RALLYE : 2011 Annual results
03/09/2012| 02:05am US/Eastern

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Very high sales growth for Casino in 2011 (+18.2%) and strong
increase in current operating income (+19.1%), as a result of a growth
profile reinforced in buoyant countries and formats
Rise of Rallye's stake in Casino and lengthening of the average
maturity of confirmed credit lines
Regulatory News:
The Board of Directors of Rallye (Paris:RAL), chaired by Jean-Charles
NAOURI, met on March 8, 2012 in order to approve the accounts for the
year ended December 31, 2011.
The Statutory Auditors have completed their audit and are in the process
of issuing their report.
2011 RESULTS
Consolidated data
|
(In ?m)
|
|
2010(2)
|
|
2011
|
|
Change
|
|
|
Net sales from continuing operations
|
|
29,780
|
|
35,057
|
|
+17.7%
|
|
|
EBITDA (1)
|
|
1,965
|
|
2,315
|
|
+17.8%
|
|
|
Current operating income
|
|
1,286
|
|
1,551
|
|
+20.6%
|
|
|
Cost of net financial debt
|
|
-552
|
|
-676
|
|
|
|
|
Other financial income and expenses
|
|
-16
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax
|
|
-210
|
|
-234
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations
|
|
482
|
|
483
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from continuing operations, Group's share
|
|
4
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Net income from discontinued operations
|
|
-10
|
|
-11
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
472
|
|
472
|
|
|
|
|
Net income, Group's share
|
|
-1
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
(1) EBITDA = current operating income + current
depreciation and amortization expenses
(2) All
the published figures from 2010 financial statements have been restated
to reflect the definitive takeover of Casas Bahia by GPA
1. GROUP ACTIVITY
Rallye consolidated net sales reached ?35.1bn, up +17.7% compared with
2010. Current operating income improved by +20.6%, at ?1,551m. Net
income from continuing operations, Group's share, came at ?21m as of 31
December 2011, compared with ?4m at 31 December 2010.
Rallye's holding perimeter net financial debt as of December 31, 2011
reached ?2,849m compared to ?2,591m at year-end 2010, mainly due to the
acquisition in 2011 of 2.9m Casino shares, for a total amount of ?212m.
Rallye's investment portfolio at year-end 2011 was valued at ?365m, down
?70m from 31 December 2010. This evolution reflects:
-
Asset disposals for ?105m, including fifteen lines within the
financial investment portfolio and the Leto shopping center, located
in Saint-Petersburg
-
Net investments for ?12 m
-
An ongoing increase in the portfolio value, gaining ?24m in 2011,
after a gain of ?12m in 2010, attesting to the relevance of our
progressive disposal strategy aiming at maximizing the assets' sale
price
2. SUBSIDIARIES ACTIVITY
Casino: Very high sales growth
(+18.2%), mainly due to the acceleration of organic1
growth both in France and internationally; increase in current operating
income (+19.1%), increase in net underlying profit, group share (+6.8%)
and objective of ?1bn from asset disposals and capital increase met
In 2011, Casino net sales amounted to ?34.4m, up +18.2%. On an organic1
basis, Group sales growth accelerated in 2011 (+5.7% excluding
petrol) driven by further robust growth in International operations and
sound growth in sales in France.
In France, sales trend recovered in 2011, with organic1
growth at +2.6% (+1.4% excluding petrol), and Casino's market share
remained stable over the year. Géant Casino's same-store food sales
increased slightly, despite a soft consumption environment for this
format. Casino Supermarchés' total sales increased 1.6% (excluding
petrol). Total sales at superettes remained virtually stable in
comparison with 2010. Other operations (Cdiscount, Mercialys, Banque
Casino and Casino Restauration) maintained sustained sales growth (up
+8.5% in organic1 terms), driven by the excellent momentum of
Cdiscount (+14.3% in organic terms). The increase in sales of the
e-commerce site thus offset to a large extent the contraction in
non-food sales at Géant and therefore enabled the Group to post a total
rise of 2.6% in its full-year non-food sales (Géant + Cdiscount).
Same-store sales at Leader Price significantly recovered, with a 1.5%
increase. Total sales at Franprix and Monoprix respectively grew +8.6%
and +3% (excluding petrol).
International operations enjoyed very strong growth (+40.4%),
driven by their very satisfactory organic1 growth (+12.2%)
and significant changes in the consolidation scope (consolidation of the
former Carrefour operations in Thailand within Big C, consolidation of
Casas Bahia in Brazil and increase in Casino's stake in GPA). In Latin
America, sales grew +13.4% on an organic1 basis, driven by
the excellent GPA (+8.8%2) and Exito (+8.4%2)
same-store sales growth. Asia recorded a robust 11.3% growth in its
sales in organic1 terms, thanks to strong momentum in sales
in Vietnam and despite the impact of the floods in Thailand in Q4.
