B2B activities are accelerating: Octopia Marketplace-as-a-Service offers signed 11 new contracts in the 1^st half of 2022 to reach 23 signed contracts overall. C-Logistics third party offers benefited from a strong commercial ramp-up with now 53 clients, 31 additional customers vs. end 2021.

Cnova has launched in Q2 an Efficiency Plan to swiftly recalibrate its cost structure & capex level to this current volume of activity with a €75m savings target on a full-year basis by the end of 2023. The Plan, supported by a dedicated transformation team, is projecting to bring savings above €30m in 2^nd half of the year. For the 1^st half of 2022, Gross margin is stable as % of net sales and EBITDA remains positive at €17m while last-six-months Free Cash Flow before financial interests improved by €103m compared to last year at -€101m, a +€23m structural improvement excluding positive one-off impacts.

Emmanuel Grenier, Cnova's CEO, commented:

“In the 1^st half of 2022, Cnova’s priority was to adapt fast to new adverse market conditions launching an Efficiency Plan early in the 2^nd quarter to protect profitability and cash with structural reduction in direct sales inventories and G&A costs. We remain fully focused on our strategic plan which is well on track: more marketplace, more advertising services and B2B acceleration with 11 new contracts for Octopia and 31 new contracts for C-logistics in just 6 months.”

Financial highlights

2^nd quarter & 1^st semester operational highlights

Operational highlights of the first half of 2022 demonstrate the successful shift towards Cnova’s marketplace platform with a GMV share increasing by +3.2pts in line with historical average and dynamic advertising services. Number of orders and items decreases compared to a high comparison base in 2021 with the beginning of 2022 marked by high inflation headwinds and low demand.

Focus on 2^nd quarter operational highlights

Facing strong inflation headwinds and a changing macro-economic environment in the second quarter 2022, Cnova overall GMV decreased by a resilient -10%, with market share gains of +0.2 pt and +0.4 pt in the months of April and May⁴:

• Product GMV (Direct sales and marketplace) decreasing by -18%, -25% for direct sales and -11% for the marketplace, posting resilient performance in a challenging market with +0.2 pt and +0.4 pt market share gains in the months of April and May 2022;

• B2C Services showed good dynamics, especially thanks to a fast-growing activity for Cdiscount Travel. Growth reached +67% y-o-y with flights and holiday packages rebounding strongly;

• Octopia also showed resilient with a -8% GMV decrease in a receding European market due to -12% decrease in historical Product-as-a-Service activity while Fulfillment-as-a-Service (+18%), Merchants- and Marketplace-as-a-Service (+5 clients in the 2^nd quarter of 2022) are dynamic.
  
  

Clients: Cnova reached 9.1 million active clients at the end of the 2^nd quarter, a decrease of -11.4% vs. end June 2021, an active client base that was boosted by exceptional circumstances in a pandemic context.

Cdiscount à Volonté (“CDAV”), Cdiscount’s loyalty program, now encompasses 2.5 million members (+7.0% y-o-y growth) benefiting from 3.0 million SKUs available for express delivery, +32% compared to last year. Considering market slowdown, this increase in Cnova’s loyal customer base is demonstrating the success of the strategy relying on express delivery and dedicated promotions to boost CDAV value-added.

With 70% of the traffic coming from mobile, Cnova mitigated market headwinds and maintained its strong #2 position in France according to Médiamétrie⁶. Number of visitors on mobile receded by only -2.4% while overall traffic declined by -9.6% to the 2^nd quarter 2021.

Cnova’s strategic shift towards the Marketplace is accelerating, exceeding the 50% GMV share landmark for the first time in a sole quarter – an increase of 9 points compared to last year. The marketplace increased by +19% vs. pre-pandemic level of 2019.

First Half financial performance

Net sales amounted to €881.2m in the 1^st half 2022, a -12.7% decrease compared to 2021. Net sales recorded the acceleration of the profitable shift of product sales towards marketplace sales, which are only recognized for the amount of the associated commissions.

Gross margin was €201.0m in the 1^st half 2022, representing 22.8% of net sales, a slight decrease of -0.4 point compared to 2021 but a significant increase of +5.3 pts compared to pre-pandemic level (1^st half of 2019). This gross margin increase over the past three years demonstrates the success of the implementation of the strategic plan, with a marketplace growing +19% compared to the 1^st half of 2019 and advertising services nearly doubling in revenues vs. the same pre-pandemic level. Compared to 2021, Cnova accelerated its shift towards the marketplace with direct sales margin negatively impacted by increase in transportation costs and destocking initiatives in a context of Efficiency Plan to optimize working capital needs and inventory levels to current level of activity. Despite those underlying drivers, dynamic advertising services helped maintaining a relatively flat gross margin compared to 2021.

