EQS-News: Delticom publishes Q3 business development

Delticom publishes Q3 business development

Hanover, November 10, 2022 – Delticom AG (German Securities Code (WKN) 514680, ISIN DE0005146807, stock market symbol DEX), Europe's leading online retailer for tyres and complete wheels, publishes the key points of its business trends in the first nine months 2022 with this interim announcement. 

• Q3 2022 revenues in core business: € 119 million (+10.6 % yoy), 9M 2022: € 338.3 million (+5.2 % yoy)
• EBITDA 9M 2022: € 7.7 million, operating EBITDA: € 7.1 million
• Negative currency effect and severance payments have a negative impact on earnings in Q3 2022
• Full-year guidance confirmed

Market environment. Although the consumer climate according to the Society for Consumer Research (GfK) in October has ended its crash of the last few months for the time being, consumer sentiment in this country remains very tense according to the experts. The current high inflation rate of 10 % - primarily driven by higher energy prices - is leading to a significant reduction in consumer purchasing power and consequently to the postponement of larger purchases, for example.

This also had an impact on German online trade. According to the German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association (bevh), revenues for goods in e-commerce fell by 10.8 % to € 19.8 billion in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the corresponding period of last year. Cumulatively for the first nine months of 2022, revenues were 4.4 % lower than in the same period of the previous year.

With regard to the European replacement tyre market, market data from the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturer's Association (ETRMA) for the tyre industry show that in the largest sub-segment by volume, consumer tyres (passenger, SUV and light truck tyres), 9 % fewer tyres were sold in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the corresponding period in 2021. The summer tyre business (-19 %), the all-season tyre business (-5 %) as well as the winter tyre business (-7 %) recorded a decrease in sales. Cumulative sales for the first nine months of 2022 were 1 % higher than in the same period of the previous year.

Sale of the US business. Delticom AG sold its 75 % shares in Delticom North America Inc. at the beginning of the current fiscal year. The business development adjusted for the US business is referred to as “core business” in the following.

Revenues. The macroeconomic developments did not remain without consequences for the business of the Delticom Group. Revenues for the first nine months amounted to € 338.3 million, compared to € 376.2 million in the previous year. Last year, the US subsidiary contributed around € 55 million to group revenues in the first nine months. Accordingly, revenues in the core business at the end of the first nine months is 5.2 % above the previous year.

In Q3 2022, the Delticom Group generated revenues of € 119 million. The US subsidiary contributed around € 20 million to last year's Q3 revenues of € 127 million. In the third quarter, Delticom Group's revenues in its core business were up 11 % year-on-year.

Weaker end customer demand was cushioned by stronger demand in business with commercial customers. Inflationary price developments contributed significantly to the development of revenues in the past months.

Other operating income. Other operating income for the period under review amounted to € 23.3 million (9M 2021: € 22.9 million). In addition to the income from the sale of the US subsidiary in the amount of € 3.4 million, it includes income from exchange rate differences in the amount of € 6.2 million after € 2.8 million in the previous year. The currency gains were offset by exchange rate losses. The balance of currency gains and losses for the first nine months of 2022 amounts to € -0.8 million (9M 2021: € 0.6 million).

In the third quarter, other operating income of € 4 million was generated, a year-on-year reduction of € 2.4 million (Q3 2021: € 6.4 million). The year-on-year decrease in other operating income was mainly due to the reallocation of bonuses retroactively received to cost of sales. In the previous year's comparison, such a reallocation only became necessary in the final quarter. The balance of currency gains and losses for Q3 2022 amounts to € -0.8 million (Q3 2021: € 0.2 million).

Gross margin. The cost of goods sold (COGS) is the largest expense item; it considers the pur-chase price of sold products. It amounted to € 266.1 million in the period under review (9M 2021: € 293.4 million). The gross margin is 21.4 % (9M 2021: 22.0 %, core business: 22.3 %). The year-on-year decrease is mainly due to the change in the sales mix.

For the third quarter, the gross margin of 21.6 % is above the gross margin of the core business in the same quarter of the previous year of 20.6 % (Q3 2021 Group incl. USA: 20.3 %). This positive margin effect results exclusively from the reallocation in the area of other operating income.

Gross profit. The gross profit for the first nine months of the current fiscal year amounts to € 95.5 million (9M 2021: € 105.7 million). Last year, the gross profit for the core business amounted to € 94.6 million. The gross profit in relation to total income amounts to 26.4 % (9M 2021: 26.5 %, core business 27.5 %). 

When looking at the gross profit for the third quarter, the effect from the reallocation of the subsequently received bonuses to cost of sales is eliminated. Gross profit amounts to € 29.6 million in Q3 2022 (Q3 2021: € 32.2 million, core business: € 28.5 million). This corresponds to a gross profit margin in relation to total income of 24.2 % (Q3 2021: 24.1 %, core business: 25.1 %). In addition to the sales mix, the delayed start of the season in the high-margin winter business with private end customers has led to a decreasing margin development.

Transport costs. Transport costs amounted to € 26.4 million in the first nine months (9M 2021: € 34.3 million, core business € 28.8 million). The decrease of € 2.4 million in the core business is partly due to weaker demand in the end customer business. The shortening of delivery distances in connection with the new warehouse location opened last year is helping to cushion the rising costs in the area of transport logistics.

