zooplus SE — Earnings Release 2009

Nov 30, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 30 November 2009 07:57

zooplus AG with significant growth in 9M 2009

zooplus AG / Quarter Results

30.11.2009

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• Total sales up by 57,2% to EUR 92,5 mm
• EBIT (incl. one-offs) decreases from EUR 0,3 mm to EUR -1,1 mm y-o-y
• New EU-logistics hub doubles capacity to EUR 300 mm in annual sales
• New customer acquisition record with 515k new accounts

Munich, November 30th 2009 - zooplus AG (WKN 511170, ISIN DE0005111702,
ZO1), has today published its 9M 2009 results. Europe's leading online
retailer for pet supplies has again managed to generate significant total
sales growth during the year. A strong increase in customer acquisition is
the result of zooplus' strategic focus on growth and contributes towards a
further consolidation of zooplus' leading market position. The company's
uplisting onto the main market / prime standard segment as well as the
inauguration of its new international distribution center further underpin
zooplus' ambitious strategy.

Total sales of the company have increased by 57,2% y-o-y to EUR 92,5 mm for
the first nine months of 2009 compared to EUR 58,9 mm during the previous
year. Total sales consist of sales revenue (EUR 87,6 mm) as well as other
income (EUR 4,9 mm).

At the same time, Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) decreased from
EUR 0,3 mm to EUR -1,1 mm y-o-y. This includes the one-off costs of the
company's new logistics operation based in Tilburg / The Netherlands as
well as the costs of the uplisting of the company onto the prime standard /
main market segment of the Frankfurt stock exchange. These one-offs have a
total effect of EUR -0,9 mm. In addition, the figures reflect the increases
in customer acquisition marketing as well as a recessionary price- and
contribution margin environment, particularly during the first half of the
year. Nevertheless, the company succeeded in achieving a positive result
from operations excluding one-offs and depreciation / amortization on the
back of continued and significant Q3 2009 growth.

As a result of a positive tax one-off of EUR 4,8 mm during 9M 2008 as well
as the effects outlined above net profits declined from EUR 4,8 mm in 9M
2008 to EUR -0,8 mm in 9M 2009. Earnings per share declined to EUR -0,34
(previous year: EUR 2,02) on an undiluted and to EUR -0,34 (previous year:
EUR 2,01) on a diluted basis.

Within a challenging market environment, particularly during H1 2009,
zooplus has continued upon its growth path and expansionary strategy. This
is evidenced by its new all-time high in new customer acquisition (515k new
accounts versus 323k new accounts during 9M 2008). The management believes
this to be the most value-maximizing medium- to long-term strategy. In
order to realize the full market potential not only in the German-speaking
markets but also across all Western and Central Europe it will be crucial
to reach critical mass and consolidate our market leadership in all key
volume markets. On the back of this strategy and the phase-in of our new
international logistics center in Tilburg / The Netherlands, zooplus aims
for a considerable improvement in its earnings levels from 2010 onwards.

A highlight of the third quarter of 2009 was the earlier-than-planned
phase-in of the company's new international distribution center. Management
expects the new distribution center to reach full operational readiness by
December 2009, which will enable zooplus to deliver into its core markets
Benelux, France and the UK considerably faster and more efficiently,
leading to shorter parcel runtimes as well as reduced parcel distribution
costs. The distribution center comprises a total area of 38.000 square
meters and is operated in partnership with Rhenus Contract Logistics. This
enables zooplus to double its logistics capacity to EUR 300 mm in annual
sales.

Dr. Cornelius Patt, CEO and co-founder of zooplus AG draws an overall
positive summary of 9M 2009: 'Despite a recessionary market environment, we
have managed to grow faster than initially planned. We expect further
dynamic growth for 2010 and expect this to have a substantial and positive
impact on our earnings. Our new distribution center will play a key role in
this respect.'

The full 9M 2009 report will be published on November 30th 2009 and made
accessible under http://investors.zooplus.com/en/welcome

Company profile:

zooplus is a leading online retailer for pet products in Germany and Europe
and by its own estimate holds - with respect to overall online sales - a
leading position in all key European markets. zooplus offers products for
all standard breeds and races (including equine supplies) via websites in
Germany/Austria, UK, France, Holland, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Spain and
Poland and also, via zooplus.com, in 6 other international markets.

Through its websites zooplus offers a wide range of pet products, i.e.
particularly pet food (dry and wet pet food, pet food supplements such as
chewing bones, snacks, etc) as well as pet accessories in a wide range of
prices and categories.

zooplus is a predominantly growth-oriented company. zooplus intends to
continue to grow aggressively in all its existing as well as new geographic
markets whilst at the same time continuously improve its earnings and
profitability levels over the coming years.

Online: http://investors.zooplus.com/en/welcome/

Contact Investor Relations:
cometis AG
Henryk Deter / Dominic Großmann
Tel.: +49 (0)611-205855-15
Fax: +49 (0)611-205855-66
E-mail: grossmann@cometis.de

30.11.2009 Financial News distributed by DGAP. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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Language: English
Company: zooplus AG
Sonnenstraße 15
80331 München
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)89 95 006 - 100
Fax: +49 (0)89 95 006 - 500
E-mail: contact@zooplus.com
Internet: www.zooplus.de
ISIN: DE0005111702
WKN: 511170
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart

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