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Wolford Aktiengesellschaft

EANS-News: Wolford Aktiengesellschaft
Visible success of restructuring program ? free cash flow now positive again

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  Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
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•	Loss reduced by more than a third 
•	Successful capital increase boosts equity base 
•	Key focus on digitization and internationalization 

Annual Reports

Bregenz - Wolford AG, which is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, today
published its annual financial statements for the 2017/18 financial year (May
2017 to April 2018). The Wolford Group's revenues fell by 3.4% to EUR 149.07
million in the 2017/18 financial year. Adjusted for currency items, the downturn
in revenues came to 1.4%. Given the systematic reduction in current expenses,
operating earnings (EBIT) rose by EUR 6.5 million to EUR -9.22 million, while
the annual loss after tax amounted to EUR -11.54 million, as against EUR -17.88
million in the previous year.

Past financial year with key focus on restructuring / significant reduction in
fixed costs

Within the company's extensive restructuring program, personnel expenses fell by
EUR 6.35 million to EUR 68.86 million. In the past financial year, Wolford
significantly streamlined and enhanced the efficiency of its processes while
systematically reducing excess capacities. Among other measures, the company
integrated production into supply chain management, streamlined its logistics
processes, and optimized deployment planning at its boutiques. As a result, the
average number of employees (full-time equivalents) fell by 111 to 1,433 in the
2017/18 financial year (previous year's average: 1,544 FTE employees). The
company stands to benefit from the corresponding cost savings on a sustainable
basis. Other operating expenses also decreased in the past financial year, in
this case from EUR 57.49 million to EUR 55.64 million, with particularly marked
year-on-year reductions in customs duties (-39%), travel expenses (-16%),
freight charges (-15%), insurance premiums (-10%), and rental expenses (-6%).

Free cash flow positive for the first time in 5 years

At EUR 1.83 million, the free cash flow was significantly higher than in the
previous year (EUR -9.45 million). This was mainly due to the successful
reduction in working capital and the improved loss after tax.

Successful capital increase boosts financial structure

The capital increase resolved by the extraordinary shareholders' meeting on May
4, 2018 was successfully completed on July 11, 2018. As a result, Wolford AG
will receive fresh equity of around EUR 22 million. This will substantially
boost the company's equity, with the equity ratio set to rise to around 46%.

Key focus on digitization and internationalization in current financial year

Wolford will be investing above all in digitizing its business in the current
financial year, and especially in expanding its online business and digital
marketing aimed at younger target groups. This also includes the planned
expansion in the company's cooperation with global and national online retail
partners. Wolford plans to systematically expand its business in Asia. The
management will be relying on local distributors (master franchise partners) for
its entry into the Japanese market. The company is still planning its marketing
strategy for China and is being assisted here by Fosun, its new principal
shareholder.

Outlook confirmed

In the past financial year, the management laid important foundations enabling
the company to regain profitability on an operating level (EBIT). Personnel
expenses alone were sustainably reduced by EUR 6.35 million in the 2017/18
financial year. Not only that, the one-off expenses incurred in connection with
the restructuring program will no longer apply in future. In the current
financial year, customers will notice the realignment of the company's branding
and enjoy an enhanced shopping experience.

The 2017/18 Annual Report can be viewed and downloaded in the Investor Relations
section of the company's website at:company.wolford.com.
http://company.wolford.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Annual_Report_2017_18.pdf
[http://company.wolford.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/
Annual_Report_2017_18.pdf]

Earnings Data                           2017/18         2016/17           Vdg. %
Revenues           in EUR mill.          149.07          154.28               -3
EBIT               in EUR mill.           -9.22          -15.72              -41
Revenues before    in EUR mill.          -11.43          -16.57              -31
tax
Revenues after     in EUR mill.          -11.54          -17.88              -36
tax
Capital            in EUR mill.            1.40            6.72              -79
expenditure
Free Cashflow      in EUR mill.            1.83           -9.45             >100
Employees on                FTE           1,433           1,544               -7
average



Balance Sheet                        30.04.2018      30.04.2017           Vdg. %
Data
Equity             in EUR mill.           33.90           44.88              -25
Net dept           in EUR mill.           30.09           31.27               -4
Working Capital    in EUR mill.           34.59           45.73              -24
Balance sheet      in EUR mill.          114.33          138.39              -17
total
Equity ratio               in %              30              32               -9
Gearing                    in %              89              70               27



Stock Exchange                          2017/18         2016/17           Vdg. %
Data
Earnings per             in EUR           -2.35           -3.64              -35
share
Share price              in EUR           19.75           26.01              -24
high
Share price low          in EUR           11.36           19.10              -41
Share price at
the end of               in EUR           13.60           19.28              -30
period
Shares
outstanding             in Tsd.           4,912           4,912                0
(weighted)
Market
capitalization   in EUR mill.             68.00           96.38              -29
(ultimo)




Further inquiry note:
Wolford AG
Maresa Hoffmann
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Tel.: +43 5574 690 1258 
investor@wolford.com | company.wolford.com

end of announcement                         euro adhoc
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issuer:       Wolford Aktiengesellschaft
              Wolfordstrasse 1
              A-6900 Bregenz
phone:        +43(0) 5574 690-1268
FAX:          +43(0) 5574 690-1219
mail:          investor@wolford.com
WWW:          http://company.wolford.com
ISIN:         AT0000834007
indexes:      ATX GP
stockmarkets: Wien, Frankfurt, New York
language:     English

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