Six Month Financial Statements of Mega Retail Ltd. Have Been Approved; Alon Blue Square is Expected to Record a One-Time Write-Off in Second Quarter Results
YAKUM, Israel, August 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Alon Blue Square Israel Ltd. (NYSE: BSI) (hereinafter: the "Company") announced today that the financial statements of its subsidiary Mega Retail Ltd. for the six month period ended June 30, 2015 have been approved. Mega Retail recorded a loss of approximately NIS 55 million attributable to operations at supermarket branches expected to continue operations, and an additional loss of approximately NIS 577 million attributable to one-time write-offs, one-time expenses (including expenses due to efficiency measures), and losses attributable to supermarket branches which ceased operations (out of which the amount of approximately NIS 360 million is due to balance sheet write-offs of goodwill, intangible and fixed assets, that have no current or future effect on the cash flow). The total losses recorded by Mega Retail for the six month period ended June 30, 2015 are approximately NIS 632 million. Since August 1, 2015, Mega is operating according to the Creditor's Arrangement as approved by the District Court.
The Company is expected to record a one-time write-off in an amount of approximately NIS 250 to 300 million attributable to write-offs on account of loss of goodwill recorded with respect to Mega Retail's assets as well as with respect to other assets of the Company, such as Diners Club Israel Ltd. and Naaman Group (NV) Ltd. influenced by Mega Retail's financial situation. The Total amount of write-offs and one-time expenses (including the Company's share in the one-time write-offs and expenses of Mega) is expected to be approximately NIS 500 milion to NIS 570 million.
The Company has yet to complete its review of the second quarter 2015 financial results, and is therefore unable at this time to provide final amounts and data for the period ended June 30, 2015. Final results of the Company may also be influenced by other factors not included in this report. Consequently, projections are preliminary in nature, may be different, and are subject to possible changes based on final review. In connection with the publication of its financial results for the six month period ended June 30, 2015, the Company shall also provide further information on the financial results of Mega Retail for such period. The Company is filing this report due to the particular results provided herein.
* * * *
Alon Blue Square Israel Ltd. (hereinafter: "Alon Blue Square") operates in four reportable operating segments and is the largest retail company in the State of Israel. In the Fueling and Commercial Sites segment, Alon Blue Square through its 71.17% subsidiary, which is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange ("TASE"), Dor Alon Energy in Israel (1988) Ltd is one of the four largest fuel retail companies in Israel based on the number of petrol stations and a leader in the field of convenience stores operating a chain of 212 petrol stations and 219 convenience stores in different formats in Israel. In its supermarket segment, Alon Blue Square, as a pioneer in the modern food retail, through its 100% subsidiary, Mega Retail Ltd., currently operates 192 supermarkets under different formats, each offering a wide range of food products, "Near Food" products and "Non-Food" products at varying levels of service and pricing. In its "Houseware and textile" segment, Alon Blue Square, through its TASE traded 77.51% subsidiary, Na'aman Group (NV) Ltd. operates specialist outlets in self-operation and franchises and offers a wide range of "Non-Food" products as retailer and wholesaler. In the Real Estate segment, Alon Blue Square, through its TASE traded 61.19% subsidiary Blue Square Real Estate Ltd., owns, leases and develops income producing commercial properties and projects. In addition, Alon Blue Square through its 100% subsidiary, Alon Cellular Ltd, operates an MVNO network in Israel, through Diners Club Israel Ltd., an associate held at 49%, which operates in the sector of issuance and clearance of YOU credit cards to the customer club members of the group and through Dr. Baby Marketing and Distribution 888 Ltd. 100 % held subsidiary as a retailer and wholesaler in the baby products sector.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, plans or projections about our business, our future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements may be, but are not necessarily, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," and words and terms of similar substance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events, results, performance, circumstance and achievements to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, circumstance and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the uncertainty of the success of the plan of recovery and arrangement with debtors, suppliers, service providers and lessors; the effect of the plan of recovery and arrangement on sales in our supermarkets and on the desire of suppliers to continue supplying products or services to our supermarkets; failure to reach a settlement with our bank lenders and holders of our Series C Debentures; the economic conditions in Israel on the sales in our stores and of our products and on our profitability; our ability to compete effectively against low-priced supermarkets, large fuel companies and our other competitors; enactment of new laws and regulations, including the enactment of recommendations of governmental appointed committees and regulations with respect to the procurement of petroleum products by fuel companies and the price of petroleum products that are subject to regulation; quarterly fluctuations in our operating results that may cause volatility of our ADS and share price; fluctuations in the price of petroleum products and increases in excise tax rates imposed on the sale of petroleum products in Israel; risks associated with our dependence on a limited number of key suppliers for products that we sell in our stores; the effect of an increase in the minimum wage in Israel on our operating results; the effect of any actions taken by the Israeli Antitrust Authority on our ability to execute our business strategy and on our profitability; the effect of increases in oil, raw material and product prices in recent years; the effects of damage to our reputation or to the reputation of our store brands due to reports in the media or otherwise; government policies with respect to residential building may have a negative impact on our operations in residential building, and other risks, uncertainties and factors disclosed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, but not limited to, risks, uncertainties and factors identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Contact:
Alon Blue Square Israel Ltd.
Elli Levinson-Sela, Adv.,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Telephone: +972-9-9618504
Fax: +972-9-9618636
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Alon Blue Square Israel Ltd
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article