Beter Bed: EBITDA increases by 21.3% in fourth quarter

Fourth quarter

• Net revenue increased by 3.4% to € 102.9 million (like-for-like: +2.2%).
• EBITDA increased from € 12.8 million to approximately € 15.5 million (+21.3%).
• EBIT increased from € 10.5 million to approximately € 12.7 million (+20.2%).
  

2015

• Net revenue increased by 5.9% to € 385.4 million (like-for-like: +5.4%).
• EBITDA increased from € 31.3 million to approximately € 41.1 million (+31.4%).
• EBIT increased from € 23.0 million to approximately € 30.7 million (+ 33.2%).  

The positive revenue trend seen in the previous quarters continued unabatedly in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Spain in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Revenue in Germany was down by 1.6% in the fourth quarter due to a strong comparative basis in 2014 (like-for-like growth in revenue Q4 2014: 11.5%). Revenue at comparable stores in Germany declined by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Over 2015 as a whole, growth in revenue in Germany was 4.5% (like-for-like: +3.8%).

Revenue in the Netherlands was up 7.0% in the fourth quarter, due in part to an improving market and also to improvements introduced to the Beter Bed concept. Revenue at comparable stores was up 17.7% in the fourth quarter. Over 2015 as a whole, revenue in the Netherlands rose 5.5%. On a like-for-like basis, growth in revenue in the Netherlands was 10.9%.

Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium registered growth in revenue of 30.2%, 13.8%, 4.5% and 17.2% respectively in the fourth quarter. In Austria this was caused by the acquisition of BettenMax. Over 2015 as a whole, growth in revenue in these countries amounted to 15.4%, 10.2%, 8.4% and 28.8% respectively.

At year-end 2015, the total number of stores stood at 1,159. On balance, 32 stores were opened in 2015. The average number of stores declined by 1.5%. Most of the store openings took place in the fourth quarter. The number of stores increased by 24 in the fourth quarter of 2015 as a result of the acquisition of BettenMax (18 stores) and store openings in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain.

Forecast for operating profit in 2015
EBITDA rose from € 12.8 million to approximately € 15.5 million in the fourth quarter. Over the whole of 2015, EBITDA is expected to amount to approximately € 41.1 million. This is an increase of € 9.8 million (+ 31.4%) in comparison to 2014.

As a result of the higher revenue, the operating profit in the fourth quarter rose from € 10.5 million to approximately € 12.7 million. The operating profit for the whole of 2015 is expected to amount to approximately € 30.7 million. This is an increase of € 7.7 million (+33.2%) in comparison to 2014.

The final figures for 2015 will be published on 11 March 2016. The results stated in this press release have not been audited.

Profile
Beter Bed Holding is a European retail organisation that strives to offer its customers a comfortable and healthy night's rest every night at an affordable price. The company does this via stores and its own webshops through the formulas:

• Matratzen Concord, located in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
• Beter Bed, located in the Netherlands and Belgium.
• Beddenreus, located in the Netherlands.
• El Gigante del Colchón, located in Spain.
• Literie Concorde, located in France.

The retail formulas ensure products of good quality, offer better advice than their competitors and always offer the best possible deal.
               
Beter Bed Holding is also active as a wholesaler of branded products in the bedroom furnishing sector via its subsidiary DBC International. The international brand M Line is sold in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and France.

In 2015, the company achieved net revenue of € 385.4 million with a total of 1,159 stores. 70.1% of this figure was realised outside the Netherlands.

Beter Bed Holding N.V. is a listed company and its shares have been included in the AScX Index of Euronext Amsterdam since December 1996.

For more information:

Click for the Pdf version of the press release on the link below.