2022 Annual report

Executive Board’s review
of the year

2022 Facts and figures

2022 Highlights

Downloads

Annual General Meeting

DE

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freenet 2025 –
The first breakthroughs have been made!

At the end of 2021, freenet communicated its growth strategy for the next few years until 2025. Its key target is to boost EBITDA to reach at least 520 million euros based on an average annual growth rate of more than 4 percent compared with 2020.

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Executive Board’s

review of the year

Christoph Vilanek, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Christoph Vilanek
“We have repositioned freenet.”
>>> Our company is undergoing something of a paradigm shift.
Learn more
Nicole Engenhardt-Gillé,
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO),
since 1 January 2023
Nicole Engenhardt-Gillé
“We want to strengthen our strengths.”
>>> I’m delighted to be joining the Executive Board of freenet AG.
Learn more
Rickmann v. Platen,
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Rickmann v. Platen
“Our ‘department store’ offers innovative, sustainable products.”
>>> Customers should find a better deal at freenet – that is the guiding principle behind our new organisational structure.
Learn more
Ingo Arnold,
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Ingo Arnold
“We have hit the ground running faster than planned.”
>>> We began the 2022 financial year by declaring our ambition to increase EBITDA to at least 520 million euros by the end of 2025 and adjusting the company’s strategy accordingly.
Learn more
Antonius Fromme,
Chief Customer
Experience Officer
(CCE)
Antonius Fromme
“freenet’s customer management is second to none.”
>>> We put together a range of products and services tailored to the needs of every customer wherever they choose to shop with us.
Learn more
Stephan Esch,
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Stephan Esch
“Our processes are becoming more rigorous, more precise and more effective.”
>>> As part of freenet’s reorganisation, my previous IT unit has now become Technology and Processes.
Learn more
Christoph Vilanek, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Christoph Vilanek
“We have repositioned freenet.”
>>> Our company is undergoing something of a paradigm shift.
Lern more
Ingo Arnold,
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Ingo Arnold
“We have hit the ground running faster than planned.”
>>> We began the 2022 financial year by declaring our ambition to increase EBITDA to at least 520 million euros by the end of 2025 and adjusting the company’s strategy accordingly.
Learn more
Nicole Engenhardt-Gillé,
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO),
since 1 January 2023
Nicole Engenhardt-Gillé
“We want to strengthen our strengths.”
>>> I’m delighted to be joining the Executive Board of freenet AG.
Lern more
Stephan Esch,
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Stephan Esch
“Our processes are becoming more rigorous, more precise and more effective.”
>>> As part of freenet’s reorganisation, my previous IT unit has now become Technology and Processes.
Lern more
Antonius Fromme,
Chief Customer Experience Officer (CCE)
Antonius Fromme
“freenet’s customer management is second to none.”
>>> We put together a range of products and services tailored to the needs of every customer wherever they choose to shop with us.
Lern more
Rickmann v. Platen,
Chief Commercial Officer (COO)
Rickmann v. Platen
“Our ‘department store’ offers innovative, sustainable products.”
>>> Customers should find a better deal at freenet – that is the guiding principle behind our new organisational structure.
Lern more
strichellinie
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2022 Facts

figures

&
Revenues
2,557
Mio. EUR
EBITDA
478.7
Mio. EUR
Free  cash flow
249.2
Mio. EUR
Dividend  proposal
1.68
EUR
Subscriber  number
9.04
Mio.
Employees
3,660
Headcount
Renewable  energy
> 95
Percent
Carbon  neutral by
2030
Scope 1+2
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2022

Highlights

January 2022

mobilcom-debitel becomes freenet

freenet began 2022 by ­consolidating its brand portfolio and reinforcing the freenet umbrella brand. All products previously sold under the ­mobilcom-debitel brand now carry the freenet name. The aim of this standardisation is to raise freenet’s profile so that it becomes known as an umbrella brand for one of the largest digital lifestyle providers in Germany and creates synergies in sales and retail, marketing and customer communications. The switch is being publicly rolled out with the help of brand ambassador Dieter Bohlen, a campaign that has already significantly increased awareness of freenet as a ­consumer brand.
April 2022

freenet raises minimum wage considerably

In April, freenet set a good example of social responsibility by increasing its minimum wage for employees to 13.22 euros per hour. freenet ­employees received higher salaries from April 2022 onwards. The move also enhances freenet’s competitive positioning for skilled workers within the lower income range (e.g. warehouse logistics staff). Companies were only required by law to increase their minimum wage to 12 euros per hour from October onwards.
May 2022

