Trading update Q3 2016

revenue increases by 5.8%. Germany under pressure.

First nine months

• Net revenue increased by 5.7% to € 298.7 million (like-for-like order intake: +2.2%).
   
• Gross profit rose by 40 bps to 57.0%.
   

Expenses increased by 8.7% to € 154.2 million.
 

EBITDA decreased by 4.5% to € 24.5 million.

Third quarter

• Net revenue increased by 5.8% to € 102.0 million (like-for-like order intake: -0.3%).
   
• Gross profit rose by 30 bps to 56.9%.
   
• Expenses increased by 14.2% to € 53.8 million.
   
• EBITDA decreased by 27.1% to € 7.4 million.

Third quarter
Revenue of Beter Bed Holding rose by 5.8% to € 102.0 million in the third quarter. This increase was achieved through an increase in the number of stores as a result of organic growth and acquisitions. The total like-for-like order intake amounted to -0.3%. This decrease was mainly caused by lower footfall in Germany.

Revenue in Germany decreased by 7.4% (Q3 2015: +1.5%). Order intake at comparable stores in Germany decreased by 8.8%.

Revenue in the Netherlands rose by 15.5% due to recovering demand and strong commercial promotions. Order intake at comparable stores increased by 14.8%.

Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium achieved growth in revenue of 17.4%, 30.6%, 32.6% and 34.5% respectively. With the exception of Austria, this increase was caused by a combination of expansion and like-for-like growth of the order intake.

The average number of stores was 4.7% higher compared to the same period last year. This increase was primarily due to the acquisitions of Sängjätten in Sweden, BettenMax in Austria and store openings in Spain, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

Gross profit
Gross profit rose to 56.9% in the third quarter (Q3 2015: 56.6%) mainly as a result of improved purchasing conditions.

Expenses
Expenses rose by € 6.7 million (+14.2%) in the third quarter. This was caused by a 4.7% increase in the number of stores, an increase in staff on the shop floor in primarily the Benelux, higher expenses due to increased advertising expenses, greater investment in employee sales training, increased depreciation, and additional costs as a consequence of the organisation's further professionalisation within the parameters of the strategic plan.