German cable network operator Tele Columbus has announced its preliminary unaudited results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2014, reporting revenue of EUR213.0 million (USD238 million), an increase of 3.3% from EUR206.2 million the previous year. Normalised EBITDA grew 12.3% from EUR88.1 million in 2013 to EUR98.9 million twelve months later, with the firm attributing the growth to its increasing success in selling additional products, such as high speed internet access and telephony, to its existing cable TV clients. As at 31 December 2014 the number of internet revenue generating units (RGUs) stood at 202,000, compared to 174,000 at end-2013, while telephony RGUs grew 16.4% year-on-year to 170,000 and premium TV users declined 2.1% to 161,000. Total blended monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) reached EUR13.9 in 2014 (EUR14.0 in the fourth quarter), up from EUR13.2 a year earlier (EUR13.5 in 4Q13).
‘Tele Columbus’ successful stock market flotation on 23 January 2015 marked a new chapter in the company’s history,’ the cableco said in a press release on its website. ‘Most of the total gross proceeds will be used to improve the company’s capital structure and reduce financial liabilities. The remaining portion will be used for general corporate purposes, in particular to upgrade its network and to connect additional homes to its own integrated Level 3 network infrastructure, providing Tele Columbus with a strong foundation to continue its growth strategy’.