KappAhl: Interim Report

Report for First Quarter 2012/2013

Increased sales and strong gross margin

  • women’s assortment back at a good sales level

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--()--Regulatory News:

 

Quarter 1 (SEP-NOV)

   

2012/2013

2011/2012

Change

Net sales, SEK million 1 245 1 193 52
Operating profit excluding capital gain on real property, SEK million 104 16 88
Operating profit/loss, SEK million 181 16 165
Gross profit margin, % 63,3 58,4
Operating margin excluding capital gain, % 8,3 1,3
Profit after tax, SEK million 115 -11 126
Earnings per share, SEK (Note 1) 0,51 -0,04
Cash flow from operating activities, SEK million 79 30 49
  • Net sales increased by 4.4 per cent for the quarter. Of this, the increase in comparable stores was 3.0 per cent.
  • Gross margin improved by 4.9 percentage points.
  • Costs increased marginally, despite 14 more stores.
  • Sale of real property led to a capital gain of SEK 77 million.
  • Equity/assets ratio increased to 40.8 per cent, including the rights issue approved by the Annual General Meeting.

“It’s a little too early to say this is a new positive trend for the company but it’s quite clear there are strong signals indicating we are on the right path.” Johan Åberg, President and CEO. Read the full CEO statement in the enclosed report.

There will be a telephone conference and webcast for analysts, media and investors today at 9.00. To participate in the conference call +44 203 364 5371 about 5 minutes before the start. The telephone conference can also be followed via a webcast at www.kappahl.com/presentations, where the webcast will be saved for later viewing.

The information in this interim report is disclosed by KappAhl AB (publ) pursuant to the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication on 16 January 2013 at 07.30 a.m.

KappAhl was established in 1953 and is a leading fashion chain soon with 400 stores and 4 500 employees in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic. KappAhl sells value-for-money fashion with a wide appeal – to women, men and children – and focuses in particular on women aged 30-50 with families. All clothes are from our own designers. KappAhl was the first fashion chain to achieve environmental certification in 1999. In the 2011/2012 financial year KappAhl's net sales were SEK 4.6 billion. KappAhl is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. More information can be found at www.kappahl.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com

Contacts

KappAhl
For further information:

President and CEO
Johan Åberg, +46 706 09 99 73
or
CFO
Håkan Westin, +46 704 71 56 64
or
For pictures and other information:
Head of Public Relations
Annette Björklund, +46 704 71 55 42
annette.bjorklund@kappahl.com

Contacts

KappAhl
For further information:

President and CEO
Johan Åberg, +46 706 09 99 73
or
CFO
Håkan Westin, +46 704 71 56 64
or
For pictures and other information:
Head of Public Relations
Annette Björklund, +46 704 71 55 42
annette.bjorklund@kappahl.com