Rocket Internet SE’s (“Rocket Internet” or “the Company”) selected companies have shown continued revenue growth and progress on their way towards profitability in 2016. Aggregate revenue across the focus sectors Food & Groceries, Fashion, General Merchandise and Home & Living grew by 29% from EUR 1.7 billion in 2015 to EUR 2.2 billion in 2016. The aggregate adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 16.4 percentage points from -31.3% in 2015 to -14.9% in 2016, which equates to an absolute EBITDA loss reduction of EUR 234 million.
Rocket Internet announced that African online platform Jumia, formerly known as Africa Internet Group, has successfully completed the rebranding of all services under the Jumia brand in 2016 with a positive impact on traffic and brand awareness. Jumia reduced its adjusted EBITDA losses from EUR -161.3 million in 2015 to EUR -91.9 million in 2016.
HelloFresh, a leading global meal kit provider, grew by 95.8% in 2016 and reported revenue of EUR 597.0 million, while improving its adjusted EBITDA margin by 14.5 percentage points to -13.8%. Delivery Hero, one of the worlds’ largest online food delivery networks, increased gross merchandise volume from EUR 1.4 billion to EUR 2.3 billion in 2016 and revenue from EUR 166 million to EUR 297 million.
In the same period, Global Fashion Group (“GFG”) experienced continued revenue and net merchandise volume growth across all regions, reaching revenue of over EUR 1.0 billion. GFG’s adjusted EBITDA margin improved from -26.9% in 2015 to -12.5% in 2016. Middle Eastern online fashion retailer Namshi has successfully reached breakeven, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 1.8% for the year.
In 2016, online Home & Living companies Westwing and Home24 respectively reduced adjusted EBITDA losses from EUR -49.9 million to EUR -13.8 million and EUR -75.3 million to EUR -40.1 million.
“In 2016, our selected companies progressed on their path towards profitability, while demonstrating further growth,” says Oliver Samwer, CEO Rocket Internet.
Rocket Internet and its companies continue to be very well funded, with an available gross cash position of EUR 1.5 billion at Rocket Internet and an additional gross cash position of EUR 0.8 billion at selected companies and regional internet groups, as of the end of March 2017.
Rocket Internet Group’s FY 2016 revenue of EUR 50.4 million and the consolidated loss of EUR -741.5 million have been impacted primarily by the deconsolidation of subsidiaries, e.g. La Nevera Roja and Pizzabo, and impairment related charges of associated companies. As already explained in detail as part of the half-year financial statements 2016, the main negative effects on net income, in particular impairment charges in relation to GFG, were non-cash effects. Rocket Internet Group’s cash flow from operating activities improved by EUR 19.8 million to EUR -85.7 million
