TX : Letter to Shareholders and Half-Year Report

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TX Group Half-Year Report 2021

Zurich, 31 August 2021

Dear Shareholders dear Staff Members

dear Friends and Partners of the TX Group

The year 2021 will go down in our corporate history. The merger of our online marketplaces and general classifieds platforms (TX Markets excluding JobCloud) with those of Ringier/Mobiliar (Scout24 Switzerland) represents a major step for TX Group and a strengthening of the Swiss business location. It will create one of the country's largest digital companies. We are proud to be making a major contribution to this new enterprise. In recent years, we invested a lot of effort to develop TX Markets and consistently drive growth across all areas.

The merger is a bold but logical step. Digitalisation is having an impact on all parts of the economy and along the entire value chain. Even digital businesses are challenged to constantly reinvent themselves and keep up with fast-paced developments. In the area of marketplaces and classifieds, there has also been a significant change in terms of competition. Global players are entering markets around the world and increasingly making inroads into our domestic market as well. The emerging enterprise provides a new and stronger base for Swiss online marketplaces and general classifieds platforms to compete in this environment. In future, this joint venture will be able to reach new heights - at its own pace and in its own way.

The realignment of our Group is already having a positive impact: The structure introduced in early 2020, with the four independent companies TX Markets, Goldbach, 20 Minuten and Tamedia, is allowing us to strike out in new directions. It has provided transparency and clarity regarding the great opportunities and challenges of the different business areas. All our companies are working to establish their own position within the market. At the same time, joint business opportunities are cultivated where it is appropriate.

Looking back on the first half of 2021, the economic environment remained challenging for the entire TX Group, with the coronavirus crisis continuing to weigh us down. This makes our results even more gratifying, with revenues enjoying 8 per cent organic growth year-on-year and operating income (EBIT b. PPA) up by CHF 36 million.

TX Group Half-Year Report 2021

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TX Group Half-Year Report 2021

The significant improvement in the operating income also reflects the initial impact of the ongoing savings programmes for Group-wide services and Tamedia. The increase in revenues was driven by online marketplaces and classified.The strongest recovery in the first half of the year was recorded by the job market, with JobCloud making up for lost ground. Other marketplaces also performed well. For example, Ricardo and Tutti continued to profit from the general trend for second-hand products and the increased awareness of sustainability. Overall, TX Markets showed its resilience in the pandemic and is ready for the next steps in its development.

The other companies also did their bit to increase revenue. As the first half of the year drew to a close, the situation on the advertisement market started to improve, and this had a positive impact on 20 Minuten, Goldbach and Tamedia. Goldbach received a decisive boost in the growing out-of-home segment by winning Zurich's public transport system (VBZ) as a customer. 20 Minuten and Tamedia pushed ahead with their digitalisation drive: 20 Minuten was the first daily medium in Switzerland to reach a total audience of over 3 million users, while Tamedia was able to compensate for the decline in print subscriptions through online subscriptions.

Across the Group, the digital share of revenues increased by 3 percentage points to 53 per cent compared to the previous year, with 11 per cent coming from publishing. In future too, top priority will be given to consistent development of digital products.

As a leading media and technology group in Switzerland, we are convinced we can play a leading role in digital transformation. The joint venture announced today, which combines our online marketplaces and classified advertising with those of Ringier/Mobiliar, will see the emergence of a strong and powerful digital enterprise in Switzerland. We have helped build this foundation and gained valuable experience in the process. With a solid balance sheet and a high level of liquidity, many opportunities are open for us to use them in a targeted manner and to further develop our Group. With this in mind, we look forward to an exciting future and hope to shape this with our outstanding colleagues. Many thanks for your confidence in TX Group.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Pietro Supino

Chairman and Publisher

Operational reporting by TX Group	3
on the first half of 2021

Alternative key performance figures

The TX Group uses the following alternative key performance figures:

• Operating income before depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
• Operating income before effects of business combinations (EBIT b. PPA)
• Cash flow after investing activities in tangible and intangible assets (FCF b. M&A)
• Normalised consolidated income statement

Detailed information on how the alternative key performance figures are derived can be found at www.tx.group/en/investor-relations/alternative-performance-figures.

The figures shown are rounded in every table. As the calculations are made with a higher level of numerical accuracy, it is possible that small rounding differences may occur.

TX Group Half-Year Report 2021

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TX Group Half-Year Report 2021

Key figures

in CHF mn		30.06.2021	30.06.2020	Change 1
Income statement
Revenues		453.3	431.2	5.1%
Operating income / (loss) before depreciation
and amortisation (EBITDA)		72.5	34.1	112.3%
Margin 2		16.0%	7.9%	8.1 %p
Operating income / (loss) before effects of
business combinations (EBIT b. PPA)		48.2	12.3	290.4%
Margin 2		10.6%	2.9%	7.8 %p
Operating income / (loss) (EBIT)		15.4	(107.5)	n.a.
Margin 2		3.4%	-24.9%	28.3 %p
Net income / (loss) (EAT)		21.2	(109.4)	n.a.
Margin 2		4.7%	-25.4%	30.1 %p
Segment share of total revenues with third parties
TX Markets		23.9%	23.2%	0.7 %p
Goldbach		10.9%	9.3%	1.7 %p
20 Minuten		10.5%	8.7%	1.8 %p
Tamedia		47.4%	49.6%	-2.3 %p
Group & Ventures		7.4%	9.2%	-1.8 %p
Employee key data
Number of employees (FTE) 3		3 667	3 640	0.7%
Revenue per employee	in CHF 000	123.6	118.5	4.4%
Balance sheet
Current assets		577.4	458.8	25.8%
Non-current assets		2 199.5	2 154.6	2.1%
Total assets		2 776.9	2 613.4	6.3%
Liabilities		703.6	688.8	2.1%
Equity		2 073.3	1 924.6	7.7%
Cash flow
Cash flow from / (used in) operating activities		61.1	15.4	296.7%
Cash flow from / (used in) investing activities		(15.8)	4.1	n.a.
Cash flow after investing in property, plant
and equipment and intangible assets (FCF b. M&A)		49.3	(0.0)	n.a.
Cash flow after investing activities (FCF)		45.3	19.5	132.5%
Cash flow from / (used in) financing activities		(37.4)	(126.1)	-70.4%
Change in cash and cash equivalents		8.1	(106.9)	n.a.
Financial key data
Equity ratio 4		74.7%	73.6%	1 %p
Return on equity 5		2.0%	-11.4%	13.4 %p
Net debt / (net liquidity) 6		(194.2)	(112.0)	73.3%
Debt factor 7	x	-	-	n.a.
Key figures per share
Net income / (loss) per share undiluted	in CHF	0.85	(11.01)	n.a.
Share price	in CHF	85.90	70.30	22.2%
Market capitalisation		910.3	745.1	22.2%

