1stquarter of 2018/2019
A good 1stquarter driven by dynamic Ski Area sales
Paris, January 17, 2019-Compagnie des Alpes reports consolidated sales for the first quarter of financial year 2018/2019 totaling€126.8 M, an increase of +7.3% on a restated basis (+5.6% on a comparable basis) compared with the 1stquarter of the previous financial year.
Group consolidated sales, from October1, 2018 through December 31, 2019
(In€thousands) | Comparable |
scope(3) | |
•Ski Areas | +16.6% |
•Leisure Destinations | +0.0% |
•Holdings & Supports | -56.6%(3)(4) |
Total | +5.6% |
1stquarter 2018/2019 | 1stquarter 2017/2018 Restated(2) | Changevs. Restated(2) |
54 608 | 46 831 69 319 2 095 | +16.6% +0.0% +38.5% |
69 309 | ||
2 902(1) | ||
126 819 | 118 245 | +7.3% |
Change
(1), (2), (3) and (4): Sales for the 1stquarter of 2018/2019 factor in the acquisition of Travelfactory, the application of IFRS 15, and a change in the revenue recognition method used, all of which are described in detail at the end of this press release.
Ski Areas: the season is off to a dynamic start
Ski Area sales for the 1stquarter rose significantly, to€54.6 M, versus€46.8 M for the same period the previous year, an increase of +16.6%.
First quarter lift sales, strictly speaking, also rose by +16.6% compared with the 1stquarter of the previous year. This increase is the result of an increase in revenue per skier-day compared to last year, combined with a +4.2% increase in the number of skier days. Sales were boosted by the first snowfall at the beginning of the season and good weather conditions over the Christmas school holidays. It should also be noted that the Group benefited from an additional day of operation during the last week of the year, with December 31stfalling on a Monday this year as opposed to a Sunday last year, an impact that will be neutralized in the 2ndquarter.
Indeed, the 2018/2019 ski season got off to a satisfactory start under good conditions: snow fell early enough in the mountains and cold cycles allowed for the operation of snow resources at all ski resorts.
Application of IFRS 15 is having an impact on the restatement of season passes. Compared with the old accounting method, it had a negative impact on revenue recognition of €14.3 million for the first quarter of 2018/2019, compared to a restatement of €14.2 million for the 1stquarter of the previous year. As a reminder, the application of IFRS 15 has an impact on the quarterly revenue breakdown only and will have no impact on annual sales (see the table in the appendix showing the impact of IFRS 15 application on 2017/2018 ski area revenue, restated).
Leisure Destinations: a quarter of consolidation
After increasing steadily since 2013, Leisure Destination sales for the 1stquarter just ended are undergoing consolidation at a high level. Sales for the quarter came to€69.3 million,virtually unchanged compared to the same period last year, despite the negative calendar effect in the first quarter.
The Halloween offering continues to be a great success, with customer satisfaction growing or remaining stable for nearly all facilities. After 5 consecutive years of strong growth, during which Halloween periodsales went from €14 M in 2012/2013 to €34 Min 2017/2018, this year sales rose slightly (+0.1 %), in line with the Group's expectations and due in particular to an increasingly higher base effect. Halloween period sales were nonetheless resilient, with weather conditions less supportive this year compared to last year.
Sales for other offerings, such as the Christmas Trees at Astérix (BtoB) and Futuroscope (BtoC), performed reasonably well.
Consequently, the decline in attendance for the period was fully offset by healthy growth in spending per visitor (+3.7%). The best performing sites continue to be those with the most advanced multi-year investment and transformation plans.
Holdings and Supports: new contracts in China and in Japan
During the 1stquarter of the 2018/2019 financial year, Holdings & Supports revenue amounted to €2.9 million, versus € 2.1 million for the same period last year.
Travelfactory expanded its international business with the launch of the Travelski site in Belgium during the quarter, supported by an advertising campaign targeting the region around Brussels. Travelfactory is alsoin the process of completing the integration of Alpes Ski Résa, the Group's existing online business in
mountain vacations. The strategic decision to adopt premium positioning for this brand is confirmed.
