Delticom's revenues in 2016 surpassed the mark of € 600 million for the first time

Delticom (German Securities Code (WKN) 514680, ISIN DE0005146807, stock market symbol DEX), Europe’s leading online retailer of tyres and automotive accessories as well as efood specialist and expert in the field of efficient warehouse logistics generated revenues of € 606.6 million over the course of 2016, an increase of 8.4 % from prior-year's € 559.8 million. With that, Delticom achieved the highest revenues in the history of the company. EBITDA for the reporting period increased from € 14.3 million to € 15.1 million. The 5.5 % rise resulted principally from the cost savings achieved in marketing expenses and rents that served to compensate for the higher level of revenue and volumeinduced costs. Earnings per share stood at € 0.36 (diluted and undiluted; 2015: € 0.28), an increase of around 28 %.

H2 16: Summerlike temperatures

Market environment. Continuing warm weather in September prevented an early start to the winter season in 2016. Consequently, according to the WdK, German tyre retailers sold 20 % fewer winter tyres to consumers in September and 15 % fewer in October compared to the corresponding months of the previous year. Despite the catch up affect in November, the WdK is estimating the retail sale of winter tyres to consumers for the full year to be 2.7 % lower than the comparable period in 2015.

Revenues. The company managed sales in its online shops during the second half of the year in accordance with its shipments and results planning for the 2016 financial year. Revenues came in at € 331.5 million in the second half of the year, up 7.1 % year on year (H2 15: € 309.6 million).

EBITDA. In the second half of the year, the company raised EBITDA by 15.6 % from € 7.7 million to € 8.9 million, which corresponds to an EBITDA margin of 2.7 % in H2 16 (H2 15: 2.5 %).

Fiscal year 2016

In the fiscal year elapsed, the hopes of many tyre dealers for a trend reversal were dashed again: Selling tyres to consumers in Germany once again proved to be in decline. While, in its initial estimates, the German Tyre Retailer and Vulcanization Trade Association (BRV) assumes a downturn in the sales volume of 1°% in the most important segment of car tyres, the German Rubber Industry Trade Association (WdK) puts the decrease at almost 3 %. Contrary to this general market trend, Delticom succeeded in raising revenues in its core business. Through the entry into the efood business and the associated enhancing of the logistics know-how, also through the acquisition of the material assets of French car dealer AutoPink, the company has developed further analog business lines for the world of electronic trading.

Revenues. Over the course of 2016, Delticom group generated revenues of € 606.6 million, an increase of 8.4 % from prior-year's € 559.8 million.

Gross margin. The gross margin (trade margin ex other operating expenses) for the full year was 23.2 % after 23.6 % in the prior-year period.

Personnel expenses. In the reporting period on average 156 staff members were employed at Delticom group (previous year: 129). Personnel expenses amounted to € 10.1 million (2015: € 9.5 million). The personnel expenses ratio (staff expenditures as percentage of revenues) remained with 1.7 % nearly unchanged compared to the previous year (2015: 1.7 %).

Other operating expenses. Among the other operating expenses, transportation costs is the largest line item. The 11.5 % increase in transportation costs from € 54.1 million to € 60.4 million reflects the higher business volumes and the countrymix. The share of transportation costs against revenues went up from 9.7 % in 2015 to 9.9 % in 2016.

Rents and overheads. Rents and overheads decreased in 2016 by 17.7 %, from € 7.2 million to € 6.0 million. Since February of the previous year, the company has also operated a cuttingedge small item warehouse alongside the two tyre warehouses. Cost savings of € 1.3 million achieved in 2016 resulted from the scheduled closing of a tyre warehouse at the end of fiscal 2015.

Marketing. In the reporting period, costs for advertising totalled € 26.0 million, after € 27.2 million in 2015. This represents a marketing expense ratio (marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues) of 4.3 % (2015: 4.9 %).

Financial and Legal. Expenses for finance and legal fees amounted to € 4.8 million in the period under review (2015: € 4.1 million). The increase of € 0.8 million or 19.6 % essentially resulted from non-recurrent costs of € 0.6 million for legal and consultancy fees in connection with acquiring the efood and logistics companies.