SG&A costs amounted to €(184.4)m in the 1^st half 2022, representing 20.9% of net sales, a -2.5 points decrease y-o-y. During the 2^nd quarter, an efficiency plan to recalibrate cost structure to current level of activity was launched with first significant positive impact expected in the 2^nd half and full run-rate impact in 2023. Fulfillment costs, at 7.1% of net sales (+0.2 point), decreasing by €7m compared to the same period of last year as this cost line was favorably impacted by lower volume in H1 for its variable part (logistics, after sales and payment processing) and first benefits from the Efficiency Plan for its fixed part. Marketing costs represented 5.9% of net sales (+0.8 point), stable in value with lower volume driving down marketing variable costs offset by a media campaign over the months of May and June. Technology & Content costs increased at 5.1% of net sales (+1.1 point) mainly impacted by the acceleration of the product & commercial development of Octopia’s solutions. General & Administrative expenses decreased in value as head office costs increase to support the acceleration of the new B2B activities was compensated by first quick wins from the Efficiency Plan. SG&A savings from the Efficiency Plan are not material yet but will generate, together with CAPEX savings, significant cost reductions of more than €30m in the 2^nd half of 2022 and €75m in 2023 on a full-year basis.

As a result, 1^st half EBITDA decreased to +€17m compared to last year, representing 1.9% of net sales (-2.9 point vs. 2020). In a context of significant market headwinds, EBITDA benefited from a resilient marketplace performance and increased revenues from advertising services while destocking initiatives negatively impacted Direct Sales gross margin.

Operating EBIT decreased to -€32m, with depreciation and amortization increasing by €6m y-o-y (5.5% of net sales, +1.3 pt vs. 1H21) mainly due to accelerated investments in relation to Octopia over the past 12 months.

Net financial expenses – mainly related to 4-installment payment solutions offered to customers – amounted to €42m, a significant increase compared to last year as a result of an increase in 4x payment take rate in GMV since the 2^nd half of 2021 and higher refinancing interest rates.

As part of the Efficiency Plan, 4-installment payment share of GMV and its associated cost of risk are being optimized with positive results expected in the coming months with the full-year impact expected in 2023.

Net loss amounted to €(70)m, an important decrease compared to last year level. 1H21 result was favorably impacted by exceptional circumstances in a pandemic context while 1H22 was heavily impacted by low demand and high inflation headwinds at EBITDA level and cost of risks increase at financial results level.

Free cash flow before financial expenses amounted to -€101m in the first six months, i.e. +€103m increase compared to the same period last year in a difficult market context where limiting cash outflows remains the main priority for Cnova:

• Cash from continuing operations was down to -€7m, driven by EBITDA decrease in a context where Cnova faced significant market headwinds. An Efficiency Plan was launched in 2Q22 with positive cash impact expected in the 2^nd half of 2022.

• Increasing non-recurring items by €3m at €(6)m, impacted by restructuring expenses in relation to the beginning of the Efficiency Plan

• A negative change in working capital of -€65m presenting a significant improvement compared to last year of more than +€100m thanks to a strong +€86m decrease in inventories driven by:

  • Structural decrease of c. €40m in inventories with the marketplace share increasing by +3.2 pts to 49.6% in the 1^st half of 2022. This strategy, supported by inventory reduction, is one of the key pillar of the Efficiency Plan launched in 2Q22 and will be pursued in the 2^nd part of the year.

  • Positive one-off impact of c. €45m from the sale of hypermarket Géant inventories to the Casino Group in June 2022.

• Net capital expenditures slightly decreased (excluding €20m one-off Floa transaction impact) in the first 6 months, thanks to a rationalization of investments to adapt to current level of activity.

Key Business Achievements

Marketplace growing double-digit over the past three years, driving up revenues and profitability

• The marketplace gained +3.2 points of GMV share in the 1^st half 2022 compared to 2021 to reach 49.6%

• Marketplace revenues amounted to €89.5m in the 1^st half 2022 receding by -7.1% but increased +25.1% vs. pre-pandemic level (1^st half of 2019)

• Expansion of express delivery eligible marketplace SKUs is a key driver of growth, customer satisfaction and contributes to the development of our loyalty program, Cdiscount à Volonté (CDAV). It also supports the product mix re-orientation towards recurring product categories.

