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trivago N.V. Reports First Quarter 2017 Results

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) --trivago N.V. / trivago N.V. Reports First Quarter 2017 Results . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Düsseldorf - May 15, 2017 - trivago N.V. (NASDAQ: TRVG) announced financial results today for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Highlights

- Total revenue increased to €267.6 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to €159.4 million in the first quarter of 2016, representing a 68% increase period over period

- The number of Qualified Referrals increased by 60% period over period to 177.2 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 110.5 million in the first quarter of 2016

- Revenue per Qualified Referral in the first quarter of 2017 increased by 4% period over period

- Net income increased to €7.7 million in the first quarter of 2017, turning positive from €(0.1) million in the first quarter of 2016

- Adjusted EBITDA was €19.3 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to €7.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, reflecting an increase of 151% period over period

Financial Summary & Operating Metrics (€ millions unless stated)

                              Three months ended March 31,
Metric                                           2017      2016      ^ Y/Y
Total Revenue                                    267.6     159.4     68%
Qualified Referrals (in millions)                177.2     110.5     60%
Revenue per Qualified Referral (in €) 1.49      1.43      4%
Operating income                                 12.5      0.3       n.m.
Net income (loss)                                7.7       (0.1)     n.m.
Net income (loss) attributable to trivago N.V.   5.2       (0.0)     n.m.
Return on Advertising Spend                      121%      120%      110 bps
Adjusted EBITDA (1)                              19.3      7.7       151%

n.m. - not meaningful

(1) "Adjusted EBITDA" (Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) is a non-GAAP measure. Please see "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" and "Tabular Reconciliations for Non-GAAP Measures" on pages 18-19 herein for explanations and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures used throughout this release.

Discussion of Results

You should read the following discussion together with our unaudited financial information included with this release and the section contained in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects". Certain information and disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) have been omitted from this release.

As used herein, references to "we", "us", the "company", or "trivago", or similar terms shall mean trivago N.V. and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries.

We have historically conducted our business through trivago GmbH, and therefore the comparative historical financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included herein present the results of operations and financial condition of trivago GmbH and its controlled subsidiaries. In connection with our initial public offering in December 2016, trivago N.V. became the holding company of trivago GmbH, as a result of which the historical consolidated financial statements of trivago GmbH became the historical consolidated financial statements of trivago N.V.

Overview

trivago is a global hotel search platform. Our mission is to "be the traveler's first and independent source of information for finding the ideal hotel at the lowest rate." We are focused on reshaping the way travelers search for and compare hotels, while enabling hotel advertisers to grow their businesses by providing access to a broad audience of travelers via our websites and apps. Our platform allows travelers to make informed decisions by personalizing their hotel search and providing access to a deep supply of hotel information and prices. As of December 31, 2016, we offered access to approximately 1.4 million hotels in over 190 countries.

We believe that the number of travelers accessing our websites and apps makes us an important and scalable marketing channel for our hotel advertisers, which include OTAs, hotel chains and independent hotels. Additionally, our ability to refine user intent through our search function allows us to provide advertisers with transaction-ready referrals. We generate revenues primarily on a "cost-per-click," or CPC, basis, whereby an advertiser is charged when a user clicks on an advertised rate for a hotel and is referred to that advertiser's website where the user can complete the booking.

Referral Revenue, Other Revenue, Qualified Referrals & RPQR

Referral Revenue by Segment & Other Revenue (€ millions)

    Three months ended March 31,
                       2017    2016    ^       ^ % Y/Y
Americas               102.2   57.8    44.4    77%
Developed Europe       113.5   78.9    34.6    44%
Rest of World          48.6    21.3    27.3    128%
Total Referral Revenue 264.3   158.0   106.3   67%
Other Revenue          3.4     1.4     2.0     143%
Total Revenue          267.6   159.4   108.2   68%

Note: Some numbers may not add up due to rounding.

