Acquisition of Hexonet group

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.  Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. 

1 July 2019

CentralNic Group plc

("CentralNic" or the "Company" or the "Group")

CentralNic Group plc to acquire the international domain name reseller platform

Hexonet group ("Hexonet") for up to €10 million

CentralNic Group PLC (AIM: CNIC), the global internet platform that derives revenue from the subscription sales of internet domain names, announces it has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire all shares in Hexonet, a leading international platform for resellers of domain names, for up to €10.0 million, subject to customary net cash and working capital adjustments (the "Acquisition"). Hexonet comprises Hexonet GmbH, Germany, and Mediasiren Advertising, Inc., Canada, and their respective subsidiaries.

Hexonet is a privately owned group of companies with operations in Canada and Germany. It sells domain name subscriptions directly and via more than a thousand resellers in over 110 countries, managing over 3.8 million domains on its proprietary software platforms. The acquisition will increase by c.28% the number of domains under management on CentralNic's reseller platforms.

Like CentralNic, Hexonet has a high level of recurring revenues and excellent customer retention. In 2018, Hexonet's revenues were c.€16.5 million (c.$19.4m USD), representing a CAGR of 8% on a USD basis for the two preceding years, with an EBITDA of c.€0.8m (c.$0.9m USD). The payment of the full consideration amount is subject to Hexonet being delivered by the seller with over €0.3m (c.$0.4m) of ongoing cost reductions compared to the 2018 cost base, which is materially completed, and the absence of warranty claims. Further, CentralNic is filling staff vacancies budgeted at €0.3m (c.$0.4m) with staff from Hexonet. Integration is facilitated by the close physical proximity of the German operations of CentralNic and Hexonet.

The consideration comprises a €7.0 million payment at completion and a deferred payment of up to €3.0 million on the first anniversary of completion, payable in cash or CentralNic shares at prevailing market price, at the Company's discretion. The cash component of the Acquisition will be funded by proceeds of the recently closed senior secured bond issue of €50m. The Acquisition is expected to complete in July, subject to, amongst other things, the timing of CentralNic's receipt of proceeds from the bond, but no later than 31 August 2019. The Acquisition is expected to be immediately earnings accretive.

The Acquisition is CentralNic's fourth in the past 12 months, and is the next step in CentralNic's strategy to rapidly consolidate the global recurring revenue domain name industry. The Group announced in May its acquisition of TPP Wholesale, Australasia's leading domain name and hosting reseller platform business.

CentralNic will provide Hexonet customers with continuity of service, while also upgrading the service with new products, with Hexonet's CEO and CMO remaining with the business under CentralNic ownership. CentralNic will integrate the innovative technical features, its web apps suite and dropcatching capabilities of the Hexonet platform with those of its own Key-Systems platform, to create an augmented domain platform and service offering, to be released in 2020. Further, the Canadian operations provide CentralNic with an enlarged base from which to cover the Americas in general and specifically the important Pacific time zone markets.

Ben Crawford, CEO of CentralNic, said: "We are delighted that the Hexonet reseller platform, expert staff and customers are becoming part of CentralNic, boosting not only our recurring revenues and profits, but also our market share and competitiveness. Added to our existing capabilities, the Hexonet acquisition makes us the clear global leader, combining two of the most technically advanced global reseller platforms in the domain industry, and the formidable teams that built and run them."

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of CentralNic is Michael Riedl, Chief Financial Officer.

For further information:  

About CentralNic Group plc 

CentralNic (AIM: CNIC) is a London-based AIM-listed company which drives the growth of the global digital economy by developing and managing software platforms allowing businesses globally to buy subscriptions to domain names, used for their own websites and email, as well as for protecting their brands online.  Its core growth strategy is identifying and acquiring cash-generative businesses in its industry with annuity revenue streams and exposure to growth markets and migrating them onto the CentralNic software and operating platforms. 

CentralNic operates globally with customers in almost every country in the world.  It earns recurring revenues from the worldwide sales of internet domain names and other services on an annual subscription basis. 

For more information please visit: www.centralnicgroup.com