DVFA Analyst Conference Ahlers AG Q1 2008/09 and Fiscal Year 2007/08 Frankfurt, April 21, 2009
Contents Strategic Targets Business Segments and their Developments Financial Information on Fiscal Year 2007/08 Financial Information on Q1 2008/09 Outlook 2008/09 General Information 2
Strategic Targets Premium To develop our premium brands, increase the share of premium business, and optimize the brand portfolio Target: Premium segment to contribute 50% to Group sales Space Concepts To establish and present our brands in space concepts Internationalization To grow our brands in international markets 3
Business Segments (Status 2008) Men's & Sportswear 27 % Premium Brands 47 % Jeans & Workwear 26 % Three Business Segments Premium Brands Baldessarini Otto Kern Pierre Cardin Jeans & Workwear Pionier / Pioneer Family Men's & Sportswear Gin Tonic Jupiter 4
A. Premium Brands 1. Brands Three Highly Known Brands Luxury fashion brand with Sartoria quality High brand awareness throughout Europe Sub-line available in stores since January 2009 Modern, informed and wearable fashion with quality approach High brand awareness One of the top 5 luxury brands in the world Ahlers as biggest licensee for Europe with licenses for the main men's wear products and women's jeans 5
A. Premium Brands Main markets: Germany, Russia, Ukraine High international brand awareness through perfume Competitors: Brioni, Canali, Zegna New eyewear and jewellery license 6
A. Premium Brands Competitors: BOSS, ARMANI, ZEGNA, JOOP Complete collection with all textile products Priced just above BOSS Available in stores since January 2009 7
A. Premium Brands Main markets: Germany, Eastern Europe Main customers: P&C, Anson s, Hirmer, Appelrath & Cüpper Competitors: JOOP, BOSS, Hilfiger, Strellson Successful fragrance license, new blouse licensee 8
A. Premium Brands Main markets: Germany, France, Netherlands, Eastern Europe Main customers: P&C, Breuninger, Galerie Lafayette, Hirmer, Engelhorn Competitors: Daniel Hechter, Brax, BOSS Denim Rags as fashionable sub-collection 9
A. Premium Brands 2.a. Financial Performance Fiscal Year 2007/08 in EUR million YTD November 2008 2007 % vs. previous year Successful performance of Pierre Cardin products Sales 125.5 112.7 Germany 52.2 48.7 Abroad 73.3 64.0 Segment Result* 1.3 2.5 * EBIT before special effects 11.4 7.2 14.5 (48.0) Pierre Cardin segment reaches earnings targets; decline in earnings due to increased production costs Baldessarini and Otto Kern as construction and growth areas 10
A. Premium Brands 2.b. Financial Performance Q1 2008/09 in EUR million YTD February 2009 2008 % vs. previous year Good start of all premium brands into new year Sales 35.2 33.5 Germany 17.1 14.9 Abroad 18.1 18.6 Segment Result* 2.3 1.7 * EBIT before special effects 5.1 14.8 (2.7) 35.3 Otto Kern and Pierre Cardin benefit from stability of mid market segment Baldessarini grows at double-digit rate in Q1 thanks to premium line 11
B. Jeans & Workwear 1. Brands Pionier / Pioneer Family Traditional Products Enjoying High Brand Awareness And Quality Reputation Traditional quality jeans and related sportswear products Branded workwear: blue and trade guild, corporate wear Leisure trouser collection in all sizes 12
B. Jeans & Workwear Main markets: Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe Main customers: Karstadt, Kaufhof, Adler Competitors: Mustang, Wrangler, MAC Complementary products added to jeans line 13
B. Jeans & Workwear Main Market: Germany Corporate customers: Police Niedersachsen and Rheinland-Pfalz, Audi, Deutsche Steinkohle, Warsteiner Bier, Merkur Spielothek Competitors: Kansas, Mascot, Gottfried Schmitt 14
B. Jeans & Workwear Main markets: Germany, France, Spain, Benelux Some customers: Weingarten, Otto, Quelle Competitors: Hattric, Meyer, Brühl 15
B. Jeans & Workwear 2.a. Financial Performance Fiscal Year 2007/08 in EUR million YTD November 2008 2007 Sales 70.3 70.1 Germany 49.3 50.0 Abroad 21.0 20.1 Segment Result* 8.7 8.7 % vs. previous year 0.3 (1.4) 4.5 0.0 Solid profit base Subsegments reach target profitability Growth for Workwear and Pioneer Jeans, decline in Sportive sales * EBIT before special effects 16
B. Jeans & Workwear 2.b. Financial Performance Q1 2008/09 in EUR million YTD February 2009 2008 Sales 17.5 18.6 Germany 11.6 12.7 Abroad 5.9 5.9 % vs. previous year (5.9) (8.7) 0.0 Moderate decline in sales for Workwear and Pioneer due to high percentage of intraseasonal orders Segment Result* 1.9 2.5 (24.0) * EBIT before special effects 17