Marc Tüngler appointed
as new Supervisory Board chairman of freenet AG

In May, the Supervisory Board of freenet AG appointed Supervisory Board member Marc Tüngler as its new chairman. Tüngler, who has served on the Supervisory Board of freenet AG since 2012, succeeds Prof. Dr Helmut Thoma, who stepped down from the Supervisory Board. He has been appointed for four years. In addition to his role as Managing Director of the Deutsche Schutzvereinigung für Wertpapierbesitz e.V. (DSW – German Association of Private Shareholders), he has been a member of the government commission on the German Corporate Governance Code since 2015. The Supervisory Board has also been bolstered by the appointment of new members Prof. Dr Kerstin Lopatta, Miriam Wohlfarth and Thomas Karlovits.
May 2022

Agreement with MediaMarktSaturn extended

At the end of May, freenet announced its decision to extend its successful long-term distribution partnership with Media-Saturn Deutschland GmbH ahead of schedule. The new agreement once again created an excellent framework for this relationship. In particular, this established and exclusive distribution partnership allows freenet to offer its own tariffs across all mobile networks and original tariffs from network operators Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone in all MediaMarkt and Saturn stores as well as across Germany via the company’s online channels.
June 2022

freenet Internet launched

In June, freenet became the first German provider to offer an app-based Internet product as it launched freenet Internet. This new online tariff can be managed flexibly via the app and can be cancelled on a monthly basis. By launching this product, freenet has established the Internet segment as the third pillar of its business alongside Mobile Communications and TV & Entertainment as it continues to consistently broaden the company’s digital lifestyle portfolio. This product was expanded to include a broadband product (DSL) in early 2023. The aim is for freenet’s Internet product to contribute 15 to 25 million euros to Group EBITDA from the 2025 financial year onwards as part of the company’s medium-term financial ambitions.
August 2022

EBITDA forecast raised for 2022 financial year

freenet delivered strong financial results in the first six months of 2022. Despite mounting macroeconomic challenges created by increasing geopolitical tensions, the company continued to improve its profitability in a dynamic yet rational market environment. As a result, the Executive Board raised its EBITDA forecast for the second half of 2022 (460 to 480 million euros; previously 450 to 470 million euros), an increase of 10 million euros (+2.2 percent) compared to the respective midpoints of the original and new guidance.
gravis shop
August 2022

GRAVIS launches innovative and sustainable store model

In August, GRAVIS unveiled an innovative new store model just a few steps from its previous premises in Munich. The new spatial model focuses on the chain’s omnichannel approach by seamlessly incorporating online activities into its bricks-and-mortar stores. By offering sustainable products, an in-store purchasing programme for old devices and the chance to offset carbon emissions by planting trees, this new store model embodies GRAVIS’s commitment to sustainability. From Munich, the model is likely to be steadily rolled out to other locations.
August 2022

Dieter Bohlen extends contract as “CEO” (Chief Entertainment Officer)

After a successful initial campaign with our new “Chief Entertainment Officer” to raise awareness of the umbrella brand, freenet extended its contract with Dieter Bohlen in August. Bohlen became a freenet ambassador in 2021 and has helped to significantly increase awareness of freenet as a consumer brand. The pop titan is once again advertising the digital lifestyle provider’s entire range of products and services in his inimitably brusque yet charming way. The aim of the latest campaign is to communicate the brand’s specific promise in addition to highlighting its Mobile Communications, Internet and TV & Entertainment businesses.
September 2022

New Executive Board position for Human Resources and ESG

In September, freenet addressed the key issues of the future by creating a dedicated Human Resources and ESG position on the Executive Board. Nicole Engenhardt-Gillé was appointed to freenet’s Executive Board on 1 January 2023, having previously been responsible for the company’s almost 3,700-strong workforce in her role as Head of Human Resources. Her remit has now expanded to include responsibility for all aspects of sustainability (ESG) as well as all training and continuing professional development within the bricks-and-mortar shop business.
December 2022

waipu.tv continues to expand strategic partnerships

waipu.tv recorded robust subscriber growth across the entire year, with around 250,000 more customers using its paid offering compared to a year earlier by year-end. To ensure even stronger growth in 2023, waipu.tv teamed up with several partners for the coming year during 2022. In addition to partnerships with sport streaming service DAZN as well as (Fire TV and Apple TV rival) Roku TV, waipu.tv welcomed Deutsche Glasfaser and Lilaconnect as particularly important new partners in its efforts to attract new customers.
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Annual General Meeting

The 2023 Annual General Meeting of freenet AG took place on May 17, 2023 in Hamburg.

Further information can be found here.