Luxembourg. RTL Group announces its results for the six months ended 30 June 2015. Reported Group revenue was up 3.8 per cent to €2,788 million (H1/2014: €2,687 million) thanks to strongly increasing revenue at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, growing digital revenue and favourable exchange rate effects. Reported EBITA was up 3.3 per cent to €534 million compared to €517 million in H1/2014, mainly driven by Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, resulting in a stable EBITA margin at 19.2 per cent. RTL Group’s digital revenue continued to show very dynamic growth, up 94 per cent to €219 million (H1/2014: €113 million), benefitting from organic growth and new acquisitions.
Net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders was up 73.8 per cent to €351 million (H1/2014: €202 million). Net cash from operating activities amounted to €295 million, resulting in an operating cash conversion of 74 per cent; RTL Group had net financial debt of €1,003 million as of 30 June 2015. On 26 August 2015, RTL Group’s Board of Directors authorised the distribution of an extraordinary interim dividend of €1.00 per share, to be paid in September 2015. This reflects the Group’s cash flows and its target net debt to full-year EBITDA ratio of 0.5 to 1.0 times.
In the second quarter of 2015, RTL Group’s revenue was up 7.7 per cent to €1,480 million (Q2/2014: €1,374 million), driven by higher revenue from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, digital assets and FremantleMedia. EBITA was up 4.3 per cent to €340 million (Q2/2014: €326 million). Net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders more than doubled in the second quarter to €245 million (Q2/2014: €111 million).
