2014-08-07 08:00:00 CEST

2014-08-07 08:00:04 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

Finnish English
Wulff-Yhtiöt Oyj - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

WULFF GROUP PLC’S INTERIM REPORT FOR JANUARY 1 – JUNE 30, 2014


WULFF GROUP PLC

STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE                      August 7, 2014 at 9:00 A.M.



WULFF GROUP PLC'S INTERIM REPORT FOR JANUARY 1 - JUNE 30, 2014: Market
Situation Remained Difficult and Net Sales decreased, yet Operating Loss
decreased 

This is a summary of Wulff Group Plc's interim report for January-June 2014.

Wulff Group is adopting a new disclosure procedure in accordance with
Regulations and Guidelines 7/2013 (Disclosure obligation on issuers) of the
Financial Supervisory Authority and is publishing the interim report for
January-June 2014 as an attachment to this stock exchange release. Wulff
Group's interim report for January-June 2014 is a PDF file attachment to this
stock exchange release and is available on the company's website at the address
http://www.wulff.fi/en/wulff+group+plc/home/. 

KEY POINTS  JANUARY - JUNE 2014

In January-June 2014, net sales totalled EUR 37.3 million (EUR 43.5 million)
and EUR 17.5 million (EUR 20.7 million) in the second quarter. 

  -- In January-June, EBITDA was EUR 0.12 million (EUR -0.08 million) being 0.3
     percentages (-0.2 %) of net sales. In the second quarter, EBITDA was EUR
     -0.17 million (EUR -0.49 million) being -1.0 percentages (-2.3 %) of net
     sales.
  -- In January-June, operating result (EBIT) amounted to EUR -0.39 (EUR -0.65
     million) being -1.0 percentages (-1.5 %) of net sales. In the second
     quarter, operating result (EBIT) was EUR -0.42 million (EUR -0.77 million).
  -- Earnings per share (EPS) was EUR -0.06 (EUR -0.11) in January-June and EUR
     -0.07 (EUR -0.12) in the second quarter.
  -- The Group's outlook for 2014 operating result remains unchanged.

WULFF GROUP'S CEO HEIKKI VIENOLA

Market situation has remained difficult. Significant improvement to the market
situation is not to be expected in a short term period. Best growth
opportunities in the field we see in Sweden and Norway. The improvement in
operating result has been achieved by cost-saving procedures. It is important
to continue to cut costs in order to achieve favourable development in the
results. We also strongly invest in sales development and serving clients in
right channels. During our over 120 year history one of strengths has been the
easiness of making purchases: we are present in companies every day in a way
that is the most suitable to the client. In addition to the personal service
the easiness of making purchases today means diverse web based order systems
and web store Wulffinkulma.fi. 

GROUP'S NET SALES AND RESULT PERFORMANCE

In January-June 2014 net sales totalled EUR 37.3 million (EUR 43.5 million) and
EUR 17.5 million (20.7 million) in the second quarter. In January-June EBITDA
was EUR 0.12 million (EUR -0.08 million) being 0.3 percentages (-0.2 %) of net
sales. In the second quarter, EBITDA was EUR -0.17 million (EUR -0.49 million)
being -1.0 percentages (-2.3 %) of net sales. In January-June operating profit
(EBIT) amounted to EUR -0.39 (EUR -0.65 million) being -1.0 percentages (-1.5
%) of net sales. In the second quarter operating profit (EBIT) was EUR -0.42
million (EUR -0.77 million). 

In January-June 2014 employee benefit expenses amounted to EUR 8.4 million (EUR
9.5 million) and EUR 4.1 million (EUR 4.6 million) in the second quarter. Other
operating expenses amounted to EUR 4.8 million (EUR 5.7 million) in
January-June and EUR 2.4 million (EUR 2.8 million) in the second quarter.
Employee benefit and other operating expenses were affected by the cost-saving
program performed in the end of 2013. The cost-saving program is expected to
achieve annual savings of 2.0 million. 

In January-June the financial income and expenses totalled (net) EUR -0.24
million (EUR -0.29 million) including interest expenses of EUR 0.1 million (EUR
0.09 million) and mainly currency-related other financial items (net) EUR -0.15
million (EUR -0.21 million). In the second quarter the financial income and
expenses totalled (net) EUR -0.16 million (EUR -0.24 million). 

