09.09.2016, 10171 Zeichen

Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
quarterly report
o Decline in revenues o Operating earnings (EBIT) clearly below the prior-year level o New guidance already announced for the 2016/17 financial year o Medium-term business targets confirmed
Vienna/Bregenz, September 9, 2016: Wolford AG, which is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, reported a revenue decline of 18% to EUR 27.74 million in the first quarter of the current financial year (May 2016 to July 2016). The drop in revenue equaled 16.9% when adjusted for currency effects, in particular the decrease in value of the British pound. Operating earnings (EBIT of EUR -8.28 million vs. EUR -3.04 million in Q1 2015/16) and earnings after tax (EUR -8.22 million vs. EUR -2.55 million in Q1 2015/16) were also considerably below the prior-year quarter and management's expectations. Against this backdrop and in the light of the ongoing market weakness in August, the company already revised its forecast for the entire financial year on August 31, 2016, but reaffirms its medium-term business targets.
Difficult market environment
The weak first-quarter revenue development can be mainly attributed to the difficult market environment. Negative events in important core markets (e.g. political uncertainty before elections in the USA, fear of terrorism in France and Germany, the BREXIT decision) resulted in clearly lower customer frequency in central shopping locations. In particular, this impacted Wolford's high margin retail business, where revenue fell by 9% compared to the previous year.
A good half of the revenue decrease of EUR 6.2 million in the first quarter was due to the new delivery timing in the wholesale business. The new scheduling calls for a large part of the fall/winter collection to be delivered first in September. Accordingly, the first-quarter figures did not include revenues from so-called pre-season orders totaling EUR 3.19 million which are now shifted to subsequent quarters. On balance, revenue of the wholesale segment fell by 32% in the first quarter of 2016/17. Wolford's own online business matched the same strong level of the previous year.
Weak customer frequency in core markets
The company suffered from a double-digit revenue decrease in its core markets i.e. in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy. A single-digit drop in revenue was reported for Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands. Revenue also fell in Central and Eastern Europe, not least as a consequence of the difficult situation on the Russian market.
Clearly negative EBIT and earnings for tax
The revenue decline was also reflected in the operating earnings of Wolford AG. Moreover, the company was faced with negative currency effects as a result of the drop in value of the British pound. This was accompanied by general salary increases which largely offset the effect of a moderate reduction in the number of employees. The Wolford Group employed an average of 1,557 employees (FTE) in the first quarter of 2016/17, compared to 1,583 in the prior-year period.
Wolford's operating earnings (EBIT) totaled EUR -8.28 million in the first three months of the current financial year, compared to EUR -3.04 million in the first quarter of the previous year. EBIT in the prior-year period benefited from the sale of non-core rental apartments (other operating income to the amount of EUR 1.09 million). Adjusted for this special effect, EBIT in the first quarter of 2016/17 was EUR 4.14 million below the previous year.
First-quarter earnings before tax amounted to EUR -8.44 million, compared to the prior-year level of EUR -3.33 million. The income tax expense totaled EUR 0.22 million (previous year: EUR 0.77 million), whereby deferred taxes assets in the first quarter of the current financial year were EUR 0.89 million lower than in the prior-year period. Accordingly, earnings after tax amounted to EUR -8.22 million (previous year: EUR -2.55 million). Earnings per share equaled EUR - 1.67, down from EUR -0.52 in the first quarter of 2015/16.
Equity ratio of 41%
Equity of the Wolford Group at the balance sheet date amounted to EUR 59.94 million, comprising a drop of EUR 12.53 million from the first quarter of the previous financial year. The equity ratio was 41% at the reporting date (previous year: 48%), and net debt totaled EUR 35.59 million (previous year: EUR 25.98 million). The higher level of debt was primarily due to the build-up of inventories as a result of the later delivery timing for the fall/winter collection.
Stronger foundation for medium-term revenue growth
