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Beter Bed Holding N.V. — Annual Report 2006
Mar 9, 2007
3820_iss_2007-03-09_e3223b69-06f9-4c0f-b32e-1de70888446a.pdf
Annual Report
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BETER BED HOLDING Hard at work on a good night's rest
PRESS RELEASE
Uden, The Netherlands, 9 March 2007
BETER BED ACHIEVES 52% GROWTH IN NET PROFIT IN 2006
- Net profit increases from € 15.6 million in 2005 to € 23.8 million in 2006
- Net profit in the fourth quarter of 2006 rises to € 10.4 million (2005: € 7.2 million)
- Proposed dividend of € 0.90 per share; 50% more than in 2005
- Proposal to buy back shares
Outlook
Growth in revenue and profit is forecast for the entire year 2007. Beter Bed Holding expects to achieve at least an 8% increase in revenue and at least a 20% increase in net profit in the first quarter of 2007.
Beter Bed Holding N.V. realised net profit of € 10.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, representing a 44.4% increase in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2005 when net profit totalled € 7.2 million. This result means that a considerable growth in net profit was achieved for the entire year 2006. In line with the total net profit, net earnings per share rose by 52% from € 0.72 in 2005 to € 1.10 in 2006.
Frans Geelen, Chief Executive Officer: 'Our employees have once again succeeded in achieving a record amount of revenue and profit in 2006. We realised this result through a number of activities including further professionalisation of our sales force, reducing the expenses per store and expanding the number of stores. A large number of new products were also introduced in 2006 at attractive prices and our logistics performance also improved further. The higher consumer spending on our products in the fourth quarter of 2006 in Germany also contributed to these results. Thanks to our efforts, we have now achieved an excellent position and, assuming there will continue to be a positive consumer climate, we look to 2007 with confidence.'
Fourth quarter of 2006
Revenue rose in the fourth quarter of 2006 by 11.3% to € 89.9 million, compared to € 80.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. This result was achieved through the growth in the comparable stores of the Beter Bed formulas (5.8%) in combination with the expansion and improvement of the store base. The gross profit amounted to 56.6%, compared to 55.0% in the fourth quarter of 2005. The expenses per store decreased despite the fact that total operating expenses increased from € 33.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 to € 35.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 due to the growth in the number of stores. Operating costs as a percentage of revenue were lower in the fourth quarter of 2006 at 39.7% compared to 41.5% in the fourth quarter of 2005. Operating profit (EBIT) totalled € 15.1 million and consequently represented 16.8% of the revenue, compared to 13.6% in 2005. Net profit rose by 44.4% from € 7.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 to € 10.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Better Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Entire year 2006
Results
Revenue for the entire year 2006 increased by 11.5% to € 320.0 million compared to € 287.1 million for the entire year 2005. The growth in revenue per country for the entire year 2006 in comparison to 2005 is as follows:
- Netherlands: 11% (Beter Bed, BeddenReus, DBC, Matrassen Concord and Slaapgenoten/Dormaël)
- Germany: 10% (Matratzen Concord and MAV)
- Austria: 10% (Matratzen Concord)
- Switzerland: 11% (Matratzen Concord)
- Spain: 25% (El Gigante del Colchón)
The gross profit amounted to 53.4% for the entire year 2006, compared to 53.2% in 2005. Considering the growth in the number of stores, operating expenses showed a relatively small increase to a total of € 136.5 million, compared to € 127.9 million in the preceding year. The company succeeded in reducing operating expenses as a percentage of revenue from 44.6% in 2005 to 42.7% in 2006. It was also possible to once again reduce the expenses per store by 3%, in part because further improvements in logistical efficiency were once again achieved and more new stores were opened with constant overhead costs. There was furthermore a 1.1% increase in revenue in the comparable stores and the new stores are of good quality.
Operating profit (EBIT) totalled € 34.5 million in 2006. This represents 10.8% of revenue and is 39.7% higher than in 2005 when operating profit amounted to € 24.7 million (8.6% of revenue). All countries and all formulas contributed to the growth in operating profit. Net profit amounted to € 23.8 million, a 52% increase in comparison to 2005 when net profit totalled € 15.6 million.
Balance sheet
Solvency amounted to 51.5% at the end of 2006, compared to 46.3% at the end of the preceding year. Despite the increased rate of expansion and the considerably higher dividend payments, Better Bed nonetheless closed the year with a positive balance of € 8.1 million in cash at bank and in hand minus interest-bearing liabilities. Interest-bearing liabilities amounted to € 1.4 million at the end of 2006.
