Key Financials of the Bertelsmann Group

Key Figures (IFRS)          
in € millions 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Business Development          
Group revenues 20,245 18,696 17,289 18,023 17,673
Operating EBITDA 3,192 3,241 3,143 2,887 2,586
EBITDA margin in percent1) 15.8 17.3 18.2 16.0 14.6
Bertelsmann Value Added (BVA)2) 109 474 355 89 121
Group profit 1,052 2,310 1,459 1,091 1,104
Investments3) 1,672 1,954 920 1,240 1,434
           
Consolidated Balance Sheet          
Equity 15,036 13,606 10,725 10,445 9,838
Equity ratio in percent 45.8 42.8 36.1 38.2 38.8
Total assets 32,818 31,769 29,704 27,340 25,343
Net financial debt 2,249 959 2,055 3,364 3,932
Economic debt4) 4,785 3,475 5,207 6,511 6,619
Leverage factor 1.8 1.3 1.9 2.6 2.7
           
Dividends to Bertelsmann shareholders 220 180 180 180
Distribution on profit participation certificates 44 44 44 44 44
Employee profit sharing 63 89 88 96 116


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 has been calculated excluding the venture capital organization of the Bertelsmann Investments division.
3) Taking into account the financial debt assumed, investments amounted to €1,981 million (2021: €1,961 million).
4) Net financial debt less the short-term liquidable investments in a special fund plus pension provisions, profit participation capital and lease liabilities (up to and including the financial year 2021 less 50 percent of the par value of the hybrid bonds).