As part of its industrial partnership, Compagnie des Alpes began working with the Fosun group to designand build a "new generation" snow dome in Taicang, located in the region near Shanghai. The Group also
continued to strengthen ties to flagship resorts in China: it signed a technical assistance contract with the Beidahue resort in the Jilin region; an international ski school, in collaboration with Evo2, has opened at Wanlong, one of China's most iconic resorts in the Chongli Olympic Zone, another mission was signed with the Jilin region to identify the most suitable sites for the development of outdoor activities 4 seasons. Lastly, a consulting contract covering two ski resorts was also signed last quarter with the Tokyu Group in Japan.
These contracts strengthen the Group's presence in Asia.
Trends for the rest of the year
The outlook for 2018/2019 provided below is given barring the occurrence of any major adverse events.
•Ski Areas
The Group is confident concerning the season as a whole, even though the strength of Q1 cannot be extrapolated over the full year. It should be noted, in particular, that the dates in February and spring school holidays, with the Paris area holiday period placed at the end of the calendar, are less favorable than those of the previous year.
•Leisure Destinations
The 2ndquarter generally accounts for only 7% of the annual sales for this BU and concerns only the sales for Futuroscope (open in February and March), Grévin Paris, Grévin Montréal, andChaplin's World by Grévin. This year, the Grévin Paris facility will be closed throughout the month of January for construction work (on customer experience and visitor flow).
The main part of the season will get a boost this year from new assets, including around 100 new rooms at Parc Astérix and the opening (next to the Bellewaerde site in Belgium) of a new indoor aquatic park covering 3,000 square meters.
This season will also usher in novelties at all the Group's facilities. For example, the 30thbirthday of Parc
Astérix will be celebrated by the creation of a 4D movie theater featuring a dynamic indoor room that seats300. For its part, Futuroscope'snew attractions will include a large format 3D movie that allows visitors totake the helm of Solar Impulse, the world's first solar airplane capable of perpetual flight. Walibi Rhône-
Alpes will continue its redevelopment of the Festival City area with a new Mystic coaster, as well as a children's attraction and a new lakeside restaurant. In addition, Walibi Hollande will inaugurate a new structuring attraction, while Walibi Belgium will continue the renovation it began in 2018 with the redevelopment of two new areas: Fun World and Karma World.
Upcoming events:
Annual Shareholders' Meeting: | Thursday, March 7, 2019, afternoon |
2ndquarter 2018/2019 Sales: | Thursday, April 18, 2019, after stock market closes |
2018/2019 Half-year Results: | Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in the morning |
www.compagniedesalpes.com |
Additional information
Consolidated sales, 1stquarter 2018/2019
Actual scope
Comparable scope
(In thousands of euros)
Q1 2018/2019*
Q1 2017/2018 restated(2)ChangeQ1 2018/2019
Q1 2017/2018 restated
Change
Ski Areas
54 608
46 831
Leisure Destinations
69 309
69 319
Holdings & supports
2 902(1)
2 095
+16.6%+0.0%+38.5%
54 608 69 309
46 831 69 319
+16.6%+0.0%
910(3)
2 095 -56.6%(3)(4)
TOTAL
126 819
118 245
+7.3%
124 827
118 245
+5.6%
(1) Including Travelfactory, consolidated as of January 1, 2018
(2) Sales for 1stquarter 2017/2018 were adjusted to take into account the application of IFRS 15 and the redistribution over 4 quarters of a Futuroscope revenue adjustment that was made last year in the 4thquarter retrospectively for the entire financial year.
(3) The change on a comparable scope basis is calculated by comparing sales for 1stquarter 2018/2019, from which Travelfactory has been removed, with restated sales for 1stquarter 2017/2018.
(4)A change in revenue recognition for the Group's existing online sales and real estate businesses was made effective as ofJanuary 1, 2018. Sales for 1stquarter 2017/2018 were not restated, however (margin accounting for 1stquarter 2018/2019 vs. sales volume for 1stquarter 2017/2018).