C. Men's & Sportswear 1. Marken Young sportswear for men and women All sizes Solid sportswear and outerwear for men 18
C. Men's & Sportswear Main markets: Germany, Eastern Europe, Switzerland Main customers: Kaufhof, Adler, Röther Jelmoli Competitors: Esprit, S. Oliver, Tom Tailor Takeover of operations incl. five stores from Swiss distributor New management since January 2009 19
C. Men's & Sportswear Main markets: Germany, France, Benelux Main customers: Quelle, Kaufhof Competitors: Sportswear: Bugatti, Bültel Shirts: Casa Moda, Marvelis, Olymp 20
C. Men's & Sportswear 2.a. Financial Performance Fiscal Year 2007/08 in EUR million YTD November 2008 2007 Sales 72.0 76.8 Germany 35.7 39.3 Abroad 36.3 37.5 % vs. previous year (6.3) (9.2) (3.2) Jupiter Shirts hit particularly hard by general market weakness Gin Tonic sales decline only moderately Segment Result* (2.1) (1.4) (50.0) * EBIT before special effects 21
C. Men's & Sportswear 2.b. Financial Performance Q1 2008/09 in EUR million YTD February 2009 2008 % vs. previous year Gin Tonic sales stable in Q1 Sales 16.8 19.1 Germany 8.6 9.6 Abroad 8.2 9.5 (12.0) (10.4) (13.7) Jupiter Shirt sales decline sharply Segment Result* (0.6) (0.3) (100.0) * EBIT before special effects 22
Financial Information Fiscal Year 2007/08 23
Sales by Regions in EUR million 2008 2007 % vs. previous year in % of total sales Germany 137.5 138.4 (0.7) 51% Western Europe 72.0 70.9 1.6 27% Central/Eastern Europe/Other 58.6 50.6 15.8 22% Total 268.1 259.9 3.2 100% 24
Profit and Loss Statement in EUR million 2008 2007 % vs. previous year Sales Gross profit 268.1 127.8 259.9 125.9 3.2 1.5 in % of sales 47.7 48.4 Personnel expenses* (58.4) (55.2) 5.8 Other expenses/income* (56.3) (56.0) 0.5 EBITDA* 13.1 14.7 (10.9) Depreciation and amortisation (5.3) (4.9) 8.2 EBIT* 7.8 9.8 (20.4) Special effects (4.3) 2.1 - EBIT after special effects 3.5 11.9 (70.6) Net interest expense (1.7) (0.2) - Income taxes (1.5) (2.0) 25.0 Net income for the period 0.3 9.7 (97.1) * before special effects 25
Balance Sheet Information in EUR million As of November 30 2008 2007 % vs. previous year Balance Sheet Total 242.1 248.4 (2.5) Equity 122.5 131.2 (6.6) Equity Ratio in % 50.6 52.8 Liquid Funds 8.9 18.9 (52.9) Net Working Capital 89.6 88.3 1.5 Investments 5.8 6.3 (0.8) 26
Free Cash Flow in EUR million 2008 2007 Net income for the period 0.3 9.7 Depreciation and amortisation 5.5 5.3 Change in working capital (1.3) (13.5) Change in other non-current and current assets (1.5) (2.9) Change in current provisions 4.4 0.3 Change in non-current provisions and other liabilities incl. taxes and interest* (0.2) (1.8) Cash flow from operating activities 7.2 (2.9) Net payments on property, plant and equipment as well as intangible assets (5.7) (6.2) Effects of changes in exchange rates 0.5 (0.3) Free cash flow before financing activity 2.0 (9.4) Repayment of non-current financial liabilities and repurchase of own shares (2.3) (2.2) Dividend payments (9.7) (42.8) Free cash flow (10.0) (54.4) * Other non-cash expenses and income EUR 3.9 million (previous year: EUR (1.0) million) Change in non-current provisions and other liabilities EUR (4.1) million (previous year: EUR (0.8) million) 27
Financial Information Q1 2008/09 December 1, 2008 February 28, 2009 28
Sales by Regions in EUR million YTD February 2009 2008 % vs. previous year in % of total sales Germany 37.4 37.3 0.3 54% Western Europe 20.8 21.6 (3.7) 30% Central/Eastern Europe/Other 11.4 12.4 (8.1) 16% Total 69.6 71.3 (2.4) 100% 29
Profit and Loss Statement in EUR million 2009 2008 % vs. previous year Sales Gross profit 69.6 32.6 71.3 33.6 (2.4) (3.0) in % of sales 46.8 47.1 Personnel expenses* (13.8) (14.5) (4.8) Other expenses/income* (13.8) (14.0) (1.4) EBITDA* 5.0 5.1 (2.0) Depreciation and amortisation (1.4) (1.2) 16.7 EBIT* 3.6 3.9 (7.7) Special effects (0.1) 0.4 - EBIT after special effects 3.5 4.3 (18.6) Net interest expense (0.5) (0.4) 25.0 Income taxes (0.9) (1.2) (25.0) Net income for the period 2.1 2.7 (22.2) * before special effects 30
Balance Sheet Information in EUR million End of February 2009 2008 % vs. previous year Balance Sheet Total 225.0 258.9 (13.1) Equity 121.0 134.2 (9.8) Equity Ratio in % 53.8 51.8 Liquid Funds (3.9) 7.4 - Net Working Capital 101.8 100.8 1.0 Investments 1.8 1.9 (5.3) 31