  • Fulfilment by Cdiscount kept growing at a fast pace, with a +2.9 points increase in marketplace GMV share in the first half 2022 to reach 37.6% on average.

  • Cdiscount Express Seller, launched in 2019 for sellers able to offer express delivery to CDAV customers. This program now covers, in the 1^st half 2022, 12.8% of marketplace GMV, a 6.3 points increase compared to last year.

  • Together, express delivered SKUs covers in the 1^st half 2022 50.4% of marketplace GMV, a +9.2 points increase compared to last year

Direct sales performance of technical goods categories benefited from strengthened relations with national brands but were mainly impacted by high comparison base and adverse market conditions but with:

• Reinforced relationship with A-brands (Apple, Samsung, Seb, Bosch, Whirpool, …) with powerful offers and dedicated brand days for Phones, Video Games and Home Appliances categories

• Strong comparison base with physical stores closed during the 3^rd lockdown in the 1^st half of 2021 and 2022 performance impacted by high inflation of purchases (semi-conductor shortage, increase in raw materials, supply chain disruptions)

B2C services high growth with Cdiscount Voyages (Travel) rebound in the 2^nd quarter

• Cdiscount Voyages (Travel) experienced a significant rebound in the 2^nd quarter

  • Growing by +67% in the 2^nd quarter 2022.

  • Holliday packs supported this performance with +146% GMV increase compared to last year in the 2^nd quarter 2022.
    
    

Enhanced customer experience and record high NPS

• Significant increase of +4 points in NPS average during the 1^st half 2022 (+9.4 points over 2 years) leading to a record high NPS compared to the same period last year, through intensified efforts to improve customer experience before, during and after the sale.

• Cnova also finalized its “say yes to the customer” policy, with 100% positive and immediate answers to its customers at end of June 2022.

• Artificial intelligence-powered algorithms were implemented all along the customer journey in the past twelve months, significantly enhancing the relevance of the Cdiscount.com search engine (+4.4 pts in the search engine share in GMV in 2Q22 vs 2Q21) and personalized recommendations.
  
  

Dynamic advertising services powered by Cdiscount Ads Retail Solution

• Revenues from advertising services increased by +15.0% in the 1^st half quarter 2022 compared to last year, reinforcing Cnova’s most profitable activity.

• It was supported by Cnova’s proprietary solution launched in the 2^nd quarter 2020, Cdiscount Ads Retail Solution (CARS)⁹, a 100% self-care advertising platform enabling both sellers and suppliers to promote their products and brands. Products sponsored through this platform grew by +73% in the 1^st half 2022.

Octopia is growing, establishing itself as a turnkey marketplace solution for EMEA retailers and e-merchants

• Cnova’s turnkey marketplace solution offers 4 modular and ready-to-operate marketplace services to international retailers and e-merchants with a -8% decrease in the 1^st half to €49m GMV:

  • Merchants-as-a-Service to bring sellers to existing marketplaces and Marketplace-as-a-service to transform e-commerce websites into marketplaces benefits from a strong acceleration in the 1^st semester with 11 new contracts signed to reach 23 clients overall.

  • Fulfilment-as-a-Service to bring multi-marketplace fulfilment solutions including cross-border shipping and warehouse management solution continued to be dynamic in a challenging European context and grew more than +18% in GMV

  • Products-as-a-Service to bring products to small/medium websites and marketplaces in Europe decreased by -12% in the 1^st half 2022 negatively impacted by European ecommerce slowdown

C Chez Vous and C-Logistics commercial acceleration, aiming to become leading transportation & logistics service providers in Europe

• C-Logistics aims at being a leading e-commerce third-party logistics player reaching 53 clients signed at end June 2022:

  • +30 new clients signed for the C Chez Vous Turnkey transport solution

  • +1 new client signed the C-logistics full service of supply e-commerce operations
    
    

Cnova pursues its CSR strategy reinforcing its status of European digital leader sustainable and inclusive.

