in the net income against the development of the EBITA was slowed down by two factors. On the one hand, there were not longer any amortisation costs in the quarter of the report. Secondly, the improvement in the tax rate, made possible by the restructuring under company law in the Interactive Media segment in the fourth quarter of 2013/2014, had a positive effect. The income from the investment of liquid funds continued to decrease due to the weak interest level and a decrease in the average levels of liquidity, which meant that the Sinner Schrader Group did not achieve a contribution to profits from financing activities in the first quarter of 2014/ CASH FLOWS As in the previous years, in the first quarter of 2014/2015 the cash flow statement is also characterised by a considerable increase in funds tied up in the working capital and in this case primarily in the accounts receivable. The operating cash flow was clearly negative at 4.3 million. In the previous year, the operating cash flow amounted to 1.8 million. The increase in the business volume relating to the year-end planning of major clients in particular, which frequently led to a shift in payments due into December, saw another increase of 3.9 million in accounts receivable. However, in contrast, the funds tied up in unbilled services were reduced by 0.2 million; consequently, the amount of funds tied up in receivables from clients only rose by 3.7 million in net terms. Funds in an amount of 4.0 million were tied up in these items in the comparable quarter of the previous year. Two main factors led to the operating cash flow in the quarter of the report falling significantly below that of the previous quarter. On the one hand, in the first quarter a significantly higher amount of personnel provisions were due for payment after the successful 2013/2014 financial year. Cash funds in the amount of just under 1.1 million in net terms were required for using these reserves. The development of reserves in the previous year did not result in any cash requirement. On the other hand, the liability items were reduced by a total of 0.15 million with a corresponding cash requirement in the quarter of the report, while the increase in liability items contributed around 1.5 million to the operating cash flow in the previous year. The increase in liability items in the previous year mainly arose from the outsourcing transaction in the Interactive Commerce segment entered into in May Since these positions were established in the previous year, their development has been stable, in line with the comparatively stable business volume in the online shop managed by Commerce Plus. Sinner Schrader spent just under 0.2 million on fixed asset investments in the quarter of the report. In the previous year an amount of 0.35 million was reported as investment funds. Almost the full amount of this difference arose because NEXT AUDIENCE did not capitalise any further development costs for the NEXT AUDIENCE Platform software after the completion of the first version in August In the same quarter of the previous year a good 0.15 million was capitalised. Replacement and expansion investments in the Group s infrastructure were thus in the range of the previous year s level in the quarter of the report. There were no financing activities in the first quarter of 2014/2015. In the comparable quarter of the previous year, Sinner Schrader spent funds amounting to just under 0.1 million for buying back treasury stock. In total, the amount of cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities resulted in a reduction of a good 4.5 million in liquid funds in the first quarter of the current financial year. In December 2014, the largest share of 3.1 million was returned to Sinner Schrader at the end of the month due to the payment of outstanding receivables. 13 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015