For the first quarter of 2017, total revenue increased 68% compared to the first quarter of 2016, with strong growth in all three segments. The growth was primarily driven by an increase in advertising spend both during the fourth quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017.

In Americas, Referral Revenue was €102.2 million, an increase of 77% period over period during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Developed Europe continues to show solid growth, with Referral Revenue increasing to €113.5 million, or 44% period over period in the first quarter of 2017. The Rest of World (RoW) segment continues to follow a strong growth trajectory, mainly driven by increased marketing activity in Japan, India and Russia. Referral Revenue for the segment was €48.6 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 128% period over period.

At the end of the first quarter in 2017, over 280,000 hoteliers engaged through Hotel Manager directly with our platform, of which over 30,000 subscribed to Hotel Manager Pro. trivago receives a fee for Hotel Manager Pro subscriptions, driving the 143% growth in Other Revenue.

Qualified Referrals by Segment (in millions)

  Three months ended March 31,
  2017    2016    ^       ^ % Y/Y
Americas             55.5    33.6    21.9    65%
Developed Europe     73.6    54.5    19.1    35%
Rest of World        48.2    22.4    25.8    115%
Total                177.2   110.5   66.7    60%

Note: Some numbers may not add up due to rounding.

During the first quarter of 2017, growth in QRs was 60% period over period, with 55.5 million, 73.6 million and 48.2 million QRs in Americas, Developed Europe and RoW, respectively. The growth rate reflected users' increased awareness of our brand, continued strong TV advertising spend and an increase in investment in performance marketing channels.

Revenue Per Qualified Referrals by Segment (in €)

  Three months ended March 31,
                     2017      2016      ^% Y/Y
Americas             1.84      1.72      7%
Developed Europe     1.54      1.45      6%
Rest of World        1.01      0.95      6%
Consolidated RPQR    1.49      1.43      4%

In the first quarter of 2017, Revenue per Qualified Referral (RPQR) increased by 4% compared to the first quarter of 2016. All segments showed consistent growth rates around 6%, which is higher than the consolidated average of 4% due to the increased weighting of the lower RPQR in our RoW segment in 2017. This growth was largely driven by the introduction of a relevance assessment in our marketplace algorithm in December 2016, which assesses the quality of users' experience after leaving our website. In some cases, advertisers have compensated for their lower relevance assessments through higher cost-per-click bids. We expect that, as advertisers optimize their websites and bidding strategy, these positive revenue effects will be partially mitigated over time.

Expenses

               Costs and Expenses                                                         As % of Revenue
               Three months ended March 31,                                               Three months ended March 31,
               2017                       2016                       ^% Y/Y               2017                 2016                 ^ in bps
               (€ millions)                                      
Cost of revenue                   1.1     0.7     51         %         0          %         0          %         (5            )
of which share-based compensation 0.0     0.0            
Selling and marketing             231.5   140.1   65         %         86         %         88         %         (145          )
of which share-based compensation 1.0     0.2            
Technology and content            11.7    7.6     54         %         4          %         5          %         (41           )
of which share-based compensation 1.0     (0.0  )                           
General and administrative        8.9     4.3     104        %         3          %         3          %         59             
of which share-based compensation 1.3     0.0            
Amortization of intangible assets 2.0     6.3     (68        )%        1          %         4          %         (319          )
Total costs and expenses          255.1   159.1   60         %         95         %         100        %         (450          )

Note: Some numbers may not add up due to rounding.

Cost of revenue

Cost of revenue increased €0.4 million for the first quarter of 2017, or 51% period over period, as the business continues to make investments to reach scale. Cost of revenue includes data center and server costs as well as user support functions.

Selling and marketing

For the first quarter of 2017, selling and marketing expense grew €91.3 million, or 65% period over period. Advertising expense (which made up 95% of total selling and marketing expense) was driven by higher advertising spend across all regions with €86.6 million, €81.8 million and €50.5 million in Americas, Developed Europe and RoW, respectively, compared to €50.0 million, €58.0 million and €24.2 million, respectively, in the first quarter of 2016.

