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SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE: Strong Start into 2021 with 22.4% Sales Growth and 2.0% adj. EBITDA Margin.

NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN.

SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE N.V., operating in seven European countries, has increased its Q1 group-level sales by 22.4% to EUR 284 million. During the first three months of 2021, the gross margin improved by 4.1 percentage points (pp) to 25.6% and the number of active customers grew by more than 500,000 to 6.8 million. Year-over-year, the active customer base rose by 1.8 million. Overall, SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE combined fast growth with another quarter of a positive adjusted EBITDA margin of 2.0%. Thus, the company is on track with its full-year guidance. 

“We continue to focus on driving top-line growth without losing sight of managing our bottom-line. At the same time, we have demonstrated our commitment to investing in those areas that drive growth and add significant value for our customers. With the acquisition of the digital medication management experts SMARTPATIENT and MEDAPP we have reached further important milestones of our strategy – especially in preparation for the upcoming e-Rx business”, says CEO Stefan Feltens.

Total group sales increased by 22.4% to EUR 284.1 million in the first quarter after EUR 232.0 million in Q1 2020. EUR 45 million of Q1 2021 revenues came from the prescription drugs (Rx) business, 17% lower than previous year due to a peak of Rx orders in March 2020, connected to the first Coronavirus outbreak in Europe, the absence of the usual cold and flu season this year and particularly the ban on Rx bonuses in Germany. On the other hand, SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE’s OTC business in Germany gained significant market shares while sales in our International segment accelerated to 71%.

With a rate of 46.1%, gross profit increased significantly faster than sales, from EUR 49.9 million during the first three months of 2020 to EUR 72.9 million this year. Compared to last year, the consolidated gross profit margin rose by 4.1 pp to 25.6% reflecting net pricing effects, sourcing improvements as well as a different product and country mix.

Selling and distribution (S&D) expenses increased from EUR 39.2 million last year to EUR 59.0 million. The S&D ratio of 20.8% was 3.9 pp higher than last year due to investments in growth and temporarily operating two logistics centres in the Netherlands at the same time.

Administrative costs amounted to EUR 10.9 million (previous year: EUR 6.8 million) and included extraordinary items of EUR 2.5 million (previous year: EUR 1.1 million). The increase of 0.4 pp is mainly related to higher costs in connection with the acquisition of digital medication management expert SMARTPATIENT.

Overall, the adjusted EBITDA reached EUR 5.7 million versus EUR 4.9 million in Q1 2020. This translates into an adjusted EBITDA margin of 2.0% after 2.1% last year. After depreciation charges of EUR 5.5 million (previous year: EUR 3.4 million), EBIT was EUR -2.4 million after EUR 0.5 million. Net finance costs decreased by EUR 2.3 million or 59.6% to EUR -3.4 million. The net result of EUR -5.8 million compares to EUR -5.0 million a year earlier.

DACH segment shows strong gross margin improvement, growth in International segment accelerated.

In the DACH segment (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), sales rose by 14.9% from EUR 200.8 million to EUR 230.7 million during Q1. Compared to last year, gross profit grew at a rate of 40.6% to EUR 58.6 million, equivalent to a 4.6 pp gross margin increase to 25.4%. The adjusted EBITDA in the DACH segment improved by EUR 3.2 million to EUR 10.2 million (previous year: EUR 7.0 million). 

Q1 sales for the International segment – which consists of SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE’s business activities in Belgium, France, Italy and the Netherlands – increased by 71.2%, from EUR 31.2 million last year to EUR 53.3 million. Gross profit rose by 73.4% to EUR 14.3 million with the gross margin at 26.8%, 0.4 pp higher than last year’s 26.4%. Adjusted EBITDA for the International segment stood at EUR -4.5 million after EUR -2.0 million last year.

Jasper Eenhorst, CFO of SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE: “We concluded two important strategic acquisitions and achieved a positive adjusted EBITDA margin on previous year’s level of 2% in Q1. The concurrent operation of two logistics facilities impacts our earnings in the first six to nine months of this year, but provides us with the necessary capacity for our ambitions. Once again, our consistent customer focus has paid off: While growing fast, our customer Net Promotor Score increased to 71, showing a continued high level of customer loyalty.”

For the full-year 2021, the Management Board of SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE expects sales growth of around 20% or more and an adjusted EBITDA margin in the range of 2.3% to 2.8% (2020: 2.2%).

The Q1 Interim Report can be downloaded on SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE’s Corporate Website 

 in the Investor Relations section. For definitions of non-IFRS terms, please refer to the glossary of the Annual Report 2020 (pages 146 and 147).

SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE is one of Europe's leading and fastest-growing online pharmacies, currently operating in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Headquartered in the Dutch logistics hub of Sevenum near Venlo with locations in Cologne, Berlin, Munich, Warsaw, Milan, Paris and Tongeren, SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE offers its customers a broad range of more than 100,000 original products at attractive prices: OTC, beauty and personal care products as well as prescription drugs, supplemented by high quality natural food and health products, low carb products and sports nutrition. Currently, more than 6.8 million active customers trust SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE.

Since safe and reliable pharmaceutical advice are top priorities at SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE, the e-pharmacy provides comprehensive pharmaceutical consulting services.

In preparation for the introduction of electronic prescriptions in Germany in summer 2021, the company will further improve the customer experience with focus on disease-specific digital medication management services following the acquisition of SMARTPATIENT in January 2021. This is a key part of SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE's strategy to transform itself from a pure online retailer into a truly customer-centric e-pharmacy platform.

SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE N.V. has been listed on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Prime Standard) since 2016 and has been part of the MDAX stock index since September 2020.

Sven Schirmer                                             

Tel: +49 221 99 53 44 31                                                    

Tel: +49 211 75 80 779                   

Carmen Herkenrath                        

Tel.: +31 77 850 6109                                                         

This publication constitutes an advertisement. This announcement does not constitute an offer for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities of SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE N.V. in any jurisdiction. It does not constitute a securities prospectus. A public offer of securities of SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE N.V. is not taking place.

Statements contained herein could constitute so-called “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements can be recognized by words such as “might,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “intends,” “aims,” “aim” or their negative form or corresponding modifications and comparable terms.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results, levels of utilization, developments and achievements of the group or industry in which it operates to be materially different than those contained herein or implied. There should be no undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The group will not update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.