Free Cash Flow in EUR million 2009 2008 Net income for the period 2.1 2.7 Depreciation and amortisation 1.4 1.3 Change in working capital (12.2) (12.5) Change in other non-current and current assets 2.1 (1.5) Change in current provisions (0.7) 0.7 Change in non-current provisions and other liabilities incl. taxes and interest* (0.3) (0.6) Cash flow from operating activities (7.6) (9.9) Net payments on property, plant and equipment as well as intangible assets (2.0) (1.3) Effects of changes in exchange rates (2.9) (0.2) Free cash flow before financing activity (12.5) (11.4) Repayment of non-current financial liabilities and repurchase of own shares (0.3) (0.2) Dividend payments - - Free cash flow (12.8) (11.6) * Other non-cash expenses and income EUR 0.1 million (previous year: EUR (0.1) million) Change in non-current provisions and other liabilities EUR (0.4) million (previous year: EUR (0.5) million) 32
Outlook Fiscal Year 2008/09 33
Cost Saving Programme 2008 Overview Launched in July 2008 Focus on production and logistics costs, Jupiter and Pionier Sportive brands To be implemented and executed by December 2008 Full effect from mid-2009 Savings in high single digit EUR million amount p.a. from mid-2009 34
Cost Saving Programme 2008 Measures Outsourcing of shirts logistics (37 employees) Concentration of internal services functions, closure of Kassel branch (62 employees) Closure of two plants in Poland (650 employees) Capacity reduction at one jeans plant (20 employees) Expansion of our plant in Sri Lanka 35
Forecast 2009 No major non-recurrent restructuring expenses expected Full effect of cost saving programme to be felt from midyear Additional cost saving measures planned Objective: clearly positive result Active control of production planning to avoid excess inventories, active receivables management 36
General Information 37
Production (Status 2008, basis pieces) Own production 26 % Own production facilities in Poland and Sri Lanka Purchase of finished goods 50 % Cut-make-trim 24 % Cut-make-trim mainly in Eastern Europe and Far East Own production to account for 22% after capacity reduction 38
Shareholder Structure by Share Type (Status November 2008) Free float 24.0 % WTW KG et al. 0.3 % Own shares Ahlers AG 0.1 % WTW GmbH / KG et al. / Ahlers AG Share of total capital: 52.2 % 8.0 mill. common shares WTW GmbH 75.6 % WTW GmbH 21.7 % WTW KG et al. 0.1 % Own shares Ahlers AG 0.6 % 6.4 mill. preferred shares Free float 77.6 % 39
Share Buy-back Programmes 2008/09 Up to April 2009, 16,900 common shares and 90,020 preferred shares were acquired in the open market. These 106,920 shares represent 0.7% of all shares and are worth EUR 0.6 million Through April 23, 2009, up to another 4.3% of all shares are to be repurchased at fixed prices in a public share buy-back offer 40
General Information Calendar DVFA Conference, Frankfurt/Main April 21, 2009 Annual Shareholders Meeting, Düsseldorf Mai 6, 2009 Interim Report Q2 July 14, 2009 Interim Report Q3 October 12, 2009 Contact Dr. Stella Ahlers Fon: +49 (0) 5221.979-202 Dr. Karsten Kölsch Fon: +49 (0) 5221.979-214 Email investor.relations@ahlers-ag.com Internet ahlers-ag.com 41
Brands 42
Disclaimer This presentation of AHLERS AG does not represent an offer to sell securities of AHLERS AG and is not soliciting an offer to buy securities of AHLERS AG in the USA or in any other country in which such an offer or solicitation is prohibited by law. AHLERS AG assumes no liability or guarantee for the accuracy or completeness of the information or other content presented in this presentation. This presentation contains forward-looking statements that do not describe past events, but reflect future assumptions and expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on forecasts, estimates and projections on the basis of information presently available to the management of the AHLERS Group. Such information is subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these risks and uncertainties are based on factors that cannot by influenced or precisely assessed by the AHLERS Group. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes with regard to the legal framework, the future market and economic situation, the conduct of other market participants and the ability to successfully implement corporate goals. The users of this presentation are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The AHLERS Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or revised management forecasts. 43