EQS-News

ZEAL continues to grow in the first nine months of 2022 - Seite 2

Profitability significantly improved
Personnel expenses decreased slightly year-on-year to EUR 13.9 million (Q1-Q3 2021: EUR 14.5 million), whereas other operating expenses increased only slightly year-on-year to EUR 40.6 million (Q1-Q3 2021: EUR 33.2 million) despite the intense marketing activities. EBITDA thus increased by 25 percent to 22.0 million euros (2021: 17.6 million euros). EBIT and net profit for the period were also significantly higher than the previous year's figures at 15.5 million euros and 12.1 million euros (2021: 11.1 million euros and 7.3 million euros).

Public share buyback offer
Only recently, ZEAL announced a public buyback offer for up to 714.285 shares of the company, corresponding to up to around 3.2% of the share capital. The offer price of € 28.00 per share is approximately 9.9% above the relevant stock exchange price of ZEAL shares. The offer will run, subject to extension, until November 29, 2022.

Forecast confirmed
For fiscal year 2022, ZEAL still plans to expand its market leadership as an online provider of state and other permitted lottery products. Depending on the general conditions – in particular the development of jackpots – the company continues to expect a billings volume of at least EUR 750 million. This forecast is based on an average jackpot development, resulting in a higher growth rate than in the previous year. In addition, ZEAL continues to assume that revenue will be at least EUR 105 million in fiscal year 2022. For adjusted EBITDA, ZEAL expects at least EUR 30 million.

"We are proud of our continued growth trajectory, which proves that we have also taken the right measures in the first nine months of 2022 to improve even further both in terms of customers and results," says Jonas Mattsson, CFO of ZEAL. "With the share buyback offer, we want to further optimize the capital structure of ZEAL Network SE. In addition, we look forward to continuing to make our products accessible to more and more new target groups through targeted partnerships, thus systematically further expanding our reach."