DGAP-News: Adler Modemärkte AG: 2015 Quarterly Results Highlight ADLER's Growth


DGAP-News: Adler Modemärkte AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
Adler Modemärkte AG: 2015 Quarterly Results Highlight ADLER's Growth

12.05.2015 / 07:29

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Press Release from Adler Modemärkte AG

Expansion Measures Successfully Implemented 

2015 Quarterly Results Highlight ADLER's Growth 

Executive Board Stands By Forecast for the Overall Year

Haibach (near Aschaffenburg), 12 May 2015. Adler Modemärkte AG - one of
Germany's largest textile retailers - continued to build on its growth at
the beginning of financial year 2015. As was the case in previous quarters,
ADLER again achieved this feat by bucking the negative industry trend.
Revenue increased by 1.7% from EUR113.2 million to EUR115.1 million. In a
like-for-like comparison - i.e., a comparison of sales on existing floor
space - ADLER's revenue decreased by 4.1%, whereas bricks-and-mortar
retailers in Germany recorded an average decline in revenue of 5.0%.

In the first quarter, ADLER successfully implemented various expansion
measures, further expanding its network of stores: On the one hand, eight
stores were added to ADLER's store network from the Kressner acquisition
and have since been integrated under the new ADLER Orange logo and brand
concept. The former Kressner store in Dillenburg was sold to
Steilmann-Boecker Fashion Point GmbH & Co. KG, and the Kredenbach store is
slated to be closed in late 2015. In addition, the Company acquired the
successful and established "hefa Moden" fashion retail stores in Mömlingen
and in Lollar, and has since reopened the Mömlingen store as an ADLER
store. The Lollar store will not be transferred to ADLER until 1 July 2015.
ADLER closed one store (in Gösting, Graz, Austria) in Q1 2015. In the first
three months of 2015, the total number of stores in the network increased
to 178. In addition, six stores were completely modernised during this
period.

"We once again demonstrated our growth potential in impressive fashion
during the first quarter. ADLER showed that we can quickly and successfully
realise and integrate acquisitions", said ADLER CEO Lothar Schäfer,
commenting on the quarterly results. "In light of the environment facing
the industry, we're extremely pleased with our performance in the first
quarter. Our task now is to continue building on our future growth and
profitability."
 

Kressner acquisition influences earnings

For reasons of seasonality, the first quarter is traditionally ADLER's
weakest quarter of the financial year. This is due to winter merchandise
being sold off and the changeover to the new spring and summer collections
in March. As expected, this leads to negative earnings indicators in the
first quarter, which in turn are balanced out during the course of the year
due to seasonality. In addition to the year-on-year decrease in revenue,
earnings indicators during the past quarter were also weighed down by the
effects of the Kressner acquisition. For instance, the cost of materials
increased from EUR54.9 million to EUR58.2 million, due in particular to the
increased cost of goods sold at the newly acquired stores. Consequently,
and due to the clearance sale of the Kressner inventory, the gross profit
margin decreased slightly from 51.5% to 49.5%. ADLER considers this to be a
temporary effect that can be offset to some degree in the near future.
Furthermore, personnel expenses increased from EUR24.2 million to EUR27.4
million. This was attributable to the integration of Kressner employees,
normal wage increases at the ADLER Group and non-recurring expenses in the
amount of EUR1.1 million (primarily for severances payments and/or
provisions in connection with staff cuts following the Kressner
acquisition). Consequently, EBITDA declined in Q1 2015 from EUR-5.6 million
to EUR-13.0 million. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) decreased to
EUR-17.0 million (previous year: EUR-9.2 million). Earnings before taxes
(EBT) fell to EUR-18.2 million (previous year: EUR-10.5 million). After
factoring in EUR4.6 million in deferred taxes (previous year: EUR2.6
million), the consolidated net loss for the year amounted to EUR-13.5
million (previous year: EUR-8.2 million). Adjusted earnings per share
amounted to EUR-0.73 (previous year: EUR-0.45).

Strong balance sheet

The strength of the balance sheet will allow ADLER to continue growing and
to rapidly and flexibly leverage opportunities on the market. As at 31
March 2015, the equity ratio amounted to 37.3% (31 December 2014: 43.3%).
Cash and cash equivalents decreased to EUR40.9 million (31 December 2014:
EUR69.7 million), which was attributable mainly to the costs of acquiring
Kressner and hefa, but also due to seasonality.