1. No indication is given for changes in comparative variables with different signs (n.a.). The change in relative values (e.g. margins) is given in percentage points (%p).
2. As a percentage of revenue
3. Average number of employees, excluding employees in associates / joint ventures

4 Equity to total assets

• Net income / (loss) including non-controlling interests (projected for 12 months) to shareholders' equity as of 30 June
  6 Current and non-current financial liabilities less cash and cash equivalents 7 Net debt to cash flow from / (used in) operating activities

Normalised consolidated income statement

			30.06.2021			30.06.2020
in CHF mn	Comment	Income	One-off	Adjusted	Income	One-off	Adjusted
		statement	effects	net	statement	effects	net
				income /			income /
				(loss)			(loss)
Advertising revenue		110.1	-	110.1	94.0	-	94.0
Revenue from classifieds & services		143.7	-	143.7	145.1	-	145.1
Commercialisation and intermediary revenue		35.4	-	35.4	26.3	-	26.3
Revenue from subscriptions and individual sales		121.3	-	121.3	121.3	-	121.3
Revenue from print and logistic operations		32.6	-	32.6	35.1	-	35.1
Other operating revenue		9.3	-	9.3	8.1	-	8.1
Other income	1	0.9	(0.8)	0.2	1.3	(1.1)	0.2
Revenues		453.3	(0.8)	452.6	431.2	(1.1)	430.1
Costs of material and services	2	(67.6)	(0.3)	(67.9)	(74.0)	-	(74.0)
Personnel expenses		(230.9)	-	(230.9)	(227.5)	-	(227.5)
Other operating expenses	3	(91.9)	(1.6)	(93.5)	(99.4)	-	(99.4)
Share of net income / (loss)
of associated companies / joint ventures	4	9.5	1.7	11.2	3.8	-	3.8
Operating income / (loss) before depreciation		72.5	(1.0)	71.5	34.1	(1.1)	33.1
and amortisation (EBITDA)
Margin		16.0%		15.8%	7.9%		7.7%
Depreciation and amortisation		(24.3)	-	(24.3)	(21.8)	-	(21.8)
Operating income / (loss) before effects of		48.2	(1.0)	47.2	12.3	(1.1)	11.3
business combinations (EBIT b. PPA)
Margin		10.6%		10.4%	2.9%		2.6%
Amortisation resulting from business combinations	5	(32.8)	32.8	-	(34.9)	34.9	-
Impairment	6	-	-	-	(85.0)	85.0	-
Operating income / (loss) (EBIT)		15.4	31.8	47.2	(107.5)	118.8	11.3
Margin		3.4%		10.4%	-24.9%		2.6%
Financial income	7	14.7	(12.0)	2.7	1.4	-	1.4
Financial expense		(3.0)	-	(3.0)	(2.4)	-	(2.4)
Income / (loss) before taxes (EBT)		27.1	19.7	46.9	(108.5)	118.8	10.3
Income taxes	8	(5.9)	(2.8)	(8.6)	(0.9)	(5.6)	(6.5)
Net income / (loss) (EAT)		21.2	17.0	38.2	(109.4)	113.2	3.8
Margin		4.7%		8.4%	-25.4%		0.9%

1. The adjustment in 2021 relates to hardship payments for Neo Advertising AG (Goldbach segment). The adjustment in 2020 relates to the gain on disposal from the sale of the Renovero activity from Olmero AG (Group & Ventures segment).
2. The adjustment includes the extraordinary federal contributions to finance the basic services of the national news agency Keystone-SDA to relieve the media providers (segment Tamedia).
3. The adjustment includes the extraordinary support of the Confederation for the reduced delivery of subscribed daily and weekly newspapers and magazines (press subsidy) (segment Tamedia)
   4 The adjustment in 2021 relates to the impairment of goodwill of the associate BTMX P/S (segment 20 Minuten).
   5 Depreciation from business combinations is normalised in full. Allocation to the segments according to segment reporting.
   6 The adjustment in 2020 relates to the impairment of goodwill of the cash-generating unit Tamedia (Tamedia segment).

1. The adjustment in 2021 relates to compensation from legal proceedings in connection with Trendsales ApS, in which TX Group Ltd had acted as plaintiff (Group & Ventures segment).
2. In the business year and in the comparison period, a correction is made for the tax effects on the special effects. There is only a minor tax effect on the goodwill impairment due to the taxable result of TX Group AG.

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TX Group Half-Year Report 2021