In January-June the result before taxes was EUR -0.63 million (EUR -0.94
million) and EUR -0.57 million (EUR -1.01 million) in the second quarter. In
January-June the net profit after taxes was EUR -0.52 million (EUR -0.72
million) and EUR -0.48 million (EUR -0.77 million) in the second quarter.
Earnings per share (EPS) was EUR -0.06 (EUR -0.11) in January-June and EUR
-0.07 (EUR -0.12) in the second quarter. 

KEY FIGURES

                                            II      II     I-II    I-II     I-IV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EUR 1000                                  2014    2013     2014    2013     2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                               17 515  20 743   37 290  43 485   83 543
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in net sales, %                 -15,6 %  -5,9 %  -14,2 %  -4,1 %   -7,4 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                                    -167    -486      122     -79        3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA margin, %                        -1,0 %  -2,3 %    0,3 %  -0,2 %    0,0 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit/loss                     -418    -769     -387    -649   -2 721
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit/loss margin, %         -2,4 %   -3,7%   -1,0 %  -1,5 %   -3,3 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit/Loss before taxes                  -574  -1 005     -627    -941   -3 395
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit/Loss before taxes margin, %      -3,3 %  -4,8 %   -1,7 %  -2,2 %   -4,1 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net profit/loss for the period            -425    -760     -412    -731   -3 874
 attributable to equity holders of                                              
 the parent company                                                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net profit/loss for the period, %       -2,4 %  -3,7 %   -1,1 %  -1,7 %   -4,6 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share, EUR (diluted =       -0,07   -0,12    -0,06   -0,11    -0,59
 non-diluted)                                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on equity (ROE), %               -3,8 %  -4,5 %   -4,2 %  -4,2 %  -25,6 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on investment (ROI), %           -2,5 %  -3,7 %   -2,5 %  -3,4 %  -13,9 %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity-to-assets ratio at the end of    37,4 %  42,6 %   37,4 %  42,6 %   38,3 %
 period, %                                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt-to-equity ratio at the end of      70,2 %  47,7 %   70,2 %  47,7 %   45,4 %
 period                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity per share at the end of            1,79    2,30     1,79    2,30     1,80
 period, EUR *                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash flow from operating              -564     273   -2 183  -1 618      567
 activities                                                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investments in non-current assets          162      70      400     535      778
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investments in non-current assets, %     0,9 %   0,3 %    1,1 %   1,2 %    0,9 %
 of net sales                                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Treasury shares held by the Group at    79 000  79 000   79 000  79 000   79 000
 the end of period                                                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Treasury shares, % of total share        1,2 %   1,2 %    1,2 %   1,2 %    1,2 %
 capital and votes                                                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of total issued shares at the     6 607   6 607    6 607   6 607    6 607
 end of period                             628     628      628     628      628
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel on average during the            282     320      282     321      311
 period                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at the end of period             269     315      269     315      295
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



* Equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent company / Number of
shares excluding the acquired own shares 

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE

The demand for office supplies is still affected by the organizations'
personnel lay-offs and cost-saving initiatives made during the economic
downturn. The ongoing economic uncertainties impact especially the demand for
business and promotional gifts. During the uncertain economic periods, the
corporations may also minimize attending fairs. 

Half of the Group's net sales come from other than euro-currency countries.
Fluctuation of the currencies affect the Group's net result, however the effect
of the fluctuation is expected to be moderate. 

MARKET SITUATION AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

Wulff is the most significant Nordic player in its industry. Wulff's mission is
to help its corporate customers to succeed in their own business by providing
them with leading-edge products and services in a way best suitable to them.
The markets have been consolidating in the past few years and the Nordic
markets are expected to consolidate in the future as well. Wulff is prepared to
carry out new strategic acquisitions, and as a listed company Wulff intends to
be an active player. 

Despite the challenging situation operating result is believed to improve in
2014 due to cost savings. Typically in the industry, the annual profit is made
in the last quarter of the year. 

The group continues to improve the efficiency of its operations along with the
continuous renewal in order to increase the Group's profitability and to reach
its long-term financial targets. The cost-saving program performed in the end
of 2013 had an expected impact to the first half year period, and it is
expected to gain annual savings of EUR 2.0 million mainly in 2014. 

FINANCIAL REPORTING 2014

Wulff Group Plc will release the following financial reports in 2014:

Interim Report, January-September 2014               Thursday November 6, 2014



In Vantaa on August 6, 2014



WULFF GROUP PLC

BOARD OF DIRECTORS



Further information:

CEO Heikki Vienola

tel. +358 9 5259 0050 or mobile: +358 50 65 110

e-mail: heikki.vienola@wulff.fi



DISTRIBUTION

NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Oy

Key media

www.wulff-group.com