XING, the German-language social network, has announced its highest influx of new members for three years. In 2012, 816,000 people joined the site, which raised the total membership to 6.1 million in DACH, the area spanning Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Preliminary XING figures revealed that revenue totalled €73.3 million, up 11% year-on-year from the €66.2 million generated in 2011. The network’s EBITDA of €22.0 million was down slightly on 2011’s €22.2 million.
Several reasons were given for the decrease in XING’s earnings. The company stated that its staff number had risen. However, the main contributing factor was the €1.9 million of costs relating to the takeover bid by Burda Digital and kununu’s acquisition.
Premium Club Division Reaps Rewards
In January this year, XING started a Premium Club division consisting of premium memberships and the former Display Advertising division. Revenues at this new part of the business rose by 5% from €48.8 million in 2011 to €51.3 million in 2012.
Thomas Vollmoeller, CEO at XING, spoke of how e-recruiting, events and all aspects of the business had developed across 2012. “Every XING division has grown during the previous financial year,” he said.
XING is set to publish its full audited results with the company’s annual report tomorrow.