GROUPE BOGART : 2018 revenue up +28.7%  (AcT)

Bogart Group (Euronext Paris - Compartment B - FR0012872141 - JBOG), which specializes in the creation, manufacture and sale of luxury fragrances and cosmetics, has published its revenue for the 2018 financial year.

2018 financial year was marked by the 4th-quarter acquisition of Distriplus, Belgium's 2^nd-largest retailer, enabling the Group to perform a firm dimensional leap and provide strong impetus for its virtuous vertical-integration model (as manufacturer-retailer).

PREAMBLE

To reflect trends in its activity, the Company is now breaking down its revenue into (i) Perfume / Cosmetics Brands, covering the revenue generated by all the Group's own brands, regardless of sales network (ii) Own-brand boutiques, covering the revenue generated by the stores owned by Bogart Group (excluding sales of the Bogart Group brands). The former presentation of revenue is appended.

In the 4^th quarter of 2018, Bogart Group posted consolidated revenue of €78.9 million, compared with €38.6 million in the 4^th quarter of 2017, increasing 104.4%. The last quarter of 2018 featured the full consolidation of Distriplus at 1 November 2018. On constant scope and currency, revenue for the 4^th quarter came to €36.6 million (compared with €38.6 million in the 4^th quarter of 2017).

Bogart Group posted revenue of €164.7 million at the 2018 financial year-end, up 28.7% from €128.0 million in 2017. On constant scope and currency, Group revenue fell back 2.3%.

2018 revenue breaks down as follows:

• Perfume / Cosmetics Brands (revenue generated by the Group's own brands regardless of sales network): retreated 4.3% (down 3.3% on constant scope and currency). Earnings for this activity were hampered by deferrals of orders in the emerging markets of the Middle East and Latin America while, on the other hand, the booming sales of the Carven brand benefited the Europe and United States zones, buoyed by the success of the Dans ma Bulle perfume.

• Own-brand boutiques (revenue generated by the stores owned by the Bogart Group (excluding revenue earned by the Bogart Group brands)): growing 47.3%. This activity performed remarkably thanks to the consolidation of Distriplus (a network of 200 stores) in the last two months of the year. On constant scope and currency, the Group retreated slightly by 1.7% for the 2018 financial year, while the Perfume & Cosmetics market as a whole in Europe (Germany and France) suffered a particularly marked cyclical downturn at the year-end.

A favourable short-term outlook: a firmly-based Group, forecast to generate revenue of more than €300 million in 2019

The 2018 financial year showcased a further example of its ability to seize external-growth opportunities to boost progress in its virtuous vertical-integration model. As well as being faithful to its strategy, Bogart Group remained scrupulously attentive to its profitability. In this connection, Bogart Group recalled that Distriplus achieved positive EBITDAs in the last two financial years (2016 and 2017) and that this company would make a positive contribution to 2018 Group EBITDA for the 2 months of its consolidation into the Group. Lastly, Bogart Group recalled that this acquisition was funded entirely from internal resources. At 31 December 2018, Distriplus had a net positive cash position of €23.6 million.

From 2019 onwards, Bogart Group expects to earn revenue of more than €300 million (equivalent to 1.8x the 2018 revenue). The consolidation of Distriplus and the extension of the retail network (357 stores in Europe and Israel) will have a virtuous effect on both activities: Own-brand boutiques, and Perfume & Cosmetics Brands.

Thus, the company intends a rapid return to growth in the Perfume / Cosmetics Brands activity, relying on several drivers:

1. the forthcoming launches in its perfume brands (6 new products at Carven, 2 launches for Ted Lapidus, 1 men's launch for Jacques Bogart) and in cosmetics (9 new products for Méthode Jeanne Piaubert, 8 new products for Stendhal, the launch of a new April Laboratoire care brand and a revamping of the April bath line).
2. The own-store retail network (357 stores) and the partner networks (in which connection, a major retailing agreement was signed with BEAUTY ALLIANCE GmbH for the Group's brands in Germany, with priority for Carven (under an exclusive agreement), then Méthode Jeanne Piaubert in the spring of 2019), and
3. e-commerce (increasing in France, and the launch of an e?commerce website in Germany in the 2nd half of 2019).

Financial calendar for 2019

These dates are provided for guidance, and may be changed if necessary.

 Appendix

New presentation

Former presentation

About BOGART Group

BOGART Group specializes in the creation, manufacture and commercialization of luxury fragrances and cosmetics. With a unique market positioning as a manufacturer-distributor, the Group markets its products in more than 90 countries, and holds a network of 357 own stores in 5 countries (France, Israël, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg). In 2018 Bogart Group posted a €164.7m revenue.

BOGART Group is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Ticker: JBOG – ISIN: FR0012872141)

Group website

www.groupe-bogart.com

CONTACTS

[1] (a network of 200 stores in Belgium and Luxembourg - Sales of € 200 million in 2017)

Source : Actusnews