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press@bertelsmann.com Page 1 of 4 www.bertelsmann.com PRESS RELEASE Bertelsmann Grows Organically by More Than 5 Percent in First Half of 2026; Group Profit Up by 45 Percent • Revenues increase to €9.3 billion • Operating EBITDA adjusted rises by 4.9 percent to €1.3 billion • Group profit increases sharply to €292 million • Strategic milestones: acquisition of Sky Deutschland completed, combination of BMG and Concord nearing completion • Around €7.7 billion invested in Boost strategy since 2021; total to reach around €10 billion by year-end 2026 • Full-year outlook raised • RTL Group’s streaming business delivers positive earnings contribution for first time; around €120 million in Operating EBITDA adjusted expected for full year Gütersloh, August 28, 2026 – Bertelsmann recorded a very strong first half of 2026 and expects this positive business performance to continue for the full year. At €9.3 billion, revenues at the international media, services, and education company were above the prior- year level. Operating EBITDA adjusted of €1.3 billion exceeded the high prior-year level. Group profit increased sharply to €292 million. Investments in the Boost strategy amounted to €800 million in the first half alone. Thomas Rabe, Chairman & CEO of Bertelsmann, said: “We had a very strong first half year. In the first six months of 2026, Bertelsmann achieved organic growth of more than 5 percent. Nearly all divisions contributed to this growth, particularly Penguin Random House, BMG, Arvato, Bertelsmann Education Group, and Bertelsmann Investments. We also reached two strategic milestones with RTL’s completion of the acquisition of Sky Deutschland and the imminent combination of BMG and Concord. With Sky and BMG / Concord, Bertelsmann’s revenues would rise to around €22 billion on a full-year consolidated basis, and EBITDA including synergies to €3.8 billion.” Rabe continued: “By the end of the year, we will have invested a total of around €10 billion in our Boost strategy, laying the foundation for further profitable growth. Growth has accelerated significantly this year, with nearly all of our divisions contributing. The successful transformation of RTL’s TV businesses, one of our most important earnings pillars, has been and remains a particular priority for me. I am pleased that RTL Group’s streaming business will be profitable and make a substantial contribution of around €120 million to Bertelsmann’s Operating EBITDA adjusted this year.” Group revenues increased by 2.3 percent year on year to €9.3 billion (H1 2025: €9.1 billion). Organic revenue growth was 5.1 percent, the highest rate in the past 20 years, with the exception of the pandemic year 2021. Penguin Random House, BMG, Arvato Group, Bertelsmann Education Group, and Bertelsmann Investments all recorded strong organic revenue growth. RTL Group recorded a portfolio-related decline due to the sale of RTL Nederland in the previous year.