Technology and content

For the first quarter of 2017, total technology and content expense increased by €4.1 million, or 54% period over period, mainly driven by an increase in personnel costs as the company continues to grow its headcount. Of the €11.7 million expense, €1.0 million was share-based compensation and €0.4 million was depreciation of internal-use software and website development, compared to nil and €0.2 million in the first quarter of 2016, respectively.

General and administrative

For the first quarter of 2017, general and administrative expense increased by €4.6 million, or 104% period over period, to €8.9 million. The increase was primarily driven by higher personnel costs, share-based compensation and external advisory expenses relating to being a publicly-traded company.

The company continued to build up internal expertise in the finance, legal and internal audit departments. Overall, personnel and recruiting costs increased €1.5 million. Share-based compensation was €1.3 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared to nil in the first quarter of 2016.

Professional fees and other in the first quarter of 2017 increased by €2.5 million compared to the first quarter of 2016. A significant portion of the increase is due to additional costs incurred as a publicly-traded company. As we are incurring such professional services ourselves, the related party shared service fee expense from Expedia decreased by €0.7 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to same period in 2016.

We are planning to move into our new campus in 2018. The contractual lease agreements triggered build-to-suit treatment under US GAAP. We have bifurcated our lease payments pursuant to the premises into a portion that is allocated to the building (a reduction to the financing obligation) and a portion that is allocated to the land on which the building was constructed. The portion of the lease obligations allocated to the land is treated as an operating lease that commenced in July 2015. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recorded €0.4 million of non-cash land rent expense in connection with this lease, unchanged compared to the same period in 2016.

Amortization of intangible assets

Amortization of intangible assets was €2.0 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared to €6.3 million in the first quarter of 2016. These amortization costs relate predominantly to intangible assets recognized by Expedia, Inc. upon the acquisition of a majority stake in trivago in 2013, which were allocated to trivago.

Net income (loss) attributable to trivago and Adjusted EBITDA(1) (€ millions)

                                        Three months ended March 31,
                                                           2017                 2016                 ^€        ^% Y/Y
Operating income                                           12.5                 0.3                  12.2                 n.m.
Other income (loss)                                               
Interest expense                                           (0.0)                (0.0)                0.0                  n.m.
Other, net                                                 (0.1)                0.0                  (0.2)                n.m.
Total other income (expense), net                          (0.1)                0.0                  (0.2)                n.m.
                                               
Income before income taxes                                 12.4                 0.3                  12.1                 n.m.
Expense for income taxes                                   4.7                  0.4                  4.3                  n.m.
Net income (loss)                                          7.7                  (0.1)                7.8                  n.m.
                                               
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (2.4)                0.1                  (2.5)                n.m.
Net income (loss) attributable to trivago N.V.             5.2                  (0.0)                5.3                  n.m.
                                               
Adjusted EBITDA(1)                                         19.3                 7.7                  11.6                 151%

Note: Some numbers may not add up due to rounding.

n.m. - not meaningful

(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. See pages 18-19 herein for a description and reconciliation to the corresponding GAAP measure.

Net income attributable to trivago N.V. was €5.2 million in the first quarter of 2017. Adjusted EBITDA increased by €11.6 million to €19.3 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared to the first quarter of 2016, or 151% period over period.

Income taxes

Income tax expenses were €4.7 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to €0.4 million in the first quarter of 2016. The total weighted average tax rate was 30%, which is mainly driven by the German statutory rate of approximately 31%. The slightly lower rate is due to permanent differences in Germany. Our effective tax rate was 38% due to share-based compensation expenses, which are non-deductible for tax purposes.

