DGAP-News

Hornbach Holding AG: Hornbach boosts earnings strength

DGAP-News: Hornbach Holding AG / Key word(s): 9-month figures/Quarter
Results
Hornbach Holding AG: Hornbach boosts earnings strength

22.12.2014 / 07:00

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Nine-month report 2014/2015 published:

Hornbach boosts earnings strength


- Hornbach Group increases nine-month sales by 6.3 percent to Euro 2.85
billion

- Pleasing growth in like-for-like sales at DIY stores with garden centers

- Operating earnings (EBIT) with cumulative growth of 9.0 percent to Euro
189.2 million

Neustadt a. d. Weinstrasse, December 22, 2014.
The Hornbach Group's sales and earnings gained notable momentum in the
third quarter of 2014/2015 (September 1 to November 30, 2014) compared with
the previous quarter. This contributed to the pleasing nine-month business
performance. Cumulatively, the Hornbach Holding AG Group can report
disproportionate earnings growth compared with sales.

Despite tougher conditions than one year ago, the Group increased its
third-quarter sales by 2.9 percent to Euro 876 million. Consolidated sales
for the first nine months of 2014/2015 grew by 6.3 percent to Euro 2.85
billion. Consolidated operating earnings (EBIT) rose 3.6 percent to Euro
36.5 million in the third quarter and 9.0 percent to Euro 189.2 million in
the first nine months.

Sales at Hornbach-Baumarkt-AG, the largest operating subgroup (DIY retail)
grew by 3.4 percent to Euro 815 million in the third quarter of 2014/2015
and by 6.8 percent to Euro 2.67 billion in the nine-month period. Net of
currency items, like-for-like DIY sales added 1.0 percent to the previous
year's high basis for comparison (plus 4.6 percent). This like-for-like
sales growth was driven by the stores both in Germany and in other European
countries. On a cumulative basis for the first nine months, the subgroup's
like-for-like sales net of currency items grew by 4.9 percent.

The key growth driver was once again the DIY stores with garden centers in
Germany, which boosted their sales in the period from September to November
2014 by 4.5 percent to Euro 477 million. Like-for-like sales grew by 1.4
percent over the same period. Nine-month domestic sales increased by 8.2
percent to Euro 1,561 million and by 6.5 percent on a like-for-like basis.
Hornbach's stores in Germany thus yet again outperformed the sector average
and expanded their market share.

DIY sales in other European countries rose by 1.9 percent to Euro 337
million in the third quarter of 2014/2015 and by 4.8 percent to Euro 1,109
million in the nine-month period. Net of currency items, like-for-like
sales in the international business grew by 0.6 percent in the third