Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group plc

('SSW' or the 'Company')

Interim results for the six months ended 31 May 2017

Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group plc (AIM: SAT), the global communications company specialising in rural and last-mile super-fast broadband, announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 May 2017.

Financial Highlights

·    Total revenue increased 261% to £20.6m (H1 2016: £5.7m)

·    Recurring revenue¹ increased 280% to £19.4m (H1 2016: £5.1m) representing 94% of total revenue in H1 2017

·    Like for like revenue growth²  of 13.1%

·    Gross profit margin increased to 37.0% (H1 2016: 29.5%)

·    Overheads as a percentage of revenue decreased to 27.2% (H1 2016: 38.2%)

·    Underlying EBITDA³ increased to £2.0m (H1 2016: £0.5m loss)

Operational Highlights

·    Customers at the end of H1 2017 increased by over 260% to c.90k (H1 2016: c25k)

·    Agreed a £5m revolving credit facility from HSBC to fund acquisitions and working capital

·    Three acquisitions across two existing hubs completed during the period:

o  NextNet and ASDN in Norway

o  BorderNET in Australia

·    Signed a Virtual Network Operating ('VNO') agreement with SES Telecom Services in  Luxembourg to provide new satellite broadband capacity to support sales in European markets

·    Secured a £0.5m (NOK5.6m) Norwegian government contract for a new fixed wireless network

Post-Period Highlights

·    £8m equity placing to fund acquisition of leading UK wireless provider Quickline Communications Limited and smaller bolt-on acquisitions

·    Avonline integrated with SSW's billing and CRM systems as of 1 July 2017, following the end of a transitional services agreement 12 months post acquisition

·    Launch of government backed 40 Mb Satellite scheme in Cornwall

Andrew Walwyn, CEO of SSW, commented: "Trading in the period was in line with management's expectations; I am pleased that we are seeing accelerating customer sign up, higher retention rates and increased data demands. I believe these growth trends will continue as demand for digital services shows no sign of stopping.

H1 has been about consolidating our acquired customer base and integrating systems across our networks. This momentum is continuing into the second half and we remain firmly on track to reach our target of 100,000 customers by year end.

Post period end, an £8m equity raise allowed us to acquire Quickline, a leading UK wireless broadband provider. I was delighted that the fundraise was supported by both new and existing institutional investors and I believe their support will be rewarded as we progress through H2 2017 and beyond."

¹  Recurring revenue refers to revenue generated from broadband airtime and data contracts which are typically two years or more in duration.

² Like for like revenue growth compares current and prior period revenue treating acquired businesses as if they had been owned for all of both periods.

³  Underlying EBITDA is before share based payments, depreciation, intangible amortisation, acquisition and deal related costs.

For further information:

About SSW

Established in 2008, SSW specialises in the provision of rural and last mile broadband services with customers across 31 countries. SSW's solutions target B2C and B2B users, including products developed specifically for the broadcasting, police and military markets. SSW operates a number of brands such as Europasat (Europe), Avonline (UK), Breiband (Nordics) and SkyMesh (Australia) and is now the fourth largest independent provider of satellite broadband internet services in the world.

The 2015 listing on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange together with the support from Business Growth Fund and investors in 2016 and 2017 have put the Company in an excellent position to continue strong organic growth in its subscriber base and recurring revenues as well as execute on acquisitions. The Directors believe there is a major opportunity to continue this organic growth strategy and consider acquisitions throughout the fragmented European satellite and fixed wireless broadband markets and further afield.

Working closely with satellite owners and operators, the Company targets customers in the 'digital divide' with solutions that deliver super-fast satellite based broadband services or fixed wireless to almost any premises, whether residential, commercial or industrial across Europe and Australia, irrespective of location or local infrastructure.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

I am pleased to report another period of continued growth and operational improvements across the Company. The first six months of 2017 is the first opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of the acquisitions completed in 2016 (including Avonline, Breiband and Skymesh) as their results are included within the Company's performance for the period.

Revenue increased significantly by 261% to £20.6m (H1 2016: £5.7m) and underlying EBITDA in the period was £2.0m, compared to a loss of £0.5m in H1 2016, demonstrating the good progress made and the Company's ambitious growth strategy. Customer numbers increased by 260% to c.90k at the end of H1 2017 compared to the end of H1 2016.

We changed nominated adviser and broker to Numis in December 2016 and following substantial support from our banking partner, HSBC, we secured a £5m revolving credit facility in March 2017. This facility has and will be used to fund smaller acquisitions and ongoing working capital and investment across the group.

We acquired BorderNET Internet Pty Ltd ('BorderNET') in Australia and the customer bases of NextNet and AS Distriktsnett ('ASDN') in Norway in March 2017 for an aggregate consideration of £1.8m, whilst also repaying all debt with Nordea Bank, using the HSBC facility.

These three smaller acquisitions contributed a total of c.5.5k new customers, but more importantly demonstrate our ability to acquire and successfully integrate acquisitions to build scale in local markets. All three deals saw local management teams heavily involved in sourcing and execution of these transactions and whilst it is early days, these three acquisitions are performing in-line with expectations.

