DGAP-News: Ahlers AG / Key word(s): Interim Report/Quarter Results
Ahlers AG: Strong sales and earnings growth in Q1 2013/14 * Sales
increase by 9.3 percent due to good stock and preorder business as
well as increased retail sales * EBIT before special effects up 29
percent on previous year
10.04.2014 / 09:02
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April 10, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
Ahlers AG: Strong sales and earnings growth in Q1 2013/14
- Sales increase by 9.3 percent due to good stock and preorder business
as well as increased retail sales
- EBIT before special effects up 29 percent on previous year
- Premium brands grow by 8 percent
- Jeans & Workwear segment grows at double-digit rate of 21 percent
Ahlers AG increased its sales revenues by 9.3 percent to EUR 73.0 million
in the first quarter of 2013/14 (previous year: EUR 66.8 million). This was
mainly attributable to better stock business, an increased order backlog,
earlier shipments of the 2014 spring/summer season as well as Retail and
e-commerce growth.
Positive sales performance in the individual segments
The Premium brands reported strong growth in the first quarter.
Baldessarini grew at a double-digit rate, while Pierre Cardin and Otto Kern
each posted single-digit growth rates. Their total sales revenues amounted
to EUR 49.1 million, up 8.4 percent on Q1 2012/13 (EUR 45.3 million).
The Jeans & Workwear segment also reported a significant growth of 21
percent. The Pioneer Authentic Jeans, Pionier Jeans & Casuals and Pionier
Workwear brands boosted their sales revenues thanks to good order backlogs
for the spring/summer season 2014. This trend was further intensified by
shifts in deliveries from November to December 2013. At EUR 17.6 million,
the segment's total revenues were up by EUR 3.0 million on the previous
year.
Gin Tonic's wholesale business also increased in Q1 2013/14. Due to the
closure of own Retail stores, however, total sales revenues declined by EUR
0.5 million in the reporting period. As a result, the Men's &
Sportswear-segment's relative contribution to total sales revenues declined
to 9.0 percent (previous year: 10.0 percent). Sales revenues of the Jupiter
outdoor brand remained stable in the first quarter.
Own Retail and e-commerce revenues also pick up sharply
As six Pierre Cardin stores were opened in the previous year, sales
revenues in the company's own Retail stores picked up. Like-for-like sales
also increased by a strong 6.8 percent. Thanks to the ongoing further
development of the company's own e-shops, the launch of an online shop for
Pionier Workwear and the consistent intensification of the cooperation with
online marketplaces, e-commerce revenues also increased at a double-digit
rate. The company's Retail segment grew by a total of 6.9 percent in Q1
2013/14 and currently accounts for 9.0 percent of total sales revenues
(previous year: 9.3 percent).
Increased sales send EBIT before special effects rising by 29 percent
Due to higher sales, EBIT before special effects increased by EUR 1.7
million or 29.3 percent to EUR 7.5 million in the first three months of the
fiscal year 2013/14. Due to extraordinary income generated in the previous
year, consolidated net income after tax was up by only a moderate 6.5
percent on the previous year (currently EUR 4.9 million; Q1 previous year:
EUR 4.6 million). Due to an increase in current assets, total assets were
up by a moderate EUR 2.4 million on the previous year to EUR 188.6 million.
As a result, the equity ratio declined slightly from 63.2 percent to a
still very solid 60.5 percent, while equity remained largely stable.
Growing sales and earnings projected for the full year
Due to good order backlogs also for the autumn/winter season 2014/15,
Ahlers projects a positive sales trend, with sales revenues expected to
grow by between +3 percent and +5 percent for the full year 2013/14. The
Management Board expects consolidated net income after tax to come in at
around EUR 7 million (previous year: EUR 5.6 million).
Inquiries should be sent to:
Ahlers AG
Götz Borchert
Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications
phone: +49 (0)5221/ 979 270
e-mail: goetz.borchert@ahlers-ag.com
Yvonne Georgi
Ahlers AG
Public Relations
phone: +49 (0)5221/ 979-260
fax: +49 (0)5221/ 979-274
e-mail: yvonne.georgi@ahlers-group.com
End of Corporate News
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Language: English
Company: Ahlers AG
Elverdisser StraÃe 313
32052 Herford
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)5221 979-0
Fax: +49 (0)5221 70058
E-mail: ahlers-ag@ahlers-ag.com
Internet: www.ahlers-ag.com
ISIN: DE0005009708, DE0005009732
WKN: 500970, 500973
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime
Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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262541 10.04.2014
DGAP-News: Ahlers AG: Strong sales and earnings growth in Q1 2013/14 * Sales increase by 9.3 percent due to good stock and preorder business as well as increased retail sales * EBIT before special effects up 29 percent on previous year
| Source: EQS Group AG