EBITDA. EBITDA for the reporting period increased from € 14.3 million to € 15.1 million. The 5.5 % rise resulted principally from the cost savings achieved in marketing expenses and rents that served to compensate for the higher level of revenue and volumeinduced costs. The EBITDA margin for the fiscal year stood at 2.5 % (2015: 2.6 %). Excluding non-recurrent costs of € 0.6 million for legal and consultancy fees incurred in connection with the acquisition in February 2016, full-year EBITDA would have been proportionately higher.

Depreciation. Depreciation for 2016 fell by 9.6 % from € 8.7 million to € 7.8 million. The decline of € 0.8 million resulted mainly from the non-recurrence of impairment writedowns: In preparation for the closure of a warehouse in 2015, Delticom applied an impairment loss of € 950 thousand to sorting and packaging machines deployed at this warehouse location.

The additional PPA depreciation on the aquired assets of the efood and logistics companies are fully compensated by PPA depreciation on sales and similar rights from Tirendo ceased at the end of fiscal 2015.

EBIT. EBIT increased in the reporting period due to lower depreciation by +28.9 % to € 7.2 million (2015: € 5.6 million). This equates to an EBIT margin of 1.2 % (2015: 1.0 %).

Income taxes. In 2016 the expenditure for income taxes was € 2.1 million (2015: € 1.8 million). This equates to a tax rate of 32.5 % (2015: 35.1 %).

Consolidated net income. Consolidated net income for 2016 rose from € 3.4 million to € 4.5 million. This corresponds to earnings per share (EPS) of € 0.36 (diluted and undiluted, 2015: € 0.28, +27.6 %).

Dividend. At Delticom's Annual General Meeting on 02.07.2017, the Management Board and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of € 0.50 per share – unchanged compared to the dividend for financial year 2015 of € 0.50 per share.

Inventories. Among the current assets, inventories is the biggest line item. Since the beginning of the year their value went up by € 0.9 million to € 62.7 million (31.12.2015: € 61.8 million). The slight increase is mainly attributable to the additional stocks in the small item warehouse, including those of Gourmondo. At the onset of the winter quarter the inventory value totalled € 97.5 million, € 2.1 million lower than the previous year’s figure of € 99.5 million. Despite mild weather conditions we were able to sell most of the tyres bought in the preceding quarters.

Liquidity. Cash and cash equivalents registered net outflows of € 4.8 million. On 31.12.2016 liquidity totalled € 6.7 million (prior year: € 11.5 million). Owing to the seasonal nature and the payment terms and conditions in tyre retailing, liquidity is subject to significant fluctuations over the course of the year. Delticom Group had cash and cash equivalents of € 60 million at the seasonal peak of business in 2016.

Financial liabilities. During the reporting period, Delticom reduced long-term financial liabilities of € 3.8 million to 7.2 million (31.12.2015: € 10.9 million). The increase of financial liabilities of € 4.8 million to € 19.9 million (31.12.2015: € 15.1 million) is a result of the use of short-term credit lines as of the balance sheet day. The comparatively low proportion of interest-bearing financial liabilities in the total assets (31.12.2016: 11.0 %, 31.12.2015: 9.4 %) underscores the company’s strong internal financing capability. Delticom did not enter into any long-term borrowing following the acquisition.

Outlook.

For the current business year, the Delticom group anticipates full year sales of € 650 million, accompanied by an increase in EBITDA to at least € 16 million. At the present time, there is still uncertainty regarding the development of the European replacement tyre markets in the current year. We are planning an increase in group sales for the current year of more than 7 % com-pared to the previous year. Irrespective of additional costs for expanding new areas of business, the company plans to maintain the EBITDA margin at last year's level.

Against the backdrop of the steadily increasing popularity of the Internet as a retail channel, Delticom will also benefit from the steadily increasing E-Commerce trend in the medium term. The expansion of our product range and the launch of new online shops in other countries, combined with our many years of E-Commerce distribution competence, offer further potential for growth in future.

The full report for fiscal year 2016 stands ready for download within the "Investor Rela-tions" section of the website www.delti.com.