DGAP-News: Hornbach Holding AG: Hornbach Group boosts sales by 6.0 percent to Euro 3.57 billion


DGAP-News: Hornbach Holding AG / Key word(s): Development of Sales
Hornbach Holding AG: Hornbach Group boosts sales by 6.0 percent to
Euro 3.57 billion

24.03.2015 / 07:00

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Hornbach Group boosts sales by 6.0 percent to Euro 3.57 billion 

Trading Statement for 2014/2015: Growth momentum accelerates compared with
previous year / DIY megastores with garden centers increase like-for-like
sales by 5.5 percent in Germany and 2.8 percent in international business

Neustadt/Weinstrasse, March 24, 2015. 
The Hornbach Group (Hornbach Holding AG Group) stepped up its pace of
growth in the past 2014/2015 financial year compared with the previous
year. Consolidated sales for the period from March 1, 2014 to February 28,
2015 showed group-wide growth of 6.0 percent (2013/2014: 4.3 percent) to
Euro 3,572 million. Hornbach-Baumarkt-AG, the largest operating subgroup
with 146 DIY megastores and garden centers in nine countries across Europe
at the balance sheet date on February 28, 2015, increased its sales by 6.5
percent to Euro 3,357 million. On a like-for like basis and net of currency
items, group-wide DIY and garden store sales grew by 4.4 percent. This
growth was driven by the stores both in Germany and in other European
countries. The international share of sales within the Baumarkt subgroup
most recently amounted to 41.4 percent.

Germany steps up another gear

The strongest growth momentum came once again from Germany. Full-year sales
at the Hornbach-Baumarkt-AG subgroup's 97 DIY megastores with garden
centers in its home market rose by 7.6 percent to Euro 1,966 million. This
figure includes sales at seven locations newly opened and one newly
extended in Germany. Like-for-like sales in Germany, i.e. excluding stores
newly opened or closed in the past twelve months, grew by 5.5 percent.
Hornbach expanded its share of its domestic market from 10.0 percent to
11.0 percent in 2014.

"Our like-for-like sales growth in Germany is remarkable. The previous year
benefited very significantly from market consolidation factors in the wake
of the Praktiker insolvency and the mild winter in 2013/2014. This set a
very high standard to beat, especially in the second half of the year. As
the figures show, we have clearly stepped up another gear", commented
Albrecht Hornbach, Chairman of the Board of Management of Hornbach Holding
AG. "Together with our high-performing online retail, our stationary DIY
stores and garden centers offer real added value to customers, particularly
those planning to tackle larger-scale construction and renovation
projects."

Other European countries return to like-for-like growth 

The Hornbach Group can also report pleasing growth for the 2014/2015
financial year in its eight country markets outside Germany. Including one
new store opening, DIY sales in other European countries rose 5.0 percent
(2013/2014: 3.5 percent) to Euro 1,390 million.
 Like-for-like sales performance at Hornbach DIY megastores with garden
centers * (in percent)

<pre>


2014/2015 financial          1st        2nd        3rd        4th     Total
year                     quarter    quarter    quarter    quarter
2013/2014 financial
year

Group                       14.6       -1.0        1.0        2.4       4.4
                            -5.9        4.6        4.6       10.6       2.7
Germany                     19.4       -1.0        1.4        1.8       5.5
                            -5.8        7.7        7.0       14.1       4.9
Other European
countries                    8.2       -1.0        0.6        3.4       2.8
                            -6.1        0.5        1.5        5.9      -0.1


</pre>

* excluding currency items

The international business achieved a turnaround in its like-for-like sales
net of currency items. After three consecutive years of decline, Hornbach's
international stores posted substantial adjusted sales growth of 2.8
percent in 2014/2015 (2013/2014: -0.1 percent).

According to the company, these figures also reflect the overall
improvement in the macroeconomic framework for consumers and construction
clients outside Germany compared with the previous year. Hornbach can
report significantly improved sales momentum in all of its country markets.
"What is pleasing for us is that we have yet again grown faster than the
DIY sector average, and that not only in Germany, but also across most of
our international network", added Albrecht Hornbach.

In 2014/2015, Hornbach Baustoff Union GmbH had to match the high standard
set in the strong previous year. At Euro 213 million, sales at this
subgroup, which operated an unchanged total of 27 builders' merchant
outlets at the balance sheet date on February 28, 2015, fell only slightly
short of the previous year's figure of Euro 216 million.

Details of the earnings performance and the annual financial statements
will be presented at the Annual Results Press Conference on May 28, 2015.

<pre>


Preliminary key figures of Hornbach        2014/2015    2013/2014    Change
Holding AG Group
(in Euro million unless otherwise          financial    financial      in %
stated)                                         year         year

Net sales at overall Group                     3,572        3,369       6.0
Net sales at Hornbach-Baumarkt-AG
subgroup                                       3,357        3,152       6.5
of which in Germany                            1,966        1,827       7.6
of which in other European countries           1,390        1,325       5.0
Net sales at Hornbach Baustoff Union
GmbH subgroup                                    213          216      -1.1

Number of DIY stores                             146          141       3.5
Sales areas as per BHB (000 m²)                1,704        1,647       3.5
Total workforce of HORNBACH Group2)           16,455       16,021       2.8


</pre>

1) adjusted for currency items
2) head count at balance sheet date on February 28 
Rounding up or down may lead to discrepancies between percentages and
totals. Percentage figures calculated on basis of Euro 000s.



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Language:    English                                                     
Company:     Hornbach Holding AG                                         
             Le Quartier Hornbach 19                                     
             67433 Neustadt an der Weinstraße                            
             Germany                                                     
ISIN:        DE0006083439                                                
WKN:         608343                                                      
Indices:     SDAX                                                        
Listed:      Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated   
             Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover,  
             Munich, Stuttgart                                           
 
 
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