Balance sheet, cash flows and capitalization

Cash and cash equivalents (including €0.8 million restricted cash) were €217.4 million as of March 31, 2017, compared to €228.2 million as of December 31, 2016. The decrease was mainly driven by accounts receivable increasing more than accounts payable in the first quarter of 2017. Our receivables vary significantly from quarter to quarter, reflecting seasonal fluctuations in the demand for our services, in particular as a result of seasonally lower patterns in travel bookings during the holiday season. Accordingly, accounts receivable increased by €61.9 million or 116% in the first quarter of 2017, driven by strong revenue growth of €98.5 million or 58% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.

Accounts payable increased by €35.9 million or 90% in the first quarter of 2017 due to the seasonal ramp-up in advertising expenses, which increased by €94.7 million or 76% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. As a result, our current ratio accordingly decreased from 4.8 in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 3.4 in the first quarter of 2017.

Our plan to move into a newly leased campus building in Düsseldorf's media harbor results in a steadily increasing capitalization on the balance sheet of capital lease costs.

trivago N.V. Consolidated balance sheets

(€ thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)

ASSETS                                                                                                                                                                               As of March                               As of December 31, 2016
                                                                                                                                                                                     31, 2017
Current assets:                                                                                                                                                                                              
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                                            € 216,536   € 227,298  
Restricted cash                                                                                                                                                                      884                    884                   
Accounts receivable, less allowance of €181 and €152 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively                                                     64,197                 36,658                
Accounts receivable, related party                                                                                                                                                   50,821                 16,505                
Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                                                                                            10,432                 11,529                
Total Current Assets                                                                                                                                                                 342,870                292,874               
                                                                                                                                                                                          
Property and equipment, net                                                                                                                                                          55,202                 46,862                
Other long-term assets                                                                                                                                                               1,020                  955                   
Intangible assets, net                                                                                                                                                               174,055                176,052               
Goodwill                                                                                                                                                                             490,511                490,503               
TOTAL ASSETS                                                                                                                                                                         1,063,658              1,007,246             
                                                                                                                                                                                          
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY/ MEMBERS' EQUITY                                                                                                                                                        
Current liabilities:                                                                                                                                                                                         
Accounts payable                                                                                                                                                                     75,887                 39,965                
Income taxes payable                                                                                                                                                                 7,341                  3,433                 
Deferred revenue                                                                                                                                                                     7,547                  5,078                 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities                                                                                                                                       9,663                  12,627                
Total current liabilities                                                                                                                                                            100,438                61,103                
                                                                                                                                                                                          
Deferred income taxes                                                                                                                                                                51,978                 53,156                
Other long-term liabilities                                                                                                                                                          46,367                 38,565                
Redeemable noncontrolling interests                                                                                                                                                  364                    351                   
                                                                                                                                                                                          
Stockholders'/members' equity:                                                                                                                                                                               
Class A common stock, €0.06 par value - 700,000,000 shares authorized, 30,108,829 and 30,026,635 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 1,807                  1,802                 
Class B common stock, €0.60 par value - 320,000,000 shares authorized, 209,008,088 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 125,405                125,405               
Reserves                                                                                                                                                                             587,420                584,667               
Contribution from parent                                                                                                                                                             122,200                122,200               
Accumulated other comprehensive income                                                                                                                                               39                     21                    
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)                                                                                                                                              (174,602             )                    (179,837             )
Total stockholders' equity attributable to trivago N.V. / members' equity                                                                                                            662,269                654,258               
Noncontrolling interest                                                                                                                                                              202,242                199,813               
Total stockholders' / members' equity                                                                                                                                                864,511                854,071               
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'/MEMBERS' EQUITY                                                                                                                                  1,063,658              1,007,246             