Operational
110 stores were opened and 46 stores were closed in 2006. There were a total of 839 stores at the end of 2006, 64 more than at year-end 2005.
| Number of stores | 31-12-2005 | Closed | Opened | 31-12-2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matratzen Concord/MAV | 639 | 34 | 91 | 696 |
| Beter Bed | 79 | 4 | 3 | 78 |
| BeddenReus | 23 | 1 | 2 | 24 |
| Slaapgenoten/Dormaël | 7 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| El Gigante del Colchón | 21 | - | 11 | 32 |
| WasserBettenDiscount | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Total | 775 | 46 | 110 | 839 |
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Matratzen Concord/MAV
Revenue of cash & carry formula Matratzen Concord rose by 10% from € 159.0 million in 2005 to € 175.2 million in 2006. Matratzen Concord accordingly accounts for approximately 55% of the total revenue. Despite strong growth in the fourth quarter, the increase in revenue in the comparable stores for Matratzen Concord was still fractionally negative for the entire year 2006. The revenue performance clearly picked up in the fourth quarter, particularly in Germany, in part due to the more favourable economic climate and in connection with the fact that German consumers made purchases earlier in advance of the VAT increase that went into effect on 1 January 2007. Revenue increased by 22% in the fourth quarter in Germany (in comparable stores: +11%). The new formula MAV (Matratzen-Abverkauf) opened its first store in Germany in late October. MAV is a cash & carry formula that is positioned under Matratzen Concord. MAV had five stores at year-end 2006.
Matratzen Concord and MAV opened a total of 91 stores and closed 34 stores. This brought the total number of stores to 57, 49 of which are located in Germany.
| Number of stores | 31-12-05 | Closed | Opened | 31-12-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany – MC | 571 | 32 | 76 | 615 |
| - MAV | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Netherlands | 24 | 2 | 5 | 27 |
| Austria | 24 | - | 4 | 28 |
| Switzerland | 20 | - | 1 | 21 |
| Total | 639 | 34 | 91 | 696 |
Beter Bed
Beter Bed opened three stores and closed four stores in 2006. The revenue of Beter Bed (Netherlands) increased by 7.3% from € 105.0 million in 2005 to € 112.7 million. The Beter Bed formula consequently accounts for approximately 35% of the total revenue. Following an increase of 11.2% in 2005, revenue in the comparable stores of Beter Bed rose by 3.2% in 2006. Beter Bed focused in the second half of 2006 on further improving the operational efficiency. This formula made a large contribution to the growth of the total profitability and is the retail formula within the Holding that achieves the highest operating margin.
BeddenReus
The revenue of BeddenReus increased by 28.1% in 2006 to € 9.5 million (2005: € 7.4 million). The revenue of BeddenReus increased in comparable stores by 17.0%. In the course of 2006 the Beddendump formula was transformed into BeddenReus, a cash & carry formula that offers a full range in the field of bedroom furnishings. BeddenReus' logistics and IT systems were integrated with those of Beter Bed in 2006. BeddenReus opened two stores and closed one store in 2006. This brought the total number of stores at year-end 2006 to 24.
Slaapgenoten/Dormaël
Three Slaapgenoten stores were opened and one Dormaël store was closed in the course of 2006. There were consequently a total of nine stores at the end of 2006 - five Slaagenoten stores and four Dormaël stores. Two Dormaël stores are franchise stores. The revenue in the own stores increased by 50% to € 4.7 million in 2006.
DBC is active in the field of developing and wholesaling branded products in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany based on its pressure-reducing M Line bedroom systems.
The M Line products are sold via own stores, third-party stores and therapists and are sold to healthcare institutions. Revenue rose by 35% in 2006 to € 12.0 million (2005: € 8.9 million).
El Gigante del Colchón
El Gigante was acquired on 15 September 2005 and has been included in the figures from 1 September 2005. Revenue in the last four months of 2005 amounted to € 3.8 million. Revenue totalled € 13.0 million for the entire year 2006. Revenue increased by 25% in comparison to the entire year 2005 (comparable stores: +4.4%). Eleven new stores were opened in 2006, bringing the total number of stores at year-end 2006 to 32.
Dividend and share buy-back program
Thanks to the strong cash flow and balance sheet, the company has the opportunity to start a share buy-back program as an additional vehicle to further increase returns for shareholders, in addition to paying out 82% of the profit in the form of dividend. At the same time the company will continue expanding its activities and can finance any medium-sized acquisitions from existing credit lines.