14 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report / asset AND FINANCIAL SITUATION Since the decrease in liquidity funds accounted for just under 1.4 million in the reduction of liability items notably accruals of around 1.0 million and deferred tax liabilities of 0.35 million the balance sheet total was reduced overall against the status as at 31 August After offsetting the reduction in liability items with the increase in shareholders equity in the amount of around 0.15 million in net income for the quarter of the report, the reduction in the balance sheet total amounted to just under 1.25 million in the period from 31 August 2014 to 30 November On the asset side, reductions in other current, non-cash asset items in the amount of 0.5 million and the use of the cash funds more than compensated the increase in trade receivables for services already billed by 3.9 million, thus reducing current assets by a total of 1.1 million. Furthermore, in the quarter of the report, the non-current assets decreased by a total of 0.15 million, one of the reasons being the commencement of depreciation of the capitalised development services for the NEXT AUDIENCE Platform. The shareholders equity rate increased again, by 2.8 percentage points as a result of the developments described, from 49.3 % on 31 August 2014 to 52.1 % on 30 November EMPLOYEES The number of employees in the Sinner Schrader Group continued to rise, from 521 employees on 31 August 2014 to 535 employees on 30 November On 30 November 2013 there were 460 employees in the Group. The rise in the number of employees was focused on the Interactive Marketing segment, in which 340 of the 535 Group employees were working at the end of the quarter of the report. This is an increase of 12 employees on the basis of 328 employees on 31 August A year ago 273 employees worked in the segment. As at the end of the quarter of the report there were 51 employees in the Interactive Media Segment, compared with 53 employees on 31 August Against the final figure of 40 employees in the comparative quarter of the previous year, the workforce was increased by 11 employees through the establishment of the content marketing business. After the workforce decreased in the 2013/2014 financial year, the number of employees has now stabilised in the Interactive Commerce segment. On 30 November, the segment had 100 employees, 3 employees more than on 31 August On 30 November 2013 the number of employees had been 108. At the end of the quarter of the report, 44 employees worked in the holding company, after 43 and 39 employees, respect ively, at the end of the two comparable reporting dates. Of the 535 employees on 30 November 2014, 12 employees were receiving vocational training. 58 employees were working as students or completing an internship. After standardisation of part-time employment relationships and calculated as an average over the period, Sinner- Schrader had a personnel capacity of around 487 full-time employees in the first quarter of 2014/2015. The capacity thus exceeded the comparable value of the previous year by 70 full-time employees. At around 16.9 % this growth was higher than the growth rate for revenue. The reduction in the rate of external service providers was commenced, particularly in the Interactive Marketing segment. The personnel capacity was spread as 312, 47, 92 and 36 full-time employees over the Interactive Marketing, Interactive Media and Interactive Commerce segments and the holding company, respectively, in the quarter of the report. The comparative figures for the first quarter of 2013/2014 were 251, 37, 96 and 33 full-time employees, respectively. 14

15 Employee structure according to areas in full-time employees for Q1 2014/ (previous year: 124) Consultancy 183 (previous year: 170) Technology Previous year = Q1 2013/ (Previous year: 417) Broken down according to areas of expertise, 146 full-time employees were assigned to consulting (including media planning and purchasing), 183 to technology, 110 to creation, and 48 to administrative activities. Sinner Schrader has thus increased its capacity, in particular in the creative sector, with an increase of 34 full-time employees. The capacity of full-time employees in consulting and technology increased by 22 and 13, respectively. The administrative capacity was increased by one full-time employee. 5 risks AND OPPORTUNITIES OF FUTURE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT With respect to risk management at Sinner Schrader and the main risks and opportunities in particular, there were no major changes in the first quarter of 2014/2015 in comparison to the situation outlined in the 2013/2014 Annual Report. There are still no identifiable risks that could endanger the existence of the Sinner Schrader Group or Sinner Schrader AG. 6 major EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE There were no major events after the balance sheet date on 30 November 2014 that should be reported (previous year: 76) Creation 48 (previous year: 47) Administration sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report /2015

16 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 interim status report / FORECAST Sinner Schrader started the 2014/2015 financial year somewhat weaker than planned. The expected consolidation of the business volume after the rapid growth steps in the previous year was increased by the reluctance of major clients to spend, which Sinner Schrader believes was mainly due to the doubts about a weak economy which arose during the quarter of the report. The top line and the operative bottom line thus lack around 0.5 million in the first quarter of 2014/2015. However, the economic environment has clearly recovered again since November According to the latest reports, the German economy grew by 1.5 % over that of the previous year in This emphasises that the downgrading of expectations in October 2014 was exaggerated. The sales pipeline remains well-filled and reinforces expectations that the calendar year of 2015 can be positive for Sinner Schrader, even if its dynamics do not match those of In the last few months of 2014, Sinner Schrader was able to develop a follow-up perspective for the content marketing business unit in the Interactive Media segment. This backs up our optimism as it was not taken into account in this form in current planning. Initial success with the sale of the NEXT AUDIENCE Platform and the increase in business with the pilot customer also confirm the estimation that progress is being made in the business segment that is just as exciting as it is critical for Sinner Schrader. Against this background, Sinner Schrader is confirming its annual forecast of revenue in excess of 51 million, an EBITA in the range of 3.5 million to 4 million and net income of 2.2 million to 2.5 million. In order to achieve these forecasts the major existing clients need to overcome the reluctance to spend shown in the final months of Early indications seen by Sinner Schrader at the beginning of 2015 point to this happening. A final uncertainty about the further development does, however, remain. Hamburg, 15 January 2015 The Management Board Matthias Schrader Thomas Dyckhoff 16