trivago N.V. Consolidated statements of operations

(€ thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Three months ended March 31, 2017     Three months ended March 31, 2016
 Revenue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          169,881            101,329           
 Revenue from related party                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       97,763             58,022            
 Total revenue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    267,644            159,351           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 Costs and expenses:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Cost of revenue, including related party, excluding amortization (1)(2)(3)                                                                                                                                                                                                           1,098              715               
Selling and marketing (1)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            231,455            140,112           
Technology and content (1)(3)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11,715             7,640             
General and administrative, including related party (1)(3)                                                                                                                                                                                                                           8,869              4,340             
Amortization of intangible assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1,998              6,276             
 Operating income                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 12,509             268               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 Other income (expense)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 Interest expense                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 (4               )                    (27              )
 Other, net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       (145             )                    36                
 Total other income (expense), net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (149             )                    9                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 Income before income taxes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       12,360             277               
 Provision for income taxes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       4,702              385               
 Net income (loss)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7,658              (108             )
 Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests                                                                                                                                                                                                       (2,423           )                    91                
 Net income (loss) attributable to trivago N.V.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   5,235              (17              )
Earnings per share attributable to trivago N.V. available to common stockholders (4):                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Basic                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                0.02               -                 
Diluted                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              0.02               -                 
Shares used in computing earnings per share:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Basic                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                239,075            -                 
Diluted                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              244,361            -                 
(1) Includes share-based compensation as follows:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Cost of revenue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13                 4                 
Selling and marketing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                979                197               
Technology and content, net of capitalized internal-use software and website development costs                                                                                                                                                                                       1,004              (19              )
General and administrative, including related party                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1,308              7                 
(2)  Amortization of acquired technology included in Amortization of intangible assets is as follows :                                                                                                                                                            -                  3,750             
Amortization of internal use software and website development costs included in Technology and content is as follows :                                                                                                                                                               380                187               
(3) Includes related party expense as follows:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Cost of revenue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      17                 -                 
Technology and content                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               53                 -                 
General and administrative                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           79                 794               
(4) Represents earnings per share of Class A and Class B common stock and weighted-average shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding for the period from January 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017, the period following the capitalization of the parent company and IPO.                     

We have reclassified certain amounts related to our prior period results to conform to current period presentation.

trivago N.V. Consolidated statements of cash flows

(€ thousands) (unaudited)

                                                                     Three months ended March 31, 2017     Three months ended March 31, 2016
Operating activities:                                                                                       
Net income (loss)                                                                       7,658              (108             )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used:                                                         
Depreciation (property and equipment and internal-use software and website development) 1,475              951               
Amortization of intangible assets                                                       1,998              6,276             
Share-based compensation                                                                3,304              188               
Deferred income taxes                                                                   (1,178           )                    (1,459           )
Foreign exchange (gain) loss                                                            76                 (53              )
Bad debt (recovery) expense                                                             29                 (145             )
Non-cash charge, contribution from Parent                                               -                  794               
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                                                                
Accounts receivable, including related party                                            (61,927          )                    (31,589          )
Prepaid expense and other assets                                                        1,032              (1,712           )
Accounts payable                                                                        35,685             19,770            
Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                                  1,284              (358             )
Deferred revenue                                                                        2,469              246               
Taxes payable/receivable, net                                                           3,908              1,561             
Net cash used in operating activities                                                   (4,187           )                    (5,638           )
                                                                                         
Investing activities:                                                                                       
Capital expenditures, including internal-use software and website development           (2,358           )                    (2,808           )
Net cash used in investing activities                                                   (2,358           )                    (2,808           )
                                                                                         
Financing activities:                                                                                       
Payments of initial public offering costs                                               (4,038           )                    -                 
Dividends paid to NCI                                                                   (158             )                    -                 
Net cash used in financing activities                                                   (4,196           )                    -                 
                                                                                         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                                                 (21              )                    (152             )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents restricted cash                    (10,762          )                    (8,598           )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                          227,298            17,556            
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                                                216,536            8,958             
Supplemental cash flow information:                                                                         
Cash paid for interest                                                                  2                  33                
Cash paid for taxes                                                                     1,972              191               
Non-cash investing and financing activities:                                                                
Taxes payable for shares withheld                                                       534                -                 
Fixed assets-related payable                                                            363                98                
Capitalization of construction in process related to build-to-suit lease                7,212              5,024             

Earnings per Share and Ownership of the Company

Basic and diluted earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing net income attributable to trivago N.V., after adjusting for noncontrolling interest, by the weighted average number of Class A and Class B shares outstanding during the period.

