DGAP-News: Leifheit AG: Brand business is growing thanks to demand from abroad (english)

Leifheit AG: Brand business is growing thanks to demand from abroadDGAP-News: Leifheit AG / Key word(s): Interim Report/Quarter ResultsLeifheit AG: Brand business is growing thanks to demand from abroad08.11.2012 / 08:37———————————————————————Leifheit AG: Brand business is growing thanks to demand from abroad – Group turnover is EUR 164,0 million after nine months – EBIT improved by 9.4% compared to the previous year – Significant operating result growth planned for 2012The Quarterly Financial Report of Leifheit AG dated 30 September 2012 showsdivergent business development in the two segments Brand Business andVolume Business. Whereas it was possible to achieve the targeted growth inthe Brand business, turnover in the lower-margin Volume business remainedbelow the previous year’s value. The Group turnover of Leifheit AG afternine months was EUR 164,0 million overall and was therefore 0.5% below theprevious year’s value of EUR 164.8 million. On the other hand, Leifheitachieved an increase of 9.4% to EUR 7.7 million in the operating result(EBIT). Net profit for the period declined from EUR 6,0 m to EUR 5.2million due to tax.’The turnover trend for the first nine months still manifests therepercussions of the weak first six months that were affected by thecontinuing difficult sales situation in Southern European countries and theweak Project Business in the USA. The stable third quarter was not able tocompensate for this,’ said Georg Thaller, Chairman of the Board of LeifheitAG. The third quarter delivered a turnover for Leifheit at the previousyear’s level of EUR 53.5 million.Overseas markets are the growth drivers in the Brand BusinessThe overseas markets were the crucial growth drivers in the Brand Businessdespite large regional differences. The trend in Eastern Europe and Asiawas very pleasing. In Central Europe, good growth rates were achieved inFrance, the Netherlands and Switzerland. On the other hand, the consumersreluctance in Southern Europe had a detrimental effect on business.The domestic market in Germany also declined slightly compared to theprevious year. Overall, Leifheit achieved a solid plus of 2.1% in the BrandBusiness from January to September 2012 with a turnover of EUR 132,0million.The Volume Business, where Leifheit achieved sales primarily in France andthe USA, was weaker in both these countries and in Germany than theprevious year. The report for the first nine months of the currentfinancial year, therefore, shows a decline in turnover in the VolumeBusiness of 10.1% to EUR 32,0 million. Its share in the total turnoverdropped accordingly to 19.5%.Leifheit expects significant EBIT growth for 2012’Due to the continuing precarious situation in Southern Europe, we haveadjusted our regional focus as part of our corporate strategy and we areconcentrating more on Eastern Europe and selected markets in Asia. We alsosee significant growth potential in e-commerce’, explained Thaller. Leifheit expects a slight increase in turnover at Group level for the wholeof 2012 compared to the previous year. The Brand Business with solid growthand stable margins forms the basis for this development. The sales forecastassumes that the business parameters and the trends in the principalmarkets do not deteriorate substantially in the fourth quarter.The company still expects an overproportional increase in the operatingresult in the 2012 financial year of at least 10% in relation to theadjusted EBIT.About LeifheitFormed in 1959, Leifheit AG is one of the leading European suppliers ofbranded household items. The Company is a byword for high qualityinnovative products with high consumer benefit and pioneering design in thecore areas of Cleaning, Laundry care, Kitchen and Wellbeing. Leifheit, DrOetker Bakeware and Soehnle are among the best-known German brands. Besidesits Brand Business segment, Leifheit AG is active in the service-orientedVolume Business segment through its French subsidiaries Birambeau andHerby. With its international branches, the Leifheit Group has around 1,000employees.Additional information can be found in the Quarterly Financial Report dated30 September 2012 and by visitinghttp://www.leifheit.de/de/investor-relations/publications/financialreports.htmlContact:Leifheit AGD-56377 +49 2604 977218End of Corporate News———————————————————————08.11.2012 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – acompany of EquityStory AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.DGAP’s Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de———————————————————————Language: English Company: Leifheit AG Leifheitstraße 56377 Nassau Germany Phone: 02604 977-0 Fax: 02604 977-340 E-mail: Internet: www.leifheit.com ISIN: DE0006464506 WKN: 646450 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ——————————————————————— 192155 08.11.2012Weitere Informationen: www.dpa-AFX.de