Personnel expenses. As of September 30, 2022, the Group employed a total of 193 people (September 30, 2021: 175). The year-on-year increase is largely due to the repurchase of all shares in Extor GmbH.

For the first nine months, personnel expenses amount to € 10.8 million (9M 2021: € 10.4 million). For the third quarter, personnel expenses of € 3.7 million are above the previous year (Q3 2021: € 3.4 million). The increase is mainly due to severance payments.

Marketing. At € 9.0 million, marketing expenses in the first nine months were below the previous year (9M 2021: € 11.9 million, core business: € 9.4 million). In the core business, € 0.4 million less was spent on marketing compared to the previous year. For the third quarter, marketing expenses amounted to € 2.8 million (Q3 2021: € 3.0 million, core business: € 2.2 million). In the core business, marketing expenses were increased by € 0.6 million in the third quarter in a controlled manner to boost the start into the winter season.

Warehousing. The inventory costs increased from € 6.7 million in the previous year to € 8.6 million. The increase is mainly due to the opening of the new warehouse location last year. The warehouse was gradually ramped up last year and the shipping volumes gradually increased in the course of 2021.

Financial and Legal. Finance and legal expenses for 9M 2022 amount to € 5.3 million (9M 2021: € 8.0 million). The decrease is mainly due to the completion of the restructuring last year and the discontinuation of the costs incurred in this context. This year, the costs of the syndicated loan agreement are running against the savings.

EBITDA. EBITDA for the reporting period amounts to € 7.7 million after € 10.8 million in the previous year (core business: € 10.5 million). The negative currency effect contributed € 1.4 million to this development compared to the previous year. The operating EBITDA for the first nine months amounts to € 7.1 million.

At € -1.2 million, EBITDA in the third quarter is significantly below the previous year (Q3 2021: € 2.8 million). In addition to the decrease in the gross profit margin in the quarter and the negative currency effect, severance payments, agency commissions in connection with the subleasing of warehouse space and increased marketing expenses burdened EBITDA in the third quarter.

Depreciation. Depreciation for 9M 2022 amounts to € 6.7 million after a previous year's value of € 7.8 million (-13.6 %).

EBIT. At the end of the first nine months, the EBIT amounts to € 1.0 million after € 3.1 million in the previous year. For the third quarter, the EBIT of € -3.3 million is significantly lower than in the same quarter of the previous year (Q3 2021: € +0.3 million).

Net income. At € 0.3 million, the net income for the first nine months is € 0.5 million lower than in the previous year (€ 0.8 million). Due to a positive tax result of € 1.3 million in the third quarter, the deterioration of the net income from € -0.3 million in Q3 2021 to € -2.5 million in Q3 2022 is less significant than the decrease in EBIT. 

Working Capital. The largest item in current assets is inventories. As of the balance sheet date September 30, 2022, inventories amounted to € 98.0 million. The increase of € 6.1 million compared to the reporting date (30.09.2021: € 91.9 million) is mainly due to the delayed seasonal start and the inflationary price development. Trade receivables were € 9.6 million higher at € 32.4 million as of the reporting date (30.09.2021: € 22.8 million). Trade payables amounted to € 130.0 million as at of the balance sheet date (30.09.2021: € 111.5 million). 

Outlook. The management confirms the full-year forecast of revenues in a range of € 480-520 million and an operating EBITDA of € 12-15 million. The fourth quarter will play a central role in terms of profitability for the year as a whole.

The organisation has initiated a comprehensive work programme for the finance department with the aim of optimising the efficiency of the commercial-administrative processes in the back-office functions. The finance team is receiving external support in this process. Due to the associated consulting costs, the severance payments made in the third quarter and the costs in connection with the full consolidation of Extor GmbH, it cannot be ruled out at this point that, if the upper revenues corridor is reached, the operating EBITDA will not automatically be at the upper end of the forecast range.

About Delticom:

With the brand Reifendirekt, Delticom AG is the leading company in Europe for the online distribution of tyres and complete wheels.

The product portfolio for private and business customers comprises an unparalleled range of more than 600 brands and around 40,000 tyre models for cars and motorcycles. Complete wheels and rims complete the product range. The company operates 270 online shops and online distribution platforms in 72 countries, serving around 18 million customers.

As part of the service, the ordered products can be sent to one of Delticom's around 34,000 partner garages in Europe for mounting at the customer's request.

Based in Hanover, Germany, the company operates primarily in Europe and has extensive expertise in the development and operation of online shops, internet customer acquisition, internet marketing and the establishment of partner networks.

Since its foundation in 1999, Delticom has built up comprehensive expertise in designing efficient and fully integrated ordering and logistics processes. The company's own warehouses are among its most important assets.

In fiscal year 2021, Delticom AG generated revenues of around 585 million euros. At the end of last year, the company employed 174 people.

Delticom AG shares have been listed in the Prime Standard of Deutsche Börse since October 2006 (ISIN DE0005146807).

On the internet at: www.delti.com

Contact:

Delticom AG

Investor Relations

Melanie Becker

Brühlstraße 11

30169 Hannover

Phone: +49 (0)511-93634-8903

Fax: +49 (0)511-8798-9138

Email: [email protected]