The following table presents our basic and diluted earnings per share:

                                                       January 1, 2017 through
                                                                          March 31, 2017
                                                       (€ thousands, except per share data)
Numerator                                                                  
Net income                                                                7,658                            
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest                  (2,423                          )
Net income attributable to trivago N.V.                                   5,235                            
Denominator                                                                
Weighted average number of common shares:                                  
Basic                                                                     239,075,464                      
Diluted                                                                   244,360,987                      
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders of trivago N.V.:  
Basic                                                                     €    0.02             
Diluted                                                                   €    0.02             

The ownership of trivago N.V. as of March 31, 2017, is as follows:

  Class A shares       Class B shares       Total
Free float           30,108,828           -                    30,108,828
Expedia              -                    209,008,088          209,008,088
Total                30,108,828           209,008,088          239,116,916
       
  Class A shares in %  Class B shares in %  Total
Public               12.6%                0.0%                 12.6%
Expedia              0.0%                 87.4%                87.4%
Total                12.6%                87.4%                100.0%

Assuming trivago receives a favorable tax ruling and the planned corporate reorganization, pursuant to which trivago GmbH will be merged with and into trivago N.V., is consummated, the ownership of trivago N.V. would be as set forth in the table below. For further information regarding our planned corporate reorganization, refer to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, Item 4C, and other relevant disclosures therein.

   Class A shares       Class B shares       Total
Founders Collectively -                    110,791,880          110,791,880
Public                30,108,828           -                    30,108,828
Expedia               -                    209,008,088          209,008,088
Total                 30,108,828           319,799,968          349,908,796
        
   Class A shares in %  Class B shares in %  Total
Founders Collectively 0.0%                 31.7%                31.7%
Public                8.6%                 0.0%                 8.6%
Expedia               0.0%                 59.7%                59.7%
Total                 8.6%                 91.4%                100.0%

trivago N.V. Key Metrics

·         The following metrics are intended as a supplement to the financial information found in this release and the financial statements included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In the event of discrepancies between amounts in these tables and our historical financial statements, readers should rely on our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and our most recent financial statements filed with the SEC.

·         We intend to periodically review and refine the definition, methodology and appropriateness of each of our supplemental metrics. As a result, metrics are subject to removal and/or change, and such changes could be material.

·         These metrics do not include adjustments for one-time items, acquisitions, foreign exchange or other adjustments.

·         Some numbers may not add due to rounding.

         Three months ended March 31, 2017 Three months ended March 31, 2016
ROAS by segment                             
Americas                    118.0%                            115.8%
Developed Europe            138.7%                            136.1%
Rest of World               96.3%                             87.9%
Total                       120.7%                            119.6%
QR by segment (in millions)                 
Americas                    55.5                              33.6
Developed Europe            73.6                              54.5
Rest of World               48.2                              22.4
Total                       177.2                             110.5
RPQR by segment                             
Americas                    €1.84                  €1.72
Developed Europe            €1.54                  €1.45
Rest of World               €1.01                  €0.95
Total                       €1.49                  €1.43

Notes & Definitions:

ROAS : The ratio of our referral revenue to our advertising expenses, or return on advertising spend. We invest in multiple marketing channels, such as TV, out-of-home advertising, radio, search engine marketing, display and affiliate marketing, email marketing, social media, online video, mobile app marketing and content marketing.

QR : We define a qualified referral as a unique visitor per day that generates at least one referral. For example, if a single visitor clicks on multiple hotel offers in our search results in a given day, they count as multiple referrals, but as only one qualified referral.