17 Quarterly Financial Report / interim status report /2015 Consolidated Quarterly Accounts /

18 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 Consolidated Quarterly Accounts /2015 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As at 30 November 2014 Assets in Current assets: Liquid funds 1,357,579 5,832,597 Liquid funds 1,357,579 5,832,597 Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of 55,625 and 55,625 as at and , respectively 13,798,881 9,904,203 Unbilled revenues 4,337,381 4,556,459 Tax receivables 14,783 15,865 Other current assets and prepaid expenses 825,996 1,113,398 Total current assets 20,334,620 21,422,522 Non-current assets: Goodwill 4,028,740 4,028,740 Other intangible assets 1,053,450 1,107,758 Property and equipment 1,831,711 1,902,187 Tax receivables 66,984 89,938 Total non-current assets 6,980,885 7,128,623 Total assets 27,315,505 28,551,145 18

19 Liabilities and shareholders equity in Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable 4,119,655 4,547,841 Advance payments received 1,840,569 1,660,965 Accrued expenses 3,447,863 4,520,738 Tax liabilities 744, ,264 Other current liabilities and deferred income 2,599,748 2,502,083 Total current liabilities 12,752,181 13,776,891 Non-current liabilities: Deferred tax liabilities 342, ,880 Total non-current liabilities 342, ,880 Shareholders equity: Subscribed capital Common stock, stated value 1, issued: 11,542,764 and 11,542,764, outstanding: 11,235,858 and 11, as at and , respectively 11,542,764 11,542,764 Treasury stock, 306,906 and 306,906 as at and , respectively 537, ,778 Additional paid-in capital 3,654,636 3,654,636 Reserves for share-based compensation 262, ,077 Accumulated deficit (incl. revenue reserves) 727, ,487 Changes in shareholders equity not affecting net income 25,790 25,162 Total shareholders equity 14,220,384 14,075,374 Total liabilities and shareholders equity 27,315,505 28,551,145 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. 19 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 Consolidated Quarterly Accounts /2015

20 sinnerschrader group quarterly financial report /201 5 Consolidated Quarterly Accounts /2015 CONSOLIDATED Statements of operations from 1 September to 30 November 2014 in Q1 2014/2015 Q1 2013/2014 Gross revenues 13,492,999 11,712,002 Media costs 1,092, ,104 Total revenues, net 12,400,626 10,821,898 Cost of revenues 9,754,559 8,050,534 Gross profit 2,646,067 2,771,364 Selling and marketing expenses 963, ,074 General and administrative expenses 1,351,939 1,219,890 Research and development expenses 228, ,767 Other income and expenses, net 170,567 64,077 Operating income 272, ,710 Financial income 1,420 8,642 Financial expenses 1,420 2,253 Other financial result Income before provision for income tax 272, ,099 Income tax 130, ,003 Net income 141, ,096 Net income attributable to the shareholders of SinnerSchrader AG 141, ,096 Net income per share (basic) Net income per share (diluted) Weighted average shares outstanding (basic) 11,235,858 11,114,910 Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) 11,400,869 11,114,910 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements. 20