The Board of Directors of Safilo Group S.p.A. approves the results as at September 30 2014

06/11/2014
 Q3 confirms growth trend of sales and bottom line
driven by effective product mix and quality of distribution channels


Padua, November 6, 2014 – The Board of Directors of Safilo Group S.p.A. – the fully integrated Italian eyewear creator and worldwide distributor of quality and trust, listed on the Milan stock Exchange – has today approved the results of the third quarter and first nine months of 2014.

In the third quarter, Safilo confirmed the increase in sales at constant exchange rates of 7.4% already recorded in the second quarter, taking the first nine-months’ top line growth to 5.5%.
Economic results were also in line with the business dynamics that characterized the first part of the year, with the gross profit margin for the first nine months at 62.3%, after a further progression registered by the same profit margin in the third quarter compared to the corresponding period of 2013.
The contraction of the EBITDA margin was the result of the investments dedicated to the new commercial and marketing organizations, whereas at the bottom line the Group net profit showed an evident improvement both in the third quarter and in the first nine months, equal to +37.9% and +24.0% (adjusted1) respectively.

At the end of September, the Group net debt totaled Euro 158.9 million, taking the adjusted1 financial leverage to 1.3 times.

Economic and financial highlights


Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo Group, commented:

“Economic results in the third quarter confirm the progress of our product centered strategic and operational direction.

Brand driven product quality and creative product design have continued to be our hallmark in our latest collections, as evidenced for example by Dior’s iconic sun trendsetters, and the transformation of Fendi eyewear, our most recently acquired license.

Our sales trend has remained solid, as we have accelerated our commercial re-set focused on quality of distribution, step-changed commercial leadership & capability, and have introduced brand differentiated communication and commercial strategies. This is enabling us to balance systemically our market and brand portfolios, across proprietary and licensed brands, and within licensed brands. Specifically, our market priorities responded, with Iberia, Germany, North America, Brazil and China leading the growth, while we built up managerial capability in Asia Pacific. Our proprietary brands responded, with Polaroid continuing its very strong development, and Smith gearing up for its global expansion, while we prepare for Carrera’s further acceleration next year. Our licensed brands also responded, with Dior, Celine, Jimmy Choo, Boss, Max Mara, Tommy Hilfiger and Kate Spade leading the way, while we prepare for potential future licenses.

Product mix and quality of our distribution channels were also the drivers for our improvement in gross margin reaching 62.3% in the first nine months of the year. We are re-investing significantly in the modernization of our organization, chiefly through IT enabled sales, demand and production planning standardization & simplification, and Brand Building. We are initiating a Global Supply Network overhaul, and organizing Product Development.

At the same time, we register with satisfaction the growth of our Group net profit level, both in the quarter and for the first nine months of the year, also due to the significant improvement of our financial management. We continue to focus with confidence on our mid-term track in order to transform Safilo to deliver sustained profitable growth, by design.”


Key economic and financial performance

Financials

In the third quarter of 2014, Group total revenues stood at Euro 261.2 million, up 7.3% compared to Euro 243.4 million recorded in the same quarter of 2013 (+7.4% at constant exchange rates). The quarterly performance, which confirmed the trends already recorded in the second quarter, took the increase of the first nine-months’ sales to +3.1%, at Euro 867.5 million compared to Euro 841.8 million in the same period of 2013 (+5.5% at constant exchange rates).
In the quarter, turnover for the wholesale business increased to Euro 239.2 million from Euro 222.5 million in the third quarter of 2013 (+7.5% at current and constant exchange rates), while in the first nine months, turnover reached Euro 805.7 million, up 3.3% compared to Euro 780.0 million in the same period of 2013 (+5.7% at constant exchange rates).

From an economic standpoint, Safilo closed the third quarter of 2014 with a gross profit of Euro 157.1 million, up 8.5% compared to Euro 144.8 million of the same period of 2013 and with the gross margin improving by 60 basis points to 60.1% from 59.5% of the third quarter of 2013.

Gross profit and gross margin for the first nine months respectively reached Euro 540.6 million and 62.3% (Euro 516.9 million and 61.4% in the first nine months of 2013), confirming the effectiveness of the commercial actions put in place by the Group and based on an higher product mix and a better quality of distribution.


In the third quarter, EBITDA equaled Euro 14.6 million compared to Euro 16.3 million recorded in the same quarter of 2013. The EBITDA margin declined to 5.6% of revenues from 6.7%. Investments related to the development of brand building capabilities and step-changing the commercial organization, as well as the major incidence of contractual engagements on brands impacted on this result.

Adjusted1 EBITDA for the first nine months of 2014 stood at Euro 86.3 million, resulting in an adjusted1 EBITDA margin of 9.9%. In the same period of 2013, the adjusted1 EBITDA was equal to Euro 88.7 million, with a margin of 10.5%.

In the third quarter of 2014, EBIT totaled Euro 5.7 million compared to Euro 6.8 million for the same period of 2013. EBIT margin was equal to 2.2% compared to 2.8% in the third quarter of 2013.

Adjusted1 EBIT for the first nine months of 2014 amounted to Euro 60.2 million, a slight decline compared to Euro 61.5 million in the first nine months of 2013. Adjusted1 EBIT margin stood at 6.9% compared to 7.3% in the same period of 2013.

