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EQS-News: The Platform Group AG
/ Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Forecast
The Platform Group AG with successful Capital Markets Day, exceeded forecast in financial year 2024 and new forecast for 2025 – record year expected
The forecast had already been raised twice in the 2024 financial year, most recently on 27 September 2024, driven by strong organic growth in the second half of the year, an increase in the number of partners, an increase in the number of active customers and the contribution of the acquired companies in the reporting period. According to preliminary figures, gross merchandise volume (GMV) rose by 28% year-on-year to EUR 903 million in the 2024 financial year; the already increased forecast was EUR 880 million to EUR 900 million. Revenue increased by 20% year-on-year to EUR 525 million; the already increased forecast was EUR 500 million to EUR 520 million. According to preliminary figures, adjusted EBITDA will amount to EUR 33.2 million and thus exceed the Company’s own increased forecast of EUR 29 million to EUR 32 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 47%. According to preliminary figures, the Company’s net profit will amount to EUR 35.5 million (prior-year period: EUR 33.3 million), which corresponds to earnings per share (EPS) of EUR 1.7. As of 31 December 2024, the Group employed 1,042 people. For the current financial year 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors expects an increase in gross merchandise volume (GMV) to at least EUR 1.2 billion, revenue in a range of EUR 590 million to EUR 610 million and adjusted EBITDA of EUR 40 million to EUR 42 million, with a minimum adjusted EBITDA margin of 7%. The planning relates to the Group’s current activities and consolidated companies. TPG is expected to be operating its software and platform solutions in 30 sectors by the end of 2025, with five to eight acquisitions planned. The aim of the medium-term plan is to enable shareholders, partners and stakeholders to better plan the company’s business activities. TPG’s medium-term planning is essentially based on the following five pillars: (1) GMV and revenue: TPG has a clear focus on profitable growth, primarily in niche areas of eCommerce. Growth is based on organic customer growth in the B2B and B2C areas of platform solutions on the one hand, and on selective acquisitions of companies in the online sector on the other. Three to eight companies are acquired each year and then systematically integrated. Thanks to the platform model and the software solutions, growth is achieved with a lower capital commitment and therefore lower capital costs than traditional online companies can achieve. The medium-term goal is to achieve a gross merchandise volume (GMV) of EUR 1.5 billion. The Board of Directors of TPG is optimistic that the defined target of EUR 1.5 billion GMV will be achieved in 2026. With regard to revenue in the 2026 financial year, the TPG Board of Directors expects a minimum figure of EUR 700 million as part of the medium-term forecast. (2) Profitability: From TPG’s perspective, revenue without profitability is unacceptable. Business activities are therefore always geared towards achieving positive operating earnings and also reporting positive net results as a Group. At TPG, positive earnings figures go hand in hand with positive cash flows, which are actively invested. The mid-term goal is to achieve an operating margin (adjusted EBITDA margin) of 7-10%. In the 2023 financial year, this key figure was 5.1%; in the 2024 financial year, the margin was increased to 6.3%. The Board of Directors of TPG is optimistic that the defined target of at least 7% will be achieved in 2025 and 2026. (3) Sectors: TPG aims to use the software and platform solution it has developed in numerous sectors, thereby diversifying its risk and opportunity profile across a wide range of industries. At the end of 2024, TPG was active in 25 sectors, including the machinery trade, dental technology, luxury fashion, vehicle parts and furniture trade. Even though the sectors are different, one thing is always the same: TPG’s software and platform solution, which is implemented and realized for each new vertical. This reduces costs for the acquired companies, enables growth and increases the value of an investment. The Board of Directors of TPG is optimistic that the defined target of 30 verticals in 2025 will be achieved as planned, with an expansion to at least 35 sectors expected for 2026. As part of its medium-term planning, the Board of Directors expects to acquire five to eight companies in both 2025 and 2026. (4) Partners: Since the start of TPG’s online activities in 2012, partners have been connected to TPG’s platform and software solutions. Partners include retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers of products and services. TPG provides all eCommerce services for its partners, making TPG unique in the industry and setting it apart from its competitors. Every partner that is connected increases the number of products on our platforms, and new products ensure more active customers who buy the products. This increases GMV and revenue. Growth to 15,000 partners is planned for 2025, and the Management Board expects growth to at least 17,000 partners by 2026 as part of mid-term planning. (5) Debt: Profitable growth requires that the Company’s operating profit is invested in a targeted manner and that debt always remains at a conservative, planned level or target corridor. TPG has two investment areas: (a) software for platform solutions and (b) the acquisition of online companies and platforms. Both investment areas are directly related: Acquired companies receive TPG’s software solutions, enabling them to save costs and grow profitably as a platform with new partners. In 2024, TPG successfully placed a bond for the first time. TPG has planned the leverage ratio (defined as adjusted EBITDA in relation to net financial debt excluding lease liabilities) at a mid-term level of 1.5 to 2.3 as a key indicator for managing finances and debt. The TPG Executive Board is optimistic that the defined target of 1.5 to 2.3 will be achieved in 2025 and 2026. The key financial figures are preliminary, relate to the Group’s continuing operations and are unaudited. In 2023, pro-forma figures were used for better comparability ( see the 2023 Annual Report). The Platform Group AG will publish the full results for the 2024 financial year on 9 May 2025. is a software company that is active in 25 sectors with its own platform solutions. Its customers include both B2B and B2C customers in sectors such as furniture retail, machinery retail, dental technology, car platforms, and luxury fashion. The Group has 18 locations across Europe and is headquartered in Düsseldorf. In 2024, sales of EUR 525 million and an operating result (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR 33 million were realized. Investor Relations
31.01.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. |
| Language: | English |
| Company: | The Platform Group AG |
| Schloss Elbroich, Am Falder 4 | |
| 40589 Düsseldorf | |
| Germany | |
| E-mail: | |
| Internet: | -platform-group.com/ |
| ISIN: | DE000A2QEFA1 |
| WKN: | A2QEFA |
| Listed: | Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Scale), Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; Oslo |
| EQS News ID: | 2079061 |
| End of News | EQS News Service |
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2079061 31.01.2025 CET/CEST
