EANS-Adhoc: adidas Group announces preliminary first quarter 2012 results, commercial irregularities at Reebok India Company and increased 2012 financial outlook
30.04.2012 – 07:32
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preliminary first quarter 2012 results 30.04.2012 Herzogenaurach - Management is providing preliminary first quarter figures which are materially above market expectations. In the first quarter of 2012, adidas Group revenues increased 14% on a currency-neutral basis or 17% in euro terms to EUR 3.8 billion. Growth rates in Greater China and Japan as well as at TaylorMade-adidas Golf were stronger than originally anticipated. Despite a 0.7 percentage points decline in the Group's gross margin to 47.7%, Group operating margin improved 1.1 percentage points to 10.7%. In absolute terms, Group operating profit grew 30% to EUR 409 million. Due to lower financial expenses and a lower tax rate, the Group's net income attributable to shareholders increased 38% to EUR 289 million. In addition, Management also announces that commercial irregularities discovered at Reebok India Company, in India, will likely affect the consolidated financial statements of the adidas Group. The currently estimated maximum negative impact could be up to a pre-tax amount of EUR 125 million. Due to the sensitivity of the on-going investigation, specific details will be disclosed as appropriate in due course. As these irregularities have been deemed to have occurred prior to the 2012 financial year, the adidas Group might have to restate prior-year consolidated financial statements in line with the requirements of IAS 8. The financial statements of adidas AG will not be affected by this issue. Management assures its stakeholders that it has, and will continue to, vigorously pursue a course of action to protect the Group's interests, which has already resulted in the appointment of a new local leadership team in India at the end of March. Under this new leadership team, Management is further planning an accelerated restructuring of its business activities in India, including significant changes to its commercial business practices. This could lead to additional one-time charges in the remaining quarters of 2012 in an estimated amount of up to EUR 70 million. Taking into account the stronger than expected first quarter financial performance, the continuing strong momentum of the Group's brands in key markets, as well as the impacts from potential one-time charges for 2012, Management is updating its financial forecasts for the full year accordingly. Group sales for the full year are now expected to grow at a rate approaching 10% on a currency-neutral basis (previously: mid- to high-single-digit). Net income attributable to shareholders is expected to increase at a rate between 12% and 17% (previously: between 10% and 15%). Further inquiry note: Christian Stoehr Investor Relations Manager Tel.: +49 (0) 9132 84-4989 Email: Christian.Stoehr@adidas-group.com end of announcement euro adhoc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- issuer: adidas AG Adi-Dassler-Str. 1 D-91074 Herzogenaurach phone: +49 (0)9132 84-0 FAX: +49 (0)9132 84-2241 mail: investor.relations@adidas-Group.com WWW: http://www.adidas-Group.de sector: Recreational & Sports goods ISIN: DE000A1EWWW0 indexes: DAX, CDAX, HDAX, Prime All Share stockmarkets: free trade: Hannover, Berlin, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt language: English