Cnova is committed promoting a more sustainable way to consume and developing circular economy toward its BtoC and BtoB businesses:

• Cnova launched the "more sustainable" label on Cdiscount.com, based on extended and challenging sustainability criteria such as energy class or repairability index (38k eligible products as far), to help its customers choosing more sustainable products

• Already a leading actor on 2nd-hand and refurbishment, Cdiscount.com sells on this segment are constantly growing (+7% on its marketplace vs 1H21)

Cnova long term investments to reduce the environmental impact of its logistics enable to achieve high performances:

Greener Delivery:

• The GHG emissions related to the deliveries of Cdiscount.com and reported within the frame of the Fret 21 initiative (led ADEME and French Ministry of Sustainable Development), reduced by -7% per parcel compared to 2020¹⁰. The company is therefore in line with the trajectory announced in 2021 (-7% in 2023).

• C-Logistics and C Chez Vous renewed their partnership with the Endowment Fund "Plantons pour l'Avenir" initiating reforestation actions in France to sequester 100% of their residual GHG emissions.

Reducing Packaging:

• C-Logistics investments, including a unique fleet in Europe of six cutting edge 3D packing machines, enable the company to deliver a major part of its light parcels without any void in the 1^st half of 2022.

• C-Logistics reinforces its successful initiatives to supress cardboard with its partnership with Hipli, a French start-up developing reusable packaging.

Cnova continues its societal commitment:

• Cnova initiated a 3-year partnership with Make.org (an independent platform promoting the engagement of the civil society to address social matters) to tackle the inequalities suffered by women. Within this frame, Cnova widely relayed Make.org’s citizen consultation across its communication channels, contributing to its success (Over 250k French citizens participated).
  
  

Outlook

In the 2^nd quarter 2022, Cnova has launched an Efficiency Plan to swiftly recalibrate its cost structure & capex level with a total of €75m savings target on a full-year basis by the end of 2023, representing 15% of the total 2021 SG&A and CAPEX spendings. The Plan, supported by a dedicated transformation team, is projecting to bring savings above €30m in 2^nd half of the year.

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Cnova publishes today on its website, Thursday July, 28^th, its 2022 semi-annual report.

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About Cnova N.V.

Cnova N.V., the French ecommerce leader, serves 9.1 million active customers via its state-of-the-art website, Cdiscount. Cnova N.V.’s product offering provides its clients with a wide variety of very competitively priced goods, fast and customer-convenient delivery options, practical and innovative payment solutions as well as travel, entertainment and domestic energy services. Cnova N.V. is part of Groupe Casino, a global diversified retailer. Cnova N.V.'s news releases are available at www.cnova.com. Information available on, or accessible through, the sites referenced above is not part of this press release.

This press release contains regulated information (gereglementeerde informatie) within the meaning of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht) which must be made publicly available pursuant to Dutch and French law. This press release is intended for information purposes only.

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Appendices

Cnova N.V. 1^st Half 2022 Consolidated Financial Statements⁽¹⁾

*re-presented to consider Haltae (Stootie operations legal entity) financials reclassified in discontinued activities
1)   Unaudited financial statements
2)   SG&A: Selling, General and Administrative expenses
3)   Operating EBIT: operating profit/(loss) before other expenses (strategic and restructuring expenses, litigation expenses and impairment and disposal of assets expenses).
4)   In accordance with IFRS5 (Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations), HALTAE (formerly Stootie)’s post-tax net profit for the year ended 31 December 2022 and 2021 are reported under “Net profit/(loss) from discontinued operations”
5)   Adjusted EPS: net profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders of Cnova before other expenses and the related tax impacts, divided by the weighted average number of outstanding ordinary shares of Cnova during the applicable period.

* At June 30,2021 change in cash from loan granted is linked to cash deposit with Casino Finance (€130.5m at December 31, 2020 and €0m at June 30, 2021).

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1 According to Kantar market studies
2 Like-for-like figures exclude cross-canal sales and Cdiscount Energy GMV for 1H21 and 1H22
3 EBITDA: operating profit/(loss) from ordinary activities (EBIT) adjusted for operating depreciation & amortization of respectively €(42.7)m and €(48.5)m in the 1st semester of 2021 and 2022
4 According to Kantar in April and May 2022 study, respectively +0.2 pt and +0.4 pt
5 Subscriber base on 30/06/2022
6 April and May Médiamétrie studies
7 Traffic data generated by Adobe Omnitur for the months of April, May and June
8 Calculated as Marketplace GMV generated through merchants benefiting from Cdiscount’s fulfilment services divided by total Marketplace GMV
9 i.e., Sponsored products
10 From months of October 2020 to September 2021 compared to the equivalent period end of September 2020

Attachment

• 2022 07 26_Cnova Press release_H1 2022 VF