Key Financials of the Bertelsmann Group

Key Figures (IFRS)          
in € millions 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Business Development          
Group revenues 17,190 16,950 17,141 16,675 16,179
Operating EBITDA 2,636 2,568 2,485 2,374 2,311
EBITDA margin in percent1) 15.3 15.2 14.5 14.2 14.3
Bertelsmann Value Added (BVA)2) 163 180 180 211 298
Group profit 1,198 1,137 1,108 572 885
Investments3) 1,776 1,262 1,293 1,601 1,997
           
Consolidated Balance Sheet          
Equity 9,119 9,895 9,434 8,380 8,761
Equity ratio in percent 38.5 41.6 41.2 38.9 40.9
Total assets 23,705 23,794 22,908 21,560 21,418
Net financial debt 3,479 2,625 2,765 1,689 681
Economic debt4) 6,213 5,913 5,609 6,039 4,216
Leverage factor 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.7 2.0
           
Dividends to Bertelsmann shareholders 180 180 180 180 180
Distribution on profit participation certificates 44 44 44 44 44
Employee profit sharing 105 105 95 85 101

Figures prior to 2016 are the most recently reported previous year’s figures. The previous year’s figures for Bertelsmann Value Added and Investments have been adjusted.
Details are presented in the “Alternative Performance Measures” section in the Combined Management Report.
The figures shown in the table are, in some cases, so-called Alternative Performance Measures (APM), which are neither defined nor described in IFRS. Details are presented in the “Alternative Performance Measures” section in the Combined Management Report.
Rounding may result in minor variations in the calculation of percentages.

1) Operating EBITDA as a percentage of revenues.
2) Bertelsmann uses BVA as a strictly defined key performance indicator to evaluate the profitability of the operating business and return on investment. Bertelsmann Value Added is determined without taking into account the Bertelsmann Investments division and thus follows the definition applicable beginning in 2018.
3) Taking into account the financial debt assumed and payments from transactions with non-controlling interests without a change of control.
4) Net financial debt less 50 percent of the par value of the hybrid bonds plus pension provisions, profit participation capital and the present value of operating leases.