The company will propose the share buy-back program to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The share buy-back is possible due to the share's increased liquidity, which is evidenced by the share's recent inclusion in the Amsterdam Small-cap Index. The objective is to buy back at least € 5 million in own shares in the first half of 2007. Information regarding any possible subsequent buy-back of shares in the second half of 2007 will be provided with the publication of the half-year figures on 24 August 2007.
An interim dividend of € 0.25 was paid in cash in November 2006. The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be proposed a final dividend of € 0.65 in cash. This means that the total dividend for 2006 will amount to € 0.90, which is 50% more than the dividend that was paid out in 2005 (€ 0.60). This equals a pay-out ratio of 82% for 2006 (2005: 83%).
Share split
The Beter Bed share was split in May 2006 in the ratio of 2.5 new shares for one old share. This share split has been incorporated into all the figures in this press release that are calculated per share, including the figures from prior to 2006.
Auditor's report
The financial data in the appendixes have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Beter Bed Holding N.V., which will be presented to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 25 April 2007 and for which an unqualified auditor's report has been issued.
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Outlook
The first weeks of 2007 in Germany provided a mixed picture following the increase in the rate of VAT that went into force on 1 January 2007. However, after these initial weeks of the year, there appears to be higher and more stable growth in revenue. The company consequently assumes that the unfavourable effect of the increased rate of VAT has been short-lived. Based on this assumption, the total company’s revenue in the first quarter of 2007 is expected to increase by at least 8%. This means that, barring unforeseen circumstances, net profit is forecast to rise by at least 20% in the first quarter of 2007 in comparison to the first quarter of 2006. Assuming a continuing positive consumer climate and barring unforeseen circumstances, a growth in revenue and net profit is forecast for the entire year 2007.
Profile
Beter Bed operates in the European bedroom furnishings market. Its activities include retail trade through a total of approximately 850 stores that operate via the chains Beter Bed (active in the Netherlands), Matratzen Concord (active in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland), El Gigante del Colchón (active in Spain), BeddenReus, Dormaël and Slaapgenoten (all three active in the Netherlands) and MAV (active in Germany). Beter Bed Holding is also active in the field of developing and wholesaling branded products in the bedroom furnishings sector in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany via its subsidiary DBC International. Beter Bed Holding achieved net revenue of € 320 million in 2006. The company has been listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Amsterdam since December 1996 and forms part of the NextPrime segment. The Beter Bed Holding share is included in the Amsterdam Small-cap Index.
APPENDICES:
- Consolidated profit and loss account
- Consolidated balance sheet
- Consolidated cash flow statement
- Consolidated overview of movements equity
For more information, please contact: Frans Geelen, Chief Executive Officer Tel. +31 (0)413 338819 / Fax +31 (0)413 338829 / Mob. +31 (0)6 29565517 E-mail: [email protected] / Website: www.beterbedholding.com
5
Consolidated profit and loss statement
| (* EUR 1.000) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth quarter | Cumulative | |||
| 2006 | 2005 | 2006 | 2005 | |
| 89.887 | 80.734 | Revenue | 320.017 | 287.136 |
| (39.055) | (36.294) | Cost of sales | (148.993) | (134.517) |
| 50.832 | 44.440 | Gross margin | 171.024 | 152.619 |
| 56,6% | 55,0% | 53,4% | 53,2% | |
| 17.502 | 16.593 | Staff costs | 66.168 | 62.396 |
| 1.595 | 1.616 | Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 6.117 | 6.318 |
| 16.604 | 15.273 | Other operating expenses | 64.258 | 59.220 |
| (35.701) | (33.482) | Total operating expenses | (136.543) | (127.934) |
| -39,7% | -41,5% | -42,7% | -44,6% | |
| 15.131 | 10.958 | Operating result (EBIT) | 34.481 | 24.685 |
| 16,8% | 13,6% | 10,8% | 8,6% | |
| (135) | (241) | Financial income and expense | (636) | (785) |
| 14.996 | 10.717 | Profit before tax | 33.845 | 23.900 |
| (4.626) | (3.535) | Income tax expense | (10.015) | (8.263) |
| 10.370 | 7.182 | Net profit | 23.830 | 15.637 |
| 11,5% | 8,9% | 7,4% | 5,4% | |
| 0,48 | 0,33 | Earnings per share € | 1,10 | 0,72 |
| 0,47 | 0,32 | Diluted earnings per share € | 1,09 | 0,72 |
The figures presented are in line with the current IFRS standards and interpretations.
