Wrap Text
Richemont reports five months sales at annual general meeting
Richemont Securities SA
(Incorporated in Switzerland)
Share code: CFR
ISIN: CH0045159024
(Richemont)
COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5 SEPTEMBER 2012
RICHEMONT REPORTS FIVE MONTHS SALES AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Ahead of its Annual General Meeting to be held later today in Geneva, Richemont announces that its sales for the five months ended 31 August 2012 increased by 23 % at actual exchange rates. At constant exchange rates, sales increased by 13 %.
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
| |Change at |Change at |
| |constant exchange rates|actual exchange rates|
| |versus prior year |versus prior year |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Sales by region | | |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Europe |+ 19 % |+ 23 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Asia-Pacific |+ 12 % |+ 27 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Americas |+ 6 % |+ 19 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Japan |+ 4 % |+ 19 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Sales by | | |
|distribution channel | | |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Retail |+ 15 % |+ 27 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Wholesale |+ 10 % |+ 20 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Sales by business area| | |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Jewellery Maisons |+ 12 % |+ 23 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Specialist Watchmakers|+ 16 % |+ 26 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Montblanc Maison |+ 4 % |+ 12 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Other |+ 15 % |+ 26 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
|Total |+ 13 % |+ 23 % |
+----------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+
Sales analysis shows continued positive momentum across regions. Europe was strong, particularly in the retail channel in major tourist destinations. Demand in the Asia-Pacific region remained solid after two years of exceptionally high growth. Sales growth in the Americas slowed to 6 % on a constant currency basis, partly due to the timing of exceptional sales in the comparative period. Japan showed resilience.
Retail sales growth was again higher than wholesale sales, reflecting a good performance in the Maisons existing boutiques as well as the opening of new boutiques, notably in the Asia-Pacific region.
All business areas enjoyed double-digit growth in sales, with the exception of the Montblanc Maison which did not benefit as greatly from tourist destinations.
Sales growth over the five-month period to August was 13 % at constant exchange rates or 23 % at actual rates. The weakening of the euro against the dollar, in particular, had a positive impact on the Groups reported sales.
Mr Johann Rupert, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, will comment at todays meeting as follows:
Underlying sales in the five month period advanced by 13 %. This average includes a declining month-on-month rate of growth. Nevertheless, the average represents a strong performance when measured against the 35 % growth seen in the comparative period last year.
We can confirm that operating profit for the six months should be some 20 to 40 % higher than last year, as was anticipated in the announcement made on 6 August.
The increase in net profit for the six-month period is also likely to be in that range, notwithstanding the impact of a number of factors, including mark-to-market adjustments in terms of the Groups foreign exchange hedging programme. Such adjustments will only be determined at the end of September.
The prevailing economic uncertainties, the moderation in sales growth since May and the very strong basis of comparison do not prevent us from maintaining our ambitious investment programme. Indeed we remain confident in the long term potential of our Maisons.
Richemonts interim results for the six-month period to 30 September 2012 will be released on 9 November 2012.
Internet: www.richemont.com (http://www.richemont.com/)
Press enquiries Analysts' enquiries
Alan Grieve Sophie Cagnard
Director of Corporate Affairs Head of Investor Relations
Tel: +41 22 721 3507 Tel: +33 1 58 18 25 97
E-mail: pressoffice@cfrinfo.net E-mail: investor.relations@cfrinfo.net
Richemont owns a portfolio of leading international brands or Maisons which are managed independently of one another, recognising their individuality and uniqueness. The businesses operate in four areas: Jewellery Maisons, being Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist watchmakers, being Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, IWC, Baume & Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, Officine Panerai, A. Lange & Söhne and Roger Dubuis, as well as the Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry joint venture; Montblanc Maison; and Other, being Alfred Dunhill, Chloé, Lancel and Net-a-Porter as well as other smaller Maisons and watch component manufacturing activities for third parties.
For its financial year ended 31 March 2012, Richemont reported sales of Euro 8 867 million. Operating profit for the year amounted to Euro 2 040 million.
05 September 2012
Merchant bank and sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)
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