RPQR: We use average revenue per qualified referral, to measure how effectively we convert qualified referrals to revenue. RPQR is calculated as referral revenue divided by the total number of qualified referrals in a given period.

Referral Revenue: We use the term "referral" to describe each time a visitor to one of our websites or apps clicks on a hotel offer in our search results and is referred to one of our advertisers. We charge our advertisers for each referral on a cost-per-click, or CPC, basis.

Segment Information

Beginning in the second quarter of 2016, management identified three reportable segments, which correspond to our three operating segments: the Americas, Developed Europe and Rest of World. Our Americas segment is currently comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Uruguay. Our Developed Europe segment is comprised of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Our Rest of World segment is comprised of all other countries, the most significant by revenue of which are Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Poland.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA:

We define adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus:

- provision for income taxes,

- total other (income)/expense, net,

- depreciation of property and equipment, including amortization of internal use software and website development

- amortization of intangible assets, and

- share-based compensation

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A "non-GAAP financial measure" refers to a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in such company's financial statements. We present this non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by management to evaluate our operating performance, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions on capital allocation. We also believe that this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating performance and consolidated results of operations in the same manner as our management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods. Our use of adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results reported in accordance with GAAP, including net loss. Some of these limitations are:

- Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

- Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

- Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements; and

- Other companies, including companies in our own industry, may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

Tabular Reconciliations for Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA (Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization)

               Three months ended March 31,
               2017                      2016
               (€ millions)    
Net income (loss)                 7.7                       (0.1)
Expense for income taxes          4.7                       0.4
Income before income taxes        12.4                      0.3
Interest expense                  0.0                       0.0
Other, net                        0.1                       (0.0)
Operating income                  12.5                      0.3
Depreciation                      1.5                       1.0
Amortization of intangible assets 2.0                       6.3
EBITDA                            16.0                      7.5
Share-based compensation          3.3                       0.2
Adjusted EBITDA                   19.3                      7.7

Note: Some numbers may not add up due to rounding.

Conference Call

trivago N.V. will webcast a conference call to discuss first quarter 2017 financial results and certain forward-looking information on Monday, May 15, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). The webcast will be open to the public and available via http://ir.trivago.com. trivago N.V. expects to maintain access to the webcast on the IR website for at least three months subsequent to the initial broadcast.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of May 15, 2017 and assumptions which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. The use of words such as "intend" and "expect," among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. However, these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements and may include statements relating to future revenue, expenses, margins, profitability, net income / (loss), earnings per share and other measures of results of operations and the prospects for future growth of trivago N.V.'s business.

Actual results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others:

·         our ability to effectively manage our growth;

·         global political and economic instability and other events beyond our control;

·         increasing competition and consolidation in our industry;

·         our advertiser concentration;

·         our ability to maintain and increase our brand awareness;

·         our ability to maintain and/or expand relationships with, and develop new relationships with, hotel chains and independent hotels as well as OTAs;

·         our reliance on search engines, which may change their algorithms;

·         our reliance on technology;

·         the effect of the corporate reorganization;

·         our material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and our ability to establish and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting;

·         our ability to attract, train and retain executives and other qualified employees;

·         our entrepreneurial culture and decentralized decision making;

as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed in our public filings with the SEC, including trivago's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About trivago N.V.

trivago N.V. (NASDAQ: TRVG) is a global hotel search platform. Our mission is to "be the traveler's first and independent source of information for finding the ideal hotel at the lowest rate." We are focused on reshaping the way travelers search for and compare hotels, while enabling hotel advertisers to grow their businesses by providing access to a broad audience of travelers via our websites and apps. Our platform allows travelers to make informed decisions by personalizing their hotel search and providing access to a deep supply of hotel information and prices.

Contacts

Investor Relations                 Communications

ir@trivago.com                     corporate.communication@trivago.com

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: trivago N.V. via Globenewswire