Due primarily to the increase in inventories and the consolidated loss for
the period, ADLER reported a cash outflow from operating activities of
EUR17.0 million as at the end of Q1 2015 (previous year: EUR5.4 million
outflow). Cash outflows from investing activities amounted to EUR9.0
million (previous year: EUR3.7 million outflow). This was due primarily to
the Kressner and hefa acquisitions in the amount of approximately EUR4.5
million. Free cash flow amounted to EUR-26.0 million (previous year:
EUR-9.1 million). Cash outflows from financing activities in Q1 amounted to
EUR2.7 million (previous year: cash inflow of EUR6.5 million due to the
sale of treasury shares in the amount of EUR8.9 million in January 2014).
Cash and cash equivalents decreased accordingly by EUR28.8 million in the
reporting period (previous year: EUR2.6 million decrease).

Forecast confirmed: further profitable growth expected

Based on the development of revenue in the first three months of 2015,
ADLER continues to consider revenue growth in the mid-single-digit
percentage range possible for financial year 2015. This is also indicated
by the fact that overall ADLER's performance slightly outpaced that of its
competitors during the reporting period. ADLER's comments on EBITDA remain
unchanged: Due to prepayments and expenses for integrating the Kressner
stores acquired, we expect EBITDA to stagnate at best at the already high
level, and to possibly decline slightly. In the medium term, however, the
Executive Board expects the expansion measures currently being undertaken
to strengthen ADLER and to lead to renewed profitable growth.

Adler Modemärkte AG's full quarterly report is now available for inspection
or download from the Company's homepage at
https://www.adlermode-unternehmen.com/en/investor-relations/reports-and-pu
blications/financial-reports/.

ADLER Group's key performance indicators 

<pre>


(EUR million)                                  Q1 2015   Q1 2014   Change


Revenue                                        115.1     113.2     +1.7%


Gross profit                                   56.9      58.3      -2.3%


Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation  -13.0     -5.6      -132.1%
and amortisation (EBITDA)


Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)      -17.0     -9.2      -84.8%


Earnings before taxes                          -18.2     -10.5     -73.3%


Earnings per share (in EUR)                    -0.73*)   -0.45**)



</pre>

*) Based on 18,510,000 no-par value shares

**) Based on 18,381,617 no-par value shares

<pre>


                                        31 March 2015 31 Dec. 2014 Change


Total assets (EUR million)              246.7         244.3        +1.0%


Equity (EUR million)                    92.0          105.6        -12.9%


Equity ratio (in %)                     37.3          43.3         -6.0 pp


Debt/equity ratio (in %)                1.68          1.31         +0.37 pp


Cash and cash equivalents (EUR million) 40.9          69.7         -41.3%


Employees                               4,311         4,154        +3.8%


Total number of stores                  178           170          +4.7%



</pre>

Adler Modemärkte AG, headquartered in Haibach near Aschaffenburg, Germany,
is one of Germany's largest and most important textile retailers. In 2014,
the Group generated revenue of EUR535.3 million with a workforce of around
4,150, generating EUR41.5 million in EBITDA. ADLER currently operates 178
stores, 153 of which are located in Germany, 22 in Austria, two in
Luxembourg, one in Switzerland, plus an online shop. The Company focuses on
large-space concepts offering in excess of 1,400 m2 of retail space. With
its many own brands and select external brands, ADLER offers a highly
diverse product range. Thanks to more than 60 years of tradition and strong
customer loyalty, ADLER considers itself to be the market leader within its
target group of affluent customers aged 45 and over.
For more information: www.adlermode-unternehmen.com; www.adlermode.com 

Press enquiries: 
Jasmin Dentz
GFD Finanzkommunikation
Telephone: +49 (0) 69 971 247 31
Mobile: +49 (0) 151 67204247 
E-mail: dentz@gfd-finanzkommunikation.de



---------------------------------------------------------------------

12.05.2015 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

---------------------------------------------------------------------


Language:    English                                                     
Company:     Adler Modemärkte AG                                         
             Industriestraße Ost 1-7                                     
             63808 Haibach                                               
             Germany                                                     
Phone:       +49 (0) 6021 633 0                                          
Fax:         +49 (0) 6021 633 1299                                       
E-mail:      info@adler.de                                               
Internet:    www.adlermode.com                                           
ISIN:        DE000A1H8MU2                                                
WKN:         A1H8MU                                                      
Listed:      Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated   
             Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover,  
             Munich, Stuttgart                                           
 
 
End of News    DGAP News-Service  
---------------------------------------------------------------------  
356087 12.05.2015
GlobeNewswire