Current operating income was up +19.1%, reflecting the surge in current
operating income in international operations (+50.5%) as well as the
upturn in the profit margin in France in H2 (+13.3%). The contribution
of international operations to Casino's sales and current operating
income therefore increased significantly and came in at 45% and 52%,
respectively, versus 38% and 41% in 2010.
In 2011, Casino met its ?1 billion objective set for asset disposals and
capital increase. Net debt came in at ?5,379 million. The Net
debt/EBITDA ratio therefore stood at 2.35x at year-end 2011, taking into
account the postponement of Big C's capital increase in Thailand. The
project of an exceptional distribution announced on February 9, 2012 by
Mercialys when it unveiled its new strategy will significantly improve
the Group's financial flexibility.
Groupe GO Sport: A difficult 2011
year for Groupe Go Sport in a toneless market environment
Groupe GO Sport consolidated net sales reached ?680.4m in 2011, up +0.4%
on a same-store basis and at constant exchange rates.
Net sales of the GO Sport banner in France and in Poland
were down 1.7% and 3.1% on a same-store basis and at constant exchange
rates in 2011. However, Courir same-store sales strongly
increased in 2011, up +8.9% (after 3.6% in 2010), confirming the success
of the banner's repositioning.
Groupe GO Sport EBITDA and current operating income respectively
amounted to ?8.6m and ?-12.1m, down compared with 2010, mainly due to
the disappointing performance of high-margin seasonal goods.
1 Based on a comparable scope of consolidation and constant
exchange rates, excluding the impact of property assets disposals
2
Data published by companies
3. CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES
-
A portfolio of assets with strong fundamentals for Rallye
-
Casino, with a transformed profile, will continue to implement
its profitable growth strategy.
In 2012, more than 50% of revenue and of trading profit will come from
high-growth countries
-
The Group intends to exercise in June 2012 its option enabling it to
have control of GPA, the leading retailer in Brazil, which will be
fully consolidated in Casino's financial statements once the Group
becomes its sole controlling shareholder
-
Acceleration of Casino's expansion in its four key countries with a
multi-format strategy focused on the convenience and discount formats
as well as the development of the dual model (shopping malls located
next to new stores)
In France, Casino will pursue with the change in its mix in favor of
buoyant and performing formats, in line with consumers' expectations,
especially by deploying multi-channel and reinforcing its dual model.
Casino, by adapting its country, activity and format mix, will be better
able to meet the needs of its customers and thus generate profitable
growth. In 2012, it aims to ensure:
-
Casino sales growth above 10%
-
Stability in Casino's food market share in France
-
An increase in current operating income at Franprix-Leader Price.
-
A ?1.5bn asset disposals/capital increases objective in 20121
-
Maintain a financial net debt/EBITDA ratio under 2.2x
At the Annual General Meeting on 11 May 2012, Casino will recommend a
dividend of ?3 per share, up 7.9%, with the option of being paid 50% in
shares.
-
Groupe GO Sport, in order to accelerate its commercial dynamic
and reinforce its financial structure, has agreed to the principle of
a capital increase of c. ?30m with subscription rights maintained. The
operation will take place in Q2 20122 and will be
guaranteed by Rallye.
-
An investment portfolio with diversified and high-quality
financial and real estate assets, currently being disposed of.
-
Rallye benefits from a strong liquidity situation, with more
than ?2.2bn of confirmed credit lines, whose average maturity has been
extended to 4.2 years, after ?1.8bn of credit lines have been set up
or renegotiated in 2011.
1 Including the operation announced by Mercialys on February
9, 2012
2 Subject to the approval of the French Autorité
des Marchés Financiers on the prospectus related to this operation
and the approval of the corresponding resolutions by the Shareholders'
Meeting of April 20, 2012
Rallye confirms its commitment to further improve its financial
structure and to significantly reduce its net financial debt as soon as
2012
At the Annual General Meeting on May 23, 2012, Rallye will recommend a
dividend of 1.83? per share, stable compared to 2010. An interim
dividend of 0.80? per share having been paid on October 6, 2011, the
balance will amount to 1.03? per share. Shareholders will be given the
option, for 100% of the balance, to be paid in shares.
Investor Calendar:
Tuesday April 17, 2012 (after the close of trading): 2012 first-quarter
sales
Wednesday May 23, 2012: Annual General Meeting
Friday
July 27, 2012: second-quarter sales and first-half results
For more information, please consult the company's website: www.rallye.fr

RALLYE
Didier Carlier ? Deputy Managing Director
+33
(0)1 44 71 13 73
© Business Wire 2012
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