DGAP-News: Gerry Weber confirms international growth

DGAP-News: Gerry Weber International AG / Key word(s): Final Results Gerry Weber confirms international growth strategy 26.02.2014 / 11:20 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Corporate News GERRY WEBER confirms international growth strategy - Sales revenues climb 6.2% to EUR 852.0 million in financial year 2012/13 - Stable dividend of EUR 0.75 per share to be proposed - Revenue and earnings growth projected for financial year 2013/14 (Halle/Westphalia, 26 February 2014) At today's annual accounts press conference, GERRY WEBER International AG confirmed the end of January 2014 published figures for the past financial year 2012/13 and its guidance for the financial year 2013/14. The Managing Board and the Supervisory Board will propose payment of an unchanged dividend of EUR 0.75 per share to the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Against the background of the international expansion of the GERRY WEBER Group, sales revenues increased by 6.2% to EUR 852.0 million in 2012/13. Growth was primarily driven by the company's own Retail operations, which contributed EUR 363.7 million or approximately 42.7% to total Group sales revenues (previous year: 37.3%). The opening of 68 new company-managed Houses of GERRY WEBER as well as of 47 concession stores, most of them outside Germany, clearly shows that the company continues to implement its dynamic international growth strategy. At the end of the financial year 2012/13, a total of 568 Houses of GERRY WEBER and mono-label stores were operated by the company. The Retail segment also comprises the 111 concession stores as well as five country-specific online shops. After the balance sheet date, more new Houses of GERRY WEBER were opened among others in Prague, Bratislava and Malmö, which means that GERRY WEBER now operates its own stores in 12 European countries. Total sales revenues in the Retail segment were up by 21.4% on the previous year. The increase is attributable not only to the new shops and stores but also to our e-commerce operations, whose revenues rose sharply by 16.5% to EUR 19.5 million. At EUR 488.3 million, the Wholesale segment accounted for about 57.3% of the Group's total sales revenues. 23 new franchised Houses of GERRY WEBER were opened outside Germany, including stores in Russia, the Middle East as well as the first South American store in Santiago de Chile. The Group's gross margin improved from 53.1% to 53.7% not least because of the Retail segment's increased contribution to total Group sales. Against the background of the expansion of the Retail operations, the number of employees increased to roughly 4,700. Accordingly, personnel expenses climbed to EUR 143.3 million (previous year: EUR 125.8 million). The enlargement of the company-managed sales space also led to an increase in other operating expenses, which include the rents paid for the company's own stores, to EUR 203.7 million (previous year: EUR 187.6 million). The past two years saw us open some 300 company-managed stores. Due to the weather-related difficult market environment, these new stores made lower sales and earnings contributions than originally projected. As a result, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) temporarily declined from EUR 115.9 million to EUR 105.8 million in 2012/13. Accordingly, net income for the year after tax amounted to EUR 71.0 million (previous year: EUR 78.8 million). Based on an unchanged number of shares outstanding, earnings per share stood at EUR 1.55. Outlook on 2013/14 "Over the past years, our collections have become more modern and international. We continued to expand both our own Retail stores in Germany and abroad and our international brand presence. We will continue this growth strategy in the coming years and open between 65 and 75 new company-managed Houses of GERRY WEBER every year, particularly abroad. Based on these developments and the unique positioning of our brands, we are well prepared for the future," said Gerhard Weber, CEO of the company. Accordingly, the Managing Board projects sales revenues of at least EUR 900 million for the current financial year 2013/14. As the company aims to grow profitably, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) are expected to climb from EUR 105.8 million to at least EUR 120 million. Key figures of the GERRY WEBER Group: <pre> 2012/13 2011/12 Change in % Sales revenues (in EUR millions) 852.0 802.3 6.2 EBITDA (in EUR million) 127.4 132.3 -3.6 EBIT (in EUR millions) 105.8 115.9 -8.7 EBIT margin (in %) 12.4 % 14.5 % Net income for the year (in EUR millions) 71.0 78.8 -9.9 Earnings per share (in EUR) 1.55 1.72 -9.9 Dividend per share (in EUR) 0.751 0.75 0.0 Headcount (annual average) 4,700 4,121 14.0 </pre> 1 to be proposed to next AGM Admitted to the Regulated Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Prime Standard) ISIN: DE0003304101 WKN: 330410 <pre> Investor Relations Contact Press Contact GERRY WEBER International AG GERRY WEBER International AG Claudia Kellert Nina Lauterbach Neulehenstra�e 8 Neulehenstra�e 8 D - 33790 Halle/Westfalen D - 33790 Halle/Westfalen Tel.: +49 (0) 52 01-185 8422 Tel.: +49 (0) 52 01-185 320 E-mail: c.kellert@gerryweber.de E-mail: n.lauterbach@gerryweber.de </pre> End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 26.02.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's 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: Gerry Weber International AG Neulehenstra�e 8 33790 Halle/Westfalen Germany Phone: +49 (0)5201 185-0 Fax: +49 (0)5201 5857 E-mail: c.kellert@gerryweber.de Internet: www.gerryweber-ag.de ISIN: DE0003304101 WKN: 330410 Indices: MDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 254342 26.02.2014