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Consolidated balance sheet
| (* EUR 1.000) | 31-12-2006 | 31-12-2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Tangible fixed assets | 24.420 | 22.889 |
| Intangible fixed assets | 3.811 | 3.811 |
| Stocks | 40.275 | 36.789 |
| Debtors, prepayments and accrued income | 4.907 | 3.394 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 9.544 | 5.343 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 82.957 | 72.226 |
| Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent | 42.701 | 33.422 |
| Provisions | 1.134 | 1.182 |
| Long-term liabilities | 417 | 1.417 |
| Short-term bankloans | 1.000 | 2.224 |
| Current liabilities | 37.705 | 33.981 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 82.957 | 72.226 |
The figures presented are in line with the current IFRS standards and interpretations.
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Consolidated cash flow statement
(* EUR 1.000)
| cumulative | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2006-Q4 | 2005-Q4 | |
| Cash flow from/(used in) operating activities | ||
| Net group profit | 23.830 | 15.637 |
| Depreciation | 6.117 | 6.318 |
| Movements in: | ||
| Stocks | (3.486) | (4.463) |
| Debtors | (1.513) | 2.858 |
| Creditors | 3.724 | 4.667 |
| Provisions | (48) | (413) |
| Cash flow from/(used in) operating activities | 28.624 | 24.604 |
| Cash flow from/(used in) investing activities | ||
| Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired | - | (3.506) |
| Additions to tangible fixed assets | (7.709) | (7.512) |
| Disposals of tangible fixed assets | 54 | 1.213 |
| Cash flow used in investing activities | (7.655) | (9.805) |
| Cash flow from/(used in) financing activities | ||
| Income from the issue of new shares | - | 31 |
| Movement in equity because of costs of employee share options | 316 | 230 |
| Exchange gain/(loss) on foreign participating interests | (11) | (96) |
| Revaluation | 85 | 39 |
| Repayment of long-term liabilities | (1.000) | (10.797) |
| Dividend paid | (14.934) | (7.791) |
| Cash flow from/(used in) financing activities | (15.544) | (18.384) |
| Net cash flow for financial year | 5.425 | (3.585) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year | 3.119 | 6.704 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year | 8.544 | 3.119 |
The figures presented are in line with the current IFRS standards and interpretations.
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006
Consolidated overview of movements equity
(* EUR 1.000)
| total | issued share capital | share premium reserve | legal reserve participating interests | revaluation reserve | other reserves | retained earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance on 1 January 2006 | 33.422 | 433 | 15.596 | - | 1.463 | 293 | 15.637 |
| Profit appropriation 2005 | (9.523) | - | - | - | - | 6.114 | (15.637) |
| Profit 2006 | 23.830 | - | - | - | - | - | 23.830 |
| Interim dividend | (5.411) | - | - | - | - | (5.411) | - |
| Revaluation | 85 | - | - | - | 85 | - | - |
| Expenses employee options | 316 | - | - | - | - | 316 | - |
| Movement in legal reserves exchange differences | (18) | - | - | (18) | - | - | - |
| Adjustment to legal reserve participating interests | - | - | - | 18 | - | (18) | - |
| Balance on 31 December 2006 | 42.701 | 433 | 15.596 | - | 1.548 | 1.294 | 23.830 |
| total | issued share capital | share premium reserve | legal reserve participating interests | revaluation reserve | other reserves | retained earnings | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Balance on 1 January 2005 | 25.372 | 433 | 15.566 | - | 1.423 | (366) | 8.316 |
| Profit appropriation 2004 | (4.329) | - | - | - | - | 3.987 | (8.316) |
| Profit 2005 | 15.637 | - | - | - | - | 15.637 | |
| Interim dividend | (3.463) | - | - | - | - | (3.463) | - |
| Revaluation | 40 | - | - | - | 40 | - | - |
| Share issue | 31 | - | 30 | - | - | 1 | - |
| Expenses employee options | 230 | - | - | - | - | 230 | - |
| Movement in legal reserves exchange differences | (96) | - | - | (96) | - | - | - |
| Adjustment to legal reserve participating interests | - | - | - | 96 | - | (96) | - |
| Balance on 31 December 2005 | 33.422 | 433 | 15.596 | - | 1.463 | 293 | 15.637 |
The figures presented are in line with the current IFRS standards and interpretations.
Beter Bed Holding N.V. annual results 2006