Quarterly sales for Ski Areas in 2017/2018 restated to reflect the impact of applying IFRS 15
The application of IFRS 15 changes only Ski Area sales. This standard, applied effective October 1, 2018, has an impact on the accounting for season package sales recognition that results in a different allocation of these revenues over the year. The application of IFRS 15 only applies to quarterly revenue distribution and therefore has no impact on annual revenue.
To enable a meaningful comparison of quarterly revenues for 2018/2019 year with quarterly revenues for 2017/2018, the latter have been restated by applying IFRS 15.
(In thousands of euros) | Q1 2017/2018 | Q2 2017/2018 | Q3 2017/2018 | Q4 2017/2018 | TOTAL 2017/2018 |
Reported Ski Area sales | 60 996 | 311 095 | 50 403 | 6 830 | 429 324 |
Ski Area sales restated to reflect the impact of IFRS 15 | 46 831 | 322 021 | 53 642 | 6 830 | 429 324 |
Difference | - 14 165 | + 10 926 | + 3 239 | 0 | 0 |
Quarterly sales for Ski Areas in 2017/2018 restated to reflect the change in revenue recognition for Futuroscope that was enacted in the 4thquarter of 2017/2018
At the end of financial year 2017/2018, the Group made reclassification entries that consisted of neutralizing Futuroscope revenue related to transfer costing of certain expenses (energy, sales commissions, and back margin) and neutralizing the corresponding expenses. This reclassification, neutral with respect to EBITDA, was done in 4thquarter 2017/2018 retrospectively for the entire 2017/2018 financial year.
Accordingly, to facilitate comparison between quarterly sales for 2018/2019 and quarterly sales for 2017/2018, the latter have been restated by redistributing the impact of the reclassification over all 4 quarters of the 2017/2018 financial year. This restatement is neutral with respect to total sales for the 2017/2018 financial year.
(In thousands of euros) | Q1 2017/2018 | Q2 2017/2018 | Q3 2017/2018 | Q4 2017/2018 | TOTAL 2017/2018 |
Reported sales, Leisure Destinations | 70 091 | 23 728 | 104 830 | 141 278 | 339 927 |
Leisure Destination sales Restated to reflect the change in accounting method pertaining to Futuroscope | 69 319 | 23 979 | 104 329 | 142 300 | 339 927 |
Difference | - 772 | 251 | -501 | 1 022 | 0 |
Since it was founded in 1989, Compagnie des Alpes has established itself as an uncontested leader in the leisure industry. At thehelm of 11 of the world's most prestigious ski resorts (Tignes, Val d'Isère, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Les Menuires, Les 2Alpes,
Méribel, Serre-Chevalier, etc.) and11 renowned leisure destinations (Parc Astérix, Grévin, Walibi, Futuroscope, etc.), the company is steadily expanding in Europe (France, the Netherlands, Belgium, etc.) and, more recently, at the international level (Grévin
Montréal in 2013, Chaplin's World by Grévin Prague in April 2016, and engineering and management assistance contracts (China,
Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Morocco, Japan)). CDA also owns stakes in 4 ski areas, including Chamonix.
During the financial year ended September 30, 2018, CDA facilities welcomed nearly 23 million visitors and generated consolidated sales of801.2 M€.
With nearly 5,000 employees, Compagnie des Alpes works with its partners to build projects that generate unique experiences, the opposite of a standardized concept. Exceptional leisure activities for everyone.
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CDA is included in the following indices: CAC All-Shares, CAC All-Tradable, CAC Mid & Small and CAC Small. ISIN: FR0000053324; Reuters: CDAF.PA; FTSE: 5755 Recreational services
Contacts:
Compagnie des Alpes: | Denis HERMESSE | +33 1 46 84 88 97 | denis.hermesse@compagniedesalpes.fr |
Sandra PICARD | +33.1 46 84 88 53 | sandra.picard@compagniedesalpes.fr | |
Alexis d'ARGENT | +33 1 46 84 88 79 | alexis.dargent@compagniedesalpes.fr | |
Corpus: | Xavier YVON | +33.6 88 29 72 37 | xavier.yvon@corp-us.fr |
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Compagnie des Alpes SA published this content on 17 January 2019 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 17 January 2019 20:48:06 UTC