The key theme of the first half of 2017 has been about consolidating existing acquisitions, integrating systems and creating efficiencies from our increasing customer base. This work will continue and I am pleased with the progress that has been made to date in these vital areas. A good example is our Enterprise Resource Planning 'ERP' solution Pathfinder (including CRM, billing and finance systems) which are currently being upgraded and rolled out across the Company's hubs, with Australia and Norway integration targeted for the end of 2017.

In February 2017 Rodger Sargent resigned his position as a Non-Executive Director having helped the Company's transition from a private to public entity and been an integral part of the team that has successfully grown the business to date. We thank Rodger for all his support and guidance during this period. At the same time Stephen Morana joined the board as a Non-executive. Stephen has already made a considerable contribution to the board and has significant experience having been a director at publicly quoted companies including Betfair, Zoopla and boohoo.com.

Outlook

The business has made a good start to the second half of 2017, with continued double digit like-for-like revenue growth for the two months to July 2017. We are continuing to evaluate all operational aspects of our businesses, particularly in driving improvements in gross margins and overhead efficiencies in the short to medium term. We are comfortable with market expectations for the full year.

As the recently announced post period £8m placing and acquisition of Quickline Communications demonstrates, we are now ready to consider further acquisitions in the second half of the year and beyond as we continue to become a global player in the delivery of super-fast broadband solutions to customers around the world.

Andrew Walwyn

CEO

31 August 2017

FINANCIAL REVIEW

In the six months ending 31 May 2017, revenues increased by 261% to £20.6m (H1 2016: £5.7m), driven by an increase in organic revenue as well as the impact of acquisitions including those made in the summer of 2016. Gross profit increased to £7.6m (H1 2016: £1.7m) representing an improved gross profit margin of 37.0% (H1 2016: 29.5%). 

Underlying distribution and administrative expenses increased by 154% to £5.6m (H1 2016: £2.2m) primarily as a result of costs and investment made following the acquisitions in 2016 and H1 2017, combined with increased investment in overheads in relation to growing the business across its existing hubs (primarily in relation to Australia and Norway).

Company adjusted results

Underlying EBITDA (before share based payments, depreciation, intangible amortisation, acquisition and deal related costs) was £2.0m (H1 2016: loss of £0.5m).

The Company had financing and acquisition related costs of £0.6m in the period (H1 2016: £0.4m). These costs comprise mainly professional and legal fees.

A reconciliation of the statutory operating loss before taxation for H1 2017 of £2.9m (H1 2016: £1.9m loss) to underlying EBITDA is shown below:

Revenue and underlying EBITDA in H1 2017 and the comparative period is segmented by geography as follows:

The Company has continued to make good progress in expanding its customer base, driven by the impact of acquisitions and net additions to the core business. As a result, total customers increased from c79k at the start of the year to c90k as at 31 May 2017 with progress across all of the operating hubs in the period, with particularly strong customer growth in Australia. The acquisitions made in 2016 have contributed significantly to the growth in revenue and the improvements in EBITDA during the period.

Since the start of 2015 and up to and including H1 2017, the Company has completed 14 acquisitions with a total customer base of c70.7k which as at 31 May 2017 had grown to c76.4k.

The Company's total customer base of c90k as at 31 May 2017 was split as follows:  UK: 24% (H1 2016: 47%), France: 13% (H1 2016: 38%), Norway: 17% (H1 2016: 0%), Australia: 41% (H1 2016: 0%), Other: 5% (H1 2016: 15%) (Other comprises Ireland, Poland and various other territories in which the Company operates). Group customer numbers as at 30 August 2017, including the recent acquisition of Quickline, was c96k.

Churn rates (defined as the number of subscribers who discontinue their service as a percentage of the total number of subscribers within the period) improved in the period to 15% (H1 2016: 19%) with increased focus on customer retention by strengthening the Customer Experience team across the group. Average revenue per user ("ARPU") has remained consistent between H1 2016 and H1 2017 at approximately £40 / month.

Gross profit margin was 37.0% in the period (H1 2016: 29.5%, FY 2016: 34.0%) due to the improved revenue mix across the Group's hubs following the signed Virtual Network Operating ('VNO') agreement with SES Telecom Services and higher gross margins obtained in our Norwegian businesses (predominantly fixed wireless services following capital investment during the period) offset by lower gross margin in the Australian business given the high level of government support in that region.

Operating cash outflows (before capital expenditure and acquisitions) were £0.9m in the first half of the year (H1 2016: £2.0m outflow) as a result of increased net working capital movements of £1.1m as the business has grown significantly. Net debt increased from £9.4m as at 31 December 2016 to £13.2m as at 31 May 2017, primarily as a result of the acquisitions made in the period of BorderNET, NextNet and ASDN, financed by the Group's debt facilities, and continued investment across the Group's hubs combined with capital expenditure of £1.0m in the period (H1 2016: £0.2m). As at 31 May 2017 the Group had a cash balance of £2.0m and £1.5m of headroom under the HSBC facility.

Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group plc

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income

6 months ended 31 May 2017

Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group plc

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position

As at 31 May 2017

Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group plc

Condensed consolidated Cash Flow Statement

6 Months Ended 31 May 2017