Below the operating results, interest expenses and negative exchange rate differences in the third quarter were more than offset by the effects of the fair value valuation of the option component embedded in the equity-linked bonds placed in May 2014 and by the positive exchange rate differences.
Overall, in the period, total financial charges were equal to Euro 1.8 million compared to Euro 2.9 million in the corresponding period of 2013. In the first nine months of 2014, total financial charges dropped by 61.9% to Euro 6.3 million compared to Euro 16.7 million in the first nine months of 2013.
In line with the first six months of the year, the adjusted1 tax rate at the end of September was equal to 35.7% compared to the adjusted1 36.3% registered in the first nine months of 2013.

Safilo closed the third quarter of the year with a Group net profit of Euro 2.4 million, marking an increase compared to Euro 1.7 million recorded in the same period of 2013.
Adjusted1 Group net profit for the first nine months of 2014 rose to Euro 33.9 million, up 24.0% compared to Euro 27.3 million in the first nine months of 2013.

Markets
The North-American market was the growth driver of the quarter, thanks to the positive performance of the brand portfolio in the independent optician channel and in the department stores.
Sales trends in the European countries which outperformed in the first part of the year, namely France, Germany and Spain, were also very positive, whereas the UK business was affected by a difficult comparison base, given the double digit growth recorded in the third quarter of 2013.
Sales in emerging markets, whose development is one of the main objectives of the Group’s action plan, further accelerated the pace of growth recorded in the first half of the year, to around +27%, thanks in particular to the strong performance of the Chinese and Brazilian markets.

Americas
In the American market, revenues for the third quarter amounted to Euro 125.2 million, up 14.1% compared to Euro 109.7 million in the same quarter of 2013 (+14.6% at constant exchange rates). In the first nine months, regional sales reached Euro 361.1, up 3.3% at current exchange rates and 7.3% at constant exchange rates compared to Euro 349.5 million in the same period of 2013.
Quarterly sales for Solstice stores in the United States equaled Euro 22.0 million, up 5.4% compared to Euro 20.9 million registered in the third quarter of 2013 (+5.6% at constant exchange rates). In the first nine months of 2014, the sales performance of the 130 US stores was in line with the previous year, totaling Euro 61.8 million (+2.9% at constant exchange rates).

Europe
In the European market, Group turnover for the third quarter reached Euro 98.6 million compared to Euro 96.8 million in the third quarter of 2013 (+1.9% at current exchange rates, +1.7% at constant exchange rates). For the first nine months of 2014, regional revenues grew by 4.7% to Euro 368.2 million compared to Euro 351.7 million in the same period of 2013 (+5.0% at constant exchange rates)
Asia
In Asia, the third quarter ended with revenues of Euro 32.8 million compared to Euro 34.1 million in the same period of 2013 (-3.7% at current exchange rates, -4.6% at constant exchange rates). In the first nine months of the year, Safilo’s Asian business recorded revenues of Euro 125.2 million compared to Euro 130.4 million in the first nine months of 2013 (-4.0% at current exchange rates, -0.9% at constant exchange rates).
While a different allocation of the travel retail sales, previously only included in the Asian region, and the slow-down of some South-Eastern Asian markets impacted our performance in the region, we also decided to refocus our Asia Pacific business on sustainable quality sales channels, and build up our local commercial and managerial capability to, in turn, build the business accordingly. We are getting into shape for 2015 sustained delivery.

Brands

The positive market trends were echoed by the good performance of the portfolio, with various brands leading the way in the relevant business segments. Dior, Celine and Jimmy Choo, as well as Boss and Max Mara, excelled in the different areas of the fashion luxury segment, while Polaroid continued its strong development in the mass cool segment together with the growth of Kate Spade both in and out of the US market. The proprietary brand Smith also outgrew in the quarter as Safilo started a new integration plan to turn the brand into a global player in one of the fastest growing arenas, the sports and outdoor lifestyle segment.


Key Cash Flow data


Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2014 was negative for Euro 10.3 million, reflecting the different dynamics of working capital and higher investing activities. An increase in inventory was the major driver of absorption, and is being addressed through control/reduction interventions, and systemically through better connection of sales and production planning.

At the end of September 2014, Group net debt stood at Euro 158.9 million, declining compared to Euro 166.1 million at the end of June 2014 and Euro 182.5 million as of December 31, 2013.

Other information

Safilo Group announces that the Group CFO Vincenzo Giannelli leaves his post effective end of November, concluding a four-year cycle during which the company has made significant financial and operational progress. “On behalf of the organization and the Board of Directors, we thank Vincenzo for his leadership and for the professionalism and integrity with which he has acted in his role with a strong business orientation, and wish him excellent continued success for the future”, says Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo Group.

The Group also announces the appointment of Gerd Graehsler, currently Director of New Business Development & Corporate Strategy, as the new Group CFO, effective December 1st, 2014 "We are delighted to count on Gerd as our new CFO. He will seamlessly transition both into the new role from within the company, and lead Safilo's strong finance organization, while bringing skills and experiences from an international career in business, finance and accounting to the role as we proceed with Safilo’s transformation”.

Last update: 06/11/2014, 18:44