Notwithstanding the weak business results generated in the first quarter, Wolford has continued over the past months to resolutely implement its planned measures designed to enhance profitability, strengthening the foundation for systematically increasing revenues in the future. Most recently, the sales organization for the EMEA region was completely restructured and a new B2B platform for EMEA went live. The company not only expects these measures to generate substantial efficiency gains in its sales activities but also higher revenues in the wholesale segment.
On September 7, 2016, Wolford presented its new shop concept on time at the Berlin store, which met with a very positive response. Wolford will also be showcasing a new look in the most important department stores in the German capital. A new wholesale furniture concept will be rolled out throughout the entire EMEA region in November of this year. The launch of the new B2C platform will take place at the end of September as scheduled. In the light of the company's business development over the last few months, Wolford will also accelerate selected measures to improve earnings. For this reason, restructuring costs are expected to be somewhat higher than originally forecast.
"In order to achieve our medium-term margin targets, the speedier implementation of the approved measures will take precedence over the short-term objective of generating positive operating results at the end of this financial year", explains Wolford CEO Ashish Sensarma.
Outlook
Against the backdrop its first-quarter results and the ongoing market weakness, Wolford already revised its outlook for the current 2016/17 financial year.
The Wolford Group now anticipates stagnating or slightly lower revenue for the 2016/17 financial year compared to the prior-year performance, and negative operating earnings in the lower single digit million euro range. Implementation of the package of measures aimed at sustainably increasing revenue and profitability and the creative realignment of the company are proceeding on schedule. In addition, the cost-cutting drive is being further accelerated, which should have a perceptible impact on earnings starting in the upcoming 2017/18 financial year. For this reason, the company reaffirms its medium-term planning targets.
The Report on the First Quarter of 2016/17 can be viewed and downloaded in the
Investor Relations section of the company's website at company.wolford.com: http://company.wolford.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Wolford_Q1-Report_2016_17_EN.pdf
Earnings Data 05 - 07/16 05 - 07/15 Chg. in % 2015/16 Revenues in EUR mill. 27.74 33.98 -18 162.40 EBIT in EUR mill. -8.28 -3.04 >100 1.55 Earnings before tax in EUR mill. -8.44 -3.33 >100 0.62 Earnings after tax in EUR mill. -8.22 -2.55 >100 -6.19 Capital expenditure in EUR mill. 2.69 1.99 +35 7.30 Free cash flow in EUR mill. -14.65 -8.76 +67 -2.35 Employees (on average) FTE 1,557 1,583 -2 1,571
Balance Sheet Data 31.07.2016 31.07.2015 Chg. in % 30.04.2016 Equity in EUR mill. 59.94 72.47 -17 68.15 Net debt in EUR mill. 35.59 25.98 +37 20.86 Working capital in EUR mill. 48.72 39.76 +23 43.15 Balance sheet total in EUR mill. 145.86 150.58 -3 139.25 Equity ratio in % 41 48 -15 49 Gearing in % 59 36 +64 31
Stock Exchange Data 05 - 07/16 05 - 07/15 Chg. in % 2015/16 Earnings per share in EUR -1.67 -0.52 >100 0.21 Share price high in EUR 25.70 23.98 +7 24.12 Share price low in EUR 24.49 22.05 +11 18.75 Share price at end of period in EUR 25.60 22.37 +14 24.00 Shares outstanding (weighted) in 1,000 4,912 4,900 +1 4,900 Market capitalization (ultimo) in EUR mill. 128.00 111.85 +14 120.00

About Wolford AG Wolford AG, which has its headquarters in Bregenz on Lake Constance (Austria), has 16 subsidiaries and markets its products in more than 60 countries via 262 mono-brand points of sales (company-owned and partner-operated), around 3,000 distribution partners, and online. Listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1995, in the 2015/16 financial year (May 1, 2015 - April 30, 2016) the company had around 1,570 employees and generated revenues of EUR 162.4 million. Founded in 1950, Wolford has since grown to become the leading global brand for luxurious legwear, exclusive lingerie, and high-quality bodywear.


end of announcement euro adhoc
company: Wolford Aktiengesellschaft Wolfordstrasse 1 A-6900 Bregenz phone: +43 (0) 5574 690-1268 FAX: +43 (0) 5574 690-1219 mail: investor@wolford.com WWW: company.wolford.com sector: Textiles & Clothing ISIN: AT0000834007

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