At EUR 43.75 million (2018: EUR 33.74 million), sales grew by 29.7% compared to the previous year. This was mainly due to a significant increase in the conversion projects implemented. Consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to EUR 18.78 million in the past financial year (2018: EUR 16.08 million). Deutsche Lichtmiete also expects further growth in the current 2020 financial year despite the difficult conditions.

The service sector in the B2B industrial lighting market therefore developed very positively. The number of projects implemented by Deutsche Lichtmiete increased to 458 at the end of the reporting year. With the effects of international trade conflicts and Brexit, structural change in the key automotive sector and digitalization, the German economy as a whole is facing major challenges. Deutsche Lichtmiete was able to successfully mitigate this in the past financial year and once again increase its earnings. "Especially in difficult times, the economy needs new impetus and innovative solutions," Alexander Hahn, CEO and founder of the family-owned company, is convinced. His rental model for the climate-friendly, energy-saving modernization of lighting systems enables companies and local authorities to make cash-saving conversions without having to make their own investments or incur their own costs. This goes hand in hand with a considerable reduction in the greenhouse gas_CO2.

Cooperation, cash flow and financing

Hahn sees strategic cooperation with selected partners as a key element for business success: "Together we are stronger". With its long-standing strategic partner Nichia Corporation, a globally active technology group and LED world market leader from Japan, Deutsche Lichtmiete is driving forward future topics in research and development. The result is the marketing of joint innovations such as the new Vitasolis® LED chip. Together with renowned manufacturers such as BEGA and Zumtobel, the Oldenburg-based industrial service provider has become a full-range supplier. The company expects completely new synergy potential for sales and marketing from its latest cooperation partner, the GETEC Group, a leading European energy supplier and energy solution specialist from Magdeburg.

Deutsche Lichtmiete does not rule out the possibility of the coronavirus pandemic having an impact on its business results in the current year and assumes that this will have a negative effect in the second quarter. After that, Hahn expects "stronger demand for our business model". Deutsche Lichtmiete's cash flows remain secure thanks to the fixed rental agreements and stable income. "We have no fears that our existing tenants will suffer major defaults," says Roman Teufl, Managing Director of Deutsche Lichtmiete Vertriebsgesellschaft für ethisch ökologische Kapitalanlagen mbH, and sees "no financial bottlenecks due to the healthy refinancing through our energy efficiency bonds". The latest issue was again successfully placed in full ahead of schedule.